Blood Bonds (37 page)

“Do it.”

“You still trust him?”

“Ken?”

“You don’t think Dobson has gotten to him?”

“Is there a reason why I should suspect he has?”

“No, it just seems like the colonel has his claws in every branch of everything I once believed in.”

Garrett barked a laugh. “You have no idea, Haley. You have no idea.”

After a little more talk about Dr. Meyer and the loss of evidence, Haley hung up and went to sit back down at the wet bar beside Farley.

He said, “Dobson torched the clinic, didn’t he?”

Haley nodded. “Yeah, that’s what Garrett thinks. He wants me to take the PDA to Ken. He says we can trust him. I figure we’d drop it off on the way to the Dens.”

Farley gave her sad eyes.

“It’s my only choice.” She tried to muster a smile, one that would say don’t worry, but she couldn’t get her lips to make the lift off. Then her voice had to go and do something stupid, like crack. “I don’t know what else to do.”

Every instinct told her that going to Medan was as dangerous as Dobson.

Farley pulled her face into his neck. The strength of his hold was crushing. Haley welcomed it. Maybe if he held her tight enough, her world wouldn’t fall apart.

“I want to go with you.” Haley started to shake her head. “Don’t tell me no. Please.” Yeah, and what would she do if Medan decided he would be a fun accessory to play with again? “Please.” Farley trembled and Haley could smell his desperation.

He needs this
, because going without him will confirm all his fears. That he was weak, without worth, and helpless to protect her.

Hell, she was helpless to protect herself.

“Okay. Just promise me one thing.” Haley made him look at her. She wanted to tell him to run if things went bad, hide, leave, save himself. All the things you’re supposed to tell the person you care about, when something dangerous is coming to snuff you out.

Instead, Haley told him what she was really afraid of. “Don’t let me forget who I am. Please, Farley, I don’t want to become her puppet.”

He smiled. “It’ll never happen.”

She could only hope he was right.

Above the cab, the street lights dwindled in numbers until there was nothing but night. They passed through the dirty, trash-covered streets of the Zone, leaving Human society and all its garbage behind.

A block inside the Wall, offensive neon lights butchered the darkness and crowds of people gathered. For all its proximity to the Hive, the Pit was one of the safest clubs on the strip, which why everyone from business men to college kids shed their moral skins and flocked here.

The cabbie stopped behind a line of cars waiting to pull up to the door. Haley paid him and got out. Farley and Creyal followed.

“C’mon.”

Haley grabbed Farley’s hand and headed toward the doors. Moving through the wall of people was like trying to move through quick drying concrete. Farley snapped off a few creative curses when he got an elbow to the side of the head.

Haley recognized the Kin bouncer and pushed to get closer. “Hey!” His eyes widened and fell where she touched him on the arm. “Can you get us in? We’re here to see Medan.”

He turned her hand over and pressed his face in her palm. “For you? Absolutely.”

Farley stepped up beside her and the bouncer flicked his golden eyes in his direction.

“He’s with me,” Haley said. The Male’s eyes went up and over her head. She caught sight of Creyal in her periphery. “Him too.”

Inside, the mass of people and flashing lights was stifling. When Haley looked back at Farley his eyes were bright gold, his teeth extended.

“Are you okay?”

He waved a hand in front of his face. “It’s the pheromone. Shit gets more real every new batch they make.” Haley glanced at Creyal. His eyes were all silver but he hadn’t popped any teeth.

“The entrance is in the back.” She pointed to the rear of the club, just in case her words had been stomped out by the noise. Considering she couldn’t hear herself think, that was pretty much a sure thing.

They moved, but it was a losing battle. Too many people were packed in the place. Obviously, Medan wasn’t worried about violating any kind of occupational codes.

As they made their way past a string of tables, Haley did a double take. Three women, in various stages of undress, were climbing all over a Male sitting in the booth. She looked away only to see two Males hovering over a Lesser-Bred on the other side. The sounds of sex and feeding rivaled the guitar riffs.

Creyal moved up and blocked her view. “If you’re going to get down there tonight, you need to start moving.” He threw a worried glance over his shoulder. “They smell you.”

Males closed in, their mouths opened, their throats working as they drank down her scent. Deep thrums, whirrs, and clicks were carried on the waves of music. Haley went backwards and bumped into Creyal.

“What do they want?” At least she didn’t sound as panicked as she felt.

“You.” Creyal leaned in close. Farley growled. “What are you going to do, Snack Cake? Take on all of them?”

Closer now, they reached for her. Some had blood on their faces, some smelled of sex.

“What the hell’s wrong with them?” She tossed Creyal a desperate look.

“They’re drunk on the pheromone.” It came out slurred.

“Why aren’t you?”

Creyal lifted his arm and thumped the crook. “Still stoned. Trust me, I’m getting there.” His wide hand pushed apart his shirt and stroked his stomach. “Mmm—” He grinned. “This is almost as good as H.”

Male Kin filled the floor at her feet. Crawling over each other, reaching for her, stroking her legs, touching her skirt. This wasn’t what Haley had expected. She had no idea what to do or how to control them. Nothing like this happened in the Tank. Hell, this many Males in one place didn’t happen outside the Wall. The cold panic of fear boiled under her skin. The Males hissed.

“Fuck, stop that!” Creyal grabbed her shoulder. “What the hell’s wrong with you? You’re starting to smell like Food.”

“Well, I’m sorry, but this isn’t exactly what I expected. Hell, I’ve never even read about anything like this.” She clung to Farley, trying to keep him with her and not let him be carried away by the Males. “Why aren’t they going after the Human women like this?”

“Christ, you really are domesticated. You’re Female, your scent is unmistakable.”

Before Haley could snap off a reply, a tongue hit her calf, another on the back of her knee. Then hands, dozens of hands, inched up legs until fingertips brushed the underside of her ass.

Haley didn’t have the sexual inhibitions that Human women did. More than once she’d had a Male suck the back of her thigh in the Tank. The behavior was a sign of respect, even affection. But this? So many bodies, so many Males, were overwhelming. These weren’t white-scales, but fully mature Males, strong in mind and body. And sex in public was not an option.

So much for not having inhibitions.

One, okay, I have one.

“Farley!” His gaze came up, but he couldn’t seem to focus. “Farley.” He pulled at her blouse, freeing it from her skirt, and slipped his hands up and grabbed her bra. Haley growled and shook him hard enough to snap his head back.

“
Need
...” Farley lurched forward and she went backwards. Creyal caught her and became the only thing keeping her from hitting the floor and being smothered.

The music screamed from speakers above, and the color of the strobes changed, going from white and yellow to blue and red. Haley struggled to stand as another wave of bodies rushed forward. With one arm she held onto to Farley and the other she clung to the feral.

“God of Man, Creyal, please don’t let me fall!” She’d never be able to control the panic if she hit the floor. Somehow they wound up in an alcove between the booths and wall. It didn’t stop the Males. They just climbed higher.

“What do I do?” She looked over her shoulder at Creyal. “Please. I don’t know what to do.”

“You’re the Female.”

Farley caught her mouth and his tongue thrust deep. The taste of him on her palate brought a moan out of her throat. The wave of Males rumbled and whirred. Behind her, heat blossomed across Creyal’s chest.

Farley whispered something near her ear, but she couldn’t understand him. He tried again.

“Ah, fuck, Haley, you’ve got to do something.” Haley felt Creyal’s erection press against her back. He laughed; it was a sound that bordered on madness. One of her shoes was pulled off. Lips closed around her toes, sucking.

Farley pushed himself closer. “Roll...” His mouth touched hers. “Roll me, Haley.” He sucked on her bottom lip, licked her chin, her cheek, and nipped her ear.

“Now? I can’t Roll you here.” He pulled her legs up around his waist and moved between them.

“Roll me.” The request came from a Male pressed to her hip. His hands worked the skin of her leg. “Roll me,” said another. “Roll me.” The plea became a chant echoed by all of them.

Creyal laughed again. “Oh, that sounds like a brilliant idea!” He shuddered and slid part way down the wall.

“Creyal!” Haley tried to kick but Farley had both of her legs. Someone bit her on the ass. Mouths and tongues licked and sucked the backs of her thighs.

“Haley...” Farley pulled at her panties, ripping them. “This is the Dens. Roll us so we can
feed
. We can’t stop.” He pushed himself against her, the bulge in his pants rubbing against her core. She gasped.

Farley parted her shirt and pushed up her bra. His mouth latched onto her nipple and Haley couldn’t stop her body’s response. Her metaphysical energy flared. Behind her, Creyal moaned. She felt him fumbling with his clothes. All around her the Males responded, losing their clothing, rubbing against each other.

Rolling them would
feed
them, control them. Only problem was she’d never done it without using sex to push the metaphysical energy. Like Rage for some Females, sex pushed her preternatural self out of her metaphysically carved shell. Rage was something most Females had in spades, but Haley’s Human
impressions
left her without those aggressive tendencies.

But reality was closing in fast. If she didn’t do something soon they were going to pin her to the floor, and a fight for her attention was going to start. And anyone who was Food would be the first to go.

Farley growled and tried to keep his position. Haley pulled him against her. He was what she knew, who she... She refused to even think about the L word. Her mouth met his and he bowed against her.

“Unbutton your pants.”

“No sex in public. You always said--”

“Farley, I don’t think we’ve got much choice at this point. Creyal, I need you...” Good grief, it wasn’t like things could get any more compromising. “Between my shoulders.” He blinked and seemed to find her in the haze of drunkenness. “Put your hands under my shirt, I need your help. I can’t just Roll them without...” Sex, she was trying to say sex. “I don’t know how.” She didn’t have to ask twice. He stripped off her blazer and pushed her shirt up until her skin pressed against his and his purr echoed through her body. His fingers pushed against her lower
ulysiss
and Haley arched into the sensation. The heat blooming across her skin was unbearable.

Haley yanked at the hem of Farley’s skaters, but he shook his head.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Creyal kicked Farley in the shin. “If you don’t fuck her, I will!” The threat brought Farley’s head up. His eyes went gold then bronze. A deep growl licked out of his throat. “Do it, Snack Cake, because the Dominants are inching their way over here, and I really don’t want to be at the bottom of the slaughter pile.”

A small group of Males wearing Medan’s
mark
made their way through the mass of thrashing Human bodies. They were tall, massive, and feral looking. And there was no doubt in her mind, when they arrived, Males would die.

Farley’s lips touched her ear. “Roll us. Just Roll all of us.”

“I don’t know how ... not without everything else...” Just another
impression
she’d been left without. It wasn’t fair, to be Female and helpless like this; unable to protect herself, unable to protect what was hers. She pulled Farley closer and buried her face against his. There was no way he was going to survive this. They’d take him from her if she didn’t stop them.

“Ah, bloody hell!” Creyal jerked Haley back, flipped her, and slammed her cheek against the wall, putting his hands on her without permission, taking her away from
To Whom She Owned
. “Fucking domesticated Female.”

Farley barked a cry as he was swept away. True Rage hit Haley and her metaphysical energy surged. Powered by anger and violence, the Roll had never felt like this before.

Haley’s preternatural self steamrolled over their bodies, and they went down, writhing in a mix of pleasure and pain. She knew she could hold them there, gleaning and plucking what she wanted, and she knew she could kill them. All Haley had to do was rip out their life force, consume them, and they would cease to exist. They called to her as one. Bodies arching, writhing, begging for more. With an internal twist, she let them go and fed their metaphysical force with her own.

Under it all, deep in the belly of the Hive, Haley felt the Queen stir.

When Haley opened her eyes she felt strangely alert. Like every nerve ending on her body had been given a double shot of espresso. The wall of bronze in her vision moved and was replaced by a golden eye.

“I took the liberty of bringing your Marked. I also brought the other Male, but if you do not want him, I will feed him to my hatchlings.” Medan moved away, leaving her shivering in the cold of the cave.

Once again Haley was in the parlor, surrounded by piles of priceless things. Of course there couldn’t be anything practical, like a clean shirt and a skirt. No, Medan had to have things like rubies, gold, and--Haley squinted--was that a Monet? Probably.

Creyal was on the furs next to Farley, bent at an odd angle, like he’d been tossed there to land wherever.