by CJ Ellisson
Frank turned to Jace, his goon's gun still trained on her. "No, Jace, I'm afraid it's all a bit too late for that. I already have my ticket. There's just no room for you in Vegas. I believe that it all wraps up much cleaner this way."
Sydney looked at her lover, a true mess on the carpet, and her heart ached. She knew it could end like this, knew that the son of a bitch in front of them wasn't the kind to let things go, but this was all too Godfather-esque for her. She still couldn't believe that a Jenai wasn't being true to her powers, but that was neither here nor there. Still... "Frank," she called. "She cheated you. If she's older than me her power overrules my own." She then realized her mistake. It was all true, unless his Jenai didn't bond to him fully.
Frank's eyes narrowed and he drew his hand back to hit her again, irritation evident in his body language. "It's not important!" Jace shouted, stopping the man's hand. Jace had managed to stand, albeit very shakily. He wiped the blood from his mouth with the back of his hand, smearing it with red. "It doesn't matter, Frank...listen to me. We'll go...killing us now isn't the cleanest way out of this. There'll be bodies and questions...look, we'll go." He rushed, fear and worry clear in his voice. "You don't have to kill her, or me...just let us go. We can be off in the next flight, you'll never hear of us again. You have the ticket...that's what you really wanted." He winced as he took in a deep breath. "Killing us now is distasteful and messy, I'm sure you'd rather just go home."
Sydney looked at Jace, her heart swelling. He was choosing her. She was his ideal and he wanted her.
Frank looked like he was thinking it over, his attention now fully on Jace. "And you'll never return?" He sounded skeptical. "You're a gambler Jace, Vegas calls to your soul."
"My soul is already spoken for, and there are other games out there. Give us twelve hours...go home, go to sleep, and by the time you wake up we'll be gone." His voice was steady despite the tremble in his limbs. "If we're not, what's twelve hours? You'll find us anywhere we try to hide here...we'll just disappear, and you won't have to do the dirty work. Just let us live, you have what you want, please," he implored, tears leaking out from his eyes and mixing with the blood.
Frank nodded slowly, staring them both out. "You have eight hours, then I want no trace of you in my town. You both will be gone. I'll leave a man at the door, if you leave here and go anywhere but the airport..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "I don't think I have to go into great detail about what'll happen to the girl as you watch, Jacey lad."
The goons drew back at some unseen command the one with the gun moving out of the door the other going to the bed and grabbing the ticket from where Jace had dropped it. "And Jace, for goodness sake, pull yourself together...you're embarrassing yourself in front of the girl." Frank said as he oozed out of the room.
The last goon with the ticket shook his head disgustedly at Jace. Smashing the pole over his back once more and throwing him to the floor in agony before sauntering cheerfully out of the door. He lifted the main chunk of wood delicately placing it back on its hinges effectively leaving them both alone.
Sydney moved quickly to his side and held him, kissing him on the head and sobbing. "Gods, are you okay?"
He rolled over with some effort, his whole body shaking. "Not really, no..." He looked at her face, lifting his hand to her mouth where Frank had slapped her. "How about you? I'm so sorry he hit you." His breathing hitched and he coughed violently. She sobbed again, tears running down her face. "Jace, don't worry about me. I have been through worse. Anything broken?" she asked as she gingerly touched around his face and chest.
"I don't think so...the face is fine." He winced as she touched a particularly painful spot on his chest. "Painkillers, lots of them. We'll figure the rest out once we get the hell out of here. God, let's hope I look enough like my passport photo to get through customs."
She smiled. "I'm sorry, Jace, I'm sorry, I didn't know he would have a Jenai as a companion. It's my fault."
"Nah. It's not yours, the game is crooked and nobody made me sit at that table. Let's face it, the guy's a prick. It's just the way life is, no matter how big you think you are there's always someone ready to smash you up for a shot at the twenty mil prize pool. We can't worry about that now, though, now we worry about painkillers and planes."
She kissed his forehead. "Baby, I think your nose may be broken too. Oh, god, I'm sorry. I'm sorry you had to choose."
"Don't worry yourself. I'm a gambler; I've taken a few beatings in my time. As for Vegas..." he sighed, shrugging. "I said I'd die here, I didn't say that it had to be now. I'm just glad you're okay, things could be much worse, I'd rather give up the bright lights than you, Peaches." He chuckled, rubbing his thumb along her face. "Now, we better get to thinking about our next destination, there are lots of places to visit. Tell me," he smiled, "what do you think of Atlantic City?"
Epilogue
Atlantic City had everything that Vegas had to offer him and more. Jace didn't mind the move much at all. It had taken him a few weeks to heal and a few more to fast become one of the highest winning players in the circuit. He'd broken two ribs and a few bones in his left hand, thankfully he used his right hand for palming cards so it worked out well. The bruises in his face were all but gone, there were a few yellowish marks left still, but they were mostly unnoticeable. His nose also had suffered damage, causing it to have a crooked angle. Sydney assured him that it only made him more attractive, but he wasn't so sure.
The airport and the journey to Atlantic City had mostly been a blur, thankfully Sydney had more or less carried him onto the plane and off again to the nearest hospital. She'd been a godsend, nursing him gently and not so gently back to health. He'd really done it, though, he'd chosen her over Vegas, and he'd given up the bright lights. When they'd first left there wasn't a day that went by that he didn't ask himself if he'd done the right thing. He only had to see her smile at him though to know that he had.
After a week or two he found the golden place featured less and less in his thoughts. Now he rarely even spared any time for it, he had his own life now with Sydney. They had a future here, together, and looking to the past wasn't going to do them any good.
The two of them had taken to their roles in Atlantic City like ducks to water, ripping the place apart. He spent his nights on the tables, with her at his side, and he spent his days entangled with her or out seeing the sights or house shopping. They had a few picked out and more than enough money to afford them all. They'd even talked about moving elsewhere, there were millions to be made in China or throughout Europe, lots of hands to be played.
He left the room of the hotel they were currently staying in. It far succeeded the old room in Vegas as he was this hotel's high roller. He headed down to the main lobby where she'd made him promise to meet her before she left in the morning for her usual run. She had a surprise for him and he'd been curious about it since he got the note she left on the bedside table.
He spotted her easily in front of the world clock, her shiny hair bobbing up and down. She looked up at him and smiled, that smile lighting through his entire body. He couldn't stop himself from smiling back and he caught her as she threw herself into his arms. He kissed her deeply, her body molding perfectly to his.
After a moment enjoying her scent surrounding him he pulled back, grinning at her. "So, what's this big surprise? You managed to find those pom mimosas you love so much?"
Sydney giggled and kissed the tip of his nose. "No, though I think I got the bartender from the Taj to figure it out for me. So, remember what we talked about? That big penthouse at Royale Commons?"
He nodded. There was no way he could forget it. The place had been perfect. "I think I do," he teased. "Would that be the one with the private decking and pool?"
"That's the one. Well..." she slipped a large manila envelope to him and grinned. "Seems your luck is holding out, love."
"You're kidding, you didn't?" He laughed, scooping her up again and swinging her around. She had
, they'd get to live in the casino, their own little slice of heaven. "I love you, you know that?" He kissed her quickly before she could react. Knowing it and saying it were two completely different things.
Sydney squealed, breaking the kiss. "I do now. You mean it, Jace?"
He nodded, "I do. I really do."
Her eyes sparkled. "I love you, too, Jace, I think I have since the first time you watched me at Glitter."
"Phew." He grinned, mock wiping his brow. "Well, that's a relief." He hugged her, kissing her again. "Why don't we head over and break in the new place? I had my eye on that hot tub and I fully intend to have it well used by the time I have to hit the tables at ten."
She giggled and nodded. "Well, that's a good thing, cuz I have champagne and strawberries waiting, and a catalog to decorate the place to our tastes. Got that deal from the realtor for free, so it seems my luck might be changing, too. Ooh, and I already picked out the new bed."
"Oh, yeah? Well I suppose we'll just have to see about that, it'll need to be tested thoroughly."
"I was hoping you would say that darlin'." She kissed him and rubbed against him. "And I can't wait to see how the shadows like the new place."
"Oh, I'm sure they'll settle in just fine." He swung his arm over her and guided her out of the hotel, listening to her make promises that would keep then hot and sweaty long after dawn.
They moved along the street to their new place together, their home. Not that it mattered where they were as long as they were together. Never in his life had he ever felt more at home than he did with her, she was his home, and as long as she stayed by his side, powers be damned, he was the luckiest man alive.
Other Books by S.A. Price
The Eververse series:
Sugar and Sin
Silk and Steel
Frost and Flame
Masquerade
The Dragon Elementals:
Fire in his Eyes
Deep Water
Thirteen Shades of Red:
You Burn Me
Giving Up the Ghost
The Serendipity of Karma
This is Forever
The Bride wore Latex
American Satyrs:
Of Crimson and Collars
To Collar and Keep
Knossos West Weresnakes:
Beyond the Vision of Dreams
Surrender in Moonlight
A Gift of Daybreak
Entwined by Fate
Duvall Inc:
The Assassin, the Djinn and the Hundred Year Wish
Things a Djinn Can Do
A Very Djinn Christmas
London for the Holidays
Take a Gamble:
Playing the Odds
Double Down
The Keepers of Twilight:
Astoroth: Her Final Sin
Soft Edge of Midnight
Nibbled by the Vamp by Celia Kyle
Knight Protectors: Book One
Copyright © 2013, Celia Kyle– All Rights Reserved.
All Rights Reserved. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is strictly prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the author/publisher.
Wren Minix knew vamps were real. Totally. But mean fairies? Fairies weren’t supposed to be mean! But they are, and she really thought she was gonna become fairy dust if it hadn’t been for the super hunky vampire that saved her. Had she mentioned hunky? And, hey, giving him a little snack in return was no bigs. He helped, after all. Except she wanted one nibble to turn into two and then…oodles. And she’d tell him so…just as soon as she finished tasting all of those yummy muscles.
For three hundred years, Griffin Linch has protected the city of Atlanta as one of its Knight Protectors, a vampire with a cause. Each night he turns other predators into prey and keeps the citizens of the city safe from the bad things that go bump in the night. But it’s one, lush, curvaceous and smart-mouthed human that he’s rescued and can’t get out of his system. She’s it for him. The perfect package… the perfect mate… if only she could keep her mouth shut long enough for him to tell her.
Chapter One
Wren decided running was bad with a capital “B”. Well, maybe not the running per se, but the reason behind it all was definitely on the fuck-me-in-a-bad-way train.
Plus, she’d gone crazy. Totally bat-shit, straight-jacket-and-a-padded-room nutso.
She knew walking had been a mistake. Huge. Gargantuan even. Sure, that morning she’d been filled with optimism. The first day on the way to a new Wren. Or, at least, a healthier version of her.
If she was honest, she kinda dug her curves. It was just the out-of-breath while trudging up stairs part that she had been getting tired of.
So she’d walked the ten blocks to work, sneakers on her feet and heels in her bag, optimism filling her from her big (non-implant) breast-eses down to her Kim Kardashian-esque badunk-a-dunk. Now, thirteen hours later at the end of her workday, she realized that had been a mistake. The streets along her route were lit by smatterings of lights and felt way too empty. Way.
Then, her world took a nose dive. Three blocks from her office she passed a dark alley, one of the many lining the street, and a bright flash of blue caught her attention. Showing more stupidity than sense, Wren paused at the mouth of the darkened space, squinting into the gloom.
The blue was followed by a sparkle of pink, then another in orange and yet another in neon yellow. That was followed by moans. A groan.
“Help me…” The voice was soft, definitely feminine, and growing weaker by the second. “Please…” Those lights swirled round and round, darting and splitting the blackness. God, it was probably a bunch of club kiddies with those stupid glow lights attacking some woman. “No…”
“Shitshitshit…” Wren dug in her purse and snagged her cell phone, poking at the touch screen, jabbing the surface and waiting for it to respond. It didn’t, of course. Because she never charged the fucking thing.
Okay, she could bluff her way through this. Totally.
“Hey!” She took a step into the pitch black alley. “Leave her alone! I’m calling the police!” She waved her phone in the air and took another step. Wren slipped her purse from her shoulder and gripped the straps. She could swing it around and get at least two of the woman’s attackers. She carried all but the kitchen sink in her bag and it was hella heavy. “I mean it, assholes!”
The swirl of the lights stuttered, came together and gathered into a large multi-colored ball. And, oh crap, there were a lot of them.
An eerie quiet descended; even the gentle wind had stilled. Wren’s heart thumped double-time as adrenaline poured into her veins.
Then, those sparkles surged forward, racing from the end of the alley and right at her, rushing over the ground. And, fuck-tastic-ness, she didn’t hear a single footstep keeping time with the rapid approach of the lights.
Wren did the only thing she could think of. She ran. Spinning on her sneaker-clad heels, she dashed back the way she’d come and burst onto the sidewalk. She’d send someone back for the woman. Just as soon as she regained her sanity.
Her fat jiggled, breasts bouncing as she raced down the street, breath coming in great huffing puffs. One foot in front of the other, she ran as fast as her short legs could carry her. Damn her parents. Couldn’t they have been taller so that she would have been blessed with a longer stride?
A grating buzz crept upon her and she spared a glance over her shoulder. That was a mistake. Those lights definitely didn’t have a single club kiddie among them. No. The closer they came, the more detail she could make out.
Fairies. She was being chased by multi-colored, snarling, big-toothed fairies.
Oh, god. Fairies were supposed to be nice. Hadn�
��t they heard of Tinkerbell?
Growls seemed to surround her and she could feel the rhythmic beat of rushing air upon her back, small hands snatching at her hair as she ran. A sting of pain scratched at her neck and she cried out at the slicing hurt. Then another. And another.
Those lights washed over her then, surrounded her, and she batted at them as best she could, pushing the fairies from her face. God, how far had she run?
The little flying balls of evil grasped her arms, sunk their tiny teeth into her skin and she screamed again. They were everywhere, flashes of blue, pink, orange and yellow wrapped around her in a buzzing¸ pain-filled cloud.
She hadn’t realized she’d stopped until a large, cool hand enclosed around her arm and yanked her into an alley, the pitch-black air swallowing her.
A deep snarl enveloped Wren, wrapped around her like a comforting blanket.
How fucked was it that she was soothed by a snarl?
A large body stood before her. Wide shoulders covered in barely contained muscles blocked out the swirling lights that had surrounded her only moments before. Thank god, she’d found someone who was able to banish the hallucination.
Warm wetness slithered down her arms and she glanced at her body…blood, the red, viscous, life giving fluid flowed from dozens of suspiciously rounded wounds. She rubbed her face and winced at the ache that flared to life and the need to faint washed over her at what covered her fingers.
More blood.
A roar snatched her attention from her body, the sound followed by a flaring white light that blinded her for the briefest of moments and then blackness swallowed her whole.
