Chapter Nine
A jolt and a loud cracking sound woke Sophie up. “Wha…?” She looked around uncertainly. It was still dark, the stars winking faintly in the sky above. Sylvan was holding her and he had a look of grim concentration on his face. Sophie blinked, trying to remember what was going on. Where are we? Why is Sylvan carrying me?
“Hold on. We’re almost in.” There was another jolt and more cracking. Suddenly she realized they were standing in front of a cabin and Sylvan was kicking the door in.
“Hey, wait a minute!” she protested as he pushed open the now-crooked door and shouldered his way inside. “You can’t do this—it’s not our property.”
He gave her a stern look. “We need a place to rest. A place I can defend if necessary.”
“But…but what if whoever owns this place comes back?” she protested. “They’re not going to be very happy to see us.”
“We’ll deal with that problem when we come to it.” Sylvan was scanning the dark room as he spoke, his pale eyes flickering from left to right, obviously looking for threats. “I’m more concerned about the Scourge right now than any disgruntled home owner.”
Sophie’s heart skipped a beat. “You really think they’re following us?”
“I know they are.” Walking across the room, he laid her down gently on a bed. The comforter on it smelled a little musty but it was soft and deliciously comfortable. Still Sophie couldn’t relax.
“How do you know?” she asked, sitting up and wincing at the renewed pain in her ankle.
“I saw the lights of their probes landing while you were sleeping.” Sylvan sat on the side of the bed beside her legs and sighed wearily. “To humans they probably looked like what you call ‘shooting stars,’ but their pattern was much too regular to be a meteorite shower.”
“I thought the Kindred had set up a protection grid all around the Earth,” she protested.
“We have. So at least their ships can’t land and we won’t have to deal with any Scourge soldiers. But the probes are small enough to get through and they can carry other things. Things that…” He broke off, shaking his head. “Never mind.”
“No, no—what things? Things that what?” Sophie sat up, wincing again, and moved to sit beside him so she could see his face. “Come on, Sylvan,” she said softly. “It’s me they’re after, for whatever reason. I have a right to know.”
He sighed again and ran a hand through his hair. “All right. What I’m mainly worried about are the urlich .”
“The what?”
“It translates into your language as ‘sniffers.’ They’re a little bit like your Earth dogs, but they’ve been hybridized and genetically mutated by the Scourge until most of them are more machine than animal.”
“Sniffers. So…they’re like some kind of cyborg bloodhound or something?”
Sylvan nodded. “That’s actually a really accurate description. And if they find your scent…” He shook his head.
“Go on,” she urged anxiously.
Sylvan pinched the bridge of his nose. “Let’s just say they’re incredibly fast and strong and very, very hard to kill, since most of them aren’t really alive after the Scourge get done with them.”
Sophie felt like someone had dumped a bucket of ice cubes into her stomach. “And they’re searching for me .”
He gave her a sidelong look. “Yes. In all probability the AllFather has programmed your scent exclusively into their brains. So they’re going to be very focused on finding you.”
“But…why? What do they—the Scourge—want with me, anyway?”
Sylvan shook his head. “I don’t know. If I had to guess I’d say it has something to do with their prophesy. No one really knows what it’s about, but Baird and I have speculated that they’re searching for an Earth female because of it. They thought Olivia was the one they wanted, but she wasn’t. Maybe because you’re so closely related to her—”
“They think I’m the one. But the one what?” Sophie shook her head, feeling sick. “I guess it doesn’t matter why they want me. The main thing is to not…not let them get me.”
Sylvan’s eyes flashed like cold fire. “As long as I am alive they shall not have you. I will stand by you and defend you unto death, Sophia. I give you my word as a warrior and a Blood Kindred.”
“Oh Sylvan…” She didn’t know what to say. The way he spoke, she could tell he’d just sworn a formal oath to her. One that would bind him as surely as his vow to never claim a bride. “You don’t…don’t have to do that for me,” she said softly.
His eyes blazed again. “But I want to. Even if you don’t want me to.”
“I just…don’t want you to get hurt on my account,” she protested but he only looked at her gravely.
“It would be my honor to die defending you.”
Sophia felt her breath catch in her throat and for a long, long moment she couldn’t look away from his ice blue eyes. She could smell his scent again—even stronger this time, surrounding her, making her dizzy. Warm, spicy, sharp, with that indefinably masculine note that made her want to lean toward him, to touch him, to let him touch her…
Wait a minute—what are you doing? Get hold of yourself, Sophie!
She jerked back and sat stiffly upright on the side of the bed. Had she really almost kissed him? What was wrong with her? “So, uh, what can we do?” she asked, trying to cover her awkwardness. “Do you really think we’ll be safe here?”
He looked around the darkened cabin again as if assessing it. “Probably not, but it’s better than being in the open. Our best hope is that the sniffers just pass us by and miss this place completely.”
“Do you think that’s possible?”
He shrugged, his broad shoulders rolling with the motion. “I don’t know. It should help that I carried you the past several miles, so you didn’t leave any scent on the ground.”
Sophia wondered exactly how many miles he’d carried her while she slept like a baby in his arms. It must have been a far distance. No wonder he looks so beat. Poor guy!
“What…what do we do if they do find us?” she asked, looking down at her hands which were still scraped and raw from her fall.
His face was grim. “We have to do our best to make sure that doesn’t happen. I might be able to handle one or two, but a whole pack…” He shook his head. “All I could do is die defending you.”
“Well then what—?”
“We may have to mask your scent.” He looked at her soberly. “Did Olivia tell you anything about scent marking?”
“Scent marking?” Sophie wracked her brain, trying to remember. It seemed vaguely familiar though she couldn’t remember exactly what it involved. Still, how bad could it be? “Oh, uh, sure. Scent marking.” She nodded.
“Good. Because in the last extremity, if I hear the sniffers around this cabin, I may have to scent mark you—to mask your scent with my own.”
“Can you do that? I mean, is your scent that much stronger than mine, especially when they’re focused on me?”
Sylvan looked down at his hands. “Normally it isn’t but right now…ever since the trip we took in the transport tube…”
Sophie thought of the warm, spicy scent that seemed to go to her head, the way it made her react to him… “It’s your mating scent, isn’t it?” she asked in a low voice, not daring to look at him.
“Yes.” He sounded ashamed.
“But why…” She risked a sidelong glance at him. “Why is it coming out now? I, uh, thought it only happened during the claiming period. But you’re not, um, claiming me or anything. I mean, we’re not… you know.”
“I know.” He shook his head. “I don’t understand what’s going on either. We haven’t even been dream sharing. Well, that is, I mean…” He cleared his throat. “I’ve had a few dreams of you. But nothing out of the ordinary.” He glanced at her. “Have you…had any strange dreams?”
“No.” Sophie shook her head and a look of mingled disappointment and relief passed over his stern features. “I have been, uh, having problems with my art, though,” she admitted in a low voice.
“Problems with your art?” He frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I paint,” Sophie explained. “You know—with a paintbrush and easel?” She made a painting motion in the air and his eyes widened.
“That was what I dreamed. That you were painting a picture of…of me.”
Sophie nearly choked. “But I have been! You’re all I’ve been able to paint lately. Even when I try not to, you always sneak in there. It’s so annoying .” Then she realized what she’d said. “Uh, I mean—”
“It doesn’t matter.” Sylvan cut her off, shaking his head. “So we have been dream sharing, in a way.”
Sophie felt herself go cold all over. “Does…does that mean you’re going to try to…to claim me? The way Baird claimed Liv?” Oh my God, if he does, if he claims me, then he’ll want to bite me! That’s the way his people do it. She had horror-movie visions of being held down under his muscular bulk, held down and pierced multiple times and in multiple ways. God, his teeth in my throat at the same time he’s inside me, filling me, holding me down and biting and thrusting. He’s so big, so strong—I’d never be able to get away.
The horror she felt must have showed on her face, because Sylvan’s voice was rough when he spoke. “Don’t worry, Sophia. Even if I wanted to claim you, I couldn’t.”
“Oh right.” She felt a small measure of relief. “Your vow.”
“My vow,” he agreed.
“Sylvan,” she said softly. “It’s…it’s not you. It’s just…I don’t want to be claimed by anyone. And the whole biting thing…” She shuddered. “I’m sorry, I can’t handle that. I mean, I get faint every time I have to get a shot .”
“As I said, you don’t have to worry.” His face was an unreadable mask now and his tone was perfectly bland.
I’ve really offended him, Sophie thought unhappily. And after he was so good to me. Getting me out of the crash and carrying me for miles and miles. He must think I’m such a horrible, ungrateful person. “I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
Sylvan shook his head. “You have no reason to be. I just…don’t understand why this is happening. Why my body is reacting this way. I took my vow before the Mother of Life in the sacred grove and I know she would never wish me to break it. My body as well as my mind and spirit should be bound by my oath.”
“Maybe…maybe there’s a reason you can’t see,” Sophie offered. “I mean, I don’t know much about your religion but on Earth we have a saying—‘God works in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform.’ Could it be…something like that?”
A look of dawning comprehension lit Sylvan’s face. “You know, you could be right. Perhaps the Mother knew we would be in this situation. That I would have to protect you by masking your scent with my own. Only my mating scent would be strong enough to do that, so…” He nodded decisively. “Yes, that must be it. That must be why my body is reacting to yours so strongly.”
“Of course,” Sophie agreed. “And probably when this is all over and we get out of here, everything will, uh, go back to normal.”
“I’m sure it will.” He looked relieved.
“So…” Sophie looked at him uncertainly. “Nothing we’re…I mean, you’re feeling is real?”
“I suppose not.” But the look he gave her seemed real. Very real.
“Uh…okay.” Sophie nibbled her bottom lip and squeaked with pain. She’d forgotten about the small wound on her lip from the Luck Kiss. God, it seemed a hundred years ago now, but it had only been earlier that day. Unless it was past midnight now. She had no idea since she’d left her cell phone at home, wanting no distractions during Liv’s wedding.
Sylvan was staring at her lower lip with an unreadable expression on his face. “I wish you’d let me heal that for you. Your palms too.” He nodded down at the scrapes she’d gotten when she fell. “And your knees and temple.”
Sophie put a hand to the side of her head self consciously and realized that her hair on that side was stiff with blood. Must have really hit that rock hard!
“Will you let me?” Sylvan’s deep voice was filled with longing. “Will you allow me to heal you, Talana?”
There’s that word again—what does it mean? And how in the world is he going to—oh! The memory of how he’d healed the gash across her breast sprang to her mind and she suddenly felt hot and cold all over. He means can he lick me. That’s how he wants to heal me. Oh my God…
“I…uh…I wonder if there’s any power in this cabin,” she said, looking down at her hands to avoid his burning gaze. “I mean, if they have a working hot water heater. Because I would kill for a shower.”
Sylvan rose. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“No, no, it’s all right.” Sophie tried to get off the bed and nearly fell over when she felt the stabbing pain in her ankle. “Ouch!”
“Are you all right?” Sylvan looked at her anxiously.
“Fine, it’s just my ankle.” It was true that her twisted ankle was still throbbing, but she could stand to put some weight on it now. And she was going to have to if she didn’t want him carrying her everywhere. Her eyes had adjusted to the dim light coming through the windows and she could see a small room to one side. “That must be the bathroom. Think I’ll go check out the hot water situation.”
He reached for her. “I’ll carry you.”
“No, no! It’s better already—see?” Sophie put her foot flat down on the floor and tried to smile despite the pain.
Sylvan frowned. “If you’re certain you’re all right. I must have misjudged the severity of your injury.”
“I’m perfectly fine,” Sophie said, trying to make her voice cheerful and light. “I mean, aside from being chased by evil cyborg dogs from hell who want to drag me back to the Scourge overlord, I couldn’t be better.”
Sylvan’s eyes were suddenly dark. “Don’t even joke about that.”
“Sorry.” She shrugged. “I was just trying to lighten the mood. I’ll just…” She motioned at the bathroom and he nodded. Because he was still watching her, Sophie forced herself to walk without limping, even though her ankle was still so tender and it felt like someone was sticking a knife into it with every step. Finally she got to the bathroom and breathed a sigh of relief as she closed the door.
* * * * *
Sylvan sat in the darkness for a long moment, listening to Sophia rustle around in the bathroom. So now I know why my body has been reacting to hers, despite my vow. It is the will of the Mother. She knew I would need to protect Sophia. Knew that we would be put in this situation together. He wasn’t zealously religious but he did believe, as most Kindred did, that the Goddess they worshipped had a hand in even the smallest details of her children’s lives. So it wasn’t hard to believe that she had placed them together like this for a reason. And hadn’t the priestess on the Mother ship warned him that they would be in danger? Should have listened to her, I guess. But I was so angry at the way she was treating Sophia, I didn’t care about anything else.
It was a relief to have a reason for his body’s irrational behavior. And yet…if none of the feelings he had for Sophia were real, then why did he long to hold her? It wasn’t just lust he felt for her, although the Mother knew, he had plenty of that. But he yearned to protect and comfort her too. To heal her wounds and shield her from danger with his body. I’ve always been cold and emotionless as a Tranq should be. I’ve never felt this way for anyone before. Will all of this—the feelings I have for her—just disappear when we’re safe again on the Mother ship?
The thought of that, of losing what he felt for Sophia, was like a dagger in his heart. And yet…wouldn’t it be better that way? She doesn’t want me, he reminded himself yet again. The look on her face when she’d thought he might claim her had spoken volumes. The very idea of being his bride was frightening and repugnant to her.
But then, why does her body react to me? Just a few minutes before, when I gave her my word to defend her or die trying, I would swear she almost kissed me. Why do I see longing in her eyes? Why did she react so willingly when I healed her breast?
His fangs and cock ached at the memory, but Sylvan tried to push the need that rose in him like a tidal wave away. It’s just my mating scent working on her. Nothing more than that.
It was time he got up and explored the cabin. He needed to know if there were any hidden weaknesses he would have to defend. And he needed to build a fire in the small fireplace he saw across from the bed. The urlich might not fear much, but they hated fire.
Sylvan wished he had his blazer—a weapon that shot a finely collimated beam of energy, strong enough to cut any enemy in half. But he hadn’t had it on him at the wedding—no weapons were permitted in the sacred grove. And it hadn’t crossed his mind that he would need it when he was simply taking Sophia home through what he thought was friendly space. I’ll never be caught without it again, he told himself grimly. If we get out of this, that is.
But if they did get out of the situation, Sophia would no longer be his to protect and defend. To mark as his own…Sylvan felt his whole body grow tight at the thought of that, of holding her naked body close while he rubbed against her, branding her with his scent. I want her so badly. Goddess help me, I almost hope the urlich do find our trail.
It was wrong and he knew it, but he couldn’t help himself. He just kept picturing it in his mind’s eye—the way Sophia’s pale cheeks would flush with passion, the feel of her soft breasts pressing against his chest. And most of all, the wet, warm slide of her pussy against his shaft as he rubbed against her with deliciously long, slow strokes. I want to make her come. Want to hear her gasp and moan, want to feel her lose control under me. And as he pleasured her, he would be changing her scent, overwriting it with his own until it became something new, a fragrance that would announce to the universe that she was his. His forever…
Or at least until they got safely back to the Mother ship.
The thought brought him back to reality with a thud . It was time to stop daydreaming and see to more practical matters than his runaway emotions. Sighing deeply, he went to check the cabin.