by Bec McMaster
“I love you,” she said again, fear making her trip on the words. He hesitated again, then shook it off. Riley closed her eyes, the heated scent of wolf musk filling the room. “You’re a stupid, arrogant idiot, but I love you. I love you because you held my hand in the dark, and helped me rescue Jimmy. I love you because you kissed me in that pool, and for the first time in my life, I realized that it wasn’t just sex. I love you because I can yell at you, and you don’t care if I’m just a woman.”
He was listening. Oh, God, he was listening.
Riley kept going, trying to think of every little memory she had of him, anything to bring Luc back to her. “You drive me crazy. You’re everything I shouldn’t want, but I do. I want to be with you forever. I want... I want children,” she blurted. “A place together. I know it’s only a dream to you, but I think we can do it. Maybe just the two of us – or three, because I know you want Lily with us. We could do it. We could be a family.”
The monster stopped in its tracks, breathing hard. Riley didn’t dare hope. One slip and it could be on her, its awful claws rending.
“Do you remember when I held your hand?” she whispered. “When you were hurt? I was so afraid I was going to lose you, and I knew how scared I’d been when I was lost in the dark. I held your hand all night, even though I was afraid of you – not of what you were, but of how I felt. I was so confused, because this is against all of the rules I grew up with.”
A quiver ran through that enormous body. Riley forced herself to be brave. Taking a step toward him cost her everything she had. She licked her lips as his head jerked, watching the movement. “Easy,” she whispered, slowly lifting her hand. “I just want to touch you.” She sucked in a breath, inches trembling between her hand and his arm. “You like it when I touch you,” she reminded him. The distance narrowed. Her fingers brushed the black fur that covered his lean, sinewy form. She almost yanked them back then, but any sign of fear or rejection would only destroy this tenuous connection.
“I love you,” she whispered, sliding her hand over his arm.
He flinched, breathing harshly through his nostrils. Nearly eight feet of monster. Riley’s hand firmed on his fur. “Your fur’s soft,” she whispered in surprise. He was quivering, but he’d made no move. Slowly, she lifted her hand and stroked his arm, running her fingers through the thick silky pelt.
“You like that, don’t you?” she whispered, lifting her other hand and brushing the backs of her fingers down his chest. She didn’t dare believe she’d won. Wade quivered beneath her touch so violently she knew it was taking everything in him to control this.
I want blood. I want flesh.
If either of them let go, he’d hurt her, she knew it. Breathing deeply, she slid her hand into his, feeling the threatening pinprick of his claws as she slid her fingers between his. “Shush,” she murmured as he twitched. “I just want to hold your hand, like I did last time you were hurt.” She ran her other hand over his chest. “I’ll hold it all night, Luc. You just have to stay with me. I’ll be your anchor. Just stay with me.”
Another shudder, fighting against his instincts.
“You can do it,” she breathed, pressing on his shoulder. “Let’s sit down. Let’s rest. Come, my love.”
Slowly, he went to his knees, a soft growl curling through his throat. Riley’s hand began to shake as he pressed himself against her, burying his muzzle against her abdomen. She tensed, then slowly lowered her hand to the soft fur on his scalp. If she didn’t think too much, it was almost hypnotic, the slow, steady stroke of her hand through that warm fur.
Without thinking, she started humming, the same old lullaby he’d hummed in the cave that night, when he carved a doll for the child he'd thought he'd lost. Though he didn’t move, she could tell he was listening, a rumble of satisfaction curling through his chest.
“That’s it,” she whispered, a feeling of absolute incredulity rushing through her blood. Her head swam. She’d done it. She’d brought him back to himself.
Now she just had to hold him until dawn.
And a glance at the window showed her dawn was a long time away.
Twenty-Three
A LONG, MOURNFUL howl filled the crisp pre-dawn. A smile stretched over Bartholomew Cane’s lips at the sound, and he kicked his heels down off the chair in front of him, almost spilling his wine.
“There it is.” He laughed. “The son of a bitch is starting to realize what he did.”
Tossing back the last gulp of wine, he glared across the room. Colton sat quietly on the sofa, the little girl curled up beside him. Cane had demanded she be given a room away from Colton’s overly protective hovering, but Colton had defied him. No amount of pressure, no force he applied, would change Colton’s mind. It was the first time his second had openly defied him.
I gave my word she wouldn’t be hurt.
But Cane hadn’t. His gaze narrowed on the girl. She’d been nothing to him but leverage, but now that she’d caused his second to defy him, it was personal. The girl would have to die. Preferably in front of both Wade and Colton.
Colton needed to learn who his master was again, and Wade... Wade needed to be destroyed, for daring to try and kill him.
His good mood evaporating, Cane tossed his glass into the fireplace. It shattered and the girl woke with a start, flinching into the sofa. Colton looked up, meeting Cane’s gaze, his own dark eyes hot and aggressive.
Cane shoved to his feet, locking their gazes with his will. “You want to push me?” he asked, dangerously soft. “I own you. And, by God, I’ll show you by the time this day’s over.” His gaze drifted to the girl again, and she cowered with a whimper. “But for now, I have Wade to deal with. Consider this a reprieve.”
“Don’t be afraid,” Colton murmured, squeezing her hand. “I won’t let anyone hurt you.”
That last comment with a sharp look at Cane.
Fucking ungrateful little shit. Cane bared his teeth and strode toward the door.
A reiver on guard yawned in his face at the top of the stairs. Cane snarled and kicked him in the chest. The man’s eyes widened, and he screamed as his body arched back into space and disappeared. A meaty thud sounded as he landed far below.
That put a smile on his face.
Cane stretched, turning his face toward the horizon – and dawn. He could feel it under his skin, the itch that he could never escape subsiding at least. Both his and Wade’s appropriated charm hung around his throat, forcing the beast inside him down. The last few months had been awful as his charm began to fail – never knowing when he was going to lose control, never knowing if he’d ever change back to a man. He’d needed another, and with both Wade and McClain in this area, the chances were good. Besides, he had some unfinished business with the pair of them.
A scream of inhuman rage came from the west, from Wade’s prison. The reivers on duty all spun toward the sound, some crossing themselves to an ancient God. Pathetic little pissants.
The loss in the warg’s voice was beautiful. A goddamned symphony.
Cane grabbed the edges of the thin ladder and slid down to the bottom. Above him, dawn light silvered the adobe of the house someone had long ago carved into the cave system, and he’d since taken over. Dust stirred around his boots, and Cane scuffed his hands against his jeans as he turned.
Packs of reivers slunk out of his way as he stepped over the body of their fallen comrade. Nobody would dare say a word, even if they thought to. Cane had bought them a lot of good luck, his wargs taking over Isolation, New Hope, and Haven within months. The reivers had more food – and slaves – than they knew what to do with.
No, no one would dare say a word about the body.
He crossed the hard-packed dirt of the center of the mine, listening to the unearthly scream within the building in front of him. It was almost human now, if a human had ever felt a loss that deep.
“Wade!” he bellowed.
Another scream of rage shook the building in response. Cane cl
imbed the wooden steps and paused on the ramp outside the door. The scent of hot, coppery blood washed through his senses, making his mouth water and his heartbeat accelerate. A tingle ran over his skin, the hairs on his arms standing up. Cane looked down. No. The extra charm was supposed to stop this.
He’d questioned Colton about the charms not long ago, needing to know if the shaman magic in them was fading, or if it were something else. Colton had dared to say that it wasn’t because there was a monster inside him, it was because he was the monster. So close to the creature he despised that he would never be able to keep it hidden.
He’d made Colton bleed that day. The one good thing about a warg’s healing powers – you could slice them to shreds, and they’d still be able to hunt at your command the next day. Silence fell. Cane looked up sharply, and drew his gun. Shoving open the door, he came to a halt on the threshold, his incredulous gaze roving the room.
Hell. Wade’d done a number on her. Blood splashed the walls like raindrops, and the bed was crushed, the legs crumpled beneath it. Wade knelt in the center of the room, naked, clutching the bloodied ruins of the woman’s black shirt and whatever was left of her. His back quivered, his hands shaking as he sucked in a sharp, pained breath.
Cane took a step inside the room. He smiled. “Did you like that, Wade? Did she taste good?” He breathed in deeply, the woman’s scent so strong he could almost sense her. “Did you get one last fuck in before you tore her to shreds?”
“I’ll kill you,” Wade whispered hoarsely.
Cane lifted the pistol and put it to the back of the man’s head. He clicked the safety off, the sound echoing in the room. Wade stiffened. The seconds dragged out.
Cane laughed and aimed the gun high, clicking the safety back on. “Don’t think it’s that easy. I don’t do mercy of any kind. You live with this, and you remember.” His laughter turned huskier, as if the very thought of it aroused the monster inside.
Movement shifted behind him. The door slammed shut. Cane half-turned, just as something heavy smashed him across the face. The blow spun him off his feet, his hand losing the pistol. Somehow, he ended up flat on his back, staring up at a blonde, blood-spattered woman with one of the timber bed legs in her hand.
“Surprise.” The woman smiled before lifting her boot and kicking him in the face.
* * *
“Bitch,” Cane snarled.
Riley’s eyes narrowed and she kicked at him again, the toe of her boot digging into his ribs with a satisfying crunch. Cane snarled, catching her leg against his side and tearing her off balance.
Shit. She went down hard, landing awkwardly on the bed leg. The spear of pain through her ribs made her head spin. As her vision swam, she saw Cane leer up over her, his teeth bared in a grimace of fury, blood dripping down his face. Her own blood ran cold at the expression on his face; he might’ve still been a man, but a monster stared back at her, wanting only to hurt.
“Riley!” Wade came out of nowhere, barreling into Cane. They smashed against the wall, smearing some of the blood Wade had flicked on the adobe to fool Cane.
Riley rolled to her side with a wince. Get up! But her brain and body weren't quite connected at the moment. The toll of all her injuries and exhaustion were finally starting to take its payment from her. Bearing her teeth, she pushed up onto her knees, moving slowly.
Cane and Wade wrestled backward, the muscles in Wade’s naked arms tensing and flexing as if he were struggling. He took a step back. Then another, his teeth bared in fury.
“Colton!” Cane roared. “Get in here!”
Riley’s gaze locked on the shut door. If Colton arrived, the odds were grim. She saw Cane’s pistol on the floor and scrambled for it in ugly, jerking movements, just as the door kicked open with a bang.
Colton came through, Lily cradled in front of him, his gun held low against his thigh.
Riley lay flat on her back, the gun in her hands trembling as she aimed it at his head. “Don’t move,” she said coldly, wincing a little at the ache in her side.
Those liquid black eyes glanced her way, then back to Cane. Like a well-heeled dog.
Wade smashed Cane against the wall with a roar, his hands curled around the other man’s throat. Cane grabbed his wrist, his face twisting in effort as he tried to haul Wade away. His eyes rolled toward Colton.
“Shoot—” He managed to say, spittle spraying over Wade’s arm. “Shoot... erm.”
Colton lifted the gun, his expression cool and distant. His other hand wrapped around Lily’s chest, holding the frightened girl in place.
“Don’t!” Riley screamed, her finger twitching on the trigger.
Gunfire spat. Once. Twice. She screamed as Colton jerked back into the wall, her shot taking him high in the chest.
Someone fell. She rolled to her knees, and then onto her feet as Wade and Cane both went down. “Luc!” With a sharp, wary glance at Colton, she grabbed Wade's arm and rolled him off Cane. There was blood all over him, and his eyes were glassy.
Oh, God. Oh, God, oh, God. Heat sprang up behind her eyes as she went to her knees beside him. “Where is it? Where’d he get you? Are you all right?”
Wade coughed and pushed at her. “Riley—”
“I’m so sorry—”
He caught her wrists. “Riley! I’m fine.”
Fine. Her eyes went wide and she froze, melting into him. Wade cupped her face with a trembling hand, giving her a tremulous smile. Then he pushed her away. “He wasn’t shooting at me.”
She looked down. Cane stared sightlessly at the roof, his arms akimbo in a way that wasn’t natural, a bullet hole gaping in his temple. The gleam of a pair of pewter amulets sparkled around his throat.
There was no way Colton could have missed that shot. She looked up, just as Colton bared his teeth in a pained hiss, trying to drag himself into a sitting position against the wall. Their gazes locked.
“Have to be careful—” Colton swallowed “—with giving indirect... orders.” Leaning his head back against the wall, he laughed under his breath, a pained hacking sound. “Finally got the fucker.” Looking up, he focused on Lily, who was curled into a ball behind the door. “Pardon the language, darlin’.”
Wade slowly drew to his feet, grabbing the sheet off the bed and wrapping it around his naked waist. He held out a hand and Riley stood up slowly, her ears still ringing. At his questioning look, she realized she must have winced.
“Fell hard,” she muttered. “Just my ribs.”
He nodded. Then he looked past her, his gaze locking on the tiny little girl in the corner with an absoluteness that blocked everything else out. “Lily,” he said quietly, holding out his hand. “Lily, it’s okay. We’ll get you out of here.”
The little girl’s eyes swam with tears and she swallowed, looking between him and Riley. Seconds ticked past, and then Wade realized she wasn’t going to come to him. His hand slowly dropped, his expression shuttering completely.
“Hell, Luc,” Riley said, shouldering past him with deliberate lightness in her voice. “You’re covered in blood, and she’s been through an awful lot. She probably doesn’t even know where she is right now.”
Squatting down, she put her hands on her knees and stared at Lily. “You okay, sweetheart? Nobody hurt you, did they?”
Lily’s face screwed up, and she started crying. Riley dragged her into her arms, feeling the tiny body wrap itself around her so tightly she could barely breathe. Fire lanced through her ribs, but she couldn’t let go.
“It’s okay,” she murmured, running a hand through that silky-fine hair. “We came to take you home. Everything will be all right now. Your daddy’s here to make sure you’re okay.” She met his gaze over Lily’s head, “Nothing can hurt you now that he’s here, because he’s bigger and meaner than anything else, and he’ll do anything to keep you safe because he loves you.”
Wade tore his gaze away then, his jaw tightening. “Can you carry her? We need to get moving.”
“Lily,�
� she whispered, feeling the pain of his rejection. “Lily, are you okay to move? We can’t stay here. We have to go.”
The little girl’s grip tightened around her neck.
“I’m not leaving you behind, honey.” Riley struggled to her feet, her side aching. “Luc,” she called. “I don’t think I can carry her.”
He’d picked up the remnants of his jeans and was dragging them on underneath the sheet. At her words, his fingers slowed on the buttons. “Can she walk?” Hoarse words.
“Lily.” Riley took a step, and gasped as pain tore through her. “I can’t carry you. You either have to walk or let your daddy carry you.”
Lily shook her head against her throat, sobbing helplessly. “No.”
Visibly steeling himself, Wade crossed toward them, and reached out for her. “Come on, Lily. You’re hurting Riley.”
Taking her by the arms, he gently tugged. Lily looked up in horror and yanked at Riley’s shirt. Riley gasped and clapped a hand to her side as Wade gently took the little girl.
His broad arms wrapped around his daughter as she fought him. Setting his teeth grimly, he crushed her against his massive chest. “Shush, Lily. I’ve got you. You’re safe now.”
The little girl’s sobs slowly died, and his hands relaxed a little. The expression on his face nearly tore Riley’s heart out of her chest as his quivering hand came up to stroke his daughter’s hair. Turning his face, he breathed in the scent of her, as if he couldn’t quite believe she was there.
“I’ve missed you,” he whispered.
Riley stooped to collect Colton’s gun, keeping a wary eye on him. Colton stared back at her, baring his teeth in a bloody grimace. One hand was clapped high against his chest, his shirt wet with blood. His long, dark hair tumbled over his shoulder, the sharp angle of his nose welted with bruises.
He’d heal, though it would take him most of the day.
Wade stepped up beside her, lifting his own gun as he cradled Lily against him with the other hand. His expression was bleak as he stared down at Colton.
