Page 16 of Jake

Chapter Four

Kai burned from within, and she tore at the restraining fabric until her bare skin kissed the cool night air. The dream swirled in her mind. The Alpha’s lips ignited her body, consuming her with a craving she’d never known. Light turned to darkness with the demon’s touch, its razor sharp talon slicing into her leg, giving way to the good fortune spilling from her body. Too many supernaturals, their energy filling her faster than she could control. Like being hurled off a cliff, she clutched at the air around her in a futile attempt to gain traction as she plummeted into a frantic wild descent. Falling, falling, falling.

Kai’s eyes flew open, her chest heaving for breath. Her fever broken, she was thankful to be alive. As she adjusted to the darkness, the hard jawline of the Alpha came into view. Her savior. Her executioner. When she’d entered the ballroom with Quintus, he’d assured her safety. As much as she’d wanted to believe the ancient vampire, it had been an empty promise. She had rarely been in the presence of supernaturals, and the party had been more than she’d been able to handle. Wolves. Vampires. Their energy rushed her, making it nearly impossible to breathe. The Alpha had immediately detected her presence. The moment he took her hand in his, a connection seared her palm. His power ran through her skin, filling her with strength. As she’d danced with him, she’d vacillated between terror and arousal.

Her gaze painted over the contours of Jake’s face. Handsome, there was something about this wolf, so strong yet gentle. He’d saved her in the courtyard, and now kept her protected in what she assumed was his home. Kai closed her eyes and listened, attempting to sense any other beings in his home. We’re alone. Relief flooded through her that he hadn’t brought in his Alpha. Despite all he’d experienced with her, he wasn’t afraid, and now lay sleeping with her alone.

Kai’s pulse raced as she lay bare in his bed, yet she made no effort to conceal her body. Her eyes drifted over his muscular chest, and she recalled his searing kiss. Drawn to his energy, the urge to touch him surged, and her palm slid over the smooth cotton sheets, reaching toward him. Oh Goddess. No, Kai. Don’t do this. He’s a wolf. As her fingertips brushed his shoulder, she shivered with arousal. Kai placed her palm on his chest, and his peaceful vibrations ran through her. Unlike with other beings, it simply merged with her own power.

Her luminescent creature within purred, sensing his wolf. Alpha. The word ran through her mind as a command. Desire twisted through her body at the thought of making love to him, and she startled at her fantasy. Jake’s eyes flew open, his intense stare boring through her. As if she’d touched fire, she yanked her hand away, and jolted as strong fingers wrapped around her wrist.

“Whatcha doin’, sweetheart?” he growled.

“I’m sorry…I just had to…” Kai’s eyes roamed down his tanned abs before flashing up to meet his gaze. “Your energy. It’s special.”

“My energy, huh?” A small grin formed as he glanced at her bared skin. “So that’s what you call it?”

“I…I’ve never been around anyone like you,” she confessed. “Not like this.”

“Now call me crazy, but I’m pretty sure when I put you in bed, you had your dress on. Am I wrong ‘bout that?” He cocked his head and raised an eyebrow at her.

“The poison. I was so hot. I had a dream.”

“I’d say by the look of things, you’re pretty damn hot all right. I’m just hopin’ I was in this dream.”

“No, my leg…” Kai yanked at her arm, but he held tight. Her heart fluttered as his thumb trailed over her skin.

“About that.” Jake pinned his eyes on hers. “You seem to heal quickly. And for a supe, that’s fair play. But the thing is, your blood…you do know about the gold thing ya got goin’ on?”

“Yes,” she whispered. Kai had hidden it all her life. As Jake inched closer to her, Kai struggled to thwart her arousal. His masculine scent drifted into the air, and her beast urged her to press her cheek onto his chest.

“Yes.” He nodded. “So it seems we’re getting somewhere with the truth.”

“I can’t tell you everything. I need time.” Time for you to find my sister. Time for me to disappear.

“Never in my life have I seen someone bleed gold, which tells me that whatever you are, your species, you’re rare. How do you breed?”

“We are simply born,” Kai countered, defensively.

“Now, everyone’s bred. It’s just a matter of how and when.”

“I am chosen. While my mother gave birth to me, she had no choice in my creation. The Goddess decides our fate. Our kind, we exist…we are created.” Relief rushed over Kai as she spoke the words that had never passed her lips, admitting the secret. A mythological being, her kind didn’t breed. She’d never know children.

“Tonight in the courtyard. Those friends of yours?” he asked.

“No, I don’t know who they were,” she lied, suspecting the demon mistress had sent them.

“They seemed to know you.”

“Others…they sense my power. They will come for me. Someone took my sister. I need to find her but first I need to see the witch.” Kai avoided confiding in him regarding Kasdeya. It was too soon; she didn’t trust him with all her secrets.

“The witch?” Jake’s tone went cold.

“Yes, Ilsbeth.”

“Hell no,” Jake replied flatly.

“She knows a spell…”