Please, Kelly. It has good magick and will help you, hed whispered.
She closed her eyes, and the ache in her muscles eased as the triskele amplified the suns gentle strength. She heard a small, hopeful meow.
House cat. She gave a vague smile.
Where did you come from, kitty? I thought the vamps didnt let anything smaller than a tank hunt on their turf? Too hurt to wonder what it was, she closed her eyes. And then she heard a scream upstairs.
Billy! She started off the chaise.
Bam! Next thing she knew she was lying flat on her stomach, a heavy male weight pressed into her back.
Chief Petty Officer Sam Shaymore, U.S. Navy SEALs, he whispered into her ear.
Warm breath feathered over her cheek. The delicious masculine scent of leather and sage became stronger and enveloped her like a lovers arms. She knew this scent. Knew this body...had felt it atop hers years ago.
When hed laid her down on his bed, kissed her and then had taken her virginity.
The muscled SEALs heavy weight shifted, allowing her to roll over. He straddled her, sitting on her hips, his hands easily pinning her down.
Indifferent, almost cruel concentration on his face turned to shock. Those penetrating hazel eyes widened and then darkened.
Kelly, he said softly.
A gleam of recognition and pure sexual awareness. She felt the jolt as if Sam had branded her with a white-hot iron. Sheer desire whipsawed through her, making her tremble as he held her down. The last time theyd been in this position, Sam had been thrusting deep inside her, as shed clung to him and moaned.
The erotic current between them fizzled as anger flushed his handsome face. What the hell are you doing here?
Power hummed in the air, radiating off him in waves. Sam could generate electromagnetic current strong enough to turn a building into dust. A navy SEAL and a Phantom Mage? Forget the vampire guards. They had baby teeth compared with Sams T. rex magick.
Fear coated her mouth. Kelly wriggled, but he held her down easily. Disgusted with her weakness, she scowled into his face.
Mind getting off me, Sam? Were not lovers anymore, and this brick is awfully hard.
Those chiseled features narrowed. He wore a black headband around his forehead, keeping his shoulder-length brown hair in place. A nasty-looking weapon hung from one broad shoulder. He was clad in some kind of green camouflage. Kelly felt a shiver snake down her spine.
Let me go. I have to get to Billy...
He touched an earpiece and glanced upstairs. Billy is safe.
But the Mages...
Dead. His gaze flattened. Why did you take him, Kelly? This your new hobby, stealing innocents?
I didnt kidnap Billy. I was trying to free him when I got caught. My organization is Sight Finders.
Those dreamy hazel eyes widened. Those nutjobs? The ones who steal Mage children in domestic disputes?
My organization rescues Mage children in trouble.
My organization is the U.S. Navy. Youre my prisoner. Sam eased back and snapped plastic ties around her wrists.
Her jaw dropped. You cant do this!
Just did.
But Im on your side.
Cant trust that, until the situation is secured. Then for a sheer moment, the indifferent mask dropped. Torment shadowed his face as he stroked a light finger down her cheek. His touch made her shiver, and remember.
Sam, she began, but he slid off and pulled her upright. Even with his incandescent rage, his touch was considerate and gentle.
Always the Southern gentleman. Even when taking prisoners, she thought dully.
She struggled against the ties but failed to break them. Sam gave her an amused look. Dont waste your energy. I laced them with magick. Im an Elemental.
You were, she whispered. Now youre just a bastard. When did you become one, Sam?
Regret flashed in his eyes, and then the hardness returned. The day your father escaped after killing my whole family.
He walked her to a sturdy coconut palm. Before he secured her to it, he cupped her cheek with his palm. Despite the wet, thick gloves, she felt the warmth of his touch like a brand. He studied her solemnly. Kel, he murmured.
So close he seemed ready to kiss her. She closed her eyes, remembering those firm, warm lips nestled against hers.
When she opened her eyes, hed vanished.
Kelly struggled against her bonds. Gunfire erupted amid loud explosions upstairs. A SEAL emerged from the house, carrying a terrified Billy. He was sobbing.
Give him to me, she cried out.
Sheer strength and her own secret store of magick shattered her bonds. Kelly rushed forward, only to feel the cold pressure of a gun barrel pressed to her temple. Dont move, came Sams deep voice.
Im here to save Billy. Im not his enemy!
Maybe not his, he said in a soft, drawling voice that rubbed against her skin like warm velvet. But, sweetheart, you are most definitely mine.
Chapter 2
Propping his heavy boots on the table in front of him, Shay took a swig of bottled water and stared at the opposite wall of Phoenix Forces ready room. Framed photographs of SEALs whod died in combat stared back. Shay gave them a solemn salute with the bottle.
Kelly Denning. Even now, years after theyd parted, the memories rushed back in a cascade of searing heat. But now they said she was a scumbag, worse than a pyrokinetic demon. According to the rumors swirling around the SEAL Team 21 compound, shed used her organization as cover to steal Elemental Phantom Mage children to drain their powers. Billy was the first. Others would follow if Kelly wasnt stopped.
The door slammed behind them as Renegade and Dakota paced into the room. The two Draicon werewolves looked ready to take someone down.
Gods, he knew what they felt. They hated the mass of red tape caused by the senator whose son theyd saved. Everyone on the SEAL 21 compound was on edge. ST 21 was thought by humans to be norms. No one in the human world knew of the existence of paranorms. If they did, theyd freak.
And now the senator had brought an entourage of humans into the compound. Are they done with her yet? he asked his lieutenant.
Dakota shook his head. Humans are. FBI and brass are letting her go. No evidence she was working with the kidnappers. But as soon as theyre gone, Senator Rogers wants a crack at her.
He exchanged glances with a scowling Renegade.
The senator wants blood. He says shes lying, because all Arcane Mages lie. Renegade shook his head. Seems were in the middle of a damn blood feud.
Rogers is an Elemental Elder on the Council of Mages. He doesnt trust Arcanes. This little incident fuels his reasons even more, Shay explained.
And he had the power to fry Kelly with a flick of one hand. Not if Im around.
Stretching languidly, Renegade winked. That Kelly is hot. Heard you were childhood friends and then lovers.
Shay stiffened and then crushed the bottle in one hand. Not anymore.
Bad parting? Dakota took a chair, swung it around and straddled it.
You might say. Shay gave his friend and lieutenant a meaningful look. The Draicon werewolf got it and shut his trap. Thank you.
But Renegade, a loudmouth and player, shook the topic like a wolf with a tasty bone. I dont get this crap about Elementals and Arcanes. Youre all the same race, all Mages.
Long history. Shay pitched the empty bottle into a waste basket.
Renegade tapped his fingers on the desk. I bet you got into it with her father because shes an Arcane and youre a powerful Elemental. You seduced her. Classic case of the maid seduced by the nobleman.
Shays blood pressure rose. The desk began to vibrate beneath his clenched fists. Electromagnetic currents rippled in the air, sparks crackling with magick.
And then... Renegade grinned. Her father went after you with a shotgun.
No. Her father killed my entire family.
Both SEALs stared at him. Shay felt his temples begin to pound as he recognized the troublesome look in Renegades eyes.
No. Her father killed my entire family.
Both SEALs stared at him. Shay felt his temples begin to pound as he recognized the troublesome look in Renegades eyes.
All that over a little something-something? Day-um. That Kelly she must be great in the sack. Those long legs...
Shays temper snapped like dry kindling. Thats it. Youre going down.
He vaulted over the table, aiming for the SEAL. As Renegade shape-shifted into a wolf, Shay used his Phantom powers to shift.
Snarling, the two wolves clashed in midair, heavily muscled bodies thunking hard against each other. He raked his claws over the others muzzle, heard an answering call of pain. Renegades teeth closed over Shays left shoulder, biting hard. As the burning agony hit, so did logic. Tearing free, Shay spun around, his large paws digging into the linoleum.
His Kelly? Since when? The man inside the wolf howled for reason. This was Renegade, a bastard, sure, but his teammate, a fellow SEAL who would give his life for the teams. And Shay.
Dakota stormed forward, backhanded them both. Stand down!
The two wolves shifted back and Renegade clothed himself by using magick. He looked badly shaken. Blood dripped from three furrows on his face. The coppery scent hung in the air.
Shay shifted back, feeling deeply ashamed. He conjured on clothing and swallowed hard, looking Renegade in the eye.
Im sorry, man, Shay said.
My bad. The other SEAL looked abashed.
A vein jumped in Dakotas temple. Are you insane? The senators human aides are in this building! Were pooling all our efforts to make SEAL Team 21 look like just another SEAL team and hide our powers. And you two shape-shift in broad daylight?
He turned to Renegade. You. Fifty laps around the compound. Now. And you...
Dakota waited until Renegade left. Shay, dial it down. I know what its like to lose your head over a woman, but youre not doing her any favors by pulling crap like that.
It wont happen again.
He meant it. Because the feral rage scared the ever-living crap out of him. Gods, he hadnt shifted into a wolf since the day hed nearly killed a rancher almost eleven years ago. If not for his uncles high standing on the council, Shay would have been executed. They didnt kill him, because he was a privileged Elemental Mage. After, Shay joined the navy, became a SEAL. The disciplined life had saved him.