by Susan Bliler
Leto’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Do you honestly think that’s going to stop me Shy?” He took a step closer.
Aries pulled the slide on her handgun, chambering a bullet. “Back off Leto!”
His eyes reluctantly slid from Shy to frown at Aries. “This doesn’t concern you.”
“You’re not going to touch her.” Aries took a step closer, which garnered all of Leto’s attention.
“Fine. I’ll deal with you first then her.”
Neither Walker seemed to notice the blacked-out four-wheel drive truck that screeched to a halt behind the jeep Aries had commandeered
Shy watched in relief as four men quickly exited the vehicle. All wore the same winter-camo fatigues that Aries donned.
“Do not threaten my angel Leto!” Conn’s pistol was trained on the larger Walker.
Leto turned to Conn and dipped his head dangerously, “Do you really want to interfere in this?”
Conn didn’t have to motion to his team. Lok, James, and Shane silently circled Leto until he was centered between the group of mercenaries.
Leto turned to sneer at the other Walkers. He knew what they were doing.
Conn holstered his pistol and held his hands up in a gesture of surrender, “We’re not trying to keep her from you Leto.”
“That is exactly what you’re doing!”
Conn inched closer to Aries, “We’re concerned about you. You’ve only just been released. We all know how difficult the captivity must have been.”
Leto tilted his head, watching Conn with slight confusion. “You think I’m sick?”
Conn slowly dropped his hands as he side-stepped to stand directly in front of his wife blocking her from Leto’s view. “It explains why you’d hurt your angel. You’re confused.”
Leto’s eyes darkened furiously as his eyes slid back to Shy where she cowered in the jeep. “That is not my angel.”
Shy flinched at the statement and dropped her eyes as she slowly slid from the passenger side to the driver’s seat.
Anger was evident in Conn’s tone as he challenged, “Of course she’s yours Leto. She carries your scent.”
Leto thrust a finger in Shy’s direction as he bit out, “Touch those keys and you’ll fucking regret it!”
Conn chanced a glance over his shoulder before turning back to Leto. “It’s post traumatic stress disorder Leto. It’s common. It’s curable.”
Leto threw back his head and laughed viciously before sobering, “I’m not psychotic Conn. That bitch bears my scent because she’s Megalya.”
Conn shook his head in confusion as Leto continued, “They experimented on me, took my blood. She already carried my scent when I met her, before I ever touched her. I did not bind her to me,” Leto’s eyes rested on Shy as his lip curled in derision, “I do not claim her. She. Is. Not. Mine.”
Conn and his men turned then to stare accusingly at Shy causing tears to well in her eyes before they slipped free.
At Conn’s back Aries whispered, “It’s not what he thinks.”
Conn turned to stare at his angel before stating without looking at Leto, “Regardless of what she is or what she’s done, Monroe wants her brought in. We won’t allow you to hurt her.”
Leto smiled in challenge scissoring his massive arms in front of his bulging chest then behind his back as he prepared for battle. “Whichever one of you thinks you can stop me…”
“Shane.” Conn didn’t blink as a loud pop sounded milliseconds before Leto spun and caught the tranquilizer that had been aimed at his back.
Tranq still in hand, Leto turned to smile victoriously at Conn when two more simultaneous pops sounded and Leto’s triumph shifted to surprise then rage as he stared down at the two tranquilizers that were pinned in his chest. He ripped the two tranqs from his body and sunk to his knees as he scowled up at Conn. Seconds later his massive form was huddled unconscious in the center of the road.
Conn holstered his two pistols and barked, “Get him in the truck, then double back for York and his team. We’ll meet you at StoneCrow.” He turned and grabbed Aries’ chin gently, “And you, beautiful, have got some serious explaining to do.”
Aries’ eyes slid to where Shy was trembling and crying in the jeep. Conn’s eyes followed and he whispered, “She’s injured?”
“Yes.”
Conn ground his teeth together, “Christ, I can smell her fear from here. I can’t believe he attacked his angel.”
Arie’s hazel eyes frowned up at her mate. “It’s bad.”
Smoothing his thumb over his angel’s bottom lip, Conn frowned. “How bad?”
Pulling her eyes from her Walker, Aries frowned at the jeep and the terrified woman within. “Bad!”
Chapter 10
Before they arrived at StoneCrow, Aries had called CEO Monroe StoneCrow on her cell, much to her mate’s obvious displeasure. Shy was relieved to have heard Aries requesting asylum and protection on her behalf. The phone call had been brief.
Conn drove the jeep, traversing the icy roads, as Aries disconnected the call and smiled weakly over her shoulder at Shy.
When the trio finally arrived at the Skin Walker community Shy was comforted to find two women awaiting their arrival at the entrance to the large manor that stood majestically shrouded in the Montana forest, its stone wall façade lending aid to its apparent attempt at blending into the mountainside.
When Conn parked the vehicle and exited, opening the back door of the jeep to assist Shy out of the vehicle, she dropped her head and slid to the opposite seat. Ignoring Conn and his offered hand, Shy climbed quickly out of the jeep to stand close to Aries.
Aries led her to where the two women were standing. “Shy, this is Dr. Jenny Arkinson and Lilly Mulholland. Our Walker mates along with two other Walkers comprise the Board.”
Lilly’s aqua blue eyes and dishwater blonde hair made her seem less severe than the raven-haired doctor standing beside her. Shy nodded to both women, noting their beauty and the power they seemed to exude. None of the three women before her appeared in the slightest to be intimidated by their surroundings or the fact that a superhuman race roamed freely among them. In fact it appeared to be the opposite. The women seemed content and happy to have been drawn to their Walker mates.
Shy shivered at the thought of being drawn to Leto. He was stunningly handsome, but his sheer disgust and mistrust of her overrode any intention or even mere thought of a relationship where the Walker was concerned.
The dark haired doctor nodded to Aries misinterpreting Shy’s tremor. “She’s cold, let’s get her inside.”
Conn spoke from the back of the pack as the women moved. He followed them up the stone front steps and into StoneCrow manor. “Where are Monroe and King?”
As the doors to the elevator slid open, Jenny stepped in and walked to the back wall before turning, her lips pursed in disapproval, “Escorting your savage to the infirmary.”
Conn’s brows shot up in amusement as he stopped outside the elevator doors. “Why is he my savage?”
Lilly chimed in then her tone reproachful, “You Walker men are all the same. Attempting to force submission when it would most likely be given willingly if you’d simply ask.”
Conn threw up his hands before winking playfully at Aries. “I think I’ll join the other savages in the infirmary. I know hostile territory when I see it.”
Aries grinned apologetically at her husband as the doors to the elevator slid closed.
Shy hardly got a word in edge-wise as the women all began chatting at once to devise a plan to keep her at StoneCrow and safe from Leto. She had suggested leaving, but it was quickly decided that the Megalya, knowing they’d successfully impregnated her, would be hunting her in full force.
Once it was decided that she’d stay, she interjected her terms. “No one else can know about the baby…especially Leto.”
Lilly’s expression saddened, “Are you sure Shy? Maybe once he calms down…”
Aries snorted as the t
rio stepped out of the elevator and crossed a cream carpeted hallway to enter a large empty office closing the door behind them. “You didn’t see him Lilly. He’s beyond depraved. He’s certain she’s Megalya and that she’s done something to him.” Aries turned to stare at Jenny, “Monroe needs to explain the affliction to him. I’m certain Leto hasn’t been told.”
“Affliction?” Shy lifted a hand to her belly in horror, “What is Leto afflicted with?”
Aries smiled, “Nothing,” she eyed the other women knowingly over Shy's head, “it’s just a term we use to describe…uh…erratic behavior in male Walkers.”
Jenny reined in her smile as she cleared her throat, “Okay, no one can know about the baby and we give you asylum.” She shook her head, “They’ll find out eventually Shy.”
Shy’s eyes turned pleadingly on the woman, “Can’t we cross that bridge when we come to it?”
Jenny stared at the other women for a few brief seconds. “Fine, but it’s not enough.”
Shy tensed, “What do you mean?”
Jenny looked from Aries to Lilly. “Without telling him of the child, we need another reason, an exchange of sorts. Monroe won’t just grant her asylum. She’s not one of us. We need something in exchange for the risk.”
Monroe’s voice had Shy and the other women turning to the door. “You’ll need much more than an exchange.”
As Monroe, Conn, and King filed into the room Conn and King noted that their angels, who typically gravitated to their husbands anytime they shared a room, were now taking a stance by refusing to come to their Walkers. Instead, the three women circled more tightly around Shy. It spoke volumes.
Annoyed, Monroe circled the women taking his place in front of his desk to address the room while Conn and King stayed by the door. King’s eyes flicked affectionately over Lilly.
“We can’t give her asylum. She’s not a Walker,” Monroe announced.
“She’s an ally Monroe and we will give her asylum, or I will give her asylum.”
Monroe’s eyes darkened dangerously as he eyed his personal assistant, Lilly. “You think you have the power to protect her here?”
Lilly’s lips curved in challenge as her brows drew together, “Mr. StoneCrow, you assume I’d stay here?”
Pain, then fierce possession raged across King’s features as he uncrossed his arms and paced forward, taking a step closer to Lilly. “You will not leave StoneCrow!” It wasn’t a request and it wasn’t a challenge, the statement was made as a fact.
Lilly’s smile vanished as she took a meaningful step away from King. “I’ll not stay where women aren’t protected, especially human women.”
“You are protected,” King growled menacingly.
Lilly’s eyes slid from his to touch on Shy’s bowed head. “All women.”
King’s hands curled into tight fists at his side. Damn Leto! “And how do you suggest I explain to our Walkers why we are protecting an admitted Megalya?”
Shy gasped and shot an accusatory look at Aries.
“She is no Megalya,” Aries argued before shrugging and sending an apologetic look at Shy. “They had to know the truth.”
“And she is no Walker either,” Monroe countered. “I have no authority to welcome her here.”
Lilly turned and pointed at Shy’s belly, “She carries a Walker child Monroe. She must be protected!”
Shy felt the room spin violently. Not even ten seconds earlier, they’d agreed to keep the child a secret, now three more people knew!
Monroe and the other two men turned to stare at Shy. Monroe pulled his eyes away to look back at Lilly. “Why would Leto harm a female that carries his child?” His face darkened dangerously.
“He…,” Lilly looked at Aries then Shy before dropping her eyes to the floor, “he doesn’t know.”
“How can he not know?” King challenged.
Jenny stepped forward shrugging a shoulder, “They were kept in separate cells King. It wouldn’t be difficult to keep it from him. Especially considering that she can’t be that far along.”
“So tell him,” King urged, his brows spearing down in disapproval. “It’ll solve everything.”
“No, actually it won’t,” Aries opened her mouth to speak, but stopped when Shy jerked away from Lilly.
“Stop!” Shy’s cheeks were flaming, “This is none of your business.” She turned to frown at Monroe, then King, then Conn. “This is none of any of your business. If me staying here means you can all pry into my personal life then I’d like to leave…now!”
The room was silent as all eyes turned to Monroe. He watched Shy for several tense moments before turning to Lilly, “And if the child has no skill? If it is not a Walker?”
Lilly shook her head then, disbelief tightening her features and constricting her throat. Not all children that were born to human women mated to Walkers carried the Skin Walker traits. “What of me and King? Are you saying that if our Mahkya possess no ability, is not a true Walker that she and I have no place here?”
King growled and took a challenging step forward daring Monroe to denounce his angel or his child.
Monroe raked a hand through his hair angrily, “Of course that’s not what I’m saying.” His blue eyes slid to Shy, “I’m sorry, but we simply don’t know if you can be trusted.”
“I…” Shy began tentatively relieved that the men had backed off wanting her to tell Leto about the baby. “I can provide you with information in exchange for asylum. Just…just until my baby is born. But I went Leto kept away from me and he can never know about the baby.”
Monroe’s jaw worked before he demanded, “What type of information?”
Shy looked at Aries, hope springing to life. “They have files on many Walkers. I’ve read them. Most of them. I can tell you what they know.”
Monroe’s expression darkened.
“And they’re doing research. I can tell you what they’re working on, what they’re looking for. I-I spent a year and a half with them, worked by their side. I know intimate details, layout of the facility, hierarchy of the staff. Most importantly, I know the information they have on StoneCrow.”
Monroe’s brows drew together, “They know nothing of StoneCrow!”
Shy shook her head, “Not the location or the name, but they are aware that Walkers are congregating, forming an alliance. They know you’ve started a…a colony.”
Monroe cursed under his breath. “I’m not sure even that’s enough to placate the Walkers here.”
“Then let someone vouch for her.” Lilly challenged drawing his gaze back to her.
“Who?” Monroe demanded, “Who do you think wants that responsibility? If she is here under deception it will cost her life and the life of whoever would be foolish enough to vouch for her Lilly. No one will take that chance.”
Lilly’s chin lifted defiantly and Monroe knew he was fucked. “I will take that responsibility.”
“NO!” King’s eyes darkened dangerously as he strode angrily to his wife and pulled her to him, clamping one hand at her lower back while the other lifted her chin until her eyes met his. “I will never restrict you in anything but this. You may not vouch for her my queen or anyone ever. I will not allow it.”
Lilly opened her mouth to argue, but was cut off as Aries stepped forward shrugging her shoulders indifferently, “I’ll vouch for her.”
Wordlessly Conn stepped up behind his wife. One strong arm pulled her back into his chest and the other covered her mouth as she struggled under his grasp, muffled cusswords still distinguishable. Conn scowled at Monroe and slowly shook his head. Conn too would not risk the life of his mate for an outsider.
Jenny who’d stood silently glanced at Shy with sadness on her face. She knew her Bishop would never permit her to risk her life to vouch for another and a Walker angel needed her mate’s permission to vouch for anyone.
“You see Lilly there is no one willing,” Monroe grinned then displaying his perfect white teeth, “or allowed to vouch for her.”
>
“I vouch for her.”
Aries stopped struggling under Conn’s grip and all eyes turned to the door and Leto as he stood with his arms outstretched braced on either side of the doorway.
Chapter 11
Shy withdrew deeper into the room until she was partially hidden from Leto’s view, her hand instinctively going to her belly as she bowed her head to keep from seeing him.
“How long have you been listening?” Monroe challenged.
Leto’s outstretched arms shook as he made great efforts to keep himself erect. “Long enough to hear that you’re attempting to release my prisoner under the guise of bullshit policy.” Leto’s jaw was clamped tight as he sneered at the CEO.
Monroe stood and strode closer to the door, putting himself between Shy and Leto to block the angry Walker from scowling at her. “You don’t think Walkers will want her blood once they find out she’s worked with the Megalya?”
Leto’s eyes snapped to Shy and his lip curled back in derision, “She is Megalya?”
Shy winced and turned her back on the room.
“No,” Aries countered, “she was an intern before they turned on her.”
“Bullshit!” Leto challenged. A viscous growl sounded in the room before Shy heard Leto growl viciously, “I want her blood!”
Shy too moaned a fearful, “No!”
Monroe crossed his arms over his broad chest. “So you’ll vouch for her to keep her here, hoping she is Megalya and will be put to death?”
“You just informed me that she is Megalya!”
Monroe shook his head, “We know she was in intern, we don’t know the extent of her role and neither do you.”
“I vouch for her,” Leto reasserted. “Her true colors will show.”
“It’ll be your hide as well as hers if you’re right.”
Leto’s arms were shaking more visibly now, the effect of the drugs still too potent in his system. “If I can end the life of even one of them than it’s worth the sacrifice of my own.”
Monroe uncrossed his arms, “Fine. You vouch for her. She stays. Clearly I don’t need to explain to you the repercussions if things…end badly.” When Leto merely continued to scowl at the CEO, Monroe nodded to King, “Help him back to the infirmary.”
