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  Cave-like.

  She was still in the cave? But…that couldn’t be. She’d been envisioning. Seeing things. And now that it was over, she should feel weak. Out-of-sorts. Dizzy. Vulnerable. And yet nothing on her felt anything other than wondrously healthy. Energetic. Strong.

  “KayNan?”

  “You were expecting someone else?”

  He grinned, displaying sharp fangs that glistened with dark fluid. Her fluid.

  “Where are we?”

  “In a cave. Wilderness area. Canadian/US border. Somewhere near the 49th parallel. You want exact longitude and latitude?”

  It was hard to resist returning his smile.

  “Am I…turned?” she asked.

  He cocked his head and studied her for a moment. “I would say yes. Or you have a severe problem with your canine teeth,” he finally said.

  This time she returned the smile. And her teeth did feel weird. She’d check them. Later. After Vaughn was rescued and they reached wherever KayNan called home. They could worry over disposition of her apartment and shop later, too. Everything could wait.

  “I saw the Hunters. They have an ambush set up for you,” she told him.

  She hadn’t even finished before they were on their feet. It was an unbelievably fast move. Invisibly swift. It took her skirt another second or two to fall about her ankles.

  Major wow.

  “How many?” he asked.

  “Seven. Five on the ground. Two hidden in trees.”

  “That all?”

  “They’ve got pits dug for you and the place ringed with trip wires. Looks like they were pumping Holy Water onto them, too.”

  “Hmm. Told you they were smart. And Vaughn?”

  “Alive.”

  “Is he talking?”

  “No. He’s plenty pissed off, though.”

  “Pissed off? You know, some of this vernacular is easier than others. Let me guess. He’s angry. Any chains?”

  Jeannette scrunched her face. “No.”

  “Straps?”

  “No…wait! They’ve got straps. On the tents…and on Vaughn.”

  “Weighted?”

  Jeannette tipped her head to one side. “Can I ask why?”

  He winked. That little gesture sent pure reaction rocketing right through her, as if they didn’t have a half-turned pilot to rescue, a nest of Hunters to rout, and a bit of journey ahead.

  “I was the Khan’s champion, Love. I’m very good with all kinds of weapons. I can make do with straps, but chains are my specialty. I use them like whips.”

  “I know. I saw you,” she replied.

  He grinned again. Dang! The man was gorgeous. It was hard to be concentrate if he was going to keep showing it off.

  “Yes, you did. Thank the fates. I don’t know how I would have found you otherwise. So…you ready?”

  “To rescue Vaughn? Kill some Hunters? Go somewhere…private with you? Heck, yeah. I thought you’d never ask.”

  She hadn’t finished before he grabbed her hand and took her airborne. A blink of time later, the clearing came into view. Nothing had changed. It was exactly as she’d seen it. Wow. She could get used to this. Immortality. Flying. Heck. She could truly get used to the view of KayNan, too.

  No. She was wrong.

  She couldn’t watch as KayNan dispatched the snipers. She didn’t know how. She didn’t want to know. One moment they were amid the trees. The next she could hear the bodies swishing through leaves as they fell. Then she was on the ground, yanking Vaughn’s bonds apart with one bare hand, while supporting him in her other arm without expending a bit of effort.

  Okay. Maybe a little effort.

  Super strength. Super hearing. Super Sight. KayNan’s lovemaking. Wow. This vampire thing had some real upsides to it…if she ignored the feel of motion about her. The thuds. Choked off screams. Agonized cries. Jeannette looked.

  The camp was in chaos, and in the center was KayNan. Silhouetted by the flames, light flickering on his arms and torso as he rotated and swung, decapitating and disemboweling with near clinical precision. The whip of his straps even protected him from their weapons. Every move was a blur of speed. Without vampiric senses she probably wouldn’t have seen him. And then it was done. KayNan stood there. Arms at his sides, hands still gripping the one-inch canvas straps with the lobster claw fasteners at the ends, although now they were covered in gore. All of it proving the value of his word. He was very good with straps. He dropped them, lifted his chin, and then looked across right at her. Wow. That stance would have made a fabulous statue…although nobody was going to get this good a view of him ever again.

  Because he was all hers. United. Forevermore.

  And dang! He had a great smile.

  -o0o-

  About the Author

  Jackie is an Alaskan author who crafts full-length Scot Historical novels for Kensington, while moonlighting with her paranormal series: Vampire Assassin league, available in ebook and print 2-packs. She loves hearing from fans, who can contact her at www.jackieivie.com

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  About the Author