by Elle Thorne
“I wouldn’t want you anywhere else.” His voice was a soft growl.
She recognized the shifter in him and found that not only was there no bitterness in her for the shifter, she’d come to accept this about him.
And all the others.
All because of that little lion cub shifter the sun rose on and set on for her. Larsen was her everything.
Thank God he doesn’t have this thing.
Then the earlier conversation struck home again. Larsen had that elemental thing. She needed to know more about that. She needed to learn how to protect her baby from that. How to help her son live to adulthood.
She released a breath.
Braden must have misunderstood why she sighed for he reached out and took her hand. “It will be okay.”
I can only hope. She smiled and hoped her smile looked genuine.
“What do you need for this?” Dakotah had visions of herbs, potion bottles, candles. Or maybe it was more like scalpels and surgical lights and scrubs.
“My bag has a couple of things.”
“I’ll get it.” Doc stepped out.
Chapter Twenty
Standing by the bed that Braden was in, Dakotah fought the urge to touch his face. He looked so peaceful. Whatever Ciara had given him to drink had put him into a deep sleep. Maybe he was even unconscious, but Dakotah didn’t want to disrupt with questions to find out if that was the case.
Ciara was on the other side of Braden, next to his shoulder. She stepped back.
“Just to be sure, I’d like Doc and Griz to be near his head.”
Dakotah scooted back as the two men moved into position.
She wanted to ask what they were being sure of, and why they needed to be there, but still fought the temptation.
Ciara looked at her. “Please don’t worry. I won’t be reckless. First, I’ll summon the essence that is plaguing him, uproot it from its setting, strip it of its powers, then I’ll insulate it so it can’t attach itself to another shifter animal, and I’ll remove it.”
Ciara stood at the foot of the large bed, raised her hands as if in supplication, and she released a sound that reminded Dakotah of the priestesses she’d seen in a fantasy movie. A chanting sound erupted, filling the room with ethereal magic.
Ciara’s eyes glowed as she recited, “Hear my plea, essence from beyond, I summon thee to flee your abode. Cross the veil, perish without.”
More chanting and more repeating of words, but slowly the words merged into a language Dakotah didn’t understand.
Ciara’s voice had begun to lull Dakotah into a mesmerizing spell when a yell interrupted the serenity. The bloodcurdling sound came from Braden, whose eyes were still closed.
He began to thrash about, tossing in the bed, his head striking the massive carved wood headboard.
“He’s convulsing.” Doc’s voice was measured and calm, but underlying with concern. “Need to hold him down before he hurts himself.”
“I got this side.” Griz grabbed Braden’s shoulder.
“Got this shoulder.” Doc held Braden down.
Dakotah clenched her fists together to keep from pouncing toward Braden to help. She’d do no good now. Unsure what to do, how to react, she looked at Ciara, watched her to see if there was any panic in her face.
Ciara gave her a smile. “Not to worry. This is expected.”
Expected? How the hell was this expected? Braden’s body was thrashing against the mattress, coming down hard, making the bed rock and the bed’s feet grind against the wood floor.
Dakotah took a step forward. Rethinking the matter and not wanting to get in the way, she took a step back.
Ciara waved her forward. “Go closer to him. Talk to him.”
Dakotah felt awkward. What could she say? In front of Doc and Griz, no less.
She stepped near the bed and took Braden’s hand in hers. His fingers were clenching and unclenching into fists.
Holding his hand, she bit back the cry of pain when he squeezed hers during one of his clenching moments.
She released her fingers when his grip loosened and took his large hand in hers, holding it, rubbing it. She laid her forehead on his forearm, closed her eyes.
Pretty soon, she was lost in her memories, had tuned everything out except Braden and herself. She talked to him, muttering. It seemed she talked forever and about things she’d never shared with anyone.
Things about her family, about being alone, about Deep Hollow. About the baby. How she hadn’t wanted him at first, hadn’t wanted anything that came from those horrible shapeshifters who’d tormented her and used her body like a petri dish to grow something.
Then how she’d come to love and accept that he was her son, her baby, and that she’d give her life for him.
She told Braden about her dreams for Larsen. Her fears for him. How she didn’t want the elemental thing in him—whatever that was, to kill the shifter in him, because that might kill Larsen too. How she wanted her baby to be happy and healthy and she wanted him to have the life she never had.
When she finally stopped talking, she realized she had dried tears on her face and the room had begun to darken. She and Braden were alone. He was sleeping heavily, his chest broad and muscled rose with each breath.
Had she fallen asleep? Where had everyone gone? Was Braden okay?
She stirred slightly, then sat up. Somehow she’d wound up half on and half on the bed.
“Where are you going?” Braden’s voice was thick with sleep.
“You’re awake.” She almost laughed at herself for stating the obvious. She felt nervous. Why?
Maybe because I told him everything about myself.
Something she rarely did—sharing herself.
“Yeah.” He stretched slightly, then frowned.
His expression gave her pause. Concerned, she asked, “How do you feel?”
“Like I slept.”
She raised a brow. “Interesting answer.”
“Considering I don’t know the last time I got rest…”
“That must have been rough.” She touched his hand.
Her fingertips sizzled with the contact, starting where their skin met and traveling throughout her body. Dakotah looked down, scared he’d see an emotion in her face, unsure if she could even deal with this emotion herself yet.
Braden raised his hand, tipped her head up and locked gazes with her. “No more running. Not me. Not you.”
She held his eyes, unsure if she was being held captive by his stare or the conversation. “No more running,” she repeated, her voice low. She thought that phrase over, testing it in her head. Could it be that the running could come to an end?
That moment, with perfectly imperfect timing, Ciara walked into the room. Dakotah stepped away from the bed, feeling like an awkward teenager caught in the middle of something she shouldn’t have been doing.
For Pete’s sake, I’m an adult. What’s wrong with me?
“How are you?” Ciara approached Braden. “How do your scars feel?”
“Scars?” Braden paused. “This is the first time I haven’t been aware of them.” He pushed his sleeve aside.
The scars had become more faded than Dakotah had ever seen them.
Just then she noticed Griz at the doorway beckoning her.
“I’ll be back in a few.” She wondered if Larsen needed her. Had she been out that long?
Griz took her by the hand, drawing her away from the door toward the kitchen.
“Is Larsen okay?”
“He’s fine. Still sleeping. Mae’s watching over him like a hawk. Won’t leave his side.”
Gratitude flooded throughout Dakotah. “I’ll have to thank her.” She glanced at Griz. “What’s up?” Her curiosity was piqued.
“Just wanted to check on you. That exorcism was meant for Braden but it seemed you let loose a few demons of your own.”
“Oh, that stuff at Deep Hollow.” She followed him onto the back porch and sat next to him on the swing.
“More than Deep Hollow.”
“You mean my feelings for Larsen?”
“No. Don’t you remember?” He gave her a look. “You talked about your family. The foster homes… Running away.”
Heat kissed her cheeks. She never discussed her childhood. Never. What the hell had possessed her?
“I’m sorry.”
Griz put his hand on her arm, the large palm warm and comforting.
“Look-it. You don’t ever have to apologize for that sort of thing. Not in this valley, not in these mountains.”
That did it.
Every emotion Dakotah had kept under control from the time she was left alone in the world to fend for herself since she was twelve, every single emotion came pouring out in the form of hot tears. She kept her head turned toward the mountain, those silent tears only witnessed by the majestic pines that overlooked the porch.
Quietly, she sat, releasing those tears as she’d clearly set free the demons plaguing her from a young age.
When the tears had gone, with Griz still silent by her side, she turned to face him.
“I’ve never had a place like this.”
“This is home now,” Griz said. His eyes held the answers and the secrets of ages. “It’s your home. We’re your family.”
“Don’t you dare make me cry again,” Dakotah threatened him.
Griz put his arm around her, pulled her head to his shoulder. “Cry all you want. Just stop holding everything back. It’s not good for you. Especially those feelings you have for that man in there.”
“I can’t have feelings for him. I can’t. I need to be there for Larsen.”
“What of Larsen’s needs?” Griz asked her.
Dakotah pulled away, studied his face, the scar she wanted to ask about, but didn’t want to be rude. “What do you mean?”
“Your son has needs.”
Just then the door opened, Doc poked his head out. “Braden’s asking about you. Wondered if you’re okay.”
Dakotah rushed inside, past Griz, Doc, and almost ran into Ciara as she was leaving the room Braden was in.
Braden was sitting on the side of the bed, looking better than she’d ever seen him look.
That wasn’t fair. It made her heart hurt with the idea that she’d lose this man from her life. She was thinking she agreed with Griz that Bear Canyon Valley would be the best place for Larsen, and of course, she knew Braden would be going back to wherever he planned to go.
And be with whomever he wants.
That thought bothered her.
“Hey. How are you?” she asked to avoid feeling and thinking about his leaving.
He studied her, his gaze never leaving her face. “Why were you crying?”
She hesitated. How could she ever begin to get into that? “Long story.”
His eyes narrowed. “Griz made you cry?”
“No. Not at all.” A part of her was thrilled he would jump to her protection. Another part was sad because he wouldn’t be there to do that long term. As much as she liked what he said about not running, he didn’t understand. She had a child to raise. Larsen was her priority. “So you’re doing much better. And are you in the clear?”
“Ciara said it was a success.” He raised his shirt. “See? Barely any scars.”
Dakotah held her breath at the sight of his abs, his chest, that expanse of skin she’d have given anything to touch with her hands, lips, tongue. She gulped. “I see. The scars do look better.” She plucked at the bedsheets. “I guess you’ll be going home soon.”
“I have plans.”
Of course, how stupid of her. He had to have plans. “Never mind.” She didn’t want to hear about it. Maybe one day when she didn’t care as much, it’d be easier. “I need to check on Larsen.” Anything to get away from the feelings that became stronger for this man every second she was around him.
“Wait,” Braden said.
She turned his way, eyes cast down. She needed to keep Larsen in mind and not concern herself with a man. Looking at him would only lessen her resolve.
She heard him rise to his feet. The bed’s mattress creaking to announcing it. The floor creaked, letting her know he was approaching. His hand took hers, and still she kept her eyes, down, but watched their intertwined fingers, the way his overlapped and held hers. So natural. So right.
“I can grill a steak like you wouldn’t believe.”
That made her look up. “What?” Had Ciara’s procedure confused him?
“You’re not gonna feed salad to that little carnivore, are you?” He had a half smile on his lips.
She stared at him, confused.
“I’m a hell of a teacher. Baseball. Hockey. Football. Rugby. Not to mention my shifter skills.”
She was getting more confused by the second. “What do you mean?”
“I’m not going back to New York.”
“Then…”
“I’ll need something to do. Let me teach little L the shifter ropes.”
“I can’t pay you.” Couldn’t even support herself and Larsen.
A voice boomed from the doorway. “You two can’t figure jack shit out, can you?” Griz walked in, carrying Larsen. “Good thing I’m here for my godson.” He handed the baby to Dakotah. “Here’s the damned plan.” He patted the top of Larsen’s head. “Sorry about the language.”
Plan? Did he say plan?
Chapter Twenty-One
Dakotah and Larsen had been staying with Griz for several days now. Griz’s cabin sat high in the Bear Canyon Mountain Range. His log home, rustic on the outside, but large and completely updated on the inside overlooked the valley.
From the large windows in the bedroom she and Larsen shared, Dakotah could see Mae’s house, Doc’s clinic, and the bed-and-breakfast Mae owned. If she stood at a different angle, at the far end of the window, she could see Astra and Kane’s cabin tucked into the evergreens, practically hidden if one didn’t know where to look.
Dakotah and Larsen weren’t the only houseguests that Griz had. Braden was staying here too.
Oh yes, indeed, Griz definitely had a plan. His plan had been to have the three of them as houseguests, perhaps even long-term houseguests, judging from the way he was behaving.
Dakotah couldn’t say she minded. Her days were spent caring for Larsen, changing his diapers, feeding him, getting to know and enjoy her baby and his lion shifter cub self while Griz and Braden were gone, helping Tanner and Teague with some construction project.
This was the first time she’d ever felt safe. The first time since both of her parents died. She needed to talk to someone about a job. She couldn’t live off of Griz forever. She had never felt comfortable mooching, and she wasn’t about to start. She just needed to find the right time to talk to him, hopefully alone.
Unfortunately, Braden was always there. Not that she minded Braden be there. In fact, truth be told, she’d gotten a little bit too used to his presence. He hadn’t said anything about leaving, or going back home, but he also hadn’t said anything else about all those things he said the day Ciara helped him.
Today was a beautiful Saturday morning, which hopefully meant the guys didn’t have to work. It would be nice to have company, after five days straight of having the home to herself from dawn until well after dark.
She heard a mewling sound and turned to check on Larsen, who should still be sleeping in his crib, a large wooden contraption that was bigger than the average crib, and definitely not new, judging from the weathered slats. Griz had told her it had been in his family for several generations.
She could tell from the scratch and bite marks that it had housed more than average babies. Definitely shifter babies. She’d noticed a couple of times when Larsen had shifted into his cub and chewed on the round slats.
In his lion cub shifter form, Larsen watc
hed her intently. Dakotah smiled at her baby. “You’re up early.”
Larsen released a soft growl and tossed his head playfully. He jumped on his hind legs and put his front paws on the horizontal bar of the crib.
“Okay, okay. I’m coming. But if you need to nurse, you better know you’re not to do it like that. I need you to turn into your boy body.”
Griz had told her that Larsen was inexplicably advanced for his age. That he shouldn’t be able to shift so easily so early in life.
Mae had explained it had something to do with this elemental. And every time Dakotah was reminded of his elemental, that vein of fear laced itself around her heart. That damned elemental. It could kill his shifter animal.
“Okay, little man, let’s get you fed.” She reached into the crib, ran her hands over the cub’s head, where one day a mighty mane would be. As her fingers ran through the fur, her cub child lowered himself to all fours, then lay on his side. His head turned into a baby’s head, no longer furry but rather covered with downy hair. Larsen gurgled up at her. Tiny drops struck the top of her head and shoulders.
“No, baby. Don’t do that. Don’t make it rain on mama.”
He gurgled some more, slight baby laughter, and then stopped the rain.
“You’re so very bad,” she said in a low tone, clearly teasing him.
A soft knock at the door brought her teasing to a halt.
“Come in.”
The door opened and Griz appeared. “I hope you didn’t forget.”
She looked at him. “Oh my gosh. I had forgotten.”
Griz had told her he had plans for her and Larsen today. How could she have forgotten.
“We’ll be ready in less than ten.”
“There’s not a big rush. Just something I want to show you. See if maybe you’re interested.” He closed the door and left her and Larsen to get ready.
Now that was mysterious.
* * *
Braden and Griz were both in the kitchen when Dakotah walked in carrying Larsen.
