He felt a tiny hand on his shoulder. Looking up, he saw the small face of his sister.
Ceara had seen more than her fair share of tragedy. "I'm still with you, Speirr. I won't leave you alone."
Talon wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her close. He held her as he wept.
She was all he had left. And he would defy the gods themselves to keep her safe. He hadn't been able to protect Nynia, but he would protect Ceara. No one would harm her without dealing with him
Talon came awake just before sunset with a sick feeling in his stomach.
He felt so alone. His emotions were raw and tattered. He hadn't felt like this in centuries.
Hadn't hurt like this since the night Acheron had taught him to bury his emotions.
Tonight, he truly felt the solitude of his life. The aching burn of it sliced through his chest, and he had to struggle to breathe.
Until he caught a whiff of something strange on his skin and in his bed. Patchouli and turpentine. Sunshine. His heart instantly lightened as he thought of her and the way she stumbled through her vibrant life. Inhaling her precious scent, he rolled over and found his bed empty.
Talon frowned. "Sunshine?"
Dark Hunter Series (04) - Night Embrace - Sherrilyn Kenyon Page 185 of 460
He looked around and didn't see her anywhere. "Would you leave me alone, you walking pair of boots!"
He cocked a brow at Sunshine's voice on the other side of his door. Before he could get up, the door swung open to show Sunshine fussing at Beth and the alligator hissing back in protest. The two of them struggled in the doorway.
"Let go of my easel, you refugee from a luggage factory. If you need some wood for a toothpick, there's a bunch of it on the porch."
The side of his mouth quirked up at the sight of them battling it out, Sunshine inside his cabin and Beth on the porch.
"Beth," he snapped. "What are you doing?"
Beth opened her mouth, releasing the easel. Sunshine stumbled backward, into the cabin, with her easel in her hands. The gator hissed and snapped at him, swishing its tail and eyeballing Sunshine irritably.
"She says she was forcing you inside before it got dark and something decided to eat you," he told Sunshine.
"Tell Swamp Breath I was headed this way. Why was she
" Sunshine stopped and
looked at him. "Oh jeez, am I really having a conversation with a gator?"
He grinned. "It's all right. I do it all the time."
"Yes, but no offense, you're kind of weird." If that wasn't the pot calling the kettle black
She shooed Beth out, slammed the door, then put her art supplies in the corner.
Talon watched her with interest, especially since the denim of her jeans cupped her rear Dark Hunter Series (04) - Night Embrace - Sherrilyn Kenyon Page 186 of 460
rather nicely as she leaned over.
"How long have you been up?" he asked. "A few hours. What about you?"
"I just woke up."
"You always sleep this late?" she asked.
"Since I stay up all night, yeah."
She smiled at him. "I think you've taken being a night owl to a whole new level."
She moved to sit on the futon beside him and rubbed her paint-stained hands against her thighs, drawing his attention to just how perfectly shaped they were and how much he would love to run his hand up the insides of them to the center of her body He
hardened at the thought.
"Would you like me to make you some breakfast?" she asked. "There's not much in the kitchen that's not guaranteed to kill or rot you, but I think I could scrounge up an egg-white omelette."
He grimaced at the thought of what an egg-white omelette would taste like. It would probably be worse than the soy cheese. Jeez, someone needed to introduce this woman to chocolate Reddi-wip shots. And on the heel of that thought came the question of what Sunshine would taste like covered in chocolate--he'd never gotten the chance to do that with her last night.
Oblivious to his thoughts, she continued her tirade. "Haven't you ever heard of bran flakes? Whole wheat?"
"No, I haven't." He trailed his hand up her arm to her neck where he could tease the softness of her skin with his fingertips. Hmmm, how he loved to touch her flesh. She Dark Hunter Series (04) - Night Embrace - Sherrilyn Kenyon Page 187 of 460
continued to lecture him. "You know, eating the way you do, you'll be lucky to live another thirty years. I swear there's more nutrition in Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory than anything I found in your kitchen."
Talon just smiled. Why was he so fascinated by her? He listened to her voice as she lectured him, and instead of being irritated, he actually enjoyed it. It was nice to have someone concerned enough about him that they would bother telling him what to eat.
"How about I just snack on you for a bit?" he asked.
Sunshine paused mid-sentence. Before she could think to respond, he pulled her across him and claimed her lips. She moaned at how good he felt. How wonderful he tasted. She could feel his erection under her hip. Her body melted against his. The next thing she knew, he had her flat on her back on the futon and was leaning down over her, unbuttoning her sweater as her breasts tightened in expectation of his touch.
"You're very talented at distracting me," she said.
"Am I?" he asked, kissing the valley between her breasts. "Um-hmmm," she breathed.
Chills shot the length of her body as he nibbled the skin just below her jaw. His hot breath scorched her while he cupped her breast with his hand and kneaded her gently with his fingers. She ran her hands through his tousled hair, holding him close to her while his braids brushed against her skin, tickling and teasing her. Her body throbbed and burned, craving his blistering touch.
Talon closed his eyes and inhaled the sweet scent of her skin. She was so warm and soft. So womanly. He ran his hand over the bounty of her tanned skin while he teased her neck with his tongue and teeth. Her hands slid over him.
Oh, he liked how this woman tasted. Loved how she felt under him. He ran his hand over the black lace of her bra, cupping her gently. She hissed in pleasure, her legs Dark Hunter Series (04) - Night Embrace - Sherrilyn Kenyon Page 188 of 460
sliding against his. He'd never cared for the sensation of denim on his body before, but when Sunshine was wearing it, he didn't mind at all.
He opened the catch on the front of her bra and released her breasts to his questing hand. He ran his palm over the hard nubs, back and forth, delighting in the way they felt.
He kissed his way down to them. Sunshine held his head to her and she arched her back. He teased one breast with his tongue, flicking and sucking it until she wanted to scream from pleasure. It was as if he knew some secret way of wringing every bit of sensual ecstasy from the lightest touch.
And as he held her, something strange happened. She flashed back to a time long ago
She saw Talon holding her just as he was doing now. Only it was late spring and they were lying out in the woods, beside a quiet lake. She was fearful of being caught and, at the same time, she ached with longing for him.
His eyes were a deep amber and dark with passion as he braced himself above her on one arm and unlaced the top of her gown with his free hand. "I've wanted you forever, Nyn." His whispered words tore through her as he dipped his head and sampled her freed breasts. She moaned in pleasure at the foreign sensation of a man kissing her there. She'd never allowed a man to touch her before. Never had allowed one to see her body. Somewhat embarrassed, she still couldn't deny him this. Not when it gave him so much pleasure.
Her mother had told her long ago about the needs and wants of men. About the way they planted themselves inside a woman and took possession of her. From that moment, she'd known she would never want any man but Speirr to take her that way.
For him, she would do anything.
He lifted the hem of her dress up to her hips, baring her lower body to his warm, hungry gaze. She shivered as he nudged her legs apa
rt so that he could look at the most Dark Hunter Series (04) - Night Embrace - Sherrilyn Kenyon Page 189 of 460
private place of her body.
Her instinct was to lock her ankles together, but she forced herself to comply. She opened herself for him and held her breath as he stared at her with so much longing that it made her ache.
He traced his hand down her stomach, and outer thigh. Then ever so slowly, he ran his hand up her inner thigh, making her burn and shiver at the same time. She closed her eyes and moaned as his questing fingers touched the throbbing virgin flesh between her legs.
Her head swam at the strange feeling of him stroking and teasing her. He spread her legs wider, then slid his fingers inside her where he delved deep, making her body quiver. She moaned as he moved his hand and placed his body between her legs. She felt his rigid shaft throb against her inner thigh.
"Look at me, Nynia."
She opened her eyes and looked up at him.
The love in his eyes scorched her. "It's not too late yet. Tell me you don't want me and I will go away without any damage being done."
"I want you, Speirr," she whispered. "I only want you." He leaned down and kissed her tenderly, then slid himself inside her. She tensed at the pain he caused as he tore through her maidenhead and filled her to capacity. She bit her lip and held him close as he slowly rocked himself against her.
"You feel so good beneath me," he breathed, his voice a deep half-groan. "Even better than I thought you would."
Dark Hunter Series (04) - Night Embrace - Sherrilyn Kenyon Page 190 of 460
"How many women have you had beneath you, Speirr?" She was horrified by her words, but wanted to know and was too young to realize just how foolish her question was. He stopped moving inside her and pulled back to stare down into her eyes. "Only you, Nyn. I'm as virgin as you are. I've had other women offer themselves to me, but you're the only one I dream of holding."
Her heart soared. Smiling, she wrapped her legs around his lean, naked hips. She cupped his face in her hands and pulled him down to her until their noses touched.
"Oh, Speirr," Sunshine whispered, holding him close. Talon went rigid in her arms. In the last thousand years, no one other than Ceara had ever used his real name. And only one woman had ever said his name the way Sunshine did just now.
It wasn't just what she said, it was the cadence of her voice when she'd said it. The shiver it had sent down his spine. "What did you call me?"
Sunshine bit her lip as she realized her slip. Oh jeez, he probably thought she was calling him by another man's name. He would have no memory of his former life. Nor should she. She didn't know where these flashbacks were coming from.
All she knew was that they were freaking her out. Her grandmother was really into past-life regression and had raised her with a devout respect for reincarnation. One thing Grandma Morgan had tutored her well on was that when you're reborn, you always forget your former life. Why, then, did she remember him?
"I was clearing my throat," she said, hoping he would buy it. "What did you think I called you?"
Talon relaxed. Maybe he was hearing things. Maybe it was what this woman made him feel that was dredging up his long-forgotten memories. Or maybe it was the guilt he felt for wanting her the way he did. Only Nynia had ever made him really burn like this.
Dark Hunter Series (04) - Night Embrace - Sherrilyn Kenyon Page 191 of 460
Sunshine was so different. She made him feel even when he didn't want to. Even when he fought against it. She buried her hands in his hair and pulled him down so that she could nibble his jaw. The feel of her hands on him, the warmth of her body under his He lowered himself over her, and buried his lips against her shoulder where he could taste the salt of her skin.
Talon sighed deeply. Contentedly. Then, to his deepest aggravation, his phone rang.
Cursing, Talon answered it and found Acheron on the other end. "I need you to guard the woman tonight. Keep her at your place."
Talon frowned. He wondered briefly how Ash knew Sunshine was with him, but the man's powers were nothing if not scary. "I thought you told me to stay away from her."
"Things have changed."
Talon bit back a moan as Sunshine nuzzled his nipple with her teeth. Keeping her here was far from a hardship. "Are you sure I'm not needed tonight?"
"Yes." Acheron hung up.
Talon tossed the phone aside and looked at Sunshine with a devilish grin. This night just got a whole lot better.
Chapter 8
It was near midnight when Ash left Club Runningwolf's. Where the hell was Talon? He should be out on the streets, patrolling. Ash had been trying to reach him for hours. He called Nick again only to find out that Nick had neither seen nor heard from Talon either.
This was so unlike the Celt. He could sense that Talon was all right and not hurt, and if Dark Hunter Series (04) - Night Embrace - Sherrilyn Kenyon Page 192 of 460
he wanted to, he could track Talon down. But Ash had never been that intrusive with his powers. Having been hunted and stalked, he couldn't bear to do that to anyone else.
Not unless it was a dire emergency.
Free will was not something he would tamper with lightly. As Ash returned the phone to his jacket, the hair on the back of his neck stood up. "Look how helpless she is
"
"Yes, but she's strong enough to feed us all."
The voices whispered through his mind much like Spider-Man's spidey-sense And the
wall-crawler thought he had super powers. Pah-lease.
Ash closed his eyes and located the source of the voices. Four male and two female Daimons were in an alley off Royal Street. He started for his motorcycle, then stopped himself. There was no way he'd reach them in time by conventional means.
Glancing around, he made sure no one could see him, then he gathered the ions in the air around him. He let his body disintegrate into nothingness and used his powers to bend the physics of time and matter.
Unseen, he whispered through the city, straight to the alley where they had a woman cornered. She stood cringing, surrounded by the Daimons, her arms wrapped about her.
"Please don't hurt me," she begged. "Just take my purse and leave me alone."
The tallest Daimon raked his hand through her hair and smiled evilly. "Oh, this won't hurt. Not for long anyway."
Acheron solidified. He summoned a shield for the woman, to protect and confuse her. In her mind, she would see and remember an unknown figure scaring her attackers away.
Dark Hunter Series (04) - Night Embrace - Sherrilyn Kenyon Page 193 of 460
In reality, he whistled. The Daimons turned toward him in unison.
"Hi," he said nonchalantly as he walked toward them. "You Daimons wouldn't happen to be planning on sucking the soul of an innocent human, now would you?"
They looked at each other, then started to run.
"Oh, I don't think so," Ash said, throwing another shield up behind them to keep them from fleeing the alley. "No Daimon gets out of here alive."
They hit the invisible wall and rebounded off it.
"Man," Ash said, feigning a cringe. "It really makes you feel for the bug on a windshield, doesn't it?"
They scrambled to their feet. The tallest of them, who was almost even in height to Ash, narrowed his eyes. "We're not afraid of you, Dark-Hunter."
"Good. It makes the fight more fair that way." Ash spread his hands out, creating a staff with his thoughts.
The male Daimons rushed him at once while the women backed away. Acheron flipped the first Daimon to reach him over with his staff, then rammed the tip of it into the second. He embedded one end of the staff into the concrete and used it to balance as he jumped up and kicked at a third. He released the blade from the toe of his boot and sent it straight into the Daimon's chest. The Daimon disintegrated.
Ash landed gracefully on the street while the first two pushed themselves up and the other two backed off. "Oh, come on, girls," he taunted them. "Don't be bas
hful. At least I give you a fighting chance, which is more than you give your victims."
"Look," the leader said, his voice shaking. "Let us go and we'll give you some important Dark Hunter Series (04) - Night Embrace - Sherrilyn Kenyon Page 194 of 460
information."
Ash scoffed. "What information could you possibly have that would be worth me letting you go so that you could kill more humans?"
"It's worth it," another one said. "It's about--" His words broke off into a strangled cry.
Before Ash could move, all the Daimons disintegrated. For the first time in centuries, he was too stunned to move. What the hell just happened?
The human woman came flying up from her crouch and launched herself into his arms.
"You saved me!" Ash frowned. He couldn't figure out how she could see him until she kissed him passionately. "Dammit, Artemis," he snarled, pushing her away. "Get off me."
She made an irritated noise low in her throat. Releasing him, she flashed from her blond human disguise into her fiery goddessness. Her auburn hair curled around her shoulders as she stood, hands on hips, and pouted at him. "How did you know it was me?"
"After eleven thousand years, don't you think I know what you taste like?"
Sulkily, she folded her arms over her chest. "If I'd been a real human, I bet you would have slept with me tonight."
He sighed disgustedly and allowed his staff to fade into vapor. "I don't have time for your petty jealousy. You know, I do have other things to take care of."
She licked her lips and stepped to his side, then trailed her hand over his shoulders.
She leaned to whisper in his ear. "I'm one of those things you need to take care of, love.
Come home with me, Acheron. I'll make it well worth your while." She ran her tongue around his ear, raising chills over his body.
Dark Hunter Series (04) - Night Embrace - Sherrilyn Kenyon Page 195 of 460
Ash shrugged her away. "I have a headache."
"You've had a headache for two hundred years!"
He looked at her dryly. "And you've had PMS for eleven thousand." She laughed at that.
"One day, my love, one day
"
Ash put a little more room between them. Enough so that she couldn't casually run her hands over his body. "Why are you here?"
She shrugged. "I wanted to see you fight. I just love the way you get all serious and lethal. The way your muscles ripple when you move. It really turns me up."