Home. I hadn’t called Sanctuary home for long, but it was exactly that. Home. Since the Riots, I’d moved from place to place. Military station to military station. Never staying grounded for more than a few months at a time. Certainly never growing roots or thinking about looking for a mate to start a family. Now, I had both. My brother back in my life. A mate to share with him. And the possibility of actually having a family in a home.
Sanctuary was filled with supernaturals who lived together without fighting. Everyone had responsibilities, and everyone played by the rules. Rose wasn’t really someone you could fuck with and stay alive to talk about it. The Lycans in town had an elected alpha pair to help with organization and petty argument solving, but Rose was the Sentinel. Most Lycans just regarded her as the supreme alpha.
Nothing happened in town that she didn’t know about or approve.
Engines rumbled on the road a dozen yards from the tree. I watched through the branches as several police cars rolled slowly, making their way toward the burning lodge. No one made a sound, and no one moved. Ada was in the Texas Republic, but the local police were not particularly “Other” friendly. The military courted us and did everything they could to recruit us to their ranks, but the local towns and police departments continued to blame us for anything and everything that ever went wrong.
Even so, it was better here than anywhere else in the former United States. All other Republics shot and killed Others on sight. Hunting us for sport was also encouraged.
The tires crunched on the dirt and gravel road. The sounds were as loud for me as if I’d been standing two feet away instead of almost forty. I could hear their radio conversations as well as everyone else in our group.
We all sat, barely breathing. Waiting. Just waiting for the cop to continue down the road so we could all gasp for the air we were denying ourselves.
Several hours passed before the sound of two engines pulled my focus from the steady rise and fall of Charlie’s chest. I kept watching and listening. We’d come so close to losing her, and my wolf was desperate to feel her wrapped tightly in my arms again.
The vision of her holding the two babies was almost too much to take in. None of the four females sitting with Crawley had claimed the babies. My heart hurt for those little ones and wondered what Charlie would do with them long term. A large part of me wanted to tell her we’d keep them. But I couldn’t say that without at least speaking to Travis first.
She was the one and only love of my life. Of this I was certain. But she was more than just mine. She was Travis’ mate as well. In all things, we were a team. If she decided to keep the children, I knew neither Travis nor myself would attempt to remove them from her care. They would be ours as well.
Children were precious, especially Lycan children who were blessings from the gods. Their parents had died fighting to keep them alive. Both of them would grow up knowing the stories of their courageous parents, no matter if we kept them or they went to another Lycan family.
I caught Travis’ gaze, and he nodded. He’d felt the rush of protective instinct surrounding my thoughts over the children. Charlotte looked up at us both and mouthed ‘Thank you.’
In that instant, I knew we’d become a family of five.
A buzz came from Travis’ pocket, and he pulled out his phone again. “They are pulling around. We need to load into the SUVs as fast as possible. Still a few police cars roaming the area.”
Everyone stood. Douglas and Maddock helped as many as they could. Liam and Brogan pushed apart the branches, and we made a beeline for the SUVs. I tucked Charlotte against my chest and took one of the children from her arms as we walked together.
Mikjáll jumped out of one SUV and helped load in two of the females from the lodge that Douglas had draped around him. The other two were helped by Alek and Jared into the other vehicle.
“Hurry,” Mikjáll growled. “There are more vehicles coming this way.”
Crawley got in first and took the children, one-by-one, from Charlotte, and then I lifted her up into the captain chair next to the door and climbed in after her. I saw Travis through the windshield as he climbed into the SUV in front of us.
Alek Melos, a Gryphon and sheriff of Sanctuary, rounded the hood and slid into the driver’s seat. We were moving a few seconds later.
“What happened?” Alek asked from the front seat.
My body swayed with each bump in the road. I knelt on the floor and sighed. “Xerxes.”
The car warmed ten degrees almost instantly. Mikjáll’s eyes burned bright orange, and he looked over his shoulder at me.
“Hey, dude. Enough with the sauna,” Alek said, whacking the dragon on the upper arm.
A snarl exploded from the young Drakonae, but his eyes darkened to normal, and the temperature in the vehicle returned to non-steamy.
“Xerxes was in Texas?” Mikjáll asked.
I met his angry gaze and shook my head. “He’s recruiting Lycans and witches. They lured us away from the lodge. Before we realized what was happening, it was too late to save most of the Mason pack.”
“I’m so sorry, Charlie,” Calliope called from the very back of the vehicle. I looked behind me but couldn’t see her over the bench in the back.
Charlie sniffled, but didn’t speak. She clutched the toddler to her breast and turned to stare out the window at the passing landscape.
I put a hand on her thigh, but there was no response. She just sat there, her broken heart bleeding through our bond. I hadn’t cried once in my life, but the pain pouring out of her was enough to make my eyes water.
“Can I hold the baby for you, love?”
She shook her head and tightened her grip on the toddler who cuddled silently in her arms. Douglas held the smaller child, rocking her in his arms. The child was hungry, but Douglas’ voice was miraculously keeping her quiet.
“Where is Sochi?” I asked, directing my question to Mikjáll and Alek in the front.
“She’s lying back here with me. Pregnant and out cold,” Calliope said. “Whatever drugs he had her on are taking forever to leave her system. She opens her eyes every once in a while and asks about a baby. I just tell her she’s safe, and we are taking her to Sanctuary. Get some rest, Charlie. Let someone else hold that baby while you close your eyes.”
“I’m fine,” Charlotte whispered.
Fine was the furthest thing from what she was. Distraught. Angry. Terrified. Those were the emotions flowing through our triad bond. Travis pushed a wave of reassurance through the bond, but it didn’t change her state of mind. Her heart still raced, and her breathing stayed erratic.
I wanted nothing more than to soothe away her pain. We both did. But nothing could be done until we were safely back in Sanctuary. It was too risky to stop on the road in between. Cops liked to poke their noses into everyone’s business, and that was something we couldn’t have happen.
Chapter 36
CHARLIE
My pack was gone. Everything was gone. Five people had gotten out. That’s all Liam had been able to save. Five.
Brogan had thrown the babies to safety. They were sleeping semi-peacefully. The little one, Karly, was starving. I could hear her belly rumbling every few minutes. Still she stayed quiet, like she knew there was nothing we could do. Either that or Douglas, creepy blood-covered-Lycan-warrior-Douglas, had a voice filled with magick. I’d never seen a man take to a child so fondly that wasn’t his own.
I clutched Isis to my chest and kissed the top of her head. The toddler’s father had died at Vicksburg, and her mother had been lost today in the fire. Isis lost her parents the same way as Karly.
Somehow Travis and Garrett had known I would keep them. Both of the children. They were my responsibility. The last of the Mason pack’s legacy. Both of my mates had given their blessing. The children would remain with us.
“New home?” Isis whispered, laying her chubby hand against the window beside us.
“Yes, baby girl.” I stared at the familiar to
wn on the horizon as we approached. The long road wound back and forth between rolling hills. The Blackmoor castle rose high above all the other buildings, a reminder that this was no ordinary small Texas town. Garrett’s hand hadn’t moved from my leg the entire drive. It was warm and comforting, and I honestly wanted nothing more than to curl up in his arms—in both their arms—and just cry.
I’d failed my pack. Failed my parents. I’d abandoned the lodge where I’d lived for the better part of a century. My home had gone up in puff of smoke. My family.
“Where’s my baby? Who are you?” The hysterical wail came from the back of the SUV.
Isis screamed and clutched my neck. Karly cried out as well, and the entire vehicle fell into chaos.
“Please, hon, you’re pregnant. We got you away from Xerxes. We are taking you to your sister, Riza.”
“My baby! Where’s my baby?” The young female Kitsune screamed again, prompting the children to also continue screaming.
“Look, you need to calm down. It’s not good for your baby or the children in the car,” Calliope snarled.
I’d heard that voice before, and I knew black eyes came with it. Frightening black eyes that made you want to run for cover. I could tell she wasn’t angry, more using the scary voice to shock the young woman out of her hysterics.
It worked.
“Please, miss,” the Kitsune said, keeping her voice more level this time. “Please tell me you got Lila out, too. My daughter.”
“Another baby? We didn’t know there was another. Sochi, I’m sorry.” Calliope’s voice broke over the last word.
“He still has her.” Sochi wept.
My heart broke for her. I hadn’t lost a child, but could imagine it was ten times worse than what I’d experienced, and my pain was nearly unbearable.
“Please go back. I can’t leave her alone with him.”
“We can’t go back now,” Calliope said. “But I’m sure Rose will come up with a plan to get your daughter back.”
The young woman’s sobs wrenched at my heart, and I kissed the top of Isis’ head again, tasting the smoke and the danger we’d narrowly avoided.
The vehicles stopped, and everyone began climbing out. I handed Isis to Garrett and stepped onto the running bar and then down to the cobblestone road. He placed her back into my outstretched arms and gave me a squeeze.
“I need Karly, too,” I said. Douglas had exited the vehicle from the other side, and I couldn’t see him. Something inside me refused to be parted from either of them. “Where’s Douglas?”
“Right ‘ere, lass.”
He came up on my right, and I sighed in relief.
“Why don’t I take them both into the cafe and get them something to eat and clean up a bit in the back? The pixies can help me while you and yours get situated,” he said, holding out an arm for Isis. “Aren’t you a bonny thing?” he cooed at the toddler in my arms.
I expected Isis to shrink away from the strange man, but instead, she loosened her grip on my neck and smiled at Douglas.
“Douglas has a gift with babies, Charlotte,” Garrett said. “They will be safe with him. I promise.”
“Okay,” I answered, relinquishing Isis from my arms to Douglas’.
He took her, and they rubbed noses, giggled, and marched down the sidewalk. A moment later, he disappeared with them into the cafe.
People flooded the area. Diana, Miles, and Eli all came from across the circle. Several Lycans had come forward, carrying blankets and stacks of clothes. It was more than we needed, but welcome all the same.
Garrett took a blanket and wrapped it around my shoulders. My shirt was torn, and the wind whipped through it each time a breeze blew.
Travis appeared a second later at my side. Their scents filled my lungs, and I leaned my head against his shoulder and then against Garrett’s.
Rose spoke with a couple of Lycans I’d never met before. She gave instructions for housing for those who had survived Ada. The four women asked to share a home and were granted the request. Crawley was offered his own, and he accepted gratefully.
When my pack had been taken care of, Rose approached the three of us. I took a deep breath and waited. The woman exuded power and control. There was nothing on Earth like being in the presence of a Lamassu. Their power flowed from them like a river of magick, rippling through time and space and coating everything around them. But where Xerxes’ magick had been cold and sharp, Rose’s was warm and inviting.
“I’m so sorry about your loss. But I welcome you into Sanctuary. I hope it will one day mean as much to you as the home your pack occupied in Ada for centuries.” Her brown eyes were filled with compassion. She touched my arm, and peace flowed through my body, a cleansing stream of magick. “I know we can’t ever replace what you and your pack mates lost, but we will care for and protect you like family. Travis and Garrett are lucky to have you as their mate, Charlotte Mason. Those babies are lucky to have you, as well. I’ll send some people by with things you’ll need for the house.” She looked up at Travis then over at Garrett and winked. “I doubt your place has any baby items.”
Travis chuckled. “No, we don’t.”
“Thank you,” I said. “How did you know we were keeping them?”
She met my gaze and smiled. “You hesitated to give them to Douglas. And you watched him until he went inside. Child, they may not be your blood, but you’ve already adopted them in your heart.”
It was true. I could already feel them becoming a part of my soul.
Rose sidestepped suddenly, looking behind Travis.
All three of us turned, but nothing was visible except the empty road leading out of Sanctuary.
“What was it?” Travis asked.
Rose shook her head and frowned. “It was more of a feeling. Something disturbed the field around the town there by the road. But it’s gone now. I can’t feel it anymore. I’ll have the Protectors scout the area.”
“A Djinn?” Travis pressed.
“I think so.” Rose met my gaze again. “There’s nothing to worry about. We have more than enough guards to ward off a single Djinn stupid enough to wander into town. We’ve been doing it for decades.”
I took a deep breath, hoping the safety and peace I felt in this town wasn’t a figment of my imagination.
“Mikjáll! Sochi!” Riza shouted as she ran across the circle. She leaped into Mikjáll’s arms and gave him a kiss that reminded me how long it’d been since I kissed my mates. She slid from his arms and embraced her sister next, who was being held upright by Liam. The reunion brought tears to my eyes. So much joy over being reunited mixed with the pain of loss, of knowing that Sochi’s baby girl was still out there somewhere.
Rose had led them to save that girl. To save all of us. Rose had sent help to save us from Savannah earlier this year as well. This was a place I could be proud to call home. This was a place my parents would’ve approved of. They wouldn’t leave Lila out there for long. They would find a way to rescue the baby, too.
I could be happy here with these people. Loyal. Protective. Generous.
“I saw the two adorable babies Douglas was feeding in the cafe,” Diana said, walking up beside me. “He said they were yours.”
Well, maybe walking wasn’t correct. The poor Drakonae female looked like a waddling duck.
She grinned and pointed a finger at me. “Don’t say it. I know I look like a cow that hasn’t been milked in a month.”
A small smile tugged at the corners of my mouth. “I didn’t say anything.”
“I’m glad you’re safe. Alek called ahead and said your pack took heavy casualties in a fire. I’m so sorry. May peace fill your soul, my friend.” She hugged me, and I felt her belly thump several times against my hip.
“Strong ba—” I paused. “Babies?”
She winked and sighed. “Three. Any day.”
“Congratulations.”
“I know nothing will ever be Ada, Charlotte, but this town is full of good people who ta
ke care of each other. I know you will grow to love this town as much as I have. And I haven’t been here that long yet.”
“I know. I just…” Tears welled in my eyes, and I rubbed my face, wiping them away. “I’m sorry. I just can’t do this right now.”
“It is alright, Charlotte. I’ll be here for you anytime you need.”
“Charlie!” Eira and Killían were approaching from across the circle. “I was so scared when Alek called and said the lodge burned!”
Diana stepped back to stand with her husbands, and Eira moved forward. My friend wrapped her arms around me, and I let the tears flow.
“Five, Eira. Five,” I sobbed. “Five people and the two babies, Isis and Karly.”
“I know. I couldn’t believe it when he said.” She leaned back and stared into my eyes. “You are going to survive this, too, Charlotte Mason. We are warriors. Do you hear me? You saved everyone you could. Your parents would be proud.”
“I lost almost everyone.”
“Xerxes is an evil bastard who deserves to rot in the pits of Tartarus forever. You fought the good fight. And those five people and two little innocent babies are alive because you didn’t give up. You are with your mates because you didn’t give up.”
“Eira is right, Charlotte,” Garrett said, slipping his hand around my waist and tucking me closer to his body as my friend took a step back. “You did everything right. You can’t blame yourself for the outcome.”
I was grateful for my friend’s reassurances, but I needed to mourn for what I’d lost. All those people who had died… for Victor’s power grabbing. We could’ve been prepared. Maybe. Maybe not. But at least we could’ve tried.
But if we’d all been inside when they came, we would’ve all died. If Travis, Garrett, Maddock, and Douglas hadn’t gone hunting for the soldiers, we would’ve all been trapped together, and we would’ve all died together.
Sanctuary, Texas Complete Series Box Set Page 90
