Untamed Hawaiian Heat (Rift Hunters) (15 page)

Mateo leaned down and brushed her lips with a lingering kiss, then glanced down the beach. He rose from the blanket and reached out his hand to someone emerging from the shadows.

Anticipation throbbed in her veins when a man grasped Mateo’s hand. The man stepped into the light of the small fire they’d built to ward off the chill blowing in from the ocean

Tiaki smiled and sent a tendril of his magic spiraling through the air toward her. She gasped at the teasing fingertips that brushed her bare shoulder.

“You didn’t think I’d miss this, did you?” his voice whispered in her mind, soft and sensual as he pulled Mateo against his body and captured his lips.

“Kiana! Wake up, nani.”

Beautiful
, she heard. Kiana slowly opened her eyes to find her father watching her, concern etched across his face. She was lying on the floor. Her vision swam before her eyes. She glanced over her dad’s shoulder, her heart beating wildly, until her gaze found Mateo and Tiaki. They hovered behind her dad.
Mine!
Her magic whispered in her heart. It took all her effort to restrain it before it reached out to them. She shook her head to clear the last of the fog away.

“I’m okay, Dad.” She pushed out of his arms and sat up. “I think I’m still just a little tired from everything that’s happened in the last couple of weeks.” A glance at Niki told her that Niki didn’t believe a word she’d said. She ignored her and flashed her dad a quick smile and rose to her feet. “Let’s get this brief over with so we can talk. I need to ask you a few questions about Mom.” Not trusting her legs to be steady enough, she sat down in the chair he offered.

“Are you sure? You all but fainted just now. Maybe Niki and Ash should take you to the Med Center to take a look at you.” Her dad poured and gave her a glass of water from the pitcher sitting on the table.

Kiana took a sip. “No.” She shook her head. “I’m fine, Dad. Really. Let’s get on with this.”

Vice Admiral Grant watched her closely for a moment. “All right, then.” He took a seat next to her and took her hand. “Lieutenant Forester has uploaded the files we brought with us for you to access on the com tablets.” Once everyone had the files pulled up, he continued. “We’ve been patrolling around the Hawaiian Islands and Polynesian Islands, trying to figure out why the Syndicate is focusing most of their attention on this area.” He used his free hand to throw a map up on the com screen on the wall behind Pearce.

Kiana studied it as she listened.

“As you can see, here I’ve marked the number of ships we’ve seen around the Big Island. It’s steadily increased in the past month. So I think whatever they’re looking for might be located there.”

Kiana glanced at Mateo and Tiaki when she felt a ripple from their magic as they both tried to reach out to hers. She quickly averted her eyes in an attempt to hide the lust she knew must be visible in them. She cleared her throat. “Has anyone been able to get anything else out of him? The location of their HQ, perhaps? Since Newt hasn’t gotten back from his scouting mission, that might be something worth attempting to get from the prisoner.”

“I would like to suggest something.”

Everyone turned their attention to the speaker.

Kiana twisted in her seat to look at PO1 Esmeralda Ventura, whom they called Gem. She was the best sniper Kiana could have ever hoped to have on her team. Kiana knew Gem was very soft-spoken, preferring to keep to herself when they weren’t in the field. Hell, even when they were, she tended to go off on her own. So whatever she had to disclose must be major for her to speak up now.

“Yes, Petty Officer Ventura. What do you suggest?” Lieutenant Commander Pearce asked.

“Well, the report from the interrogation said Ferran refused to give any information until Mateo showed signs of being able to wield this magic Tiaki has begun training us to use.” Gem took a deep breath and stopped wringing her hands, dropping them to her sides instead.

“Yes. What are you suggesting we do?” Tiaki asked.

“Well. When Lieutenant Grant triggered the mine, Petty Officer Pena”—Gem glanced nervously at Cy across the room—“was somehow able to ‘hear’ what she was saying when she contacted Mateo through their personal link for help. If that’s so, then wouldn’t he be able to read Ferran’s mind to find out what we want to know?”

Kiana turned to Tiaki to see what he thought of what Petty Officer Pena had said. She caught him looking at Ash. She wasn’t sure, but she thought she saw something pass between them.

Tiaki turned his attention to Cy. “Is this true? Did you read Kiana’s thoughts even without having that type of link with her?”

Cy glanced at Gem, his jaw clenching several times before he returned his gaze to Tiaki. “Yes,” he said tightly. “I was able to read Lieutenant Grant’s thoughts.”

Tiaki met Ash’s gaze once more before he spoke again. “It’s quite possible that Cy is of the Order of Lamorak; the magic of that order manifests as psychic abilities. He might be able to access Ferran’s knowledge of the Syndicate’s base.” He shot a look at Ash, who glared at him. “With some guidance, of course. He would have to take great care. I’ve seen mind probes go bad very quickly. I highly suggest Niki and Ash assist, and that it be performed in the Med Center to be on the safe side.”

“What about the information this guy has already given us? Does any of it make any sense to you, Mr. Jamieson?” Pearce asked as he pulled the video of the interrogation up on the com screen.

Kiana fought to keep her magic under control as she watched the vid clip. Several words jumped out at her.
One of them… She said there weren’t any of you…like the one fighting Thanos… Rift Hunter… Take out as many as possible before She arrives… Ask your friend… Eris…

All eyes turned to Tiaki.

“Shit!” He rubbed a hand over his face and sighed heavily. “The one he mentioned, Thanos, is my little brother. He wasn’t blessed with the ability to wield the core magic. Eris is the Greek goddess of discord. She has been trying to wrestle control from some of the more powerful gods for millennia. I’m not sure how she was able to get here without the benefit of a rift. The Council of the Gods decided to shut down all the portal rifts a few centuries ago, therefore making travel prohibited. More recently, the Ternion handed down orders to the Rift Hunter Council for all rifts to be closed. Permanently.”

“I see. That is troubling.” Pearce shut off the com screen. “And your training program? How are your recruits coming along in it?”

“It’s coming along well, sir. I’ve already got several new recruits, Tirones, who are showing excellent progress. They might even be ready to test out their powers the next time we tangle with the OS,” Tiaki replied.

Pearce nodded. “So if nobody has anything else to add, we’ll adjourn. Ash and Niki, you will assist Cy in doing this mind probe. And Tiaki, I give you leave to expand the training facilities. From the sound of it, we’re going to need as many as possible who are like you if we’re going to be able to control this energy.” Everyone stood and saluted him as he exited the room.

Kiana squeezed her dad’s hand, though her eyes were locked on Mateo as he stood waiting to file out of the room. “Daddy, can I take a rain check on our talk? I really need to speak with Mateo.” They rose from their chairs.

VADM Grant pulled her close. “Of course, nani. Just don’t go finding any trouble. You know how I worry.” He released her. “Mr. Jamison, I understand from Pearce that it’s you I have to thank for saving Kiana. Why don’t you tell me about it while you show me the training center?” He caught up with Tiaki just as he was exiting the room.

Tiaki glanced over his shoulder and met her eyes as her father clapped him on the back. The longing she glimpsed there when he flicked his gaze between her and Mateo nearly brought her to her knees.

Later
, she mouthed.

She had to find out what Mateo was hiding. She had a feeling this soul bond wasn’t something a person walked away from lightly. And after what she’d envisioned earlier… Well, she desperately wanted to make their soul bond come true.

Chapter Thirteen

A slow, sensual heat filled with longing spiraled along the connection between Kiana, Mateo, and Tiaki as Tiaki moved to leave the Com Center. The link had weakened in the two weeks since the three of them had slept together, but her magic still searched for it, attempting to strengthen it every time she was near Mateo or Tiaki.

The thought of pushing Mateo against the wall and pressing into the hard planes of his body flashed through her mind. The depth of emotion flaring to life in Tiaki should have shocked her. Instead it ignited a carnal hunger tinged with an acute yearning so strong it took her breath away.

Kiana finally looked away from Tiaki and backed up from her dad. She glanced behind her and saw Mateo watching Tiaki. A flicker of longing flashed briefly in his eyes before he could mask it. Her magic cried out when Mateo broke free of the spell that seemed to have rooted them all to the spot, and started for the door.

She stood on her toes and pressed a quick kiss to her dad’s cheek. “I’ll see you at dinner.”

Her dad regarded her for a moment, then smiled. “Go catch him before he disappears.” He turned and walked over to Tiaki. Kiana rushed forward and grabbed Mateo’s arm. For once she was grateful getting out of the conference room always seemed to take forever. “Mateo, wait.”

Mateo shook off her hand. “Why?”

Kiana studied him until everyone filed out of the room and she heard the door click shut. There were so many things she wanted to say but didn’t dare, since lately, she couldn’t seem to deduce what he was thinking. He had erected a wall to block their emotion link after what had transpired between the two of them and Tiaki.

“I want to talk about what happened with Tiaki when we were together a couple weeks ago.”

“There’s nothing to discuss. Nothing happened.” He looked away from her, picked up a com tablet, punched in some commands, and studied the screen intently.

“Bullshit.” She grabbed the tablet out of his hands and set it on the table with an audible
thud
. “I know you enjoyed every minute of making love with me and Tiaki. I know you were as aroused by the things Tiaki did to you as when I do them.”

Mateo stepped around her and headed for the door. “You’re mistaken, Kiana. What you felt were remnants of your desire. Not mine.”

Anger flared in her blood. What the hell was he trying to hide from her? She hadn’t imagined what she’d felt through their link, both the cybernetic one and the magical one. As much as he’d like her to believe it was her desire, she knew better. She’d had an in-depth conversation about this earlier with Niki. While they could feel what the other was feeling with the emotional link, they could also differentiate between who had experienced what. She grabbed his arm and spun him around. “Don’t walk away from me, Mateo.” She met his eyes. “There’s too much going on to not get this out in the open.”

“There’s nothing to talk about, Kiana. What happened that day was a mistake. It happened because I let my guard down.” He shrugged her hand off his arm and started to turn away.

“Then why are you shutting me out? Ever since you stormed out of our hale, you’ve held me at arm’s length. You’ve even closed off our cybernetic link.”

Mateo ran a hand through his hair. “I’m not shutting you out, Kiana. I’m trying to control the rage I feel every time I think about him taking liberties with you.” He reached out and cupped her cheek, a slow smile curving his lips. “Liberties I should be the only one allowed to take.”

She leaned into his caress against her better judgment. Damn. She needed to keep a clear head right now. “That doesn’t change the fact that we need to talk about this soul bond. It’s clearly making it difficult to—”

Mateo clenched his jaw. “No.” He dropped his hand to his side and looked away.

“Why not? I really think we need to understand what the hell it is before it gets out of control.” She watched him closely, noted the way his muscles tensed.

“Why won’t you let this go, Kiana? I don’t want to have anything to do with the man. Can’t we leave it at that?”

Kiana stepped closer. “No, we can’t.” She reached out and turned his head until she was looking him straight in the eyes. “I can’t leave it this way. I think some of the dreams I had as a teenager were actually visions.”

Confusion clouded his eyes. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“I recalled seeing eyes like Tiaki’s. Even the way they go black with gold swirling through them.” Noticing that Mateo’s lightning bolts were beginning to glow with a sapphire luminescence, she recalled how the tattoo on Tiaki’s chest had glittered. She wondered what would happen if she attempted to touch it with her magic. She slid her hand down along his cheek, brushing her fingertips over the lightning bolts near his ear. “Can’t you feel the energy pulsing through you whenever one of us is near?” She leaned in and pressed her lips against the underside of his jaw, loving the way his stubble scratched them.

He tensed at her words but didn’t make a move to stop her.

She brought her entire palm into contact with the part of his tattoo visible above his shirt and called to her magic. It surged within her, blazing with a sensual heat she’d never experienced before as she directed it through her veins. When it finally spread out through her fingers and came into contact with the lightning bolts, she was deluged with another spike of power. Only this time, Mateo felt it too. He jumped and stumbled back a step until he was trapped against the door. “Don’t you want to know what this is? Why not let Tiaki—” She gasped in surprise when he seized hold of her other wrist and twisted it behind her back.

“No, I don’t want to know, Kiana. I sure as hell don’t want anything to do with the Hunter again.” He grasped the hand at his throat and pulled it behind her back as well. Capturing both wrists with one of his hands, he reached up and pulled the strap of her white tank top down. Leaning down, he bit her shoulder until she cried out.

Kiana was too stunned to protest when he roughly pulled her top down along with her bra to expose her breast. Her nipple hardened instantly in the cool air-conditioned room.