by Susan Bliler
“Hey, Delain.” Nyree waved her paint brush.
“Harlow EnemyHunter?” Delain asked, his eyes going straight to Harlow as his brows lowered in a determined gaze.
Nyree glanced at Harlow, asking quietly, “You know Delain?”
Harlow shook her head as the Walker approached.
“Delain,” Nyree began, by way of introduction. “This is Harlow. Harlow. Delain.”
Harlow held out her hand, but when Delain took it, he didn’t shake it. Instead, he pulled Harlow hard into him, ripping a gasp from her. Quickly, he tore the halo from around his neck, ignoring the scorch of his own flesh as he was branded with the removal. Harlow’s eyes widened in shock, and she got out one word before Delain thrust his arm forward, locking his halo around her throat.
“DON’T!”
Harlow’s eyes rolled back as she slipped into unconsciousness. Swept up into Delain’s arms, he studied her quietly.
“Delain?” Nyree asked nervously. “What…what in the hell are you doing?”
“She’s in danger,” he explained. “The Megalya marked her when they took her. Monroe said this is the only way. She needs to be claimed to override the mark on her. I have to make her mine.”
Nyree fidgeted nervously. “Will that even work? If she’s not your Angel…”
Delain shook his head. “Doc Jenny’s not sure, but Monroe said it’s the only way. We’ve got to try.”
“You sure you couldn’t have asked her first? I mean, she said she doesn’t even know you!”
“There is no time. I’m a good Walker, Nyree. I’ll be a worthy mate.”
She didn’t doubt it, but still. Something had her feeling like this was a really bad decision. “Does Mason know?”
Delain shrugged. “Don’t know. Don’t care. Her brother isn’t my concern. She’s in danger, and the Dominant has assigned me to protect her.”
“What about her Commander? Does he know…?”
“Commander McCabe hasn’t yet returned from assignment. He’ll be notified when he returns that one of his Sentries has been taken off Estate for her own protection. When I return, she’ll be my Angel.”
“Off the Estate?” Nyree gasped. “Is that wise right now? Seems it’d make more sense to stay where we’re protected.”
“The Megalya that marked her, Doha, knows she’s here, and he’s coming for her. His intention is to take her, and to mate her when he finds her. It’s in her best interest that I take her away. Besides, I’ll need her full attention to get her to accept my claiming. We need to get to know each other, and fast. She’s got to be mine fully for the Megalya’s mark on her to be removed.”
Nyree swallowed hard. “What if it doesn’t work? If she’s not your Angel, and the claiming doesn’t take, what then?”
Delain shrugged, looking nervous. “We’ll cross that bridge if we get to it.”
“Well.” She eyed Harlow’s unconscious form. “She’s a good woman, Delain. Take care of her.”
Dove-gray eyes lifted to Nyree. “I will.” Then Delain left the cafeteria, and the Estate, with the female he was tasked with making his, and with little time to make it so.
Chapter 12
For the first time in too long, Eden was dressed in actual clothes instead of the same old hospital gown she’d been dying to shed. Today she was wearing worn jeans, a loose sweater, and low boots that all, surprisingly, fit like they were hers. Jenny had provided the clothes with the announcement that Eden was finally leaving the infirmary for good.
Her elation was short-lived. Currently, she was walking down a long hallway on the third floor of the Estate with Jenny. Jenny had said they were there for a meeting, and it might be a little difficult for Eden to take, which had her belly in knots. The only thing she could think was that something had happened to Finn. She hadn’t heard from him since he’d left the Estate, and that just wasn’t like him.
They came to a large door, entering without knocking. Inside was a fabulous reception area with an empty desk against one wall. They bypassed that, going through another door, which opened to a large office. Eden didn’t notice the decorations, or the papers scattered all across several desks. No, her gaze locked immediately on Dr. StoneCrow.
He sat behind the desk dressed in a designer suit that was clearly tailored to fit. The black of it made his blue-black hair look even darker, and as he stood, the tapered waist made his shoulders seem broader. He was a massive man. When he looked up at her, his eyes were such a clear blue that it was startling. This is it, this is what suits him. Eden felt her stomach flutter as her heart began to race. And oh, wasn’t that embarrassing, that he was having this type of effect on her? Feeling like a jerk for getting all dry-mouthed ogling the doctor, Eden asked, with a timid smile as she took in his attire, “Going to a business meeting?”
Jenny gently grasped her elbow, leading her deeper into the room to one of two leather couches facing one another over a glass-topped table. “This is the meeting.”
“Oh!” Eden lowered herself into a seat, feeling her palms sweat as Monroe settled himself in the seat directly across from her. “You…you didn’t have to dress up on my account.” She smiled, but it wasn’t returned.
“This is his typical attire,” Jenny offered, taking a seat beside her.
Eden’s brows furrowed as she drank Monroe in from head to toe.
I knew it!
Admittedly, he did seem more comfortable in the suit, and for some reason it felt more appropriate seeing it on him rather than the scrubs he typically wore. But then, things weren’t making sense all the way around.
“He’s,” she began, looking at Jenny, then Monroe, and starting again. “You are a doctor. Right?”
Monroe shook his head, watching her intently.
“He’s the CEO of the Estate,” Jenny explained. “He owns this,” she waved toward the room in general, and then toward the window. “All of this.”
Eden looked around, her eyes crinkling at the corner, as her lips parted. She looked at Monroe. “You’re not a doctor?”
He shook his head, eyes still pinned to her.
“But you were… Why lie? Why dress like one, and hang out in the infirmary?”
Monroe opened his mouth, but Jenny scooted to the edge of the sofa, turning to face her. “Eden,” she began. “We need to discuss your injuries first. You know you were in the infirmary…”
Eden lifted a hand to her head. “Yes. I got hurt. Hit my head in the car accident.”
“It was a little more than that.” Jenny looked at Monroe nervously. “You know how I explained the makeshift cafeteria was set up in the library because the actual cafeteria was being remodeled?”
Eden nodded.
“There was actually a cave-in,” she offered, not wanting to divulge too much information at once. “You were in there when it came down. A section of the wall landed on you, causing severe head trauma.”
Eden started shaking her head.
“You’ve lost time,” Jenny continued. “Partial memory loss. We tried to accommodate you, hoping it’d come back, but it’s been long enough now that we need to try something else.”
“Wait!” Eden held up a hand. “I lost my memory,” she said to herself, blinking hard. “But, I remember my life!” Her head snapped up. “I remember Finn, and…”
“That’s the past you’re remembering.”
At Jenny’s words Eden paled, jerking back. “Wh-what?”
“Your mind has reverted to a previous time. You were with Finn, but that was many years ago. You’ve moved on.”
Eden’s tone went from confused to shrill. “But, he was here!”
“I know.” Now it was Jenny’s turn to shake her head. “I’m sorry. I thought, if we played into what you believed, it’d help. It didn’t. Finn was good enough to come help us out, but the fact of the matter is that you are not in a relationship with Finn, and haven’t been for many years. You’re with someone else.”
Eden blinked several times, her
mouth falling open as she slowly turned her head to look at Monroe. She didn’t ask, but was startled when it finally registered. For weeks she’d been trying to place the expression that flooded his face whenever he looked at her, and now, this moment, it suddenly slammed home. It was more than hunger, more than mere respect. Adoration. Eden shot to her feet.
“WAIT!” Her hands flew to her head, pressing hard at her temples. “Just wait!” She started pacing, and when Monroe made to stand, Jenny punched a finger in his direction with a fierce, “SIT!”
Eden kept pacing, her mind working as she struggled to take it all in. “Let me get this straight. I got hurt, then, what? I just forgot everything, I forgot my life?”
“Yes.” Jenny stood, holding out her hands placatingly.
“Jesus!” Eden wheezed, not stopping her pacing.
“Do you have questions for me?”
Monroe’s question halted her, and she chuffed a humorless sound. “Only a million.” But she didn’t look at him, which made Jenny cast him a worried glance.
“Hey.” Jenny stepped closer, speaking softly. “What if we take a breather? You and I can go back down to the infirmary and let things settle. We can talk privately, or rest, or whatever it is you’d like to do.”
Eden nodded numbly, stepping wordlessly to the door.
Jenny gave Monroe a sympathetic look before following. The doctor opened the door and held out her arm to usher Eden out, but Eden balked, turning back to Monroe.
For long moments, Eden silently held Monroe’s gaze. Slowly, she offered a pained, “You didn’t have to lie to me.”
His face fell. “Angel…”
But she turned her back on him and left.
Chapter 13
Monroe fidgeted nervously, pacing the Crow’s Nest as he waited for Eden to show. Jenny had talked Eden into having dinner with him at the Crow’s Nest in the Estate’s penthouse, and he felt like a teenager going on his first date. For the umpteenth time, he glanced at the entrance, then once more straightened the silverware sitting on pristine linen napkins. He’d ordered the restaurant closed for the night, and only Cindy KillsPrettyEnemy stood behind the bar, ready to serve them.
It felt odd, waiting like this. Monroe never waited, not for anyone, not on any occasion. But for his Eden? He’d wait for eternity.
The sound of the elevator pinging drew his attention to the door and sent his heart rate tripping. He stood, sidestepping the table and taking a deep breath before straightening his tie and putting on a forced grin. Honestly, he wanted to puke he was so damn nervous.
Eden stepped into the entryway and his knees nearly buckled. He didn’t know where she’d gotten the outfit, but she was wearing a white skirt with matching sleeveless blouse eerily similar to the outfit she’d been wearing the day he’d claimed her.
The long fall of her chestnut hair hung in glossy waves about her shoulders. Smooth tan legs tapered down to tiny feet encased in a pair of white flats. He wondered if her dainty little toes were painted with her favored crimson. Something about her feet just drew him in. Maybe it was the fact that she was so damn ticklish on her soles that no one ever got to touch her there…no one but him.
The scar on one of her legs snagged his attention, and he remembered the steel trap that had caused the damage. He wondered if Eden was even aware of how she’d gotten the scar.
“Hello.” Her soft word pulled his attention to her face, and his cheeks actually flamed with the realization that he’d been staring at her like the fifteen year old he’d been trying not to act like.
“Sorry.” He fisted a hand and held it to his lips while he cleared his throat. He began again. “Good evening. Hope you’re hungry.”
A simple nod was the only response he received.
“Good. Please...” He stepped back, waving his arm toward the room. He watched her give the space a curious glance, but she hurried to their table, and he rushed to pull out her seat.
“Thank you,” she murmured, grabbing her napkin and folding it onto her lap.
He’d been hoping they’d talk first, but he could scent his Angel’s distress. He hated it. Lifting a hand, Cindy disappeared into the kitchen, on her return carrying two dome-covered plates to the table where she set one in front of Eden and the other in front of Monroe before pulling off the lids and taking them back into the kitchen.
Some of the tension left Eden’s shoulders, and she actually smiled with a relieved, “Pizza!”
“It’s one of you favorite foods,” he offered.
Cindy returned with two salads doused with ranch and dotted with tomatoes and black olives. She left again, returning with a bottle of wine, and filled each of their glasses before retreating to stand behind the bar where she picked up a glass and began polishing it with a white bar towel.
Eden took up her fork and poked at her salad. “So,” she began timidly, without looking up. “You knew me? Before I mean. You knew me before the accident?”
When she peeked up, Monroe nodded slowly, poking at his own salad in disinterest.
“Can you tell me about myself? What did I do? What did I enjoy?” She shrugged. “Besides pizza, I mean.” She worried her bottom lip, the corner of her eyes crinkling as she asked hopefully, “What was I like?”
Monroe set down his fork, putting his elbows on the table to steeple his hands and study her for long moments before asking, “Do you remember the mountains?” He flicked a glance toward the window, and Eden’s eyes followed.
“I do.” She shrugged. “Finn takes…took”, she corrected, “me there often.”
Monroe had to clench his teeth at the mention of the other male.
“He liked to hunt, and took me along. I didn’t like it. The hunting I mean, but…” she smiled. “Something about the mountains just calls to me. I wish I could leave my job and spend all my time up here. It’s beautiful.”
“It is,” he agreed, swallowing his delight at the rare appearance of her smile. “I ask, because they remind me of you.” He dropped his hands. “You’re very similar to those mountains, Eden. Strong and breathtaking. I’ve lived up here a long time, and just when I think I’ve got this place figured out, bam, something changes, something new and magnificent appears to remind me why I love this place so much, and why I call it home. It’s fascinating, like you. Solid, firm, and yet so damn natural. You’re unrelenting. When you want something you get this gleam in your eye, and I know it’s already done. Once you set your mind to something, that’s it. And you’ve got this grace you’re not even aware of, which only serves to make you all the more graceful.”
Her cheeks warmed. “I’ve never heard anyone refer to mountains as graceful before.”
“That’s because they don’t know them like we do. And don’t get me wrong, Angel, I was talking about you.”
The word Angel did something funny to Eden, and she swallowed hard, blinking at the unexpected endearment.
“Eden, you are the singular most phenomenal human being it has ever been my pleasure to know. I’d give up all the days of my life I lived before I knew you for just one day with you in it. You’re confident,” he smiled, “and defiant. You’re never afraid to admit when you’re wrong. You’d do anything for anyone, and you’d gladly sacrifice for another’s happiness. You have the most nurturing heart, and your maternal instincts…” He stalled, not wanting to scare her with too much. He pinned her with dark eyes. “You’re going to be a remarkable mother.” He watched as a slender hand lifted tentatively to rest on her belly as confusion marred her brow.
“Are…” She looked away for a moment, then lifted her eyes to his again. “You’re him, aren’t you? You’re the one I was dating when I got hurt?”
Dating? He wanted to laugh at the word, at the insignificance of it. There was so much more between them than merely dating, but how could he make her remember? How could he explain her significance to him, their love for one another and for the family they had created?
“I’m not going to lie to
you, Eden. I’ve been in love with you from the first moment I laid eyes on you. I have wanted nothing more than to have you in my life, and for me to be a part of yours.”
Her mouth fell open, and she stared at him in clear shock. Whatever he was expecting, it wasn’t for her to slide her chair back and stand quickly.
“Monroe?” She shook her head as if dazed. “We shouldn’t be talking about this. I’m… In my head, I’m still in a relationship with Finn. Loyalty is extremely important to me.”
Fuck! He wanted to punch himself in the nuts. He’d hoped to draw her in, to help her remember what they shared. Instead, he was listening to her profess her undying loyalty to some piece of shit she’d already discarded because he wasn’t what she’d wanted. He should have known better. He knew her loyalty, her faithfulness was unrivaled. It was one of the things he loved most about her. Still…
“Is he good to you? Was”, he amended. “Was Finn what you wanted? Didn’t your relationship lack spark?”
“Monroe,” Cindy warned from behind the bar.
He couldn’t keep the words back though, as his anger swelled. He wanted to remind her why she and Finn hadn’t worked…or weren’t working as far as her mind went. It was a low blow, but one he couldn’t help but take. Perhaps, if she compared what she knew of the two, she’d pick him.
Delicate brows furrowed, and she backed away from the table. “That’s none of your business.”
He wanted to snarl at how poorly this was playing out. It was supposed to be a romantic dinner. He was going to woo her, please her, remind her. Instead, he was acting like a jealous ass and inundating her with more information than she could possibly process. Still, watching her back slowly away from the table, away from him, had his beasts surging to the fore, demanding he do something to make her remember, to make her stay. Bracing his hands on the table he slowly stood. “You’re mine, Eden. You always have been. You always will be!” Even as he said the words, he knew it was too much too soon, but desperation to reclaim her was clawing at him.
