Kiss Of Twilight (14 page)

"No one. Myself."

"I'm not no one," the ghost said--she really needed to find out his name--like he was insulted.

"Shut up," she murmured.

Winter smiled and looked around again. "There's a ghost here?"

Kara gaped. Gia had told her secret. She wasn't sure if she was relieved or pissed. She nodded and Marcus looked around curiously.

"Who?"

The ghost was staring at his son. "I don't know your name," she said softly. Oh she really didn't want to be here.

"Michael."

How did she tell Marcus this? But of course, she'd forgotten she was dealing with a very strong telepath. And while they didn't snoop on purpose, Winter had explained that sometimes people "thought too loud." Projected, she called it.

"Jesus. Has he been here all this time?" Marcus asked.

Michael nodded. "Yes," she said.

"Where is he?"

"Standing to your right."

Marcus turned to look, but of course he couldn't see him. "What does he look like?"

Her surprise at the question must have shown. "He died when I was an infant," he added.

"He looks like you."

Now that they stood next to each other she couldn't believe she hadn't seen it immediately. She had no idea how long they kept her there relaying questions and answers. It was Dupree who finally put an end to it. No one paid attention when he came into the library until he interrupted them.

"This is weird even for this group. Who are y'all talking to?"

"My father."

"Uh, no offense man, but there's no one there."

"Who is this man?" Michael asked.

"Dupree," she answered.

"What?" Dupree asked.

Oh good grief. Next they'd be playing who's on first. She shook her head. "Michael asked who you were."

He looked at her like she'd developed a very sudden and serious illness. The kind that required white coats and padded rooms.

"Yes. I see dead people," she deadpanned.

Now he looked really worried. And more than a little pissed. "You're serious? Why have I never heard about this before?"

"Could be cause you're looking at me like I'm nuts," she snapped.

"Which I wouldn't be if it hadn't come out of nowhere," he pointed out. "You should have told me."

"This is your man?" Michael asked. "He's right. Speaking to spirits is dangerous. He should have known of your ability."

She turned to glare at the ghost. "Dude. It's the twenty-first century, not the eighteenth. Women don't have keepers and guardians anymore."

"But you need one," Dupree muttered.

"Oh shut up," she snapped at him and turned back to Michael. "As for your question, the answer to that is no."

"Why not? I'm dead and even I can see he wants you."

"Let me know if you figure it out," she said angrily, gathering up her book. "I don't have a clue."

She jogged up the stairs and returned to her office. Why was she so pissed off? It wasn't like she'd learned anything new about Dupree down there. He'd always been overprotective and it was a major secret to have kept. Then again, she sure as hell didn't know everything about him, did she? He'd made that point himself just last night. He liked to keep things nice and one sided, but damn, it had seemed like maybe he was making an effort. Or going to make an effort. After the last couple of days she'd really thought they were making progress. She snorted. God, just wait till he heard she was Ben's niece. It would all be over then. She wasn't sharing that memory yet, which would no doubt piss him off too. But it was still too new. Too raw.

He stepped into the room and shut the door softly behind him.

"I'm really not in the mood to deal with you right now, Dupree."

"That's too bad, darlin', because you're going to."

Her head snapped up and she narrowed her eyes. "God, you make me so mad. What do you want?"

"I want to know why you didn't tell me about this."

She shrugged. "I told you."

"Winter didn't look at all surprised."

Ah, so that was it. His possessiveness was rearing its ugly head again. He didn't like that she'd told someone else but not him.

"I didn't tell Winter either. Gia did."

He stalked into the room but she refused to back down. Despite his fears she knew he'd never hurt her. "You trusted Gia, but not me?" he asked too calmly.

"She's the secret keeper, remember?"

She'd expected him to be angry, but it was worry and hurt she saw in his expression. She'd been around long enough to know strong emotions always tempted the demon and Dupree's eyes flashed red for about half a second, before he regained control. She sighed and lifted her hand to stroke the side of his face, but he flinched. She let it fall before she touched him, turning her back and focusing on the mess on the table. He moved up behind her, not touching but close enough she could feel his heat. She wanted to lean into him but was sick and tired of being rejected.

"You work really hard to keep me at arm's length, Dupree. I was just doing as you wanted."

His hands rested on her hips and he leaned down to whisper in her ear. She trembled having him so close, bent over her so intimately. "I don't like you keeping secrets from me, Kara," he whispered in her ear. "No more secrets."

She couldn't focus on his words. He was so hot, so hard, so
close.
"You are such a tease, Dupree. Are you ever going to follow through?"

He backed up enough to turn her around and stared down at her. He wanted to kiss her. She could see it in his eyes. The door opened before he could and he backed off. Winter walked in. At least she looked apologetic.

"Sorry, I figured you were alone."

She'd assumed Dupree had left the house and why wouldn't she? It was his MO.

"What's up?" Kara asked.

"About this ghost thing?" Winter asked. "How does that work? Can you call someone to you or do they have to be...lingering?"

"No." Dupree shook his head. "Don't ask her to do that, Winter. You haven't even asked what this gift costs her."

That show of support made her melt and forget all about her anger and frustration. But she also understood it didn't alter Winter's position. She had to utilize all the tools at her disposal to protect her people.

"I can't call anyone," Kara said and shuddered. "Most of the ghosts I see aren't strong enough to communicate, and it's not like I see them everywhere."

"Do you see them where they died?"

She shook her head. "There's no rhyme or reason. They show up everywhere."

"Interesting," Winter replied noncommittally.

Dupree still looked shaken and concerned however.

"Nothing to say?" Kara asked.

He shook his head. "Later. I'll have plenty to say."

Yeah. She was afraid of that, but before she could head off another lecture about safety Winter checked her watch.

"You have anything else for me tonight?" Winter asked.

He nodded. "I'll meet you in five."

They watched Winter leave and pull the door shut softly behind her.

"Don't give me any shit, Dupree," she said when he turned back to face her. "You're the one who wants time to get to know each other, remember?"

He cocked an eyebrow and his gaze was hot as it swept over her. She fought to hide a tremor of awareness. "You're pretty mouthy for someone who's smaller and weaker than me."

She crossed her arms across her chest and glared at him. "Not for long, babe. No more edict, remember?"

He froze for half a second before stalking forward. It wasn't fear that made her catch her breath, but the promise in his eyes. "I still have time to convince you not to go through with it."

He wouldn't change her mind but she didn't throw fuel on an already burning flame by pointing it out. "I thought we were past this?"

He gave her a broody once over. "Can't blame a man for trying."

She shrugged one shoulder, trying to appear more blase than she was. "You can try."

Naked and in bed preferably. He smiled slowly and she was afraid that even though telepathy wasn't a strong talent of his, he'd overheard her thought. He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers as if he couldn't help himself, couldn't deny himself that little bit of contact. He was still smiling when he straightened, wicked and sinful. She felt a slow burn start in her belly and knew it was going to be a long frustrating day.

"We will definitely discuss all your options later, darlin'."

Dupree had insisted they take up Marcus's offer to move into his house after Ben began leading demon attacks against hybrid compounds, but he still felt weird living there. He made it a point to not be around much. Though if he went for brutal honesty, the discomfort didn't stem from the nightwalker or his residence, and weird was the wrong word. It was difficult. Painful. Impossible. He never forgot Kara was in the house. Her presence was everywhere, her scent, her voice. It was making him fucking crazy.
She
made him crazy.

He still couldn't believe the ghost thing or that he hadn't had a clue about it. Why on earth hadn't Gia or Winter at least told him? He hadn't had the chance to talk to Kara about it yet. She'd been distracted and remote since that revelation.

He hadn't pushed her for a reason and he wasn't complaining. Too much. Kara was easier to resist when she wasn't being caring and sweet. When she wasn't giving him hot come hither looks. He scrubbed a hand over his face and mentally prepared himself to follow her voice down the hall. Who was he kidding? She may have wised up and withdrawn, but he wasn't letting her go that easy.

How else could he explain his presence here now? Midnight. But instead of hunting down monsters he was hovering at the end of the hall trying to convince himself he could act like a civilized male pursuing a woman, but even he wasn't buying it. Since his trip to headquarters was delayed, Winter had used it to badger him into taking Kara along. Not that it had taken much to convince him. Kara was smart and logical, and if Dupree managed to talk Gray into giving him access to Contee's office, she'd be damned useful going through his files. It was a job she was better suited to than Dupree.

But that wasn't why Winter insisted and they both knew it. She hoped the extended time alone with Kara would force Dupree to act. They'd be leaving in a few hours. He was pretty sure it was panic constricting his chest, but it was quickly giving way to anticipation. There was no way in hell he could spend two days alone with her and not touch her. He didn't have that kind of restraint. It was like throwing a lamb to the lions, but he didn't feel very guilty about it.

He strode through the large foyer and took the dark hall to the back half of the house. Voices grew louder as he approached and he scowled. Kara was there, yes. Her smooth sugary drawl was impossible to mistake. But there were a couple of male voices that he didn't recognize. He stopped where he was and fought a ruthless battle to control his irrational jealousy. Some of it stemmed from his demon side. It only knew primitive, violent emotions. But most of it was just him. With or without a demon soul, Dupree was possessive and protective. He tempered those instincts with cold control, but the closer he came to losing his fight against the demon and the closer he came to giving into his need to claim Kara, the more his civility cracked like a thin veneer.

He took a deep breath, made sure the demon was locked up tight and moved down the hall. It wasn't until he stepped through the doorway that he realized he'd completely failed at the task. He couldn't hold back a snarl of displeasure and the crowd of lupines and hybrids around the desk backed off. There was a nightwalker still leaning close, though, and he looked up to meet Dupree's gaze with arrogant insolence. The only thing that stopped him from going for the walker's throat was the worn and tired smile that lit Kara's eyes when she looked up at him.

"Hey," she said softly and her voice cut through his possessive fury as nothing else could.

With a hard look for all the room's occupants but her, he stepped closer and watched with satisfaction as hybrid and lupine alike carefully edged around him and scurried out. Except that damned nightwalker. Dupree wanted to make his prior claim known. It was a raging need.

He strolled forward to her chair, swiveled it around so that she faced him, and gripping the arms, leaned down. He wanted to inhale her and kept a strangle hold on the desire, kept the pressure of his lips against hers soft. But when she gasped and her lips parted he couldn't resist the allure of her mouth. His tongue thrust inside to duel with hers. She was hot and welcoming and he reluctantly backed away when a throat cleared behind him. He couldn't resist returning for a quick peck when he saw the dazed expression on her face, though.

"What was that for?" she whispered.

He grinned. "Just sayin' hello, darlin'."

Mirth filled her baby blues and her lips curled in a half smile. His heart thudded in his chest. It was crazy. A simple look and he felt like he'd just run a marathon, and would do whatever it took to feel this way again.

"Hello, then."

"Y'all done?" Winter drawled at his back. He straightened and turned to face her. She leaned against the door jamb, arms crossed over her chest, white blond hair loose tonight and hanging free to her hips. Marcus, usually her shadow, was nowhere to be seen.

"For now," he answered her calmly. Casually. Like the woman behind his back wasn't everything. Like being interrupted was no big deal. Business--always business--came before pleasure. "What's up?"

Winter ignored him and turned her cold gaze on the nightwalker who still lingered in the room. "Simon. Kadall was looking for you."

The nightwalker stood and rounded the table. His face was blank, eyes remote. Then his careful mask lifted and with a short bow he gave her a friendly smile before leaving the room. She rolled her eyes.

"What was that all about?"

She snorted. "The nightwalker soldiers are treating me like some kind of queen. It's ridiculous."

That clearly made her uncomfortable and Dupree was glad it was her not him. The Order was militaristic in nature. They had a structure based on experience and aptitude. No one was born into rank. It had been his and Winter's world for sixty years and their respective ranks, hers as commander and his as her newly appointed master at arms, had been earned by blood and sweat. They lived a spare, no nonsense existence driven by loyalty and duty. It was nothing like the nightwalkers in this house. People accustomed to luxury and privilege and, as near as Dupree could determine, the most privileged were born into it.

It made Dupree antsy. He squashed down the nerves as he looked around a room he could only describe as
rich.
He'd grown up comfortable, especially considering the time period and his race, but he didn't fit in here. Kara did. Did he have a right to take her away from this? She was looking at him oddly and he realized his expression was betraying him. Again. That only happened around her. Deliberately, he turned away from his weakness, schooling his expression into one of calm indifference as he spoke to Winter.

"What's up?"

But the only person who knew him better than Kara was Winter. He felt sick when he realized he'd cut Gia from that equation. A part of him had begun to believe she was lost to them. Winter's arched eyebrow told him clear as day she'd let his odd mood go for now, but they'd revisit it later. Why was he surrounded by such stubborn, obdurate women?

"Have you been out tonight?"

No, damn it.

"Not yet. I don't have a lot time before we leave either. Might not make it out tonight." He really needed to grab a two hour nap before they hit the road.

When Winter had just been a quadrant leader and Dupree one of her seconds, he'd had time to train soldiers and hunt. But he was no longer responsible for the training and supervision of just one quadrant's soldiers. Now all four fell under his custody. He'd spent the first part of the night at that task and would spend the rest going over schedules and reports. Most nights he squeezed some time in to hunt. He needed that exertion to burn off some of the extra energy the demon produced as it grew in strength. The hour block he'd carved into today's schedule to go hunting was dwindling into nothing.

But the master at arms life wasn't his own. Which brought up a question Winter was supposed to look into.

"Did any of the other commanders hear why the council brought back the master-at-arms or first chaplain titles?"

She frowned. "None of them know anything either. Or they aren't saying. I'm not exactly part of the in crowd," she ended dryly. She turned to Kara. "Were you able to find out anything?"

"No." She shrugged. "But that isn't surprising. Most of them weren't friends with Ben and they still think of me as his assistant."

Whatever the council was up to they were keeping a lock on it and that made Dupree damned nervous.

"Did Mike have any luck?"

A couple weeks ago he wouldn't have dared bring up the priest in front of Kara, but that ship had already sailed. She'd finished the pre-merging counseling sessions with him.

Winter shook her head. "He couldn't find out anything either."

Which was not reassuring. The council was up to something, but ferreting out their secrets would be damned near impossible. He hoped the idea wasn't to return the Order to its strictly Catholic roots. For over a hundred years all faiths had been tolerated if not welcomed. A reversal of that unofficial policy would cause a mass exodus of Dupree's best soldiers and their assorted psychic talents. But he pushed the speculation to the back of his mind. As his mother had been fond of saying, don't go borrowing trouble.

"The other regional appointments are who we'd expect. And Robert and Lance want to talk to you. Said something about your phone not working," Winter said, amusement and censure at odds in her voice.

Dupree responded with a sharp grin and waited for her to continue. They could wait. She hadn't tracked him down for that. With a nod over her shoulder, she indicated he should follow and stepped into the hall, leading him to the front foyer. He could see the people he'd kicked out of the house talking and joking with each other down the hall.

"What's with all the young soldiers in the house?" he asked, irritation rising again at how they'd clamored around Kara.

"Baron and Lance brought them. They split the maps up and worked out a schedule to check them out." He'd forgotten they were doing that tonight. He'd got Lance to sit in on the meeting, which was no doubt why the quad leader was trying to find him.

Winter gave him an amused look. "You
really
don't share well with others, my friend."

He wasn't touching that with a fifty foot pole, and he was sure it wasn't why she'd dragged him into the hall.

"What's up?"

She crossed her arms over her chest while her expression became belligerent. "I had the dream again."

God. Not this again. Except he was starting to wonder if there wasn't something to it. Winter had first dreamed of Gia after the battle at the demon's lair, the night Gia had disappeared. Dupree had written it off as nothing more than anxiety. Winter wasn't a dreamwalker. It made no sense that she would find Gia in a dream. The way she'd described it, it didn't sound anything like his experience with dreamwalkers anyway.

"The same dream?"

She took a shuddering breath that gave away her unease more than any facial expression could have. "Yes. I'm running, but not getting anywhere, and when I reach out telepathically I'm locked into my own mind."

This was the fourth dream. The first one or two had been easy to write off considering everything that had been going on. Demon attacks increased, the loss of so many of their people. Gia's disappearance. But four? Four was too much coincidence. When she'd first disappeared, Dupree had assumed she'd just left their region for another. But when no one had heard from her and she hadn't checked in with Gray that assumption had morphed into fear she'd been injured or killed or worse, gone rogue.

Winter's dreams were not helping to settle his mind. Her eyes mirrored his anxiety and it was like a fine blade flaying his skin. She and Gia were the sisters he'd never had. He'd spent the last sixty years looking out for them and in the end he'd failed. Not that Winter needed his crap piled on top of her right now.

"Hey," he said softly, reaching to grip her fingers in his. "Don't worry. We'll find her."

Her responding smile was fierce. "We better."

What could he say to that? It was probably too late? He just nodded. "I better go check in with Lance. Anything else?"

She shook her head but the worried expression on her face tugged at his heart. He hated to see his sister hurting.