Текст книги "Black Moon"

Автор книги: J. Tyler

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Текущая страница: 7 (всего у книги 16 страниц)

Seven

Mac hurried toward Kalen’s quarters, trying not to appear as though she was worried. But she had good reason to be.

Kalen hadn’t showed at dinner. That in itself was cause for concern among the Pack—the men loved their food and rarely missed one of the cook’s excellent meals unless one of them was sick.

She knocked firmly at Kalen’s door. Waited and listened for signs of movement. No response. She rapped again, louder this time. Still nothing.

“Kalen!” Worry ramping up to dread, she started pounding. “Open this damned door right now or—”

It abruptly sprang open to reveal her Sorcerer standing there bare-chested, jeans slung low on his hips. His hair was rumpled in sexy disarray and he blinked as though he’d been napping. “Or you’ll huff and puff and blow my house down?”

She scowled at him, determined not to let his mouthwatering, half-naked bod distract her. “I just happen to know a few wolves who would help me with that. Are you going to let me in or should I go fetch a couple?”

He gave her a lazy smile. “Feisty, aren’t we? By all means, come in.”

Stepping aside, he let her in and then closed the door behind them. Immediately he pounced, spinning her around and backing her against the wall in the small foyer. He looked just like a panther, she thought, jewel-green eyes glittering in the dimly lit apartment, expression hungry. Dangerous.

His mouth swooped down, capturing hers, his tongue thrusting inside. He kissed her like a starving man, causing every nerve in her body to tingle with delight. His lean hardness felt so good, and he smelled even better. Like the forest and pine, with a hint of musk. Raw and male.

He pulled back some, giving her a heavy-lidded look of pure need, and a prickle of alarm skittered along her spine. Not because of how much he obviously wanted her, but because the dark Sorcerer was back. The wicked one who would take no prisoners, show no mercy.

As if sensing her unease, he cupped her face and whispered, “I’ll never hurt you. Never. I’d die first.”

“I believe you.” She laid a hand on his chest, feeling his heart beating so hard. Strong and steady. Like his gaze, full of fierce determination to ward off the shadows. For her. “Take me to bed. Please.”

With a growl, he lifted her into his arms and strode for his bedroom. She’d never been inside his place, but it was the same layout as the ones belonging to the other Pack members, only more sparse in furnishings. There were no decorations or personal touches at all. Given his background, that wasn’t surprising, but it was sad. She’d change that if he’d allow it.

In his room, he set her gently on the covers as though she were the most precious gift on earth. Pulse jumping, she eyed him as he slid off his jeans and underwear, leaving him naked. The man was a delicious feast for the senses. Such a bad boy with those black painted fingernails and kohl-rimmed eyes.

She’d always had a thing for bad boys. Didn’t a lot of good girls?

“I missed you at dinner.”

“I fell asleep,” he said as he knelt on the bed and crawled toward her.

“Aren’t you hungry?”

“Oh, yeah.” His lips curved up and he reached for the button on her pants. “Don’t know why you even bothered to put these back on.”

“Because I have a little problem with being naked in front of all the guys. Even if they don’t have the same issue.” The Pack didn’t worry much about walking around in the buff, before or after shifting. Made for nice eye candy.

“There is that.” In short order he had her pants and undies off, and her blouse and bra soon followed, joining the rest on the floor. The only item on her person was his silver pendant around her neck, hanging between her breasts. “You, my lady, look good enough to eat.”

“Me first. Let me?” Reaching out, she wrapped her fingers around his erection.

Sucking in a breath, he rocked his hips toward her. “Whatever you want, baby.”

Eagerly, she stroked his straining member, loving the silky hardness of his skin sliding through her palm. She enjoyed the rush of making a grown man tremble, reducing him to a quivering mass of want. Men believed they were so powerful, but when it came to a lover’s touch, being fondled, licked, and sucked? They weren’t so mighty.

Bending, she tasted the head of his cock, capturing the pearly droplet that escaped through the slit. He groaned, urging her on, and she took him in her mouth as she cupped his balls. She’d never get tired of this.

She sucked him slowly, taking him deep, to the base and up again to the tip. Bobbed and laved like he was a lollipop, while massaging his heavy balls. She even traced the treasure trail leading from his belly button to the trim, neat nest of black hair at the base. So manly.

“Honey, I’m not gonna last if you keep that up.” Carefully he disengaged and gave her a smirk. “My turn now.”

She let him push her onto her back on the bed, admired him as he crawled between her thighs and spread them. Bared her for his appreciation. Let him look all he wanted—although she wasn’t into streaking in front of the whole Pack, she wasn’t shy about her body. Never had been. No, as an adult, she’d always been a sensual woman, very attuned to her needs and not afraid to see them met when the opportunity came about.

And this man more than satisfied.

“You’re beautiful,” he murmured.

Lying down, he nuzzled her sex. Stole a taste. Immediately she melted, gave herself to his care. His tongue parted her folds, licked with slow thoroughness. She moaned, let her legs fall open wider.

“God, yes. Eat me,” she begged.

He made a sound of pleasure and his tongue snaked deeper, stroking along her walls. She gasped, realizing he’d let his panther out just enough to allow his claws to dig into her hips and his cat’s tongue to pleasure her in the kinkiest way she’d ever imagined. She almost came from that alone.

“So fucking sweet.” His voice was gravelly. “Why did I ever think you were innocent? What a bad girl you are.”

“Yes, and you love it.”

“I do. And you’re mine!”

“Yours! Please . . .” She clutched at his hair.

“Want my cock, baby?”

“Do you have to ask?”

Crawling over her, he smiled and met her eyes, and she got another surprise. His eyes were elliptical—those of his panther. They were captivating. Feral.

After positioning his cock at her entrance, he eased inside. Bracing his elbows on either side of her head, he pushed, burying himself to his balls. “Save me, Mackenzie,” he whispered. “Drive out the darkness. Be my light.”

Oh, God, she would try. For him.

As he thrust into her faster and faster, she began to spiral toward the edge of release. As she did, she noticed that his features sharpened even more. A half shift, she realized. She’d seen the men take their half forms on occasion, but never from this perspective. Sex like this was more than kinky; it was mind-blowing. And it triggered an internal red flag as well.

She couldn’t heed the warning, even if she could’ve voiced what it meant. By the time she figured it out, it was much too late to stop what came next.

“Mine,” he snarled, pounding her into the mattress.

“Yes! Fuck me!”

Just as that wonderful, familiar quickening began, Kalen buried his fingers in her hair, yanked her head back and slightly to the side. For one split second, she took him in, poised above her, fucking her senseless, his brutally handsome face all planes and angles, huge canines bared.

“Kalen, wait—”

Then he struck, sinking his fangs into her throat. The blinding pain was like nothing she’d ever felt—but it was instantly replaced by ecstasy that detonated her body. Her orgasm exploded and she screamed, clinging to his shoulders as they slammed together again and again. Rode wave after wave of euphoria so intense she almost passed out.

A golden thread stretched between them, strengthened. Somehow she sensed that this was the link that would bind them forever.

The bond he’d made without asking.

She was hardly aware of him drinking her blood, then finally removing his fangs and licking the wounds. Of him withdrawing and gathering her close.

Then the room and her lover faded away.

* * *

Kalen watched his woman—wow, his mate—sink into slumber and smoothed a curl from her face. A wave of happiness made him so weak it was a good thing he was lying down.

“You’re precious to me,” he told her sleeping form.

Love? Maybe not yet. But he was falling fast. She already owned a piece of his heart, and his soul would soon follow.

On the heels of that thought, he almost panicked. What if Malik had heard that? But there was nothing except silence in his head, and the new, miraculous tie binding him to his mate. He who’d never had anyone or anything to call his own now had a reason to fight. And to win.

Curving his body protectively against hers, he wrapped an arm around her, pulling her back as snugly to his front as possible. Then he settled the covers over them and drifted off.

Sometime later, he wasn’t sure what woke him. Groggy, he reached for Mackenzie, only to find her spot empty. Sitting up, he let his eyes adjust and barely made out her form by the bed.

“What’re you doing?”

“Getting dressed.” Her words, like her movements, were sharp.

Fumbling for the lamp on the bedside table, he switched it on and blinked at her. “Why? Where are you going?”

“Back to my room.” Her lips were pressed into a thin, angry line as she yanked on her pants.

Oh, crap. “But . . . I thought you’d stay here with me. What’s wrong?”

“You just assumed, huh?” she snapped, pulling on her shirt. “Like you figured it was fine and dandy to bite me, to mateme without discussing it with me first?”

He shot from the bed, reaching for her hand. “Baby, listen to me—”

“Like you listened to me?” She jerked her arm from his grasp. “Don’t touch me!”

This couldn’t be happening. “My panther wanted to claim you so bad, he was tearing me apart! I couldn’t hold him back,” he said, voice rising with his fear. “And I thought you wanted it, too!”

“But you didn’t ask!” she shouted, shoving him in the chest. “You took away my right to choose, and the tie between Bondmates can never be undone except if one of us dies.”

That hit him hard, and he sat on the side of the bed. Crushing sadness nearly overwhelmed him. “I’m sorry. I’d undo it if I could, if that would make you happy.”

That, of course, was another wrong thing to say.

“It’s a little late to worry about how I feel, isn’t it?”

“No. You always matter to me,” he said quietly. “It’s just . . . I thought you wanted me back. You didn’t say no.”

“I tried to ask you to wait,” she hissed furiously.

“I’m sorry, but I didn’t hear you. And how could I have stopped? Would you have refused to mate with me?”

“I don’t know.” She shook her head. “That’s not the point.”

“I disagree. I don’t think it’s fair to rip me a new one when you would’ve said yes anyway.”

“Oh, I would have?” Her eyes flashed blue fire. “You arrogant ass. I’m done talking about this. I’m going back to my room, and I’d appreciate it if you left me alone for a while.”

He swallowed the knot of pain in his throat. “How long?”

“Until I’m ready to talk. I’ll let you know.”

This time he didn’t try to stop her. After she left the room, he hung his head and listened, catching the ominous click of the door shutting in the foyer.

The horrible burn started in his chest, spread to his throat, his eyes. Try as he might to stop it, he couldn’t. He hadn’t cried since the night so long ago when he’d finally gotten so hungry he’d given up his virginity in a dirty alley for a measly few bucks. He’d ended up torn and bleeding, left on the ground to rot with the rest of the garbage. And after he’d dried his face, he had sworn he would never shed another tear. Not for anyone, ever again.

But he’d never expected anything could possibly hurt worse than that horrible night. That he could ever again feel like something used and ugly to be discarded.

And he let the tears fall because he couldn’t hold them back.

His cat yowled in distress, but there was no comfort to be found for either of them. He wasn’t sure how long he sat there, naked and shivering in the dark, when he heard that voice. His voice, so low and reassuring.

Did I not tell you this would happen? Will you never listen? Care for these inferior creatures and they will hurt you time and again.

“You warned me,” he admitted, heart aching.

I want you, my boy. I am here for you, so let your soul be at ease.

Someone out there cared about him. He so needed to believe that. He had to have something to hold on to, or he might as well check out.

I won’t allow you to die. You are destined for greatness at my side.

He closed his eyes. “I can’t stand this pain much longer. I can’t take being alone, with no one of my own who gives a fuck about me. Make it stop. Please, I beg you.”

You are the one with the power to end it, my boy. Don’t you feel the power in your gut, flowing through your veins? Seize control. Focus your magic. Let all of that pain and anger be the fuel that guides it. Can you feel it?

The words throbbed in his skull, a soothing comfort in an ocean of chaos. Kalen found his center and honed in on the pulse of magic. Just there, residing in his core, ready to do his bidding. “Yes, I feel it.”

Good. Now grab the thread of your anger and twine it carefully around the spool of light that is your magic.

Concentrating, he imagined his rage as a black ribbon, flowing freely through his body. Unfettered, without purpose. Then he took one end and began to twirl it through the sphere of light in his center, where the magic began. He twined the ribbon all around the magic, swirled it like peppermint candy—only with black instead of red.

“It’s done.”

Excellent, pet. You could destroy an entire city with the force that’s inside you now. Do you see?

“Yes. It feels fantastic.” No denying the truth.

You can do that anytime you wish. Use it well when you practice your skills against the posers who call themselves your friends. Do you remember what I told you to do?

“A small misfortune, a dark prank. Nothing too noticeable.”

When will you begin?

“First thing in the morning. Breakfast.”

Very good. Devise something especially unpleasant that you will enjoy watching.

“Oh, I will.” He smiled at the prospect. “No one will hurt me again.”

No, because you’re going to get them. All of them, eventually.

His groin tightened at the prospect.

Now for your first real test. Lower the shields around the compound so that I may enter.

His resolve faltered. “What? Now?”

Yes. Lower them.

“I—I can’t.” His heart pounded in confusion.

You can. Don’t you desire your blood reward?

“I do, but . . . you’ll hurt them.”

I will not. That is your task. To exact revenge on the ones who have wronged you.

He hesitated, in sudden turmoil.

Remember how rich my blood tastes, how delicious our bond? Just imagine it on your tongue, like chocolate and wine, as you will recall.

Waving a hand, he chanted a few words, and the wards fell. Immediately, a dark figure stepped from the shadows beyond the pool of light from the lamp.

“Come to me, boy.”

Standing, he walked to Malik, uncaring that he was still naked. But it hardly mattered. The other male was in his true Unseelie form, in all his brutal, terrible glory. He was so tall, his head almost touched the ceiling, his leathery wings slightly spread, taking up the room. He was all muscle, raw strength, impressive as ever.

When Kalen was in front of him, the Unseelie cupped the back of his head and drew Kalen’s face to the crook of his neck. “Take my blood in the way of our kind. I know you want to.”

He did. His mouth was watering at the prospect. His fangs lengthened and he struck quickly, sinking them into the male’s flesh. The dark nectar hit his tongue and he moaned, swallowing all he could. So good. The savage potency of it arousing him against his will.

The feelings weren’t about Malik at all. But the lure of the darkness, the evil, that was another matter. The rush was a million times that of any street drug, and much more addictive. He could no more have stopped the ecstasy flooding his cock and balls than he could’ve stopped his heart from beating.

“You’ve had enough.” The Unseelie pried him off, setting him back.

“No! Please, I need more.” He hated the bastard for making him beg.

Malik grinned, looking a lot like the devil. “And so you will have it, the next time you please me. Report to me tomorrow, after you’ve completed your first task.”

“Yes, Malik.”

The Unseelie reached out and ran a claw down his cheek. Curiously, his expression softened. “You please me, boy.”

Such a fatherly gesture, accompanied by words he’d longed to hear from his own dad. “Thank you.” God, he was so messed up.

In a wink, the Unseelie was gone.

Falling back onto the bed, Kalen took his cock in hand. The flood of heady arousal had to be relieved or he’d lose his mind. If he hadn’t already. The nectar flowed like heroin in his veins, seducing. Just, he suspected, as Malik had intended, but he didn’t care.

Fisting his rod, he stroked firmly. Squeezed. His balls drew up and it took just a few more passes before his release blew, spurting come all over his belly. Even some on his chest. There was nothing like the ride the Unseelie’s blood took him on. He could easily become addicted.

Like he could have to his mate had she not rejected him.

Obviously that had been a pipe dream. This, however, was real.

Before he dropped off to sleep, he chanted a few words, replacing the magical wards over the compound.

Though in some dark corner of his heart, he had been tempted to leave them down.

* * *

Breakfast was an interesting affair.

Sitting across from Ryon, Kalen studied the blond-haired man and contemplated the best method of getting to him. The man was a Channeler and Telepath. He could talk to spirits, and he hated his so-called gift. Now to find a way to turn that against him.

As a Sorcerer, one of Kalen’s abilities was necromancy—he could raise the dead and talk to them. It came in handy at times, like in an investigation. Might be useful now.

Wasn’t this going to be fun?

From the corner of his eye he caught Mackenzie’s stare from the far side of the dining room, and for a few seconds his resolve faltered. Then the incredible pain of her walking out on him returned, strengthening it again.

Returning his attention to the silver wolf, he mulled over his challenge. Kalen couldn’t see ghosts like Ryon could. In order to speak with them, Kalen had to use his sorcery to call the spirit back into its former body at the grave site. He was in short supply of graves and bodies here, so that meant he’d have to improvise. And the best way to do that was with an illusion.

Ryon wouldn’t know Kalen was behind what was about to go down. If he suspected, it wasn’t like he’d be able to prove anything. Pretending to enjoy his eggs and bacon, Kalen concentrated. Sent out a wave of energy that drew from air and light and a touch of shadow. The composition swirled to form a tall, menacing figure draped in what appeared to be a dark cloak. The white face was blank, and it stood beside the wolf, reached out a skeletal hand and pointed a bony finger at him.

The blond was engrossed in conversation with Zan sitting beside him and at first didn’t notice the eerie presence. No one else in the room could see it, except for Ryon and Kalen, who pretended he didn’t.

Ryon laughed at something Zan said, and glanced to his left. When he did, he choked on his food at the sight of the cloaked creep. A thrill of satisfaction wormed through Kalen’s heart, even as it shamed him. Ryon had always been pretty decent to him and—

Focus, Kalen. Make me proud.

Doubt subsiding, Kalen sent another burst of magic at his creation, animating it briefly.

“You are no good to anyone with your worthless gift,” it hissed at Ryon. “Die.”

Ryon immediately went white and nearly fell off his seat. “What the fuck?”

Pushing a last surge at the figure, Kalen had it rush straight at Ryon and pass right through him before disappearing. The force of it knocked the wolf to the floor, where he landed on his ass.

“Jesus, man,” Zan blurted, startled. He offered his friend a hand. “What the hell was that all about?”

“Didn’t you see it?” He let Zan help him up and stood by his chair, clearly rattled. Wild-eyed, he spun in place, searching every inch of the dining room for the specter.

“I didn’t see crap except you falling out of your chair looking like you’d seen a ghost. You did, didn’t you?”

“Yeah. Shit.” He tugged at his hair in distress. “But I’ve never had one attack me before. I felt the damned thing go right through me.”

“No way,” Jax said from nearby, frowning. “You all right?”

“Yeah. Or I will be, soon as I get the image out of my head of the Grim Reaper telling me I’m worthless and to die.”

This caused no little alarm among his friends, who peppered him with questions. Kalen made sure to interject a couple as well, just to throw off any suspicion. When all was said and done, the group chalked it up as a random occurrence, not that Ryon was all that convinced. Appetite gone, the man excused himself and left.

Another twinge of guilt speared Kalen’s chest. He’d upset a good man for nothing other than the sheer pleasure of watching another suffer. Worse, not everyone was fooled into thinking the incident was totally “random.”

Mackenzie was glaring daggers at him. His chest tightened as she stood and stalked to his table. “I want to talk to you. Alone.”

Out of self-preservation, he went on the offense. “You didn’t take a big enough chunk out of my hide last night? Want a knife so you can finish the job, baby?”

Leaning over, she whispered ominously in his ear, “I know what you just did. So unless you want everyone here to listen to our conversation, I suggest you come with me. Baby.”

Straightening, she marched out. Fuck me.

Ignoring the curious glances directed his way, he wiped his mouth, tossed his napkin onto his plate, and followed along. She led him down the corridor, not speaking again until she pulled him into the team’s empty conference room. Perching one hip on the table, she crossed her arms over her chest and gave him a look of pure disgust.

“Want to tell me what the hell that was about back there?”

Damn, she looked sexy when she got all butch like that. It was a side of his doc that didn’t come out often, and it turned him on. Probably not a smart idea to point that out right now.

Giving his full attention to her, he realized she wasn’t just angry—she was disappointed. She couldn’t hide the emotion in her blue eyes, or the exhaustion. He wondered if she’d slept any after she’d left last night.

He cared. Even though she’d rejected him, he cared far too much about her feelings. Her well-being. The thought of Mackenzie hurting, hurt him in turn.

“How did you guess it was me?” he asked hoarsely, slumping into a chair.

“I didn’t have to guess. We’re mates now, remember?” she spat. “I can’t read your thoughts, but every emotion in you is coming through loud and clear to me. Including your rage and your guilt.”

He tensed. “Since when?”

“This morning when you came to breakfast. I started to feel all of it, right after you walked in, and I know it’s coming from you. If you focus, you can probably read mine, too.”

“I don’t need to feel them to get that you’re upset,” he muttered.

“Upset?” She stared at him, incredulous. “Kalen, what you did to Ryon may seem harmless, but the intent behind the act is very serious. Why would you do something like that?”

His gaze dropped to his boots.

“My God, that Unseelie creep has an even bigger hold on you than I thought. What does he have that lures you in?” Her anger dissipated, replaced by fear, and she gasped. “You haven’t become . . . intimate with him, have you?”

His mouth fell open. “No!” He shook his head, stomach lurching at the mere thought—and that she would even suspecthim of having sex with the Unseelie. His panther snarled in displeasure at the image of bedding anyone but his mate. “No way. Not like you mean. I’d never lie to you about that.”

She blew out a breath and nodded. Some of her color returned. “Okay. Then how is it that he gets to you?”

“You know part of it. He plays to my insecurities and sympathizes with all of the shit I’ve been through,” he admitted with difficulty. “He tells me everything I’ve always longed to hear from my father. He tells me how proud he is of me, and when I please him . . . he gives me a blood reward.”

She stilled. “His, or someone else’s?”

“His. It’s like a designer drug my system already craves, and now I don’t know how I’ll stop.”

She lowered her head and fell silent. When a tear slid down her cheek, Kalen pushed to his feet, intending to gather her in his arms, but she put out a hand to stop him. “This is so messed up. I don’t know how to deal with any of this, or with you.”

Agony speared his heart. “If I’m just another problem you have to deal with, then maybe I’m not worth the fight. At least Malik thinks I am.”

That was a low blow, and it produced instant results. Pushing from the edge of the table, she took a couple of quick steps forward and swung her hand. Her palm struck his cheek with a resounding crack that echoed throughout the room. He didn’t move. Didn’t breathe.

“Don’t evercompare me to that murdering piece of scum, not ever again!” she shouted. “There isn’t a single person in this building whose life he hasn’t almost destroyed! Is that really what you want? To help that bastard kill your friends? Maybe even kill you?”

“No. It’s not what I want at all.” Any second, he was going to implode. How much more could he take?

“Then fight him! Otherwise, you’re not the man I thought you were.”

“But I can’t—”

She wasn’t listening anymore. Turning, she stalked from the room, flinging open the door so hard it bounced against the wall and chipped the paint.

“I can’t fight without you,” he whispered to the empty air. His mate was the only good and pure thing keeping his head above water.

Without Mackenzie, he would sink into the depths of hell and never emerge.