Damned and Defiant (3 page)

Turning her attention to Valdon, the demoness said, “Now, Valdon, what is Tarik so impatient about?”

“Anartia is slipping out of this dimension,” Valdon said. “We have only two weeks, not a month before we must leave. Tarik wants the Drones to collect crystals from Earth to amplify the power needed. Drones and slaves will embed them in the walls and ceiling of the temple.”

The demoness nodded and sighed in frustration. “I understand. Dante, go see Tarik now and tell him that you’ll be bringing two Earth horses and for him to store them in his chamber.”

Valdon burst out laughing. “You’re bringing your horses to Prygos? I’ve got to see this. They’re wild. You can’t get near them because they sense the demon in you. How are you going to bring them through the portal? They’ll tear up the temple.”

Dante clamped his mouth shut to keep from saying what he’d regret in front of the demoness. “They’re not wild. They’ll be fine.”

“You have two weeks, Dante,” Gwyllain warned as she plucked a couple grapes into her mouth and sipped her wine. She sat naked on the bed. Why dress when she had all those Drones to receive? “I won’t have wild animals in my temple. If they’re not tame when you bring them, Tarik will drain their lifeforce. We can always use the extra energy.”

“I’ll inform Tarik now.” Dante wanted to return to his chamber first, dress and get back to his ranch.

“He can’t be disturbed,” Valdon argued. “He’s in the middle of his preliminary testing.”

“I’ll tell him, Dante,” Gwyllain said. “Bring your horses, but make sure they’re under control.”

“Yes, mistress.”

Chapter Three

Haley Moore balanced a tray of drinks on one hand, while she placed mugs of beer and prickly pear margaritas on a table in front of her customers. Finally the dinner rush at the Red Rocks Bar and Grill started to wind down. Arizona’s spring tourist season was going strong. She moved to the next table to take an order and felt the rush of energy even before she heard the creak from the front door. She’d always been sensitive to the subtle energies, even Ambros, her metaphysical teacher, had told her so. But since her incident in the desert six months ago, she’s been more tuned-in somehow.

More customers meant a late night. She glanced at the tall, dark-haired man blocking the doorway. Dante Akanto. Her heart fluttered as he took a couple steps inside and scanned the room. After all these months, the man still stirred her insides and made her muscles feel like warmed caramel. He studied the bar with dark, predator eyes, like a big game hunter scoping the landscape to make a kill. His black hair brushed the shoulders of his leather jacket. In one hand he held a motorcycle helmet. Was he looking for someone? Her nipples tingled, then hardened. Forget it, the man wasn’t looking for her.

In fact, he’d always seemed to go out of his way to avoid her.

Haley still wanted him bad. Where had he been all these months? Standing in the middle of the room with a tray in hand, she realized how foolish she looked. Taking a deep breath, she did a quick mental relaxation technique, then approached him.

“Are you eating tonight or looking for someone?” Haley said as cool as she could, hoping he didn’t detect the quiver in her voice. “Sakari’s working the bar tonight. I think she’s in the kitchen right now.” Had he kept in touch with her? They had been friends once but she hadn’t mentioned anything to Haley.

Dante locked eyes with hers and gave her a teasing half smile that had the same effect as a shot of their top-shelf tequila—sensually warm and smooth, so good you couldn’t resist having more. Before you know it, you wake up forgetting what you’ve done, missing a shoe, your bra and wearing the other person’s underpants.

“Looking for you.”

Damn him.

“Really?” she said with a sarcastic tone. “And I thought you were avoiding me.”

“Not true. I’ve been busy at my ranch.”

“Ranch? Right.” Still not believing him.

“That’s why I’m here. My ranch hand is sick. He’s in the hospital getting his gallbladder out, and I need help with the horses. Tucker recommended you.”

“Tucker’s a good man. But I have a job.” She walked toward the bar and dropped off the tray of dirty glasses. Dante followed. “I don’t have time to be a ranch hand.”

“Not to care for them,” he corrected. “I need a horse whisperer. Tucker said you were the best.”

She smiled and her insides soared. Finally after leaving Texas and all these months of training with Ambros, she was recognized for her metaphysical skills, not for her lousy family background. She knew coming to Sedona was a good move.

She nodded sagely. “I can help your horses, or you, with horse whispering, sometimes it’s the owner and not the horse that has the problem.”

“Great. When do you finish work?”

“Hang here. Have Sakari get you a beer while I finish my shift.” Sakari walked out of the kitchen with burger orders for two cowboys at the bar. Haley glanced back at him, half expecting to see him disappear like he had months ago.

Fantasy images raced through her mind as she cleaned up a few empty tables. She and Dante in the desert naked, his mouth fierce and hard as he took hers, thrusting his tongue into her mouth. The coolness of the night air brushed over her skin as he tormented her with his mouth, his hands. Teeth nipped at her breasts, his tongue grazed her clit, teasing in delicious strokes, bringing her closer and closer to orgasm. Unable to bear it anymore, she dragged him up, reached for the front of his jeans and found the hard ridge of his cock.
Dante, fuck me,
she’d said. God, his touch was intoxicating, driving her wild, a frenzy of hunger she’d never felt before. His cock was hard and thick, so close to penetrating her.

The daydreams usually ended there. After all these months, she couldn’t decide if the images were real, a vivid recurring dream or an overactive imagination. She was too damn horny for a guy she couldn’t have. And reliving the fantasy had made her worked up and hot. Aroused and heated now, her pussy soaked her panties beneath her skirt.

“Miss, can you take our order?” a middle-aged man waved his cowboy hat at her.

“Sure, right away.”

She handed the ticket to the cook in the kitchen, then stood at one end of the room and watched Dante and Sakari. What was it about those two? Had they been lovers in the past? Sakari was living with Brad, but she’d never said whether she and Dante had a thing before. That would explain the awkward friendliness.

He sat next to a cowboy and they exchanged a few words. Haley could’ve sworn she saw faint swirls of light pass from the cowboy to Dante. Ambros had taught her to read auras and sometimes she could see them. This looked different. People didn’t believe in her abilities. That was one reason why she got into the psychic photography class at the New Age store. Maybe if she could photograph the supernatural, people wouldn’t think she was crazy. She’d had all she could take of prejudice from when she lived in Texas. She couldn’t stand the knowing looks from the people in the community. Well, she didn’t murder her mother, her father did during a drunken rage, and that didn’t mean she was destined to be a murderer too. Here in Sedona, she could have a normal life.

She moved to a different side of the room and sure enough, she saw the flickers of light again. It looked as if Dante was absorbing the cowboy’s aura. How was that possible? It must be a trick of the mind.

She squeezed her eyes shut and blinked several times trying to clear her vision. Then a woman walked up to him. A pang of jealousy rang through her. It didn’t take long. The same flow of aura from the woman drifted to Dante. Weird, very weird. She’d have to ask Ambros about this. Dante said something and the woman moved on. The woman neither looked disappointed nor pleased, only a little dazed.

Haley settled up the bill with a couple then walked up to Dante, who was leaning on the bar between two barstools. “So what problems are you having with the horses?”

His mouth curved slightly at one corner and held her gaze with his dark, intense eyes. “I’ll have to show you.”

Her insides gave a twist. Yep, she still had it bad for this guy. He’d kissed her once, months ago, even came close to making love but stopped. She’d never understood why. They hadn’t gone as far as getting naked, not like her recurring dream. He hadn’t asked her out since then. She was attractive, blonde, had a decent figure, men hit on her at the bar all the time. So what was his problem? He couldn’t be gay, wasn’t married that she knew of.

Sakari filled Dante’s mug with beer and gave him a look that seemed like a warning to Haley. Maybe an angry look. Haley thought they were friends.

“Why don’t you come here anymore?” Haley asked as she took a swizzle stick from a cup on the bar and twirled it in her fingers.

“My ranch and business keeps me busy.”

Sakari had told her he’d left town months ago. “What kind of business?”

“Consulting work.”

“I haven’t heard from you in a while.” Sakari didn’t stop cleaning.

“Figured Brad would rather I stay away,” Dante said. Brad didn’t seem like the jealous boyfriend type.

“Did you and Brad get in a fight that night?” Haley asked. “Does it have something to do with the time I was hiking in the desert? The day I got heatstroke?”

“No we didn’t fight,” Dante said.

Sakari moved down the bar, rubbing her rag in small, rigorous circles.

“Are you cleaning the bar or trying to remove the varnish?” Haley asked. “What’s wrong, Sakari?”

“Nothing.”

“I can see that.” Haley turned to Dante, leaning toward him. “Can I get you anything? Looks like the bartender is busy refinishing the furniture.”

“I’m good.” Dante raised his beer mug full of beer.

“So, what are you really doing here?” Sakari tossed the rag into the sink.

“I need Haley’s help.”

Sakari glared at him. “You’re kidding, right?”

“Help with my horses. That’s all.”

“He needs a horse whisperer,” Haley filled in excitedly.

Sakari didn’t look pleased.

“Sakari, what’s wrong? I thought you and Dante were friends.”

“We are, but I’m not fond of the company he keeps.”

“She’ll be fine,” Dante said.

“I can take care of myself. This is a chance to prove my skills.” Haley couldn’t help thinking, it was also a chance to figure out if there was anything thing between them.

“What’s wrong with them?” Sakari asked in a more pleasant tone.

“They won’t let me get near them and I have to take them to…an event.”

“Your skills won’t help, Haley,” Sakari said.

“Why not? I grew up in Texas, worked on ranches, took care of horses and all kinds of animals. This is perfect.”

“I want to be able to ride and get close to them without the horses freaking out.”

“You will.” Something deep inside her twirled around. “What kind of horses and how many?”

“I have two Appaloosas. A mare and a gelding. And I will pay you for your time.”

She didn’t care about pay. A chance to ride and prove her skills would be payment enough. “Great, then it’s settled. I’ll bring my suitcase.”

Dante’s eyes widened. “You’re staying?”

“Sure. The more time I spend with them the better.”

Sakari leaned over the bar and pointed an accusing finger at Dante. “This is a bad idea and you know it.”

“I could come by this weekend,” Haley said to Dante, ignoring Sakari.

Dante shook his head. “I only have two weeks.”

Haley laughed. “Impossible. Horse whispering takes a while. I doubt I could do anything in that short of time.”

“This is very important.”

“Even more of a reason for me to stay.”

“Okay.”

She wouldn’t have been more surprised if a tractor trailer had just plowed through the front door. “I’ll come over tonight. I can’t guarantee to help them. I can guarantee to find out why they don’t get along with you.”

Dante gave her a worried look.

“Dante, you said you wouldn’t,” Sakari said with a guarded tone.

“I’m desperate.”

His words stabbed at Haley’s heart. How could you not love a man who loved his horses that much? “I’ll do my best. I’ll get a bag of things from my apartment. Give me directions.”

Dante took her hand and squeezed. She felt a rush go from her body to his hand, like electricity. If she could see her own aura would she see it merging with his? She wrapped herself in a shell of white light. A protection technique Ambros had taught her. Dante blinked several times then smiled. “I have my bike. When you finish your shift, you can follow me over in your car.”

“Brad won’t be happy to hear you’re in town.” Sakari said, her voice low so the customers couldn’t hear.

Dante didn’t want to get into it with her now. He had no time. “I know, but Anartia is leaving in two weeks, or part of it, and I can take my horses. But I have to be able to control them.”

“Why can’t you control them? You’ve had them for months.”

Dante felt the stiffness creep into his shoulder. He shoved the beer aside. “I don’t know. When I was mortal, I could handle any horse. Now, a ten year-old could ride these two, but I can’t get near them.”

“Don’t let anything happen to Haley, or I’ll send Brad after you. He may be mortal but he’s pretty powerful when he shifts into his leopard form.”

“She’ll be fine.” Everything inside him told him how bad of an idea this was on so many levels. “I would never let anything happen to her. I’ll protect her, I promise. Valdon hasn’t any reason for wanting her now.”

Sakari placed a hand over Dante’s clasped hands. “She doesn’t remember anything about that night.”

Something inside Dante shattered. The night Valdon kidnapped Haley to Anartia and nearly drained all her lifeforce energy was a nightmare he couldn’t forget. “She’s better off not remembering.”

“She’s still in love with you. But she denies it.”

He shook his head. “You exaggerate.”

Sakari made a face. Glancing over his shoulder, he watched as Haley rushed around the room cleaning off tables, serving food while she kept looking over at him.” Maybe a physical attraction, but he had that with most women and a natural charisma to draw in his next Kithra. She was only responding to that. He’d have to be careful not to use his influence on her.

“Maybe you’re the one in denial.” Sakari filled up a couple mugs with beer and passed them down to two cowboys at the end of the bar, got their money then returned. “I don’t think it’s a good idea that she stay with you alone at your ranch.”

“Haley will be fine, I promise. She’s a Sha Warrior, she has more chi lifeforce than the average mortal and she knows how to protect herself. Didn’t you see how she blocked my energy drain?”