Amethyst Flame (The Flame Series Book 2) (3 page)

He gathered up his vampire shielding ability and let it flow.

“What is that?” Emma turned slightly in his arms.

“The only defense I have against you spellcasters.”

“Your vampire ability to disguise yourself?”

“Exactly. You okay with that?”

An odd chuckle escaped her throat. “My kind just tried to kill me. So yeah, I’m okay with whatever you need to do.”

“Well, right now, I’m trying to figure out where we should go. My townhouse won’t be safe. Not now. Maybe never, after tonight. But what about your home in Elegance? I know you told me you have a powerful security-spell over the entire property.”

“I do. And I’m sure we would be safe there.”

~ ~ ~

As Vaughn turned toward the east and began to fly her in the direction of Elegance Territory, Emma asked him to go slow. Not because she was afraid, but because she’d never seen this part of Five Bridges from high overhead before.

Her right leg was bothering her a little. Maybe one of the bullets had nicked her, but it probably wasn’t anything serious. She’d have a look when she got home.

He kept them moving steadily east, toward Elegance and even began a slow descent so she could see the land better.

Five Bridges had over a hundred small bridges linking up the pitted landscape. Long ditches crisscrossed the land as part of a containment solution to the drug and human trafficking problem that had been a result of the flame revolution. Those ditches, thousands of them, were almost impossible to traverse. Yet, dozens of runners, loaded with flame drugs, tried night after night to get to the human world beyond the barrier of barbed wire. Too many succeeded, though a large number died in the process.

Underground tunnels also riddled the area beneath Five Bridges, each opening onto a human home in Phoenix where more drugs and unconscious humans were carted back and forth. Corruption was rampant in the province and because of the amount of money involved, pay-offs went to some of the highest levels in Phoenix government.

The result? Two ghosts now flew alongside Vaughn and the third next to Emma.

She could see the dense stretch of barbed wire as Vaughn crossed the border from the Graveyard into Elegance.

She felt funny, though, and her right calf was sore, like it was bruised. Maybe a bullet had kicked a rock up as Vaughn had carried her into the air. She also felt a little lightheaded, but it wouldn’t be long before she was home.

Another minute, and she could see her house. “It’s the third on the right, but go to the side yard. There, just past the tree.”

He dropped down slowly until he was on the sidewalk. She stepped off his boot, but because this was only the second time she’d flown with him, she took a moment to regain her balance.

And her leg really hurt.

She reached the door, pulled it open and without thinking went inside. She’d completely forgotten the nature of the spell until Vaughn shouted, “Emma, what the fuck is going on?”

~ ~ ~

Vaughn couldn’t see anything but the side of the house, no doors, no windows, which was bad all by itself. But Emma had moved toward the wall, then disappeared.

He drew his Glock and bent his knees. “Emma? Are you all right?”

Suddenly, she reappeared in front of him. “Sorry, Vaughn. I wasn’t thinking.” She winced slightly and rubbed her forehead. “Come on. I’ll lead you in.”

Vaughn nodded, but he was pissed. He hated the feeling of being shut out and unable to properly assess a situation because of a spell.

Slowly, he holstered his Glock.

Emma took his hand. “I can tell this is bugging you. But the spell only covers the exterior of the property. You’ll see.”

Before he’d taken two steps, however, he tugged on her hand once more and drew her to a stop. “Is this some kind of witchy thing? Are you enthralling me?”

Her auburn brows rose. “I don’t know what you mean.”

He lifted their joined hands. “This? What I’m feeling, like a soft flow of electricity working its way up my arm.”

At that, she looked away from him and a blush suffused her cheeks. It took him a moment before he realized she was embarrassed. “Did you put a spell on me?”

She shook her head and finally looked up at him again. She swallowed once. “It’s something very human, I’m afraid, but probably enhanced by my witchness in a way I don’t yet understand.” She drew closer and lowered her voice. “Do you remember the night we were together? In your townhouse?”

Did he remember? He’d replayed it in his mind about a thousand times. Two months had passed, but it was as fresh as though it had happened about five seconds ago. “Of course I remember.”

“Well, the same thing happened back then, like this hum of electricity between us. I think being with you awakened something inside me.”

“You’re saying your witch is attracted to me?”

“Something like that.” Using her other hand, she waved it over him. “What woman, in her right mind, wouldn’t be? I mean look at you.”

Given the situation, he was stunned that desire for Emma cascaded over him in a quick hot wave. He squeezed her hand. “I’ve thought about our time together, Em, a lot, wishing we could be together again.”

“I know. Me, too.” Emma squeezed his hand in return. He could see a sheen of sweat on her forehead and she was looking unusually pale.

“Yet, there’s no real future for us, together, I mean.” Yet, here he was, on the threshold of entering her home, a place he’d never thought he’d be.

She nodded, then turned toward the house, still nothing but a solid wall to him.

When she began to disappear again, he tugged on her hand. “Hey, go slow here. All I’m seeing is a wall.”

She smiled back at him. “You’ll be okay.”

As he drew within a foot of the house and probably because he held Emma’s hand, the doorway finally revealed itself to him and he crossed the threshold.

But as he entered her home, he noticed she’d started limping. Glancing down, he saw that she was leaving bloody shoe-prints behind.

“Emma. Holy shit.”

She turned back to him, appearing dazed. “What?”

“You’ve been shot.”

CHAPTER TWO

Emma had been shot a couple of times before, once painfully in the stomach. But as she turned to look back at the tracks of blood, the bruising in her leg suddenly blossomed into a mountain of pain.

Sometimes adrenaline would do that, keep you from getting the full impact until it was safe.

She felt the floor pushing toward her face.

The next moment, strong arms held her tight against a broad chest, then she was airborne.

At first she couldn’t figure out what had happened, until she heard Vaughn’s voice. “Hang on, Em.”

She was in his arms and he was carrying her.

“Bathroom,” she called out through a haze of pain.

“Which one?”

“Master.” She tried to lift her arm to gesture to the east wing of the house, but her eyes were closed, squinched together, and she couldn’t see anything. She felt abominably nauseated.

“It hurts.”

“I know. I’ve got you.”

She grabbed his tank, maybe at the shoulder, she wasn’t sure. She pulled it into a knot and breathed through a spasm. Her whole leg was on fire.

Cool tile hit her next as he laid her out on the floor near the tub. She felt him tugging at her shoes and cursing a couple of times.

He began easing her pants off. “This is gonna hurt.”

“Do it fast.”

He swept her pants down her legs. She cried out and turned on her side, struggling to get air in her lungs.

She felt warm hands on her legs. “The bullet went through but you’ve got a nasty wound. Let me call someone.”

She forced her eyes open and caught his forearm. “No. Don’t. We can’t. There’s so much corruption. I don’t want anyone to know where we are or that I’ve been hurt. I just need my stuff. This isn’t my first GSW. There’s a wicker basket under the sink I made up a while ago.”

She lay her head on her arm and swallowed hard. Another wave of nausea hit her because of the pain.

Vaughn opened one of several cupboard doors until he found the basket. He held it up for her to see.

“Just slide it over. Fast.”

The basket hurtled toward her. She caught it then reached for the vial first, popped the cork with one hand and guzzled the contents.

The effects of the spelled liquid were immediate, sending a warmth down her throat and into her stomach. A similar sensation sped through her veins. The pain started drifting away.

She closed her eyes, but soon felt soft fingers dragging over her face. Ah, the girls were here.

“You’re smiling.” Vaughn’s gorgeous, deep voice again. “Was that an opiate?”

She chuckled. “No. It’s my own concoction with a spell. It’s made from flowers from my garden. I think one of them is used in amethyst flame. No wonder Loghry’s addicted.”

When the first rush of feel-good passed, she tapped the basket. “There’s a jar in there with a lavender colored balm. All I need you to do is spread some on the wound. Can you do that?”

“Of course.”

“Am I still bleeding?”

“Not as bad.”

“Good. The balm will take care of the rest.”

She closed her eyes again. She could feel the ghosts flying around the room. They seemed almost cheerful. They were probably getting used to their new state.

Just like she was. She chuckled again. “I’m so smart.” Had she said that aloud?

She felt a pressure on her calf that only registered as pain in the dimmest way. “Put it on thick. You know, glob it on.”

“Will do.” Then, “Jesus.” He sounded startled.

“What?”

“It’s healing so fast.”

“Yeah, cuz I’m smart.” She laughed again. Everything seemed so funny right now, including her self-proclamations of genius.

“Well, you’re definitely smart, although I’d say you’re also high as a kite.”

She worked to open her eyes. “I should have shared.” She lifted her hand that still held the vial. “You can have the few drops at the bottom.”

Vaughn’s face was suddenly hovering above hers. “I’ll pass.” But he took the vial from her anyway. Probably a good idea. It was made of glass and her motor functions were off.

“Vaughn?”

“Yes?”

He was still right there above her. “You are so beautiful. I mean, I know I should say ‘handsome’, but oh, my God, your eyes are like steel and your face has all these angled planes. And I love your straight black brows because it makes you look serious and committed. I like committed men.” She chuckled some more. “Like Loghry. That bastard is damn committed.”

She saw Vaughn’s lips curve. Then his face left her line of sight. She reached for his tank, wanting to pull him back, but her arm wasn’t working right. “Where are you going?”

“Nowhere. I’m right here.”

When he floated back into her field of vision, this time she made a concerted effort to grab his shirt. She succeeded and pulled him closer. “Vaughn, I want you. I’ve wanted you bad since you took me on your couch. Do you know that I started volunteering for any Trib assignment that would take me to Crescent? I wanted to see your face again. Your body. Oh, God, your body. You are so built. Did I ever tell you that?”

She tried to pull him down to her, but he gently took her hand and unwrapped it from around his shirt. “You’re drugged out, sweetheart.”

“But I know what I’m saying. I want you.” What she didn’t know was
why
she was pelting him with her lust. “Sorry. You’re right. I’m not myself.”

“It’s okay. I have a confession to make as well. I’ve spied on you. I’d make any excuse to go to the Trib. I saw you a few times.”

She laughed. Everything seemed so funny. “I love that you’ve been watching me. Now I don’t feel like such a dork. Maybe we’re both dorks.”

“Maybe we are.” Was he chuckling as well?

“You’re not. I am, but you’re not. You’re a man. A real man. I respect the hell out of you, Vaughn. I need you to know that, even if my head is swimming right now.”

She remembered that something else needed doing. “Wrap up my leg with that other thing.” Her hand flopped as though all on its own toward the basket.

Her mind flowed in and out now, but she could feel him working on her leg.

The next thing she knew she was falling into something soft. Oh, her bed. Not falling. Vaughn was settling her on the sheets. She turned on her side and slid her hands beneath her cheek. Warmth flowed over her. Maybe he’d covered her up.

Once more, she felt lovely soft fingers on her face.

“Vaughn?”

“Sleep for a bit.”

“I will.”

Then she was gone.

~ ~ ~

Once Emma drifted off, Vaughn headed to the bathroom. He put the basket back where he’d found it, then cleaned up the blood from the floor all the way to the distant side door.

With Emma out cold because of her gunshot wound concoction, he needed to take care of his own issue. He hadn’t gotten hurt, but Emma’s blood had gotten on his leathers and his boots. He didn’t have a pleasant smell, either, something like fear and death combined with a whole lot of lust thrown into the mix.

She’d said she wanted him bad. He felt the same way about her and it hadn’t helped to take her pants off and see a sheer-as-hell violet thong barely covering her sex.

He removed his Glock and holster, setting it on the bathroom sink. He then stripped out of his clothes and stepped into the oversized shower. It felt good to soap up and rinse off.

Something had changed for him in the past hour since he’d taken care of Emma then put her to bed. It had all felt so normal, like they were a couple, and it had left him feeling shaky. Or hell, maybe it was the adrenaline.

He didn’t get what was going on with him because he usually didn’t give a shit whether he lived or died.

Yet right now he did.

As he shut the water off, he pulled a towel from the nearby bar and dried his hair. Wiping down his body, he glanced at his cock. Here was the main problem. The damn thing was half-swollen with desire for the woman lying partially clothed in her bed.

When she’d downed the vial of her witch-remedy pain-killer and began healing at lightning speed, he’d started to relax. Her wound and all the blood that had soaked her jeans had driven straight through his heart. He didn’t want her hurt, and he really didn’t want her dead.