He snorted. “Peace after war? Never. War is meant to be won.”
“Or lost,” Janie hissed.
Kalin moved quicker than possible and wrapped his hands over hers, holding tight. “We’ll just see who loses.”
The door banged open, and Zane entered, firing three shots into Kalin’s shoulder. The Kurjan fell back on the cot.
Zane grabbed Janie’s arm and shoved her behind him, the gun still pointed at the Kurjan.
Kalin grabbed his bleeding shoulder and chuckled. “You may have knocked her up, but you’re going to lose her. Soon.”
“Bullshit.” Zane aimed and shot Kalin in the knee.
The Kurjan hissed in pain. “No cure, demon.” Even with the fresh wound, he stood, looking down. “All of your power, all of your strength, and you can’t save one little human mate. If you were a true ruler, you could save your woman. How helpless you must feel, Kyllwood.”
Zane’s body tensed, and Janie set her hand against his waist. Zane settled, his shoulders going back. “We’ll see about that, Kurjan. Have fun bleeding.” He turned and hustled Janie from the room, slamming the door behind them.
Chapter 26
Zane tipped back his head and swallowed the entire tumbler of Scotch.
“That’s fifty years old,” Talen grumbled, refilling Zane’s glass. “Slow down or start drinking the cheap stuff.”
Zane would bet his left shoe the vampires didn’t have cheap stuff.
“It’s over by Garrett and Logan,” Talen said, jerking his head toward the kids playing pool. Then he turned and strode across the room where his pale mate sat on a sofa, talking to Zane’s mother.
Zane straightened and leaned back against the bar, his drink in hand. When he’d been summoned to a strategic meeting, he sure as hell hadn’t expected alcohol, pinball tables, and a comfortable fireplace fronted by heavy furniture. When Suri planned, the demon kept to conference rooms—and no women. Nobody playing pool or arguing good-naturedly about the football playoffs.
The Kayrs family ruled as a family, now didn’t they? Oh, there was no doubt the king was in charge, but he relied heavily on his brothers as well as their mates.
Zane glanced at Sam, over playing darts with Jase Kayrs. Maybe Zane should include his brothers more and stop trying to shield them. They were fine men and even better warriors.
Janie slid onto a bar stool, her shoulder nudging his arm. “My dad is sharing his good Scotch?” She wiggled her eyebrows. “You must’ve made quite an impression in battle.”
Zane took another sip. It was good.
“Check out the sunset,” Janie said softly.
Floor to ceiling windows showcased the rather calm Pacific Ocean and a spectacular pink and orange sunset. “Beautiful,” he said. Then he brushed a hand over her silky hair, allowing himself to touch freely. To reassure himself that for now, she was all right. “I thought you were very brave facing Kalin alone earlier.”
She sighed and leaned into him. “I thought he’d want to help me. Foolish, I know.”
Zane slipped an arm around her shoulders. So fragile and yet so strong. “I thought he’d help you, too.”
“Do you believe him? That there’s no cure?” Janie asked.
“I’m not sure.” Zane caressed her neck. For so long, Janie had been his only lifeline. It felt damn right to hold her close. “We’ve been poring over the recordings, and if there’s a clue in what he said, we can’t find it.” Frustration heated up Zane’s throat, and he tried to mellow it out. Kalin had been correct that Zane was helpless to cure Janie, and that truth spiked through him like a hot poker.
Janie’s chin dropped to her chest. “That feels good. Constant headache.”
Zane frowned and rubbed harder, yanking her pain into his neck. Agony flared along his vertebrae and down his spine. He coughed. “God.” Sucking in air, he forced healing cells around the pain and shoved it into nothingness. “That was more than a headache.”
She lifted her head, her eyes clearing. “I know. Everyone keeps getting them from the virus. Earlier I wanted to rip my own head off.”
Yet instead, she’d calmly entered the cell of a killer. Zane shook his head, his chest puffing out. Yeah. His mate was awesome, brave, and so damn smart. He’d underestimated her before, mistaking a fragile body for a delicate spirit. His woman was a warrior. “You’re perfect, Belle.”
She snorted. “How much have you had to drink?”
