Night Unbound (24 page)

“You mean like slip it in his pocket?”

He shook his head. “The tracking devices are magnetic. If you can get close enough to attach it to one of their weapons, it might go unnoticed long enough for us to find whatever lair their leader keeps erasing from their memories.”

“Yeah. I should be able to do that.”

“I don't like it,” Bastien spoke dourly, ever protective of his vampires. “If the vampire realizes what's happening, he could destroy Cliff. That or turn him over to his leader.”

“Bastien's right,” Seth agreed. “Let the Seconds do their digging. I'll continue to scan memories and see what I can learn myself.”

“And the rest of us?” Lisette asked.

“Hunt in pairs.
All
of you. Even the elders. I don't want
any
of you to hunt alone until further notice. Am I understood?”

Nods all around.

“If you encounter one of these new vampires, don't even try to engage him. Just tranq him and call me. If he attacks before you can tranq him or if he tranqs one of you first, the hunting partner should tranq him or kill him as swiftly as possible, then get the fallen immortal to the network. Don't buy time and try to read his thoughts or emotions. Don't try to capture him or question him. Just kill him or tranq him. Period. Any immortal who doesn't leave the house with auto-injectors containing the vampire's dose of the sedative in every pocket will answer to me,
if
you live long enough to do so.”

Lisette looked to Étienne and Krysta. That last part had probably been directed at them. Three immortals with not one auto-injector between them?

Yeah. They had screwed up.

Krysta cleared her throat. “It might be a good idea, too, for immortals to do as the mercenaries we fought last time did and check in with our Seconds at the top of every hour. That way if both immortals are tranqed . . .”

Seth nodded. “Do it.”

The danger had never been so great.

Melanie raised a finger. “One more thing. I don't think Lisette should hunt tonight. I think she should rest for a couple more days before she jumps back into things.”

Seth looked at Lisette. “You heard her.”

Lisette thought it best not to complain.

Seth visually consulted the rest of those present. “Anything else?”

Grim silence.

“Then our meeting is adjourned. Safe hunting to you all.”

 

 

“Are you sure you're all right?” Zach asked. Wrapping an arm around her, he guided Lisette up the steps to her home.

She smiled. “For the hundredth time, I'm fine, Zach.”

“I think you should have spent another day under Dr. Lipton's supervision.”

“Melanie said I'm fine.”

“If you were fine, she would have cleared you to hunt tonight.”

“So she'll clear me tomorrow or the next night. And we'll both sleep better here.”

Lisette now knew what it must feel like to live as a lab rat. All of those eyes studying them and scrutinizing them twenty-four hours a day. Immortal and mortal alike. Every mind bursting with questions they wished to launch.

Fortunately, Zach tended to be rather intimidating.

It had taken her a day and a half to regain most of her strength. The knowledge that their current enemy possessed a drug that could do that to an immortal—could completely incapacitate him or her for days—terrified her. Lisette couldn't even remember the battle that had resulted in her being tranqed. The drug had stolen the memory of it from her. Zach had replayed the battle for her mentally, letting her see what had happened from his perspective.

Étienne had
shown
her what had happened afterward.

She still couldn't believe Zach had tossed two bodies through David's window.

And Seth, perhaps the greatest surprise, had shown her the rest: Zach's refusing to leave her side and rendering himself unconscious over and over again in his attempts to heal her.

Once inside, she ditched her keys and let Zach remove her coat.

“Do you want me to fix you something to eat?” he asked as he hung it up and turned back to her.

She shook her head and smiled up at him. “I want you to take me to bed.”

His dark brown eyes lit with golden desire. “Don't tempt me.”

“I'll more than tempt you,” Lisette promised. Leaning into him, she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Since I don't have to hunt tonight, I intend to ride you hard and put you away wet.” She frowned. “Wait. Is that how that saying goes? It didn't sound right.”

Zach wrapped his arms around her. “It doesn't matter. I didn't hear anything after
ride you
.”

Laughing, she leaned up and nipped his chin. “So what are we waiting for?”

His brow furrowed as he brushed her hair, left loose, back from her face. “Are you sure you're up to it?”

She
did
feel a little weak. Or maybe a lot. “Okay, I'll ride you another time.”

He hid his disappointment fairly well as he loosened his hold.

Lisette linked her fingers behind his back instead of releasing him. “You'll have to ride me instead.”

The golden flames flared brighter. He was already hard for her. “I nearly lost you, Lisette. I don't want to push things if you need more time to recover your strength.”

“The truth is,” she said, abandoning all levity, “I don't care how we do it, Zach, I just want to feel you inside me.”

His arms tightened.

“What happened—finding out I was trapped in that sea of nothingness for five days and came so close to not waking from it—scared the hell out of me.” She rested her head on his chest and closed her eyes. “I'm still cold from it and need to feel your warmth all around me.”

Hugging her close, Zach kissed the top of her head.

Her bedroom replaced the foyer as he teleported them and flicked on the lights with a thought.

“We'll take it slow then,” he said, his fingers reaching for the buttons on her shirt.

“I'm going to have to start wearing T-shirts again,” she murmured, “so you can just yank them over my head.”

He shook his head. “I like the buttons.” He slipped the first through its corresponding buttonhole, parted the material, then moved on to the next. “I like the slow reveal.” He freed the next, his warm fingers brushing her cool skin. “Like seeing your beautiful body exposed an inch at a time.”

She was beginning to like it, too.

With the last button unfastened, he drew the soft cotton material down her arms and let it fall to the floor. Her breath shortened at the look in his iridescent eyes as he reached around behind her and unfastened her bra. The lacy material fell away, exposing her breasts.

“Touch me,” she whispered.

“Soon.” He tucked his fingers in the waist of her pants, unfastened the button in front, and drew the short zipper down.

Kneeling, he drew one of her feet onto his thigh and went to work on the laces of her boots.

Lisette braced a hand on his shoulder and combed the other through his soft hair.

One boot and one sock hit the floor. The others soon followed. Then he drew her pants and underwear down to her ankles and watched her step out of them.

“Your turn,” she said, eager to feel his naked body against hers.

Rising, he doffed his boots, socks, and leather pants.

She loved that he went commando under the last. “Now take me in your arms and make me forget the cold.”

Zach's chest tightened at the vulnerability reflected in Lisette's amber eyes. Wrapping his arms around her, he drew her up against him.

Concern rose. “You
are
cold,” he said, the chill in her flesh nearly making him shiver. She must be weaker than she had let on if she couldn't even regulate her body temperature.

Lisette said nothing, just rested her head upon his chest and snuggled against him.

Rubbing his hands up and down her back, Zach infused her with heat until the chill left her skin.

She sighed. “Thank you.”

Were he a stronger man, he would've refused to make love to her until she returned to full strength.

But she seemed to need him as much as he needed her.

And Zach
really
needed her.

Lifting her into his arms, he drew back the covers on the bed with a thought and settled her on the sheets. As soon as he lay down beside her, he drew the soft material up again to keep her warm.

She curled into him, drew a slender leg up his, and hooked it over his hip, opening herself to him and ratcheting up his need.

“Slow and easy,” he insisted, though his body craved more.

She nodded.

It felt almost as though they were making love for the first time. Zach took his time, sliding his hands over her soft skin and relearning every curve, dip, and hollow. Even when his pulse increased, his breath shortened, and his body screamed for release, he moderated his touch, delivering unhurried strokes that made her tremble with desire. He caressed her breasts and gave one hard, tempting peak a pinch.

Lisette arched into him with a moan.

Another pinch and her leg over his hip flexed, urging him closer.

Zach caressed his way down her stomach to the heart of her, slid his fingers along her slick entrance. She was already wet for him, her heat and scent driving him mad. He found her clit with his thumb, circled it, stroked it.

She bucked against him, tunneling her fingers through his hair. “Zach.”

He slipped a long finger inside her. So warm and tight. He added a second, pumping them in and out as he continued to torment her with his thumb.

“So good,” she moaned, the tips of her fangs peeking out from between her lips.

He buried his face in her hair, muscles tightening with the need to bury himself inside her.
Slow and easy,
he reminded himself when instead he wanted to flip her over onto her hands and knees and take her from behind.

Her breaths became pants as he continued to work her with his fingers.

Zach kissed his way up her slender neck, his resolve weakening.

When Lisette could take no more of the sweet torture, she rolled onto her back, bringing Zach with her. Yes! She tried to pull him down to her, but he had other ideas.

Easing lower, he took the tip of one breast between his lips while his fingers resumed their torment.

Pleasure whipped through her, stealing her breath.

He nuzzled her rib cage just beneath her breast, eased farther down, disappearing beneath the covers as he kissed his way to her stomach. Her blood heated, as did the rest of her. His tongue teased her navel, then descended lower. Lisette flung back the covers and watched as he slid his arms beneath her bent knees, sent her a look that scorched her, then—his fingers still buried deep inside her—lowered his lips to her clit.

Moaning, she arched up against him. The things he did with his tongue . . . licks and flicks and undulations. And his fingers . . .

How the hell could he be new to this?

She cried out as ecstasy swept through her, so intense that—for a moment—she thought her pounding heart had stopped. Then, panting, she collapsed against the pillows.

His muscles tense, his erection straining toward her, Zach withdrew his fingers and rose above her. “Are you up for more?” he asked, settling his hips between her parted thighs, careful to keep the bulk of his weight off of her.

“Hell yes,” she assured him, sliding her hands down over his muscled ass.

Needing no further encouragement, he drove his hard cock inside her.

Lisette gasped. Wrapping her legs around his hips, she drew him down until his muscled chest brushed her breasts with every powerful thrust and dispelled the cold.

Not so slow and easy now.

Need swiftly rose again as she strained against him and urged him on. Faster. Deeper. Harder. Rising to meet him. Thrust for thrust. Until she climaxed again, swept away on a tide of pleasure that drew Zach under as well.

He called her name as he came. Then, rolling them to their sides, he drew her head to his chest.

The frantic heartbeat beneath her ear gradually returned to normal. Her own pulse slowed.

Lisette closed her eyes and savored just being held in Zach's arms. How she loved him. If she hadn't been certain before, she was now. Not just because he had given so much of himself to help her while she had been rendered unconscious by the drug. And not because he had risked everything simply by taking her to David's house to seek help. But because he brought her peace. Contentment. And a happiness she had not even known as a mortal.

The night sounds outside quieted.

Her thoughts fell silent.

Zach's heartbeat, slow and steady, began to fade away to nothingness . . .

Jerking, Lisette forced her eyes wide open, fear plowing through her and speeding her pulse.

Zach cuddled her closer. “It's okay,” he whispered, pressing his lips to her hair. “It's okay. It's just sleep.”

Fighting tears, she nodded. The first time she had fallen asleep after rousing from her coma (if that's what it had been), they had had difficulty waking her again. And, for a moment, just now, she had feared . . .

“It's just sleep,” he assured her again. “Dr. Lipton said the drug has finally left your system. It's just sleep, Lisette. You won't have any trouble waking this time.”

The confidence in his voice lulled her into relaxing against him.

“Don't worry. I'll watch over you,” he vowed, his low voice filled with fierce affection.

At last, she let her heavy lids close.

Zach awoke in an instant, his senses on high alert. Curled on his side, his body spooned around Lisette's bare, tempting form, he lay motionless.

The sounds that met his sensitive ears were of the usual sort one heard at dawn. Bird song, accompanied by the occasional flapping of wings. The murmuring of insects. A squirrel bitching at some creature that had strayed too close to its nest. The shuffling and scuttling of animals foraging for morning snacks.

Nothing alarming. Then . . .

A single heartbeat.

Zach's eyes went to the ceiling.

Not Tracy. She had remained at David's to give them some privacy. And this heartbeat was slower than a human's.

Not vampire. The sun had risen. No vampire could withstand even the slightest exposure.

And not one of the Others. Had they discovered Zach's whereabouts, they would have come
en masse
and would not have been subtle.

Slowly, he uncurled his long legs and rolled toward the edge of the bed.

Lisette reached back and grabbed his arm. “Where are you going?” she mumbled, still half asleep.

Leaning forward, he smoothed the hair away from her face and kissed her cheek. “I'll only be gone a moment.”

Giving his arm an affectionate stroke, she settled back into sleep once more.

Damn, he loved her. And was not thrilled over having to leave her, even briefly.

Tugging on the leather pants he had discarded earlier, Zach took his time and scaled the stairs at mortal speeds.

Bright light framed the curtains that covered every window.

His bare feet carried him silently across the cool bamboo floor to the back door. Zach punched in the security code Lisette had given him and stepped out onto the back deck. Morning dew glistened on every blade of grass below him. A cool fog slowly crept across the ground.

Releasing his wings, Zach let them carry him up to the roof.

Another winged figure already occupied it. This time
Seth
performed gargoyle duty, his butt parked in the same spot Zach had so often occupied.

Zach settled himself beside the Immortal Guardians' leader and squinted into the rising sun. “Shouldn't you be sleeping?”

Seth grimaced. “Don't
you
start on me. David has been riding my ass for days, trying to get me to rest.”

“Perhaps you should listen to him.”

Seth responded with a cranky growl.

Minutes ticked past. Minutes Zach would have vastly preferred to have spent in Lisette's arms. “You're hanging by a thread, Seth,” he commented at last.

Seth loosed a heavy sigh.

“David's right. You need to get some sleep. Clear your head. And David isn't the only one who sees it. Lisette sees it. Darnell sees it. Chris sees it. I think even Ethan sees it. It's only a matter of time before the rest do, too. If they weren't so distracted by everything that's been happening, they would have already noticed.”

“Can you read Ethan's thoughts?” Seth asked, his weary voice carrying curiosity.

“No. I gave him a nosebleed trying until Lisette stopped me.”

Seth nodded. “You know Ethan and Lisette used to be lovers, right?”

Zach's hands tightened into fists as jealousy tore through him. “No,” he snarled. “I would have given him more than a nosebleed had I known.”

“There's no reason to be jealous. She never loved him. And he'll soon realize he doesn't love her, at least not as more than a friend. They were just lonely and needed someone they could cleave to whenever they craved comfort.”

Zach fought the urge to take to the air and hunt Ethan down. He didn't know what he would do to the American immortal when he found him, but . . .

“Don't even think about it,” Seth warned. “If you kill him, Lisette will never forgive you. And, as I said, there's no reason to be jealous. It's clear to me that her heart belongs to you.”

Zach forced his fingers to uncurl, his muscles to relax. “They were friends with benefits?”

Seth glanced at him, eyebrows rising. “I'm surprised you even know that term.”

“Roland explained it to me.”

Seth's look turned speculative. “I've been dying to ask you for some time now. . . . Why did you let them capture you that night? Why let Roland, Sarah, and Lisette interrogate you?”

“Why do you think?”

“Lisette?”

Zach nodded. “I had never been close to her before she crept up behind me that night and tried to tranq me.” It seemed so long ago. Years rather than months. “Letting them take me gave me a chance to spend time with her, to speak to her.”

“You love her.” The simple statement conveyed both surprise and conviction.

“Yes, I do.”

Seth faced the sun once more.

A bird alighted upon the edge of the roof. Two men with wings must have been a confusing sight for the little creature. Twittering a good-bye, it fluttered down to one of the bird feeders Lisette hung on the front porch and treated itself to a crunchy breakfast.

Zach wondered idly if any of the immortals, aside from David, had ever seen Seth's wings.

Seth sighed. “It
wasn't
you, was it?”

Again with the vampire army?

Oddly, it didn't upset Zach this time. Perhaps the weariness in Seth's voice took some of the sting out, because Zach actually found himself feeling a bit sorry for him. “No,” he denied one last time. “It wasn't me. I didn't raise the new vampire army. And I didn't restore Donald's and Nelson's memories.”

Seth rubbed his eyes. “I realize that now. I'm sorry I drove a dagger into your chest and led the Others to you.”

Ahhh, there it was: the anger and resentment over the months of suffering he had endured because of this man. Without turning his head, Zach drove his fist straight out to the side and slammed it into Seth's jaw.