Dawn of a Dark Knight (31 page)

Crawling to the trunk, she peeked around the fender. The Hashishin clutched his wounded leg. Kane’s training echoed in her head:
If they’re trying to kill you and you got one shot in, fire again. And then one more time for good luck.
With no hesitation, she fired an additional three rounds into his chest. No other dark auras felt to be in the area.

She pawed through Kane’s pockets until she found his keys and ran for his SUV.

A few curious patrons trickled from the front door of the restaurant. They viewed the dead men in morbid fascination. The police would arrive shortly. If there was one thing Kira did not think she could handle, it was explaining this mess to small town law enforcement.

After positioning the SUV as close to Kane as possible, she took several minutes to drag his inordinately heavy body close to the car. She struggled to cram him into the back seat. His body fell onto the floor, but she didn’t have time to care. Within seconds, she squealed out of the lot and headed back toward the magi estate. She needed protection while she tried to assist Kane through the poison. Well, perhaps she was using this as an excuse to go back. She looked forward to yelling at Ashor for his idiocy.

Once back on the interstate she realized she wasn’t exactly sure how to get back to the magi estate. As she drove south, she hoped her intuition wouldn’t let her down.

****

Ashor ascended the stairs slowly. He couldn’t come up with a non-lame apology.

His head was so screwed up over this. He couldn’t have her, but he needed her. He needed to protect her, but wasn’t supposed to touch her. He desperately wanted to touch her, but was forbidden. As the battle in his mind waged, he massaged his forehead against the budding headache.

Fuck it.
All that mattered was she was his.

The bedroom door hung open. “Kira?” He knew she was gone before he entered.

Calling forth
seichim,
he searched for her essence. She was not within the estate. Instead, she felt far away. She’d left? Again? How had he not known?

Kira, where are you?

Not there.
Her clipped tone suggested finality.

Where are you?

Nothing came back.

Where are you!

Silence.

He gasped a hoarse denial. Suffocating pain pinched his chest. His back slid along the wall until he was at a squat.

This was his fault. He’d treated her callously by diminishing their spiritual sexual experience to a common rut. But she wasn’t supposed to actually leave. Even if they couldn’t be involved physically, she was the
akhrian
and in accepting that role she would always be close
.
Protected and nearby.

Yet, she had never accepted the role.

She needed his protection. Away from him and them she was in danger. Nothing else mattered. That meant he would go get her and bring her back, kicking and screaming, if need be.

As he threw on his coat, her voice registered in his mind.
I need a bit of help.

Where are you?
he bellowed in her head.

Your mood obviously hasn’t improved. Maybe I need to seek help elsewhere.

In a calmer, less severe tone, he replied
, What kind of trouble did you find this time?

Look, I don’t always attract trouble. I did, however, have a bit of an altercation and Kane is down. I’m headed back in your direction, but I can’t remember how to get there.

What’s wrong with Kane?

A Hashishin trying to abduct me sprayed him with something. I need to get him somewhere safe, so I can help him through the poison.

A couple hours and they already found her? Kane was an idiot to remove her from their protection. He stewed, but reined in his anger enough to provide directions.

He paced in front of the house in a useless attempt to dissipate apprehension.

An hour later, she called to him.
I’ve got a new problem. Just off the highway and there’s a police car flashing its lights on my tail. Do I stop? Or do I drive to you?

Ashor stopped pacing.
Don’t stop. We don’t know who’s in that car. Drive here and we’ll handle it.

Ashor pushed through the door of the practice room, getting the immediate attention of Christian and Javen. Based on the way Christian cradled his left arm, Javen was winning.

“Christian, I have a situation that requires your skills.”

“I’m not sure I can charm Kira into whatever it is you want her to do.”

“Although that would be useful, it’s unlikely to work. She’s too stubborn. Kira decided to leave us. She met Kane and got into a fight with a couple of Hashishins. On her way back, a police car tagged her. I advised her not to stop. I want you to get rid of the police.”

Christian grinned. “That sparkling personality of yours get you into trouble? Does Casanova need some advice on how to communicate with his woman?”

“Like I’m going to take advice on women from you. Are you going to be an ass or lend some assistance?”

“Lead on. Coming Javen?”

Javen produced a rare smile. “I wouldn’t miss this one.”

****

As Kira pulled toward the gates of the magi estate, they swung open. The police car pulled in behind her. Christian appeared unexpectedly at the police car’s driver side window. He spoke with the officer for a minute. The blue lights turned off and the car drove away.

Kira mused that kind of persuasiveness sure would be handy.

Christian sauntered to the driver’s window of the SUV and knocked lightly on the glass. “I see you found some trouble again, Doc. Congrats on sending a burr up Ashor’s butt. I’ve never seen him this worked up.”

“He really can’t be that upset. He’s the one that didn’t want anything to do with me. Where is he?”

“He’s at the house. Can I hitch a ride?”

“Sure, hop in.”

Throughout the entire drive to the main house Christian had a wide smile. “So why’d you take off?”

“Needed a break from you guys.”

“Ashor say something in particular to cause the rift?”

“You know Ashor.”

“I’ve never seen him say anything that didn’t cause a woman to try to tear his clothes off.”

“Been there and done that. It’s the after-sex bit that he’s got some difficulty with.” She parked and as she jumped out of the car said, “I’d think you’d be more concerned about my safety.”

He did a cursory up-and-down. “You look fine to me. I’m interested in the details of what Ashor said to make you leave.” He chuckled to himself. “I’ve never seen him so unbalanced over a woman. It’s hilarious.”

“Then ask him for details. Mind helping me relocate Kane from the backseat to the house?”

Christian grunted as he lifted Kane. “I tried asking Ashor about it, but he got prickly.”

“I’m sure it’s not because he missed me.”

Christian balanced the majority of Kane’s weight against the car and turned to Kira. Uncharacteristically serious, he said quietly, “Ashor is so messed up over wanting you, it’s really pitiful. It’s entertaining as hell to see him make an ass of himself. But his needs are in direct conflict with the vow he’s lived by for over a century. This vow requires he never be involved with you, if you’re the
akhrian
, which I think you are. So, don’t deceive yourself into thinking he’s not into you. He is. Believe me. And big time. So, try to disregard the bullshit spewing from his mouth.”

“He really was a complete bastard. He called me ‘just a good fuck.’ That doesn’t fly in my book.”

“No. He. Did. Not!” Christian hooted, and dropped Kane. “That’s priceless. Ashor is like the maestro when it comes to saying the right thing to women. Guess this tips the scales in my favor for being the best.”

“I don’t think Kane is going to appreciate that.” Kira kneeled and rolled Kane’s nose out of the dirt.

Ashor closed in with Javen hot on his heels. She stood on her tiptoes and placed a kiss on Christian’s cheek. “Thanks for explaining.”

Christian greeted Ashor with a grin. “I guess some of my charm does work on her.”

Ashor’s face mottled red.

Kira elbowed Christian and whispered, “Stop goading him. He looks like he’s going to explode. It’s a good look for him, don’t you think?”

Tears poured down Christian’s cheeks as he rocked with laughter. He choked out, “Javen, little help with Kane.”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Kira hadn’t so much as recognized his presence as they moved toward the house. Ashor would rather she do anything than pretend he wasn’t there. Sound barely crested his throat to vocalize when she immediately held up a hand to stop him.

“Not interested.” Her tone clearly indicated he was in the penalty box. Shoulders stiff, Kira didn’t glance at him as she sped up and marched past.

Javen and Christian dumped the unconscious Kane in the infirmary. Christian snort-laughed before covering it with a cough. Javen turned his face away, but Ashor caught his snicker.

Ashor scowled at the guys’ failed attempts to suppress grins.

Kira pulled a chair next to the bed. “The poison is thinning. He has to be conscious before I can try to get this stuff out of him.”

Ashor glared
get-outta-here
at Javen and Christian.

“Uh, Christian, why don’t we go tidy up the exercise room,” Javen suggested.

Christian shot Javen a
what-the-hell
with a double eyebrow raise. There was nothing to actually clean up in the exercise room.

Javen darted his eyes between Ashor and Kira meaningfully before resuming silent eye contact with Christian.

“Oh, yeah, sure. We’ll be back in a few.”

Ashor grumbled to Kira, “We are going to talk about it.”

“Now you want to talk? I thought you’d decided I was just a fairly decent fuck. A little one-night-stand sort of thing. Disposable.”

“I was wrong. I’m sorry.”

“What? Are you horny again and realized your easy lay deserted you? Want to push me up against the wall and have a quickie?”

“No, I don’t want to push you up against the wall. Actually, that’s a lie. I don’t want there to be lies between us. But that’s not the point. I’m sorry. You’re not just a good fuck.”

“Now I’m not even good at it?”

“
No
, that’s not what I meant at all. Damn it. You’re the best damn…I’m not even going to say it. This is about more than sex and you know it.”

“Is it? You didn’t seem to think so a few hours ago.”

Kane moaned.

She held up her hand. “Truce. Let me get this stuff out of Kane.” She gripped Kane’s arm. Drawing the evil energy toward her caused an initial mild sting. Then her chest cramped as the dark magik swamped her. The evil energy was tremendously displeased to be unseated.

She tore away from Kane once she felt fairly confident she had drawn most of the evil into herself. Then the potion went to work. This wasn’t
walmwilde.
Dark power tore through her with a cold chill as if assessing where best to attack. Squeezing pain attacked her brain. She grabbed her head as her knees crumpled. How could she be so stupid as to neglect the basics? No foundation of positive energy to fight and contain it. The pain dug in. Objects around her looked wonky, as if malformed.

Ashor shook her until her gaze connected with his. “Stop screaming,” he commanded. “Focus.”

The heat of his energy transmitted through his hands, pushing into her body. The dark poison shrank away as if repulsed by his energy.

“Force it out of you. Just get rid of it.”

She grabbed Ashor’s head to pull his mouth toward hers in order to draw more of his energy into her body. He returned the kiss without reserve, allowing her to take what she needed.

She pulled away. One deep breath and she pushed out the dark energy with a forceful exhalation. It oozed from her pores, vacating. She pinched her nose against the pungent sulfur.

“Thanks.” She slammed a palm to the wall to steady herself.

He scooped her up. Silently, he carried her back to the familiar bedroom she identified as his.

“Rest.” He pulled the comforter over her fatigued form.

Sleep hit instantly.

****

“How’d they find us?” Kane demanded as he sat up. A pale green hue colored his face.

“Hell if I know,” Javen replied.

“What was that stuff they sprayed on me? It tasted awful and then it burned like a bad ulcer. Now I feel like they slipped me a mickie.” Kane massaged his head.

“Been mickied before?”

Kane shrugged.

“It was some sort of Hashishin poison. They come up with new ones all the time.”

“Why did you take her from here?” Ashor bellowed as he strode near the bed. “Are you an idiot?”

Javen blocked his path. “She’s back. Cool off.”

“You don’t want a piece of me right now, Jav. Move.”

“You touch Kane, and I bloody guarantee she won’t let you back in her bed. Sounds like you’re already in deep shit where that’s concerned.”

Ashor paused. Javen was right. Kane was the enabler. He wasn’t the reason she left. He needed to hit something.

“Did you take advantage her, you perverted shit?” Kane pushed himself to an unstable stand.

Javen turned to Kane. “Keep the piehole closed. Don’t give him a reason.”

Kane ignored Javen, wavering on his feet. “Did you?”

Ashor stared at Kane, fuming.
Don’t do it.
He should leave.

“Couldn’t resist the only piece of ass that comes through your place?”

Ashor landed a fist solidly on Kane’s face. The force threw Kane back onto the bed. Blood flowed from his nose.

Ashor leaned close and growled, “She’s not a piece of ass.”

Ashor knew he was within seconds of full-on berserk rage. He turned away from Kane and mumbled to Javen, “Keep him away from me. I’ll kill him, if he takes her away again. Explain it to him.” He stalked out of the room.

****

Ashor watched her sleep. Moonlight illuminated his room, giving it a bluish-white glow. Over the years he’d filled this bedroom with objects of modern art that had struck him as unique. Each piece chosen, not for beauty, but for its embodiment of his deep longing for the tranquility of sleep. Peaceful rest. That had eluded him for longer than he cared to remember.