by Tally Adams
"That's all we can ask," Sekhmet said. "Times are changing, and we must all change with it."
Michael held Sekhmet's gaze, as if considering his words. "I forgot to mention to you earlier," he said distractedly, studying the card in his hand. "A woman was looking for you yesterday."
"What woman?" Sekhmet asked with a frown.
Michael shrugged. "She was asking about you at a bar my vampires frequent."
"Was she vampire?" Sekhmet wanted to know. "Or wolf?"
"Neither," Michael answered, looking up from the card to meet Sekhmet's eyes again. "She was human."
Chapter Thirty Two
Sekhmet continued to scowl as the meeting concluded and they moved to leave. Empusa opened the door to reveal the entire hall was now filled with vampires; so many it was essentially a sea of hissing faces. He cursed loudly and closed the door again with a slam, turning to face everyone else.
"It does not look good out there," he announced with an almost comical grimace, leaning back against the door and motioning behind him animatedly. "Is there another exit we could use?" he asked of Michael.
Michael looked decidedly alarmed.
Lyric glanced at Paoli, grateful for his earlier assistance. She was well aware that without it, she'd be hysterical right now. As it was, she was just nervous enough to finger the cross in her pocket, wondering if it would do any good against numbers like that. Now that the vampires had been seen, they were making noises on the other side of the door, which made her blood run cold.
"Puppies and humans shouldn't come here," a disembodied voice called.
Empusa groaned and glanced at Sekhmet. "You're really terrible at setting up smooth meetings," he informed him. "Next time, I recommend we elect another diplomat."
"Shut up," Sekhmet snapped, turning his attention to Michael. "Can you calm them?"
"Yes, of course," Michael said. "But not without bloodshed."
It was Paoli's turn to scowl. "You mean the only way you can get that group under control is to kill some of them?"
Michael sighed. "Yes. When the nest begins to feed on one another's energy, the only way to diffuse it requires sacrifices to get my point across."
"I don't think that's a good idea," Emily spoke up, putting a hand on William's arm to stop him reaching over his shoulders for his weapons. "We're trying to represent peaceful solutions to avoid war. If our presence begins to cause death instead of preventing it, that could undermine what we want to accomplish."
"That door's not going to hold forever," Paoli announced urgently as scratching noises began.
William gazed at Emily intently. "We need another exit," he finally said, looking at Michael for suggestions. "While Empusa and Lyric are the only ones at risk, our pack stays together."
"This way," the vampire said, leading them around his desk. He kicked the rug aside to expose an old, wooden door in the floor. A rusted metal loop sat in place of a doorknob. He grabbed the loop and lifted the door to expose a black hole. The scent of old dirt and mildew assaulted her nose, but Lyric could tell it was worse on the rest of them, since they all cringed slightly. "This is an emergency escape the previous leader had designed years ago. It's very rudimentary; just a tunnel in the earth, but it comes out behind the building."
Paoli leaned forward and peered in. "It won't be the most dignified escape we've ever made," he said, glancing at William. "On the other hand, it's not the worst one, either." He gave a slight chuckle and threw a roughish wink at Lyric. "Follow me," he said, as if she had any choice, since he was still holding fast to her hand.
He let go only when he'd almost disappeared from sight, and Lyric went down to her hands and knees to follow him. Once she got settled in the small space, a distant claustrophobia kicked in. It was a strange sensation; more that she felt she should be getting a panicked feeling than that she actually was. She'd have to tell Paoli later that he was better than prescription drugs when it came to anxiety.
The space was just big enough to crawl through. The damp earth beneath her hands was soft and wet, clinging to her palms and squishing between her fingers. No light penetrated the small space, so she closed her eyes to avoid getting dirt in them, and allowed the sound of Paoli moving ahead to guide her through. Empusa was behind her, and his constant complaining banter kept the situation much lighter than it would have been otherwise.
"I just want to point out here," he was saying, "that when we left my people, we didn't have to crawl out like earthworms."
"You can't deny vampires keep it interesting," Paoli said.
Empusa snorted.
"This does make me question if our attempts in this are futile," William said, his voice muffled since he was at the back of the line.
"You think?" Empusa said sarcastically. "Notice, our dear leader, that we are crawling through a hole in the ground to keep from being, quite literally, eaten alive. We may need to rethink our dealings with vampires to avoid a repeat of this lovely experience."
"The nest has always been a bit volatile," Sekhmet offered. "And Michael just took over leadership a few months ago."
"What happened to the previous leader?" Lyric asked.
"Don't ask," was all Sekhmet would say.
The small tunnel opened at the edge of the building; hidden by a door barely large enough for the men to squeeze through. When closed behind them, it lay against the building; a small, rectangular piece of decorative metal, well-hidden behind shrubs that scratched her arms when Lyric stepped out. Unless someone knew it was there, it was, essentially, invisible.
"Well, that was fun," Paoli said dryly, brushing the dirt from his hands and knees.
"I'm just glad there was a way out," Lyric breathed. "I wasn't looking forward to trying to make it back to the front door."
"After the great vampire hysteria in Europe, most of us learned to always have a way out. Those of us who survived it, I mean," Sekhmet said.
"Let's get out of here before they notice we've gone," Empusa urged. "After all, there's nothing stopping them from coming after us right now."
Lyric agreed with that wholeheartedly. She cast one last look at the side of the building; so innocent and unassuming, without a single sign of the horrors that lie within; and fell into step behind Emily. Paoli's comforting presence was right beside her; Empusa and Sekhmet in their respective places at the rear.
It wasn't until they were all loaded back into the bus and driving down the highway that everyone seemed to relax. Lyric breathed a deep sigh of relief and stared out the window, trying not to think about what had almost happened.
Sekhmet was at the wheel again, brooding silently through the windshield while Empusa, who was riding in the passenger seat, continued to lament about the experience. "How are we supposed to make peace when vampires aren't capable of seeing past their own appetites?" he demanded of no one in particular.
"That's not true of all vampires," Paoli said pointedly. "I would appreciate you not lumping us all into a single category."
"Easy for you to be more discerning," Empusa said heatedly. "It wasn't your neck they were planning to sink their teeth into!"
"Why were they so out of control?" Emily asked Sekhmet, who wasn't paying any attention.
"It's the nest that causes it," Paoli grumbled, still glaring at Empusa. "By living together without rigid structure, they lose their humanity and allow the darkness to take over."
Lyric quickly looked around at the people on the bus. If living together caused immortals to revert to instinct, did that mean everyone with her would eventually be like that? Her eyes slid to Paoli and a tight knot formed in her belly.
He caught her eye. As if reading her mind, he said, "Without rigid structure. We're different in that we try to avoid killing. They make a sport of it and lose themselves in the process."
Chapter Thirty Three
Lyric went straight for the shower in her new motel room. They'd traveled another thirty miles from their last location and found a spot away from the
highway exit in the hopes of being more difficult to find, should Lycaon come looking. Now, she stood under the hot spray scrubbing the dirt from her hands and trying to get her thoughts together.
Michael had called her an immortal human. She still had no idea what that meant. Every day that passed seemed to bring more questions, but no answers. She was being stalked by werewolves, nearly devoured by a pack, no, a nest, of hungry vampires, and still didn't know if there was a way to break her connection to Paoli. Or even if she still wanted to.
With a grumble at her own tumultuous thoughts, she turned off the water and wrapped herself in a towel. She ran the brush through her hair and marched into the main area of her motel room, aggravated about her own uncertainty.
"You make it very difficult to remember why I'm here," Paoli's voice said, startling her so much she nearly jumped into the wall.
"Holy shit!" she cried, one hand on her suddenly hammering heart. "Don't do that! After the day I've had, you could have given me a stroke!"
Paoli watched her; a slow smile softening his features even as his attention caught on a single drop of water that ran from her shoulder to disappear between the mounds of her perfect, firm breasts. The conversation he'd come to have flew right out of his head, to be replaced by the burning desire to follow the little bead with his tongue. When their eyes met, hers were still round with surprise, but his were hot and seductive.
He slid from the chair slowly, cautiously, and closed the distance between them while holding her gaze. "I want to see you," he whispered, reaching out to hook one finger where her towel was tucked and give it just enough tug that it fell to the floor between them, leaving her body bare for his leisurely inspection.
She was the epitome of perfection as far as he was concerned. Her long, slender neck, the curve of her shoulders that led down toward perfectly rounded breasts; her soft, flat belly and swell of rounded hips.
His mouth went dry as his gaze skimmed the length of her, his manhood already straining against the fabric of his jeans. The effect she had on him was remarkable. After centuries of seducing women, the sensations and desire had become somewhat muted; diminished. Until Lyric.
There was no embarrassment. Even standing completely nude while he was fully-clothed. The heat in his eyes caused any number of sensations, but embarrassment was not among them. He could start her blood boiling with no more than a look, which is exactly what he was doing. She felt the tingle as her nipples hardened; the throb already beginning between her thighs. And he had yet to so much as touch her.
He walked around behind her and stepped forward, pressing his body against the back of hers. His fingers slowly slid up her arms and to her shoulders, the touch of his rough fingers feather-light. He moved her wet hair to the side and kissed her shoulder; his mouth leaving little trails of heat as he worked his way toward her neck and up to her earlobe. His tongue swirled there, causing her to gasp at the unexpected pleasure. Her head fell back against his shoulder and his mouth moved to her cheek, her jaw.
"I want to explore every inch of you," he whispered, his voice breathy. He nudged her toward the bed but kept her standing with her knees against the mattress. With one hand, he reached forward and cupped a heavy breast, his thumb gently caressing the tip until she was squirming against him.
He slid a knee between her legs and propped his foot on the bed rail, pulling her leg with it so that she stood balanced against him with her legs open. "Shhh..." he crooned against her ear when she stiffened, feeling off-balance. "Lean into me. I won't let you fall. I just need to touch you." He nibbled her earlobe and continued to tease her breast while his other hand slid down over her hip and lower.
Lyric allowed him to hold her up; her body hot and throbbing; begging for release. When he slid a finger inside her, she cried out with the pleasure and moved against his palm, clutching at his arm as the sensation built in her, pushing her closer and closer to the edge as he continued to play her body with expertise.
"Easy now," he murmured thickly, slowly withdrawing, despite her protests.
"Please," she gasped breathlessly.
It was the please that broke his control. He'd intended to take his time tonight; to show her all the different ways he could bring her pleasure. But it would have to wait for another day. He jerked his shirt open to feel her skin against him and nearly tore his jeans getting the zipper apart to free himself. Leaning forward, he propped her hands on the bed and entered her from behind; more swiftly than he'd intended in his eagerness.
Lyric didn't mind. She moaned at the feel of him filling her, stretching her, relieving the ache. His hands grasped her hips, using them to pull her toward him as he thrust again and again; finding the perfect rhythm. Within seconds, the most powerful climax of her life gripped her and all she could do was making wild, keening noises as she careened into sweet oblivion.
Paoli cried her name when he found fulfillment; his fingers biting into her hips as he held her to him. Then he nearly collapsed on her, but caught himself with one arm on the mattress and the other wrapped around her waist. Panting, he waited until their breathing was more normal to withdraw from her and settle on the bed; Lyric wrapped snugly in his arms.
He held her silently for a while, allowing her scent to remind him she was safe. It would be a long time before his mind let go of the panic he'd had upon rising, but having her against him—warm and whole—certainly helped. He never wanted another rising like that one again. It had been as if someone had reached into his chest and torn out his heart.
"That was a nice ending to the day," she said, her breath tickling his chest.
He gave a guilty grin. "That was not my plan for this evening," he confessed.
"Mmm..." Lyric said skeptically. "Then what was your plan?"
He hesitated and looked down at her, his face somber. "I wanted to discuss what happened today."
Lyric's good humor fled. "What about it?" she asked slowly.
Her eyes had that look that never boded well. But, he'd already opened his mouth and it was too late to back out now, so he plunged ahead. "It never occurred to me that you'd be unprotected during the day. After what happened earlier, I want you to start sleeping with me."
Lyric's eyes widened at that, then narrowed. "You don't mean you want me to sleep on the bus?"
"I can put you into a hypnotic trance and keep you unconscious until I rise in the evening," he clarified.
She sat up and stared at him with storm clouds gathering in her eyes. "You can't be serious."
Paoli was slower to sit up. "Why not?" he asked; then, noticing the look on her face, he thought to add, "do you have any idea what it did to me to see you like that today?"
Lyric's nostrils flared. "I'm not going to be alive only when you deem it, Paoli. I'm sorry if my near-death experience today upset you. But you don't get to decide when I exist and when I don't."
An alarm seemed to be going off in his head, but he ignored it as his own temper started to rise. "That's not what I mean and you know it," he said impatiently.
"Isn't it?" she demanded. "Because that's certainly what it sounds like to me."
"Well, it's not. I just mean I think it would be safer if you slept when I did."
"And what if I don't want to?" she asked dangerously.
Paoli stopped himself from saying too bad, but it was near enough for Lyric to guess. "Get out," she hissed.
"Now, Lyric," he started placatingly, "I-"
Lyric was having none of it. "I said get out," she snapped, rolling away from him and using her feet to push him off the bed.
He caught himself halfway to the floor and bounded to his feet. He stared at her for a second, then almost laughed at the ridiculousness of the situation. She rolled off the other side of the bed and stood; nearly a head shorter than he was and stark-naked, but with a look on her face that threatened death and mutilation. "Can't we talk about this?" he asked, careful to keep his face neutral.
"I've just had one of the worst d
ays of my life," she said hotly. "And I'm not about to have this argument tonight. You need to leave."
Paoli opened his mouth to argue, but the stubborn look on her face told him plain enough he wasn't going to get anywhere. Not tonight anyway. "All right, fine," he growled, throwing his hands up and stalking across the room and out the door.
Chapter Thirty Four
"You really are an idiot," Emily said once Paoli explained his plan to keep Lyric safe.
He'd come to make arrangements with her and William to ensure they watched over Lyric during the day; at least until he could convince her to calm down and see reason. Emily's response, however, gave him pause.
"I thought you were supposed to be good with women," Sekhmet added with a smirk, leaning against the back of Emily's chair.
Paoli gave him the finger, which only made him laugh. "Weren't you going somewhere?" Paoli asked pointedly.
"Indeed I am," Sekhmet agreed. "Got to hunt and keep my strength up after these kind of days. You sure you don't want to join me?" he offered cheekily.
Paoli gnashed his teeth to bite back his response to that.
Sekhmet grinned. "You sure? It's a lot better when it's fresh. And you could get some practice to safely complete the blood bond." His smile lost some of its humor. "Which you should have done years ago," he added.
"That would go over well," Paoli said drolly.
Sekhmet shrugged. "If you're sure," he said, moving toward the door.
Paoli gave an aggravated sigh when he was gone. "One day, a human's going to stake him," he grumbled. "I only hope they don't find me by mistake."
"Let's stay focused on your problem, rather than Sekhmet's eating habits," Emily chided with an aggrieved eye-roll. "Please tell me you didn't tell Lyric your brilliant plan."
At the look on his face, William chortled from the bed where he was stretched out on his back, hands folded behind his head. "He sure did. I guess that explains the raised voices we heard."
