Harlequin Nocturne May 2016 Box Set (39 page)

“It's not what I expected.” Tanzi looked up at the sailboat as the dinghy bumped against its side.

“What did you expect?” Lorcan busied himself securing the dinghy to the rear of the boat.

“I don't know. Something rough and ready. But this looks—” she made a helpless gesture “—slick, even luxurious. As though we were going on a vacation.”

“Tanzi, rid yourself of that notion right now.” Lorcan threw their bags onto the deck and then sprang from the dinghy to the boat. Reaching out a hand, he helped Tanzi do the same. “Whatever may be in store for us in the near future, it won't be anything like a vacation.”

Although, as they explored the accommodation together, Lorcan was forced to admit that Tanzi was right. The boat really was more upmarket than he had expected. Although compact, it was comfortable and stocked with every provision they would need for the journey. The saloon had a cushioned bench settee and a central chart table that could be used for both dining and map reading. Beyond it there was a spacious aft cabin with a double berth, storage and en suite shower and heads. The whole living area was paneled in light oak wood and the upholstery was new and expensive.

Tanzi's eyes were wider than ever. “Could we be on the wrong boat?”

“It crossed my mind.” Lorcan went to the table and picked up the single sheet of paper that lay on it. Three words were scrawled across it in a familiar hand.
Don't fuck up.
It was typical of Cal and strangely reassuring. “But, no, this is definitely ours. This note and the boat's name say it all.”

“I didn't notice the name.”

“Welcome aboard the
Igraine
.”

“Igraine?”
Tanzi wrinkled her nose in confusion.

“The name of King Arthur's mother. It's a message from Cal.”

“Oh.” Tanzi took a moment to digest that information. “There is only one cabin.”

“So there is.” He kept his eyes steady on hers.
Ah, shit.
It was no good. He wasn't cut out to be a seducer. “You take the cabin. I'll sleep out here.”

Her lashes swept down, hiding her eyes. “Maybe, before we even consider the sleeping arrangements, we should plan on getting away from here before daylight.”

“Good thinking. I knew there was a reason why I brought you along,
Searc
. You can be my first mate.”

At what point was he going to tell her about his deal with Cal to find the challenger for Moncoya's crown? How was he going to drop that one into the conversation?
By the way, you know how centuries ago your father stole the faerie throne by massacring the rightful king and all his family? Well, it turns out there was a direct descendant, a baby, who escaped the bloody coup. Yeah, his nurse stole away into the night with him. Turns out he's safe and well somewhere and has no idea who he is. Anyway, while we're on our travels, I've promised to keep my eyes and ears open and see if I can discover his whereabouts. Why? Oh, so he can be brought back to the palace and challenge your father for the crown. That's right. So he can strip you and your sister of your birthright...your royal titles and status. Your whole identity. So you'll spend the rest of your lives as objects of scandal and scrutiny. And, of course, the faerie people will be thrown into chaos as your father and the true king slug it out for who will reign.

Right. That was the sort of thing you just blurted out at the first opportunity. Unless, like Lorcan, you were cursed with extraordinary empathy. And a perception so strong you knew that, even though this un-fey, fae girl claimed not to feel emotion, you would devastate her if you told her you planned to strip her of her everything she and her people knew and believed in.

* * *

Lorcan became brisk and businesslike, peppering his conversation with all things nautical, including engine power, diesel and cruising speed. It was like a foreign and alarmingly masculine language. Almost as though he wanted to divert her attention. From what, Tanzi had no idea.

“I thought it was a sailboat.” Tanzi revealed her confusion when he paused for breath.

His response was the pitying glance of a master to a novice. “We're not doing this for fun or sport, Tanzi. We need an engine to take us round in a tight circle, through a narrow channel or around tricky rocks. I'm good, but not good enough to get
Igraine
into a shallow bay under sail. Safety comes first.”

Chastened, she begged his pardon and went away to make coffee. Minutes later, the engines chugged into life and she staggered slightly as the boat broached the first waves. When she emerged onto the deck, carefully carrying two mugs of coffee, Lorcan looked very much at home. He was surrounded by his own necromancer glow, which made the waters beyond the boat appear darker and somehow mysterious.

“We seem to be going very fast.” They were skimming over the waves so quickly the impression was that they were almost flying.

“This is the big feller's work. I've seen Cal do this before with other vehicles. I'm not sure how he does it, or even if he's done anything to the boat itself. Maybe he's managing to make us go faster by using mind control from a distance. He does have that sort of power. But this boat is somehow attuned to me, as if it's doing what I want it to. You're right, though. It shouldn't be possible for a boat with an engine this size to shift at this speed.”

“At least this pace will make it difficult for my father to find us or have us followed.”

“I expect Cal has that covered, as well. The cave where he lived in Wales was surrounded by so many warding spells it was impossible to get near it unless he wanted you to. I wouldn't be surprised if this boat had a similar barrier around it.”

“Then he's earned my gratitude. I was afraid my father would get to us before we'd even begun this journey. Cal certainly does seem to have thought of everything. There's enough food down there to feed a small army for a month.” Tanzi curled up on one of the padded seats that formed a U shape around the deck, content to watch him as he stopped to check the instruments. Lorcan's intervention didn't appear to be necessary.
Igraine
was literally propelling herself through the water.

Lorcan glanced up with one of his heartbreaking smiles. Tanzi wished he'd give some sort of warning when he was about to do that. Just so she wasn't left feeling at such a giddy disadvantage. “I thought you didn't do domestication.”

“I don't, but even I can open a can.” She grinned over the top of her cup. “Maria showed me how.”

He quirked a brow at her. “You might just be every man's dream. Not only can you look good while kicking the shit out of a crowd of zombies, you can heat up a can of soup for afterward.”

“Only one of those skills is going to come in useful to me as a Valkyrie.

Was it her imagination, or did his face harden slightly at the reminder? Although she watched him carefully, the expression was so fleeting she couldn't tell if it was real. “True. I imagine Odin has enough people to do his cooking already.” He gestured to the bench below her seat. “The life jackets are stored there. It's best to wear one while we're moving.”

The advice struck Tanzi as so funny that she went off into a peal of laughter so intense that it was some minutes before she could speak. Lorcan seemed happy to watch her, a slightly bemused expression on his face. “It's just that this preoccupation with safety is misplaced,” she explained, wiping the tears from her eyes. “Given our destination.”

Lorcan held up his hands in a conciliatory gesture. “Okay, I'll ease up on the overprotective mode.” They finished their coffee in silence. “Why don't you go down below and get some sleep?”

“What will you do?”

“Get us far enough down the coast so that no one will see us and be suspicious. I reckon a couple of hours at this speed should be enough. In the morning we can study the charts and plot a course to the Isles of the Aesir.”

Tanzi picked up the coffee mugs. Feeling suddenly awkward, she hesitated. “Lorcan?”

“Yes?” He had half turned away to fiddle with the boat's instruments, but he swung back to face her.

“Thank you. And—” she took a deep breath.
Do it now before he looks away again
. “—we can share the cabin.”

Even in the faint light she saw something darken in the depths of his eyes. Something that made her pulse race madly and her throat tighten. He gave a single nod and, clutching the coffee cups against her chest, Tanzi made her way down into the living quarters.

Okay, so you are all alone on a boat with a notorious womanizer, and I think you have just agreed to have sex with him.
Laughter bubbled up inside her.
Agreed? You
offered
to have sex with him.
The laughter was replaced by panic as she tipped the gym bag containing Vashti's clothing out onto the bed. True to form, there was nothing remotely feminine in there. Her sister had packed for practicality, not seduction.
And let's face it, Tanzi, even if you had the right outfit, you know nothing about technique anyway.

In the end, having stored her clothing away, she washed and brushed her teeth before slipping one of Vashti's serviceable nightshirts over her underwear. The bed was surprisingly comfortable and the sound of the engines, together with the sway of the boat, lulled her. Before long she forgot the anticipation of what would happen when Lorcan joined her and allowed her eyes to drift closed.

CHAPTER 12

W
hy was he lingering here on deck, when the most desirable woman he had ever known—scratch that, ever dreamed of knowing—was just a few feet away? Lorcan's body insisted on asking his mind the question. Precisely that reason, his rational self responded. He wanted Tanzi with a fierceness that hurt. So much that he could actually taste his longing for her, feel it in every pore and nerve ending. It was exhilarating and dangerous at the same time.

It didn't fit with the whole can't-tie-me-down, roguish persona he worked so hard to maintain. And you couldn't exactly have a one-night stand on a boat this size. In any case he had a feeling he would want more from Tanzi than one night. It was an option he had never considered before. What if he found out he wanted forever? From a girl who had no future? In the end it came down to one simple thing. He could stay up here on deck until dawn and keep overthinking this or he could do what his body cried out for and go to her. Which was why he dropped
Igraine
's anchor off a small island many miles from Moncoya's palace and made his way down to the cabin.

A smile touched his lips as he looked down at the figure on the bed. Tanzi lay on her stomach, sprawled like a starfish across the center of the mattress. She must have fallen asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. In fairness, it had been quite a day. The bed was large enough for two, but there was no way he could join Tanzi in it without disturbing her. She looked so peaceful and, as he pulled the quilt she had kicked aside back over her, Lorcan decided not rousing her was for the best. It meant he could shelve his doubts. Listen to his head, not his heart—or other, decidedly less well-intentioned parts of his body. Get back to the important business of plotting a route through dangerous, uncharted territory without distraction.

Keep telling yourself that, Malone.
He closed the cabin door behind him and eyed the bench seat next to the chart table dubiously.
If you say it often enough, you might even start to believe it.

He found blankets and pillows in the overhead storage and settled his long frame onto the cushioned bench. Preparing to face an uncomfortable night, he was pleasantly surprised to almost immediately feel slumber tugging at the edge of his consciousness.

The smell of toast and coffee woke him. It seemed like mere minutes since he had fallen asleep, but bright sunlight streamed through the open hatch and Tanzi's wet hair and clean clothes signaled that she had already showered. Although breakfast was a pleasant sight, she was even more welcome. Feasting his eyes on her bright beauty, he sat up, stretching and kicking aside his blankets.

He sensed something troubling her as she passed him a plate of toast and a steaming mug of coffee. Sometimes intuition was a curse. “It was late when I dropped anchor last night. I didn't want to disturb you.”

“Oh.” Her brow cleared and a shy smile dawned. “I wondered why you slept out here.”

She came to sit close to him on the bench, and the fresh, clean scent of her invaded his senses, knocking his thoughts off-kilter. Many things had happened in his life that could be considered unfair, but for the first time, as he looked into those endless eyes, Lorcan asked the age-old question.
Why me? Why let me find her, offer me a glimpse of what might be, only to snatch her away again?
The answer came back loud, clear and instantaneous.
Because life isn't fair. You already knew that. Deal with it the way you have learned how.

He rose abruptly to his feet, draining his cup. “I need to shower.” Ignoring Tanzi's blink of surprise at his brusque tone, he stalked away into the cabin.

* * *

The charts Cal had provided were like an incomplete jigsaw puzzle. The missing pieces were the most important ones. They had been sitting side by side, poring over them for close to an hour, and Lorcan had figured out how their journey should start. The middle remained a vague idea, and he had no clue how it would end.

He tapped the chart with one finger. “The first waters we need to travel through are vampire territory. We need to ask Prince Tibor's permission to enter them.”

Tanzi looked up from the map with a frown. “Can't we sail around Tibor's islands instead?”

Lorcan shook his head. “That would take us too far off course, and the waters beyond are dangerous for a small craft like
Igraine
.”

“Do we really need permission? Surely you can necromance us past a few vampires?” Tanzi's voice was light, but he sensed tension behind the words.

“Prince Tibor is not a great fan of the ancient dark art of necromancing. And who can blame him when a single necromancer can control a hundred vampires with just one word? The prince goes so far as to view sorcerers like me as a direct challenge to his authority. In fact, he dislikes necromancing so much that he has passed a law forbidding any sign of it anywhere within his territories. An attempt on my part to exert my influence over his subjects could earn me the death penalty. No. There's nothing else for it. We'll have to go and grovel to the prince of the bloodsuckers.” He studied Tanzi's expression with sudden interest. “Is that a problem?”

Tanzi bit her lip. “It might be.” A blush tinged her cheeks.

Something sharp and dark heated Lorcan's insides. Something he told himself he had no right to feel. “Is there history between the two of you?”

Tanzi's nod did nothing to dispel his unease. “When Tibor and my father were allies, there was some talk of a match between us. The prince was—” she bent her head and fiddled with her thumbnail “—very attentive toward me.”

How attentive? For some reason it mattered. Had Tibor's attentions taken the vampire form of flowers and chocolates? A few stolen kisses? More? Lorcan discovered that his hands were clenched into fists, his jaw muscles tight with tension. He willed himself to relax. “That was in the past. Why should it be a problem now?”

Tanzi squirmed slightly, still not meeting his eyes. “Tibor is a very attractive man.” She said it as though that simple statement explained everything.

“So you were willing to be his wife.” Lorcan kept his voice deliberately neutral, making it a statement instead of the accusation he wanted it to be.

She looked up at him again, her eyes bright on his face as though pleading for his understanding. “I was not unwilling. It is our way, Lorcan. Ever since I was a child, I have known that my fate would be to further the greatness of the faerie dynasty through the right marriage.” She gave a hollow laugh. “And my father's recent antics have proved that there are worse partners than Tibor.”

“Do you love him?”

She was silent for long moments as she gazed up at him, her midnight blue eyes darkening to a point where they were almost black. “I am a faerie princess. Love is a mortal emotion and not one I am able to experience.” The words were mechanical, spoken like a chant she had learned as a child. The way he had memorized songs and nursery rhymes. She turned away to look out through a porthole and across the water. The motion allowed Lorcan to see the pulse that beat wildly in her throat.

“Then you should be able to meet Prince Tibor without any problem.”

She nodded, a slight smile touching her lips. “He might not feel the same way.”

Lorcan groaned. “So what you are really trying to tell me is that the Prince of the Vampires is desperately in love with you?”

“Something like that.” The smile deepened and became mischievous. “The last time I saw him was at an Alliance meeting before I left and came to find you at the safe house. A lot has happened for me since then. Who knows what's been going on in Tibor's life? His feelings might have changed. Maybe he's forgotten about me and found someone new.”

“Don't get your hopes up. You're pretty unforgettable.”

He caught the sound of her indrawn breath, and the blush deepened in her cheeks. When she spoke again, her voice was studiously casual. “How long will it take us to get there?”

“It should take a few days, but whatever Cal has done to supercharge this boat means we can cover most distances in less than half the time. We are probably only a day and a half from Tibor's boundary. The vampire archipelago is the closest territory to that of the faerie isles, which is why, I suppose, your father and Tibor have always been such close allies.”

“Either that or they were drawn together because they are both evil.” She turned her head away to study the turquoise waters once more. Somehow the perfection of the scene mocked the mission they were about to embark upon. Lorcan reviewed all the reasons he already had to loathe Moncoya. All the ruined lives he had seen through his work in the resistance. All the centuries during which Moncoya had sought to destroy Cal, his own half brother. All the atrocities the faerie king had committed against those of his own people who dared to oppose him. All faded into insignificance compared with what he felt when he thought about what Moncoya had done to his own daughter.

“Right, that's enough sitting round here reminiscing about your old boyfriends. We'd better make a start. I've got a feeling sailing into vampire waters will be mild compared with what's to come once we reach the Isles of the Aesir.”

“You and your feelings.” Tanzi gave him a teasing glance.

“You and your lack of feelings.” He returned the look.
Careful, Malone.
This was starting to feel a lot like flirtation. He'd seen Tibor rip a grown man apart with his bare hands on more than one occasion. Did he really want to risk inciting the vampire prince to jealousy?

“I've been discovering lately that I might be able to feel more than I believed I could.” Her sidelong glance was a combination of invitation and confusion.

To hell with Tibor and to hell with caution. Lorcan never did work out which of them was the most surprised when he pulled Tanzi into his arms. All he knew was the action was long overdue. At first he was content to just hold her, resting his cheek against hers while his hands caressed her shoulders and upper arms. Raising his head, he saw his own need reflected in Tanzi's eyes and he brushed his lips lightly over her mouth. Her shudder vibrated through them both and he drew her closer still. Forcing himself to take things slowly, he kissed her forehead, then her nose before pressing a trail of tiny kisses along her lower lip. When Tanzi's lips parted in surrender, he claimed her mouth with his own. The movement ignited an inferno. As their tongues entwined and moved sensuously against each other, Lorcan controlled and varied the tempo of their movements. Soft and languid one moment became fast and furious the next, until, when they broke apart, they were both breathing hard.

“We really should go.” He rested his forehead against Tanzi's.

“Oh. Okay.” She rose to her feet and moved, slightly unsteadily, toward the hatch.

“That's not what I meant.” Rising to his feet, he caught hold of her hand and drew her with him into the cabin.

* * *

It was darker and cooler inside the cabin. Lorcan lay on his back on the bed while Tanzi raised herself on one elbow beside him. With a featherlight touch, she traced his naked upper body, enjoying the way his breath hitched beneath her fingertips. She moved from his chest to his shoulders, down over his well-defined biceps and back over the outline of his pectoral muscles. Running her fingers up his neck, she tangled them in his hair, finding it softer than she'd imagined. Moving lower to trail along his eyebrows, then his closed eyelids, the straight length of his nose, the contrasting stubble of his jaw, she lingered longest on the soft cushion of his lower lip.

She sensed it was taking an almost superhuman effort of willpower on his part to stop himself from touching her in return. This man who lay beside her—his need for her obvious in the thick ridge that strained the zipper of his jeans and the tension that quivered through his frame—was powerful, with a coiled strength that could crush her to him with one hand if he chose. Yet she knew he was determined to be gentle and patient while she learned more about his body.

It was a body that was perfect. Lorcan was beautiful. And, right at this moment, he belonged to her.

She pressed her lips to his chest, moving lower to trace the hard ridges of his abdominal muscles with her tongue. This was what she'd dreamed of doing for so long. She wanted this...whatever
this
was. More than that. She needed it. Needed Lorcan. Craved him. Ached for him.

Sensing the change in her mood from scrutiny to readiness, Lorcan cupped the nape of her neck, the warmth of his hand searing her flesh. His touch thrilled through her. Insistently, he increased the pressure, urging her toward him. Anticipation mounted. Tension spiraled. Time melted away. Tanzi lay across his chest as he tasted her, nibbling and teasing before demanding more. Her lips parted beneath his. As his tongue plunged into her mouth, her mind whirled with the reality of what was to come.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” Lorcan's voice was husky.

“So much.” She was trembling with need. With raw, unbridled wanting.

He fumbled with his jeans, his fingers shaking as he shoved the denim down over his hips. His briefs followed. Seconds later, he was naked, his cock rigid and straining upward. Heat seared through Tanzi's body, robbing her of her remaining breath and leaving her scorched. All those lessons and diagrams, but nothing had prepared her for such an imposing, throbbing display of Lorcan's desire for her.
Magnificent.
That was the word. Huge, impressive, arrogant maleness that invited her touch. She continued her exploration, brushing the tip of one finger over the head, enjoying the silken feel of his flesh. Lorcan's groan reverberated around the cabin.

Tanzi felt a surge of triumph. “I might not know much about these things, but I can see that this is what you want.” Lightly, she stroked his shaft. Raw heat throbbed beneath her hand.