Quicksilver Dreams (Dreamwalkers) (42 page)

A devilish smile slid across his face, and he demanded, “I’ll take the other bit as well, Senior Officer.”

Ryder clenched his teeth, his lips pressing into a firm line.

Shit. That was why Ryder had protested my stating I had any. We were going to be left with none, and then he’d be able to kill us both and get away quickly. Ryder hesitated in pulling his necklace off, obviously stalling for time, so Frank shoved the gun into my temple, hard. I winced with the discomfort.

“Don’t fucking hurt her,” Ryder growled. “I’m giving it to you.”

Reach for it
,
Taylor!
The Gods’ plane is yours by right.
Reach for it.
The power is here.

I was surprised by the voice in my head.
Dreya?

Reach for it!
There’s no time!

But the mylunate is off my toe!

You can do it!
The Gods’ plane exists everywhere!

Okay
,
okay!

Taking a deep breath, I opened my mind, encouraging its fingerlike tendrils to seek out the energy signature that would lead me where I needed to go. It took a moment to find without the battery boost of the mylunate, but after fumbling desperately, I found it. Holy cow! Without the mylunate! I felt the warmth, the connectedness, the power.

“Thank you.” Frank had his fingers around the necklace. He took aim at Ryder. He was going to shoot him!

I unleashed mental shrapnel with ferocious intensity into Frank’s brain, and when the gun blasted, it went wide. His face was etched in pain as I unloaded on him with all the power of the love I had for Ryder. The necklace dropped to the ground.

Quick as lightning, Ryder smacked the gun away. It skittered across the room.

“Fucking murderer!” Ryder growled. He became a wild man, unleashed. He connected a set of combination power punches, his muscular body moving with grace and agility. With grim determination, Frank backpedaled, trying to block and dodge the attack, absorbing some of the hits with guttural grunts of pain. He was being propelled across the room toward the sliding doors, away from me. And away from the gun, I was glad to note.

I wanted to grab it. Secure it. Keep Ryder safe. But I couldn’t move. I was fighting off black smudges of unconsciousness that wanted to shut my mind down.

Frank was obviously trained, or he would have gone down in the first five seconds. With surprising speed and strength, he ducked a punch and came up with a knee to Ryder’s gut, taking him by surprise.

No!
My inner cheerleader turned fearful.

Frank took advantage of Ryder’s lapse and twisted sharply. Swinging an elbow, he caught Ryder in the cheek, knocking him back a few feet and leaving him gasping for a quick breath. Ryder’s rage only intensified. He whipped a device from his pocket.

“Dear boy,” Frank gasped, quickly propelling himself to take up position behind Paul’s inert body. “I believe I’m going to take you up on the sparring match another time.”

“Fucking murdering traitor.” Ryder swiped a trickle of blood from his cheek where his skin had split, keeping his device steady on Frank. “You are the reason my sister is dead.”

“Those are harsh words, young man.” Frank was breathing heavily, grimacing as he held a hand to his side. He took a moment to wipe blood from his own lip. He snarled in a low, angry voice, “Especially considering what your mother has done. You think you’re all so lily-white in this? You’re all such wonderful martyrs, enjoying your pain so perfectly.”

“My mother has done nothing.”

“Perhaps that is a more apt description.” Frank sneered cryptically. “I wonder. Does it make you equal to the criminal when you know of the crime and do nothing about it?”

“What does that mean?” Ryder growled in a low tone.

“Who is the real monster here? The product or the creator?” His eyes took on a crazed look. “Who must take responsibility for the outcomes? The consequences?”

“You hold my mother responsible for your treachery?”

“Your mother. The courts. I’m saying follow the trial, Ryder Langston. There is more than meets the eye.” Ranik allowed an evil smile to crease his lips. “What do they say? An eye for an eye? I will see it done. The spirits of Te’re will be crushed.”

Shoot him!
I tore down my mental barrier and implored Ryder silently.
Take him out!

“He can’t, Taylor,” Frank grinned, having read my thoughts. “For that magnificent radiation laser he’s holding, he needs a clear space for accuracy. You see, he probably has it programmed for full power, and when he pulses me with it, all of my veins will hemorrhage in spectacular fashion. I’m sure he wouldn’t want to hurt Paul by accident. Innocent Paul. He was trying to save the world, you know.” Frank’s chuckle sounded strained.

“You won’t be allowed to leave here,” Ryder stated firmly.

Frank’s bloodshot eyes darted frantically around the room for an escape route. He had blood coming from his nose.

“Taylor, move! Get over here!” Ryder commanded.

Energy depleted from the mental assault I’d delivered, I could just barely stand and, ever so slightly, shake my head, feeling helpless. It was taking all my strength to simply continue remaining upright, but my will was greater than the black void that threatened to drag me down. I needed to know that Ryder was safe.

“She’s quite done in, isn’t she? Poor thing can’t even talk,” Frank mocked, though even his voice sounded weak. “But no worries. I have other plans. You’ll have to excuse me from this conversation. Shall I give my regards to your mother, Taylor?”

What?

“Follow the pitiful cries of the children, Senior Officer.”

With that, Frank lunged toward me. Ryder cursed furiously. With a harsh shove, Frank threw me toward Ryder, who caught me safely, not letting me hit the floor. Almost immediately, Frank was engulfed in vibrant blue light and disappeared.

The wave of exhaustion swept through me, as it had the other time I’d unleashed a major mental attack.
No!
I fought it, trying to stay conscious. My legs were wobbly and my mind beckoned the peaceful bliss of darkness. I saw Ryder scoop up his necklace and pop it over his head in one smooth motion as he came to me.

Rest
,
lin’de.
Don’t fight it.

But Ryder
...

We’ll talk later.

I
don’t want to leave you.

You won’t.
I’ll take care of you.
Always.

Chapter Twenty-Two

“Is she all right?”

I remembered the imperious voice well. This was not how I wished to wake up after a long, healing sleep. I opened my eyes to see I was comfortably ensconced in Ryder’s bed, overlooking the ocean at Venice Beach—not that I could see the water, as it was pitch-black out. I was sure tired of losing time.

“She’s still out,” Ryder replied quietly, though I could detect the strain in his tone. Ryder and his father sounded as though they were right outside the door.

“Are you sure she’s all right? Does she need medical care? She’s been unconscious for quite some time.” His father actually sounded concerned. Weird.

“This happened last time,” Ryder replied. He paused a moment, and new relief sounded in his tone. “She’s back. I can feel her energy signature again. I’ll see if she’s ready to visit.”

Ryder came through the door, big and dangerous looking, taking up all the space in the doorway, and paused. He just looked at me with a burning intensity. Grim with emotion, his pale eyes held mine in thrall. Silently, he approached and knelt by my head, gathered me in his arms and buried his face in my neck, breathing deeply. It was like he needed the reassurance of my scent, which touched off an ache in my heart.

He really and truly needed me. Me. This big, powerful warrior wanted me. Yeah, he was now in a position to do me emotional harm, but I was in the same position with him, and all either of us could do was trust. Looking at his head, bent in need to me, I knew I was ready to do this.

He pulled far enough away to stare into my eyes, and I felt a powerful sense of gratitude, relief, residual trauma from his fear of my potential death and a love so strong it washed over me with warmth and contentment. He couldn’t speak, and instead was letting me into his mind.

Tears welled up with the surge of tender emotion that threatened to close my throat. I reached up to caress his jaw, my fingers loving the rough feel of his dark, scruffy whiskers. He leaned into my hand, briefly closing his eyes.

“Don’t cry,
lin’de
,” he murmured gruffly, though it seemed as though his own eyes were suspiciously moist. “Everything is going to be all right now.”

“I wasn’t sure I would ever see you again,” I whispered tremulously. The tears traced in rivulets toward my temples, and Ryder gently wiped them away with his thumbs. He then framed my face delicately and stole a soft, lingering kiss that took my breath away.

“I would never let that happen,” he uttered fiercely, staring into my eyes.

Love, happiness and contentment layered me in a warm, comforting blanket. I pulled him down for another kiss, wanting more time to say the things I needed to say, but knowing his father was waiting for us.

“Why is your father here?” I asked against Ryder’s lips.

“He wanted to speak with you.”

“Not here to kill me or anything?”

“I can confirm that.” He gave a shaky grin.

I was wearing the camisole and sleep pants I’d brought with me from my apartment. Ryder must have dressed me, which was a naughty thought I hoped to pursue at a later time. After slipping on Ryder’s robe for modesty’s sake, I found Talon standing by the sliding doors, looking out over the night, listening to the crashing waves. He turned as I appeared and gave me a smile reminiscent of his son’s, which helped to alleviate some of the butterflies I felt in my gut. I had no idea why he would want to see me. He was dressed in his nation’s version of military fatigues.

“I’m glad to see you’re all right, Taylor,” he stated kindly.

“Uh, thanks.” I gave him a tentative smile. “Would you like to sit? Have a drink?”

“Thank you, but today, I’m short on time. I have an apology to make. Miara nearly took my head off after our last meeting, and she helped me to see I was wrong in my treatment of you.” With a thoughtful frown, he paused to look down at the ground, as though gathering his thoughts. “You put your life at risk to protect hundreds of our citizens, but instead of properly honoring you, I ran you off. I’m ashamed for that, and I won’t offer excuses. The people of Te’re would like to thank you for your sacrifice in person. I also wanted to make sure you had these.” He held out the charms that I’d left behind from my mother’s bracelet.

“You want me to come back?” I asked, taking the charms gratefully. It had hurt to lose even one. They were all I had of her. I was otherwise in silent shock, watching a distinguished, naturally imperious man eat crow.

“I’d come to Ryder’s home to invite you personally. Fate deigned that I arrive as Ryder was preparing to depart, ready to battle for you.”

Fate. Wasn’t that an interesting way to view the events?

“Thank you for helping to free me.”

“It was only a small way I could offer my gratitude for your service to us, and we were able to apprehend villains who would have used the ore for harm against your people.”

“The terrorists? Had they arrived?”

His nod confirmed that.

He turned to Ryder. “Please bring me your report on this incident. It appears, once again, we were close to capturing Ranik, but he slipped through our fingers.”

“Of course.” Ryder gave a slight bow of his head. I could sense a lessening of his animosity toward his father. “I’ll see if I can return within the week.”

“That would be fine. I’d better get back to your mother. She’ll want to know why I’ve been gone so long.”

“Please give her my love.”

“Certainly.”

“And...thank you...for your help,” Ryder offered with all humility and sincerity. “Taylor means the world to me.”

“I understand.” Talon offered his hand, which Ryder readily shook. “You’re my son. I’ll always help you.”

Before long, Talon departed in a flash of blue light, presumably to the transfer unit in the Malibu canyon, where he would then be able to transfer home.

Insisting that I eat something, Ryder made us a light snack. Briefly, I told him about the information I’d learned about my mother and father. I wanted to find my mother and see if she could find refuge on Te’re for a while. Ryder insisted that I go back to bed when we finished our snack, which had me eye-rolling, as I’d just had a four-hour nap. My bruises were freaking him out. I only agreed when he said he would join me there. That arrangement had more appeal for me.

“Where’s Sy?” I asked, shrugging out of my robe and climbing back under the covers.

“Looking for Jory.” He yanked off his T-shirt, which allowed me to appreciate his fine, muscular chest. Remembering the trail I’d blazed with my lips on his chest the other night, I felt the beginning of some tingles. The stirrings continued as he dropped his pants and slid into bed wearing boxers only. Yum. Very distracting.

“She was your girlfriend, right?”

“She was.” He got comfortable on his pillow, facing me. “And before you ask, I have no idea why she would be helping Ranik.”

That answered my next question, but I had a few others.

“How did you know something was wrong so fast?”

“Sy was out checking the waves and saw you and Jory pull up to the condo. You weren’t here when he came back to get his trunks, and then I couldn’t get you on your phone.”

“I know! I paid the bill, I swear it.”

“Jory was using a signal jammer on your phone.”

“That bitch!” I scowled. “She totally played me.”

A flash of anger touched his eyes. “I was afraid I would be too late. Will you listen from now on? Do as you’re told? This wouldn’t have happened, had you followed my directions.”

“Yeah, but then Paul would have been killed along with his father, and you guys wouldn’t have been able to find out about the stash of mylunate he hid. At least now he’ll have medical care, and you have your ore back.”

“I care about you.”

“I know, but maybe it’s like your father said. Maybe fate is the master puppeteer, and one way or another, your father was going to be here to provide support to you because I was going to be abducted in order to help prevent Paul’s death and the spread of terrorism on this and your planet.” He was looking so serious, I just couldn’t help myself. “Ohhh, see? The butterfly effect, but with fate. We’re all interconnected. We could be out on a hike, and you could, like, sneeze, and that could scare a bunch of birds out of the brush, right? Then that causes a breeze that lends itself to a windstorm, which would then be strong enough to travel thousands of miles and maybe wipe out a whole village, see? But it would be like fate gave you that cold because it was time for that village to rebuild itself and join the new age of technology.”

Ryder wasn’t amused.

“Yeah, well, maybe you could have just as easily been killed.” He gave me a good scowl, not ready to concede any point, probably because I still had bruises on my face.

“Even if it doesn’t all make sense to you, it’s making sense to me. I can feel it. We’re all...interconnected.”

“Dammit, Taylor.” He sat up against the headrest with a scowl. “I just care about you. Stop putting yourself in life-threatening situations.”

I sat up against the headboard to face him. “I’m just saying that maybe when it’s our time, it’s our time. Control is an illusion.”

“Whatever. Just be more careful. At least say it. Put my goddamn mind to rest.”

“I will, I will. I will be more careful. Does that help?”

“Yes.”

Unable to help myself, I ran fingers through his midnight-black hair. Brushing it off his forehead, I said, “Don’t be mad.”

“But you...”

I settled a finger against his firm lips, effectively stopping his words. “There are so many more interesting things we could do. Don’t you think?”

“You aren’t going to sleep, are you?” His grin was slow in developing.

“I don’t think so.” I gave him a gamine smile and let the spaghetti strap of my camisole slip off my shoulder, exposing part of the curve of my breast. “You a boob man?”

“I can’t decide with you.” His large hand swept over my breast, thumbing my nipple, and I sighed into the familiar warmth that heated me from the inside. Then he slid down to cup my ass. “I like all of you.”

“Who says you need to decide?”

His cock was stirring against my belly, and my fingers were gentle when they grasped his hot, silky length beneath the waistband of his boxers. His groan of pleasure was encouraging and arousing, and our lips met with gentle passion, sweetly, with teasing nibbles. Heat built on heat as we moved together, removed clothing, kissing skin with passionate reverence as it became exposed. We exchanged soft gasps and throaty moans, gentle caresses and soft cries of pleasure. When he did ease into me, our eyes held, and I was overcome with the beauty of our completeness. His elbow was braced by my head, and he was looking down at me, his eyes burning with love and need while he slowly moved in long, steady strokes against me. I was caught by his green eyes and the veins of gold running through them, just the way I had been the first day I saw him in the courtyard of my apartment complex. I couldn’t look away. I couldn’t hide. It was raw and intimate, and with our minds open, we were totally exposed.

The storm grew, and our breaths mingled as we climbed higher, heat building, muscles quivering, tightening, our intermingled cries becoming more insistent, more desperate.

“Ryder...” I could feel myself teetering on the edge.

“Are you close?”

“Yes!”

“Come with me,” he whispered, his tone rough with need.

“Yes,” I cried.

And like magic, we both cried out as wave after wave of powerful, white-hot heat enveloped us. I was left feeling hoarse and shaky. Ryder collapsed with his head on my breast, and my hand shook as I lifted it to run through his hair. I wanted him there. Over my heart.

“You’re so beautiful,” I whispered. “I never want to lose you.”

He nuzzled his face into my breast and lifted his head, his eyes dark with emotion. “I love you,
lin’de.
I’m never going anywhere.” Overcome with emotion, I was surprised to realize my cheeks were moist, but then, being with Ryder was more beautiful than I could have imagined, and I had almost lost the chance to know that. It was like I was overflowing with feeling, knowing that I absolutely adored this man.

“What is it?” he asked gruffly.

“Something that I realized when they first took me.” I had to pause, because my voice trembled. Remembering the terrifying moments was making my throat close up. “I would have had only had one regret if they succeeded in killing me. I wouldn’t have had a chance to tell you how I feel.” Tearfully, I looked steadily into his eyes, wanting him to see the purity of my heart.

“How do you feel,
lin’de?
” His eyes caressed me with fierce tenderness.

I made sure my mind was wide open, so he could see the beauty I was feeling, the light of truth shining from my own heart and soul. They were finally at peace, putting my demons to rest.

“I love you, Ryder. I love you so much.”

I was ready to embrace the future and whatever joys and sorrows it held.

* * * * *