The air in the room changed. Axel strode in, his bare chest marked with angry red-and-black streaks.
Darcy jumped up. “What happened?”
He went to her, wrapping his thick arms, which were marred with the same ugly marks, around her. “I’m fine.”
“You’re burned.”
Anxiety rippled down Ginny’s back as the marks began fading. Darcy was healing him. But what were they from?
“Sutton! You too.” Carla went to the bald man as he strode in.
“Ram.” Ginny shot up, worry churning her stomach as she recognized the marks. “Those are electrical burns.”
Axel turned, his eyes shadowed, face tense. “We drained most of it. He’s okay.” Sighing, he added, “For now. Go see him, Gin. Darcy and I will sleep here in the infirmary.”
The need to get to Ram pushed at her spine, but Axel and Darcy were both tired too. “There’s only twin beds and—”
His mouth twitched. “Darcy’s a witch, she can magically stretch the bed to accommodate us.” Shifting his gaze to the woman he held, he laid his palm on her face. “But it wouldn’t matter as long as she sleeps with me.”
The kitchen closed in, too thick with intimacy and the confidence of knowing whatever the future held, you faced it together. The need to find and help Ram took precedence over everything else. “Where is he?”
“Weight room in the gym. He’s drained of most electrical energy, but the bloodlust is riding him hard.”
He needed sex. All the unmated hunters used sex to ease the bloodlust. No he needs Shayla, his soul-mirror witch. Bitter-tasting jealousy spiked as she headed out into the crisp, desert-dry, early-morning air. She launched into a run, crossing the distance easily—being a halfling had a few perks. Going around to the entrance, she opened the door. Pounding music blasted her.
After jogging down the hallway, she stopped in the doorway of the weight room, which was filled with racked weights, benches, various pull-up bars, and Ram. He’d stripped down to loose shorts and shoes, and stood with his legs shoulder-width apart as he raised a fully loaded barbell from the top of his chest, straight up and back down. There had to be three hundred pounds of weight on the bar, yet he did it with extreme precision.
A sheen of sweat emphasized the sinewy muscles popping in his arms, shoulders and back.
Ram racked the bar with a clang and turned.
Her mouth dried. His once-regulation-cut blond hair had grown a few inches long and had a wildness that made her want to drag her fingers through it and keep going, over the stark planes of his face, the granite edge of his jaw, to trace all the lines of his powerful body. Dropping her gaze to the bronze thunderbird tattoo inked on his chest, she fought back tears. The creature had his wings up, with two streaks of lightning fanning out from his barely open eyes. That bird hated her.
The endless well of loneliness churned inside her. Each night, Ram let her press up against him to fall asleep, although he was careful not to touch her with his hands. Then she woke alone to find he’d moved to the floor, afraid he’d burn her while they slept. Would he turn away from her now? Going inside, she shut the door. “I’m not leaving. You need sex.”
Ram stilled, only the barest movement in his chest indicating he continued to breathe. He took one step toward her. “Wrong.”
The quiet challenge in his voice matched the pantherlike way he stalked her. Watched her. “I’m right.”
“Willing to stake your…” he dragged his gaze down her tank top and shorts, “…safety on it?”
Was he trying to scare her? “You won’t hurt me. I heal fast. I’m a halfling, not a fragile mortal.” Her skin tingled at the memory of the way he’d used his sparking fingers to ramp up her desire. She’d loved the slight bite of pain mixing with pleasure. Her skin tightened, and every touch of his gaze sent tiny bolts of heat through her.
“I don’t just need sex. You’re more than sex. You’re my angel. I’ve always had a control kink, but you bring out the primal beast in me.”
“I do?” This wasn’t about the electrical energy, it was about something deeper. More basic.
“Oh yeah. Right now, he’s clawing at me, raging for me to take you. Not just sex. But take you. Pin you to the ground, under my control, and bury my cock in you so deep that you can’t get away and vanish.” His voice pitched down to gravel. “So every being in the whole damned universe knows you’re mine.”
Her pulse skittered, her nipples ached, and she squeezed her thighs together.
“Four nights since you got here…” he took another step until three feet remained between them, “…I’ve held back, kept in control so the electrical energy didn’t hurt you. But that’s drained down to a spark, and my control is fraying by the second. If you don’t want the real me, then turn around and go out that door.”
Her entire body hummed with sensual energy. Need. “Not leaving. I—”
Ram shot forward, scooped her up and dropped her down to the mat. Before she could gasp, he slammed his mouth over hers, kissing her possessively.
He tasted wild and untamed, like the jungle—where animals fought for dominance. Ginny wouldn’t go down easily. No, she wanted him to fight to tame her. Adrenaline flooded her muscles. Hooking her leg around his, she flipped him to his back.
Ram reared up instantly, grabbing for her.
Excitement sent another wave of elation through her. She threw herself to the right, rolled and came up into a dead run. Without looking back, she laughed, knowing she’d caught him by surprise. The sound spilled from her heart as her aura flared out, her halfling power surging. This was the real her—half mortal, half angel and all woman. Leaping over a weight bench, she reveled in the sheer freedom of flying.
A force slammed from behind, and arms snapped around her and rotated her. She landed with her back on Ram’s chest. She tried to struggle, but Ram locked his thighs around her, pinning her to him. His chuckle brushed by her ear and slid to her belly. A throb bloomed between her thighs, making her wet and needy.
“Your aura’s out, angel. You looked like a goddess leaping like that.”
“Let go and I’ll do it again. This time you won’t catch me.”
“Too late. I have you.” He kissed that tender spot by her ear, and used one hand to push up her shirt and bra, exposing her breasts. Then he unbuttoned her shorts and shoved them down to her thighs, all the while holding her pinned.
“Ram.” It slid out as a plea.
He shifted, rolling her to her knees. “Can’t wait. Now.”
“Yes!”
With an arm hooked around her waist, he helped her face the padded weight bench. “Hold on.”
Ginny flattened her hands on the black padding. She moaned as Ram leaned over her back, lining up his cockhead to her entrance.
“Mine, Ginny.” He thrust in, impaling her. His chest pressed her to the weight bench. One thick arm lay next to hers, and his other hand slid down her belly and circled her clit with a maddeningly light touch.
Tiny sparks teased but didn’t hit the mark. He pumped in and out in smooth, easy strokes while holding her, surrounding her, controlling her.
Hot tension built with every thrust, higher and higher.
Not enough. He held her there on that edge, need coiling tighter, ache throbbing deep in her pelvis, just out of reach. “Ram.”
He sucked in a breath, his cock swelling inside her. “Beg,” he growled.
That threw her so close to the edge, she hurt and she loved this—the way they stripped each other down to their bare selves with no fear. No reserve. The need climbed into her throat and she implored, “Please, Ram. God, please. Only you can give me this.”
“Fuck.” His control broke, and he reared up and slammed into her, driving her higher, energy sizzling between them.
Then his fingers pinched her clit, sparks shooting into the nerve center.
Ginny cried out as her orgasm exploded, her body bowing beneath the wild pleasure. Ram was right there,
coming hard as he panted against her ear.
* * *
Ram held Ginny in his bed, caressing her skin, her aura down to a soft glow in the dark room. It was edging toward sunrise, but he didn’t want to lose a moment of this time with her by sleeping. “I don’t know how long this drain will last.”
His fingers sparked lightly as he cupped her breast, but he didn’t mark her skin or hurt her.
God, he couldn’t bear the thought of injuring her. He didn’t care how strong she was or how fast she healed, he wanted to protect her, not cause her harm.
“You used Axel and Sutton to drain the electricity?” Ginny asked. “Both of them had burn marks.”
“I was so jacked with the electrical power, my veins had a toxic glow. Once we got back to the academy, Axel insisted I try draining the electrical energy on him.” He grinned. “I did it and shocked the fuck out of him. The jolts were harsher than he expected.” Yeah, he and A went back a ways. Once, they’d been equally matched. Then Axel got wings and an edge on Ram. It was nice to even things up. “But it’s not going to work for too long. Axel’s strong and immortal, but soon it’s going to be enough to disable him for a time, and we can’t afford to have our hawk down. Same with Sutton too.”
She trailed her fingers up his arms. “I talked to Risa about that before she got sick.”
A stab of regret pierced him. He’d never forgive himself for letting Risa go in that room without Linc chained. If he had been restrained, maybe then Risa wouldn’t have felt compelled to use her shield magic to keep them out. “Does she know something about the thunderbird?”
“No. But we discussed a lightning rod…”
Ram grew intrigued as he listened to the plan to create a shielded box to contain the electrical energy. Could it work? If it did, then he’d be able to hold Ginny and make love to her. A glimmer of hope flickered. This was what he wanted, to embrace his angel, care for her, and not see that look of desolation in her eyes when he was afraid to touch her and accidently shock her.
Stroking his hand, she finished with, “If Risa recovers and can do it, it’ll work. Look at how you are now that you drained it off on Axel and Sutton. And if she can’t, maybe Carla and Darcy can figure out a way.” Turning to face him, she said, “Will you try it?”
He’d do anything for Ginny. “Yes. I’ll get a rod and find an insulated box, and then we’ll see what happens with Risa.” He tucked her closer. “I know it hurts when I can’t touch you. And when I leave the bed. I hate it too.”
She pressed against him. “I’m scared to sleep without you. If you’re holding me, I feel like my father can’t take me. But when I’m alone…”
Ram couldn’t bear thinking about it. Ginny being gone from him, completely out of his reach, would destroy him. But knowing what would happen to her when her angel sire stripped her of all her emotions, leaving her a shell, ripped a hole in his guts. “That’s why I stay close. Even if I can’t touch you and sleep on the floor, I’m here. I won’t let him have you.”
“All this is just a Band-Aid. You have to find out what happened with the thunderbird to fix this.” She lifted her head. “Have you talked to Shayla any more about this mystery man she’s looking for?”
“No.”
Her entire body tensed, and her aura blinked out entirely. “She told you on the phone she needs more magic to unlock her mother’s witch book. That comes from being near you.”
The bird in his ink sent a crackle of hot energy down his arms, then it fizzled into limp sparks. The energy drain still held, but the internal pull woke up.
The need for Shayla.
Fuck. Ram loved Ginny with every breath he had, and she needed him to keep her in this realm and out of her father’s cold clutches.
The bird wanted Shayla and was willing to hurt anyone, and kill him, to get her.
“I don’t want Shayla, I want you.”
“But you need her. And she needs you.”
Her tortured whisper cut him worse than any knife. The truth often did.
~ 17 ~
The sudden pain ripped her from sleep. It hurt. Like knives slicing her belly. Her baby—something was wrong.
Nausea roiled, and Risa stumbled out of bed, barely able to stand before she made it to the dresser in her huge room. The bathroom, she had to—
“Sick?”
That low voice wrenched through her. Clutching the top of the dresser, she lifted her gaze to her father. Vic Faden wore silk lounging pants, his thick chest covered in a light dusting of hair. His eyes were dark blue, just like Risa’s. But while her hair was sweaty and lank from sleep and sickness, his had a perfect, careless wave. “I must have eaten something bad.” Another biting pain stabbed her belly, doubling her over.
“No doubt from the powder I put in your tea tonight.”
His icy words pierced her building agony. Unable to straighten, she craned her head up. “What?”
“To induce abortion.”
He knew about the baby. Oh God, she was only four months along.
“I got it from a witch. I’m told you’ll spend a day or two in misery, but won’t die.”
Her baby! She had to save her baby. She sucked in air and tried to force open her chakras. Was it too late, or could she shield the child? The pain ripped through her, but she got one chakra opened, then two. Magic trickled out in a thin, uncertain stream. Risa wove her hands, struggling to gather the strands and build a shield. Even just a bubble around her child.
Agony sliced hot and vicious down her center. Something wrenched in her belly. Her thin, fragile shield shattered like an eggshell. He was doing it, killing her baby.
Sudden adrenaline powered through her. Escape. Run. Her father stood in the doorway to the hall, so she spun, racing for the doors to her balcony. She made it past her bed and the pink-striped chair, reaching for the French door.
A hand caught her hair, whipping her around. He just stared at her. Once, she’d loved him, adored him. He was so handsome, and he always smelled good. He’d bought Risa her beloved pet miniature horse, Shelby.
And years later, he’d shot the animal right in front of her as punishment for warning one of his marks.
“You’re a monster.”
His lips moved into something cold as he slammed his fist into her stomach.
“Risa.”
Terror gripped her throat. Her father was in her room again. She rolled away, flying off the bed, running. Where to? Wait, this didn’t look like her room. The bed was too big, with a heavy dark-wood frame. Confusion and fear drove her to get away. She ran out of the bedroom into a sitting area and spotted a door.
She had to escape—
She slammed into a massive chest. Hands gripped her shoulders. Fisting her fingers, she punched and then yelped. Ugh, like hitting a damned Hummer.
A warm palm lodged beneath her chin and forced her gaze up.
Golden eyes stared back at her. “I’m not going to hurt you.”
The liquid voice flowed over her terror and brushed her skin with feathery softness. The familiar sensation stirred memories, but they slid away as more pain pierced her skull and stole her breath. Screams bounced in her head, trying to drag her away. She didn’t want to go and squeezed her eyes shut, clenching her fists.
Gentle fingers brushed across her forehead, down her jaw, skimming her throat. In the distance, she heard a bird singing. The rise and fall of that sound soothed and drew her.
Her magic bubbled low in her pelvis and up the center line of her belly, and the pain began to lessen. As the fierce stabbing softened and the bird’s singing steadied her, flashes of clarity cut in.
She eyed the familiar man stroking her face. “Linc?”
His fingers kept brushing her skin, sending warm tingles of relief. “You know me?”
“I…” She frowned. “I think so. I mean…” Images flickered then winked out. What was wrong with her?
“It’s okay, love. Don’t try too hard.”
Another
memory opened. She and the man had been in this room and he’d kissed her. Her lips tingled just thinking about it. “You kissed me.” A slow kiss that had built to something more, like he’d wanted to kiss her forever.
His mouth curved in a grin and melted more of her fear. “I did. But right now I want you to rest. Come back to bed.”
Confusion sprayed a fine mist in her mind, dampening the sounds of the bird. “Why am I here?”
“So we can take care of you. Protect you.”
There were others here? Old fear and panic edged along her nerves. “There’s more men?” Why had she thought him different? How many men would she be forced to let use her before her father showed up and killed everyone?
His fingers tightened on her jaw for an instant. Then he took a deep breath, expanding his brawny chest. “No.” Stepping back, he turned around. Gazing over his shoulder, he said, “Just me and the falcon.”
Inked over the surface of his back was a stunning creature. The sight of the bird eased and comforted her with a deep familiarity and connection she didn’t quite understand. She knew him, recognized him so deep in her bones, as if the bird were an essential part of her. Unable to stop, she drew her fingers over the big tat. There were odd ridges beneath the color that troubled her. They shouldn’t be there, but she couldn’t work out why. Instead, she laid her palm on the bird’s chest. Warmth chased out the cold in her, slowing her breaths. A quiet broken only by the singing of the bird filled her mind, and against her palm she felt a fast beat.
A heartbeat. Every tap of that tiny yet powerful bird heart made the room more vivid, her thoughts clearer. A new sensation joined the heartbeat, the soft brushes of his wings fanning her magic.
Hot tears burned as reality snapped into focus. “How long have I been like this?” Her voice sounded as broken as she felt.
Linc hesitated, his shoulders bunching beneath her hand.
“Tell me. Please.” She didn’t know, couldn’t track time. She’d surfaced a few times but couldn’t hold on no matter how hard she’d tried.
“Two days. But you’re improving, I swear it.” He reached back and settled his large hand on her hip. “Each time you come back, you’re staying longer.”
Caged Magic Page 21
