Shadow Of Death

“In Layman’s terms,” Alicia droned, “He’s going as himself.”

Everyone chuckled when Nick shrugged and went to help Quinn and Kat behind the bar. Alicia suddenly gasped and rushed off toward the back of the club with a predatory looking Damon following close behind her.

“What do you suppose that’s about?” Chad asked with an arched eyebrow.

“What do you think?” Devon smirked.

Trevor glanced over at Envy and frowned when he noticed she suddenly looked a bit pale.

“You okay Envy?” he asked softly.

Envy raised her chin with a bright smile and lied, “Sure, I’m great…”

Trevor moved to catch her the second her eyes closed.

“Envy,” Chad also reached for her and kept hold while Trevor lowered her to the floor. “What the hell just happened?”

Devon had moved at the same time Trevor did but Trevor had been closer when Envy fell. He kneeled down beside Chad and cupped Envy’s cheek.

“Envy,” Devon whispered while stroking his thumb across her skin. “Come on baby, open your eyes.”

“Has she been getting enough sleep?” Chad asked accusingly.

Envy squeezed her eyes shut as sound drifted back towards her and moaned before slowly blinking them open. She frowned when all three men sighed collectively in relief.

“Why are all of you looking at me like that?” Envy asked and looked around in confusion. “Did I fall?”

“You fainted,” Chad explained suddenly getting a little payback from all the worry she’d been doing over him. “Are you okay?”

Envy gripped his hand and slowly stood up, “Yeah, it must be all the excitement going on. I’ve been having so much fun that I might have forgotten to eat or something.”

Trevor shook his head hearing the lie in her voice, “I’m not buying that.” He took out his cell phone and quickly dialed a number. The phone rang a few times before the familiar and welcoming voice answered it.

“Hello,”

Trevor smiled, “Hi Mrs. Tully, it’s Trevor.”

“Trevor dear, how are you?” Mrs. Tully asked.

“I’m doing all right but I need a really huge favor.” He watched as Chad and Devon helped Envy sit down on one of the softer seats around the low tables.

Mrs. Tully smiled, “If I can, I’ll be more than happy to help.”

“I’m over at Moon Dance and Envy just passed out. She seems fine now but something doesn’t feel right. Can you spare a few minutes to come and take a look at her?” Trevor asked.

“Of course I can,” Mrs. Tully said. “Give me about twenty minutes to get my bag and drive there.”

Trevor smiled, “Okay, we’ll see you soon.”

“Good call,” Devon said shocking everyone else.

*****

Jason lay on the thick mattress in that place between sleep and awake just down the hall from where Tiara and Zachary were making love… again. Even in his semiconscious state he could hear them… feel her ecstasy like a caress on his own heated skin. He pressed the back of his head into the pillow when that ecstasy heightened… unaware that the ring on his hand had started glowing.

Jason’s expression darkened and he suddenly found himself standing at the foot of Tiara and Zachary’s bed watching what he had only felt moments ago. He almost sighed in relief when he realized he was dreaming. When they didn’t notice him standing there, Jason moved around the bed so he could see Tiara’s face. His eyes widened at the way she looked and tried to turn his head but couldn’t.

His gaze landed on Zachary, watching his body move above Tiara’s and he took a step back. For just a brief moment Zachary had transformed into him before reverting back… teasing him with what he could have.

Jason suddenly felt something in his hand and looked down at the dagger fisted in his fingers. The handle was cool against his heated skin and the edge seemed to glimmer at him… tempting him to use it.

Tiara’s voice rang out calling Zachary’s name and Jason watched, detached and horrified as he raised his arm and plunged the knife directly into Zachary’s spine. Tiara’s screams of pleasure turned to terror… it was a soothing sound to Jason’s ears. He looked down at the bed with blood pouring from the wound in Zachary’s back and soaking the mattress.

Jason suddenly regained control of his body and tore himself from the dream with such force he sat straight up in bed. It was only by force of will that he refrained from crying out at such a horrific scene. Tiara’s ecstasy once again filled him and he fisted his hands in his hair, fighting the tears that burned his eyes. Unable to withstand the emotional turmoil, he climbed out of bed and rushed out the front door feeling like a traitor.

It didn’t matter to him if it was a dream or not… dreams were an extension of the heart’s desires and Jason’s wanted Tiara.

*****

Nighthawk stood beside the same distant tree he’d haunted off and on since Tiara’s first night at the cabin. He knew there was an empty room set aside for him next to Tiara’s but the closer he got to her while she and Zachary were alone, the more emotions he would feel. Not just any emotion… it was mostly the hunger coming at him in waves.

At first he’d been surprised he had felt anything and enjoyed the fleeting caress. But instead of Tiara’s hunger being satisfied… it seemed to be the only thing she and Zachary did when they were alone. They were lucky if they were getting an hour of sleep at a time. The only occasion Nighthawk could not feel her sensual call was when they visited the graveyards for her lessons with Craven.

Nighthawk pushed Tiara’s cries of passion from his mind when he noticed Craven had joined him under the tree.

Craven’s silver eyebrow rose when he felt the blood bond he had established with Tiara intensify due to his arrival. He’d spent all week collecting souls, trying to build his army and it had triggered his own hunger several times to the point of feeling the same thing Tiara did… but being a full blooded demon allowed him the option of never feeding it. The need did not expose him to the souls as it did Tiara. That was her mother’s weak bloodline… not his.

Being so close to Tiara’s passion now was not easy but Craven didn’t like easy… it bored him. However, the desire to touch someone was slowly starting to creep up on him. It didn’t matter if he had more control or not, the desire would appear from time to time and he knew it would have to be satisfied soon or he would not be able to lend control to Tiara while they practiced.

He waited patiently for the Night Walker to reveal himself. The last time he’d been with Tiara, she’d shared her concern over not seeing Nighthawk in days. Immediately after saying that, she’d quickly looked around her and murmured, “Never mind… he’s here.”

Craven felt his own amusement when Nighthawk finally appeared beside him. It was uncanny to see such paleness on the Indian’s golden tan skin and it enlightened him to the truth behind Nighthawk’s refusal to mingle. He was sure if he were in Nighthawk’s place, the constant coupling of the new mates would probably affect him as well.

“When she is ready, bring her to the cemetery where we first met,” Craven said softly. “The small one… and make sure her teammates do not follow.”

Nighthawk said nothing as Craven vanished but felt a slight weight that had been on his shoulders lift. Perhaps since Craven wanted to return to their first meeting place, that would mean he was going to teach Tiara something new. It was time to accelerate her instruction but Nighthawk had been unable to tear her away from her mate long enough to do so.

The thought of kidnapping her for private lessons had entered his mind several times and Nighthawk was satisfied that he no longer had a reason to hold back from doing so. He narrowed his eyes when the front door of the cabin slowly opened and saw Jason stumble out into the cool night. The human’s hand was pressed to his forehead and he was covered in sweat.

He wondered if Jason was experiencing the same kind of problem due to Tiara’s emotions coming through the ring. It wouldn’t have surprised him if that was indeed the case.

Jason inhaled deeply letting the cool night air drift across his face. He had heard and felt enough over the last week since moving in with Tiara. As if listening to the two newlyweds go at it wasn’t bad enough, now he had to feel what she was experiencing. He also kept having to delete the fact that it was Zachary who was making Tiara feel that way… it was enough to give him the wiggly-boos.

Being outside the cabin helped some, but only his ears felt the effect of the separation. He glared down at the ring wishing he could take it off for a few minutes. Before, he’d had to concentrate in order to sense Tiara’s emotions… now it seemed he couldn’t get away from them. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place.

He watched his hand shake for a moment before self-consciously sliding the tips of his fingers into his pocket. He didn’t want anyone knowing he was having trouble with the ring in fear of them taking it off and booting him out of the clubhouse.

Problem was… he had moments when he felt feverish and dark urges had started popping into his head over the last couple of days. Urges that were dark and the polar opposite of his personality. So far he was controlling them, but if that changed then he knew he’d have to speak up.