Fatal Desire (3 page)

“Who are you worried about knowing we are here?”

“Do not concern yourself with it. Did you enjoy the ride?” The memory of her thighs gripping his back caused his pants to become uncomfortable. He stared at her pink cheeks and wind-blown hair. Fire burned in his groin.

She crossed her arms over an ample chest, obscuring his view. “It was all right, considering.”

“Considering what?” He clenched his jaw.

Her golden gaze burned into him. “Well, considering I’m your slave. After all, it wasn’t like I had a choice.”

He let out a low growl. “Move.” He gave her a nudge toward the tree line. The woman certainly knew how to push his buttons.
Doesn’t she realize it’s not wise to piss off a dragon?

Still, he had to question his own sanity. He could release her, yet he didn’t. Caleb had never been one who approved of keeping another being against their will, unless of course they were prisoners of war. There was also the fact she had been Odage’s slave, which was confusing on its own and he didn’t really understand how it had come about, yet he would never question his leader. He was sure Odage didn’t care at this point what happened to the demon, but there was always the off chance his leader would still want her dead. Keeping her with him would ensure she remained alive, and for some reason, her death left him cold.

He watched her ass flex in the skin tight jeans she wore; it wasn’t helping the erection he sported. He shook his head. The response his body had to her frustrated the hell out of him. Yes, the man wanted to throw her to the ground and fuck the hell out of her, even if doing so would kill him. Normal, she was a beautiful woman. His dragon, however, wanted to kill any male who dared hurt her, and that he didn’t understand.

After about a half mile, they made it to the small clearing where his home sat overlooking the valley below. He’d chosen this spot for its remote location and built the two-story home with his own hands using local trees and stone. His chest puffed with pride; he hoped she liked it.

You idiot, why do you care? She’s only here to maintain the house and nothing more. You can never have her.

He moved across the massive porch and opened the door, allowing her entry.

* * * *

Lileta was acutely aware he watched her with desire as they trekked through the forest. For a moment, she contemplated tossing him to the ground and rubbing against him. Knew that’s all it would take for him to break. He would last long enough to finish the deed then die a slow, painful death. Once he was gone, the silver bands that held her hostage would fall off.

She would be free.

Simple. She’d been trained on how to pleasure a man. Learned to block out her emotions long ago in order to keep her sanity. Sex meant nothing to her, and love was a joke.
So why do I find the act of killing this dragon distasteful?
Every time she tried to plot against him, some strange sensation came over her. The thought of him dead sat like arsenic in her gut.

She crossed the threshold and was greeted with vaulted ceilings and warm wooden floors. A sitting area with a stone fireplace sat between large picture windows. Four black leather chairs and a couch were strategically placed around the room. It was definitely lacking a feminine touch.

“I’ll show you to your room. You can have free rein of the house, and I think you’ll find everything you need here. If there’s something missing, let me know and I’ll see to it.”

She hid a smile; he beamed with pride as he spoke. “You trust me to roam your property?”

He shrugged. “It’s not like you can go anywhere.” He led her up polished wooden stairs and down a wide hall, stopping in front of a heavy oak door. “This will be your room.” He pushed it open. “Matter of fact, this entire wing is yours.”

She entered the most beautiful room ever given to her. Used to cramped, dark spaces, she faced him. “Why would you give me…a slave, a room like this?” It had to be some kind of sick joke, and her sense of humor had been buried deep long ago.

He grimaced. “What were you expecting?”

She turned and walked toward the expanse of windows. “A small hole in the basement.” The view overlooked the valley below and snow-capped mountains loomed in the back drop. She sucked in a breath and could almost see herself sitting on the deck each morning sipping tea.
What a stupid idea.
She became angry at herself for being foolish and at Caleb for being the cause of it.

“You mean to tell me that is where Odage kept you?”

“He and all the others.”

“How many?” he growled.

She maneuvered away from the window to sit on the bed. “How many what?” Her hand smoothed over the quilt, the soft cotton like silk to her fingers.

“How many have held you captive?”

Her head tipped up to catch his gaze, death swirled in their green depths. “Four.”

“I will kill them all.” He spun on his heel and stormed from the room, slamming the door behind him.

She blinked.
Did he just say he was going to kill them?
Laying back, she reeled in the comfort of an actual mattress. Another luxury she hadn’t experienced since being taken as a teen. Caleb was a mystery that needed to be solved, but later. Right then, she wanted to explore. One thing she had learned. Adapt to your surroundings and life will be much easier.

Chapter Three

Caleb launched into the sky with one mission in mind. Find Lileta’s previous captors.

For some reason, when he’d heard how she’d been treated like a caged animal, his dragon became enraged. He still didn’t understand why but had learned not to ignore that side of himself. Unsure of where he headed, he let the beast in him lead the way.

Hours later, he found himself standing in New Orleans, the flight taking some of the edge off his temper. It also gave him time to think, and he’d come to an impossible realization.

The gods were sadistic.

They were punishing him for some misdeed he’d done, probably something to do with his brother. Payback time and now he was going to get his in a cruel, agonizing way.

Lileta was his fucking mate.

Impossible. He fought with his inner dragon the entire journey. Caleb said no way, they were not compatible, and he could never have her. The dragon in him recognized the scent of his mate. He wanted her in the worst way and now understood his mood swings and why he currently stood thousands of miles away from home to search for those who had hurt her. Neither the man nor beast would be satisfied until her captures were dead.

He wondered if she knew as well. Would the mating instinct affect her as it did him? After all, they weren’t the same species. Granted, both mated for life, but he realized he didn’t know much about Kothar Demons.

Before he searched for his prey, however, there was another he would seek. Sidara, the local voodoo priestess. He had questions only she could answer.

He’d stopped along the way to pick up a nice bauble from his collection. The woman was a fiend when it came to gems, so he’d pulled the largest diamond he owned. Hopefully, it would buy him what he needed.

Moving up the sidewalk to her mansion, he crossed the porch and rang the bell. The door opened with a slow squeak, reminding him of the old haunted houses the humans put up at Halloween. If they only knew the real thing existed right under their noses. He slipped inside, letting it close behind him. Sidara stood a few feet away, her raven locks piled on top of her head. She was a ravishing beauty.

She glided toward him. “Caleb, you handsome dragon. To what do I owe the pleasure?” She held out her dainty hand.

He grasped it, bringing his lips to brush across her knuckles. “Lovely as always, Sidara. I need something from you, and I’m prepared to pay handsomely.” He pulled the diamond from his pocket and held it up to the light. Her eyes grew in diameter.

“Pray tell, what can I do to earn that?”

He pocketed the gem, and a sigh escaped her ruby lips. Good, she wanted the gem bad. “Did Odage come here asking you for a cloaking spell?”

“Yes.”

He hadn’t expected the answer to come so quick. “Did he state why?”

She licked her lips, her gaze focused on his pocket. “Something about the vampires not being able to see him.” She held out her hand.

Therefore, Lileta had been right. At least on this anyway. “Not so fast. I have one more thing I require from you.”

“What?” This time she met his gaze.

“Well, actually two. I was never here and,” he pulled a piece of paper from his pocket, “this must be delivered, discreetly to the person on the front.”

She snatched it and read the name. “Done. I will take care of it immediately.”

“Good.” He removed the gem from his other pocket and then hesitated. “Perhaps there is something else you can do for me.”

Her eyes swirled with impatience. “What?”

“I need to locate some men…”

She held up her hand. “I know of whom you speak.” She grabbed a tablet and pen from the side table and scrawled on the paper then ripped off the sheet and handed it to him.

He smiled and placed the gem in her eager hand. “You’ve earned this.” The woman amazed him with her talent; perhaps she read his thoughts without his knowing. He folded the paper and slipped it into his pocket on his way to the door then stopped and turned around before he exited. “And remember, I was never here.”

He strode down the sidewalk. The sun now completely set, he opened a portal to his destination. Lileta’s captors would have to wait.

* * * *

Caleb slipped into the cave without issue. He was taking a huge risk showing up there. Even though it was a neutral location, it didn’t mean there wouldn’t be an ambush waiting for him. He had to trust his old friend, but after his actions last time they were together, he wouldn’t blame Marcus if he showed up with an entire army. He had basically broken relations with the guardians after their king had accused Odage of murder.

Moving along a narrow passage, he headed for the pool, positive that’s where he would find him. As he neared, he sensed the power of the other immortal. No one else. Excellent, Marcus had come alone.

Caleb stepped into the vast cavern; the vampire faced him, hands at his side where they could be seen. To demonstrate he was also unarmed, he moved his palms out front. Of course, both men understood this didn’t mean a thing and was strictly for show since they were equally matched in strength. They would have to trust each other, and Caleb relied on the fact that his longtime friend wanted peace and not war with the Draki. The two had both fought together in the war with Drayos, and it was then he learned about the curse placed on the guardian’s soul. One which was slowly spiraling them into the darkness and would eventually turn them into lethal killers.

Marcus crossed his arms over his chest as his eyes flashed silver. “I came alone as you requested. Only my mate knows where I am.”

Caleb nodded. “Good. Thanks for agreeing to meet with me.”

“Get on with it,” Marcus growled.

“I need to know, what makes you think Odage killed your queen?”

Marcus’s lip curled. “She told us it was him. Somehow, he removed her life force.”

Shit, Marcus was a guardian, created by the god Zarek to protect the human race. Lying was something a guardian reserved for only life and death situations. This was not the news he’d hoped to hear.

“Did he abduct your mate?”

“Yes.”

He sensed this wouldn’t be easy. Marcus wasn’t very forthcoming with information. “Is she well?”

Marcus narrowed his gaze. “Why do you want to know?”

He didn’t want a standoff with the warrior. Marcus was the only healer among his kind, and Caleb knew his skills would be needed. If it came down to a fight, one of them would not leave here alive. He was going to be the bigger man, this time anyway.

He lowered himself to a nearby rock. “I’m beginning to question Odage and his intentions.”

Marcus dropped his arms, his stance relaxed. “What has happened to cause this?”

“Lileta.”

The vampire moved with lightning speed and had Caleb around the throat, lifting him off his perch. “Where is she? If you have harmed her, I will forget this is a neutral zone and gut you right here.”

“She is unharmed.” Though difficult, he resisted the urge to fight back. He needed information from his old friend.

Marcus dropped him to his feet. “Where is she?”

“Safe, that’s all you need to know for the moment.”

Marcus balled his fists. “Why should I believe you?”

Caleb captured the warrior’s gaze. “Because she is my mate.”

The guardians jaw dropped. “Holy fuck.”

He sat back down. “Preciously.”

Marcus took a seat across from him. “What do you intend to do? Does she know?”

He shook his head. “I can’t be sure. She is still bound by the bands but is safe in one of my homes. I dare not release her yet. Odage nearly killed her for freeing you.”

“And you rescued her? How did that sit with your leader?”

“Actually, very well. I asked to keep her as my own. At the time, I didn’t know she was mine, only that I needed to protect her.” The anger he experienced when the first lash touched her skin had nearly sent him over the edge. It had taken every ounce of willpower to stand and watch the beating as if he could care less.

Marcus sighed. “Cassie is home safe with me. She is heavy with child and due very soon.”

Caleb’s eyes widened. “I am happy for you, but how? I mean, she’s human.”

“She was, now she is one of us.”

He dropped his gaze to the floor. “I can’t believe my leader was able to do these things right under my nose.” He looked Marcus in the eye. “He has ordered me to kill all the guardians. You must get your people into hiding.”

“We do not run like a bunch of whiny children. You of all men should understand that. Besides, this is much bigger than you or I. Drayos and Eliza spawned a son named Lowan. He plans to open Hell’s Gate. He already has Cassie’s blood and now needs the amulet. Something about her blood is supposed to be the key to work the damn thing.”