Provoked

CHAPTER 18

Smoke gave the night a surreal quality. The shouts from angry men came from what seemed a great distance. Particles of brick rained down, and it took several seconds for Amber to realize Kane was protecting her head. In fact, the vampire was protecting her, period. Shielding her with his body, he maneuvered gracefully around debris and two downed bodies in what had been a small room.

Downed demons.

They wore the same black uniforms as the two who had tried to kidnap her from the farm.

Dage dropped and jammed a knife into the closest demon’s neck.

Bile rose in Amber’s stomach and she turned away.

Pain crept along her cheekbones to pierce her lower eyelids, sliding directly for her brain. With a cry, she smoothed shields into place.

Calmness. Peace. Strength.

Kane stumbled and growled low. Blood trickled out his ears.

Amber grabbed his hand, trying to send strength to his mind. “Don’t fight the pain—go around it.”

He frowned and then his shoulders relaxed. Blood dripped from his nose. “That’s better. Seek your granny.”

Three demon solders rushed from a doorway to the left. Talen and Dage pounced on them, even while emitting growls of pain.

Kane tugged her toward the doorway while Oscar flanked her other side. “Keep shielding.”

She nodded, her heart flaring to beat against her ribs in a painful cadence. Seeking with her mind, she caught a faint whiff of something pure. Her grandma. “She’s here.”

Kane nodded. “Yeah, I can sense her. She’s not shielding—must know we’re here.” His gun in one hand, he grabbed Amber’s with his other and darted into the doorway.

A long tunnel wound directly into the rock.

“I was afraid of this.” Kane shook his head. “Stay behind me. The second you sense them, let me know.”

She gripped his hand tighter. An odd connection flowed beneath her skin and escaped where they touched. Her abilities might help him fight the mental pain. “Don’t let go.”

He frowned, glancing down. “Are you shielding my mind, too?”

“Maybe. But trying doesn’t hurt me or diminish my shield over my brain, so there’s no reason not to try.” Probably. Heck, maybe not. Her head was actually starting to ache a little bit.

He nodded and glanced over his shoulder. “I have lead. Flank her.”

Talen and Oscar both stepped up behind her.

Kane maneuvered around burning bricks, leading her carefully. “I sense two ahead.” He pushed her against the rock wall and released her. An instant grunt of pain came from him. Talen jumped to his side, and they both leapt forward into the darkness. The echo of flesh hitting flesh filled the tunnel along with grunts and the shattering sound of bones breaking.

Brutal images of war and death slammed into Amber’s brain. She bit her lip to keep from crying out. Settling her hands against the rough rock wall, she breathed deep and tried to shove the images away. Sharp spikes ripped the back of her eyelids. Digging deep, she eased air into her lungs, gently sliding the bad images away and replacing them with good images.

The pain receded.

She opened her eyes in time to see a demon stop short, his eyes going wide as he struggled as if the air held him back. Talen stood before him, one hand out. Talen jumped forward and stabbed the demon, taking him down to the ground. Seconds later, the demon’s head flew down the tunnel.

Talen pivoted and shot into the darkness.

Nausea settled in her stomach, and she had to take several deep swallows not to puke.

Kane reappeared, blood across his face and torso.

She gasped. “Talen made that guy stop moving.”

“Yes. Talen has a gift.” Grabbing her hand, Kane tugged her into the darkness. “Talen and Oscar are scouting ahead—I sense at least three more.”

Yeah, she sensed them, too. Threading her fingers through Kane’s, she concentrated on sending whatever power she had through their connection. They jogged deeper into the earth, and she kept to Kane’s back, following in his steps. While the darkness hid the ground, she didn’t falter.

Kane stopped, and she ran into his back. His hold tightened a fraction before he released her. A gentle push to her chest found her shoulders against the wall.

Strong lights snapped on.

Amber cried out, the sudden brightness attacking her eyes. She shut them, her knees trembling. The sound of metal hitting rock snapped them back open.

A demon swung a huge glinting sword at Kane’s head. Kane ducked and leapt sideways, climbing the rock wall to jump for the demon’s head. He hit hard and slammed the soldier into the rock.

Waves of pain instantly cascaded from the demon and smacked Amber between the eyes. Unbelievable images, truly horrific pictures of death and torture, filled her mind. A sharp spike of pain cut down the center of her brain. She cried out, her mouth remaining open even when it hurt too much to push out sound.

Kane grabbed his head and stumbled back.

No! Amber sucked in the smoky air and pushed against the pain. Her knees weakening, she slid to the ground. As her butt met the hard floor, she settled and gently slid the horror away. The pain followed.

Kane dropped to one knee, blood flowing from his nose.

The demon grinned sharp canines, sword raising high.

Pressing her shoulders against the wall, Amber sent harsh images of pain and death at the demon.

He paused, gaze roving to her. “Destroyer.”

She shoved harder.

His grin lacked any semblance of humor. “No.” His empty black eyes pierced into hers. Raw, brutal, and pure agony shot through her pupils right to her brain. She screamed, hands rising to ward off something she couldn’t touch.

With a furious battle cry, Kane leapt into the air, both hands grabbing the demon’s sword. He shoved the weapon sideways toward the demon’s throat.

The demon struggled, a hiss coming from his pale lips.

Kane kneed him in the gut. Once, twice, and then a third time as they struggled for the sword. Blood flowed out of Kane’s ears, nose, and even his eyes.

His shoulders went back, and he shoved the side of the blade into the demon’s mouth. Bellowing a shout of victory, he pressed in and cut the demon.

The demon cried out, falling against the wall.

Kane stepped back, swung the blade, and pivoted his entire body as he swished the sword through the demon’s neck. The head hit the ground with a thunderous clunk and then rolled into the darkness.

“Are you all right?” Kane wiped blood off his chin. His blood.

Nodding her head, Amber used the wall to reach her feet. “Yes.” She swayed. A roaring filled her ears.

Kane grabbed her elbow, and reality rushed back. Turning, he surveyed the tunnel.

Amber gasped at the crude door set into the rock several yards ahead now guarded by Oscar. Gentle vibrations came from the other side of the door. Hurrying after Kane, she tried to reach with her mind into the room. Nothing happened.

Kane set her behind him and kicked the door precisely at the lock. The door whipped open.

Amber shoved past him to find her grandmother calmly sitting on the floor. Next to her lay an unconscious demon soldier bleeding from his eyes and mouth.

Hilde raised an eyebrow. “It’s about time.”

Hair wet from the shower, Amber padded into the spacious living room of Hilde’s new underground quarters dressed in a fresh pair of borrowed jeans and a snug sweater. The jeans were from Sarah Pringle, Max’s mate, while the sweater had been the queen’s. A huge television took up one wall, while a comfortable-looking sofa and two captain chairs faced it. A thick Western rug covered the rock floor and pretty watercolors adorned the walls. A stocked kitchen and two bedrooms made up the unit.

The door opened, and Grandma Hilde swept inside. She turned and thanked Oscar for escorting her.

The massive vampire nodded, his eyes sparkling.

Shutting the door, Hilde hurried over to sit on the sofa. She’d also borrowed clean clothing. The king had requested her presence for a debriefing that had lasted about an hour. Finally, she’d returned. She smiled, her dark eyes lighting up. “Is that Oscar a handsome one, or what?”

Amber frowned and dropped to the faux-leather couch.

Hilde cleared her throat and stretched her legs across the matching ottoman. “I mean, I’m already mated, so it’s not like I can touch the guy. You know if any male touches a mated woman, he ends up in agony from a rare allergy, right?”

“Yeah, I’ve heard that.” Amber didn’t return the smile.

“Well, I can at least look at the handsome vampire.” Hilde squirmed into a different position. “So, how about those demons?”

Biting back a sharp retort, Amber glared at her grandmother. The glare turned to wide-eyed disbelief. “You look different.”

Hilde shrugged. “Yes. I look forty-five, which I am. The last several years I’ve had to add a bunch of gray to my hair and use makeup to look older. It’s nice to be me again.” She rubbed her clean skin with both hands. “I’m not sorry I kept this part of your life from you.”

Amber sighed. “I know—and I had a wonderful childhood. But right now, at this time, it’d be nice to be able to lay a demon out like you did.” God. She was discussing the very real existence of demons with her grandmother. Where had reality gone? “But you said you didn’t have any power.”

“I didn’t. But I did mate a vampire years ago, and when you mate, you get their skills. He was psychic, and maybe I gained enough skill from him that I have some power now. Who knows.” Hilde stretched her neck. “I guess all you do with the demons is shove their power back at them.” She held out her hand, which was smooth and missing the dark age spots Amber had gotten accustomed to seeing.

“I did. I tried to shove one demon’s power back, and he nearly blinded me.” Maybe Amber didn’t have the power she’d thought. “So, I slid the pain and images away and at least shielded myself. Oh, and I shielded Kane a little bit when we held hands, I think.”

Hilde stiffened, gaze cutting to Amber. “You shielded Kane?”

Squirming on the couch for no logical reason, Amber cleared her throat. “Um, yeah. I mean, I think I did.”

“Did he mate you?” Hilde’s eyes widened.

“Mate? No.”

“Hmmm.” Hilde frowned. “You shouldn’t be able to shield anyone you haven’t mated, sweetie. That isn’t done, I don’t think.”

“I haven’t mated Kane.” Sure, they’d had sex several times. But if there was no marking, there was no mating. “Maybe the ability to shield other people is my gift and not being able to attack the demons is my curse.”

“No. I don’t think the ability works that way.” Hilde shook out her curly hair.

“Why not? I mean, you have curly hair, and I have straight hair, yet it’s the same color and I obviously inherited the color from you. Maybe the gift is used different ways, too.” Amber had promised Kane she’d help save Jase, and she would. But the sooner she figured out how to use her gift, the better.

“Perhaps.” Hilde’s dark eyes turned shrewd. “You slept with him more than once?”

Heat climbed into Amber’s face. “Grandma—we already talked about that.”

Her grandma reached out and patted her hand. “I’m asking because I’ve heard the marking is just one part of a Kayrs’ mating. Along with a good bite . . . and sex. Maybe you’ve started to mate him and don’t even know it.”

Now that was ridiculous. “Speaking of mating, I’m so sorry you lost your mate.” She couldn’t help it. “You know, Grandpa Dracula.”

“Oh, for goodness’ sake.” Hilde chuckled. “He wasn’t that old. And that chapter of my life is long closed. The second you were born, your mama wanted to give you a normal childhood absent any mind torture or knowledge of war. When she and Elliot both died, I followed her wishes.”

Love for her grandmother welled up so fast Amber’s breath caught. Her childhood at the eco-village was wonderful but hardly normal. “Did you really believe? I mean, in the village and what we’ve stood for, or was it all a ruse?”

“Yes. The eco-village was off the map and a very safe place for us, I’ll admit. But our way of life was a good one there, and I truly believe in saving the environment and living off the land.”

Relief relaxed Amber’s shoulders. “Even so, thank you for giving up your life to make sure I had a good childhood.”

“Sure.” Hilde patted her hand. “So, I’d like to teach you how to use your skill, but we need a demon to attack first. I mean, our gifts only come into play when there’s demon energy at work. Well, or a very gifted vampire.”

Like Kane. His mind had to be truly amazing to be able to attack, even briefly. Or maybe it was his empathic abilities—the ones he hated. Amber frowned. There was an idea somewhere muddled in that thought, but it escaped her. Her jaw almost cracked when she yawned.

Hilde nodded. “Yes, I’m tired as well. Maybe we should get some sleep and work hard to figure out our lives tomorrow. I mean, where we should go next.”

“I’m not leaving.” Amber steeled herself.

Hilde sat back. “You’re not leaving?” She frowned. “Are you staying with Kane? I mean, is he the one?”

“No. But I promised I’d help save his brother from the demons if he helped me find you. I gave him my word.” Hilde had taught her honor from day one, so surely she’d understand how important a promise Amber had made.

“Too freakin’ bad. You’re not fighting more demons—you said yourself you can’t turn their powers back on them.” Fear slid the color from Hilde’s face. “Not a chance.”

“Yes, I am,” Amber said gently. “I can learn to use this gift—in time.”

A gentle knock echoed through the door. “Come in,” Hilde called.

Oscar poked his head inside and rubbed a hand over his crew-cut. “Ah, Hilde? I found somebody to cover the shifter training tonight. Did you, ah, want to see the new movie the king got for the kids?”

Hilde blushed a pretty pink. “Of course. Amber is tired and is going to bed, but I’m wide awake.” She bounded off the sofa and headed for the vampire at the door. Once there, she turned and winked at Amber. “Don’t wait up, sweetie.”

The door shut.

Amber sat on the couch, blinking rapidly. Where in the world had reality disappeared to?