Slayer's Kiss: Shadow Slayer, Book 1

by Cassi Carver

  Kara bit her lip. “Oh. I guess he wanted to be extra safe.”

  Julian snorted. “Yes, I’m sure that was it.”

  “How much farther?”

  He ducked his head to place a quick kiss on her cheek. “We’re already there.”

  They pushed through the vine-covered tree limbs Gavin had disappeared into and stepped out into a valley. Small houses dotted the green pastures and seemed to be arranged around a central square where a large bonfire burned. Larger, more extravagant homes were nestled into the surrounding mountains. Men bustled about everywhere, cooking meat over open pits, filling pitchers with amber liquid, carrying heavy platters of fruit to long, rustic banquet tables.

  The men who weren’t involved in cooking were scattered around, talking and laughing in small groups, and farther in the distance, other men practiced their skills, launching arrows into targets, grappling hand-to-hand and exchanging strikes with their swords.

  Kara’s mouth opened, but she couldn’t find the words. If you added kilts, these men would look like they belonged in the hills of Scotland hundreds of years ago, not on a tropical island in the present day. Many had cords around their necks with pendants, like Julian and Gavin, but with the balmy weather on the island, there wasn’t a shirt among them.

  Gavin took up his spot on the other side of Kara just as dozens of armed men came through the trees behind them as if they’d been escorting the trio all along.

  “There wasn’t time,” said the one in the lead, a tall sable-haired man with a thick beard obscuring his features. He was clad in nothing but brown leather pants and had a bow in his hand with a full quiver strapped to his back.

  “Sorry, my lords.” He looked to Gavin and Julian apologetically. “Lord Aiden said it might be weeks before the lady came.” Then his eyes met Kara’s and he smiled so wide, not even his furry beard could hide it. “Hello, lady.”

  “Hi,” she replied, unconsciously pressing herself closer to Julian’s side. The men looked completely awestruck. She didn’t think warriors were supposed to lose their cool like that.

  Gavin motioned toward the man. “Kara, this is Liel. He’s captain of the guard.”

  Liel stepped forward and glanced at Kara’s fingers as if he was waiting for her to offer them. She reluctantly allowed him to bow and kiss the top of her hand, but she felt ridiculous when he held on, hovering over her like a bee pollinating a flower. She had to admit though, scruffy and all, he still smelled pretty damned good. They all did.

  “By Brakken’s bow, she’s a fine-looking woman.” As if suddenly realizing what he’d said, a mortified expression flitted across Liel’s face. He dropped her hand. “I belong to Riana.”

  Kara smiled and nodded. “Good for you.”

  “I don’t,” a black-haired man said, stepping shoulder to shoulder with Liel. “I don’t belong to anyone.”

  “Nor I,” said a brawny warrior with a long coffee-colored braid down his back. This one wore a leather vest and had small throwing knives strapped to a wide belt at his hips. “I’m at your service, my lady.”

  Their enthusiastic comments broke the dam and suddenly all the warriors on patrol were spewing words, talking over each other, eager to tell Kara just how available they were. She felt Julian stiffen at her side and heard the low growl rattling his ribs.

  “Enough,” Gavin barked out first. “Kara Reed is our guest, getting to know our clan for the first time. You’re not helping her to feel at ease in our midst.”

  “No disrespect intended, my lord,” the braided man said, his face shadowed with brown stubble, “but she smells like she’s gotten to know one of you very well. It’s only right that if she’s started looking for bondmates, we be allowed to present ourselves.” He stepped forward with a lusty smile and calculating eyes and dropped to one knee. “Kara Reed, my name is Rik. I was one of the men assigned to watch you and your city. I feel as though we’ve already met, and I’ve been eagerly awaiting the day I could offer myself to you.”

  He’d been watching her? Kara felt Julian’s claws extending from his fingertips as he started to pull away from her to confront the other man.

  Gavin turned swiftly and put a quelling hand on Julian’s chest. “No, Julian, it’s the law. He’s done nothing wrong in letting Kara know he desires her.”

  Kara could only see Julian’s broad back and shiny black hair, but she heard the lethal intent in his words. “Hear this: I am the law. Under penalty of death, no one will touch this woman while she is in our care. Is that understood?”

  The men stepped back and looked at one another, seemingly baffled Julian had made the edict, but the other warrior’s smile was dangerous as he rose to his feet. “Yes, my lord,” he said slowly, bowing low.

  “Come,” Liel said to his men. “The lords have this lady safely to camp. Let’s get on with our duties.” The men turned and disappeared into the dense growth, but not before Rik cast Kara a final, scorching glance.

  She waited for the sounds of the guards’ footfalls to fade. “I’m assuming you both knew he was watching me.”

  Gavin sighed. “We have scouts around the city just to be sure nothing comes your way that you can’t handle.”

  “For how long?”

  “Pardon?” Gavin asked.

  Her hands flew to her hips. “How long have you all been watching me?”

  Gavin looked to the horizon then back at Kara. “Not long, princess. If we’d known where you were, we would have come for you sooner. I can have Rik moved to another post if you’d prefer.”

  “Kara—” Julian began, his features drawn in concern.

  She stopped him with a flick of her hand. “No, it’s fine, Julian. If what I’ve learned so far hasn’t sent me packing, a few more admirers aren’t going to keep me from finding out the truth. But if I see that guy flying outside my window or going through my underwear drawer, Gavin,” she said pointedly, “I’m going to make pigeon soup out of him.”

  Julian chuckled, the bright sun catching the dimple on his cheek as his claws retracted.

  “What?” Kara asked.

  “Nothing,” he said. “I’m just glad you didn’t take him up on his offer. Rumor has it he doesn’t bathe. And he hates cats. And little old ladies.”

  Gavin laughed. “Most of the men here kick puppies for sport. You’d better stick close to us.”

  When Kara and her two escorts turned back toward the village, to her horror, all the bustling activity was at a standstill and people were beginning to make their way over. She’d escaped the jungle only to be caught in a receiving line extending back to the square. The men lined up eagerly for the chance to fawn over her hand and make subtle comments as to their willingness to be her playthings.

  What the hell kind of island was this?

  After she’d been introduced to the entire group, Gavin instructed them to continue with dinner preparations. “I’ve never seen them make such a fuss in all my long life,” Gavin grumbled, looking to Julian. “We should have sent word ahead so the men could have tried not to make such asses out of themselves.”

  Julian smiled. “It wouldn’t have helped. I’ll be the first to admit she’s irresistible.”

  Kara hated to change the subject, but if it was possible, she was on flattery overload. “That didn’t look like several hundred men. More like a hundred, I’d say. And where are the women you keep telling me about?”

  Gavin turned toward her. “The rest of the men live in the outlying villages with human camp companions. Those tend to be the men who’ve given up vying for one of our females’ attention and satisfy their urges elsewhere. Demiáre females don’t like to have human women around, so it’s better for everyone if we give the men who are rarely chosen jobs outside the square.”

  “Oh.” Kara’s eyes were wide, soaking it all in. “That’s…interesting.”

  Julian put a protective hand on her shoulder. “And five of our females have opted to live in different cities on the mainland. Between them, they h
ave about a hundred men, but we send replacements when needed to make sure they’re well protected.”

  “And Olivia’s here on the island?”

  Julian cocked his head and gave Kara an odd look. “So Gavin’s been busy filling you in. He told you she’s expecting a child?”

  She nodded. “Congratulations. I mean, I know it’s not yours, but it seems like it’s pretty exciting for you all.”

  Julian’s nostrils flared. “Thank you. We are excited. Did he tell you much about Demiáre breeding, then? How it works?”

  Kara shook her head. “Not every detail, but unless there’s a quiz later, I think I’d like to take a break. I’ve learned enough for one night…day…whatever the hell this is.” She turned her attention to Gavin. “You said you had something to show me about my parents. I’d like to see it now so I can go home and get some sleep while it’s still dark in San Diego.”

  If she ever needed to go out with Abbey and see a mindless chick flick, tonight was the night, or today was the… Whatever.

  Gavin’s hands fisted at his sides. “That’s not all you need to see, Kara. I want you to stay for dinner, meet the court. I’ll take you home afterward.”

  “Yeah, I’m not hungry. The whole getting-sucked-into-oblivion-and-spit-out-on-a-tropical-island thing doesn’t do wonders for my appetite.”

  “You’re not eating enough.” Julian pulled her against his side, a frown line marring his perfect face. “Are you ill? Do you need to lie down?”

  Kara shook her head and tried to hold back a snort, but she nestled into the crook of his arm just the same. “Seriously, Julian, are you trying to get me in bed again? Is two times in one night not enough for you? Not to mention the last time we had sex, you sprouted wings and almost ate up Gavin with smoke monsters.”

  She couldn’t believe she was making light of it. She’d blame it on sleep deprivation—and remembering the mind-blowing sensation of Julian’s hard length driving into her as she came.

  As the image flashed in her mind of how he’d taken her roughly against the wall, she could easily imagine her nails running down his tan back tonight as she called his name over and over. She’d never been with a man like him. He wasn’t simply talented in bed, he was passionate and hung like a friggin’ horse. Against her better judgment, the more she had him, the more she wanted him.

  As Julian searched her eyes, she smiled and conceded, “Well, I am sort of sleepy.”

  His chest expanded with a slow lungful of air, as if he dared not hope it might lead to more. “I can take you to the palace. You can rest and freshen up before dinner.”

  “Julian,” Gavin warned. “Why don’t you let me take her? I seem to do a better job of controlling myself.”

  Kara’s jaw dropped. “Hello, Gavin, I’m right here.” She waved her hand to get his attention. “You make it sound like I have no choice in the matter, that if Julian’s alone with me we’re going to screw like rabbits.” Not a bad idea. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, by the way, but I’m an adult and I know what I’m doing.”

  Gavin’s jaw tightened. “Do you, Kara? You just learned you’re a different species than you’ve always believed, but you still think you have it all figured out, don’t you?”

  Kara opened her mouth to fire off some choice words, but Julian picked her up like a child in his arms as his wings expanded to their full breadth. “To hell with you, Gavin. The lady needs her rest.”

  He clutched Kara to his chest and pushed off from the ground using his strong thighs, but they hovered for a moment over the clearing, slowly sinking lower as if he was having trouble gaining altitude. Then suddenly, they rocketed into the sky like someone had loosed their leash. Definitely not the smooth ride she’d had with Gavin.

  “Julian!” Gavin called after him.

  But her dark-haired lover never looked back.

  Chapter Thirteen

  “I wanted to show you something before I take you to the palace.”

  The cool wind in her hair and Julian’s warm breath on her neck sent chills racing over Kara’s skin. “Show me, then.”

  He touched down on a small meadow with a large deciduous tree in the middle, more what she would expect to find in a Northeastern town than here on the island. Julian landed and took Kara’s hand, hauling her under the sprawling canopy. “You asked about my symbol, the gold leaf I wear around my neck. Well, this is it.”

  “It’s beautiful.” Kara didn’t know what else to say. The big, rounded tree looked out of place in the vast expanse of palms and sand and tropical things. “What kind is it?”

  He smiled, as if he were letting her in on a secret. “A balsam poplar.”

  She had to assume there was something more to this whole tree thing unless he moonlighted as a botanist. “Is it special because it’s the only one like it on the island?”

  He pulled her close. “It’s special because this tree—well, this type, not this specific one—was sacred to my mother. She used them in her magic and wanted to pass along a love for her heritage. She was Native American. Iroquois, actually.”

  Kara smiled and turned to peer up at him. “Is that where you get your dark hair and complexion? I wondered if it was from your father or your mother.”

  “I’m not sure who fathered me, but from my mother’s accounts, he must have been Aniliáre—and amazingly handsome.” He laughed. “When we left your father’s kingdom and made a life on Mercury Island, I planted a sapling here to symbolize my new home, and the tree has done better than I ever imagined it would.” He paused and fingered the leaf charm around his neck, as if deep in thought. “I wondered if you might…”

  Kara cocked her head, waiting. “What?”

  Julian smiled and dropped the charm. “Never mind. You’ve had a long day. We can talk about it tomorrow. Come on.” He picked her up again and lifted off.

  She felt like a child being carried around so much. Did she need to let Gavin and Julian know she’d been walking on her own two feet since she was ten months old? She turned her face toward Julian, only half admitting to herself she sort of liked it. “Thank you for showing me your tree. I can tell it means a lot to you. Your mother must have been a wonderful woman.”

  He snorted. “My mother was one hell of a shamaness. Everyone in her tribe was frightened of her, including me. But she taught me what she could before they finally…” He frowned, his eyes haunted as he looked back at the tree from a hundred feet above.

  “Finally what?” The wind made her hair fly into her eyes, but she tucked it back to look at him.

  “The Iroquois thought she was cursed. Evil. And they ‘cleansed the earth of her spirit’. I didn’t know what to think. To me, she was simply my mother. But when I was old enough, I ‘cleansed the earth’ of the ones who’d touched her.”

  “That’s horrible. I’m so sorry.”

  “She’d been gone too long to move her grave, so I planted her sacred tree where she died. They only live about a hundred and fifty years, so I plant a new one in the same spot every hundred years or so.”

  Her face went slack. “How old are you, Julian?”

  He grinned. “Ten trees’ worth.”

  “Wow.” She’d thought she was a witch since she was a little girl, and her dreams had followed accordingly. Kick some ass, settle down, find her lifemate, have some brats, die when she got old and wrinkly and the joint cream wasn’t working anymore. But Julian had lived unchanged for a thousand years.

  “I’ve had a good life.” He paused, deep in thought, and his wings slowed. “I do wonder sometimes…who will plant them when I’m gone.”

  “Where are you planning to go?”

  Julian snickered and kissed her temple. “Do you know what a demibreed is?”

  “Gavin told me they’re the children of Aniliáre and humans. But if I have this right, that’s also what you get with a silver-wing father and a Demiáre mother.”

  “Yes, they both produce half-breeds.” He said it as though it was a bad word. “
But Gavin left out one thing. Witches.”

  “He never mentioned witches.”

  “I’m sure your friends have told you that witches, while they appear human and have similar physical qualities, cannot produce offspring with humans.”

  She gave him a look. “Julian, I grew up thinking I was a witch. I spent my junior high years passing notes with Abbey, relaying stories of hot, nasty witch sex.”

  He smiled. “When that hot, nasty witch sex happens with one of our kind, usually nothing comes of it. But rarely—very rarely—the breeding takes.”

  Kara’s breath came out in a soft hush. “And your mother was a shamaness…a witch.”

  He nodded. “Yes. In this case, I was born with wings even though I am, in reality, a demibreed.”

  Dread curled in the pit of her stomach. “But I thought demibreeds didn’t live as long as the highborn. Gavin said four or five hundred years, and you’re already long past that.”

  “I am the oldest living demibreed and the only Demiáre still alive with any witch blood at all. But look hard, love.” He held his wrists and arms up for her inspection. “You won’t find an expiration date anywhere on me.”

  She squeezed him tighter and kissed his cheek. “Thank you for telling me. But you know it doesn’t matter to me that you’re a demibreed, right? I wouldn’t care if your wings were purple—or if you didn’t have wings at all.”

  He shook his head as if to clear his thoughts and smiled. “Tonight is a night of new beginnings. I have you here with me. I don’t need anything else.”

  Kara wasn’t what she would consider overly emotional or prone to fall for pick-up lines, but she could tell Julian had given her a part of himself with that story. The knowledge wedged a lump in her throat. “You’re amazing.”

  He smiled and met her gaze as his strong wings beat against the wind, rising higher, chasing a string of long, thin clouds. “Amazing is how you smell with my scent on your skin. Damnation, Kara, you’ll be my undoing.” He pulled her close and dragged his nose along the curve of her neck. When he caught the closest cloud, he plunged inside, surrounding them with thin, cool mist.