Bearing Armen - Book Three

by Brenna Lyons

  Daniel stepped closer to her, tracing the lines of her womb, unable to stop touching her after waiting so long to.

  Alyssa closed her eyes in a look of rapture. “Daniel?” she asked.

  “As long as Armen acknowledges that he is my son, that the bond is mine. I won’t survive losing him.”

  “I’m sure he will,” Bear assured them. “Now, go seal printing, already.”

  “No,” Daniel whispered.

  Her eyes opened, uncertain and pained.

  “You haven’t said ‘yes,’” he reminded her.

  Alyssa laughed nervously. “Oh, yes.”

  Daniel scooped her up with a grumbled curse and headed for the stairs.

  * * * *

  Alyssa didn’t question where he was taking her. She knew Daniel wouldn’t stop until whatever chemical bond tied them together was forged tight. Memories of the bliss on Tom’s face when he sealed made her shiver. What would Daniel look like at that moment?

  He set her on her feet, and a door closed. For a moment, he stood, cradling her to his body. Daniel tipped her chin up, his expression strangely devoid of emotion.

  “I can wait, Alyssa. It doesn’t have to be today. If you’re unsure in the least, I want you to tell me.”

  She smiled, tears pooling in her eyes again, though she felt the need to laugh out loud in joy. “You really mean that, don’t you? You’d wait for me?”

  “As long as you need. Knowing you’re willing is a gift.”

  If she’d had any remaining doubts, that was all it would have taken to convince her. As it was, she was already convinced that it was right this time, that Daniel was right for her. “I’m sure. I’ve never been surer.”

  Daniel didn’t reply. His fingers trailed down her throat to the buttons on the men’s-style dress shirt she wore. One by one, he undid them, his breath catching as he spread it wide around her body, his gaze ranging over her hungrily.

  Alyssa bit her lip, closing her eyes as he slid the shirt off. His fingers followed the fabric, then returned and unclasped her bra, pulling it away.

  Tom had been crazy, nearly frantic when they’d sealed. It seemed Daniel was going to make her crazy instead.

  His mouth trailed lazily over her face, neck and shoulders, seemingly committing every inch of her body to memory. “By Tes, I missed you.”

  Alyssa pulled his t-shirt up his stomach, mapping him with her fingertips. “I’ve been thinking of you. Nearly every minute, awake and asleep.”

  “Are you sure about this?”

  She nodded. “I told you I want—”

  “Here, I mean. We can seal at your house, if you’d prefer. In your bed.”

  “You’d really put this off just for that?”

  Daniel raised his head, his expression earnest. “Anything you need from me,” he vowed. “That house is your home. Given half a chance, I’ll introduce you to mine, but I’d never take you from home.”

  “But you’re a Warrior. If you’re ordered to go, we have to go, you and, as your mate, me.”

  He shook his head, smiling. “I’ll go on trail, from time to time. They won’t be reassigning me.”

  “Why?”

  “I’m giving you my vow that I won’t ask you to leave your home. Even my house lord cannot force me to break an oath to my mate. No one can.”

  “God, the things he never told me!”

  “Hunter would have been a little far... Never mind. Now, do you want to seal at home?”

  “No.” Alyssa eased his t-shirt further up his chest, laying a kiss over his right nipple.

  The shirt jerked up and away. Then his hands were on her waist, lifting her, lowering her onto the bed. To her surprise, he still wasn’t rushed.

  Daniel removed her shoes and every stitch of clothing, his mouth caressing her bare skin. Then he entered her, freezing at the pinnacle as he had the first few times.

  Alyssa gasped his name, all but begging him not to stop.

  “Marry me,” Daniel requested.

  “I already said I’d... Oh, Daniel.” He’d asked while her mind was still fairly clear and uncluttered.

  “You’ve accepted printing.” His mouth trailed along her hairline. “I want to marry you.”

  Visions of the wedding they’d have coursed through her mind. “Yes.”

  Daniel pulled back and thrust again. “Yes, you’ll marry me?”

  “White dress and all.”

  She expected him to laugh at the idea of her wearing white, but he didn’t. “With pink roses and sparkling cider instead of champagne.”

  Alyssa didn’t answer with more than a groan of acceptance. Everything spiraled in to the feeling of Daniel’s body in hers, over hers, around hers.

  He waited for her to come, but only just. Alyssa made a point of watching Daniel during climax.

  Tom had closed his eyes, but Daniel kept his open and locked on hers, his love shining brightly. A look of wonder softened his face, and his cock spasmed in continuing spurts of release.

  “Oh, gods... It’s beautiful,” he whispered.

  Alyssa laughed. “You’re not weaseling out of the wedding now,” she teased.

  “I wouldn’t dream of it.”

  Chapter Forty-four

  August 10, 2050

  “One more, Alyssa,” Daniel encouraged her.

  She bore down, fighting every inch as hard as Daniel ever had in battle with beasts, panting as her contraction waned, trembling wildly, exhausted.

  Dear Tes! She was beautiful, and if the dark crop of hair was any indication, their baby would be beautiful, as well.

  “The head is out,” he offered, massaging the leg he braced for her, nodding to Melanie to do the same with the other. The books said massage would help, and he wouldn’t fail on the subject of anything that would ease this for her.

  “Good,” she whispered. Alyssa reached her hand out, smiling weakly as Daniel caught it in his and rocked her wedding band beneath his thumb.

  “I’m here for you.”

  “Just the shoulders, Alyssa,” Tabitha informed her. “The neck is clear, and the next contraction is coming up.”

  Alyssa nodded, her hand tightening on Daniel’s, her foot pressing hard against his chest. She pulled up, using his hand to assist her, curling into the contraction, grimacing.

  Tabitha rocked the baby this way and that, freeing one shoulder from her straining opening. Alyssa cried out, and Daniel snapped his gaze to her, murmuring assurances that it was nearly over.

  A furious squall brought his head back around. Daniel laughed in delight at the sight of the two nurses crowded around their son, doing all the things a modern medical center deemed necessary for a newborn baby.

  “He’s here,” Daniel crowed. “Oh, Alyssa! He’s beautiful.” He set her leg on the bed and stepped up to kiss her.

  Tabitha chuckled. “Strike that ‘he’ stuff, Daddy. This ‘young Warrior’ happens to be a girl.”

  Daniel’s heart pounded in a combination of disbelief and unbearable joy. They’d discussed a girl, but neither one of them had dared hope for it.

  He met the doctor’s eyes, nodding. Tabitha was protected, and she knew what he had to do. While an amulet could be given with others in the room, the blood oath to free a daughter couldn’t. It had to be done quickly, and she’d know that.

  Tabitha was abruptly serious. “Jackie, Dweena... There are religious observances. Please, withdraw and send in the baby’s grandfather.”

  They seemed confused by that announcement, but they left as instructed. Tabitha set their daughter at the edge of the bed and started tending to Alyssa’s afterbirth, while Mel bathed her face.

  Daniel drew his sacred weapon and sliced his left palm, savoring the sweet pain that would tie them together. In a matter of heartbeats, the seal was drawn over her forehead and chest in his blood and the words spoken. As the final line of the freeing passed his lips, the door opened and Tim stepped in.

  His smile faltered. “When I heard it was a girl, I’
d hoped... But, you’re right. You’ll be her father.”

  Daniel smiled, laying a kiss over his daughter’s forehead and accepting a strip of gauze from Tabitha. He stood, wrapping it slowly. “Thank you for understanding. Alyssa promised you the Schutzes.” He stepped back and waved Tim over, tying the field bandage tight around his hand.

  The older Warrior hesitated, touching the baby’s face tenderly. “You’ve got a good Daddy, little one.”

  “And a good grandfather,” Daniel replied. He sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for Tim to begin the blessing.

  Armen’s hand swung out toward them, and Daniel stared at it in confusion.

  “What is it?” Daniel asked.

  A muscle twitched in Tim’s jaw, and his voice was rough in emotion. “She’s my granddaughter, and she’ll have my blessing, but as your daughter, she should wear your amulet.”

  Daniel didn’t argue it. It was an incredible show of trust and solidarity that Armen was offering. “For now.” He pulled one out of his jacket pocket and handed it over. “Have one of yours make an amulet with both seals on it.”

  Tim smiled widely. “I’ll forge it myself. Now, what is my granddaughter’s name?”

  Daniel looked at Alyssa, ruffling her hair affectionately. “We got down to three. The final choice is yours.”

  “Crystal,” she decided. “Crystal Arielle Armen-Hunter.” Alyssa bit her lip, gauging Tim’s reaction to her solution for their daughter’s last name.

  Tim nodded. “A beautiful name for a beautiful baby.”

  A note from the author

  Sometimes, a character or situation sticks with you after the end of the story. In the case of “The Warrior’s Widow,” I was left with the dichotomy of an Armen daughter being raised as a daughter of Hunter. What kinds of problems would that cause? Well, not many, because Tim and Daniel had so obligingly come to an understanding at her birth. I envisioned years of visits, a properly spoiled Warrior daughter/granddaughter, and a lot of love on all sides.

  But, there was still one more problem that might rear its head, and it did.

  Happy reading!

  Brenna

  Crystal: Daddy’s Little Girl

  Chapter Forty-five

  November 5, 2072

  “Hello, Daddy.”

  Daniel chuckled, as Crystal wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek, leaping into his circling arms. “Oh, no. What’s it going to cost me this time?”

  Her nose wrinkled. “Not everything I ask you costs you money.”

  He set her down, crossing his arms over his chest. “True, but ‘Daddy’ usually implies it. Any other time, I’m ‘Dad.’”

  Crystal bit her lower lip, as her mother often did. “I never realized I’d left such an overt tell.” She smiled brightly. “Guess I’ll have to fix that.”

  “I’ll just bet you will.” He fought back laughter at their verbal sparring. “Now, why don’t you tell me how much this is going to cost me and why I just have to agree?”

  “Not a dime, and because you love me.”

  “Oh, no. Then it’s even more expensive than I thought it would be.”

  Her expression was heartbreakingly hopeful.

  Daniel sighed, wrapped an arm around her, and led her to the couch. “I think I’ll need to sit down for this.”

  She settled beside him, looking decidedly nervous. “Most likely.”

  “Not what I needed.”

  “Sorry.” Crystal honestly did sound contrite.

  “Hit me.”

  She smiled, elbowing him in the stomach lightly. It was an old joke between them, and they both started laughing.

  Daniel pulled her into his lap, his heart aching that she was twenty-two and would leave him someday soon. “Now, what do I love you so much I’ll agree to?”

  “I love someone.”

  He buried his face in her hair, cursing himself for hating those words. Crystal deserved love in her life, and he couldn’t begrudge her that. If Tim Armen released her into my care, I can release her into the care of another...if it’s the right other.

  “Does he love you?” he managed.

  “I think so.”

  “He hasn’t said it?” That was one strike against him.

  “A hundred times, at least.”

  Daniel leaned back, turning her face to his. “Then why aren’t you sure? If you have any qualms—”

  “I don’t,” she assured him, her expression earnest.

  “If he does—”

  Crystal darkened and shifted her eyes away.

  “Something you need to tell me?” he asked.

  “Well...”

  “Maybe, we should start with his name. I’ll start all of the usual checks.”

  “That...um...that won’t be necessary.”

  “Like hell it won’t,” he growled.

  “You already know each other.” She peeked up at him.

  “I already... A Warrior?”

  Crystal nodded. “So, you see... He wouldn’t dare—”

  “But, you said he’s told you he loves you a hundred times.” If this was another Tom Armen, there would be hell to pay.

  She winced. “It’s not what you think.”

  “Then what?” His mind clasped on the only possible answer. “He’s a Hunter?”

  “I’m not related by blood to anyone but my brothers,” she defended herself hotly. “There’s nothing wrong with it.”

  Daniel picked that logic apart and found it sound. “Okay. I can’t argue that, but—”

  “Look at it this way. If I marry a Hunter, I’ll always be nearby.”

  He groaned. “Which one?”

  “Kyle.”

  His mind kicked into gear. “Kyle is requesting— Oh, hell!”

  Daniel set Crystal on her feet and bolted out of the room. She pounded after him, but he reached Nick’s office a full hallway before she did. He knocked and entered without waiting for an answer.

  Nick looked up, raising an eyebrow. “Daniel, this isn’t—”

  Crystal loped in after him, gasping from the mad dash up the stairs and out into the lord’s wing. “What is it?”

  Kyle turned to her in apparent shock. He snapped his mouth shut, darkening to crimson, choosing to stare a hole in the desk rather than looking at Crystal.

  “I’ll be damned,” Daniel breathed. Why had he never seen this?

  Nick cleared his throat. “If you don’t mind, Daniel, I was just about to—”

  “Don’t approve his request. Not yet.”

  “What request?” Crystal asked.

  * * * *

  Kyle bit back a groan. Who knew life could suck so badly? He chanced a glance at her, knowing he shouldn’t. I’m printing, and I can’t help it. Breaking printing was going to be the hardest thing he’d ever do.

  “What request?” she repeated.

  “Crystal, let me ex—” Daniel began.

  “A transfer,” Nick replied simply.

  All color drained from her face, and Kyle ached to comfort her.

  Knock it off! She’s your cousin.

  But she wasn’t really his cousin, and his libido knew that all too well, even if his mind argued it.

  She’s a woman of my house.

  I want her to be my woman, my mate.

  It was the argument that had driven him mad for months.

  “Crystal,” her father soothed her.

  “You were asking to leave? You weren’t even going to tell me?”

  Kyle ground his teeth. Ani knew he didn’t want to leave her, but staying was going to drive him completely insane. He dreamed of her every night, waking hard and wanting. He couldn’t even take solace in other women anymore. “Yes.”

  She stomped toward him, her fist raised to punch him. Kyle stood his ground. Whatever she did couldn’t hurt worse than he already did, and he’d rather die than raise a hand to her.

  Daniel grasped her in a bear-hug, shaking his head. “None of that.”

  She sobbed, th
en swallowed hard and steeled her expression.

  “Better,” her father decided. “Now, Kyle—”

  “Don’t bother,” she snapped. “Let him leave, if that’s what he wants.” Crystal fought her father’s hold.

  He didn’t release her. “Stop that,” he ordered. “Now, Kyle.”

  “Yes, sir?” he grumbled.

  “Why did you request a transfer?”

  “I respectfully decline—”

  “Don’t try that with me. I have a pretty clear picture already, so you might as well—”

  Nick rapped his knuckles on the desk to get attention. “Since you’ve obviously lied to me about your reason, I suggest you answer that question honestly.”

  Kyle fought the tension in his jaw. “I’m printing. I’m pretty damned far gone, to tell the truth, and since she’s not a woman I can have, I can’t look at her every day and stay sane.”

  Crystal stared at him, tears glittering on her dark lashes. “You dope. You weren’t even going to ask? I asked. I believed in you that much.”

  His heart stuttered. Kyle couldn’t seem to form words. He was two steps closer to her when coherent thought intruded.

  The fact that Daniel had stopped Crystal from belting him one across the mouth didn’t mean that her father didn’t intend to do it himself. Kyle met Daniel’s eyes, seeking out his intent.

  “You’re printing on Crystal, and you asked to leave?” he asked.

  “I didn’t think you’d approve,” Kyle admitted.

  “Why?”

  “She’s my... Well, she’s not my cousin, but she’s... She’s a woman of my own house. We were raised together.”

  “Dope,” Crystal repeated, though her expression was one of hurt and not anger.

  “Crystal, you have to understand—”