CLARA'S POV
"Still questioning our bond?" He asked me.
I concentrated on the closed door, refusing to look at him. "We don't need to get married."
"Yes, we do." He countered.
"You believe in marriage?" I asked in disbelief.
"No. Our mating rituals predate your marriage. But I find I want your vows." He watched the door as well. "Since I can hear our minister with the director, you might want to accept that fact now."
"Taki—" There had to be some way to reason with him.
"Jane isn't safe until we reach my headquarters. Only mates are allowed to know its location, and we're not leaving until you give those vows, Clara." He said I'm what seemed like a final tone.
My mind scrambled for some way out of this mess. There was nothing but the need to keep Jane safe. "Fine," I spat, "but my taking vows doesn't mean anything else, Taki." I felt the walls close in on me, and I stifled the urge to scream my head off. Like a mouse in a maze, my gaze darted around the room searching for a way out.
"You think you'll say no, darling? After that kiss?" His deep chuckle sent my temper spinning.
"What kiss?" I retorted.
His second chuckle echoed louder than the first.
A small beep made me glance toward his watch where he pressed a button. "My brother has arrived to pick us up. Are you ready to get married?" The deep hue of his eyes met mine in challenge. The door opened, and Jane skipped in before the director and a round man in black robes.
My heart stuttered and then melted as Jane ran into my arms. Instinct and love washed over me—I would do anything to keep my daughter safe. Even marry a vampire.
"I'm ready." I said confidently.
***
Less than an hour later, I signed the license for the minister wondering if the document would be recorded. Anywhere. The marriage ceremony had taken place quickly in the small conference room. Taki uttered his vows in a deep, sure voice while holding my hand in a large, gentle grip. Jane had all but danced with glee at my side. Then Taki wrapped a warm metal cuff around my left wrist. I attempted to study the intricate pattern inlaid on the thick copper but had been interrupted when the justice told him he could kiss his bride.
He gripped my chin with one warm hand, his eyes darkening to burnt gold as he leaned down, pressing my lips with his. It was a hard, quick claim; a promise of more to come, sending a rush of heat through me which nearly doubled me over. I was so damn unprepared for this.
"Very well folks," Director Douglas brought me out of my reverie. "Taki, I need you to finish signing the new agreement in my office and Clara you need to sign your program papers with Marshal Nicholas." The director nodded toward a wiry marshal, who had arrived at the conference room in a bustle of papers.
My mind refused to focus. "Program papers?" I asked
"Yes. We need to put you formally into WITSEC before we lose your file. That way we can explain to any family and friends that you saw a gang hit go down and needed to be relocated." The director rehashed the cover story they had invented for me earlier. He scrutinized his watch. Probably wishing this day was over.
"All right, come on Jane." I turned to go, forming a plan for our escape—after we left the secured government building. We would take the elevator to the bottom floor and steal a car. Taki was wrong. I could keep Jane safe. They only had to get to my sister Annie.
"No. I want to go with Taki." Jane screwed her face up in an expression promising a fight. I sighed. My daughter needed a nap.
"She can come with me." Taki moved forward and took my arm. "You stay with Nicholas, and I'll meet you in his office in a few minutes." I tried to jerk my arm away, but his grip tightened on me as his eyes focused on my face. "I'm serious, Clara. From here to Nicholas office only. The Kurgans have allies all around you."
"Fine." I needed to get the formalities over with so I could make a break for it. Taki released my arm. My small daughter skipped forward and took his hand to lead him out the door behind the director. Taki shortened his strides to match Jane's. At the end of the hall, he turned, giving Nicholas a hard warning look before following Jane into the room.
Panic filled me at being separated from Jane. I soothed myself with the instinctive knowledge that Taki wouldn't let anything hurt my daughter. However, I was no longer certain of my own safety with the man.
"This way, Ms. Darlington." Nicholas swallowed and gestured me toward the elevator. "I mean, Mrs. Kayes."
Irritation jumped under my skin, and I yanked shields back in place. "Is there something you'd like to say, Marshal Nicholas?"
"Oh, well, no." He punched in a lower floor number, something near his left foot capturing his muddy brown gaze. "It's just, well, they're such barbarians. I mean, they kidnapped the director three years ago, call all the shots, and won't even tell us where they live. They are cavemen with superior technology. They won't even share that technology with us!" Nicholas took a breath to continue his rant and then slammed his lips together when the doors opened. Two large marshals entered the elevator, crowding the small space.
As the car descended, one of the men smiled at me with a perfect row of even, white teeth. I automatically returned the smile until I met his eyes. An uneasy warning trilled in the back of my mind. The feelings swirling through him contained a darkness I had never encountered. My shields slammed up.
I turned to warn Nicholas just as the other marshal pivoted, shoving him against the side wall, injecting him with a small needle. I started to scream as Nicholas fell to the floor and then, with a quick pinch to my neck, there was nothing.