by Nina Bangs
At first, Nine just looked startled, and then dawning realization twisted his face into something grotesque. “You bitch!” His scream reached her across the space between them. “Kill her.” Nine’s order fell on deaf ears because his followers seemed frozen in place as they stared at her.
What the…Kelly shot Seir a quick glance. Was he powerful enough to control thousands of nonhumans? But she didn’t have time to think about Seir now. She sang on, her voice perfectly pitched, the melody true and clear.
“No!” Nine started to shimmer as he thrust his arms out in front of him. A blast of power vibrated and pulsed before smashing into some of the speakers. The speakers vaporized.
Oh, shit. If he couldn’t hear her voice, this wouldn’t work.
“Don’t worry, I have it covered.” Seir’s quiet confidence eased her panic.
Seir didn’t move, but the next blast that Nine aimed at the remaining speakers hit whatever shield the demon had thrown up. Brilliant flashes of diffused energy sparkled and hissed against the invisible wall Seir had erected.
She sang on, her voice soaring as she neared the end. Kelly refused to look at what was happening to Ty and Gig. She couldn’t take the chance that what she saw might stop her song. Only the melody mattered.
The shimmer around Nine grew as he flung blast after blast at the speakers and then at Seir. The walls of the Astrodome threatened to cave as each blast shook them. Seir stood strong. Whatever that shield was, he should patent it.
In final desperation, Nine clapped his hands over his ears. Too late, much too late.
And as she sang the last notes of her melody, her eyes widened. The crowd sat paralyzed as they watched. Even Ty and Gig were silent. She was afraid to think what that might mean.
Nine began to disintegrate into glowing particles from his feet up.
“No! I was promised more time. I’m not ready to go back. I waited and waited and—” His screams were cut off as his head became just so many glowing bits. Then the bits coalesced into one whirling ball of light and winked out.
For a moment after her song ended, none of the thousands in the audience made a sound. Trying to hold panic at bay, Kelly turned to look at Ty. She was just in time to see both men’s human forms return. Ty’s hair was matted with sweat and blood, and it seemed that every inch of skin exposed by his torn clothes was cut. Wiping blood from his face, he staggered toward her. Gig didn’t look much better. But both men were alive. Alive.
Almost sobbing with relief, Kelly started forward. Seir put his hand on her arm. “Wait.” She watched him walk across to the sorcerer. She didn’t have any trouble interpreting the expression on Thadeus’s face. Terror. A moment later, he did something to the circle. Seir returned to her, dragging the sorcerer with him.
“Okay, Ty and Gig can get out of the circle now. I’d wait here for them to come to you.” He glanced around at the audience as an angry buzz rose, growing louder with each second. “I think they’re a little ticked at having their fun spoiled.”
Frantic, Kelly searched the crowd. “Ty. Where is he?”
“Here.” Ty was suddenly beside her. His voice sounded exhausted but relieved.
And inexplicably, she was furious at him. “Don’t ever, ever scare me like that again.” Then she wrapped her arms around him, drew his head down to hers, and kissed him.
Covered in blood and sweat, he was still the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. His kiss was hot, crazy, and primal. And it didn’t matter at all that the mob was working itself into a killing rage.
Seir interrupted. “As touching as this reunion is, we’d better get out of here fast. In a few seconds, everyone’s going to realize their great leader is gone for good, and then they’ll be looking around for someone to eat.”
Dragging a frightened Thadeus along with him, Seir led the charge toward the exit. Behind them, a howl of fury from the audience suggested they’d gotten out of Dodge just in time.
“Damn, that was incredible.” A limping Gig was grinning as they finally reached the door.
“Get rid of the wards, sorcerer.” Seir’s voice held the promise of death.
His hands shaking, Thadeus did what he was asked. “Please, don’t kill me. It wasn’t my idea. He forced me. Don’t kill me, don’t kill me, don’t—”
With a disgusted grunt, Seir shoved Thadeus back down the tunnel. The sorcerer recovered his footing and ran into the Astrodome again.
Kelly had her arms around Ty, trying to keep him upright as they reached the SUV. She glanced back to see Jude and some of his vampires standing near the entrance, waiting for whoever came out. That’s when she realized Seir was gone. He’d just disappeared. But she didn’t have time to worry about him.
She was ready to get into the driver’s seat when she realized it was already occupied. Fin grinned at her. Gig got into the passenger side. Kelly and Ty scrambled into the rear seat. Q sat beside them, while Al and Lio crowded into the very back of the vehicle. Then Fin backed the SUV up.
Fin put lots of space between the car and the Astrodome before stopping. Kelly watched as his gaze grew distant. After a few seconds, Jude’s vampires and Macario’s wolves erupted from every side of the building as they raced from the stadium.
“You said something to them, didn’t you?” See, she was learning. “What did you say?”
Fin’s gaze remained fixed on the Astrodome. Suddenly, a giant crack opened under the building. As she watched, horrified, the crack widened and widened and widened until with a thunderous boom that shook the ground and rocked the SUV, the whole Astrodome imploded. Disbelieving, she watched as the remains of one of Houston’s landmarks sank into the gigantic hole and disappeared. Then the hole closed.
It had happened too fast to be real. She listened for screams. None. She looked for escaping bad guys. Not one.
Fin met her gaze with his cold silver one. “I told them to run like hell.” He glanced back at where the stadium had been. “Who knew there was a fault line under the Astrodome?”
Silence filled the SUV. As they watched, the vampires and wolves disappeared into the night. Shouts of alarm were rising from nearby neighborhoods, and in the distance Kelly could hear sirens.
Fin drove calmly away from the stadium. “And, no, even if they dig, they’ll never find any bodies.”
“Son of a bitch.” Gig’s contribution to the discussion.
What was Fin? He hadn’t even been trying hard when he took down the Astrodome. “Why did you do it?” Kelly couldn’t believe how calm she felt. Knowing Ty was safe did that to her.
“To send a message to Zero. ‘Don’t mess with me or my people.’” He stared at Kelly when he said “my people.” Then he grinned. “Oh, and did I mention that I get a rush out of doing stuff like that?”
Ty put his arm around her waist and pulled her close. She stared at the back of Fin’s head. “Do you have a license?”
“I’ll produce one if I have to.”
She glanced over at nearby Highway 610. Even at
1:00 A.M., cars had pulled over to gawk. “You know this’ll make headlines across the country.” Fin shrugged. “I felt it when you expelled Nine from Earth. How’d you do it without your flute?”
“I sang.”
“Congratulations. I didn’t realize you were so inventive. Great job.”
While Q and the others complained to Fin about not getting a chance to fight, Kelly looked up at Ty and grinned. She shouldn’t care what Fin thought, but his praise felt good.
Then she forgot about him to concentrate on Ty. “Come over to my place and I’ll get you cleaned up.” She frowned as she touched a gash in his shoulder. “Do you need a doctor?”
“No. All I need is you.” The emotion in his voice was everything she could hope for. Laying her head against his unwounded shoulder, she wondered how she’d convince him to take her with him when he left Houston.
Chapter Eighteen
Ty stepped out of the steam-filled shower and chose one of Ke
lly’s big fluffiy towels to dry himself. His torn and bloody clothes lay in a corner of her bathroom. He’d toss them in the trash later.
Too bad he couldn’t toss his beast into the pile, too. It still roared inside him. His T. rex had tasted blood to night, and it wanted more. The adrenaline rush of battle still drove him.
Fear was his constant companion at times like this. What if the beast rose while he made love to her? How could she even want to make love with him after seeing his brutal battle with Gig?
Sure, she’d kissed him, but her reaction had probably been driven by relief they were both alive. What woman would want to spend forever sleeping beside a man who could lose his humanity as quickly and completely as he had tonight? And what man would be stupid enough to ask for such an unlikely forever? Guess that would be him.
When they’d finally made it home, she’d forced him to relax on her couch while she ran over to his place to get his toothbrush and some clean clothes. By the time she’d returned, he was pacing her apartment. The beast wouldn’t let him rest.
He stared into the steamed-up mirror as he brushed his teeth. Why bother looking when he could only see a faint image? It made him think. Was that the real him? A faint image? Would he ever be able to offer Kelly all of himself? From the little Fin had revealed, he might not be a winning package. Kelly, please accept me, my animal, and whatever the hell I was before. Right. She’d jump at the chance.
Finished in the bathroom, Ty paused with his hand on the doorknob. Whatever happened, he’d have to leave Houston behind. If she didn’t want him, he could still carry her memory wherever he went. Not much of a substitute, but it was the one thing no one could take away. Fin could. And no matter how hard he tried to dismiss the thought, it festered.
He was about to turn the knob when Seir spoke in his head.
“Except for all those cuts and bruises, you look pretty good. Women love wounded warriors.”
Ty tensed. No, not now.
“I wasn’t going to bother you tonight, but I have places to go and things to do.”
“Can’t we take care of this some other time?” Like in about ten years?
“Sorry, can’t do. But I’ll give you a break. I won’t stay the whole night, only long enough to give you some pointers on how to rev up a woman’s interest.” The silence hinted that Seir was thinking. “Not that Kelly needs any revving up.”
“You’re not getting into that bed with Kelly and me.” Ty spoke through clenched teeth.
Seir’s laughter was free of his usual mockery. “Relax. I’ll be long gone. I’m just going to give you some help with what comes before. Now look in that basket on top of the toilet tank and take out the tube of body lotion.”
Ty thought about trying to fight Seir, but he’d made a deal. “Can I trust you?” What a dumb question. Seir was a demon. Demons lied.
“I’m all about good intentions tonight.” The laughter was still in his voice.
Warily, Ty rooted around in the basket until he came up with the tube. “Vanilla? Tell me this is for Kelly. I’m not a vanilla kind of guy.”
Seir didn’t offer any comfort.
“Now what?”
“Now you let me in.” The demon’s voice sounded casual, but Ty sensed tension thrumming beneath the surface.
This was one of the toughest things Ty would ever have to do. He’d be handing control of his mind over to Seir, and Ty’s memories of how he’d felt when Nine took control of his body were still way too fresh. But a promise was a promise. He’d known it wouldn’t be easy when he’d made the bargain in exchange for a chance to find Kelly.
“If you try to do something that’ll hurt Kelly, I’ll fight you.” It had to be said.
“No trust? I’m disappointed.” And somehow Seir sounded as if he meant it.
“What do I do?” Ty tried to relax, but every muscle in his body felt stiff with apprehension.
“Invite me in, Ty. Out loud. Just invite me in. And don’t worry, you’ll be there to see and hear everything I do in your name.” The amusement was back in the demon’s voice.
Ty huffed out a nervous curse and said the words. “I invite you in.” Then he qualified it. “But if you do anything to mess things up between Kelly and me, I’ll follow you back to hell and tear you apart.”
The demon’s laughter echoed in his mind.
He opened the door and walked into the bedroom. Ty wasn’t sure which “he” was doing the walking. Even though Ty’s feet were the ones actually moving, it was Seir’s mind doing the motivating. In this case, he and the demon were on the same page. His feet were taking him where he wanted to go.
Kelly was sitting on the edge of the bed. She looked a little uncertain. Ty thought she was the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. Her short nightshirt bared the long sleek length of her thighs and legs, and her eyes were soft with emotion. She spoke to both the animal and human in him.
His body evidently didn’t care who was in the driver’s seat, because it reacted the same way it always reacted to her. He tightened and grew hard. And when her gaze slid over him and paused at his cock, he almost groaned.
“Are you hurting?” Her eyes, filled with concern, lifted to his.
Not in the way you think.
“A little. That’s why I borrowed this.” He held up the lotion.
A lie. Ty felt fine. He healed fast. Seir was evidently going for the sympathy vote. Not the way Ty would’ve handled it.
Kelly’s eyes clouded. “Let me put it on.”
Yes, yes, yes! Maybe Seir knew what he was doing after all.
“No, that’s okay. I can take care of it myself.” He pulled up one of the kitchen chairs and sat down facing Kelly.
What kind of dumb answer was that? Frustration beat at him. He wanted to yank Seir from his head and kick his demonic butt out the door.
Ty spread his legs, showcasing his obvious interest in her. Then he took the top from the tube and squirted a little on his arms. Slowly, he rubbed it in, using broad slow strokes. “I never understood the pleasure and power of touch until you.”
Was that something he’d normally say? Ty thought about it. Probably not. He was more a doer than a sayer.
Her gaze followed every stroke of his fingers. She licked her lips, leaving them moist and shining.
Ty was at that tipping point where hard became hurt. Guess that’s what they meant when they talked about pleasure-pain.
And when he squirted more lotion on his chest and rubbed it into his pecs and stomach with the same slow strokes, her eyes grew heavy with desire. “I bet there’re places you can’t reach.”
“I bet there are.” Ty wasn’t sure he liked the husky tone of his voice. Uh, Seir’s voice.
This was the perfect lead-in to the perfect line. Hey, why don’t I let you put the rest on? Seir let the moment pass him by. Instead, he stood and turned his back to her. Spreading his legs, he bent forward and reached behind him to apply lotion to the backs of his thighs and legs. Then he rubbed up and down, up and down. His hair swung back and forth in front of his eyes in rhythm with the rubbing.
Okay, this wasn’t him. Ty knew exactly what she could see with his legs spread. Seir must’ve worked as a male stripper, because no ordinary guy would do this. Would he? What did Ty know about ordinary guys? Fin hadn’t filled them in on this kind of stuff.
Ty sensed the moment she slipped off the bed and padded on bare feet over to him. His hands stilled, and he held his breath as she stood behind him.
Then she smoothed cool fingers across his back and buttocks. “I’m sure there’re some spots you can’t reach.” She leaned over him so she could speak close to his ear, her body pressing against his. “And lots of spots I want to reach.”
He froze. Her nightshirt was the only thing separating them from skin-to-skin contact. That thin piece of cloth was his fire wall, the one thing saving him from a flash fire.
“I want you out. Now.” Ty didn’t do threesomes.
“That was fun,
but I’m out of here as soon as I phone home.” Seir sounded as if his attention wasn’t on Kelly.
She was touching him, for God’s sake. How could Seir not be paying attention? “Phone home? What do you mean?”
“You have a mental link to someone I want to talk to.” Seir sounded dead serious now. “He won’t pick up for me. He will for you.”
Who? Just for a second, Ty tried to concentrate. It was tough to do with Kelly’s hands on him. Mental link? Fin? “You can’t do that.”
“Sure I can. Just relax. It’ll only take a few seconds.”
In horror, Ty listened to himself call out to Fin. And Fin answered.
“What’s up, Ty?”
“Not Ty.” Seir didn’t sound amused or mocking anymore. Anger and something else turned his voice thick with emotion. “This is your loving brother. Just wanted to let you know I’m back.”
Then Seir was gone from his mind. Ty was so shocked, he spoke out loud. “Fin? He’s gone. What the hell was that about?”
Behind him, Kelly made an impatient sound. “Tell Fin this is a bad time.”
Fin was silent for a few beats too long. “That was someone from a long, long time ago.” And then Fin cut the connection.
Under ordinary circumstances, Ty would have spent more time thinking about what had just happened, but these weren’t ordinary circumstances.
He straightened and turned to face Kelly. “You’re right, I have lots of places I can’t reach but you can.” My heart, my soul. He stretched out a hand for her.
She backed away, her lips curved in a sexy smile and her eyes alight with playfulness. “Whoa. You know how to dish it out, but do you know how to take it?”
Ty let his gaze glide the length of her body. “Sure I know how to take it.” He reached for the hem of her shirt and slipped it over her head.
Stretching her arms out in front of her to hold him off, she laughed as she shook her head. “Okay, let’s try again. What you just did with the lotion was incredibly sexy.” Her voice lowered to a sensual purr. “You excited me, and now that I’m excited, I want to play with the lotion. Can you take what I want to give?”
