Dark Fates (A Paranormal Anthology)(107)

The two men had blocked her only avenue of escape, and one of them had a gun to her face. At that range, no one could miss. Fox hadn’t hesitated; he’d pulled her away and sent her across the room with one hand and taken the gun with the other. A rake of his claws, and he’d sliced the man’s face and then his throat. The other had charged him, and it had taken him mere seconds to snap his neck. All told, less than a minute after Jubilee sought shelter with him, he’d dispatched her pursuers.

A movement from the corner of his eye had drawn his attention. Jubilee had stared up at him with too-wide eyes and a ghostly pallor. He’d dropped the second man and walked around the bed to find her huddled against the wall. Terror and desire twined around her like the most provocative of perfumes, but it wasn’t blood lust that spurred him on.

“Yes, she saw you,” Enoch said, and Fox took a step back as the nephilim released his mind.

“I f*cking hate when you do that.”

Bad enough Enoch could be wherever he wanted whenever he wanted, but he didn’t have to dig around in Fox's brain for information.

“Next time, don’t try to keep it from me. I can take care of the woman. You can get back to your vacation.”

Shaking his head, Fox tried to clear the cobwebs of Enoch’s invasion and held up a hand. “I said I’ll take care of her.”

Not a trace of compassion softened Enoch’s demeanor. “This isn’t a debate or a discussion, Fox. You know the law.”

“If she knows what I am, yes, I do. But all she saw was me snapping that guy’s neck. Humans can do that.” Fox would be in the position to know. Maybe he didn’t need the complication, but that didn’t mean Jubilee had to die because she’d had the misfortune to stumble into his room.

“You don’t have anything to feel guilty about. They would have killed her if they’d caught her and likely given her a far uglier death.” Enoch actually sounded bored. He walked over to the body of the first man. Yuri was what the men in the hall had called him. Blood seeped through the coverlet. “Why make her suffer?”

“Like I said, I’ll handle it. We don’t know if she knows. If she doesn’t, we clean this up, let her think it’s just a bad trip, and send her on her way.” Taking advantage of Enoch’s distraction, Fox pulled his pants on. They weren’t clean, but he’d need to shower again anyway after all was said and done. Hell, half the reason he’d chosen this hotel for his “sojourn” had been for the shower. Pity he’d have to give up the reservation, at least until he was certain Jubilee could go home.

He’d take her back to his apartment or, better, his estate. It was outside the city, and quiet. They could take their time there, and he…

Pivoting, Fox glared at Enoch. “Would you get the hell out of my head?”

Enoch leaned against the dresser and folded his arms. “You want to turn her.”

No, he didn’t.

“Yes, you do. Or f*ck her. Or both. She’s a little scrawny by your usual standards.”

Exhaling a long, steadying breath, Fox stuffed all his irritation into a little corner of his mind and shut it off. He hadn’t achieved his position by blowing up at the least little provocation. Enoch knew how to get in his digs.

“Do you really care what I want?” Fox asked.

Not that Fox had any f*cking clue what he wanted, beyond the idea that Enoch wasn’t touching her. If that pitted him against the nephilim, then so be it. A soft laugh echoed through the room.

“Fine, Fox. Take your plaything and enjoy her. You are still on leave. In forty-eight hours, you bring her to me to be turned or you kill her.” The world shifted sideways, and Fox found himself standing in the sitting room of his estate. His nostrils flared, and he turned. Jubilee slept on the divan, her dark grace out of place on the white fabric.

Remember, I’ll know if you lie. Enoch’s warning whispered through his mind. Don’t disappoint me, old friend.

And then the nephilim’s presence vanished. Dropping his chin to his chest, Fox scowled. Forty-eight hours might be long enough to work off the unfamiliar need. Bending down, he scooped up Jubilee. Her weight was so slight he barely noticed it.

First things first. He wanted another shower, and she needed to be watched. They could accomplish both in his bedroom…among other things.





Chapter Two


The frigid shower did little to cool the unreasonable desire brewing in Fox’s system. He’d propped the bathroom door open so he could keep an eye on his guest.

Prisoner.

It didn’t matter if he dressed it up in a prettier term. She was a prisoner, and she would remain one until he determined what she knew.

Sure. Keep telling yourself that.

He didn’t allow himself more than five minutes under the icy jets, long enough to wash off the stench of death. The rasp of the towel added a fresh wave of needles to prick him. What the hell was he going to do with her? Why did he want to take her in the first place? Enoch would have eliminated the threat without losing a wink of sleep. But, no, Fox insisted that she come with him.

Because I’m getting soft in my old age. Age. It was a useless concept to his kind, and it had nothing to do with taking these two days off. He didn’t celebrate the day of his human birth. What was the point? After dragging on a pair of pants, he walked over to the bed and stared down at her. The bruise on her face had darkened, and he still hadn’t had it looked at.