Unmerciful_Forbidden Bonds

by Cat Miller

  Lindsay was sick to her stomach. She sat staring at the door Gage had dragged Sheena through. The insane laughter and threats of retribution faded away. How was it possible that she was a blood relation to Sheena, the maniac rogue? They were opposites in every way. Lindsay was tall and blonde with a loving heart beating in her chest. Sheena was petite and brunette with a core of ice and hatred.

  “You look a little green, Hellion.” Kayden kissed her temple. “I can’t say I don’t understand. That female should be exterminated. The council is making a mistake. Sheena is dangerous. She’s got minions in every corner of society.”

  “This was a waste of time.” Lindsay would never know who her father was and to be honest, she wasn’t sure she wanted to know.

  “Maybe it’s not a total waste of time,” Kayden said.

  Abel stood a few feet away looking unsure of his welcome. Who could blame him? The last time Lindsay saw Abel she’d attacked him. That day seemed so long ago, but in reality it had only been a matter of months since Kayden showed up in her cell and carried Lindsay out of her own personal hell. It had been Abel who’d found Lindsay at the nest when Kayden believed she’d fallen into the sea. If he hadn’t been there, Lindsay would have died from blood loss and swelling in her brain before Kayden found her.

  “I haven’t had a chance to thank you for what you did at the nest.” Kayden extended his hand to Abel in a gesture of friendship and gratitude.

  “It was pure luck. I was at the right place at the right time. You would have done the same thing for Brandi.” Abel brushed off the thanks. The two men shared a look of male understanding.

  “Any more sightings of Nick?” Kayden asked.

  “No. That piece of filth was nowhere to be found at the nest when we hit the place. He has a knack for knowing when to run. I’ve nearly had him a few times, but he slips away.” Abel’s fists clenched at his sides. “I’ve spoken to Gage. I don’t think Nick would dare come here, but I want security on the lookout anyway.”

  Abel refocused on Lindsay.

  “I don’t know what to say to you, Lindsay, other than I’m genuinely sorry for anything I might have done to hurt you.” Abel’s sincere apology cut through the last of the lingering hostility she harbored for the man.

  She and Abel had a strange and tangled past. At first, it was hard for her to accept that Abel had been in a precarious position. He’d done what he thought was right. With time and distance from that traumatic experience, Lindsay was able to see what had happened through a wider lens. They’d all been played by Sheena and her father. Abel was as much a victim as Lindsay. It was time for her to let go of the hurt and animosity. He was now her nephew, after all.

  “I guess it’s a good thing we were only friends, huh?” Abel said.

  “Yeah, it’s a very good thing,” Lindsay agreed. He was her blood nephew. Yuck. Thank God they’d only been friends.

  “An excellent thing,” Kayden agreed, wrapping a possessive arm around Lindsay.

  She’d never believed in fate before, but now Lindsay couldn’t deny it. If she hadn’t been forced to attend that school, she wouldn’t have met Kayden or Abel. David would never have seen Lindsay. She wouldn’t have been changed. She and Kayden wouldn’t be together.

  “Look, Lindsay, I just wanted to apologize again,” Abel said. “Brandi is still devastated that it took us so long to find you as well. She feels like she broke her promise to you.”

  “Just stop right there.” Lindsay held up her hand and stood. She swayed a little. Kayden steadied her.

  “Are you all right?” Abel asked.

  “She’s been having balance issues since her head injury. She gets dizzy and nauseous. It’s vertigo. Doc says her brain his still mending. It will pass soon we hope,” Kayden explained while she fought another bout of the spins.

  “As I was saying, Abel, there’s no reason for you to apologize again. We’ve all been through hell. You couldn’t have predicted how things would go any more than I could have guessed that you’re my nephew.” Lindsay still couldn’t believe it, but the DNA tests don’t lie. “I would love to see Brandi again. She visited me in South Carolina, and I thought I explained that I didn’t hold her responsible for anything that happened either.”

  “Maybe when Sheena is dead we can all get together. Brandi misses all of her siblings and friends. Since her pyrokinesis was made public knowledge, it hasn’t been safe for her to walk the streets. Sheena would love to use her. Also, many vampires fear her power. Apparently, elemental talents are rare and considered unpredictable. Until this is all settled, she’s in hiding,” Abel explained.

  “We’ll talk about it then.” Kayden placed a brotherly hand on Abel’s shoulder. “I’m sorry about your father, Abel. I know your relationship with David was never good, but he was your father. My condolences for your loss. David died nobly trying to end Sheena’s reign of terror.”

  “Too bad he didn’t succeed.” Abel didn’t look affected by the loss of his father.

  Abel’s relationship with his parents was even more messed up than Lindsay’s with her adoptive parents and mystery father.

  Mason approached to speak to Abel. Griffin spoke to Lindsay and Kayden about the Deidricks before the hearing. David’s memorial had been the day before. Mason remembered David as his older brother and friend. So David’s death was hard on him. He’d only just found his brother when he was taken again. Mason and Chase had accepted Abel into their inner circle and made every attempt to make him feel welcome from the moment they learned the Abel was David’s son. Abel was learning to open up to his new house. It was a slow process.

  “Lindsay. Kayden,” Mason greeted them. “I wish we would have gotten some answers today.”

  “I don’t think there will be any answers,” Lindsay replied.

  “Sadly, neither do I,” Mason sighed.

  Mason turned his attention to Abel. “Abel, will you be joining us for dinner? Debbie is cooking. We’d love to have you.”

  “I’ll talk to you guys soon. Please, don’t hesitate to call if you need anything,” Abel said to Lindsay and Kayden before he walked away with Mason.

  Lindsay was sincerely glad to see that Abel had a real family and he was adjusting to his new life. She could only hope that she too would find a place among Kayden’s people.

  Kayden hugged Lindsay tight. “I’m so proud of you for working through that with Abel. You both deserve closure.”

  She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around Kayden. She wanted to go home and let the stress of the day drain away while he loved her body and soul. Kayden was her shelter. He made her feel protected and treasured. There was nothing they couldn’t get through together.

  Lindsay opened her eyes and to see Doc Stevens observing the room from the sidelines. His eyes were glued to Tessa, who had just entered the chamber. Griffin engulfed Tessa’s small frame in a tender embrace that said a lot about their intimate bond. Griffin gazed at Tessa with adoration. His smile said he believed Tessa hung the moon. Tessa beamed up at Griffin with an expression that said she believed Griffin was the moon pulling her to him like the tide. Lindsay felt bad for Doc. He was still nursing a broken heart over his split with Tessa. Seeing her mated to Griffin again had to be painful. Doc visibly shook himself from his trance and approached Lindsay and Kayden.

  “Lindsay, I need you to return with me to my clinic, now, if you please,” Doc told Lindsay. He appeared tired but determined.

  “Why now? Can’t you meet us at the Enclave like usual? Lindsay still isn’t completely well. I wish she hadn’t come today at all,” Kayden argued.

  “As if I would have missed this hearing for any reason,” Lindsay snorted.

  “I understand your reluctance, Kayden, but it’s of the utmost importance. I wouldn’t have bothered you so soon after this ordeal otherwise,” Doc explained.

  “What’s wrong, Doc?” Kayden demanded.

  “You’re both aware that I did extensive blood work when Lindsay was seen a
fter the fiasco at the nest.” Doc paused and glanced up and down the hall. “There are too many people to speak freely here. Suffice it to say, there were some … abnormalities. I’d like to verify my findings before I alarm you any further. Please, just come to my office. We’ll have more privacy there. At the Enclave, there is always the risk of other’s snooping through your records.”

  “You mean Dr. Fitz?” Lindsay asked.

  Doc didn’t affirm or deny her suspicions, but Lindsay knew Dr. Fitz reported to people on the council. Lindsay would rather keep her personal business private now that she had her freedom.

  Twenty-four

  Lindsay was sitting on the exam table, and Kayden had his head buried in her lap. She was running her fingers through his hair, petting him like she often did when they were in bed. On the outside, Kayden was still and quiet. Who knew what the doctor might have found in Lindsay’s blood work. She was born human, or mostly so. Vampires didn’t get cancer or any other disease that Kayden knew of. He’d believed that when a human was turned into a vampire, they gained the same immunity to all the things that plagued the human body. Lindsay had a vampire father. Shouldn’t that mean she had extra immunities already?

  “Have you even been ill before?” He lifted his head to ask her.

  “No, I’ve never even had a cold. I got bi-annual checkups, but I never got sick. I did receive vaccines like other human children. Did you get immunizations?” she asked.

  “No, vampires are naturally immune.” He placed his head back on her lap, and Lindsay continued to stroke his hair.

  On the inside, he was losing his mind. Lindsay is his mate. She was his love and his life. He couldn’t lose her. Not now. Not ever.

  “Then what could possibly be wrong with me? Shouldn’t I heal from just about anything short of decapitation or massive rapid blood loss?”

  “Yes, you should, but you took a really long time to recover from your addiction. You’re a changed vamp, and they don’t always heal as quickly and sometimes they don’t live as long as a born vamp.”

  They were both avoiding the subject of her unknown vampire birth father. Lindsay was still mourning the loss of the parents who had raised her and stunned by the revelation that they had been paid to do so. She didn’t seem to be ready to talk about it, and Kayden wouldn’t rush her. There wasn’t really much to say. Kayden couldn’t imagine growing up the way Lindsay had been raised. She hadn’t shown any signs of inheriting any of her father’s vampire genes, and it hadn’t helped her during her illness.

  “I’m so sorry, Kayden.”

  “Sorry? For what?” He lifted his head from her lap to meet her gaze.

  “You should have a nice female from a warrior clan with a normal family for a mate. You deserve so much better than a broken hybrid who didn’t know she was a hybrid that nobody wanted until after you were mated.” Lindsay blinked at the ceiling, fighting back the tears. “Now I have a massive scandal floating over my head. I’m the daughter of an unknown society vampire with more money than morals. Your parents must be mortified. And now … well, now we don’t know what else we’re facing.” Lindsay gestured in the general direction of Doc in the outer office. Her face crumpled. “I’m just so damn sorry.” She began to sob.

  Kayden leapt to his feet and took his mate into his arms. He’d been so focused on his own worry about why Doc wanted to see Lindsay that he made no effort to comfort her. He still forgot that if he would only reach out, he could feel her emotions, too, and even pick up on some thoughts. Being mated was an amazing thing to experience. Kayden didn’t know it was possible to love another being the way he loved Lindsay. Being mated was also a huge responsibility. He was responsible for her wellbeing. The events of the last weeks had shaken Lindsay to her core. He was honored to be the male she leaned on for support in these difficult times.

  “Lindsay, Hellion, please stop crying.” He caught a tear on his finger. “Lindsay, I don’t know what I have to do to prove to you that you’re perfect.” He brushed a thick lock of golden hair that had fallen forward out of Lindsay’s face so he could kiss her warm, tear-moistened lips. “Do you want to know what I deserve?” he asked.

  Lindsay nodded, sniffling and wiping her face on the sleeves of the sweatshirt she’d stolen from his closet. She swam in the shirt, and the sleeves were six inches too long, but she was so damn cute when she wore it that he just couldn’t take it back. He liked seeing her wearing his clothes.

  “I deserve a love bigger than any scandal. I deserve a female stronger than any warrior. I deserve a mate who would defend me with her own life. I deserve my one true mate, Lindsay Paris, and that’s exactly who you are. I got what I deserved. And I’m selfish enough to hold it tight for the rest of my days, even if I don’t really deserve all those things. I have them. I have you, and that’s all I’ll ever need.”

  Lindsay’s lips lifted in a soft smile that stole his heart all over again.

  The door opened, and Doc entered the small exam room while pushing a small rolling machine ahead of him and appearing worried. He closed the door, sat on the rolling stool, and started clicking around on the computer at a small corner desk. He stopped typing and twisted on the stool to look at Lindsay and Kayden.

  Kayden couldn’t let go, so he kept Lindsay in his arms. Doc wasn’t a melodramatic male. If he was vague because he didn’t want to upset them unduly, there was a good reason for it.

  “Doc, just give it to us straight.” Kayden braced himself. Lindsay was stiff in his arms, clutching his shirt with both fists. “No, wait! Maybe you should tell me first, and then we’ll break it to Lindsay together,” Kayden blurted. He’d never been a worrier. He’d also never ever tried to shelter another being the way he needed to protect Lindsay. He was acting like an idiot, he knew, but a male in love with his mate and frightened out of his mind had to be given some leeway.

  “Are you crazy? He is not telling you first.” Lindsay slapped Kayden’s shoulder.

  “What? I was just trying to …” He had no idea what he was trying to do, so he didn’t finish the sentence. He only knew he didn’t want anything else to ever hurt Lindsay.

  “This is something you’ll want to hear together.” Doc gave a weak smile. “In any other circumstance, it wouldn’t be so astonishing, and it wouldn’t be cause for concern, but Lindsay has been the subject of some very unusual practices.”

  Kayden knew Doc didn’t want to say she’d been the victim of torture or medical experimentations when Lindsay knew better than anyone what had happened to her.

  “I would be far less concerned, Lindsay, if you hadn’t very recently been subjected to Hypervamp, followed by some serious trauma.”

  “Let’s just rip off the Band-Aid, Doc. The sooner we know, the sooner it can be dealt with or cured or whatever it is that we need to do.” Lindsay squared her shoulders, being brave in the face of her fear. Just being there in a medical setting was hard for her. She controlled her phobia now, but it was still there like a dark cloud over her golden head.

  “There’s only one cure for your condition. That’s childbirth. Congratulations, you’re pregnant.” Doc skipped over ripping off the Band-Aid and went straight to dropping a bomb.

  Kayden’s knees felt weak. Thankfully, he was standing very close to the examination table with Lindsay still in his arms. He leaned onto the table and looked down at Lindsay, who was staring at Doc with her mouth agape. He wasn’t sure she was even breathing. She was pregnant? Like with a baby? But they couldn’t, could they?

  “I will have to monitor you very closely, Lindsay. What needs to be done now, as you say, is a sonogram. If we’re lucky, though, no intervention will be needed.” Doc paused with a smile and looked to Kayden before shifting his gaze to Lindsay.

  Doc kept talking, but Kayden’s brain was stuck on that one word. Pregnant. He was afraid to be hopeful. He’d resigned himself to a life without kids of his own. Before Lindsay, the idea of having children hadn’t been something he’d considered beyond the
knowledge that he would one day need an heir for his clan. Until a moment ago when Doc planted a seed of possibility in Kayden’s mind, he hadn’t known how much the idea of having a child with Lindsay would affect him. Kayden wanted Lindsay to carry his baby. He wanted to watch her grow with his child. He wanted to hold a baby with gold hair and brown eyes, just like its mother’s. Kayden tuned back in to the Doc because if they were indeed having a baby, Kayden needed to know everything there was to know about Lindsay’s condition.

  “Of course, until recently we didn’t believe this to be possible. Now that we know Lindsay’s father is a vampire, well that seems to have changes things a bit.”

  “But how?” Lindsay asked.

  “How did I learn you’re pregnant? Or how can you be pregnant?”

  Lindsay nodded, seeming as unable to order her thoughts as Kayden was in that moment.

  “During your last visit to me, my nurse ran the usual panel I order for all females, along with all the other tests I ordered. A pregnancy test is common place because vampire females can breed far longer than most humans. Our females, however, don’t breed as often as humans. We need to know as early as possible so the mother can start feeding more frequently to support the baby’s growth. As far as how it’s possible, to be honest, Lindsay, this is all new to me. It’s only been a few years since we learned humans and vampires can mate. Now, we have a population of hybrids with an array of abilities and health conditions. Maybe it’s evolution, I don’t know. I don’t have access to your health records from before your change. Maybe that’s something you can look into. My best guess is that you were more vampire than you appeared on the outside. Once you experienced the change, those traits kicked in. You are not the average changeling. You already had a vampire lineage.”

  “P-pregnant? Me? But I … and Kayden … well, we thought …” Lindsay was babbling. “Are you sure?” Her hand covered her lower abdomen.