by Mary Martel
For whatever unexplainable reason I find myself immediately disliking this mysterious Collette.
“She is not just some girl to you,” Ian growls at her.
“You are right, of course.” She looks at me and tips her head down regally, “You have my sincerest apologies, my Queen.”
Again with the Queen bit. This lady was just as nuts as the brothers were.
“Somehow I doubt that,” Riley mutters, for some reason I get the feeling she’s insulted him in some way.
“Cut the bullshit, Collette.” Ian snaps, ignoring his brothers’ comment. “How did you know where to find her house?”
She sighs dramatically before speaking. “There is a Vampire, I don’t know if you would remember him, his name is Wiley. About a month ago during a council meeting he told the council members that he saw the two of you walking into some seedy bar. He swore up and down it was you. As you can imagine, this caused quite the uproar because the two of you are thought to have been dead for the last ten years. Of course, not a soul believed him, myself included. Roland had him thrown out of the throne room and that was the last time anyone has seen him. He cannot be found anywhere. This is odd behavior for a Vampire such as Wiley. He is older than I and I have known him all of my life. He is a man that measures every word before saying it.
“This did not sit well with me. So I started to ask questions, questions I had been too overwhelmed by grief to ask ten years ago. The answers I received were not to my liking. Apparently, no one but Roland and a few of his trusted guards had actually seen your bodies. That’s not right, former Kings and Queens were always on display, giving their people a chance at closure – a chance to say goodbye. The more questions I asked the more agitated Roland became. He is my King and it is not my place to question him. Advise him, yes, but never to question him.
“The whole thing gave me a bad feeling. So I decided to dig a little deeper into things. I went to where Wiley had claimed to have seen the two of you. Of course, you were not there. But she was. She had a strange scent to her, it was faint but I still managed to pick up on it. Strange because it was a scent that belonged to my supposed dead Prince. Of course I followed her home. Neither of you were there but your scent was all around the place. That was a week ago. I had to leave before I could actually see you with my own eyes, but still, I knew, I fucking knew, it was you. I returned home for the council meeting and as soon as I could get back to you I did. That was two days ago. Needless to say, you were not there. I followed your scent. It lead me here. To now.”
Done speaking she draws her knees up to her chest, wraps her arms around them and rests the side of her face on her knee. “I cannot believe you have been alive all this time and I did not know it.” She quietly murmurs.
“We have to go,” Ian says abruptly. He turns and glances at me on the bed. My breath catches in my throat at the wild look in his eyes. From the looks of it, whatever he’s thinking about is not good in the least.
“Yeah, but go where?” Riley asks.
“I do not know but we cannot stay here and you fucking well know it.”
“You need to return home,” Collette boldly informs them.
“Are you deaf?” Ian snarls at her. “Home is not safe.”
“We will go to my home, then,” she declares. All the confidence she had when she first rapped her knuckles on the door seems to have returned to her.
I didn’t think it was wise, her telling Ian what to do.
“And that’s supposed to be safer?” he snarls at her.
“Ian -” Riley starts.
“No, just stop, I know what you are going to say. Ten years is a long time, brother. A lot can change in that time. People can change.”
“What other choice do we have?” Riley quietly asks, “We are running low on options here. Time is running out and you need to make a decision. And sooner rather than later.”
“I’ve already made my decision.”
“Well, please, do tell, brother.” Riley sarcastically replies.
“You’re getting what you want.”
“Are you sure about it?”
“Why?” Ian curiously asks his brother. “Are you suddenly having a change of heart?”
“Boys,” Collette cuts in, ‘what are we discussing?”
“Nothing that concerns you,” Ian snarls at her.
I had to give her credit when it was due and she was a ballsy chic, not even shrinking back a little when he spoke to her this way. I know I sure as hell would have. At the moment he was a scary guy.
“We need her,” Riley reminds his brother. “Hell, Ian, we were going to her house anyways.”
“You were coming to my home?” Collette asks them, tears forming in her eyes again.
Jesus, she was all over the place with her emotions.
“Eventually.” Ian says.
I hate to do it, open my big mouth, but their arguing back and forth was getting us nowhere.
“Umm… guys,” I say, cutting in. “I hate to cut into this touching family reunion, or whatever it is, but if it’s not safe here then shouldn’t we be leaving instead of hanging around squabbling?”
“She is not family. Riley is family. You are family. This woman.” Ian says, waving his big hand in Collette’s direction, “is not.”
Oh geez.
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
I was family? I wasn’t sure if I should find this sweet or creepy. Maybe a nice blend of both.
“Nevertheless, you are right.” He calmly tells me. “Riley, take the bags out to the truck.” He jerks his chin towards Collette, “Make sure she wasn’t followed.”
“Of course, your Highness.” Riley gives him a one finger salute, grabs our bags, and saunters out the door.
“If you think she could have been followed then do you think it’s safe to send him out there by himself?” I ask, unnaturally worried for the welfare of a man I’d just recently met.
“You will be safe.” He bizarrely declares.
“I wasn’t worried about that.” Which was the truth.
“As you shouldn’t be.”
Frustrated with his non-answers, I mutter, “Whatever. I can see that you aren’t going to answer me.”
Unrepentant he grins.
Then he does something he’s never done before.
Something that sets my heart to racing and my skin tingling all over my body.
Walking over to where I am seated on the bed he leans down, over my legs, his face right in mine. Raising his hand to the apple of my cheek he, very gently, brushes a lock of my hair back, tucking it behind my ear.
So simple yet so very sweet.
He whispers, “You have nothing to be afraid of, mate, I promise. I will keep you safe.”
“Okay,” I whisper back, completely at a loss for what else to say. He had been so rough with her yet so tender towards me.
Then he does something else he’s never done before.
He leans further into me, dips his head down and lightly presses his lips to mine.
So simple yet so sweet.
My heart rate accelerates and my blood hums in my veins.
He closes his eyes and keeps his lips lightly pressed to mine for a few brief moments more before he moves back and takes ahold of my hand, pulling me up off the bed.
I don’t protest this. I think I have lost the ability to speak. That kiss was my first kiss. Ever. I’ve never even had a kiss on the cheek or forehead before. Not even from a family member.
Hand in hand we leave the room, him tugging me along behind him, Collette walking a few feet in front of us.
The walk to the expensive black SUV is made in complete silence. Inside my head, however, is anything but.
I feel like an absolute freaking moron.
I don’t know why it didn’t even cross my mind until he kissed me.
It is definitely on my mind now, though.
Boy is it ever.
I totally understand what it mean
s when he calls me his mate now.
And it scares the ever loving shit right out of me.
At the same time, it also thrills me. If I was his mate then that would make him mine. And I could totally get down with that. Probably.
Chapter 11
Ian
I shouldn’t have kissed her. Goddamn, I knew I shouldn’t have kissed her. It is too soon. I couldn’t stop myself, though. I needed her to know I will keep her safe. I needed her to see the softer side of me after what I did to Collette. It hadn’t escaped my notice that she did not like the way I man-handled the Vampire. She wasn’t accustomed to the ways of my people. She didn’t understand that under no circumstances whatsoever was it acceptable to speak to someone of royal blood that way. Ever.
Collette knew this, and she’d done it anyway. Apparently unconcerned with the consequences at the time. Fucking Vampires.
I needed to find a quiet moment to explain the ways of my people to Shayne so she knew there would never come a time where I would treat her the way I had treated the Vampire. She was my mate. That made her sacred and precious to me, someone I would never harm, nor would I ever allow harm to befall. She would forever be my number one concern, above all else.
Somehow I needed to find a way to relay this to her. And I needed to do it without fucking the whole thing up again. I’d certainly done a bang up job so far.
I had been waiting my whole life for her. And now that I have decided not to be a spectator in her life it is getting harder and harder not to touch her every chance I get. But for her, I was stopping myself. Mostly. At least I’m trying to. For her, it is too soon, I can feel it every time she freezes when I get close enough to touch her.
My mate was untouched, a virgin. I could tell. Only a virgin would have her reaction to a chaste kiss on the lips. I find myself grinning at the thought. Shayne being a virgin pleases me to no end.
I knew the moment I laid eyes on her that she was my mate. I could feel my body being pulled to her by some unseen force. I could feel it deep in my bones, the need to be with her, claim her, mate with her.
Call it magic, if you will.
My animal, having been dormant for so long, came to life with a vengeance once we got a whiff of Shayne. It is a constant struggle in my mind just to keep myself from shifting since I’ve found her. He wants out to claim our mate. He wages a war in my mind day and night. It’s not in our nature to deny our animal and even though it is something I had mastered years ago it’s been a constant struggle since the moment I saw her.
I am always on edge.
For now my beast is silent, somewhat mollified - happy to just be in close proximity to her without hiding from her. That’s not to say he, like myself, isn’t waiting for the perfect opportunity to rip her clothes off and fuck her senseless. However, that option is not open to us. So we’ve got to be patient. And calm. Yeah, calm was good. And we had to try not to scare the shit out of her anymore or she’d never willingly get naked with us.
When we get to the car I let Riley drive and force Collette to sit up in the front with him. I rarely allow Riley to drive, but this is the second time in as many days. I can tell he is extremely amused by this but I do not care. Pathetic as it is, I do not want to be that far away from her.
I open her door for her and climb in right behind her, forcing her to move over or be crushed by me. As soon as she is seated and buckled up I reach over, placing my hand on top of the one she has resting on her lap. She gives a little start, looking at me with wide eyes.
I lace my fingers through hers and squeeze.
What I do not do is let go.
I don’t want to.
More importantly, I feel like I can’t.
I know she’s uncomfortable with the intimate contact I’m forcing on her but this is as slow as I can take it.
I grabbed her hand hours ago, and still, I’m holding on tight, fingers laced through hers, hoping like hell I never have to let go.
She’d relaxed enough to fall asleep. Something I am noticing about Shayne is if she’s in a car for any amount of time she falls asleep after about an hour. Every time.
Her head’s resting against the window looking fucking uncomfortable. Even though it damn near kills me to do it, I leave her as she is. She has had enough of my physical advances for one day. Which was a damn shame if you ask me. It’s driving me nuts because I desperately want to move her head to my shoulder, or, better yet, my lap. I’ve gotta leave her be, though.
We are headed north. What would, under normal circumstance, be an eighteen hour drive will probably take us twice as long to make. Steering clear of highways and the main roads, we’re taking the least traveled path. This is precautionary, to make sure no one was following Collette.
Collette. Fucking Collette.
I don’t know what to make of her showing up out of the blue like she did. I certainly don’t know what to make of any of the shit she spewed out her mouth. And, most importantly, I sure as hell do not trust her.
Maybe I’m wrong to not trust her. Then again, maybe I’m not.
Either way, trust is earned and even though I once trusted her, I no longer trusted any of the people from my past. I can’t afford to.
She would have to earn it. If she’s genuine that will be a cake walk for her. If she isn’t, well, she’ll soon find herself dead. Simple as that.
My brother is right, though. I’m finding myself saying that a lot lately which pisses me off but there’s nothing for it. We were headed her way. And we did need to find out what had transpired in our absence. Her showing up solidified our plans.
I was pulled from my thoughts when my brother murmured, “Feel that?”
I hadn’t.
I had been too absorbed in the thoughts running full speed through my head.
Closing my eyes, I open my mind and reach out with my magic.
I can feel everything within a few miles radius.
What an extraordinary feeling, to finally be able to use my magic. To let it flow freely from my body and not bottled up, under lock and key.
Immediately my beast stirs to life inside me, intrigued by the use of my magic. After a moment he is up, alert and at the ready. Just in case he is needed.
God, I hope he isn’t needed. I did not need to freak Shayne out anymore then I already had. And her getting an eye full of my furry ass would most certainly freak her out.
I could sense them.
About a mile and a half behind us.
Four total.
Three are shifters.
One is something… else. Something… other.
Tracker, I would assume.
Nasty things, trackers are. Empty vessels. A once living, breathing and feeling human being. Now, nothing but a rotting corpse.
Probably a recently acquired one. You had to get a body while it was still fresh, just a few days after the humans’ death. And there could be no serious damage done to the body in order for it to be useful. Then they were only useful for a month max before they had to be disposed of.
It took very dark magic to bring a tracker to life, so to speak. Dark magic was against the law to practice. Or, ten years ago it had been. Dark magic the likes only an old Vampire could wield.
Of course. A fucking Vampire. Who else?
How convenient.
“Brother,” Riley says, somewhat loudly, definitely sounding like he is running out of patience with my silence.
“Four,” I whisper, not wanting to wake up Shayne.
I say nothing else out loud to cut Collette out of the conversation. Instead, I speak to my brother in my mind.
Three shifters. The other one I believe to be a tracker. ‘Bout a mile and a half behind us.
A tracker?
I believe so, yes.
Collette?
Apparently I wasn’t the only one who didn’t entirely trust the Vampire.
Let us hope not, brother.
I really hope not. I desperately want to be wrong about he
r.
Out loud Riley asks, “What’s the plan?”
“For now we keep driving.” I order.
“Is that wise?” Collette asks, like Riley, she does it in a not so quiet voice.
Jesus, what the fuck is the matter with these two? Are they trying to wake up my mate?
“Just shut the fuck up, Collette,” I snap at her. Too late, I realize I had not bothered to lower my voice either. Son of a bitch.
Five seconds later when I hear a thick, sleep laden voice call out, “What’s going on?” from beside me I want to kick myself in the ass for snapping at Collette.
I was beginning to hate the Vampire my father had greatly cherished for so many years, even if she wasn’t to blame this time.
“Nothing, sweetheart,” I lie, “you should go back to sleep.” That parts not a lie. She should definitely go back to sleep. And hopefully continue to sleep through any further unpleasantness that should happen to fall upon us.
“Then why are you swearing at Collette?” she quietly asks me.
“Because she pisses me off,” I reply, “and there doesn’t need to be anything wrong for her to piss me off, she just does.”
“That’s stupid.”
Maybe.
Probably.
Definitely.
But I’m not going to tell her that. No fucking way.
“Go back to sleep, baby.” I gently order her.
She’s quiet for a moment, then replies, sounding rather uppity for someone who just woke up, “You know, I don’t think I’m all that tired anymore.”
Yeah.
Figures.
My mate was stubborn, head strong and never did what she was told.
I fucking love it.
Chapter 12
Shayne
Something was going on, something serious. Something they were keeping from me. I could tell. Only a fool wouldn’t be able to realize something big was going on, wouldn’t be able to feel the tension radiating off of my three companions.
Riley looks anxious and keeps glancing into the rearview mirror every couple of minutes. When this happens his eyes look out the back window then dart between Ian and me, then back to the road, then back to the mirror.
