DreamKeeper (4 page)

“You’re a lot tougher than you look.” Ciara’s freckled face wrinkled into an expression of puzzlement.

“Just because I came from a rich country home doesn’t mean I grew up in Disneyland.”

“Old skeletons have a way of coming back to haunt. Are you sure Savaant knows
everything
about you?” She looked away to reach for more fruit. “I…we…wouldn’t want him getting hurt again.”

Angel felt the muscles in her jaw tighten but controlled her rising ire over the accusatory undertone in this woman’s voice. She slammed her hand down over Ciara’s, knocking the fruit off her fork.

“Worry about your own ghosts. I have mine well under control.”

Ciara’s eyes flashed with mixed emotion, causing Angel to wonder about her true objectives. They glared at each other in what felt like a challenge of wills.

“Play nice, girls,” Sage teased upon reentering the kitchen with Kacie. “We don’t want the men to get grumpy.”

Sage’s return drew a sigh of relief from Angel. She felt overly stressed by Ciara and now viewed her as a threat. The four women sat around the table snacking on elaborate fruit, dipping the succulent treats into various fruit dips.

Naturally they were curious about Angel and her background. She did her best to field their inquisitions without revealing her dark past or the recent incidents in Los Angeles.

* * * *

In the other room Savaant was under scrutiny as well. His friends wanted to know everything about Angel and how they’d met.

Blade leaned back, casually resting one foot over his knee. “Tell us, Savaant, wherever did you find that lovely lady?”

“I took out a personal ad.” He smirked while sipping his drink.

“Why so hush-hush? Everyone knows about Nahtosha and your quest to find the
Senhora Do Sangue
.”

“It doesn’t matter
where
I found her. She’s had a rough past and I’d prefer to uphold her respect by keeping personal matters private.”

“What?” Blade persisted with quizzically raised brows. “Was she sold into slavery as a child? Kept locked in a castle? We know her blood is pure. There isn’t a man on Dunalino that didn’t pick up her scent when she walked off the plane this morning. What’s the big secret?”

Knowing Blade was fishing for the energy source used to locate Angel, Savaant guarded his thoughts.

“Maybe you used those auctions to put out a call,” Blade pressed. “We’re well aware of your supernatural abilities.”

Savaant stared over the rim of his glass without blinking. He finished his rum and Coke in one gulp. “How about bringing in the ladies? I think they’ve had enough time to get acquainted.”

Reece and Miles had been sitting in quiet observation enjoying their drinks and a bit of smoke. Savaant politely declined the stick being passed around. He wanted to maintain control over his mental energy lest someone try to steal into his psyche.

Temporarily daunted, Blade left the room to call on the women. Savaant turned his attention to his other band mates.

“Any luck in persuading your ladies to take the leap?” he asked them.

Reece shook his head. “Ciara wants no part of that aspect. She’s quite agreeable to receiving my bite though. No complaint, mate. She keeps me well fed and the sex is good.”

“Kacie claims it’s against her faith to drink blood,” Miles added, with a perpetual grin plastered on his face, clearly feeling the effects of dope. “I share Reece’s sentiment. As long as she lets me feed so I can get a good hard on and play, I’m okay with that.”

He felt relieved that their women were taking care of them. They appeared fully satisfied. He couldn’t understand why Blade needed more. The man had girlfriends put up in swanky villas all over the island. Yet his lust for power overshadowed the many blessings he’d been given. He looked up when Blade swaggered back into the room with an arm draped over Sage
and
Angel, followed by Ciara and Kacie.

“I think Angel would be more comfortable in cooler clothes. It’s bloody hot in here. How about Sage takes her upstairs to slip into something a little less…constricting,” Blade suggested.

Angel shrugged his arm away. “No, really. I’m fine.” She went to Savaant and snuggled onto his lap. “Experts say to wear white in hot weather. And this little top is very light…practically like wearing nothing at all.”

Savaant grinned with delight before kissing her neck, tightening his arms around her waist. “See that, Blade? My baby’s just fine.”

“Hm.” Blade rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “How about a bit of fun? Remember the game we used to play a few years back?”

The room became deathly silent.

After a brief instance of awkward silence, Sage spoke. “That’s not very nice, Blade. You know Paula left him because of that silly game.”

“Not my fault she didn’t want to play. He’s got a woman ready and willing now.” He shot a glance Angel’s way. “Take a look at her lovely neck.”

Sage clearly didn’t like where he was leading. “I don’t think it’s a good idea. This is her first party. Back off for heaven’s sake.”

Savaant gave her a nod of thanks.

“We haven’t played as a group for years,” Ciara piped up. “Now that Savaant has a partner, it’ll be fun. Like old times. And it’s
not
silly! After all, if it weren’t for that crazy game we’d have never known that our blood gave the men back their ability to fuck us. I think we’d have a blast enjoying bites from the other men again…especially since
Savaant
can play now.”

“You’ve become a bloody slut.” Sage scowled. “You’d let any man bite your neck.”

“There’s no harm in giving the other men a treat. They enjoy the highs from the blood-bites.” Ciara bore a smug expression while stirring a pitcher of cocktails. “Reece doesn’t mind sharing me…unlike
other
men.”

Sage shot Reece a fiery look, who shrugged with a relaxed smile.

“She’s right, Sage,” he said. “As long as Ciara keeps me fed, I’ve no objections to her sharing with the other island males. You know as well as anyone that unless one of you takes the plunge and joins us as blood-dragons, no more men can convert. If we don’t get more males we can’t get more female blood-dragons, you know how it works…” He paused to take a hit off a fresh stick. “Until then, as the only females with a direct blood link, your blood gives the best highs. Wouldn’t hurt you to let down a bit and share the wealth.”

“I’m selective in who gets a taste of me.” Sage threw back a shot of rum with an unyielding expression on her face. “I may not be able to control Blade’s lusty appetite for variety, but I sure as hell can decide who sinks their teeth into
my
skin. I share him with other women…that’s fair enough.”

“Well,” Ciara said with a haughty flip of her hair, “at least the island men don’t refer to me as an uptight bitch. I like being popular.”

Angel sat quietly—taking it all in and Savaant received her thoughts. Her growing animosity toward Ciara concerned him.

Blade was shrewdly putting her on the spot again with his idea to play their old game. Only this time his efforts had sunk to a more sinister level. His motives became clear. By suggesting they play this game, he hoped to win a chance to bite her neck for that stolen taste of power spoken of. And for some reason he and Ciara seemed to be working the same angle.

* * * *

A chill crept up her spine upon knowing Blade’s obsession with control and his determination to steal her from Savaant. Instinctively she nestled closer to her man. Since his first bite her telepathic powers had increased on a daily basis. Receiving Blade’s inner thoughts startled her as did the depth of his malevolence. She did her best to hide her dismay and wondered how to tell Savaant what his own band mate had in mind.

Despite the fact that she didn’t know the intricate details of their twisted sport, Angel gathered it resembled a drinking game only with neck biting as the prize. Ciara clearly had interest in Savaant and wanted his bite.
Perhaps Blade is using her as a tool in his attempt to steal a taste of my blood and, moreover, Savaant’s supreme power. Maybe they are even working together to take him from me.

“So…what do ya say, Angel baby? Feeling adventurous tonight?” Blade stared at her with glimmering eyes. His icy green stare felt invasive and unsettling.

She needed to come up with a reason not to play and fast without looking like a snob.
Blade suspects I am clinging to the clothes. I need to throw him off course.
Angel didn’t need to keep them on her body for protection as long as she was with Savaant and they kept a close eye on the garments.

He suspects the clothes.
She willed her thoughts to Savaant.

Savaant gently squeezed her waist with one arm.
I thought so. We can’t play this game. It’s a trick. He’s done a bloody good job of putting us on the spot.

“You know what, Blade?” Angel countered his wicked grin with a modest smile. “You’re right. It is very hot in here. Perhaps Sage does have something cooler I can slip into.”

She caught Blade’s look, read his thoughts. A mix of perplexity and disappointment shadowed the hard lines of his face as he realized she would find a tactful manner of escaping his attempted trap by slipping away with Sage. His eyes darted toward Ciara.

Sage stood up. “C’mon, Angel, I’m sure something of mine will fit. I wasn’t always this skinny. Not that you’re overweight or anything. I wish I had your curves.” She gave her a sheepish grin.

She glanced at Savaant who nodded in approval. Just as Angel began walking across the room Ciara got to her feet still holding the pitcher of drink.

“Wait.” Ciara staggered toward her. “You haven’t had one of Blade’s special cocktails yet. Let me get you started.”

Angel feigned a smile while reaching for the glass filled with pink liquid offered to her. Suddenly Ciara tripped, then lurched forward, sending the entire carafe of liquid splashing straight over Angel’s chest.

“Oh, shit! I’m so sorry.” Her apology sounded anything but sincere. “I’ve ruined your clothes. Quick, if we get them into the wash right away the stains will come out.”

Raising her hand in protest, she bit her lip to control her fury over this woman’s blatant disrespect. Having known her for less than a full day, she couldn’t completely discern Ciara’s character. But so far it wasn’t good and she’d been picking up negative vibes from the feisty redhead since they met.

“No, thank you. I’d rather clean them myself.” She pushed Ciara’s hands away as she made a feeble attempt to dab the clothes with a towel retrieved from the kitchen.

“Looks like we’ll call it an early night.” Savaant wrapped a protective arm around her shoulders. “We should get these clothes cleaned before that bloody-awful shade of pink sets in. I have an automatic dry-cleaning unit at my place.”

“Ooo, no wonder you always look so dashing,” Angel remarked.

Sage couldn’t hide her disappointment over their premature departure as she walked them to the door.

“Sorry your first night turned out so bad,” she said, placing a kind hand on Angel’s arm. “Ciara can be a nasty wench. I don’t know why Reece puts up with her.”

“No worries. I’ve met plenty like her in the past.” She smiled, then graciously gave Sage a cordial hug. “Goodnight.”

“Have a good night, you two. See you tomorrow.” Sage waved as they walked away.

Chapter Four

“Blade is getting more aggressive,” Angel told Savaant as they sat on his bed after bathing, waiting for her clothes to go through the dry clean cycle. He had nothing more than a towel covering his groin while she wore a light robe loosely secured at the waist. Her gaze lingered on his sexy abs before drifting upward to meet his loving eyes.

He nodded while leaning over to light candles placed around the bed. “He has his thoughts guarded from me. Ever since he realized I could steal into his mind, the only time I’m able to do so is when he’s intoxicated. Blade has been very careful not to indulge in heavy partying since I found you.”

“I was able to get inside his head tonight. He doesn’t know I have received power from you.”

“That’s a secret we’ll keep. Tell me what you know, love.”

She rested her head against his shoulder and sighed. “His aura is very dark. This telepathy thing is new to me and still a bit murky at times. But Blade definitely wants to take my blood. Not just for pleasure. He is obsessed with stealing your power and reigning as alpha male.”

“I kind of figured that.”

“No, you don’t understand. Blade wants you out of the way…completely. His realm of thinking is sinister…scary. Does he have a vendetta with you? I was picking up deep-seated anger from him.”

Savaant considered her words for a moment, then spoke. “Perhaps, but I figured he was over that by now, especially since he has Sage and several other women on his string. Blade had a thing for Paula, but she shut him down cold. I dated her for a long time before we married just to be sure there wasn’t anything going on between the two of them. Once I married Paula, Blade hooked up with Sage.”

“I think Ciara deliberately dumped that drink on me. And she definitely has the hots for you.”

“You think?” He sounded mildly surprised. “I’ve always known she’s a bit loose, but she’s never made a move on me.”

“How is it that the men are always unaware of another woman moving in?”

He tilted his head in an adoring way to look into her eyes. “I can’t speak for other men. But as for me, my eyes are on only you. So maybe that’s why I wouldn’t notice another woman’s interest unless she came straight on to me.”

“I don’t know your friends because we’ve just met, but one thing I do know is that Ciara is cold. We almost got into it in the kitchen. She has a very callous attitude.”

“I know, love. She’s a whore. Nevertheless, as long as Reece wants her around and she doesn’t break our violence rule, I won’t force her to leave. Reece has been my good friend for over thirty years. He’s a good mate and deserves to be happy.”

“Oh, I’m not suggesting you do anything of the sort. It’s not my place. I can handle her just fine. Perhaps I should keep my female issues to myself.”