Authors: Rebecca Zanetti
Wicked Burn (34 page)
Chapter 11
The call came in right about dawn. Talen jogged down to a room in the basement of the hotel, his mind clear, his senses on alert. He passed kitchen supplies, a series of storage rooms, and finally reached a small concrete room in the back.
Max stood outside, arms crossed. “They’re inside.”
Talen frowned, and the smell of pickles wafted around. “Pickles?”
Max shrugged. “Storage for food upstairs. Somebody must’ve spilled. The Sandovskys . . .”
“What?” Talen asked.
“Not what I expected.” Max pushed open the door.
Talen strode inside to see a man and a woman standing across a cement room. The guy was well over six feet tall with long blond hair and enough lines at his face to show at least a thousand years of life. The woman, petite and round, had stark white curly hair and soft black eyes. Both obviously full-bred demons. The guy shoved the woman behind him and settled his stance.
Talen kept all expression off his face. “You’re Sandovsky?”
“Yes.” The guy had a slightly Russian accent.
The woman poked her head around the man. “Me too. Sandovsky.” Her voice was low and her tone . . . ironic?
Talen shifted his feet. He’d planned to kill them quickly but hadn’t expected the woman. “You declared war on us.”
The woman slapped the man’s arm and tried—unsuccessfully—to move around him. “I told him it was a bad idea and that we should just have called you. But no. The world is tumultuous and dangerous and we have to be so careful.”
Talen actually agreed with that sentiment.
A rustle sounded behind him, and awareness crashed through him. “Cara.” The guards had obviously not even tried to stop her from following him.
She moved to his side, her eyes tired, her body on alert. “Hello.”
Sandovsky gave a half bow. “Lars Sandovsky and my mate, Fern.”
“Cara and Talen. That’s Max.” Cara settled next to Talen, her gaze thoughtful.
Lars sobered, taking her in. “I apologize for any inconvenience we caused.”
She lifted a shoulder. “We had an adventure.” Then she frowned, and her eyes softened. “Talen. He’s sick.”
Talen glanced from his mate to Lars. “Huh?”
She patted his arm. “Lars is sick.” She angled her head to see Fern. “Did you have the virus and he tried to yank it out of you?”
Fern elbowed her husband and moved slightly forward. “Yes. Exactly. Now he’s ill, and we don’t know what to do.”
Ah, hell. Of course Cara would catch on to what was happening. Her intellect was only trumped by her empathic abilities. Virus-27 had infected many mates, and when it had gone airborne, it was freed to be yanked out. Unfortunately, the vampire or demon mate who yanked it out then got sick. “Why the hell didn’t you just call us?” Talen snapped.
Lars shook his head. “We’ve lived on our own for so long, and we don’t know the new demon rules or you. It seemed like a better idea to just get the cure and move on from there. We did give orders that nobody was to be hurt.”
Cara turned and looked up at Talen. “Nobody got hurt. Well, none of our people, anyway. We have to help them.”
Talen settled at the plea in her eyes. No way could he turn away from that. Besides, it wasn’t like he could hurt Fern, anyway. “All right.” He turned a smile on the demons. “Why don’t we go up to our suite and have breakfast. There’s an easy cure for you, Lars. I’ll have the medicine we’ve created flown here within an hour.”
Fern clapped her hands. “I knew things had changed for the better. Cara? I love your blouse. Where did you get it?” She shoved by her husband and moved for the door.
Cara turned and escorted her into the hallway. “There’s this great store online. I’ll get the link for you.” The women moved for the stairwell.
Lars frowned as his mate disappeared around the bend. “Huh.”
Talen fought a grin. “Guess we’re allies now.”
“Vampires and demons as allies.” Lars strode toward the door, a hitch in his stride. “Great.”
Several hours after Talen had said goodbye to their new, and recently cured friends, he finally kicked back in a leather chair, bound for Hawaii.
The private plane had three passenger sections: a bedroom, a rec room, and a quiet room with a couple of loungers and soft music. Talen sent the boys to the rec room to watch a movie and dropped into a lounger with his mate on his lap.
Her blue eyes were hazy, and dim circles marred the smooth skin beneath her eyes. He’d used her hard . . . the entire night, and then she’d entertained all morning.
Yet happiness all but bubbled from her tired form. Yeah, he should’ve made sure she had gotten some sleep, but they had an entire week on an island to rest.
He tucked her close and extended the footrest. “You need sleep.” Truth be told, he could use a couple hours of shut-eye, as well.
The plane rose into the air, and he grabbed a blanket from a basket next to him to tuck around her.
She nuzzled his neck.
Desire flared through him, and he shoved it down. The woman needed rest, damn it.
She chuckled, no doubt noticing the erection under her ass. “I can barely walk already,” she murmured, sounding at peace for the first time in too long. Leaning back, her gaze met his. “I’ve been struggling to find my place.”
He frowned. “Your place is with me.”
Her cheek creased. “Yes, I know. But I need to find my own place, too.”
He leaned back, keeping her gaze. “I don’t understand.”
She flattened her hand over his heart. “I have immortality now, right?” At his nod, she continued. “I feel like I should do something good with it.”
He ran his hand down her back, noting the delicate bones. “Okay, but you’re not fighting.” Yeah, he wanted to be a lot smoother than that, but in the end, Cara Kayrs wasn’t a soldier. No matter how fierce the fire in her breast. “Although, you are a hell of a fighter, and I’d have you at my back anytime.”
Pleasure rolled from her. “That’s sweet.”
“So how about we make a deal?”
One of her eyebrows arched. “A deal?”
“Yes. In battle situations, you act like any other soldier and obey commands. In every other situation ever, you can just be in charge.”
She chuckled. “So I’m telling you what to do.”
“Any time, sweetheart.” He grinned. “Just no heading off into battles, if you don’t mind.”
“You are one confident male, Talen Kayrs.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t want to go fight people, for goodness’ sake. I’m a botanist.”
He rubbed a smudge from her cheek. “Okay?”
She swallowed and glanced down at his neck. “There’s some new research into crossbred plants that may have healing properties for humans. I need to teach the next generation of humans how to expand on that.”
Ah, hell. The woman had handled herself well in battle, and he could continue training her. The soft heart of hers was what he loved most about her. Plus, she’d shown her skill and great abilities by just meeting the Sandovskys. She was talented and strong. How could he not let her follow it in helping people? It’s who she was.
“I understand, and if that’s really what you want, then we can create a safe way for you to do that. But you have to figure out the timing that works for you.” His heart warmed. The woman was so sweet she wanted to help a species she was no longer even a part of.
“Timing?”
“Yeah. You’re immortal. So you teach a few years like a normal career, and then you have to disappear from human life for years until trying again.” He had to allow her to have a life, the one she wanted, for her to be happy. He got that, finally.
She didn’t look back up. “I’ll have to look at the timing, then. Do it just right.”
“Okay.” Heck. Maybe he could teach something at the same time. Military strategy or something. The idea of them posing as a normal couple, both college professors, tickled his mouth into a grin.
She straightened. “I know you have money, but I’ve been investing, and I can float us for years. Honest.”
He smiled. “My only advice would be to talk to Logan’s mum before you choose a bank to invest in, if you plan to continue investing. Make sure it’s not one she’s planning to rob.”
Cara’s entire face lit up.
Talen shook his head and pressed a kiss to her nose. “You are not robbing banks with that crazy demoness.” A guy had to draw the line somewhere.
“We’ll see.” She kissed his neck and snuggled down with a soft sigh.
Talen closed his eyes and held tight, like he always would. For some reason, sleep eluded him.
He held Cara for the entire trip, and she slept quietly. With every passing mile, his arousal grew until it was all he could do not to strip her bare and feast for the rest of the time. But she needed sleep, and he’d cut off his own arm before harming her.
The plane finally touched down, and private transport met them at the airport. Soldiers had already lined the way, so he was nearly relaxed when they reached the private villa set on a cliff overlooking the Pacific.
“Oh, Talen.” Cara danced around the master bedroom, which was open to the outside. Glass doors could be closed at night, but for now, only wispy curtains billowed in the soft breeze. “It so beautiful. I love Hawaii.” She eyed the large bed and bamboo furniture before giving a happy hop at seeing the pool right outside.
She
was beautiful, and he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.
was beautiful, and he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.
As if sensing something, she stilled and looked around. Her gaze landed on him. Mirth filled her eyes. “You have got to be kidding me.”
He shook his head and slowly advanced.
“I can barely walk.” She chuckled.
“I’ll be gentle.” If he didn’t have her, he’d explode.
She ripped off her dress. “I could be persuaded.”
Thank God. He shucked his clothing and reached her just as she tossed her panties to the ground. A flick of her front-clasp bra, and the most beautiful woman in the world stood before him, offering him everything.
He kissed her, going deep, enjoying the throaty murmur she gave. Trying to be gentle, he lifted her, his chest settling upon discovering she was already wet.
Pressing her back to a column, he worked inside her with short, smooth thrusts, taking his time and letting her body adjust to him.
She threw her head back, and her thighs tightened on his hips. “God, I love you.”
“I love you more.” He kissed her, keeping his hold gentle.
“Hey, Dad, you should see the—”
Talen turned to see Garrett and Logan loping up from the pool.
Garrett coughed and then backpedaled, his face a beet red. “Oh God. Oh God. Oh God.”
Logan turned around and then tried to grab Garrett before he stumbled into a short white picket fence that was probably just there for show. White stakes flew in every direction.
Garrett bellowed, his arms windmilling, and fell over the cliff.
Logan ran forward and leaned over. “Um, he’s okay. Hit a bunch of rocks about forty feet down.” The demon didn’t turn back around. “I’ll, ah, go help him up.” Even the tips of Logan’s ears were red. He quickly disappeared down the cliff.
Cara chuckled and dropped her face to Talen’s neck. “We just scarred them for life.”
“Idiots should know better.” Talen resumed his pounding, kissing her, truly enjoying the moment.
Yeah. Life was pretty damn good.
Cara watched the sunset spread across the sky from a cushioned lounger at the pool the next night. She wore a bikini with a sheer wrap around her hips. She had so many things she wanted to do, including having more kids, but she wanted to work for a while and play with immortality.
Talen was inside on the phone, and he had three more minutes before she interceded and got him back to relaxing. It had taken nearly the entire day for either of the boys to be around her without blushing beet red. But after eating entirely too much crab and then getting a good night’s sleep, they now lounged in the pool drinking beer and acting back to normal.
She frowned and glanced at her phone.
“Dad will be out in a minute.” Garrett didn’t even look up. “He’s just finalizing the treaty with the Sandovskys.”
Logan nodded, his dark glasses hiding his eyes. “We’re going to visit their headquarters after we finish the job with the Enforcers in Seattle. Alaska is nice this time of year.”
“Sounds like fun. Maybe I’ll come with you. I’d like another glass of wine. Be right back.” Padding barefoot, she walked into the kitchen and uncorked another wine bottle.
“Mom!” Garrett called. “Dad’s off the phone.”
She ran out of the room and barreled straight into his arms. “We have a new treaty.”
He held her easily. “Thanks to you, we have new best friends.”
She kissed his mouth, pleasure overtaking her. “It’s nice to contribute.”
Talen lifted her up and fell right into her lounger, extending his legs. With his jeans and T-shirt, he’d probably get too warm. She moved to get up, and he tugged her closer. “You’re safe now.”
She blinked. “What did you do?”
Talen grinned at the boys. “We made the cure completely public in case there are any other hidden species out there trying to find it or you.”
Garrett and Logan knuckle-bumped.
Cara smiled. “That’s a great plan. The cure should be public.”
Talen sighed. “So long as you’re protected, I don’t care what we make public.”
There was the man she loved. “You make me feel safe.”
He smiled and cupped her head. “I vow you’ll always be safe.”
Now, wasn’t that sweet. Cara smiled at the one man she’d love forever. Peace had arrived, and she’d figured out what to do as her life’s work. Life couldn’t be any better. Her mate was finally seeing the real her. “I love you, Talen Kayrs.”
His eyes swirled golden and intense. “I love you more, mate. Forever.”
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