“Stay away from my back,” Kalina growled.
Ryne stared down at her, his eyes fathomless. “I heard you had a thing about no one at your back.” His voice went soft. “I expected better of you.”
Kalina watched him, wary. He had gone soft. The Ryne Garon she had heard of would never have let anyone take him that easily.
“I’m the one holding the knife.”
He smiled, his expression cold. He flowed his hand over hers in a movement too fast for the eyes. Between one heartbeat and the next, he held her dagger before he punched out palm out, hitting her mid-chest. Kalina flew across the table and into the wall, back cracking the drywall. He streaked past her, placing his hand behind her head stopping it from slamming against the surface. Ryne crowded her, moulding his muscular body to hers. She turned her face away from him, her fury bubbling up, but held it back.
“You broke rule number four, Kalina. Never underestimate your opponent,” Ryne purred against the side of her face.
Kalina shuddered in response. He was right. He’d written them, after all. Turning to face him, she locked gazes with his indigo one and saw the flames flashing there.
“You broke your own rule.”
Shifting, she twirled her hand and punched out with all her might. He skidded back, tumbling across the table to the other side. He landed on his feet.
Ryne stared at her, assessing her, before nodding. “You will do, Kalina. Before we start, you will tell me why you hate Firebirds.”
“You killed my brother and sister.” She fought to let nothing of what she felt reflect in her voice.
Ryne watched her, his hand casually in his pocket. “I didn’t know your siblings, so it wasn’t me. Remember the Assassin Golden Rule. Place blame with who it belongs.” For a moment he was silent before he continued. “There were two more of you. Amazing. I would have liked to have met your siblings, Kalina Erutan.”
Kalina looked at him, suspicious. “Why?”
Ryne’s turned devilish. “One of you would have been enough, but triplets—you must have been formidable together.”
His mentioning they were triplets seemed strange, but the pain of her loss and the knowledge that he was right blocked everything else. They had been a formidable trio. Now there was no one she trusted to fight beside her or at her back.
I should be dead beside them, Kalina’s mind screamed. Shutting it down, she refused to explore the thought, the memories.
Ryne’s expression went sombre. “If you are unable to put aside your feelings about my kind, then we can assign someone else.”
He was giving her an out, but she couldn’t take it. Pride would not let her. Raising her chin, she said nothing. He acknowledged her with a graceful motion of his hand, beckoning her to take a seat. Kalina walked to the chair at the farthest end of the room, where no one would be behind her back. Ryne walked over and sat next to her, angling his chair so no one could get behind him either.
A grim smile curled his lips. “I do not like anyone at my back.”
Kalina nodded, looking up as Christos opened the door and stepped inside.
Standing, Kalina began her apologies. “I’m sorry for my insubordination. I—”
Christos cut her off. “Shielas, please. I’m sure it was a shock, and you and Ryne seem to have come to an understanding.”
Surprised, Kalina stared open-mouthed at Christos, wondering if he realised he had slipped and called her sister.
“It wasn’t a mistake. I know of your relationship with Christos,” Ryne interjected, drawing her attention.
Returning her attention to him, she raised her eyebrow in question. He shrugged, a graceful motion that made his shirt ripple over his broad shoulders. “Yes, I can read your mind.”
Usually able to block anyone from her mind, Kalina frowned, not liking his invasion at all.
Ryne reached up slowly and touched her temple with a gentle brush of fingers. Kalina watched his indigo gaze while his eyes swirled with silver light before going still.
“Now I can’t, unless you want me to.”
Kalina nodded then turned her attention back to Christos. “Are you ready to tell me why I am paired with ‘The Ghost’?”
Ryne chuckled. “I am no longer known as that. This is about a sensitive matter, Kalina.”
She looked at him, then back at Christos. The uneasy feeling she’d had since yesterday filled her again. Christos observed her silently.
“Tell me, Christos.”
Regret filled his expression. “The Book of Terra has been taken.”
Pain threatened to overwhelm her but she stilled the shudder running through her.
He continued. “No one was injured.”
She saw the truth of his statement on his face.
“But you know what this means.”
Kalina nodded. “The men yesterday said Armageddon was coming. They were right.”
Ryne spoke next. “You don’t know the half of it. The Book of Terra tells of the location of Eve.”
Kalina glanced at him, confused. “Eve? As in Adam and Eve?”
He nodded.
“Why would that matter?”
Christos and Ryne exchanged a look. Kalina’s bad feelings increased.
Ryne turned to her. “What I am about to tell you is not known outside of this room, or within the Firebirds. Eve was the Firebird.”
“Eve was a Firebird? Hmm…that explains a few things in history, but what does it matter?”
Ryne sat forward, urgency evident in his body. “No, Kalina. You misunderstand. She was the Firebird. The first of our kind. She was the first phoenix to rise from the ashes and be born anew. She has been asleep for over seven million years. None of us has been alive that long. We don’t know what she’ll do if she’s disturbed. She went to sleep for a reason now lost to us. If she is awakened, she will be weak and defenceless. If any being reaches her first and takes control of her, she’ll rain fire on the world, heralding Armageddon.”
Kalina watched them both, her mind racing. The taking of The Book of Terra was bad enough, but with Eve being a Firebird and her heralding Armageddon, the situation went from bad to dire.
“There’s more. Tell me,” Kalina demanded, pushing back a curl of hair that had come loose.
Ryne caught her arm, shoving back her sleeve.
“Where did you get this?” The urgency in Ryne’s voice and underlying worry made her uneasy.
Kalina glanced at the bracelet, then back at him. “One of the men yesterday wore it.”
He tightened his hand on her arm. “Describe him to me.”
“He was a Firebird. Tall, sun-kissed features, hawkish nose, firm lips and ice-blue eyes.”
“Valenz!” Ryne hissed. He stared at the bracelet once more.
He and Christos looked at one another.
“If you both don’t stop exchanging those looks and just tell me, I’m gonna lose my temper.” Her words held a definite warning.
“You mean you haven’t already?” Ryne feigned shock.
Kalina stifled a laugh. “Tell me.”
He focused on the bracelet again, studying it, then back into her eyes. “You wear the Star of Eve. We don’t have to go looking for Eve. If she gets free, she’ll come to claim this.”
Kalina smiled at the thought. “I don’t have a problem with facing her.”
“She is not a regular Firebird you can kill. Eve is tied to humanity itself. If she suffers, so will humanity. Unless we can break her tie to humanity, if we kill her, humankind dies with her.”
She watched him in horror before calming. “How can we break her bond to the human race and kill her?”
“The answer is in The Book of Terra.”
Kalina nodded, and turned her attention to Christos. “What intel do you have?”
Ryne watched as Kalina listened attentively to Christos. He usually knew more about anyone he worked with, yet she was a mystery. Even with his close friendship to Christos, all Christos would admit was
she was like a sister to him. Ryne was glad their relationship was platonic, because it would have pained him to walk away from her. He sat back and studied her.
In all the stories I’ve heard of her, why has no one mentioned her beauty? When he had been waiting for the others to arrive, he’d never expected the door to open and his destiny to walk into his life.
Turning slightly, he breathed in her scent. She smelt of cinnamon and caramel. Only his rigid control stopped him from transporting Christos from the room, barring the doors, then lying her down on the table and fucking her blind. For one so young to have the reputation she had in the Assassination Unit was impressive. From her file, which was stripped of any photos as all the Assassination Unit were, he had seen the similarities to himself when he’d been in his prime. He knew the road she travelled in taking all those suicide missions. Kalina had a death wish, and if she weren’t careful, Death would grant her request.
Her energy pressed at Ryne, tantalising and teasing his own. His cock hardened even more and the primal urge within him increased. Enveloping himself in the coldness he had become known for in battle, he tempered the desire. He turned his head and met Christos’ gaze. Ryne acknowledged his look of speculation and warning with a nod of his head before he smiled fiercely. Still talking to Kalina, Christos lifted an eyebrow. Ryne found his attention drawn to her once again and noticed she was watching him.
With one look, his control was shot to hell. Kalina’s rich, honey-toned skin glowed, while her amber gaze had a faint look that said she knew the effect she had on him. He figured she wouldn’t acknowledge the instant chemistry they had. It wasn’t only about him being a Firebird. She showed no weakness, an Amazonian Warrior never did.
Kalina smiled, a twist of her lush mouth. His watered with the need to bite her lip. She shifted in her seat, causing the burnt orange low-cut suit jacket she wore to hug her full breasts even more.
Kalina crossed her long legs, making the short matching skirt that stopped just at the tops of her thighs rise dangerously, revealing more. Her long, black boots, covering from above her knee down, only drew more attention to the expanse of leg she showed. She raised a hand and, in an impatient gesture, pushed her braided, dark reddish-brown hair over her shoulder. From its length, he knew it would reach to where he wanted to bury his cock.
“Ryne”—Christos speaking his name snapped his attention back to the conversation—“will fill you in on anything else you need to know.”
Christos stood, throwing him another warning, and Ryne smiled right back at him. Christos turned and left, closing the door behind him. Ryne turned his attention back to Kalina. She was silent but there was an answering flare of lust in her eyes. Leaning closer, he put his hand on her bare thigh.
Her pulse in her throat fluttered in reaction, showing her heart rate increasing. He partially lowered his lids and slid his hand up her leg, stopping at the hem of her skirt. He waited to see what she would do. Kalina smiled, a sensuous grin, then leaned into him.
His cock hardened. Her scent of cinnamon and caramel filled his senses. Kalina leaned close enough to almost kiss him. She lowered her focus, raking his body, and it was almost like a physical touch. When she raised her attention to his eyes again, they were burning with hunger.
“Why don’t we get this over with?” Kalina’s whispered words tickled his lips.
His erection throbbed in anticipation. Smoothing his hand farther up her leg, he touched the edge of her lace-topped panty hose then the garter. Ryne shuddered as with his finger he touched the silk. He heard Kalina’s heart rate increase.
She licked her lips.
He leaned over to kiss her.
Chapter Three
The cold touch of steel between his legs stilled him.
Kalina smiled, a nasty grin. “Move it or lose it. I may have to work with you, but I still don’t have to like it.”
Cautiously, he lifted his hand off her thigh and sat back. Kalina leant forward, keeping her dagger pressed against his still-hard cock. He could have disarmed her, but instead chose to wait and see what she would do.
Kalina stood slowly, her blade steady and sure against him. She leant down until her lips almost touched his.
“You are a handsome man, Ryne Garon. Then again, I’ve been with handsome men. That won’t get you into my bed. It takes a lot more than a pretty face.” Kalina’s whisper-soft words tickled along his lips.
In the next second, she was across the room and walking to the door. He hadn’t seen her move. He enjoyed the movement of her ass in her skirt. It reminded him of a sensuous rhythm and mesmerised him. It made his body feel…
Hot.
Achy.
Horny as hell.
Ryne stared as she reached the door and glanced back at him.
“Are you coming, or are you going to stay there watching my ass all day?” She opened the door before striding out.
Biting back a laugh, he stood and followed her. He went into the hall and found her leaning against the wall, waiting for him.
Ryne strode closer until there was barely any space between them. “Don’t pull a weapon on me again unless you plan to use it,” he growled.
Kalina met his gaze. “When I pull a weapon, I always mean to use it.”
Kalina glanced down then back up at him. Ryne looked down and saw a ‘K’ carved in his pants. Glancing up, he noticed her lips twitch. He didn’t say anything instead he waved his hand over his slacks and changed his clothing to his hunting clothes. The leather touched his skin and he felt the blades he had hidden throughout his outfit. He saw her take in his clothing, his tighter, high-collared sleeveless shirt and skin-tight pants.
She changed her clothing. They were dressed similarly, except she wore a vest with a metal plate that left her navel and stomach bare. Her slacks were low-cut. He ran his finger over her navel tattoo. Kalina shivered. He caught her hand before she pulled another knife. Taking the other one she’d brought up to hit him with, he pulled her into his body, then faded taking them away. After bringing them to the first location they would search on their quest for the book—a clearing surrounded by marsh—Ryne let Kalina jerk away.
“I’m going to bloody you if you touch me again,” she promised.
Smiling, he purred, “Only if it’s done in pleasure.”
Kalina’s amber gaze narrowed. “You’re not what I expected.”
“What did you expect?” Curiosity made him ask.
“Someone cold, contained and professional.”
Ryne smiled. She has no idea how out of character I’m acting and loving every minute.
He took a step closer then stilled. Suddenly he grabbed her before he materialised his dagger and threw it over her shoulder into the shadows of the marsh. A roar shook the clearing, then the dampening shield dropped to reveal who had arrived to confront them. A coldness filled Ryne at their approximately fifty visitors. Moving away from Kalina, he realised she watched them too.
“Shadowers!” Kalina hissed.
Ryne corrected her. “No. Xiruis, the evil side of the Shadowers.”
Kalina didn’t ask any questions, although he saw them in her eyes. The mistake was common since not many beings realised the Shadowers were actually protectors, while the Xiruis were their power-hungry counterpart.
The Xiruis moved in, flaring their power, trying to siphon energy from Ryne and Kalina. Summoning his own power, he turned their attack against them. Their roars of pain quickly followed. The beings brought up their swords, and before Ryne could move forward, he heard a sound that gave him chills.
“Ailllellelell Detetetethhh Crulliiie!” Kalina’s war cry rent the air as she flew straight up and across the clearing into the centre of them.
The whole section closest to where she landed fell and he knew they were dead. She slashed, spun, kicked and twirled in a deadly accuracy, never missing while cutting a path through the horde. Snapping back to attention, Ryne brought his own sword forward from the scabbard attached
to his back.
He spun and took out the Shadowers behind him. Ryne battled them back before he turned again, catching sight of Kalina whirling into the air, spiralling, slashing her sword, taking out more of them.
He returned his attention to his own fight, killing several adversaries. Ryne saw more Xiruis flooding into the clearing. Ambush.
That could mean only one thing—the agency had a mole. No one but he, Kalina and Christos knew they were searching by New Orleans. He spared a glance at the surrounding bayou before slashing at the Xiruis he was fighting. Feeling his sword sink home, Ryne sent a telepathic message to Christos. Then spinning, he slashed his sword, taking out more of the enemy.
Do you need help? Christos’ voice sounded in his head.
Nah. I’ve got it, Ryne replied, killing another.
Opening his lips, he spewed fire, incinerating a path through the Xiruis. Ryne ran for Kalina. If he could reach her they might have a chance to take them all out in one shot.
Kalina flipped into the air, coming down on the back of a Xiruis. She brandished her sword, then jumped off. She turned, hearing Ryne coming. Her eyes widened and he smiled. He knew what she saw. When he was an Assassination Agent, he had worked alone. Other agents and criminals called him ‘The Ghost’, because they never saw him coming. They didn’t know the truth.
He swept Kalina into his arms, then whipped her body around his. She kicked out with her legs, knocking back the Xiruis. He kept rotating her until she stood in front of him.
He whispered, “Hold on and don’t let go no matter what.”
She clenched her hands clenched around his waist a second before he went ghost. He raised his hands and screamed as his body separated. Through a film of indigo, he watched as the Xiruis screeched and tried to flee. He closed his fists, and caught them, slamming them down to the ground, before pinning them. Ryne roared as the power swelled in him.
Kalina held onto him, trying to understand what she saw. She had watched him fighting fiercely and—although he had cut a path through the enemy—she knew they were outnumbered. For her, retreat wasn’t an option.
Indigo Rain (Phoenix Intelligence Agency) Page 3
