Highlands at Dawn

by Aliyah Burke

“A car wouldn’t protect you. I will protect you.”

  She glared at him. “Then I suggest you wrap your head around sleeping in the car.” She stomped off. “Because that’s where I’ll be.”

  Fire. Billy hastened after her and scooped her up in his arms. She screeched and began to struggle.

  “Hold still.”

  “Put me down!”

  He carried her back to the chairs that were around the fire pit he’d made. Then he placed her on her feet and she sat. He turned his own seat toward her so their knees touched. Her eyes glittered with frustration and a bit of anger. Mal’s jerking moved him as her leg bumped against him each time she twitched it.

  “Why are you so against camping?”

  Her gaze didn’t soften. “Why are you so determined to have me like it when you’ve been perfectly clear this isn’t safe, any way I look at it? Seems to me I have a better chance of surviving with walls and a roof, not to mention a real floor instead of a piece of fabric keeping me from the ground.” She waved a hand around before pointing at the tent. “How is concrete not safer than that thing? Because I fail to see the logic there.”

  He was going to have to try a different tactic. Billy captured her hands, lacing their fingers. “Will you trust me for one night?”

  She lifted her chin and held his stare. So fierce. So proud.

  “Not much choice here, is there? Unless I hotwire the car, but I can’t in good conscience leave you alone out here.”

  He liked that she was already protective of him.

  Mal jumped from the seat, severing their connection, and began pacing. Her agitation grew with each pass—increased sighs, muttering and restlessness—until he couldn’t take it anymore. Billy got in her way, forcing her to stop and look at him.

  “What?” she snapped. Small ribbons of purple highlighted her thick lashes.

  Damn, she’s beautiful. “It will be fine.”

  She snorted and that emerald green was added to the purple. “Of course it will. I’m lucky. I have demons chasing after me. Men, and possibly women, who want to kill me as well. These damn creatures can come after me from above and below and a vehicle won’t protect me—then again, neither will a building. What’s to worry about? I’m sure this will end up smelling like roses.” She sidestepped him and stomped away.

  Billy turned to watch her. Even furious and sarcastic, this woman moved with a grace that took his breath away. Interwoven in her locks he could see bands of the green and purple. Long, confident strides took her up the hill with ease back to the car. Her muttered ramblings floated back to him but he couldn’t decipher them—her brogue was too thick and she was speaking way too fast for him to pick up on any of the words. Still, the gist of it was clear. Unhappy woman.

  “Lian?”

  “Yes, Billy?”

  He moved to the fire and added another log before sinking to his haunches and poking it. “I see the colors on her even though we’re not touching. The artifact is with me.”

  “I have no answers for you. This is stuff you must discover on your own and share it with your brethren.”

  Of course it would be. “Thanks.” Billy ended the connection and peered out over the Scottish Highlands. Untamed beauty. He glanced to the woman with him. Like her.

  Even across the distance between them, he could see the way this place calmed her. She has no problem being here in the day, despite having been attacked while the sun was up. And the night attack came at an inn. Perhaps she’s just not a fan of camping as she first stated and I’m the one who made the assumption she was fearful of what will be coming.

  He pushed up from his crouched position by the fire. She was mysterious, this mate of his. He could honestly say he was eagerly anticipating uncovering her secrets. Her hair rose and fell in time with the swirling gusts—the chill in the air didn’t bother her. In fact, she would lift her face to it, as if she could hear some whispers on the wind.

  “Mal,” he called.

  She faced him and ran a hand through her hair, shoving it away from her face. He wished she would lose the glasses, allowing him to see her eyes. She didn’t even move them slightly. However, she did walk toward him and his gaze was glued to the sway of her hips. Lust struck him with the force of a typhoon. He readjusted his pants to give his hard cock a bit more room and to eliminate the feeling it was being suffocated.

  “Yes?”

  “Thought you might be hungry.”

  Her smile was slight. “I’m always hungry.” She dusted off her hands and rocked back on her heels. “What do you need me to do?”

  A flurry of suggestions flooded to the tip of his tongue and with difficulty he swallowed them back. “Get the plates out. Would you like something warm to drink? We could heat some water on the fire.”

  “No thanks.” She went to the basket near him and began pulling out two tin plates. He had the sandwiches in hand when she held the dishes to him and he placed one on each. She didn’t move until he took the plate from her hand. They dragged their chairs nearer to the fire and sat.

  They ate in silence and watched the sun set. He turned his attention to her—she was much more beautiful, in his opinion, than the sunset. The reflection of the flames dancing across her skin grew more prominent the darker it became.

  Together, they cleaned up and got ready for bed, adding on more layers for the cold night he knew was ahead. He watched her as he banked the fire, ensuring he wouldn’t set the Highlands ablaze. Her expression grew tighter and tighter.

  He walked up behind her and slipped his arms around her waist, cradling her against his chest. “I’m beginning to think you don’t like tents for a different reason than they mean you’re camping. Are you scared of small spaces?”

  “Not a fan of them.” Her tone was higher than normal.

  “Would you be happier sleeping out beneath the stars, by the fire?” He kept his lips pressed to her cheek.

  “Yes.”

  Her response came so quickly and without much thought. He knew it was the truth. “Very well. I’ll move the sleeping bags out here.”

  He could feel the relief move through her. “Thank you.” She turned in his arms. “I still don’t like camping.”

  “Noted.”

  He worked quickly and had them by the fire. The bags zipped to one another so they could share body heat, and whatever else may happen overnight. “Come,” he said, beckoning with his hand.

  She took it and sank beside him on the bags. “Together?”

  “Sharing body heat.”

  “Uh huh.”

  “You sound skeptical.”

  “Oh I am. Very much so.”

  She undid her boots and slipped into the bag. He joined her and cursed that she wanted to sleep with her clothing on. Having her pressed against him wasn’t anything to sneer at though and he was happy she was in his arms.

  “Tell me more about you, Mal.”

  “You want to know more about me?”

  “Why wouldn’t I?” He was genuinely curious as to why she figured he wouldn’t.

  “I thought this was about getting sex for you.”

  He drew back and stared at her. The embers from the fire aided in his desire to see her, but she was shadowed. “Sex? That’s what you thought this was about?”

  “Don’t get mad when you ask a question and I answer it. You didn’t want me to speak the truth? Don’t ask.”

  “Noted. Now tell me why you thought this was about getting sex.”

  “Because I’m not a fool and I can pick up on the connection between us. The desire, want—”

  “Need,” he whispered, sliding a hand into the hair at the back of her head and drawing her closer.

  “Yes. Need.”

  “So you think I can’t control myself?”

  “I’m afraid I can’t.” Her fingers curved into his shirt, pulling it taut.

  His cock pressed hard into his jeans and he struggled not to rip off both their clothes. This night is going to be hell.

>   Mal wondered if she’d admitted too much to this man who had this insane control over her hormones. He was so close. The bag, zipped as it was, limited their movement away from one another. His hand massaged her scalp. His other was on her hip, moving, seeking and stroking skin. Her leg was wedged between his and there was no ignoring his thickness.

  Not like I don’t know what that will do to me. What it’s done to me already.

  “I have to confess, Mal. Those words are seriously turning me on. I want you needing me, craving my touch”—his fingers flexed in her hair, tugging gently—“wanting me to kiss you”—his lips brushed along her cheek—“strip you naked and lick you everywhere.”

  She shuddered and a moan escaped.

  “I want you flat on your back so I can bury my face between your legs and eat that pussy of yours. I want you grinding on my face as I do it again.”

  Light, feathery strokes accompanied his words and she found it difficult to breathe. Her nipples grew painfully tight as her breasts became heavy with want. Liquid slicked her pussy as his words painted such a vivid image she couldn’t help but see it.

  “Billy,” she gasped.

  His grip on her tightened again. “I want all that and more, but even more important to me is your safety.” He flicked his tongue along the seam of her lips. “It doesn’t matter if we’re in a tent, under the open sky or in a hotel. I will always put your safety above my own.”—he nipped her lower lip—“do whatever it takes to keep you alive and well.”

  “Billy.”

  “Do you understand it’s so much more than just sex?” His fingers dug into the flesh of her hip.

  “Yes.”

  “You don’t need to ever control yourself around me. I want all you have to offer, Mal. Everything.”

  God, his words sounded too damn perfect. She pressed closer and kissed him, needing something from him. He didn’t fight her but he didn’t take over either. He allowed her to set the kiss to how she wanted it. Mal was exhausted, even though her body wanted his touch, his scent. She ended the kiss and licked her lips, drawing every last bit of his taste she could.

  “You do have all the right words, Billy Kwan.”

  The hand in her hair, which had released, tightened again. His warm breath fanned along her skin.

  “They are not just words, Malmuirie Gordon.” His voice vibrated with passion.

  She loosened her hold on him only to move her hands up the hard planes of his chest. “I didn’t mean it in a bad way, Billy. Quite the opposite.” She kissed him again, sliding her tongue into his mouth. His tangled with hers.

  He slipped his hand up her side then cupped her breast, squeezing gently but firmly. She moaned and pressed closer. He undid the zipper of her windbreaker, then sought the hem of her shirt and touched her skin. Her belly tightened as he neared her breasts.

  The kiss deepened then stopped. In a flash, he went from lover to warrior. She could feel the energy moving through him. The hair on the back of her neck stood as she tensed, unsure what was coming.

  “Shh.”

  Like she had the ability to speak a word. Fear had sunk into her bones. What did he hear? Demons? Humans? Both? Something worse?

  “Stay here and pretend to sleep. Keep your eyes closed.” His words, barely above a whisper, poured into her ear. Billy began to leave the bag.

  I knew it. Camping is going to be the death of me. The headline won’t be pretty. Something about some dumb camper who couldn’t even get out of her bag to make some feeble attempt of escaping that which killed her.

  She wanted to ask where he was going but the words remained absent. Mal dug her nails into her palms and clamped her mouth shut so what did escape wasn’t some high-pitched scream or wail. She wanted him to stay with her, not leave her alone. But he was gone, leaving behind only his lingering heat.

  Trust. This is about trusting him. Mal forced herself to relax in order to appear as he wished her to. Sleeping. He won’t allow me to get hurt. She ran that as a mantra through her mind.

  Eyes closed, she listened. The wind blew over her, carrying with it the scent of the Highlands. That helped calm her. Wild. Free. Nevertheless, she heard nothing else. No footsteps. No other people.

  However, when the wind stopped blowing, she knew something had changed. She couldn’t explain how she knew—it was just something inside her.

  The silence grew heavy. Anticipatory. Then exploded.

  Unearthly screams filled the air. She bolted up, scanning the dark. Even the embers in the fire pit were black. Although the sky was brilliant and beautiful because of the stars, she couldn’t see much.

  The cries became louder as they grew closer. There! To her left. Mal scrambled free of the bag and took several steps in that direction before she halted. A blast of fire split the darkness and in the echoes of the light, she saw Billy. He whipped around, spinning and fighting, killing all in his path. The sight of him was taken from her faster than it had appeared and again she was swathed in darkness.

  “Ouch!”

  The curse came from behind her and Mal whirled, dropping into a crouch. In the darkness, she fumbled for and grabbed her boots.

  “Shut up!” a second man hissed.

  “Like she’s not awake. Those damn demons aren’t exactly subtle.”

  “Do you have her?” Silence. “Didn’t think so. Maybe you should find her.”

  “Not like I can see worth a damn.”

  Mal inched away—or she hoped so—from the voices. The problem with doing that was it pushed her in the direction of Billy and whatever shit he currently fought. So she paused again, shoved her feet in her boots, and angled herself away toward the loch. She pulled it up in her memory—how long it had taken her to get from the camp to the edge—and walked slowly so she didn’t fall in.

  Screeches rose and fell in waves. She didn’t believe she’d ever forget the sounds or how they turned her gut.

  How does he live this way? How do any of them? Never knowing when an attack will come. I don’t understand how he does it.

  She knelt down when her toes sank into softer sand. She was close enough to the edge. With one knee in the cold ground, she tied her boot, then switched and did the other one. After they were on her feet securely, she turned back the way she’d came. She remained in a crouch but ready to run if that was required of her. There was no lingering exhaustion in her—the adrenaline coursing through her had taken care of that.

  More blasts of fire occasionally dotted the Highlands but never lasted long, so she couldn’t see more than blurred shadows.

  “Mal!”

  Billy’s cry reverberated through the air and she almost answered him. Almost. At the last second, she clamped her reply behind her teeth.

  It might have been his voice but it didn’t come from him. This attempt sounded panicky. That wasn’t Billy. Shit, how are we supposed to win against things with this kind of power and trickery?

  The flash nearly blinded her. As it was, the spots filled her line of vision as she tried to make sense of what had just happened. So focused on her sight, or lack thereof, she didn’t immediately notice something else. But it soon hit her. The silence.

  No fighting sounds. No cries. Nothing. Just the perfect silence, which there had been before the fight had began. She pushed to her feet and walked back in that direction. Where was Billy? Did he need her?

  She moved slowly, cautiously—feeling with her toes before setting her foot down. The process was long and tense but she continued on that way, unwilling to walk into something dead on the ground. She trusted her instincts on where to go, just did so with care.

  A hand slid around her mouth from behind her and she froze.

  “It’s me.” The whispered words did so much to her, the feeling of relief being top of the list.

  She nodded. He didn’t remove his hand and she waited, confident he had a reason.

  “Are you injured?”

  This time her wordless response was in the negative. He press
ed a kiss to the side of her neck, below her ear.

  “There is one human left. I want him alive for questioning.”

  She waited.

  “I need you to stay here. When I’m done, I’ll start up the fire in the pit. If you don’t see any fire, stay away. Okay?”

  Mal nodded one more time. Another brush of lips along her skin then he was gone the same way he’d appeared, silently. She felt colder without his touch but she backed up, willing to trust him. After all this, it would seem stupid not to.

  How am I sure that’s not the one who sounded like him though? A valid question. But she knew his touch. No imposter would be able to make her feel like Billy did. Plus she didn’t sense any sulfur in the air and he’d said they smelled liked that. Or burned flesh.

  Time ticked slowly and she grew more and more nervous. Her exhalation when she saw the first flames was sharp but full of alleviation. The fire was small but it was there.

  Chapter Six

  Killing the prisoner didn’t seem like a bad idea to Billy. He didn’t want that damn New Order filth around Mal. I should have seen this coming—known they would attack immediately—but I thought we’d at least have one night.

  She walked into the firelight and he immediately rose to meet her. Billy drew her in and pressed his face into her hair, allowing her scent to calm him. Then he pulled back and searched her face.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m fine. What about you? You look a little pale. Were you injured?”

  He wanted to lie and tell her no, but he wasn’t about to do that to her. “Yes.”

  “I’ll get my bag.” Her words were professional and thankfully not laced with fear. Before he could say another word, she spun and jogged back into the blackness.

  He wasn’t concerned over his injuries—they would heal in time. He might not be Cale but he could do enough to tide himself over. He’d done a boost, courtesy of his power, to the most serious of them, but his woman was a doctor and he knew she wouldn’t be happy until she could check him out herself. Billy walked to stand by the human piece of shit lying there. He’d confiscated the cyanide pill he’d had in his mouth so he couldn’t kill himself.