by Alice Wade
Where they were going was dangerous and would require a little preparation. By group consensus, they agreed to move back above ground in plain sight. They’d been working towards this for a while, but until recently, they didn’t have a location to move to. With this threat, he unveiled his gift to them and announced he’d found a building, a former inn that was fully furnished and ready for them to call their own.
* * * *
Lainey lay there, huddled in a ball, trying to ignore the tickle she felt in her head every time Dace walked too close to the enclosure. A part of her wanted to rush to him, feel his strong arms wrap around her and make all this go away. The other part cringed at the thought of seeing that look of absolute disgust on his face again.
“This hurts,” she moaned as her heart clenched at the thought of not being with him. Her finger felt naked with her ring gone, and her life was empty without his presence to fill it. “This has to get better, it just does,” she said quietly to herself. “ I can’t be without Dace forever.”
Outside, Dace stood leaning against the wall closest to the room. He couldn’t be inside with her for personal reasons and the restrictions placed on him by Talon. Instead, Dace chose to stand right here, where she couldn’t see him and he couldn’t see her.
He heard her muttering and frowned. He still warred with the urge to rush inside and comfort her, cradle her and love her until all her pain went away. That wasn’t the woman he fell in love with though. She was a vampire and not his charming woman.
The woman he loved wouldn’t have removed his ring. Resting his head on the wall, Dace allowed the grief to assault him and let his tears slide down his face. His heart ached, and he accepted things would never be the same again.
* * * *
Kailani felt much better as she strolled into the deserted shantytown. “Looks like they’re moving quickly,” she commented as she and Talon made their way towards the small shack where Lainey rested.
“Obviously,” Talon said flatly. He had hunted in the city above ground and felt quite satisfied. The effects always gave him a little high afterwards, inflaming his sexual appetite. He looked forward to finding a deserted spot to ravage his mate.
Kailani felt his need and smiled. He was broadcasting his unfiltered thoughts to her for the past hour, showing her exactly what he wanted to do to her when they were finally alone. She was just as anxious to be alone with him, but she needed food first and to care for Lainey second. She also wasn’t ready to explain to Talon just what Kaen had done, so evaded his efforts. However, Talon was relentless. At one point, she had to block his images because he almost made her choke while she was eating her first real meal in weeks.
“Talon?”
He broadcast his desire again and she knew it was having the intended effect, but they both had something to do first. Since he wasn’t playing the part of a guardian, she was going to force the issue.
He turned expectantly to her and smiled, “Yes?”
“We have to check on Lainey first.” He met her words with a groan of displeasure but he accepted her statement without argument. “I know you are frustrated, but I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
“In that case, take your time,” Talon replied with a little tease in his voice and he flashed her a predatory grin. He needed her intensely but understood the need to check his newborn ward first. He just felt a bit selfish at the moment and wanted to satisfy his own needs first.
Kailani hissed. “You’re incorrigible. You are going to make me pay for the delay aren’t you?”
“Yes,” he said and laughed, knowing she was smirking at the thought because he could be pretty creative when he put his mind to it.
“Talon, be nice,” Kailani bemoaned. “I didn’t do this to her, so don’t punish me for your frustration.”
She suddenly stopped and turned into his arms. She released a series of images of all the things she wished he’d do to her and then turned away. “I missed you too, you know. I’m just trying to be responsible. I feel a kinship to her. So behave, be nice, and you will be rewarded,” she winked. “If not, find another lover for the night.”
He laughed a deep musical sound as his amusement and joy at having her returned to him, “Too true, love, but you are the only one who can ease the pain and satisfy my need.”
“I love you, Talon, but sometimes you can make being good really difficult.” Then she walked the rest of the way to the shack and entered. Her abrupt entrance surprised Lainey who sat up quickly from her nap. “Sorry,” Kailani muttered as she came and sat on the bed. “We’re back. How are you doing?”
“Fine. I rested. I’m still tired, but feeling much better since...” she stumbled, “…since, uh, you fed me.”
“Excellent.” Talon entered and closed the door. Kailani noticed the significant shift in attitude once he did. Lainey became shy. “Most of the village is gone, so I was going to check with Dace about moving us now. Get us settled before the craziness began.”
“All right,” Lainey was still fixated on Talon as he loomed over both women in the tiny space.
“Don’t mind him,” Kailani waved her hand in his direction and looked back at Lainey.
“How can I ignore him when he’s shouting images I really don’t want to see into my head?” Lainey covered her eyes to mime blocking her sight. Through her fingers, she looked at Kai and caught the rosy blush that colored her cheeks. “He does that to you?” Kailani immediately groaned and hung her head.
Talon rudely chuckled at Kailani’s glare and immediately blocked the images, “Better?”
“Yes. Thank you.”
“All right. I’m going to check in with Dace, and then we can be off. Why don’t you pack what you want to bring and Talon can move it for you.”
“Sure.” She looked around her home and felt a sorrow settle on her. She and Dace had built this themselves, collected each item in here together. Choosing a few things to take would be near impossible because she wanted it all for sentimental reasons. “How much can I take?”
Kailani heard the emotion in her question and looked around the room. “All of it if you like. Dace still needs to pack, so we can ask him to move the rest. Will that work?”
The relief was immediate. “Yes, thank you.” Lainey immediately started sorting clothing and personal items as Kailani and Talon left. She wasn’t even sure where they were moving to, which limited her decision making. Lainey settled on taking only items which belonged to her personally and would sort out the rest later.
* * * *
Upon leaving Lainey’s shack, Talon dragged Kailani towards one of the abandoned buildings and gently shoved her inside. “Since you just signed me up for more manual labor, you will attend me now.”
“Talon, this is really a bad time…” He captured her sensual and tender lips in deep kiss that had her head spinning.
Talon didn’t relent as a smile played on his lips. “I’ve missed you, Kai. I can wait no longer.”
She stood there, dazed and couldn’t find the words to reply. She had missed him too and her entire body was charged now that he officially awoke her fire and set every nerve fiber on overdrive. However, she couldn’t make love to him until she had a chance to explain what Kaen had done. Kai knew in her heart Talon would not be jealous, just upset she’d been harmed. Therefore, she wanted to prepare him. He was just making it really difficult at the moment.
Talon pushed her back with a slight shove, and she landed on her buttocks on the bed. Kailani threw him a nasty look of surprise as he pushed her again to lay flat on her back, his large frame hovering over her. “Now, I expect perfect obedience,” he teased, “You said you would make it up to me.”
“You can be a little pushy sometimes,” she teased back as her hands slipped under his fitted shirt and caressed his ridged muscles. “I don’t think a five-
minute delay with Lainey constitutes punishment.”
“Oh, you are being punished for straying in the first place, love. You never should have been caught, and I’ve suffered for your mistake for weeks.” His lips lowered to her cheek. He planted light kisses along her cheekbone and down towards her ear and neck, setting off a fire between her legs.
The longer his lips caressed her, the more heated she became. “Kiss me,” she said in a raspy voice, heavy with desire.
“Gladly.” He growled, securing her lips and delving his tongue deep into her warm mouth.
Kailani hummed in response as he gently devoured her mouth. Talon repositioned on the bed, elevating his body with his arms, his groin pressing into her opened thighs. “I have missed you, Kai. Being apart from you has been horrendous.”
Her delicate hands cupped his angular face and her silver eyes glowed with affection. “I know. I thought of you constantly. It got me through what Kaen did to me.”
Talon halted at her words. He didn’t want to know the details. He was afraid he would lose control of his anger if he did. Anything that even caused her to say ‘ouch’ elicited such reaction, for he cherished this little woman above his own life.
Instead of letting her talk, he touched her lips again, teasing them into action. Slowly and with extreme gentleness, he kissed her deeply, drawing a sigh from her mouth in the process.
“Talon,” she groaned into his mouth. “We need to talk about what has been done to me.” She knew he was avoiding her.
“Not right now.”
Kailani pushed on his chest in order to see his eyes. “Yes right now. Kaen implanted some memories and you will see them. I would rather we talk about them before you overreact.”
The mood ruined, he lifted off her body and rolled to the bed beside her, their faces side by side and inches apart. She could easily see he was agitated at the topic of hearing of her torture, but she knew she had to prep him. He was too important and their relationship cherished. She wasn’t about to let Kaen get between them.
Kailani trailed her fingers softly along the edge of his ear and watched as his eyes closed in response. “He abused me. Often.” She mentally heard him counting backwards from a ridiculously high number. “Not just by him, but his entire coven.” Kai paused. “There is more. King Ondre also used me to practice on, knowing I healed quickly. Kaen allowed it and watched, knowing this would get to you.” His lack of response to her confession was causing her to worry. “Talon?”
Talon continued to count, his mental voice grew louder as he fought for emotional control.
“Love, please look at me.” She was being slowly eaten alive knowing he was hurt by this. “Have you heard me?”
“Yes.” He growled dangerously low, “The list of vampires who will die at my hand just increased.” His gorgeous eyes finally looked sideways at her and he said with perfect clarity, “And I’ve added a king. I’ve never killed a king before, but I’ll kill him too.”
“Talon, stop. Listen. I got out. I’m alive. I’m here with you. I want you to hear this because those memories…those situations, well Kaen implanted them to be broadcast to you when we made love. He did it to torment you.”
“So, I’m supposed to forget the fact that my mate…who is my life…was sexually abused by numerous vampires while I did nothing to protect you? Is that what you are asking?”
She wilted under his anger as it rolled off him in waves. “Yes.”
“What is it that we’ve always said? If we get captured, we do anything to get out alive.” Talon leaned closer and practically hissed, “Anything.”
He was angry that she’d been harmed and he was useless to stop it. There was nothing he could do about that now except kill those responsible. He kissed the tip of her nose and continued, “I’ll deal with the images, but I’ll not forgive or forget. Ever. You were harmed and there will be retribution. End of story.” His anger surged and needed to move. In a smooth motion, he left the bed and prowled the small space like a caged animal.
She sat up and when he walked close enough, snagged him around the waist and hugged him tight. She knew her next request would be near impossible for him to agree to, but she needed him to accept. She was desperate for him to not put himself in harm’s way. Kailani rested her head on his lower abdominal muscles feeling how tense he was at hearing this confession. “Talon, do you love me?”
“Of course.” Her head was snuggled close to his skin. He tried to resist her yet found his hands in her hair, running his fingers through her silky locks. The feeling calmed him immediately. She hurt and his reaction was not helping.
“If you love me, you’ll do this for me. Don’t avenge my abuse. If you do, you put yourself in danger and I could lose you.” She touched the now healed mark where the sword had entered his body hours before. His hunting earlier and his expedited healing abilities allowed the wound to heal completely. “I can’t handle that.”
“You are never to be harmed, Kailani. Ever.” The last word was a vicious snarl.
“I ask you do this for me Talon. Forget for me.”
“No.” Talon sucked in his breath when her hands freed his erection in a quick motion and quickly grasped the heated shaft stroking him firmly. She used his own burning need for her against him. “You can’t convince me doing that, Kailani.”
“No?”
“No.” His head was tilted back and his eyes closed as she continued to massage him. He wasn’t aware of her moving until he felt the searing heat of her mouth as she accepted him into her depths. Talon released a sound that was purely savage and animalistic as her small mouth suckled him.
“Kailani,” he whimpered. “Please don’t ask that of me.”
She continued to manipulate him, alternating the pressure of her tongue and coercing his mind in a desperate attempt to drag his agreement from his lips. As she moved, his hips bucked and pushed against her, driving deeper and fighting to keep his cock sheathed in her moistness.
Her hands snaked around to cup his firm buttocks. Talon was wound tight so each muscle was rock hard and flexed. Releasing him momentarily, she looked up to see his pleasure tormented face and knew he was close to his first release. But not close to agreeing.
In a quick motion, Kailani dropped his trousers to the floor, freeing him completely of the confines of clothing. She ran a hand down his formed muscles and massaged his thighs, slipping back to his buttocks for purchase.
She loved everything about this man. From the moment he walked out of the night in that clearing so many years ago, she knew she was lost to his charm. He was her world. With the mating came the bond which tethered them even tighter than a normal married couple. She knew as well as Talon, that if either were lost, the other would die. Kai wasn’t ready to lose him, so she needed to secure his agreement not to avenge her assault.
Once he saw what Kaen and the others had done, he would be beside himself with rage and she needed to secure this approval before he witnessed it himself. Hearing it was one thing, seeing it was another. She needed to know he would not put himself in harm’s way to prove a point. In addition, she was willing to pull out any trick to get him to agree.
Her mouth captured the long shaft again, not as gentle as before and worked him into a fit of desire. Talon moaned in a steady hum as she drew him quickly toward his blissful release. .
“Kailani.” He moaned again. “I can’t hold out any longer.”
She spoke directly into his mind, “Then don’t.”
He relinquished control and screamed aloud as the burning seed shot from his shaft into her mouth. When finished, she looked up at him with silver eyes sparkling with desire and love. She searched his face of her success and sagged in defeat.
“You always know how to please me,” he said in a voice filled with awe and satisfaction.
“Because I l
ove you.”
“And I you.” His eyes narrowed. “But I still won’t agree to your request.”
Kailani lay back dramatically on the bed and threw her arms out to the side. “Why are you being so difficult?”
Talon glared down at her with a creased forehead. “Kai,” he growled. “You are never to be harmed, ever.” As he spoke, he bent down and removed his boots which prevented him from fully getting unclothed. “Why is this so difficult for you to grasp?”
She watched hungrily as he undressed and approached the bed. A purring sound caught in her throat at the sight. She said the first profound thought that came to her mind, “I thought I would never see you again. There was a moment where I lost hope that you wouldn’t come and I was devastated. That hurt me.” She watched his eyes darken at her words. She knew they would have a powerful effect, because she accused him of hurting her too.
“I never want to feel that again. Your lack of agreement to not retaliate and wanting to defend my honor scares the hell out of me. Don’t do it. I can’t take it.”
This shook Talon out of his stubbornness. He was all right with hearing her ordeal because he held onto the fact she had faith he would come. That hope, that confidence he would never abandon her are what got her through the torture and the separation. Or so he believed. To hear that she actually lost that hope for a time rattled him. He was just as guilty as Kaen and that infuriated him to no end.
He pinned her to the mattress wearing a very intense expression, “Say that again?”
She wasn’t clear on what point he wanted her to repeat. Narrowing her eyes, she asked, “I don’t want to lose you?”
“No, not that,” he hissed.
Kailani looked away by turning her head and admiring the wall, “I lost hope that I would ever see you again.”
“Yes, that.” He gently turned her face back to him, “You know that I would never leave you. In addition, I know you’d never leave me. It is the foundation of what we do because what we do is so dangerous. If we don’t have an unshakable belief that one of us will come. Kai…” his eyes pleaded with her. “You said you had faith. I believed that.”
