'We'll take a breather here,' he said, squatting near the stream.
She dropped down beside him, her shoulder brushing his and sending a flash of desire to his groin. He had a sudden feeling he would always want her, moon or no moon.
But that surely wasn't love.
And it certainly wasn't what he'd felt for Jacinta.
The thought made him frown. Why, after all these years of certainty, was he questioning what he'd felt for her? He scooped up some water, rinsing his mouth before drinking. He swept his gaze around the clearing again then glanced skyward. 'We're only about ten minutes away.'
'Yes.'
She cupped some water in her hands, sucking at it almost greedily. There were shadows under her eyes, tiredness even in the way she held her mouth, and guilt swirled through him. He looked away, wishing, and not for the first time in his life, that he'd been born human rather than wolf. Maybe then she wouldn't have shadows under her eyes, and he could be free to love her.
'Have you got a cell phone on you?'
His voice was curt, and she frowned as she reached into her pocket.
'Why?' she asked, offering him the phone.
'To call my brother. He'll want to be there when we hand over the kids.'
She nodded. He dialled Luke's number and quickly told his brother what was going on. While he couldn't yet give Luke a location to meet them, he did give him Mark's number, knowing his partner would pass the information on regardless of what Benton might say.
He hung up then offered the phone back to Kat, but she didn't react. Water dribbled down her chin as she stared ahead. Her eyes were distant and unfocused.
'The soul sucker hungers.' Her voice was as remote as her gaze. 'She's chosen her next victim — a hermit who lives near the beach.'
He swore softly, and she blinked. Wariness filled her green eyes again as she looked at him. 'We have a choice.'
'We have no choice,' he ground out. 'It's the lives of two little girls weighed against that of an old man.'
'We could split up.'
'You can't fight that thing alone, and you certainly can't send your grandmother to fight it alone. And I might not be able to handle what waits in the cavern.'
'I agree.' She studied him for a minute, then rose. 'Let's go.'
He rose with her, but grabbed her arm and pulled her into his embrace.
'What are you doing?' Her question came out little more than a breathy whisper that stirred through his soul.
'This.' He captured her lips with his own. Kissed her long and passionately. When he finally pulled away they were both breathing as hard as they had walking up that damn mountain.
She studied him, her lips kiss swollen, nipples straining against the softness of her sweater. But all she said was, 'Why?'
He entwined his fingers through hers. 'In case I don't get a chance to do it again later,' he said and led her toward the cavern and the things that waited.
Kat pulled Ethan to a halt before he could enter the tunnel and tugged the backpack free of his shoulders.
'Take these,' she whispered, handing him some stakes.
'Remember that they work against shapeshifters as well as vampires, so be careful with them.'
'I don't suppose you packed my gun in there, did you?'
His warm breath skated across her skin, and a tremor of desire ran through her. 'No,' she replied, 'And you know it won't help.'
'I'd still rather have it in my hands than a few damn stakes.' But his gaze settled on her breasts, and she had a feeling that given the choice, he'd much rather have her in his hands.
She flicked a finger across his nose. When he looked up, she said, 'Concentrate.'
He didn't smile. Didn't do anything but watch her with those hungry eyes of his.
She licked her lips and regretted it the minute his gaze dropped to her mouth. 'I've also got some sleep bombs in here, and hopefully we'll be able to use those.' She handed him a mask. 'Don't take it off until we get back out of the cavern, because these sleep bombs effect zombies and shifters.'
He put it on, pushing it down until it was around his neck. His hand closed around hers, so warm and strong and safe somehow. Her gaze met his, and what she saw went far beyond just caring. But it was a lie, she thought, and looked away.
His fingers touched her chin, gently drawing her gaze to his again, then he leaned forward and brushed the sweetest of kisses across her lips.
'Be careful in there,' he whispered then pulled her to her feet. 'I'll lead until we get to the cave where the girls are.'
She nodded and swallowed the anguish that rose up in her throat. How could he have committed his heart and his soul to Jacinta and be so caring, so gentle, so damn
She followed him into the cavern, and the darkness quickly swallowed them. A hush descended. The deeper they walked the cooler the air got. Up ahead, water fell, a rush of sound that had her suddenly wanting to go to the bathroom. Or maybe the growing knot of fear in her stomach was the reason behind that.
The sound of footsteps came from beyond the rush of water. Someone was moving around. Ethan slowed.
Warm light danced ahead, but it was oddly distorted, as if viewed through a moving curtain. She blinked and realized she was seeing the light of a torch through a waterfall.
He glanced at her and held up two fingers, then pointed to the left and the right. She untangled her fingers from his and edged forward until the spray of the water danced a chill across her skin.
She knelt and swung the pack off her back. Two zombies stood guard rather than two shifters, and she couldn't help feeling relieved. In the long run, zombies were a far easier foe.
She took out two sleep bombs and tossed them left and right. There was a hiss of sound and rusty coloured smoke began to curl through the cavern. She put on her mask and motioned Ethan to do the same.
Rising, she stepped back from the water. Ethan's arms slithered around her waist, and he pulled her back against the hard length of him. She frowned and glanced up. The mask hid his mouth, but his smile was there to be seen in his eyes. He was still in control. She relaxed a little and pressed back against him, letting the heat of his body chase the chill from her spine. It felt so good, just standing here with him. So right. She closed her eyes and thrust the thought from her mind. And wondered if she'd even see him again once his niece was safe and sound.
The minutes crawled by. The smoke dissipated, and she pushed her mask down past her chin. 'Are there any other entrances to this cavern?'
'There's a tunnel on the opposite side to this, and there's a door hidden by magic to the right.' His breath brushed past her ear and sent a flurry of warmth across her senses.
'I'll deal with that first. You keep a watch on the tunnels.'
She tried to move away, but his arms held her tight. She looked up, and her breath caught in her throat. Not just at the hunger in his eyes, but at the emotion so evident in his face. And while she might have called it love, she was just as certain he wouldn't.
He ran a warm finger down her cheek. 'Would you like to see me again after this is all over?'
His touch was making her ache, but it was an ache she had to ignore. 'Ethan, this is neither the time nor the
