Shattered Restraint

by Cassandra Lawson

  Danny wasn’t about to argue. They were right. He needed to get Quinn home.

  Chapter Fifty-Eight

  Quinn was already looking better by the time Danny got her back to his home. Thankfully, Connor had been on his way out to search for Abram and the others when Danny had returned with Quinn. He wanted to take care of his mate before being interrogated by Connor.

  “Are you hungry?” he asked when they walked in the front door.

  Quinn shook her head. “I’m fine. Listen, I’m sorry about earlier—about pushing you away like I did.”

  “You’ve got enough to deal with now without me putting pressure on you,” Danny said softly, not meeting her eyes. He still felt like a dick for the way he’d acted. “I’m sorry for pushing you earlier. I keep telling myself I can be patient, but apparently, I can’t.”

  “While I was walking, I ran into Winter,” Quinn said. “She controls the elements like me.”

  “The mage who saved our asses with the ball of lightning?” he asked.

  Quinn nodded. “I’m shocked she saved us. She seemed very cold. Anyway, I asked her if she understood why I’m so reluctant to let you become my mate.”

  “What did she say?” Danny asked.

  “She said it’s because the mage are very connected to nature and tend to be repelled by things that are unnatural. She said vampires aren’t naturally occurring, so it makes sense that I’d feel reluctant to bond with you.”

  Danny’s heart sank, and he sat down on the sofa, unsure he could hold his own weight with the crushing sense of loss he felt. “So, she told you we can’t be together because I’m some sort of unnatural abomination.”

  Quinn actually laughed and sat beside him. “You really are full of doom and gloom today, aren’t you?”

  “I suppose I get that way when the woman I love is about to reject me,” he said, fighting the urge to touch her, because that would only make things harder for both of them.

  Quinn’s hand settled on his thigh. “I love you too. Winter said that I should fight my mage instincts and complete our mate bond. In theory, those instincts should subside after that.”

  Danny gave a dry chuckle. “I love the in theory part.”

  Quinn shrugged. “Winter’s never had a mate, and it sounds like the mage don’t spend much time with each other, or anyone else for that matter.” Her gaze turned hot and needy. “Mark me, Danny.”

  There was no stopping the near growl that erupted from the back of Danny’s throat at the invitation. “Are you sure?” he asked in a guttural tone.

  “Yes,” she said. “Do it quickly. Don’t give my mage side time to react.”

  “I want to be inside of you when I mark you,” Danny said almost desperately.

  “No delays,” she pleaded, and Danny knew she was right.

  Lunging forward, Danny pushed her back into the cushions of the sofa, pressing his body against hers. Without hesitation, his teeth sank into a tender spot just above her collar bone. He had no idea why he’d chosen that spot. Instinct drove him as his teeth sank in and then held. Quinn was rocking against him, trying to get close to his cock, which was impossible in this position. Still, she made desperate mewling sounds that nearly made him come in his pants.

  The taste of Quinn’s blood should have triggered hunger, but it triggered arousal and possessiveness instead. When he finally pulled back, he couldn’t take his eyes off of the bite mark he’d left on Quinn. It was deep, and it would scar. This would mark her as his.

  “Mine,” he murmured.

  Quinn smiled happily at him and touched the side of his cheek. “Mine,” she murmured back, and he felt warmth wrap around them like the softest of sheets. Quinn’s magic flowed over his body, caressing him like a lover. The sensation was good to the point of almost being too much, and when it finally subsided, they were both panting and sweating. Danny was on the edge of orgasm, and he suspected Quinn felt the same.

  No words were spoken as he stood and scooped his mate up in his arms. A sense of relief washed over his body. Finally, everything felt right in his world.

  Chapter Fifty-Nine

  Thankfully, Connor hadn’t bothered them the previous day, allowing Quinn to enjoy several hours alone with her mate. This morning, she was feeling deliciously sore from their lovemaking. The mark on her neck was already healing and beginning to scar. Danny’s face broke out into a cocky grin whenever he looked at it, proving males really were idiots.

  She’d known reality would interfere eventually, but she’d had no idea it would involve an urgent call from Connor. Quinn knew the emergency meeting was probably a bad sign, but she was still too busy basking in the joy of having Danny fully bonded with her to allow the panic to get to her.

  “Guess we should be glad they didn’t call us in yesterday,” Danny said as they approached the training center.

  “I’m not sure we would have heard your phone,” Quinn said with a grin.

  Danny chuckled. “You’re probably right.”

  Ian met them at the door. “Council decided to pay us a surprise visit.”

  With a quiet curse, Danny looked over at Quinn. “Maybe you shouldn’t be involved in this.”

  “Connor wants her here,” Ian said with a shake of his head.

  That was good, since Quinn had no intention of letting Danny deal with this on his own. When they walked into the room, she recognized Connor, Shelby, Ian, Rand, Simon, Layla, Claire, Nate, and Cam. Cam’s presence surprised her because she’d heard the vampires here were trying to keep the existence of the shifters a secret from the council. Connor was near the front of the room having a heated argument with the female who appeared to be in charge of the group from Fangri La. Quinn couldn’t say what it was about the female, but she possessed an air of authority. It seemed strange that the female was dressed in white. Her clothing was crisp and clean. She had harsh features and a jagged scar on her forehead. Her long brown hair was pulled back in a severe bun.

  “This is bullshit, Eleanor,” Connor spat out.

  “Be careful with your attitude, Connor,” Eleanor warned.

  “I’ve been careful,” Connor shot back. “What the hell has careful gotten me? My people are put at risk because the council has ordered me to let some fucking lunatic attack them without fear of reprisal.”

  Eleanor let out a sad sigh. “You’re right,” she agreed. “Believe it or not, I’ve been pushing the rest of the council to deal with this matter, but they keep putting it off.”

  “Because they want to force us to act without council authority so they can take Connor down,” Ian said angrily.

  Eleanor eyed Ian curiously before responding. “You are correct.”

  “Why?” Connor asked. “I’ve been loyal. I follow the rules, and we protect the vampires and humans in our territory.”

  “Connor inspires loyalty among his people,” Danny added as he approached the front of the room. “Even those of us who were afraid of vampires have come to trust Connor.”

  “You were not a vampire the last time I saw you,” Eleanor said, and Danny looked surprised.

  “Eleanor remembers everyone,” Connor explained.

  Danny nodded. “I wasn’t a vampire the last time you saw me, and I didn’t want to become one. This change was forced on me by Roger so he could use me as a weapon.”

  “Then why are you here?” Eleanor asked.

  “We helped him escape,” Claire said, gesturing to Nate.

  “Why would you help him escape?” Eleanor asked.

  The others looked annoyed, but Quinn got the impression Eleanor was one of those people who always wanted to understand the reasoning behind everyone’s actions.

  “It was the right thing to do,” Claire said.

  “Roger lied to us,” Nate added. “He made us believe we had to fight the born vampires to save our own people.”

  “Why did you agree to go back there?” Eleanor asked, her thin eyebrows drawn together in concentration. “Were you working with Con
nor at that point?” Her glare shifted to Connor. “Was this all a plot to take down your enemy?”

  “Wouldn’t it have been easier if I’d told you Roger was a crazed killer the last time you were here?” Claire asked.

  Eleanor nodded. “It would have complicated things much less.”

  “I had started to believe the born vampires at that point,” Claire explained. “It was still hard to accept that I might have been fooled by Roger. When I returned, I started investigating things, with the help of Nate and some others. We’ve been working to minimize the damage from Roger’s actions behind the scenes. We had planned to ask for help at the council meeting, but that kept getting delayed.”

  “Why didn’t you simply use one of the phones or computers we provided to contact us?” Eleanor asked.

  Nate snorted. “Only a handful of people had access to those, and all usage was supervised by Roger. He was terrified everyone was betraying him. In the last month, he’s become even more unstable.”

  “I suppose his death is a good thing,” Eleanor said. “This should bring peace to your area. Although, I am not convinced that the other council members will believe he died after being struck by lightning.”

  Apparently, they’d decided to simplify the details of Roger’s death by omitting Winter’s part in it.

  “Peace? Not by a long shot,” Cam said angrily. “The vampire who nearly killed Claire will take over as leader, and Abram is as much a bastard as Roger.”

  “The council likes him,” Eleanor said.

  “When did they meet him?” Claire demanded.

  “Apparently, he managed to gain access to a phone two days ago,” she explained. “He told us he was afraid Roger was losing his sanity. He said he feared for Claire’s life.”

  “And they just believe him?” Connor asked.

  “I’m not sure, but this makes it easier for them. You are a threat to some members of the council,” Eleanor explained. “At least, they perceive you as a threat.”

  “Why would they consider Connor a threat?” Ian asked.

  Eleanor’s lips turned up in a sad smile. “It’s the loyalty Connor inspires in his people. They are afraid he’ll take over more territory.”

  “So, now the council is out to get me because I’m a good leader?” Connor asked with a humorless bark of laughter.

  “That’s fucked up,” Simon muttered.

  “But not a surprise,” Connor said in a tired voice.

  “We are not all blind to your loyalty,” Eleanor assured him. “That’s why I’m here today. This is not an official council visit, more of a warning.”

  “The council is going to back Abram if he takes Roger’s position,” Cam concluded. “He tried to kill my mate, and he’s going to get away with it.”

  Eleanor nodded. “They are trying to start a war,” she explained.

  Danny’s hold on Quinn’s hand tightened, and she leaned into him to offer comfort.

  “Are you one of those creatures who changes shape?” Eleanor asked Cam as she studied him.

  He nodded. “I am, and there are others who will fight beside Connor.”

  Quinn wasn’t so sure about that, but she held her tongue.

  “He’s right,” Jase called out as he entered the room with Zane.

  “Three of you will be no match if the council brings in the other vampire territories,” Eleanor warned. “Many of them will likely refuse to fight in this war, but some will see it as a chance to extend their own territory or gain favor with the council.”

  As if on cue, Max and Cord entered the room with over two dozen lynx and cougar shapeshifters.

  “We can guarantee a hundred other shapeshifter fighters,” Max said in an authoritative voice that drew everyone’s attention, even Eleanor’s.

  “I will also be calling in favors from other territories,” Cord said before looking over at Quinn. Then he grinned at Danny. “You finally marked your mate. Lucky you.”

  Danny grunted.

  Eleanor was grinning from ear to ear, and the expression looked strange on her. “Then I suppose it’s time for me to bring this news to the council. What shall I tell them?” she asked Connor.

  “Tell them that I will not allow my people to suffer any further abuse at the hands of our enemies. We are severing all ties with the vampire council and declaring ourselves an independent territory. We are willing to negotiate use of our roads and the newly opened trade port.”

  “How will you be handling your enemy?” Eleanor asked. “I do not want any more innocents killed in this war.”

  “We will attack the settlement, attempting to avoid bloodshed as much as possible,” Connor said in a decisive tone. “People will be offered sanctuary here. Any captured vampires and humans will be offered the chance to live here or be transported to Fangri La. That is with the exception of those we deem too dangerous.”

  Eleanor nodded. “I will send transport for the vampires who wish to leave when you’re ready.”

  “That’s it?” Connor asked. “No dire threats?”

  Eleanor looked amused. “This is the outcome I was hoping for. Actually, it’s better than I’d hoped for with your shape-shifting allies involved. I will work with the council to make sure we maintain trade with you.”

  With that, Eleanor and her guards left the room.

  Quinn had a sudden sense of dread. “You’re going to war?”

  “We’ve been at war,” Danny said. “With any luck, we’re going to end the war.”

  Chapter Sixty

  They’d been working out the details of the attack for hours, and Danny could feel his eyelids starting to droop. Connor had met with the shifters first to find out what help they would give, and to make arrangements to meet with them and their fighters in the morning. He was smart enough to know the shifters would be a problem at the meeting, with both Max and Cord being too dominant to follow Connor’s orders.

  Quinn was mad at him because he’d told her she couldn’t be involved in the attack. She’d argued that she was faster and stronger than the human fighters, and she was right. She’d also reacted right away to save Claire, but he still worried that her instincts weren’t that of a fighter. There was also the fact that she had no experience with weapons of any kind.

  “You should have just told her someone needed to stay here to protect this settlement,” Ian said quietly as he leaned into Danny’s side.

  Danny raised an eyebrow.

  “Don’t pretend you aren’t thinking about Quinn and how mad she is about being left behind.”

  Danny just shrugged. Where the hell had Ian been when he’d needed an idea like that earlier?

  “Is there any way to get word to the others on your side before the attack?” Connor asked Claire and Nate.

  “No, and that’s why you need to keep one of us near the front at all times,” Nate said. “If they see us fighting with you, they’ll know they should join us.”

  “Stay close to me,” Connor said before turning to Raven. “I need you to stay here.”

  Raven snorted. “Ian already suggested that line to Danny in front of me. You’d better come up with a better excuse for leaving me behind.”

  Connor chuckled. “That wasn’t actually the line I was planning to use. I’m just worried that it might be hard for you. You know most of the people there, and I don’t want to put you in the position of having to fight them.” Then Connor looked around the room. “Any of you from the island settlement can remain here, and no one will think less of you. As it is, we need people to guard the settlement. I am only leaving behind a small guard detail because we need as many fighters as possible to succeed without killing too many innocents.”

  Danny watched as most of his friends made the decision to stay behind. Only Mark and Layla were going. Actually, Mark looked torn.

  Layla nudged Mark’s side. “You shouldn’t go if you’re feeling unsure.”

  “I’m in,” Mark finally said.

  “Norah,” Connor began, but she
put a hand up.

  “No need to say it,” she said. “I need to stay here, so I won’t distract Rand.”

  Danny knew from experience that Rand didn’t fight as well when his wife was with him, and Rand had much more fighting experience than Norah.

  “Same with you, Jack,” Connor said.

  Jack merely nodded his understanding.

  Danny was relieved Jack would be staying behind. Danny’s friend, Muriel, was Jack’s wife. She was also pregnant with their second child and had recently become a born vampire after their second attempt to infect her.

  “Everyone go home and get a few hours of sleep,” Connor said, dismissing them.

  Raven stopped Danny on his way to the door. “Quinn’s not really mad at you,” she assured him.

  “I get it,” he said. “She’s worried, but I was a jerk about the whole thing.”

  “Then go make it up to her,” Raven said.

  “I will,” Danny assured her. Making it up to her was the only thing he was looking forward to at the moment.

  Chapter Sixty-One

  Danny looked ready to drop when he walked into their bedroom. Quinn had been trying to watch a movie to distract herself while he was gone, but it hadn’t been working out very well.

  “How’d the meeting go?” Quinn asked. While she was still mad about the way he’d reacted to the idea of her being involved with the attack, she knew he was right.

  “I think we’re ready,” he said. “As ready as we’re going to be anyway.”

  “I’m worried about you going,” she admitted. “I know you were right when you said I shouldn’t go.”

  “We need people here in case there’s a problem,” he said.

  Quinn laughed. “Kyleigh came over here while you were at the meeting.”

  Danny tossed his shirt on the back of the chair and looked at her with one raised eyebrow. “Not sure what that has to do with you laughing at me.”

  “She told me Ian would probably suggest you say that.”

  Danny’s cheeks tinged pink. “He may have made a suggestion like that.”