Haunted by Your Touch (18 page)

He needed to get her out of there now.

The rage and frustration he felt at Tabby and the
baby’s being in danger he funneled into a wall of wind he hurled toward the remaining dozen Anarki. It swept the lobby furniture, then began whipping bodies into its frenzy, at least for the precious seconds he and Tabby needed to escape.

They rushed outside, into the winter dusk. Raiden clamped an arm around her and thought of Ice’s caves in Wales. After a few disorienting moments, they hovered outside the dwelling on the windswept rocks, looking into the sea.

Tabby staggered, and he held her steady in his grip, panting with exhaustion.

“It’s safe here,” he murmured. “Let’s get inside.”

She nodded and followed him through the arched entrance. “That was the most frightening thing I’ve ever done in my life.”

Raiden couldn’t disagree.

“How will you and the other wizards ever be able to fight him off?”

The million-dollar question
. He sighed. “Honestly, I don’t think we can. But Ronan is devoted to this cause. I’m with him, and now devoted to whatever it takes to keep you safe. But it’s another reason you’re better off without me. I don’t
know how to be the mate you want, and I won’t be alive long enough to figure it out.”

That reality ate at his insides. The last thing he wanted to do was give her to Sean Blackbourne, but it was for the best, especially now that he’d failed her at Lowery’s office.

“Raiden—”

“No. It’s true. And I’m doubly sorry that you risked your life to go to your father’s office, only to come away empty-handed.”

“But I didn’t.” She peeled her hand away from her chest and revealed the family photo that had been on her father’s desk.

His spirits sank. He’d been hoping for something useful, rather than sentimental. “I’m glad you’ve come away with something meaningful.”

She shook her head, all that gorgeous red hair that had tumbled from her proper clips tousling on her shoulders, reminding him yet again of one of the million reasons he always wanted her.

Tabby grabbed his arm. “I know what Mathias wants. I found the tree.”

From the back of the picture frame, Tabitha extracted a long piece of paper. Raiden sidled closer as she unfolded it. Names, dates, multiple branches on one long tree stretching back thousands of years. Throughout, a handful of names had been highlighted.

“What does it mean?” He had no damn clue.

“I don’t know.” She shrugged.

Raiden looked it over again, but he might as well have been reading gibberish. However, the bottom of the page had been altered. On the last entry in the family tree, the child’s date of birth remained, but the name, once highlighted, had been deleted.

“I think I know someone who might be able to help us,” Raiden mused. “Come with me.”

“Someone trustworthy?”

“There’s no one I’d trust more.”

He took Tabby’s hand and prowled the caves until he found Bram’s sister, Sabelle, who sat in the kitchen, drinking tea. After introductions, the beautiful witch looked between him and Tabitha and smiled.

“Did you finally pull your head out of your arse? I’m hoping so, and that the fact you haven’t mated with her is merely temporary. Ronan says you love her.”

Raiden resisted the urge to throttle Sabelle. “Stifle the matchmaking. We were chased minutes ago by Mathias and some of his goons while retrieving this. What is it?”

He thrust the paper under her nose and Sabelle took it, studying it intently, her blue eyes growing wider and wider. Then she peered up at him, looking suddenly pale. “Where did you get this?”

Tabitha grabbed the scroll back, defending their find. “It was my father’s, Nigel Lowery.”

“The record keeper?”

“Yes. Mathias killed my family for this, I think. My father’s last words were to protect the secret tree and—”

“This is, indeed, a great secret.” Sabelle hesitated,
as if she was searching for the right words to impart bad news. “It’s the family tree of the Untouchables.”

Raiden felt his stomach drop to his knees.

Beside him, Tabby gasped. “Oh, dear God.”

A sacred race, the Untouchables had blended in with humans long ago. In fact, most
were
ordinary humans. But every thousand years, some recessive trait rose to the fore and the lineage produced a child far more than human—but one completely unaffected by magic. According to this document, one had been born in London a mere twenty-five years ago. Tabby’s father had erased that child’s name.

“The hospital we visited when I was just a girl!” Tabby covered her gaping mouth.

Raiden nodded. “The Untouchable’s sire persuaded your father to keep her name secret.”

“Yes, and they gave the baby, a little girl, up for adoption that very night.”

“To protect her, I imagine.” Sabelle’s face softened with compassion.

Any business involving Untouchables was always dangerous. They were often killed not only for their seeming immunity to magic but also for their ability to suppress magic near them. Likely,
Matthias saw her as a threat. Whoever this girl was, she was in terrible danger if Mathias learned her name.

“Look here.” Raiden pointed to the mother’s name on the parchment. “The Untouchable’s mother died shortly after giving birth.”

“I wonder if it was for refusing to divulge her daughter’s name.” Tabby looked discomfited by that possibility. “And her father passed just a few weeks ago.”

And he’d been far too young to die of natural causes. Raiden’s gut clenched with worry. Clearly, Mathias hadn’t yet learned the woman’s identity if he still sought this page. And all of the deaths in the evil wizard’s wake showed that he’d have no problem killing Tabitha to get what he wanted.

“Do you think Mathias plans to kill the Untouchable?” Raiden asked.

“If he learns the woman’s identity, likely so.” Sabelle frowned suddenly. “Except… why find her now? If she could derail his plans, why didn’t Mathias hunt for her immediately after he’d risen from exile? What’s changed?”

A terrible possibility hit Raiden. “Or perhaps the Untouchable is to be a weapon used against the
Doomsday Brethren, meant to disable our magic long enough for Mathias to wage some terrible attack on magickind and gain control.”

“A very real possibility.” Sabelle shook her head. “Let me think on it. And I’ll take it up with Bram when he returns. But regardless, in case Mathias could somehow use this record, it must be protected.”

“Agreed. Where is Bram?”

She shrugged. “He left with Duke, Ice, and Marrok about an hour ago. Said something about solving a mystery. Hopefully, we’ll hear from him soon.”

Raiden rubbed a hand across his throbbing forehead. “When he returns, have him find me.”

Sabelle agreed. Raiden thanked her and took Tabby’s hand again, leading her through the shadowed, narrow caves to his own.

By all rights, he should send a message to Shock right now advising him that the Untouchable family tree was now in the Doomsday Brethren’s possession. That missive should reach Mathias quickly and lift the threat from Tabby. Then, Raiden knew, he should deliver her to Sean Blackbourne, the man who would be responsible for her safety and happiness for the
rest of her life. Then she would be safe. Mathias should have no cause to hunt her.

But he couldn’t—not yet. First, he must talk to Bram, ensure this was, in fact, the secret family tree. In all likelihood, yes, but… better safe than sorry. And really, that was an excuse. Truth was, he yearned to keep Tabitha for another night. A whole night. Not merely long enough to make love to her. Not simply to comfort her after a staggering loss or to shield her from more danger. But because he needed her with him, from sunset to sunrise, in his arms, in his bed.
His
.

Swallowing, Raiden finally reached the door of the cave in which he’d been staying. He ushered her inside. “I know you’re used to better. Your father provided for your family admirably, and this cave is temporary—”

“A bed! I’m exhausted.” And she sounded thus. “Do you have a shower as well?”

He pointed the way, and Tabby closed the door between them. He spent the next twenty minutes listening to the sound of water sluicing over her naked skin and fighting the urge to break down the door and ravish her.

Just as his patience gave out, she emerged in a cloud of steam. And he caught his breath.
She wore his black terrycloth robe. The sleeves fell past her hands, and the hem dragged on the ground, but something about seeing all that fiery hair of hers streaming over his robe made him hard as hell. He needed her madly. Now.

“Raiden?” She looked at him with wary eyes.

He should let her sleep alone and in peace. It was the honorable thing to do, since she didn’t belong to him and never would. But he’d never been accused of being honorable before.

Rising from the bed, he crossed the room and took her shoulders in his grip. “Tabby. I…”

Where to start?

She looked down. “I know. Now that the secret tree is safe, you’re going to take me to Sean.”

He refused to lie to her. God knew he wasn’t mate material or even a wizard of high morals, but he wouldn’t intentionally hurt her again. “I must. For you.” He dropped a hand to the gentle swell of her abdomen. “For the baby.”

Tabitha shook her head, her red hair tousling everywhere. “If you’re worried about the danger to us, then leave here! Don’t fight this war. Don’t put yourself in danger.”

In other words, stay with her. Bloody hell, it was so tempting. He’d love nothing better than
to wrap Tabitha in his arms, and maybe, if magic-kind had been peaceful, he’d have put their futures and their hearts on the line and tried to mate as any normal wizard would. But everyone knew he wasn’t normal. He laughed. There were still bets out there among a skeptical few on the duration of Ronan’s mating to Kari. And of the twins, Ronan had always been the more steadfast. Raiden feared he had zero chance of making Tabby happy for more than a night.

And magickind wasn’t peaceful.

“I can’t leave Ronan, Bram, and the others to fight alone. But I won’t have you in the middle of the danger. Blackbourne will care for you. His mate passed to her afterlife without birthing a youngling, so he will cherish yours. He’s connected and powerful and—”

“Not you.” Her face crumpled as tears welled in her eyes.

Raiden’s heart turned over. Why did she love him? He shook his head, still trying to understand.

“He won’t mean to me what you do.” Her hazel eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “He won’t make me feel desired. He won’t challenge me. He won’t make every day an adventure. He isn’t the other half of my heart.”

Oh God
. Raiden closed his eyes. Her plea was persuasive, and the urge to throw caution to the wind strong. He steeled himself. This was their last night together. It had to be. And he would make every second count.

“I’m sorry, Tabby. I can’t.” Raiden held out a hand to her. “Be with me?”

Tears fell down her cheeks and she shrugged. “You know it’s impossible for me to say no to you.”

And saying no to her sweet pleas had been the hardest thing he’d ever done.

Raiden didn’t say a word, just pushed his robe off her delicate, pale shoulders, unbelted it, and let it drop to the floor, baring her sweet curves to his gaze.

Breath left his body in a rush. Dear God, she was beautiful. He knew that, but every time he saw her, Tabby reminded him all over again. And not just physically beautiful. She oozed warmth, intelligence, sass… along with an alluring vulnerability and a pure heart. She opened herself totally every time he touched her, and there was something so compelling about falling deep into her. It felt like finding home.

Laying her on his bed, he quickly disrobed and
covered her body with his. He captured her lips, knowing this would be the last time. And that hurt like a bitch. In a perfect world, he would do this every night: kiss her, caress her, show her how much he wanted her.

But in this flawed world, he had only tonight.

From the first touch, Tabby arched up to him, and Raiden closed his eyes, slipping into fantasy, a place where she was his—and always would be. Every night would be filled with her love. And after he’d swallowed her sated cries with his kiss, he’d roll over into blissful, untroubled sleep with her by his side and their youngling growing strong in her belly.

The thought was a powerful aphrodisiac. He deepened his kiss, claiming every inch of her mouth as if he’d been able to make his wish reality.

He drowned in her sweet taste, sinking into a pool of want so deep, he knew he’d never emerge. And he didn’t want to. He let the undertow of desire drag him under as he caressed her so-soft skin, down her neck, to the swells of her breasts. Her sighs tugged on his heart. This last time, he wanted her experience to be so special. She might mate with Sean Blackbourne and give her
body to him for the rest of their days, but Raiden wanted to believe that she would never forget him.

He swept tender kisses across her skin, lingering at the sensitive peaks of her breasts, reveling in her slender fingers filtering through his hair, holding him close. He worshipped both nipples, laving them with attention for long minutes until she writhed, until the scent of her arousal grew unbearably, drawing him lower.

Raiden caressed the swell of her belly again, regretting like hell that he wouldn’t see his youngling born or know what it was like to hold him or her. After tomorrow, he’d lose most rights to the child. Yes, everyone knew he’d fathered Tabby’s baby. But as her mate, Blackbourne would be seen as its father.

Shoving the thought aside, he lowered his forehead to her stomach and cupped the swell in his hands. Tears pricked his eyes, and his mouth drifted across the little mound.

“Raiden… I’ll stay. The danger, it’s—”

“No. Please. Just let me… say good-bye.”

Tabby tried to wriggle up, no doubt to argue, but he eased her back down and found his way between her legs, kissing the sweet, silky-wet
flesh there. He’d never forget her taste, no matter how many women he took to maintain the energy to fight. There would be no one like Tabitha.