Her teeth chattered and filled the silence for a few moments.
Kane reached farther into the backpack to produce crystal lowball glasses.
Amber barked out a laugh at the high-end crystal in the very low-end shack.
He poured them both a glass and settled himself into a purple chair that didn’t come close to matching the faded avocado-themed sofa.
Amber took a deep sip, allowing the warmth to spread down to her belly. “I liked Talen’s place better.”
“Me, too.” Kane grinned.
She couldn’t help her answering smile. “Is Talen like you?”
“No. None of my brothers are like me.” Kane leaned back in the chair. “Dage is the oldest, the king, and is always in charge. Next comes Talen, and he’s, ah, a strategic genius as well as being overbearing. I’m next. Then Conn, who’s the ultimate soldier and is mated to a witch. Finally, there’s Jase.”
“The one the demons took.”
“Yes.” Kane lost his smile. “I should’ve found him years ago. I’ve failed repeatedly.” Emotion swirled in his eyes, only to be quickly banked.
She cleared her throat. “You scared me when you hurt Hanson.”
“I’m sorry.” Kane kept her gaze, expression not changing. “Torture is never pretty.”
“It wasn’t the fact that you hurt him.” A hard as the truth was to admit, Amber would’ve done the same to save her grandmother. “It was the perfect precision and lack of emotion that was scary.”
He lifted an eyebrow. “I’m not an emotional person.”
“Why do I find that hard to believe?” she whispered.
That dark gaze searched her face, finally dropping to her lips. They tingled in response. The man went beyond good-looking to sex and danger combined. How was that possible? Besides, why would danger be sexy? But on Kane, the danger only enhanced his masculinity. Or maybe his masculinity enhanced the danger dancing on his skin. The intimacy of the quiet cabin and the safe haven from the storm made both elements too appealing.
The wind slammed snow against the windows, and she jumped.
He studied her like a lion that was more curious than hungry. Right now. But the slightest hint hung in the air that he could change his mind at any time. “Amber, I’m by no means a demon, but all vampires have some psychic ability.”
Oh no. Did that mean he was reading her mind? “What’s your point?”
“I’m going to attack your mind with mine, and you need to defend yourself.”
Panic bit into her. “No.”
“Yes. We need to start training as soon as possible.” His gaze rose—relentless and sure. “Get ready.”
“No, Kane—” Pain slammed into her mind so fast she caught her breath. Invisible fingers dug between her gray matter, tearing. “Stop it.”
“Fight me.”
“No.” Her knees drew up and she wrapped her arms around them, shoving her forehead against her jeans. “Stop.”
“Damn it, Amber,” Kane muttered, his voice hoarse. “Fight me. This is nothing compared to what the demons will do to you—what they’re doing to your grandmother right now. Fight back.”
Her grandmother. Anger and fear welled up so hard a ringing set up in her ears. “No!” She shoved against the pain, furious at Kane, sending anger spiraling toward him.
Stars exploded behind her eyes into tiny bits, each shard stabbing into her brain like knives. Pain filled her gasp.
She opened her eyes just in time to see his head jerk back.
A slow smile crossed his face. “Nicely done.”
The pain receded.
Amber jumped to her feet. “Fuck you.” Turning on her heel, gulping back tears, she headed for the door.
He beat her there and blocked her way. “I’m sorry.”
Her knee moved of its own volition straight for his balls.
Pivoting, he grabbed her arms and shoved her against the wall. “Hate me all you want, but you need to learn how to defend yourself.” His hold tightened until she faced him. Emotion, raw and pure, swirled through his odd eyes. “I really am sorry,” he whispered. One hand released her so he could wipe a tear from her face with his thumb. “There’s no other way.”
“You just want to save your brother.” She gulped back more tears.
Surprise filled his eyes that he quickly banished. “For a moment, I forgot Jase.” Kane frowned, shaking his head. “I do want to save him. But I also want to save you—and the demons know about you. The sooner you learn to control your gifts, the safer you’ll be.”
“Do you really think they’re hurting my grandmother?” She wouldn’t cry anymore.
“No. I assume they really want you, sweetheart.” He cupped her chin. “I said that to motivate you. I was wrong, and I’m sorry.”
Her gaze dropped to his mouth. “I’m a pacifist, damn it.”
A cell phone buzzed. Kane started, and then stepped back, yanking the phone from his jeans and putting the device to his ear. “Finally. Cell service. What?” He listened, then let out a strong breath. “Excellent. Nice job, Dage. I’ll call you tomorrow.” The phone clicked off.
Amber clutched his shirt. “What?”
“We have your granny.” A relieved smile crossed Kane’s face. “The demons took her straight to the airport and had to make an emergency landing in the storm over Utah. Dage had been monitoring all transportation and had allies ready to take her. She’s been taken to wolf headquarters and will be moved to our headquarters as soon as possible, where we have excellent doctors. I promise she’ll be okay.”
Relief flowed through Amber so fast her knees buckled.
“Easy darlin’,” Kane murmured, picking her up to set down on the sofa. Frowning, he pressed a hand against her forehead. “You’re hot again. Must be something about fighting the infection of battling someone else’s mind. I need to get a blood sample as soon as we get to headquarters.” Thunder growled high above and sleet blasted against the windows. He sighed. “Which won’t be anytime soon.”
Amber settled against the threadbare cushions, her mind fuzzing. The fire warmed the space, its soft light not quite reaching every dark corner. Outside the storm bellowed and tried to get inside.
Kane grabbed the brandy glasses. Handing her one, he retook his seat in the chair. “Drink.”
“Stop being bossy.”
“Sorry.” Slowly, he took a sip, gaze watchful over the rim.
She drank a healthy gulp. How was she supposed to act normal with a sexy vampire studying her? “Stop staring.”
“No.” He licked a drop from his lip.
She fought a groan. The brandy warmed down her throat to her abdomen. Wind whistled outside, lending an intimacy to the fire-lit area inside. Her eyes half-closed in reaction. Tingles set up in her knees—most likely from the mind war she’d just fought. But the confusion came from her reaction to the vampire. “You shouldn’t have kissed me last night.”
“I know,” he agreed softly.
“Why did you?”
“You’re beautiful, sexy, and I want you.” His voice was calm and self-assured.
No game playing with that man.
She fought to keep her face calm. He said want in present tense. Her body reacted instantly, her nipples pebbling. “That’s surprising. I figured you’d go for some robotic scientist type.”
“Apparently not.”
As people, they couldn’t be more different. He was overeducated. She . . . not so much. “I’m a pacifist.”
He gestured for her to finish her drink. “Let’s talk about that.”
She downed the rest of the brandy, a delicious heat sliding through her body. “There’s nothing to talk about.”
He tipped back his head and drank his brandy, the movement both masculine and sexy. Setting the sifter on the side table, he leaned forward, elbows on his knees. “I’ve been thinking.”