Better Than Luck

by Brandy L Rivers

  “I may be able to help.” Amethyst blushed. “Well, not me, but Paavo and Mathis.” Amethyst was a nymph and very committed to Hayden Hunter. Her brother was half siren/half nymph, and his mate was purely siren. They were very much in love, but they often invited other people into their bed.

  Adam nodded. “Please. Maybe they can help me come up with a way to convince her.”

  “I can try talking with her,” Amethyst assured. “When she’s better. I mean, I get why she wouldn’t want to, but I see so many reasons why it would help.”

  “Would it stop the cancer?” Emily asked.

  “She wouldn’t be rejecting a virus. She would be rejuvenating her DNA. I know some people who were half, or even a quarter Fae, who went through the awakening and it wiped out all the health issues.”

  “Just fix Danika, however you can. I’ll worry about the rest later.” He needed her stable so he could talk her into the awakening. She pushed the issue of him being a wolf. He was damn well going to push the issue of her being a leprechaun. He only wanted to be Other if she was. And if she was going to let cancer kill her…shit, he couldn’t allow that thought to go through his head.

  “Adam,” Amethyst said softly, “can I take a look at your arm?”

  “Sure, yeah.” He held his arm out as a sound escaped Danika’s lips. His head whipped in her direction. Amethyst laid her hands on his arm, and he felt warmth flow through him.

  “I know you would have healed soon, and your concern is Danika, but now you won’t have to worry about that when she wakes up,” Amethyst said softly.

  “Thanks, Amethyst. Sorry, she’s my only thought,” he answered.

  “I understand.” She let out a breath. “I wish there were something more I could do for her.”

  He squeezed her hand. “You’re doing enough.”

  Emily held Danika’s wounded arm with one hand, trailing the fingers of the other over the punctures. The holes sealed up. Emily moved her hands from her arm, over her body, chanting. Light glowed from Emily and Danika’s color returned.

  Danika blinked, then sat up. “Adam?”

  “I’m right here, baby.” He moved past Emily, taking Danika’s face in his hands and pressing a kiss to her lips.

  She gripped his wrists and leaned back, tears flowing down her face. “Didn’t work, did it?”

  “No, and now we have one other option.”

  “No, we’ll do it the old-fashioned way. Medicine, chemo, all that shit. I’ll be okay.”

  “You might not ever be able to be a wolf, Dani. Emily says it might not work even if you’re healed.”

  Emily leaned against the bed. “I don’t know what the doctors told you, but you’ve progressed faster than they may be able to fix. Adam wants you to consider your other option.”

  He took her face in his hands and thumbed away the tears. “I can’t lose you. Especially now that you made me take this leap. I need you. Makayla needs you. Please.”

  * * * *

  Shaking her head, she squeezed her eyes shut and pushed Adam away. “We’re not discussing this here.” Discussing such a personal decision was not happening. Hell, the thought of another man touching her was the last thing she wanted to consider.

  Eighteen years and Adam was all she ever wanted, all she ever needed. And he just wanted to toss the awakening out there like it wasn’t totally against what they shared.

  “Dani, I know this isn’t what you wanted, but losing you isn’t an option. We are becoming Other together.”

  She pushed him back with a glare. “Not discussing that here.” She took a deep breath and turned to Emily, who sat directly to her left. “Thank you. I’m sorry I’m a bitch. I wanted to be a werewolf so I wouldn’t have to think about the alternative.” She wiped at her eyes.

  Emily cupped her shoulder. “That is perfectly understandable. You have every right to be upset. I’m sorry I can’t fix the cancer with magic. A tumor I could. Leukemia is entirely too complicated to simply absorb. I’d suggest a Paineater if I didn’t understand that they need someone awakened.”

  Amethyst shook her head. “Not even sure that would work.”

  “Sorry, I need to go. I just want to hold Makayla.”

  Amethyst hugged her. “I’m sorry, Danika. I wish we could take this from you.”

  “So do I,” Emily said, rubbing Danika’s back.

  She dipped her head and slipped past them, on her way back to Fallon’s to get her little girl.

  Emily caught her arm. “Let me help with the blood so you don’t scare her,” she said.

  Danika turned, and Adam moved to her, wiping the tears away once again.

  Emily moved her hands an inch over her clothes and arm and the blood disappeared. Then she did the same to Adam.

  “Thank you for trying.” Danika hurried out the door.

  Adam thanked them before running to catch up with her. “Danika, we should talk.”

  “Not right now,” she snapped. He wanted her to fuck someone else to be what she hated. And she might not despise the idea so much if her father didn’t happen to be alive, and she knew, beyond a doubt, he was the cause of so many tragedies while he always got away free and clear.

  “You wouldn’t be your father,” Adam said. “Look at Dominique. She isn’t a walking hazard to everyone around her.”

  She spun and pinned him with a glare. “He’s alive. He’s around me. This is probably his fault. Bastard sucks the luck out of everything and everyone who gets too close.” A bitter laugh escaped. “Fuck, I hate him.”

  “He’s an asshole, but you got to let that go. You aren’t him.”

  Another sad laugh. “Don’t know how to let go. I need to get out of here.”

  “We have another option.” The pleading in his eyes twisted her up. She couldn’t fathom his option.

  “Don’t, Adam. Just don’t.” Becoming a werewolf would have been so easy. And the awakening was the last thing she wanted. She’d been with a handful of men before Adam. That was it, and they had all been serious relationships, at least serious at the time.

  Now Adam wanted her to sleep with someone she shared no connection to. She wasn’t a woman who slept around. And yeah, she made love to Adam that first night, but she knew after one look she was his.

  Adam caught her wrist, pulling her into his arms. “I’m sorry, Dani. God, I wish this had worked so you wouldn’t have to think about the other option.”

  “You don’t understand, Adam. I thought you did, but you don’t.”

  “No, I get it. But I’m looking at the other side of the coin. You want to suffer through treatment when one night could make that all go away. Emily says it’s worse than you thought.”

  “She doesn’t know what I thought,” she hissed.

  He brought her chin up to look into her eyes. “I’ll take you home and have Fallon bring Makayla. And for now, I’ll let you think about this, but I’m going to figure out a way to prove that one night won’t change you and me. One night won’t wreck what we share. I’m sure I’d be a part of it. So what if someone else has to get you off? I just don’t want to lose you.”

  “Stop. I can’t.” She pulled free and ran into the house that was strangely silent. She hurried up the stairs and found Makayla. She scooped her up and the bag they’d brought over before rushing out the door.

  * * * *

  Adam let her go for Makayla. He stepped into the living room and offered a tight smile. “Thank you for trying with Danika. And for turning me. I need to get her home and talk to her.”

  “You do what you need to. But you can call on any of us,” Slater said.

  “And we’ll do what we can,” Brody offered.

  “I know. I’m taking her home.”

  He felt like hell. He was Other, and she was still refusing to see why changing her mind about her original plan was the best way to go.

  He met her at the stairs. “Are you okay?”

  “No. I was so sure it would work. And I know what my sister will
say. She just doesn’t get it.”

  “Maybe you should talk to her.”

  Maybe if they both dug deep and discussed their father, enough would come out that Dominique could help convince Danika. Maybe.

  Shaking her head, she carried Makayla to the car and put her in the seat. Sighing, he climbed into the driver’s seat. He wanted to be angry that she wouldn’t budge, but they had time. They had to have some. God, he hoped like hell they had time to convince her, because losing her would tear him apart.

  She didn’t say a word the whole ride home. He didn’t know what to say. The silence was tense. Makayla didn’t make a sound.

  Danika didn’t argue when he slipped his fingers through hers and pulled her hand to his mouth for a kiss.

  She wiped at her face.

  He parked the car and hurried to get to Makayla first. He wanted her to sort through her head so they could talk. A real conversation. Had she even noticed her father had been sitting there, watching her?

  He had to wonder how the bastard found her. And what Hayden did with the prick, because he wasn’t there when they left.

  Makayla hugged him tight. “Mama okay?”

  “She will be. Promise, Bluebird.” He kissed her head.

  She snuggled tighter.

  “Hungry?”

  Shaking her head, she yawned.

  “We could all lie down,” he offered.

  “Mmm.”

  “That sounds good,” Danika said. “Don’t you have to work?”

  “In a couple hours. I have time to spend with my girls.”

  She let out a breath. “Come on.”

  She headed up the stairs, and he kicked off his shoes as he stepped into the room, then flopped down on the bed.

  Makayla giggled. He turned on his side, and she snuggled up next to him. Then Danika joined them, snuggling her from the other side.

  Their gazes locked. “I love you, Danika.”

  “I know. I love you too.”

  “We’ll get through this.”

  Her eyes closed and she let out a breath. “We will.” There was no hope in her voice.

  Makayla turned over and snuggled closer to Danika. Her lips curved into a slight smile. He just needed to break her out of her constraining box.

  Did he want her to sleep with someone else? Not under any other circumstance. But he could think of a few ways it could work. It could be sensual. He could be there. His choices were lose her or share her. Sharing her once was a price he would be happy to pay.

  She had to see that, one way or another.

  Chapter 9

  Robert stepped out of the interrogation room and ran fingers through his hair. The man was a luck leach. He’d never encountered a leprechaun who so blatantly absorbed every damned ounce of luck he could. And the worst part, the bastard didn’t even realize he was doing it.

  He couldn’t let the prick out of the Silver Council. Not until he had some solution that would prevent him from leaching luck, and it would require a favor from a druid. Either may be willing to help.

  Preston joined him. “What the hell did you see that has you this worried?”

  Finnian’s memories rolled through Robert’s head. One in particular made him loathe the man.

  Finnian stood at Danika’s bedroom door. She was a young girl, in pain, and all the bastard felt was anger. “It could all go away. The pain, the fear, the sickness. You could be healthy, lucky, you just have to let Remus awaken you.”

  Danika sat up, her eyes wide. “That’s disgusting. I hate him. I won’t do it!” Her whole body shook and Robert felt for her.

  Finnian growled. “Why are you being such a stubborn brat? This would solve everything. It wouldn’t hurt that much.”

  Danika flung herself back, covering her head with the blanket, and sobbed so hard Robert’s heart twisted.

  Finnian slammed the door and Robert followed him into his bedroom. Diedre stood at the window, tears running down her face. “I know you’re different, Fin, but she’s a girl. That’s not the answer.”

  “Why are you turning against me?” he sneered.

  “I’m not. You just aren’t looking at this from her point of view. You want this creepy man to come in and take her virginity to give her your kind of luck. She’s so young. You can’t expect that to work. You can’t expect her to want that.”

  “You saw the first bill. There’s many more to come. Look at how much money I’ll have to make in order to keep us afloat. Don’t you get it? I’ll have to be away from you all for so long. I love you, Diedre.”

  “You used to love Danika. You don’t seem to now,” she whispered.

  “I’d love the brat more if she accepted what she’s supposed to be and just let Remus take her. A few moments, and she wouldn’t be sick. We might lose her otherwise.”

  “She’s just a girl.”

  “Fine!” He slammed the door and left the house. Finnian hated Danika with every fiber at that point because she wouldn’t do what he thought was best, and her mother took her side.

  Robert met Preston’s gaze. “First, that monster blames Danika for everything bad in his life and wants to drain her luck. Second, he thinks Dominique will help gang up on her somehow, but Danika is already suffering enough, and I can’t see Dominique turning her back on Danika. Then there is the issue that he’s a damned leach. He pulls luck out of everyone around him that isn’t somehow protected. I could see it. I don’t know how to explain it, but I saw it. He can’t do it to you or me, so maybe Fallon can do something to keep him from absorbing luck. Maybe Devlin can enchant his jewelry or something. I don’t know, anything to stop him from being a walking disaster waiting to happen.”

  “Have you ever heard of a leprechaun leaching luck like that?”

  “Not like that,” Robert admitted. “He’s something more. Or maybe he’s broken somehow, and like a dark mage. He lost his own luck. Now he’s dependent on everyone else’s.”

  “What’s going on with Danika?” Preston asked.

  He lowered his voice. “She has leukemia. Slater is going to try to change her. Adam is being changed. It may or may not work.”

  “Shit. Why does he hate Danika so much?”

  Robert glanced through the window. Finnian sat back in the chair, staring at the mirror, a smug look on his face. Bastard thought he was innocent, that he’d walk free.

  “He blames Danika for tearing apart his carefree life with his wife. He got Diedre pregnant. Danika got sick, and her mother took care of her instead of letting him have Remus take her through the awakening when she was a kid.”

  “Fucking hell, what a bastard.”

  “Right?” He snorted. There was no way in hell Robert would let that happen. Not until there was something in place to protect everyone around him.

  “I can’t keep him long without pressing charges, but he’s not doing this on purpose.” Robert rubbed at his face. “Got an idea?”

  “We can keep him until we figure out his paperwork. He’s supposed to be dead. In the meantime, ask Fallon to do the tattoo. She’d be protecting her family.”

  “Yeah.” Robert walked down the hall.

  “Wait, where are you going?” Preston called.

  “Let the bastard sweat awhile.”

  A laugh bubbled out of Preston. “Right, okay.”

  Robert slipped into his office and dialed Fallon.

  * * * *

  Dominique paced her living room, trying to sort out what to say to her sister. How did she convince her that being a leprechaun wasn’t the worst fate? Or that sleeping with someone else would damage what she shared with her husband?

  “Hey, Dom, come here, baby,” Dane said.

  She walked to him, staring down at where he sat back on the couch.

  “Here.” He patted his lap. “Talk to me.”

  Sighing, she lowered herself onto one leg, facing him. “What?”

  “What’s going through your head?”

  “My sister. How do I convince her that A
dam’s plan is her only option?”

  “Really think he’ll be able to go through with letting her sleep with someone else?” Dane asked, one cocked eyebrow.

  “For Danika, yes. To save her life? Fuck yes.”

  He couldn’t help chuckling. “Literally fucking another man.”

  “Yeah, that’s how the awakening works. But she’s going to die if she doesn’t. Put yourself in his shoes. If your options were watching me suffer through months and months of treatment that will only buy me time, or me sleeping with someone else once to have me forever?”

  “Okay, fine, when you put it that way. Sure. Thankfully, I don’t have to think about it. But he’s a werewolf now. Maybe as a man that would have been easier, but now…things are different now. Once we’re mated, and I’m willing to bet they’ll be mated the moment they have a second to have sex, we’re possessive.”

  She rolled her eyes. “You’re not overly possessive.”

  “Yeah, because you don’t flirt with everyone you see.”

  Dominique shot to her feet. “Neither does Danika.”

  “No, I didn’t say that.” He leaned forward, placing his elbows on his knees, looking up at her. “I can’t imagine sharing you. Okay, in that situation, I can put myself there and it’s something I would force myself to go along with. For you.”

  “Thankfully.” She sighed. “He’s the one suggesting it. I think he’d go through with it, encourage it, maybe be a part of it.”

  He snorted. “And who the hell is going to want to be a part of that?”

  Her brow arched. “Mathis and Paavo.”

  He was on his feet, his eyes wide. “Were you with them?”

  She held up her hands, a laugh bubbling up. “No. I was with a Fae, once, just to get it over with, long before I met you. So relax.”

  “Fine.” He dropped into the seat and she jumped into his lap.