Raised in Fire (Fire and Ice Trilogy, #2)

by K.F. Breene

Occasionally I got to get out of the office, sure, but we were encouraged to use our words to pacify the situations, not our fists. What did I know about using words? That wasn’t my style at all.

I got really gruesome when routinely bored.

When Garret was absolutely unbearable, I waited until after hours, followed him in the shadows, and then punched him in the mouth.

The trick was, you couldn’t get into trouble if you didn’t hear the command. Hopefully. It was worth a shot, anyway.

“I’ll say it’s a Lord of the Rings sword. No one questions extreme nerd-dom. It’s crazy without equal.” “You are crazy without equal.”

“Reagan, part of protecting you is to protect you from yourself. I just want to know what it is you are hiding,” he’d said.

My magic was powerful, but my palate was weak.

but his proximity made my body vibrate in worrying ways.

“I fed just two days ago, and already I want more,” he murmured. “Of you, specifically. What is this hold you have on me, Reagan?”

A moment later, he was gone and my body was on fire. Literally. The bath water steamed and started to bubble, my power reacting to my desire.

Gratitude and longing both crossed his face, and I felt a weird pang. Like maybe going out with him wouldn’t be so bad.

Number two, I would ask how you think I should be treated, but you’ll just—” “Like the priceless treasure you are.” “That’s what I thought you’d say, but while I might be priceless, my worth to you is definitely quantifiable.

“You prefer willingness, then.” “Of course, but more than that. Complete surrender of both parties. I’ve explained this to you before.”

I don’t know what you are, Reagan Somerset, but I know it’s more than a leather-clad woman with a fanny pack and no eyebrows.” I groaned. “For the last time, it is a pouch, not a fanny pack.

But you have the attention of a ruthless elder vamp. His type, as a rule, don’t get involved with humans to this degree unless said human is extremely valuable. That means something if nothing else does.

“It’s the vampire you should be taking your aggression out on, not the door, but you’ll get there. With age brings wisdom.”

There was something about kicking in doors that was intensely gratifying.

“This is going to be the worst conversation I have all day, I can already tell.” “All month, at least.”

Usually I would kill you without question, but what can I say? You’ve grown on me. I’d hate to move,

Maybe I’d break into Darius’s house in the French Quarter and rearrange all his crap. He’d probably hate that as much as I hated him sticking his nose all the way into my business. Add some spray paint, and he would be absolutely livid.

“Your humor would certainly torture them, if you lobbed jokes at them along the way,”

I’d make a private investigator out of him yet. A grumpy, egotistical private investigator.

“I think you and I have very different ways of collecting information.”

“You are wearing a leather outfit with a sword, gun, and fanny pack strapped to your person. What about that look says nice girl?” I ignored the dig on my pouch. “Yes, fine. But I fit in. And you are still not liked. I win.”

“Is something wrong with you?” she asked. I pointed at Darius. “I’m traveling with a vampire. That should’ve been your first clue.”

A vampire would be needed for the blood of the damned.

“I love rifling through people’s things. It’s a personality flaw I don’t apologize for.” “You should.”

I was sure there was someone like that around these parts—a magical weak link, if you will—I just had no idea how to find them. It was starting to get aggravating.

“Your moral compass is ambiguous.”

“It is my life’s blood. It is my soul. Using it is my given right.”

“Don’t play with air, and I won’t lop off body parts,”

My second night in Seattle and already my enemies were stacking up. I had a gift.

“I celebrate a woman who knows her desires, and who demands to have them fulfilled.” “Seriously, stop.” “Do you demand to have your desires fulfilled, Reagan?”

He is one of the most ruthless vampires living.” “Well, not really living, as it were…” “You have used that joke before.” “It’s funny every time.” “Hardly.”

“I have done the math,” Darius said in a dangerous tone. My small hairs stood on end. “The woman standing next to me has as much courage in her pinky as Roger’s entire force of shifters. She will take on the mages, the demon, and the Mages’ Guild, if need be, in order to save your town. Helping her are two other mages, a human detective, and a vampire. Not helping her…”

“We’ll get you that blood and see if it goes away. Hopefully it does, for both of our sakes. Because you are cutting into my cool points by saving me.” “Saving a human also cuts into my cool points, I assure you.” “I’m back to being a human in your eyes, am I? Wow. You must really hate emotion.” “Fear for your survival is distracting.”

As soon as their saliva hit your bloodstream, that was it. Your body was no longer your own. Suddenly it was a pleasure cruise taking you away,

who was mostly stable.

One thing I did love about my dad’s heritage—I could eat all day without gaining a pound. That part definitely wasn’t human.

A man’s undoing is always a woman, is it not?”

“I didn’t feel a fraction for her what I feel for you. That should not be possible in my status of immortality.”

“That’s because men are dependent and can’t do anything on their own.

“You are genuine. You are a fighter. A survivor. You would not play nice to my face and then stab me in the back. You are much too honest.” “I really don’t think you should hang your hat on that conclusion.” “There is something special about you, Reagan. Something…otherworldly.” “Underworldly, you mean.”

“When it comes to fighting, you work best when under pressure.”

“It is a joy being in your presence, Reagan,” he said quietly, his face now inches from mine. “Relaxing and exhilarating at the same time. I miss you when you aren’t near.”

“I am at your mercy,” he said, his lips getting closer. “I have always been at your mercy.”

I was not prepared for his kiss. When his lips touched mine, a jolt of sweet ecstasy cut through me. The fire within me boiled, and the excitement of battle mixed with the sweet heat of desire.

It was because of my connection with Darius. Somewhere along the way, he’d wormed his way into my world, and now that I was letting myself acknowledge that, I realized my desperate attraction had always been there. That the need was natural, and it was based on his personality, the rough as well as the sweet. The arrogant as well as the protector.

“I cannot describe how good you taste, mon amour. Your blood is truly the nectar of the gods. Sweet, spicy, complex. Better than the finest wine in all of France. Better than I could’ve possibly imagined. The smell does not do it justice. There is nothing on this planet that could possibly compare.” He straightened up, his eyes deep and intense. “I am speechless.”

“I was right about your passion, ma cherie. It is all-consuming.”