“With the help of my coven, the police, fire, and rescue, as well as the media are now under the impression that what happened on Rodolfo’s property was nothing more than smoke and mirrors, a movie set, the combatants, actors and the dragon, an animatronic and pyrotechnic display gone unfortunately haywire.”
Morgan raised a brow in surprise. No one at the scene to witness the battle should have believed that, so she guessed, “Mind control?”
Jourdain lifted a shoulder in a shrug. Unwilling to share his secrets, he changed the subject. “You said you have information?”
Morgan let the matter drop, unwilling to risk provoking Jourdain. Her voice was crisp as she informed him, “Rodolfo was acting on orders direct from a now-deceased Elder. I’m afraid the order was sent to all territory holders worldwide. With the Elder’s death, the order should have been null and void, but not all may have yet heard.” There were, of course, some, like Rodolfo, who would do it anyway, for the sheer love of the kill, but she felt it best not to express that opinion at the moment. “I’ve made some calls that will hopefully stop any future acts of violence between our people, but in the interim, you may wish to alert your covens to be on guard.”
Jourdain nodded, settling back in his chair with his fingers laced together over his belly. He took the news remarkably well for a leader that had just learned his people were under threat of a global attack. “You knew?” she guessed.
“I spoke to several covens before I went to Rodolfo’s villa. Many had suffered recent losses at the hands of vampires.”
“I’m sorry.”
Another quick nod of acknowledgment before Jourdain stated, “I owe you, Miss Rhys. Your willingness to help won’t be forgotten, and in light of that, I feel it only fair to warn you, if your ceasefire does not hold then wewilltake appropriate action.”
She didn’t blame him for that. She’d make the same decision if she was in his shoes. When Jourdain stood, Morgan did the same and he walked her to the door. “The fee for your service has been wired to your account,” he informed her in dismissal. His next words, however, sent a chill of foreboding down her spine. “Your people believe themselves above us – above all. We’ve left them to their misconceptions because we desired to live quietly, peacefully. Maybe that was unwise on our part, allowing them to think we are weak. Perhaps it is time we witches show the Born who the real power is.”
Licking her lips, she asked, “Do you really want a war?”
“No. But it seems that your people might. We’ll see what happens, yes?”
As the door shut firmly behind her, Morgan closed her eyes and hoped that Big Jim was successful in calling off the attacks.
∞∞∞
Travis wasn’t yet back when she returned to the bayou, though thanks to his text updates, she knew he was okay, only dealing with the logistics of removing his sister from Rodolfo’s greenhouse without damaging her while still keeping the noise level to a minimum. He had expressed his surprise at not running into any of his fellow officers on the force, and Morgan knew much of that luck was thanks to Destin Jourdain and his coven doing damage control.
Jamie and Kane were both sleeping, Jamie on the bed, Kane on the floor just inside the doorway. The young Born made a rather good guard dog, Morgan thought fondly as she left them both to their rest. Knowing she probably wouldn’t be able to sleep with the way her mind was churning through the threat that currently loomed over all of their heads, she flopped on the couch and turned on the TV, hoping for a distraction. Settling on an old movie she’d originally seen in theaters back when it first came out, Morgan was surprised when she opened her eyes to discover it was much later in the film, and she had somehow managed to doze off.
Travis was also now home. Stifling a yawn as she sat up, she asked, “You have her?”
“She’s still in the back of one of the trucks, for now, covered with blankets. She’s too big to attempt to get her inside any of the existing cabins, so the wolves and I are going to build a shelter around her.”
Extending a hand to her, Morgan immediately grabbed on, assuming he was going to bring her to see Sophia. Instead, he led her outside to another small cabin, currently unoccupied. “I thought we could use some privacy,” he murmured huskily.
Morgan immediately warmed to the idea, sliding sinuously up against the heat of his body and wrapping her arms around his neck. She kissed his chin and then gently bit it. “Afraid you might scar Kane for life if he sees you naked again?” she teased.
“Something like that.” Travis’s large hands cupped her backside and squeezed before he pulled away. “But first, I need a shower.”
“Ooh. Shower sex. Count me in.”
Travis laughed, shaking his head. “I wish. But the shower in this place is tiny. The stall will barely accommodate me much less both of us.”
Morgan pouted and then with a sexy grin, pulled her shirt over her head. “Well, then. Maybe this will encourage you to make it a quick shower.”
Travis growled, the sound sending an erotic shiver through her as he cupped her ribcage in his large, calloused palms, leaned forward and kissed the tops of the plump mounds still restrained by her bra. “Count on it,” was his husky reply.
His eyes were a mixture of longing and regret as he backed slowly away, but as promised, his shower was incredibly fast. Morgan barely had time to finish undressing fully before he reappeared, his hair a damp, uncombed tousle, his body, garbed only in a thick, white towel wrapped around his waist, still glistened with water droplets that Morgan wanted to lick off. With a growl of her own, she went to him and turned that desire into a reality.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Travis’s breath released in a hiss as Morgan’s mouth skated over his shoulder, across his pectoral to his sternum. One large hand cupped the back of her head, her hair a cool slide of silk between his fingers, while his other hand cupped a breast, the tip already stiffened with need.
The scent of her arousal was an intoxicating mix that scrambled his brains and made him want to take her down to the floor and bury himself immediately in that tight, wet, welcoming heat. Gritting his teeth, he strove for control while her velvety tongue did its best to smash his will to splinters.
The pleasurable sounds she was making were enough to drive him off of that very thin edge. Every moan, every gasp as he played with her nipples, was lightening down his spine, pushing him closer and closer to spilling before he ever got inside of her.
Her fingers yanked at the towel, dropping it immediately to the floor to free her hand for the throbbing length of his erection. Her thumb skimmed over the head, her fingers clamped tight around the shaft, stroking him until his eyes nearly rolled back in his head from the exquisite feel.
