Blood Rain

Chapter 3

“I need to get out of these clothes,” Lacey said, glancing down at the cocktail dress she was still wearing. The dress had been really pretty when she’d first put it on, but after the frightening night she’d had, it was dirty and actually ripped in a couple of places where she’d been pierced by those demon strands.

A shockwave of intense sexual need hit her hard and Lacey snapped her startled gaze back up to Ren's stone faced expression. Had that come from her… or him? She hadn’t been thinking about sex when she’d mentioned taking her clothes off but damn if it wasn't on her mind now.

“And obviously another ice cold shower is in order,” she added, placing the palm of her hand against the tightening of her stomach muscles. She’d never been shy when it came to talking about sex and she wasn't going to start biting her lip now. “Am I leeching this sexual need from you?”

Ren had practically stopped breathing when he’d imagined removing her dress for her in one fluid movement, then lifting her naked body up on the desk behind her. He blinked as the bluntness of her question sank in. The answer was a resounding YES. She’d known exactly what Nick and Gypsy had been up to in the bomb shelter, but it never dawned on him that she would also be able to tap into his emotions or desires.

Hopefully she had only received a fraction of that ability or she wouldn’t last very long in this castle. He made a mental note to ask Guy if he could create some kind of spell or charm for her to wear that would tone the ability down but, for now, he could at least give her the truth.

“This castle is full of paranormals with heightened emotions,” he informed her, trying to get his own under control. Sensing she was in need right now wasn’t helping and it was causing a boomerang affect between them. “Paranormals have emotions just like humans. The difference is… they feel each emotion much stronger than a normal human ever would… and you’re tapping in to that overload.”

He started towards her feeling much like a predator stalking its prey. Ren felt a satisfied smirk try to tug at his lips when she backed up against the desk right in the same spot he had envisioned lifting her from.

“Their anger could cause a normal human to go on a killing spree… and their brand of love is what we would call a dangerous obsession.” He suddenly leaned forward, placing his hands against the desk on each side of her to trap her beneath him. He then dipped his lips very close to her ear. “And their carnal lust is so hot it burns.”

Lacey closed her eyes as she felt his breath touch her neck. Yeah, he was right about burning because she was on fire. Her lips parted as her breathing sped up. “Their bodies must also be hypersensitive to touch because your breath against my neck feels way too good to be anywhere near normal.”

The growl next to her ear was her only reply but the sound was so seductive that Lacey heard the answer within it. He was so close to her… yet he wasn't touching her anywhere. It was as if he had complete control while she was left swimming in a whirlpool of passion, waiting for the slightest tug to pull her under. She really wanted to experiment with this yummy little side effect… right now, if he was game.

Mentally deleting the seduction at the Witch’s Brew less than an hour ago… since it had happened under duress, Lacey thought about the last time they had touched one another. It had happened right here in this office. She’d believed that she would be dead by dawn and had wanted to spend the last remaining hours lost in sensual pleasure with him. Ren had been the one to put a stop to it because he’d been listening in on her thoughts.

Well, she didn’t have a death threat hanging over her head anymore thanks to him, so he couldn’t hold that against her. If she had her way, he would hold something else against her very soon and, with the mood she was in, she hoped it was big and throbbing.

“Since you’re the one who gave me the power to accidently set myself on fire like this… do you want to be the one to help me extinguish the flame, or do I need to find someone else who is willing to be my firefighter,” she asked, remembering the sting of his last rejection.

Ren tightened his grip on the desk when the rush of heat he’d been feeling quickly morphed into hot as hell anger. Had she really just threatened to go find someone else to quench her desire? The image of her and Vincent making love in the not so distant past seared through his head like a locomotive.

He should have also warned her about extreme jealousy but it was a moot point, since he seemed to be the only one feeling that particular emotion.

“I will teach you not only how to use the powers that have been awakened inside you, but how to control the ones that will put others in danger,” he whispered deceptively, before taking her in his arms.

Lacey blinked when Ren pulled her close and she noticed the office fading into the distance. Within seconds, she found herself in the same bedroom she had woken up in… his. Her gaze strayed to the bed hoping she was finally going to get what she’d been secretly craving since she’d met him. Instead, he gripped her arm and pulled her past the bed, making her frown in confusion.

Being propelled into a connecting bathroom, she couldn’t suppress the shocked scream when she suddenly found herself in the shower with icy cold water cascading down on the top of her head. Shivering, she reached out and turned the water off realizing she was still fully dressed. She was now seeing her sensitive skin statement in a whole new light. That was freakin colder than cold ever thought about being.

“What the hell was that for,” Lacey demanded, glaring over at Ren with murder in her eyes.

“Lesson number one,” Ren growled, leaning toward her for emphasis, “don’t let siphoned sexual heat get to you so bad that you would sleep with just anyone to get a fix.”

Lacey’s glare didn’t lessen as her teeth chattered. “You’re right. What the hell was I thinking asking you? I promise, next time I’ll choose who I ask a little wiser.” She waited for a comeback from him but was met with complete silence that made her a bit nervous, and the fact that she couldn’t see his eyes for the stupid sunglasses wasn't helping.

She wondered where the desire Ren had been feeling a moment ago went and why the hell it had suddenly been replaced by rage. The emotion was so strong that she struggled to contain it. She had spent the last year guarding her thoughts and emotions from dangerous people and now she was almost a pro at it… except around him for some damn reason.

Instead of hitting the big jerk like she wanted to, she grabbed the frosted shower door and slammed it in his face so she wouldn’t have to look at him. Taking the dress off, she threw the sodden thing over the shower door and smirked when the sound of slung water hitting something reached her ears. She hoped the cold rain from it got him right in the face. He so deserved it and much more.

Glancing back towards the frosted glass, Lacey wanted to do a happy dance when she saw the distorted shape of Ren’s body and could tell that he was taking his sunglasses off to dry them. The small taste of revenge cooled her anger for the moment. Turning on the hot water, Lacey stepped under it and groaned in ecstasy as it warmed her chilled flesh.

Ren gritted his teeth, still seething over the easy way she’d just informed him that she would ask for someone else’s help the next time she got horny. Throwing her in the cold shower had been his temper’s idea and his temper had never been that smart. He would have to fix the mistake before she attempted to make good on the threat… attempt being the operative word because he would never allow someone else to touch her in such a way.

His lips parted to warn her that she would be giving a death sentence to anyone she tried to seduce but he gritted his teeth to keep the angry words from forming. She would only take it as a challenge anyway and probably run straight to her lover boy, since killing the idiot wouldn’t matter.

Ren ran a hand through his bangs to get them out of his eyes and started pacing back and forth as his mind raced. It was true that he would have to test her limits on how much of the world around her she was ciphering. The last thing they needed was for her to go into a blood rage just because the demon beside her was in a bad mood. He’d been practicing at this a lot longer than her… and he would be the one that would teach her how to deal with it.

His pacing slowed realizing she wasn't the only one who needed to get a handle on new things. For heaven’s sake, he hadn’t even left the bathroom so she could take a shower in peace. Was he that afraid to let her out of his sight? Again… the answer to that question was obvious.

Ren slowly turned his gaze toward the lightly frosted glass that separated them. His eyesight was way too good for him to be hanging out in here.

With a frustrated sigh, he spun on his heels and left the bathroom in quick strides. He needed to distance himself from her nakedness so he could think clearly. He came to a stop in the middle of his bedroom when he noticed Storm, who was casually leaning against the bed post with a couple of shopping bags at his feet.

“I’ll make this quick because in just a few minutes, she is going to come out of there butt naked and blaming you.” Storm smirked, knowing his friend was having a hard time. It seemed neither one of them was having a good day but Ren's was about to get a lot shorter.

“Then by all means hurry up before I teleport your slow ass out of here myself,” Ren stated, returning the smirk, which quickly died on his lips when he realized just how Storm would know that Lacey would emerge naked. He tilted his head seeing the blood pooling in Storm's ear when the Time Walker looked away from him.

“She will need these,” Storm said, indicating the bags before vanishing.

Knowing Storm was evading the tongue lashing he’d been about to give him didn’t help Ren's mood in the least. What the hell was Storm doing that was making him bleed? He stalked over to glare down at the bags seeing the clothing inside. The sight made him remember the fact that she was at the moment wearing only water.

He slowly glanced back at the door that separated them wondering if he shouldn’t just leave the clothes right where they were.

Lacey's heartbeat was still racing as she lathered up and scrubbed at her fevered skin in quick, almost painful movements. She was mad as hell and, oddly enough, still highly aroused, which was just pissing her off more. Hell… the pain from scrubbing too hard was even feeling good.

This was Ren’s fault. She was positive that it had been his sexual need that she’d been leeching off of in the office just then. The craving had been so strong that she could taste it. There was also no mistaking the fact that he’d been turned on when he’d backed her up against the desk like that… the huge bulge in his pants made it undeniable.

How dare he preach control to her when she’d just watched him lose control at The Witch’s Brew only a little while ago? She closed her eyes and bit her bottom lip trying to suppress a moan when that little memory sent a bolt of white hot heat straight down her abs to thump hard against her core.

Damn him. She wished it worked both ways so she could pay him back for the sexual frustration she was experiencing. The soapy rag paused just under her breasts, as she stilled. Maybe it was a two way street. He siphoned on others emotions so who was to say he wouldn’t feel her arousal right now… especially if she magnified it on purpose. No hot blooded woman in her right mind was above masturbation if left without any other options.

Her shoulders slumped wondering why she was trying to pick a fight with the man that had saved her life just a couple hours ago. Granted, he was bossy and could be a real jerk but that wasn't all there was to him and she knew it. She slowly reached out and turned the cold water on, raising her face to meet the chilly spray.

Ren opened his eyes when he felt her arousal fade, only to find himself with his hand already gripping the bathroom doorknob. He knew damn well he would lose this little battle of wills with her if she emerged naked as Storm had suggested. He swung around and glared at the bags of clothing Storm had brought for her.

Lacey shivered and turned the water off before glancing up at the wet dress Storm had given her. No way was she wiggling back into that thing. The way she looked at it, only two things could happen if she walked out of here in the buff… she’d either get laid or he would sling some oversized clothes at her.

She could already imagine his expression and smirked, wondering why it was that every time she decided to be a good girl, fate would present the perfect opportunity for her to be very bad.

Stepping out of the shower, she frowned seeing several shopping bags sitting on the long marble sink. It only took a moment to shift through the contents and come to the conclusion that this was exactly what she would have bought if she’d done the shopping herself.

Her lips parted as it dawned on her just who had stopped her from preforming the streak in front of Ren. She hurriedly stepped into her clothes figuring if Storm wanted her dressed then there was probably a very good reason for it. Finally dressed and feeling a little more in control, she glanced in the mirror seeing the door behind her and her thoughts instantly went back to the man who was waiting just on the other side.

She really needed to stop pressing his buttons like that. Besides, it wasn’t a whole lot of fun since he had a way of winning every single argument. The sudden cold shower had been a little heavy-handed but she wasn’t stupid… she’d felt the heat of his anger as soon as she’d teased him. She thought back to her exact words.

“Since you’re the one who gave me the power to accidently set myself on fire like this… do you want to be the one to help me extinguish the flame, or do I need to find someone else who is willing to be my firefighter.”

She’d only said it that way in self-defense since he’d turned her down the first time she’d wanted to have sex with him. But in all honesty… she had also been half joking, hoping he would agree to be her firefighter. Vincent had always taken her teasing in stride and even teased back, but she understood it was because they were friends more than true lovers… she would have to keep that in mind.

Ren had given her a part of himself to save her life and she could feel the strong bond that now tethered them together… closer than she and Vincent had ever been. She wanted only Ren and she could tell he wanted her too… his possessiveness of her had made that loud and clear. She took a deep breath then fluffed her hair up deciding if she wanted him then she would just have to seduce him until he couldn’t take it anymore. Blowing herself a kiss in the mirror, she turned and headed for the room that had the big bed in it.

Her theory of needing to be fully clothed was proven right when she stepped out of the bathroom only to see Ren's bedroom disappear from around her.

Chapter 4

Angelica slipped through her bedroom door and quickly shut it behind her. Sliding the lock in place, she leaned her forehead against the thick wood wishing it was made of something stronger… titanium maybe.

Releasing a heavy sigh, she frowned and stepped away from the door, staring at the lock like it was her only hope. In a way it was. That little lock was the only thing between her and the craving she had to see Syn now that he wasn't here watching her… stalking her.

Lifting her hand, she rubbed her right temple in furious little circles trying to piece together the fact that she had just ran away from the man… or whatever he was, only to now miss him so much that her chest was actually aching.

“I don’t need anyone,” Angelica reminded herself but her fingers paused in mid circle. She jerked her hand down from her temple tasting the lie within the words. Considering she felt the withdrawal symptoms, she might as well label him as what he was… an addiction.

Slowly backing further away from the door, she closed her eyes allowing her thoughts to deepen. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to see that Syn was messing with her mind and God help her if she wasn’t beginning to second guess herself. It was a dangerous line to cross because if she dared… there would be no turning back.

They shouldn’t be partners… why hadn’t Storm foreseen this? All Syn had done down in that tunnel was make a fool out of her. It wasn't like he really needed a partner when all he had to do was place a damn barrier around the exits and the job was done.

The memory came back to haunt her like a vivid nightmare. Down in the tunnels under the museum… she’d felt an intense feeling of claustrophobia wash over her as the ceiling of the tunnel suddenly rumbled and cracked. It was an ominous sensation to realize she was standing in her own grave.

Just as large jagged rocks began breaking off and falling around her, she saw a number of demons racing down the hidden stairway trying to escape into the tunnels… and she was standing directly in their path. There was a tidal wave of debris on their heels swallowing up some of the demons that weren’t fast enough to escape it.

She had been frozen to the spot, completely terrified, when arms suddenly came around her and the stairway faded into the distance before disappearing entirely. Angelica shivered again and wrapped her arms around herself remembering the feeling of the tunnel collapsing around her but it was what had happened next that had been her true downfall.

When her world had stabilized again, she found that they were on the roof of a building instead of underneath one. Still feeling the slight vibration under her feet, she’d turned her head just in time to witness the museum collapsing into the underground tunnels she’d only seconds ago been standing in.

Slowly looking back at the warm chest she was being held against, she’d noticed her hands were fisted in his shirt, giving away the fact that she had been frightened and needed him. At that moment, she had wanted nothing more than to bury herself in his strong arms and stay there… where nothing could hurt her.

She had then made the mistake of gazing up at the beautiful man she was clinging to. The ends of his dark hair lifted in the updraft from the collapsing building but he appeared so irrationally calm… or at least she had thought so, until she’d locked gazes with those amethyst eyes that stared back down at her, full of heat and untamed power.

The sight had reminded her of the first time she’d seen a hauntingly beautiful vision of him… in the cave the same night the symbol had appeared on her palm.

Her breath quickened as her gaze lowered to his sensual lips. Realizing that she wanted him had made her take a quick step back in denial. The moment she was out of his arms, Syn had dropped them… his eyes instantly becoming dark and brooding… a touch dangerous and she’d had to suppress a shiver.

Snapping out of the memory, Angelica raised her palm seeing that nothing had changed since their first encounter… the symbol was still there in flawless detail. It had been there for a while now. She inwardly flinched when it dawned on her that she’d never put any real effort into removing it.

Syn had told her that he’d given it to her for protection and for some strange reason she’d believed him. When had she started trusting him so completely?

In the past, she would have been questioning every movement, every motive of a creature as powerful as Syn. But in the last couple weeks, her natural suspicious nature had taken a back seat to the curiosity and heat Syn had a way of fueling within her.

PIT members usually described her as a loner that wasn't interested in making friends. That was the way she’d wanted everyone to see her… so they would keep their distance. Since Syn’s appearance in her life, he’d left her feeling exposed. She was starting to obsess over him, just as much as he appeared to be obsessing over her and she wanted it to stop… or did she? The ache in her chest seemed to spread out several inches at the thought.

“Welcome to the land of confusion… population one,” she informed the silence of the room then made a face at how pathetic she sounded. She was stronger than this.

Angelica glared back down at the mark on her palm wondering if it was the cause of these strange feelings she was having for him… the same way a vampire’s thrall would work. After all… Syn was the progenitor of the vampire race, wasn't he? She needed to stop overlooking that dangerous little fact. He had already admitted that he didn’t care about the war against the demons… so why was he here distracting her? Why was he helping only her?

“This started with you,” she accused the symbol.

Raising her other hand, she held it over the intricate design on her palm, intending to treat it the same way she would treat any other demon mark that she’d removed from victims in the past.

The tip of her index finger ghosted over the shape of it, probing for the slightest hint of evil to tether her search to. A soft frown appeared on her face finding no underlying malicious intent beneath the lines. Concentrating harder on the complex symbol, she bit her bottom lip as she began to follow the deepening path, until she could finally push past its powerful barrier.

Angelica's lips parted and she inhaled sharply at the sensations that suddenly washed over her. There was a moment of lightheadedness followed by a hard tug from the seal, the very instant her powers tapped into it. The action surprised her so much that she actually panicked and jerked her power back, feeling the symbol’s magic lash around her and lick at her skin before disappearing back wherever it had come from.

If she didn’t know better, she’d swear the damned mark had just tasted her.

Syn silently appeared behind Angelica, having felt her tamper with the link that enabled her access to his power for her own protection. He’d thought to leave her alone for a few hours, so that he could regain his calm after seeing her rejection of him once again. However, with her breaching his seal on her palm, she’d unknowingly summoned him here to witness her useless attempt to break their bond.

This made his anger resurface… was she that anxious to be rid of him just so she could stop lying to herself? After searching for so many millennia and finally finding her, he was not about to let her sever even the slightest link he’d managed to reform with her.

“Coward,” Angelica lectured herself over her reaction, and opened her fisted hand to try again. She sucked in a sharp breath when the seal instantly started glowing with reinforced power.

“Why don’t you try taking your frustration out on the one that caused it,” Syn asked, from right behind her.

Angelica flinched at his close proximity and spun around to pin her stalker with a glare. It was hard to hold the glare when he looked a hell of a lot angrier than she felt.

Before she realized his intent, he’d snagged her around the waist with one of his arms and pulled her against his hard body. She just as quickly pressed her palm against his chest to keep some semblance of distance between them. Seriously, if he was trying to drive her crazy then he was in for a short trip.

“You’re right. I should take it out on you,” She said pointedly, and pushed away from him, surprised when he let go so easily she almost lost her footing. She gritted her teeth, trying to bury the odd disappointment she was feeling because he’d let her go so quickly.

Closing her hand around the mark on her palm, she said the first thing that came to mind. “What the hell have you done to me?”

“Do I frighten you,” Syn asked, leaning against her bedpost and crossing his arms over his chest.

Angelica was caught off guard by the question, making her frown slightly at his crossed arms, before lifting her gaze to meet his bright amethyst eyes. They were glowing in what she could swear was anger but he seemed so calm it was serene.

“I am not scared of you,” she boldly informed him, then took a quick step back, when he pushed away from the bedpost and started toward her.

“I have done nothing to harm you,” Syn defended through a barely suppressed growl, knowing they had danced this dance before. She had fought him in the past to the point of insanity before finally admitting defeat and he wasn't interested in history repeating itself. He felt a mental flinch remembering how that history had ended. “You are the only reason I’m here.”

Angelica shook her head not wanting the responsibility of being anyone’s reason for anything. She had placed so many walls around herself that the only one who had even come close to breaching them was Zachary. Or to be honest, it was his alter ego Zach who unmercifully plowed his way past them. She was momentarily saddened by that fact because now she missed his friendship and his unwanted advice.

Syn’s eyes narrowed hearing her mourn the closeness she’d had with the phoenix. It was regretful she’d forgotten the fact that he, Syn, was a very possessive man and had never easily shared her with others. He had killed to keep her before and he would do it again with no hesitation.

He pulled his power inward when it tried to spike at the memory, and Syn realized that he was teetering on the edge of his limit. How had she reduced him to this impatient state so quickly?

“You didn’t come here for me.” Angelica frowned, pointing out what she thought was the obvious. “You came because your boys are here, who I might add look the same age as you… more like your brothers, not your children. And now you’re staying to help Storm fight the demons.” Her voice faltered when her back hit the wall at the same time that his palms hit it on each side of her… efficiently trapping her against the painted rock of the castle.

“My mate is the one helping Storm… not me,” Syn growled harshly. “I am only here to protect her from foolishly getting herself killed again!”

“I’ve never been killed,” Angelica shot back in denial then flinched when the wall cracked under his palms causing jagged lines to creep up through the rock near her head and shoulders.

“Stop,” she whispered, barely breathing the word.

Something was definitely wrong with him but instead of it frightening her… it was suddenly breaking her heart. She slowed her breathing, wanting to be careful right now, because she felt if she wasn't, this powerful man in front of her would shatter and that would be the beginning of her truest fear.

“I am going to hold you until I calm down,” Syn warned, just as he leaned forward and dragged her against him.

When Angelica didn’t resist him, Syn felt some of the overwhelming grief leave his tense shoulders. She may not remember her death, but it was a memory he still struggled to keep buried deep within… for his own sanity. Keeping her trapped, he slowly lowered himself to his knees, pulling her down the wall with him. He let one shaking hand trail up and under her dark silky hair to press her cheek into the arc of his neck, laying his lips against her temple as he did so.

Angelica blinked when she felt his body tremble against hers and heard his breath labored in her ear. It was as if he was fighting against something she couldn’t see. Using this as a reason to give in for the moment, she slowly relaxed against him and let him hold her. She was stunned by how warm and protected she suddenly felt, being held by him. He was so big and strong, yet she could sense his restraint as he held her.

Summoning the courage to appease her own curiosity, she kept her voice soft and calm as she spoke. “I don’t understand what I did to gain your attention.”

“No… you wouldn’t understand,” Syn agreed, and gently kissed her dark hair before laying his cheek against it.

A part of him didn’t want to remind her of their tainted past… didn’t want to see the flash of hatred in her eyes for what he’d done. Not when he had no intention of asking her forgiveness. They had deserved to die… all of them.

“You’re not very helpful,” Angelica added feeling slightly drained from all of the adrenalin rushes she’d experienced in the last couple hours.

She hadn’t lied… she wasn't scared of him… not really. She had watched him almost kill himself to bring a room full of murdered children back to life. How could she ever truly fear him when it was all she could do to keep from reaching out to him? She was going to have to find a way to distance herself from him permanently.

“You are cruel to me Angelica,” Syn whispered having heard her deepest thoughts. “If you keep your soul locked away… you will learn just how cruel you have made me.”

Her fear rose at his words and Angelica unsuccessfully tried to push away from him. Did he want to take her soul as he had so many other humans? Was that the true reason he was stalking her?

“You have no claim over my soul and you never will,” she insisted as the fight or flight instinct slammed through her, causing her struggle to intensify.