by Susan Bliler
Shy smiled as she knelt to hug the little girl. “I do too. That would be really great.” Pulling back from the embrace she smiled warmly, “Have a good day sweetheart and thanks for letting me come sledding with you.”
“When it gets summer, we can come here and swing.”
Shy stood and smiled at Lilly, “That’d be fun.”
“Okay, well we’re heading home. You sure you don’t want us to walk you to the manor?”
“I’m sure,” Shy replied, “It’s not very far. You two be careful getting back home.” She waved at Lilly and Mahkya’s retreating backs. “Watch for ice.”
Shy watched the mother and daughter walk away hand-in-hand and both longing and fear stole through her. Being pregnant was hell on her emotions. She was anxious and excited to welcome the baby but she was also terrified at the prospect of becoming a mother. Not to mention the fact that she’d been at Stone Crow for five weeks now and while they’d successfully kept the news of the baby from Leto, it didn’t mean that Shy stopped being terrified that he’d find out.
Turning, she opted to stroll around the park before heading back to the manor. It wasn’t even dinner time yet but the sun was already setting. Montana winters produced cruelly short days. Shy reached up to lift the collar of her coat higher in hopes of blocking the biting wind. She tucked her hands back into the fur-lined pockets of her jacket and quickened her pace hoping to get in a least one lap around the park before the cold forced her to find shelter.
While walking, her thoughts drifted to Leto—as they often did. She hadn’t seen him since she’d woken with him in her suite. Aries had Conn place men on patrol outside her room and after two weeks when Leto hadn’t reappeared the Walker Sentries were called off.
Aries had informed Shy that Monroe forced Leto into one of the cabins on the estate to keep him away from Shy. At first she thought he’d retaliate at being forced out of the manor but Aries reassured her that the cabins were much nicer than the manor’s suites.
Shy’s feet stuttered to a halt and the fine hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. It happened often. Quickly scanning the grounds she didn’t see anyone. She never saw anyone, but she knew she was being watched…she could feel it.
Quickening her pace, she decided to cut through a heavily wooded portion of the park to make it back to the manor more quickly. Inside the thick brush, Shy stopped and held her breath when she thought she heard a twig snap behind her. She spun quickly but found no one.
Get a grip! She glanced at the sky and inwardly chastised herself for opting to take the walk. It was much darker than she’d anticipated and she hoped that the rapidly darkening sky was the reason she was freaking out. She considered backtracking out of the woods and taking the long way back and then just as quickly discarded the idea. Shooting one last look behind her she faced forward and took two steps before she gasped and jumped back when Leto stepped into her path.
His dark eyes carried their familiar disdain as they slid up and down her frame. She also noted that he looked tired and thinner…worn out.
“What are you up to Shy?”
“N-nothing.” Her voice came out sounding too thin as if she were trying to hide something. “I’m not…I was just with Aries. I’m going home.”
“Home?” He took a step closer. “Is this your home?”
“I meant my suite,” she amended quickly and dropped her eyes. “Excuse me.”
Leto moved but not in the direction Shy had hoped. Instead of stepping out of her path he stalked closer until he was nearly touching her.
Shy made to take a step back but Leto’s hands snaked out and locked on her hips holding her in place.
“What are your running from?”
She lifted her clear blue eyes to his. “I’m not running Leto. I’m not doing anything. I don’t…want any trouble. Please let me go.”
“I’ve been watching you.”
The admission startled her. “W-why?”
“I told you I’d catch you when you slipped up.”
Fear inched up her spine. “Leto I haven’t…”
“Don’t!” He growled. “Don’t say my name.”
Shy crossed both arms over her belly and dropped her head. She didn’t look up even after several long minutes passed with Leto still griping her firmly by the hips.
Finally, he moved but it was only to lean in and brush his nose over her ear. He inhaled slowly and the proximity had Shy’s skin warming.
“It’s been weeks. Why do you still carry my scent?”
“I…I don’t know,” she shook her head.
A low growl was the only warning she got before one arm clamped around her waist and jerked her hard into him while his free hand reached up and wrapped around her throat forcing her eyes to meet his. He didn’t apply pressure. There was only his touch. “You should know by now that we can scent lies. Tell me the truth. Why do you carry my scent?” His arm tightened around her middle and she flattened her hands against his chest.
“Leto…” tears flooded her eyes and she was on the verge of telling him the truth. Perhaps if he knew she carried their child he wouldn’t just kill her in the woods as she feared he was about to. Before she could even formulate the words to explain it to him he quickly released her and growled viscously before curling both hands into tight fists and turning away from her. It was apparent from his posture that he was struggling to control himself.
“Run!” The lone world was growled at her from between clenched teeth.
Shy hesitated. She knew animalistic instincts demanded that predators hunt their prey especially if the prey ran. “Leto?”
Leto turned on her then, his eyes dark with rage as he snarled, “Get away from me Shy! Run! Because if you stay I’m going to do something we’d both regret!”
Shy stumbled backward before turning and racing through the woods. When she cleared the tree line she kept going. Not even bothering to look back she raced all the way back to StoneCrow manor. She slammed through the double front doors drawing the attention of several teenagers that milled about the lobby. Undeterred she dashed up the stairs to the second floor and down the hall to her suite. She had her key-card in hand before she even reached the door.
Quickly sliding the key card over the magnetic lock she thrust her body against the door the second she heard it beep. A sob escaped her lips as she lifted a hand to her belly. He still wants to kill me!
In the woods Leto still stood staring at Shy’s footprints in the snow. He’d wanted to claim her so badly that he’d had to physically restrain himself from grabbing Shy, ripping her clothes from her delicate body, and mounting her in the damn park!
He’d scented her fear and knew instantly that she’d misunderstood his threat. It was just as well. He was having difficulty himself understanding the strange attraction to her. It had only gotten worse over the last five weeks. He’d watched her daily…stalked her. Convinced she was Megalya at StoneCrow to harm Walkers, he was disappointed and a little relieved that she hadn’t attempted anything that he could deem a threat. In fact, she’d acclimated to life at StoneCrow rather well. She’d become fast friends with Lilly and Aries and she spent most of her days helping the two women with chores or tasks that aided the Walker existence on the estate.
Leto dropped to his haunches to trace Shy’s footprint with a finger. He’d noticed that she’d gained a little weight and aside from diminishing the hollowness of her eyes and cheeks, it also filled out her figure in a way that had him clawing his hand into the frozen earth wishing he could explore her new fullness.
A glint of firelight caught his eye and he eased over to pluck the single strand of crimson hair from where it lay vibrant against the pale snow. Shy’s hair fascinated him. He’d never seen anything like it. She preferred to wear it down and he preferred it that way as well. The satiny locks had gotten brighter and glossier over the past few weeks as she’d gotten healthier and now whenever he saw her it seemed as if her hair was alive. The unruly tresses
shimmered and tumbled around her shoulders seemingly of their own accord. He longed to touch her hair and to run his fingers through the vibrant mane to see if it was as soft as it looked.
Slowly, he wound the piece of hair around his finger and lifted it to his nose where he instantly picked up Shy’s scent. He was attuned to her now and she was quickly becoming an obsession. Conn had been right. He hadn’t eaten or slept in many days and he was becoming restless…dangerous. He didn’t really want to hurt Shy but the more he saw her the more he wanted to simply take her. He fantasized about it, even plotting out various escape routes if he decided to simply gag her and drag her away from StoneCrow and keep her for himself.
Maybe she isn’t Megalya.
The thought instantly angered him; he was dropping his guard. His proximity to her was fucking with his head and making him forget his purpose for tailing her. He wasn’t going to allow her to harm another Walker and he’d be the one to kill her if the Megalya somehow found their location. She didn’t fool him. Leto dropped his head forward and rested his chin on his chest, vowing to steel himself against her beauty and allure. She won’t break me!
Chapter 16
“Jesus Leto, you’ve got to do something!” Dr. Jenny Arkinson was more than a little concerned with the state of the Walker’s affliction.
“Conn said that he denied it.”
“No,” Jenny jammed a needle into the Walker’s arm injecting a specialized vitamin nutrient supplement she’d created specifically for hard-headed Walker’s who’d rather suffer than claim their angel.
“Conn didn’t deny anything. He fought it until he was too weak and exhausted and then gave in. When he was finally able to rest another Walker kidnapped his angel and she was severely injured. Aries almost died and I’m not saying it was Conn’s fault, but if he would have just claimed her…”
When she pulled the needle out of his arm, Leto frowned at her. “Give me another.”
“Look, I need to admit you. No one has ever gone this long before, not even Bishop. There could be side-effects, permanent damage Leto. You need to be monitored.”
“No,” he growled, “just give me more liquid food.”
“It’s not liquid food! It’s a nutrient and vitamin supplement that isn’t intended for prolonged use. It hasn’t been tested in that capacity.”
Leto held his arm up, “Test it on me.”
“Leto, look…” Jenny didn’t get to finish as a knock sounded at the door and it was pushed open without invitation.
Monroe StoneCrow entered wearing his typical tailored suit and flanked by his Chief of Security, King Mulholland.
“Morning Jenny,” even white teeth bit into an apple as the CEO spoke around the bite. “Leto.”
“What can I do for you Mr. StoneCrow?” Jenny’s tone was clipped with impatience.
“Nothing. I’ve come to check on our guest, to see how his affliction is commencing.”
“It isn’t,” Jenny began shoving supplies back into their assigned drawers and cabinets, her long dark pony tail falling over her shoulder to dangle near her hands as they worked. “He won’t claim Shy and it’s been too long.” She turned and faced the men, “I honestly don’t know how he’s even functioning. Bishop never lasted this long and the supplements,” she motioned toward the drawer she’d just closed, “weren’t intended for this. I can only assume that his metabolism has slowed due to his lengthy incarceration at the Megalya facility. Apparently it’s quite easy to ignore your body’s needs when you’ve been forced to do so for several months.” She narrowed her eyes on Monroe as she planted both hands on her hips. “You need to do something.”
Monroe smiled and took another bite of his apple. “Me? And what is it good doctor that you think I can do?”
“You know damn well you can force this.”
Leto growled. No one would be forcing him into anything.
Another crisp bite of apple sounded through the room while Monroe chewed and studied Jenny before swallowing, tossing the remains of the apple in the garbage, and then dusting his hands together. “Seems I won’t have to.”
“What?” Jenny shook her head confused, her eyes flicking to King at Monroe’s shoulder then back to the CEO.
“I’ve actually come here to inform Leto that he no longer needs to be concerned with Ms. Brookes.”
Jenny paled. She knew Monroe and his machinations well and she was terrified to find out where this was going. “Why?” she failed miserably at keeping the tremble from her voice.
Monroe ignored Jenny and instead focused on Leto. “As you’re aware Leto, our community here consists mainly of Walker males with few females and a handful of fully human staff. Shy has been here long enough to have drawn the attention of several males.”
Leto was surprised by the involuntary growl that passed his lips.
“Lucky for you, another Walker seeks to claim her and I’ve consented.”
“What?”Jenny shrieked.
Undeterred, Monroe continued. “Once he…mounts her, your affliction will begin to subside. It should only take a dozen or so couplings to rid her of your scent completely.
Jenny was shaking her head, her mouth gaping open in shock. The information Monroe was providing wasn’t accurate. Not even close. There was only one way to sate Walker affliction and that was with the claiming and binding of one’s true angel. Shooting her eyes to Leto she wasn’t surprised to find him enraged. His breathing had increased, his brows had speared down, and his hands were curled into tight fists. Growls were rumbling from his chest and it had Jenny terrified.
She’d seen a Walker male in this condition only once before. Having run blood tests on samples, she’d discovered that she was Bishop’s mate. Not wanting to be bound, she had one of her nurses put Bishop on a strain of extremely risky pharmaceuticals she’d concocted in hopes of preventing the affliction. When it didn’t work, she’d had her staff keep Bishop in the dark regarding the affliction and put him on the same regiment of the vitamin nutrient supplement she was currently using on Leto. It lasted almost a month and a half before Bishop finally lost it and attacked her.
She now wore the double-helix of mated Walkers but she still hadn’t forgiven herself for what she’d done to her Bishop. He’d suffered because of her and she’d suffered as well. She had to put a stop to Monroe’s game. Whether he knew it or not he was putting Shy in grave danger. She knew better than anyone else.
“Leto, that’s not true…”
King cut in, “I informed York that you’d granted permission.” He directed his gaze to Monroe, “He’s on his way to Shy’s suite to claim her now.”
The words were barely out before Leto jumped from the med bed and disappeared out the door.
“WAIT!” Jenny raced for the door, but Monroe’s grip on her arm prevented her from chasing Leto. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing,” she spat. “He’s going to hurt her!”
Monroe smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes, “Walker men don’t hurt their angels.”
Sparks of fury burned brightly in Jenny’s eyes as she jerked her arm free, “And how in the hell would you know?”
A muscle ticked in Monroe’s jaw before he spoke. “King, would you ever harm your Lilly.”
“Never!”
Monroe turned then, “You see.”
“You need to send help over there now Monroe.”
He stopped just outside the door to look over his shoulder, “I couldn’t allow his affliction to carry on any longer Doctor. It was detrimental to his health.”
“And what of hers? I know how you feel about humans Monroe, we all know, but have you no pity for their baby?”
“That baby is what’s going to keep him from harming her and…” Monroe turned and began walking away, “it’s what’s going to bring that Walker to his fucking knees.”
In the hall, King followed the CEO silently until they exited the infirmary. “You sure about this?”
“Sure? No. But we’ve no other rec
ourse aside from losing him. If Shy believes Leto would harm her, then she has her own means of self-preservation.”
“The baby?”
“Exactly. I’m not sure if he’d injure Shy. As Jenny pointed out, I’ve never been afflicted, but I do know that there isn’t a Walker on the face of this earth that would harm a child.”
“You’re certain of that?” King smirked.
Monroe stopped walking and turned to level clear blue eyes on his Sentry. “Certain enough to have just bet Shy’s life on it.”
Chapter 17
Shy hadn’t ventured out of her suite since her encounter with Leto. She knew now that the odd tingling sensation she’d gotten when she had been out had been caused by the fact that he’d been watching her. The thought still terrified her. She’d gone over the countless times she’d been out alone and played out every scenario of how Leto could have gotten her.
Huffing, Shy stepped out of the shower, dried herself, then smeared vanilla scented lotion over her body before wrapping the towel around her, tucking it in a tight knot just above her breasts. She shook her head frowning down at herself. “I swear they’re growing.”
Her breast size had increased by at least a cup and her hips had gotten an accentuated curve, but her belly—while slightly pooched—wasn’t as pronounced as she thought it’d be by this point. She slid a hand inside her towel and rubbed a hand gently over her belly. “So what do you want for breakfast baby?”
Suddenly the bathroom door was slammed open. It crashed back and the doorknob imbedded itself into the wall sending dry-wall raining down on the crimson carpet.
Shy screamed as she spun towards the door. One hand instinctively clamping over her belly while the other latched onto the knot of her towel to ensure it stayed in place.
Leto’s face was contorted in pure fury as he scanned the bathroom. He stalked to the shower and Shy had to jump out of the way to keep from being run over.
“Where is he?” With one jerk the shower curtain was ripped from the rod, the now empty rings jangling loudly in the small room.
