Chapter Twenty-Nine
What was that divine scent, that warm feeling and bright light?
Gannon’s soul slammed back into his body with a painful inhale. His eyes snapped open. A blade was buried between his shoulders and…in his heart. He reached back and yanked the dagger free.
He patted his body, searching for injuries. He’d been shot but his muscles had already expelled the bullets and were on the mend. What the fuck…Why wasn’t he dead? He brushed his hand over his chest in wonder. His heart had been cut in two, ruined, but he still lived. Analyze later, act now.
Staggering to his feet, he swept the area. The other SUV that had been with him burned in the distance. He was alone in the desert, the lone survivor. Damn. Boras and his men were gone and Jordan was too. Damn again!
Gannon climbed from the wash and jogged toward the flames. He collected every weapon he could find then tested the discard dirt bikes. His heart sang with triumph when one finally started. His plan: follow the Jeep tracks, kick some ass, and save his queen.
***
Jordan could feel the moon rising. Every second that past the ache in her muscles worsened, the knot in her stomach tightened, and the pounding her head increased.
Boras wrapped the restraints tighter around her wrists. The rope cut deep into her flesh. She bit the inside of her cheek to stop the sharp yelp of pain that rose from her throat. She refused to give the monster what he wanted.
“Bad girl.” He clucked his tongue and pulled harder. Blood trickled down her hands to dampen the dirt beneath her. “You killed your guard. If you survive this transition, believe me, you’ll wish you hadn’t.”
He straightened Jordan caught the faint tremor for pain that flickered over his angelic face. Her eyes fell to his shoulder. He’d changed his shirt since they’d arrived at the out post, but she could see blood welling beneath the black fabric. Gannon’s bullet hadn’t obliterated Boras’s heart, but it have torn his flesh and the wound wasn’t healing.
“Lights spotted five miles out,” someone called from outside.
“It would seem your lover has taken the bait.” He stroked pat the top of her head as one would do to a beloved dog. “Wallin, come in here.”
The vampire pushed open the door. His black, demon eye studied her as if he had x-ray vision. “Oh, she is treasure, isn’t she? You know, I wanted to bid on her but knowing what awaited the winners…”
“You did your job, you drove the price up. Now, keep our pet company. I’ve a blood bastard’s head to collect and a war to win.” Boras turned to leave. “I’ll be back, pet, don’t you fret.”
Wallin knelt beside her and brushed her hair away from her neck. “Do touch me!”
He laughed. “We are going to fun, you and I. While you writhe in agony, your little body fighting the change and you gasp for breath, I’m going watch.” He dropped his hand to rub over his thickening erection. “I can’t wait to hear your screams.”
“The only screams that you’ll this night are your own,” Jordan rasped.
***
Gabriel slammed the Bentley’s door closed. He drew in a deep breath. Jordan was here. She was alive. Boras hadn’t lied about that. But on his way to the outpost, Gabriel had found the scene of the attack. Gannon’s body was missing and hope unlike he’d ever known rocked him. There was a chance his friend still lived. Gannon was resourceful, a skilled warrior, he’d survive.
Boras’s men closed in around him as he approached the weathered, forgotten building. Ten against one, he’d had worse odds.
“Where is she?”
The leader separated from the circle. “So demanding.”
“Her freedom and health for my life, right? Well, here I am. Produce the woman.”
“You didn’t actually think I’d play this fair, did you?” He glanced past Gabriel’s shoulder to the car. “But I see that you did. All alone.”
“I wouldn’t necessarily say that.”
Boras swung around to find another Gabriel behind him. “What is this, Erhard?”
“What? It’s only me.” The twin Gabriel responded in unison and drew their daggers. “You said to only bring myself.”
With a war cry, Boras and his men attacked.
Jordan clenched, ignoring the pain. The moon was inches from its peak and she was only a breath away from falling apart. Her head….God, the slicing pain. She shifted on the ground, straining toward the cracks in the walls, seeking the cooling touch of the desert night air. The temperature outside was dropping and her body was burning.
“So close now,” Wallin mocked.
The tightness of her muscles snapped and her teeth cut into her lower lip. The brightness of the moon shimmered through the holes in the ceiling. The enraged roar of a vampire rang out and she trembled.
“Can you hear the battle? Your maker is going to die.”
Her maker? She fought the pain, focusing on Wallin’s words. He thought Gabriel was her maker, not her mate. She laughed and he sprang to his feet.
“I think I jest.”
He untied the bounds from the metal pole she’d been secured. Wrapping the rope around his fist, he dragged her through the dirt and the door into the night. The moon’s rays bathed her burning skin, soothing her pain for just a moment.
“I want you to see him fall. To see his head roll from his body. Then you’ll scream, so prettily.”
Jordan struggled against the bindings at her wrists and ankles, drawing more blood. The crimson slickened her wrists. She was able to work one hand free. That’s all I needed. Gabriel, I’m coming for you.
Mine! The demon snarled as Jordan’s scent grew stronger. He had to get to her.
Can’t fail her. Can’t! He slashed his blade over the guards’ throat the plunged the other deep into his enemy’s chest. He wrenched the weapon free, tearing heart out with it. The organ slipped from the blade to the ground with wet thump.
His partner tore the head off another guard with his bare hands. His knives still embedded in the heart and skull of another fallen enemy.
“Boras!” he snarled. “Face me. Stop hiding behind your guards.”
“I’ve never hidden behind anyone.” He charged at Gabriel, taking him to the ground. They landed hard, the blades knocked from his hands.
“Now!” Gabriel shouted and his doppelganger vanished just as the last guard’s headless body fell to the ground.
Boras sliced at him with his claws, deep gashes streaked his face, his neck, his torso.
Gabriel defended as best he could, his eyes searching for his enemy’s weakness. He threw elbows and grappled. He’d kill him, he’d destroy all of his enemies, leaving none to ever threat his mate again.
They rolled through the dirt. Fangs flashing, claws glinted in the moon light, blood was like a fine mist as muscles tore. Gabriel pinned Boras beneath him, his knee hitting the vampire’s shoulder. He howled and the faint scent of poison wafted on the air.
Gannon’s bullet. He’d used the remaining Red Order Poison as a coating on his bullets. It had grazed him, the poison would remaining on his skin…Gabriel punched Boras’s shoulder again and again, forcing the toxin firmly into his system. The agonized howl was the sweetest music to Gabriel’s ears. The only sound better would be Jordan whispering his name finally held her in arms.
“You dared to take her from me.” He slammed his fist Boras’s face. “You threatened her.” His claws wrapped around Boras’s throat. The vampire beneath him fought as his skin turned ashen. The poison was eating him from the inside out. Gabriel sneered. There was no better revenge than that of wreak havoc on his enemies. He rasped, “Know that blood bastard defeated you.” With a hard twist of his wrists, his claws sank deep into flesh, shredding muscle and tendon. The cracking of vertebra hissed over the now calm desert landscape.
Gabriel rose to his feet, Boras’s head swings from his fist.
His chest heaving, he sucked in calming breaths searching for Jordan’s scent, needing it to ground him. To sooth his beast.
Jasmine floated gently on the breeze, but she was gone. His demon snarled, but he ignored its anger. Dimitri had gotten her to safety.
“Damn, I was late to the party.”
He swung around. “Gannon.”
“One any only.” He waved to the carnage. “Nice job.”
Gabriel blinked, unbelieving. “You’re alive.”
Gannon rubbed the nape of his neck. “Yeah…how about that. My heart was destroyed and there was this light—”
The head bounced over the heard earth like a soccer ball as Gabriel pulled Gannon into a bear hug.
“Hey man,” his Second laughed. “I’m solid.”
He pulled away just as Dimitri materialized. “She is safe. I took her to the compound. The doctor is with her now.”
“Take me to her. Now.”
“You should probably clean up before you set you. The blood and gore, not sexy.”
“Agreed,” Dimitri seconded.
He shook his head. No, he had to be with her. He had to hold her and kiss her and…Shower. Yes, he had to shower he couldn’t go to his mate with the blood of dripping from his claws. He could press her to his chest with gaping wounds. He had to clean up and he needed a few minutes to heal. “Fine. Gannon, take the Bentley back.”
“Cool.” He glanced around. “I wonder if I could something to use to strap a dirt bike to it.”
Gabriel didn’t have a chance to shout, “Scratch my paint and die,” because Dimitri had already grabbed him transported them across miles to the compound. They landed in his room. His
Jordan’s screams greeted them. “Be quick. She needs you.” Dimitri disappeared.
Gabreil ripped away his battle worn clothing, showered, and redressed in sweats and plane white shirt. He threw open the adjoining double doors and stalked to the bed.
Scott’s grim face brightened a fraction. “My king. I’m glad you have returned safely.”
“Have you given her something for the pain?”
“Yes, her cries have lessened and the seizures are few now.” Scott gathered his medical bag and supplied. He headed for the exit and paused. “I’m happy for you both. I know no other couple more deserving of joy.”
“Thank you for watching over her.”
Scott nodded and left the king with his queen. Gabriel carefully lowered himself onto the edge of the mattress. Jordan thrashed, sweat beaded her brow. Her lips were chapped, her cheeks hollow and shadows of pain darkened her eyes.
“Gabriel.”
“I’m here, love. I’m here.”
“I tried to get to you. I-I fought Wallin.”
His chest welled with pride. “You’re my little scrapper.”
“I w-was about to end him when y-you came.” Her voice cracked on another pained moan. “But it wasn’t you.” Her head thrashed side to side.
“It was Dimitri.” He brushed the matted hair away from her cheeks. “We used the changeling potion.”
Her screams were agony. They tore at him. Tormented him to madness.
“I s-should’ve stayed with you.”
He couldn’t help but chuckle. Even now, she was challenging him.
Her teeth chattered. “Cold. M-make me warm.”
He stripped her then himself, gathered to her against the heat of his body and burrowed under the sheets.
“You’ll make it through this. You’ll be stronger.”
God, he wished he could take the pain for her. Her internal organs were reshaping, her body contorted. Her muscles tearing then knitting back together. An endless nightmare. Her breaths came hard and fast.
Jordan’s back arched and a raw scream ripped from her throat, he felt it as if it were his own. “It will be over soon, love. Focus on me. Focus on my voice.” He absorbed her every tremor as he held tightly and began to sing that old hymn.
She came awake with a jolt, her body alive with energy, with power.
Jordan shot up and was about to jump from the bed when Gabriel’s arm wrapped around her waist.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
“It’s over. I want to—”
“Lounge with your male,” he said pressing his lips to her bare shoulder. His tongue followed the curve of the circles there. “And rest.”
She glanced to the side table and raised her raise at the clock. “I’ve been out for over twenty-four hours. I’m rested and anxious to greet our guests.”
“They’ll wait.”
Oh, she was tempted to let him convince her to stay in bed.
“I haven’t been officially introduce to Dimitri and I would love to meet Kerstyn.”
“Later, love.” He nuzzled her. “How are you feeling?”
“Sublimely happy. You?”
“Same.” He brushed her hair away from her neck. “Only, I keep thinking of that promise I made you.”
She smiled. He was playing dirty. Well, she would too. “Yeah? Will you finally let me?”
“After I come deep inside you, yes. Then you can torture me however you like with your mouth and those pretty little fangs.”
Jordan purred. “Deal” She ran her tongue over her fangs. “They feel funny. Heavy.”
His shaft swelled against her bottom and she rolled to her back to meet his eyes. “Their heavy from need.” He nuzzled her ear.
She traced the circles of his brand. “Have I said how much I love that our passion has replaced that brand?” Her tongue swept over his chest, caressing the scar. His cock throbbed against her.
“Thank you.” He pressed his lips to the tip of her nose.
“For?”
“Everything.”
He rolled atop her, his taut body straining over hers. She spread her thighs wide and the bed and settled himself in the cradle of her body. The swollen head of his shaft gliding over her hot, wet folds. He lazily rocked his hips, teasing her until she moaned, “Put it in.”
Gabriel’s lips curled with a sensual smile, revealing his sigh worth dimples. “As you wish, love.”
He impaled her on his cock just as his fangs sliced into her throat. Both buried so deep. He drew her blood into him as he pounded into her. Hard, harsh, frantic thrusts. Jordan scored his back with her claws, overwhelmed by sensation, by emotion. She felt an erotic intimacy…so beautiful, so pure her eyes clouded with tears. Her body burned with white-hot heat. Her climax slammed into her. His name tore from her lips as she convulsed around his thrusting cock. He was strength and heat. He was power, protection—everything she wanted. Needed.
He released his bite, his tongue swept over the pinpricks, healing them instantly. “Again, love. Make me feel you again.”
Jordan smiled as he rolled to his back, taking her with him, never leaving the searing heat of her body. She rode him slow and sweet, hard and fast. Drawing out their pleasure until they became frantic for release.
Gabriel wrapped an arm around her waist and drew he down, her breasts flattened against his chest. “Drink of me,” he grated. “Please, I need to feel your little fangs.”
Jordan’s incisors sharpened. She traced them over his hammering pulse, then as if he’d drawn her into him, they sank deep into this muscle. His spicy blood hit her tongue and she was lost. Sucking on his vein, he slammed his sex into her again and again. His taste intoxicating. Sinful. Addictive. Her body clenched him so tight his thrusts stopped, his back bowed and as she screamed in ecstasy against his throat, he roared with rapture. His hot seed pumping into her, lashing her.
She traced her tongue over the tiny marks in his neck, lapping up the trickle of blood that had slipped down to his collarbone. As she kissed her way down his torso, his cock swelled again. She caught his shaft with a tight grip, he wasn’t going to deny this time.
“Ready to shout until you can’t anymore?” she teased the flicked her tongue over the crown.
He cupped the back of her head and held her gaze. “Only if you’re ready to scream so loudly the entire city can hear you pleasure.”
“We’ll see who caves first. My money is on you.”
She took him deep into her mouth, the tips of her fangs teasing him and when she sucked, his head fell back, a ruthless vow tore from his lips, “Jordan, Until-never-do-us-part.”