Provoked

by Rebecca Zanetti

  Willa laughed, the sound grating. “That witch is the reject of all rejects. Imagine an eighth sister being born to a seventh sister.” The demon shook her head. “They should’ve killed her on sight.”

  Jase lifted a lip in irritation. While it was true that a seventh sister of a seventh sister was known to be the most powerful of witches, like his sister-in-law, Moira, maybe it was just coincidence that no eighth sister had ever been born. Well, until Brenna. The young witch’s fathomless gray eyes had always intrigued him. “I like her.” The words tumbled from him as if he were talking to the rock faces.

  “Lucky Brenna Dunne.” Willa turned back to the heavy antique. The bar matched the sofa and end tables. Late eighteenth century. Crystal chinked. Turning toward him, she carried a goblet full of red liquid. The smell hit him when she was two feet away.

  Blood.

  His stomach clenched in pain. Need had his fangs dropping against his will.

  She held out the wineglass, and he hesitated before taking it, the world narrowing to the shimmering liquid. She pressed the stem into his hand. Inhaling deeply, the pure scent of copper and life filled his nostrils. No drugs, no substances that didn’t belong in the blood were detectable.

  Digging beyond deep, he shoved his fangs back up and lifted his gaze to the demon. “You’re giving me blood.” Now his voice sounded hoarse.

  She shrugged a small shoulder and glided to retake her seat on the pink divan. “I figure the sooner we start getting along, the better. Speaking of which, I do apologize for the mind attack when I was outside your door. My reaction was instinctual—even now, you have power. Impressive power.” Her black eyes sparked with interest. “You can drink the blood, Jase.”

  Saliva wet his tongue. When was the last time he’d taken blood? Maybe a month ago? “The blood is human.”

  “Yes. Fresh human—female—and no, we didn’t drain her. She donated for a generous sum of money and went on her way.”

  That should fill him with relief. But his only thought remained on the blood. Still, he didn’t drink.

  Willa tapped a ruby-tipped nail on her chin. “Okay, I’m impressed. You’ve been tortured for almost four years, have rarely been given blood, and now have the pride to refuse to drink.”

  So it had been four years. Maybe his golf game had improved since he’d played so often in his brain. A part of him wanted to throw the blood in her face. The other part, the one growling for substance, wanted to drink fast and hard. And if he was ever going to get out of this hellhole, he needed strength. So he took one small taste.

  The molecules exploded on his tongue. A low growl erupted from his gut. Hunger roared to life throughout his entire body. He held her gaze, holding himself off from another sip.

  A deep flush covered her sharp face. Interest lit her eyes. “That growl was quite sexy, Jase.” Her voice came out more of a purr.

  The purr nauseated him. “You have got to be kidding.” Sending all his internal sensors into alert, he waited to see if the blood had been tainted. His senses were definitely off. The demons could’ve sneaked something past him.

  “Actually, I’m not joking.” She reached for a folder set off to the side and flipped open the top. “Jase Kayrs, the youngest of the brothers. Charming, talented, a good sport.” One white eyebrow arched as she focused on him. “Yet you killed right along with the king in the last war three centuries ago when you were only fifteen. Something tells me you weren’t as carefree as you appeared.”

  She was correct to refer to Jase in the past tense. The man in the file was gone. Maybe he had been carefree . . . perhaps not. Either way, that guy no longer existed after several solid years of demon mind games. And this was just another one. “So, I’ve always wondered. As a female, are you a demon or a demoness?”

  She shrugged. “Both or either. We really don’t care.”

  Enough with the small talk. Jase shoved his shoulders back. “What do you want?”

  Closing the file, she tilted her head toward the goblet. “I give you my word the blood is pure. Drink it because you’re going to need strength.”

  What the hell. He tipped the goblet and drank down the nourishing liquid. His heart flared to full speed. A tingling wandered along damaged nerves in his neck. The healing had begun. He set the empty glass on the Victorian end-table near his chair, tempted to lick the sides clean. But some pride must remain. “Now tell me why the hell I’m alone with a female demon.” Female demons were incredibly rare, and this was the first one he’d met in person. The fact that they were alone seemed off.

  She sighed. “You’ve never heard of me?”

  “Nope.”

  “That figures.” Pale pink lips pursed together. “I’m Suri’s sister.”

  Suri was the leader of the demons, and a former friend of Jase’s family. He’d also enjoyed torturing Jase for the last few years. “We didn’t know he had a sister.”

  “He has two sisters.” Willa rolled her eyes. “But of course, we’re kept rather hidden. Especially in war.”

  “Two sisters, huh?” Maybe Jase’s head had finally exploded. No way was he alone with a female demon who had just given him blood. No way. He tried to tune his senses to see if anybody was listening but only reached silence. “You’re not hiding now.”

  “Yes, well, Suri has headed over to the States to incorporate some changes in our strongholds there. We’re about to make a move on the king.”

  “My brother will destroy yours.”

  She flashed a strong smile. “Handsome, you’ve been in the dark too long. The Kurjans attacked your headquarters in Oregon a few years ago, and Dage hasn’t recovered. Nobody has recovered, and rumor has it, your niece was injured. Badly.”

  Jase kept his face expressionless. The Kurjans had invented Virus-27 and were at war with the vampires, and they attacked every chance they got. The Kayrs family was always prepared. Demons lived for mind games, and this was another one. “Bullshit.”

  “Then how did we know his headquarters was in Oregon on the cliffs of the ocean?” Smugness lifted her pale lips.

  Good question. There wasn’t a good answer, so Jase remained silent. Finally, he stood, the chains rattling against the hard floor. “I’m done now.”

  She followed suit. “We’re just getting started. You have a choice to make.”

  “Which is?”

  “Either mate me, or I’ll drive you crazy.”

  He almost sat back down. The air caught in his throat. “Are you nuts?” No way would a purebred demon, one of the royal family, want to mate a vampire. No way.

  She cocked her head to the side. “That’s debatable. Maybe.” Her gaze swept down to his groin and back up. “I’m tired of being under Suri’s thumb . . . tired of being hidden. You mate me, I’ll get you free. We both know your king will protect me if I do.” She turned and swept toward the door. “If you refuse, I’ll drive you crazy, which will greatly please my brother. That’ll gain me some freedom, but I’d rather have complete autonomy. Your choice.”

  Vampires mated by marking their women for all time during sex. The Kayrs family had a marking that appeared on their hands during the opportune moment that transferred to the mate as a sort of brand. His sisters-in-law had been greatly ticked off by the branding. “A mating is forever.”

  “Yes.” Willa twirled around, eyes sparking. “We both know many matings have been arranged through the years. You can force the marking on your palm if you wish.”

  “No.” The idea of tying himself to anyone remotely connected to the bastard who’d taken such pleasure in ripping his mind apart made Jase want to puke. “I’m not your solution—get free on your own.”

  Oil instantly coated his brain and slid through his gray matter with sticky fingers. Images followed next. Horrible images depicting his greatest fears: His niece dying, Dage being beheaded, brothers being brutalized. Jase tightened his knees to keep from falling. “That all you got?” His voice merged tinny as if from a far distance.

 
“No.”

  Spikes of pain ripped into his brain, flashing brutal images of blood and death. He staggered back. The chair caught below his knees, keeping him upright. His vision went black.

  “My mind is far more powerful than any you’ve met, Jase.” Willa hissed. “Think about my offer.”

  Blunt pain centered in his cerebral cortex and pounded out. He dropped into the chair.

  Time spun away. He may have sat blinded for a minute—maybe an hour.

  Chains rattled and strong hands yanked him up and through the door. The world spun several times around. His feet dragged uselessly on the stone. His stomach lurched, and he swallowed to keep the recent meal in.

  Suddenly, the pain retreated. His eyesight returned. Coughing, he regained his balance.

  The guards tossed him in his cell.

  Locks slammed shut, and something inside him shuddered. A glance at the rock wall showed a morphing of several faces, all new. Dropping to sit, he pressed his closed eyes against his knees. If his family was coming to get him, they’d better hurry.

  But instinct whispered deep inside his mind that it was too late.

  He lifted his head to see a large face in the rock nodding at him.

  Definitely too late.

  CHAPTER 8

  Kane shoved a branch down, his gaze on Hanson’s sprawling ranch house. Snowcapped mountains framed the log-style mansion, bright lights beaming out the myriad of windows in the morning hours. He’d finally reached cell service a mile out and had called for backup, but it had probably been a mistake.

  Amber shook out her boots. “We had to call them.”

  “Did we?” Kane eyed the two men standing over by the tree line. Mason was definitely in fighting shape, but the other guy had seen better days. A retired pediatrician, he even had a cane. Being human must suck.

  “Yes. Besides, you said your friends might not make it in time.”

  A wolf bayed in the distance.

  Lightning ripped across the sky, and the wind whipped into action. A hell of a storm was coming. Kane glanced at Amber, who was now shivering. “Why don’t you wait in the truck?”

  “No.” Her lips firmed. “I’m coming to get Grandma.”

  “I promise I’ll call you when it’s time, sweetheart.” Earlier when he’d used the endearment, she’d pinkened nicely and almost listened to him. Keeping an eye on her, he gauged her reaction.

  She smiled. Very pretty. “Thanks, but I’ll stay right here.”

  Okay, nice wasn’t working. Next track. “I’m being unclear, and I apologize. You’re not going in the ranch house until I determine you’ll be safe.” Like it or not, he was responsible for her until turning her over to the king. The thought had his mind stopping for a nanosecond. For some odd reason, he didn’t want to turn her over to Dage. Interesting.

  The pink turned to a fine red blush. “While I appreciate the apology, you can shove it. Stop telling me what to do.”

  He frowned. How utterly confusing. “Hanson and his men will resist when we go inside. What could you possibly do to help?” She’d get hurt most likely, and he wouldn’t let that happen.

  “I’m helpful.” She lifted her chin, eyes sparking.

  He scratched his head. Bodily carrying her to the truck and tying her to the steering wheel seemed silly. Yet allowing her to get harmed for absolutely no reason seemed stupid. “There must be a way we can reach an agreement here.” Why in the world was she being so illogical?

  Two massive wolves suddenly appeared at his side.

  Amber yelped, hand to chest, jumping behind him.

  Well now, good timing. Kane grinned down at the largest beast; a fully grown male with rich brown fur. Then he turned toward the men from Amber’s commune. “You fellas take the north side exit from what appears to be the kitchen. All I need you to do is make sure nobody escapes that way.”

  Mason eyed the massive wolves. “Uh, you have wolves for pets?”

  “Sure.” There was no doubt Kane would pay for that comment. “They’ll guard the perimeter.” Kane nodded toward the north. “Please take your position.”

  Grumbling, the humans hurried past the fence-line and around the house, the ex-doctor moving pretty well even with his limp.

  If Kane had known Terrent would make it in time, no way would he have invited Mason and the doctor. But they should be safe covering the northern exit to the house. Kane grinned at the biggest wolf. “Thanks for coming so quickly.”

  Fur receded and the wolf morphed from animal to man with a popping of bones and a snapping of cartilage. Terrent stretched to his full height, shaking his thick head of hair. His dark eyes twinkled. Then he grinned. “Of course.”

  Kane tugged Amber to his side. “Terrent Vilks, meet Amber Freebird.”

  Amber pressed into Kane’s side, her face a blazing pink, her eyes squarely on the wolf’s face. “It’s, ah, nice to meet you.”

  The naked wolf chuckled and captured her hand in his beefy one. He stood as tall as Kane, well over six feet, with a broad chest and powerful legs. “Sorry about the nudity, but clothes don’t make the shift.”

  She nodded and cleared her throat. “Wolves. Shifters. Real shifters.”

  Terrent gestured to the other wolf; a sandy-furred male who’d remained in wolf form. “This is Joshua—he came along for some fun.”

  Kane nodded at the teenaged wolf. “Thanks for coming.”

  The wolf snorted, paws shoving snow out of the way.

  Terrent rubbed a hand through his long dark hair. “We approached from the back and took a look in the window. Four men are in a study at the western rear of the house, reading some sort of map. I scented several weapons, but they’re not visible. The rest of the house seems empty—no heartbeats or scents. What’s the plan?”

  Amber caught her breath. “What do you mean? The rest of the house can’t be empty. My grandma is somewhere inside.”

  Terrent gave her a charming smile. Or at least what the wolf probably thought was a charming smile. Even in human form, wolves looked like predators, and Terrent was the predator of the predators. “Maybe we missed her. Don’t worry, we’ll search the entire house.” His gaze met Kane’s over Amber’s head.

  Kane gave a short nod. Grandma was not in the ranch. Damn it. Where had they put her? “Hanson is mine to, ah, question.” No way in hell would he allow Amber to watch him torture someone. It was bad enough she’d watched him decapitate two demons. “I’ll go in the front—you go through the back, and make sure not to change into human form again. We want to scare in a shock-and-awe moment—no kills unless absolutely necessary.”

  Terrent nodded. With another mischievous smile at Amber, he turned and ran through the field. Once he was several yards away, he shot into wolf form while leaping through the air.

  Kane rolled his eyes. What a show-off.

  Josh followed with a short yip. Both wolves disappeared around the house.

  Kane forced his face into a frown and grabbed Amber’s arms. Her small biceps were buried beneath layers of his thick coat. “You’re waiting in the truck. You can either agree, or I’ll tie you to the steering wheel.” Yeah, he was bluffing. With a growl, he let his fangs drop low. Those were probably scary to someone not used to seeing fangs.

  Her eyes widened again. “Fine. But the second it’s clear, I’m coming in.” She turned and stomped to the truck, his coat dragging in the snow.

  Good enough. The thought of such a brave sweetheart being injured by a jerk like Hanson set Kane’s jaw until his teeth ached. By the time he was through, Hanson wouldn’t even think about messing with the commune.

  Kane jumped past the bushes and ran full bore across the snowy lawn, clearing a fence without missing a step. Leaping across the spacious front porch, he hit the front door exactly in the center. Splinters flew in all four directions as the door shot inside to crumble against a marble table. The table smashed to the floor seconds later.

  The crash of glass breaking followed.

  Men’
s shouting filled the space.

  He ran to the west, dodging through hallways filled with western art to land in a masculine study full of heavy leather furniture. A stuffed wolf’s head hung above the fireplace mantle. Terrent was going to be pissed about that.

  One man sat behind an ostentatious leather desk while three others stood against the far wall, their mouths open and eyes glued to the snarling wolves that had apparently jumped in the window.

  Good old Chuck and Alex were two of the guys. Apparently the drunks had survived the evening.

  Glass scattered across the room, shards sticking out of leather furniture and in the oak floor.

  The men from the commune stepped gingerly past the broken sliding glass door and surveyed the scene.

  Damn it. They were supposed to cover the north side.

  Alex made a dash for the window, and Mason punched him in the throat. Alex hit the ground.

  Nice move. Kane gave a short nod to Mason, who nodded back, his blue eyes sparkling. The guy was actually enjoying himself.

  “You Hanson?” Kane faced the man behind the desk.

  Fat jiggled beneath Hanson’s jaw as he nodded, mouth wide, thinning gray hair standing up on his head. “Yes.”

  “Where’s Hilde Freebird?” Kane fought a grin as the younger wolf nipped at Chuck, who shrank back against a billowing velvet curtain.

  Hanson coughed. “I don’t know.”

  Sometimes the direct approach was best. Kane grabbed a silver letter opener off the desk and threw it, lodging the sharp edge in Hanson’s left shoulder.

  The man yowled in pain.

  The wolves echoed the howl.

  A soft gasp behind him caught him up short. Heat flared along his neck. Amber needed to learn to stay where he put her. He kept his gaze on the bleeding rancher as he addressed her. “You agreed to stay in the car.”

  “I changed my mind.” Her boots crunched through glass as she scurried to his side.

  Kane tuned his senses to survey the rest of the house. Nobody else was in the building. “Fine. Go search for your granny.” By the time Amber returned, he’d know everything Hanson knew.

  Amber nodded and ran from the room. The ex-doctor limped off to help her. Mason kept watch by the gaping hole in the wall, and the wolves remained still.