Dark Fire by Christine Feehan. Dark Series – book 6

Desari stroked back Tempest’s hair. “You were wonderful, Rusti, so brave. I can feel your body’s terrible weariness.”

Tempest managed a wan smile. “Don’t tell me Darius was broadcasting a blow-by-blow report while it was all happening.”

“Of course. We needed to know in case something went wrong and we had to return to give aid,” Desari explained. ‘To help with the illusion, we created in the minds of those who saw us traveling on the highway the memory of the trailer traveling with us. If the authorities question anyone, they will state that all vehicles were traveling together last night, long before the horrible battle where we had camped.”

“A regular sports commentator, aren’t you, Darius?” Tempest asked, annoyed that he had expended even more energy than she had first thought. No wonder he was looking gray and gaunt. “Take him wherever he’s supposed to go and put him to sleep and leave me to rest.”

Darius’s hand tightened around the nape of her neck. “We will not be separated. You must eat something before you sleep, Tempest. You have not taken any sustenance for twenty-four hours.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “Oh, I get it. You don’t have to take proper care of yourself, but I do. It isn’t going to happen that way, Darius. You can growl at me all you want, but if you’re insisting on forcing this relationship on me, you can darn well see to it that you take care of yourself so there’s no possibility of your leaving me alone.”

Darius felt the curious melting in the region of his heart that she always caused. Tempest was trying hard to lecture him, to be tough, but her voice wavered, her fear for his well-being clearly evident to him. He leaned over to brush a soft kiss across her mouth. “You will do as I say, honey, as you are meant to do.”

Tempest’s eyes flashed fire. “That’s it. One of you go get me a club. A big one. He clearly needs to be hit over the head to bring him back to his senses. He must have lost them somewhere in the forest. You idiot, I’m not your child to be dictated to. I’m a grown woman perfectly capable of making my own decisions. Now just this one time in your life, do what you’re supposed to do and go to ground or whatever you call it.”

Julian made the mistake of allowing a laugh to escape, then hastily tried to cover it with a cough. Darius glared up at him, noticed the others grinning openly at him. “I am certain you all have things to do,” he instructed pointedly.

“Not really,” Barack answered.

Dayan shook his head. “Much more entertaining here, Darius. You know, I’m still trying to get this relationship thing down, so is necessary to observe one up close.”

Syndil took the more innocent approach. “Naturally our concern is for you and Rusti, Darius. Nothing is more important than aiding you.”

Julian smirked at him. “This is enlightening. I am new to your particular ways, Darius, and do not mind learning how to handle the women properly when they refuse to be obedient.”

Desari’s eyebrows rose. “I’ll show you obedient,” she threatened.

Darius groaned. “All of you, go away.”

“You go away, too,” Tempest directed, fitting her body more closely into the pillows. “I need to sleep.”

He could hear the utter weariness in her voice. “It is unsafe, baby. We cannot stay here. We are hunted, and none of us can remain above ground in our weakest hours. There are caves close by. You will be comfortable there, I promise.”

Her lashes fluttered for a moment, her heartbeat audible to them all. “It’s the bat thing again, isn’t it?” She forced humor into her voice. “I think I’m going to have to go into therapy if we keep doing the bat thing. Closed-in places don’t agree with me.”

“I will make you sleep,” Darius said gently.

“Let’s do it then.” She lifted her lashes long enough to catch Desari’s worried expression. When she glanced at the others, she could read the concern on their faces. “What is it? What’s wrong?”