He took her into his arms. “Hum, that sounds like a direct challenge to me.” He brought his lips down on hers in a demanding kiss. He ran his tongue across her lips and she boldly caressed her tongue with his. Molding her body to his, she wrapped her arms around his neck, entwining her fingers in his silky hair. He broke the kiss, looking into her heavily lidded eyes.
She smiled. “Now that was the reception I was expecting earlier. You haven’t kissed me like that since Denise showed up.”
“I wish we had more time now, but we don’t. I’ve got to get you to safety whether you like it or not.”
She laughed. “I don’t have a problem with getting out of here and away from that vampire clan.” She kissed his cheek, pulling out of his arms. “We’ve resolved my issues—for now anyway. As much as I hate to admit it, we do need to hurry.” She grabbed his hand, tugging. “Come on, let’s get the amulets and get out of here.”
* * *
Mica opened the car door for her. Sticking her head in the Express Van, she leaned on the backseat, smiling at Caleb and Denise. “Hi, guys,” she remarked cheerfully, sitting down in the seat as Mica shut the door. She turned back around to socialize. “I brought a friend.” She held up the cage containing the rat and set it down on the front seat.
Denise scrunched up her nose. “Why did you bring that disgusting thing with you?” Caleb laughed. “Is that anybody I know?”
Desiree laughed, nodding in response. “Yes, Caleb. It’s your old buddy Hargrove. He looks a little different now, as in finally showing his true colors.”
Mica put the amulets in the back compartment of the van. Walking to the front, he climbed in and started the engine.
The rat looked at all the occupants of the car with its beady little eyes and started chewing frantically at the bars. Desiree stared sternly at the rat. “It’s not too fun being on the other side of the bars, now is it, Jason?”
Denise shuddered in revulsion. “What are you going to do with that disgusting thing?”
“Well, I’m glad you asked that, Denise,” she replied smartly. “Since Jason here has caused us so many problems, I have decided to hand him over to Drake as a gift. I’m sure he’ll think of something creative to do with him. After all, he has given us all one huge headache and just about cost each one of us our lives. Death would be too good for him. In fact, I think spending the rest of his days in a cage in sewer type conditions should be just punishment. I will suggest just that to Drake, but in the end, the final decision will belong to him.”
Mica spoke up. “Speaking of Drake, I need to call him.” Desiree bit her lip apprehensively, nodding. He reached under the seat, retrieved the cell phone, and pulled up Drake’s number on speed dial.
Drake answered on the first ring. “Desiree, where are you?”
“It’s not Desiree. It’s Mica.”
“Mica, Desiree said you and Denise were being held captive. How did you get away?”
Mica looked into Desiree’s eyes and winked at her before he answered. “That’s a long story. We’ll have to tell you all about it when we get back to New Orleans.”
“And when might that be?”
“We’re leaving Tennessee now. We should arrive at the warehouse somewhere between six and seven tonight.”
“Is Caleb driving?”
“No, I am. Why do you ask?”
“Her spell really did work then.”
Mica smiled at Desiree. “Yes, Drake, the spell worked. We have the amulets in the Express Van.”
“Excellent! We’ll see you in a few hours.”
“We’ll be there.” He snapped the cell phone shut.
Desiree looked at Mica expectantly. “Mica, why didn’t you tell him about the other vampires?”
“I didn’t want to get into that over the phone. He is going to be very angry when I do tell him, and I want to be face to face with him when he hears that news.”
“Uh oh.” Denise rolled her eyes. “Prepare for the fireworks.”
Desiree slumped down in her seat, looking out at the scenery apprehensively. “I don’t know if I’m more worried about that vampire clan or telling Drake.”
Mica reached over and squeezed her hand. “You leave Drake to me”
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
Mica pulled the Express Van into the alleyway behind the warehouse at 6:15; he put it in park and cut the engine. Everyone else in the car was asleep. He reached over, gently shaking Desiree’s shoulder. “Desiree, wake up. We’re here.”
“We’re here,” she repeated, sitting upright in alarm. Rubbing her bleary eyes with her fists, she dropped her hands to look around into the pitch-black alleyway. She glanced back at Mica in confusion. “Where are we?”
“We’re in the alleyway just behind the warehouse. You need to relax and let me handle Drake.” He turned to the backseat. “Hey, y’all need to wake up. We’re back.” He spoke loudly to Caleb and Denise.
Caleb stretched, dropping his hand on Denise’s knee.
She looked down at his hand and back at him, baring her fangs. “If you want to keep that hand, I suggest you remove it before you pull back a bloody stump.”
He smiled, pulling his hand back. “Oh, I’m sorry, Denise. I didn’t mean to do that.”
“Yeah, right. Tell it to someone who will believe it.”
“Listen up.” Mica tried to hide his amusement. “Drake is likely going to pitch a royal fit, no pun intended.” Caleb grinned. “You both have a tendency to spout off with smartass remarks. While I find it humorous at times, Drake will not. His patience is well known for being short. Hang back and let me smooth things over. A fight with the Tennessee clan is inevitable; we’re going to need everyone here on our side.”
Denise’s eyes reflected her wariness. “Mica, his temper is worse than yours. I know Drake’s rage first hand. I don’t stay with the rest of the clan because of it.” She shuddered. “You don’t have to worry about me spouting off. The sooner this is over with and I can go back home, the better.”
Caleb stretched, putting his arm around Denise. “Yeah, I agree with Denise. The sooner this is over with, the better. I look forward to following Denise home.”
Denise ground her teeth, grabbing Caleb’s shirt collar in a chokehold. “You stay away from me and my home, fur ball,” she snapped, and Caleb laughed, undaunted. “If I catch you on my doorstep, I’ll rip your throat out, got it?” She released his collar.
Caleb shook with laugher. “Sure, lover, whatever you say.” Denise fumed, glaring at him.
Mica chuckled. “You two can pick this back up later. I need your cooperation right now.”
Caleb held up his hands. “Okay, okay, I’ll behave—for now anyway. When this is over, all bets are off.”
Denise raised her eyebrow at that comment. “I foresee a fur ball with a very short life span,” she grumbled under her breath. She looked up, meeting Mica’s eyes. “I’ll cooperate.”
Mica opened his door and got out. “Good. Let’s get this over with.” He was by Desiree’s door before she could lift the handle, opening her door for her.
She smiled up at him. “Thanks, it’s good to know chivalry isn’t dead after all.” She slid out of the Express Van, reaching in for Hargrove. “Don’t forget the amulets,” she remarked to Mica. “Since that is something that Drake wants badly, maybe it will curb his temper.”
Denise scrunched up her nose, pointing to the rat cage. “You’re not really going to give that thing to Drake, are you?”
Desiree smiled mischievously. “Sure I am. After all the trouble he’s caused, I’m sure Drake will be happy to have this gift.” She patted the cage.
Mica put his arm around her shoulders. “I’ve got the amulets.” He looked at the rat cage in disgust. “You’ve got Hargrove. There is no sense in putting this off any longer.” He squeezed her shoulders, kissing the top of her head. “Let’s go face Drake.”
Nodding, she took a deep breath. “Let’s go.”
They made their
way to the front of the warehouse. Mica knocked three times on the door and it immediately opened. “They’re expecting us.”
She looked up at him apprehensively. “It appears so. I hope Drake’s in a good mood. If not, it’s going to be a rough night.”
“Drake is in an excellent mood,” Drake remarked from the doorway. “Mica, you brought her back. I knew you could do it.”
“In a manner of speaking. She’s leaving with me.”
The smile dropped from Drake’s face. “What do you mean she’s leaving with you?”
Desiree tilted her head to Drake. “I’m leaving with Mica when he leaves.”
Drake observed Mica and Desiree for the first time, noticing their closeness. His irritation grew. His eyes stopped on the cage in Desiree’s hand. “Is that thing some kind of familiar or something?”
She looked around in confusion. “What thing?”
He pointed to the cage. “That thing in the cage. Is it some kind of witch’s familiar?”
She laughed, holding out the cage to him. “No, I brought this as a gift to you.”
He raised his eyebrows. “What am I supposed to do with that?”
“That’s what I said,” Denise grumbled under her breath.
Desiree laughed, patting the cage. “I don’t care what you do with it.” The rat in the cage squealed. “This is no ordinary rat. This is Jason Hargrove.”
Drake pinched his eyebrows together, scowling. “Hargrove… the witch hunter?”
“Yes, the one and only. He tried to kill me one too many times. I had had enough, so I cursed him into this form for eternity. I figured since he had caused you so much trouble, you might want to take care of him yourself.”
Drake lifted an eyebrow, observing the cage with new interest. “Sean!” he bellowed. “Come show our new guest to his quarters.”
Sean rushed up at Drake’s command. “Who am I escorting to quarters?”
Drake snatched the cage from Desiree, shoving it at Sean. “The rat in this cage is Jason Hargrove. Put the cage on top of a shelf or something. I’ll decide what to do with him later.”
Sean examined it with curiosity. “This is Hargrove?” Drake nodded. “What happened to him?”
“I cursed him,” Desiree remarked loudly to Sean. She raised her eyebrow. “I seem to remember a vampire that snatched me off the street and started all this mess.” Crossing her arms over her chest, narrowing her eyes, she stared Sean down. “He wasn’t very nice to me either.” She glanced up at Mica and winked. “I might be able to come up with another curse or two…”
Sean looked between Desiree and Mica, backing away. Drake rolled his eyes. “Mica has rubbed off on you. Don’t mess with my bodyguard.”
Mica squeezed her shoulders and they chuckled quietly together. Drake shook his head, clearly aggravated. “Mica, you and Desiree need to come to my quarters. We have much to discuss.” He locked eyes with Denise, and he nodded. “Denise, you and Caleb—just make yourselves at home.”
Mica and Desiree followed Drake to his quarters. “Shut the door behind you,” Drake remarked, sitting down in his chair. “Please sit.”
Desiree took a chair next to Mica.
Drake studied both of them for a few seconds before he spoke. “Desiree, do you have something you wish to give me?”
She smiled. “Yes, I have created the amulets that you requested. Mica and Denise can attest to you that they do work.” She looked over at Mica, smiling. “Mica, could you please give Drake the amulets?” He nodded, handing Drake the bag. She winked at Mica. “Thanks.”
Drake took the bag and looked inside. Reaching in, he pulled out an amulet on a gold chain, gazing curiously at the charm. “This is it?” He looked up from the amulet to her. “I just wear this and walk outside? You don’t have to say a spell or anything?”
“No, that’s it. Just be sure you have it on when you walk outside. It will protect you.” “Thank you for that. I told you that you could have something that you wanted in return.” He studied her for a moment. “What is it that you want?”
Mica reached over, squeezing her hand for encouragement. She looked Drake in the eyes. “I want my freedom. I want to be able to leave here with Mica.”
He sat back in his chair and looked between the two. He sighed. “I’ll take it into consideration.”
Her eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped open. “But you said I could have anything I want.” She looked over at Mica and he squeezed her hand again. “Drake, that’s not fair,” she huffed. “Mica said you were an honorable man and you would keep your word. What I want won’t cost you one red cent.”
He raised an eyebrow at her attitude. “I beg to differ with you.” His voice was calm. “I have much to lose if I let you go. You have proven to be a very valuable commodity. I’m not so sure I want to release you just yet.”
Tears of rage and frustration trailed down her cheeks. “I am not a possession!”
Mica placed a hand on her knee and addressed his friend calmly. “Drake, you need to let her go.”
He cocked his head, studying Mica “Let’s talk about your part in all this. You were supposed to rescue her and bring her straight back here. You weren’t supposed to making any detours. Why is it that she comes back attached to you?”
He raised an eyebrow at Drake, shrugging. “I decided I wanted her.”
His eyes met Mica’s in challenge. “What if I was to tell you that you can’t have her?”
Mica’s eyes flashed red. “I will fight for her if necessary,” he snarled, and Desiree shrunk back in the chair away from both of the alpha-male vampires.
Drake rose from his throne to tower over them. “Are you challenging me, your king?”
Mica stood, almost matching him in height. “I am if you’re threatening to take my mate from me. She belongs to me.”
Desiree jumped from the chair and her knees buckled beneath her. “Stop it!” she screamed. “Mica, please don’t do this. I couldn’t bear to lose you.” Her plea had no effect on the two warring vampires circling each other, each looking for the best advantage. A sudden anger consumed her. Standing back up on her feet, she glared at Drake. Bringing both her hands up over her head, a large fireball formed between them. “Drake!” she shouted in a commanding voice. “I protect what is mine! Back off.” Both men stopped, staring at her in disbelief. She raised her chin in defiance. “I protect what is mine,” she repeated.
What Drake did next, shocked them both. He laughed. “I underestimated her from the beginning. She would have made a great warrior vampire. It’s too bad she’s been mated already to one of us. She would have been a challenge.” He sat back down. “Relax, Mica; I won’t take your mate from you. It’s obvious that she is just as protective of you as you are of her.”
She rushed to Mica’s side, wrapping her arms around his waist. “You’ll let me leave with Mica then?”
He raised an eyebrow. “I didn’t say that. If Mica wants to stay here with you, I have no problem with that.”
Desiree narrowed her eyes at Drake. “No.”
Drake stood, lifting an eyebrow. “What did you say to me?”
She lifted her chin stubbornly. “I said no. It is not in Mica’s nature to live like this. I won’t do that to him.”
“Desiree…I’ll stay with you here.”
“No, Mica, I won’t put you through that.” She looked Drake in the eyes. “I’m leaving with Mica when he goes.”
Drake glared at her and then glanced up at Mica. “Mica, you better take control of your mate.”
Mica laughed. “She doesn’t take orders any better than I do. We’ve already butted heads.”
“I’ll take that under advisement. I’ll think this over and let you know my decision later. In the meantime, tell me what happened in the cave. How did you escape the silver cage and chains?”
This was the subject they needed desperately to talk to Drake about, but were dreading the most. She looked away from Drake. “You told me get creative.”
He raised an eyebrow to her sudden timid attitude. “Yes, I told you to be creative until we got there…Why the sudden change in attitude, Desiree?”
She blew out a frustrated breath, glaring at him. “I got creative. I couldn’t fight twenty vampires by myself, so I wrote a spell,” She looked away again. Drake crossed his arms over his chest, waiting for her to continue. She glanced over at him and saw that he was still waiting. She put her hands on her hips. “I chanted a spell that would make the vampires see the sun and feel its rays. The only way they could escape the pain was to hide in the shadows until my task was done. There, I said it.”
He nodded his head. “Actually, that’s pretty clever.”
“Yeah, I thought so too until Mica told me that they will come after me for that.” She paced the floor. “Drake, they’re going to follow us here, and they’ll be looking for my blood.”
“You said you counted twenty?”
She stopped pacing and looked up at him. “Yes.”
“We have more than twice that number here. They would be foolish to fight.”
Her mouth dropped open. “You’re not angry with me because I brought an entire clan of vampires to your doorstep to fight?”
“No, we could use the distraction.” He laughed at her shocked expression. “We are a warrior clan. Fighting is in our nature. Besides, I didn’t give you much of a choice. I left it up to you to save your mate. You did what you had to do.”
“Yes, I did.”
Drake looked over at Mica. “Mica, what in the hell was Denise doing with you and Caleb?”
Courting the Darkness Page 19
