“I would guess Watchmen,” she muttered, catching sight of the dark form perched on top of the nearest truck.
Only an immortal would take that kind of crazy risk.
“Damn.” Tiege scrubbed a hand over his face, his body leaning heavily against the door of the Jeep. “I’m too weak to battle them.”
“I got this,” she assured him, stomping on the brake to make a sharp turn to the right. Then she had the gas pedal shoved to the floor as they bounced over a dune and headed down the bank of a dry riverbed. “Hold on.”
“Shit.” Tiege slammed his hands on the dashboard as she took a curve on two wheels. “You’re enjoying this.”
Was she? Sloane kept her gaze locked on the narrow path hidden at the end of the riverbed. Her adrenaline was thumping through her body and her heart was lodged in her throat. It felt good. Almost as good as being pressed into the mattress with Tiege between her legs…
She abruptly squashed the erotic images. Now wasn’t the time to be distracted with X-rated memories of sex with a gorgeous Incubus.
“It’s my job.”
“You are—” He cut off his words as she headed over another dune and entered the mining town that’d been abandoned years ago.
“What?” she demanded, glancing in the rearview mirror to make sure she wasn’t being followed before she pulled behind one of the decrepit wooden buildings.
He released a long, hissing breath. “Going to be the death of me.”
Her lips twisted into a smug smile as she caught a glimpse of the headlights moving north of the ghost town. She’d managed to shake them. At least for now.
“Not tonight,” she assured him.
Tiege glanced out the window, taking in the half-dozen buildings that were a good breeze away from catastrophic collapse.
“How did you know this was here?”
“I did some research when you were in the shower,” she admitted. She didn’t say anything about being able to tap into the military satellite system. A woman needed her secrets. “I like to be prepared.”
Tiege turned to flash her a wry smile, pulling out his phone to send a quick message. “I think we lost them.”
Sloane nodded, but she waited until she was sure the vehicles weren’t going to double back before slowly heading out of the town. Then, reaching a road that would lead them back to Vegas, she picked up speed.
“Did you learn anything of value?” she asked as he slipped the phone back into his pocket.
“Yes. We need to get the pendant to Jian.”
She scanned the area ahead of them, refusing to lower her guard. Just because they’d shaken one enemy didn’t mean another wasn’t lurking in the dark.
“Why Jian?” she demanded.
Tiege held up his hand to reveal the tear-shaped gem that glowed with a pale blue light.
“The magic is supposed to waken the Master of the House of Akana. Jian is the only one who knows where he’s hidden.”
Sloane briefly inspected Tiege’s pale face before returning her attention to the road. She didn’t have to ask if he was disappointed. He hadn’t made any secret of the fact he hoped the pendant could help him avenge Portia’s death.
“So you’re returning to Hong Kong?”
“We’re returning to Hong Kong,” he corrected. “I’ve already texted Jacob to have the jet waiting.”
She frowned. She’d expected to return to the Greece villa now that the ceremony was complete. Tiege didn’t need an extra guard to meet with his fellow Masters, did he? Once he was on the jet he should be safe.
Of course, he was still weak, she sternly reminded herself. Maybe when he was back at full strength he would realize there was no need for her to travel with him.
“You should feed,” she abruptly announced.
She sensed his surprise at her words. Why? He was clearly drained from the ceremony and in dire need of regaining his strength.
“I know you’re talented,” he at last muttered, “but I doubt you can drive like James Bond and feed me at the same time.”
She white-knuckled the steering wheel as shock jolted through her. Had meeting the spirit clouded his mind? He had to know it was impossible for her to risk feeding him. Not after they’d had sex more than once just hours ago.
“We could stop at the hotel—”
“No.”
She blinked at his fierce rejection. “No?”
His exquisite face was impossible to read. “They’ll be watching the hotel,” he said. “We can’t risk going back there.”
She shrugged. He had a point. His enemies would no doubt be keeping a watch on the hotel, but that didn’t mean they couldn’t easily find a female willing to give him what he needed.
“You could have Jacob bring a female with him.”
She could feel his anger blast through the air, prickling over her skin and twisting her stomach with raw lust.
“Why are you so eager to shove me into the arms of another female?” he rasped.
Sloane flinched. The thought of him with another woman was…hell.
Sheer hell.