Embrace the Night

by Caris Roane

  “Sure.” Since her wild girlfriend and manager tended to speak way too much truth when she set her mind to it, Hannah wasn’t all that anxious to hear her thoughts.

  “Well, I’ve been wanting to say this to you for a long time, but here it is: You let that asshole, Mark Jackson, ruin you for other men. If it looks like Mastyr Jude, despite his exalted station as ruler of Kellcasse, wants to date you, then you should let him. You’ve kept yourself all bottled up. Mark was a control freak and Jude isn’t. Despite the fact that he likes his way in most things, he always has an eye to what others need, and I know that would include you. And the Chronicle can just suck it.”

  Hannah had stopped breathing. All her old feelings of resentment and even fear about what Mark had done to her and his constant infringement on her freedom, made her tense up. At the same time, she knew Amelia was right. She’d let Mark’s bad behavior affect her life and her choices way too much.

  Could she have a life with Jude? But how would that work if she kept running her bar in Port Townsend while Jude fought the Invictus in Kellcasse? Of course, they did have one obvious thing in common: They both worked at night.

  There was that.

  “I’ll think about what you’ve said, but I need you to know that I won’t be back tonight, and I’m not sure when this situation will get resolved.”

  “I’ve got everything under control. We can talk each afternoon and if I need to pick up the slack on ordering, I can do that as well.”

  “I know you can. And thanks, Amelia. I knew I could rely on you.”

  When she hung up, she called Longeness and asked him to coordinate with Sandy, who supervised the communications center in her bar. Longeness, in true form, said he’d already made arrangements for Sandy to bring on another person to replace what Sandy called ‘Hannah’s hovering’.

  Hannah laughed. “Okay, so I’m a little hands on.”

  Longeness laughed. “You’re perfect. Don’t ever change, and please ignore the Chronicle.”

  “I plan to. They’re just trying to sell papers and incite tensions so they can sell even more papers.”

  “You got that right.”

  “And how’s your wife?”

  She heard a sigh that sounded very affectionate. “She’s been having a lot of early labor. Her doctor thinks our boys will be here either this week or next.”

  The thought of babies, ready to be born, made her heart squeeze up really tight, and she had that horrible thought again, How many babies did Jude want?

  When had she become so female?

  “I hope you invite me to the baby-naming.”

  “We absolutely will. You know that.”

  She let her heart settle down then bid him good-bye.

  The sun had finally dropped well below the horizon, and the stars were coming out. She left her sunning chair and moved back into the kitchen-living-area-combo, where Nathan was preparing a tray of dolma. She jerked her head in the direction of the living room. “How’s it going in there?”

  “Well, he got the trolls down from hop-stepping to just sliding their feet back and forth.”

  “That’s a big improvement.”

  “He’ll bring them round, especially with part of the Ashleaf Vampire Guard headed in soon. A bigger presence will help ease a lot of fears. Coffee?”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  “I’ll get you a fresh cup.”

  She had nothing to do now but wait until Jude finished up with his meeting. She moved to the window seat and sat down on the upholstered bench, one knee on the cushion, the other leg dangling over the side.

  Nathan brought her the coffee, and she settled in to think and reflect, her gaze cast over the lake. There was no prettier view. Her improved realm vision saw more color than ever, even though it was nighttime. The lake appeared dark blue and the hills were made up of a variety of greens reflecting the shades of the various trees and shrubs. In addition, there were a lot of rhododendrons still flowering, which colored up the landscape with sprays of white, purple and pink.

  But what charmed her the most were all the villages with lights glowing in windows and doorways, on streets, and patios. Not all realm-folk had excellent night-vision.

  As she sipped, she felt her blood rose ability suddenly vibrate, a very soft sensation, but she couldn’t quite understand the reason, unless of course Jude needed to feed. She hadn’t really discussed with him how often he would need to tap into her vein. The very thought of his fangs biting her neck sent a surge of desire flowing through her, and once more her blood rose-ness responded. A flush drifted over her skin as well.

  It would seem what she was as a blood rose also translated to her fire-gift.

  Without giving it much thought, she set her coffee cup down and left the window seat. She headed out to the balcony, crossing to the far western side, which had a long flight of stairs broken by two landings.

  But when she made her way down the stone steps, her heart suddenly felt laden again. Maybe Jude really did need to feed.

  A walk might ease her. At least that’s what her rational mind thought. But her body seemed to have a very dedicated purpose that had not yet translated to her brain.

  She turned abruptly in a southwesterly direction. She’d never seen the place where Jude’s wife and daughter were buried, though she knew it was in the orchard. But her thoughts weren’t on Jude’s grief-stricken past, but on something else she didn’t understand. She felt really warm again, and the vein at her throat throbbed.

  Then she realized that someone was already in the orchard.

  Again, her feet seemed to know exactly where to go and before long she saw a Guardsman from behind, wearing the traditional coat, his long dark hair caught in a clasp at the back of his neck. Something about the set of his shoulders and his bowed head spoke to her of a kind of despair even Jude didn’t possess. Her heart, always ready to jump with great tenderness to anyone in pain, started reaching toward him.

  His shoulders straightened suddenly, and he looked around.

  She aimed her telepathy at him. I’m here. Now, why had she spoken those words exactly?

  When he turned in her direction, she recognized Mastyr Malik of Ashleaf Realm. Of course she knew him. He was one of Jude’s closest friends. He and Mastyr Seth of Walvashorr sat at the top of the list.

  “Malik,” she said, surprising herself that she’d addressed him so informally.

  “Hannah? Sweet Goddess, stay back.” He even held up a hand.

  But her feet wouldn’t let her do anything else but move in his direction. “I can feel your blood starvation. Let me take care of you?”

  Her heart pounded now in her throat, and by the time she was teen feet away, she craved Malik, needed him, felt as though she’d die if he didn’t come to her.

  But he held out his palm and a soft blue light met her gaze, forcing her to stop, preventing her from reaching him no matter how hard she tried.

  “Hannah, please stay were you are. Oh, Sweet Goddess, I can smell your blood.” He looked as though he was in pain.

  She had to breach the distance somehow, to give him what he needed. It was imperative for the entire realm that she serve him with her blood and her body.

  If he wouldn’t come to her, she wanted him to see her, so she stripped off her blouse.

  “Hannah, don’t!”

  ~ ~ ~

  Jude held the door for the Civic leaders. He’d achieved what he’d wanted, their cooperation and understanding in a tough situation. And he’d been right about one thing; having Malik and part of his Guard already on the way had eased tensions like nothing else could have.

  He’d also given them very specific descriptions of what the mist looked like and to have their county teams patrolling each village for any sign of mist and to alert the Kellcasse Communication Center no matter how insignificant the mist-sign might seem. He also knew there would be many false reports, but his Guardsmen flew fast and the shifter brigade could move like the wind, so he�
�d be able to put eyes on any sighting as soon as Margetta made another attempt.

  But when he shut the door, Malik busted through his telepathy. Get out to the orchard! I can’t hold Hannah off much longer!

  Holy fuck! What was Hannah doing out there? He then realized he hadn’t warned her. He’d been too caught up in kissing her that he’d forgotten to let her know Malik was coming and to stay away.

  Jude ran to the side door, pulled it open, then flew as fast as he could into the orchard. A blue battle light guided him straight in, and he was shocked to find that Malik, sweating profusely with effort, was holding Hannah off with a low level of his battle frequency.

  Taking hold of Hannah’s arms from behind, he shouted, “Malik, get the hell out of here. Head to my training center. Fuck, I should have sent you there in the first place.”

  Malik didn’t wait but launched into the air and disappeared.

  He turned Hannah in his arms and saw the flush covering her bare neck and chest, and the vein pulsing at her throat. “Jude, help me. Please.” She was breathing hard, struggling.

  She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. Fuck me, Jude. Feed from me. She was completely aroused and desperate, her breasts exposed, her nipples peaked. He groaned because he could smell her blood, that she’d created a fresh supply. He could also feel her agony because she’d been so caught up in her blood-rose-drive toward Malik.

  I’ll take care of you. He quickly unbuttoned and unzipped her jeans. He had to release her to get her shoes and pants off.

  He caught her between her legs with his palm and she groaned as he massaged her. But his own need, with the smell of her blood in his nostrils, ramped up and he did his own unzipping.

  Once he had his slacks below his ass, he backed her up to a tree but kept one arm behind her to cushion her. He lifted her hips with his free hand and she quickly wrapped her legs around his waist. When he guided his already stiff cock to her entrance and began to push inside, she groaned heavily.

  He’d never been so out-of-control, so heated up in his life as he began to pump steadily.

  Hannah was panting, her well gripping him and pulling on him, her need as profound as his own.

  The smell of her blood, laced with the sweet scent of roses and the rich scent of the seashore, had him nuzzling her neck, licking up her vein.

  “Jude, drink from me. My heart is full, ready for you.”

  He could feel that her supply had almost doubled and all because of Malik.

  Some dark part of his brain filled with rage toward Malik that he’d been so close to Hannah, another mastyr ready to take his fill.

  He pumped faster and deeper, needing Hannah to feel him and to know she belonged to him and to no other man. His mating frequency shot forward as well and penetrated her body, seeking her frequency. Finding it, he wrapped her up.

  Take me, Jude. Help me. Take me. Her desperation fueled him.

  He angled his head and struck her vein, hitting the right depth. He then formed a seal around the wounds with his mouth and began to suck. You’re mine, Hannah. You don’t belong to anyone else. You’re never to feed anyone else, share your body, or your mating frequency.

  She panted as she gripped his shirt, tearing at it, forcing the buttons to pop until she could push the fabric away and dig her nails into his shoulders. I’m yours, Jude. I don’t want anyone else. I’m yours, make me yours.

  He drank deeply for several minutes, holding his orgasm off. Waiting was damn hard, but he wanted to finish his feeding before he brought her to a climax.

  She whimpered, as though in agony, but she panted throughout and didn’t urge him.

  When he’d had his fill and her heart had returned to normal, he drew back to look into passion-filled, violet eyes. He braced one arm on the tree above her head and as her legs gripped his waist, he began the push to the end.

  He thrust with deep curls of his hips so that he could hit her just right. She held his gaze and he could sense her passion rising higher and higher until she was gasping for breath. “Jude, I’m ready.”

  He added a vibration to his cock, which made her gasp, then speeded up his thrusts. Her mouth opened and he quickly covered her lips with his hand. You can scream against my palm.

  She let loose, and her body writhed against his as he pumped into her. Her orgasm put a fire deep in his sac, and the next moment, his release exploded through his cock, a lightning streak of pleasure so profound that he couldn’t contain the roar. Hannah was his woman. He was marking her. She belonged only to him.

  He kept roaring and Hannah screamed and cried out against his palm as ecstasy took him into the world beyond.

  After a long moment, his body settled down and Hannah no longer panted.

  But all was not well with her. He could feel it in his bones.

  When he released her mating frequency, she uttered an unhappy, “Thank God for that.”

  He didn’t know what exactly was wrong until she looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “Jude, I don’t want this to be my life. I mean, I love having sex with you, but this is all too much. I was driven toward Malik the way I’ve been driven toward you. This isn’t right, it isn’t fair and it isn’t what I want.”

  She pushed at his shoulders.

  “Hold on for just a minute.” He took off his torn shirt and as he eased out of her, he pressed his shirt between her legs. “I’m sorry, Hannah. I asked Malik to come to the orchard thinking you’d be well away from him. But I forgot to tell you he was coming. It didn’t occur to me that you’d sense his presence and seek him out. This is my fault and I’m sorry.”

  Her shoulders drooped. “I think you missed my point. Jude, I absolutely hate not having control of my own life, my own destiny. And I want to go home. Now.”

  Chapter Seven

  Hannah flew with Jude back in the direction of Port Townsend. He now wore his Guard uniform and frowned heavily. He wasn’t a happy camper, but right now she didn’t care.

  After changing her clothes and packing up her things, she’d asked that he return her to the Gold Rush so that she could get back to her life. She was done with this horrible, sick situation. He’d just have to figure out some way of dealing with Margetta and her mist by himself. As for other mastyr vampires, Jude had better get his shit together and figure out how he and his men could keep her safe.

  She was done.

  She had her arm around his neck, but wished she didn’t have to be so close to him.

  The recent experience when she lost complete control of her will in facing Malik had thrown all her feel-good up into the air. She’d spoken exactly right when she’d said she hated not having control of her own destiny. But driven as she’d been toward Malik, made her distrust everything about her current experience with Jude. How true were any of her emotions right now, or his? If they completed the blood-rose bond, would they suddenly discover they’d been tricked into a long-term relationship that neither of them really wanted?

  If she understood the process, based on what the women on the loop said, once that bond was completed it would be permanent. And right now the only advantage she could see in having their mating vibrations lock into place, was ending forever her desire for other mastyr vampires or their drive toward her.

  Big fucking deal.

  She knew she wasn’t entirely rational, but she was enraged by what had happened. She’d finally awakened to the reality that if she continued down this path, she’d bond with Jude just out of a desperate need to keep other mastyrs away from her.

  All her options appeared to be gone.

  Hannah, we can figure this out for you. I don’t care about how this affects me, or having my blood-needs met. But I do care that you feel as though you’ve been stripped of your choices. What can I do to make this right?

  Is that your phone ringing? she asked.

  Yes, but I’m not going to answer it. He slowed his speed down. Talk to me Hannah. Please. You’re important to me on so many levels. You’
re my friend and I care about you. I know you didn’t ask for this, but …

  You’re thinking about Margetta.

  Hannah, we need you right now. At least until we get the mist thing figured out. I’ve put some of my best fae on the problem, and Vojalie said she would contact the Sidhe Council to see if a spell might be concocted to counter the mist’s effects. This difficult situation is just temporary, but we need to stick together.

  His words had a calming effect and she started to relax. She knew she was overreacting, but the events of the past two days had started taking a toll, and she didn’t know just how much more she could take. She liked Mastyr Malik and knew him well because Jude had brought him to the Gold Rush at least a dozen times over the past couple of years. And she was completely embarrassed by her conduct and distressed that she’d caused Malik to feel an inappropriate drive toward her.

  If he hadn’t kept her away with a low setting of his battle frequency, she would have climbed all over him and begged him to feed.

  And do other things.

  Her cheeks grew hot and uncomfortable as she thought about it.

  As Jude drew close to the access point, the guards waved them through. The tunnel of mist that made up the connecting point between worlds appeared and Jude flew them straight in.

  But as they emerged from the mist tunnel, and Port Townsend came into view, Hannah gave a cry. A terrible black plume of smoke rose near the docks. “Jude, hurry. I have the worst feeling.”

  By the time they’d crossed half the distance over the Sound, Hannah felt her heart sink into her stomach. “The Gold Rush is on fire.”

  Once they were fifty yards away, Hannah asked Jude to remain in the air so she could see what was going on. She fished her phone from her pocket and realized she’d turned the ringer off and now had a dozen messages from Amelia and Sandy, no doubt telling her about the fire.

  She couldn’t believe what was happening. The blaze engulfed the entire building. Though two fire trucks sprayed massive amounts of water on the site, the building was too far gone for anything to be salvaged.