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  “What’s your name?” Mar asked quietly.

  “Melisandre. Come closer to me.”

  “Do you know why she wants me, Melisandre? She wants to steal my life. To imprison me inside her.”

  Melisandre shrugged lithe shoulders. “Why should I care. I have my orders.”

  “Give the child to her mother and I'll join you. I can't promise I'll come easy though. You're asking me to die for you.”

  Melisandre sneered at her. Death hung in her eyes. Hair the color of ice flowed down her back. “Make this easier on yourself.”

  “Yeah, well dying is never easy, is it?” Mar pulled the magic back to her fingers.

  Melisandre shook her head and handed the child over. “Bite it,” she said to the young woman at her side.

  The crying woman raised her head and grinned. All tears were gone. Mar knew then they had tricked her. She'd seen what they wanted her to see—a bereft mother. Before she could react, the vampire lowered her head to the child's neck. A wail bounced off the building walls.

  Mar dropped to her knees like a stone. “Stop. Stop,” she screamed. “Stop. I'll come!”

  Melisandre flicked her hand at her partner. She ceased her feeding.

  “Tell me you stopped her in time,” Mar begged. Grit dug into her knees. Ice wrapped itself around her throat.

  Melisandre inspected her finger nails like nothing had happened. Like they weren’t discussing the life and death of a baby. “The infant is alive for now. Once I return you, it will go on to live a long and healthy life. It is your choice.”

  Mar's shoulders slumped. Regret racked her body. She put her hands out in front of her and closed her eyes in surrender.

  Neeren's face appeared. His haunting face. His thunderstorm eyes. He wouldn't know what happened to her. Sure, Collum would send people if she didn't check in after a couple days. By then it would be too late. He wouldn't think to worry about her earlier. No one would. No one knew her past.

  Fuck that.

  As the vampire reached for her, Mar swung up her clasped fists. A direct hit. Vamp dropped like a stone. Spinning to the left Mar used magic to hurl the infant from the other vamp’s arms. It flew easily through the air and landed safely on a small patio three stories up.

  Lead vamp and the other rushed her. So it was to be brute strength? Mar swung with everything she had. Blocking blows, both magical and real, while flipping through the spell book in her mind. She threw out a protection spell to soften the blows raining down on her back.

  The two old men on the other side of the alley shifted to young vampire warriors and rushed her. One wrapped cold arms around her neck attempting to choke the life from her. Mar tore at rock arms to no avail. She’d never defeat them this way.

  “Don’t kill her,” shouted the lead vamp. “They need her alive.”

  The pressure on her windpipe eased. Mar searched her mind for a magical weapon. She spun a shadow spell to block them from prying human eyes. Then she let them beat her. Placed her hands on the earth rather than try to block the blows. She called upon mother earth. Called for her ancient protection. For life to wipe out death. Roots burst up from between cracks in the pavement, wrapping around the feet of her four assailants. Vines crawled up their arms and around their waists. The blows stopped as the four fell to the ground.

  Heaving, Mar pushed herself off the ground and dusted her legs off. She grabbed a shard of tree root and plunged it deep into the male vamp who’d been attempting to strangle her.

  He faded to dust as his companions struggled against their bonds.

  Mar sneered at the lead vamp. “Not so tough after all hey, bitch.” She raised her hands to plunge the makeshift stake into her chest.

  Even as Mar spoke the words, the vines holding her adversary rotted and fell from her arms. Death destroying any life that tried to touch it. Vamperilla raised her hands in time to stop Mar’s blow. She clasped Mars neck and squeezed. The roots holding the remaining two vamps gave way as quickly.

  Iron bands were clamped around her wrists as Mar struggled for air. Magic pulsed through the metal. She'd be unable to defend herself in any way with these on. It was one of the first spells she'd been forced to learn. How to keep a magical being from calling forth their power. She collapsed, angry at her stupidity and cockiness.

  Melisandre removed her hand and grinned down at her. “I told them you would be easy to bring in.”

  “Check your shit, bitch. That wasn’t easy on any of us. Especially dust boy there.” Mar inclined her head to the dust swirling on the concrete by her feet.

  Melisandre laughed. “They knew the risks.” Her voice as cold as the dust settling in Mar's veins. The vampire flicked her wrist again. A mist wafted through the street. When it dispersed, the baby crying on the patio shifted to a small fluffy cocker spaniel. It wriggled contently from its perch, oblivious to the danger it’d been in.

  Mar slumped in defeat.

  “We’ve been learning,” Melisandre said.

  “No. You're nothing but a vessel,” Mar retorted. “My mother’s been stealing power and placing it in you—for a time. Don't kid yourself into thinking you have any magical power.”

  The woman nostrils flared. “You know nothing.”

  “I know you'll be dust soon enough.”

  Melisandre took an angry step toward her.

  Mar winked. “Careful now. You don't want to upset, Isabella.” She lifted her chin a notch. She wasn't giving up yet. “I've hidden long enough. Take me to my Mother.”

  Chapter 8

  Neeren hung up the phone. He leaned back on his pillow. Placed his arms behind his head in satisfaction. He'd heard the catch in Maria's voice. She could pretend if she wanted but he knew he'd cracked her armor. What he still couldn't figure out was why she was so unwilling to try something with him.

  So, he killed people. So, what. He only killed those who deserved it. He knew what death felt like. He'd died a million times over after his father had been murdered. His dreams racked with images of his baby sister being offered death before life. Watched his mother turn into a shadow. Her entire existence became a living reminder of death.

  He could kill his people with a thought. He lived with this enormity every second of his life. Not a moment was he unaware. Not a fucking moment.

  He knew what death felt like. He didn't meter it out lightly.

  Besides, every one of Maria's friends killed people. Even Alex. He refused to believe that was the reason.

  Daisy snored at his feet. He pulled the slobbering beast up to his chest. She sunk in. Snuggled against him. Snored loud in her contentment. He still couldn't believe Alex had talked him in to adopting the dog. They'd found her two days after the battle with the elemental. Alex had been searching online pet adoption sites—apparently, this was something humans did when they were stressed or bored. Daisy's ridiculous face popped up on the screen. They'd both laughed at her. He'd made some offhand comment about wanting to scratch her belly. The next thing he knew Alex emailed the adoption agency in Greece and he was the owner of a seven-year-old, overbred English bulldog with breathing problems.

  Quinn flew to Greece the next morning to pick up the animal. Neeren expected the dog would want to be around Alex or Quinn. Nope. For some reason, it wriggled right up to him, started pawing at his leg, and whimpering to be picked up. So, he did. He picked the damn dog up. Now he couldn't get rid of it.

  He scratched her behind the ears and she snorted in gratitude. The dog had had a rough life. She'd had six litters stolen from her. Had lived in a concrete prison before the rescue group found her. Neeren knew what it was like to be caged.

  Yet the dog still wriggled her behind when she met someone knew. Still barked and squirmed in joy. Having her around gave him hope. It was ridiculous. He'd never tell anyone. Pr
ayed one day he'd feel lightness too. Hope.

  Maria brought out sparks of hope every time he was around her. With her antics. The way she argued with him. The way she put him in his place. The way his desire for her numbed the throbbing power in his mind.

  He wondered if she would like his bedroom. She'd seemed to admire the rest of his castle. This spot was his oasis. As open as the ocean. His bed floated above the floor in the middle of the room. Held by invisible wires from charred beams attached to the ceiling. The floor was made of the same charred wood panels from the old boat house.

  He and his father spent countless hours there, oiling the boats, talking about what it meant to be a man. A leader. After his death, Neeren ordered the building burned to the ground. Thankfully he'd come to his senses in time. Put the fire out before everything turned to ash. All the wood was charred though. It was right to have the wood in his room. It was a reminder.

  With a final rub of Daisy's belly, he climbed out of the bed, and pulled on trousers and a white cotton shirt. There was work to be done. His kingdom wouldn't run itself.

  ~ ~ ~

  Neeren carried his morning coffee into his office. Sunlight poured in through floor to ceiling windows. Priceless works of art lay scattered along the floor. One entire wall was covered in books. He'd read every book on those shelves. Everyone from Dante to Margaret Atwood. One year, he'd locked himself in this room and read. 2001 had not been good for him. It was the only time he'd given in to his grief. His mother barely survived it.

  His desk, a piece of art itself, melded with layers of silver and bamboo, sat in the middle of the room. No clutter covered the surface. His Mac computer lay in the center of the desk. He booted it up and turned on iTunes. After scrolling a minute, he chose Lana Del Rey. Let her voice wash over him as he started his day.

  The coffee was strong. As he sipped, memories of Maria bragging about Glenn's coffee surfaced. Glenn worked for Collum and was revered among the immortal world for his coffee. He did more of course. Anyone who thought otherwise was a fool. His sister mentioned Glenn and Collum were close. He didn't know of anyone else who could say the same about that dragon.

  Below him, waves broke softly against the shore. The sea was clam today. For too many years he lived in turmoil. No longer. The island sighed. He sighed with it.

  Quinn and Alex left the night before. He'd miss their vibrant energy, but he was a solitary man. He wouldn't mind a few days alone before removing the cloaking from the island. He didn't have to hide anymore. It was an exhilarating thought.

  An easy knock on the door pulled him out of his reverie. He turned the music down. “Enter.”

  Talon Breton strolled through the door. Neeren grinned at the man. They'd known each other since childhood. Used to chase the girls in skirts around town. Talon now ran the university. He was a large bear of a man with chestnut hair—a rarity on the island. Most of the people who populated the island were shifters of the panther variety. Talon was an eagle. His family had been here forever. His father ran the university before Talon, and had been friends with Neeren's father.

  “We haven't spoken in some time. How are you?” Neeren asked his old friend, clapping him on the shoulder.

  “Did they all leave?” the man asked in his easy style.

  Neeren laughed. “Yes, they all left.”

  “About time.”

  Talon sat on a cream couch in the corner and Neeren laughed again. Talon was the only being on the island who'd ever treated him as an equal. He'd been a good friend. Had never cared Neeren was king. Talon was also a recluse. They would often go for months without speaking.

  “So, tell me about everyone,” Talon said. “What’s your sister like? What about the petite brunette always hanging around her? The students say she led the dragon here.”

  Neeren's gut clenched at the mention of Maria. He still tasted her lips on his lips. He sat beside his friend and offered him his coffee. Talon didn't drink. Had never touched alcohol.

  Neeren grinned. “My sister is perfect, of course. Strong. She will make a good queen if she desires it.”

  “And the witch?” Talon asked. He sipped the coffee, nodding his thanks.

  Neeren found himself stalling. “The witch was . . . confusing. Wild. Aggravating. I still do not know what to make of her. I couldn't reach into her mind. There is a block.”

  “But you want her?”

  “Yes, I do. Why the interest? You've never cared before.”

  “There's been talk. That she affected you. You seem lighter than before. I noticed as soon as I walked in the room.”

  Neeren paused. He leaned back on the couch. “I am unchanged.”

  “Were you just listening to pop music?”

  “Yes.”

  “And you have a pet?”

  “Yes. But the poor beast needed me.”

  Talon laughed. “Neeren, old friend when I walked in this room you clasped my shoulder. You never show such easy affection. Ever.”

  “What are you talking about? We have been friends since childhood.”

  “And since your father’s death, we haven't hugged. Not once.” Talon sipped the coffee as Neeren cocked his head.

  “My people touch me all the time.”

  “You never touch back. Not unless you're fucking someone.” Talon smirked.

  Neeren stuttered. “I . . . That can't be correct.”

  “It's okay. You have your reasons. Now, though. People talk. They say you've been seen watching the witch.”

  “My sister has been here.” Neeren straightened his pant pleat. “If I have been watching her it is only because she spends time with my sister.”

  “Friend, stop lying to me. It's a good thing. It's time you came back to life.”

  “You know I cannot lose myself over her. You know the consequences if I do.”

  “You can lose yourself a little.” Talon shook his head. “You've had this control beaten into you, your entire life. Liking a woman will not mean the end of your control.”

  “What if it does?” Neeren rarely showed weakness to anyone. But he trusted Talon with his life. With all his secrets.

  “If you lose control I'll be there to stop you. As I promised when we were eight.”

  Neeren glanced at the floor. Rubbed his feet on the oiled wood. The coolness driving an ease into his body. It's why he never wore shoes. He needed the grounding connection with the earth like he needed water to breathe.

  Talon stopped him back then, when Neeren had been on the edge of destruction. All because of some temper tantrum. His parents refused to allow him to go on a school field trip to Greece. Neeren hadn't fully understood at the time why mother and father kept him sheltered on the island.

  He’d despised his father after realizing he couldn't leave because of who his father was. Cursed him. Screamed that he wished he’d drown. His father started choking on water. Coughing it up. Talon punched Neeren in the face. Knocked him out before his dark thoughts killed his father.

  Thank God he’d recovered. Neeren still remembered the haunted look on his father’s face. Control training began that day. Meditation. Martial Arts. Sensory deprivation. Everything they could think of. Talon had been his best friend and confident ever since.

  Talon’s blunt voice interrupted his thoughts. “You going to visit her?”

  “Yes. She's in Madrid on secret business. I will go see her in a few days. Give her some time.”

  “Why wait?”

  Neeren grinned. “I didn't wait. I joined her in her dreams and she is upset. Plus, she keeps harping about me killing my enemies.”

  “Really? But that's what you do with an enemy. You kill it.”

  Neeren threw his hands up. “Exactly what I said.”

  “Is she squeamish?”

 
“No.” Neeren laughed. “She is tough. Strong. Doesn't take hell from anyone.”

  “Well then, she's probably just playing hard to get. Go to her in her dreams again tonight.”

  Neeren uncurled his long legs and walked to the window. The waves broke softly on the shore. He was in control. Everything was as it should be. “I will wait a day. I'll go to her tomorrow night.”

  ~ ~ ~

  He couldn't wait another whole night.

  It was two in the morning. Images of Maria behind his eyes kept sleep at bay. He threw his restless legs over the lightweight gray canvas chair. Dark water churned below. The north wall fireplace warmed his skin. Spring on the island was a perfect combination of warm days with cooler nights. Madrid would be hot with no ocean breeze for Maria to cool herself with.

  Had she found the secret garden restaurant he'd told her of? Had she even looked? He was surprised to realize he missed her presence. His island missed her. The water missed her. She brought joy to a place too long steeped in grief.

  She wanted him. He smelled it on her every time she came near. The musky scent of desire. A deep, full bodied scent. Almost gritty. The smell of her power. Maria was no girl. On the plane, she'd nearly undone him. Pulling away from her was one of the hardest things he'd ever done.

  The day had dragged on unbearably. After Talon left, he’d presided over a morning council session. It would take many more sessions to come to a consensus on how to handle the influx of trade meeting requests. The other races had wondered about the Parthen homeland for centuries. The island had been cloaked the minute his father found out his mother was pregnant with him. One hundred and twenty-five years of solitude for both Neeren and his people. That was over now. The tribe looked forward to renewed trade with other immortals. Still, many were nervous about what it would mean for their way of life. No one wanted a huge influx of commercialization.