12
Ahead of the pack, Venom came down through the clouds like a serial killer in search of his next victim. Alert. Focused. Watchful. Too bad he didn’t have a target. He’d left all hope of one behind in the city… along with the rogues. Now nothing but thick forest stretched out for miles, staring up at him as a storm gathered in the sky above him. Rain threatened, the distant rumble of thunder a warning, the thick mist that hung over the land another.
Condensation gathered, wicking off his scales as he glanced over his shoulder. His gaze landed on the warriors flying in his wake. Venom’s mouth curved. Man, what a sight. Symmetry in motion, his brothers assembled behind him, a lethal collection of kick-ass flying in perfect formation. The forest thinned in front of them. A rock face rose, jutting out at odd angles into the night sky. Angling his wings, Venom banked into a tight turn. Curls of air swirled from his wingtips, rushing over the side of the cliff. Shale rattled and let go, tumbling down the rocky outcropping as he flipped into a fast roll and rocketed over the beachhead. Settling into a smooth glide over the river, he followed the snake-like flow, his gaze on the surface of the water below.
Another round of thunder rumbled overhead.
The first raindrop hit, splattering over one of his horns. Sensation swirled at his temples as Wick fired up mind-speak.
“Mac.”
“Yeah?”
“Delay the waterworks.”
The female cradled in one of his talons, Wick raised the other, curling it over her head, protecting her from rain. Magic gathered between his friend’s claws. Venom frowned. Holy jeez. His friend’s reaction to her was bizarre. Way beyond the pale. Outside his usual boundaries, using his body heat and a spell to keep her warm.
Good for J. J. Confusing as hell for him. He’d never seen Wick act so… so… goddamn protective. Of anyone.
Tucking her closer, Wick shielded her from the rising wind. “I don’t want her to get wet.”
Forge grunted. “Tae chilly for her.”
“Got that covered.” More warmth rose to surround J. J., creating a bubble-like barrier around Wick’s claws. “But her cast—”
“On it.” Bladed spine glinting in the storm flash, Mac murmured a command. Magic flared, and water droplets evaporated into thin air. The blackening sky froze, as though pausing mid-breath, cutting off the sound of thunder. “I’ll deal with the waterfall too.”
Good plan. They were almost home.
The river rushed into a 45-degree turn.
Increasing his wing speed, Venom wheeled around the corner. Majestic and full, the waterfall cascaded from three hundred feet up, roaring toward the river below. Mist bellowed, rising in wet clouds, tumbling into spray as each tendril reached for the sky. Upon approach, Mac did his thing, suppressing the drizzle, subduing the fog and…
The waterfall split in half, parting like curtains.
“Shite… would you look at that?” Purple scales flashing, Forge broke formation, dipping in behind Wick. The others followed suit, abandoning the fighting triangle to form a single line.
“Like it,” Sloan said, rotating into a slow flip at the rear of the procession. “Wicked move.”
Mac laughed.
Wick growled in approval.
Venom grinned, agreeing without hesitation. Their resident water dragon deserved the accolade. The move was wicked. He liked the cause and effect. No splashdown. No wet scales or chilly blow back. Just clear sailing as he went wings vertical. The sound of rushing water roared in his ears. His heartbeat picked up as he threaded the needle—slicing through the opening, wet curtain flowing on either side of him—and rocketed into the underground tunnel. Musty air rushed at him. Complete darkness descended. His senses spiked, narrowing until his night vision took over. The red glow of his gaze rolled out in front of him, guiding him, illuminating the darkness, allowing him to see each jagged edge.
Navigating the tight space, Venom banked into the last turn. A soft yellow glow penetrated the gloom, narrowing his flight path. He closed the distance and flew into the cavern. The domed ceiling rose above him. Held aloft by magic, light globes bobbed, bumping into each other seventy-five feet above his head. Quick on the trigger, he tucked his wings and set down fast.
The pads of his talons slid against stone.
Venom dug in and, claws shrieking, shifted into human form mid-skid. With a mental flick, he conjured his clothes and hightailed it to the rear of the landing zone. Standing around wasn’t a good idea. Not with the lethal group hot on his heels. His pack would turn him into a bowling pin—eighty-six his ass as each one landed—if he didn’t get out of the way. The LZ might be long, wide, deep, so expansive it launched four dragons at a time, but…
Hell. He’d chosen to lead the flight home. Which made him lucky number five tonight.
Circling around the Honda in the middle of the LZ, Venom watched his brothers-in-arms rocket into the cave. True to form, Mac and Forge landed in tandem at opposite ends of the platform, leaving lots of room for the final two. As both warriors transformed, stomping their feet into their shitkickers, Wick flew in with Sloan on his tail. The work of seconds, his best friend set down. Poised on his back paws, Wick wing flapped once and shifted into human form. Sinking to his knees on the stone floor, he wrapped his arms around J. J.
Cradled in his lap with her eyes squeezed shut, her bottom lip quivered.
“It’s all right,” Wick said, his tone soft and sure. “Jamison… look at me.”
She shook her head.
Venom’s heart sank. God, she looked so small. So pale bundled inside the harsh black of the too-large leather jacket. Way too scared to weather the storm and come through unscathed.
Not that he blamed Wick for her near panic.
His best friend was doing all he could—holding her gently, using a reassuring tone, being sympathetic instead of sociopathic… acting like a normal male might under similar circumstances. But Venom knew the truth. Wick wasn’t normal. Honed by brutality and abuse, the male wasn’t equipped to interact with a female, never mind give her what she needed. And any minute now? His friend would freak out. Lose his cool. React as he always did when faced with a female.
The realization drew Venom tight. He needed to step in. Step up. Intercede and neutralize Wick in order to save J. J. from additional pain, but… hell. Convincing Wick to release her wasn’t going to be fun.
Rolling his shoulders, Venom fisted his hands, then uncurled his fingers and repeated the process. Flex. Release. Open. Close. The movement helped him think. Strategy was paramount when it came to Wick. If he moved too fast, his friend would fight. If he didn’t move fast enough, J. J. would suffer the consequences. Not something he wanted to contemplate, never mind explain to his commander. Bastian might be reasonable—well, at least most of the time—but fact was fact. B didn’t tolerate ineptitude, never mind idiocy. His commander appreciated neat and enjoyed tidy.
Especially when it came to protecting females.
So… yeah. No time like the present to put his ass in gear. The sooner Wick handed her over, the better it would be for—
“Venom.” The deep voice thumped the inside of his skull.
As the vicious vibe played ping-pong between his temples, Venom sighed. Great. Just perfect. Exactly what he didn’t need. “Yeah, B?”
“What’s taking so long?”
His gaze cut to the couple intertwined a few feet away. “Got a bit of a situation.”
“Well, figure it out,” Bastian said, impatience in his tone. “My female’s wearing the soles of her shoes thin in here, begging me to open the portal. No way I’m doing that until I know it’s kosher out there.”
Venom stifled a snort. Kosher? Right. The word didn’t come close to describing the situation. Not with Wick playing keep-away with a female.
“How’s Tania?” Mac asked.
Bastian snorted. “On a hair trigger.”
“Hold on.” As Mac jogged across the LZ, the thud-thud of his
boots echoed in the vastness, making the light globes sway above their heads. Stone dust drifted from the ceiling, sprinkling Venom’s shoulders as Mac engaged the energy shield that protected Black Diamond, hiding their home from outsiders. Static electricity buzzed. The cave wall rippled, opening the magical doorway into the underground lair. “I’m coming.”
“Thank fuck,” Bastian murmured. “I don’t know what to do with her.”
Venom could relate. He didn’t know what to do with Wick either.
Looking for help, he glanced in Sloan’s direction. Shitkickers planted beside the decapitated Honda, his buddy shrugged and turned his hands palm up, the gesture one of “how the hell should I know?” Wonderful. No help from that quarter, but maybe…
Glancing over his shoulder, he met Forge’s gaze.
The Scot shook his head. “Donnae look at me, lad. You know him better than anyone.”
True enough. “Give me the floor, guys. I’ll get him moving.”
As the guys “uh-huhed” and beat feet toward the exit, Venom strode in the opposite direction. A couple of feet from his target, he crouched in front of his best friend. “Wick, let me—”
“Tell me what to do, Ven.”
Venom blinked, not understanding.
“I don’t know how to soothe her.” Nestling his cheek against the top of J. J.’s head, Wick met his gaze. Venom flinched, getting nailed by the concern in his friend’s eyes along with, well… something else too. Panic maybe? Worry too? Wick’s expression bordered on both. Except that didn’t make any sense. Nothing made Wick lose his cool. Ever. “You’re good at this shit. Tell me what to do.”
He wanted to say “give her to me,” but knew that wouldn’t fly. Wick was too tense, and after getting told not to touch her in the park? He didn’t like his chances of surviving a hostile takeover. Wick would fight to keep her, and… yeah. All of a sudden—and as strange as it sounded—helping his friend care for her seemed like a better option than taking her away.
A healthier one too.
“Keep talking to her.” Balanced on the balls of his feet, Venom rested his elbows on the tops of his thighs. “You’re doing fine.”
“Should I… I mean…” Wick trailed off, his hesitation palpable. “Touch her or something?”
Like a sucker punch to the gut, the question stole his air and… holy hell. The situation had just gone from semi-weird to full-on sci-fi. “Do you want to?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” Frowning, Wick broke eye contact, looking lost—so confused it broke Venom’s heart. So damaged. So unsure. So stuck in the past. His friend was the poster boy for abuse. But as he stared at Wick, realization struck. He stood on a precipice, the defining moment that might change Wick’s life. Right here. Right now. Surrounded by stone and musty air, possibility held Wick in the palm of its hand. Venom recognized the opportunity. Saw the difference in the male he’d known almost all his life. Wick wanted to help—to give of himself—instead of turn away. “She liked holding my hand in the truck. Said it helped with the pain.”
Venom cleared his throat. “Then go for it.”
“All right.”
Inhaling deep, Wick exhaled smooth and raised his hand. His fingertips stroked over her temple, brushing the thick strands of dark hair away from her face. With a sigh, J. J. stirred, turning into the touch instead of away. Another gentle caress across her skin. Her bio-energy flared, nearly blinding Venom with the fiery pulse in her aura. He turned his face away to shield his eyes. The Meridian hummed, rising in a powerful wave to forge a connection between the two.
Venom’s mouth fell open. Goddamn. Talk about insane, bizarre… whatever. The descriptor didn’t matter. The sudden flare-up, however? Jeez. That mattered. Without knowing it, Wick was feeding her: opening an energy channel, letting her link in, nourishing her with the healing flow drawn from the Meridian.
“Vanzäla,” Wick murmured, cupping her cheek, giving Venom another shock as he called her songbird in Dragonese. He shook his head. Wick didn’t notice. All his focus on J. J., he caressed her again. “Open your eyes and look at me.”
She shivered, trembling in Wick’s arms.
“Come on, baby.”
Wet lashes fluttered, lifting to reveal brilliant blue irises. “You’re back.”
Wick stroked along her jaw. “I never left.”
“Yes, you did,” she whispered. “How did you do it?”
“What… shift forms?”
She nodded.
“Dragon DNA,” Wick said, giving her the simplest answer.
“Figures, I guess, since you turned into one.” Wick traced the fine arch of her eyebrow, then changed tact to caress her cheek. With a hum, J. J. turned her head, seeking more of his friend’s touch. “You scared me.”
“I know.”
“Please don’t do that again.”
Wick huffed. “I’ll try.”
“Good,” she said, and Venom cringed.
Goddamn it. The exchange made him feel like a first-class heel. Like a voyeur, butting in where he didn’t belong. It was beyond awkward, starting to border on embarrassing now. Venom shifted on the balls of his feet. He wanted to turn and walk away. Leave the situation behind and never look back. The strategy was a good one, except for one problem.
He couldn’t leave.
Duty called. Honor rode shotgun, refusing to give him a get-out-of-jail-free card. He’d given his word. Bastian expected him to get the pair inside the lair. Which left him playing monkey in the middle, baring witness to an intimate moment between two people so absorbed in each other they’d forgotten he existed.
Venom cleared his throat, hoping to break up the party.
J. J. ignored him. Raising her hand, she touched her fingertip to the corner of Wick’s mouth. His friend tensed, but stayed true, allowing her to touch him. She drew a soft circle on his skin. In reaction, Wick’s gaze began to glow. “You’re not human.”
“Half,” Wick said. “We’re a different species.”
“Oh,” she said, a frown on her face. The expression pained Venom. It made her look as though she carried the weight of the world on her shoulders. Not something any female should be made to do. “Hey, Wick?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m really tired.” As though admitting the truth elevated her fatigue, her body gave out. She dropped her hand, tucking it back in her lap. Pressing her face to Wick’s shoulder, her eyes drifted closed. “I can’t think anymore. I’m just… done.”
Wick nodded, even though she couldn’t see him anymore. “Sleep, vanzäla. You’ll feel better.”
“Promise me something?”
“What?”
“Don’t leave me alone with strangers,” she whispered, strain in her tone. “Promise you’ll be here when I wake up.”
“You don’t need me.” Shifting her in his arms, Wick pushed to his feet. The movement was smooth, measured, designed for her comfort. “Your sister will—”
“Please?”
The whispered plea tipped the balance. Folding like a bad poker hand, Wick gave it up, promising her as exhaustion drew J. J. into slumber. Cradling her close, Wick strode across the LZ. Venom followed, trailing his friend, wondering what the hell had just happened. None of it made sense. Not Wick’s reaction to J. J. Not her lack of fear or her acceptance of a male most females avoided at every turn. Not the wretched sense of loss Venom suffered in the aftermath of their exchange either.
His response was screwed up. Completely backward, it smacked of selfishness. He should be happy for his friend, not feel uptight, out of sorts, and… yes… even a bit jealous of Wick’s good fortune.
Knowing it, though, didn’t stop envy from grabbing hold. And as Venom walked across the LZ, he couldn’t deny the emotion. He’d been displaced… shoved aside and replaced. After sixty years together—of relying solely on each other—he was about to lose his best friend. To a female.
Instinct warned him. Logic hammered the truth home.
&nbs
p; Energy-fuse was serious stuff, a magical bond, a connection that only occurred when a male’s dragon half found its mate. Not exactly something a male could fight. At least not for very long. B, Rikar, and Mac were proof enough of that, which meant sooner or later Wick would succumb too. The realization reached deep, made him ache from the inside out, stirring up ugly emotion.
Everything was about to change.
And Venom knew… just knew… it wouldn’t be for the better.
A warm bundle, Jamison lay like a gift in his arms. So relaxed. Too trusting. Beyond precious. Wick clenched his teeth, his footfalls echoing as he approached the magical barrier into Black Diamond. At some point in the last few hours, he’d lost his mind. It was the only explanation for his behavior, never mind his promise. Add that to the fact he kept likening her to a gift and…
Jesus. No doubt about it. He needed his ass kicked. Or his brain rebooted. One or the other, and in the next few minutes. Otherwise, he’d suffer another short circuit and wade even further into the land of holy fuck. A huge first for him.
Like that damned promise.
Wick cringed. He never should’ve given his word. Being there when she woke up wasn’t a good idea. A clean break would be better for all concerned. But oh no, he’d deviated from the plan. Now he was hemmed in, stuck between two schools of thought, which… oh goody… happened to be polar opposites.
Help or hinder. Keep his promise or head for safer ground.
He couldn’t do both. Couldn’t stay and go at the same time, and as opposing forces stretched him thin, his head started to pound. He cradled Jamison closer, looking for guidance, fighting the urge to bail on her, wishing he wasn’t so screwed up. A normal male would know what to do to make it right for her. He huffed. Normal. Right. As if. He didn’t know what ordinary entailed. Or how to act the part.
Fury of Desire (-4 Page 17
