by Tigris Eden
“It’s done.” Draven said darkly. His eye held a determined gleam. Oh, so he was going to attempt his hand at ‘Good Guy, Crazy Girl’. Not gonna happen partna. And bring on the ghetto. Jes thought as her hands landed on her hips. Strangely, she felt the need to crack her neck, arch her back. Prepare for verbal battle.
“Monosyllabic phrases may work in the wild. Here not so much.” Her side hurt like a motherfucker, now. She’d gone from scared, bum rushed through angry, and wanted an explanation. Now!
Draven reluctantly put distance between them as he took one step, then two more. He knew he was treading water. He was still infused with his dogmatic tendency. She wasn’t about to back down now. He started this.
“We are a mated pair now, you and me.”
She watched as he bent at the legs, then back up again stretching. He’d answered her as if it was just another ordinary day in their not so ordinary world. His chest stuck out with pride as the words spilled from his mouth. Mated? Her? Not in this or any other lifetime. Standing in the clearing naked, having a conversation about being mated? Unfuckingbelievable! Her insecurities threatened to overwhelm her. An overload of words she wanted to say never came. She was dumbfounded. Jes abruptly grabbed her stomach to cover her scars. Now she had a new addition. Open your mouth and say how you feel! He’s not Marcus!
“We are no such thing!” Her voice radiated her incredulity. “I didn’t sign on for this or the abuse. You don’t fucking touch me with so much as a hair on your head! Are we clear?” She’d walked right up to him. His only reaction was a grin. A placating grin. One eyebrow arched in challenge, daring her to think or say otherwise. She was not going to let him emotionally, physically, or mentally bully her. No one was! Not anymore.
“We need to get moving, Royce is expecting us.” Draven dropped a kiss on her forehead walking her back towards the boulder. He’d called her bluff. He was too close. She could feel him in her bones; he dipped his head to capture another kiss. He just dismissed her like she was some ill-educated women. As if her feelings didn’t matter! Instead of a kiss, she bit him hard on the lips.
“Ow!” Draven moved back nursing her bite.
“I said we are not mated!”
He sucked the blood on his lips and growled. “Woman, we shall discuss this later. What’s done is done.”
“You are a bully and a pig! This is not the early 1950’s I will not wear an apron.” Jes stomped her foot in the dirt. “I will not cook, clean, service, or breed. I am free to choose who I want, when I want, and whenever I want.”
The boulder was almost painful as it dug into her back. Draven’s muscles bulged and his hands shook as he got in her face, placing both his hands on either side of her face. In a deadly quite voice, so calm it was barely a whisper he said.
“Try it petal.”
“Try or what?” She hissed back in his face in blunt challenge.
“I would never hurt you, but I can and I will punish you.”
She flinched at the words. Draven’s eyes went big with worry. His hands rose slowly to alert her of his intentions and softly caressed her face.
“I know you’ve been hurt baby. And I promise you, it won’t ever happen again.” His jaw clenched and unclenched in frustration. “Marcus will pay on so many levels. I didn’t want to bring it up, I know you hurt here,” he bent and kissed her chest were her heartbeat. “I give you my word I will never hurt you, your heart, body, or your soul. I only want to take care of you and our daughter. To L-” Jes cut him off before he could say the words that would destroy her. She couldn’t hear them from him, would never accept them.
She stood on her tiptoes and wrapped her arms around his shoulder to kiss him on the cheek. Deep down she knew she was avoiding the serious discussion. She’d do anything not to hear those words uttered. Even kiss the man who’d hurt her. She needed to get back to Faith, hold her daughter in her arms. The dynamics of their relationship, what Draven thought was a relationship would have to wait.
“Let’s get back to the others,” She said against his cheeks.
Draven lifted his head, ran his hands down the sides of her face and resting them on her shoulders. “We will talk more about this. For now, get dressed and hop on the wolf express.” Some of the tension left her body at his words. He’d let her have her out.
Jesminda stepped away from Draven and began putting her clothes back on. Issues would have to be addressed later, much later. Draven pulled her against his chest when she was finished dressing and bit the back of her neck. She knew what he was doing, trying to get her use to his touch. She wasn’t about to let that happen. Regardless of her body, deciding to relax in his arms.
“I am going to change now, I want you to hop on so we can leave, don’t worry about people seeing us on the service roads, we’re not far from the motel Royce and I saw on the way to Bells. We will be there in about an hour.”
She watched as Draven changed into his wolf form. There were a series of loud cracks as bones adjusted and readjusted. Muscles bulged and expanded. His hair grew longer, thicker and seemed to spread across his entire body blanketing him in the change. It was amazing. Unreal. If he stood on his hind legs, he’d be massive. Whoa!
She hopped onto the back of the wolf and nuzzled the top of his head. The wolf shook franticly back and forth in a jerky motion. Heckling.
“Sorry, wasn’t trying to tickle you.” Jes giggled. She could relate to him in this form. It didn’t have to be serious or dire. She could just relax and enjoy her surroundings. The sun was at her back as they ran toward the motel. There was still so much more to do. They still needed to find the house Marcus was hiding the vampires, and then of course Marcus himself. Added to the equation now were- Jesminda stopped short in her thoughts. She didn’t know what the hell those things were back at Bells’ house. Damn! Now they had them to contend with them as well. How did they find her? Were they now being followed? She didn’t want to think about all the shit swimming in her head. She had a plan and it was perfect. Get to the motel and see Faith. Talk to Draven about what was going on with him and her. Find Marcus and the missing vampires, and most important finish what they fucking started! Anyone else would do the same. She needed to look at her glass half-empty, because Draven was drinking the Kool-Aid and her flavor wasn’t kiwi strawberry blast. It was Mango madness. They needed to finish what they’d started. Period! End of subject. Even if in the end, they would both go their separate ways.
Chapter 15
The run to the motel was uneventful. No one was on the service roads as Draven raced toward their destination. He’d mentally been ticking off a list of things he’d done wrong where Jesminda was concerned. He’d fucked up in a major way, knew he had. How was he going to fix this fuckup of epic proportions? She was avoiding him, and he knew it was due to her traumatic past. Kill the bastard. His wolf said. They were both on the same page there. He was going to do more than kill Marcus. He was going to keep him alive for an entire year, gutting him over and over but just to the point of death. Maybe even tie his intestines into pretty bows and wipe his face clean with the foul things. The possibilities were endless. What ever happened in her past he would wipe from their future. Their lives would not be affected by Marcus, not even a blemish would remain.
When they arrived, everyone was there waiting for them. Faith still slept soundly. She looked peaceful with her head propped up by her folded arms and a serene look on her face. He wanted to go to her, but he didn’t know if that was the right thing to do to a sleeping child. Did she wake up in a good mood or would she be upset? With his sister’s kids, he never worried about those things. It was his sister’s problem not his. Jesminda stepped behind him and placed a hand at his waist. It wasn’t a forgiving gesture. It was to give the impression of a united front. She wasn’t finished with him by a long shot. She was tired, and she had every right to be. It had been a very long night. Fucked up as it was he was settled. Being mated was calming in a way he’d never felt before. In
the face of the storm, the air was unsettled but fresh with the scent of his woman.
There were a lot of questions that needed to be answered. And those things, what the fuck were those things? That guy Solon seemed to know but why the fuck was he following them? Draven intended to find out. He unlatched Jesminda’s arm from around his waist and stalked over to the intruder.
“Royce, I want you to keep my daughter asleep for this.” He growled. He was pissed and things were not adding the fuck up. He needed to get all in this man’s grill. Preferably hands on. But somehow, the bastard knew he was coming and pinned Draven with a hard stare.
“Yo, you really don’t want to do that. I mean not in front of the ladies. I’d really hate to have to wipe the floor with your ass.” Solon said confidently. He was rubbing the back of his neck in frustration. The man knew he was going to get worked over. He could feel the energy pulsing through the air. There was a raw power that surrounded the guy. Well, he’d take him and if he really wanted to get randy, well that’s what Royce’s ass was for. Royce would fuck him over in ways that boggled the darkest minds.
“I’ll answer every single one of your damn questions, but without physical contact, alright.”
Jesminda let out a curse and sat down on the bed next to Faith. She put her head in her hand and looked up at Solon with acknowledgement and horror.
“I remember you,” She whispered. “You work for Marcus.”
Loud curses rang out in the room as Royce and Draven both took a step forward. Solon held up both hands in supplication and quickly began explaining his reason for being there.
“Yes, I worked for Marcus, but I didn’t like it. I’m a mercenary, what can I say. I go where the money flows.” He looked over at Jes and then over at Bells. “I was put there to keep an eye on you and Faith, get in to his circle of trust so to speak,” he sighed loud and continued speaking.
“Marcus isn’t the mastermind behind all this mess, simply a pawn. I’ve been around since the beginning. My true target is still not acquired. I’m getting close.”
Solon took a step forward and watched as he keenly took a seat in the chair and rested his elbows on his knees. Solon seemed to be thinking of a way to explain everything. Royce eyed Solon.
“I can’t read him.” A confused Royce said. He eyed Solon a bit more, his eyes squinted, and Royce grabbed his skull. His eyes closed and when they opened, the brother was more than focused. He was zeroed in on his target. Draven knew that look. Death would come with a swift wind if Solon didn’t make a believer out of him.
“Finish the fucking story Solon.” Royce interjected into the silence. The tension in the room circulated in thick strands that threatened to choke the air right out of its space and its occupants. Whatever this man had to say wasn’t good. He hadn’t notice earlier, but Solon was wearing black leather gloves on both hands. Had he been wearing them before?
“I am Solon Gimald. I am son of Surelle and Vivek.” Solon whispered.
“I was cast out by my family years ago. Surelle is the matriarch of House Phoenix. I am Belinda’s brother by blood, but my father Vivek is from House Redhaven.”
“My mother would have told me about you.” Bells answered sharply. No way I have a brother.”
“It’s true sister. Your mother was captured by Vivek before you were born. Their relationship was not one of consent. When your mother became pregnant with me, she stayed and gave birth. Nursed me for about two years and then she left.”
Bells shook her head in denial and began to pace the length of the carpet.
“That’s truly an interesting story, but where do Jesminda and her daughter fit into your equation mutt?” Royce questioned.
This was the rightful heir to the Royal house of Redhaven. But he wasn’t about to say that shit out loud. He’d gone missing almost five years ago, and the gloves. Well, Draven knew what the gloves were all about. It was rumored that the vampire felt pain if anyone or anything touched him. This included the elements; he was like the bubble boy but worse. He couldn’t be killed by virus, but he could be killed by contact of any kind. Solon had eaten through his mother’s stomach at six months. Or so the rumor said. Now he’s telling them his mother was Belinda’s mother? Which would make him what?
“A shameful abomination is what that makes him.” Royce answered his thoughts.
But how is it he could be here now, in the sun with no harm and have helped fight off those things?
“Those things back there?” Royce asked.
“Those things,” Solon said. “Were death walkers, soldiers of Darkness but able to walk in the light. Reanimated like zombies, but able to take instructions and follow them. Their bodies rot from the inside out and soon when they become full dead there isn’t much that can kill them, except severing the head from the spinal cord.”
“Shit.” Draven whispered.
Jes stood and put her hand on her hips. He loved her strength. She was blind to it, but if pushed into a wall, people should back the fuck up. Far back. She wasn’t one to go toe to toe with. “Hold up, are you saying those things back at Bells’ are fucking zombies?”
“Death walkers.” Solon repeated.
Both women looked at each other, then back at him, and said in unison.
“Zombies.”
“Call them what you want sister.” Solon said to Bells.
“Jury is still out on that, I will need to speak with my mother. As far as I’m concerned, you’re a gun for hire. Care to explain just who you’re after?”
“That’s my business not yours sister.”
“Stop calling me that!” Bells screamed.
Jesminda hissed low under her breath a string of curses that Draven thought a woman would never say. She shook her head and then looked back up at Solon and gestured her head for him to continue speaking.
“I was following Jesminda, have been since the beginning. I knew you were with child, and when you got off the plane from Belize, you were so warm and kind to me. I couldn’t let anything happen to you or your young. I was the gentlemen who let you have the cab.”
Draven knew there was more to his story. He wasn’t about to believe one thing he said. Who the hell was his target? He looked in Royce’s direction and his friend silently shook his head no. Royce still couldn’t read him. They couldn’t keep this guy around. Couldn’t let him leave either. He was a dangerous liability, a wild card. They didn’t know anything about him, except what he’d said. He was a mercenary, which was wrong on so many levels. There was recognition in Jes eyes when he mentioned the cab. She sat back on the bed and put a hand on Faith’s back and began rubbing. She didn’t say anything, hell what did you say to a guy who’d been trailing you for five years?
“Why?” Draven bit out. “Why were you following my mate?”
“She was kind, she smiled at me, wasn’t afraid of me. It helped that her lifeline twinned with mine. I didn’t know it yet, but we both want the same thing.”
“Get the fuck out.” Royce said. He stood from his chair and walked over to the wall facing the door. “Seriously fucktard, you think we’re stupid right? Five fucking years, you follow his woman? Join her ex-husband’s crime organization? Because her lifeline wove with yours? Save the dramatics.” Royce was about to light another smoke when Jes and Bells shot daggers at him with their eyes.
“Sorry,” he shrugged. “But I smoke when people lie, or make me happy, or after orgasm. Okay I smoke all the time.” His smile was unapologetic as he continued to eye Solon.
“How is it you can be in the sun?” Royce asked.
“Because of my mother.” Solon answered
“Your mother Surelle was a Phoenix. That makes sense and from what I understand you can’t touch anyone?” He asked.
“That’s correct, I’m here as an ally not a foe. I want,” he cleared his throat as it became hoarse. “I need to aid your woman and her child. I will help you keep them safe if you would let me.”
Fuck a duck, a horse, and a bi
g ass elephant. He might as well throw that in for good measure. It was his job to keep an eye on Jesminda, and the bastard wasn’t making the moves on his mate, not a chance in hell. Something was wrong with this. All of it. What could the both of them have in common?
“You never said anything,” Jesminda whispered. She looked Solon in the face. She rose from the bed then and walked over to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. Solon flinched and hissed but didn’t say a word. Jes quickly moved her hand. He had on a leather jacket but apparently, it still hurt. Good. His wolf didn’t like the contact and made it know when he let out a loud rumbling growl. “Hands off Jes, or I am going to introduce him to the ends of my size thirteen’s, clear?”
Jesminda shot him a dark glare and shook her head. “Shut up Draven, this man has been with me for all of Faith’s life, and now I know who he is. I also know, she looked down at Solon as he raised his head to look up at her. “You were there when Faith was born; you took me to my hospital appointments. You were the one that botched up the GPS coordinates, weren’t you?”
Solon only nodded, and Draven’s agitation rose to levels that induced a red haze, as he tried to digest that piece of information. The smug bastard had seen the birth of his child. His offspring; that shit didn’t sit well with him or his wolf, as his animal rose to the front of his skin. Processing scents feeding the information back to Draven and his entire body coiled in rage. The bastard wanted dibs on his mate.
Quick movements had him in the man’s face and he knew if he touched him, the man would be in pain. He didn’t care what throne he may or may not sit on in the future. He could have been king of the world, or even the universe but Jesminda was his. Whoever tried to come between his goals where his mate was concerned was enemy.
