Dark Protectors: Provoked Part 20

Talen pivoted and shot into the darkness.

Nausea settled in her stomach, and she had to take several deep swallows not to puke.

Kane reappeared, blood across his face and torso.

She gasped. "Talen made that guy stop moving."

"Yes. Talen has a gift." Grabbing her hand, Kane tugged her into the darkness. "Talen and Oscar are scouting ahead-I sense at least three more."

Yeah, she sensed them, too. Threading her fingers through Kane's, she concentrated on sending whatever power she had through their connection. They jogged deeper into the earth, and she kept to Kane's back, following in his steps. While the darkness hid the ground, she didn't falter.

Kane stopped, and she ran into his back. His hold tightened a fraction before he released her. A gentle push to her chest found her shoulders against the wall.

Strong lights snapped on.

Amber cried out, the sudden brightness attacking her eyes. She shut them, her knees trembling. The sound of metal hitting rock snapped them back open.

A demon swung a huge glinting sword at Kane's head. Kane ducked and leapt sideways, climbing the rock wall to jump for the demon's head. He hit hard and slammed the soldier into the rock.

Waves of pain instantly cascaded from the demon and smacked Amber between the eyes. Unbelievable images, truly horrific pictures of death and torture, filled her mind. A sharp spike of pain cut down the center of her brain. She cried out, her mouth remaining open even when it hurt too much to push out sound.

Kane grabbed his head and stumbled back.

No! Amber sucked in the smoky air and pushed against the pain. Her knees weakening, she slid to the ground. As her b.u.t.t met the hard floor, she settled and gently slid the horror away. The pain followed.

Kane dropped to one knee, blood flowing from his nose.

The demon grinned sharp canines, sword raising high.

Pressing her shoulders against the wall, Amber sent harsh images of pain and death at the demon.

He paused, gaze roving to her. "Destroyer."

She shoved harder.

His grin lacked any semblance of humor. "No." His empty black eyes pierced into hers. Raw, brutal, and pure agony shot through her pupils right to her brain. She screamed, hands rising to ward off something she couldn't touch.

With a furious battle cry, Kane leapt into the air, both hands grabbing the demon's sword. He shoved the weapon sideways toward the demon's throat.

The demon struggled, a hiss coming from his pale lips.

Kane kneed him in the gut. Once, twice, and then a third time as they struggled for the sword. Blood flowed out of Kane's ears, nose, and even his eyes.

His shoulders went back, and he shoved the side of the blade into the demon's mouth. Bellowing a shout of victory, he pressed in and cut the demon.

The demon cried out, falling against the wall.

Kane stepped back, swung the blade, and pivoted his entire body as he swished the sword through the demon's neck. The head hit the ground with a thunderous clunk and then rolled into the darkness.

"Are you all right?" Kane wiped blood off his chin. His blood.

Nodding her head, Amber used the wall to reach her feet. "Yes." She swayed. A roaring filled her ears.

Kane grabbed her elbow, and reality rushed back. Turning, he surveyed the tunnel.

Amber gasped at the crude door set into the rock several yards ahead now guarded by Oscar. Gentle vibrations came from the other side of the door. Hurrying after Kane, she tried to reach with her mind into the room. Nothing happened.

Kane set her behind him and kicked the door precisely at the lock. The door whipped open.

Amber shoved past him to find her grandmother calmly sitting on the floor. Next to her lay an unconscious demon soldier bleeding from his eyes and mouth.

Hilde raised an eyebrow. "It's about time."

Hair wet from the shower, Amber padded into the s.p.a.cious living room of Hilde's new underground quarters dressed in a fresh pair of borrowed jeans and a snug sweater. The jeans were from Sarah Pringle, Max's mate, while the sweater had been the queen's. A huge television took up one wall, while a comfortable-looking sofa and two captain chairs faced it. A thick Western rug covered the rock floor and pretty watercolors adorned the walls. A stocked kitchen and two bedrooms made up the unit.

The door opened, and Grandma Hilde swept inside. She turned and thanked Oscar for escorting her.

The ma.s.sive vampire nodded, his eyes sparkling.

Shutting the door, Hilde hurried over to sit on the sofa. She'd also borrowed clean clothing. The king had requested her presence for a debriefing that had lasted about an hour. Finally, she'd returned. She smiled, her dark eyes lighting up. "Is that Oscar a handsome one, or what?"

Amber frowned and dropped to the faux-leather couch.

Hilde cleared her throat and stretched her legs across the matching ottoman. "I mean, I'm already mated, so it's not like I can touch the guy. You know if any male touches a mated woman, he ends up in agony from a rare allergy, right?"

"Yeah, I've heard that." Amber didn't return the smile.

"Well, I can at least look at the handsome vampire." Hilde squirmed into a different position. "So, how about those demons?"

Biting back a sharp retort, Amber glared at her grandmother. The glare turned to wide-eyed disbelief. "You look different."

Hilde shrugged. "Yes. I look forty-five, which I am. The last several years I've had to add a bunch of gray to my hair and use makeup to look older. It's nice to be me again." She rubbed her clean skin with both hands. "I'm not sorry I kept this part of your life from you."

Amber sighed. "I know-and I had a wonderful childhood. But right now, at this time, it'd be nice to be able to lay a demon out like you did." G.o.d. She was discussing the very real existence of demons with her grandmother. Where had reality gone? "But you said you didn't have any power."

"I didn't. But I did mate a vampire years ago, and when you mate, you get their skills. He was psychic, and maybe I gained enough skill from him that I have some power now. Who knows." Hilde stretched her neck. "I guess all you do with the demons is shove their power back at them." She held out her hand, which was smooth and missing the dark age spots Amber had gotten accustomed to seeing.

"I did. I tried to shove one demon's power back, and he nearly blinded me." Maybe Amber didn't have the power she'd thought. "So, I slid the pain and images away and at least s.h.i.+elded myself. Oh, and I s.h.i.+elded Kane a little bit when we held hands, I think."

Hilde stiffened, gaze cutting to Amber. "You s.h.i.+elded Kane?"

Squirming on the couch for no logical reason, Amber cleared her throat. "Um, yeah. I mean, I think I did."

"Did he mate you?" Hilde's eyes widened.

"Mate? No."

"Hmmm." Hilde frowned. "You shouldn't be able to s.h.i.+eld anyone you haven't mated, sweetie. That isn't done, I don't think."

"I haven't mated Kane." Sure, they'd had s.e.x several times. But if there was no marking, there was no mating. "Maybe the ability to s.h.i.+eld other people is my gift and not being able to attack the demons is my curse."

"No. I don't think the ability works that way." Hilde shook out her curly hair.

"Why not? I mean, you have curly hair, and I have straight hair, yet it's the same color and I obviously inherited the color from you. Maybe the gift is used different ways, too." Amber had promised Kane she'd help save Jase, and she would. But the sooner she figured out how to use her gift, the better.

"Perhaps." Hilde's dark eyes turned shrewd. "You slept with him more than once?"

Heat climbed into Amber's face. "Grandma-we already talked about that."

Her grandma reached out and patted her hand. "I'm asking because I've heard the marking is just one part of a Kayrs' mating. Along with a good bite . . . and s.e.x. Maybe you've started to mate him and don't even know it."

Now that was ridiculous. "Speaking of mating, I'm so sorry you lost your mate." She couldn't help it. "You know, Grandpa Dracula."

"Oh, for goodness' sake." Hilde chuckled. "He wasn't that old. And that chapter of my life is long closed. The second you were born, your mama wanted to give you a normal childhood absent any mind torture or knowledge of war. When she and Elliot both died, I followed her wishes."

Love for her grandmother welled up so fast Amber's breath caught. Her childhood at the eco-village was wonderful but hardly normal. "Did you really believe? I mean, in the village and what we've stood for, or was it all a ruse?"

"Yes. The eco-village was off the map and a very safe place for us, I'll admit. But our way of life was a good one there, and I truly believe in saving the environment and living off the land."

Relief relaxed Amber's shoulders. "Even so, thank you for giving up your life to make sure I had a good childhood."

"Sure." Hilde patted her hand. "So, I'd like to teach you how to use your skill, but we need a demon to attack first. I mean, our gifts only come into play when there's demon energy at work. Well, or a very gifted vampire."

Like Kane. His mind had to be truly amazing to be able to attack, even briefly. Or maybe it was his empathic abilities-the ones he hated. Amber frowned. There was an idea somewhere muddled in that thought, but it escaped her. Her jaw almost cracked when she yawned.

Hilde nodded. "Yes, I'm tired as well. Maybe we should get some sleep and work hard to figure out our lives tomorrow. I mean, where we should go next."

"I'm not leaving." Amber steeled herself.

Hilde sat back. "You're not leaving?" She frowned. "Are you staying with Kane? I mean, is he the one?"

"No. But I promised I'd help save his brother from the demons if he helped me find you. I gave him my word." Hilde had taught her honor from day one, so surely she'd understand how important a promise Amber had made.

"Too freakin' bad. You're not fighting more demons-you said yourself you can't turn their powers back on them." Fear slid the color from Hilde's face. "Not a chance."

"Yes, I am," Amber said gently. "I can learn to use this gift-in time."

A gentle knock echoed through the door. "Come in," Hilde called.

Oscar poked his head inside and rubbed a hand over his crew-cut. "Ah, Hilde? I found somebody to cover the s.h.i.+fter training tonight. Did you, ah, want to see the new movie the king got for the kids?"

Hilde blushed a pretty pink. "Of course. Amber is tired and is going to bed, but I'm wide awake." She bounded off the sofa and headed for the vampire at the door. Once there, she turned and winked at Amber. "Don't wait up, sweetie."

The door shut.

Amber sat on the couch, blinking rapidly. Where in the world had reality disappeared to?

CHAPTER 19.

The next morning Amber s.h.i.+fted on the protective paper covering of the lone examination table, throwing off unease at being in the underground lab. Dark rock covered the floor and matching counters held tons of machines she couldn't identify. A couple of pretty watercolors depicting forest scenes had been attached to the rough walls. They failed to calm her down. She eyed the door. "A mating is forever, right?"

"Yes." Kane lifted away from one of several microscopes lining the organized counter and turned to face her. "Though Oscar and Hilde seem to enjoy each other's company." Smoothly stepping her way, Kane checked the myriad of wires running from several monitors to electrodes attached to Amber's scalp and forehead.

A rhythmic beeping sounded from the monitors.

It figured Kane would know what Amber was worried about. Darn genius. She flattened her palms on her jeans. "He seems like a nice guy."

"Oscar is a good soldier." High praise from Kane. Frowning, Kane pulled the top of her s.h.i.+rt open to place an electrode near her heart.

That silly heart began to flutter. Amber shook her idea to concentrate on the conversation and not the warm hand on her skin. "Do we have to do this?"

"Yes." Kane added two more electrodes, his voice distracted. "When you touched me at the demon stronghold, you took away their mind attack. Completely. So we need to figure out how it works. Everyone will take turns training you and seeing how your gifts interact with ours."

"Sounds like fun." Not.

Kane nodded and continued adding the electrodes. "These will measure heart rate and breathing." He fiddled with the machine, tapping the screen until several lines sprang into view. "The lines show your brain waves, heartbeat, and breaths per minute." He twisted a k.n.o.b, and the lines brightened.

The vampire wore his customary black slacks and silk s.h.i.+rt, the elegant clothing almost masking the fighter beneath. Not even his full mouth softened his masculine features. Even and strong, truly stunning. When she'd first met him, she thought he moved gracefully, like a dancer. Turned out he moved like a predator. The danger in Kane came as much from his sharp intellect as the animal inside.

She sighed. While she'd dated, she'd learned early on not to lean on a man. This one almost demanded it. "You're hard to figure out."

He straightened to face her, eyes clearing. "Why's that?"

Well, she hadn't quite meant to say that out loud. "You're so logical and orderly in here. But in bed . . . I mean . . ." Heat climbed into her face until her cheeks burned.

His gaze heated. "You like me . . . in . . . bed."

"Do not. I mean, I don't like, well, the . . ." G.o.d. Could the floor just disappear and swallow her?

"Being dominated?" His voice stayed calm, amus.e.m.e.nt lifting his lips in almost a smile.

Man, he had to go right there and say it, now, didn't he? She lifted her chin. "No."

The air stilled. "Maybe we should test that theory."

Her breath caught in her throat at his hungry look. "There's no need. I don't like it."

Before she could blink, he had her flat on the table, hand on her neck. Leaning down, his mouth covered hers in a kiss. Warmth shot straight to her toes. Keeping her in place, he kissed her thoroughly, completely at his leisure. Pinned, helpless, her body flared to life.

Instinct propelled her to struggle, and his hand tightened around her windpipe just enough to hint at strength. d.a.m.n if her panties didn't dampen.

He went deeper, taking her mouth, a low growl coming from down deep.