Harlequin Nocturne May 2016 Box Set (34 page)

“What happened?” Lorcan glanced quickly around for any sign of an assailant. There was no one else around. The dryads, who were gagged, gazed up at him with large, frightened eyes.

“I don't know.” Lisbet rose to her feet, allowing Aydan to take her place. He felt for a pulse in the other man's neck, nodding a confirmation to Lorcan when he found it. “He had to kick down the door to get in at the back. When we came in here and saw the girls, Iago just toppled forward. It was as if he fainted.”

“You didn't see or hear anything?”

“Nothing at all. He's breathing normally, but he's been out cold for a few minutes.”

The crawling feeling of unease was stronger now, as if icy fingers were tracking teasingly up and down his spine. “Start untying the girls,” he directed Tanzi and Lisbet. They hurried to do his bidding.

“We need to get Iago some air.” Aydan turned his head to look at Lorcan and, as he did, his eyes widened in terror. It was this, together with a warning scream from one of the newly freed dryads, that caused Lorcan to duck. The samurai sword that should have sliced through his neck caught him a glancing blow on his right shoulder instead. Even so, it was enough to send him staggering backward.

The zombies, all of them armed now with swords and knives, lumbered into the gallery. Clutching his shoulder, Lorcan blinked away the dark spots that were threatening to obscure his vision as he struggled to stay upright. His mind reeled as he weighed their options. From the sticky heat in his shoulder, he knew he was bleeding. Iago was still unconscious. The zombies were blocking their exit. They had walked into a trap.

Before he could fully process what was happening, a blur of movement drew his attention and Tanzi was in front of him, facing the zombie that had struck him. It had raised the sword over its head and was poised to attack again.

“No.” The word hadn't even left his lips before Tanzi's foot connected solidly with the center of the undead monster's chest. The zombie tottered, its balance uncertain.

“Keep talking to them.” As she spoke, Tanzi brought her elbow up and jammed it full force into the zombie's windpipe. It let go of the sword and fell to its knees. “Make them stop.”

“Their master must be close by. My commands will not be as strong as his.” Lorcan winced as she picked up the sword and, taking a two-handed grip, swung it into the zombie's neck. You couldn't kill a zombie, but cutting its head off, as Tanzi had just done, was a fairly effective way of slowing it down.

“You can dilute their master's control.” Tanzi was striding forward now, the bloodied sword extended in front of her.

She was right, of course. He might not be able to counteract the orders of whoever was controlling the zombies, but, by issuing his own, contrary instructions, he might be able to confuse them. At the very least, he should be able to slow them down. Ignoring the pain in his shoulder, he stepped forward so that he was just behind Tanzi. “
Oflinnan.
Stay where you are.”

In response to his words, the zombies paused, resembling clockwork toys that were winding down. Their shambling forward momentum slowed and became unfocused.

“Fýrwylm.”
Lorcan raised his left hand, wondering how his injury would affect his capability. Although flames shot from his fingertips toward the nearest of the zombies, showering them with sparks, Lorcan felt the reduction in his powers caused by his inability to use both hands. The zombies' grunts held a note of confusion. Turning their heads, the creatures appeared to be listening to instructions from an invisible voice.

Lorcan took advantage of their disorientation. “Aydan, move Iago out of the way. Lisbet, as soon as you get the chance, take the dryads outside. Get them into the truck.” He kept his voice even.

Tanzi didn't need any guidance. She was taking advantage of the bewilderment Lorcan had caused their undead opponents and had started systematically slashing her way through the zombie ranks. Because she was so much smaller and faster than the zombies, she was able to wade into them before they had even noticed her. It wasn't a pretty sight. Zombie limbs and blood littered the room within seconds. Lorcan wished he could take a measure of comfort from that fact, but he had seen zombies hacked into tiny pieces and each piece continued to attack its target. That was how they were programmed. They had no brain to speak of. Each cell within their body simply followed its master's command.

Aydan dragged the inert Iago to one side of the gallery. Leaving him there, he pried a machete from the severed hand of a zombie and joined Tanzi. Repeating his commands regularly, Lorcan armed himself with a discarded ax and the three of them cleared a path through the bewildered zombies so that Lisbet could lead the dryads to safety. The frightened girls scurried gratefully past the bloodbath into the other room and beyond.

“My influence over them is waning,” Lorcan warned the others, as, ignoring the damage inflicted upon them, the zombies began to advance again. “Their master must be incredibly powerful to be able to control them from a distance.”

“You and Aydan get Iago while I deal with them.” He wanted to protest at Tanzi's words, but she was right. Again. Her combination of martial arts and ruthless swordplay were by far the most effective means of holding back the zombies. She whirled in and out of the lumpish figures like a deadly ballerina, leaving them blundering blindly in her wake.

Hoisting Iago to his feet, Lorcan and Aydan draped his arms over their shoulders and began to drag him between them. Tanzi followed, keeping the zombies at bay with her sword. Even burdened by Iago's weight, Lorcan and Aydan were faster than the shuffling creatures. When they burst out of the house and into the open, Lorcan gulped fresh air gratefully, driving the stench of decay from his lungs and nostrils. With profound relief, he saw that Lisbet had brought the truck up to the front of the house. Sam and Iker, keeping watch outside, had been oblivious to the carnage going on inside the house and regarded them in horror. He caught a glimpse of the frightened dryads peering out from the back of the vehicle and took a moment to picture himself and his companions from the perspective of an observer. His lips curved into a wry smile. They looked like extras in a horror movie. Tanzi had fared the worst. She was unrecognizable beneath a covering of zombie blood and other unmentionable gunk. Aydan didn't look much better and Lorcan guessed he must appear about the same.

“I smell of zombie,” Tanzi grumbled as they loaded Iago into the back of the truck.

“We can't drive into the city like this.” Aydan plucked at his bloodstained clothing.

Lisbet poked her head out of the driver's side window. Her expression was disapproving. “There is a lake nearby. If you get in instead of standing around chatting, I'll take you there first so you can get cleaned up.”

Obediently, they piled into the back of the truck while Sam and Iker climbed in next to Lisbet. Lorcan draped his good arm around Tanzi's shoulder, drawing her close against his side. “You make a pretty awesome zombie slayer,
Searc
.”

The dryads were regarding Tanzi and Aydan with even more consternation. “Be they faeries?” one of them whispered to her companions.

“Be hard to tell beneath the muck, wouldn't it?”

“Yes, we are faeries, but don't worry...we've done our random act of deadliness for today.” It wasn't funny, but for some reason Aydan starting laughing at his own joke and Tanzi joined in.

The dryads turned wary eyes to Lorcan, who gave them a helpless, I-got-nothing shrug. “It's a faerie thing,” he said, indicating his chortling, blood-encrusted companions.

One or two of the dryads managed polite smiles in sympathy, but they all edged as far away from their rescuers as they could in the cramped confines of the truck bed as it rocked wildly over the uneven road surface.

CHAPTER 7

T
hey waded into the lake fully clothed. Who knew zombie blood could prove so difficult to wash out? Tanzi's new life was proving full of difficult lessons. While Lorcan and Aydan stripped down to their underwear, Tanzi shook her head primly at their invitation to join them and remained fully clothed. Ducking under the water, she scrubbed at her skin and tried to clean the blue vest and faded jeans that were among the few things Maria had found in her size. Her efforts were partially successful. When she emerged, the stains on her clothing had faded to rusty-brown blotches so that she looked less like a serial killer and more like the victim of an overzealous paintballer.

Lorcan had his back to her so she was able to enjoy the view without fear of discovery. Her eyes lingered on his wide shoulders—the right one of which now bore a deep gash—and trim waist, moving lower to appreciate his toned buttocks and powerful legs. Giving herself a mental shake, she waded over to him. Her wet clothes weighed her down so that she sloshed through the shallow water and, hearing her approach, he turned to face her. If she thought the rear aspect was enticing, full frontal was even more glorious.

“My hairdresser would break down in tears if he knew I was trying to get zombie entrails out of my hair using nothing but lake water.”
That's it. Keep it light and, while you're at it, keep your eyes fixed on his face.

“I won't tell him if you don't.” Unaware of her “keep it light” vow, Lorcan drew her close to him, sliding his fingers through the length of her curls.
Oh, well...
Tanzi closed her eyes, reveling in the sensation his touch provoked. She gave herself up to the feeling and rested her forehead against his chest, feeling his breath hitch slightly as she did. It was a clear indication of the effect she had on him and, while she enjoyed it, she wasn't quite sure what to do about it.

Attraction. Flirtation. Seduction. All darkly tempting notions that had, until now, belonged firmly in other people's lives. Tanzi had been brought up in the knowledge that, as Moncoya's daughter, she existed within a bubble of purity that would not be penetrated until her marriage to the Otherworld leader chosen by her father. She was above such things. It had given her a security and superiority that she had never questioned. Not until the day of the battle when Lorcan had pulled her out from the chaos and turned her world upside down with one look from those denim-blue eyes.

Now she was forced to question everything she had once believed about herself. Had she ever really developed a royal immunity to temptation? Or was it simpler than that? Was it just that she had never met anyone for whom she felt even the slightest pull of physical attraction? Until Lorcan. And there was nothing slight about what she felt for him. She was in a constant state of restlessness. Or readiness. If she was with him, she was acutely aware of him, of herself and how she appeared to him. When they were apart, too much of her time was spent wondering what he was doing or rehearsing conversations she might have with him. Was this what people meant when they talked about a “crush”? Surely such a mundane thing was beneath her. Tanzi nearly laughed aloud. If that was the case, why was she quivering with anticipation as Lorcan raised his hand and ran it through her hair once more?

In the period after the battle, she had surreptitiously gleaned as much information as she could about the Irish loner who had rescued her from certain death on the battlefield. It wasn't an easy task. Necromancers were usually solitary and private, and Lorcan was no exception.

“Best friend to Merlin Caledonius.” That was the most widespread piece of useless information about him.

“Irish.” Equally unhelpful.

“Bit of a heartbreaker, that's what I've heard.” Tanzi had pricked up her ears at that comment from one of the vampire envoys to the new Alliance. In answer to her look of inquiry, the female vampire had tossed her head. There was a hint of hurt pride in the gesture. “Love 'em and leave 'em, that's what they say. A new girl in every town, all trying to hold on to him. They say that's why he's always on the move. He can't be held.”

Tanzi had even swallowed her own pride and managed to bring Lorcan's name into a conversation with Stella. “Lorcan?” Stella's green eyes had held an affectionate smile. “He's a good friend.”

Tanzi had bent her head over the papers she was supposed to be reading for the next Alliance meeting. Her voice had been gruff when she spoke again. “I have heard that he is not to be trusted.”

“I would trust Lorcan with my life.” Stella's initial quick-fire defense of her friend had been followed by a laugh. “Well, I suppose it's true that, while I'd trust him with the big things, I wouldn't count on him turning up when he said he was going to for dinner or a movie. And if he swore undying love, would I be entirely sure he hadn't said the same thing to another girl just last night? Probably not. I guess that's all part of his charm.”

“So he is a cheat where women are concerned?”

“I wouldn't say that exactly. Cheating means you don't tell the truth, and Lorcan is honest about the fact that he's a player. You don't get that from many men.” Stella laughed again, this time reminiscently. “He once told me he's terribly shy around women. But a man with Lorcan's looks couldn't expect to make that claim and be taken seriously, could he?”

So Tanzi had been forewarned about him. She knew what he was and had been able to give her heart—an organ that seemed determined to embark on a new and interesting course—plenty of warnings. Yet standing waist-deep in the crystal clear lake water, with her head resting against the solid muscle of Lorcan's naked chest while he ran those magical fingers through her hair, it was proving hard to remember why she must keep her distance.

She wasn't the only one feeling the effect of Lorcan's legendary charm. Tanzi had seen the glances Lisbet gave Lorcan when she thought no one else was looking. It was a look that explained everything.
She is in love with him. No wonder she doesn't like it when he pays me attention.

Several other thoughts flitted through Tanzi's head, none of them logical. She reassessed her first impression of Lisbet and found her opinion of the other woman greatly improved.
She could do worse than to bestow her devotion on a man like Lorcan,
she decided. Tanzi wondered if anyone would be prepared to tell Lisbet that she was setting her sights hopelessly high. With her unusual coloring, the girl was not unattractive. Some might even consider Lisbet's sharp features, light hair and coal-black eyes pretty.
Of course, she is not good enough for Lorcan.
Surely someone would tell her that? Finally, Tanzi wondered why the thought of Lisbet and Lorcan together should make her own chest constrict so painfully. This was another new emotion, one she didn't recognize. Whatever it was, she didn't like it.

How did mortals cope with all these feelings raging around inside them? It was a most disturbing condition, quite unpleasant. And yet, when Lorcan moved his hand down from her hair to caress the length of her arm, the thrill that ran through her spiked out of control.
Unpleasant
was not the first word that sprang to mind.
Maddening. Agonizing. Stomach-flippingly exhilarating.
But
unpleasant
? No, not that.

“Tanzi.” Lorcan's voice was husky.

“Hmm?” She seemed to be enveloped in a strange sort of languor that made any movement—even the lifting of an eyelid—too much of an effort.

“I think it's a good idea if we move apart now and continue what we came here for.” She lifted her head, a question forming on her lips. “Before I forget that we're not alone. Forget completely, I mean.”

There was something in his voice that did convince her to look up then. The blaze of passion in his eyes, coupled with the realization that the unmistakable ridge of his erection was hard against her stomach, caused Tanzi's breath to catch in her throat.

“Oh!” She jerked quickly away from him, feeling the blush stain her cheeks. What
had
she been thinking? Apart from how much she wanted his hands to explore other parts of her body. Hearing the splash as Lorcan dived beneath the water, she risked a glance toward the riverbank. Sure enough, she encountered the interested stares of five dryad girls plus those of Sam and Iker as they sat in a group in the shade of a few trees. Even worse than their mild curiosity was the storm of disapproval on Lisbet's face. At least Iago, who had started to come around but was still groggy, had remained in the truck and Aydan had his back to them. The audience was large enough as it was.

Tanzi was beginning to appreciate that a very important aspect of her education had been neglected. Moncoya had employed the very finest tutors for his daughters. She and Vashti were introduced from an early age to the delights of literature, art and music. Their bodies were finely honed fighting machines. Their minds had been trained to assimilate the intricacies of mathematics and science, including the complex details of reproduction. So Tanzi knew exactly what had been going on in Lorcan's body just now when she felt his cock press insistently against her. She also knew what was going on in her own body when she felt an answering rush of heat between her legs. The biological aspects of it all had been explained to her. She had seen and drawn diagrams. Moncoya had ensured that her wedding night to one of Otherworld's powerful leaders would hold no surprises. Tanzi would not disgrace her father by being ignorant of her duty. It had all been clinical and practical.
But why the hell didn't anyone tell me how wonderful physical desire is? And now that I have experienced it, how can I help craving more?

An urgent shout from the riverbank drew her attention away from the intensity of her thoughts. A car screeched to a halt next to the truck and four men piled out of it. Sam and Iker scrambled to their feet and were immediately subjected to a brutal attack. They were felled by vicious blows and kicked to the ground. Lisbet caught hold of the arm of one of the attackers and was flung aside. The dryads scattered into the deeper cover of the trees. Tanzi broke into a run and, hampered by her wet clothing, was overtaken by Lorcan and Aydan. Even faced with such a dire situation, she took a moment to assimilate the fact that the wound on Lorcan's shoulder already looked much better. It must be a trick of the light. It wasn't possible for such a devastating injury to heal so rapidly. And anyway, she really didn't have time to waste on hallucinations.

Hitting the riverbank slightly ahead of Aydan, Lorcan waded into the fray, fists flying. He was considerably taller than his opponents and caught two of the men by surprise, landing a hefty punch in each of their faces. By the time his presence had registered, Aydan had joined him and a full-scale fight was under way. Lisbet was also playing her part by harrying the opposition. Although Iker struggled to his feet and joined the fray, Sam remained in a worryingly motionless heap.

The four men who had attacked them were sidhes. Short of stature, fair of face and with the same unmistakable ring of fire that burned in Tanzi's own eyes. Moncoya's sidhes were always well trained in the art of combat. Although Lorcan was causing them problems, they clearly weren't wavering. With Tanzi's arrival, the balance of power shifted instantly. Weighing up the situation as she approached, she decided that Lorcan and Aydan didn't need her help. Leaving them to deal with one pair of sidhes, she turned her attention to the other two, who were facing Lisbet and Iker.

Years of martial arts training with Valkyrie meant street fighting was second nature to Tanzi. The two sidhes didn't know what hit them. One minute a slender girl in drenched clothing was approaching them. The next Tanzi had used a turning back kick to the midsection of one followed in a fluid, continuous motion by a side thrust kick to the neck of the other. Both sidhes toppled like toy soldiers flicked over by a child's careless finger. Twin clouds of red dust rising from the riverbank signaled that the fight was over before it had begun.

“What kept you?” Lorcan managed a grin over his shoulder.

The remaining two sidhes were looking distinctly worried. One of them muttered something to his companion and, casting wary glances in Tanzi's direction, they held up their hands in a gesture of surrender.

“Here's the deal, guys. You can get going with a message for your masters or I can hand you over to my friend here.” Lorcan indicated Tanzi with a wave of his hand. “She's had a nice little warm-up. She'll be ready for some real action about now.” Although his words were muffled because of what was clearly a broken nose, one of the sidhes indicated that he preferred the former option. “Then take this message back—and make sure they listen—the dryads are off-limits from now on. Got it? Good. Get out of here.”

The sidhes made an undignified scramble toward their companions. One of them paused as he passed Tanzi, his expression undergoing a series of changes as he looked at her. Fear was replaced by recognition, then shock. The moment she had dreaded was here. Dropping on one knee before her, he placed a hand across his heart and bent his head low. “Highness.”

Lorcan intervened swiftly, putting himself between Tanzi and the kneeling man. “I thought I told you to get out of here.”

“I apologize. I thought...”

“You were wrong.” Lorcan's voice and expression were steely and she knew his words were for the benefit of the resistance members as well as for the sidhe who had recognized her. Nodding, but with a final bemused glance at Tanzi, the sidhe joined his companion. Lorcan sighed. “Lisbet, fetch the girls. Aydan, do you think there's any chance of you finding our pants so that we can return to town looking halfway decent? Iker, let's take a look at Sam.”

* * *

“We necromancers are a rare species and I thought I knew the current whereabouts of all the greats. Stella is the most powerful of us all. She is the one Merlin—or Cal, as the big feller prefers to be known—predicted would be the means by which Otherworld would be saved. He was right, too. Her powers are second to none. Then there is Cal himself. He is a sorcerer first and foremost, but his powers of necromancy are pretty remarkable, too.” Lorcan's boyish grin peeped out. “If we're going down the ranks in order, I suppose I would be next in line. Or perhaps Jethro. The two of us are pretty evenly matched.”