Unstoppable

by R. L. Mathewson

  “What the hell is going on here?” a tall man with a military cut, who was definitely a Sentinel, demanded as he walked into the room.

  “We found a way to help Danni. I’ll explain everything later, Michael, but we need to do this before she slips back into a coma,” Noah said as he quickly worked to hook Danni up to monitors with Samantha and Cloe’s help while Ashley took in the large Sentinel, noting everything from his neatly combed dark hair to his warm brown eyes as they searched the room and landed on her.

  “How?” Michael asked, his eyes never leaving Ashley as he waited for an answer.

  “We found a way to filter her blood to kill the cancer,” Noah said, rushing to finish hooking Danni, who really wasn’t looking good, up to the rest of the machines.

  “What are you filtering her blood with?” Michael asked, glancing back at the human, who focused on what he was doing as he ground his jaw and-

  “My blood,” Ashley said, swallowing nervously as she watched Kale’s eyes turn silver when he suddenly went still.

  “I don’t understand,” Michael said, frowning in confusion as he glanced from Ashley back to Danni.

  “She’s my sister,” Christofer said, allowing his eyes to turn red as he watched the Sentinel, who looked genuinely shocked by the news.

  “This is a mistake,” Michael said, shaking his head as he moved to stop them, only to have Caine step in front of him before he could reach Danni. “This isn’t going to work. We tested Christofer’s blood to see if we could filter Danni’s blood through his body, but his blood only made the cancer stronger. It’s going to make her sicker. Please don’t do this. Just give me a little more time to figure this out.”

  “Noah?” Caine said, his gaze never leaving the Sentinel that looked like he was going to be sick.

  “The cancer died in all the tests. Ashley’s blood destroyed it on contact,” Noah said, finishing setting up Danni and quickly moved around the men in a glaring match so that he could start working on Ashley.

  “How are you holding up?” Noah asked with a warm smile as he began setting up a tray with more needles than she ever wanted to see in one place.

  “I’m fine,” Ashley mumbled as she struggled to stop her hands from trembling only to slowly exhale when Chris reached over and took her hand in his.

  “You’re going to be fine,” Chris promised her as she watched Michael move to come closer, only to rethink that decision when Kale and Christofer stepped in his way.

  “It’s going to make her worse. Please, don’t do this. At least, hold off until we can run more tests to make sure that it’s not going to make the cancer stronger,” Michael argued, moving to step around them only to frown when he spotted Izzy standing in the corner. “What happened?”

  “We were able to fix her,” was all Noah said as he examined the veins in Ashley’s arm. “This should work.”

  Swallowing hard, Ashley simply nodded as she glanced over at the other gurney and watched Danni, telling herself that everything would be fine.

  “You’re making a mistake,” Michael said, sighing heavily before adding, “But, if you’re going to do this, we should use a second pump. It will be the fastest way to move the blood through her system.”

  “That’s a good idea,” Noah said, giving her a reassuring smile that she didn’t really find reassuring at the moment.

  “Let me help,” Michael said only to add, “Please,” as Ephraim and Trace walked into the room.

  “I could use the help,” Noah said when no one said anything.

  After a slight pause, Caine and Kale moved aside and she watched as Michael joined them, giving her a warm smile that immediately put her at ease as he said, “Tell me what we’re doing.”

  Slowly exhaling, Ashley lay there, listening as Noah explained everything that he’d found out about her blood, what it did, and what it was going to take to destroy the cancer. The entire time, Michael simply nodded, murmured his agreement, and asked a few questions as they set up IVs in her arms while all the Pytes in the room gorged on bagged blood, getting ready to start donating blood so that she could keep up with the cancer.

  She could do this, Ashley told herself as Kale sat down by her side and took her trembling hand in his, his thumb absently caressing the back of her hand while they both watched Danni as her breaths became shallower. Please let this work, Ashley thought as Noah and Michael finished setting everything up while Samantha and Cloe started drawing Chris’s blood. Once they’d finished, he was climbing off the gurney and Izzy was taking his place.

  A few minutes later, they were pushing Danni’s gurney next to hers and they were ready to go. “Ready?” Michael asked as he reached for the pump.

  Nodding, Ashley said, “Ready,” as she slowly exhaled, watching as he reached over and turned the machine on. Within minutes, Danni’s blood was making its way through the first tube connecting them while hers was making its way to Danni and-

  She flinched violently when Danni’s blood reached her.

  “I’m fine. It just took me by surprise,” Ashley said with a reassuring smile as she placed her hand over Kale’s, stopping him from pulling her IV out as she told herself that she’d get used to the burning sensation.

  She was wrong.

  For several hours, Ashley lay there, struggling not to scream as what felt like fire tore through her body. It hurt. God, it hurt so much, she thought, struggling not to cry as she bit down on the feeding tube they’d been forced to put down her throat when it became obvious that she wasn’t able to consume blood fast enough to keep up with the cancer. Everything hurt, Ashley thought, choking back a sob as she focused on Danni.

  She looked so much better than she had when Caine carried her in here earlier. Her skin was no longer deathly pale but was now a healthy tan with a flush of pink marking her cheeks. She’d also put on weight and so had her baby. The soft swell of her belly had filled out, forcing her mate and Ephraim to turn her onto her side to make it easier for her to breathe. Her blood was definitely working, Ashley thought as a fresh wave of pain tore through her arm and-

  She had to do this, Ashley told herself as she tightened her hold around Kale’s hand, wishing that he’d say something as she struggled not to cry. He watched her through silver eyes, his jaw clenched tightly, his eyes never leaving hers as she saw the same pain in his eyes that she saw when he told her about his sister. Swallowing hard, Ashley looked away and watched as Noah took another sample of her blood to make sure the cancer wasn’t taking over while Christofer monitored her baby girl, making sure that she was safe.

  “It’s almost over,” Michael promised her with a reassuring smile while she watched Danni sleep.

  No, it wasn’t, but she appreciated the lie, Ashley thought as liquid fire continued pouring into her arm. The pain was getting worse, a lot worse, she realized as a loud chime had Kale’s jaw clenching. The second had him frowning, and the third had him pulling his phone out of his pocket and his eyes turning silver as his jaw clenched and-

  She felt herself dragged into oblivion as the pain suddenly swallowed her whole.

  Chapter 60

  Manhattan, New York

  “You know what would be fun?” Angelina asked in a sultry whisper as she slowly dropped to her knees, making sure that she gave him a tantalizing view of her large breasts as she went.

  “What’s that?” Cyrus murmured as he took a sip of the hundred-year-old whiskey that he’d picked up last year when he’d visited Scotland on a whim.

  “Going to Paris for the weekend,” she said with a teasing smile as she placed her hands on his knees and slowly slid them over his thighs.

  “And why would that be fun?” Cyrus asked, watching as Angelina’s smile became knowing as she slid one talented hand over the bulge between his legs, knowing exactly what he liked.

  “Because I’ll let you do that thing that you like,” she said, gently squeezing his hard cock through his pants.

  “You’ll let me do that anyway,” Cyrus t
old her, placing his glass on the table next to him only to find himself looking at a ghost.

  “I thought you wanted to play,” came the disappointed murmur that brought Cyrus’s attention back to the woman rubbing his deflated cock through his pants and-

  It was too soon.

  “You need to go,” Cyrus said, grabbing Angelina by her arms and dragged her to her feet, his panicked gaze never leaving the large man making his way across the living room. He never should have stayed in New York, Cyrus realized, swallowing hard as his gaze flickered to the closed door behind them, looking for the team of shifters and demons that he paid a fortune to protect him, but one look at the man watching him told him that they weren’t coming.

  “What are you talking about? I just got here,” Angelina said with a look that told him that he would pay for this later, but at the moment, he didn’t care.

  “You’ve gotta go,” Cyrus said, giving her a push towards the door only to watch as the expression on her face went from angry to confused, and finally, settled on desire when she locked eyes on the man that Cyrus hadn’t seen in thirty years.

  His Master.

  “Who’s this?” Angelina asked, her voice a sultry whisper as she took in the man sitting down on the leather couch across from them, noting everything from his perfectly combed blond hair, bright green eyes, chiseled good looks, to expensively tailored clothes.

  “Get out,” Cade said, his angry gaze never leaving Cyrus, only to allow his eyes to flash red when Angelina didn’t move fast enough. It was enough to send her running while Cyrus sat there, struggling not to do the same.

  “Where’s my daughter?” Cade asked in a deceptively calm voice that sent terror racing down Cyrus’s spine as his gaze flickered towards the door even though he knew that it was already too late.

  Swallowing hard, Cyrus said, “She took her trust fund and left.”

  “Try again,” Cade drawled, leaning back against the leather couch, his gaze never leaving Cyrus’s as he waited for the words that would seal his fate.

  “She died,” Cyrus managed to get out, letting his shoulders drop as he averted his gaze. “After you left, she started complaining about her head hurting. By the time that I was able to bring her to the emergency room, it was too late. There wasn’t anything that they could do,” Cyrus said, finishing on a heavy sigh before adding, “I’m sorry, Master.”

  Cyrus forced himself to sit there, waiting for Cade to say something. When he still didn’t say anything after a few minutes, Cyrus swallowed hard as he looked up.

  “Do you really think that I would have left my child if there was any chance that she was hurt?” Cade bit out, his green eyes turning red as he stood up and-

  “She’s alive!” She’s alive!” Cyrus screamed as he pushed himself up and scrambled over the top of the couch only to gasp in pain when Cade wrapped his hand around his throat and kept going, dragging him the rest of the way over the couch, across the room, and slammed him against the wall.

  “You left my child unprotected and allowed the fucking humans to have her?” Cade asked, his red eyes shining brighter as Cyrus watched the double set of fangs that had turned him over three centuries ago slide down and-

  He knew.

  “You left my child to fucking die?” Cade bit out through clenched teeth as he tightened his hold around Cyrus’s neck.

  “She was better off with humans,” Cyrus bit out, forcing his trembling hands to stay by his sides, knowing that he would be dead before he could move them.

  “I left you to protect the most important thing in my life and you turned her over to the fucking humans?” Cade roared in his face as he pulled him away from the wall and shoved him down on the floor.

  “I’m sorry!” Cyrus cried out, quickly moving back, careful never to take his eyes off Cade as he moved.

  “Where is she?” Cade asked, slowly stalking him as Cyrus struggled to get to his feet.

  “I don’t know!”

  “Where’s my daughter?” Cade demanded, grabbing hold of the end table and sent it flying across the room.

  “I don’t know!” Cyrus screamed as he stumbled back, wishing that he’d kept a better eye on the little brat over the years. If he’d known that she was going to survive this long, he would have killed her and been done with it, but he didn’t want to take the chance that Cade would find out that he was the one that killed her. She’d been human, incredibly tiny, weak, and should have died long before Cade came back.

  “Then you’re no use to me,” Cade said, reaching for him and-

  “Kale Quinn!”

  Chapter 61

  Williams Mansion

  Upstate New York

  “I missed that smile,” Danni mumbled sleepily as she took in the incredibly handsome man smiling down at her.

  “How are you feeling?” Caine asked as he leaned down and kissed her cheek.

  “Fat,” Danni said, unable to stop smiling as she placed her hand on the large swell of her belly, only to laugh when she felt their baby boy push against her hand.

  It was working, Danni thought, praying that whatever this was that they gave her, that it kept working until the baby was born. She just…she just needed to make sure that their baby was fine and then she’d deal with whatever happened to her later.

  Chuckling, Caine covered her hand with his. “He’s been waiting for you to wake up,” he said with a warm smile, keeping his hand on hers as he reached over and-

  “Oh, my god…” Danni murmured hollowly as she watched Caine pick up a king-sized package of peanut butter cups only to wince when her stomach growled approvingly, knowing how this was going to end.

  She waited for the nausea that would leave her praying for a quick death to hit only…

  It never came.

  Licking her lips hungrily, Danni watched as Caine ripped open the candy bar wrapper and pulled out a perfect circle of deliciousness, only to chuckle when she snatched the peanut butter cup out of his hand and shoved it in her mouth. As soon as the perfect mixture of chocolate and peanut butter touched her tongue, she had her hand out for another one.

  God, it was so good, Danni thought, quickly devouring the peanut butter cup as she struggled to peel the paper backing off the next one with her trembling hands. She was so hungry, Danni realized, barely managing to shove the next peanut butter cup in her mouth before grabbing another one. It had been so long since she’d been able to eat anything, even longer since she’d wanted to.

  Before Caine changed her, she hadn’t been able to hold anything down because of the cancer and once he’d changed her, she didn’t need food. She’d barely been able to keep down blood thanks to the cancer that had followed her into her transition, and once she became pregnant, the thought of food only made it worse. But now, she was more than ready to make up for lost time and enjoy this while it lasted.

  “Do you remember what happened?” Caine asked as her attention shifted to a Ziploc bag of what appeared to be homemade chocolate chip cookies.

  Shoving another peanut butter cup in her mouth, Danni shook her head and held her hand out for a cookie. Chuckling, and god, she’d missed his laugh, she mumbled, “Just something about blood,” as she tried to remember what happened. She remembered waking up on a gurney downstairs and Caine telling her that Noah found something that would make her feel better before falling asleep again and then…

  Nothing.

  “Was it demon blood?” Danni asked as she took the large cookie from Caine. “This is so good,” she mumbled, unable to help but moan as she devoured the best cookie that she’d ever had in her life and reached for another one.

  Chuckling and looking more carefree than she’d seen him in a very long time, Caine pulled another cookie out of the bag and handed it to her. “That good?”

  Nodding, Danni nibbled on the cookie, determined to savor it, knowing that this probably wasn’t going to last long and-

  “Ashley made them,” Caine said with a fond smile, making her frown as
she tried to figure out who Ashley was. “Jacob grabbed them when he went to grab a change of clothes for Ashley at the house. He thought that you might like them.”

  When she could only stare at him, he said, “She’s Kale’s mate.”

  Blinking slowly, Danni said, “I’m sorry. What’s this now?” because if there was one thing that she knew about Kale, besides the fact that he really hated Pytes, it was that he didn’t want a mate. In fact, she’d be willing to bet that he went out of his way to make sure that he never found his mate, which made her wonder if she’d misheard Caine.

  “Seems that he was hiding her at the safehouse down the road. That’s where Marc has been sneaking off to for the past month. She’s been spoiling him,” Caine said, smiling as he grabbed another cookie.

  “Why didn’t he just bring her here?” Danni asked, popping the last bite of cookie in her mouth before he handed her another one.

  “He was trying to protect her,” Caine explained, placing his hand back on her belly.

  “That really doesn’t explain why he didn’t bring her here,” Danni said since she really couldn’t think of a safer place for her to be than in a house full of Pytes, Sentinels, and shifters that could protect her. She would have been-

  “She’s a Pyte,” Caine said, taking her by surprise.

  “What?” Danni asked, frowning as she digested that information before the realization of what that meant had her opening her mouth and-

  “He didn’t steal anyone’s mate,” Caine said with a teasing smile. “She’s Christofer’s sister. She’s also an Impure, which is why he didn’t want the Council to find out about her.”

  “She was born a Pyte?” Danni asked, trying to wrap her mind around that, but…that couldn’t be right.

  “Mmmhmm,” Caine murmured as he leaned down and brushed his lips against hers. “And she saved your life.”