Emerald Flame: A Paranormal Romance (The Flame Series Book 6) Page 3

  Even so, he was pissed to learn she’d built a refuge in Savage he didn’t know about.

  Yet even as he had these thoughts, the part of him that was pure male felt a troubling amount of excitement that he’d be spending some alone time with Kiara. Sex came to mind, as it always did with her. He tried to tamp down his desire, but his damn mating-cycle was acting up.

  Of course, the real trouble, as he saw it, was that he believed in the goodness of Kiara’s heart. She cared about their world and tonight she’d put her life on the line to save species different from her own alter curse.

  He liked her. Hell, he admired her.

  But she was still a damn witch.

  And a powerful one.

  And she’d built a secret refuge in his territory without saying a word all this time.

  To say he had serious mixed feelings about the woman, was to say the least.

  They were high enough in the air that by the time they cleared the central pine forest he could see the Sand Pit. They had reached the northernmost part of Savage, where the twelve main packs had built a large arena for major dominance battles. Fergus had defeated a wolf in this pit, a vile man who had illegally taken over the Gordion Pack through an attempted murder. Mary, a fae from Revel Territory, had found Fergus in a brink-of-death state in the Graveyard. She’d called on Warren to save him with a transfusion.

  The sight of the Sand Pit, however, confused Warren even more. He saw more trees and a few houses in between the Sand Pit and the Caldion compound to the west. He knew the occupants of every home. But not one of those dwellings could possibly be Kiara’s refuge.

  She slowed then drew him to a stop.

  He floated in the air, but struggled to hold his position given the wind. Lightning once more flashed in the distance. Thunder rumbled.

  He shook his head as he searched the ground below once more. What gives? You can’t have a refuge here.

  He watched her expression grow grim and her lips tighten into a determined line. I’ll apologize right now for not being up front with you, for doing what I’ve done in secrecy. As I look back now, I wish I’d told you.

  But Roberts knows.

  She shrugged. It was his idea that I move forward and build the refuge without anyone knowing. Not you. Not alpha Fergus. No one, except him. I’m only grateful he didn’t mention it in front of everyone.

  Jesus. He supposed it helped a little to know she’d received permission from his station chief. All right. So, where the hell is it?

  He watched her swallow hard. Behind a powerful security spell, the strongest one I’ve ever made.

  When the first drop of rain hit, she offered her hand. Ready?

  He couldn’t believe this was happening. He slid his palm against hers. Let’s see what you’ve got.

  She tugged and pulled him through the spell that protected her refuge from view.

  What appeared was a small piece of property, fully landscaped around the perimeter with rocks and evergreens. He could see the nearest houses, the ones he knew well. He flew over them all the time, but he’d thought they were much closer than they were. What kind of illusion had she created? How? Her spellcasting ability once again astonished him.

  She took him to the front walk where she landed then released his hand. He didn’t follow her to the front door. Instead, he took a good long look around. The front yard was tidy, nothing out of place.

  He heard her footsteps on the gravel path as she joined him. “I’ve found that order is calming to the wolves. Most of them have a form of PTSD from severe abuse by the time they come here.”

  He turned to face her. “You run a tight ship.”

  “I do. And once the women are inside, I make all the rules clear, as well as what’s expected of the women and what they can expect from me and from their rehab.”

  He shook his head. “I’m mad as fire you didn’t tell me.”

  “I know and I don’t blame you. In hindsight, I should have told you. I mean, you, of all people deserved to know what I was doing. Yet it seemed like the right decision at the time. But I would wish it otherwise.”

  Another flash of lightning and quick roll of thunder, brought a pelting of rain. She ran for cover on the porch and this time he followed her.

  The refuge was a modest block home that had probably been one of the original houses when Five Bridges had been created as an alter ghetto thirty years ago. But it had fresh beige paint and white trim around the windows. A new roof. Very tidy.

  She turned toward him. “Before we go in, I need to take us out of the cloak. You ready?”

  He winced, unhappy that he’d have to experience her shield again. “Sure.”

  “Try to relax and flow with it.”

  He drew a deep breath, but couldn’t quite resolve all of his tension.

  When she took him out of her shield, it didn’t hurt quite as bad as the last couple of times.

  Her brows rose. “You’re doing better with it. I can tell.”

  He frowned. “It’s still an Elegance spell and you know how I feel about that.”

  She chuckled softly. “I do know. But let’s go inside and I’ll show you my set-up. I just hope you won’t take too long to forgive me.”

  Forgive her? That she had kept a spelled property hidden inside Savage might be something he could never forgive. “We’ll see about that.”

  She nodded solemnly but there was an amused glint in her eye. Now why did that have to charm him instead of adding fuel to his outrage?

  Damn witches.

  Chapter Two

  Warren couldn’t fathom what Kiara had created or how she’d done it without his knowledge. He would have been furious except for the underground burrow’s purpose. It was a refuge that rehabilitated abused wolves and helped them reenter pack society.

  He moved slowly down the broad stone stairwell. It had a slight curve and opened onto a large underground foyer. Couches, chairs, and lamps filled the space, all in shades of dark gray and green. The wall to his left had been constructed of smooth, light gray rocks, each at least eight-to-ten inches in size. A half-inch of mortar filled the spaces between.

  The burrow ceiling was tall, at least twelve feet, the right height for shifting wolves. He’d known more than one dominance fight to end abruptly because of low ceilings and severe concussions.

  He sniffed the air. It was fresh which meant Kiara had constructed her compound with strong ventilation. He caught the scent of wolves that had been exercising. “Wait. You have a running track down here?”

  “On a third level. It’s part of the healing process and very necessary. So, yes. I built a track. It’s not very big though and pretty boring. I’ve seen the one at the Caldion compound. Yours is amazing. Mine is, I guess you could say, serviceable.”

  He had a private track below his bedroom as well. Shifting and running were critical components to any alter wolf’s life. Kiara seemed to understand what wolves needed.

  “When did you say you built all this?”

  “Two-and-a-half years ago, when I connected with Ralph.”

  “You know Ralph well, huh?” Ralph was a warlock who’d made a life for himself in Savage, highly unusual. He owned a shifter sex club on the Strip. Everyone knew Ralph. He was a good man who took care of his workers.

  “Who doesn’t know Ralph?” Kiara said. “He might run a questionable enterprise, but he’s saved more at-risk female wolves than anyone I know.”

  He waved a hand encompassing the space. “And you bring the women here. In secret.”

  “I do.”

  Standing at the bottom of the stairs, he tried to process what he was seeing. “But the wolves don’t stay here long, do they?” His wolf nose caught at least a dozen different scents, all of them female. If he understood Kiara, she’d been rescuing wolves for years.

  “The average stay is only two months, then they’re moved to safe houses in different territories, all in good neighborhoods. In time, they’re ready to assimilate back int
o Savage. But I don’t run a charity. Everyone works and pitches in. It’s a slow process to get my rescues ready for normal life again.”

  He turned all this over in his mind. “Ralph has sent me several wolves over the past two years. Are you saying these wolves came here first?”

  “Yes. That’s the process. Ralph was always the perfect liaison. He knows the gossip on The Strip before anyone else does. His mate, Susie, is equally well-informed. The women confide in her so she’s aware of the abuse that’s going on in the various clubs and who’s at risk. The system works. They call me, then take the women to a random location that we’ve agreed on. Once a time is set, I pick them up and bring them here.”

  “I had no idea. None. I thought I knew everything that went on in Savage.” Warren ran prospective wolves through a battery of tests before they joined Caldion. Wolves that came out of sex clubs couldn’t always adapt to pack life. But Ralph’s could. Warren had somehow supposed Ralph had taken pains to get them help before he sent them over. Looks like he did.

  He shifted his gaze back to hers. “No one knows about this, do they, except Roberts?”

  She shook her head slowly. “It was the only way to ensure I could keep the women safe. If the refuge ever becomes known, I’ll have to shift strategies on how it’s used, though I prefer it this way.”

  “But Ralph knows?”

  “Not the location, or even to what kind of facility I take the women. Only that I get them out of harm’s way. He and Susie didn’t want to know the specifics and with good reason.”

  His nose caught the scent of Mexican food and his stomach rumbled. “Sorry.”

  She chuckled. “Don’t apologize. I need to eat, too.” She lifted her nose as well. “It smells like something spicy. I have the best cook here. She was a chef in her former human life and got kidnapped into a sex club shortly after turning wolf. The woman is amazing. When Ralph sent her here and she prepared her first meal, I had to keep her on. Fortunately, she was willing to stay.”

  He checked his internal clock. “It seems late to have the kitchen lit up.”

  “She does this for me when she knows I’m in the field. She always has a pot on the back burner for me and for anyone else I might bring home at a late hour. Come on. I’ll give you a quick tour ending in the dining room.”

  As soon as he started across the floor, he dropped his gaze. The flooring wasn’t made of the usual stuff. “What am I walking on?” He felt connected to the material, which didn’t make sense, but his wolf loved it.

  “Do you like it?”

  “I do, but I don’t recognize the composite.”

  “This is an earthen floor made of sand, clay, straw and crushed rock. Very, very old school.”

  “Huh. I like this better than the stone I had laid at Caldion.” He caught her elbow and drew her to a halt. “Is it spelled? Is this a witch thing?” He’d spoken brusquely and knew his prejudice against her kind was showing.

  She gasped softly and stared at his hand for a moment, though she didn’t seem distressed by his touch.

  Her freesia scent rose in a sudden wave and his nostrils flared. The smell of her moved quickly through his body. Desire flowed.

  He knew one thing for sure. Kiara wanted him and right now, the way his body was responding, his thoughts drove the same direction.

  He felt compelled to relinquish his hold on her, but he didn’t want to. After a long, tense moment, he finally released her.

  She switched to telepathy. You can touch me, Warren. I don’t mind. It just surprised me because it feels magical.

  He stared at her, his thoughts jumping around from wondering if she’d be-spelled the floor to whether she would share his bed for the day. Damn, but he wanted to be there, under him then beside him. He wanted to fall asleep with his hands full of her breasts, his body pressed up tight against hers.

  He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a woman in his bed all day. Years. Definitely not since he’d come to Savage eight years ago. He’d avoided anything long-term since his arrival. When he needed sex, he never took a female to his bedroom. He went to hers then left shortly after.

  What was it about Kiara that made him think about doing things he’d long since sworn off? Had she somehow used her witchness to turn his head?

  He didn’t reach for her again, instead he gestured to the floor. “You didn’t answer my question. Did you add a spell to these compounds when you laid the floor?”

  “No, but I thought about it. I even took time with each of the properties, talked to them, felt them. But what returned to me was that this earth was enough for the wolves and it was what they needed.”

  He held her gaze then once more stared at the floor. He felt his wolf call to him. He’d need to go wolf soon, to shift and to run. He wanted to feel this floor beneath his paws.

  He could sense it as well, that the earth-elements were enough. As he focused, his instincts confirmed there was no spell attached to the floor. What he couldn’t understand was how he knew that?

  She finally gestured for him to follow her and began moving toward the far end of what was a long foyer. Hallways branched off both sides and soft lighting lined the walls. The hall ceilings were arched and covered in fist-sized, water-smoothed stones, also a light gray. He was stunned by what she’d created.

  At the far end of the foyer, a large, floor-to-ceiling wall fountain created a mist that humidified the air. The sound of falling water added to the overall feeling of a refuge intended to heal.

  The witch had done well for his people.

  There it was again. His people. Not hers.

  She was a witch.

  She belonged to Elegance Territory.

  He needed to remember that.

  So, what the hell was she doing, setting up shop here, a secret, hidden place, in Savage?

  Another short, arched hall, this time to the right, led into a dining space with several square, cloth-covered tables and large comfortable chairs. There were even fresh flowers and Spanish guitar music playing in the background.

  “Have a seat.” She gestured to the table midway down the room. “I’ll be right back.”

  He sat down after choosing a chair that would have a good view of each doorway. It was an old, self-protective habit. He would be able to see in a split-second anyone coming through the doors. A strong position in a room had saved his ass more than once.

  While he waited for her, her drew his cell from his pants pocket and contacted his second-in-command at the Caldion compound. He trusted Alessandro implicitly.

  He related what had happened at the station, then asked, “Is it true Julio’s spies are all around the compound?”

  Alessandro confirmed it. He also said he’d been in contact with both Roberts and Fergus, and that Warren was not to worry. Caldion was on lockdown until further notice.

  Warren released a heavy sigh of relief then thanked Alessandro for taking care of everything in his absence.

  “The least I can do. Sleep well today. My guess is the shit hits the fan come nightfall.”

  Warren bid him good-night then slipped his phone back into his pocket.

  Kiara returned bearing two plates of enchiladas, swimming in sauce and covered in cheese. “These are beef. I hope you like them.”

  He hadn’t eaten since midnight and nothing could have looked better. It had been a long, frustrating night. A good meal was exactly what he needed.

  She passed him rolled up silverware. He unfurled the linen napkin then laid it on his lap. He picked up his fork ready to dig in, but he waited for her.

  “Please don’t hold back on my account.” She rose from her chair. “I’m going to get something to drink. Want a beer?”

  “God, yes.”

  She chuckled as she headed back into the kitchen. He watched her go. She wore snug jeans that outlined her beautifully-shaped ass. She had curves all right and he was pretty sure he knew exactly what she’d look like out of her clothes.

  He took he
r at her word and dove in. The first spicy bite was heaven. The second followed quickly so that one of three beef-filled enchiladas was gone by the time she set a beer in front of him.

  He picked up the icy bottle and drank. She joined him, though she smiled before she started to drink.

  His gaze fell to her lips surrounding the opening of the bottle. Desire fell on him like a hammer.

  When she set the bottle down, she met his gaze. “What are you thinking about because as powerful as the smell of these enchiladas is, pretty much all my nose can detect is your scent, sort of storm and wolf.”

  A soft growl rumbled in his throat. “You know exactly what I’m thinking about.”

  She picked up her bottle and touched the opening with her tongue, then swirled around the smooth glass rim. He swore he’d never seen anything so erotic in his life and his leathers shrunk.

  The teasing light in her dark brown eyes struck a chord so deep, he was on his feet before he knew what he was doing. He all but yanked her to her feet and dragged her into his arms. To hell with wondering if he should do this. “You’re mine tonight.”

  He didn’t wait for her to protest. Instead, he kissed her, the way he’d been wanting to for the past few weeks, his mouth on hers, hard.

  She opened for him and he pummeled his tongue inside, stroking her the way he wanted his cock inside her. She had strong levitation skills and used them to press her body against his.

  He wasn’t about to disguise his arousal. He wanted her to feel it, to feel what he had to give her, what he knew would have her crying out.

  He felt her shudder then pull back. She gripped his arms tight, squeezing and fondling his biceps. He was a wolf. He had a lot of muscle and he could tell she was the kind of woman who’d want to explore.

  She lowered her chin, her eyes dark with desire. “We need to eat. Both of us. And don’t say anything cute right now or sexy. I’ve got staff in the kitchen who want to head to bed, so they need us to finish up.”

  He nodded. “Right.” But he couldn’t let her go.