“I want you to live.” Sliding a knuckle under her chin, he lifted her face to his.
Heat engulfed her mouth as his lips met hers. He kissed her slowly and with a soft hum of appreciation. Then he released her.
She licked her tingling lips. While she’d been kissed before, nobody came close to Zane and what he could do with the softest of touches. What would he be like in bed for an entire night? Her face heated and she tried to concentrate. “What about your people? They want me alive?”
His gaze dropped to her mouth and then back up. “No.” He turned and stalked back toward the forest. “I’ll be in touch about your brother.” Seconds later, the trees swallowed him.
Janie took a deep breath and returned to her meditative pose. No? Well, that sucked. Zane was a warrior, and if she didn’t miss her guess, an enforcer. That meant he took care of all problems facing his people.
If his people wanted her dead . . . they’d send him.
Brenna nudged open the metal door to Jase’s workout space. AC/DC’s
Squinting to accommodate the dim light, she stepped inside. “Those are banned by treaty.”
He threw himself back, flipped twice, and landed on his feet. Dust billowed from worn planks. “You gonna turn me in, darlin’?”
Probably not. “I came to see if you’ve heard anything about Garrett.”
“Not yet.” Jase’s jaw firmed.
“Do you really think the Kurjans want me?” Brenna kicked a battered mat.
“I think the Kurjans would like to have you, but they really want Janie.” He tugged off leather gloves. “The request for you, as well as the booby-trapped industrial building, were just to throw us off the scent.”
She picked her words carefully. “How are you doing? I mean, with Garrett being taken?”
Jase frowned. “Not good at all. But since the Kurjans want to trade, they won’t hurt him. Plus, his mother is an empath, and she believes he’s unharmed. So I believe it.”
Hopefully. “Well, that’s good. Um, how was your visit with Lily?”
Jase lifted an eyebrow and reached for a set of boxing gloves. “She’s nuttier than I am.”
Brenna grinned. “I’ve heard that before.” Jase strode toward her, and she fought the urge to step back. So she lifted her chin.
He grasped her hand and shoved on a glove.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“It’s time to train.” He tied both gloves around her wrists. “How’s your strength?”
She sighed. “No better. How about you?”
“The same. Can’t control the elements yet.” No expression sat on his face.
“Does that bother you?”
“Not yet. We have time.” He danced back on the mats. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”
For some reason, she felt silly. “I’m not into training.”
“I’m sure. As a Nine member, you always have bodyguards.” He slid to the right, fists up. “As my mate, you’ll learn to fight.”
Was that a fact? She lifted her arms. “What now?”
“Bend your knees.”
“Fine.” She bent, sliding one foot back. “Now?”
“I’m going to come in with a right cross. You block with your left arm.”
She nodded.
He came in, slowly for a vampire, his fist going for her head.
She ducked, punched him in the gut, and swept his legs out from under him.
He hit the mat, his shoulders slamming hard. Sliding to his elbows, he raised an eyebrow. “I thought you said you didn’t train?”
She smiled. “I said I didn’t like to train. There’s a big difference.”
“There is, huh?” He kicked out, aiming for her knee.
She flipped back and out of the way. The world spun. Darn it. Her strength was truly deserting her.
He tried again, and this time knocked her down. A quick roll, and he flattened her to the mat. “I bet at full strength, you’d be fun to grapple with.”
The man knew how to deliver a compliment. “I’d kick your arse.”
“There’s that pretty Irish brogue.” He settled more comfortably between her legs. “There are other ways we could train.”
She pressed up against him. “You’re insatiable.”
“Maybe.”
Taking advantage of his preoccupation, she slammed her heels into his hips and tossed him off, following to straddle him. “You know, there is something I’d like to try.” She untied her gloves with her teeth and yanked them off.
“What’s that?” he asked.
She slid her thumbs inside his waistband. Since the first time she’d seen him naked, she’d been curious. “I’ve wondered how much of you I can take in my mouth.”
His sweats instantly tented. He kicked off his shoes.
Power flushed through her as she slid his pants off his legs. His cock sprang free—large and ready to go.
She reached for her glasses.
“Leave the glasses on.” His voice thickened.
She smiled, taking him in her hand. One lick, and his body stiffened.
Power of a new sort sang in her blood. She stilled. Green danced on her arms. Oh God. Joy ripped through her. Her strength and powers were returning.
Fire lanced down her arms.
Jase yelped. His hands slapped the mat, and his legs kicked.
She frowned, tightening her hold. “What?”
“Fire. Fucking fire,” he bellowed, trying to twist away from her.
Shit. She was burning him. She dropped his cock.
He yowled like a burning cat and twisted. His knee smacked into her ribs, and she fell onto his thighs. He yelled. The smell of burnt flesh filled the room. With a growl, Jase grabbed her armpits and tossed her across the mat. Jumping to his feet, he hopped toward a water cooler set into the corner. Ripping off the huge container, he dumped it on his groin. Steam rose.
She scrambled to her feet. “Oh God. I’m so sorry—” Her arm swept out, and plasma balls shot for his head.
His eyes widened, and he dropped to the ground. The balls split the metal, raining shards down on him. They impacted his flesh with a sizzling echo. She gasped and started for him.
He held out a hand to stop her. “Jesus. Stay there.”
She stopped moving, her arms windmilling for balance. Green plasma balls flew in every direction, burning holes through the metal. One hit a dummy, and it erupted in flames. The fire spread from dummy to dummy. Wafting, flame-filled cotton hovered in the air.
Brenna stomped out a spark on the mat, only to drop another plasma ball. It popped on the mat, spreading fingers of fire.
Smoke billowed from every direction.
The outside door opened, and Moira leapt inside.
Brenna turned, shooting balls of fire.
Moira frowned, formed a blue ball, and threw it to waver around Brenna.
Brenna sighed, slowly relaxing. The flames on her skin died out. She grinned.
Moira glanced at Jase in the corner, the burning building, and then at her sister. “So. Guess you got your powers back, huh?”
