Shadowed Valor (Daughters of the Vieux Carré Book 3)

by Rhys Rowlyn

  I look up when I hear the anxious voice of Angie, one of our social workers.

  “Sir, you can’t come in here.”

  “You can’t keep me from my wife. Now where is she? Anne! Anne! Carrie! Get out here now! We’re going home!” A man is pushing Angie aside and storming into the shelter.

  Jumping up, I take Carrie into my arms. She grips my neck tightly and buries her face against my shoulder. Rage rushes through me when I feel her small body trembling.

  “Cassie, that’s my daddy.”

  “Don’t worry, little one. He won’t hurt you.” Bram steps in front of us, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides.

  “Bram, what are you doing here?” Raising my brows, I stare at his back. I have no clue how he found me, but I believe Giselle may have some explaining to do.

  Bram doesn’t pay me any mind as he walks over to where Carrie’s father is arguing with Angie. “Sir, the lady asked you to leave.”

  “Who are you? Are you Anne’s new man?” He runs toward Bram, who steps aside, avoiding any contact.

  “I don’t know who Anne is, but I do know you’re leaving.” Bram points at the man and then the door.

  “And just who’s—”

  Bram grabs the man and drags him outside. The man could be heard yelling, but he suddenly stops. Oh man, what has Bram done?

  I hear a siren, and a car pulls into the lot out front. Angie has run outside, and I hear her telling the officers about the man’s outburst. I breathe a sigh of relief when I hear him demanding his wife be returned to him. Thank goodness Bram didn’t do irreparable damage.

  “Who was that? He made my daddy leave.” Carrie’s voice is muffled by my shoulder, and I continue to rub her back.

  “That’s Bram. He’s a friend of mine.”

  “Is he one of the daddies that’s nice?” She lifts her head to meet my gaze.

  “Yeah, I’d say he’s one of the nice ones.” I know I’ve been avoiding Bram, but I haven’t been able to avoid the comments made by Giselle and Rebecca.

  Besides, he hasn’t cornered me and demanded I accept him, but has backed off and not put pressure on me. I know this hasn’t been easy for him. From what I’ve seen of Phillipe and André, male vampires like to be close to their mates.

  “Carrie?! Carrie, where are you?” Anne runs into the room, looking around frantically.

  “Anne, she’s here with me.” I set Carrie down, and she runs to her mother.

  “Oh thank God.” Anne grabs Carrie into her arms and hugs her to her waist. “Thanks, Cassie. I thought I heard Ray.”

  Carrie pulls on Anne’s shirt, pointing at Bram as he enters the building. “Mommy, he was here, but that man made him leave.”

  “Did he see you?” Anne kneels in front of Carrie, holding the child’s face between her hands.

  Carrie shakes her head, her bottom lip trembling. “I don’t think so.”

  “Hey, Carrie, there’s Tara, and it looks like she’s waving you over.” I squeeze Anne’s shoulder, hoping to reassure the woman they are safe for now.

  “Can I go see Tara?” Carrie puts her hands together as if she’s praying. Tara, another survivor living at the shelter, has become close to Anne and Carrie over the last few weeks. “Please?”

  “Yes, dear, but stay where I can see you.” Anne stands, holding on to her daughter until she nods.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Carrie yells over her shoulder as she races across the room.

  “What happened?” Anne wrings her hands, frowning. Her gaze keeps darting around the room, and she jumps when someone drops a book.

  “He showed up and was yelling for you. Bram escorted him outside, and I’m guessing one of the workers had called the cops. They must have been close because they showed up in record time. I would imagine he’ll have a disturbance charge. I’m not sure, but it might be wise if we relocate you and Carrie.” I lead the woman to a couple of chairs and encourage her to sit.

  Bram is standing off to the side, and I meet his gaze. He gives me a small nod but doesn’t come any closer. I’m so pleased he understands my need for his distance.

  “I was afraid he’d figure out where we were, but where can we go?” Anne buries her face in her hands, sobbing softly.

  I rub the woman’s back, hoping to offer her comfort. “There’s another shelter in the Garden District. It’s well hidden and a bit more secure. No one can get in unless they are let in. There will be no more bursting in and catching you unprepared.”

  Angie walks up and kneels in front of the distraught woman. “Anne, I overheard Cassie telling you about our other house in the Garden District. I think that may be our best move. They have a few openings, and we can get you two over there tonight.”

  “I have my truck outside. If you want, I could take them over there,” I say, glancing at Bram who is watching my every move. I have a feeling we’re going to have an overdue chat this evening, so my offer isn’t completely arbitrary.

  “That would be great. We’re short staffed tonight. Anne, get your and Carrie’s stuff together, and I’ll call and let them know you’re coming.” Angie stands, patting my arm, and turns to go back to the office.

  Tara runs up, stopping Angie from walking away. “Hey, I heard you say you’re relocating Anne and Carrie. Do they have enough room for me? I’ve grown attached to the munchkin, and I think she likes having me around.”

  “Tara, that house is reserved for women most at risk.” Angie holds up her hands, shaking her head.

  Tara ducks her head and shuffles her feet. “Yeah, I didn’t want to tell you, but I got this text yesterday from him.” She holds up her phone for Angie to see. “I was thinking of bouncing so he wouldn’t find me. I just didn’t know how to tell Carrie bye yet.”

  Angie gasps, lifting her gaze to meet Tara’s. “Oh, Tara, you should have come to me. Get your things together. I’ll make sure they find you a room.”

  Bram joins me after the other women leave to gather their things. “So we’re relocating the women?”

  “Yeah, I figured they would be safer with me than anyone else. I can handle this. You don’t have to stick around if you have got other things to do.” I bite my lip, part of me hoping he’ll leave and the other part hoping he’ll stay. He’s not the only one affected by the mate bond, and it scares the hell out of me.

  “What could I possibly have to do that’s more important than helping my mate? You’ve been avoiding me, and I believe it’s time we talked.” Bram narrows his eyes at me, dipping his chin toward his chest.

  Carrie runs up, stopping any more conversation, and I could kiss her. We load the women’s things, and I drive them to the house across town. Bram sits back in his seat, relaxed and so unlike his other brothers who hate riding in cars. He is unaffected by the ride and even appears to be enjoying himself as he grins from ear to ear.

  Bram turns toward me when I stop the truck behind the house and the others get out. “You are going to have to teach me how to drive. I think I’m going to love this mode of transportation.”

  I nod, smiling. “I can do that. You need to ask Phillipe and André how they feel about riding in cars.”

  Laughing, we get out to help the women carry their things in. They don’t have much, which breaks my heart. Giselle is constantly lecturing me on how I can’t save the world, but sometimes all I need to save is a small part of it.

  Carrie grabs Bram’s hand as they walk up the sidewalk to the house, and Anne gasps. I hold her back from yanking the girl back to her, shaking my head. Bram smiles down at the child tenderly, leading her up the path.

  Anne is panting, and I squeeze her arm. “She’ll be fine. Bram would never harm a hair on her head.”

  “He’s just so big. Who is he to you?” Anne’s heart has to be pounding, but she straightens her spine in spite of her fear.

  Oh boy, how do I answer this? I can’t tell her he’s my mate. That’s too strange, and I don’t want to call him my boyfriend. We’ve barely spoken. “He�
�s my friend.”

  “Well, any friend of yours has to be a good guy. I know you wouldn’t put up with any bull…” Tara puts her hand over her mouth, her cheeks turning pink.

  “Yeah, stop right there. Only clean language in front of the child,” Anne scolds, scowling at Tara.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Tara laughs as she salutes Anne, clicking her heels.

  “Bram, let me ring the bell. They won’t answer if they don’t recognize you.” I step in front of him and Carrie and ring the bell.

  The door swings open, and Juanita, a stout, dark-skinned woman with graying hair, opens the door. “Cassie, baby.” She pulls me against her lush bosom for a tight hug. “It’s been too long since you came to visit me.”

  Stepping out of her embrace, I grin. “I’m sorry, Miss Juanita, but it’s been a crazy couple of months. I hope you’re doing well.”

  “Oh yeah, sugah. Miss Juanita is doing fine, just fine.” Juanita peeks over my shoulder with a grin. “Now who do we have here? What a pretty little thing you are. Come on in and let me get you settled. I was about to put up the gumbo when Angie called, so I kept it warm in case y’all was hungry.”

  Carrie nods her head, rushing to Juanita’s side. “Yes, ma’am, I’m starving.”

  “Well, get in here.” Juanita steps away from the door, allowing the women to enter. Once they’re inside, she turns toward me. “Angie told me what happened, and don’t worry, I’ll take good care of them. My grandson is a police officer, and he lives across the street. He plans to keep an eye out.”

  “Thanks, I’ll be by in a couple days to see how they’re settling in.” I lean into the door and wave at the trio standing in the middle of the kitchen. “I’ll check on you later.”

  The two women wave, and I turn to leave but am knocked to the side by Carrie.

  “Bye, Bram, come see me soon, okay?” The little girl hugs his waist, and he pats her back.

  “I will, now go eat and be a good girl.” He turns her back toward the house.

  “Bye.” She waves before skipping back to her mom.

  “Believe you’ve got a fan, and I can’t say I blame her.” Juanita fans herself, then shoos us out the door.

  We walk down the path and get into the truck. We don’t speak as I crank the engine and back out onto the street. We are only a few blocks from our house, and I drive us there in silence. When we arrive, the house is dark and no one is home. I park the truck in the garage and make my way inside. He follows close behind me.

  “Cassie, what have I done wrong? Do you simply not want to be my mate?” Bram wrinkles his brow, holding his arms out wide.

  I wave my hands and shake my head, hating the fact that I’m hurting him. “Nothing. You’ve done nothing wrong, and to be honest, I don’t know about this whole mate thing.”

  “Do you not feel we are mates? Because I’m positive we are.” His brows draw together, and he crosses his arms over his chest.

  For a second I consider lying and denying the bond, but I decide I can’t. “Oh no, I know we’re mates. I knew it the moment you touched me.”

  Bram sighs deeply, leaning his head back to stare at the ceiling. “Then what’s the problem?”

  I grip my hair with my fists, not knowing how to explain myself. “I don’t know. My feelings are hard to explain. It all happened so fast, and I see what the mate bond did to Giselle. She gave up her whole life to protect her mate, and I don’t know if I can handle giving up my life.”

  “So if everything is going too fast, then we slow down, but don’t push me away. I promise not to take over your life, but I need to be a part of it.” He steps closer to me and grips my shoulders.

  “You would go slow and let me adjust?” I raise my brows, tilting my head to the side.

  “Yes, but you have to work with me. No more avoiding me at every turn. We have to spend time together.” He rubs his thumbs lightly against the skin on my upper arms and goose bumps form under his touch.

  Swallowing deeply, I meet his gaze through my lashes. “Sort of like dating?”

  “If that’s the same thing as courting, then yes. Getting to know one another.” Bram rubs his knuckles against my cheek, leaning down until his lips are nearly touching mine. “Definitely getting to know one another.”

  He closes the distance, and his lips brush mine. I stand as still as a statue, waiting to see what he will do next. Rubbing his tongue against my lips, he asks for entrance, and I open for him. He tilts his head, deepening the kiss, and I lift my hands to bury them in his hair.

  My body catches on fire, and I moan as my tongue dances with his. His hands encircle my waist and draw me closer to him. I jump away from him when the front door opens and Giselle giggles.

  Covering my mouth with my hand, I still feel the tingling from our kiss. He turns away from me and rushes to the bar, then leans over to hide the evidence of his desire.

  My eyes widen, and he points at the door. “Eyes over there. If you continue to look at me that way, I will be hauling you upstairs.”

  I quickly look away and wonder how I was looking at him.

  Giselle enters the kitchen with Phillipe following. “Oh hello, you two. You finally caught up with her?”

  Bram lets out a short laugh, looking anywhere but at me. “Yeah, I finally did. What are you two doing home?”

  “The club was dead, so I left Chi in charge. Hope I don’t regret it. We decided to come home and watch a movie. Would you like to join us?”

  “Yeah, that sounds great. Bram, have you ever watched a movie?”

  “A movie is similar to going to the theater, correct?”

  “Yeah, it’s like going to the theater.”

  “Then yes, I would like that.”

  We set everything up and get settled in the den to watch the latest murder mystery. Giselle and Phillipe are on one sofa, and Bram and I are on the other. Giselle keeps glancing at me, and I keep throwing her dirty looks. She finally gets engrossed in the film and leaves me alone. Bram is leaning forward and watching the screen with avid attention.

  I grin, remembering my first movie. “Do you like it?”

  “It’s fascinating… and so real.” His gaze leaves the screen but quickly returns to the movie.

  I laugh, wondering how he would react to a movie on the big screen. “Next we’ll have to watch either a sci-fi movie or a superhero one. It’s amazing what they can do with movies these days.”

  “I look forward to it.” He looks back at me, his gaze meeting mine.

  “Me too,” I say, and I find I’m not lying. I’m actually enjoying his company.

  Cassie

  Oh wow, where am I?

  Turning in the center of the room, my gaze travels over my surroundings. There is a large four-poster bed with long, flowing white drapes hanging from the railings at the top, and a fluffy white comforter covers the bed. Several pillows lie against the dark wooden headboard, and rose petals cover the center of the bed.

  The walls suddenly disappear, and I’m in the center of a meadow with flowers of all different colors, clear-blue skies, and clouds floating by. I’m wearing a sheer white gown, and my hair is down from its usual ponytail. The breeze blows a strand across my mouth, so I brush it aside.

  Hands touch my shoulders, and I glance back and find Bram standing at my back. I tilt my head to the side when his mouth finds my neck, his beard tingling my skin. He moves upward and sucks my lower earlobe into his mouth. I can’t stop the moan.

  His hands glide down my arms and wrap around my waist, and he pulls me against his chest. I feel the evidence of his arousal and lean closer to him. With a groan, he turns me and takes my mouth with his in a hard, devouring kiss.

  My hands bury in his long, dark-blond hair as I open for his invasion. Our tongues come together, and I move closer to him. His hands travel down my back to cup my bottom and pull me tighter against him.

  I gasp for air, then bury my face in the crook of his neck. “Where are we? What is happening?”

/>   Bram’s chest shakes as he chuckles. “I believe we’re having one of the infamous sex dreams.”

  “So the bed and meadow are all from your imagination?” I twist out of his arms, walk to the bed, and trail my fingers along the comforter.

  “The meadow looks like one from our time in Ireland. I always loved going there and sitting, feeling the breeze. I wondered if it would be as wonderful with the sunlight warming my skin. Sometimes I miss the sun. The bed, however, I don’t recognize. I think it may have come from your subconscious.” Standing where I left him, Bram simply watches me.

  I find I like his patience. He hasn’t rushed me, which is surprising. I would have expected him to demand I do as he says. He is a Viking after all. The year I was born, the men were head of the household and women had few rights. It was one of the reasons my mother was cast into the streets. Men came and took what was ours. Also, my mother was a bit of a mouse. She was beautiful, with her bright-blue eyes and her light-blonde hair, but she cowered easily. She was always soft-spoken, and although Giselle swore she had a quiet strength, I always felt she was weak.

  Living with Giselle changed me in more ways than the obvious. It changed my outlook on life and how I wanted to move forward. I wanted to be independent, and no man was going to tell me what to do. The only flaw I saw in my mentor was her obsession in taking care of her mate and his famille. She would cry at night, missing him, and was lonely despite my being there. I admit to being a bit jealous, but I vowed to not be that dependent on someone and didn’t have a desire for a mate.

  Now I have one, and I don’t know what to do with him. “What if I decide not to have sex with you?”

  Bram shrugs his broad shoulders, tilting his head to the side. “I would hope you would one day want to have relations with me, but if you choose not to today, then we wait.”

  “You’re not going to force me?” I cough lightly to hide the tremble in my voice.