Trey stood from the bench, and lifted her into his arms. “My angel, that can be arranged.” He carried her to the bed, where he laid her in the center before joining her, Turi taking the other side.
“Anything you want from us…” Turi mumbled, finding her nipple with his lips.
“Anything?” She rose onto her elbow and glanced at him.
“What’s on your mind, my angel?” Trey ran his fingers along her cheek.
“I need a favor.”
Both men went still. Trey shared a glance with his brother before looking back at her.
Turi’s mouth stopped mid-motion and he let her nipple slip from between his teeth. “I have a feeling what you’re about to say is going to ruin the mood.”
“From the look on her face, I’d say that’s a given,” Trey agreed. “What is it?”
“I need to go back to Arizona.”
“Absolutely not!” Trey shot out of bed. “We’re not going to have you put yourself in danger. You’re safe here and that’s where you’re staying.”
“Why?” Turi asked his arm still around her waist.
“You can’t be seriously listening to this. We can’t risk our mate.” Trey growled.
“I want to check the place where Chad and I would go to escape the pressures of the clan when we were growing up. It was our place, the only place I didn’t have to hear any of the snide remarks from the children of the clan. I could just be myself.” She ran her hand through her wet hair. “If Chad’s alive and needed somewhere to go, he might go there. It’s a place that only the two of us know about and it’s far enough from the clan’s land that he’d be safe. It might be the only place he’d go if one of them were injured.”
“Then we’ll have someone check, because you’re not going.” Trey stood next to the bed, his arms crossed over his chest, completely naked.
“Don’t you understand? I can’t sit here and do nothing. If it was your brother you’d be out there looking for him.”
“My angel, that’s different.”
“Why, because I’m not a shifter? Or because I’m a woman?” She pushed out of Turi’s embrace and sat up in bed.
“Ivy…” Turi ran his hand down her arm. “He’s right, it is too dangerous for you to go. The connection you have with Randolph will put you in more danger. If any of his followers are there, they might be able to smell the connection in your blood. We can’t risk it. Instead, tell me where it is and I’ll have a team check it out.”
“That doesn’t change the fact I can’t sit here and do nothing. This is killing me.” She leaned back against the pillow, her head pressed against the beautiful carvings Theodore had added into the wood. “Trey, I didn’t mean to upset you. It’s just…I don’t know what to do.”
“I promise you, Ty and the others are doing everything possible to find Chad and anyone else who might have survived.” He came to her, taking her hand in his. “In the meantime let us keep you occupied.”
“We’re not doing this to stifle you. Our only desire is to keep you safe,” Turi chimed in.
“It feels wrong to do nothing.”
Trey squeezed her hand. “I don’t know Chad but I can’t believe he’d want you out there risking yourself, would he?”
“Chad’s always been too protective.”
“No, he cares about you and so do we. We protect the people we love.” Turi met her gaze with one of determination. “As hard as it is to sit by and do nothing, how do you think it would feel for any of us if we let you go off halfcocked after him and something happened?”
“Listen, my sweet angel.” Trey dragged his thumb over her knuckles, circling each one with precision. “I have a friend, he’s a private investigator and a black panther shifter, I’ll call him and see if he can help locate Chad.”
“Call Ty first, see if they have any leads. It will give Simon an idea of where to start,” Turi told his brother. “On second thought, do you think he’ll help us after what just happened?”
“What happened?” She looked between them in confusion.
“It’s a long story but Simon’s brother, Quinn, is a United States Marshall. Courtney witnessed a high profile murder with some drug runners and a rather nasty man and was in witness protection. Quinn was handling the case. It was going to be a career maker, and it fell apart,” Trey explained before grabbing his cell phone from the nightstand.
“On the verge of repeating myself, what happened?”
“The killer was out on bond and came after Courtney. He blew up her house, killing another Marshal, and she ran from Texas to Alaska. It’s how Tad and Milo met her, and when the killer followed they were there to protect her. In the end, Tad and Milo killed this guy after he shot my father.” With a quick kiss to the top of her hand, he stood up from the bed. “Why don’t you try to rest? Turi will stay with you, and I’ll go make the call.”
Without waiting for an answer, he strolled from the room. He needed to make the call and get someone on the case to ease the turmoil boiling within his mate. Ivy needed to know one way or another what had happened to Chad. If he was killed in the attack she needed to know so she could grieve. If he was alive someone needed to find him. He was going to find those answers for her, even if it meant he had to travel to Arizona himself.
Chapter Sixteen
Exhaustion clung to Turi, making his movements slow as he entered his parents’ house. It seemed as though he had just closed his eyes when he received the call about the meeting. The sun wouldn’t be up for hours, which meant one thing, whatever the reason for the gathering, it had to be important.
“Here.” His mom handed him a steaming hot mug of coffee.
“Does this mean sleep is out of the question?”
His father glanced up from the paper he was reading. “It shouldn’t take long and then you can get some sleep. If you don’t want the coffee, set it aside. Your mother needed something to do. Saying goodbye is never easy for her. Sit down, son.”
Stifling a yawn, he set the mug aside, and leaned against the armrest of the sofa. If there was a chance he’d be able to go back to bed, he’d wait on the coffee. “What’s happening, Dad?”
“On the sofa!” His mom hollered as she made her way back into the kitchen. “You’re too big to be sitting on the armrests.”
Years of training had told him it was better to do what his mother said than disobey, because she’d find a way to make him pay later. He sank down on the sofa cushion and waited to be filled in.
“Ty called and requested Taber and Milo join the team in Arizona. They’re leaving shortly, while Thorben, Kallie, Tad, and Courtney stay behind.”
“They found Chad?” Suddenly the doubt that Ivy’s brother had survived was replaced with a hint of hope.
“Not yet, but with Ivy’s lead you passed on to Ty, and Simon’s suggestions there’s a few places they need to search. Ty’s hopeful. There are some signs, which he didn’t get into, but they point to the possibility Chad and at least one other are alive.”
“I should go.”
Devon shook his head. “No, right now Ivy needs both of her mates. If he’s found, we can make arrangements, but until then she needs the comfort you and Trey can give her.”
He nodded, knowing that here he could do his best to keep her occupied. “She’s having a hard time doing nothing.”
“As I’m sure you and Trey are. It’s engrained within us to do something to ease our mates suffering.” Devon took a drink of his coffee before continuing. “I wanted you to know what was happening, and it’s your choice if you wish to tell Ivy.”
“Hopefully she’ll still be asleep when I get back, so I won’t have to worry about that now.”
“Don’t worry about the sleuth. I want you to stay with her, do your best to keep her mind off things, and when there’s an update Ty will call.”
“Your dad and I are here if she needs anything. Kallie and Courtney are too if she wants to talk to a younger woman,” his mom added as she came back into the room.
<
br /> “Thanks, Mom.” The one thing about a family like his was the support they had for each other. Not all bears lived with such closeness. Some might belong to a sleuth but be spread out, never seeing each other except during specialized events. “I should get back to her.”
“What, you’re not going to see us off?” Taber stepped inside, the door banging shut behind him.
“Not with a beautiful woman waiting for me.” Turi rose from the sofa. “If I was you I’d be on the plane heading out. The sooner you go, the sooner you can get back to Kallie.”
“Isn’t that the truth? At least with Thorben here I know she’ll be watched over. Same with Tad and Courtney.” Taber nodded. “I only wanted to let you know we’re heading out. I’ll inform you if there are any updates.”
“Thanks.” Turi laid his hand on Taber’s shoulder and gave it a little squeeze. “Be safe, and bring my mate’s brother back to her.”
“I’ll do what I can.”
Turi couldn’t ask for more, nor did he expect anything less from his brother. It wouldn’t have mattered who they were going after in Arizona, Taber and the others would do their best to find them.
He walked out of the house, slightly relieved he wasn’t going and that he could stay with his mate, while on the other hand disappointed he wouldn’t be the one to bring Chad back to her. Though if Chad wasn’t alive, he didn’t want to be the one to tell her—to admit he failed her.
He shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans and ambled back toward his cabin. A shooting star streaked through the sky, giving him hope that the mission would go well.
Stop obsessing, everything’s going to be fine. We’ll make sure of it.
* * *
Ivy wasn’t sure what woke her, but she suspected it had been the chill from not having the warmth of her men on either side of her. Sleep just wouldn’t return until Turi came to cuddle against her. Instead of lying there, tossing and turning until she woke Trey, she slipped out of bed and padded to the window seat. She gazed into the darkness. Beyond the glass, darkness cloaked the grounds. Tall pines cast deep shadows that should have been menacing but instead seemed to offer comfort. Where had Turi gone at such a late hour? Had something happened within the sleuth?
She wrapped a throw around her, hiding her naked body from view and stared out into the water. Somewhere out in that darkness danger lied in wait for anyone unsuspecting. It was as if now that her life had been touched with evil, from the attack on her clan, she could no longer see the beauty in things. She wondered about the threats that could be lurking in the shadows. The island was a sanctuary, but what happened when she left the safety of being surrounded by water? Would the fear grow stronger? Would she ever be able to live a normal life again?
One thing nagged her the most. Would Randolph find out her relation to him? She had been hidden away on the Arizona Tigers’ land; even if he suspected her mother had a child, there was little chance he knew who or where she was. But things had changed. If he went to her home—or what was left of it—there was no doubt he’d pick up on her smell. If he found out who she was, there was no doubt he’d try to use her as a pawn in whatever he was playing at. She wouldn’t allow him to screw with her and the people she cared about, no matter the cost.
“What are you doing awake?” Turi whispered through the darkness.
She turned away from the window to find him standing in the doorway. “I woke up to find you gone, and couldn’t get back to sleep. Where did you go?”
He drew near, each step tentative as if he was debating something. “Taber and Milo are joining the search in Arizona.”
“Is there…” Unable to stop the excitement, she moved off the edge of the window seat.
“Hold on, Ivy.” He stopped her before she could stand. “I don’t have all the details but it is believed there might be two alive. A team from the Alaskan Tigers is there, heading things up. Jinx has sent some additional men from the West Virginia Tigers and now Taber and Milo will be joining them. We just have to wait.”
“Waiting is the hardest thing.”
In one quick movement, he sat down next to her and wrapped one arm around her. “I know, love, I know. We’re going to find him.”
“In what condition?” She forced the words past the lump of emotion that tightened her throat.
“You have to hope for the best. The fact they didn’t find him when they searched through the remains of the compound is a good sign.”
Trey rolled over, his gaze drilling into them until he let out a growl of annoyance. “Will you two come back to bed or go to another room?”
“Trey’s always been grumpy when his sleep is interrupted.” Turi smoothed his hand down Ivy’s arm. “We’re not going to know anything for a few hours. Do you want to lie back down, or go to the living room?”
“Maybe we could find another way to pass the time.” She kissed his neck.
“Woman, you’ll wear me out,” Turi teased.
“Don’t even think about it! You’re not doing that in this bed while I’m trying to sleep.” Trey tapped the bed next to him. “Come to bed, we all need to catch some sleep and in the morning I’ll make it up to you. I promise.”
“He’s right, we do need some rest. Let’s go to bed and cuddle.” He stood and stripped out of his clothes before holding his hand out to her.
She let him take her hand and lead her to the bed. “Cuddles lead from one thing to another.”
Chapter Seventeen
There was something about knowing there were teams in Arizona looking for Chad that gave Ivy peace of mind, and for the first time she was able to relax enough to work on the proposal. Her fingers flew over the keyboard, adding the different aspects of the forum that Trey had given her into the overall plan. Her thoughts ran with new ideas, demanding she make note of them to come back to later. For the first time since the attack on her clan, she felt like she had her life back and that she was contributing to the betterment of shifters.
As if things were going too well to last, the last words from a clan tigress she’d considered her best friend played out in her mind. You’re not a shifter, why would you even care? Before she could explain, the compound had erupted with the first explosive attack, sending Edith running from the house in tigress form. She hadn’t made it fifty yards before more blasts shook the ground and gunfire had begun.
Loud beeps from the computer forced her attention back to her lap. Without realizing it, her balled fists had struck the laptop causing it to send a series of beeps in warning before freezing.
Damn it. She leaned her head back against the sofa, her chest tightened, the pain was so deep, so agonizing, at the memory of seeing Edith flying through the air, a hole the size of a grapefruit opening her chest. Her heart had been blown from her body, making it impossible for her to heal from the injuries, one of the few ways a shifter could actually be killed.
With a deep breath numbness settled over her. There was nothing she could do for Edith then and nothing to be done now. Ivy grieved for her clan family and hoped the others had understood why she had done the things she did. The ability to shift might not be within her, but that didn’t make her any less part of the clan. She had been raised within the clan since she was a baby and was devoted to the Alpha and the clan. The idea that at the time of their deaths, some might have still have doubted her commitment mangled her heart beyond recognition.
“My sweet angel, are you okay?” Trey glanced at her from behind the desk in Turi’s office that they had taken over.
With a forced smile, she pushed her thoughts away and turned to him. “Fine, why?”
“I could feel your distress. If you’re worried about Chad…”
“I’m not.” She tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I was just remembering the attack, and the last words I said to someone I thought was my friend.”
“Thought?” Intrigued, he leaned forward.
“A few hours before the attack, a few of the clan members found
out I was working on this proposal.” She leaned forward on the chaise lounge, placing the laptop on the table beside it. “The people I thought were my friends, my family…for the first time I saw distrust in their eyes. None of them knew my heritage. They only knew I was human, but that was enough to draw out some hatred in the end.”
“Hatred seems like a harsh word, are you sure it wasn’t misunderstanding?” He leaned back in the leather office chair and watched her.
“I’m sure. Even the tigress I thought was my best friend, Edith, turned against me. We grew up together, but she couldn’t understand why I would care about her kind when I was only human. There was such hatred in her tone.”
“I’ll be sure to have a nice conversation with Edith when we find her.”
“We won’t, she was killed, and her final thoughts of me were that I was proposing this so it would advance shifters living alongside humans.”
He raised an eyebrow at that. “Isn’t that a good thing?”
“Except she thought I was doing it to eliminate the shifter species. That I wanted to construct some type of revenge against shifters because I felt left out.” She pulled her legs up against her chest, hugging them to her body. “I never felt excluded because I couldn’t shift. Were those feelings always there from those I considered my family and I just missed the clues?”
“Come here, angel.” He slid his chair back and patted his lap.
“Sex—”
“It’s not about sex, it’s about comfort.” He held out his hand to her and when she came, he pulled her into his lap. “It’s not always about sex.”
“But when it is, you make it worth it,” she teased and snuggled against his chest.
“Would you want it any other way?”
“Hell no, the sex is amazing. Just maybe…more of it?” She slid her hand under his shirt, teasing along the perfect contours of his chest. Damn, this man was perfect, and she just wanted more of him—of both him and Turi. It seemed to be more than just mating desire. The need deep inside felt like pure love.
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