Shadowed (Dark Protectors) (26 page)

His smile beat hers. “In that case”—he released her and dropped to one knee—“how about we do this right?”

She stopped breathing. “Right?”

“Yeah.” He pulled out a platinum diamond solitaire surrounded by intricate Celtic knots. “This reminded me of you. Consider it a late birthday present.” He slipped the ring on her finger.

The morning light flickered across the amazing stone. She blinked.

He grinned. “Marry me.”

“You’re supposed to ask.” She grinned. A Kayrs didn’t ask, but the thought was amusing.

“Would you do me the incredible honor of marrying me?” he asked softly.

The man was full of surprises. “Yes.” She rushed him, and he caught her, falling back with a laugh.

A golden cuff instantly fastened around her left wrist, the magic metal re-forming to a tight fit. She frowned. “What in the world?”

“My brothers and I each have a cuff from childhood—they attach to our mates, too.” Jase rolled her over, pressing her into the ground.

“Take it off.”

“Nope. It stays on.” He tangled his fingers in her hair.

Desire warmed her torso. “My sister doesn’t wear a cuff.”

“I think it’s on her ankle.” Jase captured Brenna’s mouth in a hard kiss. “Though maybe you could convince me to take it off . . .”

Brenna had finally found her home. Who knew it’d be with a wounded, scarred vampire? “Not a problem, Kayrs.” Hooking her ankles at his waist, she kissed him with all the love she’d held back until now.

T
he king of the Realm finished securing the ancient cuff links at his wrists, his mind focusing on fifteen other matters at once. A rustle sounded by the doorway of his bedroom, and he turned.

The world silenced.

The blue of Emma’s dress was stunning, yet it didn’t come close to the beauty of her eyes. His mate had pinned her dark hair up and left her delicate throat bare. His fangs wanted to drop low and bite. Quite possibly the smartest woman he’d ever met, she still held a kindness in her that humbled him every day. Her determination to cure Virus-27 concerned him because he understood obsession.

She was his.

Dage eyed the gold cuff wrapped around her upper arm. “What made you decide to wear the cuff?”

She flashed a smile. “The bride requested we all wear the cuffs since Jase refuses to remove the one from her wrist.”

How odd. He and his brothers were all mated. Happily mated to incredible women. Dage forced a smile to hide his concern and took a swig from his ever-present grape energy drink.

Emma lifted an eyebrow. “What’s wrong?”

He gave a sheepish smile and tossed the can in the garbage. “Everyone is happy for the moment. Just waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

“I thought a real clodhopper dropped earlier this morning?” She removed a clutch sitting on the dresser.

“Good point.” He lifted a jewelry box from his tuxedo pants and flipped the lid open.

She gasped, reaching for the beautiful necklace. “The stone is beautiful—what is it?”

“Red diamond.” He’d searched the globe for the rare stone, and it had taken two years to broker the sale. “Its beauty isn’t close to yours.”

She grinned. “Charming, King. Very charming.”

Well, a guy liked to try. “Thank you, love.” He turned her and quickly fastened the necklace, turning her back around. “Now, that’s pretty.” Of course, he was talking about her smooth skin, but the jewelry wasn’t bad, either.

She smoothed down his lapels. “Did you tell your brothers about the offer?”

“Yes.” Now wasn’t the time to discuss this.

She tightened her hold. “Did you tell Jase?”

“No.” Dage ran his palms down her toned arms—such delicate bones to protect. “I figure we’ll inform him after the honeymoon.”

“Tell him now.” Emma shook her head. “No more protecting him for his own good. He deserves better.”

When his little scientist was right, she was right. “I’ll talk to him today after the wedding.”

“Good.” Emma fingered the diamond pendant at her throat. “Do you think the demons really want a truce?”

“I don’t know. We took out Willa and Malco, so Suri is scrambling. He also knows Jase will find him sometime, so maybe he really does want a truce.” The demon leader had called to offer negotiation that morning. “He seemed to think he could get the Kurjans to the table.” Ending the war would be the best thing for the Realm—for Janie. But first Dage had to convince his brothers to end the war. Damn. He had to convince himself.

Emma pursed her lips. “Considering the timing, it’s probably a trick.”

“What timing?”

“Janie. The Kurjans want her alive, the demons want her dead, and countless other species want her, too. She’d an adult . . . and something is coming.”

Dage exhaled slowly. Sometimes he forgot the human woman he’d married had been a psychic even before they’d mated. “I feel it, too. Something is coming.”

Emma took his hand and led him to the door. “But today we celebrate. Our family is strong and whole. Let’s go pick up Talen and Cara and worry about the rest tomorrow.”

Three centuries ago, the king had learned to enjoy the good days to the fullest, because they rarely lasted. But this woman? She lasted. No matter what happened, they’d last. So he took her hand and followed her toward the chaos that was a family gathering. “I love you, Emma,” he whispered.

She turned, surprise in her eyes. Then she smiled. “I love you, King.”

 

Talen watched his mate try to make the gold cuff fasten to her wrist. The cuff’s magic lay in the mating bond, and his had been damaged the second she’d been infected with Virus-27. So far, the virus had weakened her and messed with their mating bond by slowly unraveling her chromosomal pairs. She was currently somewhere between a vampire mate and a human. Safe for now.

But they had to figure out a way to stop the damn things from unraveling.

“There,” Cara said triumphantly, nearly dislodging one of several potted plants on their dresser. “I used tape.”

He forced his lips to curve and mask his fury at the virus. “You look beautiful.” And she did. Her hair was down around her shoulders, and she wore a blue gown that matched her eyes. Almost. Her eyes held a luminosity no fabric could duplicate.

“We’re all wearing blue. Brenna’s a bossy bride,” she said.

Yeah. She’d insisted the brothers wear tuxedos. Talen belonged in a tuxedo as much as a Doberman belonged in high heels. But any sacrifice was worth it if Jase had found some peace. Maybe even happiness. “Jase is doing better, right?” he asked, tucking a weapon beneath his jacket.

The little empath grinned. “Yeah. Jase is on the mend, so stop worrying.”

Thank God. “I don’t worry. I fix.”

“Right. Speaking of which, your temper has seemed rather dormant considering your daughter gave the Kurjans info on our tunnels and tried to sacrifice herself for her brother.” Cara slid gold earrings into her ears.

Talen sighed. “She did what any of us would do to save family. The idea of either Janie or Garrett in danger makes my gut hurt, but they’re well-trained, and they’re smart.”

Cara snorted. “You increased security on them both.”

Well, of course he had, right after he’d increased security on Cara. “I don’t know what you mean, mate.”

“Hmmm.” Cara shook her head. “What do you think of the demon leader’s offer to end the war?”

“It’s a good strategic move, considering we took out several of his lieutenants this year.” Talen kept his voice calm and his face bland. As the strategic leader of the Realm, he’d end up between Dage, who’d want to end the war, and Jase, who’d want to kill Suri first. But that was a problem for another day. So he stepped into his mate and backed her into the wall. “We have a few minutes here.”

A pretty blush covered her cheekbones, and she batted at his tie. “Knock it off. Emma and Dage will arrive any minute to take us to the main lodge.”

“No.” He wrapped his hands around her waist and lifted her until they were eye-to-eye.

“Yes.” She slid her palms over his shoulders, a feminine smirk on her lips. “If you smudge my makeup, the bride, who is a rather powerful witch, will throw plasma at you.”

He’d been burned before. So he covered Cara’s mouth with his, taking one simple taste to assure him of their future. To assure him they’d beat the virus, beat the demons, destroy the Kurjans, and find peace for their children. Releasing her, he smiled at the bemused look in her eyes. “How long do we have to stay at the reception?”

“We have to stay until the speeches and cake.” Cara fixed his tie. “But I have a feeling you and your brothers will start celebrating, so my guess is we’ll be home around dawn.”

That’s what she thought. They needed time alone, and he needed her. “We’ll see about that, little mate.”

 

Max Petrovsky hated tuxedos, he hated social functions, and he hated wearing boxers. “The boxers are too much.”

His mate glanced up from securing a pretty anklet around her ankle, her foot on a kitchen chair. “I read boxers increase sperm count. You want to have a baby, right?”

“I’m a damn vampire and have more sperm than you can imagine.” By all that was holy. It took centuries for vampires to have kids, as it should. They lived forever usually. He and Sarah had only been mated for a short time, and kids would come someday.

“Did you just swear at me?” Sarah’s brown eyes sparkled.

“Ah, no.” He tugged on his tie. “I would never swear at you.” Jeez. He shuffled his size-eighteen feet. “I’m sorry.”

She sauntered toward him, the sweetest woman he’d ever met, to straighten his shirt. “You’re forgiven.”

He relaxed his shoulders. Yeah, he was the king’s bodyguard, more like a brother, and he was known as the most dangerous hunter in existence. But one woman could reduce him to nothing if she wanted.

Good thing his Sarah had a kind heart and would never hurt anybody. Well, usually. Max grinned at the little teacher. “I heard you almost skinned Garrett Kayrs along with two of his friends yesterday in class.”

Sarah chuckled and fixed his tie. In her heels, she stood over six feet tall, still several inches shorter than he. “Those three. Too much energy, too much intelligence, and way too much testosterone. They used the main computer as a dating site—and Garrett arranged to meet a much older woman from Toledo. She agreed to send him a plane ticket, of all things. Thank goodness I caught them first.”

“What did you do?” Max asked.

“I made them write essays about true love and how to respect women.” Sarah bit her lip. “You should’ve seen Garrett when he got to the part of the assignment that required him to write a poem.” She threw back her head and laughed, the sound free.

Max smiled. “You’re a mean one when you want.”

“Thank you.” Her grin was stunning. “I’m going to miss those boys after this year when they head off to college.”

“You’ve taught them well,
Milaya
.” Pride filled Max. He slipped a finger between her breasts and tugged the blue material away.

She slapped his hands. “We don’t have time to play.”

There was always time to play. So he dropped his mouth to her neck and traced her beating pulse with his tongue. She sighed and pushed him while angling her head so he’d have better access. He nipped just under her jaw.

She sighed, sliding her hands around his waist. Then she stiffened and drew back. “Why do you have a gun?”

He frowned. “I always have a gun.”

“We’re going to a wedding.” She shook her head.

Well, yeah. But they’d all be armed—even the groom would have a weapon somewhere. “Sweetheart, we’re at war. I’m always armed.”

“No.” She lifted the gun free of his waistband, turning it over.

He didn’t like seeing a weapon in her hands, and his heart rate increased. So he gently removed the gun and placed it on top of the refrigerator. “We’ll just leave this here.”

Her sweet smile made him feel like he’d already won a war. “Thank you,” she breathed.

He nodded. Of course, he had another gun along his leg and three knives hidden on his body. He was a bodyguard to the king, after all. “You know I’m a soldier, right?”

“Sure.” She patted his butt. “But this is a family wedding where your brother is finding happiness. No guns.”

Had she met his family? “If you say so.” He’d accepted a long time ago that even though they weren’t blood, the Kayrs brothers were his family. The idea filled him with warmth. “Weddings aren’t always safe.”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “Of course they’re safe. Don’t worry—this will be a relaxing, fun time.”

God. Sometimes he just loved her optimistic view of life. They were walking into a wedding room filled with vampires, witches, and shifters. It’d be a miracle if nobody got shot. So he smiled and gathered his mate close. “You’re right. This will be perfect.” He’d make damn well sure of it, just to keep his Sarah happy.

 

Kane leaned against the fireplace, his gaze implacable on the blond beauty trying to look innocent across the room. “What did you do?”

She lifted a creamy shoulder. “I have no idea what you mean.” So they were going to play it that way, were they? He set his scotch on the mantle. “When was the last time I spanked you, Amber?”

His mate lifted her chin. “Last week, when I organized the protest against the group doing animal testing on nail polish.”

“No.” He prowled closer to her, appreciating the fire that flashed into her gorgeous eyes. “I believe the protest was fine. It was your breaking and entering the facilities and putting yourself in danger that guaranteed my palm print on your ass.” He’d always planned to mate a logical easygoing doctor or scientist. Thank God Amber had blasted his plan to hell. The woman was a planet-protecting vegan with spirit. Which was fine, so long as she kept out of danger. “You know to be careful.”

She lifted her chin. “Careful is for wussies.”

Damn. Not one inch of her was afraid of him. He couldn’t help the slow smile. “Those countermoves you learned from Conn were damn good.” She’d nearly taken out his knee before he’d flipped her over it.

“I know.” She smoothed her hands down his tuxedo jacket. “I’m a pacifist, but I have no problem knocking you out next time you try it.”

“Tell me. Now.” He didn’t need to go into more detail. The woman could always read him.

Her grin was all imp. “I just made sure one of the caterers learned veal is bad.”

He didn’t want to know. He really didn’t want to know. “Tell me you didn’t mess with the menu Brenna wanted.”

“I didn’t. Brenna would never want veal.” Amber’s eyes widened. “You really need to learn to relax.”

With her as a mate? There was no relaxing. He tugged on a strand of her curly hair. “You promised to have fun today and not mess with anybody.”

“I always keep my promises.”

Uh-huh. “Did you hear the demons called and want to negotiate a truce?”

“No.” She stilled. “Do you think they mean it?”

“I truly don’t know.” He brushed a thumb along her smooth jaw. “I like the idea of peace.”

“Me, too.” She grabbed his lapels and yanked him down for a hard kiss. “If we stopped fighting the demons, we could spend more time and resources fighting the virus.”

Exactly. There was no question Virus-27 needed to be cured before more mates were infected, and Kane would love to spend all his time working on science instead of strategy. The idea of his mate being susceptible to the damn bug kept him up more nights than he could count. “I’m sure once everything settles after the wedding, we’ll sit down and figure out the right path.”