Arctic Fire 2 (12 page)

“You didn’t get the stake through the heart, that was trauma,” Julian retorted.

“No, but you didn’t have to witness one of your best friends dying, again. I’d hoped to never see that again after Cassie.”

Julian glanced back at him. Chris was crouched low as he walked, looking like every ridiculous burglar in a bad comedy movie.
Best
friend
? They’d grown closer over the past couple of years, but he’d always believed a part of Chris would never forgive him for what he’d done to them when they’d first met. Chris had never acted that way, but Julian certainly wouldn’t have been so understanding if the roles had been reversed. Apparently, Chris had a bigger capability for forgiveness than he ever would, but then, he already knew that.

Watching him, Julian had to admit he didn’t know what he’d do without the kid. Chris could be a pain in his ass, but he also kept him in line and called him on his crap. Chris stopped walking when he realized Julian had halted before him. His sapphire eyes glinted in the dim light as he searched for a threat.

“What is it?” he demanded.

“Nothing,” Julian said with a shake of his head and turned away from him.

“By the way,” Chris continued, “I’m getting really sick and tired of seeing my friends die, so could we stop that now?”

Julian snorted with laughter. “It wasn’t in my plans for the day; I can assure you of that.”

“I think you’re getting soft in your old age.”

Julian shot him a ferocious scowl. “I was, but it most certainly won’t happen again. Quinn depends on me now, and I messed up, big time.”

“
No
one saw that coming, ever. This vamp after her, he’s a conniving prick.”

“He’s going to die the most agonizing of deaths, if I have anything to say about it.”

Chris jumped when a car went by on the street and the spill of its headlights briefly illuminated the store. “I can’t go to jail.”

“You’re not going to jail,” Julian replied impatiently. Arriving at the back wall, he tugged down two shovels and handed one to Chris before making his way toward the front of the store. He pulled some money out of his pocket as he walked.

“What are you doing?” Chris hissed.

He may have let Chris behind him, but Julian kept his senses and his ears acutely attuned to every sound and move he made. Under normal conditions, he’d never hesitate to trust Chris with his life. These weren’t normal conditions. He’d have him by the throat, on the ground, and hog-tied with the nearest piece of rope if Chris made one wrong step toward him.

“Quinn told me to leave money behind for the tools. She said the couple who own this place work hard to keep their store going,” he answered.

Chris released a snort of laughter. “She has you wrapped around her little finger.”

“She does.” He wasn’t at all ashamed to admit it either.

“But then, I think she’s pretty far gone for you too.” Chris stopped at the counter beside Julian. He reached out to flip through the brochures and coupons stacked near the register before snatching his hand back. “No jail,” he scolded himself.

“I think she is too,” Julian replied. Tossing a couple of twenties on the counter, he lifted his head to stare around the shadowed interior of the store. He couldn’t shake the feeling he was being watched.

“It’s a good thing too. If she wasn’t, you’d be ash in the morning.”

Julian shot him a look over his shoulder, but Chris assumed a completely innocent expression that set his teeth on edge. Had he really just been thinking that he didn’t know what he’d do without him?

Turning away from Chris, he scanned the store again. Chris released a loud grunt of displeasure when Julian moved toward the plate glass windows making up the front of the building.

His eyes scanned the horizon, but he saw nothing moving amongst the shadows. Turning, he focused on Quinn’s apartment. He spotted her sitting in her garden window with her back to the street. He believed it highly unlikely the vamp had managed to get to Luther, Melissa, and Lou too, but relief still filled him at the sight of her sitting where he’d asked her to. If he’d thought she was up for it, he would have brought her with him, but until she got some more nourishment, he didn’t want her to exert herself.

“Look, human bars may not hold you, but I don’t look good in orange, and I am
way
too good looking to go unnoticed in prison,” Chris said from beside him. “Can we please get out of here?”

“Yeah,” Julian murmured as he turned away from the window. “Let’s go.”

Chris eagerly led the way back through the aisles crowded with an assortment of hardware supplies.

Julian tossed the last shovelful of sand onto the grave and patted it down with the back of the shovel. Quinn’s head bowed as she silently said a few words of prayer, even though it was something she’d rarely done before. Right then, she really hoped Zach had somewhere to go beyond this plane, and he had a chance to experience something other than the brief and brutal life he’d lived here.

Beside her, Julian’s nostrils flared as he relentlessly searched the night. Quinn lifted her head to look at the shifting sand of the dunes around them. She was convinced something menacing lurked behind every cactus or rock outcropping on the horizon, maybe multiple somethings, but nothing came at them.

“We have to feed and get back,” Julian said.

Melissa lifted her head from where she was drawing a small cross into the sand at the head of the grave. “We’ll leave you.”

“No,” Julian replied. “I’ll find something and bring it back. Splitting up while we’re in the middle of nowhere is
not
a good idea.”

He handed his shovel to Chris before rushing into the night so fast Quinn only saw a blur in the sand he kicked up in his wake. The protest she’d been about to issue died on her lips. “I don’t know why he thinks it’s okay for him to take off on his own then,” she muttered.

“Because he’s stubborn,” Chris replied and shoved the heads of the shovels into the ground.

“Too stubborn,” Quinn agreed.

The moon had barely shifted in the sky before Julian reappeared with a coyote in his grasp. The animal squirmed against him, but Julian didn’t release it. Quinn followed Julian over to a set of rocks and knelt to feed. The rush of warm blood filling her made her groan in ecstasy. His blood and life force earlier had helped to replenish her a lot, but she hadn’t realized how hungry she was until her fangs sank into the animal’s throat.

“Are you still hungry?” Julian inquired when she released the coyote to stagger away into the night.

She wiped the blood away from her lips. “Yes, but…”

She never got a chance to finish before he turned away and vanished once more. Red stained his lips from having fed too when he brought her back two coyotes the next time. “Still hungry?” his eyes ran anxiously over her after she’d fed from them.

“I’m full,” she said. “And you really need to stop disappearing. I already lost you once today.”

His jaw jutted out, but his shoulders sagged. Taking hold of her hand, he helped her rise from behind the rocks. The others were all sitting at the front of the rocks, their knees drawn up to their chests as they hugged themselves against the increasing chill of the night.

“You look a lot better,” Melissa said to her.

“I feel a lot better,” Quinn replied. “I still wouldn’t mind standing in the shower for hours and sleeping until next week though.”

“We can arrange that,” Julian said as he took hold of her hand and led her across the sand.

“I have to work tomorrow night,” she reminded him.

“I’m sure Clint will understand.”

“No. I’m not going to let that bastard continue to interfere with my life. He’s done far too much damage already.”

She could feel Julian’s displeasure, but he didn’t comment as they covered the two miles back to town. Entering her building, she walked tiredly up the stairs and unlocked her door. She hurried into her bedroom and grabbed a fresh set of towels before heading into the bathroom.

Turning the shower on as hot as she could stand it, she sighed with pleasure when she stepped beneath the stinging water. She was in the process of scrubbing her hair when the bathroom door opened. Grabbing the curtain, she peeked around the edge. She blinked against the shampoo sliding toward her eyes when she spotted Julian tugging his clothes off.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

He glanced at her before pulling his shirt off and tossing it on the floor. “Joining you.” Her eyes hungrily drank in his chiseled physique as mist from the water swirled around him, dampening his pale skin. When he was naked, he tugged the curtain away from her clenched hand. He’d already seen all there was of her, but this was so strangely intimate and new to her. She tried not to gawk at him when he climbed in and pulled the curtain closed. “Now, let’s get that stuff out of your hair before it blinds you.”

With gentle hands, he maneuvered her beneath the spray of water and tilted her head back. She closed her eyes as his fingers ran through her hair, massaging her scalp as he washed the shampoo from her. His hands slid over her, rubbing and kneading her aching muscles as he progressed lower over her body. Her legs quivered as his touch eased the discomfort in muscles denied life. She hadn’t realized how badly they’d been cramped until he worked his magic over them.

She could feel his growing arousal against her, but there was nothing sexual in his touch, as he remained focused upon easing her soreness. Kneeling before her, his hands worked over her calves. A moan escaped her when the knotted muscles in the backs of her legs gave way.

Rising back over her, his hands slid through her hair as he brushed it over her shoulders. “Feel better?”

“Much.” She rested her hands and head against his chest. Love swelled within her as she relished the feel of the hot water sliding over them both. His muscles tightened when she licked away a bead of water trickling down his pale flesh. His hands settled into the hollow of her back as he pressed her against him. “I’d like to go to bed now.”

“I can oblige that.” He turned the water off and wrapped her within a towel before carrying her out to her room.

***

Standing outside, Julian stared in the front window of the bar. He watched Quinn as he impatiently waited for his phone call to be answered. Finally, when he thought it was going to voicemail, Devon picked up. “Hey.”

“Hey to you too,” Julian said. His hands clenched around the phone when Quinn moved out of view and into the poolroom.
Don’t break it.

“What happened?” Just like Devon to cut straight to the chase.

“Well, I died and came back to life.”

There was a moment of silence before Devon replied, “Again?”

Julian started to pace when Quinn reemerged from the poolroom. “Yeah, and believe it or not, it was less fun this time. More of a permanent thing.”

“Obviously not too permanent. Care to tell me how this non-death came about?”

Julian filled him in on what had occurred yesterday. As he spoke, he could hear Devon moving about and closing doors. By the time he got to the end of his story, he was fairly certain Devon was in a closet in an entirely different house than the one he’d started in.

“What kind of trouble are you into down there?” he asked when Julian stopped speaking.

“Nothing I can’t handle.”

“Julian—”

“You wouldn’t have seen one of
our
Hunter’s staking you through the back either,” he said.

“No, I wouldn’t have. But a vamp with that strong of mind control is going to be an issue.”

“He already is.”

“Do you need help?” Devon asked.

“No, neither of us can risk Cassie here.”

“It would be only me.”

“Like she’d ever allow that to happen.” Another door opened and closed on the other end of the line. “What are you doing, going through
all
of the houses?”

Devon chuckled, and Julian could hear wind blowing around him now. “There are big and little ears all over this place. Trying to find somewhere to hide out is damn near impossible. What if I send Dani to you?”

Julian’s hand squeezed the phone. He’d never gotten over his dislike or distrust of that girl.
Chris has forgiven you, and you would have gladly ripped out his throat at one time.
Still, it was Dani. “You want to send me the Hunter who betrayed Cassie and planned to leave my ass in that hellhole the Commission created, thanks but no.”

“You know why she did that. She’s one of us now. She’s proved it multiple times. Plus, she’s strong and getting stronger. She’d be able to zap him before he ever got close enough to control her mind, or anyone else’s.”

Julian’s stomach twisted with turmoil as he pondered Devon’s words. Dani would be a powerful ally, but she’d been a big part of the reason he and Cassie had been imprisoned together beneath that school. Imprisoned and tortured. The idea of her anywhere near Quinn made him see red, but Dani would be able to knock that vamp on his ass with her ability to wield electrical currents. She’d knocked
him
on his ass before.

And she has done nothing but prove herself these past two years, like you.

“Julian?” Devon asked.

“I’m thinking.”

“Don’t hurt yourself.”

“You’re funny. Hold on.” Walking over to the glass, he tapped on the window to get the attention of Chris, Melissa, and Lou sitting on the other side. He pointed to Luther at the bar before gesturing for them to meet him outside. “How is everyone doing there?” he asked as he waited for them.

“Far better than you. I may be able to convince Cassie to stay behind and let me come on my own. That vamp won’t know what mind control is if I get a hold of him.”

“I don’t think we’re there yet, but I’ll call you if it becomes necessary.”

“You want him for yourself,” Devon deduced.

“Yes. You have no idea what I’m going to do to him when I get my hands on him.”

“Oh, I have a very good idea. We did run together for centuries after all.”

“This will be worse,” Julian vowed. “They’re coming.” Luther, Lou, Melissa, and Chris stopped before him. He moved the phone away from his mouth as he spoke with them. “Devon has suggested sending Dani here to help. Since we all know my feelings on her, I’d like to hear your opinions on it.”

They all exchanged a look before Luther spoke. “I think it’s a good idea.”

“Cassie will know something is up if he sends Dani,” Melissa said.

“She’s going to know anyway,” Devon said through the phone. “I can’t keep this from her. I can keep her from there, but she has to know. She’ll never forgive me if something happens and I knew about it but didn’t tell her.”

“Devon is going to tell her anyway,” Julian said to them.

Melissa folded her arms over her chest. “I agree with Luther. If more innocent people die, and Dani could have helped us do something to stop it, but we refused her help, then we’ll be at fault too.”

Julian couldn’t keep the scowl from his face; he glanced through the window at Quinn again. “I know you don’t like Dani,” Chris said. “I understand why, but she has changed, and she is trustworthy. I
know
she is.”

Everything in him screamed against it, but he knew it would be foolish to let past grudges stand in the way right now. “Fine, send her,” he muttered into the phone. “I’m going to have to buy a house to have any alone time with Quinn again.”

“I’m sure with that attitude, Dani will feel very welcome and at home,” Devon said with a laugh. “And just keep building houses, like I do.”

“Look at how well that’s working out for you. You’re standing outside in February in Canada. If Dani makes one wrong move toward Quinn, I’ll tear her head off,” he promised.

“That will help her feel more welcome.”

Julian turned away from the others and stalked over to a pickup truck. He watched as they made their way back inside the bar. “Are you sure you’re going to be able to keep Cassie away from here?” he asked.

“It’s going to kill her, but yes. She has numerous lives depending on her here right now.”

“Good.”

“Your mate, Quinn?”

“What about her?”

“They can’t get their hands on her, Julian, not if she can do something like bringing a vampire back to life. Her power will only grow every year. What she could do in a hundred years, or fifty years, could be devastating in the wrong hands.”

“I know.”

“I know you do.”

“Are you flying Dani or having her drive here?” Julian asked.

“The soonest day flight I can find, hopefully tomorrow, she’ll be on it. If it’s still daytime when she arrives, she’ll be safe getting to you. You do realize she’s the only one, besides Quinn, you’ll be able to trust not to possibly be corrupted by this vampire.”

“The thought has occurred to me.”

Devon’s laughter made him wish his friend were standing before him so he could throttle him. “That makes you so happy, I can tell.”

“Thanks for the sympathy.”

“Only the same amount you gave me when Cassie and I were first struggling through everything. In fact, you tried to kill her, multiple times. We’ve gotten past it; you should do the same with Dani.”

“Dick.”

“Yep.”

“Dani may not want to come,” Julian said.

“She will. She’s a fighter.”

“I’ll text you the address here.”

“Okay. Oh, and, Julian?”

“Yeah.”

“Tell Quinn I said thank you.”

Devon hung up before he could respond. Julian texted Quinn’s address to Devon and slid the phone in his pocket. Devon was right, but he still couldn’t help his resentment at the idea of seeing Dani again. Climbing the stairs, he stepped into the bar and surveyed the meager crowd.