Damn woman.
“Sort of a hook-up?” Erica chuckled as she glanced from the chaise lounge back to them. “So you didn’t meet through Gerri?”
“We did…indirectly.” He handed Viv his phone. “Let Julie know you’ll be right back.”
“Will I then?” she murmured, her eyes lingering on his in invitation. Just long enough that he was a growl away from slamming her back down on that lounge chair and finishing what they started. He’d never wanted a woman like this. Not by a longshot. His eyes trailed after her as she headed off the veranda and made the call.
Erica, meanwhile, had a bemused expression on her face as she watched Viv go. “I like her.”
“You don’t know her.”
“Not yet.” Erica’s eyes returned to his. “But I will, won’t I?”
Their eyes held as Kage weighed his next words carefully. “You knew she was going to spearhead that date at Gerri’s, didn’t you?” He took a swig of beer and kept an eye on his sister. What was she up to? “That’s why you set up a date on my behalf. And, I suspect, why Gerri agreed. You didn’t need to tell her a thing.” He shook his head. “She just knew the minute we all walked in where the pieces were supposed to fall.”
Erica sat forward, braced her elbows on her knees and narrowed her eyes. “Gerri Wilder is a friend and damn good at what she does. That’s all you need to know. She got things heading in the right direction.” She jerked her head toward Vivienne. “The rest is up to you.”
“The rest of what?”
“Dealing with the best first date of your life.”
“It was getting there. If you hadn’t shown up.” He narrowed his eyes. “Why did you show up when you suspected I might be enjoying my date?”
“Because we’ve got trouble.” The look in Erica’s less-than-direct gaze set his teeth on edge. Something was wrong. He’d been so consumed with lust and suspicion that he just caught it.
“What it is, Erica?”
“Hallstein.” She frowned. “You better forget getting laid, and drink up because he’s waiting for you at your favorite bar. More than that, he’s waiting for Viv too.”
“What? Why?” He frowned. “How the hell does he know about her?”
Assuming he didn’t already because Viv was affiliated with him.
“Because I told him,” Erica said.
He was starting to get a bad feeling. “I didn’t realize you two were so chummy.”
“Yeah, well, we are.”
Though tempted to remind her that she was playing with fire, he kept his mouth shut. Mainly because he still didn’t know what team Viv was playing for and he couldn’t risk his sister’s safety. Then again, Erica seemed to be doing a fine job of that all on her own.
“So what’s going on, Erica?”
“There have been some developments.”
He knew she wanted to say more but wouldn’t even risk speaking telepathically until they knew Viv better. Even though he sensed she hadn’t embraced her dragon yet, she seemed to follow some of his thoughts at the bar so who knows what she might pick up. Especially considering she was his mate.
“What sort of developments?” he said.
“The sort that shouldn’t surprise you,” Erica replied. “It seems Hallstein and I are mates.”
Chapter Seven
SON. OF. A. BITCH.
Viv was finally sitting down to dinner with the evilest prick on Midgard. Hallstein. She hid her disgust, smiled and thanked him for the invitation. She hoped she was on the right track. It was risky being here considering how muddled her mind felt. Her eyes flickered to Kage. He had her so turned on and oblivious she hoped to hell she stayed sharp.
When she had returned from talking with Julie on the phone earlier—who happened to be having a great time with the blond hottie—Kage’s attitude had shifted. She didn’t blame him. She couldn’t imagine getting any worse news than finding out his sister was Hallstein’s mate. If that wasn’t enough, it seemed the enemy had caught wind of the date between Kage and Viv and wanted them to join him. Yet her guess was his aggravated mood had nothing to do with either of those things. If anything, he was grouchy because he wasn’t going to get laid.
At least not right now.
Probably never now that she knew who he kept company with.
While she was exactly in the position she’d hoped to be, she felt unexpected disappointment. Actually, more than that. A sharp wave of sadness. Kage was in league with the enemy. That meant any feelings developing between them would have to end. But that was probably for the best. Feelings weren’t allowed in all this. Sex? Sure. But even that needed to be taken off the table now.
After Erica had dropped her bombshell, Kage told his sister they’d meet her at dinner, murmured a chant then brought Viv back to his bike.
“Nice ability…or magic,” Viv commented as she swung onto the back. “Unusual.”
“Yeah, one of my sisters has the same power,” he muttered. “Gateway Seer shit or something like that.”
One of his sisters? So there were more? Better yet, did he have seer blood too?
And “Something like that,” her ass, she thought in regards to his flippant comment. A guy who radiated so much confidence knew exactly what his powers were. And his was a damn handy one as they cruised down one highway then a chant later ended up on another.
They were back in Virginia.
This was it. She was finally going to be face to face with Hallstein. Yet all she could seem to focus on was how much she enjoyed riding with Kage. Like him, the bike was big and beautiful. Its deep rumble only added to the feel of him between her legs. By the time they arrived at the restaurant-slash-club, there was no hiding how aroused she had become.
“You’ll wanna get that under control, darlin’,” he drawled close to her ear after they got off. The sound of his baritone and the feel of his hot breath fanning the side of her neck made her legs tremble and heart race. “There are a lot of male dragons inside who’d enjoy you.” He winked and slapped her ass. “And some female dragons too.”
As it turned out, he wasn’t kidding. But at least they were keeping their distance. It was hard to know if that was because of Kage or Hallstein.
The place was posh, expensive and dark. The dance floor was large and the lighting sporadic and strobing in many areas. A good place for a dragon shifter to hide his sheening skin or catlike eyes if he wanted to.
The perfect location to lure human women.
Hallstein’s crowd took up most of the place. And there could be no doubt his dragons weren’t the most pleasant sort. Maybe at first, but not once they had you. She could tell by the feel of them that they were not only aggressive, but forceful and violent. They weren’t a good representation of their kind and most certainly shouldn’t be milling around with humans. No, they should be buried in the past where they belonged. They should be lifeless carcasses at the bottom of the Norwegian Sea.
Yet here they were. Hundreds of them.
Hiding in plain sight in the twenty-first century.
Hallstein, himself, was spooky as hell. Almost too handsome, his eyes were an unsettling shade of amber, red almost, and his hair inky black. He was too slick. Always watching.
“So how did you find this lovely creature, Kage?” Hallstein murmured, his eyes on Viv. “I had heard there might be a fourth dragon tribe at one time but that it died out.” He cocked his head. “Yet here you are.”
That’s right. Here I am, jackass. The very last thing you expected.
Naturally, Viv kept those thoughts well hidden. About the last thing she needed was this guy worming around in her mind. Yet she knew he was scratching the surface. He was more powerful than most. Which made all of this that much more dangerous.
“We met through a match-making service,” Kage answered before she could.
“Really?” Hallstein’s brow rose slowly as his eyes met Kage’s. “Why, when you never lack for women?”
Based on the looks far too
many women were shooting Kage, that didn’t surprise her in the least.
“Actually, it was my idea.” Erica slid her hand into Hallstein’s then offered a cheshire grin. “And just look, they’re lusting after each other like proper dragon mates.” Her regard turned sly. “I did it for you, you know.” She gave him a pointed look. “Kage belongs to you, and now he’ll be mated to a dragon from a tribe the Sigdirs know nothing about.”
Kage belonged to Hallstein? What the hell did that mean? She almost frowned but kept her expression smooth. Pleasant. Even impressed. The last thing the enemy needed to see was a negative reaction. Because he was paying close attention to her.
“Of course you did this for me, my love,” Hallstein whispered before he pressed his lips to the back of Erica’s hand and closed his eyes. Meanwhile, Erica never took her adoring gaze off of him. If she was playing him, which Viv doubted, she was damn good at it. Flawless in her performance. It couldn’t hurt that she was gorgeous with her tall, lithe build and remarkable features.
Viv’s eyes went to Kage. So he had two sisters that she knew of. And the siblings were clearly spread around the country based on Erica’s New England accent.
Hallstein inhaled and exhaled deeply before he opened his eyes and looked directly at Viv. “Tell me all about yourself, dragon.” A smartly dressed woman started to fill their glasses with very expensive red wine. “Then tell me how you can help me.”
What an arrogant, self-righteous douche. But what had she expected? This was the infamous Hallstein, and she had finally entered his inner circle. Did she feel a nugget of guilt for using Kage to get this far? Yes. And that irritated her because he deserved it being aligned with this monster.
All aside, this was no time to be soft. No time to let emotions get in the way.
So she did her best to ignore Kage’s eyes drilling into her. She was starting to get the feeling he trusted her about as much as she did him. Let him be wary then. Let him try to figure her out. Because he would have to dig deep into her mind to find her secrets. Seeing how they weren’t officially mated yet, she wasn’t too worried. Not really. She clenched her jaw when she recalled their kiss. The lust she couldn’t get under control. The inexplicable draw she already felt toward him.
She forced herself to relax. Enough with lustful or romantic thoughts. Now wasn’t the time to show weakness but the calm self-assurance she had long ago perfected. This was her grand opening to get closer to the enemy. Her unexpected chance to eventually get close enough to end him once and for all.
“I, as I’m sure you’ve already gathered, descend from a faction of your arch enemy.” She made sure her smile was sinister. “The Sigdir clan.”
She sensed rather than saw Kage tense. He hadn’t expected that. Nobody had outside of the enemy based on the slight widening of Erica’s eyes and Hallstein’s smug satisfaction as he murmured, “Tell me more.”
“I don’t know how my branch of the family ended up in America, but we did,” Viv bit out, sure to sound bitter. “Forgotten by the Sigdirs. Isolated.”
“Why not reach out to them?” Hallstein’s gaze was penetrating. “Why not reach out like Erica and Kage’s sisters have?” His eyes blazed red in anger though he seemed perfectly calm. “Why not form alliances with those you call kin?”
Damn it all. Dots were starting to connect that should have sooner, but she had been too blinded by lust for Kage. Now all the pieces were clicking into place. Erica with her northern accent. Multiple sisters. Sigdir dragons. Kage wasn’t a fourth lineage but related to the shifters in Winter Harbor. Which was a piss poor thing considering he was hanging with the bad guy.
“How would I have formed alliances?” Viv shook her head. “I never knew there was a way.” She narrowed her eyes. “And now that I know there is, and nobody reached out only makes me angrier. It only confirms what I knew all along.”
“And what is that, my dear?” Hallstein murmured, a knowing gleam in his eyes.
“That the only alliance I ever wanted to form was with the enemy of my enemy,” Viv said. “And from what I’ve heard, that’s you.” She leaned forward and cocked the corner of her mouth. “Interested in adding a few modern-day Sigdir dragons to your ranks?”
Chapter Eight
KAGE WASN’T SURE if he wanted to throttle Vivienne or screw her.
Maybe a bit of both.
She was a damn modern-day Sigdir dragon? And there were more where she came from? How was that possible? As far as he knew every last Sigdir was living in tenth-century Scandinavia. But what really got his inner dragon fired up was that she had turned on her own blood.
Vivienne was a traitor.
“So a branch of the Sigdirs made it somehow,” Hallstein said, clearly pleased. “I figured they must have.” An oily grin slithered onto his face. “This is good.” His devious eyes narrowed on Viv. “You are very good.”
Kage ground his teeth against his reaction. She might be bad news, but he still didn’t want her to be part of Hallstein’s plans. Because whatever they were, she was dispensable.
“I hope so, Hallstein,” Viv said softly, purred almost, her obvious confidence misplaced given her current situation. But she really didn’t know what that was, did she? No, she was too busy wooing and using those sultry eyes of hers so well, he was surprised Erica hadn’t lashed out at a competing female dragon. But then his sister had her own secrets too, didn’t she? More than he imagined based on this whole shit show.
Determined to play the part he was so good at, Kage downed his glass of wine in one gulp and motioned for the manager to bring his usual. Something a hell of a lot stronger. It would be needed if he was going to have to sit through this. Because something didn’t smell right with any of it.
“Careful, Brother,” Erica said into his mind, seconding his thoughts. “You need to stay on your game. Something feels off about all this.”
Kage couldn’t agree more. And when something felt off that typically meant Hallstein’s diabolical mind was at work.
“So you two are a match, yes?” Hallstein continued, looking between Kage and Viv. “How clever of my mate to do this.” The grin he gave Erica made Kage’s skin crawl. “Yet another connection between a Sigdir and one of your own.”
Erica never missed a beat, her eyes sultry and her confidence unwavering. “But this time it is for you. Under your control, is it not?”
“It is,” Hallstein agreed, pleased as his eyes swung Kage and Viv’s way again. “They are under my control…and all it took was one date to bring them together.”
Kage wished he had his gun or one of his blades based on the distrust in Hallstein’s eyes, but he knew better than to enter this place with a weapon. Not unless Hallstein approved it.
“You make one date sound so insignificant, Hallstein,” Viv murmured as her eyes slid to Kage. “When it’s been…so much more than that.”
“Has it really?” Hallstein inhaled, not convinced in the least. “Usually, every woman who comes around Kage emits…” he made a flourish with his hand. “A certain scent, if you catch my meaning, Vivienne.” His eyes held hers, looking for a kink in her armor. “Yet you have no scent.” His brows drew together. “Are you not attracted to Kage? Does he not arouse you?”
“For fuck’s sake, really?” she replied.
But it wasn’t out loud. Just a thought within her mind. So Hallstein didn’t hear it.
Just Kage.
And she didn’t know it.
He did he best not to react to the sound of her words in his mind. No woman outside of Erica had ever spoken to him telepathically. And hell, probably a good thing based on the way his body responded to Vivienne when her mind brushed against his. Just like that, he was back to wanting to bend her over the table.
“I think you know very well that Kage arouses me,” Viv assured Hallstein. “Just look at him.” She gestured his way. “How could he not?”
There was only one way to fix this. Speak back within her mind. Because that would aut
henticate her arousal for the dickhead across from them. Kage wasn’t cocky. Just realistic. Hearing his voice in her mind would turn her on. It was a given. So he focused on her without looking her way and said, “Which part of me arouses you the most, Vivienne? How much I want to taste between your sweet thighs or how much I wanna feel your tight heat around my cock?”
For the cherry on top, he added some mental images. Ones that had been filling his mind since the moment she yanked off that wig and let her hair down. Maybe even before that.
However good she might be at blocking her arousal on occasion, she couldn’t fight the feeling of having him in her mind for the first time. When her sweet scent hit his nostrils, he couldn’t help a satisfied grin.
Yet when Hallstein inhaled deeply and murmured, “Ah, there it is,” it took about all Kage had not to whip his steak knife straight into the enemy’s jugular. Instead, he tucked it away for possible future use.
Not impressed by or familiar with feeling jealousy, Kage tipped back a shot of liquor and decided it might be better to put some distance between him and Viv. He scanned the club. There were plenty of women looking right back. He stood, about to tell her to enjoy herself, but Hallstein spoke first.
“What a good idea, Kage.” The enemy rubbed his hands together in anticipation. “Get Vivienne on the dance floor and let her scent fill the air. It should make for a great night of fun amongst my dragons, yes?” A wicked smile split his face. “Get them really riled up.”
Though there was nothing but rage in his heart, Kage grinned and winked at the man he had spent years getting to trust him. “You bet, boss.”
He might have expected a few different scenarios when he and Viv ended up on yet another dance floor, but not what she pulled. She was curvier than most and not afraid to use what she had to full advantage. Any other chick trying to gain attention didn’t stand a chance against her.
And Kage was the object of her show.
One performed entirely for Hallstein’s blasphemous approval.
Paranormal Dating Agency: Her Wounded Dragon (Viking Ancestors' Kin, Book 4.5) (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 4
