Dark Passion Rising

by Shannan Albright

  The sound of his cell going off made him frown. “Speak,” he barked.

  Lucian’s voice came through the other end. “Tambra is leaving her apartment with Marcus and that partner of hers, Cody O’Bannon.”

  Disconnecting the call, he smiled. Tambra was very close to Rising, and he would be there when it happened. Perhaps he didn’t need Miguel after all.

  Chapter Ten

  Marcus ground his teeth together so hard he feared the pressure would break his jaw. His stomach cramped, warning him he needed blood before hunger incapacitated him. Though his wounds had partially healed without feeding, he would not be at top form unless he took some blood.

  Leaning his head against the head rest, he watched Cody in the rear view mirror, grudgingly admiring the man’s loyalty to Tambra. In all the countless centuries he had lived, he had found few who were capable of such a thing. His eyes moved to Tambra, sitting with her eyes closed, head back. The white expanse of her slender throat tempted him. His ears picked up the slow steady beat of her heart. His gaze lowered to her white tee shirt, stretched tight over her full breasts.

  He wrenched his gaze away and focused on the road ahead. Tendrils of pink, orange and violet streaked the sky, the dark shadows of night were retreating. The car wove slowly through the early morning congestion, already backing up traffic.

  “You missed the…group’s report,” Adrian said, slow and hesitant as he drove through the side streets toward home.

  Marcus had been irritated and mildly surprised when Adrian had showed up with the car and not Alistair. His irritation came with Tambra’s reaction to the tall Tuatha Dé Danann. He had seen the reaction before, from many women, but the idea of Tambra looking at Adrian in the same way set his teeth on edge. Jealously was a new emotion to him, and one he found he didn’t like at all.

  “You can speak in front of them, they know everything.”

  Marcus watched as one blonde brow arched in surprise.

  “Very well then. According our intel, attacks on humans and other Breeds has increased. Ryes found the lair of at least fifteen feral Weres near the Fremont Experience. He had to call in Christophe to help with the clean up.”

  “Casualties?” Marcus asked.

  “Two human males and one female, all dead,” Adrian said grimly.

  “Damn. Anything new from Zeke?”

  “He’s tracking activity from all over the globe. It seems that the violence is escalating. The Tribunal is ordering all Breeds to stay away from the human population. Failure to comply will be punishable by death.”

  “What do you mean ‘all over the globe’?” Tambra cut in.

  “The activity against humans is not isolated to Las Vegas. Zeke, one of our Enforcers, has been tracking the incidents,” Adrian said, eyes never leaving the road ahead. “The order from the Tribunal will make more work for us and we’re spread thin enough as it is.”

  “Something doesn’t sit right about all of this,” Cody spoke up. He had kept silent since Adrian had picked them up. “These are not random acts here. The attack on Marcus and the escalation of these acts of violence at a global level points to some sort of mass movement. Clearly, there is someone behind of all of this.”

  “Yeah, problem is when we capture a feral they off themselves before we can get any information out of their dammed, worthless hides,” Adrian replied.

  The rest of the drive was spent in silence, each of them lost in their own grim thoughts. It wasn’t until they turned into the drive way of a massive three story home that Marcus let out a growl.

  “Shit, when did he get here?”

  Tambra followed his glare to brand new silver Mercedes SLR parked in the driveway. “Who is that?”

  “Fox,” Adrian replied. He parked and exited the car. Catching Marcus’s attention, he nodded to the Mercedes. “Let me run interference. You just get Tambra inside and settled.”

  Marcus nodded slightly toward Adrian before taking Tambra’s arm and showing her to a smaller door on the side of the house, Cody in tow. Once inside the service door, Marcus led them through a dimly lit, dark paneled hallway. At the end stood another door, larger than the rest. Marcus opened it and continued at least two stories down a metal spiral staircase. The dark wood walls changed to rock, and the temperature dropped a good ten degrees as they descended to a large, cavernous space.

  Cells lined the walls. In the center was a laboratory cordoned off by large panels of glass. Inside the large structure was an impressive amount of machinery, humming merrily away.

  “What is this place?” Tambra asked Marcus.

  “Those cells are where we keep our law breakers, and this is our laboratory. We run DNA matches, take blood samples.”

  “CSI with a twist.” Cody nodded, obviously impressed. “You have a doctor?”

  “Tegan is a medic. He is familiar will all Breed physiology and has spent several of your lifetimes studying medicine in human universities.”

  “Several lifetimes? Just how long have you all lived?” Tambra asked.

  A hint of a smile played on Marcus’s lips. “A very long time.”

  “So, where exactly are you putting me? A cell or the lab?” Tambra asked, clearly not liking the idea of either.

  “Neither right now. When you go through the Rising, I will see that the lab is made ready for you and this equipment removed. The glass is virtually unbreakable, so there is no danger of you getting out or being harmed by shattered glass. Until your Rising you are my guest here and can move freely around.”

  “I should be very put out with you Marcus,” a deep male voice chided. “How remiss of you not to let me know my mate is your guest here.”

  Temple Fox stood at the bottom of the stair case, impeccably dressed in a light grey suit.

  “I don’t give a shit, Temple. What are you doing here?”

  “I have come for Tambra, of course. Why else would I venture into your barbaric dungeon? Really, Marcus, the dark ages have come and gone,” Temple sneered.

  Marcus stiffened, rage pumped though his blood stream like molten lava, a red haze filled his vision. Tambra was his woman. No, not his, he reminded himself, she would never be his. He struggled to smother the fire in his blood.

  “I am not your mate. I don’t even know you, and what I can see I don’t like,” Tambra snapped, moving closer to Marcus.

  Temple waved her words away with a nonchalant shrug. “Once you’re through the Rising, you may think differently. I, naturally, will be there, monitoring every moment of your Rising. You have nothing to fear. We should go and get you settled.”

  “Go? I’m not going anywhere with you!” Tambra spat, moving even closer to Marcus.

  “You heard the lady. You’re not taking her anywhere.” Cody stepped forward, squaring off with Temple.

  In a blur of speed Temple was next to Cody.

  “Do you think you can stop me? One puny human against the strength of a Pure Blooded Lycan?”

  “No. But I can,” a new voice drawled, capturing everyone’s attention. Tegan flowed down the stairs with all the predatory grace of the cat he was.

  “Tegan, you have no authority over this claim,” Temple sneered, backing away from Cody as he gave the were-panther his full attention.

  Tegan raised one eyebrow. A sardonic smile lifted his lips. “I beg to differ. It is you who overstep. Miss Ellis has been placed in protective custody by the Tribunal’s Enforcers, prohibiting any action on your part if she declines to go with you.” He turned his penetrating stare on Tambra. “That is your wish, correct?” At her nod of agreement, he continued, “After her Rising, she will choose her mate. As per pack law. There is no guarantee that she will choose you unless you are going to try imprinting. And that is not only barbaric, but frowned upon by all Breeds.”

  Temple’s handsome face turned bright red with fury. “There are exceptions, Tegan. The survival of all Pure Blooded Lycans depends on this, on her!”

  Tambra grabbed Marcus’s arm, stopping hi
m from lunging at Temple.

  “Will someone explain to me what he’s talking about? What is imprinting?”

  “It’s rape,” Tegan replied. “A pre-transformation Lycan is locked into a small cell where they are forced to submit to the sexual whims of their captor. If they fight, they are beaten into subjugation. As their Rising nears, they aren’t allowed interaction with anyone except their captor. Once Risen, the imprinting takes hold. The transitioned Lycan is a slave. All free will is removed, leaving only the need to please.”

  “No way! You lay one hand on her and I will find a way to kill you,” Cody hissed, the promise very clear.

  Tambra couldn’t help the shudder of revulsion as she looked at Temple.

  “You would have done that to me if it weren’t for Marcus, wouldn’t you?” she asked, her anger making her voice shake.

  “You have my word, no harm of any kind will come to you while you are here with me,” Marcus vowed.

  Temple’s gaze raked her, frustration, regret, and determination in the firm set of his jaw.

  “I will do whatever it takes to ensure the survival of my Breed. Faced with extinction would any of you do differently?”

  “Get me out of here, Marcus. I don’t want to even look at him right now,” Tambra pleaded, looking up at Marcus with haunted eyes as a shudder ran through her body. She pressed closer to him.

  Marcus held her close to him as he led her to the stairs. He fought back the urge to attack the arrogant Lycan and eliminate the threat he posed to Tambra.

  “Come, I will take you someplace more comfortable. Tegan, please see to Tambra’s guest. Temple, I think you know the way out of here. I trust you will not be back until called upon.”

  Temple kept quiet as he watched Marcus lead Tambra up the curving stair case. He knew by the churning in his gut that he may have just doomed his Breed to extinction. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned toward Tegan’s sympathetic gaze. Snarling at the man, Temple jerked away from his hand. He did not need or want pity from the Were-panther and certainly not from an Enforcer. He raised his head proudly, turned, and followed Marcus and Tambra out.

  ****

  Marcus led Tambra back to the guest bedroom she had woken up in only days ago. She felt odd, coming back into the same room where her life had taken such a drastic turn. Only a few days had passed, but it felt like years. So much had changed. She had changed. A shudder ran through her body at the thought of turning into a monster like the one that had bitten her, and she turned to Marcus, leaning on his strength as she tried to put her fears into words. But nothing came out. The words died in her throat before she could utter a sound. Fear and apprehension swamped her, leaving her feeling vulnerable to the man who stood rigidly before her.

  She drank in his scent of dark spices and musk. His dark hair shone blue-black in the defused light that filtered past the edges of the heavy window curtains. The sharp planes of his face were etched in light and shadow, dark eyes watched her with an unwavering gaze. He looked primal, all male dominance and sexuality. She watched, mesmerized, by the rise and fall of his bare chest as his breathing turning ragged. His soft golden skin stretched over the hardness of his muscles, expanding and contracting, dark hair trailing down his hard, flat stomach to those low slung jeans that hugged the best ass she had ever seen on a man.

  Tambra saw the bulge in his jeans. Her clit throbbed in answer to his need. Her body ached to press against his. Her hands, tongue, and lips longed to travel over his body until she knew it better than her own.

  She moved toward Marcus slowly, stopping only when she brushed against him and felt the heat of his body pour over her, making her skin tingle. His body quaked with tension, his breath coming faster. She reached, with shaking fingers, to stroke the hollows of his cheekbones, then his soft, full lips, her touch feather light against his skin.

  Marcus jerked his head back, away from her questing fingers.

  “Don’t!” he barked, brackets of strain lining his full, sensuous mouth.

  “Why?” she challenged.

  Marcus grabbed her arms and leaned down so they were nose to nose. His hot breath fanned across her cheek, his jaw clenched, his dark eyes were wild.

  “Don’t push me, Tambra. I am at the end of my control.”

  She lifted her chin defiantly. “Good. I don’t want you in control. Whatever this thing is between us I want… I need to find out, or I will go insane from wanting you.”

  “You don’t know what you’re saying. It’s the Rising beginning. You really don’t want me at your throat.” Marcus pushed her away, moving to the door.

  “Yes, I do, Marcus. I want all of you. No holding back,” she whispered brokenly at his back. She watched him, the corded muscles of his back tight with suppressed energy as he fought a losing battle to keep control. Her body ached for the press of his body on hers, her need becoming pain as she held still and waited.

  He turned to face her. She could hear his breath sawing harshly through clenched teeth. She knew he saw the raw need within her, that he could smell her arousal in the air around them as his nostrils flared. A choked growl rumbled low in his chest as he closed the distance between them, pulling her to his chest. His scent filled her and she buried his nose in his chest, taking it into her lungs. His hands, so large on her small back, rose to cup the back of her head, his fingers spearing into the soft strands of golden hair.

  “Understand me well. I have little control where you are concerned.”

  She looked into his dark eyes, saw the hunger for her there, and shuddered with a hunger that matched his.

  “Me neither,” she admitted, feeling the truth of her words. Whatever connection there was between them she knew it would never fade, only deepen. And for some reason that thought didn’t make her want to run screaming from the room.

  “Last chance, little one. Say no to this, and I will go,” he told her, his voice raspy with need. “Let me, and I will sink my fangs into your lovely neck even as I plunge my cock into you. I will take you until my name screams from your lips. Then I will mark you as mine, my Consort, and your life will forever be bound to mine.”

  In answer, Tambra rose to her toes and brushed her lips against his, her tongue playing over the seam between his lips, seeking entrance. With a low growl that rumbled through her, he deepened the kiss, hungrily pillaging her hot, moist mouth with the desperate intensity of a man starved. One hand slid down her back, cupping her ass, lifting her firmly against his erection. Need like she had never felt before made her a creature of sensation, her focus only on the dark passion rising within her.

  Marcus’s muscles bunched under her hands. She slid them down over his wide shoulders, along his back, to his incredible ass. He broke his kiss only long enough to rid her of her tee shirt and bra.

  He cupped her breasts in his hands, his thumbs rubbing the hard peaks of her nipples as they tightened under his touch. His head bent, mouth laving one nipple before he sucked it into his mouth. She arched into him, mindless from the pleasure that spiraled through her. His lips moved to her other breast, giving it the same attention as the first. His hand moved down her ribcage, past her small waist, to the waistband of her jeans. He unzipped them and shoved them, along with her panties, down her rounded hips, leaving her bare to his piercing gaze.

  “So damned beautiful,” he whispered, his eyes caressing her skin until she felt as if she was burning alive with the need for him to take her.

  She was desperate to feel his skin pressed against hers. Her hands reached eagerly for his waistband, and she removed the last barrier between them. His cock sprang forward from the confines of his jeans, thick and hard. Pre-come dripped from the slit of the large purple hood. She licked her lips as she watched that drop run down his cock, trail down the throbbing vein and nestle within the black curly hair at the base. His cock swayed with his movements as he bent and removed his boots, then stepped out of his jeans. He stood before her, promisingly palming his cock.

 
; Her mind whirled with lust as her wet core wept. His nostrils flared and, with a groan, he picked her up and placed her on the bed, covering her with his body as his mouth claimed hers. His skin on her sensitive flesh sent her blood boiling though her veins. Her hands traveled over soft skin and hard muscle, reveling in the strength of him. He left her mouth to roam over her jaw and down her neck, one hand cupping her breast. His thumb and forefinger pinched her nipple, sending a spike of pleasure down to her clenching pussy.

  “Please. I need you now!” she gasped, her breath coming in quick pants as she rubbed her hips against him.

  His tongue lapped at the vein pounding in her throat as he positioned himself, his cock nudging at her entrance, separating her wet folds. She draped her legs over his hips, giving him better access as he tilted his hips and drove forward, sinking deep inside her.

  “You’re so tight, fuck!” Marcus rasped.

  Tambra felt the delicious sting as her body stretched to accommodate him, her need burning a path from her sensitive clit through her body, making her gasp at the intense pleasure. Her tight channel tightened around him as he seated himself to the hilt. He stilled, buried deep inside her. The sharp points of his fangs scraped the delicate skin of her of her neck with dark promise and Tambra moved her hips in silent demand. He slowly pulled out, angling his hips so his cock slid along her tight bundle of nerves before sliding back into her. At the same time his fangs sank deep into her neck, making her body teeter on the edge of orgasm.

  Her muscles milked him as he began slowly moving in counterpoint to the pull of his mouth at her neck. Her eyes closed, surrendering to the rising tide of pleasure building within her, then broke apart as she spiraled out into a million fragmented pieces.

  The sudden absence of his fangs within her vein filled her with a sense of loss, quickly forgotten as Marcus pulled her legs up to her chest, giving him better access to thrust more deeply into her. His fingers found the tight bud of nerves near her core and stroked, sending a sharp spike of pleasure through her. He tilted his hips, hitting her sweet spot, sending her spiraling higher as the second orgasm hit her.