Nan ran to the front of the room, jumped onto the stage, and embraced his beautiful, courageous mate.
He walked slowly up the aisle, allowing Zoe time with her friend, but he was aware that her gaze kept flickering to him.
A small hum of an ancient Romanian tune started somewhere in the middle of the group which others took up. A few guitars joined in with tambourines and singing. Chairs were folded and moved to the side. Soon the whole group was singing and dancing somewhere in-between a modern club and an old gypsy camp.
The sound echoed eerily in the old building.
Zoe touched Nan’s arm, whispered something in her ear, then walked slowly towards him. She licked her lips nervously as she approached.
“I’m sorry for not telling you,” she said, not meeting his gaze.
“Never leave me again, angel.” Jack reached out and brushed his thumb over her cheek.
Tears gathered in her eyes and spilled down her cheeks. “I won’t. I promise.”
Relief flooded through him. He wrapped his arms around her delicate shoulders and pulled her against his chest. Damn, he’d missed her. He smiled when her eyes widened at his arousal.
He ached to take her back to the hotel, but there was still unfinished business. “I am expected to form alliances, and we need to dance with your clan to seal the deal.”
Zoe frowned and glanced around at the crowd who were now mostly gathered in the center of the auditorium, hopping and skipping to an unfamiliar Romanian folksong.
“I don’t dance.” She clung to him and his heart burst. Even if they never had children, she would be his water in the desert forever.
Jack let out a low chuckle and lifted a brow. “Not even heathen humping?”
She hit him lightly on the shoulder and smiled. “It’s called Zumba.”
He nuzzled her neck, and moved to the beat of the music. She relaxed and let him lead.
“I’m sorry I didn’t ask you to come.”
“And I’m sorry about everything, Zoe.” He gave her a little grin and held his breath. “Will you marry me?”
She glanced up at him and her eyes went huge, and he saw a spark of hope. Then just as suddenly, a shadow fell across her expression.
The music changed to a slow exotic beat and Jack used it to draw her even closer. Healing power pulsed into the room, like the aroma of an orchid, thick and overpowering.
“You have to now, you know.” He kissed her forehead and let his lips linger there, her skin warm and sweet. “Your old fashioned relatives will insist.”
With a low, breathy voice, she said, “You’re my mate, what do we need the license for?”
“I want it legal.” He threaded his fingers through her hair, enjoying the silkiness. “I want to be the baby’s father, and be your mate, in all ways, human and warrior.”
“I want that too.” Her eyes once again glimmered with hope. “I love you, Jack.”
She was so beautiful that the words he had memorized got stuck in his throat. He dropped his hands from her side and tried to get it right. Before he could voice what he was feeling, he saw hurt flash across her face and she ran.
“Wait, Zoe! Dammit, come back.”
Suddenly the florescent lights in the auditorium went dark.
Zoe stopped running and looked around in confusion. Without thinking, Jack summoned a vortex, stepped in, and dashed towards her. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to his chest.
“Give yourself up, Fialko, along with that half-breed witch or I start shooting.” The voice sounded way too close.
Zoe tensed and he drew her closer.
“No need. I am here. You’re the one hiding in the dark like a cockroach.”
There was some small rustling and then the lights came back on. The healers backed away to the sides of the auditorium, leaving two vortexes in the center. The Russian was barely visible, azure energy swirling around him like a gaseous planet, but Jack could see enough to know that the man wasn’t Zoe’s stalker.
Lord Gregor Uragan stood before them, his full lips drawn up in a scowl. “It’s too bad, but I have to kill you now, Fialko. The vortex, I cannot allow you to have it. You see how it is. Nothing personal, my friend.”
Jack calculated the odds of getting out alive, with no one getting hurt, and it wasn’t good. At least twenty of Gregor’s men mingled among the grim-faced healers.
“Maybe we should take this outside,” Jack snarled, fury snapping through his body. “You’re going to need your healers alive when I’m through with you.”
“Perhaps first, I kill the meddling old woman.” He raised his arm towards the healer leader, a crazed smile on his lips.
Before Jack could stop her, Zoe’s arm shot out and she blasted a small fireball at Uragan. The bullet-like vortex pierced through his shielding, and he screeched, cradling his arm.
“You little bitch,” Gregor screamed in outrage.
Jack cursed and held her arms down. “Hold off, Zoe.”
Gregor’s face twisted in a hideous scowl. “You see why I can’t allow you to keep her, my friend?”
“You have to let me go with them,” Zoe whispered, her expression frantic. “I won’t have all these people die for me. I won’t have you die for me.”
Gregor stepped closer. “Listen to the little lady. You just gave an oath to keep these sheep safe. One little explosive tornado would kill them all. Even you, Fialko, could not have perfected the combination of powers yet.”
Fear lanced through Jack’s system. The swine was right. He’d been too busy trying to keep Zoe safe to put time into practicing with his new power.
“Let me go with him, Jack.” Zoe squirmed in his grasp.
“No.” He gripped her midsection tighter to emphasize his point.
“I won’t sit here all day, children, while you argue. I will start killing, starting with the translator.” Gregor cackled and conjured a ball of energy.
Before he could stop her, Zoe fired a tornado that sent Gregor sprawling to the back wall.
“Zoe.” He tried to keep his arms wrapped around her, but her energy pushed him away.
One by one, she blasted each of the Russian warriors, dead center, with surprising accuracy.
Jack maintained their shield, using all his power to block the Russians’ retaliation.
Zoe’s shots were amazingly precise. Unlike him, she could tell from their auras, which were warring. The few Russian clan members still standing, grabbed the fallen, and left the auditorium cursing.
Jack dropped the vortex. Zoe’s legs gave out and she collapsed against him.
The ancient leader rushed over to Zoe, laid hands on where her child grew within, and nodded with a half-smile. “No too sick. Understand? We go.”
Cradling Zoe in his arms, Jack carried her to a waiting van. It wasn’t until the buildings faded to deep pines that Jack spoke again. “Something’s wrong with her.”
The old woman reached over the front seat, frowned, and spoke to the driver in Romanian. He sped up, and the younger woman who was introduced as Lana, interpreted. “She asks why you let your woman fight your battles?”
“She doesn’t listen. I was going to negotiate.” Jack gritted his teeth to hold back the curse on the tip of his tongue.
“The Russians don’t negotiate, Lord Fialko.” Lana shook her head in disgust.
“They will or they’ll die. Honestly, after tonight, I’m not sure if I really care.”
Lana translated and the old woman grinned in approval.
The driver spoke excitedly in Romanian and pointed to the rear window.
“They haven’t given up,” Lana said, nodding behind them.
Jack swore. What the hell was wrong with these guys? Didn’t they know how to say uncle?
Lana seemed to read his mind. “They need us. They have injured men and we are their only healers.”
Jack twisted so he could keep one eye on the car following and one on his sleeping mate. He smoothed the hair from her
forehead. What an amazing woman. Blending talents was a huge challenge, even for the most skilled. How had she managed to get so good, so fast?
They drove up a long driveway. The facade of a small cottage hid a much larger building behind that spread long and wide under enormous pines. When the car stopped, the ancient healer motioned that Zoe should be taken from the car.
Reluctantly, Jack allowed one of the male healers to take Zoe from his arms.
“Go with her,” Jack said to Nan.
Nan nodded and followed them into the house.
Lana translated, “She asks what is your wish? Because you have claimed us, we are under no obligation to heal the Russian injuries. She prefers to let them die.”
“Zoe was the first to fire,” Jack said, giving them both a scathing look. “I won’t subject her to global court.”
More cars pulled up the long driveway. Jack summoned a small fire-vortex as a warning and willed his arm not to shake. The last fight had left him exhausted. He hoped the few standing wouldn’t call his bluff.
A warrior threw a cell phone at Jack. “It’s Lord Uragan for you.”
“What are your terms, Fialko?” Gregor spit out his name like an insult.
Jack ignored the tone. “Agree to speak with me, alone, and I’ll let my new healers work on your men.”
“Done.”
“Not so fast. I need a temporary truce until we reach an agreement.” A line of over twenty cars lined the driveway and more were arriving, parking along the road.
Gregor muttered an acceptance of the terms and hung up.
Jack motioned to the healer leader with a wave of the hand. The injured were dragged and carried through the front door. The crisis was put on hold, and Jack raced into the main house to find Zoe. She was sitting up on a small couch in the living room, sipping tea.
“Are you okay?” He wiped the sweat dripping off his brow, sat down, and held her until his racing heart stilled.
“I’m fine.” With two palms to his chest, she pushed him away and spoke with a chill in her voice. “What’s going on out there?”
What had he done wrong now?
“Your family is healing the injured. When they’re finished I’ll negotiate a treaty.”
“Another one of those warrior clan things, I suppose.” Her eyes refused to meet his and her frigid tone sent chills down his spine.
“You’re going to have to learn some of these rules. You’re lucky I’m not taking you to Berlin for a hearing of the global court.” He cringed at the harsh words. He’d meant to say something reassuring and sweet. Something to make the stars shine in her eyes.
“No more lectures.” She lay down on the couch and turned her back to him.
It came to him like a slap across the face. She’d told him she loved him, but like a fool he had hesitated.
“Zoe, the lights went out before I could explain how I feel.” Jack went to his knees beside the couch.
“It’s easy enough.” She turned with her big sad eyes just inches from his. Tears pooled down the sides of her face and her voice cracked. “I say I love you, then you say, I love you, too. Unless you don’t.”
“But I do, angel.” Jack cupped her cheeks in his hands. “That’s what I’ve been trying to say. Love doesn’t even begin to cover how I feel and that’s why I hesitated. I’ve loved you since the moment I first saw you in Olivia’s shop. I just didn’t want to admit it.”
Her eyes went wide, softened, and her gaze fell to his lips. “Really?”
“I love you, Zoe.” He brushed his lips against her. “I can’t live another day without you. You’re everything in the world to me.”
A fresh surge of tears welled in her eyes. “I love you too.”
Her fingers dug into his hair and she devoured his mouth. The addictive taste of her infused his senses. She was safe and so was their child.
Everything was going to be all right.
“Russian whore.”
Shit. Jack jumped back.
Ivar Sokol, Zoe’s stalker-uncle stood in the doorway. The little bit of flesh showing under his bandages was bubbled and burned. His eyes burned wild with insanity in the instant before black poisonous energy shot out from his hand.
Jack went down hard, unable to move. Every cell in his body cried for death instead of gut-wrenching pain.
“You fucking bitch.” Ivar limped across the room, raised his hand, and summoned another vortex.
Zoe screamed, Jack moaned, and a gunshot exploded.
A red hole the size of a penny appeared in the forehead of Ivar’s stunned face. He crashed back onto a glass coffee table.
Nan rushed to Jack’s side and put two fingers to his neck, checking his pulse.
“Fialko? Are you alright?” Nan asked, keeping her back to him and her weapon trained on the door.
A sparkling vortex materialized and spun over their head. It sliced through Jack with excruciating pain, sucked out the darkness of Ivar’s shot, and relief followed.
Nan’s eyes went wide. “Holy fuck.”
For a while, all three just stood, staring, and processing.
Jack exhaled, moved his limbs, and when he could, sat up with his back to the couch. Zoe’s hand reached down and he put it to his lips.
“I had no idea he’d try that again.” He glanced at Nan. “Thanks.”
“No problem.” Nan grinned and scratched her chin. “I’ll probably get some damn award for shooting him. That guy’s wanted by Interpol.”
“Still, I owe you.” Jack grinned back and scrambled off the floor before the pooling blood reached him.
“I’ll collect when we get back to the states. What I wouldn’t do to have just a little of what you can do.” Nan’s eyes went to the ceiling as if something still lingered. She opened her cell and walked to the back of the room.
Jack glanced at the time. Gregor Uragan and his men would be arriving shortly.
“I want you to stay in the house while I speak to Gregor.”
“No way.” Zoe stood, and smoothed her dress down. Her hands pulled out her hair tie and made a neat ponytail. “I’m coming with you. If he tries anything–“
“I’m not putting you or our baby at risk again.” Jack wobbled. That probably wasn’t his most commanding performance.
She steadied him and put her arm around his waist. “I don’t want to put you at risk, either.”
“All right.” He placed his forehead against hers and breathed in her scent. “As long as you do as I say, and no trying to blast them into tiny pieces.” He pulled back and gave her what he hoped was a stern look. “Understand? We’re not going to start a clan war.”
“But isn’t that what they were doing?” She walked him to the back door. Gregor was already by the cottage door, barking out orders.
“Yes, but not formally. That’s the trick. If I use our clan laws, they’ll be bound.”
“They have no morals.” Zoe scrunched her eyebrows and frowned. “Better to blast them now before they can do any more harm.”
He stopped and gripped her shoulders. “Our ancestors made complex rules around treaties and the magic that binds it.”
“Worse than mating during solstice?”
He chuckled. “Much worse. It could take centuries to resolve this properly.”
“Centuries?” Zoe glowered when they approached the Russian leader, and whispered under her breath. “I still think it’s easier to just blast them.”
He took her hand and gave a little blast of energy to silence her. She looked up at him with a pout, then smiled. The air around them stirred and his senses opened. It was all he could do not to kiss her.
She owned every part of his body, heart and soul. And yet in that moment, he felt her relent, give up control. In her eyes, he saw it. She gave her trust to him completely and without hesitation. Every muscle, every nerve, and every cell in his body was infused with her love. There was no greater gift. No great power.
With the strength of his mate beside him, Ja
ck turned to the powerful Russian warrior, made a quick nod, and held out his hand. “Lord Uragan, my clan has over fifty treaties currently in negotiation. Yours will make fifty one.”
Epilogue
Jack glanced into the bassinet, unable to stop staring at the sleeping baby. He’d been waiting for her eyes to open for at least an hour, but like her mother, she was stubborn. He stroked her tiny fingers and contemplated the miracle. He still couldn’t believe how lucky he was.
“Don’t wake her up.” Zoe curled an arm around his waist. Her voice scolded but her eyes sparkled under the fake frown.
“I wasn’t going to. She’s just so amazing.” He rested his arm over Zoe’s shoulder and smiled.
How far they’d come. He had two angels to care for now. How had he ever survived without them? He couldn’t even remember.
Cecille stirred with a little whimper and immediately he lifted her out of the crib. He had no idea babies would be so demanding or smell so sweet.
Zoe poked him in the side and whispered, “She doesn’t need to eat for another hour. Let her be.”
“I just want to hold her for a minute.” Cecille’s head fit into the palm of his hand, and her body barely reached the length of his arm. Her mouth made a sucking sound, but her eyes stayed closed.
“If you put her back down, I can think of something more interesting to do.” Zoe nibbled an ear.
Jack raised his eyebrows. “So soon?”
“You want to be celibate the rest of your life?” She unbuttoned the top button of his jeans and he hardened immediately. Two months had never seemed longer.
“No, but…”
“Neither do I.” Zoe placed her hand on his abdomen, and conjured a vortex of fire and wind that caused his shirt to singe on the edges.
Oh dear God. He set the baby carefully back into the bassinet, then led his wife into the master bedroom.
“That was my favorite shirt.”
“Oh well.” She flashed a smile at him.
He smirked, conjured a small ball of energy, and disrobed her completely. “Bring it on.”
About the Authors
Stella Marie Alden loves Zumba, yoga, watercolor painting, and fixing up her house. Growing up in Vermont, she loved to make up stories. Crayons fought each other over size and placement in their cardboard box and imaginary friends crowded the house. Her brother often complained. “Tell her no one’s here, Mother.”
Dark Vortex: Mated by Magic Page 19
