by Milly Taiden
“Can you stand, love?” he asked. Aria climbed to her feet and held onto him to get her balance.
Then her eyes turned desirous. She licked her lips. “Your blood feels great going through me. Makes me want to fuck you hard and fast.”
Fuck. That hit him right in the dick that had yet to go soft from giving her blood. He would’ve shoved her against a tree and repeated their mating ceremony, but he heard leaves crunching. With a strong breath, he smelled Mason.
Aria slid Damon’s pants off his body. Trevan raised a brow. “You don’t think I can fit into those, do you. And ewww. Wearing a dead man’s clothes is a gross thought.”
“Don’t be silly. I’m dressing you for the public. Lots of women out there.” She wrapped one pant leg around his waist, leaving the other to dangle between his legs, and forced the material through belt loops to tie it off best she could. Then standing behind him, she pulled up the hanging pant between his knees and tucked it over the material around his waist. He looked like a samurai with a weird diaper.
She slapped his ass. “I kinda like that on you. Easy access to the good stuff.” She slid her hand through the front side, but Trevan yanked it out when Mason came into sight.
“There you guys are. Shit. Had me worried for a second. I smelled blood. Fight’s over. We won, obviously.” Mason’s eye landed on the body of the dead clan leader. “Well, guess I’ll take that back with me. We’re hauling the bodies to the crematorium since it’s nearby. I don’t want to wait for the sun to come up. Don’t need any human wandering over and seeing anything.”
“Great idea,” Trevan and Aria said together. They looked at each other and laughed.
“I’ll give a hand to help with cremation,” Trevan said as he guided his mate back to the street.
Aria stopped him on the sidewalk. “Cremation? What are you talking about?”
“There’s a burn shop down a block from here. Industrial burner inside with lots of bells and whistles.”
“Oh, fuck me,” she said. “Emma and I discovered some interesting facts and speculations. One question was how did the vamps keep all the bodies kidnapped over the years hidden so well. They didn’t need to hide the bodies. They simply cremated them.”
A sad sigh escaped him. “That would explain the tremendous amount of ash and personal effects we found there.” He felt his mate jerk with a sob, and rolled her against his chest. “I’m sorry, baby. I shouldn’t have blurted it out like that. I forgot how much of a softy you really are.”
She sniffled. “If you tell anyone, I’ll make sure you remain soft for a long time before I make you hard again.”
He kissed her head and laughed. “Secret’s safe, baby. I plan to stay hard for you for a long time to come.” She rubbed her stomach over his growing erection.
“Sounds good to me,” she said, lifting her chin so he could kiss her.
An old lady slowly approached them, eyes as wide as could be, pinned on him.
“Who’s that?” he asked. “Friend of yours?”
Aria called out, “Maree, come meet my mate. I’m taking your advice to screw him and—“ She noted her friend’s strange expression aimed at her mate. “Maree, this is Trevan Stone. Do you know him?”
With a shaky hand, the older woman took his and brought it against her chest. “Are you the son of Nancy, daughter to Agatha Schroeder?” It had been a long time since he’d heard his mother’s and grandmother’s names in connection with them.
“I am. Who are you?”
Tears filled the elder vampire’s eyes. “Trevan, I am your great-grandmother.”
Dumbstruck wouldn’t come close to the way he felt. He had family still alive. Be it a vampire, but family.
Aria came to her senses before he did. “How could that be, Maree?”
“Easy,” she said. “A long time ago, I found my mate. He was a wolf, and what a gorgeous one he was. Sexy as a chicken leg covered in hot lard, he was. I gave birth to a little girl—”
“Wait,” Aria said. “You could have children? How did they turn out?” The dream of the wolf-bodied child with vampire head flashed in her head.
“Well, altogether, we had one wolf and two vampires.”
“And they were all normal?”
“As normal as a wolf shifter and vampire can be,” the elder said with a smile. Trevan saw the twinkle in the lady’s eyes and realized the reasoning behind his mate’s questions. Aria was afraid of how their children would turn out.
A shot of adrenaline zipped through him. His mate wanted children. She wanted a clan, or a pack. Wait—they would have a clack. Sounded sorta weird, but that’s what it was when joining a clan and pack. He would be a dad!
He noted Maree was still telling her story. “So with my mate gone, I had to give the newborn wolf to a family who knew how to raise her. I surely didn’t. I stayed close to my baby and watched her grow from a distance. Your grandmother was so beautiful, Trevan. And so was your mother. Until the night of the attack.” The elder’s head drooped, sadness filled the air.
He turned to Maree and cupped his hands around her shoulders. “Maree, do you mean the vampire raid that killed my pack?”
Her head lifted slowly to meet his eyes. Tears ran down her cheeks. “I’m so sorry, son.” She looked at Aria. “I’m so sorry for both of you.” Aria shared a glance with him.
“Why me, Maree?” Aria asked.
Maree raised her face to the sky. “They are all finally dead. Let the truth be told.” He and Aria waited for the woman to continue. She looked at his mate. “The night of the attack, your grandfather argued with Filip and his followers. Filip wanted to do away with the wolf pack that got in the way of taking victims caught in the city. Your grandfather refused, saying it was against the rules to drink from humans.
“But Filip wouldn’t hear of it. He ambushed your grandfather and killed him, then led the attack on the wolf settlement. When those of us who had no clue what was happening figured it out, it was too late. Filip had taken control and threatened torture for anyone ever speaking about it, in or out of the clan.”
“Filip killed my grandfather? Filip said a group of wolves attacked him when he was in the woods alone. That lying son of a bitch.” Trevan smelled surprise and sadness from his mate. “My god, Trevan. I now remember Filip telling my dad that the clan retaliated and killed the wolves that killed Grandfather. That was your pack, Trevan. Oh my god.”
He wrapped an arm around his mate and held her against him. He now held two crying women. How did he ever get so lucky?
“It’s okay, sweetheart. You got your vengeance before you ever knew of the crime. You killed Filip and his groupies earlier, and we finished them off here.”
“Yes,” Maree said. “You finished them here. Those who stand with me are against harming humans for blood. They are here to help you, Aria. As am I.”
His mate dried her cheeks and turned to the group of twenty standing behind the elder. They smiled, a couple gave a shy wave.
“I must say, Trevan, you’re a big boy. A lot like your great-grandfather was.”
“Believe it or not, I wasn’t nearly this size six hours ago,” he said. “After Aria and I—after we—uh…” Trevan felt his cheeks heat, then his face, and good god, all the way to his toes.
“Mated. After you two mated.” Maree winked at him. “We’re all adults here, son. It’s okay.”
“Uh, yeah. After we mated, I had a growth spurt.” He couldn’t bring his eyes to meet hers yet. His face burned.
The older woman took a thinking stance. “My guess would be the vampire blood in you lay dormant until Aria’s blood woke it. And when it did, it added power and strength to your existing wolf. You, my dear son, are the baddest of the badass creatures in existence.” Coming from a little old lady, that line was hilarious. Those behind Maree laughed along with him and Aria.
He leaned down to Aria’s ear. “Why don’t you and Maree get with the group and talk while I help Mason and the others with clea
n up.”
She looked at him with such love and gratitude, he melted on the spot. So much for being badass. He’d settle for mushy badass. He took her face in his hands and kissed her long and hot. Someone in the group cleared their throat to break them apart with a smile.
“I love you, vampire mate.”
“I love you, wolf mate.” She slapped his nearly bare ass. “Get going. I got shit to do.” Her smile filled his heart to the fullest.
He had no doubt he and his mate would be just fine.
TWENTY-SIX
Standing along the sidewalk outside the clan’s main house, Aria watched her fucking badass mate hurry to join the cleanup crew taking away bodies. Damn, he looked fabulous with little on. She so wanted a bite of that tight ass.
“Aria, dear,” Maree said, “we need to get busier than a one-legged cat in a sandbox.”
Aria turned to her. “What? A one-legged cat? Maree, do you make this shit up?”
The elder laughed hardily. “Only to confuse you, dear. You’re so damn funny when you don’t have a clue what I say. Penelope, too. She thinks I don’t know about her faking, but I do.” The woman let out another laugh and headed with Aria to the group. They had a lot to do to get the small clan back on track.
Aria’s butt cheek vibrated. She slapped a hand on her back pocket and pulled out her phone. She’d forgotten she had it. ID read Penelope. Shit, what now?
“Pene, what’s up?”
“Aria, you’ve got to come home immediately. The High Council has made a decision and it’s not good.”
Her happy attitude went down the toilet. “What do you mean, not good?”
“Just that. I’ll tell you more once you get here. We’ve arrived at the house. You’ve got to come now, Aria.”
She looked around for her guards. “Okay, Pene. I’m on my way. See you shortly.” Turning to the group, Aria frowned. “I’m sorry, folks. Something’s come up and I have to fly back now. I’ll give you a call when I’m ready to help get things on track once again. I’m really sorry.”
Maree patted her on the back. “No problem, dear. The job of a clan leader is never done. We got this.” She held a fist up. Aria had no idea what the woman was doing. “Come on, little girl. Are you that out of it? Put your fist up.” Arid did as directed, and Maree gave her a fist bump then walked away, mumbling about kids not knowing what the hell was going on in the world.
If Aria wasn’t so stressed over the call from Penelope, she would’ve laughed her ass off. As it was, she turned and yelled out for Marxius and Wynther. Both men hurried to her. Good. They needed to get going. She looked around for her mate. Didn’t see him, but saw one of his guys taking pictures with his phone.
“Marxius, Wynther, will you get our stuff from the guesthouse? We need to fly north immediately. We have an emergency at home.” Both guys rushed toward the house, and she headed toward Trevan’s friend.
“Roen, right?”
His face broke out in a smile. “You’re my best friend’s mate now, I hear. Congrats.”
Aria gave him a hug. Totally not her. Great. Her mate turned into the superbeast of beasts, and she’d become a marshmallow. Oh well. She wasn’t giving up Trevan for anything. She awkwardly stepped back.
“Yeah. Would you relay a message for me to Trevan when you see him next?”
He looked at his phone and pushed icons. “Better yet, my best-friend-in-law, I’ll record you giving the message.”
Best-friend-in-law? She needed to watch this one. He seemed a bit loopy. The phone lifted in front of his face and he said go.
“Uh, Trevan, mate, love. Penelope called and said I needed to come home right away. Something is going on with the High Council and it’s not good.” Behind her, she heard her two guards approach and stand at her back. “We’re leaving now, and I’ll call you when we land. We’ll figure out what to do about this down here a bit later.”
She glanced at those around her. “If any of you laugh at what I say next, I’m going to rip your tongue out.” She turned back to the recording phone. “I love you.” Her eyes narrowed, pretending to listen for any hint of a titter.
Roen lowered the phone. “Got it. I’ll show him as soon as I see him next. And just so you know, I’ve documented everything we’ve seen in the last twenty-four hours as evidence, if you need it. Hopefully you won’t, but it’s here.” She hugged the man again. Ugh, what the hell was wrong with her?
“Thanks, Roen. We gotta go now.”
In record time, Aria and her guards were on the private jet and rolling down the runway. She put her phone in airplane mode and dropped it in the seat next to her. In the air, she was too nervous to sit, so she paced the aisle. Whatever the hell was going on in Spain needed to end. This entire legal action was a farce. Next, they’d charge her with killing Damon. Bunch of bullshit.
Calm. She needed to calm down before she did something stupid. Opening the cockpit door, she leaned against the frame.
“Hey, guys. How’s it going?”
Marxius gave her a disgruntled look. She rolled her eyes. “Give me a break, Marx. Just because I’m not seatbelted in doesn’t mean I’m going to die. You’re getting to be just like an old mother hen.” She smiled at her metaphor. She couldn’t see old Marxius with feathers stuck to his body.
He grumbled and turned in his pilot’s seat. She laughed. “Okay. I’ll sit down. Happy now?”
“No,” was his reply, but she saw his grinning face reflected in the plane’s windshield. She closed the narrow door and then plopped into her seat. She rested her head against the back of the seat and sighed.
Next thing she knew, Marxius was on the intercom telling her they were landing. She must’ve fallen asleep. When was the last time she slept? Not that she needed a lot, but her body was partially human and needed occasional rest.
She tossed her phone in her overnight bag and made sure her seatbelt was fastened. Minutes later, they were on the highway headed to the house. And she was keyed up with anger, fear, and readiness to be done with this shit already.
They slowed to pull into the circle driveway and parked in front of the porch. The three climbed out as Penelope, Julius, Zane, and another man she had never seen exited the front door. Her trio of mentors didn’t look happy.
The man stepped off the porch toward her. “Aria Valderi, I am placing you under arrest for the murder of Filip Ataturk.”
She jumped back from the man invading her personal space. “Who the fuck are you to put me under arrest?” He moved forward. “One more step and I’ll gut you like I did Filip.” The man paled even more than he was. Maybe that wasn’t the best thing to say to him.
Julian answered. “That is Juan Alonso de la San Angelo. The High Chancellor for the council. He has the authority to take you to Spain to meet the council.” Yup, that definitely wasn’t the best thing to say to him.
“You mean be a prisoner to the council,” Aria spit out. She looked at Penelope. “You called me back here for him to arrest me?”
“I had no choice, Aria. If he had to go after you, he has the right to kill you for just telling him he’s full of shit, which he is.” Aria saw the corner of Pene’s lips quirk up. What the fuck?
“Okay, fine. Tell me what’s going on before I do or go anywhere,” Aria said.
Again, Julian answered. “Mr. Dickhead, I mean, Mr. Angelo or whatever the fuck your last name is, has authority to require you to report to the High Council for questioning. He also has authority to destroy you if you try to escape. So for god’s sake, child, don’t do anything stupid until you are out of his hands. Then do whatever you can to the bastard.”
Aria smiled at the man standing before her. “Seems you’re not liked much around here, John.” She hoped her use of his equivalent American name irked him.
His eyes narrowed. “Matters not. You have been deemed a flight risk. You are to come with me to kneel before the council. Restraining you is senseless if you come along voluntarily. If not, I have the right to
destroy you.” His face turned smug.
“Flight risk? Yup, you are full of bat dung. Fine. I’ll go quietly, as they always say on TV.” She headed toward the house. The man grabbed her arm; she nearly came undone. “Remove your hand or I will remove your arm from your body.” He snapped his hand away, but didn’t back down.
“We are to go now.”
She huffed. “I can’t even pack a bag? Do you want me to wear the same clothes the entire time?”
His face broke into a smile. “I don’t have to give a shit, and I don’t. Get back in the truck.” He pointed to her newer guard. “Wynther, drive us back to the airstrip. We leave now.”
Since when did a high and mighty chancellor know the name of a peon security guard?
The bastard reached for her again and she growled at him, as did Marxius. The chancellor stepped back and gestured toward the SUV. Against her better judgment, but with no other choice, she climbed onto the middle seat to be joined by the prick himself.
“You even have to sit by me. You really do care. I’m touched.”
He slammed the door shut and Wynther shifted into drive. She couldn’t believe this was happening. When she got to Spain, she’d tell the council about everything and bring in the evidence they’d collected and they’d release her. She debated if she wanted to make a big stink about all this harassment. She’d prefer to get home to her mate more than anything else.
At an intersection ahead of them, an SUV pulled onto the road and headed their way. She felt a pull on her soul toward the vehicle. Strange. She’d never experienced that before. Her thoughts turned to Trevan. Was she feeling his nearness? That was impossible. She left him with the South clan an hour ago. There was no way he was here now.
She needed to call and let him know what was going on. She pulled her bag onto her lap from the floor and took her phone out. It was still in airplane mode. Before she could key in her passcode, the chancellor yanked it from her hand.
