There was a loud crash. Cadon was up in a beat, he pulled his female behind him just as Magnar pulled the shower door open. It pulled right off, crashing to the floor, glass flying.
“What do you want?” Cadon growled. “How fucking dare you…” he added, a snarl building inside him.
Magnar narrowed his eyes, his face was twisted in rage. His hands clenched and unclenched. His eyes moved over his shoulder to where Kerry hid and then back to Cadon. “Just so you know, your female has saved your life today. If she was not with you, I would end you.”
“You would try.” Cadon pushed the lever, switching the water off. “What’s going on?” He worked hard to inject calm into his voice, even though his mind raced at a mile a minute. He couldn’t think of anything it could be. Last he checked, all was well. Better than well. Many of the males were having sex. Maximus had told his female what he was and she was still around. Two of the other males were dating. Most of them had brought someone home, at least once. All except for Hagan who still wanted that same female. The male moped around like a dog who had lost his bone.
“You lied to me!” Magnar yelled. “You lied to my face.” He was spitting mad. A vein throbbed on his forehead and his face was red.
Had he found out about Kerry? About him and Kerry not actually being together. Was that it? Was he going to take his female? Or try to? Not a fuck! He would fight to the death. Cadon pulled himself to his full height, keeping his mouth shut.
“You were mated! You were fucking mated!” Magnar screamed. “I knew it! I thought I’d gotten it wrong somehow. I had to be wrong, right? You should have been dormant.” He shook his head in confusion. “I fucking knew it, though!”
Andy came into focus behind Magnar. His face was broken and bleeding. His right arm at a strange angle. His left eye was completely shut, his right not too far behind. “Sorry!” Blood ran from his mouth, down his chin. “I’m sorry. I…he made me tell him. He had two of his males hold me while he beat it out of me. He was going to cut off Locke’s balls. Had three males holding him down. Orrick tried to help but… we’re out-fucking-numbered.” Andy threw Magnar a dirty look.
Kerry sobbed behind him, pressing herself against him.
“I don’t understand.” Magnar frowned looking down at Cadon’s prick for a moment. “How is this even possible?” He made a groaning noise. “You should be incapable of mounting a female. Of getting one with clutch. What sorcery is this?”
Cadon shrugged. “I’m a freak. I don’t know how—”
“Bullshit!” Magnar spat. “You continue to lie and deceive. To try to deny the rightful king. It is amazing how a male will sing like a bird when his prick is about to be cut off and burned to ash. Locke told me about Talon. This is not a one-time occurrence. I’ll bet it’s something that will happen every time.”
Blast and fucking damn! This was terrible. This spelled war. It was disastrous.
Then Magnar laughed. It was deep, rich and whole-hearted. Tears eventually glistened on his lashes. “You had better enjoy your life, this, her…” he pointed at Kerry.
Cadon growled.
“It’s all about to come crashing down. You…” Magnar stuck a finger in Cadon’s face which brought forth another rumble of anger from him, “are about to find out what it’s like to be exiled. To be Fallen, to be treated like an animal, and I can’t wait.” He smirked.
Cadon wanted to beat that look right off the male’s face, but how could he? Kerry was right behind him. She would be injured, especially considering the two males who lurked just outside the bathroom door. Frustration ate at him.
“This was fun but, as they say, all good things must come to an end. We’re leaving, my king will want to know the good news.”
Cadon wanted to deny everything. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but he sucked them back. They would fall on deaf ears. Unfortunately, Cadon suspected that Magnar was right in his deduction. Previously mated males would be able to take mates again. This changed everything. It was exactly what he had been afraid of. He needed to warn his own king. Time was of the essence.
Andy paced. His face was a mess and yet she could still see anguish written there. Underneath the blood, the bruising and swelling, was torment. It was clear as day. He paced, his arm still at that impossible angle.
Cadon was naked, his hair still wet from the shower. He ran a hand through the glistening strands, looking up at the ceiling before pacing away. It looked like he was trying to get himself under control. It was that, or he was thinking things through.
Kerry wasn’t sure what was going on, only that it was bad.
Andy approached Cadon, his steps slow and tentative. “It’s all my fault.”
Cadon stopped walking. “I grumbled about not being able to pursue any females.” He made this anguished noise. “We’ve been stuck in this house for weeks, having to watch the others, you…” he shook his head.
“What happened?” Cadon asked, jaw tense, muscles bulging. His agitation marked every movement he made, every word he spoke.
“I shouldn’t have said anything. I didn’t realize that Magnar was behind us.”
“What did you say?” Cadon cocked his head.
“I was angry. You have a female warming your bed and you’re not supposed to. I moaned about how it isn’t fair to us. How you shouldn’t even be able to get it up. You should be dormant…helping us, and yet…” Andy sniffed. “It was stupid of me. Petty and stupid.”
“I briefed you not to say anything. I told you about Talon in confidence so that you would know what was at stake. You fucked up!” He pointed at Andy.
Kerry felt sorry for him. She may not know exactly what was going on, but she could see it was serious.
“The three of you are coming with me.” Cadon pointed at Locke, Zaire and Orrick. “We’re leaving right now and flying as fast as our feathers will take us. We need to get word of this to Leukos.” Next, he turned to Andy. “You stay here and heal up. You fly as soon as you are able.”
“I’m so sorry.” Andy shook his head. “Let me know how I can make this up to you.”
Cadon shook his head. “It’s too late for that. Prepare for battle. Pick the right side. I’m sure I don’t have to inform you which side that is.”
“Of course not,” Andy spoke with confidence. “I will fight for Leukos.”
“Good!” Cadon said. “Worth, you stay with Kerry. Take her somewhere safe. I will make contact when I return.”
Worth nodded.
Kerry frowned. “When will that be?”
Cadon strode over to her. “I can’t say.” He shook his head. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.” He hooked an arm round her waist.
“You’re coming back though, right?” Was this the end? It was too soon. She wasn’t ready.
His whole stance softened. “I’ll be back. We need to talk.”
“Okay.”
He leaned in and kissed her. First soft and sweet and then hard and hungry. It didn’t feel like a goodbye, but it might have been. Within seconds he was pulling away. Pulling out of her arms.
“Let’s go.” They walked outside, Cadon at the head. The other three removing clothing as they walked, dropping the garments at their feet as they went.
Cadon turned and locked eyes with her for a few seconds. His pupils dilating. Then he was sprouting fur and feathers and growing impossibly tall and powerful. Wings and a tail appearing from nothing. From man to powerful beast. Just looking at him took her breath away. Looking at him as he took to the sky made her heart twist inside her chest. Made her realize her feelings were very real.
“How quickly can you pack?” Worth asked as they disappeared out of sight seconds later.
Chapter 25
The next day…
“Everything looks great,” her doctor announced, placing the scanning device in its holder. “I’m happy with his progress and growth. All the measurements look fine.” She handed Kerry some paper towel.
Kerry breathed
a sigh. “I’m so glad to hear that.” At least one thing was still going well for her.
“You look down today?” Doctor Jenkins narrowed her eyes, analyzing Kerry. “Is everything okay?” She put the blood pressure cuff around her arm and began to inflate it.
“Cadon is away on business. He left yesterday unexpectedly and I miss him. I don’t like it when he’s away.” Kerry paused. “He really wanted to be here today.”
“I could tell he did and it makes sense that you would be feeling that way. What does he do for a living?” The beep sounded and her gynecologist made a note of her blood pressure.
“He runs a security company.”
“Interesting. How long have you guys been together?”
Her doctor gestured to the scales. “I need to weigh you.”
“I got pregnant quite quickly after we met. It wasn’t exactly planned or anything.” Kerry got off the bed and stepped onto the scales.
“I thought I saw an engagement ring on your first one or two appointments?” She frowned.
Of flip! “Yeah,” Kerry said. “It was a bad idea to jump into that. We called it off.”
Her doctor made a note of her weight. “Oh! It looked like you guys really get along. He looks at you like he’s a man in love.”
“Really?” Kerry couldn’t believe that. They weren’t even sleeping together at the last appointment. She stepped off the scale.
“Absolutely, and for the record,” her doctor paused, “I was beginning to think he was one of those absent father types, but he isn’t.” She shook her head. “Not at all, I could see by his reactions to the baby. To both seeing the baby and hearing his heartbeat. That was one excited dad.”
Kerry couldn’t help but smile, even though it hurt inside. He wasn’t the father. They were still going their separate ways. Even if she secretly didn’t want that anymore. Cadon was just coming back to say goodbye to her. She needed to try to remember that. “Yes, he is excited.”
“Have you guys prepared the nursery yet?”
“Not yet, it’s still early days, we don’t want to jinx anything.” What else could she say?
Doctor Jenkins laughed. “So you’re superstitious?”
Kerry shrugged. “Not exactly superstitious. It makes sense though, doesn’t it? We’ll give it a few more weeks and then we’ll start looking at wallpaper.”
“The good news is that despite the chance of a major disability, your baby would be viable if born now. Neonatologists prefer twenty-six weeks, so you don’t have long to go.” She winked at Kerry.
“Good to know.”
“Right, go and see Maud to set up an appointment in four weeks.” She sat back. “I’m happy, as long as you’re happy?”
“Yes,” she nodded. “Happy.”
“Good. I’ll let you go then. I’m sure you have somewhere to be.”
Kerry nodded. Somewhere to be. Not hardly. She and Worth were holed up in the penthouse suite at one of the hotels in town. They said their goodbyes and she headed out.
Worth was having a chat with some or other woman. The lady didn’t look pregnant. She did look completely taken with Worth though, hanging on his every word.
“Shall I put you down for next month?” Maud asked, smiling.
“Yes, please.”
Maud typed the appointment into the computer and told Kerry the date. “Don’t worry,” Maud assured her. “I’ll call you the day before to remind you.”
“I won’t forget.” Kerry thanked Maud and they said their goodbyes.
Kerry stood by the door, she wanted to call to Worth, but he seemed quite interested in this lady. It must be great for him to be out of that house after all these weeks. What could they possibly be talking about? She really didn’t want to interrupt.
A breeze alerted her to the door being opened behind her.
Maybe they could go and visit her sister and the family. If Worth went with, she would be safe. Kerry sucked in a breath to call Worth’s name but someone clamped a hand over her mouth. Her eyes were wide in her head. The receptionist was busy with something on her desk. She looked to the right. Worth and the lady were laughing. The one other person in the waiting room had her nose buried in a kindle. No-one saw as she was dragged into the hallway.
“You bitch!”
Her blood ran cold. It was Jeff. It was him. Oh no! She squirmed and kicked and squirmed some more, but he kept his hand clamped over her mouth. Jeff pulled her more firmly against him. He stank of sweat and booze. “You’ve ruined my life. It was either you or that cunt ex of mine who splashed this whole thing across social media. I’m being charged with assault. Assault!” He was breathing heavily. “Our little spat was hardly assault.”
She struggled to bring enough air into her lungs. Her nostrils flared. She tried hard to stay calm. Any second now, Worth would notice she was gone. He’d come to her rescue. Any second…her eyes were trained on the door. Willing it to open.
Please.
“My life is over. Even when I beat this charge…and I will beat it…I won’t be able to shake what this has done to my image. I cannot believe how fucking selfish you are.”
Typical Jeff, blaming this all on her.
His hand tightened on her mouth. His tone became more clipped. “Your lies are going to backfire on you, Kerry, mark my words. I’m so disappointed in you.” His voice turned into a soft, almost soothing murmur. It scared her way more than the anger.
Kerry kept her eyes trained on the closed door. Still willing it to open. Please! Please, Worth!
“I saw you with that guy. Who the hell is he? You looked chummy chummy! Today you’re with a different guy? Are you a slut? Is that it? Are you fucking around on me?” he spoke directly into her ear. Back to using harsh tones, she could feel a spray of spittle against her skin. Could smell his breath. Sour with alcohol fumes. “I think you are. He’s the father, isn’t he? Or, maybe you don’t even know who the father is.”
Oh, how she wished Cadon was the father. Kerry tried hard to hold back the tears. To suck in air through her nostrils. Any second now he was going to explode. She could feel it. His grip kept tightening. His words were becoming more and more clipped. “You’re leaving me for him? For one of them?”
Jeff had to be delusional. He sounded crazy. Maybe it was more than just alcohol, maybe he was high as well.
“I’m going to take my hand off your mouth, if you scream, you’ll regret it. Do you understand me?” He’d gone back to sounding like he was in control.
Kerry knew better. She gave the tiniest of nods. Not able to move much in his grip.
“Good.” He slid his hand from her mouth. “Are you leaving me for him?” He spoke to her like she was a child.
He was definitely crazy. She had already left him. It had been weeks since she’d packed her bags. What did he want to hear? How could she buy time? Please, Worth! Please.
“Answer the question,” he spoke softly.
“No.” She shook her head. “I’m not leaving you for him.” Her voice shook. Fear and adrenaline coursed through her.
“No?” He sounded confused at her answer. “How do I know you’re not lying?”
“I’m not.” She tried not to sound desperate. “I’m ready to come home. To—”
“Stop lying! You’re a cunt just like my ex!” He shoved her. Kerry hit her head on the wall. She bounced, landing hard on the floor. Pain exploded behind her eyes. For a second or two, she was sure she was going to lose consciousness.
The first kick caught her on her shoulder. Something cracked inside her. The blinding pain brought her back from the brink of unconsciousness. Kerry pulled her knees up to shield her belly. To protect her baby. It was the only thing she could do in that moment.
He kicked her again, this time on her chest. The third blow landed on her thigh. Hold on! Have to hold on!
He grabbed her by her hair and dragged her a few feet; the final blow caught her on her side. He muttered something about her not being worth it. She c
ouldn’t quite make out what he was saying. The pain was unbearable.
Kerry realized that she had been holding her breath. She lifted her head, catching Jeff’s retreating back. She bit back waves of nausea as she tried to stand. Sucking in deep breaths, she tried again, this time making it to her feet. Kerry put a hand to the wall for support and almost doubled over as a wave of pain rushed through her. She gripped her belly with the other hand and yelled.
The door burst open. Worth’s eyes widened as he caught sight of her. “Oh fuck!” he growled. “Healer!” he shouted. “We need a healer!” Louder this time. His eyes were trained on her...they were…
She looked down. Blood. There! From between her legs. Another cramping pain had her gritting her teeth. Worth rushed forward and grabbed her so that she didn’t fall. “Hold on. Help is coming.”
His king turned abruptly. “What?” Leukos shouted. “How did this happen? Weeks you say? Magnar and his males have been with you for weeks? That is unacceptable. Why didn’t you even attempt an escape?” His king was smeared with dirt. Only just back from a hunting trip.
“The human, she was—”
“That blasted human again!” he shouted. “Why didn’t you send her away like I instructed you to do?”
“They were already there upon my return. Magnar used her to keep us in line.” To keep him in line. “He threatened to—”
“One human in the greater scheme of things. Not such a great sacrifice.” Magnar shook his head.
“What are you saying, my lord? We have more honor than that. How could I allow—”
“You should have left her to her fate. What did you expect to happen? Of course this information was going to leak. Throw a whole lot of males in a nest for weeks and they talk.” Leukos narrowed his eyes. “You told them that Talon was a one-time thing? That…” he narrowed his eyes some more. “You did tell them that, right? Because it’s true. Just because one male reawakened does not mean—”
“I did tell them, but Magnar struggled to believe it especially considering it happened to me too.” Best to just get it out.
Power Awakened (The Feral Book 2) Page 21
