Chapter 4
CHAPTER 4
E mily hurried along the sidewalk with a sense of urgency as she made her way back to her apartment building. The absence of a jacket left her exposed to the chill of the midmorning air, but it was the crimson stain marring her shirt that drew the attention of passersby. She could feel the weight of their gazes upon her, some filled with wariness, others tinged with concern, but she pressed on, determined to reach the safety of her home.
With each wary glance and concerned stare, Emily quickened her pace, her heart pounding in her chest as she neared the entrance to her building. Ducking inside with a sense of relief, she navigated through the lobby, her movements swift and purposeful as she made her way to the waiting elevator.
As the doors slid shut behind her, Emily let out a shaky breath, her hand pressing against the fabric of her shirt where the stain still lingered. Though she knew the risk of drawing attention to herself, she couldn’t afford to delay any longer. With a silent prayer for anonymity, she leaned back against the cool metal of the elevator, her thoughts consumed by the events of the last twelve hours .
With each passing floor, she drew closer to the sanctuary of her apartment, where she could tend to her wounds and regroup in the safety of her own domain. She knew Ming wouldn’t wait that long before calling on her, but she should have at least a week to recover if things went well.
She had just entered her suite when laughter erupted in her mind.
I feel your pain. It is the sweetest nectar.
He was back. The thing that had taunted her for the last few months. She never responded, but that didn’t seem to discourage her unwanted admirer.
I have sent someone to collect you. Go with him, or I will crush your mind, and you will live out your days drooling out the side of your mouth. Your blood will not be as sweet under such circumstances, but I can make do.
She closed her eyes, trying to block the intruder from her mind. He seemed to have some kind of backdoor access to her thoughts, and that was just plain scary.
She stopped at her bedroom door when she found the large man lying on her bed.
He sat up and stood slowly. “You are to come with me.” His voice did not match the one in her head. This was the man her stalker had sent to collect her.
“No.”
The man with dark eyes grinned. “My name is Laren, and I was hoping you would say that. It is far less sporting when your kind doesn’t fight.”
Emily bolted from the doorway of her bedroom, heart pounding with adrenaline as she raced back toward the living room. But before she could reach her destination, an unseen force slammed into her back, sending her stumbling forward with a cry. Pain flared as she hit the hardwood floor, sliding across its surface before crashing into the couch with a jolt .
With a groan, Emily scrambled to her feet, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she prepared to run. But before she could flee, Laren appeared, his presence looming over her with an ominous intensity.
As he approached, his eyes glowed with a malevolent red light, sending a shiver of fear down Emily’s spine. With a flick of his wrist, a glowing rope materialized, wrapping around her torso with an unyielding grip that left her immobilized and gasping for breath.
Trapped and defenseless, Emily could only watch in helpless dismay as Laren closed in.
Laren raised his hand and moved it almost lovingly down her cheek. “I am not supposed to sample the merchandise, but you have not come into your power. I will just have a little taste and remove your memories. We will keep this between us.”
He extended his fangs and leaned toward her neck. The tips brushed against her skin, and she prepared herself for the pain before the glass windows of her apartment burst inward, showering her in crystal shards. She had closed her eyes to avoid the shower of sharp objects, and she felt the tiny nips of her skin as many scratched her cheek.
“Step away from her, Laren,” the man’s voice boomed. This voice was the one from the heist. The one that had tracked her to Ming’s restaurant.
Laren pushed her away, and she fell backward on the couch. The rope retracted and disappeared as if it had never existed. “Logan, what are you doing here?” he seemed a lot less sure of himself as another man moved to Logan’s side.
Logan’s eyes flickered with lavender. “You are a disgrace, Laren. You barely made it to your four hundredth birthday before you turned. Siro and I have come to assist you in reaching the next life.”
Laren glanced at the attractive, muscular man beside Logan. “ It’s not surprising you have turned to another purple. But Siro is a sad replacement for your brother.”
“That is the past. We have a future now, and it begins with the druids. Had you not been so weak, you and your kind would have shared in it. Now, you must prey on the innocent for scraps of your former life.”
Laren hissed. “We will be gods. You have no idea what our leader has in store for us. The Rule clan will join us or die.”
The one called Siro moved closer to her. He didn’t look down, but simply moved until he was standing between Laren and her.
Laren realized too late what Siro’s intentions were, and he formed a flaming sword in midair. “You will not take her.”
Logan moved subtly, and as he extended his muscular arm, a long broadsword materialized in his hands. It wasn’t on fire, but his loose stance gave the impression he was a much better fighter than Laren.
Laren’s gaze darted toward the window with a fleeting, almost desperate glance, as if contemplating his escape. Emily couldn’t help but inwardly shudder at the thought, as her apartment was on the fifteenth floor and offered no safe exit through the shattered panes.
But before Laren could act on his impulsive notion, Logan moved with silent grace, his sword held in front of him. As Laren swung his flaming blade toward him, Logan’s instincts kicked in, sidestepping the attack with a fluid motion honed with skill. With a swift upward arc of his own blade, Logan struck Laren’s arm, and blood burst from the angry gash.
Emily’s jaw dropped in astonishment as the torn flesh began to knit back together until only a smear of dried blood remained on Laren’s forearm. It defied logic and left Emily grappling with the unsettling realization that the men were not human. “That’s impossible.”
Logan moved with the grace of a seasoned warrior, his sword flashing in the dim light as he deftly deflected Laren’s attempts to impale him with the flaming blade. They danced a deadly dance, parrying and countering with skill and precision, each maneuver executed with the fluidity of a master of the blade.
But despite Logan’s formidable prowess, Laren proved to be a relentless adversary, his attacks fueled by a dark determination that bordered on obsession. Their blades clashed with a shower of sparks, the sound of steel ringing through the air as they engaged in a fierce battle of wills.
With each exchange, Emily held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she watched the deadly contest unfold before her. It was both mesmerizing and terrifying with the ferocity of the combatants locked in mortal combat.
But just as Logan seemed to gain the upper hand, Laren unleashed a blast of magic that sent him stumbling backward, his footing unsteady as he fought to regain his balance.
As Laren rushed to take advantage of the situation, arcing his sword, Logan twisted mid stride and thrust his blade upward. It slid through Laren’s chest like warm butter, and blood spread across Laren’s chest. The flaming sword dematerialized, and Laren clutched the blade embedded in his chest.
“I release you, my brother. May you find happiness in your next life.”
Laren reached out to Logan. “No.” But despite his denial, his body crumpled, and he slid off the blade and fell to the floor.
Siro moved to the fallen man. “I will dispose of his body. You see to the druid.”
He picked up Laren’s body and ran toward the shattered window. He seemed to shimmer before both he and his dead cargo disappeared.
Emily put her fingers to her head. “I’m losing my mind.”
Logan moved to the couch and sat beside her. His eyes moved to the stain on her shoulder. “You are hurt. ”
Emily ignored the sexy man sitting on her couch. “It’s not real. It’s not real.”
Logan stood and scooped her into his arms. “If I am not real, you won’t mind me tending to your injuries.”
She tried to struggle, but it was like a kitten battling a lion, and she gave up as he walked toward her bedroom. He placed her gently on the bed, but she scrambled up toward the headboard.
Logan held his hand up. “Be at ease. I will simply heal your wound.”
Emily didn’t trust anybody, let alone a complete stranger who just murdered another in her living room, yet as she searched his gorgeous features, she found herself leaning toward him slightly.
He placed his hand on her shoulder, and a subtle warmth spread through her body. She could feel the tissues reaching for one another, melding back together as if nothing had happened.
He stared at the wound as if concentrating, and her eyes roamed over his features. He had dark hair that reminded her of milk chocolate. His hair was short and styled to one side, but it was his eyes that intrigued her. They appeared brown right now, but she had seen them have a lavender glow when he was fighting.
The warmth faded, and when he removed his hand, even the red stain was gone.
She touched the fabric, feeling somewhat revitalized. As if he had infused her with strength as well as repaired the damaged tissue.
“How is that possible?” she asked.
“Magic,” he said, as if that were normal.
“That is incredible.” Her gaze continued to roam over him like he was a tasty morsel, and some of the images that formed in her mind were not rated G. She had never been this attracted to a man. Sure, she found some mildly handsome, but this bordered on embarrassing .
“Tell me when you first used yours?” Logan asked.
“Used what?” Her thoughts had wandered, which was unusual for her.
“Your magic. When did you first use it?”
“I don’t have magic? I don’t know what you are talking about.”
Logan stared at her for some time. “You do, and it has started to bleed through. Though perhaps you didn’t realize you were utilizing your power, I’m told that can happen when a druid is emerging.”
“A druid? You think I am... Is that what you are?”
Logan shook his head. “I am not.” He glanced at the door. “Perhaps it would be best if I made you some tea. We have much to discuss, and I am told it is soothing for a human.” He left her lying on the bed, but after a few seconds, she scrambled out of bed.
She approached the living room cautiously, but found him standing in the kitchen pouring water into her kettle. Why did the large man look so comfortable there?
This couldn’t be happening. Whatever he was, he was in danger if he stayed to help her. “I can make my own tea, Logan. I don’t know who you are or what just happened, but I need you to leave.”