The Fury (25 page)

“You are to return to the planet and turn over the protection of the female to Scion immediately.”

“Do you have anything to say on this matter?” Ki asked.

With all the honor and respect he had been raised to show the Pantheon, Dagan faced the king. “By ordering me to separate myself from the woman you think you’ve solved your problem. I say you’re wrong. Centuries of interacting and sexing with the humans have blurred the lines between our races. I won’t be the last.”

He whirled about and walked from the hall with his head held high and no intention of following their orders. His problem now was Scion and how to waylay him until he finished with Kur.

“You are not going to turn her over, are you?”

Dagan stopped dead in his tracks. Spinning around, he found Enki grinning like a Cheshire cat who had eaten the proverbial canary.

“I’m not sure what you mean, my lord.”

Enki laughed and slapped him on the back. “Do not hand me that drivel. There is no way you will leave her. I felt the intensity in that kiss last night and I saw defiance flash through your eyes just now in that room. Do not think the others did not see it as well.”

They started walking further away from the great hall.

“If I know your father, he is discussing this with Ninmah at the moment and she is fighting the good fight. How can I help?”

That took Dagan by surprise.

“Come now, you know that I would like nothing more than to have your house aligned with mine.”

So true. Licking his chapped lips, Dagan said, “Can you find some way to keep Scion busy for the next forty-eight hours?”

“I cannot guarantee a full forty-eight, but I may be able to arrange something to keep him busy for a while.” Enki started off toward his carriage. “Whatever you are going to do, do it quickly.”

Things were heating up, which meant Kur grew antsy and needy, maybe needy enough to do something stupid. He was counting on it. He’d worry about the separation sentence later. Right now, he wanted to concentrate on how to lure Kur to him.

Chapter Fourteen

“Damn,” Geoffrey said as he pushed another book out of his way. “There isn’t much here.”

“I haven’t found anything regarding a creature named Kur,” Joe grumbled.

Chloe smiled. “He was the mistake. You don’t think the gods would let it be known that they’d actually made one, do you?”

Roberta plopped down on the leather sofa up against the back wall. “If we can’t find anything worth finding about this demon, creature, thing, then how do we stop him?”

“You don’t stop him. We do.”

That voice sent Reese’s heart into overdrive. With a huge smile, she turned to where Dagan stood. The smile faltered when she saw him. His movements were terse, his features were drawn and his eyes were shadowed.

Something was wrong.

He approached her with a hesitant gait. “Where is your sister?”

She bit her lip. “I told her everything this morning. She’s in denial. I thought it best she talk to Dad, so I took her to his place.”

He nodded. “Good.”

She placed her hand on his arm. “What’s happened?” He jerked away as if the touch burned him.

“We need to go to Slow Burn again.”

“Why?”

“What’s Slow Burn?” Geoffrey called out.

“It’s a nightclub,” Reese responded.

“Cool. I could definitely use a night of drinking and carousing. How about you guys?” he asked the rest of the group.

Joe grunted and kept his eyes leveled on Dagan. Chloe winked at Rufus, whose high wattage smile sent a definite message.

“We’re in,” Chloe said.

Roberta cocked her head to one side. “Now’s the time to be shaking this booty,” she slapped her hip, “before it gets carted off.”

Reese pleaded on their behalf. “It in no way means we are lowering our guard, but if we’re going to fight for life, we have to be allowed to enjoy that life, don’t we, Dagan?”

He glared at her and his eyes flashed to black then back to green. “Fine. We meet back here in an hour and a half. Come on.” He grabbed Reese’s coat, and pulled her with him to the door.

She tugged her arm free to put the coat on. “What the hell is the matter with you?”

He opened the door, subtly shoved her through it then secured her in the car before pulling out his cell phone. “Angelique, tell Gideon that we’re going to Slow Burn.”

They didn’t speak during the drive to her house. He didn’t tell her what was bothering him or why they were going to the bar again. She imagined it to be some dire situation that he felt he had to make right, at least in his mind. Being an adult left him free to do what he damned well chose to do with or without her. It’s not like one night of unabashed, incredible sex meant they were a couple.

When he stopped the car in her driveway, she shoved the door open, got out and slammed it. He caught up to her as she marched to the front door. The door flew open without her touching it and she hesitated. Had he done that or was someone in there waiting to attack them?

Dagan grabbed her elbow and moved her inside. “What has gotten up your butt?” he raved. “I can hear those little wheels churning inside your head.”

She jerked her coat off and threw it across the back of the nearest chair. “Nothing,” she fumed. “What you do is none of my business anyway.” She huffed off down the hallway.

Right on her heels, he slammed her back against the wall and ripped the front of her shirt open. She would have to stock up on clothes with him around. Leaning down, he placed soft open-mouthed kisses on the swell of her breasts.

Her breath hitched. She grabbed handfuls of his hair, holding him in place when he took her nipple between his teeth through the fabric of her bra. “What are you doing to me?”

“As much as possible in the next thirty minutes.”

He picked her up, holding her aloft, kissing his way down her torso. She spread her legs and rested them across his thighs. Dagan undid her jeans and slid his hand underneath her panties to find her wet and urgent.

Slipping first one finger then a second inside and feeling her muscles tighten around them, he swallowed hard and laid his mouth on her throat, inhaling her excitement.

“Dagan,” she whispered.

Reese gripped his shoulders, beginning to move. He wrapped one arm around her waist holding her against the wall while she rode his fingers. “That’s right,
reskar
,” he said, then took her earlobe between his teeth. “Ride me any way you can.”

She screamed when her body exploded and a rush of her cream spilled over his fingers. Breathing heavy, she leaned her head back to the wall. He gently pulled his fingers from her body, sticking them in his mouth to lick away her juices.

His eyes couldn’t focus and his body revved when he tasted her essence.

She opened her eyes and her gaze held his. “I love what you do to me.”

She reached down to unclasp his pants, but he stopped her. “No, baby, we don’t have time.” He brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed the palm. “Later tonight, we’ll finish this.”

“But…”

“Tonight.” He set her feet on the floor and pushed her back against the wall while ramming his tongue into her mouth in a sensual thrust. Promises of what would come.

He’d managed to get the
fury
under control again, but Flame was right, each time it became more difficult.

“Cool,” Geoffrey exclaimed when they pulled into the parking lot and got out. “I’ve never noticed this place here before and believe me, my college buddies and I have hit every hotspot.”

Reese chuckled and subtly glanced Dagan’s way. “This is a special place.”

“Special how?” Joe wanted to know. He shot a glare at Dagan.

“Let’s just say otherworldly,” Dagan replied. “And leave it at that.”

The same bouncer was at the door.

“Hello again, Seamus,” Reese said.

He smiled big. “Well now, it’s nice ta’ be seeing ya again, Ms. Reese.” He held out his big hand to Dagan. “Twice in one week may be a record for you, Dagan.”

“Probably is, Seamus, but I have more business.”

“Well you’ll see some others here tonight. Must be a slow night for the hunt.”

“Message received.”

“Who are these other folks with ya?”

Dagan glanced back to the gangly group. “Some of Reese’s friends. They wanted to see how the other half lives.”

Seamus laughed. “Move on up here then.”

He took his time frisking and sniffing each one. Joe scowled. Roberta threatened to tear Seamus a new one if he once let his hand slip inappropriately, and Geoffrey just took it all in stride. Chloe and Rufus were the last to enter.

A couple of women passed by and Reese couldn’t tell if they were humans or
otherworldly
. Rufus let his eyes wander along with them.

Chloe reached her right hand around and grabbed hold of his crotch, squeezing just enough to get his attention. “Let’s get one thing straight, hotshot. I like you,” she ran her tongue over his tightened lips, “a lot.” She released her grip on his family jewels and massaged them with a purpose. “Keep your eyes on this form.” She ran her other hand down her body. “And we’ll get along fine.”

When the shock wore off, Rufus’s eyes heated. Chloe still openly massaged him and Reese figured they had come to a mutual understanding.

“So who are we here to see anyway?” Reese asked.

“Flame,” Dagan yelled over the careening music and noise of the crowded bar.

They found a table and pulled enough chairs around to sit. Before they had their drinks ordered Chloe dragged Rufus to the dance floor.

“Come on, lover boy,” she purred. He followed along like a whipped pup, but Reese didn’t believe it for a second. She knew Rufus could handle himself.

“Wow, can you believe that Chloe?” Geoffrey hollered. “Who’d of thought she would turn out to be this little she-devil.”

Joe sat stoically next to Reese, and Roberta bounced her head in time with the beat of the eighties music.

When the drinks arrived, Dagan whispered in her ear. “I need to go find Flame.”

“Okay.”

After emptying her glass, Roberta jumped up. “Come on sweet thing,” she said and grabbed Geoffrey’s arm. “Let’s boogie.”

He threw a surprised look her way and then shrugged and went along. Reese laughed.

Joe still had a sour look on his face and nursed his drink, holding it between his palms. She scooted her chair over close to his and leaned into him. “It’s a lot to take in, isn’t it?”

He stared down into the amber liquid warming in his glass. “I don’t like it.”

“I can’t say that I blame you. Believe me I didn’t like it at first either, too unbelievable. When my father told me the truth about him and my grandparents, you could have blown me over with a feather. Now my sister is back.” She threw her hands up.

He glared in the direction that Dagan had gone. “What about him?”

“Who? Dagan?”

He nodded.

“Well, that’s another thing all together.” She looked off into the distance, but couldn’t see him. “There’s something there, I haven’t figured out what yet.”

“He acts like he owns you.” Joe’s voice had grown hard.

She grabbed his bicep and squeezed as she leaned in and rested her head on his shoulder. “You are a good friend who watches over me.”

“Which has generally been an easy thing to do…until he showed up.”

Reese sighed. “I can’t help you there, Joe. He saved my life. He changed it forever.”

“Yeah, but not in a good way.”

She frowned. “You can’t blame Dagan for that. He didn’t start this war anymore than I did, but we are participants nonetheless.”

“I don’t like it.”

She smiled. “I know,” she said and kissed his cheek. She stiffened.

Joe straightened and faced her. “What is it?”

About that time, a tall shadow clouded their table. A finely sculpted wraith with long black hair, a bare chest, black leather pants and gold biceps cuffs stared down at her.

Joe jumped up, slamming his drink down on the table. “Who the hell are you?”

Without acknowledging Joe, the warrior looked at her again. His shimmering eyes focusing on her breasts.

“Hello, Abu,” she said in the best bored tone she could muster.

“Reese.” He lifted his hand toward her. “How nice to see you again.”

She rolled her eyes, but raised her hand. He took it between his and kissed first the back and then placed a warm kiss on her palm. Shivers raced across her skin. She remembered what had happened the last time he sought her out.

“Reese, who’s the reject from Halloween?” Joe wanted to know.

“Joe, meet Abu. He’s a god of some sort.”

“Please, in that getup?”

She stifled a laugh.

Abu turned angry eyes on Joe. “Who is this human?”

“Don’t get me started, asshole. I’ve had about enough of you so-called gods.”