Cannot Unite by Jackie Ivie Page B

her eyes
open slowly. Blinked. Took in the concerned look in KayNan’s eyes.
For some reason, they looked more green and intense than ever. She
opened her eyes fully. The view didn’t change. It was KayNan. A
quick scan encompassed their surroundings. It was dark, and yet
everything was easily penetrated. Viewed. And in perfect clarity.
Sharp. Lucid. Dank.
    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