tall glass of ice water after a five-mile run. His arms tightened around me. My tongue darted inside his mouth and he returned the gesture, a moan escaping from deep within his throat. His head slanted, urgency playing out through his mouth, lips, and tongue, and his arms wrapped tight around me in a way that made me feel both protected and possessed.
The echo of footsteps on concrete made its way to my ears through the haze of desire fogging my brain. Tyler couldn’t hear it, but I could. That cooled my jets as effectively as a cold shower. I didn’t want to get caught with my pants down, as it were.
I broke from his embrace. His breathing came in ragged gasps. The spark of passion in the depths of his eyes raged. A guttural, almost growling sound bubbled up from his throat and he lunged at me, taking me once again and bending to resume where we’d left off.
“Take it easy, tiger,” I said, putting my hand on his chest, pushing him away. He tried to pull me back, but I used my real strength against him, and he might as well have struggled against a boulder. “Someone’s coming to the door.”
A trace of sanity crept back onto his face. “I’ve wanted to do that since the day I met you.”
Thankfully, I didn’t get the opportunity to reply in kind. The door swung open, and I couldn’t believe my preternatural eyes.
A woman, most assuredly Shaede, greeted us, and I rolled my shoulders to release the sudden tension that had settled there. It seemed Shaedes were coming out of the woodwork like carpenter ants. Where had they come from? Surely I would have picked up on something, their scent at least, if they’d been in the city for long. Xander’s scent had stunned me from the moment I’d entered his town house. If Shaedes had been running willy-nilly through the city, I should have noticed. My lips spread into a wry smile as I looked her over. If Tyler had been worked up by me, this one should have sent him into an absolute lather.
She looked like hot sex wrapped in leather. Literally dressed from head to toe in red leather pants, boots, and a bustier, she gave the impression she’d be quite at home in a dungeon, whipping a desk jockey into submission once or twice a week. Her sleek, dark hair was pulled into a severe ponytail that sat at the topmost part of her head and cascaded down to her ass.
Tyler looked her over and his smiled faded, leaving an expression that was a strange mixture of controlled anger and shock. He placed an arm in front of me, tried to shove me behind him. “Wait,” he said, becoming serious. “Stay here. I’ll go in alone.”
Okay. I hadn’t expected such a strong reaction. Tyler’s level gaze reminded me of that of a wild animal, like a wolf protecting his mate. My nerves ratcheted up a notch as I considered my circumstances. I trusted Ty; we’d worked well together for five years. He never took money for a job that didn’t involve ridding the world of a drug dealer, flesh peddler, or worse. And, believe me, there was a whole hell of a lot “worse” out there. Something had him on edge, and I didn’t like it. He’d be an easy target for a Shaede who wanted to do him harm—badass reputation or not. For once, I was going to take the lead with a client. “Ty.” I gently pushed his arm away. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m going in there.”
An exasperated sound escaped from under our hostess’s breath before she settled her gaze—which looked like she’d just scraped something unsavory off the bottom of her boot—on me.
Violet eyes, gorgeous and fringed by thick black lashes, locked with mine. Hers glowed even brighter, glittering with an adversarial edge. “You don’t look like much.” Her disgusted tone told me we wouldn’t be braiding each other’s hair at a slumber party anytime soon. “I don’t see what all the excitement is about.”
I’d pushed Xander’s talk of kings from my mind, focusing instead on the very real danger of the identity of the client who’d hired me to kill him. But now, in the presence of yet another Shaede, I wondered if I should have taken his speech so lightly.
With a curt inclination of her head, she moved aside so we could enter. Her lips stretched in a proud sneer, and she snorted, shaking her head as she walked just in front of me. I may not have been acquainted with my own kind, but that didn’t make me some unsavory outcast either. I could tell just by her bitchy swagger that this Shaede thought she was better than me. And if there’s one thing I hate, it’s a snob.
The space was vast, dark, and empty, save an ornate chair at the very far end. Blue-dyed concrete floors gleamed beneath our feet, and the high beams of the trusses were crafted from large logs that had been shaved, burned, and varnished. Even the windows lining the high walls were not the industrial sort typical of a warehouse, but framed cottage style in rich wood.
The Dungeon Mistress led the way, and as we walked deeper into the warehouse, I sensed the presence of others I could not see. But I smelled their unique aroma and felt the weight of their eager stares.
As I drew closer to an unoccupied chair, I realized it looked too much like a throne for my taste. I turned a wary eye on Tyler, who shuffled next to me with a very human lack of stealth.
“Did you set me up?” I asked, fearing the answer.
“No.” His tone was low, seriously on edge. The look he gave me spoke volumes about his own surprise. “Why would I set you up?” His gaze flicked from me to the entrance and every darkened corner in the place. Ty’s stance shifted, one foot in front of the other, slightly crouched, as if ready to defend in the event of an attack. His body, so relaxed before we’d entered, was rigid, wary. And he looked flat-out pissed.
For a moment, I felt bad about my plans to scare him out of his infatuation with me. I hadn’t given a passing thought to his safety, only guarding my own heart. If I’d been more in touch with my softer emotions, I might have done something to make sure he’d be safe. Those tender feelings had sure picked a shitty time to rise to the surface. Too late now. I threw back my shoulders, my attention focused on the throne, a mysterious king, and the possibility that this would be my last night of existence.
Our escort stopped short of the throne and genuflected, an act that caused laughter to bubble up like carbonation from my stomach. The bowing tickled my funny bone—and I don’t have much of a sense of humor. But bowing to an empty throne? That sent me over the top. Hilarious.
Until I realized the throne held the assembling form of a man.
“High King Alexander”—she looked at me with disdain—“the
The leather-clad Shaede’s humble voice betrayed her outfit and her previous attitude, as far as I was concerned. But he wasn’t my king, so I couldn’t judge her.
Silence followed, and the air around the throne stirred, becoming thicker and more substantial. Shadows gathered around the seat, swirling and finally coming together to form a very real creature.
My jaw took on a stubborn set, and my eyes narrowed like a hunting cat about to pounce. The high king smiled at me, and his golden eyes glinted with a calculating and mischievous light.
“
The woman hissed—actually
“What the hell is this?” Tyler shouted, reaching for the Glock he kept tucked in his waistband. He looked ready to jump right out of his skin, pulse pounding at his temple, jaw flexing. The Shaede jerked the tip of her blade toward my neck, and Tyler froze. His eyes blazed with an angry fire.
“You should be killed for your disrespect,” she seethed in my ear. “You are nothing—less than nothing—and I won’t need much of an excuse to cut your throat.”
“Try it,” Tyler’s voice came as a growl. “I’ll fuck you up if you draw even a drop of her blood.”
“That’s enough, Anya,” the high king said. “Let her go. I’d hate to see anyone . . .
I felt her become little more than a whisper, and she reappeared behind the throne, glaring at me with her dangerous purple eyes. She kept the dagger visible, twirling it against her palm as if silently daring me to step out of line again. I had a problem with being treated like a second-class citizen, and Anya was pushing all of my hot buttons. It might have been because of my solitary existence or my reputation in certain circles, but in my book, you had to give respect to earn it. And neither Anya nor her king had earned an ounce of mine.
Tyler moved in close, his body touching mine in more places than was appropriate, considering the circumstances. He wrapped a hand around my wrist as if ready to drag me out of the building, if need be. The other hand he kept wrapped around the Glock, his finger dangerously close to the trigger. I’d never seen him on high alert like this. Then again, I’d be willing to bet he’d never been in close proximity to so many supernatural beings before. For that matter, neither had I. His stress was making my blood pressure rise. I couldn’t help but feel flattered,
