Death Waltz Read online

  “So where have you two been?” January asked.

  “You don’t want to know. It’s too complicated. Did you get anything to eat?” Liasare asked.

  “Oh, yes. The food is amazing here.”

  Xarrid, Saylan, Tommy, and Jaylen joined them.

  Jurek said, “I hope you are all getting enough to eat and drink.”

  Xarrid answered, “You’re kidding, right? There’s enough here for the universe, I believe.”

  The couple made their way around the room to greet and chat with everyone. Liasare felt the tension flow from her body as she finally relaxed and the night wore on. She, January, and Jaylen were deep in a discussion about the merits of men in the bedroom and having some good laughs over a few things when Jurek appeared at her side and pulled her away.

  He dipped his head and murmured to her, “I appreciate you elevating me above others in the area of the bedroom, love, but some things need to remain private between us.”

  Liasare felt her cheeks burn with fire, as Jurek’s breath fanned her neck, sending shivers across her flesh.

  Fuck, that really was inappropriate, wasn’t it?

  Though I’m quite flattered, yeah, it was.

  Then he surprised her by laughing and taking her into his arms. She hadn’t been aware that he had walked her to the dance floor, as he spoke to her such was her embarrassment.

  Don’t worry. I’ll pay you back one day, love. But I’ll admit having you brag about my, er, finesse with my mouth, not to mention my size, was somewhat of an ego booster.

  Damn, Alaric, just how much did you hear?

  He threw his head back and laughed. Pretty much everything. Except I honestly didn’t want to know all that about Rykerian. Not something men like to discuss about each other.

  Oh, fuck! Don’t tell January. She’d die of embarrassment. Kinda like I am right now.

  He spun her around to the tempo of the music, and she grinned.

  “Your secrets are safe with me.”

  Then his lips found hers for a brief kiss and his spicy scent filled her nose. Liasare loved to dance with Jurek because he made her feel as if she were floating on a cloud. Her feet moved across the floor without a thought as she followed him, her eyes on his as he steered her along. Desire flared between them and she asked, “How long are we expected to stay here?”

  He chuckled at her. “Liasare, if I had my way, I would spend the next month, naked with you at the sanctuary. I think the question you need to ask yourself is whether your family and Jaylen would be pissed at you if you left right now.”

  “Yeah, I suppose you’re right. But I know we need to get back to Earth and go to work, so I’ll feel cheated of my private time with you. All I want to do is have hot, steamy sex with you.”

  Jurek’s laughter echoed throughout the room, causing everyone to look their way. Liasare broke out into laughter right along with him and said, “Sorry, I can’t seem to help myself.”

  She caught the looks cast her way and knew exactly what everyone was thinking. “They all know.”

  “Know what?” Jurek asked.

  “They know what I want to do with you.”

  That caused to him break out in another burst of laughter. “That’s good. I want them to know that. I want them to know you’re all mine too. No one will ever taste or feel what I do with you. Ever. Now stop eye-fucking me or else I’m going to embarrass the hell out of you.”

  Liasare’s mouth dropped open to the point where Jurek took his finger and placed it beneath her chin, and closed it. The music ended, but they stayed put, staring at each other, still locked in each other’s embrace.

  “Sometimes you make me senseless,” he said right before his mouth claimed hers.

  Rykerian, January, Xarrid, and Saylan eyed the couple from across the room.

  “Whoever thought the king would fall so hard?” Xarrid asked.

  They all shook their heads.

  “And for my baby sister?” January added. “He’s totally smitten with her. I mean he can’t stop staring at her. Honestly, he’s worse than any of you Yarristers ever thought about being.”

  “I think you may be right,” Rykerian said. “The mighty has met his match.”

  “From what Tommy has told me tonight, she takes no crap from him either,” Xarrid said. “She’s the only one he allows to speak to him like that. Well, I can get away with it in minute amounts, but apparently she’s a chart topper.”

  “That’s what love does, right everyone?” Rykerian asked.

  They all mumbled their agreement. All the couples began eyeing each other and at once they all spoke up saying how they would be heading back to Vesturon. Then they all laughed.

  “Looks like we all have the same ideas,” January said. “Let’s go tell them.”

  Liasare acted disappointed when she heard the news.

  “Don’t pretend with me. I know you can’t wait to get rid of us all so you two can be alone again,” January said.

  Liasare had the good graces not to deny it. Jurek thanked everyone for coming and the two couples departed.

  “So what now? Any chance of us slipping away? Looks like Tommy and Jaylen are occupied with each other, which doesn’t surprise me. I think she kinda liked him before he became a minion anyway. This might work out pretty well for the two of them.”

  “They’re both staying at the house tonight, so who knows?” Jurek added. “Let’s go.”

  She nodded and they vanished.

  ***

  Jurek rubbed his nose against Liasare’s hair as she slept and inhaled her fragrance. She smelled of sweet flowers and sex. The combination was heady, causing him to become hard beneath the sheets. It was impossible to think about sleeping without her. Fact is, he couldn’t remember when he slept alone anymore. Wrapping his arm tightly around her waist, he pulled her against him. This was one of his favorite feelings ... having her naked skin pressed against his. It wasn’t even a choice. He had to have her body next to his, touching him everywhere, or he felt like he wasn’t whole. It went far past a sexual thing. Though the desire was always there, simmering below the surface, threatening to explode, what he had for her was part of him. Like his heart could only give up a half of a beat without her. Or his lungs could only inhale and not exhale. She was the union of their souls.

  He was startled when he felt her hand wrap around and stroke him, though he shouldn’t have been. She was every bit as passionate about sex as he was, sometimes more so. When her mouth took him inside it’s hot sweet depths, he moaned and thrust his hips upward.

  “Ahh, Liasare.” His hands plowed into her tresses and he guided her up and down as she took his shaft deep into her throat, sucking him off. Gods, how he loved this. When he was close to losing himself in her, he pulled her off and then rolled her on her side. Sliding his cock along her wet slit, he entered her from behind.

  “Oh, Alaric. Ah, yes,” she cried out.

  Jurek wound his arm around her and slipped his hand between her legs. He found her clit and began to rub it in a circular motion, as she rolled with his rhythm.

  In an instant, Liasare found herself on her back with Jurek leaning over her. He lifted her legs onto his shoulders and entered her quickly, penetrating her so deep, she cried out in surprise at the sensation of fullness.

  “Okay?” he wanted to know.

  “Ah, yes. More,” she cried.

  His hips thrust into her over and over and soon their power erupted around them. Their bodies were awash in color as their climaxes struck them, slamming into them for what seemed to be a very long time. They were both breathless and dripping with sweat, when their orgasms were complete.

  “Mmm, that was nice,” Liasare whispered. “You’ve turned my bones into rubber.”

  “You’ve turned my dick into rubber.”

  She giggled. “Wasn’t that the idea?”

  “Hmm, I guess. Are your legs okay up here?”

  “Umm hmm. Good. Perfect.”

  “Are
you falling asleep on me?”

  “Umm hmm. Happy wedding day.”

  Jurek chuckled. He took her legs off of his shoulders and pulled out of her. Then he lay back down next to her so he could go back to sleep, too.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Liasare and Jurek were sound asleep when they heard pounding on their door. At first Jurek was disoriented because no one ever pounded on his door at the sanctuary. That’s because no one ever came here. No one.

  Liasare stretched and asked, “What’s going on?”

  “Dunno,” he answered her. Then he called out, “Who is it?”

  “It’s Naroo. There’s an emergency that you need to be made aware of.”

  “Give me a minute.”

  “What in the world?” Liasare said.

  Jurek pulled on some pants and a shirt.

  “Should I go with you?”

  “No, love, you stay right here and sleep. I’ll return as soon as I can.” He bent to kiss her. “Mmm, you taste luscious.”

  She smiled and said, “So do you.”

  He left to join Naroo. She was just snuggling back down into the covers when the door to their bedroom slammed open and Jurek came striding in.

  Liasare’s heart somersaulted in her chest when she saw him. His eyes were black and those tiny muscles in his cheeks were twitching.

  “What’s wrong? You’re scaring me.” The temperature in the room dropped and Liasare’s breath created little puffs of steam. She shivered violently.

  “Get dressed. We need to go to Vesturon. Immediately.”

  “Why?”

  “Don’t question me. Just get dressed.”

  Liasare trembled so fiercely she could barely walk. “What’s happening to me, Jurek?” She gaped at her hands as they shook. All of a sudden her vision blackened and she fell to her knees. Then a pain ripped through her chest as a scream was forced from her lips. Jurek flew to her and grabbed her before she hit the floor.

  “Liasare, can you hear me? Put up your blocks, now.”

  He wasn’t positive he was getting through to her so he kept repeating himself, forcing his thoughts into her mind. Eventually her eyes fluttered open and she focused on his face.

  “What happened?”

  “You were out of it for a second. Do you remember anything?”

  She shook her head. “No.” She rubbed her arms in an attempt to stop them from trembling.

  “Come. In the shower you go.” She needed heat and fast. He moved her to the bathroom and when the water was hot, they both stepped in. “As much as I’d like to stay in here for a while, we need to get a move on. Look at me, love. He has January’s two youngest children.”

  “What?”

  “We think Abaddon took January’s two youngest children.”

  “He has Elysia and Marko?”

  “That’s what we think.”

  “Oh, God. When?”

  “Last night. We don’t know the specifics. That’s why we need to leave. As soon as possible.”

  “O-okay.”

  They finished showering and got dressed.

  “Liasare, when you blacked out, do you remember anything that happened?”

  “Only a great pain in my chest.”

  “Hmm. Remember, especially now that we’re leaving Praestan, you must keep your mind blocked at all times. And remember your cove. Be prepared to shift into your energy form at any time. You must be on alert at all times.”

  “Yes, I will. I’m afraid my vision is coming true. The one I had a while back.”

  “Let’s not go there right now. Come, love. I’m sure your sister needs you.”

  ***

  That was the understatement of the century. January was inconsolable. Rykerian wasn’t much better. From all accounts, the two children were put to bed and in the morning they were gone. No one entered their home and no one saw them leave. There was no trace of a teleporter being used. No vapor trail or footprint on the security system was left behind or on Vesturon’s entry from space. This was highly unusual.

  When all this was explained to Jurek and Liasare, the only thing they said was, “Abaddon.”

  “But how?” Xarrid asked.

  Liasare’s eyes narrowed and she spoke through gritted teeth. “Through their dreams. He tried to get to me that way. All of your children are at risk here. Jurek, we have to move them to Praestan. They’ll be safer there.”

  “Do it now,” Jurek told Xarrid and Rykerian.

  “What about the other children? Maddie and Rayn’s? Xarrid and Saylan’s?” Rykerian asked.

  “They’re not at risk. He only wants my blood. He knows he can get to me that way,” Liasare explained.

  Suddenly Jurek’s voice bellowed, “Tak, Marik!”

  “Bloody hell! Are you trying to wake the dead?” Rykerian asked.

  Before he finished speaking, Marik and Tak materialized into the room.

  “What’s going on?” Tak asked.

  Jurek explained and the expletives started flying.

  Rykerian stepped between the men and said, “Can you watch your language, please?”

  Jurek growled and Liasare huffed, “Rykerian, no offense, but we can’t be worried about our language at a time like this. We have bigger problems at hand. Now you need to gather up your kids so we can get them the fuck out of here.”

  Tak and Marik took the two oldest children to Jurek’s home, leaving them in the care of Brinna. Naroo and Ludo took the other two. On Vesturon, Liasare helped January pack up some things for them.

  “Do you think we’ll get them back?” January asked. Liasare looked at her and wanted to cry. Her cheeks were tear-streaked and as pale as snow.

  “I’ll die trying, January. That’s my promise to you.”

  “I’m so worried. What if they’re in pain?”

  “They’re not. He has them in a dream-like trance.”

  “How do you know?”

  “Because he did that to me once.” She hugged January and assured her she would get her young ones back. Liasare prayed she could fulfill her promise.

  After several trips, they had everyone settled on Praestan. The house was noisy and it was going to be a bit crowded but there wasn’t much of a choice. Not until Abaddon was locked back up in his Hell, that is.

  Later that night, the two couples sat up late and discussed the next steps.

  Jurek told them he and Liasare would be returning to Earth to try to draw out Abaddon and his Dark Creatures. They needed to figure out where their breeding grounds were and how they were populating Earth. They also needed to figure out how Abaddon was growing in strength. They knew he was tied to the Xanthians somehow, but that piece of the puzzle was still missing.

  “Do you need the Guardians’ help?” Rykerian asked.

  “Thanks, but not yet. We need to figure out where these creatures are first. They can only be destroyed using silver and steel forged with Praestani power or Praestani power itself. If you can perhaps monitor for any kind of unusual activity, that would prove useful. I can have Ludo coordinate with your security experts. He’s the one handling that for us.”

  “Very well. I’ll have Xarrid get on that.”

  They all said good night and went to their private quarters. Right before Liasare drifted off to sleep, Jurek pulled her close to him and whispered how much he loved her.

  ***

  Liasare woke right before sunrise feeling miserable. Her stomach rollercoastered as she lay in bed. Waves of nausea forced her out of bed and she made it to the bathroom just in time for the contents of her belly to end up in the toilet. Sweat poured off her body as heat consumed her. She was never one to be sickly so she wondered what she’d eaten to make her this ill.

  “What’s wrong, love?”

  “I think last night’s dinner didn’t agree with me.”

  Jurek took a cool cloth and wiped her face. “Your body temperature is off.”

  “I’m burning up.”

  He held his hand to her head and she
felt his power rush through her. But this time it did nothing to ease her discomfort.

  “It’s not working,” she said in a panic-filled voice. “What’s wrong with me?”

  Liasare’s eyes met his and she was shocked to see his had turned black. She also noted his usual tawny skin had turned pale.

  “What? What’s going on, Alaric?”

  “Bloody fuck. When was your last period?”

  “Uh, I can’t remember.”

  “What the hell do you mean?”

  “I mean I can’t remember! Is that so difficult to understand?”

  Another wave of nausea hit her and she ended up vomiting again. Jurek cursed the whole time until she was finished.

  Liasare pushed herself off the floor and went to the sink to brush her teeth. The whole time, she felt Jurek’s eyes drilling holes into her back. When she was finished, she looked at herself in the mirror. She didn’t look any different. Her tummy was as flat as it had ever been. She put her hands on it and touched it, hoping to feel something different. But no such luck. Could she be pregnant? Of course it was possible. Hell, they’d had sex every which way to Sunday, dozens of times a day sometimes. Fuck, yeah, it was possible. Why didn’t she think of using some sort of prevention? Stupid, stupid, stupid, Liasare.

  “You can’t possibly think of carrying a baby, if you are in fact with child.”

  “What did you just say?” she asked as she slowly turned to face him.

  Jurek looked at her in all her glory. He’d never seen her look so beautiful. But that’s what he thought every time he looked at her.

  “I believe you heard me.”

  “I did. But I want you to repeat it.”

  “Fine. You can’t possibly think of carrying a child. I’ll go one step further than that. I won’t allow you to carry a child.”

  “Wh-what? You won’t allow me to carry a child? Since when did you own my body?”

  He growled. “Since you became my queen and my mate.”

  “I don’t give a flying fuck what you say. I’ll do whatever the hell I want. This is my body and you’ll do well to remember that.” She went to walk past him but he stopped her.