“Can the rest of the hotel hear this?” Mal asked as the shrieking increased.
“Not all. Just a few close relatives of ours in this wing, or those who have married into other wings. We, as the head of the Adrastos family, hear it the loudest.”
“So why am I hearing it, if only those you are related to can hear it?”
His eyes were serious, truthful, when he looked at her. “Because from the moment I first recognized you as my Rajni, you became the female head of my family, second only by my sister, Aureliana. You can hear the Adrastos Beansidhe because you are an Adrastos, now.”
Mallory watched him pace around the room as the sound of the shrill screaming continued. A crack of thunder overhead shook the building, just as lightning flashed again. The flash revealed a silhouette at the window.
Mallory did scream then, and crouched into a defensive pose.
The other woman wrapped strong arms around Mallory’s upper arms from behind her. “Be quiet. It won’t hurt us, but we don’t want to draw its attention this way. Beansidhe can be quite vindictive when pulled from their tasks. It’s best to let Aodhan deal with it.”
Mallory nodded, though she remained tense. His sister’s grip was strong and firm and she was at least three inches taller and thirty pounds heavier than Mallory. Yet fear had the larger woman trembling, as well. If she was frightened of this thing, Mallory had every reason to be.
Of course, if what they’d said was true, this Beansidhe was bringing news that someone was going to die. Anyone would be terrified of it.
If the vampire was terrified of it, nothing in his demeanor showed that terror. He stood facing the glass veranda doors, arms crossed over his massive chest. He nodded once.
The creature shrilled again, and the glass separating her from the room’s occupants shattered into millions of pieces. Mallory bit her knuckles to prevent another scream from escaping.
Aodhan did nothing, did not even flinch. A tiny bit of admiration for him burned through her mind.
Mallory studied the glowing creature that now stood less than two yards from the vampire. After she got past the glow, she could easily see that the Beansidhe was beautiful. Ethereal. Cold and frightening. And her eyes were open in what could only be described as a cross between tortured grief and the sightless stare of someone who was long dead.
Mallory’s shivers were just as strong as Aodhan’s sister’s. The other woman continued to hold Mallory, whether to keep Mallory from running, or because Aureliana needed emotional support. The why wasn’t quite clear to Mallory, but she didn’t mind. She clung just as tightly.
How could he face the thing so calmly? Mallory was fighting the urge to wet her pants.
The Beansidhe looked straight at her and Aodhan’s sister. A keening wail echoed throughout the suite.
His sister’s voice was fierce in Mallory’s ear. “Don’t look away from her.
She’s staring at the two of us, and if we don’t listen, she will become angry.” Mal nodded slowly, staring unblinking at the creature.
Nothing had ever terrified her more than when the Beansidhe opened her mouth and began to speak.
“Cherish the children, cherish the child. Cherish the child! The poor, poor children! Cherish or all shall be lost...”
Chapter Fourteen
“So what do you think it meant?” Emily asked Mal the next morning. Mal had met her cousin in the private sitting room after Aodhan had disappeared to do whatever it was he did when he wasn’t tormenting her. Mal hadn’t been back to sleep, and all she wanted was to curl up on the couch and think about what she’d seen.
“They don’t know. Only that there will be kids involved. Auri is a wreck that’s Aodhan’s younger sister trying to figure it out.”
“And how is the man who took you? What did he do?”
Mal thought back to those awful moments just after the Beansidhe had disappeared, her wails echoing over the sound of the storm. The vampire had stared out into the night for several long minutes before turning back to where Mallory and his sister stood. The other woman still hadn’t let Mallory go, and Mallory honestly thought Auri had needed the support Mallory was providing.
Aodhan had crossed the room to them. Mallory’s breath had caught at his expression. Fear, grief, determination all were mingled in his eyes. He’d surprised her, jerking her and his sister into his arms and hugging them. His arm had been so tight around her she’d almost been unable to breathe. His hand had moved up into her hair, just above the braid that was coming loose and he’d pulled her even closer. He’d kissed her, strong and hard. Then pulled back and kissed his sister’s forehead.
It had been a long time before he let them go.
“Mal? You with me?”
“He said there was nothing they could do, they just had to play it out. But he looked sick.”
“I suppose he would. If what I’ve learned is correct, he’s the head of a branch of these people. There’s almost two thousand people per branch. And if he’s related to all of them somehow...there is no way they would be able to figure it out in time to do anything about it.”
Mal nodded. That’s what his sister had said. “That’s a lot of responsibility on his shoulders.”
Emily nodded. “Yes. It is. I can almost feel sorry for him.”
“If he hadn’t kidnapped me, yeah. I can see that. Do you think it’s true?
What they’ve said about Grandfather?”
“Yes. You know we saw the pictures. Rydere says there’s video, too.”
“Sick. Do you think our dads know?”
Emily shook her head. “No. I don’t think they can, or they would have stopped him somehow.”
“That’s what I thought.”
“Oh, Em. What are we going to do?” Mal sank to the couch beside her cousin and buried her face in her hands.
“Whatever we have to in order to get through this.” Emily leaned against Mal’s shoulder.
***
How was she supposed to do that? Mallory continued to ask herself that as the week passed, but the answer was never quite clear. He continued to sleep beside her at night, and after that first night with the banshee, she was half grateful for it. He was big and warm, and though he’d kidnapped her, she knew he meant it when he’d said he’d keep her safe.
At least...she believed he’d keep her safe while he held her against her will.
No one had died, yet. But she somehow sensed that everyone in his family were on eggshells waiting for it. They all walked around with somber expressions and she’d seen several parents keep their children very close.
It had her even more on edge. How much worse must it be for him, being the leader of these people?
Mal’s head and heart were filled with thoughts of him as she wandered through the back hall leading toward the gardens. She hadn’t had much time with him over the last few days, and if she were perfectly honest with herself, that had her unsettled.
Some part of her was beginning to search for him everywhere. That terrified her way more than the banshee had. Her hands fiddled with the turquoise scarf knotted around her waist. He’d given her a clip that morning, a turquoise, silver, and tourmaline piece shaped like a hawk. He’d said it represented his family. The clip held the scarf just under the intricate knot he’d tied it in. He liked doing that, she’d noticed. It didn’t matter what she wore each day clothing-wise, but he always tied a turquoise, or turquoise and white, scarf around her hair or her waist. Claiming her as a part of his family.
She’d spent some time with his sister, and despite everything, Mallory truly liked Aureliana. They were very much alike. They’d quickly gotten in the habit of meeting each morning in the gardens or in the private Adrastos family gym to work out, or to practice their fighting skills. Aureliana knew much about the fighting arts Mallory strongly suspected she was trying to compete with her sixteen older brothers, who were all supposed to be extremely gifted fighters and had even promised to teach Mallory about sword-fight
ing.
It would be so easy for her to build a routine here. If it hadn’t been for the fact that she’d had a life she’d been ripped away from, Mallory could see herself being comfortable among the Dardaptoan people. But the thoughts of the life she’d left behind were starting to consume her.
She missed her family her youngest sister, her father...her twin brother. She and Rand had been together nearly every day of their lives, even if for only a few moments each day. They were two parts of the same whole, and dammit, she missed that. And she feared she’d never see him again. Or the rest of her family.
If she could just talk to them, let them know she and Mickey, Emily, and Josey were all right, perhaps it wouldn’t bother her so badly.
Chapter Fifteen
Aodhan watched her on the security camera in front of him, taking in the dejected slump of her shoulders and the wistful expression on her beautiful face.
His Rajni wasn’t happy. What was he supposed to do about that?
He didn’t want to think about what Cormac was saying. What Rydere was agreeing to. Theo was quiet, but Aodhan had worked with his friend long enough to know what was on his mind.
“Cauterize the wounds, then?” Aodhan glanced toward the window that overlooked the front of the hotel, then stared at the horizon. “We will need to watch them from afar. Keep them safe until they adjust.”
He felt like his heart was being ripped out of his chest, but what else could he do? The woman on the monitor was miserable, and as her Rajni, wasn’t he supposed to make her happy? That he had failed in the week and a half he’d had her with him sickened him.
Cormac fell to his knees, a harsh cry coming from his mouth. Aodhan froze, staring at the darker man.
“She’s hurt!” Cormac rose and ran from the room, and Aodhan was on his heels. Rydere, too. Aodhan knew Theo would be sounding all the alarms, and summoning the healers to wherever the help was needed.
“Cormac, where?” Rydere yelled.
“The gardens! Hurry!”
Screams were coming from the hallway just outside the sitting rooms reserved for the female Heads of Houses. From the hallway that separated those rooms from the doors leading to the gardens.
Aodhan saw Rydere fly through the closest door, Cormac close on his heels. Aodhan followed.
Six Lupoiux werewolves were in the gardens, tearing at a blonde woman dressed in Cormac’s House colors. Aodhan knew immediately that it was Mallory’s cousin. The deaf one. Cormac’s female.
Aodhan dove at the closest of the wolves, only vaguely aware of Rydere’s Rajni stumbling to her feet. After the first wolf died beneath his hands, Aodhan grabbed the Dhan and shoved her toward the open doors. She had to be protected at all costs. Theo took her, pulling her into the building, just as several guards rushed out.
Aodhan turned back to the wolves. He tore the throat from one beast as it lunged for Rydere’s carotid. Had the beast made contact, it could have proven deadly for the Dahr.
The wolves were dead within seconds, young and easily slaughtered.
Whatever they were doing in the gardens had been a suicide mission. Who had sent them and why?
Aodhan pulled Rydere to his feet and helped his old friend to the doors. The little female waited inside, frantic, fear for her male on her pretty face. Theo took Rydere’s other arm, somehow knowing the Dahr needed assistance despite being unable to see him, and they led him inside the rest of the way. They carried him quickly to his suite. It surprised Aodhan that the Dhan stayed by their friend’s side. Perhaps Rydere’s Rajni cared for him more than the king thought?
It was several long minutes later that Kindara pronounced that Rydere would most likely live, provided that blood infection didn’t set in. Word was also sent that Cormac’s Rajni still held on to life.
Rydere’s little Rajni barely took her eyes off of him, though Aodhan had no difficulty sensing that she was conflicted. “Go to your cousins, Dhan Emily. They have need of you.”
“But he… ”
“We will care for him.” Aodhan smiled at her softly. Her eyes were very much like Mallory’s. How was he to resist feeling a small bit of tenderness for this, his cousin-by-marriage? “And when he is settled we will come to you. He needs much blood, and we know our feeding is still uncomfortable to you. Go.”
His hands were insistent as he nudged her toward the door. Theo was letting Rydere feed the girl would do no one any good until she reassured herself her cousin would live, as well.
***
After Aodhan managed to get a good amount of blood into his Dahr, he went in search of his own Rajni. He knew where to find her, and it took him little time to reach Cormac’s suite taking the hidden corridors that only members of the top security teams knew about.
She stood at the foot of Cormac’s bed, staring at her cousin as Kindara and Barlaam saw to the woman’s injuries.
He wanted nothing more than to scoop his female into his arms and never let her go. It could have been her out there in the gardens when the wolves attacked. He knew she and Auri liked to spar together beneath the canopy of small trees the gardeners prized. But he doubted she would welcome his touch. He was the reason she had been exposed to this world with magical beasts and such. She must hate him fiercely. If not for him, she most likely would never have met a Lupoiux at all.
He settled for wrapping a hand around her shoulder and pulling her a bit closer.
She didn’t stiffen, didn’t pull away. Perhaps she needed the reassurance just as much as he did?
Rydere’s Rajni stood next to his. Her eyes were full of questions when she looked at him. Aodhan knew what she wanted without her having to voice the words. “He’s...better. He’s sleeping, now. But he asked me to check on you one more time.”
She said something in response, but Aodhan’s attention was on his female. On the paleness of her skin. He pulled her into his arms and she went willingly. Her arms slipped around his waist and she clung to him for the first time. She trembled in his arms. It was then he knew what he must do.
Cormac and Rydere had been right. They had to send them home.
Just as soon as Cormac’s Rajni was recovered, Aodhan would make the arrangements for Mallory himself.
Chapter Sixteen
“That’s it? I’m sorry I took you from your home. Here’s your hat, what’s your hurry?” Mal stared at him, unable to process what he’d said. “Don’t you think there should be more to it than that? What about what you said? That we will be a danger to the rest of our family? What about Grandfather and what he’s done? What about Josey?”
“Your grandfather must be dealt with. That is a given, kitten. I’m sorry if that upsets you.”
“It really doesn’t. I hate the old bastard, and if what you say is true, he deserves to go to jail. Even Dardaptoan jail. Especially Dardaptoan jail. But what about Becca, and the rest of my cousins? Dylan and Jace and Ethan are barely teenagers! We can’t be around them like this.”
“We will have to teach you, of course. Ensure you understand how to stay safe and how to keep the humans in your world safe. You are not happy here with me, Mallory. I cannot go through the days seeing your misery any longer.
What kind of Rajni would I be then?”
What was she supposed to think? He’d taken her, completely changed her life, and now he was sending her back, expecting her to be happy? She couldn’t go back, not like this!
“And my sister, cousins? What about them? Josey needs to stay here with your healers. Isn’t that what Kindara said?”
“We will return you to your fathers when Cormac’s Rajni is well enough to be moved, if you like. Or you may return now and she later. However you wish it.”
“I need to speak with Emily and Mickey.” Make a plan, decide what they would all do.
Why wasn’t she jumping at this chance? Was she that afraid of what she’d become?
“I understand. I believe your sister is in the sitting room reading now. Theo is busy with a court case,
and your sister seems to prefer to keep her own company. Would you like me to escort you to her?”
“No. I can find my own way.” She wasn’t helpless, was far from dependent. She didn’t need him for anything.
“Very well, then. I...I need to go. I...have work.” He wouldn’t meet her eyes. Why wouldn’t he look at her? Had he ever been so evasive? Mallory didn’t think so. She studied him closely. What she saw confused her.
He didn’t want her to go. He really didn’t. But he obviously meant it. He was letting her go. Whenever she chose. But she wasn’t leaving here without her sister or cousins. She couldn’t. She definitely needed to speak with them. Now.
But she couldn’t leave it like this between them. “Aodhan...”
He looked up, eyes bleak. “Yes?”
“Thank you...I mean that.”
***
“You can go if you want, Mal, but I’m not leaving.” Mickey said the words firmly, her resolve clear on her face. “I want to stay with Theo. I think I love him. And I know he loves me.”
Mal stared at her sister. “You’re kidding? What about Dad? Rand, Becca?
What do you think they will think?”
“I’d like to think they will be happy that I’ve found someone who loves me. Truly loves me. We don’t have to mention that he’s a six hundred year old vampire. Emily’s happy for me.”
“Em knows?”
“I told her earlier today. I kind of think she wants to stay, too.” “I see.”
“You want to go home, don’t you?” Mickey’s eyes held pity and Mal straightened her spine. She didn’t want pity from anyone, even her sister.
“Yes. I do.” And she did. She wanted to see her dad, her twin, and her youngest sister. Make sure they were all right. But that didn’t mean she wanted to sever ties with Mickey. Would it have to be that way? Did she have to pick one sister over the other?
In the Beginning... Page 31
