Shadow Touched (Shadow Roamer #1) Read online

  Turning in his arms, she smiled at him, eyes sleepy but sparkling, “Morning.”

  He kissed her nose. “Good morning to you, too.” Then his lips wandered to her jaw, to her neck, where he could feel her pulse quickly waking up beneath her warm skin, and softly bit her earlobe.

  He rolled on top of her, delighting in the way her thighs parted for him and her hands fisted in his hair.

  A knock interrupted what he was sure would have been the best morning sex of his life. “Patroller Nero?”

  Nero recognized the voice immediately, it was Grey. Vago’s servant of sorts. He didn’t even bother to wonder how the guy knew he was in this room. Grey seemed to know everything that went on in the Tower. “Yes?”

  “The King has returned and wishes to speak with you.”

  Nice timing, Vago. Really nice timing.

  Dropping his head on Stella’s chest, he kissed one nipple before he pulled away from the temptation that was Stella and got up. Grabbing his pants, he put them on before he moved to open the door.

  “Morning, sir.”

  “Morning.” This time he scratched the ‘good’. If not for this guy, his morning would have become fucking amazing by now. “I’ll be up in five.”

  “Good.” The guy turned on his heel and Nero closed the door.

  When he turned around it was to find a sexy, tousled Stella wearing nothing but his shirt leaning against the doorway to her bedroom. “Fuck, I’m going to kill him,” he groaned rubbing a hand across his face.

  Chuckling she walked over to him and slipped her arms around his waist. “Don’t do anything rash. I would hate losing you, now that I’ve developed quite a taste for your blood.”

  Nero grabbed her legs so they wrapped around him, and in a swift move had her up against the wall. Pressing his hips against her heat, he asked, “Only my blood, huh?”

  “Uh-huhhhh.” It was more of a moan than an answer.

  He kissed her, nipping at her lip before losing himself in her taste and her scent. Too soon he had to pull away and let her legs drop back to the floor. Cursing the fact that their morning had been stolen from them, he leaned his forehead against hers before pressing a kiss there.

  He reached for the door and then turned around one last time, “I’ll see you later. We’ve still got a lot to do.”

  Cocking her head she asked, “Which are you referring to, exercise in the bedroom or training room?”

  “Both.” A wicked grin on his lips, he gave her one last kiss before heading out the door.

  He quickly went to his room to grab a shirt; since he rather liked the idea of Stella wearing his, he hadn’t dreamed of asking her to give it back. God, that woman. At first he had thought he had turned her life upside down, when in truth it was the other way around. Until last night he hadn’t realized that he hadn’t drank any blood ever since meeting her. The only blood he had wanted had been hers. And when those small, sexy fangs of hers had sunk into him last night while he had been buried in her, he hadn’t been able to resist. Never had he shared his blood while drinking from another, but with Stella…denying himself had been impossible.

  While another secret elevator brought him to Vago’s private rooms, he let himself remember. Every kiss and every touch. The feel of her. The taste of her. Exquisite. And now he only wanted more.

  The doors pinged, forcing him out of his reverie.

  Vago looked a bit disheveled, his button-down was open, the tie and suit jacket hanging over the back of his chair behind him. His friend was standing behind his desk and looked up from the papers scattered there when Nero entered. “Hey, how is it going? Any trouble on your patrols while I was gone?”

  Nero dropped down in one of the lush, creamy leather seats. “Nothing worth mentioning. Except our shadow touched proved herself and took a bloodsucker out last night.” He couldn’t hide the pride in his voice.

  “She did?” Vago’s brows went up in surprise. He moved around the desk to collect a bottle of whiskey and two glasses from the minibar and then settled on the couch facing Nero. “Well, that sounds promising then.”

  Nero watched as Vago poured, accepted the offered glass and met his friend’s eyes. “I want her on my team when this is all done and over. The others already see and appreciate her as a part of it anyway.”

  “Sure, no problem. It pleases me to hear that she has found a place in our world.” He took a swig and leaned back, visibly exhausted from his trip. “What about her blood?”

  Last night he had been too caught up in the moment, not able to think at all if he was honest, to realize it, but, yes, he had tasted her blood and it had held that sweet hint that marked the royal family. A note of chocolate. “She’s Alba’s daughter. She’s your blood.”

  “When did you taste it?”

  Nero sensed where this was going and met his friend’s piercing gaze head on. “Last night.”

  Vago’s eyes narrowed as he leaned forward, tense, like a hunter after prey. “Her blood wasn’t all you tasted, am I right?” His elbows on his knees, his eyes hardened and Nero knew he wasn’t facing his friend or the King, but the uncle of his woman. “If she fails that test, it’s your ass on the line. If you don’t cherish her, if you so much as bruise her heart, you’ll have to answer to me.”

  “Yes, sir.” Knowing that Stella had won over the biggest ally she could have, he didn’t mind the words or the tone at all, he appreciated them instead. It was clear that the King didn’t want to lose the niece he had just found.

  THIRTEEN

  “The Council awaits you, my Lady,” the words were softly spoken by Grey and yet they were like a resounding stroke of a gong inside her head.

  Word about her blood hadn’t gotten out yet, but of course Grey knew. And even though she had asked him to drop the my-lady’s he had refused, simply telling Stella her heritage was something to be proud of.

  The weeks had past in a blur and now Stella found herself about to head into what would probably be the hardest and dirtiest fight of her life. About to head into a room full of politicians who would decide whether she would live to see another dawn - or not.

  Four weeks of harsh training. Four weeks in which she had found out more about herself than she had ever thought possible when Nero had promised her answers the night they’d met. Four weeks of tender love making in the bedroom and hot, mindless passion on the floor of the training room. Four weeks that had changed her life and carved out a new way. A way she intended to walk hand in hand with the roamer at her side who had changed her life.

  Trying to calm down her thundering heart she looked at her anchor. Her tall, dark, handsome anchor.

  Nero caressed her face, his thumb running over her cheek. “I’ll be watching, and I promise I won’t let anything happen to you. No matter what.”

  The way he said it, made her breath catch and she searched his eyes, not sure whether this was simply a warrior’s statement or maybe more of a…claim. Seeing the intense heat flickering there, she knew it was the latter.

  Her heart spilling over with joy and sadness, she rose on her toes and kissed him. Kissed him with all that she had. In all the time they had had together, they hadn’t once spoken of love. It had been clear in every kiss and every touch, in every laugh and every cry of despair, in the way he had pushed her during the training. Words weren’t always necessary, but this time Stella wanted to make sure.

  “I love you,” she whispered into his ear before pulling away and striding into the room where the Council was waiting for her.

  What Stella hadn’t known the first time she had seen the Tower was that it reached as far into the earth as it reached into the sky. The room she entered was buried deep, probably some ten floors into the ground and big, taking up the entire level. It was a rather posh and modern, blue-and-silver theater hall in the style of old amphitheaters – though in her case, arena seemed more appropriate. From the half moon that was her stage, row after row of filled seats rose all around her, making her feel like a bug
under a microscope. All that was missing as far as she was concerned was some sand and blood and the games could begin. One look at the council, seated on a sort of private balcony above the others and beside the King, and she was sure blood would flow tonight. Probably hers.

  She had never met the Council before, but just from what Nero had told her, she was able to recognize each and every one of them. On the far right was Council member Ash, he was the oldest of them all and it showed in his eyes which were by far the softest and relaxed of them all. Beside him sat Chaaya; her hair the color of midnight, seemed to absorb the light around it, so did her eyes. Though was the word Nero had used to describe her and it fit; she hadn’t gotten her seat on the Council being all smiles and laughs, that was for sure. Further down the row was Muraco. He was easy to spot thanks to his long, dark hair cascading down onto his shoulders, but the rest of him wasn’t. His face was so guarded it was impossible to tell his thoughts. Dawn, another woman in the mix, was elfin grace personified and feminine softness in its purest form. She looked as if she couldn’t even hurt a fly and Stella wondered how she had come to be on the Council and thought it would be best not to underestimate her. Argento sat beside her and just looking at him Stella had shivers running down her spine. With hard eyes the color of gray, the lightest shade she had ever seen on a roamer, he appeared to be as cold as the metal he was named after. The last woman on the Council was Sera; she was the oldest among the females and looked about forty with intelligent eyes and hair that shimmered indigo. Just seeing the laugh lines around her eyes and mouth, calmed Stella’s thundering heart. However, that doesn’t long. Her pulse was back in unhealthy territory, the moment Stella’s eyes fell onto the last Council member.

  Fosco. The King’s uncle and fiercest opposition. Smirking inside, she took pleasure in the fact that he was rather short for a roamer, although she guessed he made up for it with his barrel of a chest and his eyes. There was something in his eyes beside a calculating sharpness that made her want to shake herself as if ridding herself of a bad dream.

  Oh yeah, he didn’t like her alright. It was as plain as day. As was the fact that he would get a sick kick out of seeing her fall tonight.

  “Good evening, shadow touched Stella,” it was Ash the eldest who rose from his seat to greet her. His voice was calm and filled with patience, and went a long way in soothing her nerves.

  “Good evening, sir.”

  “Am I right in assuming that you know why you’re here before us tonight?”

  Stella gave a sharp nod, “To be tested.”

  “Since it has come to our attention that you have been out on the streets and trained as our patrollers are, we have decided to test your abilities as such. Being a patroller is an honor, a position that demands our respect for the dangers that come with it. Patrollers do not only police the twilight our, securing the races, but also protect us. It is position of honor that demands control.”

  “I understand.”

  “Well then, let’s test yours, shall we?”

  Her eyes went to her team. Scuro, Nebbia, Trevas and Ombra were seated to the side, their eyes and faces filled with support. And there was Nero. He stood to the side, probably not able to sit while she was fighting for her life, for her right to be considered as one of them. His eyes were hard, filled with anger against the Council, and yet soft and filled with love that gave her wings. Taking a deep breath before forcing it slowly back out of her lungs, Stella nodded. She was ready.

  The light dimmed and a thick wall of glass descended from the ceiling all around her half-moon stage, protecting her audience and making her feel like a bug caught in a jar. Lovely.

  Hair pulled back in a braid and tugged beneath her top, dressed in black pants, long-sleeved shirt and a leather corset that Nebbia had suggested for her to wear since it also served as a kind of armor, Stella stood light on her feet and waited. Her heart beat a gallop inside her chest, but she calmed it with her breathing and let her senses stretch.

  A door in the floor opened. She whirled to face the bloodsucker jumping out of it, and at the same time noticed another one dropping from the ceiling in her periphery. She had been good at using the shadows when in danger, and after four weeks of training it had become second nature to her. Not even much of a thought was needed and a blade made out of darkness was writhing in each of her hands. She went after the first demon of blood, and then ducked, sensing the other’s attack, sending him into his colleague. The time they needed to entangle each other was enough to cut first one head, then the other.

  Good. Now what?

  The thought had barely registered when three more doors opened up and spit more creatures into the arena. A reptile. Okay, she had to stay away from his poisonous fangs. And a wolf. She had never encountered one but the hybrid creature was easy to identify with his tall and broad stature, the wolverine, glinting yellow eyes and snout that would have made every little red riding hood given a run for her money. However, the last creature she had couldn’t place, which meant it was probably a demon of the mind. Smaller than any other demon she had come across so far, it reminded her of fairy tales and imps, with too long arms and all-black eyes. It laughed and disappeared right in front of her eyes, rendering itself invisible. Shit. Now she really wished there had been sand on the floor so it would have been easier to track the thing. But she had to take care of the demons of prey first. They attacked to kill, to eat. Ghosts liked to play since it produced the energy they fed of.

  With a hiss and growl the reptile and wolf ran at her and she ran straight at them. But the ghost went for her leg, cutting her thigh and made her stumble. She managed to use the movement, skidding along the floor and between the two demons and cut. Their legs buckled.

  Feeling the slightest hint of a breeze at her side, Stella quickly rolled away, but wasn’t fast enough. White-hot pain flared in her shoulder. Probably from a claw.

  Suddenly harsh UV light flooded the arena, destroying most of the shadows around her. Taking her weapons, making her eyes water and her skin crawl. Bet this one was Fosco’s idea, Stella thought as she grit her teeth and tried to come up with a plan. No matter what the Council said, she was a roamer. Her body had forsaken the light a long time ago, without her knowing, but now her mind and heart had followed into the soothing dark.

  Now, how to get out of this arena? She had a shadow, even if small and her enemy had one, even if hidden - it would have to be enough to work with. She had never used the moving shadow of a living being, only those of objects, the ordinary stationary ones in her surroundings. But this time she had no choice.

  Pulling at the shadows with all her might she made them gather in her hands, forming small blades. But at least they were blades, as long as the edge was sharp she could make do. Closing her eyes, since they weren’t of much use in the harsh light anyway, she concentrated on her other senses. Let the shadows in her hand scent the air. Tried to feel or hear the ghost before it got to her.

  Movement in the air. She struck, the ghost squealed and then silence settled.

  Stella stood, awaiting more.

  But then dim, cool darkness flooded the arena once more and with a soft whisper the glass wall disappeared. She opened her eyes, calmed her thundering heart and faced the council.

  Once again it was Ash who rose. “That was quite impressive, Stella.”

  She noticed he had dropped the shadow touched distinction. “Thank you, sir.”

  “Well, I for one think you passed the test.” She was pretty sure she didn’t imagine the little wink.

  Fosco cleared his throat in order to gain his colleague’s attention. “Yes, her skills are quite impressive, I agree Ash. But we’re here to decide about her nature, and who could tell how long it would take for the shadow touched insanity to take hold?”

  “It won’t take hold. Not now that her body and mind have claimed the shadows as a part of her.” The King Vago’s deep voice had no trouble reaching every corner of the room and he didn’t even rai
se it that much. “And because her blood is stronger than that of any other shadow touched.”

  Ash looked at him. “What are you saying, my King?”

  “That she is of royal blood. She’s Alba’s daughter and my niece.”

  Surprise was an audible wave sweeping through the room. Even Ash needed a moment to find his words again.

  “How is that possible?” Fosco demanded but was ignored.

  “It’s not that I doubt your word my King, but the Council does need proof of that.” After the King gave a wave of his hand, Ash’s gaze flicked back to hers. “May I taste your blood, Stella?”

  Um. No one but Nero had ever taken her blood. Sensing her hesitation he assured her. “It’ll be quick. Come here.”

  In a blink of an eye she was up in the balcony, having jumped the shadows.

  “Give me your hand.”

  She did, and then, before it even registered, he had taken her finger and nicked it with one fang. Stella barely felt the swipe of his tongue. Quick and clinically. No emotion whatsoever.

  FOURTEEN

  Nero’s jaw clenched as he saw Council member Ash leaning forward and taking Stella’s finger into his mouth. He did it quickly, without any ulterior motive but finding out the truth, but Nero simply didn’t like seeing another man take her blood. Even if it was Ash, even if it was just her finger – he didn’t like it and that was it.

  She was…his.

  When he had seen her for the first time, she had stunned him. With her fire, with her hunger for life and her will to fight. It shouldn’t amaze him that they were so good together - in all manners, be it in the bedroom or just their personalities. The way they could agree without words or butt heads and then laugh about it.

  Though they would butt more than just heads for what she had done to him before heading off into that arena.