Mating Hunt (18 page)

Kyle hissed. She’d hit him hard and fast. Damn, she hated it, but had to coax him into trusting her once more.

“We can make it work. Please, let me try again. You can blindfold me, do whatever you want.” She stood and clasped his hand, running her fingers over the small nicks and scars of a Lupine who never refused hard work or getting the job done. No, he only shied away from relationships.

Gently he pried her fingers loose and then kissed the corner of her mouth. “Eat your breakfast. We have to make it back to the ranch before sunset.”

About an hour later, she followed Kyle on the ribbon-thin trail snaking down the mountain. Gusts of cold wind slapped her cheeks and sent grit stinging her eyes. Blinking back the moisture, she stumbled down the trail. Kyle hadn’t spoken since they’d accessed the narrow path winding down the mountain. The painful silence scraped across her raw nerves.

She concentrated on navigating down the rock-strewn path. Sun dappled the thick pines and the forest floor, as a crisp wind ruffled her hair. Beautiful day for a break-up, she thought, her chest tight.

They’d shared a wonderful intimacy, a physical pleasure she’d never imagined and bonded together in the flesh, even if he didn’t give her his mating mark. Her guardian had forced her to push past all her fears and reach the heights of pleasure. She felt as if he’d shown her a beautiful palace, and then told her it was a mere mirage.

After a few miles, Kyle stopped for a break. Arianna sat on a flat rock, sipping from her water bottle. His male fragrance seemed stronger today, and she could not ignore it. Tendrils of spice wrapped around her body, teasing her flesh, licking between her legs...

Arianna wiped a bead of perspiration from her brow. Expression intent, Kyle glanced at her.

He felt it as well. With a start, she realized the full moon rose tonight.

She capped her bottle. “Any chance of making it back to the ranch before moonrise when I come into my heat? I really don’t want to be stuck in the forest after sunset.”

Unable to help herself, she added in a bitter tone, “I need to be some place where I can lock the door. Since you insist you’re so damned dangerous.”

Kyle’s mouth flattened. “We’ll make it.”

Shouldering her pack, she followed him down the trail, misery curdling her stomach as she stared at his broad back. Last night she had stroked those smooth muscles, filled with a possessive pride. Kyle was all hers.

But he wasn’t. Some other female would take him into her bed, make love to him and feel his hard body pressed against her. An unbearable ache tensed her body as Arianna imagined Kyle’s memory of their time together in his cabin turning dim and fading.

Suddenly her guardian stopped. Arianna’s pulse quickened. Senses highly attuned, she knew what he scented.

Two Skins approaching from the east, both stinking of the metallic tang of dark magick.

Arianna held up two fingers. Kyle’s expression tightened as he shrugged off his pack and motioned for her to remain.

Oh, hell no. She wasn’t letting Kyle take them solo. This was her fight, too. She set down her pack.

The Skins crashed through the woods, branches cracking beneath their heavy feet. As the men entered the clearing, they ground to a halt. Shock spiraled through her.

Skip and the tall Skin Kyle had killed. It made no sense, yet she recognized them.

A low growl ripped from Kyle’s throat as the Skins paled and backed off. The two turned and ran. Kyle shifted into a wolf.

“Stop! It could be a trap. Kyle, wait!”

He bolted, chasing after the Skins. Damnit! Arianna shifted and followed.

Through the thick pines and oaks, they chased the men, Kyle nipping at the Skin’s heels. Arianna felt the rush of terrible joy as she hunted.

They entered the dark woods where she’d first sent the Ogre and vanished near some rocks. Kyle’s front paws dug into dirt and pebbles as he skidded to a stop. He whipped his massive head around. Arianna nearly collided with him.

Where were they?

She scented nothing but cool air, pine and damp earth. Fur rippled along her spine.

Awareness flickered in Kyle’s green eyes as he turned. As Arianna started to shift back, the ground rumbled beneath their feet.

The rocks yawned open. Fear razored through her as she yipped a warning. A blue-white glow encased them like a net, dragging them inside, the rocks sealing closed behind them.

A
RIANNA LANDED ON
a cold, hard floor. She groaned, every bone in her body aching. Nearby, Kyle lay motionless.

They’d changed back to Skin form, not through their own magick. Someone had forced the change and left them naked. Eyes gummy, she blinked, struggling to assess their surroundings.

Glittering crystal surrounded them, on the ceiling and the surrounding walls. Doorways cut into the rock wall appeared to tunnel deeper into the cavern.

Dazzling light sparkled, making her eyes water and her skin hurt. Brilliant crystals of ice blue and emerald hung in jagged spikes from the cavern’s ceiling, their low, screeching music bouncing off the walls and rasping on her sensitive eardrums. The bite of snow and crispness invaded her senses.

As she inhaled through her clenched teeth, Arianna’s breath fogged the air.

She moved toward Kyle, only to be pulled up short. An iron manacle circled her wrist, its chain hooked securely to the rock wall. A deep chill raced down her spine, but she forced down panic and analyzed the surroundings.

Her guardian remained unconscious, a similar iron manacle around one ankle, chained to a hook set into the rock floor. They were lying near a raised platform of white crystal. Glowing white crystals embedded in a rock wall lit the platform like a stage.

In the center stood a tall man, his long, lean face silhouetted. Shimmering blue robes covered in glittering white crystals draped his body. White-blond hair hung in a straight line past his shoulders.

The man gave a little bow.

“Welcome to my world,” he boomed in a deep, mocking voice. “The crystal palace has been specially prepared for your stay.”

“Nice,” she said, wheezing, her ribs aching with every breath. “I’d rather go to a hotel.”

Kyle groaned and stirred. Thank the gods. Extending the chain as far as she could, she crawled over to him, wishing she could reach out and touch his sweating brow. “Are you all right?”

“Fine. You okay?”

At her nod, he exhaled and sat up, rubbing the back of his head. “Damnit, I’m sorry, Ari. Should have listened to you, but my animal got the best of me.”

Now wasn’t the time for her to point out the irony.

He looked around and tugged at the chain. “Where the hell are we?”

“Some place called the crystal palace. It’s no Vegas, but the dude running it looks like a bad reincarnation of Liberace.”

He shielded his eyes with a hand and peered at the stage, directing his question to the wizard. “Who are you?”

“You should know, hunter. I assisted you when you were but twelve, upon the orders of the one who thinks himself my keeper.”

“Elric? The Coldfire Wizard? Tristan’s aide?”

Arianna’s blood ran cold as Kyle spoke the name. Elric... she knew this one.

Crystals hanging in stalactites above him shimmered, flooding the cavern with white light, bringing his face into plain view. The wizard waved a hand and an ice pick of agony slammed into her skull, making her whimper.

“I am so heartened to see you again, Arianna.” Elric smiled, and a shiver snaked down her spine. The smile spoke of ice crystals, jagged spikes of cold, and pain.

Oh, such pain.

Terror seized her limbs. Now she knew why the numbness, the crystals and the stony floor felt familiar.

Arianna scuttled away from Elric as he descended the crystal steps. Suddenly she became immobilized. Teeth chattering, she could not move, her limbs heavy with sharp needles of cold. Tears leaked from the corners of her eyes and turned into crystal shards, tumbling down her cheeks, their jagged edges scraping her skin.

“How long I’ve waited for your return. You were such an exquisite prospect. Such a pity I allowed you to escape, but I knew I would capture you when the time was right.”

“Ari,” Kyle said urgently. “The more you pay attention to him, the more power he has over you. He’s nothing more than Tristan’s little bitch.”

“Such disrespect.” The wizard made a tsking sound. “I shall have to discipline you, hybrid. Oh, I shall have such fun with you. I no longer serve Tristan. And these walls are thick. No one can hear you.”

The icy terror began to melt as Arianna riveted her gaze to Kyle’s deep green eyes as he gave her a reassuring smile.

“Tristan is a fool, taking me for granted and thinking I was suited only to serve him,” Elric continued. “He took my powers of replication and used them for his own purposes, never acknowledging my own greatness and skill.”

What an ego
, Kyle mouthed.
Makes even Darius look humble.

Arianna managed a wan smile.

Loud voices echoed in the enormous cavern. “We did our part,” one protested. “Where’s our pay?”

The two Skins they’d chased emerged from one of the doorways. The taller one scowled.

Kyle fisted his hands, his entire body trembling. “I killed you once, you son of a bitch. But I’ll enjoy doing it again.”

“Ah.” The wizard tapped a finger against his pointed chin. “You believe you killed them. You did, only a version of them.”

Gorge rose in her throat as a distant memory tugged. “You replicated them.”

Elric shrugged. “Cloning Skins is quite simple, for humans are organic beings. Tristan taught me the skill. I tried it with OtherWorlders, but failed. Humans are unique.”

His smile turned nasty. “Besides, I prefer to breed them.”

The sickening feeling in Arianna’s belly turned into pure nausea.

The taller Skin said, “We brought them here as you asked and now—”

Skip interrupted. “Give us our due or we’ll hurt you.”

The wizard laughed. “You cannot hurt me. But I do tire of your whining.”

He stretched out his hands. Icy blue fire shot from his fingertips. The two men screamed as the energy engulfed them. In seconds, they turned to piles of gray ash. Arianna shoved a fist into her mouth to suppress a whimper.

Must not let him see her fear, hear her screams, or he would hurt her, like last time...

“Humans are so tiresome, are they not?” Elric asked conversationally. “OtherWorlders are much more sophisticated and unpredictable. It’s why I captured you both. You’re perfect for my breeding plan.”

A small gasp escaped her mouth, despite her attempt to be quiet.

“I allowed you to escape all those years ago, Arianna and made you think you did it on your own. Standard visual cortex manipulation, so easy an adolescent wizard could do it. I needed you more mature, to increase your chances of bearing healthy offspring. So I bided my time. After all, the perfect match had rescued you. A hybrid Satyr, the right candidate to impregnate a pureblood Lupine.”

Bastard, she wanted to cry out, but did not dare.
Remain silent; maybe the bad man won’t pay attention to you.

“The adolescent Lupine and his sisters promised to me by the two Skins seemed perfect specimens. I captured a female Ogre with a scent lure and planned to breed her when the male Lupine came of age.” Elric frowned. “However, the female escaped while I was cloning the two Skins. But I shall capture others to breed with Lupines.”

Acid churned in her stomach. He couldn’t be serious. But he was, because he wanted to do it before, long ago. Oh gods, this couldn’t be happening again. Please, let it be a nightmare and she’d awaken in Kyle’s arms, his deep voice soothing away old fears.

But her guardian was here and as chained and equally helpless.

“You fucking bastard, you can’t tamper with other species,” Kyle grated out.

The wizard gave an elegant shrug. “Blame Tristan. Ten years ago he expressed an interest in propagation and wished to know which OtherWorlders possessed the healthiest genes and the most sexual stamina. He ordered me to analyze OtherWorld DNA. Indeed, he set up my lab.”

White lines bracketed Kyle’s mouth. “Tristan would never approve of this.”

“One cannot stem a male Satyr’s sexual appetites. Your own sire proved that, hunter.”

Kyle snarled and started for the wizard, but Arianna tugged him back.

“Elric, why are you doing this?” she whispered.

“By the time Tristan sires an heir, I shall have several. All of them bred to be smarter, faster and sexually aggressive. I will unleash each new species into the world, forcing Tristan and the other Brehon to acknowledge I am their equal.”

Arianna realized that the wizard was insanely jealous of Tristan’s status and power. “How long have you been planning this?” A twisted breeding program all to best his master and gain recognition.

“Years.” His nostrils flared as he stared at her, scented her. “Excellent. You’re coming into your mating heat, Arianna. By the full moon tonight, you will be ripe and ready.” The wizard glanced up at the cavern ceiling. “I must prepare.”

Elric mounted the steps and vanished through a doorway cut into the rock wall. Soon as he was gone, Kyle pulled at his chain. Face contorting, he tugged hard, muscles straining though he got nowhere. Despair slid over her.

“Save your strength. I know these chains. They’re embedded with magick and you can’t free yourself.”

Kyle’s chain extended enough to allow him to reach her. He caressed her cheek, his calloused fingers warm against her chilled skin. “We’ll get out of here. I’ll find a way.”

She wanted to believe him, but she’d been a prisoner here before. Did she have the courage and wit to escape again? Maybe, if she and Kyle worked together...

But Elric returned, humming a little tune. He carried something that turned the blood in her veins to ice.

A syringe. He climbed down the steps. As Kyle turned with a snarl, the wizard immobilized him with a wave of blue energy. Then he plunged the needle into Kyle’s lean hip.

“This dose should work. I need you to perform when the timing is perfect.”