Dark Protectors: Provoked Part 38

"Maybe, maybe not." Kalin flashed sharp fangs. "But I promised you an answer to your question."

Zane jerked his focus to her. "You've been meeting with Kalin?"

She kept her gaze on the Kurjan. "Once. I needed something." She lifted an eyebrow.

Kalin barked a short laugh. "Jase Kayrs was not killed by demons."

No kidding. "Your news is old."

"My apologies." He bowed at the waist, all sarcasm. "Next time I'll . . . satisfy you quicker."

Unease had a s.h.i.+ver running down her spine. The heat from Zane's temper actually warmed the air around her. "We're not meeting again, Kalin. I'll figure out a way to keep you out of my dream worlds."

He licked his pale lips. "Now that I've had your blood, probably not."

Zane stiffened, his eyes flas.h.i.+ng. "He's had your blood?"

Kalin laughed, the sound grating. "That's not all I've had." Then he turned his head toward the woods. "I have to go-duty calls. I'll see you both again soon."

The air relaxed slightly as he exited the private world.

Tension still vibrated from Zane. He stepped closer. "How did the Kurjan get your blood?"

Janie faced him squarely. "That's really not your concern. I have his blood, too. As well as yours."

Irritation had Zane's eyebrows drawing together. "How the h.e.l.l did you get his blood?"

"I tricked him." Janie shrugged. "Why do you care?"

Anger sparked the oxygen around them. Zane stepped forward, hauling her up against him. "The only way you could've gotten his blood was to bite him. How did you get close enough to bite a Kurjan?"

"I kissed him." Janie lifted her chin.

Zane's hold tightened. Disbelief curled his lip. "You kissed that . . . monster?"

"Yes." Temper flashed through her so quickly her knees went weak. "You're not the only one with plans for the ending of this war, Zane. Don't you ever forget who I am."

His lids half closed. "I don't think I knew until right this second who you were."

b.u.t.terflies zinged to life in her stomach. He was so warm and so close. The vampire was also hard-head to toe. Such muscle, so much strength in her childhood friend. "What did you want to tell me?"

His eyelids lowered to half-mast. "Apparently I don't need to tell you anything-you've got it all figured out." He grabbed her chin, his hold warm and firm. Tilting her head to the side, he planted a hard kiss on her lips. "We're nowhere near done here, Belle." Releasing her, he stepped back.

Her lips tingled while her entire body lit on fire. "Then why are you leaving?"

His nostrils flared. "I have plans to make. You might want to do the same." Pivoting, he strode toward the forest.

"What the heck does that mean?" she called after him.

He turned, eyes blazing, jaw set hard. "It means, get ready. I'm coming for you, Janie Belle. Soon."

The dream world disappeared.

Janie Kayrs sat up in bed, her hand going to her still tingling lips. "Well, it's about time."

Did you miss the other books in Rebecca's

DARK PROTECTORS series?

Fated.

Marry Me . . .

Cara Paulsen does not give up easily. A scientist and a single mother, she's used to fighting for what she wants, keeping a cool head, and doing whatever it takes to protect her daughter Janie. But "whatever it takes" has never before included a shotgun wedding to a dangerous-looking stranger with an att.i.tude problem....

. . . Or Else.

Sure, the mysterious Talen says that he's there to protect Cara and Janie. He also says that he's a three-hundred-year-old vampire. Of course, the way he touches her, Cara might actually believe he's had that long to practice....

Claimed.

A Daring Rescue.

Emma Paulsen is a geneticist driven by science. But she's also a psychic, so when a dark, good-hearted vampire frees her from the clutches of the evil Kurjans, she realizes he must be the man who's been haunting her dreams. But with a virus threatening vampires' mates, Emma may discover a whole new meaning of "lovesick." . . .

A Deadly Decision.

As King of the Realm, Dage Kayrs has learned to practice diplomacy. Still, it's taken three hundred years to find his mate, so he'll stop at nothing to protect her-even if it means turning his back on his own kind....

Hunted.

Ready or Not.

Moira Dunne is a witch-the quantum physics kind. Time and s.p.a.ce are her playthings. Which might explain why her one-night stand from a hundred years ago has turned up to "claim" her-and request her family's a.s.sistance with the war he's brewing. But the more she learns about Connlan Kayrs, the more she comes to think this is normal behavior for him. . . .

There's Nowhere to Hide.

When Conn and Moira tumbled on the moonlit gra.s.s, Conn hadn't meant to mark her as his mate for all time. She was only twenty! But it wasn't easy to wait for her. It was even harder to forget her. So when he finally returns for his wicked-hot witch, he's ready to let the sparks fly-even if he burns up in flames....

Consumed.

Sometimes You Mate for Life.

Katie Smith is the best of her cla.s.s, part of an elite hunting force trained to eliminate werewolves from the hills of western Virginia. She's good at it because she has the kind of focus and drive that won't back down no matter how steep the odds. Call it Southern sa.s.s. Whatever it is, there's no denying her willingness to risk everything for the only man she's ever cared about-a man on the verge of losing his very humanity. . . .

Sometimes You Mate to Stay Alive.

For the past ten years Jordan Pride has dedicated his life to protecting his people from a deadly s.h.i.+fter virus. But in a rare moment of distraction, Jordan's guard drops just long enough for his fate to take an irreversible twist. Unless the woman he loves surrenders everything to him, again and again, under a full moon rising....

end.