Caressed by the Edge of Darkness

by Amanda J. Greene

  “Jordan will transition under the full moon tomorrow,” he repeated.

  Gabriel rattled off a string of blistering curses and punched the button, setting the elevator back into motion.

  Jordan wouldn’t fully turn into a vampire, but her body would change. The pain excruciating. He didn’t know if he would survive another round of watching her suffer, unable to stop it, unable to take the bear it for her. After the centuries of torture he’d withstood, Gabriel laughed at pain. The transition would be nothing to him.

  “The city might not be the best place for her with an attack pending,” he noted.

  “The compound is heavily guarded.”

  Gabriel nodded in agreement. “Scott will be there to help with her transition and Kate can weave a protection spell.”

  The doors slid open and they stepped out on the landing overlooking the command center. Below, his soldiers worked at computers, maps of his enemy’s locations, their strong holds, businesses and travel routs lined one wall. Images of their faces plastered another while a projector screen dominated the largest wall. His eyes locked on the security film currently playing. Boras had been spotted in Phoenix. He wasn’t far now. Soon, Boras would enter Gabriel’s territory and he’d be ready for him.

  Just a handful of laughably simple moves and this war would be over and Gabriel would reign as the undisputed ruler of the Outcasts.

  “So, what’s the plan?” Gannon asked.

  “You will escort her to the compound.”

  “And will you be joining us?”

  “Yes, before the full moon reaches its peak, I’ll be there.” He’d see to his mate. He’d be by her side when she transitioned. But he had to make certain she would be safe and that meant he’d have to slay his enemies. Gabriel smiled evilly, “I will end this war once and for all.”

  ***

  Jordan hopped in the shower and quickly rinsed off, dressed, then bounded down the stairs to the living room, where Scott waited.

  “I would’ve come to you,” he said as he gave her hug. “I’m not so sure you should be out of bed.”

  “Why not?”

  “How have you been feeling?”

  “Fine.”

  He raised a brow. “Fine?”

  “Well, fine-ish.” She had a few aches and pains, but assumed they were from Gabriel’s vigorous love making. Those smoldering crystalline green eyes that flashed black, lethal fangs, and sexy, shiver inducing voice combined with all that taut muscle, his naughty talk, dominance and surrender—God, he made her insane in the best of ways. Oh, yeah, she’d fallen for the big, bad vampire king. Hard. There would be no recovering.

  “Yeah, doesn’t the ‘ish’ make it better?”

  Scott patted the sofa cushion beside him and she joined him. He began to remove items from his medical bag. “I heard there was an incident.”

  She smiled. Scott’s disapproving tone brought her back to her childhood. “Did the principle call and tell you I kicked sand in another girl’s face?”

  “You’ve never played well with others.”

  He motioned for her arm. She dutifully reach out and he wrapped the blood pressure cuff around it.

  “Not true! I just have a problem with sharing.” And she was never going to share Gabriel. He was hers. Even said so himself. “I am your male.” The words made her smile and her heart pound. After those words and the confessions he’d made to her about his past, about his darkest secrets, she was convinced he loved her. He may just not know it yet but he would soon.

  “Come on, J. You know I’m not referring to the fight. You lost consciousness last night.”

  She began to nervously twirl her hair. “Um, yeah. I wasn’t able to take my medication in time and…had a little episode.”

  He paused his ministrations. “Episode?”

  “Don’t get mad.”

  Scott took in a breath and exhaled, “Why would I be mad?”

  Another flash back to her childhood when everything was good. It made her heart ache for what might have been if he hadn’t been changed into a vampire and her aunt hadn’t passed. I guess Fate had other plans for us.

  “I’ve had these strange boosts of energy. It puts me on edge and I crave movement: a run, a swim, or jumping jacks. Take your pick, doesn’t matter since nothing helps.” She frowned and stammered on the last word. Being with Gabriel had helped. When they were together, that edgy feeling her muscles eased, the whirlwind of emotions became a gentle, caressing breeze, and the pain didn’t follow.

  He removed the cuff and returned it to his bag. “Any other symptoms?”

  “There is this overwhelming emotional surge. Feels like my soul is being ripped apart. Then the pain.”

  Scott’s eyes narrowed, his expression unreadable. His clinical, surgeon mask in place. “Describe it.”

  “My bones feel like they are going to shatter and the headaches…”

  “The medication helps?”

  “Yeah, if I take it right when I feel the symptoms setting in.”

  He gave a tight nod and dropped his gaze to his bag at their feet. “Could be side effects of the poison Klein was giving you.”

  “Poison? The bastard wasn’t just drugging me he was poisoning me?”

  Another tight nod. Jordan wished the Slave Handler were alive so she could kill him. Fucker! “What kind of poison?”

  “It’s a mix created by the Red Order Hunters, a witch tribe that hunts Outcasts vampires.”

  “Witches as hunters?”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, turns out. Thousands of years ago, when vampires started running rampant, the Red Order traded their magic for extra strength and the ability to fight the demons.”

  “Did you know of the Order when you…”

  “I’d heard stories back then but, to my knowledge, I hadn’t met a witch until I came here,” he explained. He removed the stethoscope.

  “Witches here?”

  Scott smiled, “Yeah, Kate. She’s a Shaw. They’re a peaceful group and support the Clans.”

  Jordan winced when he pressed the cool metal to her chest. She’d sensed something otherworldly about Kate, but a witch? “The vampire Clans.”

  He absently grunted in answer, focusing on her heart beat. She awkwardly took in a dep breath then exhaled and asked, “What kind of medication did you give me?”

  “Antibiotics and—”

  “My turned my eyes black. Or, well, I think it did.”

  Scott snapped back as if she’d slapped him. “What?”

  “I could have been hallucinating,” she added with a shrug.

  “Jordan, I think…maybe Erhard should explain this to you.”

  Gabriel? What did he have to do with this? “Scott?”

  “Really, J, I—”

  “Will you tell me what this is about? I know he’s your king, but you were my friend first. I got dibs,” she declared.

  His shoulders fell with a heavy sigh and she knew he’d tell her anything she wanted to know. He may be a vampire, but he was still the same old Scott and she loved him. Was so happy to have him back.

  “When you were brought to me, you will were in really bad shape. I wasn’t able to help you, but…he could.” He cleared his throat. “Gabriel…rescued you.”

  Jordan’s gaze narrowed as she analyzed his vague words. If a skilled surgeon such as Scott couldn’t have saved her then how…Her eyes shot wide. It hadn’t been a dream. Gabriel gave me his blood.

  She ran shaking hands through her hair.

  He didn’t share his blood, he didn’t let anyone take from him, but he’d shared with her. To save her. The vampire had rescued her in more ways than one.

  Her mind reeling, Jordan connected the dots. “His blood was in the medication.” She ran her tongue over her dry lips. Why hadn’t Scott warned her? Why hadn’t Gabriel said anything?

  “Yes. It could account for your eyes flashing black, but there isn’t enough in the bottle to trigger the change. You needn’t worry.”

&nbs
p; “I-I’m not worried.” Especially since the bottle was still somewhere on the dressing room’s floor.

  “Please know, we had no malicious intent. We both…wanted you to live. If there was another solution I would’ve—”

  “No, Scott, I get it.” She forced a smile. “I really do. If there had been a way to save my aunt, I would’ve done anything.”

  Scott’s eyes glistened but he quickly blinked the tears away. “Right.”

  Jordan reached out and rubbed his shoulder. She doubted he’d ever forgive himself for not being there when her aunt became ill what her life would’ve been like if she’d been raised by a vampire adoptive-father. Forget shotguns, he flash his fangs and threaten to drain her boyfriends. The thought brought a true to smile to her face.

  “We’re good.”

  “Good. That’s…good.”

  “Now, let’s get this examination over with so I can call down to Ruin.”

  His muscles relaxed as if glad she’d changed the subject. “You’d still work there?”

  She shrugged and pulled her hair forward so he could press the stethoscope to her back. “Unless Row has fired me, I don’t see why not.”

  When he didn’t respond she continued, “She better not ask me to apologize to Tana.”

  Again, he was silent. She glanced over her shoulder. His eyes were round, his jaw hung open. He ran a quaking hand over her right shoulder blade.

  “What is it? Did I cut myself?” Her shoulder had stung a bit when the water had hit it in the shower. She’d been in a fight, they’d shattered a mirror then rolled through the glass. It was a possibility.

  Scott swallowed and his voice broke when he whispered, “He’s mated you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Scott had looked at her as if she were a bomb about to blow. Maybe she was. Gabriel had marked her as his mate without even asking her. She enjoyed his high handedness in the bedroom and was willing and beyond excited to explore that further, but to just slap a private-property- trespassers-will-be-brutally-murdered on her without her permission was not going to fly.

  When she’d asked Scott to explain, he just shook his head and sputtered, “It’s…destiny.”

  He quickly packed up his bag, stood, and excused himself. Worried he might burst into flames? But before he left he said, “Good news, you won’t have need of the medication any longer.”

  Now, Jordan paced a wide circled through Gabriel’s room. What had Scott meant? As Gabriel’s mate she could take his blood from the source? Not likely.

  One thing was clear, Gabriel 100 percent considered her his. He’d said so, but the mating brand left no questions. It’s destiny. The words played again and again as she took another lap.

  When had this happened? She cast a glance to the bathroom. Images of them in the shower flickered in the back of her mind. He’d stripped their shirts, leaving her in her bra and jeans, his chest had been bare and he’d kept his slacks on. She’d been draped over his lap.

  Her fingers went to her neck. Had he bitten her? Yes. Then he’d cut is own wrists for her. “You will not leave me.” His words had been so full of anguish because…she’d been dying. In his arms, she’d been fading…

  Jordan’s steps stuttered. She’d been living on borrowed time, ever since he’d rescued her from the auction. She only breathed now because of him. How? Was it the mark?

  She heard the bedroom door open and close. She didn’t have to look over her shoulder, she could sense his presence. He was coming to her, she closed her eyes just as he reached for her. He pulled her against his chest, his face nuzzling the hollow of her throat.

  Yes, this felt like destiny. So, here we go. Diving right in. “Gabriel, am I your mate?”

  He stiffened around her. “How?” Then she heard him grate, “Scott. What did he say?”

  She turned around in his arms. “It’s destiny.”

  His released her and took a step back. She hated the space between them.

  “Something like that.”

  “Well, you marked me.” Her eyes flashed with anger. “I like tattoos.” She displayed her wrists and the black ink displayed there. “But I—”

  “It wasn’t by choice. I assure you.”

  Wait. What? He hadn’t meant to mark her? Well, that possibility was like a kick to the gut. “Get to talking, big guy.”

  He rubbed his nape, his gaze fell to the floor. He shifted on his feet. Was he nervous? She was and every silent second felt like an eternity as she waited for him to speak.

  “Long ago, the Shaw witch tribe, placed a curse on all those that take the vows of Clan Chieftain. The Death Curse slowly eats away a vampire’s immortality as it infects their minds and hearts. Some claim to relive the horrors they delivered to their victims, but from their perspective. Others are driven mad by riotous emotions. But they all end up the same way, racked with pain, regretting every evil deed they committed, praying for forgiveness, for mercy, for Death to take them.”

  She cringed. “Sounds awful. Is there any way to stop it?”

  He met her gaze. “To find your mate.”

  Her sudden, sharp intake of breath made her light headed.

  “Every Clan has a rightful ruler, selected by Fate to help bring about peace among the vampires, witches, shape-shifters, and humans. This leader is granted a mate. Someone to bond their life force to, to spend an eternity with, to save them from the curse.” He was back, standing just an inch from her. “You are my mate, Jordan.”

  Please, say something, he wanted to beg but Gabriel clenched his jaw and remained silent. Patients what not a word he’d ever use to describe himself but he’d wait. His heart pounded so loud, he was sure she could hear it.

  Jordan had said she wanted a relationship with, a connection, but what if this was too much? What if she rejected him? There was nothing in the lore that said she had to accept him.

  “What does this mean?”

  He released the breath he hadn’t known he’d been holding. “We are eternally bound.”

  “Whoa.” She swayed and he steadied her by placing a hand on her shoulder. “Sorry. Maybe I should sit.” She shrugged away from his touch and staggered to the bed. Pressing a hand to her temple, she bumped into the mattress and sat down.

  “I never allowed myself to believe in the possibility of finding my mate. I was convinced the Graces would never bless me with such a treasure. I didn’t believe I was the rightful king and, honestly, I welcomed the Death Curse. I’ve lived for so long.” His shoulders quaked with a deep sigh, “Too long. I was tired. When I spoke the vows and became king I was ready to be stripped of my immortality.”

  “You were prepared for…the end.”

  He came to kneel in front of her. He wanted to touch her, to hold her, to caress her so badly, but he kept his distance. “Until you.”

  “But this was an accident, wasn’t it? I mean, you didn’t choose me. I don’t want you to feel we have to be together because of some magic mark. I don’t want you to say you love me because you’re compelled to do so.”

  Compelled. She thought he only wanted her because he had to, because destiny had yoked them together. He had to make her understand. She had to know how much she meant to him, how much he wanted her.

  “Yes, I did.” He reached into his jacket and removed the photo he carried. “I didn’t know it, but I did. You’ve been mine from the start. I fought the hold you had on me, afraid of the change it would bring if I embraced it.”

  “And now?”

  “Now, I wonder why I ever tried to deny you.” He handed her the image. “Over six months ago, I found this photo taped to an empty cell of the first warehouse I raided.” He removed one glove with his teeth and stroked his thumb over the faded image. “Your eyes…they called to me. Even through the picture they pierced my soul.” Swallowing hard he said, “I knew that cell was intended for you.”

  Jordan reached out to him, the tips of her fingers brushed the back of his hand. “You went looking for me.
”

  He nodded and she added, “That’s why you came to the bar, why you offered me that record contract. So you could protect me.”

  She frowned when he scoffed. “I had you in my grasp and they took you from me.” Rage rolled off him a cold waves. His muscles began to quake, suddenly consumed with the need to kill, to annihilate any and every threat. “That night, I snapped. I became obsessed with find you.” He scrubbed his face with his gloved hand. “Jordan, I was willing to do anything to rescue you and I did…everything.”

  “What? Gabriel, what did you do?”

  “I told myself you had nothing to with my decisions. That it wasn’t you that…” His words ended on a rough laugh. “I lied. So many times, I lied to myself, to Gannon, to my Clan.”

  She slipped to the floor beside him. Her heat enveloped him, comforted him though only their hands touched.

  “Tell me,” she softly encouraged.

  Gabriel laughed again, the sound deeper, darker. “For fuck sake, Jordan. The raids, the war, the Clan, the Death Curse, living like damn monk for months on end—it was all for you. I did it all for you.”

  She trembled, her violet eyes glistened with unshed tears. “You searched for me.”

  “Every night.”

  “You came to the auction for me. You risked capture. Death,” she gasped the last word.

  “I would’ve struck a deal with the devil and bartered away the tattered remains of my soul if it would’ve ensured your freedom and happiness.” He gently brushed the knuckles of his gloved hand over her cheek, wiping away the tears that slipped down her face. “I did all of this before I knew you were my mate.” The photo floated to the floor as he tore open his shirt. Buttons bounced between them and rolled across the floor. Gabriel grabbed her wrist and pressed her palm flat against his brand. “I don’t need a ‘magic mark’ to tell me you’re mine or that we belong together.”

  He eased his bruising hold. Her hand moved up and down with his pounding breaths. Another crystal drop fell from the corner of her eye and cascaded down her cheek. This he caught with his lips. She shuddered a sigh and melted against him. Her hands circled his waist, her face burrowed against his chest.