Dreamweaver

An Ellora’s Cave Romantica Publication

www.ellorascave.com

Dreamweaver ISBN 9781419916199 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Dreamweaver Copyright © 2008 Sapphire Blue Edited by Briana St. James. Photography and cover art by Les Byerley. Electronic book Publication June 2008 With the exception of quotes used in reviews, this book may not be reproduced or used in whole or in part by any means existing without written permission from the publisher, Ellora’s Cave Publishing, Inc.® 1056 Home Avenue, Akron OH 44310-3502. Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000. (http://www.fbi.gov/ipr/) This book is a work of fiction and any resemblance to persons, living or dead, or places, events or locales is purely coincidental. The characters are productions of the authors’ imagination and used fictitiously.

DREAMWEAVER Sapphire Blue

Trademarks Acknowledgement The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction: Plexiglas: Arkema France Corporation The Twilight Zone: CBS Broadcasting Inc

Dreamweaver

Chapter One

Baltimore, Maryland, 2040 With a loud rumble from above, nightfall encased the city. Rooms lit by electricity went dark as her bare feet padded across the floor. Exhausted from a long, grueling day at the office, she didn’t even need the lights. She’d walked through her front door only an hour ago, had downed a glass of wine and three crackers with Colby Jack cheese and headed straight for the shower afterward. Hot water cascaded down her back like a litany of love tunes, the precipice of an evening’s rest. Fresh sheets and plumped pillows greeted her as she fell face down onto the queensized bed. She rolled over once to pull the covers down before slipping her feet beneath them and languishing in the warmth they offered. Her head hadn’t quite hit the pillow before her eyes closed. A welcoming sigh signaled his entrance and then the night began. They were in his car this time—a shiny black piece of metal that boasted many zeroes in its price tag. The seats were leather, charcoal gray, cool and soft to her touch. The skirt she wore this evening was short, but then, weren’t they all? She had great legs and never missed an opportunity to show them off. He slid into the driver’s seat, muscled thighs covering the leather beneath him. Strong hands gripped the steering wheel, the sterling silver from his watch gleaming through the dim interior. She shifted in the passenger seat as his scent reached her nostrils. Damn, why did he always smell so good? Foregoing the seat belt, his hands fell from the wheel, moving slowly over the console to rest with great intent on her bare knee. She inhaled deeply, closed her eyes and laid her head back on the head rest. His fingers inched up her inner thigh, whispering promises as they rose higher. Her eyes remained closed until he grazed the ebony curls resting at her pussy. She always welcomed him here so his fingers, sliding lithely down her now moist center, were no surprise. Arousal swirled in the pit of her stomach, her pussy pulsated, leaking its cream along her thighs. Two fingers entered her opening while his thumb caressed her tightened bud. Her eyes fluttered open just as he ripped the front of her blouse open with his free hand. She wore no bra, her high breasts standing at attention beneath his perusal. With a low growl, he bent his head, took a darkened nipple between his teeth and clamped down until she whimpered. He loved to hear her scream. While fiercely stroking between her legs with one hand, he used the other on her breast, squeezing and tweaking her nipple until it was tingling and heavy with desire. She needed him more tonight than she ever had before. She wanted him completely this time, all of him, not just his hands or his lips. Reaching out, she found his erection, hard and long against his thigh. Sliding his zipper down, nimble fingers delved inside until she held the prize in the palm of her hand. It throbbed, hot and stiff, and she gripped it, her fingers sliding against the turgid skin, pulling against her, letting her hand slide to its base. He sucked her breasts harder, stroked her 5

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clit with more intensity. She was close, she knew, but this time he’d come right along with her. Expertly, she worked his shaft until droplets of pre-cum moistened her hand. His breathing became erratic as he jerked her skirt up and around her hips. With a quick motion, her seat fell back and she was in a lying position. He was over her quickly, like a dark god looming in the distance. She smelled him, licked her lips in anticipation of the taste of him. She heard his breathing, felt her heart pummeling in her chest, matching his rhythm. Spreading her legs, she welcomed him, guided his rigid length to where she so desperately needed it to be. He touched her center with the tip and she closed her eyes, waiting for the supremacy of his loving to begin. A scream echoed throughout the car, stretching down the length of the alleyway, covering the city like a sheet of cold rain. He paused over her. Her eyes flew open. Then she saw red. Flashing lights in the bold gaudy shade, droplets seeping through the closed windows of the car, tinted in the rich crimson hue. He was still there, the one who visited her almost nightly. The one who brought her such pleasure, yet never stayed long enough to receive his own. He was still now, not moving, not breathing. She sat up on her elbows, looking around the interior of the car as it began to fill with that oozing red substance. The stench made her stomach roil and she quickly reached for the door handle to let herself out. “Be still,” he told her. “It’ll be over soon.” Her hand fell from the handle, her eyes still trying to focus on his face. Moments seemed to pass and she felt the warm liquid moving past her ankles and up to her knees. She almost screamed as it touched her, but he put a finger to her lips, stalling the emotion. “It is finished.”

***** Tori rolled over, dropping a heavy arm on the alarm clock blaring on her nightstand. Out of habit, she reached for the remote that was always beside the clock and switched on the television. The voices of the morning show anchors echoed throughout the chilly room with quirky jibes that made their morning show number one in the city. She burrowed beneath the covers for a minute more. He’d come to her again. Her thighs were sticky, the scent of sex ripe on the sheets. Groaning, she kicked in a mock temper tantrum. She was too damn old for wet dreams! “Shortly after three this morning, another body was found in the alley between Seventh Avenue and Green Street.” Tori fought her way from beneath the sheets and adjusted her sleep-encrusted eyes to the screen. Grabbing the remote, she pumped the volume up three more notches. “A female believed to be in her late twenties or early thirties was found dead. Ten puncture wounds were located on her body, which led to her bleeding to death. The Patrol is still searching for a suspect, but believe it to be the person responsible for the other two murders found in the last four weeks.” 6

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“Dammit,” she cursed as soon as her feet hit the icy floor and headed straight for the phone. The incessant chirping of an unanswered telephone sounded in her ear even as a heaviness pounded on her front door. Dropping the phone onto the bed, Tori moved quickly through the living room, pulling at the chain and grabbing the knob to wrench it open, knowing who it was before even laying eyes on her. “Good morning, sunshine!” Moanie sailed into the apartment, giving Tori a quick glance as she did. “Rough night, huh?” Tori frowned, but didn’t bother to comment. “It was a night, I’ll tell you that much.” Then, as if for the first time realizing this herself, she paused. Still holding the door open, she continued to stare, not really focusing on anything in particular, but remembering. The dream was vivid, just like always. It had touched her where she hadn’t been touched…ever. He was there, like he always was. And then… “Hey, you listenin’?” Moanie snapped her fingers in front of Tori’s face to get her attention. Bothered now by the intrusion, Tori pushed her friend’s hand away. “I never listen to you, Moanie. I thought you knew that.” Slamming the door shut, she made her way back into her bedroom, sure that Moanie was only a step or two behind. “Yeah, whatever. Anyway, I figured we’d ride into work together this morning since females are gettin’ knocked off left and right around here.” Tori plopped down onto her bed, picking up the remote in search of more news about the latest death. More than just the reporter in her was aroused this time. This time, it seemed personal. “You’d better stop staring at that television and get ready. You’re already on Kurb’s shit list.” Moanie relaxed on the twentieth-century chaise lounge that Tori’s grandmother had willed to her. “You got some breakfast? Some coffee or something?” She picked up a beauty magazine and fanned through it. Tori continued flipping channels, repulsed by the coppery taste of blood that lingered in the back of her throat. Images and shadows from her dream drifted throughout her mind as if she were missing some element that was essential to her day, her life. The woman was thirty-three, the same age as her. The cause of death was multiple stab wounds, but the patrol had ordered an autopsy anyway. They, like Tori, sensed that something was up. “Tori!” Moanie called. “Are you listening to me?” Shaking her head, Tori acknowledged that she wasn’t alone, although that was by no choice of her own. “I thought we already established that I wasn’t.” “You are so rude.” Moanie had been to the kitchen and back. Now she had a bowl of dry cereal in her lap as she crunched and talked. Tossing her a bothered look, Tori wondered how Moanie could think to call her rude. Moanie had been her best friend since college and she was also Tori’s coworker

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and her neighbor. Sometimes that made her a little too close for comfort on a daily basis, but with no family left, Moanie and her craziness were mostly welcome. Glancing at the clock, Tori realized she was dangerously close to being late, so she clicked off the television and went to the control dial that operated the doors to her closet. Punching in the appropriate numbers, she waited until the doors that blended into the wall slid open, quietly revealing her collection of clothes. “I was trying to tell you that Phil has this friend,” Moanie continued in a calmer voice. Tori’s hands paused on the black pantsuit and black dress with the leopard print. She loved black, so the majority of her wardrobe consisted of this versatile color. “No.” Tossing Moanie a warning look over her shoulder, she repeated herself. “Double no.” “Come on, Tori. When’s the last time you’ve been out?” Tori shook her head even as she returned her attention to her clothing selection. “I said no.” “He’s a great guy. Well, that’s what Phil says.” Selecting a long black skirt with a feminine swirl at the bottom and a black formfitting blouse, she bent to pick out shoes. “You haven’t even met him and you want me to go out with him.” “If Phil says he’s nice, I believe him.” “That’s because you’re sleeping with Phil. I, on the other hand, am not sleeping with either of you, so I don’t exactly trust your judgment.” Moanie huffed. “I’m offended. I would never set you up with someone unworthy.” There was a beep, then a red light on the control dial after Tori pushed the close button. Then she turned to Moanie, shoes in one hand, clothes in the other. “Your ass is not offended and you know why I don’t trust your judgment.” “I do not.” Moanie tried to sound dignified. Dropping her clothes on the bed and moving to the dresser to retrieve clean underwear, Tori continued. “Greg, the octopus with no job and still camping out in his mother’s basement. Simon, the vegetarian who threw away all the meat I had in my freezer. Curtis.” She paused at Moanie’s upheld hand. “They don’t count. I got them from a dating service.” “What?” Tori screeched. This was news to her. Moanie giggled. “Phil’s made reservations at Skyline for tonight.” “Then you and Phil should have a good time,” Tori said as she disappeared into the bathroom.

***** Tori managed to get through half her day without thoughts of the murder overtaking her. Her latest story on why the government was secretly manufacturing yet 8

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another solar-functioning vehicle was almost complete. As soon as she received the report on the power enhancers, she would input that information and hand in her final copy to Kurb for his approval. Or should she say his journalistic assault? Kurb had a way of tearing her stories to pieces at least two times before it went to print, regardless of how many times Tori wrote and re-wrote it. She’d already decided it provided some type of job security for him to do so and refused to let it bother her. So her mistake came when she was sitting at her desk cruising InfoLink, the highly advanced version of the now-antiquated Internet, performing random searches. She wasn’t quite sure what she was looking for but continued the process. The one thing she was certain of was the connection she felt to this most recent murder, one stronger than the two killings before. Acting on the feeling that there was more to these murders than the patrol was admitting, she’d requested the autopsy reports for the two prior murders a few weeks ago. Luckily, investigative reporters had their own little network for obtaining information that wasn’t readily available to the general population. Now she opened her mailbox to read the reports once again. Each woman had been stabbed repeatedly. Well, the reports didn’t exactly say stabbed. Multiple punctures were found throughout the body, some hitting main arteries, causing the victim to bleed out almost instantaneously. Clicking into another folder in her inbox, she pulled up the pictures. Vivid images of blood-stained streets and crumpled bodies appeared. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and tried to contain her composure. Feeling steady, she looked at the screen, hitting the zoom button. The report was accurate, they were punctures, not the normal ripping of skin associated with stab wounds, but four symmetrical cuts in what appeared to be strategic locations. Click. Click. The images grew larger. Across her neck…four perfect holes. From one side of her stomach to the next…the holes were made in intervals. On both thighs, over her breasts, down her back…all sets of four. Tapping a finger on her chin, Tori wondered what that signified. Maybe he held four knives together? No, not knives, something like an ice pick. But that seemed like too much trouble and would take time. These women were killed violently, quickly, like there was a time limit or deadline. On her desk, the phone rang, startling her from her thoughts. With a frown, she looked at the clock, saw she was at least fifteen minutes over her allotted lunch hour and reluctantly answered it. “I knew her,” Moanie whispered through the other end. “What? You knew who?” Moanie worked in accounting, running the computers that would disburse their paychecks and keep track of the accounts for the company. Moanie’s desk was located one floor down from Tori’s, but she had chosen to call her on the phone instead of taking the transport up. 9

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“Her. The woman who was killed last night.” Tori’s eyes opened wider, going from her screen to the phone. Another connection to the story. “Who was she? Did I know her too?” Different news channels ran constantly on the news-scan that took up one wall on the far left corner of the floor she worked on, and Tori recalled seeing the woman’s picture. She remembered feeling a personal tug, unlike with the other victims, but hadn’t quite nailed it down. “Maybe. She worked at the bar down on Holiday Way. You know, the one we go to sometimes for happy hour.” “Sweepers?” “Yeah. She was a waitress there. The one with the long dark braids and big hips.” Developing a mental picture in her mind, Tori felt a chill. She knew exactly who Moanie was talking about. They’d gone to Sweepers Friday after work, the woman in question had served their table. And now, four days later, she was dead. “How’d you find out who she was?” “Clark downstairs told me.” Tori rolled her eyes just as the phone lines began to ring and papers buzzed through the telecopy machines. “How the hell does a cafeteria worker know things before us?” “Tinsdale! Get in here!” She jumped at the loud voice. Kurb Cruger, her supervisor, was summoning her to his office. Why he couldn’t use the interconference system, she wasn’t quite sure. “I have to go. We’ll talk after work,” she whispered to Moanie before dropping the phone into its cradle and standing. It took her about six steps to get into Kurb’s office. With a flick of his hand, he gave the order for her to close the door. “Sit down,” he grumbled. “Is there a problem with my story?” she asked, bracing herself for his wrath. She’d already turned in her story on default robotic systems in patrol vehicles. And the patrol commissioner had already called to express his dissatisfaction at her expose. It was only right that Kurb would pick up the bone and continue. “Huh?” He looked bewildered. “Oh, that? No, I’m not worried about that. Nobody likes their dirty laundry aired.” Lifting his metallic arm, Kurb scratched his head with one shining silver finger. Tori gazed at the robotic arm he’d had attached after an amputation due to his rejection of the cure they’d found for type 2 diabetes. She was used to seeing it. He’d had it for about five years now, but the glistening silver and the ease in which it moved just like an ordinary hand never ceased to amaze her. The new century had not only brought about computer and robotic enhancements but had touched the medical field in a miraculous way as well. As such, diseases like

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diabetes and Alzheimer’s now had cures that were saving and prolonging billions of lives each day. “I’ve got a lead on something else and I want you to get right on it.” Her interest piqued, Tori sat up in the chair. She’d expected him to yell at her about the story, but was supremely grateful that he hadn’t. The idea of a new story certainly excited her, but ever since waking this morning, she’d already decided on the story she wanted to write. “Um, actually, Kurb, there was something I wanted to talk to you about.” Kurb held up his human hand. “Not right now. This is really hot and I want you on it immediately.” “I know what I have to talk to you about is hot too! It just happened—” “Hush. This is the story.” He passed her a folder, but began talking before she had a chance to open it. “Sidney Dumas is being blackmailed. I think it has something to do with that research study he did years ago, but I need you to do some digging and find out.” Reluctantly, Tori flipped through the folder. “Sidney Dumas? Isn’t he the guy who did that cloning study?” she asked, although she was perfectly aware of who he was. Kurb said something in response to her question but she wasn’t really listening to him at the moment. The papers in the folder had her undivided attention. Actually, it was the pictures that had her pausing. Kurb continued, “It seems the project went a little further than any of us could have ever imagined. Now somebody’s threatening to tell Sidney’s secrets. He’s in seclusion. A ranch in the old mountain region, my sources tell me. Nobody can get in, though.” Kurb sat back in his chair, eyeing her carefully. “Nobody but you.”

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Chapter Two “So you have sexual dreams about this guy and you wake up all hot and sweaty?” Moanie asked as they boarded the city glider. It sounded so lewd, so distasteful as the words registered in her mind. Tori frowned and took her seat near the back entrance next to Moanie. “I guess that’s a good way of putting it.” “You see, that’s why you need to come out with me and Phil tonight. Then you wouldn’t have to dream about sex, you’d actually get some.” Tori shook her head. “I don’t need sex.” She thought about that statement for a minute. “Okay, I do need some, but that’s not why I’m telling you this. And no, I’m still not going out with you and Phil and whoever the mystery guy is tonight.” Moanie frowned. “Then why are you telling me about your secret fantasies?” Was it a fantasy? Tori wondered if her dreams were a result of some secret longing she’d chosen to submerge in the recesses of her mind. Hell no, she wasn’t that deep. They were just dreams. At least, that’s what she’d originally thought. But today at six o’clock, as they’d been on their way to their apartment building on the Westside of the city, she was beginning to think something different. “Every time I dream of him, I wake up in the morning and a woman is dead.” Moanie remained quiet. “I wake up tasting blood, smelling blood, feeling…” “Sated? Relaxed? Sexed out of your mind? All or either one of those reactions would prove you’re desperate for some cock action.” “Moanie, I’m serious. It’s like a premonition or something.” Her eyes wandered, searching the faces of the people taking public transportation with them. Some were familiar, she saw them every weekday, and others were nameless, strangers to her world. “And he, the man I mean, he’s so different. He’s not like anyone I’ve ever met.” “Uh-huh, that’s because you created him in that overactive mind of yours. I don’t understand why you’d rather imagine a man instead of just going out to find one.” Moanie held up a hand when Tori would have spoken again. “But that’s just my take on the sex situation. If you say you’re having these dreams each time a woman is killed, then you might be having some kind of vision. I know this woman—” Tori was already shaking her head. “Nah, that’s okay. I shouldn’t have even mentioned this to you. Let’s just forget it.” “No. We are not going to forget this. Three women have been killed and each time you’ve been in the throes of your dream-induced passion. That’s some weird shit and

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we’re going to find out what it means.” Standing abruptly, Moanie hit the glowing bar that signaled the city glider to make the next stop. The sliding doors were the only indication that the vehicle had come to a complete stop, a result of the wheelless vehicle. Bumps and holes in the road were a thing of the past. Asphalt was obsolete, replaced by a super strengthened Plexiglas surface that was only ever touched by human feet. All vehicles floated now, moving throughout the city like miniature space crafts. “This isn’t our stop,” Tori complained. Moanie grabbed her by the arm, pulling her out of the seat. “It is now. You need to see Cerri. She can tell you what any dream means.” Reluctantly, Tori followed Moanie off the city glider because the other passengers were becoming irritated as they held up their journey home from a long work day. “I’ll bet she gives you the number to play too.” “Don’t be smart,” Moanie groaned as they stepped onto the sidewalk and walked down a narrow street. “She lives right down here.” “Where does she work?” “She works out of her house.” “Yeah, that means she’s as phony as a two-dollar bill,” Tori quipped using a bit of old slang she remembered her grandmother using. “Two-dollar bills aren’t phony anymore, they’re extinct. I don’t know where you get these sayings.” Tori ignored her, opting to pay more attention to her surroundings. This was a seedy-looking neighborhood, one she didn’t frequent often. Most of the houses were empty, the dark windows having been knocked out. Actually, she couldn’t remember ever frequenting this particular part of town and had a sinking suspicion why. The sun had set about an hour ago and now the sky was an electric blue. There was nobody out, the sidewalks were clear. Not even the patrol were out tonight, which seemed odd, since there was a serial killer on the loose. That thought alone had Tori huddling in her jacket and turning back to look behind them again. When Moanie cut in front of her to walk up smooth gray steps, she felt herself following without a word of disagreement. Tori had no faith in psychics. She did not believe that a person’s mind could be read or their future told. However, this didn’t make her a complete nonbeliever of other strange happenings. There were some things, or beings, she reminded herself, that were clearly not normal and still she’d accepted them. She’d accepted the evidence she’d gathered on these other beings years ago. Was it a coincidence that her new assignment was leading her back in that same direction? Moanie had been pressing the buzzer nonstop. Tori frowned. If this Cerri was so good at her job, why hadn’t she been at the door waiting for them? Why hadn’t she known they were coming? With her last thought, the heavy-looking black door swung open, the little woman on the other side glaring directly at Tori.

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“Come inside, he hunts at night,” she said in a thin, raspy voice. Tori walked in behind Moanie, whistling the tune of the long-ago series, The Twilight Zone. Moanie frowned over her shoulder at her, but kept on walking down a very long, dark hallway. “To your left,” Cerri directed. Moanie and Tori followed. Moanie took a seat in a deep-cushioned, blue velvet chair. Tori looked around the room in question. It was dim, that was the first thing she noticed. The next were the walls, covered in thick material a foreboding shade of crimson. There was a window, but it was closed, with one of the original versions of automated shades that looked to be nailed in place. Not one inch of light came through. Tori wondered if Cerri was a vampire. “I am not of the undead.” Tori’s head snapped in the smaller woman’s direction. “Excuse me?” Cerri walked slowly, but purposely, taking a seat in the antique high-backed chair that helped clear her mind to think. “I simply prefer the dark. Secrets are revealed in the dark.” She gave Tori a knowing look. Tori felt twinges at the base of her neck, then looked to Moanie, who smiled as if she were in cahoots with the weird little woman. “Have a seat. You won’t be able to stand once we begin.” Tori’s brow raised in question. “You plan on cutting off my legs?” Moanie reached up and grabbed her arm. “Girl, sit down and stop acting foolish.” Frowning still, Tori allowed herself to be pulled down into an identical chair. “Whatever.” Cerri sat quietly a moment, then leaned back in her chair, staring intently at Tori. “Tell me what you feel.” Tori remained silent. “She’s not talking to me,” Moanie offered. “How do you know?” Tori asked. Cerri did not blink. “Because you are the one with the negative energy surrounding you. You are the one with the bags beneath her eyes from not sleeping well.” Tori looked at the woman long and hard. She had fine hair, a sleek shade of silver, high cheekbones and deep-set eyes that bored right into your soul. She seemed almost motherly with her stern looks and weathered skin. Tori was battling with whether or not she should trust this woman with her dreams. Up until earlier, when she’d foolishly told Moanie about him, memories of her nightly visitor had belonged only to her. Now she wasn’t quite sure she wanted to share him again. “It will continue to haunt you if you do not find the answers.” Cerri steepled her fingers and let her lips spread into a thin smile. “I can give you some of those answers.”

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Answers. That was what she’d wanted, that was her job. She spent the majority of her time searching for answers. Now was no different, even though she was officially off the clock. “He comes to me at night,” Tori began slowly. “There’s no preamble, he just appears. He’s always dressed in black. “ Cerri nodded toward her. “As are you.” Tori looked down at her black jacket, the black blouse she wore beneath it and the black skirt covering her legs. Her boots and earrings were black as well. She acquiesced. “When he leaves, I feel…lost, lonely.” She licked her lips trying to squelch those thoughts as they crept through her soul. “When he’s there…I feel…” She paused. The words would not come because she simply wasn’t sure how to explain the unexplainable. “Complete,” Cerri said with a finality that had Tori shifting in her chair. “He is a part of you and you are a part of him. Two halves of a whole.” “Hmph, that’s some wet dream,” Moanie murmured. Ignoring her comment, Cerri held Tori’s gaze. “He makes you feel good all over.” She wasn’t asking questions. Cerri already knew how the man in her dreams made her feel and that scared Tori because she’d been denying it herself for so long. “I’ve never felt this way before,” she admitted, but this wasn’t what she wanted Cerri to tell her. If the woman knew this much, surely she sensed the same connection to the murders that Tori did. “Is he the killer? I mean, is this figment of my imagination some sort of premonition to these women’s deaths?” “Come.” Waving a hand, Cerri motioned for Tori to stand beside her. Shrugging, Tori decided to oblige. She moved slowly until she stood so close she could smell the lingering aroma of herbs and liniment and stifled a grin. For all this hocus-pocus, dark as sin rooms and mind reading business, Cerri was still just an old woman. She grabbed Tori’s hand, pulling her down to her knees. Tori adjusted herself quickly to keep from falling onto the floor. Cerri was a strong old woman. “You already know him,” she said in a harsh tone. Tori shook her head vehemently. “No. I don’t.” “Search your heart. You know who he is and why he is here. You know that he was meant for you and you for him.” Okay, this woman was certifiably crazy. Tori struggled to release her hand, but the grip remained tight. “Look, I don’t know him. He’s in my dreams. How do you know someone that visits you only when you are asleep? This is ridiculous. I should never have come here.” Since the old biddy wouldn’t release her hand, Tori stood and turned in an effort to walk away. If Cerri wanted to be dragged across the floor, so be it. “He will come again. Not in your dreams. Soon,” the old woman croaked before releasing her hand abruptly. 15

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Moanie stood, grabbed Tori’s arm to stop her departure. “Listen to her, Tori. She knows what she’s talking about.” “No! You stay and listen if you want. I’m going home to eat my dinner and go to bed. I’ll find my own answers.” Because despite Cerri’s weird appearance, Tori agreed that the dreams would continue to plague her until she knew the why of it all. Tori stepped out into the brisk evening, not sure which way to go. It wasn’t that she didn’t know her way around the city or to the next glider stop, for that matter. No, the confusion she was feeling right now was deeper than that. Was she searching for a murderer or was she looking for something more serious, more out of reach than she’d ever imagined? Pulling her jacket closed tightly around her, she began to walk, her mind reeling with thoughts. The man in her dreams had seemed so familiar to her, as if she had known him all her life. But she’d never seen his face, so how could that be? The connection of the dreams and the murders could be a coincidence, but she was a reporter, a practical thinking person, nothing in life was a coincidence. It was a connection, one she wanted to explore, but didn’t know how. She couldn’t command the man to appear. She knew because she’d tried that before. A chilly gust of air blew and Tori decided against waiting for a glider. Stepping out into the street, she hailed an oncoming hovercab. It came to a halting stop just inches away from her. It was a good thing it had none of those tires like she’d seen in old pictures or her toes would have been crushed. Instead the sleek silver door slid open and she climbed into the vehicle. Once she was engulfed in the warmth and had punched her address into the computerized dashboard, she sat back and closed her eyes. When she thought about her dream man again, she could almost conjure up his touch, his scent, his taste but he remained faceless. Sighing deeply, she decided that once she got home, she’d give it up. She did have a new assignment to work on, one that proved to be just as intriguing as these murders, if not more so. Dr. Sidney Dumas, known to some as the Creator, had once been a renowned scientist. That was before he went too far. At the turn of the twenty-first century, Sidney Dumas was a budding young student practicing alongside Louis Shukan in Japan. Shukan had already cloned sheep and various other species when Dumas signed on to work with him. And in the fall of 2009, Dumas and Shukan had successfully cloned the first human. Their accomplishment took the world by storm. Politicians immediately took sides, while angry citizens picketed and complained. The world was intrigued, amazed that it had finally been done. And some predicted its ultimate outcome. By 2012, human cloning had become old news, with more clones walking the Earth than God’s own breed. As a result, the world as it had been known endured massive changes, such as national parks and desert land being transformed into homes and more buildings. Recycling became the norm instead of a chosen practice as more energy

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was needed and natural resources were being strained. It was then that the dynamic duo began to untwine. Dumas wanted more, needed more notoriety, more money. So he came up with the theory of creating the ultimate human, clones of humans and animals of extreme strength and fierce genetic roots to offer protection to the world. He pitched his idea to the United States military, which, at first, had frowned on the idea. But then, as a part of a secret program similar to the ones reputed to have hidden remains of extra-terrestrial beings centuries ago, the ultimate army idea was purchased and Dumas received the go-ahead to continue with development. Shakun saw the problems and even went so far as to predict its demise. Dumas didn’t care, he’d do it alone. In the summer of 2015, the first half human, half beast was created. And the world was never the same again. The street glider came to a sudden stop, jarring Tori from her thoughts. Reaching into her purse, she located her pay pass and slipped it through the opening at the base of the computer. Pressing the green button, she verified the amount and stepped out of the vehicle. The sky above had grown darker, the streetlight that was normally lit in front of her house had blown out. Taking the first few steps toward the sidewalk, she stopped, looked around and saw nothing. But it wasn’t what the eye could see that bothered her. She felt a presence, like someone was on the street with her, but she saw no one. Chalking it up to her previous thoughts of murderers, dreams and clones, she continued walking quickly, too afraid to look back. It wasn’t until she got up the steps and to the door that the presence made itself known. “I’ve been waiting for you.” She turned quickly, only to slam face first into a wall-like form. Gloved hands grabbed her shoulders, keeping her close. Startled and rapidly growing afraid, Tori looked up. She gasped just moments before the front door flew open and she was pushed inside. She was lifted off the floor, her back flattened against the wall in the foyer of her apartment building just seconds before lips came crashing down on hers. Her eyes fluttered for a moment, then closed as warmth spread throughout her body. He held her tightly, all thoughts of fighting momentarily vanishing as she felt a tiny spark of something, a connection, while his mouth worked masterfully over hers. His tongue slipped through her lips, tracing a sensual line over her teeth until she opened and welcomed him inside. Slanting her head to the side, she stroked her tongue over his, felt a moan deep in her throat and pressed her body closer. In her mind there was this thirst that only his kiss could quench. Her hands twined around his neck, pulling him closer as they continued to devour each other. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she realized that she didn’t have a clue whom she was kissing, and while her body was definitely not protesting their contact, her brain screamed for her to get a grip. As if she couldn’t take the indecision anymore, or was it that his hands had gone from her shoulders to her buttocks, gripping so hard she feared there’d be a permanent imprint? Whatever the reason, she pulled away, her

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head rapping smartly against the wall behind her. She sucked in air and resisted the urge to yell out in pain. He looked down at her with quizzical eyes. Dark, sinister, devilish eyes that would have frightened her had she not been still reeling from that kiss he’d planted on her. His skin looked smooth and was the color of onyx. His head was layered with a thin covering of hair so silky her fingers ached to touch it. He wore a black coat, leather, she realized as she inhaled. The rest of his attire was lost to her as her eyes just couldn’t seem to venture any lower. He didn’t speak, yet she heard him loud and clear. He wanted her, right now, right here in this hall. And he would take her if she said the word. Wow! She assumed that was some kind of telepathy they had going on, only she knew she didn’t have any superhuman powers. So how did she know exactly what he wanted to do and when he wanted to do it? Most likely because her own traitorous body was craving the same thing. Luckily she had an ounce of sense left in her head. “I know this sounds supremely stupid after what we were just doing, but who the hell are you?” If she found out his name, she could rationalize the urge she had to give him whatever he wanted. He looked around, as if sensing something she couldn’t. “We should get inside of your apartment. You’re too vulnerable out here in the open.” His voice was deep and sexy as hell, caressing her now very sensitive skin. “Whoa, what makes you think I’m letting you into my apartment when I don’t even know who you are? And vulnerable to what?” He took a step closer to her, cupped her face in one big hand and she almost melted. Instead she concentrated hard on staying upright and looking into his eyes. “I’ll explain once we’re inside.” Then he grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the transport that would carry them to the third floor where her apartment was. She followed, not really willingly and not exactly resisting. There was something eerily familiar about this tall, dark stranger. Tori’s mind soared as she watched the biggest man she’d ever seen from behind. He had to be at least six feet five inches, his coat was long, almost touching the floor. Heavy boots on his feet should have created loud footsteps, but were silent. Broad just didn’t seem to accurately describe his shoulders. And he smelled…oh God…he smelled absolutely delicious. Stumbling into the transport behind him, she had to check her hormones. She hadn’t had any sex in a long time, so she was just about foaming at the mouth for this magnificent creature. But the fact still remained that she didn’t know who he was. “You’re not coming in my apartment until I know exactly who you are and what you want.” He pushed the button that would take them to her floor, then turned to her, obviously flustered by her comment. “My name is Jet,” he said finally.

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Tori moved to the opposite end of the elevator, watching him intently. How had he known what floor she lived on? “What do you want, Jet?” she asked in a shaky voice. He looked directly at her, licked his lips and spoke as if the answer should have been obvious. “You.”

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Chapter Three Okay, so what if she’d been having steamy dreams of a man that sexed her more than any real man ever had. And so what if she’d just come from a psychic that had predicted a visit by a dark man. Tori did not believe for one minute that this was the dark man. Although, as they boarded the transport she did notice that he was wearing all black. This was not happening. She was having one hellacious day and she prayed for it to come to a blessed end. The one bright spot to this day had been her new assignment. She had lots of work to do in that department. But she had to get rid of the night rider first. She reached up, stretching her five-foot-eleven frame, and grabbed his shoulder. “Hey, I don’t know where you think you’re going, but it’s not with me.” He turned slowly, only his head moving. He looked at her, his stare going from intense to almost blank in a matter of seconds. Then she saw it. The quick flash of green. She blinked and took a step back. “What the hell are you?” Her answer would have to wait as, at that very moment, something crashed through the window at the end of the hallway. Tori was turning to see what it was when a gush of wind knocked her backward. She was sure she’d make contact with the floor at any moment, but felt herself being lifted. For the second time tonight, she experienced a state of weightlessness. Curiosity had her struggling to see down the hall, to see what had blown the window out. All she saw was blackness. But what she heard made her heart beat just a tad faster. A loud screech reverberated from the walls until she had to hold her ears to stop the pain. Jet kicked the door down and stomped over it until they were inside her apartment. Dropping her unceremoniously onto the floor, he turned quickly and lifted the door, thrusting it back against the opening. With a pointed finger, he sealed the entrance shut. From her spot on the floor, Tori watched with wide eyes. In fact, she wondered if her eyes would ever close again. For a few seconds, green goo oozed from the cracks around the door, then it froze, keeping the access in place. While her heart threatened to leap right through her rib cage at any moment, Tori’s voice remained calm. “Now that you’re in my apartment, I’m going to insist on knowing more about who and what you are.” They lived in an age of robotics, computer-generated figures and special effects. So whoever had blown out the window and screamed throughout the building could be some wacko with a great mind for tricks. Well, in this case, the sexy, dark problem that stood across the room from her. 20

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The shadowy apartment was momentarily bright as a result of sparkling bolts of lightning. His face was illuminated. Hard angles accented the dark eyes and pleasant lips. He was clean-shaven, his thick eyebrows giving him a definite satanic look. Tori should have been scared out of her freaking mind. Yet she wasn’t. She was curious, more like intrigued. Rubbing a finger absently over her bottom lip, she decided definitely on intrigued. He was a great kisser, his tongue smooth and masterful. She remembered his hands on her body, probing, persistent and pleading. A faint sheen of sweat dampened her forehead. But all that physical attraction stuff aside, he was menacing and he was in her apartment with its only exit sealed by what looked like the remnants of a night-long drinking binge. On a silent count to three, Tori stood and backed up against her dining room table. Jet was about six feet away from her, his dark form appearing claustrophobic in her tiny apartment. “And while you’re at it, you can tell me why you’re here.” She realized with a start that she’d asked a series of questions that he’d neglected to answer. As a reporter, that only piqued her senses more. Narrowing her eyes, she took a tentative step closer to him. “You know who’s out there, don’t you?” Jet removed his coat, tossing it onto the back of one of the dining room chairs. Tori’s gaze followed his movements. Whoever or whatever he was, he was damned fine. Squeezing her thighs together tightly, she fought off the stabs of lust building. Man, she needed to get some like yesterday. “He is hunting you.” His voice made her tremble in an absolutely divine way, but Tori struggled to focus. “Who is and why?” Jet pulled out a chair and took a seat. She tried to ignore the swirling in her stomach at his closeness and thought it best that she sit as well. As he was on eye level with her now, she could study his features once again. He looked just like any other totally gorgeous man she’d ever seen. Except for the eyes. She knew she’d never seen eyes as totally black as his. Then she remembered the moment in the hallway when they weren’t so. He spoke before she could question that. “He has been killing women, but they are the wrong ones. He needs to kill you to stop the breed.” Tori chewed on his words, then ran a hand through her chin-length hair, which probably looked a fright right about now. Was he talking about the killings? He had to be. And if he knew something about the killings, she wanted to know also. Sure, Kurb had given her another assignment, but she felt a connection to the killings, one this man called Jet’s presence seemed to validate. She crossed her legs, prepared to take mental notes. He was still a stranger and she was still alone in her apartment with him, but she didn’t want to risk getting up from this table and ruining the line of communication they’d established.

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“Who? And what breed are you talking about?” She didn’t for one minute believe she was the intended victim of this psychopath killer. However, she did believe there was a killer out there, and if there was the slightest inkling that she could be next on his list, she wanted to be well informed. But she had nothing in common with the women that had been slaughtered. Or did she? He reached out then. She saw his hand coming toward her face and, to her own dismay, didn’t make any attempt to move. His fingertips were light as they moved over her cheek down to the line of her jaw. He stared at her like he’d never seen a woman before and that heat that had been steadily building between her legs increased. Tori licked her now dry lips and pushed his hand away. “You’ve had enough free feels for one day. I’m waiting for some answers.” Jet tilted his head slightly as his hand hovered inches away from her face. He pulled back, folded his arms over that massive chest and continued to stare. “You want to know who I am. I am your protector. You want to know who the killer is? Who is hunting you? That I do not know. Yet. But I have an idea.” Jet unfolded his arms, leaned forward and rested his elbows on his thighs. “He wants you because you are a Perfect One.” For about ten seconds, Tori had been totally captivated by his words, her mind reeling with questions and story angles. But when he’d spoken that last sentence, all clear thought was erased from her mind and laughter bubbled up and erupted with loud chuckles from her mouth. “Perfect? You have got to be kidding?” She sat back in the chair, holding her stomach now because the deep laughter was becoming a bit painful. “Who says I’m perfect? Show me to him so I can have his psyche checked!” It was at that moment that Jet realized he was in trouble. The ends of his mouth twitched as he fought the urge to smile, to join in her laughter. Had he ever laughed before? He was almost positive the answer to that question was no. There had never been any cause in his life for such giddiness. Instead he immediately identified pain and longing and the consumption of hatred. But this woman, the Perfect One, seemed filled with happiness. How else could she laugh so freely at a time like this? Serious changes were going on. The Cauldron army was massive, spreading out over the Earth, preparing to attack. They needed to be stopped. It was his job to stop them, but protecting her was first on his agenda. He cleared his throat, loudly. She seemed to pull herself together, although tears had formed at the cracks of her eyes. She swiped them away as she took deep steadying breaths, her chest still heaving from her fits of laughter. She couldn’t believe she was a Perfect One. He begged to differ. He’d held her, touched her, tasted her. A more perfect woman he had never seen. And that worried him. “Okay. I’m sorry.” Tori sat up in the chair, planting her hands in her lap. “Continue.”

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“That is it. I’m here to protect you from him.” “From whom?” “The killer.” “And how do you know he’s hunting me?” “I know a great number of things.” Tori nodded. “I’m sure you do. But I’m not concerned with a great number of things. I’m going to need a little more convincing that I’m being hunted and that you are my protector.” Jet turned, looked toward the now sealed door. “That’s not convincing enough for you?” Tori’s eyes widened. “That,” she motioned toward the door, “was your fault. I didn’t see any killer around when that happened.” His jaw clenched. “Cauldrons are crafty. You don’t always see them coming.” Tori paused. “Cauldrons? Where did you hear that word?” Her eyes narrowed suspiciously. “Is this a joke? Did Kurb send you here to harass me?” Jet looked puzzled. “Kurb?” He shook his head. “No. I don’t know who that is. I am here to protect you from the Cauldrons who desire you and all your kind killed.” Tori stood then, crossing the concrete floor with slow steps. “If you know about Cauldrons, you must know about Centuries.” Jet sat back in the chair. “Yes, I do. And it appears that you have too.” He was amazed. Their kind was known of, talked about randomly, but were still relatively a secret. The Centuries that walked the Earth, desiring to be more human than they really were, didn’t speak of their genetics, didn’t act on the urges or use the powers given to them as a birthright. Most humans didn’t even know when they’d had interaction with a Century. He was different. He’d embraced being a Century warrior because he had no other choice. His one goal in life was to lead the legion of Centuries to hunt down and kill the Cauldrons before they could act on their plan of world domination. That was easier said than done. Killing Cauldrons was not a simple task. Hence his reason for being here. Tori waved a hand blithely. “I may have heard something in passing.” “For a Perfect One, you don’t lie convincingly. Tell me what you know and I will either corroborate or correct it.” For the first time in her life, Tori felt like the gods had finally shined on her. The biggest story of her career, the one that had been ripped from her clutches so long ago and had mysteriously fallen back into her lap just this morning, was now sitting at her dining room table.

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Jet said he knew lots of things. Well, Tori was going to take this opportunity to find out what all those things were. This story would make her career, of that she had no doubt. She’d known there was something behind Sidney Dumas and his lab years ago. Unfortunately, she’d been stopped before she could expose what was going on in that mansion on the mountain. This time she would not be deterred. Man, she needed to get her tape recorder, but she was riveted to that spot, reluctant to leave Jet’s presence. “I know that years ago Dr. Sidney Dumas ventured out on his own to create a perfect species. The best humans mixed with the fiercest animals to form an elite army of sorts. It is said that the experiment went horribly wrong and some kind of mutations were created instead. Centuries and Cauldrons is what they were called.” She watched him watching her and felt a chill run down her spine. “Which one are you?” He expertly avoided that question. Instead, talking more of Dumas and where he’d apparently gone wrong, but Tori sensed he was either or. The distinction between Centuries and Cauldrons wasn’t quite clear to her, but she vowed that first thing in the morning, she’d be at her computer researching the issue more urgently than ever before. For now she was content to rest. He…Jet had stayed in the other room and was now asleep on her couch. Normally, letting an unknown man share her apartment for the night was out of the question, but this was like a diamond in the rough to Tori. Jet was the key to her story. Yes, Dumas had agreed to an interview, but having living proof of the mad scientist’s mistake was like icing on the cake. Tori smiled as her head hit the pillow. He was behind her. Her secret lover had finally come. She sighed and leaned back into him as his hands circled her waist. Her head moved to the side, resting contentedly on his hard chest. With his tongue, he drew a hot path from her ear to her shoulder blade and she shuddered. She was naked, as was he. His thick erection settled in the crease of her backside. One of his large hands moved south, seeking the heat between her thighs while the other ventured northbound, grabbing an already swollen breast in its palm. With deft fingers, he slipped between her silken folds, delving deep into her center and working her until her essence moved down her thighs in heavy rivulets, her breathing labored by the intense sensations of breast play done right. So many men underestimated the power of lavishing a woman’s breasts with just the right amount of attention. Her secret lover had no problem in that area. Suddenly, he pushed her against the wall, her cheek meeting the smooth surface with a tender thud. Air whooshed from her lungs as her heart sped up in anticipation. He lifted her arms, planted her palms flat on the wall and spread her legs wider with his knee. She murmured something unintelligible and waited with bated breath. Using long teasing strokes, her lover moved his cock from the base of her back to her entrance and up again. Her thighs shivered as she begged him to end this sweet torture. He laughed then, a deep bellowing sound that she’d never heard from him before. Then he kissed the nape of her neck, trailing a hot line of kisses down her back and to her buttocks.

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She shook with frustration, but the motion seemed to heighten his arousal as he buried his face in her crease, extending his tongue, then laving down, down, until he was at the base of her entrance. With those huge hands of his, he held her apart, open for his assault, and as he slurped on her essence, mumbling about perfection, she prayed he’d go further. She wanted him inside of her, but in the event that wasn’t going to happen tonight, his tongue would suffice. She simply needed him to bring it on. With heavy panting, she told him exactly that. He chuckled again, then thrust his thick, hot tongue into her cunt and the world shattered around her. At the very moment, a scream echoed through her ears. Her entire body shook, but she couldn’t tell if it was from orgasm or the deep embedded fear that it had happened again. She closed her eyes, willing it to go away. But then she inhaled and smelled the acidic stench. He rose from his perch between her legs and held her close, whispering in her ear. “Shhhh, it will be over soon.” She shivered, felt the warmth she now knew was another woman’s blood and cringed. “Why?” she whispered. “It is his nature. It is what he was created for.” His breath feathered over her ear, sending sensations of comfort throughout her body. She was safe with him, she knew this instinctively. He would protect her from the killer. Realization dawned on her and she opened her mouth to speak once more. He silenced her. “Shhhh. It is finished.”

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Chapter Four Jet lay there wide awake, his heart hammering in his chest as he relived the death of another innocent. He was angry, this Cauldron who hunted her. Jet’s appearance had angered him. Good. That was his purpose. In his anger, the Cauldron would become sloppy and leave a trail for him to follow. Hopefully, his sloppiness would occur well before he was able to get to her. Her. Jet blinked as he realized he now knew her name. For so long he’d only known her scent and the slight shifting in his chest as her faceless image had appeared to him. Tori Tinsdale was the Perfect One. Well, at least one of them. And he was not. The weight of who and what he was bore down on Jet. He was born from a Petri dish, a complex mixture of genetically engineered superhuman cells and the blood of a panthera onca with melanism. To be precise, the black jaguar. His creator was Sidney Dumas. A man he hated and despised more than he could sometimes fathom. It was because of Dumas and his God complex that Jet was forced to live this tortured existence. And while Dumas’ creations manifested the legion of warriors that Jet now led, giving his life some meaning after all, he hadn’t released his animosity toward the man. For the past year, Jet had been haunted by a silhouette, an image of a woman that made his existence even more troubling. He viewed her arrival in his life as some sort of cruel joke. Jet could not love, he could not be a part of a relationship as the world viewed them. What woman would accept him the way he was? He wasn’t immortal, but he was tainted with an animal’s blood, an animal’s thoughts and reactions and the need to kill living and breathing in his soul. He was dangerous to anyone that was unlike him. And he refused to cohabitate with anyone like him for fear of creating the very mutations he sought to kill. Thus he was doomed to never know love, to never have the joy of family that he’d always longed for. He was different and different wasn’t acceptable. But none of that mattered now. He’d resigned himself to his fate long ago. Tori was the Perfect One and thus needed his protection. The Cauldrons wanted to rule the world, an age-old desire that always ended disastrously. There were only two things that could stop them, Jet and the Century army he led or a Perfect One. The myth predicted that if a Perfect One mated with a Century, their child would become more powerful than any Century or Cauldron alone. This would seem like an

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easy task, find a Perfect One, sleep with them and create the ultimate warrior, end of story. But as with anything that was worth something in life, successful inbreeding depended on several factors. One of which were feelings that Jet would never allow himself to feel. This supernatural birth had to be created of love. Thus, to end the chance of their destruction, the Cauldrons sought to kill all Perfect Ones. And Tori was next on their list. All formalities and logic aside, Jet admitted he was drawn to her. Tori Tinsdale wasn’t like most humans he’d come in contact with nor was she like his kind. He sensed no fear in her, but at the same time, knew instinctively of her compassion, her curiosity and her desire. The stirrings he felt inside were a contradiction to everything he knew to be right. He didn’t believe in the myth and was not interested in testing it. However, he was a man, at least part of him was. And as such he could not readily dismiss the instant attraction he’d felt toward her. He’d watched her step out of the hovercar and walk up the steps. The instant he’d seen her, his blood began to hum, a soothing mating tune that demanded he listen. He’d given in and kissed her before she’d even known who he was. And that kiss, given with such abandon, such unrestrained passion, had knocked down a wall he’d worked long and hard to erect. He was a solitary creature, seeking company only when absolutely necessary. Since inhaling the first scent of Tori, he’d wanted only to be with her. She stirred beside him and he wondered how she’d feel about last night. She’d have questions, of that he was positive. The answers were what worried him. He remembered her moans, they were soft, yet they’d awakened him from the other room. She was lying on her stomach, half of her face concealed by the pillow. Her shirt had risen up above her hips. Rounded curves of a voluptuous bottom greeted him and he’d clenched his teeth, his entire body going still except for the growing erection that even now threatened to overtake him. He’d verified that she was sleeping soundly and was about to leave the room when she moaned again and turned onto her back. Her legs were still spread and that barely there shirt had moved up even further. He looked down at her, open and waiting, and had to fight back a tumultuous yearning to keep from slipping between those silky thighs and taking her completely. Foolishly, he remained in her bedroom, his iron-clad will slipping slowly as he did. Until, finally, he’d touched her. Bringing his right hand up to his face, he inhaled the intoxicating scent of her still lingering on his fingers. He’d stroked her there. Just once at first. But then she’d responded and he’d continued until she shattered into a million pieces. His hand drenched with her pleasure, he’d wanted nothing more than to taste her, but hesitated. This was not the reason he was here. He could not protect her if he succumbed to her charms. But how could he resist?

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Tori groaned. Her internal clock sensing that it was time to get up, even though her alarm clock was mysteriously quiet. She rolled over and bumped into what had to have been a wall or a large log or… Her eyes sprung open and she gasped. It was him! The man from her dreams. He was dark and hard and sexy and there in her bed, just where she’d always envisioned him to be. She’d never seen his face, so she took a moment to look at him. The strong jaw, the somewhat thick lips, a slightly crooked nose and eyes…pitch black eyes that were staring right back at her. She yelped, then covered her mouth to quiet the sound. It wasn’t her dream lover, it was the man who’d knocked her door in. It was the man who was going to help her with her story. His name was Jet and she distinctly remembered telling him to sleep in the living room. Looking down at that magnificently toned body that, at this moment, was only clad in black briefs brought home the fact that he hadn’t listened. Scrambling across the bed, Tori pulled the sheets up to her neck. “What are you doing in here? I told you to sleep in the living room!” “Maybe you shouldn’t moan so loud next time.” Tori opened her mouth to speak, then abruptly closed it when snippets of her dream danced in her mind. “I…did…not,” she said attempting to sound indignant. Jet licked his lips and nodded his head. “You did. I heard you and I came to make sure you were okay.” “Then you stripped and got into bed with me? Is that your idea of offering me protection?” “I stripped before I went to sleep on the chair in the other room. I climbed into bed with you because,” he hesitated, his gaze dropping to her mouth. His arousal was clear, Tori surmised, as she glimpsed his thick cock through his pants. Tori gulped, then dragged her eyes away from his midsection reluctantly. “You, um, probably shouldn’t be in here.” But he was and again she was sticky between the thighs. Her dream lover had come to her last night. He’d touched her and tasted her and she’d exploded on command. Never had she experienced an orgasm like the one she had last night. Never had her thighs shook with such pleasure, her nipples hardened with such yearning, her heart beat with such fervor. In the silence, her heartbeat was now thumping wildly. She didn’t know Jet beyond his name and the fact that he was a pretty decent kisser. She wasn’t attracted to him. Stealing another glance at the black fabric straining over his growing bulge had her rethinking that statement. “What are you thinking?” he asked, his voice raspy, heavy and deep in the silence of her room.

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“Ah, that I need to get ready for work.” She eyed him suspiciously. “Why? What are you thinking?” If he said of jumping your bones and ravishing you for the next couple of hours, Tori was deathly afraid that she’d tell him to go right ahead. Reaching out, he ran a finger along the seam of the sheet she clutched to her chest. “I’m thinking that we’re going to have to stay pretty close from now on.” To emphasize his meaning, he slid his body closer to where hers was perched precariously near the edge of the bed. She seemed to take in a tremendous amount of air, but remained quiet. “I don’t think it’s safe to let you out of my sight for one minute.” Just as it wasn’t safe for either of them the longer she remained in his sight. She was drawn to him, there was no doubt. Her nipples, now straining against the thin cotton of her nightshirt, were proof of that. But there was something else. He called to her on another level, one she hadn’t quite figured out yet. He tugged on the sheet and her limp fingers felt the cool material slipping out of their reach. She wanted to tell him to stop, to give her a minute to catch her breath, but she couldn’t find the words. One minute her mind was full of questions and reasons why this entire situation was insane, the next, his large hands were on her bare thighs, moving upward until they skimmed the hem of her shirt. Again she stared at him, trying to figure out why she felt so comfortable with his closeness, with his touch. His eyes dropped to her lips and she instinctively licked them. His mouth parted and she felt herself leaning closer to him. His hands were under her shirt now, grazing past her hip. Her breath hitched as silent pleas echoed in her mind. Touch me. There. Right there. Put your hands on me. Claim me. She closed her eyes as a surge of desire such as she’d never experienced before settled in her juncture, moistening her folds. “Do you object to the closeness?” he asked. His thumbs grazed the insides of her thighs and Tori quivered. “I…” she whispered, wondering what her answer should be. She objected to the torture, that was for damn sure. Opening her eyes, she saw that he’d moved closer until his mouth was a breath away from her distended nipples. He didn’t look at her, but steadily teased her swollen breasts. “I…don’t even know who you are.” And yet I’m ready to have you. Jet froze and Tori thought she’d mistakenly spoken that last admission. With what looked like a great effort on his part, Jet pulled away and sat with his back facing her on the opposite edge of the bed. “I am here to protect you,” he said solemnly. Tori was chilled and eerily lonely from his immediate departure. She stared at his broad back, fascinated by the rugged masculinity, the ebony shimmer to his skin, the absolute maleness of this stranger. She wanted him inside her, not on the other side of this bed. She wanted to be on top of him, riding his hot length. She wanted… She sighed and ran her fingers through her tousled hair.

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“Right. To protect me.” Extending her legs, she lifted herself from the bed and tried to focus. “You are here to protect me from a killer who is hunting the Perfect One. And you believe that I am the Perfect One.” He hadn’t moved. “Correct.” She’d already moved to her closet to retrieve clothes for the day, thoughts of a morning tryst forcefully pushed to the back of her mind. “And tell me again why I’m the Perfect One?” She still did not believe that but continuing with conversation would keep her lustful thoughts at bay. And she realized that’s what she needed to do. Jet stood. “You were born a Perfect One. There aren’t many. But you are definitely one of them.” Trying to gather all that she’d need so there would be no reason for her to come out of the bathroom before she was fully dressed, Tori dropped a shoe. His voice sounded different. It was gruff and sensuous. For a minute, she thought she’d heard it before. She turned to find him slipping into the same black pants he’d worn last night. “And how do you know this?” “I know many things. But I am especially trained to know the Perfect Ones.” Their gazes were locked as they stood across the room from each other. Tori felt as if they were saying so much more than the words actually being spoken. “Why?” “It is my job to identify the Perfect Ones.” He looked as if the admission pained him somehow, which brought on an entirely different round of questions. Remembering her assignment and their conversation last night, Tori took a step closer to him. “And a Century is what exactly?” Jet tilted his head as he watched her. “I believe you know of the Creator and his experiments. But what you don’t know is that the Creator made a mistake when he mixed man and beast. Not just in judgment, but in his calculations. There are forty-six chromosomes in each human cell. These chromosomes are tripled in Centuries.” At this point, all of Tori’s clothes had fallen to the floor and she was now kneeling on her bed, staring at him in awe. Was it because he was so totally sexy or was it because his dark skin had seemed to grow darker, his eyes taking on an onyx-like existence that she could barely fathom? “Centuries, as I think you already know,” Jet began again, “are a genetic mutation of human cells and the strongest, deadliest animal ones. But not your ordinary human cells, genetically engineered cells to make this human more powerful, more destructive than a nuclear bomb.” Tori gasped and covered her mouth quickly to mute the sound. “And Cauldrons?” she whispered when her hand had fallen away. “Cauldrons are the Creator’s biggest mistakes. He underestimated his own creation. He thought he could control it,” Jet shook his head. “He thought he could control them. But when they began to breed outside of the lab, to multiply faster than an assembly

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line could ever produce them, the Creator knew it was out of his hands.” Jet pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. “Cauldrons are products of mutations, which means they are double trouble. Imagine a genetically engineered half man and half lion, then blend that with a real lion or snake or any ferocious animal for that matter. The result is a Cauldron. An anomaly that no one knows how to deal with. A force of destruction that nobody can kill.” The corner of his mouth lifted and he moved closer to take her hand, as if to prepare her for something more. “Last night you asked which one I was. Do you still want to know?” Tori didn’t speak, but shook her head positively. She needed to know what was standing in front of her, what had slept in the bed with her, what she was so damned attracted to. “I am a Century.”

***** His hands were rough as he dragged them down his face. What to a normal man would be considered one day’s growth of beard, was to him the feel of his animal half emerging, felt prickly to the touch. He paced the floor, waiting to be summoned, to be questioned for last night’s debacle. Payton Fleur was good at his job. He hunted better than any other Cauldron, except for Mateese. And he was on her trail. He’d found her and last night was supposed to end that chapter so that he could rise higher in the ranks. But then he’d shown up and interrupted the plan. Jet Landon, the head of the Century army, the star pupil of The Creator. Massive black doors opened silently and between them stepped a beautiful, ravenhaired female. She walked toward him slowly, with a mixture of grace and blatant sexuality. The dark room with its ornate furnishings and chilly air conflicted with her exotic allure. Payton watched her, all the while imagining what he’d like to do with her. She was Lynae, Mateese’s assistant. And if Payton knew Mateese as well as he thought, she was so much more. Just the thought of Mateese using Lynae for his pleasure disturbed Payton. Sharp incisors pushed through his gums, prickling his lower lip until he gained some semblance of control. She moved gracefully, fluidly, part of her reptilian birthright, he knew. Her skin was like spun gold, unmarred and beautiful. But it was her hair, the long, silken tresses that reached beyond her sumptuous backside that aroused him most. He’d spent many a night dreaming of rubbing his hands, his face, his naked body in that silken paradise. Payton licked the drops of blood from his lips, the taste heightening his arousal. “He is ready for you,” she said in that smoky voice that fell over Payton like the dark of night. He loved the night and he loved this woman.

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He took a step toward her. She did not flinch. Lynae did not fear him. She was not bothered by his six-foot eight-inch frame or his thick, somewhat lumpy skin. She knew who and what he was and sometimes, Payton thought, she was a bit intrigued by him. “And when will you be ready for me?” he asked as he lifted a hand to finally touch her hair. Lynae moved just beyond his reach. “Don’t,” she whispered. Payton looked at his hands. Outside it was daylight. The time he usually spent sleeping. His claws, which were only revealed at night or when he was about to attack, weren’t visible. There were only nubby fingers, but they were covered with hair. He was derived from the panthera tigris altaica, the Siberian Tiger, which was to blame for that. “I will have you,” he told her with absolute certainty. Her eyes found his, but she did not speak again. Their gazes held another moment as Payton tried to figure out what was in her mind. She never objected to his advances and she never fought him, which, given her own Cauldron mixture, she could have. Yet she did nothing to encourage him either. Normally that made Payton angry. Today it frustrated him. More than anything—even his promotion—he wanted to pull her close, to offer her comfort and protection. To offer her his love. Lynae walked away and he felt a heaviness in his chest that threatened to kill him. Quickly he tempered the feelings that would make him vulnerable. Vulnerability would undoubtedly lead to mistakes. Feelings were dangerous to Cauldrons, especially Cauldron Hunters like himself. Humans lived by their feelings and would not hesitate to extort his for their gain. He had a great future. All he wanted was in his grasp. But he needed to remain calm and level-headed until they came to fruition. He let those thoughts soothe him as he moved to the door leading to Mateese’s lair. It was dark and chilly in the room with its fifteen-foot ceilings and gaudy eighteenth century furniture. Mateese was an old soul. The first of the Cauldrons, the strongest of their kind. He had been their leader for the past six years at least. Before then, they were a lost colony trying to find their way in a world that didn’t understand them. Then Mateese set them free. He gave them a purpose, and for that Payton would always be grateful. Payton took his seat in the same chair he always used. The only one Mateese allowed any of the colony to sit in. It was a high-backed monstrosity of a deep burgundy hue, almost like blood frozen in form. The arms were like curling claws, the back narrow so that Payton’s large form was almost too big for it. But it held him and the others like him with ease. Mateese turned in his chair behind the huge marbled desk he used. To the human eye, Mateese looked like a wealthy businessman, only his eyes said he was different. Yellow pupils that looked almost gold at times with black centers stared at Payton with 32

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judgment and disapproval. Mateese was of the panthera leo clan, the lion, which is known for being king of the jungle. And despite Payton’s larger size, he dominated the Cauldrons and ruled them with the strong hand of his lineage. Payton flinched unnoticeably. Mateese was a force to be reckoned with, Payton did not dispute that fact. But this intrusion was not his fault and he intended to let Mateese know that. “Jet has returned.” Mateese frowned, the look marring his cinnamon complexion. He lifted a hand to smooth back his wheat-colored hair. “I knew he would eventually. His self-imposed seclusion was only meant as a diversion. Dumas most likely planned it that way. What happened with the girl?” That was his concern, more so than Jet Landon or Dumas. With an unsettling feeling, Payton remembered his Creator and, with something less than distaste, the man’s weakness. Dumas had been commissioned to build an army and he’d started off on the right track. But then something happened or, should he say, someone happened and Dumas changed his mind, changed his entire way of thinking. Mateese despised weakness, especially when it was at the hands of someone purported to be a leader. He’d left Dumas’ clutches with the promise to destroy him and the ideological world he wanted to return them to. “Jet was there with her when I arrived. He must know who she is.” “I am sure he does. Jet is a clever one. I daresay he’s smarter than Dumas ever anticipated.” Mateese rose from his seat. “This changes things.” Payton feared no man and no Century, but he was no fool. Jet Landon was the leader of the Century army, a warrior to be reckoned with. “I cannot simply kill him. Dumas’ wrath would bring unwanted attention to the colony. We are getting close to completion, we can’t afford to divide our attention.” “Divide?” Mateese questioned. “We will need a force in place to ward off Dumas and the Centuries he will undoubtedly send to stop us. If we do that, there will be less of us to find the Perfect Ones and destroy them.” “We will not be divided,” Mateese declared. “We will do what was meant of us.” Payton stared at his leader, afraid to hear what he was about to say. Mateese had very little human qualities aside from the physical characteristics. He was callous and vengeful. He was a cold-blooded killer and expected his followers to be the same. Whatever he was thinking of doing would be heartless, Payton was sure. “We will build an even bigger army to prepare us for this time of war. We will procreate.”

*****

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“So, do you need to go to your place for a change of clothes?” Tori was dressed and ready to leave for work. After Jet’s admission, she’d needed a breather. She’d gone into the bathroom, leaving him in her room alone. Beneath the heated spray of water, she replayed their conversation, highlighting the facts—she dreamed of a phenomenal lover, she’d been to see a psychic who predicted a dark man in her future, she’d arrived home and been kissed senseless by what? A dark man. And that very dark man had just admitted he was a Century. A creation of the legendary Dr. Sidney Dumas, who just so happened to be the subject of her investigation. For a minute, she’d been giddy with excitement, ready to praise all the gods for blessing her with this fantastic opportunity. Then she’d considered the full effect of those facts. If he were a Century, he wasn’t human, which meant he wasn’t bound by the morals that most humans were, which also meant that she could be in more danger from him than the one he claimed was hunting her. And that was another thing, she was being hunted. Yeah, well, she still didn’t totally believe that one. A broken window did not an attempt on her life make. However, if that pretense was what brought Jet Landon and his fine-ass Century self to her door, then she’d take it. This story meant more to her than Kurb could ever imagine. Three years ago, she’d been interested in Dumas and his creations. She was still a wet behind the ears columnist then, but she had the drive to be so much more. She’d meticulously researched both Dumas and his funding for that huge lab he’d built behind his house in the Deep Creek Mountains. She’d had some pretty interesting information on Dumas and was just about to present her story to the paper when her apartment was broken into and her notes stolen. About a week later, the paper was slapped with a libel lawsuit, which it later won. But the damage was done. The story was sacked and Tori barely hung on to her job. She didn’t know what had happened to make Kurb change his mind. He’d said that Dumas was being blackmailed. She wondered by whom and what that person was holding over him. Jet Landon was her key to finding out. “I can’t leave you,” he spoke slowly as if he thought she didn’t understand him. Turning to face him, Tori willed her mind to stay focused on the story, the facts she still needed to gather and not the gorgeous hunk of man standing just a few feet away from her. Man, oh man, how she wanted to get a taste of him. He wore the same black clothes from the night before, but she remembered the sight of him without them. He had a great build, broad shoulders, toned abs and pecs and biceps that had her licking her lips to keep from touching them greedily. Her eyes lowered to the bulge at his midsection and she nearly fainted. Lordamercy, if she didn’t get laid pretty soon, she didn’t know what she was going to do.

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Running trembling fingers through her hair, she sighed. “I have to go to work.” Jet took a step closer to her, wondering what force was between them causing this wave of sexual tension. He was hard for her and had been since the moment she’d stepped out of that glider. He desired her like he’d never desired any human or anything before in his life. Touching her last night had only been a sample, of which he knew he’d want more. “Then I will go with you.” Tori took a defensive step backward. “Don’t you have a job or something else you should be doing?” He reached out, caught the back of her neck and stilled her retreating steps. Kneading the nape of her neck softly, he indulged in the view—the exotic slant of her eyes, the sensuous turn of her mouth. Without thinking, he grazed her bottom lip with his finger. “My job is to protect you. The sooner you accept that, the easier this situation will be.” “There is nothing easy about this situation.” Jet wholeheartedly agreed with that statement. It was far from easy to stand this close to her and not jump her bones. He shouldn’t be touching her like this. Jet knew the boundaries. He was part man and part beast. He had no right to feel her soft skin, to crave her sweetness. Yet he continued as if those obstacles meant nothing. “I’ve been a Century Warrior most of my life. I’ve always known what my purpose is and how to achieve it.” Until now. “So have I,” she whispered, as he’d just echoed her thoughts. In her eyes, he saw her conviction along with her desire. He saw clearly their mating and felt bare before her. Jet knew without a doubt that, if given the chance, Tori Tinsdale would unlock the doors to his past he’d long ago closed. She was that type of woman. The all or nothing kind that he’d come across a time or two. He’d walked away from those women, however, without an ounce of regret. He could only pray that when the time came, he could do it again. “I cannot protect you if you don’t believe in my being here.” Jet willed himself to focus, to keep his mind on the matter at hand. Wanting her was useless. “I can’t waste time trying to convince you of the danger you are in. The Cauldrons prey on weakness.” “Then they shouldn’t count me out just yet,” she quipped. “I don’t scare easily. I don’t know yet that I believe in this danger you keep talking about. But what I do know is that three women have been killed, savagely slain and left to bleed to death. I know in my gut that those killings weren’t committed by any human being. And since you’re the first one to wear his non-humanness like a badge and I remain alive at this very moment, that makes you my new best friend.” She stepped out of his reach. “However, that doesn’t mean that you have free rein over me. We are not dating, we’re not involved or lovers or whatever.” She waved between them with the last word.

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“I need you to help me finish my article,” she said finally. “And I’m not quite sure what you need, other than a change of clothes.” Jet chuckled. She was flustered and she was terribly cute when she was flustered. But she was right. They weren’t lovers or whatever else. He had a job to do and he sensed she was trying to convey the same thing on her end. “You are awfully concerned with my state of dress.” “So sue me, I’m a stickler for cleanliness.” “We can stop by my place before we go to…” A brisk knock at the door cut him short. They both turned, looking at the still pasted-up door in question. “Expecting company?” he asked, taking a step closer to her. Tori felt the heat instantly and struggled to keep her hands to herself. Gracious, what was it about him that pushed her to the brink of wantonness? “Uh, no,” she said, moving forward to answer it. “Wait!” Jet grabbed her arm and spoke in a hushed tone. Tori shot him an “oh please” look. “Do you think the big bad Cauldron would knock on my door and wait for me to answer before he ripped my guts out?” “Don’t underestimate them,” he said, crossing in front of her so that he could answer the door. Tori opened her mouth to argue, but then realized she wasn’t quite sure that yucky green stuff was going to allow her access, so she stood back and watched him work. And those fantastic muscles in his back did just that as he reached for the knob and wretched the door free as if it were simply closed of its own accord. “It’s about damned time. I’ve been calling you all morning.” Now it was Moanie’s turn to be rendered speechless. Tori shook her head as her friend looked up at Jet and knew exactly what she was thinking. “Don’t even go there,” Tori pushed past Jet to interrupt. “It’s not even like that.” Moanie spared Tori a quick glance, but then went back to her perusal of Jet. “It was better, I’m sure,” she whispered. Tori pulled her inside and motioned to Jet to close the door. “He’s, ah…a friend of the family,” she said on the spur of the moment. Moanie rolled her eyes. “You don’t have any family, Tori. Try again. Or better yet, why don’t you just introduce us.” Tori didn’t want to introduce them, she didn’t want Moanie here with her and Jet. He was her Century and she wanted him all to herself. Where had that possessive thought come from? He didn’t belong to her, he was just a means to an end. “Fine. Jet, this is Moanie. Moanie, this is Jet,” she said lazily.

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Moanie ignored her and extended her hand to Jet. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.” “Likewise,” Jet said and lifted Moanie’s fingers to his lips for a brief kiss. Tori fought back the urge to push Moanie to the floor. She’d felt his lips and didn’t take kindly to the fact that someone else was reaping those rewards. “Okay, now that that’s done, Jet and I were just leaving.” “Really?” Moanie arched a brow as she turned to face Tori. “And where might you be going with your family friend?” “My place.” “Out.” Jet and Tori spoke in unison. Moanie grinned. “His place, huh? What for?” “One of these days, your nosiness is going to get you into a lot of trouble,” Tori quipped. “Well, that’s not happening today, so fess up. Who is he and why are you going to his place when it’s obvious he spent the night here?” Tori thought of last night. “Hey, did you hear the window break last night?” Moanie could only focus on one thing at a time, so Tori knew that changing the subject would divert her attention, at least momentarily. “No.” Moanie stared at her quizzically. “Tori, are you okay?” “I’m fine,” she began just seconds before Jet came to her side, placing an arm around her shoulders. “She’s a little tired, she had a bad dream last night and didn’t get much rest,” he said. “And that’s why she’s going to your place instead of sleeping in her own bed or, better yet, heading to work?” Moanie asked. Jet looked amused. “I have something that will help her rest tonight.” Tori groaned. Moanie grinned. “I meant that after we stop at my place and pick that something up, she’s going to work.” “Yeah, right. I clearly expect to see you at lunchtime,” Moanie joked as she turned to go to the door. “If you two got busy last night, that is entirely your business. Now, if you got so freaky that you broke out a window, I’d suggest you fork over the money to fix it yourself, because if you call Carlos, he’s going to read you the riot act and then raise all of our rents.” Tori was just glad she was leaving and followed Moanie to the door. But not before pausing to wonder how Jet knew she’d had a bad dream. At the door, Moanie turned around and grabbed Tori by the shoulders. “If you got some last night and still look this stressed this morning, I’d advise you to take the day 37

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off and spend it at, ah…” She looked over Tori’s shoulder to Jet. “Spend a lot of time with Mr. Fine Ass over there until you’re walking bowlegged.” Only Moanie would say something that vulgar in mixed company. But Tori couldn’t hold back a smile. Moanie meant well. And that’s why she’d chosen not to tell her about Jet and the real reason he was here. “I’m fine and I’ll be at work later.” “Whatever.” Moanie waved at Jet. “Nice meeting you.” She gave Tori a look, then fanned herself. “Lawd, you sure can pick them!” she giggled, then turned and stopped short at the sight of the green guck around the door. “What the hell is this?”

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Chapter Five Jet’s apartment was not what she’d expected. But then, she didn’t really know what to expect, since she barely knew the man. And he was a man, every inch of his beautiful ebony body. Whew, she had to stop thinking of him that way. He lived in a pretty well-to-do neighborhood, which had Tori wondering how he made the money to pay for it. The walls were just a standard white that would probably be brighter if he opened the pewter colored automated shades that hung at each window. This cast the room in a chilling gray tone that was neither cheery nor welcoming. In addition to his aversion to light, he wasn’t much for furniture she surmised by the black leather couch and two matching recliners that occupied the space. There were two doors to her left, which she presumed were the bedroom and the bathroom. Each door was closed, with the control panel which most likely operated them mounted on the wall in between. The kitchen, where he was now he headed, was straight to the back. As empty as it was, the apartment was immaculate, which was in direct contradiction with all the traits she associated with men. But then, there had been no long-term men in her life for quite some time, so she really had no recent comparisons. It was quiet, solitary and quite lonesome, she thought finally. Jet sensed that she was checking things out. He dropped his clip with the control cards used to gain access to his apartment and other places in the tray on the table near the door and avoided looking at her. He was strong, his feelings held by a tight rein. But one thing he couldn’t stand was the look of pity, or worse, repulsion. Tori hadn’t given him either yet, but he knew they were coming. They always came from humans once they knew who, or rather, what he was. “Fix yourself something to eat while I pack,” he said in a clipped tone. He was stalking out of the kitchen when she turned to stop him. “Wait! How do I know what you want to eat?” “I’m not hungry,” he tossed over his shoulder. “Well,” she folded her arms over her chest. “What do you eat when you are hungry?” Jet paused at that. She hadn’t asked him what type of Century he was, or specifically, what human-animal combination, like he expected her to. For a while, he 39

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was forced to wonder if she even believed him. Not that he should care. A tiny part of him rebelled, wanting nothing more than her acceptance, but as long as she cooperated, he’d do his job and then they would part ways. That thought caused a dull ache in his chest. Slowly he turned to face her. She wore a long black dress. A seemingly simple dress, except the dark material highlighted her many curves. She was tall for a woman, her head almost level with his shoulders. She was sexy and exuded a power to wield that sexiness over any man of any nationality without batting an eye. Jet wasn’t intimidated by that fact. He was, however, concerned about how much she looked as if she belonged there, as if she belonged to him. Jet cringed inwardly at what he could only perceive as a weakness. He’d forever longed for a mate and family while his existence banished all hopes for such happiness. “I eat normal food, like you.” She smiled and waved a hand. “Oh please, if you saw some of the things I ate, you’d know there was nothing normal about it.” For a moment, he only stared at her. This Perfect One. She was so much more of a surprise than he could ever have imagined. He hadn’t decided yet if that was a good or bad thing. “I’m really not hungry,” he said in a much calmer tone. “Besides, you need to get to work.” She shrugged. “I’m already late, so it’s cool. I’ll just tell Kurb I was following a lead, which isn’t really a lie since I’m with you.” She’d spoken of her job before, of this article she was writing. He’d tucked those tidbits of their conversation in his irrelevant file. Now he thought better of that action. “What exactly do you do?” he asked. “I’m an investigative reporter with The Written Word.” Jet didn’t know why, but he’d backtracked and was now closing the distance between them. The Written Word was a news magazine still distributed in print form, one of the last of its kind since all other news resources were either transmitted through the central plasma screens in each home, through cell phones with media links, or over the loud monitors in the city square. The magazine was known for its explosive exposes and cutthroat reporting. “And what are you investigating?” he spoke absently, as his hands moved over her silky cap of hair. “You,” she said simply. Jet paused, smiled down at her, then let his fingers trace the line of her jaw. “Me?” Tori blinked rapidly, then cleared her throat. “Not you, per se, but Dr. Dumas and his creations.” At the sound of the Creator’s name, his fingers froze. “You’re investigating Dumas? Why?”

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“He’s being blackmailed and my boss wants to know why.” A muscle in his jaw twitched and she fought the urge to touch him there. His powerful presence left her breathless, his existence oozing authority and strength. She wasn’t intimidated, but she was damned aroused. “What he’s done should not be repeated. Your investigation will only cause more trouble.” “Trouble for whom?” She didn’t wait for his answer. “For years we’ve wondered about his creations. About the rumors of a secret colony of mankind. Isn’t it about time the world knew everything once and for all?” Jet turned away from her. “Some things are better not known.” She obviously disagreed. “Secrets are destructive.” “You have no idea,” he murmured. She came up behind him, touching a hand to his broad back. Rubbing her palms over the bunched muscles, Jet clenched his teeth as heat pulsed through his blood. “Do you have secrets, Jet?” His muscles tensed and she continued to knead. “You can tell me.” Oh, how he wanted to. Since he first laid eyes on her, he’d wanted nothing more than to drown himself in her scent, her smile, her being. For some reason he felt like she was a part of him, that part that had long been missing. He wanted to share his fears, his dreams…he wanted to share too much. She wasn’t like him, so she could never understand. He wasn’t like her, so she could never be what he needed, what he longed for. Abruptly, he moved beyond her reach. “I am not the subject of your investigation. I won’t be giving you any kind of exclusive,” he said adamantly. Tori gaped at him in shock. “I didn’t ask you for one. As a matter of fact, I didn’t ask you to bust down my door or to sleep in my bed.” Jet didn’t speak. He didn’t want to anger her but he could tell by the spark in her eyes he’d done just that. “Furthermore, I don’t have to stay here and take this hot and cold treatment from you. I’m outta here!” she said as she sailed past him into the living room. On a string of flagrant curses, Jet went after her, grabbing her arm seconds before she reached the front door. Pulling her tightly against his chest, he stared into those entrancing eyes, searching his mind for the apology he knew he owed her, finding instead the desire he tried to deny. His lips urgently connected with hers as he squeezed his eyes closed, trying to block these traitorous sensations. When she softened in his grip and wrapped her arms around his neck, he felt red hot heat rush to his loins. His tongue stroked hers and she whimpered. Drawing back slightly, he sucked her bottom lip, then nipped the plump flesh lightly. She grasped the back of his head tighter, pulling him closer, thrusting her tongue inside his mouth. 41

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Moving his hands frantically over her shoulders, down her back and against her buttocks, Jet allowed himself this one moment of pleasure—or rather, he couldn’t resist. Slanting her head, she opened her mouth wider to receive him and moaned when he plundered inside in answer to her command. Her fingers splayed against the back of his neck, then moved slowly down to grip his shoulders. There she held on for dear life. This kiss was deep and more intimate than he’d ever experienced. It was more than a physical connection, more than an acknowledgement of attraction. It was a reunion of sorts, a reminder of where they belonged. Confused and angered by that thought Jet assuaged the mental assault by pulling the hem of her dress up and over her hips. “Jet,” she whispered his name when his lips moved to her jaw. “I have to touch you,” he growled. Her dress was gathered at her waist. His hands slipping beneath the band of her nylons past the rim of her thong. “I have to feel…your…desire.” She moaned as his fingers traveled lower, slipping into her moist folds, his tongue tracing a scorching path along the line of her neck. Tori’s fingers gathered in his shirt as she leaned into him, parting her legs for his exploration. A million explosions went off inside him as he thrust not one, not two but three fingers into her pussy, stretching her to his will. “Ahhh,” she breathed. “So hot. So wet. So ready,” he chanted. She was wet. His fingers moved in and out quickly. She was hot. His thumb applied pressure to the hood of her clit. She was so ready as his hot tongue thrust deep into her mouth again. Lifting her and crossing the room, Jet looked at her, his eyes dark with desire, one arm tightly around her waist while the other still worked masterfully inside her. “Where?” “Shhh,” he quieted her with another sultry kiss moments before lowering her to his couch. He didn’t speak again, just slipped off her shoes and rid her of her nylons and panties. Tori lay there watching him and Jet knew that he was headed for trouble. Her scent aroused him beyond measure and he spread her legs wide. “I have to see you.” Again, he said to himself. He wanted her. He’d known that for quite some time. Bending over, he parted her tender folds and for a long moment just looked at her, enamored by her beauty. Her lips were plump and drenched with arousal, opening up

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like a flower, exposing a creamy delectable center. He inhaled deeply, memorizing the sweet, tangy smell of her. She moaned, grabbing his head in her hands once again. He liked when she did that and this time let her guide him home. She lay back on the chair, pushing his face between her legs. Licking his lips, Jet blew over the tight bud of her clit and was rewarded when she quivered beneath him. She was neatly lasered, her pussy lips glistening with her arousal. His fingers stroked them, moved along the tender flesh until he touched her seeping center pulling forth more of her juices. His cock stiffened and with a growl, he delved into her, moving his tongue in and out of her moist center. While his tongue fucked her, his fingers toyed with her clit, teasing and tempting the tight bud until she was gasping for breath. Jet’s mind grew cloudy, all sane thoughts released. There was only Tori. It had been her for more than a year now, calling him, beckoning him to her. And now she was here, in his arms, in his mouth. She moved her hips to his rhythm, fucking his face with fervor. His tongue mastered her, making her wetter than she’d ever been before. Her body trembled with his touch. When his ministrations increased, she stiffened, her fingers clasping the back of his head, holding him to the spot he now catered to. His entire face was in her pussy, his mouth over her core, his nose rubbing against her sensitive clit. She cried out her release, while his strong hands gripped her thighs, holding them up in the air as she quivered. Jet lifted her from her relaxed position until she sat up straight on the edge of the chair and she immediately reached for the buckle on his pants. “I hope you weren’t finished,” she said in a sultry voice. Jet stood still as a statue as she undid his pants and pushed them, along with his briefs, over his thighs. He wanted to touch her, to kiss her, to simply plunder her, but warning bells seemed to be heading up a symphony in his head. She took his hard length into her hands and he cupped her chin, a little more roughly than he’d intended, and lifted her face to meet his gaze. “I want to make love to you.” Tori smiled and instituted a rhythm that had her palms seductively grazing his cock. “The feeling is mutual,” she quipped. Jet loosened his hold on her face until his fingers were lightly touching her jawline and then her lips. “I don’t think you understand,” he began in a low whisper. “I want to make love to you.” Tori stood then, her hands leaving his heated arousal to grab the hem of his shirt and pull it over his head. Flicking her tongue over one of his taut nipples while lifting a hand to pinch the other, she whispered, “I understand completely.” He didn’t think of the obstacles anymore, but pulled her dress over her head and ripped her bra away to seek the plump breasts he’d dreamed of for so long. He captured both globes in his hands, then leaned forward until his mouth covered her,

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taking turns licking both nipples while kneading the pliant flesh. Need shot through him like a lightning bolt while sane thoughts made one last attempt to survive. He was a Century. She was a human. He was animalistic. She was beautiful. Pushing her back down again until she lay on his couch, spread open for him like a lavish meal, he decided that, for now, she was his for the taking. As basic as sex, as primal as hunting. He would claim her and think about the repercussions later. She lifted her arms, beckoning him, and he fell into them gladly, kissing her deeply until pre-pleasured drops seeped from his engorged cock. He burned for her, his skin literally to the point of tearing if he didn’t get inside her soon. So with his knees, he spread her legs wider, then took her mouth on an erotic journey as he buried his length deep inside her. They moaned in unison as the connection was made. Jet’s mind roared as he moved deep inside her. She locked her legs around his waist and met him thrust for magnificent thrust. He buried his head in her hair, let the sweet floral scent waft through his senses as her body captured his. He’d known she would be good. Perfect. That’s exactly what she was in more ways than one. Her perfection engulfed him, pulling him deeper, kicking down doors he’d long ago closed. He was no stranger to sex nor was he a stranger to keeping himself detached while enjoying the physical act. But today, at this very moment, as Tori nipped the skin of his shoulder, then licked the spot with long soothing strokes, as her warm walls sheathed him tightly, he felt his rein on those feelings slowly slipping. He couldn’t protect her if his mind was muddled with personal feelings and he couldn’t love her as she deserved to be loved. But he couldn’t pull out of her. He couldn’t deny either one of them this moment of pleasure. Instead he thrust harder and listened for her moans as they told him what she liked best. He lifted her legs to rest on his shoulders, his hands gripping her buttocks as he rammed into her again. With each motion of his hips, each giving of her core, he realized the pointlessness of this act, of the feelings swirling around inside of him. He could never have her completely. There was no forever for them. But he needed this. He needed her. If only for this one time. Tori sensed something in him, something that held him back from her. To coincide with these weird emotions she’d been having since meeting Jet, she felt the overwhelming need to conquer him or whatever it was in him that he held so tightly. She lifted up to her elbows and slipped her legs down from his neck. He looked at her with what could only be alarm as she moved her hips, ending their connection. “Lie

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back,” she whispered, then stood to kiss the taut muscles of his chest. “I want to give you something.” Jet, the ultimate Century warrior, the leader of his army, the pride of the pack, obediently did as he was told. Tori climbed over him, grabbed his enormous cock and stroked him up and down. He was hard and hot in her hand, tempting and succulent. She wanted to taste him, to take him completely into her mouth and marvel at the sheer maleness of him, but the strained look on his face said he would never stand for that type of torture, at least not this time around. But she could definitely find pleasure elsewhere. Rising above him, she led him inside, sliding down his length until he was embedded deeply into her pussy. He grasped her hips, his eyes growing darker. She leaned over, nipped his bottom lip, then smiled. “I’ve never had sex with a man I barely know before.” “It’s a little too late to stop now,” he growled and captured her tongue, sucking it into his mouth. Breathless, she pulled back. “I wouldn’t dream of stopping.” She licked her bottom lip, at the same time moving her hips in a circular motion. “Unless you want to stop?” Jet’s answer was to grab her hips and grind her down onto his erection. She smiled. “I didn’t think so.” She lifted off him until the connection was almost severed again and he groaned. “Don’t play with me, Tori.” Sliding down his length slowly, provocatively, she moaned, let her head loll back, then whispered, “I wouldn’t dream of it.” And in a flash, her dream lover was molded before her eyes. His taut muscled body, his deep resonating voice, the touch of his big hands, the feel of her arousal when she was with him. Her eyes shot open and she looked down at Jet. His eyes were closed, his face contorted as they moved together in search of completion. She touched a hand to his face and wondered if she’d dreamed him into her life. She didn’t know who he was and yet he was deep inside of her, perhaps deeper than even this physical connection could take him. You already know him, Cerri’s voice whispered in her ears. She rode him faster, with the urgency of both fear and expectation. This was crazy. She hadn’t dreamed him up, he wasn’t her dream lover. He reached up to fondle her breasts, pinching her nipples until she moaned in pleasure. She slowed down her pace, let his hardened length move in and out of her to the sweet precision that would undoubtedly cause her to explode once again. You are one. She heard the old lady’s voice in her head and couldn’t help but feel that the words were true. Jet seemed to know which way she would move even before she did and would meet her there. He touched her where she’d only admitted in her mind she

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wanted to be touched. He licked the places that even she didn’t know needed to be licked. I am a Century. It was his voice this time in her head as he rose up to meet her. They sat on the edge of his couch, bodies drenched in sweat, hearts beating wildly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on as he plundered inside her quickly. In and out. Out and in. He took her on the wildest ride of her life and she loved it. I am a Century. She heard him say again but she’d buried her face into his neck and allowed herself to be cocooned in this physical euphoria he wielded. Her thighs began to shake, her mind losing its grip on whatever reality it attempted to hold on to. “Look at me,” Jet demanded. It took tremendous strength, but Tori managed to lift her head to open her eyes and look down into his face. He looked fierce, determined, tortured. “Jet,” she whispered, wanting to soothe whatever it was that ailed him. Jet thrust into her with all the frustration he felt. It simply wasn’t fair. They couldn’t be this good together and be destined to stay apart. She couldn’t grip him this tightly, to the point of pulling his orgasm out of him, drop by painful drop, and then leave him forever. His chest hurt each time he sank into her and had to pull back out. He looked into her eyes and felt a tightening around his heart that he knew was not supposed to be. “I wish things were different,” he admitted on a ragged groan, then released himself deep inside her.

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Chapter Six Jet and Tori had moved into his bedroom and he’d made love to her again. This time slowly, so that he could absorb every tiny piece of her. He’d need the memories for when it was done. He watched her as she slept. She lay on her back, the sheet falling just a little beneath the swell of her breasts. His body stiffened at the sight and he quickly closed his eyes, opening them again to look at her high cheekbones. Her lips were parted slightly, her long eyelashes fanning over her smooth bronzed skin. Silently, he cursed Sidney Dumas for the billionth time in his life. The man was a fool and Jet would never forgive him for this life of torture he’d bestowed on him. For as long as he could remember, Jet had despised the man responsible for taking cloning to another level. He loathed his greed, his quest to be included in the history of man’s destruction. Thus, his life had been full of hate and rage and killing. Those were the only things he knew. He’d seen love, relationships and families, but knew they’d never be a part of his dismal existence. Growing up in the building aptly titled the Warehouse, Jet had known only one person that his feelings had been attached to. She was an older woman, her name Alaina. She took care of the Centuries. Up until five years ago, she’d been there to listen, to advise, to console. She was a human. His only link to the real world. When Alaina died, all hell literally broke loose in the Warehouse and on Dumas’ estate. The Cauldrons, whom Dumas had built a new compound for and was trying to destroy, staged an uprising and gained control over the estate. Their goal, to kill any and everyone that stood in the way of their existence and to ultimately rule the world. Jet and a few hundred other Centuries escaped the mini warzone and rallied together their own special force designed to take the Cauldrons down. For years they’d been doing just that. But now it seemed the Cauldrons had stepped up their game. They weren’t only searching for and killing the Perfect Ones. They were now on a killing rampage, ridding themselves of anyone who got in their way. This was why Jet had to leave his stationary commanding position, why he had to take to the streets to find them himself. This killing could not go on. Tori stirred and his attention was instantly drawn to her, his mind reeling with new questions. What was he doing? He was protecting her.

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Dragging a hand down his face, he chastised that logic. He didn’t have to sleep with her to protect her. Yet he did have to sleep with her. It was as if their destiny was already written. From across the room on the stainless steel wall dresser, his cell phone vibrated. He eased out of the bed slowly, not wanting Tori to rouse just yet. He hadn’t gotten his answers together yet and he knew for sure she’d have more questions. “Landon,” he spoke gruffly when he’d answered the phone. “He killed again.” Jet swore as he listened to Silo’s account of last night’s killing. It was now past eleven in the morning and neither he nor Tori had seen a plasma or heard any news. Another woman had been slain while he was bringing Tori to orgasm in her apartment. The fact that personal feelings had no place in this situation hit home like a rocket. “He’s angry and he’s getting sloppy. They found some hairs at the scene. The patrol are scanning it now to try to get a positive ID,” Silo continued. “Did you go to the scene?” Silo was his second-in-command and, in his absence, the man-leopard would know exactly what to do. “I did. His scent was still there.” After a momentary pause, Silo spoke again. “It’s Payton.” Jet swore for a second time and moved to sit on the edge of the bed. Payton Fleur was ruthless. A wannabe leader with a hateful streak to rival the devil’s. “Could you track him?” “No. The scent lingered, then vanished while I tried. There’ve been some rumblings that Mateese may be leading this latest uprising.” “There’s no doubt about it. If Payton is involved, then he’s running game for Mateese. And if Mateese is involved, he’s looking for total domination.” “What do you want me to do since you’re indisposed?” Jet frowned. “Indisposed? How do you figure?” Silo chuckled. “You didn’t know about the murder. You’re shocked to hear it was Payton and I can smell the stench of sex even through this wireless connection.” Jet growled. One of the Century’s main powers was a sensitivity to smell. They could trace a scent for miles and miles. In Silo’s case, since he stayed at an apartment complex just around the corner from Jet, he hadn’t had to stretch his abilities too much. “Never mind that. Get a team together and I’ll meet with you just after nightfall. It’ll have to be quick, because I can’t leave her alone for long,” he said, looking back at Tori’s still sleeping form. “She’s that good, huh?” Silo joked. “Don’t go there,” Jet warned. “She’s the Perfect One they’re looking for. If I leave her and they find her…” His voice trailed off as he attempted to hide the lump that had immediately formed in his throat. “Say no more. We both know what will happen if they capture her.” 48

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There was silence on the line. “Do you really think sleeping with her was wise? You remember the myth.” Silo and Jet had been best friends since birth. There was no other Century he trusted more. But this thing between him and Tori was strictly off limits. “That has nothing to do with what must be done and I don’t want to hear about it again.” Silo didn’t speak for a moment, then said finally, “Whatever you say, boss. I’ll rally the troops and we can meet at my place.” “Fine,” Jet responded tersely, then realized there was no reason to talk to his longtime friend this way. Whatever regret he was having about laying with Tori was his own to deal with. In an attempt at humor, he said, “And stop sniffing around my house.” Silo chuckled. “Hey, I can’t resist a good time any more than you can. I just wish I’d been getting my own action instead.” “You get enough for both of us,” Jet laughed genuinely before ending the connection. Silo was the playboy of their group, bringing home a different woman a week and sometimes two. He was what the humans called deadly handsome, with a smooth charming streak that had women dropping their panties on command. There had been many a night that Jet had watched him at work in one of the local bars and wished he’d been capable of that type of separation from duty and pleasure. Silo knew full well who and what he was. He didn’t overstep his boundaries, but he did enjoy living right on the edge of them. He loved women and women loved him. But he did not need to be in love, to have that special commitment that Jet longed for. And as such, Jet suspected, he got plenty of mind-blowing sex for free. While Jet would forever pay for his major slip-up with Tori. She moaned and tossed the covers aside. She was so hot, so sated and so starving for more. Opening her eyes, Tori saw the object of her desire sitting at the end of the bed. With a purely primal instinct, she rose to her knees and crawled to where he sat, raking her nails up and over his muscled back. Its ebony hue glistened and she dragged her tongue over the smoothness. Raising up higher, she nipped his shoulders as her hands wrapped around his rigid torso. He was tense, and while part of her wanted to know what was wrong, another part wanted nothing more than to sample this magnificent specimen again. Her hands moved up to his nipples, where she stroked and pinched. He hissed and she sensed he was a man that enjoyed nipple play. Twisting the tightened buds around, she watched from behind as his cock grew harder. She pinched each nipple hard. Jet sucked air between his teeth, but did not speak. His cock bobbed its approval and Tori continued. Milky white fluid seeped from his tip and Tori’s mouth watered. Shifting her body, she was soon on his lap, bending her head to take one taut nipple into her mouth. She flattened her tongue over the dark circle, then twirled the tip before capturing him between her teeth. On instinct, she bit down 49

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and was rewarded by Jet grasping the back of her head, holding her in place. Her fingers toyed with his other nipple while twisting the one between her teeth. It felt like a pebble, a rich, delectable pebble in her mouth and her pussy dripped with enthusiasm. The head of his cock tapped against her ass and she moved slightly, obliging him tentatively. He felt magnificent there too, his rigid length begging to be inside of her again. Yet that wasn’t what she craved the most right now. She wanted her mouth on every part of him. Turning, she pushed Jet back onto the bed, then she straddled his chest, with her back facing him. Her pussy juices leaked, landing on the nipples she’d just sucked and stroked. His hands went to her ass, spreading her cheeks wide and she knew he was looking at her pussy. That excited her even more. Tori leaned forward, rubbing her breasts against his muscled stomach. Jet’s fingers stroked down her crease just before she felt the flow of warm air as he blew inside of her. Unable to control her arousal, she grabbed his cock with both hands, wrapping her fingers around his thick girth. With an upward move, she pulled more of his pre-juices out, then licked him clean. He tasted wonderful—salty, sweet, exotic and addictive. Paying particular attention to the head, she sucked and jerked, licked and flicked him until she felt his fingers slip into her soaking cunt. She wanted more of him then and took his entire length into her mouth. It was hard, considering Jet was not only thick, but he was long. After she’d relaxed her throat muscles, she was able to get him comfortably inside. And when she did, his hips bucked off the bed, her lips closing around his long black jewel. She hollowed her cheeks, creating a tight suction, then pulled him slowly out of her mouth. His one finger increased to two, then three, and he stuffed them deep into her pussy, rubbing teasingly against her G-spot. She rotated her hips once on his hands before taking him in to the hilt again. She toyed with his balls as she sucked and licked his phallus. His taste was beyond addictive, she couldn’t quite seem to get enough of his cock. Even when spit was pooling in her mouth, causing his cock to slip and slide past her lips as she hummed over him. He grasped her thighs, pulling her back until her breasts rubbed past the tightness of his stomach and her pussy was in line with his mouth, her juices oozing over his lips. She was in heaven as he licked her, believing that nothing anywhere at any time could compare. Jet abruptly pulled his mouth from her, his cock slipping from between her lips with an audible plop. He shifted positions, pressing her face down into the mattress while her feet were planted on the floor, her ass up in the air. Again he spread her ass wide, then thrust his heavy arousal into her pussy with such force she felt like he was trying to smother her. He pulled out, then slammed into her again. Juices rolled down her thighs as his balls slapped insistently against her clit. Jet was banging her pussy like a man on a mission. His fingers roughly gripped her hips as he tore into her. Normally she would have been offended by such force, but with Jet she was only more aroused. He mastered her pussy with his big cock, pulling 50

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every drop of ecstasy from her. It was then that the pleasure pricked each nuance of her skin. With each stroke, she moved closer and closer to the pinnacle. She grasped the sheets, stuffing them quickly into her mouth to keep from screaming out. But when she finally came, there was no stopping the moans and the final yell of pleasure. When the quaking had subsided, she realized that Jet had stopped stroking her and was now on his knees, kissing her ass cheeks. He licked her pussy, groaning as if the taste of her was too delicious for words. Within moments his mouth progressed to her ass, his tongue seductively moving around her tightened bud. Tori trembled loving the sinful, yet delectable feel of him there. Her body convulsed with each stroke of his tongue, pushing her closer to the edge of desire. She wanted him there, at her rear, but at the same time wanted him to return to her cunt, to the aching center that now throbbed for attention. As if he heard her thoughts, Jet lay her gently on the bed spreading her legs wide. He looked down at her seemingly mesmerized by the sight of her aroused sex. He propped her feet up on the mattress so that she lay before him like a buffet. Then he grabbed his heavy arousal and jerked it roughly as he stared down into her pulsating cunt. Tori felt her desire building, her cream seeping in thick rivulets from her pussy down into the crevice of her ass. With a desperate growl Jet clenched his teeth his lips peeling back in a tortured snarl. He pulled on his cock harder, moaning hungrily. On impulse, Tori slipped a hand between her legs, opening herself wider for his view, dipping a finger from each hand into her sopping hole. This was obviously Jet’s breaking point as his cum shot out in hot spurts falling onto her cunt. He groaned as his essence mixed with hers, creating a gooey, hot puddle between her legs and an intense level of satisfaction in the pit of Tori’s stomach. Moments later, when they lay side by side, Jet on his stomach and Tori still on her back, she looked over at him and sighed. He was a lot of man, in height, in breadth and in bed. Her thighs quaked as she thought of all the ways he’d entered her and all the pleasure he’d given in return. “It’s almost noon and I haven’t made it to work yet,” she said as she continued her exploration of his body. “I took care of it.” She paused. “You did? How?” “I called your boss and let him know you would be in late.” Tori purred. For the first time in her adult life, the feline-like sound emanated from her as she slithered around his body to straddle him and massaged his back. “Wasn’t that considerate of you.” Jet turned over, keeping her tightly on top of him, and wrapped his arms around her. “I didn’t want you getting into any trouble.”

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“Any more trouble than I got into with you?” she said playfully. He didn’t answer and she wondered if he was regretting what they’d done. “You’re okay with this, right?” Jet closed his eyes, let his forehead rest against hers. “It was great,” he said simply. “It was,” Tori admitted, then with a finger to his chin, lifted him to look at her. “What’s wrong then?” “Nothing,” he said simply. “You’re an awful liar. Is that part of your genetic makeup?” With a slant of his head he looked at her quizzically. “My genetic makeup is very complex.” She rolled her eyes skyward. “I’m sure. But did Dumas have to throw in the can’tlie-worth-jack trait?” “I’ll have to ask him sometime.” “I have an interview scheduled with him tomorrow. I can ask him then,” she said nonchalantly. Jet visibly stiffened. “You’re meeting with him? Where?” “My boss got me an interview. Dumas said I could come to the house in the mountains. I’m supposed to stay a day or two, you know, get an in-depth look at the man behind the madness.” She was rubbing her fingers over his eyebrows now, then tracing the line of his jaw as if she were trying to remember every detail. “You can’t go there,” he said adamantly. Tori saw the shift in his mood and almost swore. This guy had more personalities and she’d been lucky enough to fall in lust with most of them. But this bossy one she knew she’d have to nip in the bud quickly. “I can and I will.” Jet frowned. “You have no idea how much this article means to me. It was taken from me once before and my career has been stalled since then. I have to do it this time and I have to do it right. It has to be better than anyone else’s stories on Dumas have ever been. We’ve got the exclusive. I can’t ignore this. It’s just too important.” “What will the article prove, Tori? Your world does not understand what Dumas created and they will naturally fear that creation once you expose it. Is that what you want?” She moved from his lap and walked over to a window. Pushing a button, she waited while the metal shades opened, the strong rays of the sun streaming into the bedroom. “I want them to know that I’m a good reporter. That I found this story and that I wrote it with sincerity and emotion. That I captured Dumas, his goals, his needs and his regrets.”

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“What happens when you’ve written that story and they still fear the Centuries? They’ll blame you for bringing this to their doorstep. Are you ready for that?” he asked. Tori couldn’t tell if he was concerned or regretful. She turned to face him. “I’m ready for anything.” And she was. She was ready to get the full story, to let the world know what had happened during the experiment. With a look of defeat that didn’t fit him at all, Jet said, “I’ll go with you to meet with Dumas because I don’t want you to be alone with him.” “You don’t have to. I’m a big girl and I can—” He kissed the corners of her mouth until she’d stopped speaking. “Repeat after me,” he said as his tongue stroked her bottom lip, then the top. “You are here to protect me.” On a breathless whisper, Tori repeated, “You are here to protect me.” “You won’t let anything happen to me.” His hands circled her waist, pulling her roughly against his rigid length. Tori licked her lips. “You won’t let anything happen to me.” “I trust you.” Jet cupped her ass and lifted her until she wrapped her legs around his waist. On a long, silky moan, he slipped inside her. “I…trust…you,” she whispered.

***** Tori had worked much later than she’d anticipated and it was now nearing nine o’clock. Jet, to his credit, had stayed with her the entire time. Although, while she’d been in the building, he’d mostly stayed in the background so that his appearance wasn’t really questioned. The floor she worked on always had a bunch of people moving about, reporters, computer techs, interns. There was just no way to identify everybody all the time. That fact seemed to work in their favor. Now they were headed to the underground glider stop. These gliders moved at a more accelerated speed since there were no streetlights or pedestrians to worry about. They were a sleek silver color with bullet shaped fronts and rears. All the windows were tinted black so that the passengers could not be seen from the outside and they moved with a blur of light. Jet walked alongside her in silence. He hadn’t spoken much of their morning together and neither had she, for that matter, although the thought hadn’t been far from her mind all day. She’d loved the feel of him on top of her, surrounding and cradling her. A part of her felt a little embarrassed that she hadn’t known this man two full days and she’d slept with him already. Another part, the majority, felt rejuvenated and energized. She hadn’t realized how backed up she’d truly been.

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The glider stop was abandoned but for an elderly man and a possible street person huddled in one corner. Tori, who hated the swift breeze the oncoming glider always brought upon its arrival, chose to sit inside a small dwelling that consisted of three Plexiglas walls tinted with a dark gray shade and a black covering. There was one long, gray bench that could seat about six or seven people. Tonight it was empty. Jet sat beside her. He was still quiet. Tori searched for something to say, but was coming up empty. How did one go about casual conversation with a Century who is sworn to protect her from a hunter she isn’t sure she believes exists, after she’s had hours of wild, freaky sex with him? Hmmmm, that was a question for the water cooler. She was shaking her leg, but she wasn’t aware of it until his large hand rested on her knee, effectively stopping all movement. Her eyes flew to his as the heat began to spread upward. “Sorry,” she whispered. Jet had been trying valiantly not to touch her but felt a jolt of awareness the moment he faltered. He’d made a huge mistake making love to her again this morning. Sex with her was too intimate, too revealing. He opened himself up to her and she was allowed to be a part of him. He’d never tolerated that before and knew it was foolish to do so now. But his hand reflexed of its own accord. Before he could stop himself, he was massaging her knee, moving up to her thigh. Tori sucked in a breath, realizing with a start that between them there really needed to be no words. She sat back against the wall, enjoying the feel of his hands on her. When he shifted, moving both his large hands along her now slightly parted thighs, she sighed. The contact couldn’t really be construed as sexual unless you counted the times his thumbs strayed dangerously close to her center. But to any observer walking by, she was just receiving a massage. Yeah, they were in a public area when she was receiving it, but that was just a small point. Jet pushed her skirt up until he was able to slip his hands beneath the material. He stood over her now, bending until his lips were scant inches from hers. She’d let her head rest against the wall, offering the supple skin of her neck to him. The golden hue seemed to call him, to dare him to kiss her there. Never one to resist a dare, he nipped the base of her throat, then dragged his tongue along the smooth column. His own blood pumped through his veins as a primal urge crept through him, surrounding them in a web of desire. He wanted her, here and now. He was touching her bare skin, moving up her thighs until the heat from her core fanned over his fingers. “Let me in,” he pleaded, his voice raspy against her sensitive skin. She obliged. With both hands still gripping her thighs, Jet slid them up higher, in sync with her movements, until his thumbs could inch beneath the slip of fabric covering her core.

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The slick smoothness of her juncture rubbed against his skin and he groaned and bit into the soft flesh of her neck, then nibbled up to her ear. “Tell me what you want,” he whispered. Tori’s hands had moved to his back and were now squeezing the fabric of his shirt in desperation. She seemed unable to speak so he took it upon himself to use both thumbs to separate her folds and penetrate her. She gasped. “Yes! I want you to finger-fuck me!” Jet pushed his thumbs into her further, reveling in the sinuously sweet slickness of her core. Moving his hands back and forth, he pumped her, then found her lips and plundered her mouth ruthlessly. His tongue worked one hot wet cove while his thumbs worked the other. While squeezing her thighs, he fucked her the way she asked and enjoyed the pleasure she was receiving from it. His cock was hard, straining against his pants, as a matter of fact, but right now it wasn’t about him. He wanted her to come, to relax and let herself be pleasured. So he sucked her tongue harder as he removed his thumbs and shoved his four fingers inside her wet pussy. She screamed and he pumped his hands in and out of her. Just as he knew she was about to break, Jet slipped a finger down to her ass, the urge to feel his digit enclosed in that tight, hot hole too much for him to resist. All day he’d been thinking about her ass, about the beauty of her puckered sphincter. He craved the feeling, the sweet sensation of taking her there. It was tight, just as he’d imagined, but wet from her juices dripping from her pussy. He moved slowly, watching the play of emotions on her face as he did. She tried to say his name, but no sound came out. She seemed to hold her breath when he dipped his finger in until about an inch was enclosed. Then she exhaled, biting down on her lower lip, her eyes half closed, her head resting against the back wall. Slipping another inch in, Jet couldn’t stifle his own groan. She was torturously tight, gripping his finger with strong muscles. God, he loved it. His cock was full to bursting, the tip burning with pleasurable sensations. When his finger was submerged to the hilt, he pulled out gently, then thrust back in again. To his surprise and extreme pleasure, she pumped against him. “What else do you want, Tori? Say it, baby. Talk to me,” he whispered into her ear. Tori groaned, then responded, “Keep moving your finger there. It feels so good.” She lifted her ass off the seat to meet his thrust. On the next pull out, Jet inserted another finger and pumped her ass more enthusiastically. Tori’s entire body shook. “My pussy,” she whispered, “I need your cock inside my pussy.” “Not right now, sweetheart. This is all about you. If I sink my cock into you, I’ll be lost for sure.” But with his other hand, Jet sank two fingers into her hot pussy and watched as her head lolled back again.

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He finger-fucked her ass and her pussy, his cock threatening to spurt with relief right then and there as her muscles contracted against his hands, her release gushing out to drip onto his fingers. She was panting as he dropped light kisses on her forehead and around her face. “Fantastic,” she murmured. He grinned and responded, “That you are.” She tilted her head and caught his smile, then slipped her hand down between her legs to retrieve his sopping wet fingers. Without another thought, she licked his fingers clean, keeping her eyes on his as she did. “I’ve always wondered how I taste.” His eyes had grown darker, his tongue stroking over his lower lip. “And what do you think?” She pulled him down closer to her face. “Fantastic.” Then she kissed him, long, deep and tantalizingly intimate. They heard the telltale beeping sound of an oncoming glider, felt the cool breeze and both froze. She looked up at him and he looked down at her. For a moment, they were perfectly still, wondering what to do or say next. Jet broke the spell with a smile. “Let’s get you home.”

***** He’d waited for her. She always took this glider home. He’d known she was at work today because he’d called, waited for her to answer, then hung up. Then he’d picked up her scent and his heart rate accelerated. She was coming and he would have her. Finally. Dammit! He was with her. Jet Landon, that bothersome Century, was still blocking his plans. But wait, now he was doing more than that. Payton stood in the corner, covered by a dirty blanket as he watched Jet feeling the woman. The Perfect One who he hunted. She liked Jet’s touch. She liked it a lot. Payton felt his own arousal growing and burned with the desire to plant himself deeply inside any willing or unwilling participant. The glider was coming. Good. He sighed and leaned against the wall, his hunger for something more growing by the minute. No. That was bad. They were boarding the glider. He was going to miss his opportunity again. Dammit!

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Seconds after the glider pulled off, another woman, a tall, slender woman, came running down the steps. She cursed as she’d missed the glider. Payton dropped his covering and moved slowly from the corner. He inhaled. She had a good scent, a ripe scent that hummed along his nerve endings like a concerto. They were alone. There would be no witnesses. With lightning-quick speed, he grabbed her, covering her mouth with one hand while pushing her up against the wall with the other. He wasted no time ripping her pants down and touching her pussy the way he’d watched Jet do to the Perfect One. She tried to scream, the sound muffled by his hand. He remembered the Perfect One receiving her pleasure. The sound of her moans, the scent of her essence. His missed opportunity. His cock had already been freed and now rubbed along her back as he fingered this stranger, then he exploded, his cum shooting along her back with a hot rush that gave birth to his other hunger. His claws retracted and he turned the woman to face him. She wasn’t the Perfect One. She cried and whimpered and he was disgusted. He ripped through her body with a vengeance, leaving her in a bloody heap. She wasn’t the one he wanted. And so the hunt continued.

***** “Don’t leave her until I get back,” Jet instructed Moanie. They’d returned to Tori’s apartment, where she was packing for their trip to Dumas’ for the weekend. His meeting with Silo and the other soldiers had been pushed back a bit, since she’d worked late. But he still needed her to be protected while he was away. Cauldrons attacked when the sky was three hours into the night, which meant right about now, hunters were at their prime. He’d give himself an hour or two to get a game plan together and get back to her. He hated leaving her for that long, but he had to prepare his troops, to warn them that it was Payton and Mateese that they were dealing with. He’d considered pulling another soldier to watch her, but knew instinctively that her reaction to a babysitter, and one she didn’t know on top of that, would not be pretty. “Why? What’s going on?” Moanie asked. The man that she’d met earlier this morning had knocked on her door frantically, then when she’d answered, he’d pulled her out into the hall, telling her she had to stay with Tori until he got back. Now, he was fine and all, but she was having a hard time taking this high-handed way in which he was treating her.

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And why did Tori need a babysitter? She’d lived in this apartment for years all by herself. This strange guy comes into her life and all of a sudden she needs protection. Moanie frowned. Let her find out this joker had gotten her friend into some kind of trouble and he was going to regret the day he’d ever met her. They were standing right outside of Tori’s door when Moanie stopped, putting her hands on her hip, which meant she wasn’t moving another inch until he told her what was going on. Jet swore under his breath. “Look, you know about the recent murders. I’m just not comfortable leaving her alone.” Moanie narrowed her eyes at him. “You just met her yesterday. There’s no way you’re all of a sudden that concerned for her welfare.” Jet bristled at her words. “I am concerned for the welfare of all mankind. It just so happens that, at this moment, Tori is in the most danger.” He was an intimidating man, Moanie decided, but she wasn’t afraid. Intrigued at how Tori could come across such an interesting specimen, but not afraid. “And why is that? Did you get her involved in something? Because just the day before, she and I were both in the same boat wondering about this homicidal maniac. Now you’re telling me she has more reason to be afraid.” Lifting his hands, he rested them on her shoulders. “My only concern is to keep her alive. You are her friend. I would think you’d have the same goal. I just need you to stay with her for a few hours. Talk about work, talk about clothes. I don’t know what women talk about, but I’m sure it can fill up the two-hour time slot I’ve given you.” He kept his eyes trained on hers and took a deep breath. “Please.” He had great eyes. Coupled with his toned body and fierce personality, she was liking him more and more. If Tori didn’t want him, she’d definitely invite him into her life. Moanie smiled. “Fine. I’ll sit with her. But tell me one thing.” Jet took a step toward the door, then looked back at her over his shoulder. “What’s that?” “Does she know she’s in danger?” He paused a minute, wondering how much more he should tell Moanie. He didn’t want Tori exposing the legion of Century warriors and the battle they had going with the Cauldrons, so he damn sure didn’t want Moanie knowing. He had a sneaky suspicion that Tori was a little more confidential than her friend. “She’s worried about the killer. She knows he’s targeting young women. But like you, she hasn’t quite accepted that she could be next.” Moanie smirked. “I can’t help but wonder why you’re so concerned. Are you a patrol or something?” Did this woman’s questions ever stop? Jet pushed through the door and was happy to see Tori standing right there waiting for them.

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“Hey, girl,” Moanie moved around him and went to give Tori a hug. “I was just coming to see you when, ah, your man here said he had to go out for a few. So how ‘bout you and me having one of those express meals you keep in the freezer?” Moanie kept on moving until she was in the kitchen area of the tiny apartment. Jet and Tori stood looking at each other while Moanie continued to talk. “You missed a lot this morning at work. Kurb was yelling about this and that, and you know that guy in the computer room? Well, he’s fallen into a world of trouble.” “What is she doing here?” Tori whispered to Jet. “Like she said, I need to run out.” Because he couldn’t keep his hands off her, he’d moved closer and touched the tips of her hair. “I’ll be back in a little while.” “Where are you going?” Jet saw the concern in her eyes and wanted to tell her that it was pointless. That feelings between them would never amount to anything, but he didn’t have the heart. “I have to meet with a few of my soldiers.” He waited until he knew his words had registered with her. “I won’t be long.” “What are you meeting for? What’s about to happen?” Angry that he’d put fear into her eyes when he was supposed to be the one protecting her, Jet pulled her close, wishing, just as he’d said before, that things were different. But wishing never got him anything, so he’d stopped long ago. “Everything will be fine. I’ll be back shortly. Just enjoy your time with Moanie and then tomorrow we’ll head out to the mountains.” Those words stuck in his throat. He did not want Tori talking to Dumas. He didn’t want her anywhere near the man. And he definitely did not want to step foot on the man’s property ever again. But he couldn’t let her go alone. She was about to find out things that no human would ever understand and he wanted to be there with her when she did. “Damn, girl, you’re all up on him like he’s going off to war,” Moanie quipped from behind them. For a minute she looked as if she would argue or insist more answers, then she gave him a nervous smile and said, “I’ll wait up for you.” With a finger to her chin, Jet tipped her head back and searched her eyes. In them, he saw nothing but sincerity. That made his stance in this relationship more difficult then he’d ever imagined. He placed a soft kiss on her lips. “I won’t be long.” Tori stood there for seconds after he’d gone, wondering what the hell she’d gotten herself into. “Okay, our food’s cooking and Mr. Sexy Eyes is gone,” Moanie said as she plopped down on Tori’s couch. “You have two hours to tell me what the hell is going on.” Tori sighed and finally tore her eyes away from the closed door. Taking another deep breath, she turned around to face her best friend and wondered just how she was to go about telling her something that she barely believed herself.

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The one thing she did know for sure was that Jet was a living and breathing specimen that had sexed her like no man ever had before in her life. For now, that one fact would have to be enough. “I met him last night when I got home from that voodoo woman you dragged me to.” Tori had moved across the room to take a seat next to Moanie. “You met him last night and he was here first thing in the morning? That is so not like you,” Moanie said solemnly about a split second before she screeched and clapped her hands. “Girl, I’m so proud of you. You got yourself some! Tell me, was it good? It must have been, at least to him, cause homeboy is, like, goo goo eyed and protective of you. That usually doesn’t happen for months.” She paused, then shook her head negatively. “Actually, that’s never happened to me. Tell me more. Tell me more!” She shook Tori’s shoulder. Tori couldn’t help but giggle. Moanie was always so dramatic. And besides, she’d just admitted to herself that sex with Jet was the bomb! Laying her head back on the couch, she let that admission wash over her. “It was like nothing I’ve ever experienced before,” she said incredulously. “Mmph, I know that’s right. Details. Details.” “At first I thought I was dreaming,” Tori began. “Aw lawd, girl, don’t go starting on that dream lover kick again. You’ve got a living, breathing sex machine now.” But Jet did remind her so much of the man in her dreams. “I said, I thought I was dreaming. It didn’t take me long to realize he was the real thing.” She sat up in the chair. “To tell you the truth, it happened so fast. I mean, one minute we were arguing and I was leaving and the next his tongue was down my throat and my panties were soaked.” “Ooooh, I know the feeling.” Tori gave Moanie a sidelong glance. Her friend was getting way too much enjoyment out of this. “Anyway, it was good and all, but I keep reminding myself that I really don’t know him.” “Well, you’ve gotten the first hurdle out of the way. He’s good in bed. That’s really all that counts. But since I know how you like to think you’re deeper than that, I’ll say this. He’s digging you a whole lot more than you know.” “What makes you say that?” “Come on, Tori, he came downstairs to get me to come up here with you because he didn’t want you to be alone while he was gone. Now, what kind of man does that after knowing you for a day? He said something about that crazy killer being on the loose, but I think it’s more than that.” Tori wondered. Was it more than that? Was Jet developing feelings for her? That was nonsense, they’d only known each other a day. Besides, she didn’t need to be thinking about a relationship with anybody. The time had come for her to set things

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straight, for her to win back the career that had been stalled all those years ago. That had to be her primary focus now. Jet was good sex, but he was also a great lead into Dumas and his experiments. Tomorrow, they were going to Dumas’ estate. She was finally going to meet the man that some had dubbed God. And Jet was going with her. She’d have the man and his creation at her beck and call.

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Chapter Seven Two hours later, Tori and Moanie were still sitting on the couch, their micro-fiber containers, empty of the lemon chicken meal they’d consumed, sitting on the table across from them. Tori yawned and glanced at the clock that read a little after twelve. Moanie stretched. “Lover Boy is late,” she said. “It’s fine. You can go on home. I’m going to get ready for bed.” Moanie gave her a tired look. “You mean you’re going to go in that room and strip and be waiting for Lover Boy’s return.” Tossing one of the throw pillows at Moanie, Tori groaned and stood. “I am not! I’m tired and I have a big day tomorrow. I’m going to bed.” Moanie stood too. “You think Dumas is going to be straight with you?” “I think he’s ready to talk. What he has to say, only he knows, but I’ll be there with my recorder to listen.” Moanie hugged her friend. “It’s going to be a great story. And Kurb is going to kiss your feet when you turn it in.” Tori sighed and let herself be embraced. She needed those words of encouragement. For so long, her biggest supporter had been herself. She’d gone through her last year of high school and college with her goals and dreams all alone. Her family was gone by then. That was a hurt she never wanted to relive, hence her dedication to her career and not to falling in love and attaching herself to people that would ultimately leave her. She’d met Moanie her senior year in college and they’d been fast friends ever since. Over the years, Tori and Moanie had been through a lot and Tori was glad to have her. “Thanks. I needed that.” “I know. I know.” Moanie pulled away and was about to move forward again when the door blew off the hinges, slamming into the wall across the room. Both ladies screamed, grabbing each other instinctively. Heavy winds ripped through the apartment, sending papers and small furniture scattering. They stared silently at the entryway, both wondering what was going on. Neither of them were prepared for the answer. His steps were light, predatory. His massive frame barely fit through the now exposed doorway. He was big, wide, dressed in brown from head to toe, including the ankle-length leather coat. Tori blinked, thinking for a minute that déjà vu was playing a cruel trick on her.

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He wore dark shades and had long, straight, golden brown hair that hung past his shoulders. On his hands he wore brown gloves, on his face, a scowl that would rival any beast. In that instant, Tori knew that he was here to kill her. “Shit,” she whispered and pushed Moanie behind her. Bending down, she grabbed a statue that had a little weight to it. “What are you doing?” Moanie asked as she frantically pulled on Tori’s shirt sleeve. “Who is that?” The last thing they had time for now was Moanie’s questions. Tori ignored her and kept her eyes on the unwanted guest. The air around them seemed to thicken as the huge form approached. He didn’t speak, the scowl on his face never shifting. Tori’s heart beat like a drummer as she tried to think of what to do next. He was closer to them now and he stretched his arm toward them. Behind her, Moanie had a death grip on her shirt. Tori’s hand shook violently as she lifted the statue, ready to strike. Her gaze fell to the man’s hands, the ones that were covered with the leather gloves. Why, oh why, did she do that? Out of the fingtertips, long, shiny claws extended and she gasped. “Oh my God, we’re gonna die!” Moanie, who was normally up for a good fight, screamed. “Oh my God, oh my God!” Tori shook her head adamantly. “We are not going to die,” she vowed. The man with the claws drew closer and she heard a deep, animalistic growl. She took a step back, pushing Moanie along with her. If he wanted them, he’d have to come and get them and even then she wasn’t giving up easily. “Whatever you want, you’re gonna have to come and get,” she taunted him. His mouth opened and that low growl turned into a magnificent roar that shook the fiberglass window, the one her landlord had just repaired earlier today. Moanie ducked her head behind Tori, but Tori refused to look away. In his mouth were huge, deadly looking teeth and inside she cringed. What the hell was he? “Payton!” Tori almost sighed as a familiar voice sounded from the doorway. The beast that had been approaching them turned and roared again. Jet entered like a knight in shining armor…well, okay, he wore all black again, this time a black turtleneck, black jeans and a hipster black leather jacket, not exactly knight attire. He didn’t have his shades on and his eyes flashed like jade stones. Behind him came another man. He was over six feet tall as well. He wore jeans and a gray sweater, a leather bomber topping off his ensemble. But it wasn’t his clothes that drew her attention. It was the stealthy way in which he moved.

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Taking short, measured strides, the new stranger watched the first stranger like a predator about to pounce. The first stranger, the one Jet had called Payton, looked from Jet to the new stranger as if judging which one to kill first. Feeling like she was in a bad horror flick, Tori took another step back out of the way. “Run! We should run, Tori!” Moanie insisted. “No,” Tori whispered. “I’m not leaving my house.” “You can’t harm her while I’m here, Payton. Give it up,” Jet said in a commanding tone that had Tori looking in his direction. A muscle in his jaw flinched and she felt her throat go dry. Had she ever seen a man as sexy as him? His dark skin shimmered in the dimly lit apartment, his fierce stance adding to the impressive height and complete domination. She didn’t know about this Payton guy, but Jet certainly had her shaking in her boots. Payton lifted both hands then, sparks of light reflecting off those clawed fingers. “She’s mine,” he growled. “No!” Jet yelled. “She’s not. None of them are. You and Mateese are disturbed and you can’t win this war.” Payton roared and charged Jet, but the second stranger pounced and landed on his back. The next thing she witnessed was truly something out of a thriller novel or one of those exposes from the now obsolete cable television network on untamed beasts. Growling and roaring ensued as the two beefy men rolled and swung wildly in the middle of her living room. Furniture and glass crashed around them, but they didn’t cease. The smell of blood rose and Tori felt her legs weaken. Flashbacks from her dreams, the screaming, the blood rising to cover her, threatened to overtake her. She watched Jet move, watched him join the battle and her heart gave a little cry. Surely he would be killed. She’d never see him again. Who would make love to her so sweetly? Who would protect her? Without a second thought, Tori tore away from Moanie’s grasp and ran straight toward the fight. Tori screamed just as one huge arm—from whom she could not say—reached into the air and caught her on the right side of her face. She was weightless as she soared through the air, landing against the far wall.

***** Jet saw her coming, saw the hit and watched her crash into that wall. His entire body stiffened as fury filled his limbs. With massive strength, he pulled Silo from Payton and tossed his friend aside. Grabbing Payton by the collar, he was about to lift him high, about to move in for the kill, when all the windows crashed in. Glass flew everywhere, and while Jet knew that he held him, a moment later Payton was gone.

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Cradling her in his arms, Jet’s gaze darted all over Tori, trying to ensure that she had no physical injuries. The apartment was now quiet but for Moanie and Silo’s whispers from across the room. She stirred. “Jet?” Never before had he been so glad to hear his name. Her eyes fluttered and he bent down to kiss her cheek. “I’m here, baby. I’m right here.” She opened her eyes and looked at him. Jet was so glad she was calling his name, so glad she was staring up at him. For about ten very painful, very crucial minutes, he’d thought he’d lost her. Payton had sent a vicious blow her way, hoping to kill her without really trying. And while deep down Jet knew that Payton couldn’t kill her in his presence, all he’d been able to focus on was her body slamming into the wall, then crumpling to the ground. Cauldrons possessed the distinct ability to kill, but they could not do so in front of witnesses. There was to be no proof that they’d committed such a crime. They, all of them, Centuries and Cauldrons, were created as weapons of mass destruction. Their sole purpose was to infiltrate the enemy’s camp and destroy them. That was why Dumas had planned to sell to the military. The fact that no one would be left alive insured that there would be no witnesses. Even though they were not on enemy ground, the rule still stood. Jet sighed with tremendous relief. He shouldn’t feel this way, shouldn’t feel anything toward her, but could not deny that she was in his system now. “What happened?” Before he could think it through, before he could even speak, he had to be perfectly sure. He pulled her up into his arms, hugging her, feeling her heartbeat against his chest. He inhaled the scent of her hair, kissed the smooth skin of her neck and let out a deep breath. Behind him, Silo cleared his throat and Moanie called Tori’s name. “Are you okay, honey?” Moanie asked as she’d crossed the room and sat beside them. Tori nodded and Jet reluctantly let her go. “What happened? Who was that?” she asked Jet again. From across the room, Silo answered, “His name is Payton Fleur. He’s a Cauldron Hunter.” Tori struggled to sit up on her own. “And who are you?” Moanie nudged her. “Girl, I don’t know, but he sure is cute.” Over her shoulder, Tori rolled her eyes at her friend with the one track mind, then turned back to the second stranger. He took a step closer to the chair on which they were all sitting. “I am Silo.” “He’s my second-in-command,” Jet told her.

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“Hunters? Second-in-command? I wish somebody would tell me what’s going on,” Moanie complained. “Silo, walk her back to her apartment and fill her in,” Jet instructed. Tori didn’t miss the knowing glance between the two men and was about to question it when Jet put a hand on her knee. “It’s okay,” he assured her. “Silo will take good care of her.” Moanie jumped up off the chair. “I might just take good care of him right back,” she said with a salacious smile. Then, as if she’d just remembered, she looked down at Tori. “You’re cool alone with him, right?” Tori nodded, feeling a sense of calm and safeness that she’d never felt before. “You go on home and get some rest. I’ll call you later.” Moanie didn’t hesitate, but quickly moved to Silo’s side and took his hand. “Come on, handsome.” Silo gave Jet a joyous expression, then walked through the entryway with Moanie on his arm. “Is Payton the one killing those women?” Tori asked the minute Silo and Moanie were down the hall. She’d barely paid attention to the door that was off its hinges again. Her landlord wouldn’t be pleased. If she survived this, she would definitely have to look for a new place to live. “Probably.” Jet absently stroked her hair with a look of great relief on his face. “But he’s one of an entire army of his kind. Extricating him is only the beginning.” “Were you…were you going to kill him?” she asked slowly. She’d seen the rage in his eyes when he’d come into her apartment and he’d pounced on Payton like he’d intended to tear him apart. Was Jet a killer like Payton? The question echoed in her mind in stark contradiction to the comfort she felt sitting here with him. Jet kissed the top of her head and pulled her until she lay half on and half off his chest. “I will do whatever I have to do to protect you.” Wrapping her arms around his midsection, Tori sighed. He couldn’t be a killer. She couldn’t be falling for someone who would take another life. Her parents and her brothers had been killed, brutally murdered while someone robbed their home. Tori had been seventeen-years-old and away on a school trip when it happened. Coldblooded killers had earned a spot in her hate vault and she’d never forgive anyone that could be so callous and so cruel. No, Jet was not a killer. She knew that because she was almost positive she was falling pretty hard for him. “We have to leave here,” he said abruptly then sat up bringing her with him. “It’s not safe for you here.” “But you’re with me.” She got to her feet and stared at his retreating back as he walked into her bedroom.

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“They know where you live. Payton’s made contact. He will definitely return in the hopes of catching you alone.” He tossed a bag in her direction. “Pack.” Tori grabbed the bag, although her mind rebelled against running. “I shouldn’t have to run from him. He can’t hurt me as long as you’re with me.” “I have to get you someplace safe so I can figure out what to do next.” She didn’t see his logic, but she did see the raw determination in his face as he pushed all the buttons on her closet keypad in an attempt to get it open. Walking over, she moved his hand to the side. “Fine. Where will we go?” Punching in the correct code as she spoke, Tori tried not to acknowledge the heat soaring through her body at his nearness. It didn’t matter what was going on around them, she was still attracted to him. It was so unreal how much she wanted this man. Her mouth watered just looking at him. And when she remembered the feel of his skin against her own she trembled. Now, after her door had been blown off the hinges for the second time in as many days and after a horrendous fistfight had taken place in her living room, all she wanted to do was reach out and touch him. More specifically, she wanted to feel his hardness, all over. She loved his erection, the center of his strength. Holding it in her hands had given her a strange power that she could wield over him and reap the rewards. “Tori?” he called in a raised voice. Snapping out of her reverie, Tori turned to see him standing near the bed waiting for her to put more things into the bag. “We need to get going.” “Right,” she sighed and made herself look away. It wasn’t her fault he was damn near irresistible. “We’ll stay at my place tonight.” His place? Tori knew that if they went back to his apartment, they’d end up in bed doing all sorts of things…again. A part of her warned against getting so attached to him physically while another part called her foolish for even thinking twice. She wanted him so badly. Enough that she’d almost forgotten her reason for letting him stay with her in the first place. “Why don’t we just head up to Dumas’ place?” she suggested. Jet’s whole body stiffened. He hadn’t yet made himself comfortable with returning to the mountains. He knew that he’d agreed to go with her because he didn’t want her to be alone, but after the five years he’d been away, after swearing to never return, the thought still chilled him. He had no desire to see his Creator again. She came near him to drop something into her bag and he picked up her scent. The fresh, natural smell that only she possessed, that drove him wild. She was safe. He resisted the urge to pull her to him

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again, to confirm that she was whole again, knowing instinctively that if he touched her, he’d want to make love to her. That’s how powerful this thing between them was. He wanted her constantly, needed her even more. And Jet had never needed anyone. “We can’t just show up a day early,” he tried to reason. “I’ll call him,” Tori announced and moved toward the phone. He heard her talking and knew that he’d do whatever she wanted. As long as she was with him, she was safe. And he wanted her with him. He was afraid to let himself think for how long. Forever was not an option. Centuries and Cauldrons were genetically engineered, but could be killed by other Centuries or Cauldrons. As long as he fought this war, his death was imminent. And beyond that, if he should survive, he was of no use anymore. He was a warrior, which meant that when this war was over, there was no place for him in this world. Humans were a funny bunch, they didn’t accept differences very well. And Tori was human. He couldn’t offer her marriage or family and he really didn’t know if that’s what she wanted. All he could promise her was a life of secrecy and shame. And he wouldn’t put that on his worst enemy. “He said it’s fine if we come up tonight.” Jet sat on the edge of the bed, his chest heavy with regret. His head throbbing with the memories that came rushing back. He remembered the vigorous training, the formation of his panther traits and the job he was created to carry out. He must have been silent too long because Tori sat down beside him. “Are you okay?” She spoke softly, rubbing a hand down his back. Jet sighed at the warmth that spread through him. It was her touch. The sound of her voice, her very being brought him calmness, confirming that he would do anything and go anywhere for her. “I’m fine,” he said finally. “We should get going.” “Wait,” Tori put a finger to his lips, then leaned closer and replaced that finger with her mouth. “I haven’t had a chance to thank you for saving me yet.” The kiss was urgent, claiming, their tongues joining with familiarity, while their hearts reached out for some sort of confirmation. His hands moved over her thigh and to the molten heat he craved. His body hardening with the mere thought of sinking inside of her. “I don’t know what this is between us,” she whispered against his mouth. “Neither do I.” All he knew for sure was that he was insatiable when it came to her. In one day, he’d been pulled into her grasp. Well, actually, he admitted this had been building for some time. Through her slacks, he felt her moistening. She arched her back in his arms and he continued his assault. He pressed his thumb where he knew her clit

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rested and watched as her head lolled back. With two fingers, he found her core and applied pressure. “I’ve never been this hot before,” she admitted. “I want you hotter,” he told her and pulled the snap of her pants open, then pushed his hand down into her panties. Heat surrounded his hand as he proceeded and Tori bucked wildly when they sank into her core. “Jet.” Her legs had already begun to shake. He wanted to taste her, wanted to inhale her essence and lick as her pleasure seeped out. But she twisted and turned in his arms so that all he could do was continue with his current ministrations. In and out. Out and in. He went deeper and deeper, feeling her muscles clamp around his fingers like a vice. “So wet. You are so very wet.” “Jet…I want…” she gasped. “That’s it, tell me what you want, baby.” Jet closed his eyes. How had they come to this? A half hour ago, they had been in her living room fighting for their lives and now they were on her bed enjoying the most primal of pleasures. Would it always be this way between them? Was this what they were meant to share? This unbridled lust that would forever bind them physically? “Oh, Jet…I can’t take it anymore. Please,” she moaned. “Please.” She wanted her release and he vowed to give it to her. He continued to work his fingers masterfully, pulling them completely out one time and letting them slide back. She moaned louder. Shaking with his own need, Jet decided he couldn’t prolong this even if he wanted to. He thrust his fingers back inside her, pressing his thumb against her clit and matching the movements. She squirmed and shivered and he moved faster and faster until her thighs went still and she screamed his name. She blanketed him, her essence, her scent, her very being, and for once in his life, Jet was afraid. Afraid of what it would do to him if he lost her and afraid of when she would recognize him for who and what he really was.

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Chapter Eight Those thoughts fled his mind the moment Tori took him into her mouth. They’d disrobed in what seemed like seconds, and when he would have reached for her again, he felt her palms on his shoulders, pushing him back onto the bed. Her tongue traced a long scorching path down the center of his chest. He’d had a moment to inhale before her fingers wrapped deftly around his penis and stroked. She held him with a force that brokered no argument about her control in this matter. She moved her hand up and down in a way that had him murmuring her name. Then she’d licked her lips and lowered her head. He gulped, then held his body rigid, both anticipating and fearing that first contact. She used her tongue, what he thought was probably her deadliest weapon. With a quick lick, moistness covered the head of his arousal. Another lick had him gasping. Her hand slid down in succession with her mouth, taking him—all of him—in one smooth gulp. He grasped the sides of her head, pulling her back until her lips only covered his engorged tip. She followed his lead and dipped her tongue into his slit, tasting the salty fluid he excreted. She wrapped her hands around the base of his cock and slowly lowered her mouth over him once more. Hunger boiled inside her like she’d never experienced before and she laved his length enthusiastically. Had anything ever tasted so good? She took him in and moved up and down, her hands and her mouth. She was insatiable and the moment his fingers grazed her scalp, tangling in her hair to guide her movements, desire pooled in her center, building until her own desire oozed down her thighs. When his hips began to rotate beneath her, she thought she would simply explode from the rush of sensations. He moved in her mouth with the same slow precision he’d moved inside her pussy last night. She sucked him until her mind’s eye could see him releasing his pleasure into her mouth. But before that could happen, he grabbed her shoulders and hoisted her on top of him. She took his length in slowly until her pelvis met with his. For a moment she did not move, only sat there loving the feel of him filling her completely. Slivers of moonlight peeked through the slits of the metal shades, casting a silvery glow over his chest. He was delectable and she leaned forward, licking a perfect circle around one of his erect nipples. He grasped her butt cheeks, digging in so hard she knew he’d leave a mark, separating her as his hips thrust upward, his cock going deeper. Her mouth opened and she let out a sound that was a cross between mewling and screaming. His thrusts continued, her clit making a quick slapping contact with the hair on his pubic bone. She loved the feel of him so deeply inside of her, an intricate part of her that she’d never even realized. 70

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The room had grown hot, hotter than it had when he’d brought her to the first climax. Now the air was stale and stifling, yet she inhaled and felt energized. He held her securely in place while he fucked her. It would seem that since she was on top, she would be the one in control. That was not the case. Jet was running this show, thrusting his hips in a slow precision that scraped every nerve ending in her body. Tori resisted the urge to move faster, to take more, enduring the slow, erotic web he weaved. Looking down at Jet, she marveled at sheer perfection. He was so dark, so big, so menacing and so damn sexy that she knew she’d yearn for his body for all eternity. Whew, where had that thought come from? All eternity? For a minute, she thought of Cerri and the weird old woman’s forecast. You already know him. From the first moment he’d kissed her, Tori had felt the connection. As if her lips were made only for him. The dark one will come again, soon. Not too soon if she could help it. For now, she only wanted Jet. In sync with his slow rhythm, she circled her hips and heard Jet moan. The sound was familiar. Enough so that she wondered if he were the man in her dreams? She lifted slightly, then circled again. His big hands moved to her hips and grasped so hard that she could swear she felt her skin break, then he called her name. She looked down at him, her mouth opened, but no sound escaped. His eyes. They were different. The dark obsidian she’d grown used to staring into were now green. A startling contrast, this bright hue that stared back at her. Then she remembered seeing it before and felt the first ebbing of fear. As if he’d sensed her panic before it had a chance to settle in her mind, he said, “Do not be afraid. This was meant to be.” He thrust into her again, this time circling his hips, rubbing against her clit until she gasped. “Come to me,” he ordered. Unable to do anything but obey, Tori leaned forward until her lips were mere inches from his. “We were meant to be. Don’t you feel it?” He sucked her bottom lip, pulling the plump flesh into his mouth. He was breathing differently, Tori thought. But then, so was she. Their heartbeats echoed off the walls filling the space with a sensual rhythm as he moved inside her. She felt something…something she was sure she’d never felt before. But she didn’t understand it. She closed her eyes as his tongue moved over her teeth. On a sigh, she opened her mouth and his moist heat joined with hers. Their tongues tangled without much thought on Tori’s part. It was a natural reaction. A dance she’d danced before. Vivid images flashed through her mind. She was atop a car, a sleek black car that was vaguely familiar. Jet was there, between her legs, opening her folds with his fingers. She leaned back on the hood spread-eagle, anxiously waiting for him to take her completely. With his free

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hand, he lifted his arousal, tapped the head at the center of her desire and grinned as she writhed beneath him. Still he hadn’t entered her. The image faded, melding into the here and now. Tori opened her eyes and watched Jet watching her. His eyes still glowed, but the green wasn’t so foreign anymore. She kissed him hungrily as heat rose from her center, filling her body with urgent need. Jet hugged her tightly as she rotated her hips over him. Their panting increased. The heat in the room skyrocketed, while outside the night had only just begun. Jet watched her sleep moments after they’d soared, traveling into that pleasurefilled abyss known only to seasoned lovers. She lay limply against the white sheets, her head turned to the side, one hand draped over her exposed belly while the other rested near her face. His heart ached. She was a Perfect One. His mind explored the possibilities. The myth. The hope. But was she really a Perfect One? She didn’t seem to have the gift or perhaps she hadn’t figured it out yet. Perfect Ones all possessed some extraordinary gift. Humans would call it a supernatural power. Whether it was of sight or healing or beyond, only the Perfect Ones had it. It didn’t matter to him either way, not to him as a man at least. He could not have her, not for the long term. His life was limited, his job to see the Cauldrons demolished. If he died in the process, he didn’t really care. He was restless now, the need to hunt burning just beneath his human skin. Payton was out there, preparing his next attack, no doubt. He needed to be stopped and Jet had vowed to stop him. He should have taken care of it earlier tonight, but had hesitated. Just like Cauldrons, Centuries were not supposed to leave witnesses to their killing. He could have made it look like an accident, he could have used his deadly strength, instead of his claws and sharp teeth, to push Payton right out of the window. But Payton was a cat as well, he would land on all fours and he would return. To kill him, Jet had to sever his head, else their mutated genes would simply reproduce, making the new Cauldron even stronger than the first. He would kill Payton, there was no doubt in his mind about that. From beside him, Tori stirred. Where this Perfect One was concerned, however, there was nothing but doubt.

***** Angry and thirsty, Payton stalked into his apartment. It was dark, just the way he liked. He walked, no, he tracked over the marble floor in slow methodical movements. His chest heaved as he made his way into the kitchen. Pulling open the refrigerator, he took out one of the five-gallon containers he kept stored with water and, without

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preamble, pulled the cap off and guzzled. Tigers had an unquenchable thirst after a meal, even if it wasn’t the meal he’d craved. In seconds, he was done. Throwing that container to the side, he pulled out another and gorged himself again. The emptiness in his stomach settled with the water washing down his previous meal, opening the door to a sluggishness he welcomed. “I see you’ve eaten,” a melodic voice sounded from behind him. Payton was aware of her approach even before she’d entered the room. The second he’d come into his home, he’d smelled her. He finished the second jug, then turned to face her. “What do you want?” He was in no mood for games. The come-and-get-me scenario Lynae played with him on a daily basis was a bit more than he could take right now. Tonight he was full of fury and a sexual hunger that would not easily be sated. Lynae approached him slowly, licking her lips in anticipation. “You’re still hungry, aren’t you?” She reached out, rubbing her hand over his stiff shoulders. “This is not the safest place for you to be right now,” he said through gritted teeth. She moved behind him, her body slithering along his, her nails raking up and down his back. “I’m not looking for safety.” A low growl rumbled in his throat. “Then what are you looking for?” Her hands slipped around his waist to unbuckle his pants. Payton sucked in a breath as her long nails slid further down. She grabbed his cock unashamedly, pulling until its slack size grew longer. “I’ve been waiting for you, Payton.” The part of Payton that was man responded instantly to her touch, to her sound, her presence. He’d wanted her for so long and now she was here. He should question her further, he should ask why she suddenly had a change of heart, but he really didn’t care. For the first time in his life, he’d missed his prey. She’d been snatched from his hand like candy from a baby and he was just as angry. He wouldn’t howl and scream though. He’d gotten Jet back in a way he knew would bother the Century most. He’d killed another innocent. And a tasty one at that. This was another goal of his. Having Lynae, finally. Jet was his sworn enemy, but so was Mateese. Payton was tired of being second best. He was tired of everyone fearing Mateese, worshiping Mateese. He deserved that glory. He deserved this woman. Killing the Perfect One called Tori would undoubtedly move him up in the legion. And since he knew without a doubt that he would eventually kill her, there was no reason he couldn’t start reaping his rewards now. Payton sighed as Lynae continued stroking him, pulling his flesh until he thought he’d burst with pleasure. He cared for her deeply. And on a good day, he would readily admit that he loved her above all others in his life. But today hadn’t been a good day. His kill, while minutely satisfying, was not nearly enough. He needed something else to quench this growing hunger. To sate the missed opportunity, the despair of having the Perfect One slip through his hands. Oh, how he wanted to kill her, to slash her body until blood seeped from each and every opening. He inhaled deeply, smelling the hot fluid spewing. 73

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Lynae had slipped between his legs. He smiled and looked down. She was lithe, a trait of her reptilian breeding. She was beautiful and sexy. She was naked. Her small breasts scraped across his jean-covered legs and she moaned. From his position atop her, he could just glimpse the tips of her dusky nipples and his mouth watered. “So now that I’m here, what do you plan to do?” Lynae smiled up at him. “What we’ve both wanted.” That’s all he needed to hear. In no mood for sex games, Payton lifted her by her shoulders and placed her glistening body on the counter. She simply chuckled and let her legs fall apart. “I’ve wanted you inside me for so long, Payton.” Ridding himself of the now nuisance clothes in record time, Payton stood between her legs, positioning his length. “And now you’ll get what you wanted,” he spoke slowly before reaching up to pinch one of those tantalizing nipples. She hissed and he grinned. “On one condition.” “What’s that?” she asked as she attempted to wriggle closer to his arousal, to get that largely swollen part of him inside of her as quickly as possible. “You think of only me. Erase Mateese and any other from your mind.” Payton knew what she wanted and he longed to give it to her, but it would be on his terms. He would own her, body and soul, from this moment on, it was imperative that she understood that. Once he entered her, she would be his. Shifting his hips, his cock slid along her wet pussy, teasingly. She moaned, threw her head back and reveled in the enticing act. “Yes,” she whimpered. But that wasn’t enough. “Say it,” Payton demanded. “Say that you are mine from this moment on.” He was poised over her opening, both his hands pinching her nipples until Lynae thought she would scream with wanting. “Yes, Payton. I am yours.” He slipped the head in, felt her warmth surround him and growled. “Again,” he ordered and thrust his entire erection into her core. Lynae’s head fell back again as her hips arched to meet him. Slipping her legs around his waist, she pulled him to her and nipped his neck. “I am yours.” Payton grabbed her backside, cupping the plump cheeks, pulling out and then thrusting into her warmth with barely restrained force. This was what he needed tonight. This was soothing the ache of hunger for fresh blood, for a new kill. Lynae was filling a part of him that had long been empty. He sank into her moistness and knew this was his home. She clawed at his back and he felt a primal need to roar and claw back. He resisted. He would never hurt her. Never. Lynae pushed him back and climbed down from the counter. On the floor, propped up on her knees, she looked back at him and said, “Take me, Payton. I am yours.”

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Payton obliged, getting behind her and slamming into her with a force that rocked them both. “Yes, Lynae. Now you are mine.” Lynae smiled, then let her long slithery tongue inch past her lips. She hissed and Payton tensed. She pushed back against him and he relaxed. Lynae clenched her inner muscles around him. Payton gasped then mumbled her name, repeatedly. “And now, Payton Fleur, you are mine.”

***** Tori bolted up out of the bed, her face drenched in sweat and her mind filled with fear. There had been so much blood. Hot and thick, it spewed throughout the room mercilessly. She’d heard the woman’s cry and ran down what seemed like the longest corridor. There were so many doors and all of them were locked. The scent rose like bile in her throat and she’d followed it. With unknown strength, she kicked in the door and saw him. The man Jet called Payton. She disregarded him and looked toward the woman. The one who had screamed. She hung from the ceiling, tied at her feet and almost suspended in mid air. She was naked, her long hair reaching for the floor. Blood dripped from gaping wounds in her stomach. Tori covered her mouth to stifle her own scream, then took the necessary steps to try to save the woman’s life. Payton stepped between her and his newest victim, giving her an evil glare. “Next time it will be you,” he snarled. Then, before Tori could speak, he’d raised his claw-riddled hands and slashed the woman with quick, violent strokes. Blood splattered against the walls, the furniture and her. Tori had screamed then and ran from the room. She’d run and run, but the corridor never seemed to end. Then she felt his heat, felt his movements behind her and knew she was being hunted. Jet had warned her. He’d told her this was Payton’s goal. She believed him now, more than ever before. He was stalking her, through her dreams he reached for her. Her heart hammered in her chest, her mind reeling with the implications. She struggled to break through the dream, to return to reality. It was like being stuck in quicksand, the more she reached for the surface, the more she was pulled down, weighted in the dream that was destined to kill her. Screams echoed in her head. Were they hers? Or the woman he’d killed? The scent of blood was thick, seeping into her nostrils with potency. She wanted to run, to find some corner of the world where she would be safe, but again she felt stuck. She needed somebody, anybody to hear her cries. She needed to be saved. Opening her mouth she screamed again, praying that her Dark Lover would once again come to her rescue.

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Jet was by her side in an instant. He’d been awake for hours now, looking out into the night, trying to make peace with what he’d just done. He’d given her a part of him reserved to die in solitude. She invaded his body and his soul now and that fact wouldn’t change. He would take her to Dumas because it was important to her and because, he’d finally admitted to himself, she was important to him. Besides, that was probably the one place Payton would not go. She’d been sleeping soundly, or so he thought. When her murmurs had finally broken through his deep reverie, he’d turned to see her thrashing about. By the time he’d gotten to the bed, she was sitting up, tossing the sheets aside. “He killed her! He bled her dry! And now he’s coming back for me!” Tori was hysterical. Jet grimaced at the sheer terror, the fear lacing each of her words. He grasped her shoulders, shaking her to rid her of the dream, of the sight while a raw spot formed in his gut. “Who did he kill?” Tori shook her head vehemently. “There was so much blood. He was waiting for me. He wanted me to see, to watch him kill her.” Jet’s gut twisted as he pushed Tori’s head down on his shoulder. “Shhh, baby. You’re all right. I’m here with you.” He said the words, knowing that it was only a matter of time. The showdown with him and Payton, and then with Mateese. This senseless death had to stop. It was a shame that only more death would end it. But he couldn’t focus on that right now. He had to calm Tori down. They would leave for Dumas’ estate immediately. There was still time tonight for Payton to strike. “It’s okay, Tori. Just take deep breaths.” He rubbed her back, his voice soothing, comforting. He hoped she knew she was safe with him, that they belonged together…at least for now. With a jolt, she pulled away from him and stared deeply into his dark eyes. “Who are you, really?” Jet blinked, not sure what to say to that question. “You already know who I am.” “Why are you here with me? Why isn’t Silo protecting me? Why you?” He couldn’t tell her that her scent had lured him out of a dark place in his life. That the appearance of her silhouette and the sweet sound of her voice had cradled him to sleep most nights. He couldn’t tell her that they were drawn together by something beyond their control. There was no way to explain this when he’d been fighting the reality himself. “I am supposed to protect you. I am the head of the Century Army. It is my job.” She tilted her head and continued to stare at him. “And what do you get out of this job of yours? Out of your life?” “Why are you asking these questions?” “Because I think you want to tell me. I think you need to tell someone.” Tori sat on the bed as if she were fully dressed. Their attire, or lack thereof, didn’t matter at the moment, neither did anything that was going on outside of this room.

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“I don’t need to do anything,” Jet roared, then stood, leaving her perched on the bed alone. She was wrong. He didn’t want to tell her. He didn’t want her to know what he was deep down. Sure, she knew his genetic makeup, but she had no idea what hell his life had actually been. And he didn’t want to go through it with her. “Oh, I get it. You don’t need anybody or anything. You’re the big, bad Century warrior whose job it is to save the world,” she spat sarcastically. “What a bunch of bull. You need just like the rest of us. Dumas was very accurate in his creations. He was very precise in making his clones as humanlike as possible. He was proud of that one fact. And if you are just a tiny bit human, you need somebody or something in your life.” He spun around to face her, fury roaring through his mind. She had no right to say these things to him. No right to.…to…know this much. “So what if I need something or I need somebody. We don’t always get what we need. And this has nothing to do with what’s going on around us.” Tori stood and crossed the floor until they were a breath apart. “I think it has everything to do with what’s going on around us.” He looked away and she grabbed his chin to turn his face back to hers. “You say I am a Perfect One, yet I need your protection. You are a Century warrior and I want to know what you need.” Jet expelled a deep breath. She was tenacious and she was smart as a whip and she was totally naked and standing entirely too close to him. “Why do you want to know what I need? What do you plan to do with the information?” he asked finally. If he told her he needed her, that he needed to know they would have a future together when this was all said and done, that he’d been longing for but afraid to seek someone all his life, how would she react? Would she commit herself to him? Would she give up the life she’s always known to be with him? No. And he would never ask her to. “I only want to help you, Jet. If you told me what you needed, perhaps I could do that.” Because she’d said it so earnestly, so sincerely, he believed her. And he felt like a colossal ass for reacting this way to a simple question. She’d allowed him into her life when it would have been just as easy to kick him out and continue on as she had been. She’d accepted the truth about him and hadn’t shied away. She trusted him to protect her. The least he could do was the same. “Sit,” he ordered, then sat down beside her on the bed. “I told you I was formed in a Petri dish.” Tori nodded. “I was one of the first batch. Mateese, he’s the Cauldron pulling Payton’s strings, he was created with me. I have the traits of a black panther.” She was rubbing her hand absently along his shoulder as he spoke. “I can see them in you. You’re sleek and refined.” She looked at him contemplatively. “But deadly if provoked.”

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Jet sighed. She only knew the half of it. “Mateese has the traits of a lion. He is unique in that way alone. Dumas never created another with those traits.” “So you two are like brothers?” “No. I have no siblings. No family.” “Neither do I.” “But you had one. I’ve never had a family. We were bred to be an army and that’s it.” And that was why he appeared so lonely. He was part of a group, part of a colony of beings, but connected to none. He sounded desolate and Tori found herself relating to that feeling. “How many of you are there?” Jet shrugged. “I’m not sure. Dumas didn’t stop when the bulk of us left the compound, so there’s no telling how many cloned beings are roaming the earth now.” Tori sighed, thinking of the day she first learned of Dumas and Shakun and their experiments. “I was amazed when I first heard they were extending the cloning from animals to humans. I guess I was naїve enough to believe this would be a good thing.” “There is nothing good about fooling with the natural flow of things. Both Dumas and Shakun should have known better. The idea to mix humans with animals was ludicrous from the start. Not to mention the unsolicited life sentence for the cloned one. To forever be a part of the two worlds, unable to really belong to either one.” “He had good intentions.” “He had selfish intentions. Wanting to build an ultimate army to kill others is not good. Dooming a species to this tortured life is not good,” he spoke vehemently. Because his muscles had suddenly tensed, Tori rubbed her hands over his back. His skin was smooth and tight. He felt normal. He looked normal. And yet she knew he was not like her, not like any man she’d ever met. He was a creation. An idea formed in a man’s head and he hated that fact. He hated his existence. But how was that so? He wanted the Cauldrons killed and knew that only a Century could do that. But what would happen after that? “What will you do when your job is complete?” “We must get to Dumas’ estate.” Standing, Jet moved to the spot where he’d thrown his clothes. “Get dressed,” he ordered, never turning to face her. Tori could get upset. She could refuse to get dressed. She could argue until he was open with her. But what good what it do? She’d learned a long time ago that forcing people to talk to you wasn’t exactly the best way to go about gaining information. In time, the answers you sought would make themselves known. However, this part of their connection wasn’t about a story. It was so much more and the possibility of Jet not feeling that was pissing her off. “So I’m good enough to sleep with, but not to share any real feelings or information with. That’s convenient. Since you’re stuck with protecting me, you might as well get your jollies off.” She stood and retrieved her own clothes. “Well, that’s just fine. We’ll go to Dumas’ because my stake in this game of yours is to

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get my story. And that’s all! Centuries hunting Cauldrons, Perfect Ones and beastly killings be damned.” Thrusting her legs into her pants, she kept her back to him. She was working up a real good anger when he grabbed her shoulders and spun her around. “Let’s get one thing straight,” he said through clenched teeth, giving her a little shake with each word. “I am not getting my jollies off with you.” “Really?” she taunted. “Then what exactly are you doing, Jet? What am I? A pleasant distraction to your life of war? A pawn in this game of cat and mouse the Centuries and the Cauldrons play? What? Tell me what I am to you.” She was yelling now because her emotions were raw and exposed. She liked him. Hell, she liked him a lot. He’d touched her in a way nobody ever had. He’d come to protect her and she found she welcomed his protection. She felt safe and wanted with him. If she was nothing more than a distraction, then she would deal with that, just as she’d dealt with every other tough blow life had thrown her way. She wasn’t a quitter, nor was she a whiner. If this fling was all there was between them, she’d accept that. She’d most likely long for something more for the duration of her life, but she would accept and move the hell on. No matter what was in that Petri dish, he was still just a man. And she refused to turn herself inside out over a man. “You…” He shook her again, then looked deeper into her eyes. His grip softened until he was rubbing up and down her arms. “You are a part of me,” he said quietly. “A part I never thought would be awakened.” He smoothed a wayward strand of hair from her cheek and sighed. “You ask me what I need and I can’t really say. I’ve never allowed myself to need or to want. Until I met you.” His words cocooned her and she swooned against his rigid frame. She was so way over her head with this guy, she didn’t know which way to turn. Moanie would say, “Screw him until you can’t walk straight, then toss his ass aside.” That was her friend’s distorted way of thinking about relationships. Tori had never been in a real relationship. But that didn’t matter. She knew her heart and her mind. And right now they were both screaming for her to screw him until she couldn’t walk straight! But she was also hearing something—or should she say someone—else. You are a part of him and he is a part of you. Two halves of a whole. Confusion mixed with curiosity and she leaned into him, damning them both.

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Chapter Nine Tori slept as they traveled along the road toward the mountains of western Maryland. Before they’d left her apartment, another murder had been reported. A female in the public glider station. The body was discovered only hours after Jet and Tori had left that same station. He wondered if Tori had made the connection. Surprisingly, this region looked untouched by time and innovation. And although it was just after three in the morning and darkness blanketed their spot on the Earth, Jet could see everything as if it were broad daylight. He saw to the tops of the trees and secretly longed for the cover they would provide. He yawned, a non-human tongue flicking over his lips before sinking back inside. He rotated his neck while his hands remained on the controls guiding the vehicle. Night sounds echoed in his head. Communication of the nocturnal. He squelched the urge to join in the conversation, in a language that was also familiar to him. Tori stirred. She shifted her position, then relaxed into slumber again. He tossed a furtive glance her way, then caught himself sighing. He was definitely stuck between a rock and a hard place. He should never have followed the longing, should never have kissed her that day in the hallway. He’d been doomed ever since. Doomed in the same way the human population would be if Payton and Mateese got their way. World dominance was an alluring drug, capturing a certain kind of mind, then twisting it until the all-powerful control flowed like the blood through their veins. He’d never allowed that substance into his system. His goal was not to control, but to live, to be among people in as normal a capacity as possible. He wanted that wife and kids, the house, the job, the American dream. Funny, he never stopped to think why he’d clung to that part of his genetic make-up with such fervor. Why hadn’t he longed to be among the big cat family? Why didn’t he long to be in that thick forest, walking with the earth cool beneath his paws, hunting and living as the panthers did? He had no answer, nor did he wish to waste precious time searching for one. Payton and Mateese needed to be stopped. He would breathe just a bit better if he knew that threat was silenced. Jet wasn’t foolish enough to believe that would make all things right within the world, but he knew that the Cauldrons would be greatly weakened by their demise. And then what? He’d move on to the next Cauldron and she would get her story. Once the world had definitive proof of their existence, things would likely change even more. He was beginning to detest change. “Are we there yet?” Tori simultaneously yawned and spoke as she twisted in the passenger seat.

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Her voice never failed to arouse him and Jet found himself staring in her direction. “It’s just around this bank.” He reached over and traced a finger along the line of her jaw. For now he simply wanted to enjoy his time with her, regardless of how things might turn out in the end. Tori turned to him, offering a smile in return for the wistful one he was giving her. She wondered what he thought, what he was feeling at that moment. There was a connection between them, they’d both pretty much admitted that fact. Where it had come from and where it would take them she had no idea. Her mind screamed for her to be content with the here and now. Stretching her arm across the seat, she found his knee and massaged gently like he’d done to her in the glider station. His jeans were rough beneath her palm. She gripped his muscled thigh, remembering their strength as he levered himself over her and behind her. Jet’s hand fell to the curve of her breast and she sighed, moving her hand further up his thigh. “This is the easy part,” she whispered. He palmed her breast, moving his hand from the base, squeezing the nipple through his tightened fist. She imagined his mouth on her and felt her arousal heighten. “This is the best part.” She agreed wholeheartedly and brushed her hand over his thick erection. Her mouth watered as she remembered the feel of his hot length in her mouth, then inside her pussy so deep she’d swear he was piercing her insides. She was mentally riding him, feeling his long cock deep inside her as she moved up and down, marveling in the thickness as it moved along her sugared walls. Moving her hand down, she cupped his heavy sac, pressed gently, then held the weight in her palm. He was long, hot and hard when she released him from the confinement of his pants. Her thumb grazed the swollen head and she heard his quick intake of breath. Jet punched in the coordinates to their destination and hit the blue button that shifted the vehicle out of manual drive. He unbuttoned her jeans and slipped his hands past her underwear between her thighs. She smiled the moment he touched her tender folds, the moment he realized she was already wet for him. Slowly he parted her, the look of pleasure clear on his face. He brushed past her clit and she sucked in a breath. He immediately doubled back, pinched the swollen nub then flattened his thumb over it and applied pressure. She stroked him and he stroked her. Soft moans filled the interior of the vehicle as they danced slowly around the promise of pleasure. Tori leaned over and inhaled his sexual scent. Aroused beyond measure, she rubbed his thick phallus against her face, loving the texture against her skin. Jet continued to stroke her, his fingers moving past her damp opening to her backside. He slipped between the crevice of her ass until his fingers grazed her rear entrance. She tensed, then relaxed as his voice calmed her.

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“We are one now, baby. There is nothing I would ever do to hurt you. I only wish to please you,” he whispered, slipping a finger inside her. Tori remembered these feelings from before when he’d touched her there. Ecstasy personified spread through her like fine wine as he began to move in and out of her. Eager to participate in this most erotic adventure, she took the head of his cock into her mouth and hummed with pleasure as his arousal filled her mouth inch by inch. She barely registered when one finger turned into two, as she was wholly focused on sucking him completely. In and out she took his length until her head bobbed with persistence. His fingers matched her rhythm. Her essence gushed out of her like a tidal wave. His breathing became erratic as she held him tightly, bucking her hips against the movement of his fingers as she did. Tori sucked him harder, holding him at the base while pulling out until only his tip rested on her tongue then taking him in completely hollowing out her cheeks to apply more pressure. His balls tightened when she took them between her fingers. Her motions grew frenzied as his fingers pumped her insistently. She wanted to come, wanted him to come. She sucked him hard, took him deeper until he spilled, hot and heady, into her mouth. Tori swallowed and moaned with acceptance. The vehicle came to an abrupt stop and a computerized voice announced, “Mission complete.”

***** Eight-foot-plus steel doors opened before them. Even in the dark, Tori could see the fortress Sidney Dumas called home. A brick structure with minimal front windows centered dominantly in the midst of thick trees. It probably would have been hidden except for the abrupt towers jutting out from all four corners. A cool breeze blew and the tips of the trees swayed, brushing against the building in an oddly romantic way. Jet’s hand on the small of her back reminded her of her reason for being here. He moved his other hand over a control pad. Tori watched the black background turn bright orange then fade into a purplish print, almost like a paw. There was a series of beeps then the door opened with a thud. Summoning her feet to move, she stepped over the threshold and found herself once again in awe. Beamed ceilings such as she only remembered in old history books stretched more than ten feet above them. The walls were of a thick, dark wood, no pictures, no adornments. The floors were wood as well, which was something weird in and of itself, since nobody had wood floors anymore. The floors in her apartment were concrete covered in linoleum-like paint. The use of wood had definitely decreased with time. Fiberglass, steel and a new material called steronite were the new choices for buildings. Steronite had replaced the old plaster and mortar so that drywall and bricks were no longer used in construction. Now when a new building or house or whatever was conceived, it began with a computer generated design, then followed through with

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robotic produced materials and assembled like a boxed piece of furniture in less than a month’s time. It was truly amazing the technological advances that had been made since the last century. Taking a few steps, Tori felt instant warmth. Was it the darkness? No, that should have made her cold. Then it had to be the Old World feel. She wasn’t quite sure that was it, because a second later she heard familiar beeping and looked to her right to see a Butler286 approach. It was a newer model, she knew, because she’d done an expose on the upgrade of all robotic housekeepers last year. The barrel-shaped form and shiny chrome exterior said that this was top of the line. “Follow me to your room,” Butler286 said. Jet frowned. “Dumas always liked his toys.” Tori gave a wan smile, then followed the robot, taking in the bold mixture of old versus new in this house. Her mind wandered briefly to Jet as he walked behind her. He was quiet, tense. She suspected memories were resurfacing and felt the urge to offer him comfort. A brief look over her shoulder said he didn’t want nor need her comfort right now. She turned back abruptly and walked through the door Butler286 held ajar. “Mr. Dumas will greet you personally in ten minutes. You may freshen up in the bathroom through that door.” The golden globe head of Butler286 rolled, the neck extended slightly and pointed toward the door on the far left side of the room. Tori smiled and nodded her understanding. Butler286 rolled out of the room and the door closed behind her. “I’m shocked he’s still up at this hour,” Tori said as she dropped down onto the bed. Unzipping the bag, she dug inside, searching for something to slip into. She and Jet had traveled more than two hours, and considering how they’d passed the last twenty minutes of that ride, she definitely needed to get out of those clothes. “He rarely sleeps,” Jet said absently before moving toward the long, skinny, window. He remembered these windows. They were illusions, just like this house being a happy home was. Once he’d tried to break through the window, to escape the solitude and rigorous training. Not a scratch, not a dent, no shattered pieces, no escape. In addition to the thick fiberglass, there was also a layer of sheer steel inserted. It was then that he realized there was no getting in and no getting out of Dumas’ home unless the Creator willed it. Jet would have shivered, but that was not in his nature. He’d known the memories would come back and should have prepared himself better for them. But she’d been distracting him since that first day in the hallway. No, that was wrong, she’d been in his mind, filling him with thoughts of what could be, what should be, for the last year. He’d known she was a part of him then and was fooling himself now to think that he could spend this time with her, then walk away. But what other choice did he have? A Century could mate with a Perfect One. In fact, that was the most ideal situation for his kind. Their joining would produce a Perfect Being, the exact weapon of 83

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destruction that Dumas had wanted. The only catch was that once a Perfect One became impregnated by a Century, their life would never be the same. In fact, their one special gift would multiply over the years, making them as inhuman as the Century they joined with. In that respect, he could not ask Tori to give up all that she knew and loved to become an outcast. Her job was important to her. Her relationship with Moanie was important. All of that would change if she were to commit herself to him. Humans did not like differences. She would no longer be accepted in the world she’d always known. Asking her to leave that level of comfort was selfish and inconsiderate and he would not do it. No matter how much he wanted her to remain with him. “Whatcha thinkin’?” she asked, coming up behind him to place a hand on his shoulder. He was solemn and contemplative and she didn’t like it. After being as close as two people could possibly be in the car, there now seemed to be a wall between them. A wall as big and thick as the ones of Dumas’ fortress. She wanted to lighten the mood, to have at least one night where they weren’t thinking about death and world destruction. One night when they could be like a normal couple. That thought didn’t shock her as much as it probably should have. She’d never had a real relationship before, had never dated a man longer than three months. And while she’d known Jet less than three days, she felt closer to him then she ever had anyone else. So in a sense, they were a couple. Sure, he was a Century and she was a human…she paused, letting that fact sink in…he was a Century, a man mixed with an animal. And she was a human, created the old-fashioned way. They were the same, yet they were different. She wondered how much that mattered. “I’m thinking that it’s late and you should be getting some rest.” “I’m not tired,” she shrugged. “Are you? You don’t sleep much at night, do you?” Jet turned cupping her face in his hands. “You are a good reporter,” he said with a smile. “You are constantly asking questions.” Tori smiled. “Don’t stall, just answer me.” “I have some nocturnal tendencies. I can sleep during the night, but mostly I prefer not to.” “So you’ve been up with me today, you must be exhausted.” “I’m fine,” he said, dropping a kiss on her forehead. Tori licked her lips. “Yes, you are.” As if he knew exactly where her thoughts had wandered, Jet chuckled, then took her hands, pulling her to her feet. “Go freshen up. Dumas is nothing if he’s not punctual.” She was still looking at him hungrily. That thought almost made her laugh. She didn’t remember ever looking at a man hungrily before. But the sight of him made her yearn for more. His t-shirt was tight over his thick chest, his biceps flexing beneath the short sleeves. His jeans fit scrumptiously over his muscled thighs. Thighs that led to his

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that part of him that never ceased to arouse her. Heat filled her instantly as she remembered his thick hot cock in her hands, in her mouth. Man, oh man, she had it bad for this guy. Clearing her throat, she looked toward the window, then back at him. “Aren’t you going to, ah…freshen up?” Because she was having a hard time keeping her eyes off him and because he was not immune to the examination of a sexy female, he absently ran a hand over his chest, down his tight abs. He slowed the movement down as he noticed her eyes following his hand. His fingers toyed with his buckle for a second, then he let them fall lower until he was cupping his now growing arousal. “There’s another bathroom down the hall,” he said slowly. Lordamercy, her panties were soaking wet. She wanted to replace his hand with her mouth. She wanted to strip and call him to her. She wanted to… “Ah, all righty then, I’ll just…ah,” She cleared her throat again, “I’ll just be a minute.” She’d begun to back away, her eyes still riveted on the thick bulge between his legs and his large fingers spread around it. He squeezed and she felt all the air being sucked out of the room. Her feet continued moving backward until she hit the bed. “Oh!” “Be careful,” he warned with a huge smile. “Yeah…I will.” Then she turned and almost ran into the bathroom.

***** Tori had unpacked her things, placing them inside the chest of drawers against the back wall of the room. Jet was gone when she came out of the bathroom, which was fine with her. She needed another minute to catch her breath. This overwhelming lust she had for him was new to her, and while she didn’t dare entertain the idea of tucking that lust away because of their differences, she needed a breather to reclaim herself. She was a reporter working on the biggest story of her life. Jet was a part of the world she wanted to expose. He was also protecting her from a claw-handed maniac that got his kicks slicing up women. There was a quick knock and then the door opened. Tori turned to see a tall, wiry man entering the room. “Tori Tinsdale,” he said simply. Tori walked toward him, pasting a smile on her face because she was suddenly very tired, and extending her hand. “Yes, I’m Tori Tinsdale.” He took her hand in his, brought it to his lips and kissed it. “Sidney Dumas.” She inhaled deeply, unable to believe she was actually standing in the same room with the legendary scientist. Tori couldn’t believe she was finally face to face with the man behind the myth. The man that would make her career. “It’s a pleasure, Mr. Dumas.” 85

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Dumas continued to rub her hand. “The pleasure is all mine.” He was so unlike what she’d imagined. In the last photos of him, his hair was black, his eyes a piercing blue. That was only two years ago. Now his eyes had dulled a shade, his hair was completely gray and he looked as if the world were weighing on his shoulders. If what Jet had told her was true, that was precisely the case. “Have a seat,” he said pointing toward the lounge chair behind her. Tori sat. “Thank you for agreeing to the interview. If it’s all right with you, we can get started first thing in the morning. I’d like to cover the early years of your studies first, then get into the actual cloning.” Dumas patted her knee. “Slow down, dear. We have time.” “No. We don’t,” came an ominous voice from the doorway. Tori looked up to see Jet. He’d changed into another pair of black pants and a black turtleneck. She gulped. He looked like a thick, dark chocolate candy bar and she was a certifiable chocoholic. Dumas stood, his frail legs shaking as he moved. “Jet?” Jet entered the room. “Yes. It’s me.” He brushed past Dumas to stand beside Tori, placing a protective hand on her shoulder. “She is a Perfect One and Payton is hunting her. He’s working with Mateese.” Dumas looked at Jet knowingly, then sat down slowly. “That is not good.” Jet frowned. “No, it’s not good. He’s going around the city, killing every woman in her age group until he gets to her. He showed up at her apartment earlier tonight. He’s hungry. And that makes him more dangerous than ever.” “Payton is a natural hunter. And he always gets his prey,” said Dumas. “He won’t get her.” Glancing from one man to the other, Tori felt waves of tension emanating from them both. “Hello?” She waved her hands in the air. “I’m right here. There’s no need to talk over me.” Dumas offered her a smile. “I apologize, dear. It’s just that I haven’t seen Jet in a very long time.” “And you wouldn’t be seeing me now if I didn’t have to clean up your mess.” Dumas stood. “I won’t apologize for my work.” “Work? You call what you’ve done work? You’ve almost single-handedly ruined the world!” Jet yelled. Tori stood, placing a hand on both men’s chests because they had moved closer and were now heaving like two boxers and she was the referee. “Well, this has been a great reunion,” she quipped. “How about we all get some sleep and meet again in the morning for round two.” Jet relaxed his stance first, then took a step back. “She’s right. Fighting with you isn’t going to stop Payton.”

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Dumas took a deep breath. “No. It’s not.” Then he looked at Tori. “I offer my deepest apologies, Ms. Tinsdale.” “Tori. Please.” He nodded. “Tori. This is not the way I treat members of the press and certainly not the way I treat my guests. Please pardon me.” Because he reminded her of her grandfather and because she’d seen something in his eyes when Jet had entered the room, she touched a hand to his shoulder. “It’s okay. Reunions are tough. That’s why I don’t keep in touch,” she smiled, hoping he’d relax. Dumas smiled in return, giving her a glance at perfectly straight white teeth. He was a brilliant man and she was standing in the same room with him. She was impressed and yet she felt sad. Dumas was clearly lonely. All his money, all his accomplishments, and in the end he was just a forlorn old man. That saddened her beyond belief. “I will see you at breakfast, then.” “Yes.” She nodded. “I’ll see you at breakfast.” He walked out of the room without another word or look in Jet’s direction. Tori turned to Jet, looked at him for a long moment, then sighed. “Okay, well you may be nocturnal, but I’m wiped out. I’m going to bed and we’ll discuss your rudeness in the morning.” Jet didn’t have a moment to reply before she was stripping out of her clothes and climbing into the king-sized bed that sat in the middle of the floor. The sight of her naked wiped his mind clear of any other thought. All too quickly, that beautiful nakedness was covered by the thick red comforter. Without another thought, he removed his own clothes and joined her. Tori settled comfortably, her back against his front. He sighed, dropping a hand around her waist and pulling her as close as he possibly could. They were both naked and he should be slipping his arousal into her undoubtedly moist core. Instead he was content to simply hold her. She was in danger and so was he. If he fell in love with her, he’d certainly do the most selfish thing he could imagine. Yet he couldn’t help wanting her, needing her.

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Chapter Ten Tori awoke to that feeling of weightlessness again. Cracking an eye open tentatively, she spied a cleanly shaven strong jaw. Relaxing, because she knew who she was with and everything else took a second seat to that fact, she inhaled. He smelled fresh and all man. A familiar stirring began in her center and she cuddled closer to him. “Where are you taking me?” she murmured. Jet smiled. “To paradise.” “Oh? Well, can you walk a little faster. I had one hell of a night.” Chuckling, Jet continued until they’d entered the bathroom. His steps were quiet on the white marble floor, while the room was a toasty seventy-five degrees. He had remembered that mornings in the mountains could be quite chilly. Tori felt the warmth, but attributed it to her growing arousal. Was it natural to be this horny for a guy all the time? His back muscles stretched and she opened her eyes just as she was being lowered. She almost purred the moment her bottom hit the hot water. She’d spied this deep marble tub when she’d freshened up last night—or rather, earlier this morning. She glanced around, familiarizing herself with the room in daylight again. The walls were pristine white, matching the floor, the tub and the toilet. The sink as well as all the faucets and other bathroom gadgets were stainless steel. What a cool, impersonal room, she remembered thinking last night. A stark contrast to the homey feel of the wood ensconced rooms on the first floor. This morning, however, stretching her tired muscles in the deep tub, she thought it was simply heaven. “Bubbles.” She opened one eye to peek at Jet. “Excuse me?” He nodded in the direction of the wall directly above her and watched as her eyes grew wider. Beneath the control pad that monitored the water temperature, a silver nozzle silently slid from the wall, emptying a flurry of puffy white bubbles into the tub. “Mmmmm, this is definitely paradise,” she crooned as she slipped even deeper into the water. She inhaled and smiled up at him. “How did you know vanilla was my favorite scent?” He shrugged. “Lucky guess.” “Every woman should have a protector like you,” she said, still smiling and still lowering herself into the water. When bubbles covered her ears, Jet tapped her on the tip of her nose. “You’ve got about thirty minutes before Dumas will expect you at breakfast.”

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That almost sobered her. This bath was delightful and he was more than considerate for having it ready and waiting for her. She’d slept well, no dreams, no nightmares. She remembered the feeling of warmth, of a protective cocoon weaved around her in slumber. She’d snuggled closer, happy to know that it was Jet. She could get real used to this protector stuff. “That’s right. We’re doing his history today.” “His history?” Jet questioned. “Yes. I figured we’d start with the basics; birth, childhood, teenage years, et cetera. The making of the man.” Jet frowned and Tori instinctively reached a wet, bubbled hand up to touch his cheek. She giggled when his dark face was half covered with the silly bubbles. His frown lessened as he retrieved a towel from the base of the tub and wiped them off. “Why do you hate him so? Was it so bad living here?” “Living here was not the main problem. Knowing your whole purpose for being bred was to kill made it difficult.” She certainly sympathized with Jet. She was not fond of killers, no matter what their reasoning was. It was at that moment that she realized what Jet was actually saying. “When you and Payton meet again, you plan to kill him, don’t you?” Jet did not look away from her, although he didn’t miss the disgust lacing her words. “It must be done.” “We do have jails, you know?” “There is no jail for Cauldrons.” “Is there happiness for Centuries?” she asked impulsively. She desperately wanted to see Jet happy. They’d met under extreme circumstances and she sensed that his life had been hard, but she believed in happily ever after. She assumed that those who went through bad times would eventually happen upon good ones. That theory had been her saving grace. Jet looked at her closely. “Happiness is what we make it.” “And what about Perfect Ones? Do we have control of our happiness?” “Perfect Ones use their gift to make the world a better place. That makes them happy.” “That’s crappy.” She frowned. If she were going to make people happy, she was surely going to grab a handful of that happiness for herself. Jet picked up a sponge and lathered it with soap. She continued as he lifted her arms and washed each one. “I mean, what’s so good about being a Perfect One if you don’t have any perks. And by the way, I’m seriously doubting that I’m a Perfect One since I don’t possess any of those special gifts you were talking about.”

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His hand was submerged in the water now, tracing her plump breasts. “You have a gift,” he said, pausing as if he’d momentarily lost his train of thought. “You just haven’t realized it yet.” “Then how do I know if I’m making the world a better place?” “When the time comes, you’ll know.” “Okay, so what about this war between the Centuries and the Cauldrons? Once you kill Payton, I’m guessing there will be more out there. Then what’ll you do? You can’t kill them all.” So why even try? she thought of saying. She wanted to tell him that killing was senseless and wrong. But she was distracted. He was between her thighs now, rubbing the soapy sponge over her mound. “It is not my job to kill them all. I am assigned a sector.” “And someone else is assigned another sector? Oh, I get it, you’re patrolling the ultimate warriors. That makes a lot of sense,” she quipped. “If you ask me,” she paused. Jet’s gaze remained on her face while the sponge floated to the surface, his hand still below. His touch warmed her further, coaxing her tender folds until her essence dripped into the soapy water. “You were saying,” he said with a grin. “I, ah…” He inserted another finger, then another. Tori moaned. “Ahhhh, I was saying something that I think made a lot of sense.” His fingers moved in and out of her with ease. She wanted to stand, to rotate her hips with him, to climb on top of him and ride until this tidal wave made landfall. “Mmmmm, I thought you said that Dumas was punctual.” Jet spoke through half-closed eyes. He liked touching her this way, she could tell. Her walls tightened around his fingers and he moaned. Tori felt heady just from watching the pleasure he took in touching her. With his other hand, he freed his throbbing erection, massaging it as he continued to finger her. “He is.” Tori gripped the sides of the tub as the tension between her legs built. “Then…um…we should…” She inhaled deeply. “We had…better…get going.” Jet pulled on his swollen rod as his fingers inside her pussy picked up pace. She shivered, ripples of pre-orgasmic pleasure moving through her quickly. Just a few more strokes, a few more…and she’d be there. She felt like a rocket about to take off. He just needed to touch her…rub that spot…crook his finger and… “Jet,” she moaned. His breath came in rapid pants, her name tumbling from his lips as he jerked and plunged, in an effort to bring them both to completion. Tori slipped along the surface of the tub, bubbles sloshed over the rim, landing on the floor in a sloppy heap. Bracing her feet at the bottom and clenching the sides, she pumped against Jet’s fingers, frantically searching for that blissful end.

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Jet looked down at her. She willed her eyes to stay open, to focus on him. His face contorted and she knew he was just as close as she was. She licked her lips, whispering his name, egging him on. “Make me come, baby,” she whispered. “Make us come.” He looked as if he’d reached his breaking point, his lips curled back, his teeth bare and he growled seconds before shooting his release all over the white tiled floor.

***** “I trust you slept well,” Dumas said when Tori was seated across the table from him. “Yes.” Tori thought of the night spent wrapped in Jet’s arms. “I did.” Her smile widened as she remembered the morning’s tryst in the tub. She’d have to indulge in bubble baths more often. “So, where would you like to start?” he asked. Butler286 lifted the lids from several dishes and Tori’s stomach growled. She didn’t hesitate to scoop something from each tray onto her plate. Mentally she ran down the list of questions she’d made for him. “What was Jet like in the beginning?” That wasn’t one of her planned questions and she really didn’t know why she was asking. But since Jet had opted not to attend breakfast, now was as good a time as any. Dumas sipped his coffee, then stared into space, contemplating his answer. He wore a deep burgundy suit this morning, his tie a shimmering rose color that added a little life to his otherwise pale face. “Jet was obedient. He did as he was told when he was told. He trained well.” “Trained? How? With whom?” Tori chewed bacon, keeping her eyes fixed on Dumas. “Victor was their trainer. All of the soldiers needed to learn all forms of defense. Jet particularly excelled in martial arts. I owe that to his feline agility.” “How did you decide which animals to mix with the humans? Was there some sort of criteria?” “I wanted the strongest from both worlds.” Dumas lifted a piece of dry toast and took a small bite. Tori waited while he chewed. “My goal was to create the best of the best. I needed strength unlike any other, heightened senses, superior abilities. The military would pay top dollar for an army of a hundred or so.” “And Shakun thought it was a bad idea.” “He was a simpleton. Afraid of the press. Afraid of the possibilities.” “But now it looks like he turned out to be right.”

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“He wasn’t right,” Dumas said adamantly. “It was a great plan. The clones were excelling. The army was building.” “What went wrong?” Dumas was quiet. A frail hand came up to rub along his jaw. Tori noted his gnarled knuckles and frowned. As smart as he was, Dumas apparently had not discovered a cure for arthritis. “My clones are born mature adults. In about three years after their conception, they reach their peak. This is the ideal time to train them.” He paused, sighed. Tori could swear his eyes looked glassy, but he wouldn’t look at her. Actually, he acted almost as if he were speaking to the wall just above her right shoulder. But she didn’t mind much, she was getting loads of information. “Jet trained well. But in that fourth year, he began to question things. He questioned me and my plans and then he questioned the other Centuries.” “Questioned them about what?” “Jet suspected that some of the Centuries were sneaking off into the forest surrounding the house. When Dalma became pregnant, his suspicions were confirmed.” As if he could read her mind, Dumas readily provided an explanation. “Dalma was a Century, half female, half vulture. She admitted to mating with a creature in the forest and she became pregnant. Her offspring was born and we all wondered what it would be like. The boy, Keyer, was violent and destructive. Eventually he had to be put down. But that wasn’t enough to stop the other Centuries from trying this. A few more began to escape and thus the Cauldrons were born.” “So Cauldrons are stronger than Centuries because of their enhanced animal traits?” “Not all of them, but some of them are well beyond the powers that I could have programmed into them. Mateese is the strongest. He is their leader.” “And he wants to control the world?” “Yes.” Dumas agreed, then finally looked at Tori. “But Jet will stop him.” She smiled then. “You seem very fond of Jet.” Dumas waited a full minute before he allowed himself to comment. “You have to understand how much this project has meant to me. It started as a dream. It looked good on paper.” He chuckled. “When Jet was born, I was elated. My dreams had come true.” Tori sighed because that was the way she’d come to think about Jet. Although she’d never been a fanciful girl; she hadn’t been dreaming of her wedding day all her life, a part of her always knew there was someone out there for her and she sensed that Jet was that someone. “What will you do now?” His fingers drummed on the glass-topped table. “That all depends.” “On what?” 92

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“On you and your kind,” he answered pointedly. “My kind?” Tori was confused. “You mean humans? That would be our kind, right?” Dumas was old, so she’d give him a moment of memory loss if that’s what he was doing. But he looked serious. He looked too serious. “The Perfect Ones are a part of our salvation.” Gracious, but she was tired of hearing about these Perfect Ones. She didn’t have a special gift except that she was nosy and tenacious, but that was what made her a good reporter. She had no clue how to go about being a Perfect One or saving the world, for that matter. “How?” She could still hear him out, after all, she needed a complete story. “When I created the Centuries, I added a gene that would be compatible with a special type of human. I studied supernatural beings while I was in college and discovered that they all had one thing in common. The ferosite gene.” “And that is?” Tori had pulled out her notepad and scribbled as he spoke. “It’s the gene that gives them their supernatural powers.” Tori dropped her pen. “Okay, this is where I’m confused. You’re speaking about supernatural powers as if they are all one and the same. I’ve heard of psychics.” She instantly thought of Cerri and the apology she owed her immediately upon her return. “And then there are witches and wizards and a whole host of other unexplained phenomenon.” Dumas nodded, she knew more than she even realized. “The ferosite gene is at the root of each separate power. And each Perfect One has the gene.” She was nervous now, wanting to ask him right out what her power was, but was admittedly afraid of knowing. It was one thing to accept a different species of warrior half-humans, but finding out that she too had an unexplainable power was a little much for one morning. “And how do these genes connect to the Centuries?” She would keep this professional. Her own connection or non-connection did not matter. “Centuries all have the maleon gene, which is what gives them their supernatural strength. This gene also mates with the animal genes, creating an almost indestructible being.” He looked at Tori closely, then a ghost of a smile formed. “When a Century and a Perfect One mate and create an offspring, the offspring inherits both the ferosite and maleon genes.” He paused, waiting for the response he knew would come. “And creates a Perfect Being. A being that cannot, under any circumstances, be killed,” she said, slowly surprised that she understood all that was just told to her completely. Dumas chuckled. “That’s a very good assessment, Tori. But death will eventually find us all. But you are right about the Perfect Beings, it will be a long and hard time trying to destroy them. Their powers would be unmatched by any human or animal. A new species entirely.” She sat back in her chair with a thump, awed to be sitting across from a man who’d created a whole new world. “I’m impressed. I know a lot of studying and science went

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into this, but I can’t help but wonder why. Why would you do this? Wasn’t the world messed up enough without you adding your own personal touch?” “My life is to create. What I create comes naturally. I will not regret it.” Tori picked up her notepad and pen, then stood. “You might not regret it, Mr. Dumas. But mankind might have a different opinion.”

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Chapter Eleven After her meeting with Dumas, Tori had called Kurb to check in. Her boss seemed excited by the fact that she was at the estate, but he was also worried that the blackmailer was going to spill the story first. Tori asked who the blackmailer was, but Kurb insisted he didn’t know. She wasn’t so sure about that. In fact, she had a strange feeling that Kurb knew much more than he was telling her. At any rate, she didn’t tell Kurb about Jet, or the connection between Dumas and the murders. Two could play the secrets game. Let him be surprised when he saw her story in print. Besides, she was still debating whether or not she should alert the patrol to what she knew. Her instincts told her that wasn’t wise. The patrol would institute a hunt for all non-humans and this would include Jet. For now, she’d keep all her info to herself. Now she walked through what must have been the most beautiful garden she had ever seen, with no clue what all the flowers and shrubbery were called. They looked different, almost tropical with the thick deep green leaves and bright-colored bulbs. The scents were different too, more subtle and sweet than the normal floral fragrance. Situated in a complex maze, Tori wandered the grounds taking in the abundant beauty. She felt comfortable here. At peace and submerged in the garden’s tranquility and oddly enough, more at home here than she’d ever felt in the city. Since speaking with Dumas this morning, she’d been giving a lot of thought to being a Perfect One and all that it entailed. She was especially intrigued by the culmination of the Perfect One and a Century mating. This brought her thoughts right back to Jet, where it seemed they spent a lot of time as of lately. He was the first Century, born as a result of Dumas’ studying and dedication. There was a bond between the two men, one that would not be broken lightly, although she suspected Jet didn’t really feel like honoring it right now. He said he didn’t like the training. Dumas said training began instantly upon birth. Tori remembered her childhood. The family trips, Christmases at Grandma’s, toys, games, just plain fun. Jet hadn’t experienced that. He was trained to be a warrior and he wanted to be just a man. She’d asked him what he needed, he mentioned family. She wondered if he’d ever have it. “I thought I’d find you out here,” he spoke from behind her. She turned slowly and faced him. He wore black again and she found herself looking down at her own attire. A black jumpsuit. She almost laughed. She was going to take Cerri to dinner when she returned. If she returned.

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Jet watched the play of emotions on her face. Originally she’d been happy to see him, then suddenly she’d seemed a little glum. He moved to her then, taking her hands in his. “Is everything okay? How did your talk with Dumas go?” He didn’t really care. No, actually he did. He wanted to know what the old man had told her and what needed to be corrected. She blinked and shook her head as if trying to clear her thoughts. “It went fine. I learned a lot.” “Really? Like what?” Wrapping her arms around his waist, she hugged him tight, groaning as she squeezed him then pulling back to look up into his face. “I learned about Centuries and Cauldrons and Perfect Ones and Perfect Beings.” Jet sighed, keeping her close as he listened to her talk. So Dumas had told her the whole story. He wondered how she felt about that. “And what do you think?” She lifted her head, looked straight into his eyes and said, “I think he made a big mistake. There are some things you just don’t toy with. Unfortunately, it’s too late to document his mistakes. We need to focus on the solution.” He brushed a strand of hair from her cheek and smiled, this was why he felt so strongly about her. She had a quick mind and she was sensible. The fact that she was sexy as hell was an added bonus. “I have the solution.” “And what is it?” “I’m going to kill Payton and Mateese and I’ll instruct other Centuries how to handle the rest of them.” Jet spoke with smooth conviction, sure that he would succeed. Tori flinched. “You could kill in cold blood, couldn’t you?” Jet looked at her strangely. “They’re the bad guys, Tori. They’re the ones out there killing innocents.” “They’re searching for total dominance, Jet. You can’t blame them for doing what they were trained to do.” “Then I can’t be blamed for killing them.” He looked at her sternly. “It is what I was trained to do also.” Tori took a deep breath. He had a point there and she wasn’t condoning the Cauldrons killing. She did not condone any killing at all. It was senseless and only made matters worse. Jet was smart, surely he knew this. But in case he didn’t, she’d gladly point it out to him. “Your goal is different from theirs and your actions should be as well. You don’t want total domination and they do. Their breeding is not their fault.” “And neither is mine, but I take full responsibility for my actions. I try to live by the rules of the world we inhabit. They don’t. We were all born from the same lab. They changed the rules of the game and now I have no choice but to play along.” She backed away from him, feeling all at once chilly and more than a little shaken. Jet sounded different, he was acting different. “Dumas changed the rules and while he says he doesn’t regret it, I think he’s lying.”

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“Then we agree on something.” “What does that mean?” “Dumas likes to put the blame for the Cauldrons and their actions solely on the Cauldrons, but that’s not entirely true.” “What are you talking about? He told me how they went out into the forest and mated with the wild animals against his will.” “Look around you, Tori. What do you see?” He extended his arms wide and spun around. “Money. If nothing else, Dumas was paid well for his little experiment. I told him the Centuries were sneaking off. I told him something was going on. But he dismissed it because he was too busy counting his money. He could have built a fence to contain them. He could have killed the offspring as they were born. But he saw the chance of an even greater army, an even greater payday and he did nothing.” Tori hadn’t thought of it that way, but still had trouble swallowing what Jet was saying. “His work was supposed to enhance the world, not destroy it.” “Then he should have been fired the moment he hatched this dumb-ass idea!” Jet yelled. “He is not God! What gave him the right to think he could create a species? And now that species is out of control and we have that too to blame on him.” “No.” Tori shook her head. Dumas hadn’t planned for this to happen, she was sure of it. “This wasn’t his plan.” “It may not have been his initial plan, but when it surfaced, he profited from it. He’s still profiting from it.” The chill spread throughout her body. Her feeling of comfort, of belonging, slipped. She folded her arms over her chest and took another step away from him. He looked so different now, so angry and so rabid. “How?” she whispered. “He’s leading the Cauldrons. He’s causing this war because the military pulled the plug on his funding. They decided last year that they didn’t want to use the army after all. Dumas was livid. Now he’s created his own war, using his own army to fight it.” “Are you saying that he’s purposely pitting you against each other?” “It’s logical, isn’t it?” He moved to her, then grasped her by the shoulders and pulled her closer. “Don’t trust him, Tori. Don’t trust what he’s telling you. He’s a master manipulator. He’ll tell you only what he wants you to know.” All that she’d learned from her research before, combined with all the information she’d collected since being with Jet, swirled through her mind. Tori wrenched away from his grasp. “Like you did,” she accused. “What?” He wanted her to believe that Dumas was the only bad guy while he was guilty of a few things himself. “Why didn’t you tell me what would happen if a Perfect One and a Cauldron mated?” The muscles she thought were so sexy on him bunched and flexed as he looked at her, his lips thinning into an angry line. “You are speaking of the myth?” 97

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She shook her head and continued to back away. “Dumas said it would create an über human, a Perfect Being that could not be killed. Is that why you really came to me? Is that why you slept with me in the hopes that we would make this Perfect Being and you would be the one in control?” “I don’t believe in that myth, Tori. A Perfect Being would have to be created by an authority higher than Dumas. He’s feeding you that so you can take it to the press. So that the military will get wind of it and re-hire him. Don’t let him brainwash you.” “Oh.” Tori gave a nervous chuckle. “But I should let you brainwash me.” She was dizzy now, confused by all this new information and the conflict brewing inside. The garden she once thought was beautiful now felt claustrophobic. “I don’t want to hear any more from either of you. I’m going home.” “No!” Jet roared, then grabbed her arm as she tried to brush past him. “You can’t leave. Payton won’t come here. He doesn’t want to be here any more than I do. He won’t think to look for you here.” Unnerved by the deep animalistic sound coming from him, Tori pulled away. “Don’t touch me! Don’t touch me ever again. You used me and now you’re trying to convince me that Dumas is using me. I’m sick of all of you. I’m going back to my life, where things were normal.” “You said yourself he killed again. You saw it in your dreams.” She’d begun to walk away as he spoke. She stopped when he said, “You always see them in your dreams.” She froze. His voice was calm, concise, frightening. “I believe that you have the gift of sight. You’ve seen every murder.” Tori was shaking her head, her back still to him. “It’s like I’m there, watching, waiting for her to die,” she said quietly. She could deny Jet and his goals, Dumas and his reasoning. But she could not deny her dreams. They were real. She knew that without a doubt. “It is what brought him closer to you. Cauldrons sense Perfect Ones, just like Centuries do.” Jet sighed. “I don’t know if the myth of the Perfect Being is true, Tori. And I choose to deal in facts. It is a fact that Payton will kill you given the opportunity.” Tori turned slowly. “I’m not afraid of him.” No. She wasn’t afraid of anyone or anything. She was strong and courageous and gorgeous and appealing. And she was in his system so deeply that his breath was constricted as he watched her suffering through these tumultuous emotions. “I can protect you. I want to protect you.” Tori shook her head. “You see, you do want control. It’s just on another level. You want to believe that you can stop Payton from killing me, that you can keep me a Perfect One and create a perfect world for me to live in. But you can’t control that any more than Dumas could. If you kill Payton, then you’ll have Mateese to deal with. Mateese is strong, his powers beyond what even you can probably imagine. But even if you kill him, there will be another and another. You’ll spend your whole life killing.” 98

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Jet stood tall, shoulders back, eyes trained on her. “That is what I was born to do.” She was still shaking her head when the first tear streamed down her face. “Then I’m sorry for you, because if you spend the rest of your life killing, you’ll never have a chance to just live.”

***** He would give her time alone. That would calm her down and make her more reasonable to his requests. Jet had walked to a cave he’d frequented in his youth. It was nestled just at the brink of the forest. Jet remembered he’d never gone into the forest. He’d never had an urge to. Sliding on his belly, he’d entered the cave, moving through the darkness with full sight until he’d reached the clearing. It was only about five feet high, so he’d always had to sit. Up against the far wall was where he liked it best. With a solemn face, he ran his fingers over the paw print he’d left there. All his life, he’d realized his differences. They’d been drilled into his head since birth, along with military tactics, martial arts, weaponry. His life had been a training in mortal combat. That was all he knew. But that wasn’t entirely true. He knew a very real, very human side. Or at least he’d felt it. Why he’d felt it so much stronger than the other Centuries, he wasn’t sure, but he’d felt it nonetheless. He’d dreamed of a woman, his wife. He’d dreamed of loving her and creating children with her. No matter how human he felt, his mind was trained differently. Children weren’t created, not in a normal relationship. In a normal relationship, there was love and respect and trust. A child was a product of all three elements. A child was the result of their commitment to each other. How could she even entertain the thought that he’d sleep with her only for the purposes of making a child? If anything, each time he’d entered her, he found himself saying a silent prayer that the myth wasn’t true. A Perfect Being, supposedly the answer to all the world’s problems. Jet was highly doubtful of that. In his experience, man could not create an answer. They only added another layer to the situation. Now Tori didn’t trust him and that was Dumas’ doing. Another reason to hate the man. Memories washed over him as he let his head fall back against the rock. They were up at dawn, doing everything Victor instructed them to do. The drills were intense. The rewards few and far between. Their meals were programmed, their leisure time monitored. They were in a lavish prison. So when Jet first noticed a female Century smiling and moving gracefully through the dining room one night, he knew that something was wrong. Weeks later, there was a group that stayed huddled together, talking and laughing. Being under Dumas’ control was not a happy situation. Why were they laughing? To find out, he would have to stick close to them. Lights were out at ten. At ten fifteen, he’d slipped out of his bed and was a few feet away from the group of six Centuries. 99

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When they’d reached the outskirts of the forest, Jet had paused. He’d never been into the forest. He’d heard the calls and felt a strong urging, but he’d never acted on it. It was a clear rule that they weren’t supposed to go off the property. But on this night, the six were disobeying. In order to know exactly what was going on, he had no choice but to follow. So he’d ventured into the darkness, smelling the evergreen, the crispness of a stream nearby, the faint scent of the hunt too close for comfort. He was in no way prepared for what he saw. And yet he knew that, even beyond Dumas’ laws, there was something wrong with what was being done. The six Centuries, however, did not agree. They frolicked with the animals, speaking in their language; they even participated in a few hunts with them, which Jet had almost been repulsed by. But the moment they’d paired off, one Century to one animal, and moved deeper into the forest, Jet sensed more than witnessed what was actually going on. The stench of mating was heavy in the air. Jet had lost his war with repulsion about the same time he lost his dinner. He’d run back to the house as fast as possible, almost knocking down Dumas’ door the moment he arrived. Dumas had seemed strangely calm and promised to deal with this swiftly. In the weeks to come, Jet saw something totally different. Dalma’s pregnancy was common knowledge. She carried the offspring for two months. Because Centuries were genetic mutations, their incubation period was severely shortened. When she gave birth, Dumas had instantly taken the offspring into another lab and killed it, or so Jet was told. But that wasn’t enough. In a matter of months, over fifty Centuries were impregnated. Dumas told Jet that he was entertaining the idea of letting the female Centuries die off, but he never did. Eventually, the Centuries got wise to the fact that Dumas was killing their offspring and they began giving birth in the forest. An all out hunt had ensued and most of the offspring were recovered. Jet, like the other Centuries that agreed with him, thought they were being killed as the first ones had been. But they were not. Dumas built a new prison for them. At the far end of the property close to the forest was where he’d housed the offspring, the Cauldrons. And their lives had changed from that moment on. Jet moaned, anger seeping through him at a rapid pace. This anger opened the gateway to his alter ego, the part of himself that he rarely showed, and in the privacy of his cave, he welcomed it. This was a primal sort of release almost akin to sex. His fingers curled into fists, the nubs growing dark hair, tiny claws extending. He felt his back arch, his face shifting, his teeth sharpen. With tiny prickles of heat, silky, black hair grew from every pore on his body, coating him, sheathing him. He stretched, letting the new form take hold, letting the blood run through him like a fresh spring. Then he laid his long length across the cool floor of the cave. With a yawn, his six-inch tongue extended, wiped over his whiskers then retreated. His paws scraped the dirt floor and he growled, low and guttural, a menacing sound that echoed through the small encasement. 100

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His heart pounded as the need to hunt, to kill, enveloped him.

***** Tori hadn’t seen Jet all day and had shared dinner alone with Dumas. The old man attempted cordial conversation, but she wasn’t in the mood. Too much information soared through her mind and she struggled to keep it all together. She’d called Moanie, badly needing someone to run all this by, but she hadn’t answered her phone. She felt more alone now than she ever had before and that was weird because she was surrounded by people. Well, not necessarily people, but machines designed to act like people. Dumas’ house was voice-activated in addition to all the robotics he had roaming around. The man really was obsessed with creating his own little world. So throughout the day she’d heard instructions and questions and each time she needed something, she only had to speak and it would be given to her. She’d toured the grounds—the parts that Dumas deemed appropriate for her—but hadn’t really been all that interested. She’d gone to her room, pulled out her notebook and attempted to work on the outline of her story. That too, was unsuccessful. The story that meant so much to her, the career she’d desperately wanted to redeem, was stalled. She had more facts now than she’d ever had and the man behind the creation was well within reach. Yet none of that mattered. She couldn’t stop thinking about him. Had he been using her? Was she just a pawn in this game of supremacy? She hated to think so, but had been taught long ago to examine all the facts carefully. And the fact was that Jet was very secretive about his life. He’d appeared almost out of nowhere and had taken her to bed in less than twenty-four hours of meeting her. While she couldn’t blame that totally on him, since she wasn’t exactly an unwilling partner, the fact was that they’d slept together pretty quickly. Another fact was that Jet never mentioned a future, a commitment, a relationship between them. He had mentioned a connection, but sexual connections were pretty common. Still, there was a small part of her that felt she was missing something. That even with all the facts neatly lined up, she was missing the big picture. Was Dumas a controlling maniac, prepared to do whatever was in his power to rule the world? Was this Mateese person the one she should truly fear? Or was it Payton and his unyielding need to kill her? And where the hell was Jet? Had he left her here as punishment for her disagreeing with him? He thought the answer to senseless killing was more senseless killing. That was ridiculous and she’d never agree to that. Closing her hands over her face, Tori finally gave up and let out a soft whimper. “There was a woman in my life once,” Dumas’ voice sounded softly in the huge room.

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Tori looked up with a jolt. She’d thought she was alone. Dinner had been over for more than an hour, and after her futile attempt to work, she’d come to this room on the far side of the house. It was filled with books and a huge fireplace. She’d been intrigued by the fireplace and was thrilled when, upon touching the mantle above it and whispering “fire”, as Butler286 had instructed her, tall orange flames warmed and greeted her. She’d sunk to the floor in front of them, willing herself not to cry. Now Dumas stood above her. When she didn’t speak, he simply moved to a nearby chair and took a seat. “Her name was Alaina. She was very young when she came to work with me in the lab. She was bright and energetic and utterly breathtaking.” Tori found herself riveted by his words, or was it the way he sat in that chair, his legs crossed, his wrinkled hands resting in his lap, staring into the flames as his mellow voice washed over her. She wasn’t entirely sure, but she’d shifted her body in his direction and listened attentively. “I was already forty years her senior, but she didn’t seem to mind. We became quite close in the few years before the project.” Dumas paused, looked down at Tori, then shrugged. “I wasted no time bedding her.” Tori was shocked by his frankness, but didn’t let it show. “We were soul mates, if you can understand that. Alaina gave me something I’d never experienced before and I did the same for her. The outside world would never agree with a sixty year-old man taking a twenty-year old woman as his wife, but Alaina and I didn’t give a damn about the outside world. We lived here in the mountains, our life was here, our love was here.” Tori felt her eyes water, the despair and simple longing in his voice almost broke her heart. “What happened to her?” There had never been any mention of an Alaina. And Tori had done extensive research on Sidney Dumas. What he was sharing with her now was a well-kept secret and she felt privileged to hear it. “Alaina was young and she wanted a family. I wanted to give her everything.” “And so you gave her the family of Cauldrons?” He let out a wry chuckle. “No. She wasn’t crazy about the idea of cloning. Alaina was a simple sort. She didn’t need much to make her happy and change wasn’t one of her favorite things. But she had a way of looking at me, a way of touching my soul without any physical contact at all, that would bring me to my knees. That type of connection isn’t common,” he said, then looked directly at Tori. “And it shouldn’t be taken for granted.” Tori sensed they were no longer talking about Dumas and his Alaina. “To the contrary, physical connections are very common.” She frowned, then resumed staring into the fire. Dumas nodded. “I agree. But when that physical connection is linked with something more, it is rare. It is special. Alaina used to say that she could feel me with her at all times. And now, even though she’s been gone a while, I still feel her. At all times.” 102

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Tori pursed her lips. The last thing she needed right now was some story of romance and happily ever after, followed by the tragedy of true love. These were fairy tales that she’d never allowed herself to believe in. Sure, she wanted a family someday, but she wasn’t delusional enough to believe that it would be the love of the century or some bonding that would overtake her entire body, her world, her soul. That just wasn’t how it worked. But even a lunatic like Dumas had a right to his fantasies. “That’s nice,” she said blandly. “Hmph,” Dumas said, then stood. “Jet is a special one. You’d be wise to keep your mind and your body open to him.” Tori whirled around, giving Dumas a seething glare. “No, Mr. Dumas, my mind and my body belong to me. However special Jet may be, he’s not in control of me or of my destiny.” Undaunted by her words, Dumas continued to stare at her. “It’s funny you should mention destiny, Tori. Everyone has one and everyone spends most of his time trying to avoid it. Take it from a man who’s learned from experience, it can be prolonged, but in the end it is still your destiny and sooner or later you will realize you never really had the control to start with.” He walked slowly to the door. “In the end, you have no control,” he whispered. And then he was gone. Tori got to her feet and stifled a curse. She didn’t want to hear about destiny and control or love and special ones. Her mind was rattled enough with all this death and destruction going on around her. Stalking up the steps like a spoiled child, she found her room and slammed the door behind her. Tearing at her clothes, she threw them to the floor, then moved quickly to the bathroom. She stood in a crystal encasement and murmured, “Shower,” then closed her eyes as the hot water drenched her body. By sheer force, she willed all words spoken and heard today out of her mind. She’d scream if she didn’t. Her shower complete, she climbed into that big bed alone and viciously pulled the covers up to her chin. An off thought entered her mind. Since when did she start sleeping nude? She hadn’t time to consider the answer before her eyes closed and she drifted to sleep.

***** He lifted her foot, kissing the sensitive arch, the heel, then laved her toes with his tongue. Tiny nips encircled her ankle and moved up her calf. Tori writhed, then settled at his soft command. “Shhhh, let me love you.” Relaxing against the pillows, she did just that.

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Paying an insane amount of attention to the backs of her knees and thighs, he licked and nipped the tender skin, sending waves of pleasure scorching through her body. He pushed her thighs apart gently and she moaned. He inhaled. “I’ve been in love with your scent forever.” He inhaled again. “I crave you.” Could words make you wet? Tori would immediately answer yes, as her pussy seemed to pulse beneath his intense gaze and seep with happiness in blatant praise. He hovered just inches above her, his breath warm on her pussy. She wanted to grab his head, to speed up this process of oral pleasure, but she refrained. She longed for him and would take him and this moment slowly if it killed her. “Open yourself for me,” he ordered softly. “Offer me a taste.” Her hands slid sinuously over her stomach, then down over the short dark curls. Her fingers traveled further, carefully unfolding herself for him. “Yes,” he whispered. “That’s what I want.” Tori opened her legs wider, determined to give him everything. He wanted an offer and she was giving it. Her heart hammered in her chest as new and surreal feelings rushed inside. He did not touch her, at least not with his hands, but she felt him inside of her, mentally moving throughout her body as if he belonged there, reaching into every nuance of her soul. Then his tongue stroked her. One long, torturous motion that made her want to scream. From the back to the front, from her swollen nub to her rear entrance, he drenched her with his loving. Again Tori found herself wanting to grab hold of his head to push him further, to gain this pleasure right now. “No. This time we’ll go slow,” he told her. She felt herself nodding her head, but her eyes would not open. He slipped two fingers inside her, working against her walls until she creamed in his hands. Her back arched, her mouth opened and she let out a low moan. Her tongue scraped over her lower lip and Jet felt himself grow harder. Moving up her body, he traced a finger over her plump lower lip, then slipped it inside her mouth. She instinctively began to suckle. “Open your eyes, Tori,” he urged her as his thick arousal patted against her stomach. He pulled his finger out of her mouth and she groaned. “This is my dream.” He looked down at her and because her tongue was extending, searching, he gave her his finger again. “No. This is our dream.” Tori’s eyes flew open and, for the first time, saw the face of her dream lover. He was dark, his eyes simmering with heat. His thick lips opened slightly, his jaw pronounced, his shoulders broad. She smiled as if meeting him for the first time had been her lifelong goal. He smiled in return moving his finger in and out of her mouth. She sucked it vigorously and whispered, “More.” Jet shifted so that his erection now tapped her bottom lip. Guiding himself slowly, his cock sank into the heated moistness of her mouth. With his knees on either side of her head, he gently rotated his hips, pumping into her. His face was near her center, her scent calling to him yet again. While she continued to suck him, he reached over to the 104

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stand beside the bed and grabbed the sensitizer he’d placed there. Flicking the seveninch, silk-covered pole on, he licked his lips in anticipation as it hummed, then placed it at her entrance. For a minute, he held perfectly still. Tori’s hand had found his swollen sac and worked sinuously over the taut skin while her tongue swirled around his cock. Jet inserted the sensitizer and moaned as Tori bucked her hips. When she had accepted the full length of the gadget, he began to move it in and out of her in tune with his erection in her mouth. She worked him, he worked her, and both their breathing rose along with the temperature in the room. When he rammed both his cock and the sensitizer into her with force, she shivered and he slowed things down again. Tori’s heart slammed against her rib cage as she swiped her tongue over her lips. He’d moved from above her and now positioned himself between her legs. She massaged her breasts, tweaking her nipples, further stimulating her own arousal, although she didn’t believe she could get any hotter than she was at that moment. Whatever he’d used, whatever he’d been doing while she feasted on his erection, had taken her to new and higher heights that she hadn’t quite come down from yet. “Look at me, Tori,” he demanded. Her lids were heavy, her body sated and tense all at once. He called her name again and this time she opened her eyes. His eyes were dark, then sparked with that flash of green she was becoming familiar with. She tried to look away, but he grabbed her chin and turned her back to him. “Open your eyes and look at me.” His voice held a fierce edge she’d never heard before and she obliged. The flash came again, but this time she didn’t look away. She held his gaze mostly because a strange swirling had begun at her ankles and proceeded to move all the way up to her thighs to spiral at her center. She felt grounded, unable to move even if she wanted to, which she didn’t. He was doing something to her, although his hand had moved from her face and their bodies were not touching any place else. She could feel the change. It was as if he were filling her, taking his position inside her body. “From this point on, they are our dreams,” he spoke slowly as if to be sure she understood. For tonight, she would be his in every way. “I don’t understand,” she whispered. “I am dreaming. How are you here?” Even as she asked the question, she knew the answer. He’d always been there. It had always been him. Jet. He was her dream lover and he was a Century warrior. Those two things conflicted with each other, but their bodies did not. She loved the feel of him and needed his touch like she needed her next breath. There was no question about that. As for what else she needed, she’d think about that in the morning. For tonight, he was her lover. He was her dream.

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“You understand. Let go of all those other thoughts and just feel.” He bent down and kissed her breast, taking a puckered nipple into his mouth. “Just feel,” he whispered when he shifted from one to the other. Tori closed her eyes then, and brought her hands up to guide his head. He laved her breasts and she held him firmly in place as he did so. She spread her legs, then wrapped them securely around his waist, pulling him down to her. “Yes,” she moaned. Jet moved in and out of her with exquisite slowness that made her teeth chatter and her thighs quake. She moved in rhythm with him until he grabbed her hips and held her firmly. “Not another second,” he said in a tight voice. “I can’t wait another second.” Tori moaned, she’d already given up her struggle. Waves of pleasure rippled through her body even as she felt him tense and empty his essence into her. To say she saw stars was an understatement. What she saw was a parade of color breaking through the darkness, crashing into her with the sheer force of a hurricane. And she could do nothing but accept it. In that moment, she could feel him. Really feel him. His pain, his concern, his confusion, his love. Yes, that foreign emotion that she was almost positive she’d never experience. She felt it in him. A warm center that emanated through him, touching and enveloping her. It was like an out-of-body experience, one she’d gladly relive over and over again. No longer were they a Century warrior and a Perfect One. No longer a man and a woman. They were Jet and Tori. They were two halves of a whole. Tori was enjoying the last bright edges of their pleasure and could feel Jet slipping out of her slowly, but surely, when she inhaled abruptly. Her heart thumped, then paused, then thumped loudly again. She inhaled again. She knew that smell. Intense heat surrounded her and clogged her airways. She gasped. Her body shifted, her breathing intensifying. They were no longer alone. Jet touched a hand to her face. She was cold and she was shaking. Her eyes opened and focused on him. “He’s going to kill her,” she said in a panicked voice. “Where is he?” Tori struggled to breathe. Blood splashed against her, running in slow, hot rivulets down her face. “Moanie!” she screamed just before the world went black.

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Chapter Twelve Payton climbed up the back wall, adrenaline coursing wildly through his veins. He remembered pumping into Lynae the night before. She’d stayed with him all night and he’d had her every way imaginable. She’d been there waiting for him, ready for him. And he’d taken her without malice. In the morning, he’d known that she would be gone, just as he’d known that her visit had another meaning. But he didn’t care. He’d had a taste of her and his thirst wasn’t sated. He’d have her again and again and he’d have Mateese’s position as well. He only needed to kill Tori, to end that one possibility, and then he’d be the best. His clan would unanimously make him their leader. With a swish of his tail, he broke the window and climbed inside. The minute he entered, he knew he was in the right place. This wasn’t Tori’s apartment. She hadn’t been in hers. He’d half expected her to be, but then, he should have known that Jet would never be that careless. He’d guard this Perfect One carefully because he knew that she was the last in the region. There were others, but they were beyond the age of conception, they would never breed a Perfect Being. But Tori was in her prime and he’d be willing to bet that Jet had already had her. That’s the way Jet was. That was cool, though. Payton had nothing against leftovers, in fact he liked them best because they gave him a chance to prove his superiority. He knew that he’d have his chance with Tori, just before he killed her. But, for now, he’d have to settle for her friend. Moanie lay on her couch, watching an old episode of Charmed, when the breaking window startled her. Ever since that episode at Tori’s apartment a few days ago, she’d grown much more alert. She reached beneath her chair and pulled out an antique hockey stick she’d inherited from a previous relationship. Whoever had decided to pay her an unannounced visit was about to get a rude welcome. She was poised and ready to swing when her visitor appeared. A scream died in her throat. It wasn’t a burglar as she’d original expected, well, not in the sense that she expected. He was tall, broad and hairy. His eyes were bright, his claws gleaming. She remembered him instantly and cringed. But she wouldn’t try to run from him this time. This time he was going to be the one running. “Hello again,” he said in a raspy voice. Moanie took a step back, trying to reassert her grip on the stick. But she was shaking and it was obvious. Fear clawed at her, threatening to pull her down completely if she didn’t do something fast. She reached for the phone. “I’m calling the patrol.” 107

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Payton threw his head back and laughed. “You are not,” he spat and backhanded her. Her body flew into the air landing roughly on the floor across from him. Moanie didn’t want to get up as she accepted the horrendous pain searing through her body. Still, she turned and got to her feet. Her stick had fallen to the floor about a second before she had. She was defenseless and she was afraid, two things she loathed. “You have your friend to thank for this,” he said. “What do you want?” “I want to kill you,” Payton answered simply before dragging his claws down her chest. Moanie quickly brought her knee up to rest soundly on his groin. While the beast took a moment to regain his composure, she got in a few good punches, then pushed him far enough away for her to make a run for the door. He pounced before she’d taken two full steps, pushing her to the ground. His claws met with her back this time as she continued to struggle. She was bleeding and she was hurt, yet she didn’t quit. She fought him with every ounce of energy she had left. “Die, bitch!” he screamed as he attempted to sink his claws into her again. Moanie swung around, bringing her right leg up and forward as she did, kicking his arm away from her. “Go to hell, freak!” Then she heard a loud noise and turned. Her front door had just been kicked in by that other huge beast of a guy Jet had introduced as Silo. The clawed beast had turned to see who’d joined the party as well and Moanie took advantage of his lapse. With all the strength she had left she knocked Payton to the floor. Only her moment of bravado was quickly ended when he glared up at her with eyes that weren’t human at all and a snarl showing teeth that would do much more harm than his claws had. The next thing Moanie registered was Silo’s muscled arms pushing her back, his wide body blocking her from the clawed beast. “Not this time,” Silo growled. Peeping around Silo, Moanie saw the beast jump to his feet and swung at Silo, slicing the side of his face. Silo took the hit, but did not flinch. He let out a mighty roar, then charged backing the beast into the wall. The beast growled in response and the remaining windows shook. For the second time in her life, Moanie was witnessing a fight that was way beyond her imagination. These men, these creatures, moved with lightning speed and fierce determination. Her apartment was a mess, and when she looked down at herself, she realized she was bleeding profusely. He’d scratched her several times and it hurt like hellfire so that she wanted to do nothing but scream in agony. Instead, she slid across the floor until she could retrieve the remote that operated the phone system. Once the slim silver gadget was in hand, she pressed the emergency button.

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The moment an operator’s voice echoed throughout the room, the line went dead and she was scooped up off the floor. “Don’t scream. I won’t hurt you,” Silo told her in a voice that was all too calm, too normal for what she’d just witnessed. They moved out of the apartment quickly and down the stairs. An upgraded modular glider was waiting for them, and when they were securely behind the computer shield, Silo yelled, “Drive. To the estate and make no stops.” “Where are you taking me?” Moanie managed, although she was quickly growing weak, she suspected from the blood loss. “I need to get to a hospital.” “I will take care of you. Don’t worry.” Moanie lifted her head from the back of the seat. “Don’t worry?” She looked over at him, examining his weirdo features up close. It was then that she inhaled deeply. He wasn’t simply weird, he was a non-human. “I am not non-human,” he said with a frown. Moanie opened her mouth, then shut it again. “What did you say?” “You said I was non-human. I’m not.” Tori sat up further in the seat. Her legs were draped over his, and when she tried to move them, he held them tightly in place. “I didn’t say anything.” Silo tossed her an impatient look. “Whatever. I’m not non-human.” “Then what the hell are you and why do you look like that? This is some weird—” Silo put two fingers over her lips—well, two things that vaguely resembled fingers. The hair tickled her upper lip and her nose and she sneezed. That caused a tremendous amount of pain and her body shook with it. “Calm down,” he said, feeling her pain rip through his own body. Silo was an empathic Century. He felt, heard and knew things about people around him that nobody else experienced. He never figured out why he’d been given this gift along with his non-human DNA. Whatever the reason, he found it came in handy at times. “I will take care of you.” “You…” Moanie struggled to breathe. “You…don’t know…me.” “It doesn’t matter. I need you to be quiet.” He closed her lids and he closed his, then he transferred some of his strength to her. She sighed. “Rest. Everything will be fine.” Moanie’s mind continued to rage. No, everything won’t be fine. I’m traveling to Lord knows where with who knew what; I’m bleeding to death and I missed the season finale of Charmed. Everything is not fine! Silo moaned. This was going to be a long ride.

***** Tori’s chest hurt, her head pounded and she paced the floor like a caged animal. The image had been clear. Payton was attacking Moanie. She’d screamed, she’d cried 109

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and Jet had tried to calm her. It was a setup, he assured her. Part of Payton’s plan to lure him away from her. That’s why he didn’t leave her to fight Payton himself. A part of her was happy that he hadn’t gone, for she was sure he would have killed Payton. And she was equally sure that killing was not the answer. At the same time, she wanted Moanie safe. She’d gotten her friend into this mess and she was riddled with guilt as a result. “She is alive,” Jet said in a tone that proved he was just as stressed as she was at this point. He had been watching her pace but hadn’t said a word. This was part of their connection. Jet sensed her needs and catered to them. She was upset and worried. He could have tried to take her mind off Moanie and Payton, he could have left her alone to join the battle. Instead he stayed with her, watching her, listening to her. She sensed he wanted an end to this torture as much as she did. Tori paused, turned sharply to him and asked, “How do you know?” “Silo would have called by now if she wasn’t. The fact that we haven’t heard from him yet means he’s handling the situation.” “And that bothers you?” She watched as he sat stiffly in a high-backed crimson chair. He was totally succulent, the best damned eye candy she’d ever seen. And he mastered her body like nobody’s business. But he had a dark side, a place full of shadows and demons that she admitted to being just a bit afraid of. He looked hungry, starving for blood and knowing just where to find it. She would have flinched at that thought, but instead was drawn to him. She’d always been drawn to him. “You want to kill him yourself.” Jet clenched his teeth, bit down on his animalistic instincts, which threatened to surface. She’d never seen that side of him, and while she thought she knew all there was to know about Dumas’ creations, she was in no way prepared for the sight of the real thing. His claws itched at the surface of his skin, his blood pumping fiercely through his veins. A flick of his tongue and he could feel the edges of his teeth sharpening, preparing for battle. He lay back and closed his eyes. Because he looked so totally dangerous or in spite of it—she wasn’t quite sure—Tori touched a hand to his shoulder. “Jet?” “He is mine to deal with, but if the opportunity arises, another Century will take him out,” he said tightly without opening his eyes. She touched his cheek and gasped, no doubt feeling his stubble that unlike human men was more bristly and pronounced. Surprisingly, she did not pull away. “I don’t understand this need to kill.” Jet swallowed hard. Her touch heated him in an entirely different way. He’d hated the fact that this dream had intruded on their bonding. He’d wanted her to completely succumb to him, and in a way she did, but even now he sensed her doubt. “It is what I am trained to do. What I must do.” “You don’t have to kill. You can choose. Humans always have a choice.” 110

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He opened his eyes to look at her. “I am not human.” She knelt down beside him, still touching his cheek. “You feel human to me.” Lifting a hand, he covered the one of hers at his face. She’d felt his whiskers, he knew, and probably saw a few other preliminary changes. She was still there looking at him as she had when he lay in bed next to her. But then, she still didn’t know everything, she hadn’t seen everything. “We are not the same, Tori. We never will be.” Tori chuckled. “I sure hope not. Two of me would be more than enough for one world.” She looked at him as if she too felt his loneliness, his struggle. But her look held so much more, it held hope. “I will kill Payton, not only because it’s my job, but because I want him dead. So I guess I have made a choice.” She did pull away from him then, repulsion clear in her eyes. Jet felt her withdrawal before she’d even decided to move away. He couldn’t let that matter. Payton had to die. There was no question about that. It was fact. The world was not safe with him alive. She wasn’t safe. She would hate him for killing Payton, but eventually she would forget. She would forget the dreams and she would forget the fear. But at least she would be alive. “You will stay here. You are safe here.” Tori spun around, her cap of hair falling against her cheek. “Safe? How the hell am I safe with a killer? For all I know, you could be plotting to kill me too.” Jet stood, clenching his fists at his sides. “I would never hurt you.” “Ha! That’s a lie if I’ve ever heard one.” She brushed her hair back and tucked it behind both ears as she moved closer to him. “How could you make love to me, repeatedly? How could you draw me in and make me feel like…like…” Her breath hitched and she fought the urge to scream or cry or whatever a broken-hearted woman did. “Like I was special. Like we had something special together. How could you do that, knowing that it was pointless? That it would end.” “It doesn’t have to end, Tori.” What was he saying? How could they go on together? He didn’t know. All he knew was that he didn’t want to be without her. She was a part of him now, a part he’d longed for. A part he wanted desperately. She shook her head vehemently. “You don’t understand,” she whispered. Because he couldn’t stand the anguish in her voice, because he needed to confirm their contact, to feel their connection again, Jet went to her. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered into her hair. He didn’t know what he said or if she even heard it, all he knew was that this was the most important person in his life. If she hurt, he hurt. If she left him, he would die. “No!” Tori pushed away from him and took a few steps back, holding her hands up to keep him away. “You can’t seduce me out of this. You can’t touch me and make everything all right. You can’t make it go away. Nobody can,” she cried. “What is it, Tori? What is really bothering you?” 111

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“He killed them!” she screamed. “He didn’t have to kill them, but he did because he wanted to, because he chose to.” Tori crumpled to the floor, pain obviously tortured by what she’d seen. She was on her knees, her arms wrapped tightly around her midsection. She rocked back and forth as if that act alone would stop the tears from falling. Rushing to her side, Jet knelt on the floor beside her, but was careful not to touch her. She’d only pull further away if he did. But he wouldn’t leave her, that one thing was certain. “Who? Who did he kill?” It was another few minutes of crying, another few minutes of soul-shattering sobs before she took a deep breath and looked at him. “I was invited to attend a college open house. My girlfriend and I went, not because we were interested in the school.” She paused, sniffled, then took another breath. “We were more interested in the college boys.” Jet tried not the let the idea of her with other men disturb him too much. He wasn’t successful, but he didn’t think she noticed. “He planned to burglarize the house. He’d cased if for weeks, so he knew exactly what was in there and what it was worth.” In a quick, awkward motion, as if she were embarrassed, she lifted her arms and, with the palm of each hand, wiped her eyes. “My parents and my brother were supposed to be at some business conference for the weekend. We liked to take the trips with my dad because he got bored and said he missed us when he was away from home too long. My mother liked the opportunity to travel for free.” She gave him a wry smile and watched as Jet’s eyes softened a bit. “They were asleep when he entered the house. He came through the garage, so he’d seen my dad’s car. He could have abandoned the job or left the house and looked someplace else.” Jet touched her shoulder then. She shrugged his hand away. “But he didn’t! He chose to keep on going.” Her chest had begun to heave again as adrenaline passed through her. She’d read the patrol’s report over and over for the year following the murders. She knew every fact, every minute detail, right down to the moment he hit her mother with the bat. “My father woke up when he heard the noise. He told my mother to stay in their room. He went downstairs to investigate and was met with a steel bat to his head.” Jet frowned. “He hit him thirty-seven times. My father was dead after the third blow.” “Tori,” Jet whispered. She shook her head, warning him that his pity was not welcome. “My brother had stayed upstairs as long as possible. He called to my father and when my father didn’t answer, he started down the steps. He made it down the first two before he was met by the man with the bat. He broke Lenny’s jaw first, then he smashed his face in until he wasn’t even recognizable.” Fresh tears ran down her face, but she spoke calmly.

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Jet reached up and wiped a few tears away. She was at her breaking point, she knew and didn’t even try to avoid his touch. He cupped her face as her eyes focused on his. “Mommy had stayed in the bed. She always listened to Daddy. He used to say that he didn’t know where I came from, because I didn’t listen to anybody.” Jet’s lips spread into a tight smile. “She was still sitting on the bed, but had picked up the phone and finally dialed the patrol. Mommy and Daddy liked the old phones over the newer computerized voice systems. The operator had just answered when the first blow was struck. Her screams were recorded until she had no more voice, no more air in her lungs to release a sound.” He kissed her forehead, her nose, then pulled her close, cradling her head in his chest. “In court, he said he just wanted the painting. Daddy had an original painting from…” She paused, hiccupped, then shook her head. “I can remember everything else, but I can’t remember who painted the picture or what the picture was. I know it sat above the fireplace in the living room and that he said it was worth a lot of money, but to this day I can’t picture it. I can’t remember it.” Her shoulders shook and Jet continued to rock her. “It doesn’t matter, baby. You don’t have to remember it.” “But I do. I want to. I don’t want to ever forget that he killed them. He didn’t care who they were, if anybody loved them or who they were leaving behind. He just killed them. Just like that.” Jet’s heart—his human heart—broke for her and he wanted to tell her he understood, that he would make a better choice. But he couldn’t. He had to do what needed to be done, and as traumatic as Tori’s story was, he couldn’t allow that to sway him. He loved her, yes, he readily admitted that their connection was love, but he also trusted that their love was special, their bond was special, enough to get them through this initially rough time. He loved her and that was all that should matter. He was about to tell her that when they heard the front door open, heard Butler286 rambling orders. Jet rose and pulled her up with him a second before the door burst open and Silo walked in with Moanie in his arms.

***** “He’s still out there, hunting,” Silo said when he and Jet were alone in the living room. Moanie had been settled into a bed, the healer, Lilith, at one side and Tori at the other. She would be okay, Lilith had assured them. “He’s setting a trap,” Jet said, walking toward the window. Pushing the heavy curtain aside, he stared out into the darkness and listened. He heard the wild calls of mating, of hunting, and his mouth watered. “He’s marked the territory, letting all the

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other Centuries know that this fight is between him and me. That’s why he didn’t stay and fight you. It’s me he wants.” “No. It’s Tori he wants.” Silo and Jet had been friends since their births, which were three days apart. “Well, he can’t have her.” Silo watched Jet, witnessing the tension in his shoulders and decided to speak what was on his mind. He’d been paying close attention to his friend these last few days, while purposely staying out of his mind. But even so, he wasn’t blind. “You want her too, don’t you?” Jet turned fiercely. “That’s not the point! She is a Perfect One and she must be protected.” Silo put a hand on Jet’s shoulder. “Calm down. I’m on your side.” “Sorry,” Jet sighed. “So you want her.” It was a statement this time. Not a question. “You’ve slept with her and now what?” Jet dragged his hands down his face. Thinking of Tori and thinking of Payton had two different types of hunger fighting a vicious war inside of him. A battle that could make him sloppy and cost him his life. “I don’t know.” “I think you do.” “I—” Jet was about to tell Silo that he wanted to keep Tori with him forever when Dumas burst through the door, his pale face heated with fury. “Lynae is here and she’s hurt.” Silo and Jet looked at each other. It was well known that Lynae was Mateese’s Cauldron. Just as it was well known that Payton desired her. Without another word, the threesome moved through the house to the basement where Dumas had ordered her kept. She was heard before seen. The distinct rattle of her tail, the thumping sound of her body moving throughout the cage she undoubtedly did not want to be in. They made their way down the dark hallway, smelling the cold and abandoned area. Impregnated Centuries were once held here. For the last three years, the steel walls had stood in solitary. Her tongue stretched between the bars in a futile attack. She was definitely hurt. The sluggish movement was proof of that. “Calm down, Lynae. The medicine will help in a moment.” Dumas spoke in a slow, authoritative tone. “He should be killed,” she hissed. “Your lover?” Silo asked. Her beady eyes turned to him and she contemplated her answer. “I guess you could call him that. He tried to kill me when he was finished with me.”

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“You are not speaking of Mateese.” Jet knew this because Lynae had been in Mateese’s control for the entire five years of her life. No way would he try to kill her now. “No. His reign is almost over. Payton will take control and he will destroy all humankind.” She moved gracefully throughout the cell, the medication soothing her attitude a bit. Her rattle had quieted down, but still created a distracting buzz throughout the room. “Payton is not strong enough to lead,” Dumas answered. “Oh, but he is,” Lynae admitted. “He’s killed twice the number of Perfect Ones that any of the other Cauldron warriors have. He’s killed patrols and he’s killed innocents. He is fearless and he is determined. You will not stop him. He won’t allow it.” “Lucky for us, he doesn’t call the shots,” Jet said angrily. “Why did you come here?” Lynae’s head and upper body were human form, her breasts high and perky as she moved lithely throughout the cell. Long, dark hair flowed down her back as slanted eyes watched all three men carefully. “I am tired of being abused,” she said simply. “By Payton?” Silo asked. Her tongue extended, her eyes closing to mere slits. “By everyone.” Silo tossed Jet a knowing look. “How do we know this isn’t a setup? That Payton hasn’t sent you here as a distraction?” Jet proposed. “Because I don’t do his dirty work.” Jet didn’t believe her, the low growl emanating from his chest was proof of that. Lynae hissed. Silo took a protective step closer to the bars in case Lynae tried to attack. “Stop it!” Dumas yelled. “I will not have you bantering like children.” Lynae shrank meekly into a corner. “Thank you, Creator. They are always so vicious toward me.” “Vicious? Oh please, there is nothing more vicious than a woman scorned. And I’m betting that you’ve been sneaking around with Payton. Since you firmly believe that he will become the new ruler, you’d want to have your spot secured. Mateese found out and gave you a choice, to die now or die later, because that’s the generous person that he is. Am I correct so far?” “You know nothing. And he will kill you and the Perfect One. I think I’ll take pleasure in knowing that,” she spat at Jet. Jet grabbed the bars and shook them until they’d almost been pulled from the ground. “You will die along with Payton and Mateese and all the other twisted Cauldrons! And there’s no doubt that I’ll take pleasure in that!” Silo pulled Jet away from the bars as Dumas systematically pressed buttons on the control pad. Another steel wall was released, encircling the cell in a thicker layer. Lynae

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hissed, not agreeing with the smaller confines. “If you are a part of their plan, we will find out soon enough,” he told her. “You two will leave now,” Dumas said to Jet and Silo. “We will discuss this in the morning. We have had a trying night and no sane decisions can be made because of it.” “Sane?” Jet tossed the word at Dumas as if it were a curse. “Do you even know the meaning of that word? Have you ever made a sane decision in your miserably controlling life?” His anger was raw, his fury hot and boiling. Dumas’ creations and the effects thereof were coming to a head and he walked about calmly giving orders as if they had no choice but to listen to him. That’s the last thing Jet was willing to do. The man had long since lost all credibility with him. “This is my home,” Dumas spoke in a quietly angry voice. “You will not speak to me this way.” “Yes, this is your home and you can have it! The only reason I am here is because Tori needed to come and I need to protect her. But make no mistake about it, I will handle Payton and Mateese and I don’t need your permission or approval on how I intend to do so.” The two men squared off, tension vibrating off the otherwise chilled walls around them. And from six feet away, around the turn that led to the steps and the only entrance or exit, Tori crouched and listened. Moanie was finally sleeping peacefully and she’d gone in search of Jet to tell him that she wanted to leave first thing in the morning. She wasn’t sure why she was going to tell him this or why she’d told him about her parents. But she felt she at least owed him an explanation before she walked out of his life. She would not be a part of this senseless killing and she would not continue to endanger her friend. She heard the rage in Jet’s voice and felt a chill run down her spine. He was a killer, that fact she could no longer deny. The reason for his killing did not matter. Or did it? Footsteps sounded against the marbled floor and she hurried up the steps and through the door. She didn’t stop running until she was in the room that she and Jet shared, staring at the bed that they’d made love in. Closing the door swiftly behind her and clasping a hand to her now heaving chest, she tried to calm herself, to make an informed decision. He was coming to the room, she could feel his approach, feel the increase in warmth in her body, the betrayal of her flesh. Moving quickly into the bathroom, Tori undressed and stepped into the shower. He was a killer, she thought, as the warm water washed over her. He would take a life without a second thought and she could not abide that. She turned her back and let the heated rivulets run down her spine, closing her eyes she thought of Jet in a different way. The way he’d first come to her, as a dark presence in her dreams. A presence that brought her great pleasure. His touch, his voice, his being…wait a minute… Tori jerked her head up at the realization. Jet had been the man in her dreams all along. She

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dreamed of each death. She did have the gift of sight as he had suspected. She was a Perfect One. From the moment Jet had appeared in her hallway, she’d known there was a reason for him being there, for him making contact with her. She believed in the Centuries and the Cauldrons because she’d seen the research. She believed in the threat of world dominance because it was as old as time and the murders were proof. She’d never had proof of Jet’s claim of who or what she was, until now. But that did not change what she must do. There was no future between her and Jet. She could not love a killer, not when a killer had taken all that she loved. The door to the shower opened and Tori jumped in response to the blast of cool outside air. He stood in splendid nakedness, his dark body radiating a heat beyond imagination. His muscles rippled, his cock jutted forward in all its glorious length. He stepped inside and she gasped as suddenly there didn’t seem to be enough room to breathe. “What do you want?” she asked, although she knew the answer. Jet stepped beneath the water and fell to his knees, taking each breast in his palms and squeezing. Squeezing the swollen globes, he pulled from the base to the taut-ended nipples. She sucked in a breath and he ignored the slight tinge of pain in her action. He needed her. He needed this. He did not want words or explanations. He was hungry for her and only for her. He had a lot ahead of him, but for tonight, for this moment, he was the hunter and she was his prey. Her skin was so soft, so smooth and so arousing. His tongue lapped the distended nipple and he gave in to the urge to bite down. She winced again and he soothed the ache with a long slow lick. She sighed and his mouth moved down her slim torso. “No, not this time.” She attempted to argue with him but her back slumped against the warm tile of the shower as his tongue dipped playfully in and out of her navel. One hand went reluctantly to the back of his head while the other cupped and kneaded her breast. “Yes,” Jet growled. “Every time.” Jet rubbed his cheek over the short hairs covering her crotch. He inhaled that intoxicating scent and rubbed his nose, his chin and his eyes over her mound. Adrenaline surged through him and he found himself grabbing her thighs, pulling them roughly apart then thrusting his face between her creamy folds. Bending her knees, Tori sat on his face. He didn’t lick her gently nor did he suck her politely. He devoured her, eating her like she was a five-star meal. His hands on her hips held her still while he dived in over and over again, sucking her dry. And when her legs began to quiver, he stood above her, grabbed her shoulders and roughly turned her to face the wall.

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“Torture,” he growled, then bit the back of her shoulder. “Such sweet torture,” he said, a hand grabbing the back of her neck while the other slipped down to pinch her bottom. “Oh,” Tori yelped, then bucked back against him. “Yeah, that’s right,” he whispered roughly, then thrust his finger between her crease. “Back it up again,” he demanded. She obeyed. His finger slipped down further, entering her with a fierce thrust. “Work your hips, Tori. Do it for me.” Tori worked her hips and his finger slipped deeper into the tight entrance of her ass. His body tightened with intense spikes of pleasure. He’d touched her this way in the car, remembered the deep urge to take her this way. He had a better angle this time and when she thrust her hips back, his finger sank in further, until his palm slapped against her ass with each motion. She pumped greedily, her release seeping from her center and slipping down her thighs. Jet pulled his hand out of her quickly, then grabbed each rounded mound of her bottom. Blood pumped fierce and hot through him as her scent invaded his nostrils, heightening his desire. His heart rammed against his chest, his teeth sharpening as he raked them over the skin of her back. He didn’t want to bite her, didn’t want to scar her beautiful skin, but she was driving him mad. This desire for her was driving him to do things, to want things. He nipped her and she screamed, the sound echoing through his head, making his cock harder. Pulling her cheeks apart roughly, he buried his thick rod into her with one hard thrust. Tori’s arms were extended, her breasts caressing the cool tile, and when he entered her, his long, hard cock filling her completely, she tried to climb the walls, literally. With his hand still on her neck, Jet stilled her. “Don’t run from me,” he growled and heard the change in his own voice. She shook with desire and backed her bottom against him again. “That’s right, give it to me. Give it all to me.” She circled her hips again and moaned, “Take it, baby.” And he did, ramming into her with such force, such unadulterated pressure, that his head hurt from the exertion. But he ignored that pain, reveling in the pleasure of her body, of her soul. Three quick thrusts, one long stroke…repeat… One long stroke…then another…and another. The penetration was deep, the pleasure addictive. Jet lowered his forehead to her back, closing his eyes as both hands gripped her hips and his cock sank in further. Warmth surrounded him, the musky scent of sex enveloping him. His hips rotated counter-clockwise, she pushed back against him. He groaned and pumped fiercely. The skin around his arousal thinned and stretched as he hardened more. He wanted to howl, to scream his pleasure into the night, but instead Tori yelled.

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“Jet!” His name on her lips drove him into her core again and again and again. He pumped her harder, faster, and she screamed louder and louder. He was consumed by her. She’d come again, for what seemed like the millionth time. His swollen sac slapped against her butt cheeks as his thick rod slammed into her. She opened her legs wide, greedy for more. He felt so good, so strong, so capable. She trusted him to please her and he never let her down. Her breasts pressed against the now cooling tile, her nipples aroused by the contact. Her thighs shook as she rode his length. He slapped her bottom and she screamed in ecstasy. She’d been screaming a lot, but it was worth it. It had never been this way before, this urgent, this feral. He wasn’t complaining one bit. In fact, he relished it. When his hand came around to her front to stroke her nub, and she creamed for him yet again, Jet knew a living death. He knew an overload of pleasure, an overheating that threatened to consume him. Jet pumped and stroked, thrust and pinched making Tori come over and over again until his fingers and cock slid along her center with a sloshing sound. “More,” she whispered. Jet could not hold off any longer, he bit into her back, pulled back only seconds before drawing blood, then slammed into her once more. “All!” he groaned. “I want it all!” Jet roared as he came inside of her like a piston, his pleasure leaving him, transferring yet another part of him to her with deep penetration. His hunger was almost sated. Almost. He was asleep. Finally. After their romp in the shower and then again when they’d made their way to the bed, she’d waited none-too-patiently for him to doze off. She’d thought of this idea somewhere between her fourth and fifth orgasm. Okay, so she couldn’t resist him sexually, but she didn’t have to agree with his plans for the world’s salvation. There was a woman locked downstairs. In a cold, dark cell, she was being held until her lover came for her and then Jet would kill her. Just the thought of the woman’s death had Tori shivering. She couldn’t allow it to happen. Pushing the comforter back, she slowly put one, then the other foot onto the floor. She paused a moment, looked down at his sleeping form, at the way his long black eyelashes brushed over his even darker skin. He looked peaceful, serene and harmless. Looks were deceiving. With her purpose clear, Tori stood, then tiptoed to the door and went through it, breathing steadily once it was closed behind her. She didn’t stop again until she was in the basement. The woman’s name was Lynae. She’d heard Silo say it. She began to

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move toward the cell, then realized that nobody was down here but her and Lynae. She actually wanted the woman to hear her approach, to know that she was coming for her. Why? She wasn’t quite sure. She was at the keypad, switching on the electric taser she’d brought down with her when she heard it, something that sounded like beads moving. Her light, which was dismal at best in the dark basement, moved upon her command to the inside of the cell. She didn’t know what she was expecting, but she certainly hadn’t anticipated this. Lynae was a Cauldron, she’d drawn that conclusion. Tori wasn’t real sure what Lynae’s specific breeding was and neither Jet nor Silo had disclosed it during their confrontation with her. This creature in front of her had to be close to six feet tall, a golden complexion with a glorious mane of ink black hair cascading down her back. She was well formed, what men would call a heavy rack and full buns. She stood in the corner completely nude, as if she were posing for some kinky photos. Tori should have been repulsed, should have turned away but she couldn’t. Never in her life had she seen a more perfect specimen. From her exotically slanted eyes to her pert little nose and full lips, she was absolutely gorgeous. “You are the one he wants so badly,” she spoke and Tori took a step back. Her voice was deep, sultry and alluring. It was no wonder that Mateese kept her all these years and Payton wanted her. If Tori was a man, she was sure she’d want her too. “And you are here setting his trap.” She finally found her voice and squared her shoulders. Whatever her breeding, for the moment she was just a woman and Tori would not be intimidated. Lynae laughed. “You have no idea what awaits you.” Tori waved a hand in Lynae’s direction. It was cold down here, her thighs were aching and she had a sexy-ass man upstairs in bed waiting for her. She didn’t have time for all these dramatics. “Whatever. I’m sending you home.” Focusing her mind on the control pad, she tried to enter a code. It beeped at her. She punched in another combination that was similar to the most frequent pin numbers people used. It beeped again, angrily this time. Tori sighed, afraid to try a third time for fear she’d be wrong and set off some type of alarm. But she had to try. Lynae’s life depended on it and so did Tori’s peace of mind. With her eyes closed and her mind focused, the numbers jumped out of the darkness into her head. She didn’t hesitate, but watched quietly as her fingers lifted and pushed the buttons. She knew instinctively that they were correct and was already stepping back out of the way when the door shifted and slid open. Lynae walked slowly, her body moving in rhythmic movements. Tori twisted her lips. This chick was taking the seductive thing to a whole new level and she was not impressed. “Hurry it up, before I change my mind.” Lynae stood directly in front of her. “You won’t. You’re stubborn. I think I like that.”

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“Well, goody for me,” Tori replied sarcastically. “Just get going and deliver a message to Payton for me.” “Sure, what’s the message?” Lynae asked as she brushed past her into the open hallway. “Tell him that I, the Perfect One, said to go to hell.” Lynae grinned, then moved toward the steps. “He most likely will, but not without taking you with him.” Tori took a step toward her, prepared to give her some more choice words to let her know that she was no sucker and that she’d fight him tooth and nail, but right before her eyes, Lynae stretched, her body becoming one long, pliant cord that no longer stood upright, but slithered up the bottom step. “Hsssssssss.” A long, disturbing tongue slipped through her lips even as her tail shook and rattled, then Lynae slid up the steps and out of sight. Tori stood stupified for another few minutes, then took a deep breath and headed for the bedroom. She’d done the right thing, she kept telling herself. So why did she feel like a Judas?

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Chapter Thirteen Tori was enjoying a blissful dream—this time void of sex and void of any murderous Cauldrons. She was lying on the beach, the bright sun warm against her skin. She felt calm, relaxed, as if all was perfect with the world. A roar that shook the windows in the room, and most likely throughout the mansion, broke the serenity and she came suddenly awake. Through sleep-blurred eyes, she made out a huge, ominous figure approaching. She blinked, trying to focus as the body grew closer. She probably should have been afraid, yet she wasn’t. Tension crackled in the air, but a familiar scent filtered through her, warning her that she was in no danger. “How could you?” he roared again. Okay, so that voice or second sense or whatever was dead wrong. This tone was definitely angry and certifiably dangerous. She was pulling the sheets up to her neck when it made its final descent. She opened her mouth to speak, then snapped it shut the moment he grabbed hold of her shoulders and shook her roughly. “You let her go, didn’t you? All I want to know is why you did it? Why you did this to me?” Her teeth clattered together with his force until she finally tired of being treated like a rag doll and pulled out of his grasp. “What the hell is wrong with you? Waking me up and scaring me like that.” In a protective gesture, although she was sure that if he touched her again she was going to swing back, Tori moved to the other side of the bed. Distance did not deter him. Jet knelt on the bed, following her to the other side. His movements were slow and purposeful. His eyes dark, flashing green again until he looked damned predatory. “I trusted you, Tori. I trusted you with the truth,” he said slowly. “What truth?” Fully aware of the source of his anger now, Tori straightened her shoulders and glared at him. She did not regret letting Lynae go and she would not apologize for it. “That you were planning to kill her. Tell me what I was supposed to do with that knowledge, Jet.” She had nowhere else to run and she couldn’t get out of the bed until she’d thrown the covers back, the covers that his large body now held securely in place. “Is that all you see in this situation? That I’m a killer?” His voice sounded tortured, then she dismissed that thought and replaced tortured with just really, really pissed with her. Still, she detected something else. “No, that’s not all I see. I see a misunderstood species doing what they were taught to do.” She took a

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deep breath and looked away from him, then back again. “I see a chance to stop this madness.” Jet cocked his head to the side. “And how is that?” She didn’t really have a resolution, she just knew there had to be one opposed to simply killing off the Cauldrons. “I…don’t really know.” He snarled. “But I do know that the remedy for senseless killing is not more senseless killing. If you were trained to kill, you should be able to be trained not to kill.” “We’re not robots, Tori. You can’t just punch in a few lines of code and change our entire way of thinking.” Exhausted and exasperated, Jet sat back on his heels and stared at her. He’d gone to the basement this morning to question Lynae, to find out what Payton’s plan was. He’d been livid when he found the cell opened and had gone straight to Dumas, who strangely enough did not look concerned at all. It was Dumas who told him that only Tori could have released Lynae. Nobody knew the code but him. Yet a Perfect One with the gift of sight could have tapped into his mind and retrieved the information. Jet did not doubt him because he’d known that Tori’s gift was of sight. She considered herself a human, nothing more and nothing less. That’s why she could sit here and tell him that things could be changed—because humans were just that arrogant. They believed they had the power to do anything in this world. That’s why they were in the predicament they were in now. Humans thought they had control. The Cauldrons would prove them wrong. His words made her feel ignorant to his kind. And while she admittedly could not relate to what it must feel like to live and think of war every waking moment of your life, she wanted to believe there was good in them somewhere. “How can you be so gentle with me and so cold-hearted to them?” “You’re being ridiculous! You’re a reporter, how many stories have you done on murders and wondered who had committed them? For all you know, if they happened within the last three to five years, it could have been a Cauldron. I would think, with what happened to your parents, that you’d be all for getting rid of them.” “Vengeance is not mine,” she said solemnly. “At one time, the pain of my family’s death had all but consumed me but I never entertained the thought of killing their murderer.” “That’s fine for you. But this isn’t vengeance for me. It’s duty. Why can’t you understand that?” He was almost pleading with her. There were so many obstacles between them, he hated that this was another one, but would not relent. “Why do you want me to understand murder?” “Because that’s who I am. And if you can’t accept that…” He stopped, slipped off the bed, then paced the floor. He didn’t want to say what had been rumbling through

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his mind all night long. He didn’t want the words to echo in his ears, but sensed she’d heard them loud and clear. “If I can’t accept that, then I can’t accept you,” she whispered. She’d said it and it had hurt just as much as he thought it would. Up until this point, he hadn’t really acknowledged how much her acceptance meant to him. And she was right, if she couldn’t accept what he was, then she couldn’t accept him. Still, he dared not repeat her words or officially acknowledge them. He turned to face her and saw his future flash quickly before his eyes. Here was this compassionate, intelligent woman whom he’d connected with on a level beyond words. She’d come into his life under extreme circumstances. He wanted nothing more but to keep her here. But ultimately he realized that decision was out of his hands. “I cannot be any other way.” “You can, but you won’t.” “That’s not fair!” he bellowed. “I’m not asking you to change. I’m not asking you to give up everything you know.” He was, but she didn’t know it yet. “I’m not a killer!” she retorted. They were at an impasse. One that only time would tell the outcome of. But for the moment, he couldn’t be near her and not want to touch her, to hold her, to have a normal conversation about the weather or whatnot. “I won’t change. You need to decide if you can deal with that or not.” Jet didn’t give her a chance to respond. He stormed out of the room before she could speak purposely. He wasn’t sure he could stomach her telling him he wasn’t good enough for her twice in one day. He walked and walked until he was far away from the house, far away from her and the feelings she aroused in him. That was the only defense he had.

***** Tori had work. She was tired of going over this same territory with Jet. They were different and that was that. Convincing herself that she could change him was a bad idea. Women all across the world had spent years learning that lesson. Jet was right—in one instance—he was what he was and that was that. And she couldn’t accept it. Briefly she entertained the thought that she didn’t want to accept it rather than really being unable to. Because there was a part of her that recognized the logic in what he said. Too bad that part was overruled. With her palmputer in hand, she walked through the house in search of Dumas. There were parts of the story that were missing. Gaps that only he could fill. After all, this was what she’d come here for. Jet had been a distraction, one she clearly meant to put out of her mind.

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Butler286 had informed her that Dumas was in his private garden, not the one Tori had spent so much time in the day before. With Butler286’s direction, Tori stopped when once again she was lost in the abundance of color. Except in this garden, Dumas had gone for the traditional, trading the exotic and most likely organically grown flowers of the outside garden for azaleas, impatiens and mums, all bursting with life and energy as if this were their season to do so. It was weird, because just along the other lane were tulips and calla lilies and daffodils. All these flowers required different climates or they bloomed in different seasons of the year. Some needed sunlight and some needed shade, yet they all grew right here in this spot perfectly. She knew instinctively that Dumas had a hand in this as well. “A jack of all trades,” she murmured to herself. “What’s the rest of that old saying?” a voice behind her asked. “And a master of none?” Tori turned and looked up into transparent gray eyes. The face looked familiar, but the eyes threw her off. That would be her excuse for why she didn’t run the moment she realized who he was. She’d opened her mouth to speak, but by that time he was just inches away from her, rubbing his fingers over her cheek. “The garden’s beauty almost pales in comparison to you,” he said softly. Then he grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her closer to him. “Almost,” he growled, a moment before crushing his lips down on hers. Tori’s body screamed at the assault. She opened her mouth only to bite down on his lower lip. He didn’t yell and pull away like she thought he would. Instead he growled, a sick sound coming from deep within his chest, and with a thick dark tongue, licked the blood that she’d drawn. “I’ll give you points for being a fighter. Too bad you’re on the wrong side.” “No. You’re on the wrong side,” she told him. “You’re Payton. The one who believes he can rule the world.” He tilted his head and pulled her hair harder. “I will rule the world.” “You will rot in jail,” she fired back. Payton threw back his head and laughed heartily. Tori struggled to break free of his grip, but he was strong. With each motion, she felt like he’d rip the hair right from her skull. He looked at her as if he were holding one of those pretty flowers in his hand. She thought of screaming, but somehow knew that was futile. She’d try another tactic. “This is not what you were bred to do.” “You don’t know anything about me or what I’m doing.” “I know you’re trying to get something that isn’t yours for the taking. I know that you’re being pimped to do another person’s dirty work. And I know that you won’t succeed.” With his free hand, Payton slapped her, then watched as her body crumpled to the ground. “It should be a crime to know too much.” He could kill her right here. And

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wouldn’t that be sweet. Leaving a Perfect One on the doorstep of the man who created it all. But he wanted his victory to be even sweeter. Last night Lynae had not come to him. He’d searched for her this morning and had been unable to find her until he’d gone to see Mateese. Lynae was in tears, shrinking into a corner of his office. He’d inquired about her and was told by Mateese that she’d disgraced him. He’d given her a very easy assignment and she’d failed. “What was the assignment he’d asked?” “To seduce Jet and bring him to me,” Mateese had responded. Payton’s entire body clenched at the mere thought of Jet touching Lynae. “And how did she fail?” Mateese had stared at him long and hard before answering. “She went to him and no doubt had her fun with him.” He inhaled deeply. “I smelled the sex of another on her skin. Yet he’s not here and she is. That says it all.” Payton felt like howling. He felt like sinking his teeth deep into Mateese’s thick neck. Then he’d looked at her and felt a pain so hot, so raw and so intense that he almost stopped breathing. He’d made her his and she’d consented. They’d spent that one glorious night together. She belonged to him. Payton did roar now that he was in his car, Jet’s new toy lying unconscious in the backseat. “You took something from me, Jet Landon. And I’m going to return the favor.” He licked the spot on his lip where she’d bit him and felt his cock rise. He was going to have a good time with this one. Each time he pounded inside of her, he’d think of Jet and Lynae. He’d let that hatred and that anger spew into her body until it choked her. And then he’d slice her slowly, intently. He’d make sure that Jet got his message loud and clear.

***** “She’s not like any other woman, I can tell you that straight off the bat,” Moanie said to Jet. The man she first thought was extremely sexy and now realized was absolutely edible. Tori was more than lucky to have a man like that in love with her. While Moanie wasn’t a big fan of the “L” word, she’d known the moment Jet walked into her room and asked if she’d seen Tori today that he was totally gone. “That’s an understatement,” Jet sighed. He was flustered and more than a little upset. He’d been gone all morning on a futile mission to clear Tori from his mind. The fact that he’d craved the sight of her the moment he stepped foot in the mansion proved his defeat. “You seem to handle her pretty well, though, considering.” “Considering what?”

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Moanie attempted to sit up in the bed. She didn’t know what herbs or concoction that old woman had slathered on her last night, but she was almost pain-free, but stiff as a board. “Considering she wasn’t looking for a man or a relationship.” Relationship? Jet cringed at the word. After this morning, she most likely would still not be looking for either. But he didn’t really want to discuss that with Moanie. He’d just stopped in to check on her and to see if she’d seen Tori. He’d been to the bedroom twice and around the grounds. A nagging feeling had started to form at the base of his neck. “I don’t think she needs to worry about that at any rate,” he said to end that conversation. “So you haven’t seen her at all today?” “No.” Moanie shook her head. “I expected her to be here the moment I woke up, the way she was carrying on last night. But I had breakfast alone and then Mr. Dumas stopped in. Other than that, I’ve been alone. Didn’t you sleep with her last night? How come you don’t know where she is?” Tori might be crazy, but she wasn’t about to pass up as much sex as she could with this god-like creature. Jet stood and rubbed a hand down his face. That feeling in the back of his neck grew hotter with each word Moanie spoke. He moved to the door, about to reach for it when it flew open in front of him. “He’s got her,” Dumas said, winded from his run from the third floor and around the house until he found Jet. Jet’s frown increased. Moanie sat straight up in the bed. “Who’s got who?” “How?” Jet asked through clenched teeth. “I don’t know.” Dumas was shaking his head insistently. “I saw her this morning, we were going to continue with the interview. When I went to look for her again, I couldn’t find her. I thought she was with you.” Moanie was inching her way out of the bed now. “You’re talking about Tori, aren’t you? Where the hell is she?” she asked the moment her feet hit the floor. That was about two seconds before the room began to sway in front of her. Jet ran to her side, lifting her easily and depositing her back in the bed. “Where do you think you’re going?” “I’m going to find my friend.” Moanie tried to squirm, but the pain she’d blessedly been without for the last few hours was returning. “Who has her, Jet?” “Don’t worry about it. I’m going to find her and bring her back.” Before he could walk away, Moanie grabbed the sleeve of his shirt. “She was perfectly fine until you showed up. We both were. If anything happens to her—” Jet covered the hand on his sleeve, recognizing the woman’s panic and feeling a percentage of it himself. “You don’t have to say it. Nothing will happen to her. I promise you.” Moanie’s grip lessened as she sank back against the pillows, her words holding no less conviction. “I want to know where she is.” When neither Jet nor Dumas answered

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her, Moanie gasped. “He has her. That maniac that tried to slice me up. The one you and Silo were fighting at her apartment.” Jet didn’t have time to explain nor did he have time to calm a hysterical woman, which was exactly what Moanie was about to turn into. He moved quickly to the door, tossing an order at Dumas on his way out. “Take care of her.” He took the steps without feeling his feet touch the floor. He wasn’t sure if the door opened or if he simply went through it. He was fueled by anger, focused on the fear. Her fear. His fear. Yet he never stopped. He was in his car, driving down the mountain toward the lair he’d hoped to never have to visit. Payton never stayed in one place regularly for fear a Century would simply kick down the door and kill him. But he’d take Tori there. Jet knew this without a doubt. She was a prize to him. A trophy he’d no doubt want to stare at long and hard before discarding. That was the part that scared Jet. Payton’s ultimate goal was to kill Tori. There was no question about that. So why hadn’t he simply killed her on the spot? For the same reason Jet knew he’d take her first to Mateese. Pressing his foot harder on the gas, Jet refused to let himself finish that thought. Payton was evil and sadistic. The things he could do to Tori were beyond his imagination. But he would get to her before then. He had to. Dumas sat down heavily in the chair Jet had previously vacated. A hollow look had covered his face and Moanie wondered what it was all about. It was from Tori that she’d first learned of Dumas’ venture into cloning. She’d been there when Tori first got the lead on the story five years ago. She’d also been there when her apartment was broken into and all her notes were mysteriously taken. Dumas’ threat of a lawsuit had almost cost Tori her job. He’d accused her of attempted slander and defamation of character, although her notes had all been lost. Tori assumed it was his way to ensure that the investigation ended there. When Kurb had given Tori this assignment a week or so ago, she’d been excited and more than ready for the chance to rejuvenate her career. Tori wanted to be more than a writer, she wanted to write stories that mattered for people who cared. And look where all her high hopes had gotten her. “This is all your fault, you know,” Moanie tossed the words out into the silent room. Dumas didn’t respond. “It was you all those years ago, wasn’t it? You had someone break into her house and steal her notes. Then you threatened to sue.” He still did not answer.

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“You almost got her fired and now, since the moment she found out you were ready to talk, she’s been in danger. Do you have something personal against her?” The room was quiet when she finished and this enraged her. “I know you’re old, but you’re not deaf. Answer me!” Dumas turned slowly to look at her. She was a pretty young woman, marred now only by a long scar along the right side of her face. But that would not hinder her. Lilith would take care of it and she’d be more attractive than ever. She had spirit and gumption, much like her friend, Tori. Much like his Alaina. “I’ve known for a long time about Tori Tinsdale and her gift,” he spoke quietly. “I have protected her for as long as I could and now she has Jet.” “Protected her? What are you talking about, old man? It seems to me you’ve done more to jeopardize her life than protect her. If you hadn’t created these things, she wouldn’t be so set on investigating them and she wouldn’t be in the middle of whatever conflict they have going on.” “She is where she was meant to be.” “What?” “She is a Perfect One and so she belongs to Jet. I planned it that way.” “You planned it? Tori was right, you really do have a God complex.” Dumas ignored her comment. She would never know how close to the truth she really was. “Jet will save her and he will set things right with the Cauldrons.” His heart beat heavily in his chest as he prayed his words were true. “Or he’ll barge in there and get himself and Tori killed. He’s only one man, or one Century, as you call it. How’s he going to take down this crazy guy and whoever he works for?” “That’s where I come in,” a voice sounded from the doorway. Moanie looked up to the beefy, brown-eyed hunk who had saved her life. “And just what are you going to do if you’re here and he’s there?” “He’s where?” Silo asked, stepping closer to Moanie’s bed. “He went to Mateese to get Tori back,” Dumas said. Silo’s head turned swiftly in the Creator’s direction. “Mateese has Tori?” “If that’s the crazy bastard that cut me, yes,” Moanie offered. “We really must work on your language. It is unbecoming of a lady,” Dumas admonished. “‘We’ won’t be working on anything but getting up out of this bed so I can take my girlfriend home. You people are crazy, and if you don’t get her killed, you’re going to drive her crazy instead.” Silo held a hand up to stop her. “Keep still. You need to heal.” He’d felt the pain radiating through her body as she’d attempted to climb out of the bed. “I will find Jet and we will find Tori. Everything will be all right.”

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Dumas nodded in Silo’s direction. He’d always been stable and level-headed. He complemented Jet’s impulsive rage quite nicely and that’s why—he suspected—the two had become good friends. He was glad that Jet had found someone to be close to. He and Jet had been close at one time, as close as… “Find them, Silo. Make sure Tori’s safe and help him bring down Mateese and Payton. Bring them both back safely,” he said wistfully.

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Chapter Fourteen Jet’s one and only mission was to save Tori. He thought of their argument and wanted to kick himself. He’d been careless and inconsiderate of her needs. This was what he’d been afraid of from the start. Their differences were too much for them to overcome. Or at least that’s what he’d thought. Tori, however, had seemed to overcome them quite well. It was now her expectations of him that Jet could not stomach. He should have known that what happened to her parents would weigh heavily on her heart. He didn’t have a family of his own to miss that way. So he understood how this life of murder and injustice could be a bit overwhelming for her, but that didn’t stop what and who he was. It didn’t stop the fact that he was in love with her either. That realization hadn’t surprised him as much as it should have. He hadn’t thought he was even capable of loving someone. He wasn’t human, after all. Well, not completely. And while he’d always felt a closer bond to his human origin, he didn’t dare fool himself into believing that they would ever accept him. And Tori hadn’t. She couldn’t live with what he was and what he was put here to do. It was as if she didn’t understand the connection between her personality and her job. To her, writing was everything; that was why Dumas and their story meant so much to her. That was the same connection he had to the destruction of the Cauldrons. Without him, they would take over the world. Or what was left of it after they’d killed all the Perfect Ones. To hell with all the logic and ins and outs of the situation, her safety was what mattered most. Leaping out of his car, Jet ran up the dozen or so steps that lead to Mateese’s front door. Just as he was about to kick it in, there was a touch on his shoulder. He turned quickly, snarling and prepared to strike. Silo pulled back. “Whoa,” he said, taking a step back and holding up both hands. “It’s me, man.” Jet relaxed a bit, closing his mouth so that his long, sharp teeth were no longer bared. “How did you know I was here?” When Silo only gave him a silly look, Jet sighed. There wasn’t much that went on around town that Silo didn’t know about. He wondered why Silo hadn’t been the one to tell him that Payton had taken Tori. “Because he was out of my reach. I was…ah…let’s say…busy when it occurred,” Silo responded to his friend’s unspoken question. Jet nodded. “I see. Well, I’m not wasting another minute.” It was Silo who nodded this time. “No need to, now that I’m here.” And with a flourish of his hand, he added, “After you.”

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Mateese had the audacity to look stunned when the door to his office hit the floor in a loud thud. Lynae, who had been slithering near his feet, took human form and glared at them warily. “Where is he?” “I think the question you should be asking is what a huge mistake you’ve made entering my home without permission,” Mateese stood slowly, eyeing Jet with nothing less than contempt. “We know he’s working for you, Mateese. And we know he took her.” Silo moved closer, his claws extended, his mindset ready for battle. “Payton,” Lynae whispered. Jet’s gaze flew to her. “You’re some piece of work. You have no loyalty to anyone.” “Enough!” Mateese roared, his white eyes growing large and intense. His hair, which had been bound now flowed freely at his shoulders. The tension in the room was thick with three powerful beasts and one deadly reptile. The impending damage was insurmountable. But this was not what he was here for. “Just tell me where she is,” Jet stated in a deadly calm voice. “I presume you are talking about your Perfect One. If so, I do not have her.” “You lying bastard!” Jet charged him. Mateese’s lean body stretched and, in one smooth motion, transformed into a fourhundred pound killer. His coat a shining gold, his eyes now glowing. With teeth bared and his heavy front paws on the top of the desk, he roared until the metal shades shook and fell from the wall. Jet was not intimidated. He unleashed his own fury, which sent Lynae scuttling into the nearest corner. “Just tell us where Payton has her, Mateese. You can’t win,” Silo said, trying to buy time before the inevitable occurred. But Mateese wasn’t interested in his words, he leapt over the desk, landing directly in front of Jet, who took a swipe at him with one of his own heavy, clawed paws. The strike connected and, for a moment, Mateese backed away. But that was just a preamble. He jumped on Jet, taking him down to the floor easily, since Jet was still half in human form. Silo was on Mateese’s back instantly, biting into the lion’s back as they rolled on the floor. Growls and thumps echoed throughout the room until Mateese tore away from their grip. His heavy body heaving, he licked his lips, then roared again. “I don’t have her, but I’m sure Payton does, just as I’m sure he’s killed her by now.” “He’s right.” Lynae came to stand in front of Mateese, blocking him in a futile gesture with her long arms. “Payton is not here. He hasn’t been here in days. If he has her, he’s at his place.”

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Silo looked from her to Jet, then to Mateese. “I believe her,” he said slowly, then turned back to Jet. “If he had her here, he would have shown his face by now. He’d want to gloat.” Jet silently agreed, then reached behind him into the waistband of his pants. He fully intended to end this war once and for all. He pulled out a long bladed knife and moved toward Mateese. The lion bent his head back and yawned as if bored, then right before their very eyes, disappeared. Now only Lynae stood there, her limber body trembling, although her shoulders remained ramrod straight. “You can’t kill a defenseless girl,” Silo warned as now both he and Jet approached her. Lynae tossed him a deadly look, then hissed as her long tongue escaped, coming dangerously close to Silo’s face. Jet’s movement was quick; with one swipe, he beheaded the woman, watching as her limbs turned into the infamous rattler’s tail, shaking and rattling a few minutes more before growing still, then disintegrating. The head had rolled and already disappeared. “I knew that would work,” Silo grinned at him. “Don’t get cocky. Why’d we even waste time coming here? Couldn’t you sense that they weren’t here?” “Ah, no. If somebody wasn’t clogging my frequencies with all his anger and hostility, maybe I could tune into another being or two.” “Whatever,” Jet ignored his smart remark, even though he knew this had to be hard for Silo. Not only did he have to deal with his own feelings, he had to feel Jet’s and Mateese’s at the same time. It was no wonder he couldn’t tell where Payton was. “Let’s go.”

***** “You’re thinking that he’ll come for you, right?” Payton taunted her. He’d been doing that for the past three hours he’d held her captive. She was tied to his bed, after he’d stripped her to her underwear, by her legs and her wrists. He hadn’t gagged her, saying he liked the sound of her voice. Tori hadn’t talked to him much, finding it hard to converse with a man who planned to kill her. The fact that she’d watched him murder so many times before chilled her blood. She lifted her chin, reaching for bravado she wasn’t sure she possessed. “He’ll come and then you’ll pay.” Payton laughed. “He’ll come in time to watch me kill you. Then I’ll destroy him.” “Oh please, if you wanted me dead so bad, why haven’t you already done it? I mean, all this show and talking is for the birds. Just get on with it.” Okay, and why was she saying these things again? Oh yeah, reverse psychology. Like she really thought that was going to work on this psychopath.

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He looked at her then, his eyes growing darker, more intense. The iris was now a bright gold color, actually it had been for a while now. “I have plans for you.” “What are you?” she asked impulsively. Payton had begun unbuttoning his shirt. “Your worst nightmare.” She watched as his expansive chest was exposed. His muscles were huge and bulging, like a bodybuilder to the third power. He was hairy all over, a trait she’d never really cared for in a man. “Funny, I never saw nude men in my nightmares.” Who was this nutball-voice talking for her? It must be her Perfect Self, because Tori Tinsdale would not be goading this lunatic, pushing him to slice and dice her sooner. Or would she? She always thought that if she could have been in the house with her parents the night of the murders, she would have fought their slayer with her dying breath. “I’m going to take a wild guess and say you’re a tiger.” Payton smiled, baring his teeth. “I’m so much more.” He pushed his pants down to his ankles, unashamedly letting his arousal hang free. Tori gulped. He certainly wasn’t lying. He was, as they used to say, hung like a horse. She perused his entire body again as tiny beads of sweat dotted her forehead. Realization quickly sank in. She was tied to this bed wearing only panties and a bra, her arms spread, her legs spread and he was standing at the foot of the bed, splendidly naked. Not only did he intend to kill her, he intended to rape her first. Panic spread through her quickly as she wondered why, if she had the gift of sight, she hadn’t foreseen her own demise. Surely she would have done something to prevent it. And there was her answer. She’d read in old books of how tampering with the future was not allowed. That only infuriated her more. What good was a gift if she couldn’t use it to help herself? But she wouldn’t give up. She would fight until she couldn’t fight anymore and then, hopefully, Jet would be here to save her. Wriggling her wrists, trying to free herself from the bonds, she looked away from him. “Ah, that’s a little more information than I care to know,” she quipped. To her own ears, she sounded surprisingly calm. “Does Jet make you scream?” Payton asked as he moved closer to the bed. Tori felt the dip of the mattress and stopped all movement. He was coming closer, stalking across the king-sized bed on all fours. He moved with a fluid grace, like a predator searching for its prey. His head was low, his mouth opened slightly, his eyes glinting with expectancy. Oh shit! Oh shit! her mind screamed, reminding her momentarily of the first night she and Moanie had met Payton. She wriggled her feet, tried to pull her legs closed, but that was pointless. Payton growled, low and subtle. His eyes looked beastly, his sharp teeth and growing hair on his chest and back were the only signs that he was a Cauldron. Other than that, he was pure male, pure sex inching its way to her, oozing a primal air that invaded the room. Payton made a sniffing sound the moment he’d passed her knees. “You’re ripe,” he snarled. “And ready for my seed.” 134

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Tori gulped again and knew within the next instant she was going to scream. The thought of him touching her, taking her, was just too much to bear. Where the hell was Jet? Closing her eyes, she took a deep, steadying breath. Opening them again, she looked down at him and licked her lips. “What if I don’t want your seed?” Payton’s head shot up. He glared at her as he slipped a finger beneath the rim of her panties. “You want it. You know who I am and that I’m the only one who can give you this power.” “What good is power if you’re planning to kill me?” she asked, trying to buy as much time as possible, all the while cringing each time his finger scraped over her bare skin. “I’ve been thinking that since you’re perfect and you smell…” He inhaled deeply again. “Your scent signals that you are so damn ready, that I might just impregnate you and create that Perfect Being.” His finger moved over her mound. “We could rule together, my son and I.” Tori’s whole body shook with fear. “What…what if I’m already pregnant?” Payton froze. His lips peeled back into a nasty snarl, his incisors growing to press down on his bottom lip. For a moment he resembled a vampire, until she saw even more hair growing across his cheeks. “Then you and Jet’s seed will die!” And with a quick slash of those claws that had magically appeared, he cut both her bra and her panties from her body. Then it came… Tori opened her mouth and screamed louder and longer than she’d ever heard anyone do before. “Not yet, bitch!” He readjusted himself, moving closer between her legs. Her scent was arousing him to the point of bursting. She was right, she could be pregnant by Jet, who knew how many times those two had mated. But it didn’t matter, he was going to take her anyway. He had to.

***** Jet heard the scream a second before it vibrated through the halls of Payton’s house. Silo had convinced him that this time they shouldn’t break the door in, better to catch Payton truly unaware. He broke into a run, not sure and not caring if Silo was behind him or not. She was still alive and she was in the house. He had to get to her. And although he’d never been to Payton’s home before, her scream led the way. He did kick the door in this time and leapt with a furious howl across the floor as he spied Payton on top of Tori. Landing on Payton’s back, he pulled the Cauldron off the bed and onto the floor where he took vicious swipes at him with his paw. Because Payton was caught unaware, it took him a moment to register that Jet was there and progressively beating the crap out of him. But when his senses returned to normal, he began to attack.

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Tori screamed again, this time because she was bound and unable to help Jet fight. That was quickly remedied when Silo used one of his own sharpened claws to cut the ropes that held her. Thankfully, he’d spied a robe and tossed it to her the moment she was free. Tori wasted no time slipping it on, then charging toward the spot where Jet and Payton rumbled on the floor. With one hand, Silo lifted her by the waist. “This is between them. We should go.” “What?” Tori screeched as she struggled, quite unsuccessfully, to get out of his grip. “I’m not leaving him.” “Tori, there’s nothing you can do.” “I can help him!” Then, because he just wasn’t cooperating, Tori balled her fist and punched him in the groin. Silo was quiet, his face still. In the next second, she hit the floor with a thump as he fell to his knees. She was across the floor in seconds, pausing to look around for something she could hit Payton with. But what would knock him out? While she was thinking, something grabbed her ankle, and the next thing she knew, she was being dragged across the floor. Payton had spied her over Jet’s shoulder. Jet was a strong fighter, using the martial arts training combined with the laws of the jungle as he tortured Payton’s body. Payton, not yet willing to give up, had seized his golden opportunity. He sank his claw into Tori’s ankle, drawing her blood. Above him, Jet paused, then roared in agony. He’d smelled blood. And while he’d drawn Payton’s and was most likely bleeding himself, he knew this scent. Rearing back, he turned to find her. The last time he’d seen her, she was on the bed. He’d trusted that Silo would take care of her. Obviously he hadn’t, because he saw her lying on the floor, blood spilling from what looked like her leg. Payton chuckled as one arm stretched out, still holding on to Tori while Jet still straddled him. “I will kill her, Century. You can’t stop her destiny.” Jet roared a second time, then swiped a hand over Payton’s face. “And you can’t kill me,” Payton said through a blood-stained mouth. “At least not as long as she’s in this room.” Tori heard his words and called herself three times a fool. She hadn’t wanted Jet to kill Payton, she’d thought the man deserved to live. But she’d seen the hungry look in his eyes, felt the heated waves of anger seething from his body and knew he was a coldblooded killer. He’d kill her just because; because she was a Perfect One, because she’d been with Jet and because he could. She saw the danger now and realized that Jet had been right. She also realized now that Silo had been trying to get them out of the room for a reason. Centuries and Cauldrons were trained to be warriors, first and foremost. Their

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mission was to infiltrate the enemy camp and leave none alive, no human witnesses. As long as she stayed in this room, Jet could not kill Payton. Payton, however, as unscrupulous as he was, would not hesitate in killing Jet and her, for that matter. Then she saw the flash of a blade and screamed as it made its contact. Blood splattered across her face and she turned away. Silo scooped her up off the floor and tossed her on the bed. He moved to stand over Jet and Payton, then looked down in disgust. Blood was everywhere. Jet had severed Payton’s arm to release his hold on Tori. “Finish him,” Silo said. Payton reared up, biting Jet’s shoulder, and Jet fell back onto the floor. “Get her out of here!” he yelled as Payton got in another good punch with his one arm. Silo, still limping from the pain, moved and pointed toward her and this time, instead of grabbing her, he snarled and pointed to the door. Tori scrambled off the bed and ran out of the room. The door wasn’t closed two seconds before she heard a loud roar. And then there was silence. She made a move back to the door, but Silo stopped her. “It is finished.”

***** They were at the front door before she heard Jet call her name. Silo held her by the arm, but she turned at the sound of his voice. She was in no way prepared for what she saw. He stood across the room, his dark form made even darker by the coat of ebony hair. His eyes were that luminescent green, piercing her with intensity. He moved slowly toward her with one arm outstretched. He was what he’d told her. Half man and half beast. He was big and fierce. As he grew closer, she smelled the blood, saw the matted portions of hair on his shoulder and his arms. “Tori,” he called to her again. She didn’t know what to do. Silo’s grip on her arm had slackened, so she was free to go to him. His voice pleaded with her to come to him. But she remained still. Emotions ran through her swiftly, like debris in the funnel of a storm. She hadn’t been looking for a man, hadn’t needed another emotional entanglement in her life. The people she loved left her, and while it wasn’t of their own free will, it hurt just the same. She should not have grown attached to him. Should not have fallen in love with him. But somehow, she knew she hadn’t really had a choice. He was loyal and strong. He was honest; he’d told her what he was and what his purpose was. And then he’d let her decide what to do with that information. He was Jet. The man who came to her in the dark of night. The man who loved her like she’d never been loved before. The man sworn to protect her. The man who had just killed for her. 137

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But was he really a man? With her heart hammering in her chest, she took the first step toward him. “Jet?” He was so different and yet he was the same. Jet had no idea how she would react to him, whether or not she would accept him. But he’d had to try. Seeing her lying tied to that bed and Payton above her about to do his will had pushed a button inside him, unleashing the deadly fury that had been firmly planted in his mind. He’d killed Payton. He’d ripped his heart from his body, he’d severed his head. He’d ended that threat to Tori’s life. Now all he wanted was to hold her. To feel her heart beating against his. He’d been trained to kill, but he didn’t feel like killing anymore. There was no way of knowing how many Cauldrons were out there, but if fighting them would cause him to lose Tori, he wouldn’t do it ever again. She looked at him now as if he were a stranger. But inside she felt him. He knew she did because he felt her there too. Deep inside of him, swelling and filling him completely. Everything he thought he knew, everything he’d learned came down to nothing next to her. When she’d finally stepped toward him and spoke his name, his lungs heaved deeply. He knew he looked different, knew that this was not what she was used to seeing. She knew about Centuries and Cauldrons on paper. She’d seen a glimpse of the possibility, but now, as he stood in front of her, almost completely transformed, the beast within revealed, he wondered how she felt. Her hazel eyes blurred with tears, her bottom lip quivered and he wanted nothing more than to comfort her, to make her understand that this too, was the man who loved her. Jet didn’t get that chance. Outside, the wind howled fiercely. Before the threesome had a chance to act, the windows were blown in. Glass shattered and flew across the room. A shard slashed Tori’s cheek a second before she lifted her arms over her head and ducked. Furniture slid across the floor; lamps, paintings, any and everything in the house was lifted and thrust into the air. “Tori!” Jet called to her. Tori turned back toward the door. Surely Silo had it opened by now; she could escape. But Silo was slumped against the closed door, blood gushing from a cut to his head. “Jet, he’s hurt,” she yelled over the loud whooshing of the wind. Turning around, she held onto the wall, steadying herself until she was close enough to Silo to fall to her knees beside him. Tearing a piece of his shirt, she tried to stop the bleeding while continuing to duck flying house items. Jet fought his way to her, pushing the couch and a table out of his way as he did. He was almost there when he heard the deadly roar. He turned. Through the patio, like a streak of white lightning, Mateese entered. Throwing back his huge head, he growled, a sign that he was ready for battle. 138

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He’d thought killing was out of his system. He’d thought this war was over for him. But there was blood on Mateese’s coat, undoubtedly from an innocent victim he’d taken out of retaliation. Fury boiled deep inside Jet as he realized he was about to enter the fight of his life. “Jet!” Tori screamed. Her voice effectively ripped him in two. He could turn his back and go to her, try to get her and Silo to safety and leave Mateese and his sick plans alone. Or he could fight. He could fight for what he knew in his heart and mind was the right thing. Cauldrons could not rule the world. There would be no world if that ever happened. He had to stop him, it was his duty. Tori called to him again, but this time he did not look back. The choice was made. He was on all fours now, his back hunching, his teeth bared, claws sharp and ready. He jumped over a chair into the middle of the room and dared Mateese to join him. Mateese paced restlessly on the patio as if making a decision. Jet’s chest heaved, his blood pumping as saliva dripped from his long pointed teeth. He growled again, telling Mateese in no uncertain terms that a battle was imminent. Mateese jumped from the patio and landed in front of Jet. The two beasts circled each other, growling and bobbing their heads in a primal dance of war. From her spot on the floor, Tori watched. If she didn’t know the danger, if she didn’t feel the horrendous thumping of her fearful heart, if she didn’t think the man she loved was in danger of dying, she would have been absolutely amazed at these two gorgeous animals doing what they did best. Suddenly the wind wasn’t as strong, wasn’t whipping her around like she weighed no more than a feather. She quickly tied a makeshift bandage around Silo’s head, then whispered to him that she would return. She stood, faced the two creatures and silently vowed to do whatever she had to do to protect Jet. Jet pounced first as if tired of the dance, of the game. Mateese reared up on his hind legs, meeting Jet’s fierce blows and matching them with his own. They broke apart and circled each other again. Mateese looking as if he were assured the victory. Jet’s menacing growl said he wasn’t going to stand for it. Mateese moved in this time, swiping at Jet, knocking him back a few feet. Jet rebounded quickly, swinging his paws in rapid succession until blood seeped from a wound to the side of Mateese’s head. The larger animal howled in pain, then charged, sinking his teeth into Jet’s neck. Tori screamed as she saw the lion’s huge jaws clamp around Jet’s neck. The lion shook his head, lifting Jet from the floor like a rag doll. The stench of blood now making her stomach curdle and she had to take a deep breath to keep from vomiting. Shaking herself free of the silly fear, she squared her shoulders and looked around the room for a weapon. On the floor near an upturned table and a broken lamp, she spied a sword.

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One of the two she remembered were mounted on the walls when Payton first brought her here. She moved quickly, lifting the heavy steel with both hands. She half-carried, halfdragged it across the room to where the animals fought. Then with all the strength she could muster, all the love she felt for Jet, she hefted it up and over her head and brought it down into the back of the gigantic lion. Mateese roared in agony, simultaneously releasing Jet from his hold. Tori held on to the sword even though the act had her swinging through the air as the lion bucked and tried to get the steel out of him. That was how Jet saw her, swinging through the air, holding onto the hilt of the sword sticking out of Mateese’s back. Mateese bucked and swayed, tossing Tori every which way. If this continued, Tori would be flying out one of the open windows in the next second. Ignoring the burning pain in his neck and shoulder, Jet leapt onto Mateese’s back at the beast’s next turn. Wrapping his paws around Tori, he pulled with all his might. She was strong, she was stubborn and he was proud to say that she was his. Although right at this moment, he wished the two former traits would make themselves scarce. She resisted him, refusing to let go of the sword. She wanted Mateese dead. Jet could feel the anger swelling within her, the fear and the old familiar pain. They were thrown against a wall when Mateese suddenly reared back and cornered them there. Blood seeped from Mateese’s back onto Tori’s hands and, since she was pressed against Jet, on to him as well. Tori howled and twisted the sword further beneath Mateese’s skin. She wanted him dead and Jet felt a part of her breaking with that knowledge. She was against killing because her parents had been killed. She didn’t want to be guilty of the same crime. She didn’t want to feel this hatred, this overwhelming urge in her own body. But she did. And that fact caused her more pain. “It’s okay, Tori. Let it go. It’s okay,” he whispered against her ear. Through the hazy fog that had overtaken her mind the moment she saw Mateese biting Jet, Tori heard his voice. She couldn’t see him. Couldn’t find him in this maze her mind had become, but she heard him. She felt his presence. And he was everything. Her grip on the sword slipped as his hold on her tightened. She felt safe and in control again. At least until Mateese roared and fell to the ground. Tori’s eyes shot open, falling to the floor to where the beast lay wounded. Blood was everywhere, just like in her dreams. She felt herself being lowered to the floor. Then he came from behind her. Jet. Her Jet. His dark face was clean-shaven again, his chest bare, his fingers probing her face. “Are you all right?” he asked, even as he looked at her from every angle.

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A burst of air escaped her lungs and she fell into him, laying her cheek against his shoulder. “I’m fi—” she started to say, but paused when she felt the familiar stickiness. “Jet? You’re hurt.” She pulled back and looked at him. “It’s fine,” he said with a lopsided grin. Everything was fine now that she was in his arms. Behind him, he heard Mateese stir. He was wounded too, but not dead. To kill him, he would need to behead him. And he would not do that in front of her. “We have to get out of here before he rebirths.” He began moving her toward the door. “No! You can’t leave him. You must finish it,” she said vehemently. Jet shook his head. “No. It is finished, for now.” “But he’ll continue to hunt. He’ll continue to kill.” They were a few steps from the door, a few steps from where Silo was rousing. Jet stopped, turned her and cupped her face in his hands. “And I will continue to fight. But for now, it is finished.” She’d heard the words a short while ago from Silo. She’d heard them in her dreams. And each time, the voice had such finality, such ending, that she believed it. This time was no different.

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Chapter Fifteen “You should have killed him.” Jet turned, his face a mask of unleashed anger. “Why? Because you were too stupid to do so the first time.” “No. Because he’s threatening to tell the world of his existence. He’s going to bring them into full panic with the knowledge that I created these killers. He wanted me to give the Centuries to him, to publicly relinquish control. But I can’t.” Dumas inhaled and puffed out his chest proudly. “I won’t.” “That’s kind of you. Refusing to give up what you don’t even have. You don’t control the Centuries and you don’t control the Cauldrons, at least not anymore!” Jet said vehemently. Dumas stood and slammed his hand down on the table. “You will not speak to me this way! Do you know who I am?” “Oh, I know who you are all right. You’re the man who thought he could create a new world. The man who took the military’s money and made monsters that you can no longer control.” Jet moved closer to the old man, barely restraining the growing urge to lash out, to swipe him across the face and watch him fall. “You’re the man who was intrigued by the idea of Cauldrons, who let them breed and grow with the plan to use them as leverage against the military. But they outsmarted even you. They have their own minds and now their own objectives. I’ve killed one of the most powerful ones and, along with the Century army, will continue to fight until we get them all. But you will not order me around. Not anymore.” Tori pulled him by the arm. “Jet. It’s okay. Calm down.” He turned to her with a fierce, but low, growl. “It’s not okay. I’m sick of him thinking he can control everything and everyone. The world doesn’t work that way.” He turned back to Dumas. “Haven’t you learned your lesson yet?” Dumas seemed startled by Jet’s harsh words. He clutched his shirt where his heart rested beneath before staggering back and falling into his chair. Tori ran to his side. “Mr. Dumas, are you okay?” She looked at Jet, who didn’t move an inch. “Get him some water,” she yelled to Butler286. “I’m fine,” Dumas whispered. “And he’s right.” Tori took his hand in hers. “Don’t try to talk. It’s okay. It’s been a long couple of days for all of us. Just try to relax. Jet didn’t mean to upset you.” Over her shoulder, she tossed Jet a seething look.

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Tori knew full well how Jet felt about Dumas. After they’d escaped Payton’s house without further conflict, Jet and Silo had confided in her their thoughts that Dumas had originally controlled the Cauldron army. Mateese, whom they’d left bleeding on the floor, was Dumas’ head Cauldron. He’d done Dumas’ bidding, entering secret military installations and killing unknowing soldiers. This was Dumas’ way of getting the military to need him. To need his creations. After a while, Mateese realized his own power and turned his army against Dumas and the rest of the world. His goal was total dominance, plain and simple. No amount of money in the world was going to get him that, he had to earn it and that’s what he planned to do by putting fear into the heart of man and killing the only ones that could create someone stronger than him. The Perfect Ones. By now, Mateese had rebirthed. Jet had told her that unless a Cauldron was beheaded, their wounds would heal and they would be reborn stronger than they were before. That’s why it was best to kill them once. But Jet hadn’t done that. Tori was there with him when he’d turned his back on Mateese. She’d asked him why. Why he hadn’t sent her out of the room so that he could handle Mateese, but he hadn’t answered. Now they were about to leave Dumas’ estate. She had her story, although she was still debating whether or not she was going to publish it or not. The information she had could work one of two ways. It could inform the public, put an end to the speculation and educate the world on cloning and its dangers. Or it could cause a widespread panic, putting the citizens of this country on alert. Almost insuring that they would arm themselves and fight any threat to the death. Another world war would be imminent. “He doesn’t understand,” Dumas whispered, interrupting Tori’s thoughts. “I don’t understand what? That you’re a selfish old man out for his own glory. That you don’t give a damn about anything or anyone. Tell me what I don’t understand!” Jet yelled. Dumas looked up at him and blinked. Tori saw a cloudiness in his eyes and was about to speak when he squeezed her hand and shook his head. “It is time you knew everything.” Jet waved a hand and turned away. “I already know everything I need to know. I don’t need you adding your spin on things.” “You need to know that I loved her very much. And she loved me. But we both loved you more.” Jet turned. “Who are you talking about?” “You remember Alaina. I know you do. You two were very close. Did you ever wonder why she was closer to you than she was with any other Century?” Tori remembered the name. Alaina was the woman Dumas had fallen in love with and married. But how did Jet know her? “Alaina loved all of us, though I don’t know why,” Jet said quietly. “She loved all of you because you were my creation and she’d helped me get to that point. But she loved you especially…because she was your mother.” 143

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Tori gasped. Jet stared at Dumas, his eyes darkening with anger. “Don’t start with the lies, Dumas. I know how the Centuries were created.” “But you don’t know how or why you were created,” Dumas answered simply. “You remember I told you how much Alaina and I loved each other.” Dumas looked at Tori as he spoke. “Yes.” “She was my everything and I was hers. I needed a human subject to begin the cloning. A female was best because of her reproductive system. I didn’t even have to ask Alaina. She would have done whatever she could to help. We worked on the project for months, tweaking it and planning it. I was a lot older than Alaina and she wanted children of her own. It was her decision to carry the first species.” “Are you saying she carried a Century in her like a normal human pregnancy?” Tori was stunned. Never in her wildest dreams had she thought Dumas had done something of this caliber. Jet watched the old man, torn between believing him and cursing him further. Could he make his life anymore difficult? Could he make dealing with his breed any harder? He didn’t want to hear any more. Didn’t want to digest what was being told to him. It was too late to care. “Her eggs, my sperm, panthera onca DNA and yes, she carried the child. In three and a half months, Jet was born.” Dumas looked tired, but relieved to have finally told this secret. “You’re his father,” Tori whispered. From behind her, Jet roared and slammed a fist into the wall. “Liar!” Dumas did not flinch. “Yes, I am your father. Alaina was your mother. After you were a success, we began working on the others. This time we used the traditional cloning method. I would not allow her to carry another. The first year was blissful. We had the Centuries and they were being trained. The military was completely on board. And we had Jet. Everything was perfect.” Dumas sighed. “Then Alaina became sick. No doctor could figure out what was wrong with her, but I knew. The panthera onca DNA had seeped into her bloodstream, infecting her with an animal disease that her human immune system could not fight. I needed time to properly research the disease in order to find a cure. I needed more money to do this. The military would not increase my compensation. I had to think of a way to get more money. I had to save Alaina.” “You knew the Centuries were going into the forest,” Jet whispered and moved closer to Dumas. “You knew they were going to mate with the animals. You knew they would create an even stronger species and you let it happen. I came to you and warned you and you said you would take care of it. But you didn’t. You had no intention of ever doing it.”

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“Alaina was everything. You understand when you find that person who is everything to you, don’t you, Jet? You do what you know is wrong because it’s right for the other person. The one you love more than anything else.” His words struck a chord with Jet and he held on to his rage. Hadn’t he just done that with Tori? The right thing to do would have been to push her away and kill Mateese. To put an end to his reign of terror, but he hadn’t done that. He’d let Mateese live because he couldn’t bear to have her in another room while he killed again. And while she’d attempted to kill Mateese herself, he’d known that was out of pain and regret for not being there for her parents. It was a sort of healing for her. He couldn’t mess with that. He couldn’t blemish that moment of triumph for her by killing again. He simply couldn’t. “It doesn’t make what you did right,” he said finally. Torture had a new meaning for him. Now he must hate the man that was not only his Creator, but his father. He must continue to mourn the one person who’d always been there for him, but not because she was a good friend, but because she was his mother. Because she carried him and gave birth to him, she died. He turned away in agony and left the room. Tori stood, stunned at what she’d just learned. She’d needed to go to Jet, to find some way to comfort him. What they’d just heard was not easy for her, she could just imagine what it had been for him. But first she had something to say. “I understand that you loved Alaina. I even understand, now, how it feels to have a person who is everything to you.” She stepped away from Dumas. “But the consequences of your choice will be catastrophic. Mateese is alive and stronger now and he won’t stop until he wins.” “He won’t win,” Dumas vowed. “You don’t know that.” Tori shook her head. “It’s unbelievable to me how a man as smart as you hasn’t figured out by now that you don’t have any control. You can’t make things be what you want them to be. You’ve added a layer of evil to this world that could have been prevented. And now we must all suffer for it.” “I did what I had to do. To save Alaina.” “But Alaina died anyway.” Tori walked toward the door, then turned back before leaving. “Because you were not in control of her destiny.”

***** Jet moved quickly through the trees, going deeper and deeper into the outskirts of the property, to the one place he felt at home. Once inside the cave, he sat against the wall and let his head loll back. Tori, who had been running to keep up with him, was out of breath when she slithered on her stomach, following him into the cave. In the dimness, she propped against the far left wall beside him.

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“He was wrong, Jet. I think he realizes that now.” Jet knew she had been following him and accepted the fact that this was where he needed her to be. “I don’t want to talk about him.” “He won’t go away and neither will what he’s done. It’s time we all stopped trying to control the situation and learn to deal with it as best we can. If I go to press with this story, a lot of things will change. But I’ve decided that I don’t have another choice. Keeping quiet will only delay the inevitable. Mateese and his army will continue to strike. We all might as well be prepared for that.” “Come,” Jet said. Tori moved to sit beside him. Jet reached over, grabbed her by the waist and lifted her until she straddled him. “I’ve dreamed of you for over a year.” His hands toured her face as if this were his first time seeing her. “That’s when my dreams first began.” “I’m not like you,” he said simply, his thumbs caressing her cheeks. Tori leaned into him. “But you are, more so now than you knew before.” “There are still differences.” He fought the urge to kiss her. “Everybody has differences.” He chuckled. “Not quite like mine.” Tori leaned forward and kissed his lips. “You, Jet Landon, are my Perfect One.” Warmth spread through him at her words. Never had he thought he’d love someone. Never had he thought someone would accept him enough to love him back. He needed to hear her say the words. “Being with me means accepting who and what I am, Tori. Can you do that?” Tori did not hesitate. “I can do anything as long as we’re doing it together. I’ve given my past and my future a lot of thought. My family’s death was a brutal and callous act. It took a piece of me that I will never get back but I am at peace with that now.” She took a deep breath as he cupped her face in his hands. “I still don’t abide senseless killing but I recognize that sometimes there is no other choice. But none of that is my priority right now. You are, Jet Landon, a Century warrior, a half man, half animal breed. You are my protector and my friend. You are my love.” And with that, Jet knew completeness. He knew a closing of the gap he had in his heart for as long as he could remember. He knew a connection like no other. He knew what it was to have everything. He also knew now that he had a father and that his father had not only created him, but had also created the ones which he sought to kill. He wasn’t quite sure how that made him feel, but vowed he would not think of it for another minute. For now, for this moment, it was only about her. Tori. She was a Perfect One. She was his Perfect One. And he had no intention of letting her go.

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He pulled her face closer, captured her lips in a kiss designed to both weaken and strengthen. His tongue founds hers and the mating dance began. Their communication was silent, primal and instinctive. He longed for her. She was there for him. Tori angled her head, pressed the kiss deeper. Wrapping her legs tightly around him, she pressed her now throbbing center against his arousal. Jet groaned, grasping her buttocks and pulling her closer. When it came to Tori, he was insatiable, his hunger reaching higher heights each time she was near him. He’d begun the kiss wanting to control it, to control her, but she’d taken the reins and now he willingly followed. Her hands were everywhere, tugging at his clothes, running over his skin. He was hot for her, there was no doubt, but he was also amazed by this fresh hunger she was displaying, as if she had a bit of animal blood in her as well. He’d always prided himself on giving her pleasure, on playing her body like the fine instrument it was. But it was painfully clear to him that, tonight, Tori planned on doing the tuning. Tori held his throbbing manhood in her hand, pulling upward until the pulsating head was beneath her fingertips. “Jet,” she whispered. “It’s all yours, baby,” he responded. And with that she rolled to the side, ripped off her own clothes, then climbed on him again. “Then give it all to me,” she begged and positioned herself above his rigid length. Jet grabbed her hips and slammed her down on his penis, because the slow, torture route was sure to kill him. “I love you, Tori,” he said, then lifted her and pulled her down on his length again. She gasped, bit her bottom lip, then smiled. Rotating her hips until his swollen sac was against her core, Tori threw her head back and growled. Low and from deep within, the primal sound moved through her until she found her rhythm, then looked down at him with pleasure. “And I love you, my Century warrior.”

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About the Author Using creativity and sexuality as her backdrop, Sapphire Blue creates stories to entice and arouse. An event planner and romance author, Sapphire lives in Maryland with her family. Reading and writing are her passions. She was influenced by veteran romance authors at an early age and with time began to add her own level of spice to the timeless tales. Now, thoroughly convinced that a healthy sex life co-exists with a great love affair, she writes what is in her heart and what some are afraid to even imagine. Writing has always been her dream. Writing strong, witty and sexy characters a must. Sapphire is the culmination of a happily ever after romance novelist and a desire to push the envelope right into the burning flames of passion! Sapphire has been writing for fifteen years and published in romance for four years. She is determined to bring a new slice of color to the erotic romance realm. Sapphire welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.

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