Captive By Night: A Dardanos, Co. Taken Collection

by Calle J. Brookes

  “No. Worried he’d hurt you. Or did you forget the sixty-something stitches holding you together? What happened? Why did you change your mind about Rand?” She rubbed her hands over his arms, checking for herself that he was fine and in one-piece. He indulged her for a moment before grabbing one of her hands and leading her back to the couch she’d been sharing with Theo moments before.

  “Sit. I’ll tell you what we have learned. And your brother and I have come to an agreement. Whenever he feels the beast taking hold, he has developed strategies to help him ensure everyone’s safety.” Aodhan pulled her down to the couch with him; Mallory let him guide her onto his lap to make room for her brother on the seat, as well. It was only when Rand raised an eyebrow and smirked that she realized what she’d done.

  She didn’t care. She’d slept with Aodhan, was living with the man in his suite. Why should it bother her to touch him in front of people? “What happened? Did you find out who let the elhydra in?”

  “No. But we’re tracking that person now.” Aodhan’s hands were hot on her waist as he shifted her. Thaddeus was still in the room, and Theo listened from the corner of the couch. “Someone led Jambu to do what he did. Sent him letters designed to incite him to act as he did. That is someone we need to find.”

  “Another traitor in your resort?” Mallory looked at the man holding her. “And that person is responsible for the elhydra?”

  “We don’t know yet. But the targets of the attacks were most likely your family. It was the private pool, used only by the Heads of House and their immediate families. That’s a highly limited number of targets.” Aodhan’s hands tightened around her waist. “That means that you and your sister, cousins, need to be extra careful. The females of any royal house hold a lot of power in their hands. If someone could eliminate all of you, then Rydere and Barlaam, it could send our people into a panic until the remaining Heads of Houses could step in to restore order. You must be careful, kitten. You are pretty high on the list of potential targets.”

  “Why me?”

  “Because of me, I’m afraid. It all comes down to the ascension of the daharana. Or royal seat. Rydere and Barlaam are, through great-grandparents, related to nine of the ten Dardanos Houses. Jierra is related to eight; me, seven, and Jambu seven. Theo, five. Barlaam as a healer, cannot be the heir, although he can father one. Because he hasn’t yet and neither has Dhar Rydere, that puts the list of ascension as Jierra, Jambu—though that’s void now, any child you and I may have, and the first-born child of Theo and your sister. Do you understand?”

  “Not really sure why you or Theo can’t be the direct heirs. So tell me—who faces the biggest threat and in what order?”

  “Dahn Emily as she could be carrying the highest heir right now. Jierra as she is the established heir, your young cousin Jade as she can also be carrying a high heir through Barlaam. Then you as you could be carrying someone related to…to dammit! To all of the Houses. I am not related to Theo’s House in any way. Nor to the Jareth. Except through my Rajni bond in that your sister is with Theo and your cousin with Cormac. Your brother with Jierra. And your cousins Emily and Jade the House of Dardanos, itself.”

  “I’m sorry. What does that mean? For all of us?” Mallory had a devil of a time following what he was saying. With a total number of people less than 200,000 wouldn’t many of the royal families be related?

  “Simple.” It was Theo who said it, and had Mallory’s attention heading in his direction. “You are the highest threat to whoever is seeking the ascension because any child you birth will be closely related to all ten Houses. Even Mickey cannot say the same as there is no current blood connection between my line and the Black or Lycurgus lines. Even Dahn Emily misses the mark through the Lycurgus line. But you…you’re the biggest threat of all.”

  Aodhan’s expression showed a mix of anger and determination. And worry. “Especially if you become pregnant. Then that child will surpass even Jierra as heir.”

  “Then I guess you just keep it in your pants, blood-sucker until we find the person threatening my sisters and cousins.” Rand practically growled the words and Mallory shivered.

  She fought the urge to drop a hand to cover her stomach.

  She wasn’t pregnant, yet. But even if she was, no one would threaten her child. Ever.

  Chapter Forty

  Aodhan saw the fear in her eyes and it made him doubly determined that the traitor would be found as quickly as possible. He would not have his female and their future children threatened in any way. “You know I will keep you safe, kitten. But to be honest, as a member of the royal Houses you will always face threats. Where it something I could change for you, I would.”

  “I understand.” She tilted her head back, resolution in her tone and body. “So what are we going to do about this? Who else would benefit from something happening to me, or Emily, or Barlaam and Rydere, for that matter? Someone has to think they will gain something by doing this.”

  “And that is the question we need to answer. In the meantime, you will go nowhere alone.” Aodhan was firm on that. He could not, would not, risk her safety. “Because if this is about the ascendency, you are the next target.”

  She shivered and he soothed her with a hand drawn up and down her spine. “I can take care of myself, you know.”

  “No, Mal. Not in this world.” Her brother prowled Theo’s suite; Aodhan understood exactly what the other male felt. “Listen to Aodhan. He’ll keep you safe. And I’ll find who the threat in my Kind is, I can promise you that.”

  Aodhan expected his female to protest, but she didn’t. She said little more than her goodbyes to her brother and Theo when he told her it was time they went back to their own suite.

  She grabbed his hand when they were walking down the hall. “Do you think someone will be coming after me?”

  “It’s a possibility. But I can promise you, you will be safe.”

  “I don’t need promises, Aodhan. I need you to understand that I am perfectly able to protect myself. I’ve worked for eight years on learning how to do just that. If you can’t respect that I’m just as capable as you, then I don’t know what I’m still doing with you. I need that respect.”

  “A male’s job is to protect his female. And it is my job to protect the Dardanos people. How can the desire to protect you not be strong in me?” And protect her he would. She might chafe a bit at the restrictions, but as an Equa of his House she would have to get used to being guarded. It wasn’t something either of them had to like, but it was their life. And he would never put her in a position where he could lose her. Period.

  “Because if you valued me at all, you would have confidence in my abilities.”

  He stopped walking and turned to her, his hands wrapping around her arms. “I do have confidence in you. The first thought I ever had when I found you was how strong and capable you were for a human. You were fierce and beautiful. A warrior in your own right.”

  “Then why do you seem to think I need to be bundled up and hidden while you hunt down the bad guys? I can help, you know.”

  “You help me by staying safe! I cannot live if you don’t. If something were to happen to you, how long do you think I would last upon this earth? Not days, how many hours? The Rajni bond is strong within me. If someone were to hurt you, to take you from me, it will be the end of me. I will simply lay down and die. Willingly. Do you understand me?” He pulled her off of her feet and covered her mouth with his. He kissed her, long and hard. Finally, when they were both out of breath, he pulled back. “Without you, I cannot even breathe.”

  ****

  What was she supposed to say to that? He meant it, every crazy word. Mallory slipped her hands up to his shoulders and squeezed. “I’m not stupid, Aodhan. I know when to fight and when not to. Had Mickey not been in the house that night, I never would have fought you. I would have ran as fast as I could.”

  “I would have still caught you. Nothing would have stopped me. Especially you.” His hands dr
opped from her upper arms and slipped around her waist. “You were mine, and once I tasted you, I knew it. You were so beautiful, strong, determined. Even if you hadn’t have been my Rajni, I don’t think I could have hurt you. Frightened you, yes. But not hurt you.”

  A spark of humor hit her. “Thanks, I think.” He dropped his forehead to rest against hers. God, she loved how he made her feel. She was close to six feet tall and toned. Not small like her cousin Emily or delicately built like Josey or Mickey, but Aodhan made her feel like she was and infinitely precious to him. “Aodhan...’’

  “Please, Mallory. Just give me this. I need to know you’re safe.”

  Had a begging tone entered his voice? “Aodhan?”

  “Do you know what would have happened to Cormac if your cousin had not survived? Or Barlaam if young Jade had drowned? It would have killed them. They would have just laid down and died. That is a male Rajni’s way when his female is lost.”

  “You mean, they would have just...”

  “Laid down and died where they were. The pain to a male of our Kind is that excruciating. It is the only method of death our people do not ever mention. Their hearts just bleed into their bodies until they are gone.”

  “And the females?”

  “The females may live on. For a while. If children are not of age. She normally doesn’t last much past that point. We kept Kindara in seclusion after her mate died, to ensure she survived. Healers are different, their gifts fight to heal themselves and prevent dying easily. Kindara would have suffered horribly had we not kept watch on her daily.”

  “That’s horrible!”

  “That’s one reason we are losing so many of our people. Our males cannot live without our females.”

  “So you're saying that if we had children and something happened to me, you would just leave them alone? Without either of us? That’s wrong!”

  “That’s our reality. Our souls are joined, kitten. I hurt when you hurt. I die when you die. So you must keep yourself safe at all times. Promise me!”

  He needed the words, and Mallory needed to say them. “I won’t do anything dangerous. I promise.”

  “And you’ll allow my guards to watch over you when I cannot be with you?”

  That one rubbed, but really, how different was that from her being watched by Rand’s security team? “Yes. But I need something from you, too.”

  “Anything.”

  “If something ever does happen to me, you don’t just lay down and die.” She wanted to vomit just thinking about what he had said. And if she decided to stay with him, and someday have children with him, she couldn’t bear the thought of those children being abandoned by him, too. “Promise me.”

  “I don’t think that is something I can ever promise.”

  Chapter Forty-One

  She’d said very little to him in the hours since she’d learned of the strength of their bond, and Aodhan didn’t push words upon her. How could he? He’d been frightened the first time he realized just how deeply he loved her. He’d never forget the fear when the Beansidhe had been at his window. What if she’d been there for his Mallory’s soul? He would have died trying to stop the creature from taking her. Would have fought with every breath he had left. Even though it would have been an inevitable loss for him. No one had ever beaten a Beansidhe bent on gathering a soul for the heavens. Not even an Adrastos warrior.

  But he would have tried.

  Now she sat watching the Colorado scenery as he drove through the mountains toward the home he’d taken her from near on a month ago. She wore human street clothes, the sweatshirt in turquoise had the emblem of his family and a soccer ball emblazoned on the front. He’d purchased it for her the night he’d taken her to the children’s theatre production. The jeans made her legs look long and firm and her ass perfect.

  His female’s body was made to please him.

  “How many of your things do you wish to get today?”

  “I don’t know. As much as possible. I don’t know how long I’ll be here. I might need them. And I want my photo albums. They have pictures of my mother before she died.” She looked at him, her face sad and apprehensive. “Is it strange that I feel nervous going home?”

  “No. I don’t think so. Your life has changed. Why wouldn’t that make you feel a bit off?”

  “I want to see my dad. He’s not well; he has a heart condition that can be dangerous. Our disappearance could have killed him.”

  “I’m sorry. We never should have involved you. But I can’t help but think that was the Goddess ensuring we found you.” Aodhan brushed a hand over her thigh and cupped her knee. “And I am glad I found you. You will see your father, and anyone else you wish to see, today. I look forward to getting to know him.”

  “My sister, Becca, too. She should be with Dad now. I forgot to ask Rand.”

  Aodhan dreaded her seeing her family. What if they tried to convince her to stay with them? Would she? She seemed pretty well resolute on staying with Theo’s Rajni and Rydere’s, but would that change when she saw her sire?

  “They can come visit us whenever they like. We can set them up with their own suite in our House if you wish.”

  “I’d like that. I’m not used to being apart from my family.”

  “Nor am I.”

  “If you have so many brothers, why have I not met any? Where are they?”

  “Western Europe and Eastern Africa. About five hundred or so years ago, our original tribe split. Not political, really, just scarce resources for all. And our original family tribe found itself inundated with males. We needed our Rajnis and some of us were told through visions Theo was young but had a strong gift even then that we needed to move to other parts of the world. Half of my brothers went toward what is now Tanzania. They are deep in the mountains there. The other half are in Italy, enjoying the great wines and food. Or so they say. I see them occasionally.”

  “And your parents?”

  “They are somewhere in South America. Last I heard the Andes. They are part of a very old band of Dardaptoans, who had found their Rajnis many centuries ago, and as such did not see the need for world exploration. Their complacency grates upon many of us. They do not seem to understand that our people are dying out and that the old ways do not help any of us. Hiding does not help us.”

  “When did you come here?”

  “I was eighty. I’m five hundred ninety-eight.”

  “And when did you last see them?”

  “When they brought me a half-wild girl child to finish raising. Aureliana was seventeen. That’s the age of adulthood of our people. They felt she was at a disadvantage where they were living at the time. They showed up, and there she was. They’d never had a girl, and the wilds they lived in were just too dangerous for a fragile Dardaptoan female half-child. She’d already been targeted by all sorts of other Kinds, some bent on horrible deeds with her.”

  “So they just left her.”

  “Yes.”

  “I don’t understand that. I couldn’t leave my child. Or any child I was even remotely related to.”

  “My parents are not the most affectionate of people, kitten. They embrace the Adrastos Creed of Warriors, but leave no room for the softer or tenderer emotions of family. I can accept it, but it was not for me. When Rydere asked for volunteers to move to this new country, I was one of the first.”

  “Your life has been so different than mine.”

  “But the future does not have to be. I’ve waited for you for a long time; dreamt of the time I would have you with me. Dreamt of the children we would have someday. Though not too soon; I think we need time together first.”

  ****

  Mallory listened to his words with only half of her attention. What would it have been like for him? Starting over completely in an untamed land? Wasn’t that similar to what she was doing?

  She knew nothing of his world, not really, yet she was forging a new way straight through it. Why wasn’t she seizing on the opportunity to run back t
o the life she knew?

  Was her decision already made, then?

  She looked at him, studied the strong hand that gripped the steering wheel, studied his equally strong body. The hand still holding her knee absently, as if he didn’t even realize he still touched her. She traced a finger over his knuckles, still bruised from his fight with her brother. He immediately turned his hand palm-up. She laced her fingers through his. Instinctively, immediately, without thought. It was right, touching him.

  Because...it was right. Because she loved him. Because she wanted to be with him.

  He was hers.

  ****

  She was quiet as she led him up the porch steps and into the small bungalow she’d shared with her sister before he and Theo had taken them. The house had been straightened, evidence of their first initial scuffle removed. The house even smelled like his female and Aodhan breathed it in. “Where do you want to start?”

  “Bedroom. I want to get my clothes and photo albums. The rest of it can wait. I can hire movers if I want. If your suite will be big enough.” Her tone was different, but he couldn’t put his finger on exactly how. “At this point, I’m ok with just grabbing clothes and putting them in trash bags. We can fold them and put them away back home.”

  Did she realize what she’d said? Aodhan forced himself to breathe out and in. She’d called it home. Did she mean it?

  “Does your sister need anything?”

  “She and Theo are coming to get her things this weekend. Mickey likes to paint and is extremely picky about how her supplies are handled. She wants a few of her clothes, but I have a list of those.”

  They worked together for a while, bagging up her clothing. She fetched boxes from the attic and carefully placed the photos she wanted in them. Aodhan loaded them in the van and secured them. “Anything else you want right away?”

  “My cookbooks. I have a bunch.” She pointed to a stack of cookbooks centered on the kitchen counter. “I definitely want those. I’m going to start cooking again.”