I placed my hand on Bel’s bicep, shutting him up before he demanded to know immediately. He had pissed off three out of four of them already. I didn’t think they would be too forthcoming with him.
Gently, I added to the request, “We will be in your debt if you tell us how to find it.”
Kimber cracked her neck and rose to her feet. She looked nowhere near Bel or Dorian—Bel’s plan for female solidarity now realized in my mind—her gaze steadfast on me, her words only for me. “I know where to find the Breaker. I will tell you if you first help me with an issue we have here.”
I lifted one eyebrow, not looking away. I asked bluntly, “What do you need of us?”
“To kill a mad queen, Your Royal Highness.” Her lips curved up at the edges, at peace with her words. “The Queen of Vampires—in S’Kir. She needs to die before she hurts anyone else, and if your asshole lover is anything like his dick twin, they just might do the trick.”
My lips twitched in dark humor. I took my hand off Bel’s arm and held my hand out to her. “You have a deal. But we must be quick about it. The war starts soon on Earth.”
“Deal.” Kimber shook my hand solidly.
3
GWYNNORE
The six of us stared at their four horses.
It had been many years since I’d ridden. That didn’t mean I had forgotten, but I much preferred a private jet to take us to the nearest town. S’Kir was most definitely behind in technology compared to Earth.
This would not be a fun experience for me.
“Um… the ladies get a horse, correct?” I muttered, my nose crinkling at the scent of manure. “I call the one on the right.”
“That one is mine.” Kimber lifted her chin into the air.
“Not anymore,” I stated evenly, hiking toward the horse I wanted. “Age over beauty, honey.”
Kimber blinked. “We have a deal.”
“Not for the horse, we don’t.” I flashed my fangs. Female solidarity was a joke. You stick with the one you came with, not with the person you just met. She would learn this quickly enough, a little life lesson given by little old me. “You can fight me for it if you want.”
“Gwen…” Bel snorted. “Now is not the time.”
I hoisted myself up on my horse, ignoring how the druid woman’s hands clenched into fists, and how one of her twins placed a hand on her shoulder. I kept my attention on my lover—the person I came with, where my loyalty lay. I settled down on the saddle and patted the horse’s neck softly. I stated honestly, “This place gives me the heebie-jeebies. I need a decent fight to calm my nerves.”
“We’ll spar later, if that is what you want.” Bel held my gaze, his frost eyes narrowing on mine. “But remember what I said before.”
Yes. Yes, I must be nice.
“You’re a bore,” I droned. He was anything but.
His gaze ran over the other horses, settling on one he liked best. “A bore with a white stallion to ride.”
“That one’s mine,” Rilen snapped, clearly irritated by these turn of events. “Try and take him. I dare you.”
King Belshazzar shrugged his shoulders.
Dorian groaned low under his breath.
I blinked… That was all. One. Blink.
Bel sat atop the white stallion, and Rilen was hogtied on the ground with dirt stuffed in his mouth.
Dorian shook his head in the stunned hush and stomped over to his mate, who looked vaguely ill on the ground—shaking his head, blinking hard, and coughing out mud. Dorian squatted down in the silence. He began untying his mate and cast a brutal glare up at his smirking brother.
Dorian hissed, “Stay away from them, Bel. They are off-limits. Dare or not.”
It was so hard not to laugh.
Only years of training kept my features smooth.
King Belshazzar grinned, full-toothed. “Be happy, brother. I left the two best horses for Kimber and you. I did this with love in my heart. I took the weakest horse just for you.”
Dorian bared his teeth at his twin’s antics.
I gurgled in my throat then sputtered, “W-Where did you get the rope?”
“My bag,” Bel stated simply. He held down a hand to his brother. “I’d like it back, too.”
“I have something else for you first.” Dorian marched to the far horse, digging in a satchel, while his furious mate clambered to his feet. He pulled something out and tossed it through the air—right at his brother. “You brought me a gift. I brought you one.”
King Belshazzar caught the object deftly.
My lover stared at the severed head he held.
“Savion,” he snarled with malicious glee.
“I’d hoped it would be you at the gate.” Dorian lifted his brows. “A kill for a kill, as promised.”
Kimber’s brows snapped together. “You asked this imbecile to kill your son?”
“I did.” Dorian nodded easily.
Kimber’s brows lowered even further.
“That’s a conversation for another time.” Bel’s gaze flicked back and forth between the two of them, tension coiling in the air. “Wouldn’t you agree, brother?”
“Yes.” Dorian took the save hastily, even tossing the rope up in silent thanks. “We should ride quickly. There are forces here that would rather see us dead.”
“Does anyone want the head as a trophy?” Bel asked pleasantly.
Dorian and Kimber took to the other horses—allowing Rilen and Roran to ride behind them, as I thought they might do.
Kimber stared at the severed head. She stated harshly on a whisper, “He was my father. I want it destroyed.”
Bel and I both stared at the head…
It had fangs.
“Excuse me?” I mumbled, utterly confused.
Her grin was ruthless. “Oh? I didn’t mention that, did I? I’m half druid, half vampire.” The druid flashed fangs, proving her insane point.
I tried my hardest not to gape.
S’Kir was getting weirder by the minute.
I wouldn’t mind going home right now.
King Belshazzar observed, quiet and thoughtful. “Now, that is interesting.”
“Toss the head,” Kimber ordered, done being stared at. “I want nothing to do with it.”
Bel’s lips curved up at the edges. He waited.
She rolled her hazel eyes. “Please, Your Royal Highness.”
King Belshazzar flicked the head over his shoulder onto the ground. “That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
“Fuck you.”
“Oh, no. I never take my brother’s sloppy seconds. It’s a rule we have with one another. And we’ve never broken it.” My lover winked at her, and then his regard swiftly tilted to his twin. He stated conversationally, “Try to keep your mates in check. I am trying to be civil.”
Dorian chuckled. “You are never civil.”
“But I am trying.” Bel smirked.
Rilen, Roran, and Kimber glared on.
I groaned under my breath. “How far is the nearest town?”
“A day’s hard ride,” Kimber sniped, scowling like she wanted to tear my lover’s head off. I hope she didn’t try. She couldn’t be that unintelligent, handling the three men that she did. When she remained seated, I knew I was right. She was bright. That was a good sign for this adventure. Kimber then growled, “And we really should hurry. Dorian was correct. S’Kir is in turmoil right now.”
Dorian—with Rilen behind him on the saddle—led the way down a treacherous path of rocks, steep hills, and hidden dips made for breaking a horse’s ankle. Kimber followed directly behind him, with Roran holding his arms protectively around her stomach. I went next, and Belshazzar took the rear—watching for any foe diligently.
It was slow going, the terrain dreadful. I quickly found my seat again, even after all the years of not riding. The horse was well-trained and did exactly as I bid—thank God for that small blessing. I glanced over my shoulder to make sure Bel was doing fine, even though I knew it was silly to wor
ry about him.
He shook his head, discreet affection softening his frigid gaze. “Watch where you’re going, Gwen. Not me.”
My lips twitched. “You ride well, Bel.”
And he did, his hips moving…nicely.
His deep chuckle warmed places better not mentioned while traveling on a dangerous path, my thoughts heading down a sensual road only he inspired in me.
Suddenly, he jerked his chin up, barking, “Watch out!”
I jerked my head around, but it was too late.
My horse skittered to the side, barely missing a large ditch, and slid to the right on loose rocks down a steep embankment. I pulled on the reins, shouting, “Whoa! Whoa!”
The horse couldn’t stop. I was along for the ride.
Rocks and grass flew through the air.
I hardly kept my seat as we traveled down the treacherous slope, ducking under an errant tree limb full of sharp thorns. I stayed low as she jumped far over another black ditch. We landed hard on a small trail. All could hear the horse’s frightened whinny as she skittered to the side, dense trees to our right and a large hill to our left.
I sucked in oxygen and patted her neck, soothing her gently with gasping words. I peered far, far up the hill where we had been. Three horses stood tall, stopped solid, with their riders all staring down at me with varying expressions.
“Are you all right?” Bel bellowed furiously.
“I am fine.” I examined the hill as closely as I could—it was too steep for as far as the vampire eye could see. “But I do not think I can get back up there.”
“Where the fuck are we?” King Belshazzar shouted at the others. “This looks nothing like the island I knew. She needs to be up here with us.”
“S’Kir has grown with the population growth over the last three thousand years,” Dorian explained calmly. “That trail will stay next to us for a half a day’s ride. Then we can meet up again.”
“I do not like this,” Bel snarled.
“I can see that, but there is nothing we can do about it now other than risk our horses. That would be unwise right now.”
“Fuck,” I muttered under my breath and looked forward. It was much darker down here, the moonlight shaded from the close trees. Visibility was low, even with my eyesight. I tried not to sound frightened in this terrifyingly new realm, and questioned for clarification, “Dorian, how far did you say again?” Maybe I had heard him wrong.
“You will be fine,” Belshazzar soothed.
Nope. I hadn’t heard him wrong if Bel was trying to comfort me. Perfect. I was stuck down here for a while. Not really where I wanted to be right now.
“Is there a taxi I can call?” I gripped the reins tighter, trying not to tremble.
Dorian griped, “What is she talking about?”
“Shut up, brother. She is frightened.” King Belshazzar shouted, “Stay close, Gwen. And I will keep an eye on you from here.”
“Okay.” I blinked.
“Gwen?”
I blinked again.
“Gwen!”
I shook my head hard. “Yes, I hear you.” I nudged my horse forward. We began walking at a sedate pace, the ground much more level here. “Try to keep up, Bel. I don’t want you to fall behind. That would be embarrassing for you.”
My lover snickered and whispered, “She is fine now. Let’s hurry so she doesn’t leave us behind. She will, to save face after that fall.”
I pretended I couldn’t hear him.
Every noise from the woodland right next to me might have made me jump in my saddle. My heart might have raced at any branch that snapped under my horse’s hooves. My breathing might have been labored, too, my chest heaving in the darkness.
My sweating palms were a definite, though.
I couldn’t pretend that away, the reins continuing to slip between my fingers, making me clutch them that much harder.
The sun soon rose lighting the way.
I didn’t calm. I could now see the woodland better. Or, more precisely, hardly see anything inside it, the trees growing even denser the farther we traveled—anything could be lurking in the shadows. I simply would not be able to see it, even though I was able to see clearer now. This was more terrifying than the darkness.
I wiped the sweat from my brow as the sun climbed higher in the sky. I shouted in aggravation, “How much farther?”
“We are going slow,” Dorian called down. “It is taking longer than expected. You need to stay quiet. We are not in friendly territory right now.”
“Great,” I grumbled.
Those words did not help my heart rate.
We kept moving. The sun ascended into the afternoon.
It was hot as fuck here. I fluttered my shirt for air.
How much longer must we travel?
Where was air-conditioning when I needed it?
Suddenly, they stopped above me.
I pulled my horse to a quick halt. I shielded my eyes from the sun with a swift hand, squinting up in their direction—staying silent as previously ordered.
King Belshazzar sat forward on his horse, peering out into the forest from above. He shook his head, muttering, “There is nothing there. I see and hear nobody.”
It was Dorian and Rilen who led the group still, and Dorian pressed a pointed finger to his lips, silently hushing my lover.
I turned my attention to where he was staring, to the forest not too far from me. I scanned every opening in the trees that I could, but I did not see anyone, either. I looked back up to Bel and shook my head. There was no one there from my vantage point, either.
Dorian sat up straight instantly. He shouted furiously, “Get off your horse and run, Gwen. Back the way we came. Now! They are under the ground!”
Well…shit.
I could run faster than my horse had ever had a chance of running. With adrenaline sparking inside my veins, I jumped down from my horse with vampire speed and dumped my bag off my back, preparing for a long-ass run. I turned in a blur.
Vampires rose from under the dirt, shaking off bits of mud all around me. Swords were drawn in the air, along with ancient-looking rifles that had seen better days. Did they even work?
Hundreds of vampires.
Fuck a duck in a handbasket.
The odds were not in my favor, even if their primitive artillery didn’t work. I was as good as dead.
They just kept popping up like deadly moles.
More. And more.
I couldn’t catch my breath.
But damn if I didn’t unholster my guns.
Fuck these bitches.
I wouldn’t go down without fighting.
“Gwen!” Bel shouted in a fury, his rage—literally—shaking the hill next to me. “Climb, goddammit! I’ll kill them.”
I quickly looked up, then back down.
Bel was off his horse, already climbing down with his immense speed, merely a dark blur on the ridge.
The vampires charged—no time to climb.
I screamed in pure panic. I was going to die.
My fingers started to squeeze the triggers.
I jerked hard in place as blood hit my body so fiercely I flew backward into the air, chunks of gore slamming against my skin hard enough to bruise—and quickly heal. I grunted brutally, my breath rushing from my lungs as my back slammed into the ground. I stared up at the sky through a mist of blood coating the breeze, and lay there in complete shock and sucking in blood-sprinkled air. I still held tightly to my guns, though.
A blood-covered face stared down at me.
My horse.
“What the frick just happened?” I mumbled dumbly. Then I felt it. The gem in my necklace was cooling down, having heated hard enough to burn between my breasts. I repeatedly blinked at my horse. “Oh. That happened again. I’m not a fan of that, my friend. It keeps happening, you see. Someone tries to kill me, and boom, they turn to mush. It’s very messy—and not very sportsmanlike, to be honest.”
King Belshazzar’s face instant
ly hovered over mine, blocking my view of my horse, his face clean of any gore. He glared hard into my eyes, growling, “You didn’t climb, Gwen.”
I laughed—a bit maniacally. “I’m alive, though.”
His black eyebrows furrowed deeply, and he grabbed under my arms, hefting me to my feet. He held me protectively inside his embrace, crushing me against his chest as he rubbed at my back briskly. “Calm down, little one. It is all right.”
I blinked against his chest, my words muffled. “Nothing about this is all right, Bel.” I holstered my guns with shaking hands and slipped down out of his hold—escaping him easily thanks to the slick blood on my person. I unclipped the clasp on the necklace and yanked it out of my shirt. I grabbed his left arm and placed the necklace in his hand. “I am not wearing this anymore. Not until I get the truth from you.”
Four individuals far above observed us, each one of them shocked and repulsed from the view down below them—it was heinous.
Bel shook the necklace in front of my face, the gem gleaming in the sun. He snarled, “You are fucking wearing this! It was made just for you, and it has saved your life twice now.”
The vision of him digging in sand that sparkled like diamonds as a child flittered through my mind, a scene I should not have been able to see—gifted to me by a fucking gemstone!
“Bel, I’m not wearing it again until you tell me the goddamn truth!” I bellowed, shoving my hands up into the air, done with the bullshit. “I’m waiting, and waiting, and waiting, for you to tell me about Ota’ano, and you haven’t done it yet! All I keep doing is waiting!”
His features closed down in an instant, shuttering all emotions. It was the king who stared down at me now, not my lover. He stated evenly, “It isn’t time yet, Gwen. You are choosing for it not to be time. I think you know that by now.”
My nostrils flared. I took a step back.
King Belshazzar nodded his head once, curtly and pocketed the necklace. “When you’re ready for the answers, you know what to do. You’ve had plenty of opportunities, and you never took them.”
His words punched me right in the gut.
I nibbled on my lower lip, out of breath, and slid my attention down to the thick leather band on his wrist—a bracelet I had never seen him without. Where a soul mate mark could be hidden. I mumbled quietly, “It’s not possible. You had that bracelet before you met me.”
Blood of Gods Page 2
