by Claire Marta
Cayden growled, the sound resonating deep within her core. “We need tae find his new nest and destroy it tae keep Willow safe.”
Zac lifted Morgan into his strong arms, rocking her while whispering softly. She was fighting her own demons now. Memories of past events. They were linked not just by these men now, Raven realized, but by the same monster.
“This session is over,” Zac told them grimly, nodding at Aiden when he appeared in the doorway. “You may talk later but maybe it's best if we are closer next time.”
“Go see to yer mate,” Cayden agreed. “Tobias will want tae talk tae her about these visions now that we ken what they are.”
The other men left with Morgan, giving her their full attention, offering the support and comfort that she needed in her fragile state.
Drawing strength from Cayden’s presence, Raven leaned into his touch when he gently stroked her hair. “Will she be okay?”
The Scotsman's hum vibrated against her head. “Morgan is strong like all the women here. Vampire blood put in her pizza interfered wie her transformation. She was still in flux when she was kidnapped and Etienne drank from her. She’s been suffering from night terrors since. We thought it was because of the trauma she experienced, but it seems tae link them still. I dinnae understand how tha’ can be unless... unless Papa Antonio was part of his nest and it was Etienne’s blood on the pizza. Christ! Tha’ has to be the way of it! Ingesting Etienne’s blood... now it makes sense—the dreams and visions she’s been seeing. If only we’d realized it sooner, we’d hae known tha’ he survived….”
Swift footsteps interrupted Cayden from saying more. Hearing the rap on the door, he shot Raven a glance. “It’s Tobias. I’ll get it.”
Raven almost smiled. The use of signature knocks was the cadre’s version of caller ID.
Cayden answered the door. His superior swept in with Zana close behind.
Aware of her triggers, Tobias kept his distance but Raven could feel the tightly leashed energy radiating from him. Acknowledging Cayden’s presence with a nod, he turned the full force of his gaze on her. “I’ve just spoken with Zac in passing. I need to know what happened. When Morgan is recovered, I will speak with her. For now, you must tell me everything.”
Cayden invited the men to sit. Zana took the love seat. Tobias sank into the recliner that Morgan had vacated. His expression was taut, fine lines of stress fanning out from the corners of his eyes and lips.
Zana looked just as strained.
Sitting beside Cayden, Raven drew strength from his presence. “We were talking about what happened. When I mentioned the Frenchman had called me mon petit oiseau—his little bird—it triggered Morgan… or triggered something. She said that she could see Colin..., the box I was in.... She could feel what this Etienne was feeling.”
“I hae a theory,” Cayden cut in. “Based on Morgan’s night terrors and now her visions, I believe that Papa Antonio was part of Etienne’s nest and it was Etienne’s blood on the pizza. Their link was strengthened when he drank from her.”
Tobias sat back silent for a moment. “I’ll check with Theo, but I fear you may be right. No one says a word to Gael. He gets anxious when vampires are mentioned. It triggers memories of the unholy fire in Paris. In the meantime, I will assign teams to sweep the city. No stone will be left unturned. I want this Etienne found and dusted. If he has a nest, we raze it to the ground.”
“And Morgan?” the Persian questioned quietly. “Now that we know these nightmares are not fantasy, what do we do about them?”
Raking a hand through his silver-threaded hair, Tobias for once looked uncertain. “I had hoped the blood would not affect her after the vampire's death. And possibly it won’t. But Etienne is alive, not dead as we believed. Thanks to her session with Raven, we now know the connection is there. It may weaken over time, or it may remain as long as he exists. If these night terrors are visions of Etienne, maybe we can use them to locate him.”
“Vampire?”
The sound of Darcy’s voice from the doorway startled everyone.
Cayden tensed while Raven jumped.
“Jaysus, are you trying to give me a heart attack?” she scolded, pressing her hand to her pounding chest.
Tobias was watching her cousin in the doorway with a guarded look. Even Zana observed her with slightly narrowed eyes. Raven realized then they hadn’t heard her approach.
“My cousin’s light-footed as a bloody ninja,” she explained, trying to defuse the tension in the room. “She’s always scaring the life out of me.”
Darcy eyed them, sauntering into the room. “So, vampire? And don’t tell me you're talking about Halloween. It’s months away.”
Tobias rose slowly from his chair. “This is none of your concern and is being handled. Do not get involved in things you do not understand.”
“It’s my concern when it involves my cousin and Willow. This is my family, my blood, and my responsibility. You might be in charge here, but you don’t give me orders.”
Tobias arched an eyebrow, his expression stern. “You are here because I allow it. I’m responsible for everyone inside these walls including you when you are here. Remember that.”
“When I’m here,” Darcy growled. “My time outside this place has nothing to do with any of you.”
Cocking his head, he gave her the kind of look that would bring any submissive swiftly to their knees. The one that said I’m in charge and you will obey me.
Raven sensed the battle of wills as they glared at each other across the coffee table. It was Darcy, though, who eventually dropped eye contact.
“Fine, don’t tell me what’s going on. I’ll figure it out myself,” she huffed, tossing her hair over her shoulder in defiance.
Zana took a step toward her. “Darcy…”
Holding up a finger, she silenced him. “No, I’ve had enough of you avoiding my questions, keeping me out of trouble, distracting me. No more! Not when I can help and you won’t let me.”
“Another Casey,” Tobias muttered. “Mother-Father, help us all. This one may be worse.”
Darcy smirked. “Or maybe I’m exactly what you need.”
“Do not interfere in our business,” he warned her sharply. “You have no idea what you would be getting into. Trust us to keep Raven and Willow safe.”
Listening from the sofa, Raven straightened, pushing away from Cayden’s side. “Please, Darcy, do as he says. I know how stubborn you can be but I don’t want you mixed up in this. It’s something only they can deal with.”
“And why is that?” Darcy demanded to know, slicing her glare around the room to cut through each of the three men. “I’m not blind,” she informed them tautly. “You have secrets. I get that. But when I see my cousin here, another bird in a gilded cage where the women are captives and don’t even realize it, I need to know that it’s her choice to stay. That she’s happy as well as safe. Remember, I was there when she saw that her uterus had grown back. I was there when she learned that she was pregnant. I already know more than you’d like me to. I can be trusted with the rest if you’ll just... fucking... tell me!”
She fired the last volley at their superior.
Tobias refused to be baited. “No. You already know too much. I must answer to a Higher power. Unless it is authorized, I cannot tell you more.”
Darcy’s eyes darkened, a muscle ticking in her clenched jaw. “One day you're going to regret those words.”
Spinning on her heels, she stalked purposefully toward the door.
Raven didn’t call out. What could she say? Tobias had spoken. She couldn’t break their trust even though she desperately wanted to. Darcy was her family. She wanted to keep her protected from the monsters she now knew existed. She didn’t want to put her in any more danger than she already had.
Zana started to follow her cousin, but Tobias stopped him. “Let her go. She needs to accept my authority. If she is to visit here, she must respect my decisions.”
“I’m not
sure she will,” Raven warned him. “She’s tenacious—tends to hang onto things and not let go. I’ve never seen her this worked up before.”
“I could speak to her,” Zana offered in a hopeful tone.
“No.” Tobias shook his head. “Leave her. Do not add fuel to the fire that has been started. I will allow her to continue visiting, but I think it best if she no longer stays the night.”
Cayden tugged Raven back onto the sofa, rubbing the tension from her shoulder and talking to her quietly. Distracted by her cousin’s words, she only caught part of the things he was saying. Were they birds in a gilded cage? They weren’t prisoners.
Or were they?
Morgan never went out alone. Aiden and Zac were always with her. Before she’d been confined to bed, Casey had been shadowed by her two mates.
Killian and Cayden had been assigned to her the very day she had arrived. The knowledge made her uncomfortable. What if Darcy was right? All the women here were pregnant. Were they broodmares for a stable of shifters looking to increase their herd? They were given everything they wanted but was it all just a means to keep them here?
If they wanted to leave and see their family or friends, would they be allowed? Raven’s doubts and suspicions circled in her head until it ached.
Noticing her lack of response, Cayden frowned. “Are ye okay?”
“Just tired,” she lied with a wan smile. “And I have a headache. I think I need to lie down. Gentlemen, if you’ll excuse me...”
Tobias and Zana took the hint and left.
Cayden insisted on helping her to the bedroom, letting her lean on his arm while they walked, and lifting her onto the mattress.
Getting comfortable on the pillows, she declined his offer to get her an analgesic, preferring to avoid taking drugs—even over-the-counter ones—when possible. She eyed him with consideration. “If I wanted to leave, you wouldn’t stop me, would you?”
He seemed puzzled by her question and maybe a little disappointed when he took a seat beside the bed rather than join her. “Why would ye ask that?”
“I don’t know… but would you?”
“Let you go? Ye’re nae a prisoner here, lass. We love ye. We want tae protect ye, Willow, and the babies. This place was built fer aw tha’ but if ye really are nae happy, we will leave.”
Raven closed her eyes and rolled onto her side, facing away from him. “And Tobias would just let that happen?”
“He’s our superior, aye, but ye're our fated mate. We go where you go.”
She believed him. Somehow she sensed he would never keep her chained if she wanted to go. Not like her ex-husband Colin had.
Silence stretched.
Raven didn’t move when the mattress behind her dipped. A muscular body nestled against her from behind, a hand resting gently on her hip. “Did ye hae somewhere in mind or is this fear talking after hearing your cousin's words?”
“Ireland,” she whispered, already seeing her homeland in her mind's eye. “One day, I want to go back. Rent a cottage by the sea. Walk the paths of my childhood.”
Cayden hummed in his throat. “I’d like tae see that as well. Maybe we can take Willow and the bairns. Killian would be keen, I’m sure.”
Sliding her hand down to catch his, Raven linked their fingers. “I’d like that. Visit together as a family.”
“Aye, lass,” he replied, gently squeezing her hand. “That we are. We will nae clip yer wings if ye wish tae fly but ken tha’ we’ll want tae fly wie ye wherever you go. Nae because we wish tae keep ye tethered. Muir because we wish tae be there beside ye, sharing life’s joys and working through the sorrows.”
And there would be sorrows. She understood that. Disappointment, hardship, and loss were a part of life. But at least she’d never lose Willow. She knew that now. If her daughter’s destined path led to Calodin’s castle, Willow would age so very slowly, she’d appear to not age at all. But Raven would age slowly, too. She’d get to watch all of her children grow. Find mates. Settle down. Start families. According to Cayden, they had three hundred years of memories to make.
And now one vampire to destroy.
She’d have Killian get word to Calodin. He needed to know what was going on. Needed to keep her daughter safe.
As much as she trusted the men of the cadre, she wasn’t certain that they could.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Two weeks later…
Raven felt the hand over her mouth first. Her arms were pinned down. A familiar gargoyle growl sounded in her ear.
“Thought you could escape us, hmm?” Killian murmured—although he didn’t have to. Willow wouldn’t be coming home until tomorrow. This was their last night alone for a while, and her mates were up for more pirate play.
“You’ll be feeling the lash of my tongue this time instead of my whip.”
She had to give them an A for effort. While they both failed to sound like Italian pirates, they more than made up for it with their enthusiastic portrayals.
The stonemason’s strong, callused hands manacled her wrists, pinning them to the mattress above her head.
A match flared and touched a wick, casting enough light to see. Angling her chin up, she found Cayden looming over her in the soft glow of the candlelight. Bare-chested with his muscled legs encased in breeches, he wore a roguish grin.
“Not a word, wench. We don’t need yer uncle and his men interrupting us,” he quoted, the glint in his green eyes promising pleasure. Taking her wrists, he changed places with his partner, allowing the Irishman free rein.
Tossing the blanket aside, Killian leered at her cotton nightdress, the material clinging to the curves of her body. Clasping the neckline, he made short work of the thin cloth, ripping it easily, exposing her breasts to his heated gaze.
Raven shivered at the small moan that vibrated from his throat. Body bared and theirs for the taking, she was completely at their mercy.
And she loved it.
“Are you wet for us, Mirabella?” he questioned in a deep, delicious rumble. “Have you missed our cocks filling you like no other ever has? Craved what only we can give you?”
“”Oui,” she whispered, staying in character.
Jaysus, she had missed them. They’d been nothing but loving and attentive since the kidnapping. This was the first time they had initiated lovemaking. They’d cuddled her, held her, but not pushed for anything more.
When “Paulo” roughly shoved her thighs apart, she happily let them fall open. Callused fingers stroked the curls of her mound and delved into her slit.
“Gushing like a fountain, Captain,” he confirmed to his partner.
Raven bit her lip, squirming in excitement. “My husband—”
“Is a dead man,” Cayden swore, flexing his hold on her delicate wrists. “And a fool. What groom abandons his bride on their wedding night…, leaves her to a cold and empty bed while he drinks with her uncle? The marquis doesn’t deserve you. Neither do we, but we’re going fuck you here and steal you away. When we heard about your arranged marriage to that old goat, we knew what we had to do. We’ll never let him take what’s ours.”
“But my uncle will never allow it,” she told them passionately. “Can’t you see? It’s why I ran from you. He will hunt you down and hang you. You have to let me go!”
“You are worth the risk,” Killian murmured, easing a finger inside her. “Not that we are worried. They must catch us first to see us swing, and the Cigno Nero is the fastest ship on the sea!”
Raven groaned, moving restlessly against his touch. Pushing upward, she rubbed her clit against his knuckles. The Irishman fucked her with one finger before inserting another. Thumb on her clit, he let her ride his hand. Rocking her hip, Raven masturbated until an orgasm took her.
Leaning over her, Killian pressed the palm of his free hand across her mouth and stifled her cry of release. “Quietly now, wench. We’re only getting started and we don’t need any interruptions.”
Rising, he stood by the bed
and stripped off his breeches, the candlelight playing over his perfectly sculpted, tattooed frame.
Releasing her wrists, Cayden cupped her jaw, bringing her face up to his for a kiss. It was fierce and possessive. His tongue darted into her mouth to steal its sweetness. Raven melted beneath his sensual assault.
A caress to her knees alerted her to Killian’s return. Mounting the bed and hunkering down, he eased her legs over his broad shoulders. “For now, you’ll feel the lash of my tongue. When we have you back in the captain’s cabin, you’ll feel the sting of my whip. You won't dare think of running from us again.”
Raven arched her neck, her groan of pleasure swallowed by Cayden’s kiss when the Irishman set to work teasing her clit. Nipping, sucking, Killian took his time bringing her to the brink only to stop when she was about to tumble over. Cayden teased her breasts, sucking on her nipples one at a time and twisting the turgid peaks between his clever fingers.
Raven writhed and panted, lost in sensation and the heated words they whispered over her skin. She was theirs. No other man would have her. She was the greatest treasure they had ever found. More precious than the gold and jewels that they had hunted and hoarded.
She was practically begging when Killian crawled up her body. Kissing her mouth, he let her taste herself on his lips. Bending her left knee, he thrust forward, wedging his cock into her, stretching her out with his girth.
Fingernails biting into the flesh of his shoulder, Raven wrapped her legs around his waist. Clinging to the man above her, she joined his rhythm.
Jaysus. Nothing had ever felt as good as making love with Killian and Cayden.
The Scottish medic shed his clothes. Watching them from the end of the bed, he cupped his balls and fisted himself, stroking his length and giving a twist at the end of his cock, stimulating his sensitive glans and milking precum from the tip.
“First Mate, give way!” he barked. “Prepare to be boarded! Tonight, I shall pluck the black rose again!”
