Point of No Return Read online

  She gave me her most winning smile.

  “But,” I said, grabbing hold of her. “You are not going to get a dark shade, Elle. Makeup is supposed to accentuate your appearance.”

  “What does accentuate mean?” she said, grabbing my hand.

  “It means that makeup is supposed to make you look nice, but people aren’t supposed to think you are wearing it. Come on.”

  * * * *

  After buying Elle a light shade of dusty pink lipstick, we headed out of the mall towards the exit. As we neared the outside doors, I noticed some beautiful light gray chenille sweaters almost silver in color. I was instantly reminded of the sheets Devlin had brought to my home. Better yet, when I touched a sleeve, it was soft as a cat’s fur.

  “Isn’t this pretty?”

  “Mom, I’ve never seen you wear that color before,” Elle said.

  “Does it look good on me?” I asked, holding the sweater up in front of me.

  “Yes,” she said. “It makes your hair look more golden.”

  “Sounds like a sale,” I said, grabbing one. “Hurry. We’ve got to go back to the registers and find a short line.”

  * * * *

  We got to Danial’s around five thirty. He met us at the door.

  “You’re late, my dears.” He looked down at Elle, then blanched. “Is that lipstick you’re wearing?”

  “Yes,” she said proudly. “It’s called Lusty Kiss.”

  Danial looked at me, appalled. “You are letting our nine-year old daughter wear a lipstick called Lusty Kiss?” he choked out.

  “I didn’t know it was called that,” I said lamely, flushing. “I had her pick a light shade.”

  “Go take that off,” Danial said, glowering at Elle. “You are too young for lipstick.”

  “I am not!” Elle said, and flounced away.

  He grabbed her before she went three feet. “You are my daughter, and you will do what I said,” Danial said, his eyes red. “Now take it off!”

  I expected she would cry, or maybe say she wasn’t really his daughter. Instead Elle got a tissue, wiped off the lipstick, and tossed the tissue away. “I’m going to see Cia,” she said sullenly. “I said I’d watch Aran Jr. for her tonight. Brian is getting a movie, and Demi said we’d make popcorn.”

  “Go,” I said gently. “Have a good time.”

  Elle ran back and hugged me. “Thanks for today, Mom.”

  I looked at Danial over her shoulder meaningfully. He stared back, then threw up his hands.

  “Elle, keep the lipstick,” I said. “But wear it only when we go out, not here.”

  “You mean it?” she said excitedly.

  “Yes. But that is all you are wearing, Elle, until...until another two years pass, no matter how old you look by then. Understand?”

  “Yes,” she said, then turned to look at Danial questioningly.

  “That’s okay,” he said, nodding. “Go see Cia. Your mother and I have things to discuss.”

  Elle gave him a brilliant smile, then bounded out the door.

  “She is growing up too fast,” Danial said worriedly.

  “It’s Tasha’s fault,” I said nastily. “She is the one who put wanting lipstick into Elle’s head.”

  “If it hadn’t been her, it would’ve been someone else,” Danial said soothingly. “Elle has seen you in makeup, Sar. Tasha does wear some, but not much more than you do.”

  I was irked, and didn’t reply.

  “What did you buy?” he asked.

  “Just a sweater. Can I use your bathroom to change?”

  “You can use my bedroom,” he said, trailing kisses down my neck. “And perhaps you can delay putting your new sweater on for a few hours.” He pulled his body tightly against mine, his hands caressing me gently. On my neck there came the slight brush of fangs.

  My knees went weak instantly. “Stop,” I said breathily. “I can’t stay with you tonight.”

  “Why not?” Danial said, in between kisses. “I can send over someone to watch your home and pets. Elle will be gone for the evening with the weres. We’ll be alone.”

  “Devlin asked me to come to him tonight,” I said quickly. “One of his men is coming for me shortly.”

  Danial abruptly stopped in mid-kiss. He didn’t speak, but it was obvious he was pissed off. “How long until he’s here?” he growled finally.

  “He could be here anytime now.”

  Danial gave me a slow smile. “Then he’ll have to wait a few moments.”

  “A few minutes? You know that’s not enough time,” I said, exasperated. “Get real.”

  Danial flipped open his cell phone then and dialed. “Brian? Drive out to the middle of the driveway, and knock over a few poplar trees onto the driveway, blocking it. Make sure they’re big enough a Hummer can’t cross them. Never mind why, just do it. There’s a bonus in it for you if they’re over a foot in diameter.”

  Danial hung up the phone, then grabbed my hand. “We have enough time now,” he said eagerly, pulling me into his bedroom.

  * * * *

  I lay in Danial’s arms after, my heart still racing. His was slow and steady. I nuzzled close, listening happily to the regular beats.

  Danial pushed my hair back from my face, and kissed me softly. “Much as I’d like to lay here with you, Sar, you should dress,” Danial said languidly. “Even several trees won’t delay Devlin’s bears for long, not for much longer than it took Brian to knock them over.”

  “You’re right,” I said reluctantly, getting up. “I’d better go.”

  Danial sat up, handing me my underwear from the side of the bed. “Come back to me next weekend. We’ll stay in like we did back in the fall, maybe ride, if the weather’s good. I’ll get you a pizza.”

  “You know just what I can’t resist,” I said, laughing, slipping into my new sweater.

  Danial gave me a knowing smile. “He’ll like it. That’s his favorite color.”

  “Should I get one in red for you?” I teased.

  Danial lovingly kissed my hand, then gently gestured toward the door. “Go, Sweetheart, before I change my mind and keep you here.”

  I blew him a kiss, then went into the great room, closing the door behind me.

  A few minutes passed. I checked my watch. Maybe I should call Devlin and make sure something hadn’t come up in Canada...

  A knock came from the front door. I quickly grabbed my purse and keys from the table. As I walked into the mudroom, Theo opened the front door.

  Chapter Three

  Lash stood there waiting in the doorway, his eyes as flat as ever, his forked tongue flicking angrily. He was dressed warmly all in black, save for a blood red scarf at his neck.

  “What do you want?” Theo said gruffly.

  “Sarelle,” Lash hissed angrily, drawing out my name in a long sinuous sound. “Devlin wants her at Hayden.”

  “I’m here,” I said, trying to slide past Theo. “I’m ready.”

  Theo blocked me, eyeing me frostily. “No one said anything to me about it,” he said stonily.

  “No one need tell you anything, Cat,” Lash hissed. “You have no say.”

  “I have a say in Danial’s property,” Theo growled. “I need to check with Danial before I let her leave.”

  “Then go check,” Lash said, baring his fangs. “I’ll wait inside.”

  “You’ll wait outside,” Theo said, and slammed the door in his face.

  “Theo, he’s right—”

  Theo grabbed a hold of my arm and hauled me to Danial’s bedroom door. “Danial,” Theo said, pounding on the door loudly. “Lash is here. He said he’s here for Sar.”

  Danial came to the door, dressed. “Theo, it’s okay,” he said calmly. “It was good of you to check, but I knew Sar was headed to Hayden tonight. Let her leave.”

  “You’re just going to let her go to him?” Theo said, his tone dagger-filled. “I can smell that you were just together.”

  Danial gave him a slow smile of gratification. �
�Devlin has rights to Sar now, just as I do, whether you like it or not. She’ll often leave one of us to go to the other, something that doesn’t invoke my jealousy, as it’s a given under our Oath. Reconcile yourself to this situation, or leave my employ.”

  “As soon as the ranking’s settled, I probably will,” Theo replied curtly. “And I’ll be taking Elle with me.”

  Danial’s eyes flashed red. “We’ve been over this. If you want to leave with your woman, you’re free to go. But Elle is staying here.”

  “Then stop the digs,” Theo shot back. “None of us planned how this all worked out. If you want Elle to stay here, then we need to work together.” He glanced over at me, then back to Danial. “I don’t want to see anyone hurt.”

  “He isn’t going to hurt her,” Danial said patiently. “He loves her.”

  “He loves nothing but himself, and you know it,” Theo growled.

  Danial gave me a gentle kiss. “Have a good time. Call tomorrow from Dev’s, and tell me when I can expect you to return. If it’s a few days or more, that’s no problem; I’m neck deep in cases.”

  “I will,” I said uneasily.

  Danial nodded, then went back into his bedroom.

  “You must have worn him out,” Theo said sarcastically. “He’s right about his work—”

  I tried to push past him. He blocked me.

  “Let me past, Theo.”

  “Sar, don’t do this,” Theo said, grabbing my arm. “He’ll hurt you without Danial there to mediate—”

  “I’ve been alone with him before,” I said meaningfully. “He didn’t do anything to me I didn’t want.”

  “Didn’t he?” Theo said just as meaningfully. “Give him time. He will.”

  “It’s really not your business anymore, is it?” I said mockingly. “Why does it matter to you, anyway?”

  The door suddenly banged open. Lash glared at the both of us with his flat eyes as he walked in.

  “You broke the lock,” Theo bitched.

  Lash threw some money on the floor. “We are late already, Sarelle,” he hissed. “Get moving. Now.”

  Everything happened at once. I went to move past Theo, he put out his hand to stop me, and something slid through the air with a sharp crack. Theo went rigid, grabbing at his neck, choking, his eyes bulging, the end of Lash’s whip tight around his throat.

  Lash held the handle of his whip in one hand, and pulled it back toward him with the other. Theo went to his knees, struggling frantically to get his hands under the whip, his face purple. Lash looked up at me, smiled coldly, then gave the whip a yank. Theo swayed, still clawing at his throat.

  “Stop, please,” I said wearily, moving between Lash and Theo. “You’re right; we’re late. Let’s go.”

  Lash nodded, pushed me out of the way, then flicked his wrist, uncurling the whip from Theo. Theo gasped, going down on all fours on the mudroom floor, breaths tearing out of him. Assuring myself he’d be okay, I went past Lash out the door. Lash closed it behind us.

  “Let me get my bag, it’s in my truck—”

  “We will take your truck,” Lash hissed sharply. “I’ll drive. Get in.”

  I gave him a wary look.

  “Devlin said it was closer for you to drive home from Hayden than all the way back to Danial’s to get your vehicle,” Lash hissed. “My orders are to drive you there in your vehicle. Hopefully you can drive yourself back and forth in time.”

  I bit back my sharp retort, shrugged, and handed him the keys.

  As we headed down the driveway, a black Hummer fell in behind us. It had been waiting near the poplar trees Brian had felled. Even lying on the ground, all were more than a foot in diameter, and had been at least fifty feet tall. They would have soundly blocked the driveway, requiring hours of work for normal humans to remove. They had been pushed aside, without any cutting, into the forest.

  “Nice trick with the trees,” Lash hissed sarcastically. “It’s good Devlin insisted I bring the bears with me, or I’d have frozen stiff in this cold.” He stared over at me. “Maybe you’d have liked that.”

  His suggestive tone repulsed and angered me. “You were the last, um...person I expected to show up here—”

  “You don’t have to put yourself out and call me a person,” Lash said witheringly. “But I warn you, I don’t answer to Snake.”

  “I’m sorry you got cold,” I said frostily. “Don’t worry about me calling you anything other than your name.”

  Lash didn’t answer.

  We drove through Alan’s Creek, I turned to him. “Do you mind if I stop and order some Chinese food?” I said hopefully. “It’s close to dinner time.”

  “I’m to take you to Dev immediately,” Lash said, his eyes on the road. “So, no.”

  “If I clear it with Dev, can—?”

  “Call him if you want,” he said, giving me a cold smile, “But he’ll tell you no, too. He’s never gone this long without someone in his bed. He’s going to want more than a little of you.”

  “I’m already late,” I answered, dialing. “He won’t care if I’m a few moments later.”

  Devlin answered. “Sar, are you on your way?”

  “Yes, but I’m hungry, Do you mind if I stop—”

  “Forget it,” he said curtly. “You can eat here, later.”

  “Dev—”

  “You are already late, due to Danial’s games. Need I remind you of your promise to me, Sar?” he said angrily. “You want me to tell Perseus he’s welcome to take you? You know how fast he would be at your door?”

  “I’ll be there soon,” I said tonelessly, and hung up.

  “See?” Lash hissed, grinning so his fangs showed. “I told you—”

  “Shut up and drive,” I said, slumping in the seat.

  Lash gave me a cold look, but didn’t speak for the rest of the trip. Within an hour, we were driving up a long, long driveway, bare trees lining either side. I thought they might be oak, but it was too dark to tell.

  A large, forbidding stone house stood on top of the rise, most of the windows ablaze with light. As we drove past it into the attached four-car garage, some tumbled and broken stones were visible near the foundation. The intermittent raised gardens nearby looked like a mess of tangled dead weeds and snow banks.

  Lash pulled my vehicle into the first open spot inside, then closed the garage door behind us using a remote opener. With one hand he slid the clip of the garage door opener onto my truck’s visor, and with the other, he turned off the engine. Outside came the sounds of truck doors closing, and men talking.

  Lash got out, and gestured for me to follow him. He led me through a small kitchen. It was empty of all normal appliances except a large elaborate wine rack on the counter, a supersize refrigerator, a dishwasher, and a microwave. Adjoining it was a dining room, a living room with a big screen flat screen TV on one wall, and finally a hallway, with a stairway leading up into darkness.

  “She’s here!” Lash called out with glee.

  Devlin came to the top of the stairs. He wore a gray robe, dark as steel, gleaming in the dim light. “Thank you, Lash,” Devlin said roughly. “Now leave us.”

  Lash grinned at me. “Have a nice time, Doll.” With a flick of his tongue, he turned and made his exit, heading back through the door to my left.

  “That’s the door I came in with him,” I said in surprise. “Right?”

  Devlin came down the stairs and scooped me up in his arms. “Miss me?” he asked. Then, before I could answer, he kissed me hungrily, his tongue sliding into my mouth, his stubble scratching my face. He carried me upstairs into the nearest room, and shut the door behind us.

  He set me down in front of him. “Tell me, do you like it?”

  This must be his bedroom. It looked like a high-end bachelor pad. Near the fieldstone fireplace, there was an overstuffed love seat made of gold silk with carved wood arms. The only other piece of furniture, a heavily carved king-sized oak bed, dominated the room. The bed linens and numerous pillow
s, all of silver gray luxury cotton, shone softly in the gloom. If there were any pictures on the walls, or bookcases, it was too dim to tell. A faint crackling came from the fireplace.

  “You like it?” Dev said, his arms sliding around me to pull me tight against him.

  It was a bit hot in here, but very pleasing. “Very much,” I said, and gave him a kiss.

  He groaned and pressed himself into me, grinding hard. “Come. Now.” He crossed the room, pulling me with him, tossing his robe aside. “I need you.”

  The moment we reached his bed, he was tugging off my clothes, almost frantic. When I tried to help him, he knocked my hands away in frustration. Scared of his desperateness, I lay still, sweating, and let him strip me.

  As he spread my legs, tilting my hips up to receive him as he got into position, it suddenly registered that his skin was warm.

  “No!” I yelled, scrambling out from under him. I shrank back against the headboard, drawing my knees to my chest.

  “Get over here,” Devlin snarled, reaching for me, his words rough with lust and anxiousness. “I’ve wanted you for days and I’m through waiting.”

  “No. You’re warm,” I said fearfully. “You’ve only been on the potion a week at most. That’s not anywhere long enough, Dev. I’ll miscarry for sure. I can’t go through that again. I won’t!”

  “Ah,” he said, pausing in his reach for me. “My apologies, Love. In my desire, I forgot to give you this.” He leaned over, turned on a bedside lamp, and handed me a piece of paper from his nightstand.

  I read it quickly, blinking in the sudden light. “This is in Dr. Camlyn’s writing. It says he verified you’re fertile. But that can’t be possible.”

  “Yes, it can,” Devlin assured me. “Titus made me a potion with his blood, Sar. It’s a variation on the spell Terian used for you and Danial with one huge benefit: it works much faster. Something about the full demon blood being a lot more potent. In only hours, I am ready to give you our child.”

  “Is this what you were doing in Mexico?”

  “Yes,” he murmured, his eyes shining from the firelight. “Titus needed a few ingredients that were rare, and I needed to call in a few favors to get them on such short notice.” He stroked the top of my foot. “Stephen tested me today at dusk. After he confirmed the results twice, I had him write out that paper, so you would know that you wouldn’t be at risk.”