Provoked

by Rebecca Zanetti

  Talen shuffled his feet. “We could use her help.” He glanced at Dage for support.

  Dage shook his head, gaze moving to Kane. “She’s your woman—this is your call.”

  Emma’s instant sputtering at the archaic language failed to drown out Amber’s outraged hiss. Amber yanked the vest over her head, her eyes spitting anger. “I’m no one’s woman, jackass.”

  Emma nodded in agreement, a high flush staining her cheeks. “Yeah. What she said.”

  “I’d like a moment alone with Amber.” Kane reached for the nearest gun to tuck in his waist.

  Dage grabbed Emma’s arm and tugged her from the room. The queen protested, digging in her heels, but the king wasn’t going to be deterred this time.

  Talen smiled, a shit-eating grin on his face.

  Yeah, this was funny. Kane barely kept from slugging him as he went by. For so long, Kane had been the one laughing on the sidelines as his brothers’ mates ran them in circles. Not for one second was Amber going to alter his life, and the sooner she figured that out, the easier she’d find her life as his mate.

  He nearly swallowed his tongue when she grabbed a gun and pointed the weapon at him. Keeping her eyes pinned, he stalked forward until the barrel rested against his chest.

  She gulped in air, her hand shaking. “I, ah, was trying to make a point.”

  His chest warmed. The woman had the sweetest heart. “Which was?”

  “That I’m, ah, not afraid of guns anymore.”

  The pallor of her skin proclaimed that statement a lie. Kane gently removed the gun from her grasp. “Guns aren’t scary. Having to use a gun, well now, that’s frightening.”

  She nodded. “I know. To save my grandma, I’d use a gun.”

  Her voice wavered just enough to fill him with doubt. “You don’t need to use a gun, Amber. Stay here and I’ll bring her home to you. I promise.” How the hell he’d keep that promise, he didn’t know. But damn it, he would.

  She sighed, pressing her hands against his vest and meeting his gaze. “I’m here for a reason. For now, I’m the only person you know who can shield against the demon mind games and maybe even mess with them enough that they leave you alone. I have to try, and I know you understand what I’m saying.”

  He did. She loved her granny as much as he loved his brothers. Nothing on earth would keep him from going after Jase if Kane had an inkling of where he was being kept.

  Amber stepped closer. “Sometimes I can get a sense of what’s ticking in a brain—I’ve been practicing secretly since you told me about my gifts. Maybe I can get a sense of where Jase is.”

  Clever little female. “You’re not ready.”

  She shrugged. “That doesn’t matter—I’m all you’ve got. Deal with it.”

  Throwing his words back in his face wasn’t nice. He frowned. “I don’t think I can.”

  “I can shield.” Her eyes implored him to trust her. “Please give me a chance.”

  His brain bellowed in refusal even while he spoke, “Okay. But the second you’re in distress, we’re leaving, whether we have Hilde or not.” He blinked twice. What the hell? He’d just agreed to take her into a demon foothold.

  She shot out of the room, leaving him frozen in place. While her argument made a logical sense, one he’d responded to naturally, doubt clouded his brain. What kind of a mate was he going to be if he allowed her to seek danger?

  “I took Cara raiding a Kurjan hospital where we saved several allies,” Talen said quietly from the doorway.

  Kane whirled around. He’d forgotten Talen had taken his mate on that raid so long ago. “We used her empathic abilities.”

  “Yes.” Talen’s eyes swirled a dangerous green through the gold. He shuffled his feet, his frown deep enough to flash his dimples. “We needed to do so at the time—I don’t think I’m strong enough to put her in danger again.”

  Kane stared at his big brother. Talen was the strongest man he’d ever met. “You would. If you had to.” Or maybe not. From the second Cara had given birth to their son fourteen years ago, the man had protected her even more so.

  “No.” Talen gave a rueful smile. He grabbed several knives from the wall to tuck along his boots and vest. Three more guns found safe purchase where he could grab them quickly. “But for now, in this time and place, there’s a reason you’re falling in love with Amber Freebird.” Quick strides and he was out the door.

  Quiet reigned for the smallest of moments. “I’m not falling in love,” Kane said to the empty room.

  The words echoed off the weapon-filled walls.

  Mocking him.

  Taking a deep breath, Amber tried to still the trembling in her knees. She sat between Kane and Talen in the backseat of a Black Hawk helicopter gliding silently through the night. Heat cascaded off the vampires, keeping her snug and warm. They all wore ear communicators. Talen’s legs twitched, and he drummed his fingers on his legs to some tune only he heard.

  Kane sat perfectly still. No movement, no agitation, just pure calmness. Pure, cold, calm.

  Amber tugged the vest tighter around her waist, her mind spinning. Her heart beat rapidly against her ribs. Was Grandma Hilde all right? What if she wasn’t? Hilde had said she lacked power. How much? Could she shield a little from the mind attacks?

  Two similar helicopters followed silently behind them, also filled with dangerous soldiers.

  She shivered.

  Dage turned the beast into the setting sun, nodding his head toward the massive vampire in the copilot seat. “Oscar, tell the rest of the crew about the last time you dealt with demons.”

  Amber had met Oscar right before takeoff. The ancient soldier had more experience fighting demon mind games than anybody else in the Realm. His metallic aqua eyes were bright with intelligence, and laugh lines cut into the sides of his mouth. She’d liked him immediately.

  Oscar pressed his ear to engage the comm line. “Demons don’t incapacitate us completely, but you’ll be at about fifty percent of your usual fighting skill. It takes that much energy to combat the brain attack of an experienced demon soldier. Of course, with younger soldiers, vampires might retain about seventy percent of concentration and skill.”

  Dage nodded. “We’re getting close. I’ll drop quickly and we’ll go. Kane, what’s our best move?”

  “We go in fast and hard.” Kane’s voice remained so calm he could’ve been talking about his favorite beer. “We need their minds occupied as much as possible . . . go either for the instant kill or the most painful injury.” He kept his gaze straight ahead. “Amber and I will try to sense her grandmother. Amber, you concentrate on shielding and not on injuring. The injuries will come from weapons drawing blood.”

  She nodded, even knowing he couldn’t see her. Or maybe with his vampire sight, his peripheral vision was good enough.

  Dage banked a hard right. “Did the satellite shots give us an idea of numbers?”

  “No.” Talen’s drumming increased in speed. “But the area is rather small—probably something thrown together as they prepare to move Hilde.”

  How small? Amber turned to view Kane. How was he so calm?

  Finally, he glanced at her with those odd violet eyes. No emotion showed in their depths. “Do you want a gun?”

  Slowly, she nodded. He reached in his back pocket and handed her a small weapon. “If you point a weapon, you use it. No hesitating, no thinking, no feeling. When the gun is in your hand, you’re all soldier. Nothing else exists.”

  Cold metal weighed heavy in her palm. Death had a sensation. Before the night was over, she might turn against everything she believed in to save the one person she’d always counted on. “I understand.”

  “Good. There are no pacifists or second chances in battle,” Kane said, turning his gaze back to the front.

  Dage swung left again and shot toward the ground. “Two seconds and we hit.”

  The helicopter slammed down and the soldiers leaped out. Amber didn’t have time to worry about keeping up as
Kane grabbed her around the waist and all but carried her toward a sprawling brick building set against a small outcropping of rock.

  With twin booms, the other two helicopters slammed into place and surrounded the demon stronghold.

  Talen dropped to one knee, a large rocket launcher on his shoulder. “Fire.” A missile exploded forward and ripped into the front of the building, shooting bricks high into the sky.

  Then everybody moved at once.

  Gasping, her eyes tearing, Amber allowed Kane to lead her into hell.

  CHAPTER 18

  Smoke gave the night a surreal quality. The shouts from angry men came from what seemed a great distance. Particles of brick rained down, and it took several seconds for Amber to realize Kane was protecting her head. In fact, the vampire was protecting her, period. Shielding her with his body, he maneuvered gracefully around debris and two downed bodies in what had been a small room.

  Downed demons.

  They wore the same black uniforms as the two who had tried to kidnap her from the farm.

  Dage dropped and jammed a knife into the closest demon’s neck.

  Bile rose in Amber’s stomach and she turned away.

  Pain crept along her cheekbones to pierce her lower eyelids, sliding directly for her brain. With a cry, she smoothed shields into place.

  Calmness. Peace. Strength.

  Kane stumbled and growled low. Blood trickled out his ears.

  Amber grabbed his hand, trying to send strength to his mind. “Don’t fight the pain—go around it.”

  He frowned and then his shoulders relaxed. Blood dripped from his nose. “That’s better. Seek your granny.”

  Three demon solders rushed from a doorway to the left. Talen and Dage pounced on them, even while emitting growls of pain.

  Kane tugged her toward the doorway while Oscar flanked her other side. “Keep shielding.”

  She nodded, her heart flaring to beat against her ribs in a painful cadence. Seeking with her mind, she caught a faint whiff of something pure. Her grandma. “She’s here.”

  Kane nodded. “Yeah, I can sense her. She’s not shielding—must know we’re here.” His gun in one hand, he grabbed Amber’s with his other and darted into the doorway.

  A long tunnel wound directly into the rock.

  “I was afraid of this.” Kane shook his head. “Stay behind me. The second you sense them, let me know.”

  She gripped his hand tighter. An odd connection flowed beneath her skin and escaped where they touched. Her abilities might help him fight the mental pain. “Don’t let go.”

  He frowned, glancing down. “Are you shielding my mind, too?”

  “Maybe. But trying doesn’t hurt me or diminish my shield over my brain, so there’s no reason not to try.” Probably. Heck, maybe not. Her head was actually starting to ache a little bit.

  He nodded and glanced over his shoulder. “I have lead. Flank her.”

  Talen and Oscar both stepped up behind her.

  Kane maneuvered around burning bricks, leading her carefully. “I sense two ahead.” He pushed her against the rock wall and released her. An instant grunt of pain came from him. Talen jumped to his side, and they both leapt forward into the darkness. The echo of flesh hitting flesh filled the tunnel along with grunts and the shattering sound of bones breaking.

  Brutal images of war and death slammed into Amber’s brain. She bit her lip to keep from crying out. Settling her hands against the rough rock wall, she breathed deep and tried to shove the images away. Sharp spikes ripped the back of her eyelids. Digging deep, she eased air into her lungs, gently sliding the bad images away and replacing them with good images.

  The pain receded.

  She opened her eyes in time to see a demon stop short, his eyes going wide as he struggled as if the air held him back. Talen stood before him, one hand out. Talen jumped forward and stabbed the demon, taking him down to the ground. Seconds later, the demon’s head flew down the tunnel.

  Talen pivoted and shot into the darkness.

  Nausea settled in her stomach, and she had to take several deep swallows not to puke.

  Kane reappeared, blood across his face and torso.

  She gasped. “Talen made that guy stop moving.”

  “Yes. Talen has a gift.” Grabbing her hand, Kane tugged her into the darkness. “Talen and Oscar are scouting ahead—I sense at least three more.”

  Yeah, she sensed them, too. Threading her fingers through Kane’s, she concentrated on sending whatever power she had through their connection. They jogged deeper into the earth, and she kept to Kane’s back, following in his steps. While the darkness hid the ground, she didn’t falter.

  Kane stopped, and she ran into his back. His hold tightened a fraction before he released her. A gentle push to her chest found her shoulders against the wall.

  Strong lights snapped on.

  Amber cried out, the sudden brightness attacking her eyes. She shut them, her knees trembling. The sound of metal hitting rock snapped them back open.

  A demon swung a huge glinting sword at Kane’s head. Kane ducked and leapt sideways, climbing the rock wall to jump for the demon’s head. He hit hard and slammed the soldier into the rock.

  Waves of pain instantly cascaded from the demon and smacked Amber between the eyes. Unbelievable images, truly horrific pictures of death and torture, filled her mind. A sharp spike of pain cut down the center of her brain. She cried out, her mouth remaining open even when it hurt too much to push out sound.

  Kane grabbed his head and stumbled back.

  No! Amber sucked in the smoky air and pushed against the pain. Her knees weakening, she slid to the ground. As her butt met the hard floor, she settled and gently slid the horror away. The pain followed.

  Kane dropped to one knee, blood flowing from his nose.

  The demon grinned sharp canines, sword raising high.

  Pressing her shoulders against the wall, Amber sent harsh images of pain and death at the demon.

  He paused, gaze roving to her. “Destroyer.”

  She shoved harder.

  His grin lacked any semblance of humor. “No.” His empty black eyes pierced into hers. Raw, brutal, and pure agony shot through her pupils right to her brain. She screamed, hands rising to ward off something she couldn’t touch.

  With a furious battle cry, Kane leapt into the air, both hands grabbing the demon’s sword. He shoved the weapon sideways toward the demon’s throat.

  The demon struggled, a hiss coming from his pale lips.

  Kane kneed him in the gut. Once, twice, and then a third time as they struggled for the sword. Blood flowed out of Kane’s ears, nose, and even his eyes.

  His shoulders went back, and he shoved the side of the blade into the demon’s mouth. Bellowing a shout of victory, he pressed in and cut the demon.

  The demon cried out, falling against the wall.

  Kane stepped back, swung the blade, and pivoted his entire body as he swished the sword through the demon’s neck. The head hit the ground with a thunderous clunk and then rolled into the darkness.

  “Are you all right?” Kane wiped blood off his chin. His blood.

  Nodding her head, Amber used the wall to reach her feet. “Yes.” She swayed. A roaring filled her ears.

  Kane grabbed her elbow, and reality rushed back. Turning, he surveyed the tunnel.

  Amber gasped at the crude door set into the rock several yards ahead now guarded by Oscar. Gentle vibrations came from the other side of the door. Hurrying after Kane, she tried to reach with her mind into the room. Nothing happened.

  Kane set her behind him and kicked the door precisely at the lock. The door whipped open.

  Amber shoved past him to find her grandmother calmly sitting on the floor. Next to her lay an unconscious demon soldier bleeding from his eyes and mouth.

  Hilde raised an eyebrow. “It’s about time.”

  Hair wet from the shower, Amber padded into the spacious living room of Hilde’s new underground quarte
rs dressed in a fresh pair of borrowed jeans and a snug sweater. The jeans were from Sarah Pringle, Max’s mate, while the sweater had been the queen’s. A huge television took up one wall, while a comfortable-looking sofa and two captain chairs faced it. A thick Western rug covered the rock floor and pretty watercolors adorned the walls. A stocked kitchen and two bedrooms made up the unit.

  The door opened, and Grandma Hilde swept inside. She turned and thanked Oscar for escorting her.

  The massive vampire nodded, his eyes sparkling.

  Shutting the door, Hilde hurried over to sit on the sofa. She’d also borrowed clean clothing. The king had requested her presence for a debriefing that had lasted about an hour. Finally, she’d returned. She smiled, her dark eyes lighting up. “Is that Oscar a handsome one, or what?”

  Amber frowned and dropped to the faux-leather couch.

  Hilde cleared her throat and stretched her legs across the matching ottoman. “I mean, I’m already mated, so it’s not like I can touch the guy. You know if any male touches a mated woman, he ends up in agony from a rare allergy, right?”

  “Yeah, I’ve heard that.” Amber didn’t return the smile.

  “Well, I can at least look at the handsome vampire.” Hilde squirmed into a different position. “So, how about those demons?”

  Biting back a sharp retort, Amber glared at her grandmother. The glare turned to wide-eyed disbelief. “You look different.”

  Hilde shrugged. “Yes. I look forty-five, which I am. The last several years I’ve had to add a bunch of gray to my hair and use makeup to look older. It’s nice to be me again.” She rubbed her clean skin with both hands. “I’m not sorry I kept this part of your life from you.”

  Amber sighed. “I know—and I had a wonderful childhood. But right now, at this time, it’d be nice to be able to lay a demon out like you did.” God. She was discussing the very real existence of demons with her grandmother. Where had reality gone? “But you said you didn’t have any power.”

  “I didn’t. But I did mate a vampire years ago, and when you mate, you get their skills. He was psychic, and maybe I gained enough skill from him that I have some power now. Who knows.” Hilde stretched her neck. “I guess all you do with the demons is shove their power back at them.” She held out her hand, which was smooth and missing the dark age spots Amber had gotten accustomed to seeing.