Talon

by Alice Wade

  “Well done.” Kailani congratulated. “We’ll leave you now. Rest while you can before the frenzy begins.”

  She didn’t hear that last bit, because Dace was becoming aware. He adjusted her so he could look into her face. His expression was filled with such love that her heart nearly burst. “Did you get enough?”

  “Thank you Dace.”

  He responded by tightening his hold on her, “I wasn’t joking last night and didn’t speak in haste. I love you. I’ll do anything for you.” He touched his neck, surprised to find no a mark on his skin. “Even this.”

  Her lips found his unerringly. She kissed him passionately, swallowing his moan.

  His arms wrapped around her torso and before she could object, he had her beneath him while he took over the kiss, toying with her mouth. Dace didn’t give the fleeting thought that he was still alive a moment’s pause before he completely devoured the woman in his embrace.

  He had her shirt open in seconds, cold air causing her body to form goosebumps and a slight sound to emanate from her throat. His eyes twinkled mischievously just before his warm hand cupped her breast, running his thumb over the stimulated nipple. That was enough to set Dace on fire as he pressed his erection against her body, grinding his need into her with such fervor. She returned his attention by writhing on the bed under his body.

  “Has it started?” he asked between kisses.

  “No, this is all for you,” she replied in a husky tone and felt him position between her legs.

  Dace released a howl as he as his entire shaft was encased in her warmth. Sounds of their lovemaking filled the room, for this was not a moment of tenderness. This instead was a chaotic moment where he released his fear of nearly losing her and nearly dying. He moved frantically. He moved rough. He craved her. He needed her and would do just about anything to keep her. He understood that now.

  He wanted to make damn sure their bodies slid together so that he touched her clit as much as possible. He was crazed, moving to connect with her and send her flying through her release. Dace was rewarded for his efforts as her velvety soft walls exploded in a grip which stole the breath from his lungs as Lainey shattered.

  Dace listened to the soft mewing sounds muttered from her swollen and sensual mouth and knew he was never going to lose her again. That was his last thought before he resumed his frantic pace and thrust into her with a reckless abandon.

  He followed her not long after, crying her name. The sensation charged him, curled his toes and drew another labored moan that he hollered into the feather pillow.

  Dace finally collapsed onto the bed with her beneath him. He just lay there, propped on his elbows, as his hands cupped her sweaty face, gently stroking her cheeks with his thumbs. The fear that he could lose her at any moment gripped his soul. He couldn’t let that happen, for he wasn’t sure he could survive a world without her in it.

  “I’m addicted to you. You’re my life and I’m so grateful you gave me a second chance.”

  She tried to catch her breath while she recovered. Looking into his eyes filled her with a sense of amazement. What she read there was utter devotion. Before all this happened, they’d loved each other. Having lost it and found this love again, she felt the intensity increase and knew things would never be the same as before. They would be better.

  * * * *

  Talon stood with crossed arms and angrily watched the door to Lainey’s room close. “That was very dangerous.”

  Kailani ignored him as she walked past, heading straight for their room instead.

  “Kailani, explain yourself.” Talon was furious with her that she over rode his decision to protect both Dace and Lainey. Peeling off the wall, he followed, still furious that her decision could have harmed Lainey mentally. His concern for her well-being peaked tonight and that was enough to cause him to overreact.

  She sighed, “Have a little faith in Lainey. She wouldn’t kill Dace any more than I’d kill you.”

  “You put her in a dangerous position. I don’t like it.”

  Silver eyes flashing and teeth bared, Kailani spun on her mate. Rationally she knew he was just being protective of a youngling he had adopted. However, the irrational side of her, the one not used to sharing Talon’s affection lashed out. “You sound as if you are protecting more than your ward. Is there something that I should know? Are you replacing me?”

  Kailani winced once the words left her mouth. She knew she sounded childish, but then again, she’d always been jealous when it came to Talon.

  He moved before she could even draw a breath and had her mouth covered in a vicious kiss. He pinned her with his lean body so hard that she whimpered until he lessened his grip. Once he did, Kailani threw herself into the embrace and matched his ardent attention.

  He slammed her back against the wall. She saw that in his passion, mixed with both anger and desire; his fangs were also bared. “Never say such a thing again. You are my mate. You are the only one I love. You are the one who brought this newborn into our lives, not me. She is my ward now because of your decision, and therefore in my care.”

  Talon gentled his next kiss which became more sensual than the first one. With the way he pressed so intimately against her body, he felt his body respond. He craved her, accepting without question that he did so every waking moment of every day.

  The flash was gone in her eyes only to be replaced by a simmering heat of her desire. “I’m sorry I said that. I’ll admit, I’m having a difficult time with Lainey and you spending time together. I know rationally that it is what it is—harmless. It’s just that my instinct to protect my status as your mate sometimes flares, like now.” Her tiny hand combed through his short hair, pausing to caress his silky smooth cheek beneath this ever present stubble.

  When he didn’t pull back, she proceeded to stroke his long, pointed ears in delicate touches. Touches like that always sent little sparks of pleasure though his entire body and put him instantly into a fit of frantic desire. Kailani found her tiny body being carried to the bed and practically thrown to the mattress. She still felt his anger simmering beneath the surface for what she’d done. “She loves him as I love you. She wouldn’t harm him anymore that I would harm you. Trust her.”

  His fury surged forward and he loomed over her in full vampire essence. He was conflicted. Talon warred with being angry at her for what she’d done, as well as, the desire she awoke in him. It was too much right now. All the stress from earlier and now this drew his face into a tortured frown before he was abruptly gone, stalking from the room and out of the door.

  Confused, Kailani took a few deep breaths to calm her racing heart. She slowly followed, allowing him a few moments to collect his thoughts. He had blocked his mind from hers, therefore she had no clue as to what just happened. Using her strong bond to him and his scent, she set off in pursuit.

  She found him squatted on the edge of the building surveying the city below as if hunting. But she knew better. His body language told of an internal battle, not one of hunger. Kai chose to remain motionless at the door, watching. She didn’t want to disturb him yet.

  “I know you’re there, love,” he finally called. Talon turned just his upper body to level her with an intense stare that stole her breath. He was still angry but the look invited her to approach.

  She did and leaned next to him on the wall, “Something else is bothering you entirely. You haven’t told me everything that happened just now, did you?” Kailani tilted her head up to meet his lovely blue eyes.

  Talon took a moment to appreciate her before he reached out and ran tickling feather light touches along her upturned chin. “No.”

  “Tell me.” She demanded, silver eyes flashing for a moment then stilled as she saw the concern in his eyes.

  He hesitated, “Warwick is here.”

  She hissed as her head pulled away and
down. Now this explained his behavior. “Did you face him, Talon?”

  “Yes.” When she looked at him sharply, he wore a truly sinister smirk. “I marked him a traitor, as I did Kaen.”

  “You should not have done so alone,” she berated, arms crossed.

  “I couldn’t’ pass up the opportunity. It’s been, what, a hundred and fifty years since we’ve enjoyed each other’s company?” Talon snorted at the memory of what Warwick once meant to him. He was a brother, part of what little family Talon was able to create. When he betrayed them both, Talon vowed never to take such a risk again and convinced himself that Kai was all he needed. Until now. Now they had Lainey.

  Kailani paled. “What have you set into motion, my mate?” Her anger built to a crescendo. “We agreed to leave him alone. He made his choice and left,” she snarled.

  Shrugging, Talon returned to looking down below as if searching for something. “He deserved it.” His angelic face watched each minute detail of the hustle and bustle below. He turned back into the bottomless pits of her silver eyes and said. “No one hurts you Kai and goes unpunished. No one.” There was foreboding in his tone that caused Kailani to shiver. She knew that tone and dreaded what it meant.

  “Tell me this is not about me,” Kailani demanded in a horrified tone. “What happened, happened. Let it go.”

  “Can’t do that, Kai. He is damned twice in my book. It will give me extreme satisfaction to finally kill him.” His smirk reappeared. “It’s nice he finally made an appearance so I can finish this at last. I’ve even set additional wards around the building in case he tries something, so pay attention. Knowing him, he’ll see this as an opportunity to harm you again.”

  “His arrival means something, but what?”

  Talon had not moved from his squat, so she tugged him to face her.

  Anger surged forth, his eyes blazing bright, “Kaen is up to something. Whatever it is, it will be soon. Warwick does not appear without a good reason and he is usually riding the gale winds before the storm.”

  “This I know. You have an idea what it is. Tell me.” She softened her tone and watched him expectantly.

  “I think Kaen is taking the kingdom, love. That we cannot allow.”

  * * * *

  Herald’s horns sounded once more, announcing the newly betrothed couple. Kaen and Deandra remained behind watching the reaction from the shadow of the tapestries and the two rather large doors. Before them, the hall was alight with hundreds of candles which set off a spectacular display of flickering pinpricks of light.

  King Ondre had asked that the feast be grand this evening, so news spread like a fire that some announcement was to be made. Hundreds showed up to court in their finest and towed wives, mistresses, and wards in their wake. The men were dressed in velvet doublets with well-oiled boots that reflected the candle light; each of them trying to impress their liege of their importance. On their arms their women were draped in the finest silks stuck over tight corsets, putting much too much flesh on display.

  Deandra smirked at the scene with all those desperate courtesans before turning to Kaen. She had seen enough of their pathetic display of feigned happiness.

  “Kaen, we must make an appearance soon.” Deandra whispered as she watched the scene before them through the cracks in the tapestries. Her eye caught the mostly healed cut on his face. “One of these days, you will have to tell me how it is that you can heal from a normal cut, but the sword of Talon burns you to scar.”

  His head flinched away as her delicate hand caressed the mark.

  “Once you are converted, you will learn to heed his weapons well. His elven magic is designed to kill us, and he has worked that foul curse within his blades. He hunts us, my dear, and as you stand now at my side, you too, become the hunted.”

  Deandra waved him off. “I’ll be queen. He won’t touch me,” she said with a calm assurance that came from her mixture of true ignorance and arrogance.

  Kaen laughed at her stupidity. “Think again, my beautiful bride. Think again.” Jovially, he pulled her to his side. “I think we’ve given them enough gossip for the night. They are probably thinking that right now, we’re back here engaging in rude behaviors,” he winked, “improper for an unwed couple.” He encouraged that gossip though. Kaen needed this plan to work which meant having a certain mystique about his and Deandra’s quick engagement.

  With a quick glance through the tapestry, he found members of his coven spreading mental coercions of such behaviors at this very moment. Kaen knew the planted thoughts were working when more than one lady blushed.

  Kaen motioned, and two servants practically fell over themselves to open the hall doors. It amazed Kaen how well timed out and orchestrated the entire evening was.

  King Ondre made the announcement moments before the horns sounded, sending a confused audience into a state of shock. What followed next were images blasted out by Kaen’s men of a happy couple who would return the city to a prosperous state.

  Oh, Kaen laughed, if the fools only knew.

  When the announcement horns finally sounded, Kaen read from their minds an overwhelming joy at their arrival rather than the suspicion from before. Smirking again, he couldn’t have orchestrated this any better.

  Deandra beamed at his side as they walked down the steps to their seats to the right of the king. Kaen watched the king as he approached. Ondre tried not to look dour; however it was impossible to wipe the nasty sarcastic sneer from his evil little face. Kaen looked forward to when he could rid himself of this filth once and for all.

  He leaned down and whispered, “Why, your brother looks almost happy, does he not?”

  Her head turned in Ondre’s direction and dipped in respect, “No, sir, I think you are mistaking it for flatulence.”

  Kaen couldn’t help himself. He barked a loud laugh and hugged her to his side. Maybe she wouldn’t be so horrible to keep around after all. Ever since she threw herself into this game, she’d been quite the conspirator. “You’re a treasure, Deandra.”

  “Right, until you find a way to be rid me. I’m no fool.” This entire conversation took place in hushed tones and behind the mask of the ever-present smile they each wore, slowly walking arm in arm down the long carpeted aisle.

  “Just make yourself of worth to me, dear Deandra and maybe, just maybe I’ll prove you wrong.”

  “We’ll see,” she commented before she took her seat and the servants pushed her chair in.

  * * * *

  “Kailani, I think it’s time to call in a few favors.” Talon still brooded. The two had hunted earlier and were now entwined naked on their bed in a sweaty tangle. He had been relentless and Kai was exhausted.

  While they were out hunting, they picked up on the news of the feast as it spread all over the city and had to check it out. They found hundreds of people gathered outside the castle gates to hear what news could be passed through the lips of servants as they rushed outside to tell it.

  Seeing Kaen’s men working their way through the crowd, Talon and Kailani decided not to stick around. They didn’t want to risk getting caught. They asked Dace to send out a few of his own renegades to see if they could learn something and now they waited.

  His inviting wink killed her. She gave up. She lay back on the sheets and threw her arms out to the side in a dramatic gesture of surrender. “You just won’t let this go tonight, will you?”

  He laughed warmly as he gathered his mate into his arms and rolled until she was now sitting on his lap. Talon collected a pillow for his head, getting comfortable before running his large strong hands over the sides of her waist. His meaning was clear. “No, I won’t. I’ve been thinking about this all night.”

  Kailani knew she was powerless whenever he got like this. He was in a mood to please her and he definitely was on the right path. When their bodies joined intima
tely, she submitted to his charm and let him love her.

  “Ooh, you are a wicked elf. You really are. What made me fall in love with you, I’ll never know.” Her hips moved rhythmically, rocking back and forth as she spoke.

  “So wicked, my dear, that I stole your heart in one glance.” His grip on her hips was firm and powerful. It aided her riding motions, so she slid quickly in a sensual motion. Every muscle in her body tightened as they flexed with her movements, but his eyes were locked on her face. He loved the way she had thrown her head back, utterly lost in the moment. This right here is why he needed this tonight.

  She was on fire and leaned back, grabbing his calves which caused her back to arch and forcing her chest to bend in a graceful curve. This flexible position went against the natural curve of his shaft and forced the friction against the roof of her inner walls, causing her to omit loud mewing sounds. Her voice and quivering body announced the arrival of yet another release as she crumbled apart around him.

  He chuckled again because he didn’t want her to come down from that or to recover. He wanted her balanced in a state of bliss all night. “I don’t hear you complaining, love.” He whispered when he felt her coming down and wanted to keep her soaring. He added his thumb to the tactics to pleasure her body. His need wasn’t as rabid as hers this evening, for he had allowed Kailani to feed the most. But he knew hers was. This, he knew, would create a most exciting evening for him and he wasn’t disappointed.

  While she remained bent backwards, Talon admired the view of her tiny body. It was an impossible sight. Upon first glance she looked too frail to withstand him, but he fit and she never once, not even their first night, complained. He loved her shaved, with the exception of a narrow strip of hair just above her clit. He never tired of this sight and even aided her upkeep with a little magic to keep the skin smooth and free of hair for longer periods of time.