Raphael closed his eyes, shutting out his initial reaction. Emotions are dangerous.
He drank her in through his other senses. A small smile touched his mouth. Despite the myriad of feelings pushing at him, he could read her spirit. Defiant and not willing. He faced a big fight.
She would not go gentle into that good night, but kicking and screaming. And part of him relished her anger. After all the times hed dispatched his own kind, he wanted someone to fight him. Someone to tell him to piss off, instead of beg for death with dull, pain-glazed eyes.
The air around him shifted. A chill dropped over him as if winter breathed hard and fast across his body. Raphael suppressed a shiver. His warm Cajun blood howled at the icy blast.
It emitted from her.
Death lingered in her, but not her own. Her touch killed.
Waiting, he reached out to assess her. She smelled absolutely deliciousstrong and very alive. He tasted the cold fury in the chill she threw off. Yet he burned with desire as he sensed her drawing nearer.
Raphael waited, rocked and remained silent.
You cant be the Kallan. Youre much too young.
The accusation made him smile. Opening his eyes, he studied her approach, graceful as a wood nymph. The last rays of sunlight glinted her hair, making it look as brilliant as the setting sun.
So are you. I was told by your Alpha youre elderly. He didnt hide his anger. Raphael sat straight, his thighs splayed, hands on knees as he regarded her.
Im twenty-two. She hesitated, and her voice seemed sad, oddly familiar. I feel as if I am an ancient.
A frown touched his mouth as he scrutinized her appearance. Have we met?
She laughed, the sound like gurgling water cascading over stones. Doubtful. Youd remember me, for I dont shake hands. Ever.
Emily held up her hands, displaying thick, ugly mustard-yellow gloves. They were a grim reminder of the lethal threat she carried.
I could kill you with a single touch, she said, her dulcet voice contrasting with the ugliness of her words.
I doubt it. Come, sit beside me. Its a lovely evening. He patted the empty rocker next to him.
She narrowed her eyes as if he invited her to sit on a pile of rattlers. Sit and do what? Talk about the weather?
If you wish. I want to get to know you better, Emily Burke.
Gloved hands went to her rounded hips. Emily stared him down. I know your purpose. Youre here to execute me. Dont waste your breath on flowery prose or eloquent speeches about how lovely the Other Realm is, and how I will be at peace or this nonsense about getting to know me better. Lets get one thing straight, Kallan. Youre my enemy. Period. Well never be friends. Period.
We will be lovers.
His thought materialized out of nowhere. It startled him, and as he studied her, it became very appealing. His body responded to the idea, imagining removing the pins from her hair, releasing it to spill in a cascade down to her waist. Emily naked as he feathered tiny kisses over her pale skin, enjoying her whimpers of excited pleasure as he fastened his mouth over a reddening nipple and then nudged her legs open and settled his hips between them
Merde! What the hell was wrong with him? Shes your transition, imbecile! Hed been thinking of her as if she were his alone. He had a draicara, Erin, and he was lusting for a female he must dispatch.
Raphael dragged in a deep breath, disturbed at his traitorous thoughts. What sort of Kallan was he? Viciously he wished Emily were a 1,200-year-old male, with warts and bowed legs, eager to end it all. Not this vision of springtime beauty, as ethereal and lovely as a delicate blossom.
Hello? The vision waved her gloved hands before him. You deaf? Did you get my message? I can kill you.
You cant kill me, he noted calmly, glad to see all emotion fled his voice. Im immortal.
But youre not immune to pain. I can make you suffer.
Probably more than you know. Again the thought flashed before him, filled with heavy sorrow.
Her smile turned nasty. Have you felt your body weaken and your magick leaking from your body? Thats what I do, Raphael. And that is what I will do to you if you dare to come near me and preach about the afterworld or dying for my people.
The inflection of her speech told him all he needed to know. She bluffed. Beneath the nasty words and threats was a dark thread of pure fear. Not for herself, but him.
For all living things she might harm.
Raphael smiled gently.
I dont know any speeches. I dont preach. But I do like to eat, and Im sure at some point you do as well. Will you join me for dinner?
As your guest or the main course?
Raphael threw back his head and laughed, delighted with her spunk. Depends. Sprinkled with a few Cajun spices, you might do.
And I know exactly where to sprinkle the spice. His body heated with erotic conjecture, Emily on the table like a feast for his hunger
He stood, the rocker banging against the wall. Come, Emily. I hate eating alone.
As he walked down the stairs, heading for her, she froze. Stay away from me, Kallan. Just stay away.
Then she fled into the gathering shadows like a frightened deer.
Raphael sighed, ran a hand through his hair. This time hed not let her go. He jumped off the porch and inhaled. Easy enough to find.
Tracking her delicious scent, he followed her into the woods.
Emily drew closer to the oak tree and the vine of sacred mistletoe twining around the strong limbs. Though the moonlight tonight would be too dim, she must pick the berries.
She needed answers from the sacred texts her aunt Helen once guarded.
Six months ago, Helen had taken her to the garden alone, telling her she had to share a confidence about the pack. Helen, keeper of the sacred texts, had told her where they were hidden. If anything happens, Emily, find and decipher them. They will provide the answers you need.
Helen asked if she could still restore life and pointed to a dying rose. Emily had removed the thin glove covering her hand and pricked her thumb on a thorn. Four drops of her blood caused the petals to unfurl and renewed their crimson blush. Helen had become extremely emotional.
I knew it, Emily. You have the gift of life within you still. There is something I must tell you. You need to know the truth about your gift.
To her horror, Helen had touched her hand. Her uncovered hand. Emily had screamed as her aunt dropped to the ground. Terrified, Emily ran off to tell Urien, who ordered her confined to her cottage. An hour later, Urien grimly told Emily that Helen was dead from her single touch.
Hed banished her for good that day.
The texts were a last hope. Ever since she was informed of her impending death, shed poured over them, desperate to translate the prophecies foretelling her death. If she were to die to save her race, then she wanted proof. Helen said the texts would provide all the answers. But to discern the words, she needed to be calm and unemotional.
Impossible. The only alternative was smearing ripe mistletoe berries over the parchment. The berries would make the words clear to her, even if she became too upset.
Footsteps crunched the leafy undergrowth. Emily went still, like a deer scenting the enemy. He approached with deliberate announcement of his presence.
She fled.
Impossible. The only alternative was smearing ripe mistletoe berries over the parchment. The berries would make the words clear to her, even if she became too upset.
Footsteps crunched the leafy undergrowth. Emily went still, like a deer scenting the enemy. He approached with deliberate announcement of his presence.
She fled.
Emily, come out. Stop playing games. Sooner or later, we must talk.
The deep, husky voice sounded familiar. No, it was this Kallan. He played games with her, trying to coax her to his side. Raphael possessed powerful magick. He could disguise his voice, making it sound familiar, and loved to encourage a transition to welcome death with open arms like a lover.
Emily squeezed her eyes shut, clapped her hands over her ears to shut away the deep, sensual tones of that voice, as soothing as an old friend. She had no friends.
I am alone.
Maybe this time shed finally work up the courage to escape. Leave the property she seldom left since her birth. Flee into the night.
Driven by instinct, Emily cut back into the sheltering woods. Her bare feet, accustomed to the rough undergrowth, raced over the covering of dead leaves and twigs. Behind her she heard Raphael call her name.
Call all you want. Youll be talking to air, peabrain.
Thinking of the mighty Kallan as a peabrain gave her small comfort. Emily continued on through her beloved forest, exiting into a sloped meadow. Dewy grass sloshed beneath her feet as she ran.
The propertys edge was within reach. Freedom. Emily ground to a halt, instinctively knowing the boundary. She stared at the dirt separating the Burkes land from the outside world.
Her gaze whipped over to the crest of hill before her. Beyond the property lay freedom. If she worked up the courage, she could escape. Flee her fate.
Her overprotective father and Urien rarely allowed her to venture outside their territory, warning of great dangers. Morphs with talons ready to shred delicate skin to ribbons. Their fangs were long and yellowed, their greed for Draicon flesh very great.
Her heart raced with fear.
If she fled, where would she go? What if her touch killed humans as well? Emilys heart wrenched at the thought of taking another innocent life.
Something moved in the darkening shadows. Shapes. Restless, pacing back and forth as if caged. Nothing but a band of coyotes. Urien had been wrong. The outside world presented little danger. Not compared to the larger, taller threat silently stalking her.
She stepped onto the roadway.
A stench like feces and rotting garbage filled her nostrils. Terror squeezed her heart like a strong fist. Emily recognized the forms as they came closer to the propertys edge. Close enough for her to smell their hot, fetid breath. Close enough for her to see the flash of black in their eyes.
Morphs, the ones who feasted on Draicon flesh.
Emily screamed.
Chapter 2
Raphael tore down the pathway, alarmed at the distressed cry. There, from the woods edge, near the property line. Emily. Something threatened her.
Instinct took over. He ran, waving his hands and eliminating his clothing as he did so, changing into wolf.
She stood in the gathering darkness, gloved hands to her mouth. Trembling as if a mighty wind shook her.
Just on the other side of the small, narrow dirt road he saw them.
A line of Morphs staring her down. As if they wanted her dead and would devour her heart.
While it still beat inside her chest.
With a snarl, Raphael leapt onto the road, charging the Morphs staring at Emily.
Stop! They wont come here!
Stark fear in her voice snapped him to a halt. His paws skidded in the loose gravel. The Morphs inched backward, their hunched, shriveled bodies twisting, talons outstretched as they hissed at him.
Raphael growled at the enemy. Wanting to snap and tear and destroy, every instinct rising to attack. But his charge was his first concern. He wouldnt leave Emily alone, facing danger.
The Morphs shapeshifted into wolves, loping off silently. Raphael trotted back to Emily and shifted back to human form. A cold wind brushed against his naked skin, chilling his bones. He clothed himself with a wave of his hand, looked at her terrorized face.
Are you all right?
Emily stared after the Morphs. They wont come on the property. Urien said it was the magick shield on the land, but I think its me. They fear me.
Raphael sensed her inner turmoil and challenged her. Then why not leave?
A frown creased her lovely face. I should. I could, but in the past, Urien said theyd attack in packs, cloning themselves and sacrificing the clones to kill me. They would strip the skin from my bones and eat my heart to ingest all the magick I have. I know Im going to die, but I dont want to die like that.
Anguish tinged her voice. Raphaels heart dropped to his stomach. Damn, this was going to be tough. All this time hed been Kallan, hed never faced such a challenge.
Think of her, not yourself.
Emily, lets get back. Youre shivering, he said in his gentlest tone.
Raphael shrugged out of his leather jacket and went to drape it about her slender shoulders. She jerked back as if he were a hot iron. Dont touch me!
I was only going to offer you this.
Then youd have to destroy it after I wore it. She backed away. Youre supposed to be wise. Everything I touch is contaminated. My own people cant stand being within ten feet of me. They wont let me touch anything. Even the livestock. I cant feed them, water them, care for them. Im unclean.
Raphaels heart twisted.
Stop looking at me like that. I hate pity. Damn you.
With a swirl of skirts, she spun around and stormed off toward her cottage. Raphael gazed after her. Hed leave her alone for now. Come morning, they had work to do.
Once Emily had loved the dark. Now it brought only fear of the night and terrible dreams chasing her through sleep. Last nights had been particularly gruesome. Long, yellowed fangs ready to sink into her flesh, eager to rip and tear.
Emily hooked a band of hair behind her ear. Before sleeping last night, she had managed to calm herself enough to decipher a snippet of the sacred texts.
The Destroyer has been sent to kill her. The Chosen One surrenders herself to the Destroyer. Two sentences having a vague interpretation. But what if she did surrender herself to the Destroyer? What then?
She had become too upset, and the words blurred to nothingness before her eyes.
Emily poured herself a cup of coffee, donned her gloves and took the cup outside to enjoy the morning air. Distress filled her as she spotted Raphael sitting on the rocker on her porch. In a dove-gray T-shirt, jeans and boots, his powerful body tensed, he stared into the woods.
Why are you on my porch? she demanded.
Silence met her. She tracked the line of his gaze and saw a small deer peacefully cropping dewy grass. What are you looking at?
Prey. His voice was low, intent.
His back to her, Raphael stood and tugged the shirt over his head. Muscles rippled beneath his smooth, tanned flesh. Her mouth went dry as she stared. He reached for the waistband of his jeans.
W-what are you doing?
Im going to hunt. I havent eaten deer in months.
There are no deer where youre from?