Marked (7 page)

When the King of the Realm was pissed, the world darkened. Literally. Outside the Oregonian lodge serving as Realm headquarters, black clouds rolled above while thunder bellowed. Hail the size of golf balls assaulted the earth, pummeling buildings and vehicles.

Dage must be seriously angry.

The storm suited Talen Kayrs and his current mood. A desperation only a father could feel hollowed him out until he could barely breathe. A demon had taken his baby girl. On his watch. He sat at the round conference table, facing the most dangerous warriors in existence. Family. His brothers. “Any news?”

“No.” Frustration glittered a molten silver in Dage’s eyes. “No demands, and none of our sources have reported in with sightings of Janie.”

Garrett Kayrs sat to Talen’s left, anger vibrating off the young vampire. “You’re sure Zane took my sister?”

“Yes. After Dage shot him,” Talen ground out.

Dage nodded, steepling his fingers under his chin. “He’ll be weakened but should’ve been able to transport to his destination. Wherever that may be.”

Talen forced down bile. He was the strategic leader of the fucking Realm, and he needed to think. “Who the hell would’ve thought the bastard could teleport?”

Nobody answered him. Really, there was no answer.

He cleared his throat, falling back on training to keep from going insane. “The demons attacked the helicopters, and the second we fought back, the war escalated around the world. Even between the demons and the Kurjans.”

His younger brother, Conn, leaned forward. “About three hours after a multitude of skirmishes, all fire ceased between Kurjans and demons.”

Talen growled. “Which might mean Zane turned Janie over to the Kurjans in exchange for an alliance.”

Jase, the youngest Kayrs brother, rubbed his chin. “Yeah, but the demons want Janie dead. They’ve always called for her death, so if Zane is working with Suri, he wouldn’t have turned her over to Kalin. He would’ve, ah, killed her, which I don’t think happened. It couldn’t have happened.”

“Right. If the demons had killed her,” Kane, the brilliant brother, said quietly, “then the Kurjans wouldn’t have stopped attacking the demons. They stopped fighting for some reason. She has to be alive and being held as a bargaining chip. Either between them or against us—probably both. Hopefully Zane will make contact soon.”

“So where the hell is she?” Max, Janie’s bodyguard and honorary uncle, hissed. He shoved away from the table—a massive vampire alight with fury. “I need something to charge.”

They all needed a target.

Garrett drummed his fingers on the table. “There’s always a possibility Zane took her to safety. Out of the way of whatever the demons and Kurjans were planning.”

Talen concealed a wince at the hope in his son’s statement. “True.”

“Besides, Janie can fight. She’s excellent,” Garrett said.

Max turned and punched a wall. Sheetrock exploded around the room. “Zane is a demon-vampire hybrid. That kind of power is unparalleled.” Max flexed his fingers, eyeing his dust-covered knuckles. “Janie is . . . human.”

He might as well have said
breakable
. Talen exhaled slowly to keep from exploding. “Jane is smart, she’s psychic, and she’s determined. Be ready for her to get word to us.”

“We’re ready to move on demand,” Conn said quietly. He stood. “I’ll go make sure the forces are suited up.” He, Kane, Jase, and Max left the room.

Dage eyed Talen. “You okay?”

“No. You?” Talen ground out.

“No.” Dage flattened his palms on the onyx table, his hands vibrating. “How’s your mate holding up?”

Rage poured through Talen. “Not well. Cara and your mate are meditating, trying to find Janie in a dream world.” It was a long shot, considering only Janie, Zane, and Kalin had ever been able to enter the dream world. But his mate had to do something to get her daughter back.

Dage nodded and stood. Helplessness and frustration cut harsh lines in his strong face. “I’m going to reach out to any allies we have and will report back with news.” He turned on his heel and strode from the room.

Talen slowly stood, feeling much older than his three and a half centuries. His son stretched to his feet, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with him. When had Garrett gotten so tall? They grew up too damn fast. Talen slammed a hand against Garrett’s back to offer comfort, oddly proud when his son didn’t move. “Janie will be all right.”

Garrett turned, meeting his gaze directly. “I know.”

The hint of fear in the air proved neither one of them believed their words. Talen cleared his throat. “Zane saved your life once, and I understand your need to think he might be a good guy.” Shit. Talen needed to think so, too.

The smile Garrett flashed showed fangs. “I owe him, it’s true. But he took my sister away from family and into danger.” Garrett’s metallic gray eyes morphed into a startling aqua. “That means he fucking dies.”

 

Zane shoved through time and space, the molecules in his body tearing apart. Drawing deep on a rapidly waning strength, he opened the air and fell to land flat on his face back in Idaho.

Agony burst through his nose.

Again.

Jesus. How many times could a guy break his nose in one day? He rolled over onto his back to find Nick Veis staring down.

“How many times have you teleported today?” Nick nudged him with a size sixteen flack boot.

“Too many,” Zane croaked, accepting a hand up. Each jump weakened him, and he hadn’t had time to restore his strength. He blinked blood out of his eyes, and his large intestine cracked. The small computer room swayed around him, and he stood still until things settled. “Please tell me you’ve found my mother.”

“No.” Nick dropped into a chair facing a computer and tossed him a cheeseburger from a bag. Then, taking a good look, he threw the whole bag at him before turning back to the screen. “I have narrowed her location down to Maine, Brisbane, or Hong Kong.”

Three different continents. Zane polished off a burger in two bites and reached for another one. “And Logan?”

“Nothing.” Nick punched in keystrokes, and Sam took shape on the screen. “We do have an idea, however,” Nick murmured.

Bruises and blood covered Sam’s face, clearly visible in HD.

Anger burned through Zane’s gut. “Are you all right?”

“Of course.” Sam spit out red. “The fighting here is dying down, and I thought I’d head to Africa.”

Zane frowned and took the seat Nick kicked toward him, eating his third burger. “Where?”

Nick tapped more keys and split the screen to show a map next to Sam’s face. “We have troops here, here, and here.” Nick pointed to the three places. “Since Sam can teleport, we thought he’d check them out one by one.”

“What if Logan isn’t in Africa?” The last thing Zane needed was Sam weakened by multiple jumps. With their demon and vampire mix, they could jump more consecutive times than any other demon, but they still had limits and needed to recharge. He eyed Nick. Too bad the older demon couldn’t teleport. So far, neither could Logan, although he was still young. Sometimes the talent took a century to develop. Zane had been able to teleport since puberty, and so had Sam. Rare indeed.

Sam shoved to his feet, a pained grimace twisting his lip. “This is our best shot—and it’s all we’ve got. As soon as you get a lock on Mom, we need to get there. If I’m already with Logan, we save a step.” He leaned toward the camera in his cell phone, his eyes the same green as Zane’s. “I can’t just sit tight any longer. I need to go find him.”

Zane cracked his nose back into place. He did like the idea of Sam being off Suri’s radar and out of Iceland, and if Sam found Logan, even better. “All right. Um, Sam? Suri has given us twenty-four hours to turn over Janie, or he’ll kill Mom.” Zane swallowed, his gut churning. “I can’t turn her over.”

Sam’s jaw clenched. “I don’t want to be the kind of people who’d turn a little human woman over to the Kurjans, Bro. No matter who she is or what she might mean to you.” He glanced over his shoulder. “Let’s find Mom.”

Emotions clogged Zane’s throat. His brother was a damn good man. “We will. Keep in touch.”

The screen went black.

The door opened, and Suri stomped inside. “Status?”

Zane finished chewing and remained sprawled in the chair. “The best time to hit Realm headquarters is tomorrow morning at ten a.m. There’s a shift change, and several of the forces will be out on training drills, if they stick to their current schedule.” Part of his report was true and the rest complete bullshit. “Too bad you can’t teleport to help tomorrow.”

Nick shot Zane a warning glance.

Zane half-shrugged. At this point, he was done. “Where’s my mother?”

“Safe but well hidden.” Suri’s vocal chords sounded more mangled than usual. Stress must be getting to the leader. “If you attack at that time, you’ll have less than an hour to get to Janet Kayrs and bring her here. To save your mother.”

Zane slowly stood to look down at the dangerous leader. “Once my mother is safe, I’d like to put her in the ring with you.” If provoked enough, a female demon could easily take a male. Even Suri.

Suri’s head jerked up. “I never should have let you live.”

Zane flashed his fangs. “Yet you did, and now you need me.” Nobody else could get close to Janie, and Suri thought he had Zane where he wanted him. “For now.”

Suri growled low. “For now.” He glanced at Nick and then back to Zane.

Shit. He couldn’t get a clue Zane and Nick were working together. Zane snarled. “When this is over, I’m done being your puppet. My family and I are out of here.”

Suri snorted, disbelief twisting his lip. He’d never believe Zane didn’t want to rule. “Just get the job done.”

Zane nodded and headed for the door. “That’s my plan.”

 

Janie heard rather than saw Zane drop out of nowhere this time. She sat on the rug before the fire, her legs crossed, her eyes closed. “Back so soon?” she asked, keeping her face to the flames.

“Yes,” he groaned.

A chair scraped across the wooden floor. “Try to be quiet,” she whispered.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Meditating.” She’d needed to clear her head and possibly reach out. Zane was ticking her off, and contacting Kalin seemed foolish. Although, she could contact him just for information and not reveal her location or current situation.

“No.” Strong hands slid under her arms and jerked her up.

She gasped and spun around to shove Zane. “What are you doing?” Her eyes flipped open.

His lids half-lowered, giving him a sexy, dangerous look. “No meditating.” Even with the fierce growl, he couldn’t mask the paleness under his fine skin. A dark shadow covered his jaw and contrasted with his colorless face.

Janie frowned. “What is wrong with you?”

“Tired,” he slurred. “Shouldn’t have jumped so many times.”

No way could he teleport her out of there right now. She sighed, wanting nothing more than to hold him tight and offer comfort. But she knew better. “What do you need?”

“Sleep.” He grasped her upper arms. Even weakened, his hold was unbreakable. “Did you eat?”

“Yes.” She shuffled her feet. A part of her wanted to thank him for the food he’d left, while the other part still wanted to kick him for kidnapping her. “Thank you.” Damn it. Good manners always won.

“Welcome.” He turned and led her over to the bed, his normally graceful gait lurching.

She struggled. “No.”

“Yes.” He shoved her down and crawled up to spoon around her. “Just sleep.”

It was like being wrapped by a bear. Heat cascaded along her back until he jerked her into his hardness. God. The man was a brick freakin’ wall. With a pleased murmur, he tucked his head against her neck, one arm firmly around her waist and one leg tossed over hers.

Her butt settled pressed against a defined erection. Desire blasted into her and stole her breath.

His hand flattened out, spreading across her entire midriff. Holding her close.

“Janie?” he whispered against her nape, his breath warm.

A shiver wound through her entire body. Her nipples peaked, and her abdominal muscles clenched. “What?”

“I’m sorry I’m not who you thought.” His lips moved against her skin.

She forced instant need down along with a definite groan. “I like who you are.”

He chuckled. “You do not.”

“Yes, I do. You’re strong and loyal. I just wish you’d share.”

“I’ll share anything with you,” he mumbled.

Did he have to sound so damn sexual? She wiggled to get more comfortable and ended up rubbing his erection.

He groaned.

“Sorry.” She stilled. Maybe she could get him to open up since he was almost out. “What are you so afraid of, Zane?”

He sighed, his mouth near enough to her ear to cascade a tremble down her back. “Failing. Losing family. Losing you.” With his hand flattened, the tips of his fingers brushed the underside of her breast.

She bit her lip to keep from turning around and jumping him. The guy needed sleep, and she had to think. Thinking was good, right? “What do you want?” she breathed. “For everybody?”

“Peace and to be left alone.”

Her eyes fluttered shut, captivated by his warmth. “You don’t want to rule the demon nation?”

“God, no.” His voice quieted. “Never.”

“What if you’re needed?” she asked. Life was all about duty, and Zane’s might suck. But surely he’d step up.

“Too bad.” He buried his face in her hair. “Smell so good,” he whispered.

She swallowed. “Night, Zane.”

“Night. And Janie?”

“Yeah?”

“Don’t try to find Kalin. I’ll know, and you won’t like the result.”

Even his threat was sexy. She opened her mouth to retort, but a soft snore stopped her. He was out cold.