Deadly Attraction Page 4

  Jade’s fury simmered. “And the king believed this?”

  “He investigated, yes,” Walker announced. “Obviously, he’s concerned about the implication. He has no intention of letting something disrupt the law he laid down and has vowed to uphold—”

  “Let me tell you about the king’s decrees,” Jade interjected, her voice suddenly much stronger as her agitation mounted. She turned to address the mass of people gathered and said, “They hold no weight. They’ve been violated. With Jinx, certainly and undisputedly. But also with me. Maybe with some of you.” Her gaze slid to Michael.

  “Jade.” Tanner lunged forward and gripped her arm.

  Michael leaped to his feet again.

  He wasn’t the only one to come to her defense. Another man stood, in the back of the room. He was dressed all in black, his cloak covering his body, the hood pulled over his head, casting shadows across his face. All Jade could see of him was that he was a mountain of a man—possibly six-foot-five or six—broad-shouldered, with amber-colored eyes.

  “Release her,” he said in a deep, authoritative tone.

  Tanner’s grip loosened and Jade ripped her arm from his grasp. Her gaze locked with the stranger’s. She knew his voice and it sent a foreboding chill down her spine. And tightened her nipples. Two very contradictory and alarming sensations.

  “Who are you?” she demanded, her stomach twisting in knots.

  The mystery man peeled back his hood to reveal a devilishly, devastatingly handsome face. A perfectly sculpted visage. Chiseled cheeks. A hard-set jaw. Glowing eyes. Well-proportioned lips, not too thick, not too thin.

  It was a face she’d never seen before, not even in her dream, because it’d been buried in the crook of her neck as his mouth and tongue had swept over her skin. But she knew the hair as well as she knew his voice. The long, obsidian strands were lush and enticing, reminding her of how she’d tangled her fingers in the luxurious locks as he’d sank into her, thrusting confidently, intimately knowing her body regardless of the fact he’d never laid a hand on her in reality.

  The breath escaped her on one swift puff of air as realization dawned. A hot flash of awareness and desire made her cheeks and throat burn, but Jade stood her ground.

  Her eyes still on him, she muttered, “King Darien.”

  Surprise rippled through the crowd. Then the villagers slipped from their chairs and dropped to one knee to bow at his feet. Even the slayers and Michael paid homage.

  Jade did not.

  She was the only one to remain standing, and the flicker in the king’s hypnotic, amber eyes told her he was both impressed by her nerve, yet annoyed by her insolence.

  To appease him without giving up her stance, she nodded reverently at him.

  One corner of his mouth lifted in a smirk, then quickly dropped. With a gloved hand, he gestured for the congregation to return to their seats. When the commotion dimmed, he stepped out into the aisle and took three long strides toward Jade, though he was still several feet away, maintaining a respectable distance.

  With a challenging look, he said, “Please, explain why you believe I’ve broken all the rules I’ve set in order to maintain peace in this region.”

  Jade pulled in a jagged breath, then let it out slowly. Her knees nearly knocked together, making her unstable on her feet. She widened her stance to steady herself.

  Not only was the king the largest, strongest-looking man she’d ever laid eyes on, he was also the most mesmerizing. And visions of him doing wicked things to her would absolutely not leave her mind. It was damn near impossible for her to think straight, particularly with her body reacting so innately to him. His close proximity had all the fiery sensations from last night returning to her in a flash, causing her cunt to clench as it pulsed vibrantly with need and desire.

  But she had business to attend to and she found the strength—from Lord only knew where—to do just that.

  Squaring her shoulders, she said, “At least one, perhaps more, of your wraiths have tracked me for a month or two. Stalking me. Which is, by your own words, illegal. Correct?”

  “Yes.”

  His simple answer infuriated Jade, as though he didn’t believe her. Lifting her chin a notch, she added, “I’ve been followed in the woods on numerous occasions. Last night, someone on horseback watched me as I left the tavern where I work. Now Jinx is dead by a demon attack and I think you may as well lay your cards on the table and tell us whether or not we’re on the verge of another war.”

  The villagers gasped and groaned as they wriggled in their seats.

  The king’s tolerance wilted on the vine.

  In a commanding tone, he said, “There will be no more wars. I’ve given my word and I will stick by it. As for what happened with your friend Jinx,” his eyes narrowed on Jade, “I did not interrogate lightly, I assure you. And after hours of recounting the incident in the south woods, I believe the event truly was an accident. Tragic, certainly. But an accident nonetheless. The experiments were clearly a risk your human friend was willing to take.”

  “And what of the demon who killed him?” Jade asked, her tone softer as she thought of Jinx and tears threatened her eyes once more at the notion she’d never see his bright smile again.

  “He’s remorseful.” A humble expression crossed the king’s face as he took a few steps closer and said in a low voice, “As am I.”

  His dark, masculine scent wafted under her nose. An earthy aroma so enticing, it tightened her nipples further, making her extremely uncomfortable. Yet she wouldn’t show her weakness for him or his hunky body.

  She boldly asked, “That’s supposed to mollify us? Comfort us?”

  Where her verve came from, she wasn’t sure. No, she’d never backed down when an injustice was done, but this wasn’t some minor scuffle she’d dealt with on occasion at the tavern over whose turn it was to buy the next round or who’d supposedly won a game of darts. Or who’d shortchanged another at the farmer’s market.

  This was serious and she was standing toe-to-toe with a man who could have her in chains and locked in a cell with nothing more than a nod of his head. But anger over Jinx’s death and the violation of laws this haughty issuer of regulations wasn’t upholding had her irrational and willing to take a stand.

  King Darien’s jaw clenched for a brief moment before he said, “Of course you’re not comforted by my words.” His intense gaze remained locked with hers, as though he tried to see deep into her soul. It unnerved her, particularly after that dream she’d had. “And I will punish him. I came here this morning to tell you as much. Everyone,” he corrected as he shook his head, as though to clear his mind from a trancelike state as he stared so intently at her. “To tell everyone.”

  Jade found his faux pas disarming. For a man who had more power than God, he did not currently wield it in the tyrannical way she would expect. He was, quite surprisingly, an enigma. But she couldn’t get lost in his intimate voice, soul-searching gaze and six-foot-something-inches of pure virility and raw masculinity.

  They all stood on dangerous ground. She couldn’t forget that.

  “And what about me?” she asked. “What are you going to do about the fact someone from your kingdom stalks me on almost a nightly basis?”

  He took her in from head to toe as he seemed to make up his mind. When his eyes met hers again, he said, “That is a matter about which I will speak with you in private.”

  Michael jumped to his feet and reached for Jade, pulling her from the aisle and into the row toward her chair. “That’s hardly a reasonable request.”

  “Michael,” she shot back, under her breath. It was one thing for her to be impudent. What did she have to lose, really? But for Michael to suffer any repercussions for trying to protect her… That was something Jade couldn’t live with. “Let me handle this.”

  She wiggled her way out of his territorial clutches and returned to her spot in the aisle, standing before the Demon King. She didn’t miss the flash of agitation in hi
s eyes—at the way Michael had so quickly and fiercely stood up for her.

  To divert his attention from her friend, she said, “I’m sure the people of this community would like to hear what you have to say on the matter.”

  Another shake of his head. “No one else has been followed. This isn’t about the people of the community. It’s only about you.”

  Her pussy clenched at his words and a dull ache of longing took up residency deep within her. She couldn’t help but recall her dream. It had been Darien she’d fantasized making love with.

  But how could that be? She’d never even seen him before today. She’d had no idea what he looked like, because he didn’t come into the village. If he had something to say to the humans, he sent a messenger. Only the slayers interacted personally with him, and even that was a rare occasion, as they primarily dealt with his general.

  A disturbing mixture of alarm and arousal swirled in her belly. She was fascinated by the king, no doubt about it. But he was a demon. A dominant and potentially deadly one. As was her attraction to him.

  But his insistence of speaking with her in private was too intriguing to pass up.

  “Fine,” she said, “you may speak with me alone.” As if she had a choice. He was the king, after all. “But here in the village, not at the castle.”

  Demands. Who was she to make them? And yet she did.

  A hint of amusement played on his too-handsome-for-words face. With a nod, he said, “The library then.” Turning his attention to Lisette, he asked, “Do you mind?”

  She shot Jade a worried look, but Jade gave her a quick, albeit tight, smile.

  “Of course not,” Lisette consented. What choice did she have, really?

  “Jade,” Michael’s imploring tone made her head turn in his direction.

  “It’ll be okay,” she said. “The king merely wishes a word and everyone here knows when and where we’re meeting. If anything were to happen to me, the king could hardly expect it to be dismissed. Particularly by the slayers, right?”

  She glanced over her shoulder and found Walker and Tanner rigid and at the ready—for what, she wasn’t sure. It wasn’t as though the two of them could take on an entire kingdom on her behalf, should something go awry. Even with Lisette’s vanquishing spells to help. Still, having everyone bear witness as she made the arrangement with the king provided a modicum of relief.

  Returning her attention to Darien, she said, “Lead the way, my Lord.”

  Neither said a word as they stalked down the walkway, Jade’s strides wide enough to keep up with the king’s. Though, given his long legs, she suspected he’d slowed his usual pace so she could match it. When they reached the library, he burst into it and turned sharply to face her.

  “First,” he said as he wagged a finger in her face, as though she were a disobedient child, “enough with challenging me. Do not forget, I am the king.”

  “I know you’re the king,” she said. “I meant no disrespect. I’m simply hoping for honest answers. And while you may not believe I’m entitled to them, I disagree, given that your laws have been broken by your…creatures. Possibly even by you,” she added as she moved away. She crossed to the fireplace to warm her hands, since she’d left the meeting hall without slipping into her gloves and jacket.

  Darien removed his cloak and offered it to her. She regarded the garment warily. To not accept the grand gesture would only infuriate him further when it came to her insolence. And though he’d appeared to find something about her inner strength interesting, she knew not to push too hard. There was such a thing as being too stubborn for one’s own good.

  She took the cloak from him and draped it over her shoulders. Jade wasn’t a small woman, but the black material dwarfed her and pooled at her feet.

  “Thank you,” she said. “And I apologize for being so blunt. I’ve not spoken to a king before, and I tend to say what’s on my mind without censoring it. I’ll behave as appropriately as I can manage during this conversation.”

  He stared down at her with curiosity in his eyes, which told her he doubted she was capable of keeping her oath. “I’ll give you wide berth in private. But you try my patience in public and I won’t have you making a mockery of me or my laws.”

  Her brow furrowed. “That wasn’t my intention. And why the leniency now that we’re alone?”

  “Because,” he said as he rubbed the back of his neck. “I need you.”

  Jade gaped. Darien swore under his breath. He did an about-face and stalked over to Lisette’s desk.

  A flame of desire flickered along her clit, distracting her. The heat that rushed through her veins made her shed his cloak and hang it over the back of a chair before she spontaneously combusted.

  The knuckles of his balled fist rapped the top of the desk in angst or frustration or both before he turned back to her. “What I meant to say was, I need to know more about who you are and what powers you possess.”

  “Powers?” She shook her head.

  He gave her a don’t-play-coy-with-me look.

  Jade sighed. She wouldn’t win any battle of wills with this man. Demon. Man. Whatever.

  “I don’t have powers,” she told him. “I have abilities that aren’t exactly the norm, but nothing mystical or magical. Well, not totally…”

  He slung a thick, black leather-clad thigh over the corner of the desk, halfway sitting on the edge of the sturdy piece of wood. Folding his arms over his expansive chest, he said, “Do tell.”

  Jade anxiously paced before him, suddenly feeling as though she were on trial for her life. In the meeting hall, she’d been fueled by her personal fears and aggravations, but also by Jinx’s death. Perhaps she had gone too far with the Demon King, but she wasn’t one to sit idly by as the villagers were picked off one by one.

  Which made her wonder, if she told Darien of her gifts, would he do as she’d feared earlier—toss her in a cell and throw away the key because she was an anomaly he felt might be a threat to him and his kingdom?

  “Jade.”

  He said her name with such familiarity and intimacy, it brought her to an abrupt halt.

  She knew she walked a fine line, but had to ask, “Were you outside my house last night?”

  His jaw clenched. His casual demeanor, which she realized had been his way of trying to put her at ease, turned stiff.

  Jade gazed brazenly at him. “Do you possess special powers?”

  Such as the ability to manipulate images in one’s mind?

  He didn’t say anything for a long spell, which added to her apprehension. She was stepping all over protocol, she was sure. Stomping on it, actually. But she needed to know the truth. Couldn’t live another day without it, so what the hell?

  She threw caution to the wind and took several steps toward the king. “Please,” she said in as much of a non-assuming voice as she could muster. “I’m not being impertinent. I saw tracks on the opposite bank of the river where my cottage sits. I heard a horse last night when I came out of the tavern. I know something…or someone…follows me. Is it you?”

  Darien slipped from his perch on the desk and stood, towering over her. Panic snaked through her insides, but Jade didn’t back away.

  “By your own command,” she dared to say, “I have the right to know if I’m being tracked.”

  He glared at her, but her feet remained rooted where they were. Her heart hammered as she stood mere inches from the magnificently built man who’d made love to her the previous evening in her dream.

  No, he’d done so much more than make love to her. He’d turned her world upside down by proving what true passion and desire were all about. But how had he accomplished such a life-altering feat?

  An alarming thought suddenly occurred to her. “Can you read minds?”

  “On occasion.”

  Her jaw fell slack. Oh boy, that was the last thing she needed to hear.

  Composing herself, she asked, “What sort of occasions?”

  His expression was grim as
he said, “If you think I’ve been reading yours, you’re wrong. At least, not in a long time, as a rule.”

  “Not last night?” she asked.

  “That would be the exception.”

  Jade’s body tensed, for all the wrong reasons. A forbidden thrill chased away her panic, once again leaving her all too aware of the sinfully delicious man standing before her and the wonderful way in which he’d pleasured her.

  “I had a dream about you,” she said, suddenly breathless. “A man I’d never met. And yet the image in my head was true to form.”

  “I did that,” he admitted, though his dark features hardened, as if he was tormented by his confession—or the fantasy they’d woven. “I can control the visions in a human’s mind, though I don’t do it on a regular basis. I don’t read your thoughts in particular because they’re…extremely painful.”

  He turned away.

  Jade stared at his broad shoulders and wide back. Last night, he’d given her a very good idea of what it was like to be naked with him, and her body ached with the reminder. And the yearning to have him fulfill all her burning needs in reality.

  But she was balancing on the tip of a sword with her errant thoughts. The fact he wouldn’t tap her brain because of the usually insidious and grisly memories that haunted her was a relief, yet he’d still crossed a human boundary by hijacking her dream.

  “You knew I was thinking of Michael and you insinuated yourself into my subconscious mind so I wouldn’t fantasize about him.” Another revelation hit her. “It was you outside the tavern. When he was about to kiss me.”

  His impossibly large shoulders visibly bunched beneath the black shirt he wore.

  Facing her again, Darien said, “He hurt you once before. I don’t want it to happen again.”

  She took a step back as uncertainty skittered through her. “How do you know so much about me if you’re not in my head, as you claim? And what does my relationship with Michael have to do with any of this? We’re getting completely off track. None of this makes sense. All I want to know is—” The big picture suddenly appeared before her. “You are stalking me.”