Primal Heat 05 - Darkness Reborn

of the Order."
    Kane didn't reply to the banter, stunned by what had just happened. He was still shocked by that sight of Sarah on the other side of his flail when so much violence had been streaming through him. He stared at Sarah, trying to comprehend what had just happened. Why did you do that?
    I had to know.
    He still didn't get it. Know what?
    Her smile faded. Whether you were going to try to kill me now, or whether we have time. Grim reality darkened her eyes, and she began to sag against Ryland, as if it had become too much in her weakened state. You can't fake instinct, so now I know.
    I would never hurt you, Sarah. Never. The words burned inside him, a raging ferocity that tore him out of Thano's arms. He strode across the rubble toward Sarah, ignoring Thano's attempt to restrain him and Ryland's warning to back off.
    You know that's a lie, Kane. Didn't you say no lies? Pain flickered in her eyes, pain and weariness. No lies between us.
    Kane caught her just as her legs gave out. He swept her out of Ryland's arms and into his own. If there are no lies between us, then tell me why I respond to you like this. You know.
    Sarah collapsed against his chest, her body trembling. I do know.
    Something vibrated through Kane, a desperation so intense it almost shook him to his core as he stared down at her. "You know who I am?" Sweet Jesus. His heart began to pound, his blood roaring through his ears as his grip tightened on her. "Do you know who I am?" he repeated. "Do you?"
    She looked at him and nodded. "I think I might, but I'm not positive." She touched his chest, flattening her palm over the smooth patch of skin. Her touch was like a burst of heat through him, igniting the coldness that had been trying to consume him for so long. Desire ricocheted through him like the rippling heat from the high desert sands. Her eyes jerked to his, and he saw the same sudden awareness of the heat between them. "I might be wrong."
    "Who?" Holy shit. Was it over? Was he finally going to find out who he was? He pulled her closer, his entire being vibrating, coming alive for her. He cupped her hips, pulling her closer, needing more of her, as if she could reach inside him and release whatever had been locked up for so long. "Who am I, Sarah?" He was vaguely aware of Thano and Ryland moving closer, but he didn't care. He could barely breathe, could barely stand, the intensity of his reaction was so strong. He was consumed by the woman in his arms, by what she knew, by what she did to him, by what she could offer him.
    She slid her hands on either side of his neck, rubbing her hands over his skin as if she needed to touch him as much as he needed to consume her. "I'm not sure you want to know, Kane."
    Her gaze met his, and it was so full of emotion and passion that raw, heated lust tore through him. Not just lust. A roaring, living need to connect with her, kiss her, touch her, and bond with her. He pulled her closer, breathing in her air, wanting more, wanting to know every secret she had. She had the answers to everything for him, everything. He almost fell to his knees, so desperate was he for all she had to offer. He gripped the back of her hair, pulling her face close into his. "Sweet Jesus, woman. Tell me who I am—"
    "What in God's name is going on over here?" A raspy voice bellowed out from behind Kane.
    Sarah let out a yelp of surprise as Kane turned around to see an old lady hobble out of the woods wearing a rainbow-striped tee shirt and a pair of camouflage pants, and she was carrying the largest damn set of bow and arrows he'd ever seen in his life.
    She raised the arrow and aimed it at Kane's head, right between the eyes. "I never gave permission for my granddaughter to be involved in a four-way with three men who have more muscles than the Hulk on steroids. Is this what happens when people think I'm dead? Sex orgies? Really? Put the girl down, you over-sexed mass of testosterone, or I will shoot you in the head that actually has the brains." Then she lowered the tip of the arrow, aiming right at his crotch. "Or maybe I'll start with the other one."
    Ryland and Thano went still beside him.
    "Wow," Thano said, sounding awestruck. "That's a real woman. If she were seventy years younger, I'd get down on my knee and propose to her right now."
    Kane turned his body so he was blocking Sarah from the arrow. "Sarah?" Kane leaned closer to Sarah, brushing his lips over her ear. "Do you know her?"
    "Kane." Sarah was staring past