by Bryce Evans
“Throw it out the window?” Emerson asked, baffled.
“Yes, I’ll throw it out the window and you’ll feel like new soon. Once I’m done you’ll need to rest, and by tomorrow you’ll feel like your old self.” River explained.
She doubted it would be that simple. Nothing was going to be the same again.
“Ready?” River asked.
Emerson nodded and lay back, biting her lip against the pain as her legs moved over the sheets. River placed her hands on her stomach, and just as she’d said, Emerson could feel some heat and then tingling. She glanced up; River’s eyes were closed, as she concentrated on what she was doing. It was the weirdest thing Emerson had ever felt. She turned her head to see if she could see anything and found that River’s hands were glowing a bluish color. Then she lifted them up, and the pain was gone.
River quickly got up and threw something out the window. Emerson couldn’t see what it was, but she thought she’d seen something dark in her hands. “Did that come out of me?”
“Yes. It wasn’t that bad; I’ve seen worse. And now your body is healed and you can get back to your life. I know the memories will take some time, but they too will pass.”
Lowering her head, Emerson could feel a flush creeping up her face as she thought about the man in the scrubs. “Does everyone know what he tried to do to me?”
“Just the Unit and myself, and that was only because you needed my help and I demanded to know what happened. I’m so sorry, Emerson. Whoever he was, he needs to be shot, or better yet ripped in two. I know my mates plan to do that if they get to him first. I’m mated to Jonas and Reece.”
Emerson swallowed. “You have two mates?” Emerson knew she was red as a beet, but she’d never heard of this. “I’m sorry, that was rude of me. I just never met anyone with two mates.”
River laughed. “To tell you the truth it came as a complete shock to me, too, but the fates never get it wrong on mates. They complete me like peanut butter and jelly.”
Emerson laughed as River explained, “I’m not the only one with two mates. Ashland is mated to Larken and Larson Wilder. Larken is the owner of this lodge, and Larsen is his twin brother and also the local sheriff. Are you married or with someone?”
River was a natural beauty, with long brown hair with golden highlights. No wonder she had two mates. “No, I’m not married.”
“Nash is your mate?”
Emerson could tell that River was watching and waiting to gauge her reaction. She shook her head, not knowing how to answer.
“No. We just met. He’s been very kind to me.” Glancing up at River, Emerson felt like she was being dishonest to Nash. She paused. “I’m not sure what everyone wants me to say.”
River looked puzzled. “You don’t have to say anything, Emerson. If it’s meant to be, it will be. But I’ll say this.” River winked at her. “If he is your mate, you’re a very lucky woman. Nash Wilder is a kind and loving man. He’s an all-around good guy, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s gorgeous, either. But don’t worry, nobody is going to pressure you here. Right now you need to get some sleep. Usually, after I heal someone, they get sleepy right away. It’s your body’s way of completing the healing.”
As if on cue, Emerson’s eyes drooped. She felt exhausted now. River was right, she thought. That came on fast. She leaned back, thinking she would just close her eyes…
Chapter Three
Nash sat beside his mate, watching her sleep. Everyone was right; Emerson already meant the world to him. Every time he thought about the man who’d hurt her all he wanted to do was kill the bastard.
“Why are you still here?” Kingston Prescott stood at the door.
“I doubt you would understand.”
“Try me.”
Locking eyes on the man he detested, Nash decided he would give Kingston Prescott a lesson about shifters. “Okay. Your daughter is my mate. With shifters, it’s different: we don’t fall in love the old-fashioned way like humans, or even witches or wizards. When we come across our mate, it’s their scent that will attract us to them first. I knew the moment I saw Emerson that she was mine.
“You see, Mr. Prescott; I’ll never cheat on your daughter. I’ll never look at another woman like I do her. I’ll never touch another woman again. I’ll never love anyone more than her and I’ll never betray her or leave her. I’ll protect her with my life and do my best to make sure she gets everything she wants and needs. She’ll forever be my soul mate. And I’ll hunt the bastard down that hurt her and make sure he never hurts anyone again. That’s why I look at her that way. She’s my everything.”
Shaking his head, Kingston Prescott stuck his nose in the air. “I just don’t get it.”
Nash glared at him. “And you never will, because you think shifters are beneath you. Not worthy to be in the same room with you. Why you feel this way I’ll never understand, because I have just as much money as you do. I know you don’t believe me, but I’m a multi-millionaire. I just choose not to show it like you do. I don’t flaunt it or brag about it. I choose to work for my family and live a modest life. And I’ll never force my beliefs on Emerson. If she chooses to leave, then I’ll have to accept it, but make no mistake, I’ll do whatever I can to get her to stay.”
“And I’ll do whatever it takes to make her leave,” Kingston Prescott said, then turned around and walked out.
“Pompous ass,” Nash muttered. When he turned around, Emerson was smiling in her sleep. All he wanted to do was capture that smile. Pulling his phone out of his pocket, Nash snapped a picture of his mate asleep.
He sat back down. Nash couldn’t imagine the hell Emerson had lived in with Kingston Prescott. He was an ignorant bigot. Why did he think he was so much better than shifters? What made him believe he was so superior to them? These were questions he needed answered.
“No, please don’t.” Nash jerked his head up to stare at his mate, who was moaning in her sleep. He couldn’t keep from placing a hand on her arm and lightly rubbing up and down to quiet her. Her skin was so soft. He was afraid he would awake her if he continued, but when he pulled his hand away she started moaning again. Quickly, Nash placed his hand back on her arm, and she settled down. How odd, he thought. To test his theory again, he removed his hand and Emerson started to move and groan again in her sleep.
“You calm her. Most mates do that.” Sindrid Abner, the King of Vampires, stood at the door watching.
“I guess I looked stupid?” Nash laughed, but still he couldn’t take his eyes away from her. “If she was awake she would never have allowed me to do that.”
Shrugging, Abner came in, pulled up a chair, and sat down. “Maybe she would, or maybe she would’ve punched you in the head.”
Nash smiled, even though he didn’t feel like it. Abner was a funny person. He had a great sense of humor, and Nash liked him a lot. He was also his cousin’s mate, and knowing how much Sindrid loved Lilly made him like the man even more.
As Sindrid sat across from him he could feel the intense power that always surrounded him. It wasn’t that Nash feared the vampire, but just like witches and their magic, there was always a certain amount of power that radiated from the king.
“River healed her and it put her out. She’s finally getting some sleep without the pain,” Nash said, gritting his teeth thinking about what had happened to her.
“I’m sorry, Nash. I only hope he was in the place when it blew up. But unfortunately we don’t know for sure. We searched the building, but we think he escaped before we blew it up,” Sindrid admitted with sad eyes.
“How do you do this day after day? All I want to do is to take her and hide her where nobody can hurt her ever again.”
Sindrid smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Trust me, all mates feel the same way as you do, but life goes on, Nash. Emerson needs some type of normalcy, and I think she feels that here. If she felt it at home and really wanted to stay there, she wouldn’t have joined the Unit.”
“I’m
trying to keep that attitude. She can’t leave.” Nash could feel a stab of panic as the possibility of his mate leaving him rushed through him.
The king leaned forward in his chair. “Right now, all you can do is let her know that you’re here for her and help her when you see she needs it. But I want to give you some advice—and this is something I had to learn the hard way—don’t smother her. Let her breathe and find her way in this world, because she’s had her control taken from her and now she’ll do whatever she has to in order to get that back. You’re going to have to give her some time to find herself and stand on her own two feet, and still be there for her.”
Nash felt like his world was ending, but he had to stay strong for Emerson. Sindrid would never lead Nash astray. This was what she needed more than a mate right now. She needed a friend.
“Do you think you can do that?” Sindrid asked.
Nash blew out a deep breath. Could he do that with someone trying to hurt his mate? “I’m going to try, because I don’t want to lose her, and she needs a friend. I know she wanted to be part of the Unit, and if that’s what she still wants then I have to support her in that.”
Sindrid sat smiling at him.
“What?”
“It’s going to be the hardest thing you do in your relationship and you’ll continue to do that forever. I remember when I got here and Lilly was…well, she still is very independent, and I wanted to protect her. I’ve made a lot of enemies over my many years and one way to get to me is to hurt my mate, my son, and to hurt the friends that I call family. That includes you too, Nash. That’s why I’m here; because it’s going to be hard for you, and you’re going to make mistakes and get in her way because you may see a threat that she doesn’t. Trust me when I say you’re going to argue a lot about this, but hang in there. I’m here if you need me. Do you need any help?”
Shaking his head, Nash replied, “No, but thanks for asking.”
“I understand her father has a problem with you being a shifter?”
“I think he’s a bigot and I don’t see that changing, but there’s nothing I can do about that.”
“Well, maybe he just needs to see just how wonderful a man you are and that will change his mind.”
“I appreciate the thought, Sindrid, but to be honest, I don’t want to deceive the man. I want him to see me for who I am, and if he doesn’t like that, then I’m not interested in him being in my life.”
“Good answer, because nobody is better than you my friend,” Sindrid said, looking over at Emerson as she slept. “Fight for her, Nash.”
Picking up her hand, Nash lightly kissed the top of it. “I plan on it.”
“I think you need to get some sleep too. Do you need anything?”
“No, but thanks for the…talk.”
“I’m here for you. We all are,” Sindrid expressed then got up and walked out the door.
Kingston Prescott knew his friends would help him. His daughter wasn’t going to be mated with a shifter if he had anything to do with it. Lilly’s theory had to be wrong. Of course they wanted to blame this on him. Nobody would dare knowingly kidnap his daughter, enemy or not.
“Franklin Devour’s residence,” the sweet voice of Miss Katie rang out.
“Hello Katie, this is Kingston Prescott. Is Franklin home?”
“Mr. Prescott, it’s nice to hear your voice. I’ll get Mr. Devour for you.” Kingston listened as Katie put the phone down.
“Kingston, are you okay?” his oldest friend asked when he picked up the phone.
“Yes, yes, I’m just tired.”
“How is Emerson?”
“She’ll be okay once I get her home. If I can get her home.” Kingston shifted nervously in his chair before he explained further. How did you tell your best friend that your daughter had almost been raped?
“What’s wrong, Kingston? I’ve known you long enough to know when something’s up. Spit it out.” He glanced out the window, watching the snow come down and trying to gather his thoughts. It was beautiful here in the Colorado mountains. The sun had already gone down at the lodge, and the twinkling lights bounced off the fresh snow, making it look magical. But not even magic would take what had happened away.
Kingston took a deep breath and spoke as calmly as he could. “It’s Emerson…she was…the man that held her hostage tried to rape her, Franklin. Thank God the Unit got to her first.”
The line went silent for a few moments. “I…I’m sorry Kingston. I never thought they would do something like that.”
“Of course you didn’t, how could you? These people are savages. God only knows what they are doing to people in there. They’re taking all kinds of paranormals—including witches, Franklin! Can you believe this is happening? They took Emerson’s blood and then… God…I…”
“I’m sorry, Kingston.”
“Now I’ve got to deal with these shifters, who…”
“Calm down, Kingston. Take a deep breath.”
“Now this shifter says that Emerson is his mate, and I think she wants to stay. That’s not going to happen. I can’t let that happen. She’s all I’ve got, Franklin.” Kingston’s voice sounded panicked even to his own ears.
“Don’t worry about that, Kingston, no dog will mate with a Prescott.”
“I need Sydney to come here and use her skills on the shifter, Nash Wilder. Emerson needs to see that he will cheat and leave her if a pretty face comes along. Can you find her and get her to come here to Freedom, Colorado?”
“I know she’s out of town, but I’ll find her and get her there if I have to bring her myself. Just hold it together, my friend. I promise I’ll work this all out.”
“I can’t let my daughter make this mistake, Franklin. I love her too much. She just needs to see that the shifter is lying and only after her money and status. Sydney can pull this off. I know she can. Tell her to pull out all the stops and use her magic. I’ll pay her whatever she wants.”
“I’ll take care of everything, Kingston. Just keep your cool and don’t hurt anyone until I get there. I’ll see you soon.”
Kingston turned his phone off and sat down in the chair. He wouldn’t let a shifter mate with his daughter. This wasn’t going to happen to him again. He’d made a promise to himself that he would always take care of his daughter, and he planned to keep that promise.
Chapter Four
As she woke up, Emerson blinked several times, giving her eyes time to adjust to the dim light. Everything came back to her as she focused on the clock on the nightstand. It was only five in the morning, but she loved waking up early because she always got a lot done before anyone got up. She inhaled; the scent of the fire lingered in the air as the embers barely glowed in the fireplace.
She felt safe here at the lodge, snuggling up under the soft comforter. Turning on her side she noticed that Nash was still there, protecting her as she slept. He looked tired, scrunched up asleep in the chair next to the bed. He was such a big guy, and the chair couldn’t be comfortable enough to sleep in, but here he was, just like he said he would be.
She turned again and realized that she didn’t feel any pain. River was right when she said that the pain would be gone once she woke up. Right now she felt wonderful—and hungry.
“Hungry?” Nash’s hoarse voice asked.
Turning her head, Emerson locked on his baby blues. He was the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen, and he'd been nothing but nice to her, showering her with gifts and affection.
“I can order you something if you are?” Nash asked again, waiting for her to answer but not pressuring her.
“I’m starving, but I want to get up and out of this bed and go to the dining room, if that’s okay?”
“Of course. Do you need anything?” Nash jumped up from his seat.
Emerson smiled hesitantly, unsure how to act around him. “I need some clothes. Did my father bring my suitcases back?”
“We did, when we towed your car in to inspect it. Your clothes have been hung up
in the closet, and your…well, your underclothes are in the drawers over there.” Emerson looked over and saw her suitcase open with some clothes in it.
“My father started packing my clothes,” Emerson said, staring at the suitcase.
“That’s okay, we can put them back in the dresser later. The bathroom is right over there. If I can get some of my clothes, I’ll leave you to get ready.” She watched as Nash walked into the closet and came out with some jeans and a shirt.
“Is this your room?”
“Yes. I wanted you to have an incredible view when you woke up, and I have one of the best,” Nash explained, pointing toward the mountains.
“I…you shouldn’t have done that, Nash. This is your room. I wouldn’t have minded being in any of the rooms. Everyone has been so kind, and I don’t know how to repay them for what they’ve done for me. Especially you.”
Nash lowered his head and muttered, “I would do anything for you.”
Emerson was taken back by his words. How…why would he do anything for her? “I—”
“You don’t have to say anything. I plan on showing you what a mate is. I just need for you to give me some time, to let you see me,” Nash said, surprising her.
“Okay.” That’s the only answer she could give him right now. She didn’t want to think too far ahead until she figured out if she could do this and stay. Before she’d been kidnapped, she knew exactly what she wanted in her life and how to achieve it. She’d felt strong and confident; now she didn’t even know if she could go to the dining room and eat a meal.
“I’ll lock this door behind me so you won’t be disturbed and when you’re finished and ready just walk out here and I’ll be waiting for you.” Nash pointed to the door and walked out. She quickly went and turned the knob, securing the lock at the top too.
This was Nash’s room, and she felt bad about hogging his bed, but she needed privacy. Her stomach growled again, letting her know she’d been without a good meal for more than a week. Slowly she walked into the bathroom, and then had to stop and just take it all in. The bathroom was immaculate. She stood in front of the shower, which had a waterfall faucet and was made for two people or more. Titly tiles from Italy were beautifully placed all over the bathroom. Not a lot of people could afford this type of stuff. She was used to the high quality of the rich, but she never expected this here. Who were these people?
