Wind gushed against the helicopter, sending the machine spiraling to the side.
“Sorry,” Dage muttered.
Kane exhaled loudly. “All three of you out in this storm isn’t wise. You know that.”
“We’re family,” Conn said simply.
Kane shook out his wet hair. “I thought you were heading to Ireland.”
Conn nodded. “I leave in the morning to help my mate out with a small problem the witches are having.” He shrugged. “Nothing big—someone misusing magic. I’ll bring her home after that.”
Amber fought a yawn. “How does somebody misuse magic?”
Conn gave her a gentle smile that somehow made him almost seem approachable. “Witches use quantum physics to alter matter and make spells. If somebody misuses quantum physics . . .”
“They might blow up the world.” Even at the dangerous thought, Amber’s eyelids grew heavy.
“Exactly,” Conn said softly. “My mate is an enforcer for her people, so she deals with such threats. With me by her side, of course.”
With the large vampire in front of her, most likely. Amber nodded.
Kane smiled at his brothers. “Thanks for coming.”
“Sure.” Talen kept his gaze on Amber, making her heart beat faster.
A strong arm banded around her shoulder. Kane’s scent surrounded her. He leaned to whisper in her ear. “Take a rest, sunshine. We’ll continue training once we get safely home.”
Amber nodded, her brain all but shutting down, but not before catching an odd look that passed between Talen and Conn. What was that about?
Warmth from Kane’s body seeped into her skin, into her bones. After the fear of the day, after having her mind messed with several times, and after a night of amazing sex and no sleep, she went under just enough to relax.
Kane kept his voice soft. “She’s had no training and we need to step it up. While she’s promised to help, I don’t want her anywhere near danger. We’ll take turns training her, but nothing too intrusive. I mean it.”
“We’ll do what we have to do,” the king countered from the front of the craft.
“No. We’ll train her the right way,” Kane said calmly.
Amber giggled, half-asleep. “I thought he was the king.”
Kane started. “He is.”
“Then why are you the one barking orders?” she mumbled sleepily.
She wasn’t sure whether it was Conn or Talen who burst into laughter. Either way, it was a nice laugh to fall asleep to.
CHAPTER 12
Jase hadn’t been tortured for some time. In addition, fresh female blood had been provided for him every day. He’d even received new shorts. For whatever reason, the demons had altered their approach. So when his door finally rattled, he gazed up with more curiosity than dread. What were the bastards up to?
Two beefy guards dragged him through the same labyrinth of tunnels as last time but continued past the meeting room. Several hallways later he was shoved into a dimly lit room smelling of spiced oranges.
His eyes had become accustomed to dimly lit rooms. The door shut behind him, and he surveyed the plushest bedroom he’d ever seen. A red velvet duvet covered a bed large enough for several vampires. Pillows in sensual colors—ranging from purple to midnight—scattered across it. A dresser lay to the right, a fully stocked bar to the left.
A painting of a naked woman, strapped down for a man’s pleasure, adorned the entire wall above the bed. All four limbs were stretched tight, her body hair free and finely toned. On her face sat an expression of anticipation melded with fear. Definitely not one of Brenna Dunne’s works.
Willa stood near the bar in a long red negligee that revealed more than it covered. Black sparkles adorned the hem and rode up the slit for one leg.
Her hair was down and long, and midnight blue makeup enhanced her immortal eyes.
Against his will, his body sprang to life.
The lights were low and a dark melody hummed from the speakers. Nothing lighthearted or full of love . . . the song was haunting and sexy . . . almost as if claiming the inevitable.
He stepped into the room, his bare feet smashing the thick carpet. “Seduction won’t work on me, demon.”
Her dark gaze dropped to his groin, and she licked her lips. “Your body says otherwise.”
“My body has been without a woman almost four years.” He stalked into the room, heading for the bar. If she wanted to play games, he’d join in. “And you don’t count.”
She nearly purred, running her finger around the rim of a crystal goblet. “Have you ever made it with a demon, Jase?”
“No. I’ve never made it with a snake, either.”
She pouted her full lips, anger swirling in her eyes. “You don’t have to be so mean to me. It’s not like I have much of a choice in this life, either.”
Maybe not. Five years ago he’d have felt sorry for her . . . probably would’ve come up with a way to rescue her. These days he couldn’t even rescue himself. Sympathy for a demon was no longer an option. “Fucking me isn’t a choice that’s open to you, either.”
“How about you fuck me?” She gestured toward the painting depicting the BDSM scene. “I have more toys under the bed than you can imagine.”
Damn if his cock didn’t swell more. “No.”
A slight probing filtered along his brain and slid down his spine. He mentally shoved back.
She faltered, her eyes narrowing. “You have some serious power.”
Not as much as a demon. Well, not as much mind power as a demon, but enough to combat a seduction of his brain. Some time ago he’d been able to harness the elements. Gathering his strength, he shot liquid into oxygen.
Nothing happened.
Surprising that sorrow could fill him after so long of a time. He reached for a decanter of scotch, pouring a shot and gulping the harsh liquid down, knowing the entire time it was a bad idea. No way was his system prepared for booze.
Turning, he flashed his fangs at the demon. “Stop the attempts at seduction. You help me get out of this hellhole, and I’ll keep you safe for life.” Even if he couldn’t, Dage would. Chances were, even if Jase found freedom, he wouldn’t last long. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to last long. Going back to his old life wasn’t possible. The Jase Kayrs they’d all known had been as good as dead for years.
He faced the demon, forcing all expression off his face. “Your people can’t break me. You know that, they know that, and this is just a new tactic.” No, they hadn’t broken him. Broken things could be rebuilt—they could eventually be fixed.
He was beyond that.
“I don’t want you broken.” Her tongue darted out to lick liquid off the glass. “I want you to save me. To save us both.”
If he did, he’d finally win. “I’ve given you my best offer.”
“No.” Her dark eyes flashed and she gestured toward the bed. “Your best offer happens there, for all time.” Pleading and a dark vulnerability turned her eyes the softest of purple. “I’ve read your file and everything we’ve ever compiled about you. You don’t have a woman waiting for your return, and you’re not promised to anyone as a mate.”
A mate? Shit. He wasn’t complete enough to go solo much less give half of himself to someone else. “There will be no mate.”
“So take me.” Tipping back her long hair, she swallowed deeply. “We both get saved, and you can go on your own way afterward.”
For almost two seconds he considered her offer. Why not? No way would he ever mate. The woman was sexy and in trouble. Somewhere deep down, in a place the demons hadn’t touched, maybe a trifle of nobility remained. He could save her before checking out.
Reality smacked him in the head.
With mating came responsibility, and he couldn’t handle it. Not even with someone he didn’t give a shit about. “No. I won’t mate a demon.”