Crimson Highlander (Onyx Assassins 2)

"There's always a choice," Lyric promised with a compassionate smile. "No one would ever force you into anything you don't want."

"But the mark..." My gaze jumped to Avianna.

"You can't get rid of the mark," she confirmed. "But that doesn't mean you have to accept the bond, either. It's not unheard of to reject a mating bond."

"Maybe one in the last hundred years," Olivia muttered.

"It can be done." Avianna nodded. "Just...don't sleep with him."

Now I was the one nearly spitting out my water. "I don't think that will be an issue."

Lyric blushed. "Oh, but it is. The pull between mates is..." She got this far-off look in her eyes and bit her lower lip.

"So if I sleep with him, we're what? Linked for the rest of my life?" Getting under the highlander sounded like a hell of a lot of fun, but not if it came at that price.

"No, not exactly," Avianna said, lowering her voice. "But physical contact strengthens the bond, along with feeding—"

"Feeding?" I shouted.

"Just stay away from him," Olivia suggested, her eyes dancing. "If you want to. I personally would get as close as possible because damn, is he hot." She nodded.

My gaze narrowed on the bodyguard as a blast of something hot and ugly shot through my veins.

"Oh, she's got it bad," Olivia laughed. "Don't worry, little human. Jealousy comes with the whole mating bond thing. It's normal."

Jealous. I was fucking jealous. Why? Because this statuesque beauty admired Lachlan? Yep.

Shit.

"I have to go." I pushed away from the table.

"No!" Lyric cried. "You said it yourself, you're not safe out there. We can keep you safe here!"

"She makes a good point," Avianna pointed out.

"I can't just hide out here while Daphne gets shuffled into a marriage she doesn't want!"

"Another excellent point," Avianna mused. "Let's just solve both problems." She lifted her eyebrows at Lyric.

A slow grin spread across Lyric's face, and she looked through the doors at Lachlan. "Meerkat!"

"You're safe word is meerkat?" I shook my head at my best friend.

"Lachlan!" she called out.

Within seconds, he pushed through the doors, his gaze sweeping over the room as if scanning for threats before landing on me.

The intensity in those eyes went straight to my thighs. Damn, the man was sexy as sin and had a body that would no doubt deliver it. Not that I was ever going to find out.

"My queen?" He ripped his gaze away from mine to focus on Lyric.

"I want Valor to stay." Her smile didn't dim one bit.

"And what exactly would you like me to do about that?" Even his voice was sexy, and it wasn't just the accent, either. It was deliciously deep.

"I want you to propose to the Order that you will help her rescue her cousin."

He scowled, turning that stare back on me. "Your cousin?"

"Lyric," I warned my friend. What the hell was she thinking?

"You have a way better chance of getting Daphne out of there with the help of the Order. Trust me," she argued.

"She's right," Avianna agreed.

My mind spun. Alone, I had almost no chance of getting to Daphne. Even if I could get Jocelyn to help me again, the glamour hadn't been enough. "I don't even think you could help if you wanted to," I said to Lachlan.

He didn't reply, just stood there, staring at me like I was something he couldn’t wait to get rid of.

"Sorry, but it's true!" I shrugged. "They probably have her locked up so tight it would take an army to get her out."

"I'm going to pretend you didn't just insult me, lass, and remind you that I'm the general of Alek's armies."

Oh. Right. "Armies?" I mused. "As in plural?"

He arched a brow and sighed.

"How many vampires are there?" I threw my hands up.

"More than you'll ever know about," he answered with a smirk.

"Could you do it?" I challenged, the ache in my chest swelling into something that felt suspiciously like hope. "Could you find a needle in a haystack and then get her out?"

He folded his arms over his chest. "Depends on what I'd get out of it."

I'd seen them in action. They were her best shot. "Whatever you want," I rushed. "I'll give you anything if you get my cousin out of there." The tattoo at the back of my neck heated. I meant it. I'd even tie my freaking life to his if it meant Daphne had a shot at being free.

"Anything I want?" His eyes skimmed my body with a possessive heat, then lingered on my lips.

They parted.

"Anything," I whispered, knowing exactly what I was offering.

"Hmm. Okay." He nodded. "I'll hold you to it."

I swallowed.

A slow, panty-melting smirk lifted the corner of his mouth. "And don't stress, lass. The only thing I want from you is information."

My cheeks heated, and I scoffed at his blatant rejection. "Fine."

"We'll start tomorrow night." He inclined his head at Lyric, then Avianna. "Ransom is here to take over. There's a certain brunette I've had my eye on over in the feeding room. Excuse me." He left without another word, but I shouted one at his back.