Chapter 16 Darkness

Keir nodded towards Damien who was a good fifty feet ahead of them. “Asshole’s a Tracker and a Visionary from a bonded line. Meaning his parents joined together because of their abilities. Children born from bonded parents carry both senses.”

“So pissbrain is useful? Great. You think he can track these vampires?” Not that she wanted to ever see one again, but if it meant their friend was saved and the vampires stopped chasing her, then yeah she hoped Damien was good at tracking.

“One of the best. Delara is a Tracker too. She and Waleron are searching above ground for any signs of a lair.” Keir helped her through an opening in a wall that looked like it was blown out with explosives. Black smoke stained the cement and the air was stale and still on the other side. Keir’s light bounced over the walls as he bent and climbed through after her.

“You going to tell me what’s between those two?” She was fascinated by Delara, the woman seemed tough as if she could kick ass, yet in her eyes there was haunted pain. Something tragic had happened to that woman.

She held Keir’s arm, taking small steps in the darkness. The flashlights were offering minimal light in the pitch dark.

“Babe, stay right behind me.” Keir slowed up as Damien stopped up ahead. He put his finger to her lips and shook his head. “You need to talk, use your thoughts.”

“Vamps were here hours ago. Humans too. Five or six women. No Balen.” Damien’s voice leaked into her mind. “We need to move fast. Can the chick do this? Or is she going to hold us up?”

“Guess I should add chauvinist to the list of your redeeming qualities.”

“Baby.” Keir’s hand rose and he caressed the side of her face with his knuckles. “You spoke telepathically.”

Shit, she did. It just came out. She didn’t even think about it.

Keir’s voice was harsher and he spoke to Damien. “Insult her again asshole and we’re having words.”

“Fine, but we run into shit down here, she’s your responsibility.” Damien took off through the tunnel.

“We run hard and fast. No noise. Got me?”

She nodded.

“Vamps were here meaning we could run across their lair at any moment. It’s daylight, so they’re weak. Fuckin’ Ryzard is never weak. He’s an ancient meaning the bastard will come after us no matter what time of day. You do exactly as I say without hesitation. Okay?”

“Okay.”

“Baby?”

“Yeah?”

“You speaking to me using your mind is hot. Proud of you.” Her heart did a little jump. Damn this guy made her melt. “Let’s move.”

They ran through the narrow tunnel. Keir had to bend down in order to fit as the ceiling was low. There wasn’t enough room to hold his hand and run beside him, so she concentrated on the back of him, which was a sweet sight and she would’ve appreciated it more if she wasn’t scared shitless. Keir always slowed when there was loose gravel or rubble and warned her to watch her step.

There wasn’t much time to contemplate that she was actually hunting vampires—the very ones that were after her. They caught up to Damien who was stopped at a crawl space.

“They went through there. Can’t tell where it leads, but my guess, an underground tomb.”

Anstice didn’t like the sound of that. Any sentence with tomb sounded like death.

“He means a place where vampires live. Any scent of Balen?”

Damien shook his head.

“Fuck. Okay, this is as far as she goes. We come back in the morning.” Damien huffed then started for the hole. Keir grabbed his arm. “No. We can’t risk losing you. There could be ten vamps waiting for you on the other side. Don’t be stupid.”

Damien jerked his arm away. “Do whatever the hell you want. I’m going in. Not pulling any of Kilter’s yahoo shit, but I want to know if they’re there and I’m doing it now. You want to leave. Leave. I really don’t give a shit.” Damien lifted his leg and crawled up into the hole that was three feet above the ground.

Keir grabbed her hand and started to head in the opposite direction but her feet refused to move and he turned to face her. He lowered the flashlight so it was shining on the ground in a big circle.

“I want to stay.”

“Anstice—”

“No. I need to stay. If Damien gets hurt, not that he’d deserve my help, but if he needed…well you know healing then…well you said I could heal him. That my hands could do that like the woman in the dream.”

“Yeah, they can.”

“Well then if he gets hurt what if we’re gone? What if he finds your friend…”

“Balen.”

“Yeah. Then won’t he need healing?”

He nodded.

“I want to do this. My nerves are having a haywire party but I…Keir when you showed me what that woman did for the little girl. I felt it in me. I’ve known all my life I’m different, but I’ve never been able to pin point what it was until now. This feels right.”

Keir tugged her into his arms, the light now beaming onto the far right as he encased her within his embrace. He lowered his head and she felt the familiar tingles shifting through her body. He nuzzled her neck then trailed kisses down her throat, his breath warm against her skin. She closed her eyes and tilted her head back. The roughness of his stubble rubbed against her, a shiver raced through her body.

“Baby. Jesus.” His mouth moved up her throat to her chin where he suckled for a few seconds sending her stomach into an eruption of roller coaster ride heaven.

“Keir,” she whispered.

“Fuck.” Keir shoved her aside. “Down. Now.”

She lay on the ground as the sound of running feet came towards them. Keir turned off the flashlight and she was immersed in complete darkness.

“Keir?”

“Vamps. Five of them and one human. They know we’re here. Crawl to the hole where Damien went through.”

“I can’t see. I don’t know where it is.”

“Anstice. Breathe baby. You’ve got to stay calm. Use your senses. No sight—then use your touch. Find it, love. You need to get there now.”

She began crawling across the ground, her hands out on either side of her, feeling for which way to go. The footsteps were getting closer and there was a loud hiss and a scream. A girl’s scream. Oh god, they had a girl with them and by the sounds of it she didn’t want to be there.

Suddenly she felt a hand grab her arm and another went over her mouth.

“It’s me.”

Damien. Oh God. She thought she could handle this, but it felt like she was going to break down into a sobbing terrified mess. Keir and Damien didn’t need her to fall apart. Not now. Keep it together, Anstice. He lifted her up and placed her feet first in the hole he’d been in. “Stay there.”

A loud screech wrenched into the air and Anstice put her fist into her mouth to keep from screaming. She heard dirt shuffling beneath lots of feet. Grunts and groans. The smack of body parts hitting one another. She never thought she’d hear a fight play out without seeing it, but it was just as vivid. She heard a knife tear through skin and the crunch of bone. There was a suction sound as it was pulled out then a wail of pain. Loud smacks of fists, bodies banging into the cement walls.

It went on for what seemed like hours, but in the darkness was probably only minutes. Never once did she hear Damien or Keir. She guessed they were speaking to one another telepathically.

A light flashed and Anstice finally let the tears of relief slip from the lids of her eyes when she saw Keir standing in front of her. He held out his hand.

Anstice climbed from the hole and leapt into his arms. Oh God, he was okay. He wasn’t hurt.

“Baby?” He pealed her back from his arms. “Loving that you’re glad I’m okay, but we need to move. Fast.”

Damien was already running back the way they came.

“You good?” He kissed the top of her head.

“Keir. The girl? What happened to the girl?”

She wished she hadn’t asked. The pained look in his eyes was her answer. “Keep your eyes on me. Don’t look down.”

She knew why—bodies. He didn’t want her to see the bodies. She wasn’t certain what happened to vampires after they were killed, but she sure as hell didn’t want to see anyone dead, vampire or not.

He guided her carefully through the tunnel keeping the light shining upwards to the ceiling. After a few minutes he squeezed her hand. “You good, baby?”

“Yeah.”

“We need to run.”

“Okay.”

“Anstice.” He stopped. Turned and pulled her into his arms, his hand curling around the nape of her neck. “Never letting you go. You need to know that now cause fuck babe, you willing to stay and heal Damien—damn that was sweet. Better than sweet. It made me so fuckin’ hot for you. We on the same page here, love?”

She nodded. Completely speechless. Never had a guy made her want to leap in his arms, wrap her legs around his waist and devour him. Keir did that. He made her forget any reservations she ever had. He made her feel alive.

“You going to answer me?”

“Yeah.” She reached up putting her hands on either side of his head then pulled him roughly towards her and kissed him. It was one of those two seconds possessive kisses, one that left nothing to be questioned. When she broke away, she noticed the tiny pull at the corner of his lips.

“That’s what I thought,” Keir said.

She smiled when she heard his light chuckle.

Then they ran.

Chapter 15 Subway

 

“You want me to ride that?”

Keir swung his leg over the fire engine red bike. “Ducati Streetfighter. It’s a privilege to ride.”

Anstice peered at the small seat behind Keir. Her ass could barely fit on that thing and her ass wasn’t that big.

Keir’s hand suddenly shot behind her and squeezed her butt. “It’s a great ass, babe. Lots to hold onto. Like it a lot.”

She smacked his hand away then crossed her arms and cocked her hip while shaking her head at the bike. “No. That’s way out of my comfort zone. Like way out. A bike like those guys ride where their legs stick forward…you know, they just cruise down the road looking all relaxed—I can do that. You have one of those?”

Keir started the bike and Anstice jumped back. “No, babe. Don’t have one of those. On the bike.” He held out a helmet.

She stepped back. “We can use my car. You know, four wheels a roof, seat belts and the ever essential air bags.”

“You done?”

“No.”

Keir shook his head and rolled his eyes.

“And I heard that bikes like this are—”

“You’re done.” He tagged her arm and pulled her close then shoved the helmet on her head.

“Keir really…” She closed her mouth as his fingers came under her chin and gently did up the strap. Ever so slowly he ran his finger across her lower lip and she forgot what she was going to sputter.

Butterflies released. Damn he looked hot sitting astride a bike with a snug t-shirt showing off his muscles and tats. Ducati should be paying him to ride their bike. Drool worthy.

“You done staring?”

Shit. She felt the heat rise in her cheeks. She was probably the color of his bike right about now. Get on the bike, Anstice. She swung her leg over then felt his hand on her calf. He slid it slowly down until he gripped the bare skin on her ankle.

“Don’t take your feet off this.” He placed her foot on some small ledge of something and she found the one of the other side without his assistance. He turned and snapped the visor down on her helmet. “Keep tight.”

“What?”

“Tight baby. Means close to me. Put your arms around me and don’t let go. Yeah?”

Oh. Sure, yeah. She had to hold onto something and right now she was shaking so bad that if she didn’t, she’d vibrate right off the end of the bike.

“Anstice, yeah?”

She rolled her eyes heavenward. The guy always needed an answer and the funny thing was he could read her thoughts.

Keir shifted slightly so he could lift her visor again. “I’m reading your thought, yes. But that’s going to end when you’ve accepted us completely. I do it now so I can be sure you get what I’m saying or doing. When you know me better and aren’t freakin’ I won’t read your thoughts. It’s personal and I get that. And I want words, babe. Always. I need to know that you get me. Okay?”

She nodded and his brows rose. “Yeah Keir. I get you.”

He gave a sharp nod then pushed her visor down again. He tagged his helmet off the handle bars, slid it over his head then without looking grabbed her hand and pulled it around him.

She got the hint and wrapped both arms around his body. The feel of his abs beneath the palms of her hands catapulted the ache between her legs into overdrive. Something about a vibrating bike, hot badass guy and leaning up against him that managed to take all caution and stomp it into the ground.

He revved the engine and even if she did suddenly change her mind that opportunity was gone. He tapped her hand and then she felt him in her mind.

“Tight.” He took off and luckily she did exactly as he said otherwise she’d be sitting on her ass in the driveway.

Bad boy persona was oozing from every pore in his body as he weaved the bike through traffic. He owned the bike. There wasn’t an instant where she felt him hesitate. It was like they were glued to the road and she was definitely glued to him because there wasn’t a moment that her arms let up on him. She was surprised he could breathe. Even at a red light she kept tight to him and not once did he ask her to let up even though she knew it had to be uncomfortable.

Exhilaration pumped through her body. Playing it safe all her life had just been thrown into the deepest part of the ocean. And she liked it. She found the risk was part of the excitement. Being close to Keir, feeling him handle the bike like it was second nature, the road part of them, the roar of the bike—all of it was hot. And when Keir pulled up into an alley and parked, she was a little disappointed.

She climbed off and Keir swung off after her. He took her hand and tugged her close then undid the strap under her chin and pulled the helmet off. He did the same to his and then cupped the nape of her neck, pulled her in and kissed her.

And it was smokin’ hot.

She instantly melted up against him. His hand tangled in her hair and pulled her head back while his other hand gripped her waist. His fingers went under her shirt and the pads of his fingers caressed her naked skin. Every nerve ending was sparking as his mouth took hers. His tongue swept into her mouth like it belonged there. Lips heated and moist. Their breathing erratic while their hearts pumped madly.

Nothing could have been hotter than riding his bike than him kissing her. Her knees threatened to give way and this time she knew one-hundred percent her panties were soaked.

He groaned as he drew back. “We need to move somewhere hot all year. You on the back of my bike…Jesus I had a hard-on the entire time. Babe, you gift-wrapped round me…it’s like a fuckin’ blazing trail of fire inside me.” He brushed back my hair with the tip of his finger. “We find Damien then we’re going to explore that. You good with that?”

Oh yeah, she was overcooked and well-done ready. “Umm yeah.”

He opened a compartment on the side of the bike, shuffled around then placed something in his back pocket. “Let’s go.” Keir grabbed her hand and tugged her in close then walked down the alley.

She had no idea where they were going except last she heard this guy Damien was in the subway and that’s exactly where they were headed. Except not the usual way, like ride the train, instead Keir led her to the end of the platform then without a second of hesitation he grabbed her under the arms and lowered her over the side. He leapt down after and took her hand.

“Train coming in fifteen seconds. Need to move it.”

Anstice needed no further urging as she ran with him down the dark tunnel. The sound of trains moving fast and the fear of becoming a pancake had her freakin’ take a front seat to all other emotions.

Keir didn’t stop running as his words came into her head. “Never letting anything happen to you. You have to take that in. Let up on the hand, baby.” She did and he gave it a squeeze. “Good girl.”

Oh boy, she liked that too.

They ran a bit further then he stopped. She heard the squeal of breaks in the distance and looked behind them. A light was shining and it was the train stopped at the station. Her heart slammed into her rib cage.

“This way.” He nodded to a door across the tracks.

They leapt over the tracks just as the train behind them began to move again. Keir pushed her in front of him into the alcove where the door was. He turned the handle. It didn’t budge.

The train was coming. Keir was part way out of the alcove. The door was locked. He was going to get hit. Oh god, don’t let him be hit. She pulled his hand around her waist and brought him in closer. She felt his breath on her neck and his heart beating steadily against her back. He wasn’t even nervous. Steady as a rock.

The train’s roar grew closer. She peered down the tunnel to see the glaring light. Clanging sounded on the tracks. The screech of metal against metal.

“Keir!”

He pressed against her, his hand reaching forward to rest on the doorknob. “Unlocking it. Telekinesis and locks take time. One more second.”

She could feel the vibration from the train as it swept towards them. She suddenly spun around and pulled Keir as close as she could, arms wrapping around his waist. When she looked up she noticed his eyes were closed and he was frowning.

She pressed her cheek against his chest. This was it. There was no chance they’d have enough room between the door and the train. Maybe she would, but Keir…no damn it.

A click sounded. In her mind it was so loud it overpowered the sound of the train. Keir shoved open the door and they both burst through. The wind from the force of the train swept across them and the relief came at her like a tidal wave. She took several deep breaths and closed her eyes until Keir slammed the door shut.

“You okay?”

“Am I okay? Keir you were almost squashed by a—”

He nodded once. “You’re okay. Let’s go.”

He pulled out a compact flashlight from his back pocket, flicked it on and the tunnel flooded with light. His hand latched hers and they ran. It was cool, damp and she swore she heard the scurrying of rats. She was okay with rats, as pets, but the huge rats in sewers, well not that she’d ever seen one except in movies, but she just imagined them biting at her ankles with their beady eyes glowing in the darkness.

She heard a snort come from Keir and smiled.

They came across several locked doors and Keir did his telekinesis thing-a-ma-jig. Then ran some more until finally after what felt like miles he stopped.

“Damien.” He chin lifted towards the end of the hallway. “He hates women and lives as a solitary. Meaning, Damien isn’t part of a Talde—a group of Senses. He lives alone in Florida, but stays in Toronto when he’s needed. He is the best vamp hunter among us. That’s why he’s here. He won’t stop until he finds this vamp Ryzard.” Keir rubbed his hand up and down her arm causing goose bumps to rise across her skin. “Don’t take what he says to you personally.”

“Okay.” She could do that. She had to do that. She was meeting this Damien and he sounded like peaches and cream—with razor blades.

Keir’s eyes watched her for several seconds before he nodded then led her down the hall into what looked like an electrical room. There were grey panels everywhere and flashing buttons and wires.

Then she noticed Damien. She assumed it was Damien because he looked scary as hell. He wore a scowl with dark brows lowered over his piercing walnut eyes. Strong cut jaw with beveled cheekbones, European maybe and yeah he was hot—a frightening-hot though. Meaning he was the type of guy you’d look at for a second before he caught you looking then you’d dream about his hotness. But a frightening-hot guy you’d never approach. And in her opinion he didn’t even come close to Keir’s hot meter. He was almost as tall as Keir maybe an inch shorter with a lean muscled body that screamed agile and fast.

“Who’s the bitch?”

What? Holy hell, he was a dick. And Irish by the sound of his accent.

Keir stiffened. “Call her a bitch again, and I’ll smash my fist through your skull.” She’d never heard Keir’s voice so menacing before and she tried to take a step away, but without even looking at her, he tagged her arm and held tight. “You read me asshole?”

Anstice barely breathed as she waited for Damien’s reply. She was uncertain who would win a fight between the two men, Keir had more muscle, but Damien looked…well he looked like he could kill with his eyes alone. There was definitely a danger about him as if he didn’t give a crap about anyone but himself. He’d run his best friend over if it meant he’d get to his destination faster.

“No. Damien isn’t heartless. He’d shove him out of the way though.”

Could’ve fooled her.

“Anstice is our Healer. She’s new to the Senses, and you’d know that if you’d shown up for the meeting.”

Damien snorted. “Don’t give a shit about any meeting. I’m here to find the vamps that took Balen. I’m not wasting my time listening to you guys talk shit.”

Anstice figured it was probably the women who disliked him not the other way round. She could forgive him for calling her a bitch; he had issues with women—fine. But his attitude was like a scouring pad—course and without give. He was rubbing her the wrong way big time. No wonder why he lived as a solitary.

“Wrong conclusion, sweetcakes. I don’t like women because they bitch, complain, gossip and are a pain in my ass. But I’ll fuck them if they ask and when they leave my bed there are never any complaints about me rubbing them the wrong way.”

Holy shit. Ugh. What an arrogant pissbrain.

“Pissbrain?” Keir chuckled.

“You got the brain part right,” Damien said.

Okay, so Damien was the Senses with a poor attitude and had a hate on for women who gossiped.

“Damien. Any sign of their lair?”

“Tracked them into the tunnels last night then they disappeared. Been looking for hours. Not sure if they went to ground before daylight and were just trying to lose me down here.”

“They have water from the ‘stream of hell’. They get close enough to you…”

Damien strode across the room until he was next to them. “They’ll torture him until they get what they want. You know what that is so we can get him out before he’s mutilated beyond healing?”

Anstice’s breath hitched and Damien’s eyes immediately went to her.

“You’re fuckin’ kidding. Her? They want her?” Damien’s lips pursed together. “Christ. What the fuck?” Damien ran a hand through his jet black hair. “Give her to them.” She gasped and Keir pulled her closer, wrapping his arm around her waist.

“Damien,” Keir warned.

“Balen is one of us.”

“So is she.”

“He’s been with us for centuries. We give her up for Balen then get her out later. They won’t hurt her if they need her.”

Anstice felt the panic begin to pulsate through her body. The tingles weren’t the nice kind that happened when Keir touched her, no they were the lack of air kind when someone was hyperventilating.

“Jesus, Damien. Cut the crap. We don’t give up one of our own. Ever.” Keir turned to her. “Baby, he’s trying to scare you. What’d I say to you?”

She pictured the black licorice guy smiling, his fangs gleaming in the moonlight as he came towards her in the parking lot.

“What I’d say to you?” Keir repeated so loud the sound jolted her from the images.

“You’d protect me.”

“Baby, your eyes.” She was looking at him already but not really seeing him until he put his finger under her chin and stroked her skin with the pad of his thumb. “Freakin’ done?”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

Keir turned back to Damien. “New rules. No one hunts alone. Not even you. Reel your shit in and turn your fuckin’ phone on so I don’t have to hunt your ass down again.”

“So it can ring when I’m sneaking up on a vamp? Why don’t I put a cow bell around my neck?”

Anstice held back her smile as she pictured Damien with a big ass cow bell. She’d like nothing better than to see that. “Vibrate works,” she suggested.

Damien rolled his eyes. “I bet yours does.” She wanted to punch him. “Chick knows nothing about vamps, does she?” Keir said nothing.

“They have fangs and smell like black licorice, which used to be my favorite kind, but now…not so much,” she said.

“And can sense a vibration hundreds of feet away.” Damien crossed over to a door on the opposite side of the room. “Wasting time here. You with me? Or do you have to babysit the chick?”

“I have a name butthole.” Anstice was sick of his sarcasm and the insolence. “And I can handle myself.”

“Yeah, we’ll see about that.” Damien threw open the door and disappeared.

Anstice turned to Keir hands on her hips, steam coming from her ears. He immediately engulfed her into his embrace. Then he leaned forward and gave her a brief kiss on the lips. “You’re hot when you give attitude.”

She smiled. “Then you’re going to see a lot of hotness if we hang around that guy.”

“Damn woman. I’m flying in Kilter.”

“Kilter?”

“You think Damien has attitude. He’s a kitten compared to Kilter.” Keir kissed her forehead. “We need to follow the vamps until sundown. You good?”

“Vampires are only out at night, right?”

The corners of his lips quivered up. “Yeah babe. But down here it’s night all the time.”

“Oh.”

“You okay?”

“I’m good, Keir.” She wanted to do this.

He watched her for several seconds and she knew he was making sure her eyes remained steady. “Okay.”

“Okay.”

They hauled ass after Damien.

Chapter 14 Snakeguy

“You Dreamstepped with her.” The stranger’s voice was cold, deeper than Keir’s. Anstice turned around and instantly was taken aback by the sight of the guy. “You should’ve contacted me immediately when the vamp attacked her.”

Her eyes went to the snake tattoo on his neck. It was partially hidden by his shirt, but it looked like it coiled on his shoulder then came up to just below his ear—hostile looking and the guy matched it. He was broad and muscled with a shaved head and piercing blue eyes.

“No time. She was freakin’ out. I did what needed to be done and now she knows the truth.” Keir grabbed her hand and pulled her up next to him.

Grim whined then sat at her feet. Her dog had settled in after exploring the house, although he had yet to check out the basement or upstairs, Grim hated stairs, took too much energy to climb them. She’d taken him for a walk around the grounds after breakfast and was impressed with the extensive gardens Keir kept. There was even a wooden bench swing hidden in an alcove next to a rose bush that she’d sat in for a while trying to sort through all that was happening.

When she’d come back inside she found Keir in his study. It had a large bay window and wall to wall books with one of those sliding ladders so you could easily reach the books on the top shelves. He must have heard her approach as he was already coming around his desk.

“Babe. Come here.”

She walked to him as he leaned up against his desk. A few feet away, he tagged her hand and yanked into his arms. “Need a kiss. Been too long without one.”

She laughed. “It’s been an hour.”

“Like I said—too long.”

He didn’t let her respond as he claimed her mouth. It was gentler this time, slow as if tasting every inch of her. Her hands crept up to his neck and drew him closer, feeling the entire length of his body up against her. And she knew he wanted her. There were no misconceptions with Keir.

“Babe. Jesus.” He leaned his forehead against hers and inhaled a long drawn out breath. “Not going to lie here. I need to take you soon. You reading me?”

Ah, yeah she was. Loud and clear. His hands were under her shirt at her waist, the pads of his fingers stroking her skin. God, the ache between her legs was on the verge of exploding just from his touch.

“Babe?”

Right, Keir liked words. “Yeah.”

“We have company. A meeting. You don’t need to worry about this shit. Okay? You hear shit you don’t like, I’ll deal with it. You freak out, look at me.”

It was then that scary guy appeared. The moment his eyes landed on her she felt the strange power of what this man held within his grasp. It wasn’t like when Keir read her thoughts, more like a familiar grip on her mind as if he’d been inside her thoughts before, her memories. She stiffened and Keir squeezed her hand.

“I’m Waleron, Taldeburu of the Senses.”

Anstice was going to stay quiet, let Keir do all the talking, but she really wanted to know who this guy was. “Taldeburu?”

“Leader,” Keir offered. “Waleron’s mother was one of the first Senses, Anstice.”

“Oh.” So, he was powerful and scary, a lethal combination. Jason Statham with supernatural powers—dangerous.

Jedrik and the woman who helped them last night, Delara, strolled into the library. Anstice couldn’t help but notice the way Waleron leader guy stared at her. Intense and driven. It was difficult to tell whether he was angry at her or angry at himself because of her. Anstice was pretty good at reading people—without using a thought raiding ability like Keir’s—and there was something huge between those two.

“Hey gorgeous,” Jedrik said while walking over to her. He went to lean forward and kiss her cheek when Keir stopped him.

“Try it.”

She wasn’t sure what he meant by that, but Jedrik backed off. Although, not before he gave me a dazzling smile and a wink. Jedrik strolled over to the bookcase and began fiddling with the books, pulling one after another from its place, only to put it back again, but in a different spot. Anstice felt Keir’s tension in his arm around her waist. She nearly laughed out loud at Jedrik’s subtle payback.

Delara plopped down on a leather chair in the far corner. Anstice noticed Waleron watching her movements and when Delara looked up at him, their eyes met and locked. It appeared like a mixture of desire, pain and anger. Wow, some serious drama between those two.

“Their shit is bad, love. Don’t mention it, don’t think it,” Keir said.

Anstice swung her gaze to Keir, but he was watching Waleron as if he hadn’t even spoken to her telepathically.

Another man sauntered in and nodded to each of them. He was dark like Keir with straight hair that hung in odd angles around his face. He looked different than the others. Quieter maybe. Or less dangerous. Strong features and eyes that were nearly as blue as Keir’s. As I looked between them I noticed the similarities in their noses and cheekbones.

“My brother Galen.” Keir’s brother sat on the leather couch and looked towards her. His eyes travelled speculatively up her body and then he met her eyes and smiled. It was warm and kind, nothing like when she’d first met Keir.

Waleron remained apart from them, almost as if he didn’t care to interact but he had to. Standing by the door looking every bit the Taldeburu, his confidence unwavering as he looked at each of them. Then his gaze turned to her and she felt as if he was touching her with his mind. Maybe he was.

“Anstice is a Healer.” Waleron didn’t wait for a reaction. “She is new to the Senses and will need guidance. If any are hurt, she will heal you.” Did she have a say in this? She still was really uneasy—okay freaked out—about the images she saw when her hands were over a wounded person. “We hunt for Balen day and night. Damien is currently searching the subway tunnels for any sign of vamps.”

“Frig, is Balen…do you think he’s toast?” Jedrik asked.

Anstice had no idea who Balen was, but if he was in the hands of the vamp who tried to take her, she knew it couldn’t be good.

“Trinity’s vision saw him alive,” Waleron said. “But he is weak. He cannot reach us by mind as they are using water from the ‘stream of hell’ to diminish his abilities.”

Anstice wanted to ask what he meant by the ‘stream of hell’, but Waleron intimidated her. She had always been pretty confident, but the Taldeburu…yeah you didn’t ask him questions unless he wanted you to.

“The stream is in a cave in Zugarramurdi, where the Senses originated,” Keir offered. “The water has the ability to take away our abilities, babe. This shit isn’t good. You saw what they did to me. What they’re doing to Balen…fuck babe. Nothing moral in a vamp.”

Yeah, she’d seen in real life and in dreaming. She always thought of vamps having this romantic quality.

“Did witch-bitch give any clue as to where he’s being held?” Jedrik asked.

“He is beneath the earth. That is all she saw.” Waleron paused. “Or chooses to reveal.”

Keir half-sat on his desk then pulled her in front of him and wrapped his arms around her waist. Anstice noticed Galen and Delara’s surprised expressions, but Keir didn’t seem to care what anyone thought. “We need to end this shit fast. The vamps know our weakness. They will use the water to take each of us down. We hunt during the day and never alone. This solitary shit with Damien ends today. He’ll learn to hunt with one of us or we’re not coming for him if he gets taken.”

Waleron clenched his hands at his sides. “It is Ryzard.”

Keir stiffened. “Fuck.”

“I thought that dickhead died ages ago.” Jedrik was done messing up Keir’s books and now stood next to Delara’s chair. Anstice was curious why the woman never said a word. “Friggin’ sweet, it’ll be like hunting for cotton candy. Love a good vamp to rip to pieces.”

Keir grunted. “Ryzard wants Anstice. Why? How does he even know about her? We didn’t we even know about her until recently?”

Waleron ignored him. “Galen will hunt. We need all Senses searching. Pairing mandatory.”

“He can go with me,” Delara offered.

Jedrik snorted. “Yeah, so he can be tortured by all your moaning over—”

Delara reacted fast and hard, her arm coming up and punching Jedrik in the gut.

“Delara.” The moment Waleron said her name everyone went still. “You are with me. Jedrik with Galen.” Waleron reached in his pocket and took out a Pez dispenser. Anstice hadn’t seen one in years. She loved them as a kid. He clicked the lid open then placed a candy in his mouth. She found it out of character that this snake tattoo badass was eating candies out of a Pez dispenser.

Jedrik came over and slapped Galen on the back. “So, you ready for some ass kicking? Because yours is surely going to take a beating. Oh, but you’re into S&M, so you’ll like it. Or are you a giver?”

Galen punched his hand away and then his face grew serious, eyes narrowing. Jedrik ducked as several books flew off the shelves towards him.

“Enough.” Waleron’s voice didn’t have to be loud to be effective. There was an edge to it that made anyone stop what they were doing and pay attention.

Jedrik laughed. “Got to be quicker than that. Come on ass-wipe. Let’s get us some cotton candy.” Jedrik and Galen walked out, shoving one another like children.

Anstice felt the push on her mind. It was different than when Keir entered her thoughts, which was subtle like a light tapping. This was overwhelming as if a wave of coldness was falling onto her. She put her hands to her head and closed her eyes, trying to block whatever was pounding at her.

Keir turned her around in his arms. “Eyes babe. Look at me.”

“He is already too close to you.” Waleron’s voice echoed in her head. “It is dangerous for him. And for you. Do not become attached to him, Anstice. I warn you once. It will not turn out well if you do.”

“Anstice?” Keir rubbed his thumb down her cheek.

She then felt both men in her thoughts, but Waleron’s mind overpowered Keir’s and blocked him out. She instantly felt Keir fighting for control. It was like two rams pounding in her mind.

“If you are in danger, call to me using your mind. I need to know you are capable of this. Say the words in your mind and picture the person you are speaking with. Do it now, Anstice.”  

Okay, it was freaky to try and speak telepathically. She had no idea how it worked or even if she was capable, but defying the scary badass snake guy was not happening. She thought of the words she wanted to tell Waleron. She repeated them over and over in her head until Waleron spoke again.

When she opened her eyes and looked at him there was a hint of a smile. She guessed he got her message loud and clear, although she was surprised he found it amusing. Telling him to get the fuck out of her head was stupid. She really had no idea what this Taldeburu would do. “You are very much like your mother, Anstice.”

Waleron looked at Delara and since he didn’t say anything out loud I suspected he asked—no told—her to come with him. She uncurled her legs and followed Waleron out the door.

Anstice had no idea how Waleron knew her mother, but she disagreed with him. Her mother was superficial and thought money grew on trees. She was all about appearances, hence why she thought Richard was a good match. They were nothing alike and yet Waleron had that impression. Odd. His warning about Keir was even more peculiar. What did he care if she and Keir were together? What did he mean by it being dangerous for them?

“Not sure what happened there, babe. But not liking it. Waleron speak to you?”

“Yeah.”

“Don’t block me out again.”

Anstice stiffened, both hands curling in his shirt. “This mind shit, I don’t control. So whatever happened was the fault of your scary leader guy. Not mine.”

“What’d he say, babe?”

“That you’re arrogant and bullish and need a woman to put you in your place.”

Keir growled and yanked her hard up against him. Oh crap, she was so in trouble with this guy. His head lowered and before she could refuse his mouth took hers. It was possessive and claiming and within seconds had her body aching for more.

The sudden kiss ended just as quickly and she was almost sorry when he pulled away. God, he turned her knees into jelly and her mind into mush.

“I always know best, Anstice. Always.”

Anstice huffed. Arrogant jerk. This is exactly why she stayed clear of this type of guy. She was not going to be a tiny ant in his big bad world. She tried to pull out of his embrace but he held tight. “Let me go.”

“Never. And I mean that. So better take that in now, so we don’t have to deal with this shit later.”

She pushed on his chest, but knew it was useless. And if she was as honest with herself, she didn’t want to leave his arms.

“I will eat you alive, babe. You cannot win against me. But I love seeing you all flustered and pissed,” Keir whispered in her ear sending shivers to sprinkle across her skin. “And love? You have to get that I will do shit you might not like. But I have reasons and they are to protect you. Always—always it will be about you. Finding you…Jesus, I swear the Goddess gave me life when we met. Never going to let harm come to you.” His tongue traced across the tip of her ear. “I’m claiming you baby.”

Anstice had never been so turned on before. She swore her panties had to be soaked through by now.

“Fuck. Thoughts, love. I hear them and we don’t have time to see if that’s true. Christ, I want to fuck you right now.” He made a low graveled sound in the back of his throat then took her hand and pulled her towards the door. “You ever been on a bike, babe?”

“No and the statistics of bikes are—”

“Don’t really give a fuck about statistics. We need to find Damien and I want you with me. So, you’re going to ride on the back of my bike.”

“Keir?”

“Yeah?”

“I take it back.”

“What babe?”

“My apology. You’re still an asshole.”

Keir threw back his head and laughed.

Chapter 13 Kiss

 

Anstice traced her finger over the small cut on her palm several times before she looked up at Keir sitting in the chair next to the bed. He was watching her. Dark eyes unwavering as if waiting for her reaction. Either deny what she’d seen in the dream or accept. Maybe he was waiting for her to freak out and start screaming.

She wasn’t going to. Not now. Not after what she’d witnessed. It was real. The cut was proof of it. The vampires. The Healer. The little girl. It happened. Keir had been there.

And she felt different as if she’d been released. She hadn’t understood it until now. The truth had given her that. When she’d seen the woman Zurina healing the little girl, what had been lying dormant inside her had awakened. She knew it the moment the woman’s hands burned with the power of healing. She’d been afraid and hiding from the unknown of what her hands could do since she was a child.

Now she knew.

Now, she felt part of something. No longer alone.

Neither of them said anything, merely staring until finally she was first to break and gazed down at the cut again.

“It’s the truth.”

“Yeah babe. Told you. Never lie.”

She thought about it for a minute then shoved the covers aside and got out of bed. “Yeah well, don’t know about that yet. Never is a long time and since you’re…” she stood, “immortal that is a real long time.”

Keir stood blocking any escape and took her hand. With one tug he pulled her off-balance until she was tight against his chest. Her palm landed against the hard muscles beneath his t-shirt and it felt exactly like it had in her dream. Her stomach fluttered, pulse jumped and the warmth of desire shot through her body.

“Also said I was going to kiss you. Going to take that now.”

What? Holy shit. Dream coming to life here. And she had no time to collect her thoughts let alone consider having this hot irresistible man hold her in his arms and kiss her.

His hand came up and held her chin while his arm tightened on the small of her back. “Tasting you is going to be real. You’re going to feel me, baby.”

Before she could say yes, no or even take in another breath, he took what he promised to take and their mouths met or rather his lips crashed into hers. Nothing was soft. All demanding. Real. Raw. She’d known before he kissed her that it would be like this. Keir was straight up and so was his kiss.

He took. He gave. And he did it for her.

She swayed against him. Needing more. Wanting more as she tilted her head and met him with equal frenzy. Her hands curled into fists in his shirt while his arm at the small of her back crushed her to him. It was dangerous. Every moment out of control because she couldn’t pull away. Her body craved him, was drawn to him.

His hands came up and held the sides of her head. “Jesus. Sweeter than I imagined.”

Sweeter than she imagined. Damn, she couldn’t remember a man’s kiss making her knees weak and tingles to shoot through her skin like explosions.

Keir pulled back, a finger running across her now red, definitely very kissed lips. “Not sure what this is about, babe. You and me.” He let her go and sat on the edge of the bed. She went to step away, but he grabbed her arm and yanked her back so she was standing between his legs. “But we figure out what it is and go with it. So, that means no running.”

Running wasn’t her style, she faced bullying in school and it taught her to stand her ground or be eaten alive. She knew it was better to tackle stuff then avoid. And she followed that all her life until Keir told her vampires existed and he was a Senses.

But what Keir was saying, she knew what it meant. There was electricity sparking between them, had from the moment they met.

“Running has never worked for me. Did it last night and look where it led me, in a dream with vampires.” Saying the word vampire and knowing it was real felt wrong. The normal was gone and she was facing the unknown. Scary. Yet it felt right. As if it fit.

What she was uncertain about was how Keir fit. Not true. She did know—he didn’t.

She pushed at his hands that rested on her hips, needing to break the intimacy of what she was feeling. It was too fast. What she felt with him was too powerful and she was practical. Safe. Rarely, did she leap without looking. And with Keir her body had already leapt. Her mind had yet to catch up. It was still on the edge looking down, trying to figure out if it was safe or not.

Keir refused to be dislodged and she sighed giving up. “Really can’t see anything happening more than that kiss, Keir. There’s nothing to figure out.” Even though he was every woman’s wet dream, her wet dream. But that was the issue, Keir was every woman’s wet dream. A real anything with this guy was stepping out of her boundaries of what she was working towards—white picket fence, dog, cat and her tame life with her sweet old ladies bringing in their cats for annual vaccinations.

His fingers tightened to grab her full attention. “Been alive a long time. I know when a kiss is more. And I’m betting you do too. We’re going to ride it out and see where it lands us.” She went to open her mouth to object when he tugged on her hips and she had to put her hands out so  she didn’t land face first into his chest. “You have a problem with me kissing you?”

“Well no, it’s just that—”

Keir’s mouth claimed hers once more. It was brief, but just as hot. “Good.” He stood bringing her with him. “Take a shower, babe. Freshen up and meet me downstairs. We have shit to discuss and I’m hungry. Eggs good for you?”

She nodded, still in a daze at how fast he took over the entire conversation. He wanted to kiss her? God Keir wanted to kiss her. He was right, their kiss was more. She felt it. He knew it and he also threw it out there. Last night she’d been thinking he was crazy and trying to escape and this morning she was agreeing to kiss him. Well, not exactly agreeing. Had she?

He stopped at the door. “Stop playing it over in your head, Anstice. Take a shower. You need to talk more, then we’ll do it after you’re cleaned and fed. And I’ll have Jedrik get your dog. Bring him here. Keys in your purse?”

Dog? Shit, Grim. He’d be crossing his legs needing to get out by now. “Yeah. Umm, yeah.” What was wrong with her? She couldn’t even put a stupid sentence together? “My purse. I left it in the parking lot.”

“Delara saw it and grabbed it.”

“Oh. Yeah. Okay.” God, he looked hot with his t-shirt crumpled where her hands had crushed the material. His hair was messed up probably from sleeping in the chair beside the bed and his eyes were staring at her as if…yep he still had that delicious I-want-to-eat-you look.

He opened the door and nodded towards the left. “Shower babe. Now. Food will be ready in ten.”

With that he walked out of the room and she collapsed backwards onto the bed, her arm thrown over her eyes. Oh my god. Now she knew what Danielle meant when she said, a guy totally rocked her world.

Keir just totally rocked her world.

 

****

Anstice took her time in the shower, the water cathartic as it cascaded down her body, the soap washing away, at least temporarily, the confusing emotions about what she’d seen and how she was feeling about Keir. When she dressed and came downstairs feeling more herself, confident. Ready to face whatever was thrown at her.

She stopped dead at the kitchen door. Keir stood in front of the stove pouring what appeared like whipped eggs into a frying pan. He had changed his white t-shirt to a black one and a pair of faded blue jeans that hugged his ass. Him holding the pan, the sizzle as the eggs hit the heat and the ease and comfort in his movements was what undid her. Her entire body felt like it was poured into the heated pan.

He glanced over his shoulder. “Two minutes. Coffee. Pour me one, babe.” He nodded to the left where a coffee machine sat then picked up the spatula and began shuffling the eggs.

Anstice watched him for a few seconds more, until he looked at her again. She jumped meeting his eyes. “Coffee. Yep.” Awkward. Caught staring at some guy who had just rocked her world with a sweet ass kiss was so uncool.

“Coffee. Black.”

“Got it.” Anstice moved to the coffee machine and took out two mugs from the cupboard above. She heard him shoveling the eggs onto to plates the sound of the toaster popping then him spreading, most likely butter, onto the bread. It was very domestic considering they’d just been dreaming together. Something that until last night she thought was impossible. Oh and she was a Senses Healer and some ancient vampire was after her.

Keir was making eggs. She was pouring coffee.

“You going to stare at the coffee all day or are we going to drink it?” Keir came up behind her and grabbed both mugs. “Sit. We eat then talk.”

He sat at the island pulling out a bar stool for her next to him and placed the mugs down. He dug into his eggs then sipped his coffee. A bite of toast then back to his eggs. She barely had two mouthfuls before he’d finished. She was too distracted by him to eat.

He nodded to her plate. “Eat, babe. Not often I cook, but when I do I need you to eat. The shit you’re facing is big. I know it. You know it. So, need you to eat.”

She took a bite of her toast then a sip of coffee. She knew he was right and yet sitting in his kitchen eating breakfast seemed surreal.

“Why me?”

“Hmm?”

“The vampires. Why are they after me?”

He nodded to her eggs again and she put some on her fork and ate. “No clue. But I’m going to get the answers. I told you—you don’t worry about this shit, Anstice. You’re a Healer. You don’t get near this shit.” He shoved his plate aside. “You going to eat that? Or play with it?” He nodded to the eggs.

“I can’t eat.” Her stomach was tossing around like a washing machine on spin. She wrapped both hands around her mug and stared at the black liquid. “Keir?”

“Yeah babe.”

“I’ve been pretty certain about my life. Knew I wanted to be a vet. I went for it, studied hard, saved my money, opened my own practice…” This normal was not normal. Keir wasn’t normal. That meant neither was she and despite feeling that being a Healer fit, she was still freakin’ out. “What do I do now?”

Keir pushed his stool back so he faced her, then pulled hers closer so she was between his legs. He must like that position and she hated to admit it, but she did too. He leaned forward and settled on either side of her. She realized why she was so attracted to this guy, he was assertive. Sure of himself. There was no pretense. No games. He just was and that made her feel safe. Keir had become her safe.

“Baby. You’re freakin’ inside that head of yours. I see it in your eyes. Haven’t known you very long, but long enough to know that when you’re steady—your eyes are steady. When you’re scared they’re looking everywhere.” He cupped her chin. She liked when he did that. As if he was making certain she was listening, that he had her full attention. Intimate. Sweet. “Look at me. Lock them on me, Anstice.” He waited while she did what he said then he gave a half-smile. “Steady. You need that. You want it, look at me and I’ll give it to you.”

Already she was feeling her heart slow and her coiled insides unravel. Keir was offering her a post. A place to keep grounded—him.

“There is a lot of shit you’re going to need to know. I’m not givin’ it to you all now. But what you need to know is about us. Who we are, what we do. You start to freak out, you tell me. Got it?”

She nodded.

He raised his brows.

“Yeah Keir, I got it.”

His hands moved to rest on the outer sides of her thighs. She liked it. A lot. Keir was a man that got what he wanted when he wanted it, but it was more. There was this protective side to him. He did it because he wanted to be certain she was okay. Not once had he done anything to harm her. She was getting that now. His words may be harsh and sometimes difficult to digest, but he was real. And he wanted real from her.

“You have a tattoo babe?”

Anstice opened her mouth then slammed it shut. That wasn’t a question she was expecting. Had he seen hers? She automatically touched just below her right knee where the ink lay. She’d always had it. She was adopted when she was sixteen months old; her parents told her the tattoo had been there already. That meant her birth mother or father had put the tattoo on her. Creepy shit. The adoption agency had no idea who her birth parents were so they couldn’t track them. No doubt they would’ve been charged with abuse. Tattoos on a baby just didn’t fly.

“Why would you ask that?”

“You have one, babe?”

“Why Keir?”

“You have one?”

“Christ yeah. I do. Birth parents had it put on me before I was adopted. I was under two.”

“No.”

“Excuse me? What the hell do you mean no?” Jesus, he was hard to take sometimes.

“You were born with the tattoo. All Senses are. We call them Scars.” He lifted his shirt and showed her a large tattoo that spanned his side right up to his shoulder. It resembled a panther with tribal designs mixed in. He dropped his shirt. “We can call them to life, Anstice. Our Scars are with us to help protect. Some are manageable—others can be difficult and deadly. They can only be called if we aren’t wounded. But they weaken us and must be used with caution.”

Was her mouth still hanging open? Because it sure as hell felt like it. Stunned. Now freakin’ a little bit more. She had something living in her? All this time her tattoo was alive? Oh god. Gross.

“Look at me, baby.”

Holy hell. They had Scars. She had a Scar. A tattoo that came to life.

“Now.” His voice was abrupt and firm.

She met his eyes. Calm. Her breathing slowed. Steady. He was giving her that. “Okay. We have Scars.” It would be cool. Maybe hers was an animal? Did they have animal Scars?

“Yes.” And yes, he could read her thoughts. A valuable thing to remember. “Mine is half panther, half man. When you’re ready I’ll teach you to call to yours.” He squeezed her thighs. “Senses also read thoughts and have telepathy. You already know this, just need to take it in. All Senses except Healers have telekinesis as well.”

“The door locking.”

He nodded. “Yes. But again, using these abilities will weaken us and we’re cautious using them while fighting our enemies. And babe, we have many enemies. Ones that won’t hesitate to kill. Not trying to scare you, just giving you the truth. You need to take it in and digest it.” He grabbed her chin and turned her head so she was no longer staring at her eggs sitting cold on the plate. “Told you, I don’t lie. You get this now then move forward.”

He was being straight up and she appreciated it. Didn’t mean she liked to hear what he said. What she did know was that Keir was trying to prepare her for what was to come. The truth was sometimes hard to take, but like he said, she needed to digest it and then move forward.

“I called you an asshole.”

The corner of his mouth curved upwards and he grunted. “Yeah you did.”

“Sorry.”

A chin nod then he leaned forward and kissed her mouth. It was soft and sweet and had her insides melt like butter sitting in the hot sun. Her hands found the nape of his neck and then her fingers weaved in his hair. His kiss deepened and she heard him groan just before he pulled away.

“Grim’s here.” He picked up a few tendrils and let them gently fall. “Liking the wet curls.” He stood. “Go see your dog, babe. I got this.” He picked up their plates and walked to the kitchen sink.

It was at that moment her mind followed her body and jumped off the edge.

Chapter 12 Papercut

“Anstice.”

His breath drifted across her neck and despite his body not touching, she felt as if every inch of him was pressed close. With a slow inhale she took in his woody scent which caused an eruption of fluttering wings in her stomach.

“Turn around. Want your eyes, babe.” He stepped closer. Then his hands settled on her hips.

She closed her eyes and curled her toes in the warm sand. The tiny granules pushed up between her toes and slid over the tops of her feet. The continual sound of the waves breaking was soothing while the brilliant sun heated her skin.

But most of all what she loved about the dream was him. Keir behind her. Holding her. Here she could be free to want him. Free to let him touch her.

“Babe, turn.”

She must have been thinking of him to be in her dream. Who was she kidding, of course she was thinking of him. The guy was hot. Not just hot—smokin’ hot. Everything about him turned her on. The way he walked as if nothing could touch him. Confidence. Attitude. And despite giving him sass, she liked his straightforwardness. Well, in her dream she did. Awake he was a crazy son of a bitch that thought vampires were real and he was a descendant of witches.

Her dreams had never felt so physical before. Skin tingling beneath his firm touch on her hips. His deep resonate voice seeping into her as if…he suddenly spun her around and she placed her hands on his arms feeling the muscles flex beneath her palms.

“Need your eyes, Anstice.”

“You’re in my dream.”

He cupped her chin and she met his eyes. Intense. Wow. He was looking at her as if he was going to devour every inch of her. And in dream world she could let him. No danger kissing him here.

“Yes.” His thumb caressed the cleft in her chin.

Feet snug in the sand, Keir’s one hand still on her hip, his other stroking her chin, the sun beating its warmth on her shoulders and his body inches away from her. The combination brought heat. Breathlessness. Desire. And need.

She wanted to kiss him. She wanted him to kiss her.

Anstice imagined what this man could do to her. Being enclosed in his arms, his kiss unyielding, arms tight around her as his mouth took hers—and it would be taking—until she was left with nothing except him.

“You need to stop, love.”

“What?”

He raised his hand and tucked her hair behind her ear then his fingers drifted down her skin until he was cupping her neck. “I can read your thoughts. Kissing you sounds real damn sweet right about now, Anstice. And you’re right, I would take you. Nothing except me, babe.”

Holy crap. Now she wanted to kiss him even more. Her body swayed into him and the peaks of her breasts touched the wall of his chest. His fingers tightened on her neck. Her breathing came in short gasps. Eyes locked on his.

“When I kiss you for the first time, it will be real, not in a dream.”

No. In real life, kissing Keir was a definite—hell no. He’d brought her to his house and locked the door so she couldn’t escape. She remembered running then him snatching her then…

Dreaming. She was sleeping. Had Keir drugged her? Panic. A slow build creeping into her stomach.

Suddenly Keir pulled away, took her hand and began walking across the beach. The heat dissipated and she looked up at red clouds that now covered the sun. A surreal fog of crimson settled over the beach.

“Panic, Anstice. Let it go. Dreams can be manipulated, but the skies will always signify what you’re feeling. And I’d never put chemicals in you. Hate that you would think I’d do that. Pisses me off.”

She tried to pull her hand from his, but he refused to let go and instead continued walking along the shore. “What am I supposed to think? One second I’m trying to escape your fortress and the next I’m asleep—dreaming about you.”

“Not about—with. Dreamstepping. And it had to happen. You were freaking out, babe. Unable to take in what I needed you to take in. Now we’ll stay here until you accept what I’m telling you.”

“And I hate when you call me babe. It’s… well it’s…degrading.”  Not really, but every time he called her that her insides melted. She could imagine him on top of her, one hand in her hair, his other holding her wrists trapped above her head—

“Jesus Christ. Babe. Fuck.” He let go of her hand, stopped and ran his hand through his hair. He stood silent and still as she came up beside him.

The water lapped at her feet and she sank further into the sand with each wave. The red clouds had disappeared and the sun warmed her skin again. It felt good. It felt as if standing beside one another was…comforting. Strange that when she was awake Keir was anything but comforting. He lied to her about everything—playing games and using his obvious wealth to toy with her mind. She didn’t even know if she was drugged or if he’d knocked her out cold.

“Again you’re accusing me of lying. Not liking it, Anstice. No games. No lies.” Keir sighed then kicked out at a wave that splashed against his jeans soaking them up to his thighs. “We deal with this shit and then we move on. You’ll see what I’m going to show you and you’re going to hate it. I’ll try to keep you calm, but babe what I’m going to show you is not what you know as normal. You have to get that.” His arm wrapped around her waist and he pulled. One yank and she was snug against his side. “You hear me?”

“I hear you, but not sure if I like what I hear Keir.”

“Not liking I get. For reasons I don’t know yet, you’ve lived without knowledge of the Senses. That’s bullshit. The Senses stick together. We live in a Talde or as a solitary. A few are rogue, but we know they exist. What we don’t do is let a child be raised by humans. A child grows up, reaches thirty then stops aging—people start talking. I don’t like the thought of you alone without us to help—it’s a world of shit and I’m getting that there is some reason you were raised the way you were raised. Those vamps have risked a war with us. They know a dark secret of ours meaning they are more than likely ancients. And they want you. Why? Fuck if I know.” He curled his hand around the nape of her neck. “What I do know is that I’m on you. I’ll protect you and none of this shit is going to touch you. None of it. You need to trust me. Follow my lead and I’ll get you through this.”

She wanted to believe him. Dream or not, she felt his words. They were ringing true and his eyes looking at her the way they were at this moment—she wanted to fall in his arms and have him call her babe.

The corners of his lips curved upwards and he tugged on her hair. “Thoughts, babe. I read them.”

Right. Stop with the thoughts of Keir. Hard to do when he was currently running his fingers through her hair.

“Keir?”

“Yeah, love.”

“You’re going to show me vampires?”

“Yeah.”

“I’m not going to like it, am I?”

“Nope.”

“Kind of like a nightmare?”

“Yeah. But I won’t leave you. Even in your dream, I’ll keep you safe. I can stop what I’m going to show you at any time and bring you back here. This place. This beach. Babe, this is your part of the dream. It’s where you feel safe and I’m going to use it if this shit gets too bad for you to handle. But I need you to see who we are and who we’re fighting here. Going to push you. No way around it.”

“I don’t need protecting in a dream, Keir. Dreams aren’t real. None of this is.” After all, she wouldn’t die, nothing could harm her here.

“Look at me Anstice.” She did. “Don’t know a good vamp. They take what they want and don’t give a fuck who gets hurt in the process. You’re going to see a memory of mine that will make you want to run and I can’t let you. I won’t let you. Not being cold here, love, just being real. You must see this shit. Believe. Wake up. Then you join us.”

She wondered if her heart was pounding this fast in real life or just in her dream. He seemed to think she’d wake up and believe everything he was telling her. “I have no intentions of joining you or your Senses.” She pulled her hair from his grasp. “And I’m not being cold here either, but in real life I don’t like you remember. What I like is my life. Like my vet practice. Like my family and friends and my dog. You can show me vampires, maybe I’ll believe you while in my dream, but it doesn’t mean I’ll wake up and suddenly move into your—what did you call it—Talde? Besides none of this is real. I’m dreaming. You’re in my dream. I wake up. None of this happened.”

Keir took her arm then wrapped his fingers around her wrist so her palm was up. He reached down into his boot and took out a knife.

She pulled back. He held tight.

“What are you doing?”

“Proof.”

“What?” She tried to tug back again as he raised the knife over her hand.

“Stay still. Just a paper cut, babe.” He drew the tip of the blade slowly over her palm and a half inch thin red line of blood rose to the surface. He let her go and she staggered back two steps, holding her opposite hand over the wound.

“When you wake, look at your palm. Proof this is real. Then ask me about the dream. If this is your dream alone then I shouldn’t know any of it.”

She didn’t like it, but if he was right then she had one hell of an awakening to consider. If he was wrong then it was just another vivid dream. “Fine. Let’s get this over with. I’m sure the drugs you gave me will wear off and then you won’t have your chance to show me what you want to show me. Or we can just skip the scary stuff and get down to what my dream should be about.” She smiled as the thought took form. If this was just a dream then she could take it to where it should be going.

Anstice imagined him grabbing her and throwing her to the sand. He lay on top, waves washing over them as he devoured her mouth. Hard. Deep. Relentless. Legs entwined. Clothes soaking wet. He rips her shirt open while she drags her fingernails down his naked chest to his jeans. One at a time, slowly, she undoes his buttons while she kisses his abdomen. She sinks lower. Her hands feel the heat and he groans then—

“Fuck, Anstice. Jesus.” He grabbed her around the waist and hauled her up against him. Legs against legs. Breasts pressed into his chest. She could feel her nipples aching for his touch. Keir lowered his head. She closed her eyes. Oh god, he was going to kiss her.

She knew this was her dream and she could control it.

Desire swam through her and she knew even in sleep she was wet for him. The heat from his breath was inches away. Tickling. Tantalizing. Oh god, just kiss me.

He didn’t.

Her eyes flew open.

“Told you. When I taste you it sure as hell won’t be in a dream, babe. You’re going to know it’s real. Won’t have you any other way.” He took her hand. “Let’s get this shit done. Then I’m going to wake you. Then I’m going to kiss you.”

Before she had the chance to take that in she was thrown into another time and place.

What she saw would be embedded in her mind forever. A scream escaped only to be cut off when Keir’s hand came down over her mouth as he dragged her back against him, arm around her waist.

“Shshsh, baby. It’s just a memory. My memory.”

She pressed into him, her hands gripping his arm, eyes wide with horror as she watched the scene before her. It was a nightmare. Nothing could describe it better.

Men and women were screaming. Children terrified and crouched behind their parents—hiding behind whatever wasn’t burning. Faces were plagued with horror as vampires swooped down on their village. Fires burned. Fangs gleamed in the red ominous moonlight. Haunting screeches filled the air.

A little girl who looked to be about six was crying while holding a doll in her arms. She stood alone in the middle of the village. Tears streaked her dirt ridden face. Her clothes were torn and ragged. A vampire walked slowly towards her, the center of his eyes pulsating red, his lips curled up to reveal his fangs covered in blood.

“No. No. Help her. We have to help her Keir.”

Keir tightened his grip. “This has already happened, babe. Nothing we can do.”

First one tear then another slipped from the rims of her eyes. She was desperate to get to her, sweep her up and carry her to safety.

A woman came running towards the little girl. Her mother. It had to be her mother. They had the same mouse brown hair and soft features. She was holding out her arms as she came for her daughter. Suddenly the mother was grabbed from behind and fangs sank into her throat. Anstice watched horrified, her body trembling, her stomach churning as the vampire sucked the blood from the mother until she lay limp. Then he threw her to the ground like a piece of garbage.

The little girl sobbed. Green eyes huge with terror. Her child-like voice crying for her mother over and over again.

Everywhere Anstice looked people were dying. Throats ripped apart, bodies thrown aside. Others burned alive.

“No. Stop. Please. Oh god, please Keir.” Her body was shuddering with revulsion. “Please.”

Keir’s hand caressed her hair as he kept her locked against him.

Then she saw him. Keir. His clothing was different, his hair longer and pulled back in a leather tie. He was running towards the little girl. She stiffened, watching as Keir raised his hand and a vampire who was coming at him went flying several feet into the air. He hadn’t even touched him.

But how could…this was years ago. The village, the way people were dressed…this was not just years but centuries ago.

“Immortal, Anstice. Senses are immortal. You’re immortal.”

Her entire body shook as her mind rejected the nightmare.

“Fuck, babe. I hate what this is doing to you. But we need to end this and you have to believe what I’m telling you. You’re one of us. Vamps are real and this world is not what you think.”

“No. No. It’s impossible. I don’t want to watch this anymore.” The little girl. Please don’t let them get the little girl.

Past-Keir was nearly to her. So was the vampire.

Too late. He was too late.

The vampire grabbed the girl and sank his fangs into her neck. “Nooooo. Noooo. Keir please.”

“Shshsh, love.” He gently wiped the tears from her cheeks.

“The beach. Take me to the beach.”

“Fuck babe, you need to see this. I need you to see this.”

Keir didn’t stop running towards them. The girl’s screams were now whimpers, her face pale, eyes closing. An arrow flew through the air and embedded into the vampire’s shoulder. Anstice looked up and saw Jedrik crouched on roof of a burning house.

Her eyes shot back to the vampire. The arrow had done nothing to him. He was still draining the life out of the little girl.

Keir leapt. Dagger in hand as he plunged it into the vampire’s neck. The girl dropped to the ground motionless.

The vampire stood with a knife plunged into his neck. He made a screeching gurgle and his eyes flamed with anger. But he didn’t die. Just like the fang guy Jedrik had fought tonight at the hotel.

The vampire stood with a dagger in his throat and he was laughing. She cringed, her stomach tossed, her insides coiled. Keir attacked again. This time kicking out and sending the vampire flying into the air to land on his back. The vampire grabbed the dagger and pulled it from his neck then did the same with the arrow. He jumped to his feet and sneered, his fangs dripping with the little girl’s blood.

Oh god. It was true. It was true. The guy at the gala was a vampire. He had fangs. He hadn’t died with a branch sticking through him just like this one.

The vampire made one step when a man with a sword appeared out of the darkness. The first thing she noticed was he had the bluest eyes she’d ever seen. Ice cold and piercing. There was no expression on his face as he held the sword with both hands and swung. With one sweep, the vampire’s head separated from his body.

Keir turned her around in his arms, so she couldn’t watch anymore. He stroked the side of her face as she cried. Uncontrollable sobs for the horror she’d witnessed. For the little girl.

The vampires had destroyed an entire village. Children had… Oh god, all those people. Mutilated. Burned. Keir and Jedrik had tried to help them. The man with the blue eyes had tried. But for some it was too late.

“The girl?”

Keir turned her back around and the scene had changed. The vampires were gone, some lay in the dirt, beheaded and bodies burning.

An elegant woman knelt beside the little girl, eyes closed, hands over her neck. Anstice watched with disbelief as the woman’s hands grew red and her face contorted as if in pain. The realization shot through her. Anstice knew what was happening. She’d experienced it herself whenever she touched anyone wounded. Like Keir. What she’d done to Keir that first night in her hospital.

What she refused to believe.

The girl’s eyes flickered open and then the woman wrapped her in an embrace.

“A Healer. Zurina. Like you Anstice.”

The woman had saved the little girl’s life. She’d healed her. Anstice’s mind whirled with sparks of confusion. This was a dream. The scene was part of a dream. Maybe it wasn’t real. It was her nightmare. When she woke up none of this had happened.

The Healer saved the little girl’s life. She saw it. She felt it. Anstice knew she could do that. She knew it. The comforting knowledge settled within her. It wasn’t by choice. It just was. As if her body finally awakened. It knew.

“Yes. You were born our Healer, Anstice. Your mind is accepting and your body knows it.”

She pulled away from him and his arm dropped from her waist. “Keir?”

“Yeah babe.”

“I…I don’t know what to do with this?”

“Ride it out. Follow your instinct. Your senses will guide you. Always will, love. We take this and we face what shit is going down.” He stepped closer and took her hand. “Not ever going to let anything touch you. You got that?”

She nodded.

“Need to hear you say it, babe.”

“Yeah Keir. I got it.”

As soon as she said the words, Anstice woke. The first thing she did was look at her hand. There in the center of her palm was a small thin cut.

 

 

Chapter 11 Real

Anstice got out of the car and within seconds Keir was next to her taking her hand as if she was going to bolt. And truth be told, she considered it for about two seconds after Keir’s last words. Yeah, it added to her already freaked out mind and her quivering legs that were barely holding her up. Besides, running after they just saved her life didn’t seem very tactful.

The house was on Post Street, a wealthy—maybe the wealthiest—Street in Toronto. There were no sweet quaint houses in this area. Every one of them spoke money with colossal mansions on substantial properties right in the heart of the city. Keir’s was no exception.

He led her up the steps to the front door where she hesitated. Keir’s fingers tightened around her hand. His body went still, eyes watching her calmly, the churning darkness she witnessed earlier having settled.

“Are you going to tell me what’s going on now?” She tried to keep the shakiness from her voice, but failed miserably.

Keir released her hand then tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “Go inside, Anstice.”

She touched the strands he had fixed then met his eyes. “Is it safe? Are you safe?” Because ever since he’d been around danger had been chasing her. But it was a stupid question really. If it wasn’t or he wasn’t—he certainly wasn’t going to tell her, but it was human nature to ask stupid questions when in shock, freaked out and scared.

“Safest place you can be is with me.”

Jedrik came up behind and put his hand on her shoulder and gave a light squeeze. “You were friggin’ great tonight, Anst.” He glanced at Keir then abruptly removed his hand from her. “Most women would’ve fainted at the sight him, but you held it together. Made the call to get help.”

The exotic woman held out her hand as she came up beside her. “Delara.” Anstice shook it politely. “You need some antiseptic on those cuts. Come on.” She gestured to the open door and Anstice looked at Keir. It wasn’t like she needed his consent, but…yes she wanted it. He gave her a chin nod and Anstice went inside after Delara.

When she failed to hear Keir behind her she peeked over her shoulder and saw him speaking to Jedrik. She heard the name Zurina and something about healing, but that was all she caught. Her date seemed to be in pretty good shape considering he’d been on the ground and unconscious a half hour ago. She did notice heavy bruising around his neck and a swelling under his left eye. She suspected he’d be black and blue come morning. Well, it was already morning pretty much.

“Sit.” Keir gestured to the leather couch facing the fireplace.

“Keir, what’s going on? Who was that guy? He didn’t die. I mean he just—”

Keir took her hand and pulled her to the couch. “Sit before you fall down. You’re still in shock.”

She sat because he was right. Delara came over with cotton swabs and a brown bottle Anstice knew to be iodine. Good choice. Delara went to sit beside her when Keir grabbed the iodine and cotton from her hand.

“I’ll do it.”

Delara’s brows rose and it was obvious by the sudden stiffness in her body that something happened that was unusual. Was this woman Keir’s girlfriend? Wife? No, he didn’t wear a ring.

“Waleron know about her?” she asked.

Keir remained silent as he crouched and took hold of Anstice’s arm. The bush definitely did a number on her, but she’d take these measly cuts over that fang guy and his teeth any day.

“Stop thinking about it.”

“I can’t,” she whispered.

He made some kind of noise between a grunt and a curse then applied the antiseptic to a swab of cotton and began cleaning her wounds. She was capable of doing it herself, but she had a funny feeling Keir wouldn’t allow it.

Delara continued, “I’m a Tracker Keir. I know what she is, so I suggest you tell Waleron asap.” She ran her hand through her oddly cut jagged strands. It looked like Delara had taken a knife and cut her own hair. “I’m going to look for Balen.”

“Not alone you’re not.” Keir’s voice was firm. “Either wait for Zurina to heal Jedrik or take Galen. Never alone.” Keir’s hand lay still against Anstice skin and she was having a hard time focusing on the conversation when all she could think about was his hand on her body—everywhere. “And call Damien. We need him here.”

Waleron? Damien? What was a Tracker? She opened her mouth to ask when suddenly Delara spun around and left the room. Great. Left alone with sexy badass who she was intensely attracted too and currently caressing her arm with a cotton swab.

His hand touched her chin and her breath hitched. He turned her head so she was looking directly at him. Heat. It was no longer the calmness in his eyes she saw earlier. Instead it was blazing passion that made her body tingle from head to toe.

If he couldn’t hear her heart pumping madly, it would be a miracle. His finger trailed down her cheek to the cut along her jawline. The rough pad of his skin, the intimate caress, the way he was looking in her eyes instead of at her wound.

“Babe.” He continued his caress down her throat to her collar-bone where he stopped.

She held her breath.

They stared at one another. It was as if everything was in slow motion. She couldn’t move. She didn’t want to move. No, that was a lie, she wanted him to grab her around the neck and pull her towards him. She wanted the taste of his lips. The feel of his body crushed against hers.

“We need to talk.”

And that was the end of that. She pulled back as reality slammed the door on her desire. They sure did. And then she had to get out of here and curl up in bed and forget this night ever happened. No. Forget Keir ever happened. He was dangerous. Her feelings for him were dangerous.

“Tonight shouldn’t have happened. Shit went down and…Jesus babe I should’ve been more careful.”

“You weren’t there. How could you be more careful?”

“Damn right I wasn’t.” He was pissed, not at her but at himself. He stood up and strode to the mantel and leaned back against it. “He was a vampire.” She didn’t just hear him say that? He meant the guy was pretending to be a vampire. He looked at her sharply and she crossed her arms over her chest as if a barrier would help. “No babe. Not make-belief. He’s a vampire and they do exist.”

He just read her thoughts and was saying the pretend-vampire wasn’t pretend at all. Shit. No. She so was not ready for this.

 

 

Keir watched the disbelief take form in her expression. Bright green eyes widening, the slightly parted lips and the tensing of every muscle in her body. He had the urge to wrap her up in his arms. Maybe even throwing her over his shoulder and carrying her up to his room for the next twelve hours.

Fuck. The red haired Healer was making him hot as hell and he had other shit to think about. Balen for one and Waleron coming down hard on his ass for bringing Anstice here without his knowledge.

“Vamps live amongst us and remain hidden from humans.” Then added. “Most of the time.”

“Stop it,” Anstice said shaking her head back and forth. He felt her withdrawing from him. He was a Sounder, but all Senses had the ability to feel emotions to a point. And this was exactly why the existence of what walked in the shadows of the human world had to remain in the shadows. Anstice thought he was crazy.

“Real, babe. And you need to get that fast. That vamp tonight wanted you and his horde has one of our own for collateral. Not liking that one bit. We protect our own. This shit doesn’t sit well with any of us.”

“And who is us?”

Keir didn’t like how quiet her voice was. She was definitely going to freak out—soon. “We’re called Senses, descendants of witches from a place in Spain called Zugarramurdi where we were developed by the Goddess Enid.” He heard the creak of leather as she shifted on the couch. “We have certain abilities related to the senses—I’m a Sounder meaning I can detect sounds that others may not be able to hear.”

She had both palms flat on the edge of the cushion. She was tipped slightly forward and without even entering her thoughts he knew she was considering running.

“We live by an oath to protect humans from…others that also share this world. Not going to tell you everything now, babe. You’re looking ready to bolt and I can’t let you do that.”

“Yeah well, pissing on my intellect doesn’t sit well with me. How long did it take you to memorize that story? Or do you and your friends make up new ones each night for the fun of it? See how many women fall for it.”

Keir strode towards her and watched her brilliant green eyes momentarily widen with fear then she raised her chin and met him head on. Good, she needed that bravery, but the sarcasm had to go. “I’m getting this is freaking you out. And I get that you think I’m full of shit.” He leaned forward. “But you need to drop the attitude.”

She got up into his face. “Attitude? I have every right to a little attitude after what I’ve been through. This is bullshit.”

She was their Healer and she’d have to accept it whether she wanted to or not. “You may not like the truth, babe. But it is what it is.”

Nope, she wasn’t getting it and the woman was a filly running from the wolf. Normally, he’d have said it was smart of her to run from him, but not this time. The vamps wanted this woman—bad.

It had nearly been him instead of Balen sitting in some cage being tortured. Jesus, if that had happened Anstice would’ve already been in their grasp.

“It is what it is? Really? I can’t believe you just said that.” She pushed her finger into his chest and he had the urge to grab it and place it in his mouth and sweep his tongue over her succulent skin. “And I certainly don’t believe you. None of it. Do you think I’m stupid? Obviously, you do. God, to think I let you in my house. You probably even paid that guy at the restaurant the other night to scare me. Did you pay the guy tonight too?”

“Does that make sense Anstice?” He wasn’t used to being yelled at or being accused of frightening women. And he didn’t like it one bit.

“No, of course not. But neither does your story. I’m beginning to think you and your friends got bored and decided to screw with people’s minds. Mine to be exact.” She swept her arm around the room. “And by the looks of this place, you have enough money to do whatever the hell you want.”

She tried to shove past him, but he grabbed her hand and swung her back around. He took hold of her jaw. “I’m not liking being accused of that shit you just through in my face, babe. I never fuckin’ lie. Ever.” She tugged on his hand to try and break free, but he held tight. He was pissed. He got why she was having trouble swallowing what he’d just shoveled into her life, but he’d never harm her. He was trying to protect her and every word out of his mouth in the last few days had been the truth.

“Let me go Keir. I want to go home.”

It was the glistening in her eyes that made his insides clench—unchartered territory and it didn’t sit well with him. He was trying to save her ass and she was throwing him a shitload of crap and then has the nerve to fill her eyes up with tears and making him feel guilty. Fuck. He was so screwed with this woman.

“Are you forgetting that first night I met you. You think that was some kind of game? The blood was real and you damn well know it, Anstice.”

He watched as each emotion took over her face, until it settled on defensive. He dropped his hands from her when she fought to get away and she instantly ran for the front door. He followed then leaned against the small table in the foyer and crossed his arms. “Senses also have telekinesis. Door won’t open unless I let it, Red.”

She yanked and tried to turn the lock. “So what now? You’re going to keep me a prisoner until I believe your stupid story?”

“We need to get something straight, Anstice. This. You flying off the handle, not good. You need to take a step back and get a handle on your shit.”

“My shit? My shit? Really? Did you just say that?”

He shrugged. “I told you I don’t lie. You’ve seen proof tonight that vamps roam the streets. You’re pulling on a door that should open but doesn’t. Open your eyes and see the truth.  Shocking I get it, but those vamps are real and they want to take you. So yeah, your shit needs to stop. Now.”

“I’ll take my chances on sorting out my shit on the outside,” Anstice said trying to turn the lock. Of course, it wouldn’t budge. He’d never allow it.

She whirled around. Keir felt her rage mixed with fear pouring into him. He smelled it, tasted it like acid on his tongue. He had no idea why he felt so much of this woman, but he knew that it was stronger than any he’d ever experienced.

“I trusted you,” she shouted. “I saved your life. I let you in my home. I introduced Jedrik to my parents. Why? Why are you doing this to me?”

“I need you to be safe,” Keir said in a calm quiet voice.

“Why me? Why did you involve me in this sick game of yours? I want out, Keir. Or is that even your real name?”

The tears in the rims of her eyes were teetering on edge. She was hurting. He’d done this to her and there was no way to take any of it back. This was who he was. He needed control of the situation and right now that meant Anstice. “You must know that you share some of these abilities, Anstice. You hear my thoughts. You get images when you touch anyone wounded. You healed me. You saw the vamp’s fangs. Saw what he could do. Stop hiding and face what is right in front of you.”

“No, I can’t. It’s impossible,” she said.

“Bullshit. Stop lying to yourself.”

She pounded her fists into the door. “Open the door, damn it.”

Jedrik came running up the stairs from the walkout basement. “What the frig is all the yelling?”

Keir looked him up and down—no wounds. Zurina must have Traced here and Healed him. “She thinks I’m lying about the vamp.”

Jedrik laughed. “You break the news all sweet and nice or did you take the direct approach. I’m betting you used direct and she couldn’t handle and now you need me to smooth things over.”

“Don’t need you for shit.”

Jedrik nodded towards Anstice who was leaning with her back against the door watching them both. Her eyes were wide and wild, red hair hanging in disarray around her shoulders and her breathing harsh. Her dress was ripped, cuts all over her skin—she looked like she’d been through a war.

“Anstice.” Jedrik approached.

“Don’t come near me.”

Jedrik stopped, holding up his hands. “That guy tonight will be looking for you. We’re here to keep you safe.”

“By telling me there are vampires walking the streets? What’s tomorrow night werewolves?”

“You tell her about CWOs?” Jedrik asked.

“Shit no.” Keir couldn’t wait to see her reaction when he explained the Center World Others. Bugs from the center of the earth that rose up and stole bodies from graves. That was going to be harder for her to take in. Then there were the Senses tattoos—Scars. Ink coming to life was by far the most farfetched for a human to believe.

But she wasn’t a human, was she. Anstice was a Senses.

“Never seen a werewolf. Extremely rare, but yes they exist.” Keir stood up straight and walked towards her. “I’m here to protect you. You walk out that door you’re either dead or become some vamps pet. So, leaving is out of the question. I don’t fail. Ever. That means you’re under my protection and you follow my rules.”

“Jesus man,” Jedrik said shaking his head. “Ever heard of being subtle? Maybe we should call Waleron in to erase her memory.”  

“She’s our Healer.”

“No friggin’ way? A Healer? No wonder you wanted her protected. Shit man, she’s our savior.”

“Rules? Are you for real? You have rules for your game? Figures.”

He knew her move before she even made it across the hallway towards the kitchen. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her up against his chest. “Babe, I don’t think you’re really listening to me here.” When she went to open her mouth he put his finger to it. “Quiet.” When she clamped her mouth shut he continued. “I have a man being ripped to shreds right now, maybe even dead, by a horde of vamps that have a strong interest in you. I should be out looking for him, not standing here trying to explain shit to a woman who thinks I’m lying to her after I’ve saved her ass twice. So, what you need to do is calm the fuck down and think this through.”

It was then that the first tear slipped from her left eye and slid down her cheek.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Fuck.

Okay, maybe he’d been harsh. Fuck. Crude. Fine an asshole. But the rules changed in the Senses world. She couldn’t just walk out of here and live her life the way it was anymore.

 Keir felt her hands on his chest, smelled the papaya shampoo in her hair, the whisper of her breath against his neck as she stared up at him. She was trying to be brave, but inside her mind was chaos. She didn’t know what to believe.

“I’ll put her in Deep Sleep then Dreamstep with her,” Keir said. Dreamstepping was unpredictable. He didn’t know if he could control where the dream would lead, but if he could, it allowed him to manipulate her thoughts. He couldn’t have her trying to leave every chance she had.

“Frig, really? That shit is dangerous. You want to take that chance? We could just lock her up for a few days and see if she comes around.”

“Not locking her up, Jedrik.” Keir rolled his eyes.

“You’ve never done this have you?” Jedrik asked.

“Not precisely. I’ve entered another’s dream with their consent and while I was awake, only they slept. So I was able to pull out at any time. Dreamstepping is different. She may fight my intrusion. She won’t want me there. I must convince her mind to let me in. Then I will have to lead the dream so she can see for herself the truth. It is the fastest resolution.”

“Frig, this isn’t good.  I’m so not going to be the one to tell Waleron what’s going down because man, he’s going to be pissed.” Jedrik said. “Better hope he has lots of Pez on him when he finds out about this.”

Keir felt Anstice pushing at his chest and he looked down at her seeing the tears now staining her face. “Be still, baby.”

She met his eyes and he sighed. Christ, she was beautiful. He gently wiped the tears from her cheeks and felt his body react to the caress. Fuck. This woman was going to drive him crazy in more ways than he possibly knew how to handle.

He silently said the DS words and Anstice’s eyes slid closed and she fell limp in his arms. He picked her up and carried her to his bedroom.

Chapter 10 Taste

His approach was slow and methodical. Calculated. And the entire time he came towards her he grinned which sent her heart into overdrive. It was as if he had no concern. Patient and calm. And absolutely no remorse for what he’d done to Jedrik.

Jedrik. She had no clue if he was alive. Fang blocked her view of where he’d left him crumpled on the pavement. If he could do that to Jedrik she knew fighting him with a puny knife was ridiculous and probably what Fang was finding so humorous.

“You want to play girl?” He stopped five feet away. “I love a tussle before a sweet taste.”

Taste? What did he mean by taste? Her first thought was rape and then her mind spun with the idea of something so absurd. Completely illogical. But the signs were slapping her in the face. His fangs. The hissing. Being able to beat the shit out of Jedrik. He used the word taste.

Blood.

Her blood.

Were there people out there who drank blood for the thrill of it?

“Boss never said anything about a sample before I brought you back.” Another step. “Lower the knife, sweetum’. Won’t do much to me except piss me off.” Another step. “Bet you’ve never seen a vampire really pissed off have you?”

Vampire? What? This guy was serious. She was right. He thought he was a vampire. The funny thing was Jedrik had obviously known about him.

She tightened her grip on the knife, but it only made her shaking worse. “There are no such things as vampires. You’re delirious.”

Maybe not the right thing to say when he could kill her in two seconds flat.

His eyes flashed red and his upper lip curled. “Deliriously thirsty perhaps.” Another step. His hand reached out and he put his finger on the tip of the knife. A trickle of blood dripped down his skin. “I won’t hurt you if you stay quiet and still.”

The iron scent of his blood—and probably Jedrik’s—mixed with the scent of black licorice. Her stomach revolted and she swallowed against the bile. “Stay back.” She jabbed her knife forward.

He lounged. In one movement he had the knife knocked out of her hand and it was sliding across the pavement. Then he spun her around so her back was up against his chest. One arm hooked around her ribs and the other her hips. His breath swept across her bare neck as he leaned forward and she heard him breathe in a long slow inhale.

“Hmmm, sweet. Your blood will taste like succulent red grapes.”

His words sent her over the edge. He really was going to sink his fangs into her. He was going to drink her blood like a vampire.

She screamed managing a half sound before his hand covered her mouth. “Now, we don’t need any unwanted attention, do we? Behave yourself and we’ll get along just fine.”

She shouted under his suffocating hand. Her body thrashed. She kicked, but her bare feet had no effect against his legs. She tried to bite his hand, but it was held to tightly against her mouth.

He shoved her up against the SUV and her face smacked into the unforgiving steel. The air was knocked out of her from the sudden impact. Nothing emerged from her mouth as pain shot through her head.

His fingers wrapped into her hair and he turned her around and yanked her head back. Short gasps escaped. Throbbing pain in her scalp as he cruelly held her. She tried to thrust her elbow backwards into his chest, but he was leaning so heavily against her that she could barely move.

“Please. No.” The words were an automatic response. It was pathetic and yet those two words were all she had. The reality was no matter what she said this guy wasn’t going to let her go.

His lips touched her throat and she felt his tongue slid across the surface of her skin. A cold wet lick. Her stomach lurched. Her mind flailed. It was as if her mind was searching for ways to protect itself from what was happening. Coldness seeped through her veins. Her heart slowed. Her mind tried to shut out the horror.

His tongue slowly slid up her neck to her ear and then back down again. “Mmmm, sugar and spice all in one.”

Suddenly he drew back.

Shrieked.

Then lurched to the side dragging her with him, his hand still locked in her hair. She lost her balance and fell to her knees—hard.

Fang yanked her up again, pulling her head back so brutally that tears came to her eyes.

It was then she saw Keir. He stood ten feet away looking like a man intent on causing destruction. The tic in his jaw. His stance completely still. Frozen. Nothing in his body said he was scared of the guy who held her. Everything in him said he was furious.

And his eyes never once left Fang for a second, even when he spoke to her. “You good, babe?”

What? Good? No she wasn’t good. She was pee-in-her-pants terrified and some fang toothed guy had licked her neck. “No. Not good.”

“Are you bitten?”

Bitten? “Ah, well no.”

“Then you’re good.”

Fang had wanted to taste her blood. He’d licked her neck preparing her for—

Fang jerked on her hair and she winced. Her hands reached up and took hold of his wrist to try and alleviate the pressure on her scalp. It did nothing.

“The girl is ours. Boss says so. You want a war with us when we have one of your own sitting in a cage? Walk away now and we’ll release him.”

She swore even from this distance she could hear Keir’s teeth grate together. “Not happening. She isn’t going anywhere tonight or any other night.”

Anstice heard a rustle and a groan then noticed Jedrik crawling to his feet with a woman helping him. A wave of relief flashed over her. He was alive. God, Jedrik was alive. Keir was here. He found her. He came.

“Kind of sick of seeing you hold my woman, blood.” His woman? “Thinking it best you let her go before I rip your heart out through your nose.”

Fang laughed, but it wasn’t a deep graveled laugh like Keir’s. Instead it was a crackled shrill that sent cold shivers through her body.

“Your man will die a slow painful death. Maybe we will keep him for centuries. He is rather amusing to watch scream and beg.”

Kill who? Who did Fang have already? Was this a ransom? Were they trying to make some kind of negotiations? Why did they want her? She was just a vet. All she owned was her loft and her practice, not much for any ransom.

Keir shrugged. “Not letting you have her.”

The woman approached and Anstice immediately noticed her exotic beauty. Plush lips and a cute delicate nose that contrasted her well-defined jawline and cheekbones that models would die for. Her eyes were dark, reminding her of coffee grinds, and they were narrowed and looking just as menacing as Keir’s. Although, Anstice suspected that no one could get as enraged as Keir. He is the hard ass.

But Keir didn’t let his anger make him react irrationally. He remained cool. It was as if nothing could affect him, not even Fang tooth guy who, in her opinion, could rattle anyone.

“Looks like you don’t have a choice.” Fang yanked her right up against his chest, wrapping his arm around her waist. “You want to rip my heart out? Then you’ll have to go through the girl.”

Keir jerked his chin up once and that was all that was needed. Fang guy knew it too. He turned.

“Going somewhere?” Jedrik stood with a thick long branch in his hand.

Fang hissed and his spit sprayed her neck and ear. She kicked out her legs and struggled against his hold, but it only made his grip constrict even more.

Fang turned back the other way.

Keir stood closer now. The woman to his right.

“Tell your boss he’ll be having company.”

It happened so fast. Within a breath.

Keir grabbed her arm and Fang let out a loud shriek at the same time. His back arched and his face scrunched up with agony. Keir swung her into his arms, her back to his chest. It was then she saw what had happened. Jedrik’s hand was on the branch that was plunged into the back of Fang. It sunk straight through and out his stomach.

Nausea swam as she saw the oozing of dark red blood seeping from the wound. Fang’s hands were holding the wood. He was screaming unintelligible words, but he had yet to die. He was still standing. He didn’t even sway. How was that possible?

Fang yanked the branch out and threw it to the ground.

Jesus. Anstice’s legs gave out.

Keir picked her up in his arms. “Getting her out. Meet you back at the house.”

She knew exactly what shock was. Had seen it in animals numerous times and she had it. Big time. Coldness. Fast, but weak pulse. Clammy hands. Shallow breathing and dizziness. Not to mention her stomach hadn’t settled yet. Her mind was trying to find ways to deal, but physically her body was reacting and shutting down.

“Need you to take deep breaths.” Keir was leaning over her doing up her seatbelt. “Can you do that for me? Deep breaths, okay?”

No it wasn’t okay. The fang guy thought he was a vampire. A goddamn vampire. He was going to bite her neck. He had a boss who wanted her. He nearly killed Jedrik.

She was shaking her head back and forth when hands gripped either side of her head. “Look at me, Anstice.”

And to top it off a branch went straight through him and he didn’t die. Anyone would have at least fallen to the ground writhing in pain. He yanked it out of him. How—

“Babe. Look. At. Me.”

She jerked her eyes to Keir.

“That’s it.” His thumbs casually stroked the underside of her jaw. “You’re safe. I won’t let anything happen to you. Okay?”

But he did. He left me and Jedrik nearly died and some fang—

“You’re looking away again. Need you to look at me.” His voice was strong. She liked his voice. Had thought it was nice from the first time he spoke to her. “You with me, Anstice?”

She nodded. Yeah, he was here. He was stroking her jaw with his thumbs. It felt sweet and gentle. The look in his eyes didn’t match it though. Dark and still angry. Yeah, Keir was spitting mad.

He seemed to be satisfied with her nod because he stepped back and closed the door. The shaking was making her teeth chatter and her feet to tap the floor rhythmically.

Keir hopped in and within seconds they were peeling out of the parking lot. Anstice stared out the window, seeing nothing but flashes of lights go by every few seconds. She felt the car moving—fast. Heard the crackle of the leather on the steering wheel under Keir’s grip. And when she breathed in she smelled him—Keir. She’d know that scent anywhere.

“He didn’t die.” A quivering voice with knees that were currently knocking together. She had never thought of herself as being afraid of much. Maybe the odd hairy spider, but this was way over the top.

“Nope.”

“He didn’t even fall.”

“Stop thinking about it. You’re vibrating like a rabbit.”

Rabbit? Rabbit’s didn’t vibrate. She suddenly clued in and her eyes shot to him but he remained fixated on the road. There wasn’t even a mild smirk on his face. She put her hands on her legs and pressed. Nope still shaking. Damn it.

“Your mind can’t process what just happened. Need to let it go for a bit, babe.” This time when he spoke, his eyes looked her up and down then went straight back to the road. “I shouldn’t have let you go tonight. My fault. I won’t be making it again.”

“Rabbit. You’re comparing my shaking to a rabbit?”

She noticed the edges of his lips curve up. Not a full out smile, but a hint of one. “Got you thinking about it rather than what your mind was on didn’t I?”

“Well yeah, but—“

“Listen Anstice. Shit went down bad tonight. I thought Jedrik could handle. I was wrong. Now you’ve seen shit that will fuck with your mind and I can’t change how you’re going to learn about us.” He stopped at a massive iron gate, undid the window and punched a few numbers into a security box. “I didn’t want it to happen this way. But it did, so now we’re going to have to deal. You’re going to have to.”

She had no idea what he was referring to, but it sounded like she should be jumping out of the SUV before it rolled through the iron gates that would lock her inside this fortress.

He grabbed her forearm. “Not a good idea, love.”

Headlights came up behind. Anstice figured it was that girl and Jedrik. No, running wouldn’t be a good idea.

Anstice turned to Keir. “Are you going to let me go?”

Keir met her eyes, unwavering. Intense. Deliberate. “Not a chance.”