A Warrior Wedding

by Teresa Gabelman

  A grim frown slipped across his lips. He didn’t have time to laugh. Hell, he didn’t have time for anything, let alone laughing or enjoying even a second of anything.

  “Jesus, I’m finally losing my fucking mind.” Sloan shook his head in disgust. Knocking once on Slade’s office door, he walked in.

  Slade looked up from his desk. “Fuck!” Slade snarled, seeing Sloan’s grim face.

  “Yeah, fuck.” Sloan closed the door behind him. “Just got off the phone with Dan Bentley, who is a spineless piece-of-shit and unfortunately, our representative with the human government.”

  “He human?” Slade asked, tossing his pen on the desk, rubbing his hand through his hair.

  Sloan nodded. “It seems that there’s an onslaught of requests coming in to change half-breeds.” To follow was the information he dreaded. “All requests are being denied. The human government is afraid of vampires outnumbering humans.”

  “So they’re playing God and deciding who lives and who doesn’t.” The truth of the statement sat heavily in the room. Palpable fury radiated off Slade. “I don’t give a fuck what they deny. If it is a choice between her living or dying, I will change her and they can stick their denial up their asses.”

  “I figured you’d feel that way.” Sloan sighed, not blaming Slade. “I’m sure Duncan will do the same thing, but know the risk you are taking.”

  “The only risk I see is losing Jill and that is not a risk I’m willing to take.” Slade’s eyes burned as he stared at Sloan, an unspoken message that was loud and clear passed between them.

  “You know the consequences of changing someone without consent. We got away with it with Steve, but that was a whole different situation. It looks like what is happening with Pam and Jill is happening everywhere.” Sloan wanted to make damn sure Slade knew exactly what was out of his control to stop from happening. “Not only will you be jailed, stripped of your VC Warrior status, but you will never be able to practice medicine, human nor vampire again.”

  “I know the fucking risks, Sloan.” Slade growled, his voice raspy with emotion. “I have a wedding coming up in less than three weeks and if I don’t fix this, I won’t have a bride.”

  “Weddings get cancelled all the time.” Sloan played the devil’s advocate. He wanted to make damn sure he knew where Slade’s head was because if he was going to fight for his Warriors, he needed to know with no doubt whatsoever in his own mind. The silence was deafening and he actually waited for Slade to attack, because he knew how much he loved Jill, but a calm façade shadowed Slade’s features.

  “Not mine.” Slade’s voice was deep with conviction.

  ******

  Jill quietly backed away from Slade’s door before turning around and walking quickly away. The hallway swam before her eyes as she stumbled away. The silence after Sloan said to cancel the wedding was enough for her to hear, but even if Slade had doubts, she would never allow him to put himself in a position to lose everything he had worked for, not for her.

  Seeing Nicole and Tessa before they saw her, she ducked down another hallway and waited until they were gone. She didn’t want to talk to anyone. No, that was a lie. Pulling her phone out, she shot off a text and waited. Relief settled over her as her phone dinged. Reading the text, she walked out of her hiding spot and headed out the front door, but not before she turned off her phone.

  Walking toward one of the cars, she frowned checking her pockets, but she knew she didn’t have the keys. “Crap.” Spotting Adam’s car, she grinned. “Ah, what the hell.”

  Jogging up to the car, she was happy it wasn’t locked. Opening the door, she bent down and went to work. Within minutes, she had the car running. So he must be back to trusting her, his mistake. With a snort, Jill climbed in, backed up and pulled out of the driveway.

  As she drove, her mind kept going back to Sloan and Slade’s conversation, her stomach tightening with fear. Fear of death, fear of losing the only person she ever loved, and fear of watching him lose everything he ever worked for. She felt a full-blown panic attack coming on and fought it back.

  After twenty minutes, she passed her old house and drove down a narrow dirt path. Seeing her brother’s car, she smiled, instantly feeling better. He leaned against the driver’s side door watching her with his familiar grin.

  “Long time no see, stranger,” Trevor teased. “Now that you’re a big-time Warrior, you can’t find time for us lowly humans?”

  Okay, that hit her hard, but she kept the smile on her face. “Yeah, I have to pencil you in.”

  “You called me, remember.” Trevor grabbed her in a hug and ruffled her hair. “Smart ass.”

  Jill hugged him, not realizing how tight. “Missed you.”

  Trevor gasped for air. “Whoa, there, sis.” He gently pushed at her. “You’re squeezing me to death.”

  “Sorry.” Jill pulled away then looked around. “Is the swing still up?”

  “What’s going on, Jill?” Trevor’s smile slipped.

  “What? I can’t call my brother to hang for a little bit?” Jill didn’t look at him; instead, she walked down the path she had walked more times than she could count. Things were different, yet comforting and the same. No, that wasn’t right. Everything here was the same; she was different.

  Trevor stepped next to her and placed his arm around her. Quietly, they made their way through the woods, Jill taking everything in. A sense of peace mixed with turmoil consumed her mind. Reaching the end of the path, which overlooked a large lake, Jill stepped to the edge.

  “Water’s up,” she said absently, and then looked over at the old tree leaning over the calm water. “And there’s the vine, still intact after all these years.”

  Trevor leaned up against a tree watching her closely. “Okay, Jill.” He no longer wore a grin. “You’re freaking me the hell out. What’s going on?”

  Jill pulled on the thick vine and sure enough, it held strong. With a sigh, she released it and sat down on a large boulder. “I’m sick, Trev.”

  “Whatever. You’re a vampire.” Trevor snorted, rolling his eyes, but when Jill didn’t laugh he sat next to her.

  “I’m half-vampire.” Jill glanced at him with her mismatched eyes. “Long story short, whatever was in the serum they injected to change us is failing, and my body is fighting it off.”

  “You’re shitting me.” Trevor half-grinned, nudging her.

  She nudged him back before looking back at him. “I wish I was.”

  Trevor stared at her for a minute then stood. “No!” He shook his head. “There has to be something they can do.”

  “It’s not just me this is happening to.” Jill sighed. “Sloan asked for permission for us to be changed to full blood, but it’s been denied.”

  “Fuck them.” Trevor hissed, his face paling as he truly realized how serious the situation was. “There’s no way Slade is going to stand for that. Though I’ve only met him once, I saw how much he cares for you.”

  “He can’t, Trevor.” Standing, Jill glanced at the lake. “He could lose everything he worked for, plus be put in jail. I’m not going to let that happen.”

  “So you’ll just die?” Trevor grabbed her arm. “There has to be another way.”

  Jill nodded before looking straight at him. “Do not say anything to Dad,” Jill ordered. “I don’t want him to worry.”

  Trevor remained silent, not agreeing or disagreeing.

  “I mean it, Trevor,” Jill warned. “Swear it.”

  “Okay.” Trevor raised his hands in defeat.

  “And Mom neither, not that she would care.” Jill said and those words hit her harder than usual. She would love to talk to her mom like a daughter should be able to. “But she would tell Dad and until things are grim, I don’t want him to worry. His health is too important.”

  “She would care,” Trevor replied. “And do you think that’s fair to keep this from them?”

  Jill thought about that for a moment. “Yeah, it’s fair.” Deep down inside she
prayed it was a nightmare she would wake up from.

  They stood and looked around in silence, a silence that drove Jill crazy. Grabbing the vine, she gave it a good yank. With a firm grip, she took five steps back and grinned. “Dare me?” She kicked off her shoes.

  “No.” Trevor finally laughed.

  “Bet me?” she continued, her laughter ringing through the woods.

  “No way.” Trevor crossed his arms, standing strong. “I like my money too much.”

  “Good choice.” She wiggled her eyebrows at him as she took off running. Her feet left the path and the trusted old vine from their childhood took her far out to the middle of the lake. Her face lifted to the sky and with eyes wide open, she let go and felt free for the first time in a long time, just like she had when she was a young girl. Within seconds, the cool water washed over her and her feet hit the bottom. She kept herself submerged enjoying the quiet solitude. Then with a hard push, she shot back to the surface. Looking around, she laughed at Trevor who kicked off his shoes grabbing the vine.

  “Do a flip!” she shouted with a dare in her voice.

  “It’s been years since I’ve even done this,” Trevor called back while he backed up the path with the vine. “Let me do it once with just letting go of the damn thing first.”

  “Chicken,” Jill mocked him from the water.

  “Smart chicken,” he yelled back as he took off running. As his feet left the path and swung out over the water above Jill, he screamed before letting go. “Shiiiiit!”

  Jill laughed so hard she could hardly keep herself above water. When he broke the surface, her laughter continued while trying to talk. “Oh, my God, you should have seen your face and you screamed like a girl.”

  “It’s seems a hell of a lot higher than it used to be when we were young and careless.” He defended his girly scream with a splash to her face.

  She splashed him back and grinned. “Flip?”

  He nodded, his grin mirroring hers. “Flip!”

  “Whoever screams like a girl buys dinner.” Jill laughed, then swallowed a ton of water when he dunked her as he passed.

  Jill shouted a threat, swimming hard to catch him, but weakness swallowed her energy forcing her to slow down. Nothing was going to stop her from having this moment with her brother, even if it killed her.

  ******

  Jax pulled into the compound on his bike followed by Blaze and Hunter. His mood was dangerous after his visit with Caroline and by the look of the parking lot, it wasn’t going to get much better. Adam paced around throwing his arms all over the place while Slade had his phone to his ear with a grim expression on his face. Instantly, Jax knew this was about Jill.

  Stopping in front of Adam, he killed his engine. “She steal your car again?”

  “Fuck yeah!” Adam growled, then nodded toward Slade. “I swear if it wasn’t for that big son of a bitch, I’d kick her ass.”

  Jax couldn’t help but smirk at that. He knew Adam would never hurt Jill, and Jill would be a tough opponent to take down, even for Adam. “I’m sure she’ll be back.”

  Adam stopped pacing and stared at Jax. “I want my damn car back, now.” His pacing started again. “She sucks at driving. I don’t want her behind the wheel any longer than she has been already.”

  “She not answering?” Jax asked Slade, who had joined them.

  “No.” Fury and concern swirled in Slade’s eyes.

  “I can find her. I already have her scent.” Hunter sat calmly on his bike next to Jax. Reaching into the compartment on his bike, he tossed Blaze a pair of sweats. “Bring these for me.”

  “Sweet!” Adam said, anxious to get going.

  Hunter grabbed the handlebars. “Give me a second to change into my Superman outfit.”

  Jax actually rolled his eyes. “Where in the fuck did you find that guy?”

  Blaze laughed. “He’s a pain in the ass, but you’ll be thanking me.” Smirking, Blaze leaned back on his bike. “He’s one hell of a tracker.”

  Jax hoped to hell so because every day that passes, Mika becomes more dangerous. Within seconds, Hunter the wolf appeared, his gait set with purpose when he stopped where Adam’s car had been parked. The wolf’s head snapped up and with a confident toss of its head, he took off, expecting everyone to follow.

  CHAPTER 9

  Jill watched her brother do a perfect backflip off the vine and sighed. Crap, she was going to have to do better than that or she was going to have to buy dinner. Her and her big mouth. Daring her brother when she felt like shit wasn’t the smartest move she had ever made. Yet, she was having a blast. She felt carefree and really needed this moment.

  “Eat that!” her brother yelled as he broke surface. “That was definitely a ten.”

  “Eh, I don’t know about a ten, maybe an eight and a half.” Jill yelled, her growing grin smug.

  “Whatever.” Trevor shook his head sending water spraying around him. “Like you could do better. You could never do a backflip without belly flopping.”

  “So that’s my dare.” Jill snorted, knowing he was right. She never could do a damn backflip off the vine, but she was part vampire now and was going to make him eat his words while buying her dinner, even if it was a pack of crackers which seemed to be the only thing that didn’t make her nauseous. Feeling weaker by the minute, Jill knew she could pull this last feat off; she didn’t have a choice. For once and maybe the last time, she would beat her brother at the backflip contest. Anger and sadness pulsed through her, but she pushed it away.

  “Oh, yeah.” Trevor huffed as he climbed up the incline toward her. “I can taste that steak and lobster tail bought with your money as we speak. I’m starving.”

  “You’re always starving.” Jill snorted.

  “And you’re stalling.” Trevor smirked at her. “Come on with your bad self. Show me what you got.”

  Jill narrowed her eyes at him and backed up with the vine. Trevor had taken his jeans off and was in his boxers, but Jill kept hers on, stepping on the heavy soggy hems of her pants leg.

  Stepping back far enough, her hands tightened, preparing for her final dismount from their trusted vine. With confidence, she glanced at her brother. “Prepare to lose.”

  Her brother’s laughter made her even more determined. Once again, Jill swung over the ledge, letting go at the perfect moment. With everything she had, she put her body into not only one backflip, but two. Seeing the water coming up fast, she hoped she had enough for the second flip. Relief filled her when her feet hit the water first. She’d finally beat her ass of a brother in a backflip contest.

  As her feet hit the soft moss-covered bottom, she again used her arms to remain submerged. Looking around the murky bottom, she flinched when a large catfish swam toward her to investigate. How cool was it to be able to stay under as long as she wanted, or at least longer than she had before she was a half-breed. Not wanting to freak her brother out too much, she bent her knees to push off, but a loud muffled noise reached her ears startling her. Before she could turn to see what it was and kick off the bottom, something grabbed her around the waist.

  “What in the hell are you doing?” Slade’s angry voice boomed as soon as they broke the surface.

  “A double backflip.” She held onto his shoulders. “Which I killed!” She shouted up at Trevor with triumph. Then it suddenly dawned on her who was holding her and who was surrounding her brother.

  On the ledge were Trevor, Adam, Jax, Blaze and a wolf, who she assumed was Hunter, and the damn thing looked like he was grinning, staring down at her. Jill frowned, looking away from the wolf to Slade.

  “What are you doing here?” She wiped at the water dripping into her face.

  “You stole my car, dammit!” Adam yelled at her.

  “Oh, chill out!” Jill yelled back, still looking at a very wet Slade. He did wet really well. “It’s in one piece as I’m sure you’ve already seen, and you weren’t going to use it anyway.”

  “And you knew this because you asked
?” Adam stomped toward the ledge, but stopped when loose dirt gave way. “No, you just hotwired it again and rode off without telling anyone. I swear if you mess up my ignition from hotwiring my car, you’re going to pay to have it fixed.”

  Jill snickered. “What is it with him and that piece-of-crap car?”

  Slade didn’t smile. A frown marred his handsome face.

  “You look really sexy wet,” Jill whispered, giving him a half grin as she wrapped her legs around him, pressing their wet bodies together. Even though they were both fully clothed, he felt damn good. She never thought she would have Slade in her swimming hole.

  “Your lips are turning blue.” Slade glared at her lips.

  “Then warm them up.” Jill went in for the kiss, but his next words stopped her.

  “You can’t be doing stuff like this, Jill.” Slade pulled his head back.

  Hoping he wasn’t talking about what she thought he was talking about, she frowned. “Okay, I won’t hotwire Adam’s car anymore.” She went back in for the kiss, but he pulled his head further back.

  “I don’t give a fuck about Adam’s car.” He growled with a hiss. “You need to take better care of yourself. Keep your strength up until I can fix....”

  “Fix me?” Jill tilted her head looking at him. “You can’t fix everything, Slade. I’m dying. You said it, everyone sees it and I feel it. I’m not going to lie in a dark room waiting for death.”

  “I never said you were dying.” Slade’s eyes shifted for a split second, but it was enough for Jill to see.

  “When Hunter said he smelled death, you remained quiet. To me, that’s saying more than words ever could.” Jill looked toward the empty ledge; everyone had slipped away.

  “You are not going to die.” Slade grasped her chin, pulling her attention back to him.

  Jill stared at him for a long moment before saying anything, as if memorizing his features. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Slade.” She kissed his chin, her eyes going back to his. “And don’t expect me to wait around doing nothing until that time comes because I can’t do that.”

  He remained silent, but she could see the storm brewing behind his eyes.