Shadow and Ice

by Gena Showalter

  Doom. Exactly right. At no point in Knox’s life had he ever stood out in the open like this, all but daring an enemy to take a shot.

  “What are we doing, Knox?” she asked softly.

  Hating the war, hating himself, he said, “We’re buying a burner. Lead the way.”

  A blank mask covered her features, but not before he caught a glimmer of disappointment and perhaps even an accusation—coward.

  He couldn’t deny it. Put a gun in his face, and he would not falter. When Vale neared, he crumbled.

  “Try to keep up,” she said, blazing onward.

  Knox remained close to her heels, scanning once again. Soon, he’d have to reevaluate Vale’s necessity to him. He’d known her a short amount of time, but already he liked her and anticipated the next time he could make her smile or laugh...or touch her.

  What the hell is happening to me?

  Just in case his control shattered and he put her well-being before the war, he should make arrangements, find a way to undo any mistakes. Rumors suggested Lennox of Winslet had a pair of wrist cuffs with the ability to reverse time. But because Emberelle had killed the warrior after the fourth check-in, she now had possession of the cuffs.

  Should Knox hunt Ronan, as planned, or go after Emberelle?

  Easy. Ronan’s spyglass was the key to finding the others. Therefore, the spyglass remained his top priority.

  And Vale? What would he do with her in the meantime?

  He’d never before had a problem walking away from a woman, his iron control unbreakable.

  He roved his gaze over her black-and-white hair, the elegant line of her back, the beautiful curve of her ass and the long length of her legs, and his pulse jumped with anticipation, all welcome to your new addiction.

  If he bedded her, perhaps he could finally, blessedly, end his strange, too-strong desire for her.

  Worth a shot. Had any other man ever considered such a genius plan?

  He straightened his shoulders and lifted his chin. He would face this sexual need—no, this sexual curiosity with Vale, and soon. Before, he’d worried that experiencing her feminine wiles would only make him want more of her, whatever she offered. Now he knew the truth. He couldn’t want her more—lust already consumed him.

  Afterward, he would regain his focus, and his fascination with her would be eradicated. He was sure of it.

  There was only one wrench in his plan. Vale had to agree to share his bed.

  Would she?

  He would find a way to win her over. Victory was his specialty, after all.

  Excitement raced through him, determination not far behind. It was decided, then. If she wanted him, she would have him. Her marriage...didn’t matter. The husband couldn’t defeat Knox. Who could? Therefore, the husband didn’t deserve her.

  So why are your hands fisting?

  The answer didn’t matter, either. Knox intended to kill the male, anyway, so he was as good as dead.

  Knox wouldn’t allow himself to get caught up in passion’s throes or lose his head over Vale—figuratively or literally. He would sleep with her, but he wouldn’t trust her, and he would take measures to ensure she couldn’t harm him in any way.

  Then, once he’d spent himself inside her, life would return to normal, and he would concentrate on the war, just as the future winner should.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  TENSION SHARPENED VALE’S nerves to razor points as she hustled into a small motel room. She’d wanted to return to the safety of Knox’s bunker, but he’d wanted to people watch on TV, hoping to learn more about modern times.

  Something had changed over the past few hours.

  It started with the almost-kiss, when they’d stared at each other on the sidewalk. For the thousandth time, her mind replayed what happened afterward.

  They’d visited the electronics store, where she’d procured two burner phones—one in secret. Then they’d gone shopping for toiletries and clothes, using the money she’d stolen. Money she still felt guilty for taking.

  Although, the men could consider it tax for saving Earth from evil overlords.

  All the while, Knox had watched her intently, almost obsessively, as if she’d become the center of his world rather than a part of the game. And she’d liked it.

  Despite his distraction, he’d managed to mask their tracks everywhere they’d gone. He’d also picked out a change of clothes for her.

  She’d taught him how to order takeout—outside of Ronan’s “territory” of course—and showed him how to secure lodging without ID. Through it all, anticipation had rolled off him in great, sweeping waves, and she’d gotten caught up.

  She’d tried so hard to remain unaffected, but come on! The pheromone had been on constant simmer, arousing her to an unbearable degree. And if the pheromone wasn’t to blame, well, Vale had a ready store of excuses. (1) She’d almost died and needed to celebrate life. (2) She could die at any moment, and had to live while she had the chance. (3) Every second alive was a miracle. Never waste a miracle. (4) Knox was sex incarnate, and she was shallow. (5) The human body wasn’t concerned about morals. Oh, and she couldn’t forget (6), provided by Celeste’s memory: she could seduce him, and win him over. He might volunteer to act as her shield. Also, (7) Vale could be herself around Knox. She didn’t have to pretend to be a nice, sweet girl with a pure heart. When he wasn’t snipping and snarling about enemies and distrust, he seemed to like her just as she was. And finally (8) Knox was one of a kind. She had to enjoy him while she could.

  He entered the room behind her, shut the door and engaged the lock with an ominous click. She trembled as she faced him, gulped. The way he was looking at her...as if she was already naked and ready for his possession.

  I want to be possessed by him.

  His anticipation had sharpened, becoming a sensual blade that stroked over her skin, dangerous to her resistance. Would he make a move on her?

  The barest hint of pheromone seeped from her, so very little, but so rich with sweet spices, Vale had to press her weight into her heels to stop herself from launching at Knox.

  Careful. If he scented the “perfume,” he might shut down, like last time, or let passion morph into rage. But the real kicker? Vale didn’t want him to desire her because of her cohost’s stupid ability, but because of her own personality. I’m good enough, promise.

  He paused, his blue, blue gaze hotter than a furnace, and making her sweat. If he made a move, she’d have to say no. In spite of her myriad reasons to say yes. She would not cheat on her imaginary husband. And did she really want to get intimate with a man who had no problem sleeping with a married woman?

  “Do you have any other questions about...anything?” he asked, his voice as soft as silk.

  Something about his tone sent a red alert to every hormone in her body. Or maybe a green alert. Her hormones said: Go for it! Did he hope she would ask about something specific? Like something sexual?

  “I, uh, do.” About the AW. Only the AW. Because she hadn’t changed her mind. She had to—would—find a way to stop it. “How did you win those four All Wars?”

  He arched a brow, projecting a trace of disappointment. “You ask because you wish to defeat me. You think you will have an advantage knowing my secrets. But you cannot beat me, Vale, even with this knowledge.”

  Oh, that burned. “Prove it, then. Tell me. How did you win?”

  “Besides my skill with weapons and strategy, you mean?”

  “Obviously.”

  “I decided the realm was mine even before I arrived, and the other combatants were uninvited guests.” Knox strode closer to her... “Uninvited guests must be punished.”

  Anticipation slithered through her. “Well, too bad so sad. This realm is mine. You are the uninvited guest.”

  “No, female. The realm is mine, just as you are mine. And I always kee
p what’s mine.” Closer... Gaze crackling with an entire romance novel’s worth of seduction...

  But he bypassed her completely, making zero contact with her.

  Uh, maybe she’d misread him? Which was good. Yep. Definitely good. Only a dumb-dumb got wet thinking about her former captor/current mentor/future killer pressing his naked body against hers, and slowly grinding to orgasm. Their already complicated relationship didn’t need sex added into the mix.

  “How very possessive of you,” she finally said. Was he possessive of, say, his lovers? Or rather, a former captive turned protégée? No guy had ever wanted Vale as his very own.

  “When you have nothing, you guard everything.” He dropped their purchases and his duffel bag at the foot of the king-size bed.

  She’d requested two doubles, but Knox had insisted on the biggest one available, and he was bigger and badder, so here they were.

  She observed the way his biceps flexed as he dug through the duffel’s contents. Clothes, toiletries, weapons—Celeste’s sword! Do not make grabby hands.

  “Unless our enemies find some kind of guide,” she said, desperate to fill the silence, “they have no idea how to thrive in this modern world.”

  “Everyone will find a guide soon enough.”

  As he organized small, circular objects in a line, she eased onto the mattress, near the headboard, and pulled the non-secret cell phone out of its box.

  He shuffled through the room, placing two of the circle thingies at every window and the exit. Then he summoned shadows.

  Darkness rose from the floor to cover the glass panes, and even the walls.

  So creepy!

  He continued to work, his every action methodical. Rather than drool over the way his muscles rippled with each movement—and sigh dreamily—she surfed the web for news about Colorado, hoping she could find Ronan. Currently the biggest story on tap featured a large group of people with no noticeable ties had walked away from jobs, homes, stores and cars last night, for no discernible reason, and disappeared in the mountains.

  Though she did a search for “men and women trapped in ice for centuries”; “hot warriors on ice”; “ancient killers on the loose”; “weird muscle men from other realms”; “all war” and “men and women appearing out of thin air”, she came across no useful information.

  When the words began to blur, she decided to shower and rest. She was tired, dirty, sore and stressed. And still turned on.

  With the goodies they’d purchased in hand, she headed for the bathroom. “I’m going to take care of some personal needs. Do not enter the bathroom.”

  “Do not try to escape, and you may have as much privacy as you wish.” He kept his back to her. “If you leave, I’ll find you, and you won’t like what happens next.”

  “Another vow masquerading as a threat. Yippee. I’ll add it to my collection, maybe regift them later.” But then, she suspected “vow/threat” was Knox’s default language. “Second, I’ve had plenty of opportunities to ditch you, but here I am, resisting temptation. You could trust me just a little.”

  He merely said, “Leave the cell phone with me.”

  “Well, we can’t say you didn’t give the trust thing your all.” She rolled her eyes and tossed the device his way. “Good luck surfing the web without my help, big boy.”

  No response. Whatever. She sealed herself in the bathroom and locked the door, not that a cheap, flimsy bolt would keep out a guy like Knox. If he wanted inside, he would shoulder his way inside.

  She waited one minute...two. When he remained outside the small enclosure, she relaxed a little.

  After brushing her teeth, she fiddled with the knobs to turn on the shower. Water sprayed from the faucet, and steam thickened the air as she slid the second phone from her back pocket. Who to call, who to call? Considering how busy she’d been with school and work the past few years, she had no friends other than Nola. And dang if she knew anyone else’s number by memory.

  Why not try her sister at least? A single phone call wouldn’t put the girl in danger. Especially a quickie—boom, in and out, over before anyone remembered Vale had a loved one to exploit.

  Nola had been in possession of her phone when they’d fled the ice cavern; the device had all of her doctors on speed dial, so it was never far from her side. Maybe Zion hadn’t filched it. Maybe he hadn’t known what it was and had let her keep it.

  It was worth a shot, anyway. Trembling, she poked at the keypad...ringing...twice, three times, four...

  “Hello?” her sister said, sounding pained, reedy.

  Vale’s heart thundered with love and relief as she tasted sweet brown butter, and tears welled in her eyes. “You’re alive,” she whispered, her knees buckling. Careful, careful. If Knox came barreling inside...

  “Vale? My gorgeous ballbreaker! You’re alive.” A sob burst over the line. “I’ve been so worried.”

  “Nola.” Deep male voice, soft tone. The taste of citrus. Zion must be right next to Nola. “The caller upsets you?”

  “No, no, I’m happy,” her sister said, and sniffled.

  Still whispering, Vale said, “Where are you? How are you? He’s treating you well?”

  “I don’t know where we are. Zion told me it’s better if I don’t know, and I agree,” Nola replied. “He’s protecting me from one of the warriors, a blonde trying to abduct me, reasons unknown. And I’m...surviving minute by minute, and some are tougher than others.”

  They would talk about the blonde in a second. Right now, Vale had to stuff a fist in her mouth to silence a cry of despair. Her sister was in agony, and there was nothing she could do to help. “Tell Zion to steal pills for you.”

  “He did. Got me a whole bucket full. I’ve taken one or two, and have been tempted to take more, but I’m determined to get clean. I’m tired of my life revolving around a little white pill. But enough about me. How are you?”

  “No changing the subject, sis. You know you can’t go cold turkey.” The last time Nola attempted it, she’d ended up in the hospital. “You have to taper, or the strain on your heart—”

  “Someone comes.” Zion again. Static. “We must go, Nola.”

  “I love you, Vale. I love you so—”

  At the same time, Vale said, “I love you, sis, and I will do—”

  The phone went silent. Hardly mattered. Nola was alive, being protected and cared for by Zion, as Knox had promised. Well, well. He wasn’t as much of a POS as she’d originally thought.

  Once Vale had her breathing under control, she powered down the phone and stored it behind the toilet, then stripped and entered the shower stall. A thicker cloud of steam enveloped her before she maneuvered under the hot spray of water. Feeling as if a weight had lifted from her shoulders, she washed her hair and scrubbed her body.

  Then her mind returned to Knox.

  She’d learned a lot about him today. First and foremost, he was jealous to the max. Anytime a guy had expressed any kind of interest in her, Knox had stepped in front of her and growled. Growled! As if he coveted her affections. A true and unexpected anomaly.

  She kind of liked Knox, too. He was smart, adapting to this new world with ease. After they’d made their purchases, he’d stolen a car, repeating what he’d seen her do. But the real shocker? He’d driven like a pro. And dang it, he’d looked so sexy behind the wheel.

  He’d ignored humans unless they’d had something he’d wanted. Give it to me. A phrase she’d heard countless times.

  If someone had asked him a question, he’d glared until that someone beat feet. He’d never relaxed, but he’d never hurried, either. He’d expected absolute obedience anytime he’d issued a command, and he’d mowed down anyone who had dared resist.

  He’d shared a painful part of his past with Vale, revealing a softer side. Anguish had filled his eyes when he’d spoken of his daughter, and maybe tears,
too, but he’d quickly blinked away any moisture, leaving her to wonder if she’d imagined it.

  Vale had wanted to hug him so badly. How would Knox react to a show of affection? And what kept him forging ahead in the game, determined to win a kingdom for a man he clearly despised? What was the something he wanted more than anything?

  Whatever the answer, Vale was kinda sorta glad to be stuck with him...but not so glad to be stuck in the midst of a savage war.

  Life as she knew it was over. So much had changed in so little time. A vacation meant to reenergize her had ultimately broken her.

  Legs instantly weak, Vale sank to the floor of the shower stall and drew her knees up to her chest. Now that she’d reached a safe-ish place, adrenaline no longer drove her to push on and on and on, and her strength just...evaporated.

  Somehow shock had kept her relatively sane. No longer. Without strength or shock, she shattered. Sorrow, grief and regret consumed her, big fat tears pouring down her cheeks, scalding her skin.

  This was the first time she’d cried—really, truly cried, with her entire body involved—since her mother’s funeral and her father’s see you later, alligator. Her dream of partnering with Nola to open Lady Carrie’s had crashed and burned. The business degree she’d worked so hard to achieve? Worthless. Only survival mattered. Unless she could make Nola immortal—and end the war, of course—Vale would have to watch her beloved sister die, and spend an eternity without her best friend. No more laughs over breakfast. No more pep talks before bed. One day, Nola would be a distant memory from a previous life.

  Or, Vale could die first. It wasn’t just possible, it was probable.

  Before the start of her vacation, she hadn’t been too interested in meeting a man, falling in love, and starting a family. Now she shouldn’t want to meet a man or start a family, not when her life plan was supposed to involve killing other people and/or dying horribly. And yet, suddenly what she yearned for was the husband she’d invented, a couple of snot-nosed kids to raise, a dog named Groucho Barks and a cat named Poopsy Meow.