Chapter Thirteen
Jake clutched Kai to his chest, her energy vibrating through every cell of his being. He’d hoped his Alpha blood would have been sufficient, but the vampire’s injuries wouldn’t be easily healed. His protective mate had stopped him from sacrificing his own life. Strong and confident, Kai had known exactly what she’d been doing as she fed Quintus. Their rescue had quickly escalated into an erotic interlude with the lethal vampire. He’d planned on exploring Kai’s secret fantasy, but this had been an unexpected experience. At first he’d been conflicted but as Quintus bit her, and Kai responded, he’d enjoyed watching her arousal bloom.
The bed shifted and Jake’s attention was drawn to Quintus, who slowly stood. Their eyes met, and each gave a small nod in acknowledgement. Jake pressed his lips to Kai’s head, tugging the blanket over them. Without a word, Quintus went to the open closet, quickly retrieving clothes, and walked out of the room.
Jake closed his eyes in exhaustion, aware they needed to discuss next steps. With his mate in his arms, his wolf howled, content for the moment. Soon danger would again threaten their lives but for the next few hours, they’d enjoy respite.
Jake turned off the shower, and dried his skin with the towel. As he brushed the fabric down his abs, his mind turned to Kai. She’d come alive under his touch as he fucked her from behind. Commanding her to take the vampire had been hotter than hell. Jake’s cock stirred at the thought of making love with them both again, taking things further. He sensed the fantasies that played in his little pixiu’s mind, and looked forward to pushing her limits.
Quickly dressing, he glanced to Kai, who lay sleeping peacefully in bed. He knew she’d needed the rest, having fed Quintus. Jake tiptoed out of the room, quietly shutting the door behind him, and entered the main cabin.
The luxury airliner’s interior had been recently renovated. Aquamarine printed throw pillows provided an accent to the white leather furniture. A fire flickered on the flat screen TV while big band music played through the surround sound speakers. Jake spied Quintus sitting in a recliner, aimlessly staring out the window into the darkness, a glass of liquor in his hand.
“You okay, man?” Jake asked, walking toward him.
“Have a drink.” Quintus brought his glass to his nose and sniffed it.
Jake shook his head at the sight of the expensive bottle of whiskey sitting on the bar. “Logan’s not gonna be too happy you opened his white whale.”
“Pappy Van Winkle. The man’s got taste.”
Jake shook his head as he picked up the bottle. His Alpha would be fucking pissed they’d drank it, but drastic measures and so forth. “What the hell? It’s already open.”
“That’s the spirit, my friend. There’s nothing better than a glass of fine Kentucky bourbon. It’s been a helluva day.”
“Considering these babies sell on the black market for upwards of five thousand dollars, I’m not thinking the Alpha’s going to see it that way.” Jake poured a generous portion and set down the bottle. He held the glass up to the light, observing its legs. “Pretty sure he’s going to ream both our asses.”
“I’ll replace it,” Quintus sniffed. “Besides, you’re an Alpha now.”
“That may be true, but number one, I don’t have a pack. Tiny detail, I know.” Jake laughed and crossed to sit on the sofa. “And number two, you don’t know Logan very well. He takes few things seriously but his bourbon is one of them.”
“Maybe he shouldn’t have left it out?” Quintus shrugged, a corner of his mouth tugging upward.
“I’m pretty sure this bottle was put away. Like far away. In the back.”
“It wasn’t locked.”
“Tru dat.” Jake took another sip, enjoying the warm delight burning over his tongue. “It’s smooth, that’s for damn sure.”
“It’s the wheat.”
“No to the rye. Yes to the wheat.” Jake nodded.
“I spent a few years in Kentucky. Had a horse that ran the derby,” Quintus told him.
“Did he win?” Jake asked.
“No. Was going to run him again but he got hurt. Osselets. Couldn’t bear to see the old fellow in pain so I put him to stud.”
“Nice.” Jake studied the contours of Quintus’ face. A handsome man, his youthful face was offset by the darkness in his eyes. Jake found it interesting that the lethal vampire had compassion for an animal. Osselets injuries were common to racing horses, and often trainers would push them after it had healed.
“I know what you’re thinking.” He met Jake’s gaze. “I’m not soft. But beasts? They are innocent of man’s sins. They should be treated with respect.”
“We agree on that.” Jake supported various rescues across the country. Before he’d left California, he’d created a nonprofit ranch that could take on larger animals. “It’s people who are the problem.”
“Let’s just say I’ve put a few of them out of their misery in my lifetime.” Quintus took a sip of his bourbon but kept his eyes on Jake. “I sleep well at night.”
“I bet you do.” Jake laughed.
“How’s Kai?” Quintus asked, changing the subject.
“She’s sleeping.”
“She’s something, isn’t she?”
“Yeah, her beast, the pixiu, I’m not sure what I expected. I mean I saw it in my mind…you know how we do sometimes.”
“I don’t see visions. I don’t have a mate.” Sadness flashed in his eyes but he forced an impassive expression onto his face.
“It’s just…I could see her sometimes. Like a whisper of a vision. But holy shit…” Jake took a deep breath, recalling his fierce mate. “Those wings.”
“Claws. Scales.” Quintus cocked his head, smiling.
“She’s like a cross between a tiger and golden horse…and then those fangs. I imagine she’d tear up.” Jake smiled as he recalled the rush of the moment. She’d been magnificent, dangerous. When she’d shifted, he’d forced himself to remain calm despite the shock that had rolled through his gut at the spectacular sight.
“Without a doubt. She’ll fly, so good luck to the next asshole who tries to outrun her.”
“Hell, she could probably take someone in a car. I guess we’ll find out soon.” Jake laughed. “And that thing she does with the gold? Can materialize like you. Obviously she can’t control that yet.”
“She’ll hone her talents over time,” Quintus predicted. “You’ll guide her. She listens to you.”
“I have to tell ya. This master thing? I don’t really know if that’s the right term.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because she’s my mate. The two times I’ve,” Jake paused, considering his words, “commanded her. It’s no different than how I’d talk to wolves. The Anzober pack. I was with them for a while, and I could do it. Once you establish dominance, it’s natural.”
“And so it is with Kai. Except she’s not wolf.”
“No, not even close. But it doesn’t matter. That’s what I’m saying.”
“Not all masters are wolves,” Quintus stated, his tone filled with regret. “You talk to the pixiu in the manner to which you are accustomed.”
“She’ll become part of my pack.”
“Others may not accept her,” he warned.
“Yeah, well, they can go fuck themselves, because she’s mine. You know it’s taken me a while to come to terms with becoming Alpha, but I know in my heart…Anzober is mine. I think I’ve always known.”
“Ah…Acadian Wolves. You’re close to Logan?” Quintus asked.
“Yeah, but it’s not just Logan. Before Logan, Marcel ran the pack. And his father before him. I was away for a while…joined the Navy, but yeah, the pack was always home.”
“But wolves leave.”
“Yeah, I know. Tristan went to Philadelphia. Hunter’s in Wyoming.”
“So why not California?”
“I don’t know.” Jake shrugged. “My mom and dad? They live in Hawaii now. They’re still considered part of Acadian Wolves but they rarely get involved with pack activities. Just spend most of their time traveling.”
“Siblings?”
“I’ve got a brother.” Jake’s chest tightened at the mention of his only sibling. Julian. He shook his head and took a draw of his whiskey.
“I take it he’s not in New Orleans?”
“Nah, he’s rogue. Took off about twenty years ago. At first we kept in touch with phone calls here and there, but then just kind of lost contact. At the time, I was so fucking pissed. Like how could he just leave Mom and Dad? It didn’t make sense. Rogue wolves…they’re not that common. Haven’t seen it happen very often in my lifetime. My parents seemed to take it pretty well, but I couldn’t forgive him.”
“And now?”
“Now?” Jake gazed into his now empty glass and blew out a breath. “I guess I’m wondering if maybe he’s an Alpha like me. Like maybe he chose not to go after a pack. He was close to Marcel. So fightin’ him wouldn’t have been an option.”
“Is that when you joined the Navy?”
“Yeah, I just needed to get away from everyone. My parents seemed to be A-Okay with it. Same with Marcel. When Jules left? I don’t know. None of it made sense at the time. It’s one thing to decide to move like Tristan did. It’s a whole other ball game to pack up and hit the road with no forwarding address. That right there is some bullshit.” Jake sighed and shoved to his feet. He went to the bar and grabbed the bottle, returning to fill both their glasses. “When all that shit first went down in San Diego, I didn’t want to go. But then once I got there, when I got to the beach, I was like, ‘I could live here’. I love the beach, man.”
“The sunsets,” Quintus mused.
“Oh yeah.” He sighed. “I even took surfing lessons.”
“Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.” Quintus smiled.
“It was sick. Loved it.”
“So why come back?”
“New Orleans. This is home. Or was. Maybe I’ll be making a new home. With Kai.”
“You can always visit, my friend. But you have to chase destiny.” Quintus stretched his neck and took a quick sip of the amber liquid. “Don’t take this the wrong way because neither of us truly knows what’s happened to the other Alpha, but maybe the pack identified you as their true leader. Even though you put him in that role, the wolves didn’t want him. And so things fell apart when you left.”
“Well, fuck. Thank you, Quint.” Jake coughed, giving a roll of his eyes. He’d been racked with guilt since leaving San Diego, but had justified his actions, telling himself he’d taken care of the pack.
“You’re very welcome.” Quintus nodded, raising his eyebrows.
“It’s not that the thought hadn’t crossed my mind, but you need to understand that when I left, all was good. I never got the feeling it would all go to shit. But I guess there was part of me that knew better. The pack was fragile. But then there was a bigger part that wanted to get the hell home, and it’s that part that won out.”
“You’ll fix things.”
“I will. It’s why we need to get in and out of San Fran. Then I’ve got to get my ass to San Diego.”
“Ah…but Kai.”
“Listen Quint…” Jake paused, struggling to articulate his thoughts. “It’s just that…what happened…”
“You saved my life.”
“I wouldn’t go that far. You were still alive. We helped you along,” Jake said. The explanation almost sounded believable.
“No, the poison would have killed me eventually. I know you didn’t have time to get me a donor. I wouldn’t have lasted more than a few hours,” he argued.
“You’re good now.”
“Thank you…for everything.” Quintus’ eyes locked on Jake’s in silent understanding of what they’d done. “Your blood. The rest…I know she’s your mate.”
“I can sense everything about her.” Her desires. Her fantasies. “She hasn’t been with any other supernaturals. I’m her first. And you…”
“We are an unlikely trio.” Quintus gave a small smile.
“Yeah, I guess we are. I will push her as far as I can, but Quint…you need to know she’s mine.”
“I understand more than you know. I’m honored to have you as an ally. A friend.” Quintus closed his eyes in thought then opened them, his gaze settling on the dark sky. “Kasdeya is formidable.”
“We’ll kill her. Kill it,” Jake stated, his voice laden with anger. Things had come to a head. Not only had she stolen Kai’s sister, the demon bitch had killed children.
“This will not be easy. She has lived many years. This recent development…”
“A triad Goddess…a demon. I know. But Quint, I’m gonna tell you right now. If I learned anything being a SEAL it’s that when things get dark, like really fucking dark, you’ve got to calm your shit. You stand up to the enemy even when you’re pretty damn sure it could kill you. You learn that shit pretty early on when you’re swimming in the Pacific at night. Sharks don’t care if you’re immortal.”
“I’ve lived a long time and I haven’t attempted to kill her yet. It’s not that I thought I couldn’t but it would be assumed I’d take over her territory. No offense to the west coast, but I’m a New Yorker now. It suits me. All that being said, she’s no longer a pure vampire…not one who simply dabbles in the occult. She’ll be hard to kill.”
“There’s a difference between playing with dark magick and being a demon. Even if we manage to break apart the triad, she’s going to be hell bent on killing us all. She was already strong before this shit went down. And Quint? Holy hell. She killed those kids. I’ve seen a lot of shit in my lifetime. War-torn areas where these kids are tortured. The girls are raped and sold as slaves. The boys are forced to be child soldiers. People can claim assholes like that are human, but they’re every bit the monster Kasdeya is. She may be some sort of special demon but evil is everywhere. And I’m tellin’ you right now, it can be destroyed.”
“We need to find out more about this Kris. What it does.”
“It was supposed to protect Kai, but I don’t think in the way we thought it would.” Jake recalled the bizarre interaction with Ilsbeth. “I thought it was to hide Kai’s abilities, to mimic the original spell, but I don’t think that’s the case now. I can tell you this. If that bitch Ilsbeth suggested we get the Kris, it probably was for a good reason, but I’m guessing she has an alternative motive. I can’t say what exactly but I’m telling you, she always has an angle.”
“I’d tend to agree, but she was quite different when we saw her. I’m not saying she’s not capable of faking it, because she’s as devious as they come, but I don’t know…at the time, I didn’t sense duplicity.”
“If she wants the Kris after we kill Kasdeya, we find Shilan, and Kai is safe with me, then by all means witchy woman is welcome to it. But until then, I better not see her spiny ass anywhere near us.”
“So then…the Kris? It has markings on it. We should take a look at it before we get there.”
“Yeah, I’ve thought about this. If Kai is somehow hidden by our mating and doesn’t need the Kris for that, then maybe it’s supposed to protect her some other way. But I don’t think it’s as simple as stabbing Kasdeya with it. Something else…I don’t know.” Jake sensed Kai as soon as she’d woken, going on alert as she opened the door.
“We need my book,” she told them.
The Alpha’s heart tightened as she moved into the room, the bottom of her ass peeking through the hem of the t-shirt. His world stopped as her smile brightened the room and his lips turned upward at the sight of her. Mate. Mine. His magical creature had captivated him, and he inwardly laughed at how quickly he was falling for her.
Jake reached for Kai, tugging her onto his lap, and pressed his lips to her cheek. His cock stirred as she shifted onto his thick length. She giggled in response, and he smiled knowing she could sense his arousal. Quintus coughed, bringing his focus back to their dilemma.
“Hey. Maybe we ought to focus on what we’re going to do next before the wheels hit the ground? Or,” Quintus shrugged, sipping his drink, “I could watch you two fuck again.”
“What do you think, sweetheart? Strategize or fuck?” Jake joked.
“Hmm…definitely fuck.” Kai winked at her Alpha and smiled at Quintus.
“See there. My mate is a smart woman.”
“I’m a horny woman. But,” Kai put her hand in his, giving it a squeeze. “I suppose I’d like to live. So yeah…maybe back to planning.”
“The Kris,” Quintus said.
“Kasdeya’s demons or whatever the hell they are…the ghosts…they weren’t afraid of it,” Jake added.
“Maybe they weren’t allowed to touch it,” Kai guessed. “They aren’t beings per se. They’re ghosts, reporting to Kasdeya.”
“But they’re sure as hell capable of attacking,” Jake said, recalling how they’d shot poisoned speared light.
“True,” Quintus agreed. “My guess is they can’t physically take an object with them.”
“Something about this isn’t right. I thought when we got the Kris I’d be magically protected, that other supernaturals couldn’t see me, sense me. But when we were in the Serpent’s Breath, it felt different,” Kai said.
“I’m pretty sure that us finding each other, us being mates. It’s changing things. But Ilsbeth? Samantha? Witches never tell you something for no reason. I texted Samantha and Luca before we left, trying to see if she knew anything. Haven’t heard back.”
“It’s possible Samantha doesn’t know. This information comes from the high priestess,” Quintus said.
“Former high priestess,” Jake corrected.
“I think we can all agree that no matter whether she remembers or not, Ilsbeth still holds power. I think I’d know if it was all an act, but it matters little. Her magick lies dormant but exists deep inside her. She wanted this Kris to be discovered.”
“It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if she knew about Dominique. Her kids being murdered,” Jake said. “If there’s one thing I know about that bitch, it’s this…she’s manipulative. Powerful. If she wanted Kasdeya dead and could do it herself, it would already be done and done. Nope. This screams of a set up.”
“I hate to say it but I agree with you. Her memories are entirely different but deep within her psyche, her magick remains,” Quintus agreed.
“So what are you saying? She somehow duped us into going to get this athame from the vampire because she couldn’t get it?” Kai asked.
“Maybe she didn’t know where it was?” Quintus suggested.
“Maybe Kai’s presence…something about her jarred the memory, the desire to get the Kris. But there’s no way Ilsbeth is going to ask for it because she’s a different person, or at least that’s what she’s playin’ at.”
“I think we need the book. There might be something in it. We can go to the Elders. They might be able to help us. They will sense me as soon as we land,” Kai told them.
“Yes to both,” Jake agreed. “For whatever reason, San Francisco has no pack, and I’m guessin’ that’s because Kasdeya is a freak tri-breed.”
“If she’s part wolf, she’s running some kind of magick to keep them out of her city. She’s got a stronghold on the territory,” Quintus said.
“The Elders. They’re tightlipped with outsiders, but we’ll need their help to find Kasdeya.” Kai shifted on Jake’s lap but made no move to stand.
“She may attempt to ambush us. Do we have anywhere safe besides this plane? Because we’re going to land there in the morning, and we’ll need a place to crash until tomorrow night.”
“I’ve booked us a suite at a secure hotel in the Financial District. After we see Kasdeya, we hop the jet to San Diego.” There was no way he was staying any longer than necessary. He had to get to his pack as soon as possible.
“Who runs it?” Quintus asked.
“It’s independently owned,” Jake replied.
“I didn’t think any wolves were in the city.”
“It’s not run by a wolf. A human owns it.”
“Interesting.” Quintus raised his eyebrows. “A human, huh? Navy Seal?”
“No. She’s…”Jake began.
“Ah…a she?”
Kai’s eyes drifted out the window, her jealousy spearing through her. Jake sensed it immediately, and he carefully chose his words. “She’s just a friend.”
“I see.” Quintus smiled.
“She’s a friend,” Jake insisted.
Cassandra Evans. He’d met her on a whale watching trip. After they’d celebrated a sighting of an enormous blue mammal, they’d had dinner. Over a long weekend, they’d laughed and watched sunsets, made love only once. She’d just come out of a serious relationship and hadn’t been interested in dating. Jake had been relieved, aware that there was no future with a human. He’d texted her before they’d gone to Bourbon Street, making arrangements. Although she wasn’t supernatural, she was close with several witches, and kept her hotel well warded.
“Yeah, I got that part,” Quintus said; his voice carried a hint of suspicion. “Where are we staying?”
“C Towers. She’s the owner.”
“Why would we stay with a human? We’re safer on the plane,” Kai challenged.
“She knows people. It’s warded. It’s only for a night.” Jake ran a comforting hand down her back, attempting to calm her. His palm rested on her hip, noting that he no longer sensed her. Jake eyed her in surprise. Knowingly or otherwise, she’d sealed him away from her emotions. “Cass will make sure we’ve got clothes. Weapons.”
“What could she possibly know about vampires? There’s very little that can protect you against Kasdeya. Don’t you think if it was that easy, we could just defeat her?” Kai said, her voice terse. She pressed onto her feet and walked to the bar. “I need a drink.”
“Normally I’d agree with you. But the fact of the matter is that if she’s surrounded by her sired children, other vampires, you’d have a chance against them. Given she’s part demon, you don’t know what other surprise guest she may have waiting for us,” Jake responded.
“I’ve met Kasdeya. She’s seductive. Lethal.” Kai laughed and poured herself a bourbon. She downed it, exhaled loudly and poured another. “Before you even have a chance to take the stake out of your pocket, she’ll have it deep inside your chest.”
“The reality is that all we have is a Kris that may or may not help us. And the hope that that book of yours will tell us something. And the thing is Kai, Kasdeya may be a demon goddess, but I don’t care. I’ve been waiting for years to kill her,” Quintus seethed.
“Don’t underestimate him, Kai,” Jake warned.
“No offense, Quintus, but Kasdeya wasn’t even here, and her demons took you down,” Kai argued.
“True, but they caught us off guard back there. We were so worried about the Kris, we hardly had time to react. This time we take her head on. She will need all her energy, won’t be able to divest herself into phantoms.”
“How can you be so sure?” Kai shook her head and swigged back another shot.
“I’ve also met Kasdeya. And you’re right. She’s seductive, but the very human side of her remains her greatest weakness. She wants to be assured she is the most beautiful vampire, the most desired.”
“So what are you saying? She just wants to be loved?” Kai shook her head.
“She’ll say what you want to hear. Man or woman, she promises to please. She knows your greatest desire. She uses it to get what she wants.” Quintus paused and locked his eyes on hers. “Like she did to you, Kai. She knows you want your sister. She senses your despair and feeds off it.”
“That’s what demons do,” Jake agreed. “You must clear your thoughts. Shove your fears and fantasies to the furthest parts of your mind. Be a clean slate, so she can’t use it.”
“Even a hint and she’ll weave her dark magick. She drank of your blood, would have killed you if you hadn’t escaped. This is evil.” Quintus’ lips tensed in a tight line.
“We need to figure out how to use the Kris. If we can get our hands on that book, maybe we’ll find answers,” Jake said.
“I’ve been thinking about this. I took the book to San Francisco.” Kai rubbed her forehead then pinched the bridge of her nose. “I know I left it in the hotel room. I’d stayed at a place down in Chinatown because I went to see the Elders first.”
“The maid could have stolen it…thrown it out. We might never find it,” Quintus said.
“No, no, no. The Lily is a very honest hotel. The owners knew my parents. It’s possible they have it. But first we should see the Elders.”
“Tell us a little more about the Elders.” Jake studied Kai. Her body language told him she was still angry about Cassandra. She crossed the cabin to sit in a lone captain’s chair, avoiding physical contact.
Kai sighed and ran the pad of her finger in circles along the rim of her glass. “I can’t say exactly. I’ve only seen them twice in my lifetime. Once when I first went into hiding and then again when I was looking for Kasdeya. Each time, I spoke to two different men, but the myths say there are nine. Nine symbolizes wisdom. They rarely see others, and in my case…they wore masks. I cannot tell their voices apart. They could be the ferry boat captain, a lawyer or simply a mystical creature unto their own. There is no way to tell who they are and that is the point. They wield magick but I’m not privy to the extent of their powers. It’s all very secretive.”
“The last time you saw them, what did they do? I can’t imagine anyone would be happy about you seeing Kasdeya,” Jake surmised.
“No, no they weren’t.” Kai’s gaze dropped, staring into the golden liquid. “They only agreed because of Shilan. They know all we have sacrificed. I had to find her.”
“And how do we find them?” Quintus asked.
“The first time, so very long ago, they brought me to them while I slept and I saw them as a dream. But this last time…when I was looking for Shilan, I concentrated. Meditated. I’m brought to them.”
“You materialized?” Jake asked.
“Yes, but they brought me to them. That was the first time I’ve done that. The second was when I escaped Kasdeya. And the third…”
“Sneaky little pixiu,” Quintus said. The corner of his lip crept upward.
“I can’t do it on the fly like you do, but I imagine with practice…” Kai shrugged. “I guess now that I have Jake, now I’m somewhat disguised with him, I could practice. If we get in trouble with Kasdeya, I’m not sure I could do it again. Same with shifting…it just happened.”
“You were amazing,” Jake stated, pride in his voice.
“It’s true. You’re magnificent.”
“What…what did I look like?” Kai nervously bit her lip and crossed her legs.
“You were…” Jake glanced at Quintus and back to his mate. “Golden. You had wings, fangs. I imagine your bite is deadly.”
“If you go for the throat? Most definitely.” The vampire nodded.
“Sweetheart, I know you’re a little scared, and I’m not sure how much you’re remembering just yet. I know when I first shifted, it was all a little fuzzy. Sure I was feeling good, running all around but the rest of it…my interaction with the pack, my Alpha. It took a few times to get used to it.”
“The little girl said I would fly.” She looked sheepishly at Jake. “When you spoke, I wanted to resist. Like that time with Jonathon. I wanted to kill him…but I couldn’t. It was you.”
“I know this master business is unsettling. To think someone else owns you. But I was just telling Quintus that when I’ve commanded you, it is as if you’re wolf. I don’t know what it’s like for others, but I think because I’m Alpha, you’re like pack.”
“I don’t know, Jake. I’d like to believe that but I’ve been a…”
“Alone. I get it. You say that all the time, but no matter how all this plays out, you’re not alone anymore. You’ve got me. You’ve got Quint.” Soon you’ll have an entire pack behind you. Jake wasn’t sure how the other wolves would accept her or how she’d accept them. As his mate, she’d have to move from Wyoming. It was too soon to talk about the details, so he opted to leave the future out of the conversation. “And as far as Kasdeya is concerned, I’m bettin’ you’ll give that bitch a run for her money. Those demon assholes didn’t take too kindly to you.”
“She knows you are a threat,” Quintus stated.
“My guess is she took Shilan to smoke you out. You know how it is with us supernaturals. We may be a few hundred years old but this is a long game. Hell, Alphas have a history of waiting it out for a battle when territory is involved.”
“We need the book,” she said. “I should have read it. I skimmed it a few times as a teenager but it was scary shit. And when you don’t have your parents…all I wanted to do was hide.”
“This isn’t your fault, Kai.” Jake’s expression softened.
“No. That’s the thing,” she interrupted. She shook her head, her lips pursed. “It is my fault. I am the pixiu. I chose to hide. I chose to isolate us. Shilan? She just wanted for once in a fucking hundred years to go somewhere, somewhere else besides Wyoming. So she went somewhere that brought her comfort. She went to the only other place she called home. She’d kept in touch with childhood friends who were supernatural. But she never got to see any of them because something that wants me took her. No, this? What’s happening here is nothing but my fault.”
“If there is one thing I know sweetheart, our destiny is exactly what it is. It doesn’t mean you’re responsible. Look at me. I didn’t choose to be wolf. I didn’t choose to be Alpha. I’m going to leave my home and it’s no one’s fault. It’s just life.” Jake pressed to his feet and went to her. As he approached, her eyes glistened with the tears that threatened to fall. Jake knelt before her, gently cupping her cheek with his hand. She leaned into him and his heart ached. “You see Quintus over there?”
Kai gave a subtle nod, her eyes darting to the vampire.
“We’ve all got a history. Quint has his. It’s not like he asked to be a vampire. He went through hell with his sire. It’s not about deserving or not deserving. He didn’t cause it to happen. It was just meant to be. And you,” Jake gave a small smile as she gazed into his eyes, “this isn’t your fault either. You’re a very special creature. You’re meant to be in this world, and I’m sure your sister would agree that this is not your fault. It’s not hers either. I know you’ve been sequestered out there in Yellowstone, but the fact is that there is evil in all corners of this great blue planet. Maybe it was meant to be that it’s us who deal with Kasdeya?”
“What do you mean?”
“This bitch has been torturing people for centuries. Maybe this is how it’s all supposed to go down. You. Me. Quint. Together we are stronger. We’re the ones who will destroy her, make some room in this universe for something positive.”
“He’s correct,” Quintus agreed. “I know it’s harsh. As for your sister? I’m certain she’s alive. They will keep her to get to you. Or maybe the Kris?”
“Do you think Ilsbeth is somehow tied to Kasdeya?” Kai asked.
“It’s hard to say. I was there that day when Jax went after Mick. That demon…it’s sealed away. But Ilsbeth, when I found her in the woods…there’s no explanation for her condition. It’s my guess that Mick did it to her, that he fucked with her head, maybe somehow used the demon to destroy her spirit. It’s not unreasonable that he used the demon’s dark magick on her,” Jake theorized.
“It’s even possible that there’s a remnant of dark magick inside her. The demon itself could have hitched a ride and is lying dormant. These demons, they feed off each other,” Quintus told them. “Maybe one of them promised the other one something very special. A certain Kris. A certain pixiu. And to be perfectly honest, and I don’t want to scare you, Kai, you’ve already said that you don’t know what powers your sister harbors. She might not be like you but she could be something equally desirable to them. We just don’t know yet.” Quintus sighed and closed his eyes, resting his head on the back of his seat.
“If Shilan isn’t in San Francisco, I will find her, but Kasdeya? I’m going to kill her myself. She’s a dead woman.”
“That’s a girl. Get mad. Because you’re going to need that rage to transform.” Jake pressed to his feet and took her hand in his, helping her to stand. He wrapped his arms around his mate, once again sensing her emotions as her walls fell. “We’ve got this, Kai. We’ll find your sister, and send that demon bitch back to hell where she belongs.”
Jake closed his eyes and focused, pouring his calming energy into his mate. In the deep recesses of his mind, he hid his apprehensions. Although Quintus was surely lethal, her spectra had successfully attacked the vampire. They needed to get their hands on Kai’s book. He prayed it had a clue as to the significance of the Kris and how to defeat Kasdeya.
Jake held Kai’s hand as they ascended in the high speed elevator. He’d been thankful Cassandra hadn’t been at the front desk to greet them. Kai hadn’t marked him yet, and he suspected her primal instincts would surge. Having already shifted once in New Orleans, her beast would demand its mate. And although Cassandra was human, Kai classed her as a threat.
As the elevator doors opened to the penthouse suite, he breathed a sigh of relief. Tonight they’d go to the Elders. He’d been tempted to go during daylight, but Quintus would not be at full strength, and he couldn’t be sure if Kai needed to draw on the power of the moon to shift. While most shifters could transform any time, day or night, juvenile wolves often had difficulty doing so without a lunar influence.
Sunlight poured into the ultra-modern suite. Its stark white design gave a clean but sterile appearance to the trendy room. Through the wall of floor-to-ceiling windows he could see the sparkling bay in the distance. Spying a remote control on a glass end table, he pecked away at the keys. Room darkening shades automatically dispensed from above, blocking all the sunlight. This was exactly why he’d chosen Cassandra’s hotel. In addition to having wards, she had amenities that suited supernaturals well.
“How about I order us some food? I’m starving.” Jake turned to Kai who glided her fingertips over the crimson crushed velvet sofa. “You hungry?”
“Hmm?” she asked.
“Do you want something to eat? I know we ate dinner last night but…do you want breakfast?”
“Yeah, yeah. Pancakes?” she replied, her focus drawn to a large wall mural depicting angels. “I…maybe something else?”
“I’ll get steak and eggs too.” Jake addressed Quintus who was rummaging through several silver paper shopping bags.
“Your girl likes Nordstrom?” Quintus smiled.
“She’s not my girl. And yeah, everyone likes Nordstrom. You want something to eat?”
“Dim sum. Your friend.” Quintus drew out the word several seconds longer than needed, annoying Jake. “Does she have donors in the building? I want to make sure I’m fueled up for later.”
“I think they’ve got you covered.” Jake crossed the room to a glass desk and slid open the drawer, retrieving a hotel book. He flipped open the pages and gave a chuckle at the bottle list, blood available from different regions of the world as if he were reading a wine menu. At the very bottom, he spied an item simply labeled donor. “Yeah, you’re good. I’ll order you one. I assume you want a woman, yeah?”
“Either sex will do. I’m still buzzing from both of you. This’ll serve to top me off, if you will.” Quintus laughed and walked out of the room.
“I want to take a shower,” Kai stated, her voice soft. “I hate this.”
“You okay?” Jake couldn’t help but wonder if she were talking about the situation or the fact they were staying in Cassandra’s hotel.
“I’m fine.” Kai brushed past him, going to the shopping bags. “Did your friend get me anything to wear or am I going to have to go out?”
“Listen, Kai.” Fucking hell. Neither one of them had known each other three days ago, and now her instinct to mate was driving her jealousy through the roof. “Cassandra. Cass. She’s just a friend.”
“Just a friend,” she mimicked. “I get it. I know what the word friend means to a guy. I may not have dated supernaturals but I dated plenty of humans. Players. A girl in every city. I just met you. You don’t owe me any explanations.”
“It’s not that simple and you know it. This thing between us…it’s intense. I haven’t even been able to talk about it with Logan or Jax.”
“Why would you have to tell them?”
“Because, shit…don’t you think this is hard on me? You wear my mark, and all I’m starting to think about is how I want to complete the mating with you. It makes no fucking sense except I respect you, my wolf recognizes your beast.”
“That’s it? Really? Because this is going to be the shortest fucking mating ever. I mean maybe we need to reconsider this.”
“There’s no reconsidering,” he lied. A few wolves had denied their mates but it never ended well. Mother Nature was a force, and rejecting her had consequences. “This thing you’re feeling right now. It’s just your beast…she’s protective of me. Think about this. Be rational.” Nice Jake. Way to go. As soon as the words left his mouth, he regretted them. Above all else, he knew how to talk to a woman and using any form of the word rational was a big fucking mistake.
“Go fuck yourself.” Kai reached for a bag with her name printed boldly on a heart label. “Ugh. Really?”
“I know you hate it, but sweetheart…”
“No, don’t you even sweetheart me. We are in this…this hotel…owned by a girlfriend of yours. Everywhere I go there is some girl you fucked giving me clothes. How I could let myself believe that we were meant to be…that somehow I have a mate…I’m an idiot,” she huffed, sliding her fingers into the handle and clutching the bag to her chest.
“I’m telling you. Cass and I are just friends. Did I have sex with her once? Yeah, but it was literally just once. She means absolutely nothing to me.”
“Like us?” Kai raised an angry eyebrow at him, her gaze locked on his.
“We’re mates, Kai. Cass is human. We had a few laughs and that’s it.” Jake shook his head, and blew out a breath. He was tired and hungry, losing patience. “You and I both have a past. What’s going on is related to our mating. Cassandra isn’t even here right now. It’s just us. You’re my mate.”
“I’m sorry, Jake,” she whispered, screwing her lids closed, her lips pressed tight together. She lifted her gaze to meet his. “I just…I don’t know. I’m not used to thinking of myself as a shifter. I’m not like you. I’m a loner. Everything that’s going on between us. You’re…you’re incredible, but I’m not used to this. My beast…she doesn’t like this. I can’t control her. I hate what’s happening.”
“Kai. From now on in, it’s just you and me, you get that, right? There are no others unless we choose. Even though I shared you with Quint, I’m only going to allow that so we can explore your fantasies. But I can tell you right now that I will never be with another woman again…not ever.” Jake set down the book and closed the distance between them. He gently cupped her cheeks with his palms, his eyes locked on hers. “I’m your lover. Your mate. Yours only. I’m your Alpha. Yes?”
“Yes.” Kai’s lips trembled as she spoke. “I never thought this could happen. That I’d feel this way about a man. For over a hundred years, I avoided supernaturals, never indulging in the thought I’d find a partner. I could never have that with a human. I didn’t want to fall in love and watch them die. I’d have no right. And so…this…this thing between us. It’s so intense. And…you…you make me feel good. I don’t want to lose this. I don’t want to wake up and have someone tell me it’s all a joke.”
“This isn’t a joke, Kai. I’m yours. You need to take me, mark me. As much as I want to mate with you, and believe me I do, I want you to be ready. I’m a wolf. This is something we’re never really expecting but we know it’s a possibility. But I get you need time to process this whole thing.”
As Kai nodded, Jake leaned into her, his lips brushing hers. She tasted of honey, her soft mouth responding to his. As he deepened the kiss, she relaxed into his embrace. His cock lengthened, his delicious mate once again in his arms. The crinkling of the paper bag crushed between their bodies broke the silence.
“Hmm.” He tore his lips from hers, taking a deep breath. “Jesus, do you know how bad I want to go eat you right now and skip this whole breakfast thing?”
“Sounds tempting.” She laughed.
“How about you take a shower and I’ll join you as soon as I’m finished ordering the food. We have time for a quickie before they deliver, and then I’m going to make love to you for a few hours after we eat.”
“We should get some sleep maybe?” she asked with a sexy smile.
“No rest for the wicked. Besides, we have all day to sleep.” Jake kissed her one last time and released her.
“I’ll be waiting,” she told him, slowly backing away. “Hurry.”
“I’ll be there in just a minute.” As Kai turned and disappeared from his sight, he licked his lips, the taste of his mate fresh in his mind.
Jake picked up the phone and dialed room service, firing off their order. As he set down the phone into its cradle, he sighed. As much as he wanted to stay up all day making love, Kai was right. They needed to get as much rest as possible, conserve their energy. They’d have to be at the top of their game to defeat Kasdeya.
Jake turned and was walking to the bedroom, when the doorbell rang. “What the hell? There’s no way that could be ready.”
He reached for the door handle, and stopped cold, cautious of the delivery. Pressing his eye to the hole, he spied into the hallway, catching a glimpse of familiar blonde hair. As he swung open the door, the woman gave him a broad smile, launching herself into his arms. She smelled as he’d always remembered, yet no longer did his chest beat with passion for the gorgeous adventurous woman he’d met in San Diego. As he released her he grinned, happy to see his friend. Cassandra Evans.