The Kyriakis Curse (13 page)

The shifter snarled. “Is this how you treat me, when I can offer you so much?”

Gage narrowed his eyes. No one talked to him this way, especially not a dirty shifter.

Pushing his temper back, he pinned a smile on his face. After all, while the creature was still of some use, Gage couldn’t kill it -- yet.

“Leave us, Jackal, but remember what I said.”

“Of course, Master.”

70 Eve Vaughn

“Have a seat, and tell me what has brought you here.”

“Your two henchmen are dead. It seems your prey has eluded you yet again.”

“What?” he yelled in surprise.

A smirk crossed the shifter’s lips. “You heard me just fine, Gage. There’s no need for me to repeat myself. Nor will I.”

Gage sneered. “Your arrogance will be your downfall, shifter.”

“You won’t lay a finger on me.”

Gage clenched and unclenched his fists. “You sound so sure.”

“My pack is strong. If you harm me, they’ll come for you.”

“Or it’s quite possible they’ll rejoice in your death -- when they learn they have a traitor in their midst. You play a dangerous game.”

“I’m doing this for them.”

Gage laughed, feeling amused for the first time since his visitor had arrived. “Don’t insult my intelligence or yours by perpetuating such a lie. You’re doing it for yourself. Now, getting back to the original business... how do you know Neyo and Craven are dead?”

The shifter shrugged. “I have my sources.”

“And the half-breed? What of her?”

A cruel smile twisted the shifter’s lips, but it said nothing.

“If you know something, you had better tell me... unless you have a death wish!”

“Ha! Like I said, you don’t dare touch me. You have neither the balls nor the strength to defeat me. In fact, you Hunters are jokes; you’re not even real wizards, forced to use black magic as you are.”

Enraged, he sent a bolt of lightning from his hand in the shifter’s direction. Easily side-stepping it, the creature laughed. The blast, however, hit the unfortunate Pet in her corner.

She howled through her muzzle.

“You still keep her around? I would have thought you’d have gotten rid of her a long time ago. Let me do it for you. It would be my pleasure.”

“You’re really asking for it.” Gage was finding it more and more difficult to hold in his rage. “Where is the half-breed?”

“Right now, she’s headed to a place even you can’t penetrate. It’s heavily guarded.”

“There’s nowhere I can’t go.”

“If you tried to get on the island, you’d have difficulty escaping with your life... but I, on the other hand, would have no problem.”

He eyed the shifter suspiciously. “What do you mean?”

“I could bring her to you... for a price.”

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“Get out. I make no deals with shifters. Besides, I have no evidence you’re telling the truth.”

“Fine. When word gets out Neyo and Craven are dead, your men will start to question

your competence.”

He took a deep breath to keep himself from making another foolish move. By God, he

would enjoy killing this one when the time came. “What pack is protecting the half-breed?”

“Pack Kyriakis.”

“The Kyriakises are again sticking their noses where they don’t belong? They should

have learned their lesson when I took care of Spyros. The fool confronted some of my men, trying to get to the bottom of why so many of his pack were falling prey to the feral virus.

He even tried to battle me, but he didn’t know about my secret weapon, naturally. But of course his pack members thought the Pack Nkruma curse was the reason he succumbed to the feral virus himself. Perhaps in a way it was the curse. Sometimes things can be spoken into existence merely by anyone with a modicum of magic within them, and Nana Nkruma is no lightweight. It’s quite possible Pack Kyriakis wasn’t susceptible to the virus before Nana opened her mouth that day.” Gage laughed, feeling smug. “Very well, if they wish to tangle with me again, they’ll pay dearly.”

“This score you’d like to settle must be strong indeed,” the shifter taunted.

“What is your price to bring me the half-breed?”

“I get the honor of killing her... and your pet.”

Gage pretended to consider this. “You have a deal. But you must bring the half-breed to me unharmed. Once I’ve extracted what I need, you’re welcome to do as you like with her and... Pet. Though I’ll be sad to part with Pet, I suppose what you’ll bring me will indeed be a most fair exchange. However, if you should breach our agreement, it’s your hide we’ll be hunting next. Now, leave.” Gage called to his servant, who appeared within seconds.

“Master?”

“See our guest out, and ignore my earlier instructions.”

“Yes, Master.” Jackal nodded before leading the shifter out of the room.

If what Gage had just been told was true, something had to be done right away. As

much as he would have liked to take the Kyriakis alpha for his own reasons, the pack was still far too strong.

He’d bide his time and let his shifter ally lead the half-breed to him. He’d focus on getting her first, and then he’d deal with his other problem later.

Gage went to his pet, kneeling down and stroking her. She again turned her head away from him, pushing her nose against the corner. He ran his hands over her smooth, soft fur.

“Did you hear that, Pet? Soon I will have her, and there’s nothing you or the precious Kyriakis pack can do about it. It will all be mine!”

72 Eve Vaughn

Paris waited for his driver to pick him up and take him to his private jet; he was

anxious to talk to Sarah again. Although he’d been reluctant to let Constantine take her to Circe without him, he’d had some sudden urgent matters to attend to. Apparently, Eleni had stayed true to her word and kept away but, in the process, she’d also decided to take a sabbatical from Kyriakis Shipping, leaving a note with Paris’s secretary that simply said, “I quit.”

Let her go, then. Eleni was always making threats of this nature and, like all of her tantrums, he took none of them seriously. In fact, it would be better if she didn’t return to the company. While she was good at what she did, her constant strong-arm tactics and her

“sabbaticals” were getting to be too much.

Paris glanced at his watch. Five minutes late. This tardiness was unacceptable.

“I thought I heard you still here. I can imagine the dressing down your driver will

receive,” Dante observed, as he entered the hallway where Paris stood. Paris glanced at his friend, who was visibly more relaxed than he had been when he’d arrived the week before.

Paris had a sneaking suspicion this had a lot to do with the lone wolf his daughter had befriended, but he decided not to comment. “You know me so well.”

“I’m glad you haven’t left yet, actually. I wanted to thank you for the refuge you’ve given me. It means a lot.”

Paris shrugged. “What are friends for? I’m sure you’d do the same for me.”

“Of course I would. In a heartbeat.”

“While I’m gone, please watch Persephone for me. Make sure she doesn’t get into too

much trouble. I fear that friend of hers...”

“Isis?” The vampire seemed to perk up. “I find her rather charming, although she’s

hiding something.”

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Paris snorted. “Lone wolves usually have a lot to hide.”

“No. That’s not what I mean. Whenever I talk to her... well, it seems as if she’s

specifically hiding something from me.”

“You could be imagining things.” He glanced at his watch again, trying to keep his temper in check. His driver would get more than a mere dressing down if he didn’t arrive soon.

“I thought I might have been at first, but now I’m not so sure,”

“Are you smitten with her? Even I can see she’s quite beautiful.”

“I don’t know what I think about her, to be honest. I enjoy her company, and her

bluntness is refreshing,” Dante mused. “She’s... intriguing.”

“More so than your Maggie?” Paris could have kicked himself for bringing up such a

sore subject with his friend, but to his surprise, Dante didn’t seem to mind.

“I didn’t say that, but conversations with her have not been boring -- yet.”

“Just be careful with her. Though Isis seems nice enough, I think she could be quite dangerous.”

“Yet you allow Persephone to remain friends with her.”

Paris chuckled. “You know my daughter. Were I to dig in my heels on this matter, she would rebel. Better to keep them both under my watchful eye than to have Persephone defy me behind my back. Who knows what those two would get up to, then?”

“You should give your cubs more credit. You’ve raised both of them well, and I’m sure the decisions they make in life are to your credit.”

“Don’t misunderstand; I’m proud of them both, but I worry. Wait until you have a few of your own.”

The vampire smiled, a wistful look entering his cobalt eyes. “Maybe one day.”

Paris would have said more on the subject, but his driver chose that moment to pull up.

“Finally.” He turned to his friend. “Remember, you may stay as long as you like. I don’t know how much time I’ll be spending on Circe since I need to get to the bottom of a few things where Sarah is concerned. The first and most important is who is after her.”

“I would have thought you’d be more interested in her parentage.”

“Well, there’s that, too, of course, but once I determine the threats to her are no longer there, I’ll have time to explore the other things.”

They clasped hands.

“Be careful, friend. And should you need my assistance, I’m only a phone call away.”

Paris nodded. “Thank you.” He was anxious to get to Circe. It had not escaped his

attention how his older cub had become possessive of Sarah in such a short time. He wasn’t sure he liked the situation.

74 Eve Vaughn

* * * * *

paused to pick up what looked like a shell and examined it, gently running her finger around its curved design. More than anything, he wanted to be that shell. He wished her hands were on his body.

Aside from that one time at Hampton Manor, he’d been very careful not to touch her.

It had been difficult not to claim her that day, but Constantine had forced himself to be satisfied with only pleasuring her. He had to assess his feelings for her; in addition, he wanted her to get used to the idea of having him around.

There were two problems with his decision, however. Today was Sarah’s birthday, and

tonight was a full moon. Not only would she go into heat very soon, she’d shift, neither of which she would know how to handle on her own, especially concurrently. Already he’d instructed his unmated male relatives to stay on the other side of the island, although when her scent was at its strongest, his commands wouldn’t mean a damn thing. Still, if anyone was going to help her though her time of need, it would be him!

For the past few days he’d been with her, Constantine had learned more about the

courageous half-breed. She still hadn’t opened up to him completely, but he’d found out enough to know she had had a lonely life. It tore at his heart to realize how many years she’d lived in uncertainty, both from those who pursued her and her own belief that she was some kind of oddity. The shame and the self-disgust Sarah had experienced saddened him.

If he claimed her tonight, and he intended to, there’d be no turning back. She would be his forever -- he would ensure her immortality. On the flipside, he would also belong to her from here until eternity. There’d be no more random blondes in nightclubs. No more

carousing in the streets.

He should have known, of course. From the moment he’d set eyes on her, he’d sensed

she was his bond mate. Constantine wouldn’t make the same mistake his father had made and let his woman get away without letting her know exactly who she belonged to. He

didn’t know if he was in love or not, but he did know she was his and his alone. He’d have to make certain to establish that fact with her.

Constantine watched her throw the shell into the sea, her wild hair flowing past her shoulders blades and blowing in the wind like a dark cape.

He desperately wanted to dig his fingers though those soft tresses as he plowed

between her silky, chocolate thighs. He didn’t care what his father said. Sarah would belong to him by the end of the night.

Recalling the last conversation he’d had with his father before bringing Sarah to Circe angered him. He and Sarah had been on their way to the car that was waiting when Paris had stopped them...

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“Sarah, go ahead to the car, please. I need to have a few words with my son before the two of you leave. I wish you a safe journey, cub-- little one.”

“Sarah,” she stated firmly.

Paris smiled at her with indulgence. “Yes, of course, my dear. A lovely name for a

lovely young lady. Now, if you’ll excuse us.”

She nodded in acquiescence and went outside, both men keeping an eye on her to see

she actually got into the car. To Constantine’s relief, she did.

“What is it you wanted to talk to me about? I thought we’d covered everything already.

I’m to keep Sarah on Circe and see if I can get anymore information out of her before you arrive. I got it.”

“I trust that you’ve become well versed in what needs to be done, but that isn’t want I wanted to discuss.”

Constantine furrowed his forehead in consternation. “Then what?”

“I’ve seen the way you’ve been looking at her, and I have a pretty good idea of what happened when you took Sarah to her room last night. I asked you to protect her, not fuck her.”

His face grew hot with embarrassment. If anyone else had spoken so casually about

Sarah, they would have gotten punched in the face, but this was his sire, and he forced himself to remain respectful. “Papa, really, must we have this discussion now?”