“Maybe. Though you should be careful, the marking is just one part of a mating. Emma’s genetics started to change even before I marked her. Of course, I knew she was destined to be my mate.” Dage’s eyes darkened as he talked about his woman.
Speaking of which—sometimes his brothers were little old ladies who gossiped. “You didn’t have to tell Emma that I’d slept with Amber.”
“I know.” Dage sighed. “But you of all people know that our scientists need the facts when doing research. Emma wanted to take Amber’s blood immediately, and she needed to know you’d been intimate. Just in case.”
“I hate when you turn my logic against me.” Kane shook his head. He would’ve done the same thing.
Dage leaned forward. “Amber’s gifts are unique, and she’s definitely an enhanced female, or potential mate. Maybe we should find someone else to mate her—a vampire who believes in love and all that crap, as you put it.”
Kane’s shoulders went back. Heat spiraled through his spine. “If she mates anybody, it’s going to be me.”
One dark eyebrow rose. “Why is that?” Dage asked mildly.
“Because she’s the only demon destroyer we’ve ever found. That kind of power should stay in our family.” Now that made sense.
“Interesting.” The king sat back in his chair. “So, at what point did the mating brand appear on your hand?”
Kane frowned. “Huh?”
Dage pointed to Kane’s right hand. “Your palm.”
Almost in slow motion, Kane turned his head to view his palm. Dark and raised, an intricate Celtic knot with an elaborate K in the middle stood in strong prominence, filling his entire palm.
The Kayrs marking.
He dropped his glass to the floor. “Holy hell.”
CHAPTER 14
The ocean rolled far below them and sent the slightest spray of salt up to the small courtyard. Amber perched on a weathered bench to face the sea. She took a cleansing breath of fresh air and kicked her shoes along the frozen grass. There wasn’t snow on the cliffside, but the air was still cold. The sun shone weakly down, creating a lovely late afternoon with no real warmth while thick pine trees shielded her on either side. The rock entry to headquarters gaped open behind her.
She sighed and lifted her face to the sun. “I love this courtyard.”
Kane settled his bulk next to her. “You’re safe here. Well, now.”
“This area hasn’t always been safe?”
“No. We were breached a few years ago and had quite the battle right here. But we have sensors all around the forest as well as around our subdivision to the south, and we control several satellites. You’re definitely safe here now.”
“What about from an air attack?” she asked lazily, keeping her eyes closed. “I mean, what if a suicide bomber decided to hit your headquarters?”
“We have missiles in the ground to take out anybody we don’t recognize.”
Her eyes flipped open. “Really?”
“Sure.” Kane shrugged, his gaze remaining on the quiet ocean.
For some reason, he’d been avoiding her gaze since escorting her outside. She tilted her head to the side. “You mentioned a subdivision.”
“Yes. We own a small subdivision on the other side of the forest so we can live aboveground when it’s safe. The community is gated with excellent security. This is a nice place to live, Amber.”
The emphasis on the last sentence rose her chin. “I’m not mating someone for convenience, Kane.” The guy could at least try to get a little romantic considering the previous night was, well, freakin’ fantastic. Why couldn’t Kane be one of those guys who waxed poetic after a good romp?
“There’s nothing convenient about us,” he muttered. The sun danced around his chiseled face, angling in the hollows beneath his high cheekbones and along the strong line of his jaw. His forehead was broad, his face symmetrical, his lips full. The dark brows over his odd eyes showed masculinity, while his eyes glowed with pure intelligence.
She really needed to get a grip and stop mooning over the vampire. “You said I could teleconference with my grandmother today.”
“I’ll set the visit up after we practice your skills outside where we can relax. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of the labs.”
A knuckle popped when she clenched her hands together. “You’re quite the scientist.”
“Yes.”
“Speaking of your labs, please tell me you don’t use animals in testing.”
He stiffened. “I do use animals. Mice, rabbits, and monkeys. But I don’t harm them in any way. My favorite monkey is a fellow named Walter.”
“Walter?” She grinned. “You let them have fresh air and organic food, right? No meat?”
“Tell you what. I’ll let you handle their diet from now on, if you continue to train.”
She sighed. That seemed like a fair deal. “So, are you going to attack my brain or try to seduce me again?”
“Attack.” His strong voice didn’t change. “If you’d just mate me, then you wouldn’t have to train.”
The guy wasn’t letting go of the thought. “I’ve seen Emma and Dage. They didn’t mate for convenience—they’re in love.” In fact, the air had almost combusted when Dage had kissed the queen.
“They believe in fate. I don’t.” Kane shoved his hair back from his face.
“You should. Fate exists.” She’d always known that fact, even without being aware of her gifts.
The wind whistled around them and shoved Kane’s hair into his face again. He sighed. “I need a haircut.”
“Yeah. You don’t seem like a long-hair type of guy.” The thought of running her fingers through his thick mane clenched her thighs together. Not a good idea. “I can cut hair.”
He finally looked at her—violet eyes serious. “I’ll take you up on that offer.”
She was a moron. “Great.”
“Thanks. I’ve been working so hard to find Jase, and then to find you, I’ve just let it grow.”
“So, brain attack?” She might as well get the pain over with.
He frowned. “I’m going to come at you like a demon. Fight me.”
She nodded, closing her eyes again. “Go for it.”
Nothing happened. The wind wandered over her face while the sun tried to warm her. Her shoes in the grass began to tingle in coldness. Yet, she waited. Finally, she opened her eyes to see Kane staring at her. “What—”
Invisible knives slashed into her brain. Horrible images of war, death, and dying filled her mind. She closed her eyes, screaming silently. Taking a deep breath, she imagined the sun increasing in strength and shoved heat through the images. Thinking of puppies and glowing fish, she replaced the pictures with scenes of kindness and love. As beauty defeated death, she shoved the pain into nothingness.
Her eyes flipped open to see a pale Kane. Oh, sending the images cost him . . . more than he probably knew.
He nodded, pride filling his smile. “Good job. Now attack back.”
“No.”
His bottom lip turned down. “This doesn’t work unless you incapacitate them. You have to fight back.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
His eyes softened. “I’m tough—this is important. Please.”
Man, if he used that voice on her again, she probably would mate him. “Okay.” Digging her nails into her palms, she recaptured the images he’d sent and tried to send them back. His expression didn’t change. She tried harder, a large knot of dread filling her stomach.
Nothing.
Her ears began to ring. Darkness dropped over her vision. She swayed.