HOT-BLOODED BREATH OF DARKNESS

by Candice Stauffer

  Dodging his hand, she looked at Wes. “Is this really happening? Does he think he’s funny?”

  “Actually, to be entirely honest, I think he’s flirting with you,” Wes explained. “And I think I’m going to throw up.”

  For several seconds, she glared at Tobias. “You’re going to make my head explode. You’re a freak. I can’t do this with you. I won’t.” She turned to Wes and handed her gun to him. “Shoot me. Do it. Put me out of my fucking misery.”

  “I’m sorry. I can’t help you out. You’re going to have to learn to get along and play nice with him.” Wes wisely disposed of the gun with a thought.

  “I get it. You brought me to him to torture me to death. Why kill someone quickly when you can force them to endure a slow, agonizing death?”

  While he couldn’t think of a reason for her to choose him, to want him, he refused to lose her. He couldn’t. He wasn’t strong enough to let her go. Why would he want her to leave? She was his other half, his eternal mate. “You truly think Wes has been hunting you to kill you?”

  “I don’t think it. I know it.”

  “I am sorry I accused you of lying to me.” He knew Wes would never hurt her or any other innocent human. He also knew Wes had made her believe he would kill her. He would beat the hell out of Wes for giving her a reason to be afraid. “I believe you.”

  “Gee whiz. That’s a huge relief. I feel so much better now.” Fists clenched at her sides, she glared at him. “Not! I don’t give a rat’s ass what you believe. And you can shove your apology or a prickly cactus up your ass sideways.”

  Tobias wasn’t exactly sure how to respond but, since he figured laughing at that moment was a very bad idea, he decided to deal with Wes. He took a step toward him. “Why did you drag her from town only hours after she’d had a surgery to leave her out here? And, if you wanted me to look after her, why the hell didn’t you just bring her to my front door?”

  “I tried. You weren’t home. Your nifty security system wouldn’t let us cross your property line safely.” He turned to look at Jessie. “That’s what happen to you? That’s why I couldn’t find you? You are too damn good at shielding your mind. What surgery?”

  “I wasn’t going to announce to my future killer that I was going to be unconscious on an operating table surrounded by sharp objects.”

  “You should’ve said something to me. I would’ve handled you gentler.”

  “You ripped her sutures open. And your dumb ass won’t be handling her ever again.” He was going to beat the hell out of Wes. But later. He wasn’t going to expose her to anymore violence. “You know damn well you could’ve fucking contacted me.”

  “Things have gone to shit in my personal life. I didn’t have time to argue with you. I left her here safe and sound.”

  “In a cemetery?” she asked.

  “You scared the hell out of her and opened her sutures when you tossed her over your fucking shoulder to drag her ass out here.”

  “You actually sat back and watched him abduct me?” she asked.

  “No.” He stared down at her for several seconds. “You were merged with me.”

  “Are you telling me that you knew Wes took me this whole time?”

  “No. I didn’t know it was him. He masked his identity and covered up the direction he’d shifted with you.”

  “You were talking about him when you asked about my friend?” Wes shook his head. “The dragon. You were talking about him. This is fucking insane. If I would’ve known you’d already met him this would’ve gone a hell of a lot easier.”

  Tobias turned to Wes. “Watch your language.”

  Jessie laughed. “Your sermon would have more value if you learned to practice what you preach, Tobias.”

  “What are you talking about?” he asked.

  “If you rewind this soap opera a few seconds you’ll notice you said the super-duper naughty ‘A’ word and the even naughtier ‘F’ word at least twice.” She shrugged. “I lost count.”

  He stared at her, trying to remember if he’d used profanity.

  “Fucking.” She smiled. “You said fucking. And ass.”

  He knew she was still mad as hell at him. And, he wasn’t too proud to admit, she had every right to be mad. He’d screwed up. He was glad she was still willing to give him hell, tease him. It was everything he could do to keep a straight face. She gave him joy. So much happiness. He needed to laugh just to release it. Wes is keeping something from me. I’m worried my sister is in trouble. I need to make him believe that I’m leaving you here. I am not leaving you. We will leave here together.

  “It doesn’t seem right to allow the final resting place of so many people to become so dilapidated,” she said as if she didn’t hear him.

  Tobias looked at her, studying her troubled expression. It bothered him deeply, forcing him to do something about it. Son of a bitch. How could her disapproval over the state of a location in the middle of the Ozarks cause him to lose his damned mind? Her frown crushed him. It made him feel shame. For what? It wasn’t his property. The last time he checked, he had never accepted the position of a damn caretaker for it.

  He turned away from her. It occurred to him that she possessed way too much power over him. He should’ve been able to shrug off her negative opinion. After all, it was an old, long forgotten human cemetery. He didn’t have any reason to make it visually appealing. The inhabitants didn’t give a damn about its appearance. It would never be visited by a grieving loved one again.

  With a wave of his hand, he transformed it into a pristine cemetery. “Is this pretty enough for you?” Since he’d intended to sound sarcastic, he was shocked that his voice sounded so gentle.

  “Wow.”

  He told himself not to look at her. It would ruin his chance of convincing Wes he would abandon her. He didn’t just hear the happiness. He felt her Joy. Her sense of awe. He’d given it to her. He wanted to see it in her eyes. Too much. Way too much. He wasn’t going to look. But he did. He looked. And the joy in her eyes melted his heart.

  “It’s so beautiful, Tobias.”

  Tobias turned to Wes, forcing his eyes to go dark and icy. “I don’t know what kind of mess you’ve tangled her up in. I don’t care. It’s your problem. She’s your problem. Not mine.”

  “You know you’re not going to turn your back on her. You’re pissed off at me. Not her. You’re taking her home. If you don’t shut your trap you’re going to regret it.”

  “Thanks for the heads up but it’s too late for me to take preventative measures. Hearing you whine and moan has already chapped my butt. When you’ve finished irritating it to your satisfaction, I plan to get some ointment.”

  He was aware of Jessie’s every move. She was slowly wandering further away, preparing to run. She didn’t want anything to do with him or Wes.

  Stop. I know you can hear me. I’m not leaving you. And you aren’t leaving me. I need to get him to tell me what is up with my sister. I have a bad feeling.

  She kept her back to him, acting as if she hadn’t heard him. She was stubborn as hell. He wanted to grab her, take her, shelter her. Look at me. He wasn’t shocked that she didn’t. He started to pace, agitation growing in him. She knew damn well he wasn’t allowing her to walk away from him. And that pissed him off.

  “I want to know what the hell you’re up to.”

  “Just take her to your place and keep her safe until…”

  “You know better than to expect me to babysit one of your hum…projects.”

  “I’ve watched over her for Amber, but I can’t do it anymore. Your sister has gotten herself into trouble. I need to go after her.”

  “What kind of trouble?”

  “I’m not sure yet. I can’t find her.”

  “I’m not a project.” Jessie stopped him in his tracks, commanding his complete attention. Tilting her head to the side, she smiled sweetly, way too sweetly. She was up to something. She drew her arm back and threw a pinecone. It struck the center of his chest.


  Fighting back the urge to laugh, he rubbed his chest. “Ouch.”

  “And I sure as hell don’t need a whiny ass babysitter.”

  “Stop.”

  She turned away from him, smacked her very fine backside, “Kiss my ass, Tobias.” and walked away.

  “Stop,” he commanded, knowing damn well she would defy him.

  Raising her hand over her head she flipped him off and, keeping her back to him, continued to walk away. “Go to hell.”

  “I know you heard me. You’re coming home with me.”

  “I would rather get mauled by wolves.” Mumbling obscenities, she kept walking away.

  “When your mate orders you to stop you’d better damn well do it.”

  She went perfectly still for a few seconds, took one more step, and then stopped. Then, moving slow enough to cause his heart to skip a beat, she turned to face him. She glared at him, her arms crossed in front of her chest. “My what?”

  He shrugged, purposely appearing emotionless. “Your mate.” He lit the fuse and wasn’t about to put it out. “Come here, now.”

  Hot fury blazing in her eyes, she kept her gaze locked onto his. “Oh sure,” her lips parted in a sweet, tantalizing smile that should’ve been a sin, “anything to please you, mate.” Her voice was low and husky, exceptionally seductive, purposely sounding breathless.

  Everything in him stilled as he waited to see what she would do next.

  “Are you serious?” Wes laughed. “You’ve been playing hard to get this entire time and she’s your mate? I hope she kicks your ass.”

  She stepped closer to him, lifting her chin, looking wonderfully fierce, taking his breath away.

  He glanced at Wes. “Get the hell out of here. Amber is close. Otaktay saw her a few miles from here. I want to see her once you’ve found her. She’d better be fine.”

  “I’ll bring her to you. You’ll take care of Jessie?”

  “You know damn well I’ll keep her safe with me.” Clenching his jaw, Tobias lifted his lip in a snarl. “And Wes, I don’t know if it will save you, but the next time I see you, you’d better have a damn good reason for making my mate so fearful of you.”

  Setting him ablaze, Jessie took a step towards him. His life no longer belonged to him. Time was no longer a never-ending adversary. Finally, after eight thousand years, destiny had granted him salvation from the bleak reality of his dark and lonely eternal existence. She was a miracle. His miracle.

  ~ NINE ~

  TOBIAS KNEW JESSIE SENSED danger when she stopped and turned her head to the right slightly, searching for something. He felt subtle vibrations of her psychic power in the atmosphere as she reached out to search for the source of a threat.

  “What is it?” He was already searching for it, but he couldn’t locate it.

  Her gaze shifted to his. “Oh, crap.” Her swallow was audible, and thanks to his supernatural hearing, he heard her heart rate speed up. “Do you feel it?”

  “Feel what?”

  She was scared to death. Not of him. Not of Wes. Something or someone was reaching out to her, intimidating her.

  “Something bad, really bad is about to happen.”

  “The wolves?” he asked, unable to detect any close enough to cause any danger.

  “No. I’ve never felt this before. It’s so…it’s death.”

  His dragon, his most dangerous attribute, began to fight for supremacy to take its physical form. That had never happened. He controlled his spirit, his dragon, at all times.

  He was a demon, an all-powerful immortal warrior. He’d never had anything to lose. Life and death had never meant anything to him on a personal level. In that instant, the delicate balance between the two meant everything to him. “Show me, Jessie.” He needed to know the location of the threat to properly protect her. He reached out further, scanning the area, searching for it. “Open your mind to me. Show me everything. Right now.”

  Snipers. Otaktay warned. You’re in their sites.

  Before he could react to protect her, she stumbled, blood spurted from her neck, and a gunshot echoed. It happened so fast. It happened all at once. She was losing blood. So much blood. Too much blood. It was spurting from her neck. He knew her carotid artery had been severed or nicked. Fear a million times more powerful than any emotion he’d ever experienced during his existence, crashed into him.

  While he could’ve easily, instantly utilized many supernatural powers to protect her from afar, he tackled her, taking her to the ground, using his much larger body to shield hers from any more bullets. “You’re safe. I have you.” He took three bullets to his back before he created a protective barrier. “I’m healing you. You’re going to be fine.” He placed his hands over the entrance and exit wound and sent healing energy into her body. He worked from the inside out to stop the bleeding, repair the artery, and close the wound.

  Shocked and confused, adrenaline pumping through her veins, she fought him hard, hitting and kicking him, trying to pry his hand away from her neck. He took the pain from her, locking it deep within his own body, preventing it from entering hers again. “I’m not a threat. I’m not hurting you.” He pushed his healing power into her body. He realized the idea of having a much larger man gripping her throat when she was unable to breathe would naturally cause her to panic. “My hands are around your throat because I need to stop the bleeding while I heal the wound.”

  Coughing, choking on blood, her heart racing dangerously fast as she fought him and struggled to take a breath. “Merge with me, Jessie. You will be able to breathe on your own soon. Until then, I will breathe for you.” He continued to push his energy into her, repairing her artery and clearing her airway to allow her to breathe. “Share my mind, my soul with me.”

  No! Frantic to breathe and desperate to get away from him, she gagged and coughed. No! Her skin was cold, already pale. Her pulse was weak. Reaching up she tangled her fingers in his hair and yanked, attempting to pull his body off hers.

  Two so far. Otaktay confirmed. They were wolves. They were watching you from half a mile to the south. I’m going after the third.

  Tobias kept his gaze on hers. “I promise you’re going to be fine, Jessie. Merge with me.

  He knew she was trying to talk. Tell him. Warn him that Wes was with the shooters. Panicking. Choking. He knew she was confused, her vision was darkening and going out of focus. She was trying to push him off, but he was too big, too heavy. She was terrified because he didn’t seem to notice her struggle.

  “I am not hurting you. I can’t move my hands until the bleeding has stopped. I don’t know why Wes led you to believe that he would hurt you, but he wouldn’t. I’ve known him for many years. He would never lay a hand on a woman.”

  She lifted her hand to the front of his shoulder. You were shot.

  “It’s nothing.”

  You’re losing too much blood.

  “It’s nothing, sweetheart. I’m fine. Let me take care of you.”

  Why? She couldn’t understand why he would take care of her. No one took care of her.

  He blamed Wes for the terror in her eyes. He blamed him for her nearly being killed. “You will never be alone again. I have you. You’re safe now with me.” Rage exploded in him. Dark. Deadly. He would’ve called Wes back, attacked, and killed him if he hadn’t been mindful of her life pouring out of her, saturating the ground. A deep, threatening growl vibrated through his chest.

  She gasped, eyes wide, staring up at him as she tried to pry his hands from her throat. She saw him. His true dark nature. She was more terrified of what he could do to her than bleeding to death.

  “It’s me. Just a protective part of me. I’ll be honest, I’m pretty angry with Wes right now. It’s showing. You’re feeling it. It’s nothing for you to fear.” He forced his rage down, refusing to allow it to dominate him. “I would never hurt you.” Healing her, comforting her, was his first and only priority. “I know you’re scared, you’re desperate to take a breath. Merge with me fu
lly and you’ll feel my lungs, my body working for yours.” He couldn’t imagine anything worse than choking on blood and being unable to take a breath.

  I’m dying. I feel it. You don’t need to lie to me. It’s okay. I’m okay, Tobias.

  “No. You’re not giving up. I’m not okay with you leaving me. I’m not letting you die. You need to stay with me. I need you. I have so many wonderful things to show you, so many incredible experiences to share with you. Your life will never be the same. You will never be forced to run from anything, from anyone. I will always stand between you and whatever threatens you. I will protect you. You will never be alone again. You need to merge with me. I don’t want to force you to do it.”

  Her mind slipped into his. Immediately, she calmed down, feeling him breathe for her, trusting him to sustain her life. How are you breathing for me?

  “It’s an ability that goes hand in hand with healing.” Other than allow her to feel the pain, hers and the three bullets in his back, he opened himself to her fully, wanting her to feel his devotion to her, wanting her to trust him fully, completely.

  She closed her eyes, drifting into unconsciousness.

  “Open your eyes for me, Jessie.” His voice was only a whisper, but it was a powerful command that forced her to open her eyes.

  “I know you’re exhausted. You’re weak. But I need you to stay awake for a little longer. With me, on the count of three, I want you to take a small breath.”

  You remembered. A slight smile chased the terror, the despair from her eyes.

  “Don’t look so shocked,” he teased. “After failing to do it before I removed your sliver, I told you I would keep your count in mind.”

  Thank you.

  “You’re very welcome.” He paused. “Are you ready?”

  Yes.

  “One. Two. Three.”

  She took a breath, following his lead, her gaze never leaving his.

  “Again.”

  She took another breath.

  “That’s it. Now a little deeper.” He continued to push healing energy from his body into hers. “You’re doing great, Jessie. You’re going to be fine. Just stay still for a few more minutes.”