Dark Flame (Flame 3)

She didn’t glance back at the men. Instead, she plowed forward. If her heart was weighed down with a desperate feeling of disappointment, she ignored it. She’d finally allowed herself to put a name to her relationship with Brann, but even thinking the word, brought tears to her eyes.

Oh, God, she couldn’t be falling in love with him.

Dammit, why hadn’t she seen this as a possibility when she’d first seduced Brannick into a dreamglide with her?

Or maybe she’d known from the moment she sat across from him at the White Flame that here was a man she could love.

~ ~ ~

Brannick’s gaze was stuck to Juliet’s ass. Was it the way she was levitating that had him fixated on the subtle sway of her hips or was it the searing attraction that kept hitting him like a punch to the gut?

For a hot moment he was right back in her small study, the round swells of each cheek waving in front of him, begging for his cock to pierce her from behind. And what kind of bizarre fae thing had created a silvery glow around each of them?

When she’d gone into the kitchen and covered her neck with as much ice as she could hold in both hands, it had taken every ounce of strength he possessed not to follow her. He’d wanted to strip her naked and release more of his seed deep between his legs, to mark her as only a man could show his claim on a woman.

Now he was flying behind her and feeling his leathers shrink.

But he knew the Fae Cathedral wasn’t far and that he’d need to start thinking about something else or he’d embarrass himself once he landed.

The early night air was balmy as Juliet began her descent and he and Fergus followed. Fifty yards out, he saw the absurd stone spire at the center of a massive, round building. Additional rectangular buildings stretched toward the north and south, anchoring the otherwise dome-like shape. When he saw cars going in and coming out, he knew he was looking at the Village parking garages.

Whatever religious connotations the name and structure possessed were belied by the dozens of chasing gold lights on the front of the building that showcased the name, ‘Fae Cathedral’.

Juliet landed thirty feet to the north on the sidewalk, away from the dozen or so males milling around the front. Cars drove up and down the street. The Fae Cathedral was definitely a Five Bridges hot spot.

Brannick dropped down beside her. Fergus landed on Brannick’s far side.

No one looked in their direction, which told Brannick what he already knew; his vampire cloak was working.

Juliet turned toward him, but didn’t make eye-contact. Not a bad thing. Focus right now was critical.

Telepathy? she asked.

Good idea. He glanced at Fergus. The shifter had lifted his nose to the street. He was about to contact Fergus telepathically when more of his encroaching fae instincts told him he had the ability to shape a group conversation.

He let Juliet know what he was doing, then opened up their shared telepathy to Fergus. Hey. We’re talking as three going in.

You good with that?

Fergus’s nostrils flared as he glanced first at Brannick and then at Juliet. His lips turned down. Guess I’ll have to be.

Juliet didn’t seem bothered at all by Fergus’s reluctance to engage with her. But then she would have sensed what Brannick knew to be true; Fergus was working hard to avoid any kind of contact with her.

We’ll go in single file. Fergus, take up the rear.

He started marching before either could argue. But he felt their compliance.

Some of the group out front, all fae males, mostly addicts, called out to each other in loud voices. Each occasionally sniffed like they’d been snorting cocaine and made no effort to hide the tattoo-like flames that rose up their necks and onto their faces. The colors of the flames varied, which meant a number of drugs, including dark flame, were in play. He saw red for blood flame and a violet color for the amethyst flame drug. It gave each a severe look and since most of the addicts were emaciated, he had an impression of skeletons and Halloween.

He threaded his way, hearing both Juliet and Fergus side-step the erratic movements of the loiterers.

The entrance had a large bank of automatic double doors.

Once inside, he had the impression of an old movie theater. The walls were wood paneled, and the floor was covered with a thick black and maroon carpeting.

A long reception desk, also paneled but with ornately carved wood, served the clientele with a large display of pamphlets. Two young woman, wearing heavy make-up and low cut halters, sat behind the desk on swivel stools. Each smiled at the guests as they came and went and answered questions for any who approached.

To the left was the broad descending pathway, curving in the corkscrew pattern Juliet had mentioned earlier. Two cement posts broke up the entrance to keep vehicles from attempting to go into the subterranean region. Three burly fae warrior-types blocked the entrance, and anyone wanting to use the path had to present some kind of identification before they were allowed to pass.