*****
Nighthawk stood beside the same distant tree hed haunted off and on since Tiaras first night at the cabin. He knew there was an empty room set aside for him next to Tiaras but the closer he got to her while she and Zachary were alone, the more emotions he would feel. Not just any emotion it was mostly the hunger coming at him in waves.
At first hed been surprised he had felt anything and enjoyed the fleeting caress. But instead of Tiaras hunger being satisfied it seemed to be the only thing she and Zachary did when they were alone. They were lucky if they were getting an hour of sleep at a time. The only occasion Nighthawk could not feel her sensual call was when they visited the graveyards for her lessons with Craven.
Nighthawk pushed Tiaras cries of passion from his mind when he noticed Craven had joined him under the tree.
Cravens silver eyebrow rose when he felt the blood bond he had established with Tiara intensify due to his arrival. Hed spent all week collecting souls, trying to build his army and it had triggered his own hunger several times to the point of feeling the same thing Tiara did but being a full blooded demon allowed him the option of never feeding it. The need did not expose him to the souls as it did Tiara. That was her mothers weak bloodline not his.
Being so close to Tiaras passion now was not easy but Craven didnt like easy it bored him. However, the desire to touch someone was slowly starting to creep up on him. It didnt matter if he had more control or not, the desire would appear from time to time and he knew it would have to be satisfied soon or he would not be able to lend control to Tiara while they practiced.
He waited patiently for the Night Walker to reveal himself. The last time hed been with Tiara, shed shared her concern over not seeing Nighthawk in days. Immediately after saying that, shed quickly looked around her and murmured, Never mind hes here.
Craven felt his own amusement when Nighthawk finally appeared beside him. It was uncanny to see such paleness on the Indians golden tan skin and it enlightened him to the truth behind Nighthawks refusal to mingle. He was sure if he were in Nighthawks place, the constant coupling of the new mates would probably affect him as well.
When she is ready, bring her to the cemetery where we first met, Craven said softly. The small one and make sure her teammates do not follow.
Nighthawk said nothing as Craven vanished but felt a slight weight that had been on his shoulders lift. Perhaps since Craven wanted to return to their first meeting place, that would mean he was going to teach Tiara something new. It was time to accelerate her instruction but Nighthawk had been unable to tear her away from her mate long enough to do so.
The thought of kidnapping her for private lessons had entered his mind several times and Nighthawk was satisfied that he no longer had a reason to hold back from doing so. He narrowed his eyes when the front door of the cabin slowly opened and saw Jason stumble out into the cool night. The humans hand was pressed to his forehead and he was covered in sweat.
He wondered if Jason was experiencing the same kind of problem due to Tiaras emotions coming through the ring. It wouldnt have surprised him if that was indeed the case.
Jason inhaled deeply letting the cool night air drift across his face. He had heard and felt enough over the last week since moving in with Tiara. As if listening to the two newlyweds go at it wasnt bad enough, now he had to feel what she was experiencing. He also kept having to delete the fact that it was Zachary who was making Tiara feel that way it was enough to give him the wiggly-boos.
Being outside the cabin helped some, but only his ears felt the effect of the separation. He glared down at the ring wishing he could take it off for a few minutes. Before, hed had to concentrate in order to sense Tiaras emotions now it seemed he couldnt get away from them. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place.
He watched his hand shake for a moment before self-consciously sliding the tips of his fingers into his pocket. He didnt want anyone knowing he was having trouble with the ring in fear of them taking it off and booting him out of the clubhouse.
Problem was he had moments when he felt feverish and dark urges had started popping into his head over the last couple of days. Urges that were dark and the polar opposite of his personality. So far he was controlling them, but if that changed then he knew hed have to speak up.
The small fine hairs on his arms rose and Jason had the sensation that he was being watched. He turned his head and narrowed his gaze toward a large tree in the distance. For a moment, he wondered if the apparition of the form hed just seen was a figment of his imagination or maybe even a ghost.
Jasons train of thought was disrupted when he suddenly heard something clicking behind him. He spun around thinking a Skitter had somehow survived the cemetery clean up and followed them here.
Gotcha, Guy said with a laugh. You shouldve seen the look on your face. Im surprised your pants are still dry.
Jason gave Guy a small smile but didnt rise to the bait.
Guy stopped laughing, noticing that Jason didnt look that great. Are you going to be okay tonight? Youd think a ring that makes you invincible would keep you from being sick.
Im not sick I just havent been sleeping well, Jason grouched, shoving the hand with the ring deeper into the pocket of his jeans. Maybe it was time to tell someone and Guy wasnt such a bad choice since he practiced in magic. It used to be that I had to concentrate to know what Tiara was feeling now that the ring is back in service Im getting more than I ever bargained for. Strange thing is the ring is starting to feel kind of haunted.
What do you mean? Guy asked seriously.
Jason shook his head having no way to explain it, Nothing, its probably just jet-lag going from human to superman in the equivalent of zero seconds is actually very tiring.
I wonder whats taking Zachary and Tiara so long, Guy said sitting down on the steps while Jason leaned against one of the posts surrounding the front porch.
Yeah, I wonder, Jason wanted to roll his eyes at the question but he silently thanked Guy for getting away from the subject of the ring. He nodded toward the tree, I think I saw Nighthawk a few minutes ago out there watching the cabin.
Guy frowned in the direction Jason indicated. Hed wondered what the Indian was up to. Carley had caught him a few times looking for a spell that would make Nighthawk seeable and told him to leave it alone. She seemed serious, so hed dropped the idea. He was glad they had moved all their spell books and scrolls to the cabin. It was a great way to kill time and also drowned out the noise.
Hes not exactly friendly is he? Jason asked.
Guy shrugged, He doesnt have to be, his loyalty is to Tiara.
Nighthawk moved past them and into the cabin. His trek on the spirit road took him to Tiaras bedroom a place hed been several times but never stayed long. He was suddenly there in the room, silently watching Tiara and Zachary as they finished getting dressed.
Zachary walked up behind Tiara as she pulled on a pair of panties and slid his arm around her. The worst part of the whole day is when you decide to get dressed, he teased kissing her bare shoulder.
Tiara giggled and reached for the skirt before Zachary talked her into laying out of work tonight.