“You asshole.” She dropped his feet, kicking him hard in the thigh.
The scent of fresh blood made his stomach rumble. He forced out a laugh. “Not my type, lady.” Moira. Moira was his type. She’d kicked him, too. Why were people always kicking him? Maybe he should buy her a ring. Moira. Buy Moira a ring. Not the animal swearing at him.
The female kicked him again, connecting with his ankle. He jerked back to the present, still unable to see. “Gonna kill you. Fillet like a fish.” Moira liked salmon, always had. He had a great baked salmon dish he wanted to cook for her. “Like to cook.”
Under water. Was he underwater? Someone lifted him, dropping him face first into a rusted container. Pain scraped nails across his cheekbone. He began to roll, his stomach lurching. Darkness claimed him until agony ripped through his head. An eternity later, the back of his scalp slammed against a floor again, the humming of a motor vibrating his body. Helicopter?
The world spun as they lifted into the air. Rage tried to wind through the confusion in Conn’s brain. With a roar, he kicked out as hard as he could, connecting with bone and flesh. A furious bellow filled the night, weakening into nothingness. Had he kicked someone out the door?
Sharp needles pierced his arm. He fell into sleep.
Chapter 19
Moira needed a diversion to get the hell out of the Kayrs fortress. She couldn’t betray Conn or bring danger to Janie’s doorstep. But she couldn’t turn her back on family and the Nine, either. Her mind clicked through battle plans as she sat back in the folding chair, stretching her shoulders. Even while calculating her odds, she fought a grin as the Queen of the Realm exploded in temper.
“This is bullshit.” Emma Paulsen, soon to be Kayrs, slammed a beaker down in the well-appointed lab. Test tubes lined the cement counter, along with a bunch of machines busy bleeping and spitting out data. The scent of bleach and cleanser ruled the room. “They go off to fight, and we’re stuck underground not anywhere near the stuff I need at the lab.” Her amazing blue eyes flashed in equal parts anger and fear.
“They’ll be fine, Emma.” Her sister Cara rubbed a very pregnant belly from a lush office chair, the luxurious recliner out of place in the stark lab, but obviously provided for her comfort. She surveyed a row of drawers with eyes the exact color of Emma’s. “Any idea where Kane keeps his candy stash down here?” The drawers slid open without a hitch, and Cara sighed each time she slammed one shut. “I know he has chocolate somewhere.”
Moira fought a chill at the cool air being pumped through the vents, homesickness nearly swamping her. Brenna loved chocolate. Darcy would rather have caramel. They’d gone to blows over a Snickers once.
“Why isn’t Kane in here working with you?” Maybe she could get him to help her out. Or at least trick him somehow. Of course, considering the guy was probably the smartest sentient being on the planet, the chances of that were slim. Rumor had it he could fight, and well.
Emma let out an elegant sniff. Wisps of black hair dropped out of the knot on top of her head to frame her narrow face as she smacked a manila file folder against her leg. “The oh-so-powerful Kayrs brother is working aboveground in the lab I need to be in. You know, the one with the vents allowing us to experiment with different elements?”
“Ah,” Moira glanced at the row of beakers lining a shelf running a length of the counter. “You understand you’re the queen and have to be protected at all costs, right?” If the woman thought the vampire nation would let her be in any danger, she was crazy. Not to mention that she was mated to Dage, probably one of the most protective mates on the planet.
Emma pivoted slowly, her lab coat whispering against her denim-clad legs. “Is that right?”
Uh-oh. “Well, I mean ...”
The queen raised a dark eyebrow. “Well, using your logic, you’re mated to a prince, Moira. Surely that means you need to be kept blanketed in safety at all times, too.” The queen used sarcasm like a pro.
There had to be a good way to say this. “I’m trained, Emma. I mean, I’m an enforcer.”
“What makes you think I can’t fight?” Emma put both hands on her hips. “Not only do I kick ass, I can teleport. For the love of Pete, the king’s abilities are mine. Almost.”
Interesting. “That happened quickly. Well then, yeah. You’re right.” Moira shrugged, eyeing the door. “I tried to get out when Conn left, but the security in this place is outrageous.” She’d have to take out a vampire or seven to escape, and she would. “Do you know where the armory is?”
Cara laughed. “Yes. But, we’re not letting you shoot your way out, Moira. Not until the guys get back, at least.”
Although Moira had just spent the last half hour on the phone with her mother being ordered to stay in place, she’d find the armory on her own. The assurances that the Nine’s soldiers had gone after Grace hadn’t relieved her ... considering no one knew where to look. Moira eyed her new friend. “So how’s the babe? Ready to make his appearance?”
Cara bit her lip. “Yes. He kicks like crazy.” A smile lit her stunning face. “It’s nice knowing he has to be a boy since vampires only make boys. I painted his room green. Talen wanted blue, but the green reminded me of his eyes when he gets, ah, irritated.” She rubbed her belly. “I’d like to get a sonogram and make sure the baby is fine.” Her gaze focused on Moira. “Can you visualize a witch in the womb or are they protected from sight as well?”
“Sonograms only work on humans.” The rest of the species on earth created too strong a shield for developing babies. Moira shrugged. “You’re an empath. You feel how the babe is doing.”
“Yeah, I do.” A smaller smile flirted with Cara’s lips. “He gives me a strong sense of peace, much like Janie did at this point. The boy is fine. Stubborn, like Talen.” She closed her eyes, pursing her lips. Irritation flashed across her pale skin when her eyelids popped open. “The stupid virus—I can’t reach Talen.”
Emma peered into a microscope, her voice muffled. “He’d shield from you during the fight, anyway.” She straightened, leaning sideways and scribbling notes in a chart. “My psychic abilities have focused solely on the virus lately. I wish I could aim the visions into the future where I want.” She glanced over her shoulder, focusing on Moira. “Can you sense Conn?”
“No.” Moira fought a frown. “We’ve worked so hard to shield each other the last century since we were living our own lives. I’m not sure if we’ll be able to speak telepathically like you do. Or even if we can track each other.” That would be convenient right now.
“You won’t know unless you try.” Cara leaned toward the counter, sliding open a drawer. With a triumphant “a-ha,” she yanked out a candy bar.
Moira mentally listed the supplies most likely found in the lab. Brute strength wouldn’t free her, but altering matter on a subatomic level might. Nothing like magic to blow a hole in a wall. “So, how’s the progress on the virus coming?”
“That’s what I’d like to hear.” A woman swept into the room, blond hair cascading down her back and tawny eyes flashing. She held a large notebook in one hand.
“Moira, this is Katie Smith, our local friendly lion shifter.” Emma tilted her head. “Katie, this is Moira, Conn’s mate.”
Katie held out a hand and smiled. “Hi. You saved Cara’s baby months ago.”
Moira shook. “No, not really. I merely helped Emma alter the matter in her cure to negate the catalyst.” The Kurjans had created a catalyst that sped up the progression of the virus and Cara had been infected. Emma and Moira had neutralized the catalyst, thus slowing progression—but they hadn’t altered the actual virus.