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“Hide? Emily, he’s determined to kill his own daughter and unborn grandchild. He’s as powerful as he is crazy. There’s nowhere for me to hide. He’ll find me.” Kara realized she’d spent too much time talking to Emily. She needed to get rid of her. It was the only way to protect her.

  “But…”

  “Just leave me the alone, Emily. What I do or don’t do is none of your business. You don’t know a damned thing. I don’t want your opinions.” Seeing the sadness and pain in Emily’s eyes broke her heart, but convinced it was for the best she didn’t allow it to stop her. “I’m serious. Go. Just go.”

  ***

  Eli walked past Kara to stand in line. Fighting the urge to look at her, he waited to pay for his gas for what seemed like forever and a day. The last thing he needed to do was to get involved with whatever trouble she’d gotten herself into.

  He wanted to shut her voice out, but with his extra sensitive hearing he couldn’t help but overhear the conversation she was having with another woman standing in the far corner. He turned and momentarily made direct eye contact with her, but then he allowed his gaze to wander from the top of her head to the bottom of her feet and back. He hadn’t noticed she was pregnant. Now, looking at her, the small bump on her belly was obvious.

  He couldn’t think of a reason for Demetri to help her young friend. He was evil. Whatever he did was for his gain. What would he gain by helping a female human? Nothing. Well, other than some sort of twisted form of pleasure. What was really odd was that Demetri might not have Zack. Everyone had assumed that Demetri had control of Zack. Mary could never do it by herself. The vampires couldn’t do it. If Zack wasn’t being held prisoner by Demetri where was he? It was something that needed to be looked into. He decided to go to Astoria and talk to Nicholas as soon as he filled up and figured out what to do about Kara.

  He would never understand how a man could use his physical strength and power to abuse a woman. It wouldn’t happen with his kind. A Lycan male had a naturally aggressive and dominate nature, but if one abused his female another male would intervene and likely kill him. Unease crept up his spine. She was going to die. Her unborn child was going to die. He didn’t have the ability to foresee the future. It was more of a gut feeling.

  He planned to intervene, but needed a moment out of her presence and the presence of so many humans to think. He paid for his gas and walked right past her as he headed for the exit. She wouldn’t be able to leave without him knowing. He walked over to his Harley. As he filled his tank he came to terms with reality. He was connected to Kara in some way. Their paths crossed for a reason.

  After filling his tank, he steeled himself to face her again, as he turned and walked across the parking lot to go back inside. As luck would have it, at that moment, she walked outside.

  “Oh, crap.” Dodging her hot chocolate, she lost her balance and started to fall backward. He caught her arms and held her steady, but unlike her he didn’t manage to escape her hot beverage.

  She blinked up at him. “Oh God. I...oh, shoot. I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.” Frowning she looked down at her empty cup and shook her head, and then she looked up at his shirt. “Oh, crap. It’s steaming.” She dropped the cup and started to lift his shirt.

  He caught her hand to stop her. “I’m fine.”

  Everything in his world felt out of whack. He’d lived many lifetimes and he never experienced any emotions as profoundly as the ones he felt for her.

  She pushed his hand aside and lifted his T-shirt. He held his breath as the tips of her fingers grazed his belly. “Does it hurt? How badly are you burned?” Obviously too impatient to wait for his response, she lifted his T-shirt even higher to see if he was. “Oh, no. You should go straight to the emergency room. I can take you right now.” She grabbed his arm as if to pull him along with her. He took one step and stopped. Giving him a look of annoyance, she tugged on his arm. “Come on. I’ll take you.”

  His chest and stomach were burning like a son of bitch, but he’d been the alpha male of the largest, strongest Lycan pack in the Pacific Northwest for hundreds of years. Alpha males didn’t whine over anything as silly as a burn. They sure as hell didn’t run to the hospital for medical care. Besides, he wasn’t sure if his skin was on fire because the drink was scalding hot or because she was touching him. “Your battery is dead.”

  Frowning, she bit her lower lip as she lifted his shirt higher. She traced just outside the red mark on his sternum with the tips of her fingers. “It isn’t just your belly. Your chest is also burned. It’s okay. I can take you. I lied about needing a jump.”

  “I’m not shocked.”

  She raised her head. Their eyes met. He held his breath as a deep connection, unlike any other he’d ever experienced, was forged between them. It felt as if he’d been pulled out of the wreckage he’d called his life. It was a rebirth of sorts. Realization slammed into him hard and fast. She was the one and only. The infuriating, fascinating woman standing before him was his true mate. Their souls fit together perfectly. They were bound together. Nothing could break their bond. It was moment of sweet madness. He’d heard of it happening to his elders. He dreamed of the day it would happen to him. He didn’t want to moment to ever end. He wanted to savor the hot flames rising up within him as his entire body and soul awakened to her touch.

  “You’re eyes are…”

  “Don’t say lovely,” he cut her off to prevent her from ruining the moment.

  She nodded. “Fine. They’re creepy. They’re freaking me out.”

  “If that’s true you shouldn’t touch me like that,” he said.

  “Like what?” she asked.

  “At all.”

  Lifting her chin, looking adorably mutinous, she held his gaze. “What if I like being freaked out by creepy, glowing eyes?”

  “Do you?” He breathed in deep, drawing her scent into his lungs. He’d never believed in reincarnation until that moment. He’d heard mates were bound together through eternity. At times they were tragically separated by death. He believed it now. It had to be true. He knew her. Even her scent was familiar to him. He knew what she would taste like. He knew exactly how her skin would feel against his lips and tongue.

  “Are you sure we’ve never met?”

  “Maybe in another life.”

  She laughed. “I suppose it’s a possibility, but I doubt it. I’ve never believed in that sort of thing.”

  “Neither have I until now.”

  “You’re messing with me.”

  “Am I?” He reached out and wrapped her long, black silky hair around his fist. She didn’t flinch or shy away from him at all. He watched her gorgeous, enchanting brown eyes go wide with anticipation as he gently pulled her head back and to the side. Mindful to protect her tender flesh from his lengthened sharp canines, he bent his head and kissed his way up her neck to her chin.

  He lifted his head to look at her. She was so damn beautiful, so perfect in every sexy feminine way imaginable. By the time his lips found hers, he kissed her hard and demanding, a brutal claiming that had her moaning and arching her body against his. For a few spectacular moments, she returned his kiss with fierce desire that seemed to match his until his head was spinning and his heart was thundering in his chest.

  One second she was kissing him and the next she wrenched herself out of his arms and slapped him across the face. Shocked, a low growl rumbled in his throat, but he wasn’t mad. He couldn’t get mad. He’d deserved it.

  He touched her mind as they stared at each other for several seconds. Actually, she glared daggers at him as he struggled to keep a straight face. She was shocked by her reaction to him. He was a stranger. She wanted to kiss him again and it pissed her off. He figured as mad as she was, he shouldn’t further incite her temper. He smiled, but managed to bite back a broader smile to hide his happiness and lengthened canines. Then, making him laugh out loud, she made gagging sounds and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

  Clearly, she was so angry and frus
trated that she failed to notice his canines. Giving him an ‘oh no you didn’t’ look, she reached out and shoved him. Well, she tried to shove him. “What the hell is wrong with you?” Obviously outraged that she hadn’t caused him to budge an inch, she lifted her hand to slap him again.

  He deserved it, but knowing she would eventually hurt herself if she kept trying to hit and shove him, he grabbed her forearms to restrain her. “It’s okay. Stop freaking out. It’s not good for you or the baby.”

  “You think I’m freaking out?” Eyes narrowing, she bit her bottom lip. “You just kissed me.”

  “You liked it.”

  “I don’t even know you. I’m married.” Keeping her hands in his, he turned to the side just in time to catch her knee with his hip rather than his balls.

  “You’re only mad because you enjoyed it. You want me to kiss you again. And you aren’t the only one able to get into another person’s head. I know you’re running from the father of your child. He plans to kill you.”

  “You don’t know a damn thing. My father, not the father of my baby, plans to kill me.”

  He stared her. He’d been certain the father of her child was the man hunting her. How could he have been so wrong? “Your father?”

  All at once, staring into her eyes, everything changed. He heard her heartbeat accelerate and he smelled adrenaline in her blood. His natural predator instincts kicked in. He watched as her eyes darted around. She was looking for a sign of the threat. He wasn’t certain, but he sensed it wasn’t the same threat he’d felt earlier which meant it wasn’t the vampire. It had to be the person the vampire had tracked her for. Her father. “Is he here?”

  Looking as if she was going to say something, she looked up at him and opened her mouth. Then, shaking her head, she closed her mouth and frowned.

  Keeping her close, he went completely still, every muscle in his body tensing as he expanded his mind to search for her father. “If you know where he is you need to show me.”

  She took a deep breath and released it with a sigh. “It isn’t my father. Everything is fine now.” She nodded her head toward a man approaching them. “He’s my husband. Please, just go.”

  “Come with me.”

  “Where? I don’t even know you. I’m not about to leave my husband to run off with a man I don’t know.”

  He released her though every cell in his body demanded that he hold and protect her. He watched her walk away from him and right into her husband’s arms. Commonsense told him she was right where she belonged, but something in him was deeply troubled over the sight of her finding refuge in her husband’s embrace.

  Where was the vampire? Why was it still lurking out of sight? He shook it off. He had no right to interfere with their lives. She obviously felt safe with the man she’d chosen to marry.

  He might never know why she’d had such a profound impact on him, but it didn’t matter. She had a husband. She wasn’t his mate. She was human. She couldn’t belong to him. Regardless of the emotions she’d aroused in him she was off limits.

  ~Two~

  EMILY KNEW KARA had sent her away to protect her. From inside the gas station she watched Kara kiss a man and then haul off and slap him. It was a shocking a sight. Kara had never mentioned being involved with another man. For a moment, she thought perhaps Kara would be okay. Then, to her horror, she watched Kara walk away from the man and get into Tom’s car. She ran outside to stop her, but it was too late. She was gone.

  “Wait!” She tried to call out to the man Kara had kissed. He either didn’t hear her over the rumbling of his Harley, or he flat ignored her as he rode away.

  Emily wouldn’t be able to help her, but Demetri could and he would, no matter what Kara thought of him. Kara was wrong. He wasn’t evil. He couldn’t be. He’d done so much to help her. She called his cell phone, but he didn’t answer. Rather than leave a message she called the club.

  “Thanks for calling Wicked Sensation. This is Amy. What’s your pleasure?”

  “Is Demetri there?” she asked.

  “Who is this?”

  “It’s Emily. Put him on the phone. It’s important.”

  “I can’t.”

  “Please. Hurry.”

  “Are you deaf?” Amy asked. “I can’t. I haven’t seen him here today at all.”

  They’d left the tunnels beneath the city a few hours earlier. Her first thought was that he’d returned without her. He didn’t say it at the time, but she could tell something was bothering him. She got into her car and headed straight for the abandoned building less than a block away with the entrance they’d used that day. Careful to make sure no one saw or followed her, she entered the building. Once inside something felt off. The interior appeared darker than before. The air was pungent and had a nauseating odor. It was cold. Unnaturally cold.

  Swallowing her fear, she walked over to the trap door that led to the tunnel. While sliding it out of the way she remembered it was an eight to ten foot drop. Demetri had caught her the last time so she couldn’t be sure. She took her cell from her back pocket and shined the light from it into the darkness below. “Shoot.” It was at least ten feet. Maybe more even a little more.

  Sliding over the edge feet first on her belly, she held onto the floor boards with her feet dangling for as long as she could. She dropped. Landing in a crouch position, she fell back onto her butt and heard a cracking sound. “Not my phone.” Standing up she took her phone out of her pocket. The light came on for a second. Then, it flashed a few times and went out.

  She moved to the brick wall. She grazed her fingers along it and used it as a guide, as she walked in what she hoped was the right direction. It got colder with each step. The odor she’d suffered up top seemed to be emanating from down below. It was many times stronger. Pinching her nose with her free hand she struggled to breathe without gagging. It was so bad it almost took her mind off the sensation of being followed, but not quite. She began to hear strange sounds.

  Scraping. Knocking. Then, she heard feet shuffling in the dirt floor behind her, causing her to stop abruptly.

  Hold out your hand.

  “Demetri?” Holding out her hand, she turned around.

  Take this key. She closed her hand around the key. It will unlock the chains holding him captive.

  “Aren’t you coming with me?”

  No. You must do this on your own. Keep going and you will find him.

  “But I…” Something growled which instantly silenced her.

  I’m not with you in physical form. I can’t protect you from it. Go to him now.

  For the first time, realizing that his voice was only in her mind and she was alone in the darkness with an unknown creature, she hesitated for a few seconds. “What is it? What’s down here with me?”

  You don’t want to know. Go now or you will die.

  ***

  With excruciating pain tearing through his body, Zack Savage became suddenly and completely aware, but the pain wasn’t his greatest concern. Nor did it have anything to do with his arms being chained above his head. He wasn’t alone. Someone was drawing near. And that was very bad. But why? He felt confused and disoriented. He wasn’t used to feeling out of sorts. Demons didn’t have trouble with memory loss. At least he didn’t.

  Closing his eyes, he extended his mind to scan his surroundings. It was cold, damp, and the air was musty. He reached further and heard the sound of water moving. A river. He took a deep breath through his nostrils and smelled stale musty air.

  No matter how hard he focused he couldn’t remember what had happened to him. Frustrated, he yanked on the chains holding his arms over his head, but they remained intact. Normally, he could’ve easily ripped them from the stone walls.

  He knew they were enhanced with a spell. He started to focus on the spell, but stopped when he felt the gentle presence of a young female in his mind. Focusing on her location, he cocked his head to the side and listened. He heard the faint sound of footsteps slowly, purposefully moving
toward him. He felt excitement and anticipation. Then he suddenly remembered why it was bad that he hadn’t woken up alone.

  Stay away, Emily. You can’t help me.

  I’m not going to leave you to be tortured by them anymore. I can’t. Remaining absolutely still, he continued to expand his mind until he could hear her breathing and her heart beating. He felt her fear. He searched for the source of it.

  Rage slammed into him. He felt anger and lust. Murderous lust. Vampires and ghouls were stalking their prey, Emily. His woman. Why? Because she was coming to save him.

  He lifted his head and once again yanked on the chains. They didn’t budge. As he tried to focus on the spell reinforcing them, he realized it was no use. His power was blocked.

  Emily’s image, a vision of her making her way through dark tunnels pursued by vampires flashed in his mind. She couldn’t possibly defend herself. He started to drift into a sea of darkness and pain. He struggled to remain conscious, using every ounce of his concentration and his strength. After a time, he realized Emily’s footsteps were closer. Again, he focused on her. You promised you wouldn’t look for me.

  Her warmth filled his mind. I crossed my fingers.

  Being so deeply connected to her, he knew the vampires were closer to her now, nearly on top of her. Her heart was pounding. She couldn’t be sure of where she was going. She knew she was going to die. And yet, she was determined to save him. She was extraordinary.

  After one more futile attempt to yank the chains from the wall, he reached for her mind. He didn’t know what else to do. Rather than speak to her he willed her to come closer to him. He figured he might be able to help her or at least use a spell. If she were to get near him, he might have enough power to hide her. His logic was flawed. He couldn’t even break the chains holding him, but he had to try. It seemed to be working. He felt her getting closer and closer. Somehow just knowing there was hope, though it was small, stirred his strength. He felt a dark, violent power wrapping around him, filling him as he continued to lead her to him.