Defeat the Darkness (Hearts of Darkness) (30 page)

~~~

The night was bright from the full moon, and Shelby would probably have seen the path without the help from her cat’s narrowed focus. But Kyle was locked up somewhere in a mausoleum out by the wolf’s cemetery, and she needed to find him before all her energy drained. She had to get to him before her heart shriveled up and died. If it weren’t for the cat within her, she wouldn’t know where to find him or have the energy to walk. But Kyle’s jaguar called to the jaguar within her, showing her the direction to take.

After traveling a short distance under the light of the full moon, Shelby grew weak. It wouldn’t be long now, if she could just find the energy to take a few more steps. Maybe she should rest down by the riverbank, then reconsidered, thinking about the gators and snakes. Besides resting wasn’t going to help—only Kyle could help her now.

~~~~

“I should get back and check on Shelby,” Max told Victor. “It’s been two hours.”

“Please, go take care of her while I run a few more tests.” Victor never looked up from his work.

Max walked back to the wing of the estate where they were staying and into the bedroom.

She’s gone.

He picked up his phone and called Dylan as he ran out the door. When the vampire didn’t answer, he tried Victor. Another voice mail message. He looked both ways, turned in a circle, and then caught a reflection along the eastern path. Faery dust. The light from the full moon caused the gold to turn to silver, but Max knew where to find her.

She was headed in the direction of wolf territory—toward the mausoleum where Kyle was locked up.

He had to reach her before she freed him. At the height of the full moon, Kyle would be even more dangerous than ever and she was going to be at her full sexual potential. A full-blown cat-in-heat-sex-fae.

The animals were out in force tonight. Gators croaked louder than frogs. He’d learned that was one quick way to tell the difference. These were some loud mothers. The mating calls rang out, loud and clear, through the quiet night air. The brush whipped across his body as he hurried down the overgrown path, looking around in all directions for predators. It was dangerous out here—too dangerous for Shelby in her weakened condition.

When he rounded the bend in the path, Max saw her slumped in a heap behind a tree not far from the riverbank. Seeing from a distance that she was too weak to move, he tried calling Dylan again as he rushed to her side.

No answer.

He had to do something for her on his own. Max lifted her onto his lap and kissed Shelby with everything he had in him. His hands found all her favorite spots, stimulating her into a quick orgasm. Within moments, she trembled and opened her eyes.

“Mmm, thank you, Max. That was wonderful.”

“Will you be okay until I get help?”

“Yes. I should be good for another hour or two.”

“Stay where you are. I need to move over there for cell coverage.” Giving up on Dylan, he tried dialing Kyle’s number for help. Just as he completed the call, he heard growling and hissing coming from the trees on the perimeter of the path. “Don’t move,” he whispered to Shelby.

Soon four large cats approached the clearing, blocking his way back to Shelby. The menace was clear by the vicious snarls they made each time he moved. Then dark, rogue jaguars surrounded him before he could move any closer to Shelby. They shifted into a menacing combination of jaguar and human. Their eyes looked feline, their ears, and teeth too. They had muscular human bodies, but dangerous looking large clawed feet.

He pocketed his phone and left the line open, hoping Kyle would hear enough and understand what was going on.

Amyra stepped out of the shadows from behind a large male rogue, moved around him, and into the clearing. She hardly acknowledged Shelby, but she inspected Max closely, moving up to him, circling him, even nuzzling her nose to his neck as if she was sniffing a well-prepared steak.

“It is a pleasure to meet one of Kyle’s close friends.” She hooked her arm in his. “I’m sure you will enjoy my hospitality for a short while.”

Max couldn’t pull his attention away from her perfect face, but somewhere deep within his mind he remembered his concern for…who? “Uh, Shelby needs—”

“Do not concern yourself with her.”

He blinked and remembered the phone. “Where are we going? Where are you taking me? What about Shelby?”

Amyra ran her tongue along his jawline. “The guards will bring her along.”

The woman smelled delicious. And her scent played havoc with his senses. All sorts of unusual stuff was happening to his body and his mind—hunger and heat. Max couldn’t remember why he should resist her as her lips found the pulse racing in his throat.

Hell, why would any man resist her?

Chapter 37 Demon

The phone buzzed. The readout on the screen caught Kyle’s attention and his heart sank to his stomach. Something was wrong if Max was trying to reach him.

He pressed the button to connect and heard remnants of a conversation between Max and Amyra. His blood ran to ice, and fear clutched his chest in a vice-like grip. He immediately dialed Garr’s number.

“Garr, get me out. Amyra has Max and Shelby.”

Kyle heard the low angry growl before the wolf answered, “On my way,
mon ami
.”

Based on the conversation he overheard, he at least had a starting point.

The bitch was playing to his weakness again.

Until Garr arrived, Kyle paced and wondered why Shelby left Dylan’s estate and the protective wards—why Max hadn’t stopped her—why they were alone. Dylan still wasn’t answering his phone, but Victor did answer his.

“Where the hell is everyone?” Kyle shouted.

“I don’t know. Aren’t they here?” Victor sounded stunned.

“No, they aren’t. Amyra took Shelby and Max, and Dylan isn’t answering his phone—”

“Dylan went to the council meeting. They don’t allow phones. How can I help?”

“Garr’s coming to release me. I need you to get someone to triangulate my cell phone as soon as you can and find Dylan. I’m going after them.”

“Take the wolves.”

“No. The rogues will destroy them. I need vampire support. Tell Dylan.”

The ancient door squeaked open just then. “Garr’s here. Gotta go.”

“You need help tracking? Some of the men came with me.”

“Walk with me while we talk. I know where she took them. Follow me,” he said to the others as he came up the steps. “When we get there, you can help me locate the trail, but then I’m going alone.” He pointed at Garr. “You find Dylan.”

“He’s at the vampire council meeting with Jackson.”

“That’s what Victor said, too. Go get him. I’m going to need vampire back up. The rogue jaguars will eat these local wolves for a snack.”

Garr chuckled. “You have not seen the wolves when we are Were. We can be a formidable pack.”

“Oh well, that’s good to know. There’s no need to put more people in danger.” Kyle lowered his v
oice. “Problem is my jaguar still won’t come out around the wolves. I think I can handle Amyra. I know what she wants.”

“And what is that,
mon ami
?”

“Me.”

The wolves circled the riverbank and the surrounding woods. Eventually, one caught the scent and pointed Kyle in the right direction. When he left the wolves’ territory to track Amyra and the jaguars, Garr agreed to find Dylan and bring reinforcements. No one had any idea where Amyra had taken Shelby and Max, but Kyle’s jaguar could track his mate. The cat wanted out and this time he was going to give him his head.

He stripped and dropped to his knees finishing the transformation into his jaguar in a matter of seconds. The demon beast roared against his mind, begging to surface.

Not yet.

He would hold out his ace until he had no other choice.

~~~~

The old, abandoned estate where Amyra had taken Shelby and Max was across the bayou from Dylan’s. From what Garr told him earlier, no one had been out in this area for years.

He was right. The underbrush was thick, perfect for hiding in. Kyle cautiously moved through the overgrowth and noted the thick vining Kudzu invading the ivy growing on the porch and up the walls of the house.

He shifted back quickly, untied his pants from around his neck, and pulled them on. Half-dressed was better than naked if he had to fight his way through these rogues. He wished he knew how many there were or if he had time to wait for backup.

The screams he heard coming from the house answered that question for him.

No time!

He traced to the back porch, hoping to surprise perhaps one or, at the most, two guards. But instead, what met him were ten rogues, all male, and Amyra.

“How very exciting to see you again, my child.”

If Amyra tossed out the maker relationship line to piss him off, she was making a big mistake. One, he didn’t recognize his forced relationship to her, and two, he was already almost too livid to contain the one beast within him that could destroy her—the demon.

He wouldn’t completely release his demon yet, because something about unleashing that part of himself scared him more than dying.

Kyle allowed the jaguar guards to surround him without fighting back and followed Amyra up the poorly lit steps into a large entry way. He kept his mind protected from Amyra and could continue to as long as he stayed strong.

Kyle had to keep his mind shuttered from Amyra, and that would keep Dylan out too. Victor was going to have to triangulate his cell signal. That would cost them valuable time. Dylan would show up eventually. Kyle only hoped it wouldn’t be too late.

“Did you think I couldn’t find you?” Amyra walked with her attention directed straight ahead, not glancing back to see if he followed.

“No. I knew you could find me anytime you wanted with our blood tie. I didn’t think you wanted to.” He had to play nice. She had Shelby and Max somewhere.

“Why would you think that? You are mine.”

“We did have an agreement. And you left.” Kyle felt the cat pull him deeper into the house, closer to Shelby.

“Ah, true. Well, now we can have a new agreement. Your blood wasn’t enough without the Grail water I found during my trip to the Mexican pyramids. I have a new supply of the water.”

“What do you need with Grail water?”

“The water will rejuvenate my human cells. Now, I need more than your blood and—”

“What do you want from me, Amyra? More what?”

“I want to have children of my own. I have turned back the hands of time with the Grail water, now I need you to impregnate me.”

Kyle laughed. The idea was so abominable he was horrified. “I’ll never—”

“Do not be so hasty to deny me,” she snarled and stopped in front of a pair of huge double doors surrounded by more jaguar guards.

Either she came with her ready-made army or she was making more out of the locals.

She’d come prepared to win.

Two burly rogues opened the door to a large, dimly lit bedroom. It wasn’t the guards that frightened him. It was what he smelled that stopped Kyle’s heart.

Amyra’s irresistible fragrance, rogue body odor, and blood. He separated the scents. The scent of blood in the room was overwhelming.

Blood! So much blood!

He smelled it clearly then, and fear sucker punched him.

Some of it was Shelby’s.
Damn!

He stepped into the room and what Kyle saw made his stomach lurch.

“Shelby!” He rushed across the room, tracing straight to her. Her scent overwhelmed him. He fought to keep control as he inspected her, while the guards remained in a tight circle surrounding them.

He wiped the blood from her cheek and caressed her soft skin. He checked her wounds, searching for the cause of the blood. To his disgust, the scent aroused him, and he reacted.

She shook her head and grabbed his hands. “No, not me! I’ll be fine for another hour or so. It’s Max, Kyle. Look—”

She pointed to the bed and Kyle froze. The sight of Max tied to the four-poster bed and surrounded by rogues, rendered him useless.

“Max is dying.” Shelby’s sobs filled the room echoing her sorrow.

“If you will not accommodate me, perhaps your friend will,” Amyra said, her perfect features and her sweet voice such a contrast to the evil within her.

“Help him please,” Shelby screamed from the chair where she was tied, her shirt torn. The ropes binding her wrists were thick, and rivulets of blood ran from her raw skin, down her hands, past her fingers, and dripped into a pool on the marble floor. Scratches marred her arms, and the vampire bite at her neck still oozed thick, rich crimson blood.

He glanced at Max, bound hand and foot to the bed. Blood trickled from multiple bite wounds.

Shelby sobbed and begged him. “Help him. He’s bleeding to death.”

The flow was too slow. Shelby was right. Max was in trouble. He’d been almost drained, but Kyle didn’t dare move as his demon rose.

He weighed his options while trying to contain his rage at seeing Shelby helpless, covered in blood, and Max close to death.

Control. Reason.

Both emotions escaped him when more of the scent of Shelby’s blood reached his senses.

“Tell me what else you’ve done.” He turned on Amyra and his jaguar surfaced—his vision narrowed and his anger boiled. “What-have-you-done-to-them?” He growled out each word separately, and contained the low threatening rumble. From deep within the recesses of his mind, something told him he already knew the answer to his question.

“There’s no need to get so upset. I had a choice to make—him or her—and you seem so overly protective toward her.” She shrugged. “I tasted her. That’s all. Only a little taste.” She held her finger and thumb close together to demonstrate.

Kyle glared and worked hard to gather his inner strength. That damned itch started between his shoulder blades and ran up his spine. This time the burn ached, and he knew it would eventually win out.

“If not her, then who?” Amyra played coy. “I needed to feed, you see...” She allowed her words to drift off as if Kyle would understand completely about her loss of control, and turned her attention to Max.

“But the male was remarkably delicious, and well, a lovely surprise—”

“He needs blood, Kyle. He needs it fast.” Shelby struggled against her ropes, and Kyle felt helpless given the overwhelming odds.

“She’s correct.” Amyra checked her watch as if she’d been keeping track of the time. “I was ravenous once I tasted him. I drained him—or more precisely, I lost control and nearly drained him when I sensed his gift.”

“What gift?” Kyle didn’t have any idea what she was talking about. His first concern was getting Max the medical attention he needed to survive.

Amyra stuck to what worked for her and was doing what she always did. She used people he cared about as leverage to keep him under control. Damn her evil soul, it was working. It would always work.

Gauging from Max’s condition, Kyle didn’t have much time to negotiate. There were several choices to consider—none held much hope for Kyle’s successful escape from Amyra. One, he could allow his demon to rise and fight her. That would buy them time if Dylan wasn’t far behind him, but that was a long shot.

And would he find them in time to save Max? Max didn’t have time.

Amyra wanted a slave, a stud for her newfound fertility. Apparently, either Max or he would do. Kyle would volunteer before he allowed her to unleash her cruel sadistic ways on Max or Shelby.

He would never allow the demon woman to ruin Shelby.

What he needed was time. Kyle needed to stall her, but Max didn’t have time.

He thought through his options, weighing his odds. Amyra had fed on Max and Shelby, so he would be up against her at full strength. That also meant she knew Shelby was fae. If he failed to contain her, they were all at maximum risk.

If he did no more than stop her now, he knew he could never stop her forever. To offer his friends the future he’d lost back in the Guatemalan jungles and save them from her tortuous ways, he was willing to cut a deal with the demon one more time. If he had to, he would stay with her to save them.

“Decide. I did you a favor keeping the woman alive. With him out of the way, your little girlfriend here can be yours again if you agree to my terms. I would allow you keep her—”

“Shut up.” The rumble in Kyle’s chest grew louder. The cat inside him fought harder to get out. He blinked slowly several times and took a deep breath. “Understand this. You don’t
allow
me to do anything anymore. No matter how much I want Shelby, I still wouldn’t harm Max.”

We will see about that.
Her silent threat reached into his mind and fear was an icy claw squeezing the breath from him. When it released, he gasped and stumbled.

Amyra smiled. “Go. Help your friend if you can.”

Kyle checked Max’s pulse. It was weak and erratic. He’d lost a great deal of blood. “He needs a transfusion. I have to take him to the hospital.”

“No, you will not. He is mine until you agree to my terms. Listen for his heartbeat and decide quickly.”

Kyle shut down the sounds of everything else around him and listened. Max wouldn’t make it.

“You see, it is already too late,” Amyra said.

Shelby cried out, straining against the guard holding her in place. Her anguish matched his own.

“No need for mourning,” Amyra said. “I will turn him, and he will take your place as my consort.”

“Max? No. He’ll go mad,” Kyle said.

“You don’t know? No. Imagine my surprise when I discovered your little sex fae had a berserker lover. A pleasant surprise I might add and a chance for their survival. They both have enough supernatural DNA to survive the transmutation.”