Firestorm

Author's Note: Thanks for all the fantastic feedback, I really do appreciate it. A BIG thank you goes to my editor JillieB for her exception work.

*

Micah, age 10

She hid in the shadow of the table, hoping no one would notice her as she crouched low and remained motionless.

The stranger approached, the faint scent of blood still clinging to him. Micah didn't know him, but she knew enough to be afraid. He smelled too much like the ones who had slaughtered her family.

She wanted to close her eyes but couldn't tear her wide-eyed gaze from the man who kept coming closer. Was he here to kill her too?

She let out a small squeak and scrambled back in fear when the stranger knelt down beside the table. He gave her a comforting smile, and his warm brown eyes only reflected kindness.

"I won't hurt you, little one. I swear by my honour," he said softly. He stretched out his hand to her, his palm up.

She stared back at him in panic, but he remained motionless, crouched beside the table, looking as though he was prepared to wait as long as it took for her to decide to trust him.

It was more than an hour later when she placed her trembling hand in his.

* * * *

Micah woke to the infernal beeping of her mobile phone.

After leaving Caspian and Leigh at the arena last night, she had retreated to her blue room even though it had only been early evening. She'd needed to be alone to think. Thankfully, neither of the cousins had followed her.

Insomnia had plagued her most of the night. She'd barely touched the dinner that had been delivered to her room, and had tossed and turned in the small, comfortable bed, angry with herself for the way she'd behaved in the arena, and angry with Caspian because he'd returned to his icy demeanor so easily, as if he'd felt nothing. As if

she

meant nothing.

The insistent beeping of the alarm pulled her back to the present. Still groggy, she sat up to switch off the sound and squint at the screen.

The sun hadn't risen yet, but Micah had set the alarm because she wanted to get an early start. She shoved her blanket aside and the cold air made goose bumps erupt over her smooth skin.

Yawning tiredly, she got out of bed and caught sight of her reflection in the mirror that was hoisted on the wall directly opposite the room's door. She groaned; she looked as tired as she felt. Her hair was a right mess, and her nightshirt was twisted and wrinkled.

A warm shower beckoned. She collected some clothes from her still-unpacked suitcase and was on her way to the bathroom when she heard the unmistakable sound of a key turning in the lock of her bedroom door.

A quick knock came before the door swung open. The shock of such an intrusion sent adrenaline racing through her system, and she dropped the clothes she'd been holding to adopt a defensive stance.

She growled when she recognized the scent of her unwelcome visitor.

"What is it, Caspian?" she hissed through clenched teeth.

She had never been a morning person, and she was feeling even more grumpy than usual from the lack of sleep. Their awkward parting at the arena the night before did not help her mood either.

He stepped into the doorway but came no further into the room. "I heard movement and I assumed you were awake."

"You're only half-right, 'cause I'm only half-awake. Give me another hour," she said plaintively before shooting him a sharp look. "And why the hell did you just use a key to let yourself into

my

room?"

Caspian's cocky smile only increased her irritation. "You seem to keep forgetting that you are in

my

home," he said unrepentantly.

She was so tempted to stalk to the door and slam it on his undeniably handsome face.

How dare he look so delicious when I look like crap

, she thought, self-consciously combing her hand through her messy hair.

Caspian's gaze travelled down her body and lingered on her bare thighs. Her skin heated when she remembered that her sleep shirt didn't cover much.

"Why are you here?" Micah asked as she resisted the urge to tug the hem of her nightshirt lower, not wanting to acknowledge his attention or her reaction to it.

She should have been angry and embarrassed after last night, but something about Caspian's gaze was melting away her grumpiness. The sudden heat in his eyes was scorching. She just couldn't allow it to burn her.

"I came to invite you to escort me to a club tonight." Caspian's voice was sexy as sin. The deep rumbling tone sent a shiver down her body, triggering a wave of sensation... until his words registered.

"You've got to be joking," she argued. "My duties do not include being your

escort

when you don't have someone to accompany you."

Caspian's expression turned cold so quickly it was as if a switch had been turned off. "You will go as my bodyguard then."

She opened her mouth to argue but he had already turned and was walking away.

Micah growled as she stalked to the door and slammed it shut, her irritation back in full force. She closed her eyes and leaned back, drawing in a deep breath in an effort to calm down.

It only made her more aware of the scent Caspian had left behind.

She opened her eyes and cursed loudly when saw nothing but blue all over the damned room.

Grumbling under her breath, she stalked to the bathroom. Maybe a hot shower would calm her down.

She stayed under the hot spray until the bathroom was full of steam and her skin had wrinkled at the fingertips and toes. She returned to her room wearing nothing but a fluffy white towel, then tossed her clothes onto her bed and moved the wet tendrils of darkened blood-red hair away from her face.

One more glance at the blue wallpaper and her temper finally snapped. She found herself rushing toward the nearest wall after picking up the sharpest object she could find. It turned out to be her pink pen with the fluffy tail.

She ripped into the wallpaper, growling as her eyes glowed amber. The paper wouldn't come off fast enough, so she dropped the pen and raked her claws across the walls, ripping the paper off more efficiently.

Half an hour later, the floor was covered in blue piles of ragged strips of paper.

Micah grinned in satisfaction as she dropped her towel and changed into black jeans and a tight white shirt.

* * * *

The day was nothing short of boring and the silence was deafening.

Micah craved the sounds of her pack. She missed Avery's stern voice scolding the younger wolves for sparring without supervision. She yearned to hear Caleb's soothing words as he offered advice and counsel. Heck, she'd even be happy to hear Cole's annoying teasing.

She especially missed Kiki. Micah's Alpha held a very special place in her heart; like so many others in the original Saint pack, Micah owed her Alpha her life.

It was nearly sunset when Micah returned to her room to change so she could train at the arena. The scraps of ripped wallpaper had been cleared and some attempt had been made to scrape off the remnants, leaving the pale walls bare and tired-looking. It was still an improvement over the blue, though, and she couldn't help but smile at the sight.

She headed to the arena, checking the security monitor she wore on her wrist along the way. The device was designed to notify her if the motion detectors were triggered by intruders on the grounds.

The thought of the grounds outside the manor with their beautiful gardens made her want to shift and go for a run. She couldn't though. Caspian's coven was beginning to stir and she didn't know how they'd react to a wolf playing in their gardens.

Her feral side was growing restless. She'd released some of her tension this morning on her room's blue wallpaper, but it wasn't enough. She wasn't accustomed to suppressing her feral nature and her wolf rebelled against the tight leash. Her wolf wanted to run, to be with their mate. Micah knew she couldn't continue suppressing her were nature for long, or there would be consequences later.

The arena was empty. Relieved to have the place to herself, Micah dropped the gym towel she'd brought with her before walking to the centre of the mat to practice her

kata

and sword technique. She repeated the movements over and over, getting better with each repetition. Fighting had to be instinctive, the movements imprinted so deeply into one's mind and muscles that they became second nature.

It was almost an hour later when Micah finally dropped down on the mat. She lay on her back exhausted, though she enjoyed the ache in her muscles. It gave her a sense of accomplishment. It was the competitive nature of her wolf to constantly strive for perfection; she would never be satisfied with simply being good. She wanted to be exceptional.

The door to the arena swung open, and Caspian's scent wafted through the air. Micah groaned as she remembered she was supposed to be his bodyguard at a club tonight.

She opened her eyes and turned her head to watch him approach. "Can't I..."

"No," Caspian interrupted her, as if he'd known she'd continue their unfinished argument the first chance she had. "I want you dressed and ready to leave in an hour."

He looked down at her and made an effort to hide his reaction. She was a tempting sight with her hair fanned out over the mat, her skin glistening from her workout. He could see that she was tired, and he had to resist the temptation to let her rest. She had to accompany him to the club tonight; there was no point waiting any longer.

The unfamiliar ache in his chest had him frowning.

"What is it?" Micah asked when he scowled. She pulled herself up off the mat.

"Nothing," he said coldly. "You have one hour," he said again before turning and walking away.

Micah couldn't help feeling bereft as she watched him go. She knew she shouldn't care that their interactions always turned cold just before he walked away from her, but she couldn't help it. He was her mate even if he didn't know it.

And he will never know unless he tastes my blood

, she reminded herself. Vampires didn't feel the pull as strongly as weres did.

Perhaps it was just as well that Caspian didn't acknowledge any attraction to her beyond a few lust-filled looks. She had no plans to ever reveal herself as his true mate.

She couldn't help the subtle ache in her heart.

* * * *

The club was Diablo. Micah should have known they'd end up here. The vampire club was infamous among the paranormal community.

Micah had become uneasy when Caspian's convoy first crossed the border from Northlin into Westwood territory. She knew the Westwood Prime Alpha by reputation; Fallon Valerian was not a wolf one crossed, and clubs like Diablo were allowed in a Prime Alpha's personal territory only because the Alpha usually enjoyed a share of the profits.

"Does Fallon know I'm here?" she had asked while they were still en route.

"Yes," Caspian had answered, his tone brusque.

Micah didn't believe him. One had to go through a lot of red tape to pass through a Prime's personal territory. As a sentinel wolf from the ruling pack in Northlin, Micah's presence would be unwelcome unless she had presented herself personally to Fallon.

She was still debating how best to handle this new complication when their vehicles pulled up in front of Diablo. Its slightly grungy exterior was designed to make outsiders think it was nothing special. The bouncers that closely guarded the entrance were massive in build, easily the size of hunter wolves, but they did nothing to hinder Caspian and his party when they walked past the entrance.

Micah was relieved to be outside the confines of the car. Caspian had smelled yummy, as usual. And he looked sinful in the simple dark denim and plain t-shirt he wore. Perhaps, she admitted to herself, it wasn't the clothes but the person who wore them that made the clothes look good.

He had four guards, including Leigh and herself. She tried to stay in the shadow of his guards. The last thing Micah wanted was attention. This was a vampire club; it was uncharted territory for a werewolf and for good reason.

The interior of the club was surprisingly not grungy in the slightest. It was a blend of gothic and contemporary styles and the place was packed. The dimly-lit dance floor was crowded with people gyrating to the rhythmic beat of the music.

Micah's pace slowed as she looked around. She was unaccustomed to clubs, and the music in this one was far too loud for her taste, and had her ears ringing. They'd been inside only a few minutes and already she could feel a headache start to pound at her temples.

"Stay close," Caspian called out to her over his shoulder.

She was hurrying to catch up when a vampire stepped forward to block her path. He grabbed her arm so hard that the grip was bruising. "You shouldn't be here," he hissed, staring at Micah with red-rimmed eyes.

"I've heard that before," Micah answered, tugging against his hold to no avail as the vampire's grip tightened. Immediately, her wolf surfaced and her eyes glowed amber in warning before she flipped the vampire onto his back, her action quick and fluid. The dazed vampire that now lay on the floor had been taken by surprise.

"Stay out of trouble!" Leigh growled from behind her.

She turned to find both men waiting with impatient looks on their faces. Micah gave the security head a guilty look. "Sorry."

Caspian seemed to hesitate before speaking. "Survey the area," he finally said to her.

She watched as he nodded at a nearby bouncer before gliding up a staircase with intricately designed railings. The rest of his vampire entourage followed closely behind. The bouncer at the base of the staircase eyed her suspiciously.

She looked him over and flashed him a sweet smile. She was not surprised when he smiled back and nodded.

"Hi," she greeted.

"You certainly have guts, little wolf," the bouncer replied. He showed no signs of hostility.

"What can I say? I love danger," Micah said flippantly.

She had an instant liking for the bouncer. He had a big build and stood about 6 feet tall. His friendly brown eyes were comforting in a club where she felt so out of place.

He combed his hand through his thick brown hair. "If danger is what you're looking for, then you're in the right place. My name's Ray."

"Nice to meet you, Ray," she replied. "I'm Micah. And I don't really have a choice; I'm required to be here," she said as her eyes glanced up to where Caspian had gone. He was now out of sight, but she knew he was somewhere upstairs.

"The upper level is reserved for the VIPs. Word of warning: it's not a place for someone as young or innocent as you, little wolf."

Micah took a moment to absorb Ray's statement. She didn't doubt that he spoke truthfully. "Thanks," she said, before walking away to begin her sweep of the room.

It was not common knowledge, but Micah had many talents that were inherited from a nearly extinct species. She was of mixed heritage, with both wolf and seraphim blood flowing through her veins. Her seraphim nature could sense evil as a taint within a person or place. She had been instantly comfortable with Ray because he had carried no taint in him at all.

Ray was the exception, though. She had known as soon as she set foot in this club that the place itself was tainted with evil, that the very foundations rippled with the sins of people who had committed unforgivable acts within its walls.

Determined to do a quick survey of the area, she headed for the bar that ran alongside the dance floor, ignoring the occasional hissing she received from the vampires she passed. None of the vampires tried to stop her this time; most of the club's patrons were packed on the dance floor, dancing to the trance music that was almost as hypnotic as Caspian's voice.

She finally reached the bar, wrinkling her nose at the sharp scent of blood that came from the slightly pink drink that the vampire woman next to her sipped. She inspected the drink curiously and wasn't surprised to realize that it contained trace amounts of blood.

The bar provided a good view of the floor layout, though she couldn't see much of the far side of the room. Micah would have preferred the vantage point from the upper level, but she knew she would be unwelcome in the VIP area.

She frowned as prolonged exposure to the taint in the club began to affect her. Sweat broke out over her brow and she felt her lungs burn for air. She fought the urge to pant as each breath left her feeling more uneasy.

It didn't take more than a few minutes before the slight throbbing at her temple evolved into a full-blown migraine. Overwhelmed by the taint and the noise, she searched for the rear exit and moved quickly through the crowd. She bumped into Ray as she rushed to escape the suffocating effect of the taint, missing the look of concern on his face.

She emerged through the side door of the club, hoping to recover more quickly in the privacy of a quiet alley. She had never had her mind and body in such turmoil before. It felt so unnatural.

"Bitch!"

She whirled around to find a vampire reaching for her. She had been so distracted that she had blindly walked into danger.

She flinched away from the vampire, just barely escaping his grasp. His eyes were a deep red; he was clearly out of his mind with blood lust.

"My blood can kill you," Micah warned him as she tamed her harsh breathing. "I'm half Seraphim; I'm bound by the law of my people to warn you that my blood is as deadly to you as a stake through your heart."

Micah cursed when the vampire just scoffed, not believing a word she had spoken. She shouldn't have been surprised. Vampires had tried to wipe out all the seraphims some years ago, and many thought they'd actually succeeded.

As Micah took another step backward, she automatically scanned the vampire and was confused when she only found the overwhelming need to feed. There wasn't any taint in him.

"I don't want to hurt an innocent," Micah held up a hand in warning and tried to think of a way to diffuse the situation. It was hard to concentrate when her head was still throbbing painfully.

The vampire lunged for her and she barely managed to dodge the attack.

"Please, I don't want to hurt you," Micah tried to reason with him as she took another step backward.

A vampire caught up in bloodlust was gripped by an all-consuming need. She knew nothing would convince the vampire he would lose his life if he tasted a drop of her blood, but she had to try to reason with him.

Her blood carried toxins that were fatal to any being that wasn't her mate. It was one of the ways fate had tried to protect her mother's race. But even that protection had not been enough to stop the massacre that nearly wiped out the species.

The vampire paused to study Micah. It made her hope that she had gotten through to him. The calm didn't last long, though. Micah felt her pulse race as an overwhelming fear gripped her, almost paralyzing her in its intensity. She couldn't understand why she was suddenly afraid. She had faced much greater threats before and had never felt like this.

Sensing the sudden weakness in his prey, the vampire attacked. He swiped his talons and stared at the vacant spot where Micah had been moments ago.

She had moved out of the way but hadn't been fast enough to avoid injury. He had slashed her upper arm. The wound was shallow but she knew the scent of her blood would send the vampire hurtling over the edge of sanity. He was now beyond all reason.

He moved mindlessly, trying to cause as much injury to Micah without thinking through his attacks. Micah dodged his attacks, but the fear that raced through her was intensifying and becoming harder to suppress.

She reacted too slowly to avoid one more strike against her sensitive stomach. Pain blossomed but Micah only reacted with a sharp gasp for air. She'd been trained never to acknowledge pain until the battle was done, and this encounter was far from over.