Master of the Night (22 page)

“That's better,” Erin said as the sword fell from Parker's lax hand. Spotting the vampire rising from Janieda's body, she whirled to hack off the thing's head. As the vampire fell, she stalked toward Reece and Parker.

Her lover grinned at her. “Nice,” he said. “Very nice.”

“Don't gloat…yet,” Parker hissed from the floor.

Erin saw his eyes begin to glow through his visor. Instinctively she raised her sword, only to feel the power wave roll over the room before she could strike.

Voices cursed, metal clanged and rattled. Erin looked around to see the Sidhe and Magekind staring at one another in bewilderment.

Their vampire opponents were gone.

A bubbling laugh drew Erin's attention down to Parker. “Good luck…finding them all,” he choked out. “Wonder…how many they'll kill?”

Reece took the sword from Erin's hand and beheaded him with one blow.

“A bloody plague
of vampires,” Arthur growled, pacing the High Council chamber. “God knows how long it's going to take us to find and kill them all. That bastard Parker shielded them somehow.”

Llyr sat at the Round Table, watching the other man pace off his anger. He himself felt blasted, empty. It was so hard to believe that Janieda was dead.

Through some trick of the spell that had linked him to Erin, he'd woken with her last words ringing in his.
“Save my king!”

She could have escaped, even if it had meant shrinking even further and flying out some chink in the wall. Instead, she'd donned armor and gone to battle for him.

Why in the name of all the old gods had she loved him, when he'd never done a damn thing but hurt her?

Except now, he was the one in pain.

“We discovered Geirolf had escaped long ago,” Llyr said dully. “If I'd told you, perhaps all this could have been avoided. She'd still be—” He broke off, unwilling to expose such a naked wound to another monarch.

Arthur flung himself into a chair with a weary sigh. “Perhaps. But we'd been slighting you for years. I'm not sure I would have done any differently if I'd been in your boots.” He braced an elbow on the tabletop and rested his head on his fist. “I told the Majae's Council you don't treat a monarch like that, but I'm afraid our women have an arrogant streak. I'm only Liege of the Maji's Council now, not High King. They listen only when it suits them.”

A shaft of pain tore through Llyr. “I'd comment, but I'm afraid kings are not immune to stupid arrogance, either.”

The Old Gods knew he hadn't been.

“No, but I think it's past time we get a little smarter.” Arthur straightened, his gaze direct, honest, reminding Llyr why he'd always liked the Magus. “You were right. An alliance is in the best interest of both our peoples. You proved that today.”

Odd. Here was the offer Llyr had waited centuries to hear, yet now he felt nothing.

But that didn't mean he had to be stupid about it. “I will agree to such an alliance if, and only if, it means not only that I'll help you in your vampire hunt, but that you'll help me bring my brother to heel.”

Arthur inclined his head. “Of course. In retrospect, it was stupid of us to attempt to remain neutral in that fight anyway. Geirolf has taught me just how much damage a sorcerer can do when he chooses. And judging by what I've heard of Ansgar Galatyn, your brother could well give the demon a run for his money when it comes to sheer destruction.”

Llyr rubbed a hand over his jaw, bitterly remembering the children and wives he'd lost to his brother's assassins. “That's an understatement.”

“I will, of course, have to work out the details with my High Council,” Arthur told him, rising to his feet. “Though I strongly suspect this time, they won't give me much of a fight. After that, you and I can arrive at a strategy on the best way to pluck the thorns from our mutual flesh.”

He extended his hand. Llyr looked at it a long moment, thinking bitterly of everything he'd lost in pursuit of that gesture.

“A handshake is an old custom among my people in sealing a gentleman's agreement,” Arthur explained.

“I'm…familiar with the concept.” He rose and took the other man's hand, careful to make his grip firm and sure. It wouldn't do to show weakness, even to an ally. He met Arthur's gaze. “Though you'll pardon me if I also want it in writing.”

The other man barked out a laugh and clapped him on the shoulder. “Any liege worth his crown would. In the meantime, perhaps you'll join us for dinner.”

“I believe I will.” As the two men started for the door, Llyr said softly, “It's ironic, really. This was what I wanted all these years when I tried to persuade your Majae's Council to let me take a Maja to wife. And it's the one reason I never married Janieda.” Compelled for reasons he didn't even understand, he met Arthur's dark, sympathetic gaze. “The last thing I said to her was that she wouldn't make a good queen.” He squared his shoulders and willed away the sting in his eyes. “She was always proving me wrong.”

 

Erin took a
sip of her wine and listened as Reece and Lance argued over the best way to track down the escaped vampires. She tilted her head toward Grace, who was cutting into her steak with a tolerant expression. “Do they ever quit?”

Grace forked up a bite, chewed thoughtfully, swallowed, and said, “No.”

Erin laughed. “I didn't think so.” She bit into some strange Mageverse vegetable and looked around the sprawling banquet room. Tables were packed with Majae, Magi, and Sidhe, all chatting companionably as they grabbed a little dinner before what would undoubtably be a grueling hunt. “Not that we can really afford to quit, with that lot out there doing God knows what to God knows whom.”

Grace grimaced. “Please, I don't even want to think about it. I feel like I'm still a quart low, even after Morgana broke the link spell between the three of us.”

“Me, too,” Erin admitted. “By the way, thank you. If you and Llyr hadn't lent me your power…” She shook her head. “We'd have an even bigger problem than a bunch of psychotic vampires on the loose.”

“Yeah, but you're the one that actually went face to face with Geirolf. Nice work, by the way.”

Erin snorted. “Hardly. I damn near lost control of the power and got us all killed.”

“But you didn't,” Grace reminded her. “You got it back together and you handled it.”

“Thanks to Reece.” She looked around at him as he and Lance leaned back to argue. Concentrating, she felt the warmth of the link shimmering between them.

Sensing her touch, he turned to her and smiled.

“He's so damn strong,” Erin said softly. “I never expected to feel like this about anyone.”

“Yeah,” Grace gave her husband a fond smile. “There's a lot of bullshit to living in the Court. But…some people make it worthwhile.”

 

Feeling the need
for some fresh air, Erin stepped out through towering double doors onto the castle balcony. She stopped dead in wordless admiration at the sight of Avalon spread out beneath her, all towering spires and elegant architecture glowing in the cool light of the Mageverse moon. An impossibly beautiful sky spread overhead, awash in shimmering nebula colors of pink and blue, more brilliant than she'd ever seen on Earth. Half-hypnotized, she stepped toward the railing.

She didn't hear the doors open behind her, but she sensed the psychic warmth of Reece's presence. “It's gorgeous,” she said as he stepped up behind her.

“It's not the only thing,” he said, and pressed a kiss on the shoulder her gown left bare.

Smiling, Erin leaned back against his strength and warmth. The fine linen of his black tuxedo felt gently rough against her spine as his big hands slipped around her waist. “We made it, babe,” she said softly. “We beat him. I didn't think we would.”

“I never doubted you for a minute,” Reece told her, nuzzling her hair.

“Liar. You thought we were screwed.”

“Like a Swiss Army knife into a champagne cork.”

Erin laughed, suddenly feeling giddy. “I got him for you, David,” she called to the sky.

“Now if only we can get all his little vampire friends.” Reece caught the tender lobe of her ear between his fangs in a gentle nibble. “That's going to be a bitch. If dawn wasn't so close, we'd all be out there looking now.”

“We'll get 'em,” Erin said, as a reckless confidence filled her. “We can do anything. Man, I feel like I could fly.” She grinned wickedly as a sudden thought struck her. “And come to think of it”—her feet floated free of the ground—“I can.”

“Hey!” Reece caught her hips to keep her from rising further. “You're not going anywhere.”

“Oh, come on, vampire!” She spun weightlessly in his arms and wrapped her long legs around his waist. “Haven't you ever wanted to fly?”

“Not without benefit of wings, rotors, and a good solid cockpit.” Feeling his feet leave the ground, he grabbed for her. “Cut it out!”

“What are you, chicken?” she demanded as they rose slowly higher.

“Chicken?” He eyed the receding ground warily. “I just slew a demon, lady.”

“That would sound a lot more convincing if you didn't have a death grip on my waist. Don't you trust me?”

“With my heart, my life, and my sacred honor. Dammit, don't drop me!”

“You're immortal, you big pansy. It wouldn't kill you.”

“But it would hurt!” He tore his gaze from the Magekind's shrinking castle to gave her an evil glare. “And as for that last crack, just wait until I get you on the ground. We'll see who's a pansy.”

Erin heaved a put-upon sigh. “Would you feel better if you had a visible means of support?”

Suddenly there was thick, knotted wool under his Gucci loafers. Reece looked down at it with a lifted brow. “An Aubusson flying carpet?”

“You're the one who likes brand names, Gucci Boy.”

“That's Gucci
Man
to you, babe. And Aubusson is hardly a ‘brand name.'”

“Well, if you don't like it…” She lifted her hands.

“Like it?” Reece toppled with her, landing in the center of the carpet to the sound of her startled yelp. He grinned evilly. “I plan to give you a serious case of rug burn.”

His hot mouth cut off her delighted giggle. She tore her mouth free to tease him. “You sure you want to distract me when we're three hundred feet in the air?”

Reece lifted his head and gave her a wild look.

Erin laughed. “I'm kidding. This thing will go right on flying without any further effort on my part. Except maybe when I want us to land.”

A slow grin spread over his face. “Well, in that case, it's time I work a little magic of my very own.”

She moaned as Reece kissed her hungrily, his big body pressing hers into the thick, soft wool of the carpet. One big hand tangled in her hair, turning her head this way and that as he angled it to his satisfaction for each nibble and lick.

When he finally let her come up for air, she smiled at him dreamily. “You know the real reason I made the carpet?”

Reece nuzzled her chin, breathed. “Why?”

“To block the view from the ground when I do this.” Their clothes melted away like mist.

“Mmm,” he purred, drawing back to study her pale, naked body with hot male approval. “That's what I love about you, sweetheart. You're so efficient.”

She smiled. “There's a long, long list of things I love about you.” As Reece lowered his head to lick one of her hard nipples, she let her head loll on the carpet. “And that tongue is definitely near the top.”

“This tongue?” He flicked it over the tight peak, sending sweet little jolts along her nervous system.

“That tongue.”

Reece paused to suckle until she moaned. “So where on the list is it?”

She groaned as he bit delicately. She gasped, “Where's what?”

“My tongue. On the list.”

“You expect me to
count
?”

“Too much for you?” He gave the other peak a thought-ful flick of his tongue, then settled in for a long, drawing suck.

“Definitely too much,” Erin sighed. “More, please.”

Reece lifted his head and scanned her slim, naked body possessively. “Maybe you need more data.”

She wriggled on the carpet and hooked one bare heel over his butt. “Data?”

“To determine where my tongue is on your Favorite Reece Body Parts list.” He licked delicately down the length of her sternum.

“Data. Oh, yeeaaaaah. I just love research….”

He swirled his tongue around her belly button, then planted a string of tiny bites down her abdomen. Erin moaned, staring dizzily at the Mageverse sky sliding past overhead.

His big hands parted her knees, and his hair brushed the inside of her thighs. And that wonderful tongue danced over the lips of her sex before dipping between them.

The sensation had her arching with a drawn-out moan of pleasure.

“Figured it out yet?” He circled her clit.

“Need more samples.” Erin cupped the back of his head, drawing him closer.

As his tongue swirled over her most sensitive flesh, one finger found her core and slipped inside. He rumbled in pleasure against her sex. “Like butter.”

She moaned at the moon. “You have that effect on me.”

“Well, that's encouraging news.” He rotated his wrist, pumping his hand slowly as he licked and swirled and strummed between the slick folds. Erin draped her calves over his broad shoulders, floating on sweet waves of delight.

 

Her legs felt
delightfully warm across his back as cool night air whispered along his spine. She tasted of salt and sex, richly intoxicating. Reece knew he'd never get enough of her.

The Truebond shimmered between them, throwing him a delicious echo of her pleasure as he played with her. The sensation of female anatomy he didn't have responding to his own tongue made his head spin. Happily seduced, he experimented, trying to find the perfect combination to send her right out of her brilliant mind.

Reaching up her torso, he found one full breast and palmed it. Another glittering alien sensation spun through his nervous system. He squeezed and rolled her nipple.
“I think I like this Truebond thing,”
he murmured in her mind.

“You do seem to be having a good time. Ooh! Oh, yeah. Right there.”

Knowing exactly what she liked about “right there,” he started doing more of it until her spine arched and his own cock pressed, rock hard, against the flying carpet.

Her orgasm rolled over them in long, delicious ripples that brought him shuddering to his own peak.

When it finally passed, he rested his cheek, dazed, against the inside of her thigh. “Man. It's true what they say. Women just go on forever.”