Ecstasy in Darkness (Alien Huntress 5)

“Liar. You want to protect him. You lurve him.”

One of her ribs finally cracked. “I hurt him, Noelle.” Was he okay? He should have recovered by now. Should have tracked her down and screamed at her. Maybe demanded she kiss him all better. But there was no sign of him. Not left, not right, not straight ahead.

Noelle laughed. “Please. Whatever you did was foreplay.”

“Our definition of foreplay differs greatly.”

“Whatever you need to think to make yourself feel better about your love of the rough stuff. So lookit,” her friend added before she could reply. “The Schön queen was here, and we could really use McKell’s help.”

“What?” Another sighting? Now?

“What’s with your ears tonight? Are you really going to make me repeat everything?”

“Continue or die!”

Another laugh, wine-rich, like smoke wafting over the line. “Here’s the scoop. That diseased bitch talked to Dallas. Apparently, he was the only one who could see and hear her. Anyway, he’s now put the bar on lockdown, and he and the other agents are interrogating everyone here, finding out what they saw, heard, testing the place, that kind of thing.”

Ava gulped. Okay. That wasn’t so bad. “And we need McKell because…?”

“Duh. Because he can stop time.”

“So? The queen is long gone by now. What will stopping time help?” Not that it mattered. There was nothing Noelle could say to convince her to escort McKell into a roomful of angry agents. Someone would try to stun him, guaranteed. That would piss off McKell. A hungry, possibly sick McKell.

A bloodbath would ensue.

She couldn’t let that happen. She had a bargain to uphold, and she took her bargains very seriously. Even though she had often double-crossed people in the past, never actually fulfilling her end of their bargains. Sometimes you had to cheat to win, and she’d never minded cheating. Winning was important. Never more so than now, but for some reason, she couldn’t talk herself into double-crossing McKell.

Maybe because she felt guilty for all the harm she’d caused him. Maybe because she hoped to prove that humans weren’t inferior to vampires. In any way. She didn’t know. All she knew was that she wanted him safe.

Tasering him had been a small … complication on the road to his safety, but one she would (maybe) apologize for. After he apologized for his attitude.

Where the hell was he?

“Are you listening to me?” Noelle asked on a sigh.

Ava blinked back to focus, and realized she been silent for several minutes. “No. Sorry. But listen, McKell’s sick. He can’t keep anything down, and—”

“Wait. What? Sick how?”

“He just threw up his dinner.”

“You?”

“No. Someone else.”

“Interesting. Hang on for a sec, K?”

“Why? What are you—”

Static filled the line. One minute passed, two, allowing Ava’s imagination to take flight through poisoned clouds and an acid storm. What. The. Hell? Noelle wouldn’t tell the other agents about McKell’s condition. She wouldn’t. Unless she thought she needed to protect Ava. Then nothing would stop her.

Trembling now, Ava watched for McKell. Still no sign of him, and her heart began pounding for an entirely different reason. What if she’d injured him more than she’d meant? What if someone was even now picking his pockets or stabbing him, and he was unable to defend himself?

She kicked into gear, heading in the direction she’d left him, the phone still clutched to her ear.

“I know something you don’t know,” Noelle suddenly said in a happy, singsong voice. “And it’s about vampires.”

“Tell me!”

“I thought we’d have to force this issue, but looks like your overwhelming appeal took over.”

“What do you mean? Explain, or I swear to God I’ll burn your mansion down.” She snaked the corner and increased her speed.

“With my mother in it?” Noelle asked hopefully.

“No.”

“Oh. Too bad. Now I have the need to take this secret to my grave.”

“Just tell me!”

“I love when you beg.”

“Noelle.”

“Fine. I think I know why McKell wants to hang out with you so badly.”

Because she was smart, talented, and capable? “Why?”

“Because you’re his woman.”

Way better than her answer, she thought, steps faltering. “I don’t understand.”

“Remember when you told me he vomits after drinking blood?”

“Since I told you a few minutes ago, yeah, I think I recall a little bit of that conversation.”

“Such a pain,” Noelle tsked. “Anyway. Earlier, you also mentioned that he’d had a little of your blood and was able to keep it down. You know, when he sucked on your tongue.”

“Yeah. So.”

“So. Hold your applause until the end of my speech. Like I said, you’re his woman. He won’t be able to drink from anyone but you without … what? Vomiting.” An expectant pause. “You may clap now.”

Was it bad that she wanted to? “His woman? No way.” And yet, the words pleased her on an elemental, primal level. The thought of McKell only being able to sink those teeth into her … the thought of McKell needing her … the thought of McKell enjoying her and only her … yes, yes and yes. But …

The plastic phone cracked a little more. No, no, and no, she thought next, panic suddenly infusing her bloodstream. If that were the case, he would never leave her alone. He would be around all the damn time. He would expect her to obey him, the superior bastard.

Vampires are better than humans, she inwardly mocked. As if! She was just as good as any vampire. She was worthy, damn it.

Besides, she’d already decided not to become romantically entangled with McKell. Well, part of her had. If he were to drink from her every damn day, she wouldn’t be able to keep her hands from roaming over that delicious-looking body. And if she couldn’t keep her hands off his body, they would end up in bed.

She couldn’t let that happen. No matter how much she wanted it.

Thank God he was such an ass. Every time he opened his beautiful mouth, resisting him physically got a little easier. Right? She couldn’t remember. Just then, all she could recall was the intense desire she’d experienced when he’d kissed her and the powerful jealousy she’d experienced when he’d bitten that other woman.