Mallory thought of everything that had happened to her since the night Aodhan had carried her out of her home. “Hurt me? No. Terrified me, confused me, exasperated me, yes. But other than that first initial meeting, he’s not hurt me at all. Not since he decided I was his Rajni.”
“A man doesn’t just decide a woman is his Rajni. The bond is too strong, too powerful, too damned magical for that. A Rajni bond is actually quite a beautiful thing. Is that the way it is for you, poppet? Because if it isn’t, and you want to go home, I will do all in my power to make that happen.”
Mallory surprised both herself and him by throwing her arms around him and hugging him tight. It was exactly the reassurance she needed and though it came from neither her brother nor her uncle, it still meant the world to her. “Thank you, Rath. I don’t know what I am doing yet. But at least now I have the choices.”
“We always have choices. Sometimes it is just hard to see them. On that note…” Rathan turned toward the rest of the group who’d paused to watch their quiet conversation. “Where does Kindara sleep?”
“I doubt that she would want me sharing that information with you. She’s extremely private, and I’ve made it one of my jobs to preserve that privacy,” Aureliana told him. Mal just stared at him. Had he truly asked what she thought he had?
“I will find her myself, then. Thank you for your time.” He smiled at Mallory and then blinked.
Then he was gone.
Mallory shared a look with Mickey. “I don’t understand it, either. Apparently, Rand’s best friend is a demon. How about that?”
Mickey looked at Rand, who was still stalking Jierra. “I have so many questions.”
Mallory grabbed her brother and jerked his attention away from Jierra. “So do I. And I know one man who can answer them. Come on. We’re so going to have a talk.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Aodhan finished with Jambu then went in search of his female. She was not in his suite, but he hadn’t expected her to be. It took him but moments to find her.
The shouting drew him to the sitting room she’d shared with her cousins since the day after he’d brought her home. Her voice and a male’s. Aodhan cursed, then increased his pace.
It was as he suspected; she and her brother stood on opposite sides of the coffee table, yelling at one another. Jierra sat in the corner, her eyes wide and frightened. And trained on the Lupoiux wolf.
“You had no right!” Mallory was yelling at her brother. “She deserved a choice! I never thought you would do this!”
“Don’t meddle in things you don’t understand, Mallory! This is the way of my people!”
“Your people? Your people? Are you kidding me? How can anyone on this planet be any more your people than your twin?” Mallory’s confusion was clear, as was her anger. And the protective way she stood between her brother and
Jierra.
Why was she so protective of Jierra? And why was the brother so focused on the younger woman?
“She’s mine, Mal! You both need to get used to it!”
“You are no better than them!” Mal threw her arm out and pointed toward Aodhan. He hadn’t known she’d realized he was there. “I know, why don’t we just get Jierra’s uncle in here and you can make an even trade! Josey for Jierra! That’s sick, Randall! Sick!”
Aodhan shook his head as it started to become clear to him. The wolf wanted Jierra. The wolf wanted Jierra, and was fighting his own family to get to her. Was growling at his beloved twin for interfering.
“Mallory.” Aodhan’s voice was sharp, firm. More so than he’d ever used with her. “Stop. Now.”
“No! He, he…he…he’s not doing this to Jierra!” Mallory’s confusion was clear for everyone in the room to hear. But it didn’t matter. Her brother still growled, and his fury was focused on his sister.
Aodhan grabbed Mallory and jerked her behind him. “Jierra! Out of here. Go to your uncle and stay there! Go, now!”
Jierra understood he meant it, and she obeyed immediately. Mallory continued to yell at her brother, her fury increasing with each hiss she issued in the brother’s direction. Aodhan ensured his body was between his female’s and the threat of the wolf. “Mallory; stop now! Do as I say!”
She struggled to get around him, to go back at her brother. Aodhan held her tight and jerked her around. “I said stop! It’s too dangerous!”
“Why? It’s my damned brother! The idiot!” She pushed at Aodhan’s hands, but he held firm. He didn’t care if he bruised her. He could not allow his female to challenge an alpha Lupoiux. Even if it was her brother.
“Mallory, look at me.” He turned her head to him, then met her eyes before returning his gaze to the wolf. “Your brother is not human. Do you understand me? He’s a Lupoiux. I don’t know how, or why, but I know this is true. And Jierra is his mate. You never get between a Lupoiux male and his mate. He will kill you sooner than blinking. Even if he’s your brother.”
“No. That’s crazy. Rand is not a werewolf; I would have known…” She stared at her brother, who was glaring at her with the worst look of hatred in his eyes. Aodhan watched her puzzlement turn to horror. She tried to step toward her brother, this time her movement one of love and comfort. “Rand? No…”
The wolf was too far gone. Aodhan could see the fur of a red wolf starting to cover the brother’s limbs. His attention was still directed at his twin. The brother flashed into wolf form. Threatening. Aodhan knew what had to be done. “Mallory, I need you to listen to me. I want you to go out of this room quietly and calmly. Do not draw his attention.”
“But…no…”
“Do as you’re told. If you don’t, someone may mistake him for a Lupoiux enemy and could kill him. I’m going to keep him distracted while you get out of here. Understand?”
“Don’t hurt him.” Her tears were choking her, he could hear it in her voice. “Please?”
“I won’t. Just go, kitten. Carefully.”
She slipped from the room, and the wolf growled. Beast more in control than man. Aodhan could have understood it, but the wolf’s threatening Mallory would never be tolerated. Despite the family connection. He stared at the red beast. “Come on, then. If a fight is what you want, I will give it to you. But listen to me closely, dog. You will never threaten my female again. Dogs much stronger and older than you have died for far lesser offences. Come on, then. Take your best shot.”
The wolf leapt. Aodhan caught the beast when it was within three inches of his throat. He would subdue first, and do his damnedest not to kill his brother-in-law in the process.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Mallory didn’t know where to go or what to do when Aodhan ordered her from the sitting room. She didn’t have to make a decision; strong male hands grabbed her as she ran from the room and she was shoved into Theo’s chest. Thank God, Theo. He would help Aodhan and would not let Aodhan harm Rand.
Theo wrapped strong arms around her when she would have turned back and entered the room. The horrific sounds of an animal fighting for its life echoed through the hallway. “Stop him! He’s killing my brother!”
“No, my fiery little sister, he is not.” Theo’s tone soothed. Mallory ignored it. Cormac was there, Jierra steps behind him. Thank God. Mallory’s eyes closed in relief when she saw the man beside Cormac.
“Uncle Jason! Stop them! Please!”
***
Aodhan was hampered, not by the wolf’s strength, but by the fact that he had to subdue the beast rather than simply kill it. Had it not meant so much to his Rajni, the red pelt would have adorned his floor by morning. Still, while he fought only to contain, the wolf fought to kill. The man was too far gone to be in control.
This wolf was more animalistic than nearly all of the Lupoiux Aodhan had ever encountered, and he wondered at it. He was also pretty damned strong to be a Lupoiux alpha of less than thirty years. Most didn’t strengthen like this until the age of sixty or so. It warranted more questions, but Aodhan kept his focus on pr
eventing the beast from ripping out his throat.
He grabbed the animal and flung it, sending it flying through the glass window into the gardens below. He followed, leaping the two stories to the ground. He would not want the wolf to happen onto an unsuspecting Dardaptoan. There were children that lived in this resort, after all.
He and the wolf continued their battle until hands pulled them apart. Cormac. Mallory’s uncle. Barlaam and Rydere. Others. Aodhan relaxed. His job was done. He regained his breath and pushed Cormac’s hands aside. “I am fine. I sought merely to subdue. My Rajni?”
“She is with Theo.” Cormac pointed to the broken door two stories above them. Aodhan could see his woman and his friend. “What in the nine hells happened?”
“Jierra is his mate. Mallory did not know not to interfere. Apparently the wolf is a strong one in her twin, and rose to the surface when my Rajni stepped between them. I will have words with her about it shortly.”
“I see.” Cormac’s own ire was clear in his voice. “Kindara did not tell me that. It matters not. Jierra will do only what she wishes where the wolf is concerned.”
“Thank you for your assistance. I suppose we should ensure the wolf is contained until he can prove his ability to control himself? Take him to the basement. My Rajni will not be happy, but it cannot be helped. He will never threaten her again. Not while I live.”
“Will do.” Cormac looked unbelievably pleased at the assignment. Aodhan knew the other male was highly protective of his sister’s only child.
“Do not harm him further. I don’t think any of our Rajnis would appreciate it.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Mallory watched the battle between the animal she knew to be her brother and Aodhan with utter horror. She could not look away, and even Theo’s restraining hands couldn’t keep her from running to the balcony railing and looking down on the men in the garden.
Aodhan stood, but he looked horrible. Blood coated his arms, his chest. His? Or her brother’s?
Rand was still a wolf, and while that shocked her more than she could ever imagine, she knew in her heart the animal biting and clawing at the hands that held him Cormac and Barlaam…and Uncle Jason.
It took her seconds to descend the metal steps, barely aware that Theo and Jierra followed at a much more cautious pace. She stopped less than a yard away from her brother. “Uncle Jason! There’s blood on him! You have to help him!”
Josey’s father looked her brother over. “It isn’t his, kiddo. It isn’t his.” She tried to step toward her brother, but strong hands stopped her. Cormac. “No. Don’t touch him, yet. He’s too animalistic right now. Let your uncle deal with him. He’s had experience, I’m sure.”
“Why? Are you saying…Uncle Jason?” She looked at the man she’d loved all her life.
He was a carbon copy of her father, except for the black hair he’d inherited from his mother, Mallory’s grandmother. “Are you…”
“Yes, kiddo. I am. We were bitten on your eighth birthday.”
Mallory thought back to that night. She’d had a slumber party…and Rand had wanted to go camping to get away from all the girls in the house. He’d gone camping with Uncle Jason, but had come home halfway through the trip ill. “I see. Why didn’t you tell us?”
“We couldn’t. It wouldn’t have been safe for you. But now…”
“Now that we are monsters, too, you mean?” Mallory looked around at the men still surrounding her. And at Jierra, watching Rand from behind the safety of Theo’s shoulders. Aureliana, who stood sword-drawn at Rand’s back.
Mallory’s eyes met Auri’s, saw the compassion there. Auri put the sword away. “Your brother is going to be fine, Mal. I cannot say the same for mine.”
Mallory gasped and turned toward Aodhan. He was pale, but on his feet. “You’re hurt.”
“A bit. I will survive, kitten.” He held out a hand to her but wavered.
Mallory sucked in a breath.
“I’ll send for Kindara.” Auri motioned for a wide-eyed servant boy, who came running immediately. “Briken, fetch Lady Kindara to the Green Room, please.”
“Yes, ma’am. Did the werewolf bite Aodhan?”
“We’re not sure. Keep this quiet, ok?”
“Ok.” The boy ran off.
Mallory stepped closer to Aodhan’s side. She ran a hand lightly down his arm. “Are you hurt very badly?”
“Like I said, I will survive, kitten. You do not need to be concerned.”
“Of course I’m concerned! But…”
He walked away from her. Theo and Auri followed.
Mallory was left watching his back as he walked away. She looked at her brother, still held tightly by Cormac. “How long will he be like that?”
“Who knows? Hours, maybe. Days, even. Damned beast is in control.” Cormac’s expression darkened. “Damned animal could have killed Aodhan. All while Aodhan refused to fight back, so as not to upset you! Your brother will be under lock and key for a while, until he regains control of himself. And he will not be allowed near you, your sister, or Josey and Dhan Emily until we can be assured of your safety again.”
“But…”
“Your Rajni was hurt because of your stupidity. Don’t you care?” Cormac’s words were harsh and had Mallory feeling even more ill than she already did.
“No, Uncle Cormac. He was hurt because she was protecting me. Don’t be angry with her.” Jierra’s voice had them all looking toward her. Everyone could easily see how frightened she was. “I didn’t want to go with him, and she tried to make him stop. I’m sorry.”
Cormac nodded, his expression tender when he looked at his niece. “You should have told me, Jierra. I could have helped you.”
“I…”
Mallory felt for the girl. Hadn’t she been just as frightened by Aodhan just a few weeks ago? “Jierra, let’s go inside. I need to see him. And your mother will be there.”
They walked into the hotel without looking back.
***
“You didn’t have to do that,” Jierra whispered the words as she and Mallory walked down the hall toward the green room. “He is your brother. You didn’t have to make him mad at you. Not for me.”
“He may be my brother, but he had no right to take you against your will. No man of any species, or Kind, does.”
“It wasn’t against my will. Not really. Not at first, I don’t think. I thought…”
Mallory understood the girl’s confusion. She’d felt nothing but confusion since the moment she’d met Aodhan. “Go on. You thought?”
Jierra’s cheeks flamed. “I thought that he was my Rajni and because of that he would at least care about me a little.”
Mallory stopped walking and grabbed the younger woman’s arm. “Jierra, did Rand force you to have sex with him?”
“No. I wanted to be with him. Wanted my first time to be with my Rajni. Or…who I thought was my Rajni.” Jierra sighed, then wrapped her arms around herself. “But…it wasn’t very good. Oh, goddess! I’m sorry! He’s your brother and I just said…”
Mallory laughed, then wrapped an arm around Jierra’s shoulders as they started walking again. “It’s ok. So…it wasn’t very good, then? Rand always acts like he’s a damned stud with women. Very annoying, let me tell you.”
“No. It was too quick, and he acted like I wasn’t even there.” Jierra’s confusion colored her words.
“Oh.”
“Everyone has said that when you meet your Rajni and you sleep with him for the first time it’s supposed to be wonderful. That it’s everything you were waiting for. I guess I am just unlucky. Your brother scares me. He said…he said he would take my babes away from me if I didn’t go with him when he leaves.”
Mallory let out a squeak. “Babies?”
“Yes. Mother said that a Lupoiux mating always results in babes. And she checked. I have two babes growing inside me now.” Jierra laughed, a slightly wild, terrified sound. “And that they come early. At twenty-one weeks. But�
�I know that no Dardaptoan has ever had twins and lived. If I die, what will happen to my babes? Out there. Wherever it is he would take them?”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Aodhan’s explanation of Jierra’s past hit Mallory. If Jierra was pregnant, the other woman would not want her children raised amongst the Taniss family. That would be a horrible fear for Jierra. She wrapped her arms around the girl before she thought. Only a few years separated them in age, but Jierra was one of those women who brought out others’ protective instincts. Mallory was no exception. And Jierra possibly carried her first niece or nephew. That held considerable weight for Mallory. “Nothing. Nothing will happen to your babies. I promise you this. They will stay right here, with your mother and uncle. And Mickey and Josey. We’ll keep them safe. I promise.”
Jierra hugged her back, surprising Mallory. “I was so frightened. I knew he was a wolf. Just like those who hurt Josey. I didn’t know he was a Taniss until Rathan came and said so. But why does he hate me so much?”
“I don’t know.” But she would ask him. “Come on. Let’s go find Aodhan. I need to see him, and you’ll feel better seeing Kindara.”
As they walked the rest of the way to the Green Room, Mallory made a silent vow. Whatever happened in the next few months, she would not be abandoning Jierra to Rand. Not when Jierra was so obviously terrified of him.
And if there were babies which Mallory seriously doubted she would do her best to help protect them. Even if that meant protecting them from Rand.
Kindara waited inside with Aodhan and his sister. She looked up when
Mallory and Jierra entered. “We were wondering when you would get here. Aodhan was certain you wouldn’t.”
In the Beginning... Page 35
