Dark awakening hidden cu.., p.12
Dark Awakening: Hidden Currents, page 12
It hadn't occurred to her that it was a possibility. Any one of the immortals could get into her father's head and retrieve the information from there or force him to reveal it.
Not Ell-rom, though. He had managed to shroud, but they hadn't even practiced thralling yet.
Edgar leaned forward, his eyes sparkling with interest. "I could do that," he offered.
Jasmine felt a jolt of anxiety at the suggestion. Part of her desperately wanted to know the truth about her mother, but another part was terrified of what she might discover. "That's not a priority right now."
She caught the glance that passed between Ell-rom and Edgar, a look of silent understanding that made her narrow her eyes. "Don't even think about doing anything without consulting me first," she warned. "And especially nothing that involves my father, my stepmother, or my stepbrothers. They are all mine to deal with."
Edgar held up his hands in mock surrender. "Of course not. But you know, I could ask Roni to do some digging. Nothing invasive, just a preliminary investigation."
Roni was the clan's hacker who had gotten them fake identities that could be verified and even included university credentials, so she knew how good he was. But something in the way Edgar had suggested it made Jasmine pause. A suspicion began to form in her mind.
"Roni has already looked into my past, hasn't he?"
Edgar had the grace to look sheepish. "Roni probably did some basic background checks when you became involved with the mission. It's standard procedure."
It made sense. After all, they had trusted her with monumental secrets, so it was only natural that they would want to ensure she wasn't a threat. "I get it," she said with a sigh. "So, what did he find out?"
Edgar shook his head. "I honestly don't know. That kind of information is strictly need-to-know. But I can talk to Roni and ask. He'll probably call you to get permission to share any details with me."
Jasmine snorted. "He didn't ask for my permission to dig into my past, but he'll ask for it now?"
Edgar shrugged. "He checked up on you for security reasons and reported his findings to Kian. My clearance is high, but I'd need a legitimate reason to access that information."
"If Roni calls, I'll give permission. But I want to know everything he finds out."
"Of course." Edgar nodded solemnly.
The possibility of uncovering the truth about her mother both thrilled and terrified Jasmine. For years she had pushed those questions to the back of her mind, but now, with the clan's resources potentially at her disposal, she had a real chance at finally getting answers.
30
PETER
The setting sun cast long shadows across the neatly manicured lawn as Peter headed home. He was looking forward to a couple of hours with Marina before leaving on tonight's mission.
It was not the usual personnel, and they were raiding a large cell that was supposed to receive a new delivery of trafficked people from south of the border. They had to get to the victims before the monsters had a chance to violate them and then distribute them down the chain.
Lately, it seemed like the number of victims had been steadily increasing, and they were also getting younger. In the last raid Peter had taken part in, there had been two girls under ten years old and three boys even younger than that.
It was a disturbing trend that made Peter sick to his stomach.
What kind of monsters did that to children? It was so revolting, so evil, that the only way he could deal with it was to keep the information locked in a small compartment in his head that was dedicated to all the atrocities he'd witnessed over the years.
It wasn't the kind of stuff he could share with Marina or anyone else who wasn't on the force and exposed to the same cesspool of the so-called humanity.
Having another Guardian as a roommate was helpful because he could at least unload some of that crap on Alfie and vice versa.
Not that talking about it did either of them any good—they just got themselves more worked up—but according to the clan's therapist, it wasn't healthy to keep things bottled up.
Her advice was to find someone who could deal with what they needed to unburden, and if they didn't have someone they felt comfortable doing that with, she encouraged them to talk to her.
Whatever. Talking or not talking about it didn't really make a difference to him.
The only light in the gloomy state of affairs was that more Kra-ell were joining the force each day, and they didn't need a lot of training to become mission-ready. They had trained in hand-to-hand combat for most of their lives and just needed to be taught the handling of guns and explosives.
The hardest part for them was learning English, and that was still a work in progress, probably because they kept to themselves and watched television with Russian subtitles.
But even that shouldn't keep them from missions.
With William's latest improvement to the translating earpieces, the language barrier was not a problem.
Stepping through the front door, Peter let the familiar scent of home wash over him, instantly soothing his irritation and pre-mission jitters.
"Marina?" he called out as he closed the door behind him.
"In the kitchen!" her voice rang out, warm and excited.
Coming home now that Marina was waiting for him was so much more pleasant than it had been when it was only him and Alfie.
He found Marina at the kitchen island chopping vegetables for dinner, and the sight of her, so domestic and contented, made his heart swell.
She looked up as he entered, her face lighting up with a smile that never failed to take his breath away. "Hey, you," she said, setting down her knife and wiping her hands on a dishtowel. "How was the prep?"
He crossed the room in a few quick strides, wrapped his arms around her, and planted a kiss on her forehead. "The usual. I'm glad it's done and that I have a couple of hours I can spend with you before heading out."
The smile slid off her face. "You look tense. Is the mission dangerous?"
It was hard to hide things from Marina. She was too attuned to him to miss the slightest change in mood.
"No more than the others. It's a bit of a larger operation than what we usually do, but we are also going in with a larger force, so it's going to be alright. You have nothing to worry about."
She shook her head. "That's what you always say, but I can't help it. I know that you are immortal and that your body expels bullets, but still. A well-aimed shot could be deadly even to an immortal."
"True, but it is highly unlikely any of these humans will prove to be trained snipers or that they will even think that accuracy is needed. All any of the scum will care about is hitting their target to slow us down so they can escape like the rats they are."
Marina frowned at the vehemence in his voice, but she didn't comment on it. She knew more than she let on, and he loved her even more for understanding and not pressing him for answers he preferred not to give.
"Just be careful, okay? Don't rely on your fast-healing body to withstand an assault. Wear your Kevlar vest and your helmet to protect your heart and your head."
"Yes, Ma'am." He saluted and then kissed the top of her nose. "I have the best reason in the world to want to come home in one piece." He let go of her. "When will dinner be ready?"
"When you sit down." She turned around and dropped the vegetables she'd been chopping into a bowl. "Is Alfie coming, too?"
"Not right away." Peter sat down. "I think he and Lusha are meeting for coffee at the café."
Marina poured dressing over the salad and put it on the table. "Enjoy." She sat across from him.
"You first." He pushed the bowl toward her.
She rolled her eyes but didn't argue. He never served himself first, and she knew it would be futile for her to insist that he did.
Peter wasn't a great fan of salads, but everything Marina made tasted great, even vegetables, and he was hungry.
"I ran into Bridget at the café this morning," Marina said. "We had a very interesting conversation about the possibility of your venom prolonging my life."
Peter's eyebrows shot up. "What did she say?"
"She thinks that's a valid hypothesis, and she wants to test it. Apparently, no one has ever really studied the long-term effects of immortal venom on humans who aren't Dormants. She thinks it could potentially have cumulative healing effects and prolong my life. I agreed to provide blood samples once a week to monitor my aging process and see if it slowed down over time."
"What is she going to check?"
"She wants to monitor my cellular aging and check for any changes in my telomeres."
"What are telomeres?" Peter asked, reaching for his phone to search for a definition.
"Let me see if I remember what Bridget said. Telomeres are kind of protective caps at the ends of our chromosomes, and supposedly, they get shorter as we age. I mean, as humans age. Bridget thinks the venom might slow down that shortening process or maybe even reverse it."
Peter let out a low whistle. "Wow. I mean, I knew my venom was good for you, but I never imagined it could be that good."
"Bridget seemed pretty excited about the possibilities, so I suggested that she test Lusha as well since she's dating Alfie now. Bridget said that Lusha is part Kra-ell, so her results might be different than mine, but she is excited about testing her, too."
"That's great. I don't know how serious Alfie is about Lusha, but I have no doubt that he will enjoy participating in the study." Peter chuckled. "It's not like it's a great hardship for him."
"It is not." Marina smiled suggestively. "For the study to have the best chance, you will have to bite me every night."
Peter got hard just thinking about the duty he was going to perform with utmost pleasure. "If my venom can really prolong your life, I will double up on the biting. Every morning and every night."
Marina laughed. "You can't produce that much venom every day, and if you could, I can't blackout in the morning when I need to go to work."
Peter waggled his brows. "It depends on what time we wake up."
Normally, even once a day was considered a lot. Immortals could climax many times without even pausing to rest, but their venom glands were a different story. They usually were good for only one bite a day.
Usually.
There were ways to make them produce enough for two.
Peter puffed out his chest. "I'll make it happen even if I have to double up on food intake. I will produce enough for two bites. And there's no better time to start than now." He wiped his mouth with a napkin and rose to his feet.
"Oh really?" Marina quirked an eyebrow, amusement dancing in her eyes. "What about dinner?"
"It can wait. This can't."
"And what about Alfie? He might come home any minute."
Peter waved a dismissive hand. "Alfie's not going to bother us." In one swift motion, he scooped Marina up and threw her over his shoulder, eliciting a squeal of surprised laughter from her. "To the bedroom! We have a mission to accomplish."
As Peter carried Marina through the house, her laughter echoing off the walls, he marveled at how light his heart suddenly felt.
The worry of the upcoming mission, the weight of all the evil he witnessed day in and day out, it all seemed to melt away in the face of hope.
A hope for a future with Marina that would last longer than her limited mortal lifespan.
He deposited her gently on their bed, taking a moment to drink in the sight of her.
Her cheeks were flushed from laughter, her eyes bright with love and mirth, and her blue hair fanned out over the pillow. Peter felt a wave of gratitude wash over him.
How had he gotten so lucky?
What if it didn't work, though?
What if they got their hopes up for nothing?
As if reading his mind, Marina reached out and took his hand. "Hey," she said softly. "I have high hopes for the study, but even if they get crushed, I'm still grateful for the time we have together."
31
MARINA
"So am I." Peter lay down next to her and pulled her into his arms.
Marina wasn't surprised that he'd chosen sex over food, but she was worried about him going on the mission without a proper meal. She was also worried about not smelling the freshest.
"Let's get in the tub together," she suggested.
Frowning, Peter lifted his arm. "Do I smell bad?" He sniffed his armpit.
"You never do, but we’ve both had a long day. We can celebrate the news with a bottle of wine."
He grinned. "That sounds like a plan. You get the water running, and I'll get the wine."
She shook her head. "I left a roast warming in the oven. I don't want it to dry out. I'll get the wine while you get the tub going."
"Deal." Peter jumped out of bed. "Just don't take long. We don't have a lot of time."
Her gut clenched at the reminder that he was going on a mission tonight. "I'll be quick."
With the roast taken care of, a bottle of wine in one hand and two glasses in the other, Marina made her way back to the bedroom and grinned when she found Peter already soaking in the tub.
It was only half full, which left his magnificent nude body on full display.
For a moment, she just gazed at him, getting her fill of his masculine beauty.
Peter tilted his head. "Do you like?"
"I like it a lot." She put the bottle and the glasses on the tub's deck and got undressed.
"Beautiful." His eyes roamed over her. "I never get tired of looking at you."
She knew better than to say she was nothing special compared to his gorgeous immortal relatives. It was true, but Peter didn't like it when she made self-deprecating comments.
Marina got into the tub across from Peter and lowered herself carefully into the water.
"Too hot?" Peter asked.
"A little, but I'll get used to it in a moment."
"I know how to make it better." He leaned over, lifted her like she weighed nothing, and laid her down on his chest, just not the way she'd expected.
Nevertheless, it was nice to feel his hard length poking her butt, and as she rested her head on his hard muscles, he cupped her breasts and started to play with her nipples.
Closing her eyes, she let out a soft moan and rubbed her bottom over his erection. In response, it twitched against her backside.
"Umm, that's nice." She spread her legs a little and adjusted the angle to get more friction.
"Impatient?" He kissed her neck in the spot where it met her shoulder, then nipped a little, letting his fangs scrape against her skin.
As usual, the thought of him biting her sent a shiver of desire down her spine, and more moisture pooled between her legs. It had become an addiction, and although Peter claimed that it was the venom itself that was addictive, she just loved the whole thing and couldn't get enough of it.
Now that there was a valid reason to strive for two of those a day, she wasn't sure she would be able to function in the café with so much euphoria scrambling her brain.
"We don't have much time, remember?"
"Oh, right." He removed one of his hands from her breast and slipped lower to cup her center, his middle finger parting her folds.
The moan she let out sounded throaty and loud as it echoed in the tiled bathroom.
"Feels good, love?"
She wiggled to get more of his finger. "You know it does."
He slipped it into her and added one more while his thumb pressed against her clit.
"That's good." She rubbed her bottom against his cock.
Peter hissed into her ear and caught her chin, twisting her head around and taking her mouth in a hungry kiss while he pumped his fingers in and out of her.
She wanted to tell him that she preferred to have his shaft inside of her, but he was devouring her mouth while tormenting her nipple and fingering her to oblivion.
Was he going to bite her when she came?
The thought was enough to send her over the edge. Peter kept kissing her through the tremors and rubbing his erection against her ass, but he didn't enter her, and he didn't bite her.
When the storm he'd unleashed inside of her subsided, he gently slid out from under her, stepped out of the tub, grabbed a towel, and spread it out for her to step into.
When she did, he wrapped her in the bath sheet and lifted her into his arms.
32
PETER
Peter lowered Marina to the bed and waited for her to pull the blanket over her before taking her towel to dry himself.
When he was done, he dropped the towel on the floor and joined her on the bed. Pulling her close against his body, he rubbed his hands over her back and then cupped her lush bottom.
She felt so fragile, and it dawned on him that even if his venom kept her alive much longer than normal for a human, it wouldn't make her immortal, and she could get hurt.
He would never stop worrying about her.
The solution was simple. She should never leave the village. When surrounded by immortals, Marina was safe.
The distressing thoughts made him deflate, but as her hand closed around his cock, it inflated in no time to its former glory. A few more up and down strokes, and he would explode all over her hand.
Not that there was anything wrong with that, but he wanted to come inside of her.
Shifting on top of Marina, Peter took her mouth in a gentle kiss that soon turned into more and had her moaning softly and undulating under him. He let go of her mouth only to slide down and pay attention to her perky nipples.
Marina liked a little sting with her lovemaking, but Peter was in a mood for sweet and gentle, so he lapped at each turgid nub while palming her small breasts with his hands.
She arched her back, her moan sounding more like a demand than an expression of pleasure, and he knew that he needed to give her what she wanted, or she wouldn't be pleased.
