by Leilani Love
Locking the door behind him Brandon, Violca frowns at Chase. “What are you thinking about?”
“You and Brandon.” With that reply, she raises an eyebrow and he smiles. “I admit I was jealous at first, you guys are very close and it’s easy to see the affection you both have for each other. It’s hard, but I’m glad to know there is someone else out there who has your back.”
Violca smiles, the look on Chase’s face actually appears to be pained. “Yes, Brandon will always have my back. I treat him like a little brother and he treats me like a little sister. It makes for an interesting relationship.”
Chase chuckles, pulling her into his arms. “My king, Viktor, messaged me during the drive over here.”
Violca feels her heart rate pick up.
“He thinks it would be a good idea if I stayed here, just in case. I can sleep on the couch. He’s worried his brother might have something up his sleeve and wants us to be prepared, just in case.”
Violca nods. “That should be fine.” Hearing Angyalka call out to her, she brushes her lips to his before heading down the hall to see what is going on.
Chase watches her walk away before sitting on the couch. He did not tell Viktor that he mated with Violca or that Scott had imprinted on Kati. His king was fair but the stress of the war with his brother was starting to wear on him. With him and Violca mating, he hoped it meant that some of the balance was being restored.
Chase smiles when Kati walks into the room. “Hey, everything okay?”
“Yeah, I just want to ask you a question?” She bites her lip before sitting on the couch on the other side of him. “Can you teach me how to defend myself?”
Chase nods. “I don’t see why not. If you’d like, either I can teach you or we can find a class you like, or both. Classes will help you spar against other people and teach you different techniques I can’t.”
Kati nods and he notices that she is still biting her lower lip. “Is there anything else Kat?”
Sighing, she looks at him. “Do you think I’m weak?”
Chase smiles at her, understanding her concern. “You are not weak, Kati. You are a teenage girl who got attacked by men and demons. I can show you a few things that might help and maybe as you develop your magic, you will develop your own ways of protecting yourself and your sisters.”
Kati smiles and he sees a little doubt left in her eyes before she nods. “Thank you.”
“Anytime,” he says with a grin, and when she stands up he stands up too.
Kati starts to walk out of the living room before turning to look at him. “My sister sacrificed a lot to keep us together, although she would never admit it. She deserves someone who sees how amazing she is. I am glad it’s you.”
Chase smiles at her. He notices how different her stance is when she is defending her sister. Scott is going to have his hands full when she gains confidence and can stick up for herself. “I’m glad it’s me too.” He winks at her. “And I think your sister is amazing, four sisters and all.”
Violca and her sisters have a bond he finds envious. He enjoys being around them and knows he and Violca will need to figure out how they want to proceed. He knows they are mated but since they just met she might want to take things slow. Plus, since she is living with and raising her sisters, she has to think about what kind of example to set.
Chapter 61
The girls’ lives are pretty much back to normal. Everyone is in school and Violca is at work. Chase knows it bothers her that she hasn’t heard from AnnaBelle, but he doesn’t think it’s that big of a loss. Her friend betrayed her.
Chase has spent the last few nights sleeping on the couch. Well not totally, he moves to the couch during the night, before the girls wake up. Eva and Kati both know, but Violca is still trying to figure out how to talk to the two younger girls about it.
Viktor is due to come in that afternoon. Scott is going to pick him up and bring him to the house after his plane lands. Scott has stayed away for the last few days, but Chase knows it’s killing his friend. Scott wants to check in on Kati and make sure she’s okay, but is trying to respect Violca wishes. Violca has agreed that Scott can come over on the weekends to help teach the girls some self-defense techniques. All the girls are going to learn some basic ways to protect themselves physically. At night, the older girls read some of their mom’s book, learning more and more about their family history while trying to learn how to use their magic.
After spending lunch with Violca, Chase swings by the younger two girls’ school. Just in case, he has started picking them up and Eryk is helping out by taking Eva and Kati home. The initial threat is over but he knows Viktor’s brother is still out there, plotting something.
Chase knows Viktor well. The war has cut the number of dragon shifters in half. Most have lost someone in their family and some families are lost completely. Viktor will always do what he thinks is best for his people but he can be rough and hard, pushing people to see what they are made of. He smiles because as scary as Viktor is, he knows his mate will stand toe to toe with him when it comes to her sisters. His mate is fierce and powerful in her own way. Viktor is his king, but Violca is his mate and he will support her, always.
Hearing the bell ring, he leans against the car, smiling when he sees Angyalka. Sari comes out a few seconds later, smiles brightly and runs toward him. Chase feels his heart swell, surprised at how quickly these two little girls have wormed their way into his heart. He notices a few of the moms checking him out, some of them whispering, obviously trying to figure out who he is and why he is picking them up.
Not even the prettiest among them holds a candle to his mate and her strength and he ignores them, laughing when Angyalka and Sari practically tackle him.
“How was school, guys?” Chase asks as he takes each one’s hand.
“My teacher made me do a picture of my favorite animal, so I drew a dragon.” Chase chuckles as Angyalka continues her story, “My teacher said they don’t exist and that I should draw something else. I was going to tell her that they do, but I remember you telling me that it was a secret, so I drew a big black kitty and told her the cat’s name was Uncle Scott.”
Biting his lip, trying not to laugh at her story, he says, “I am sure Uncle Scott will love to see your picture.” Turning, he looks at Sari. “How about you, short stuff, anything exciting happen?”
Opening the door, they both crawl in the back, buckling themselves up while he gets in the front. “A few of the girls were teasing me because their mommies think you are cute.”
“Why were they teasing you?” Chase asks puzzled by kids’ train of thought.
“The moms said you would leave my sister ’cause she has all of us and no guy would want her since she comes with so many bags.” He glances at her reflection, seeing she is upset before she continues, “Are you going to leave because you don’t like us?”
Chase shakes his head picking his words carefully, thinking that Violca and he need to talk to the girls soon. “No, sweetie, I love you guys and I am not going to leave your sister. They were just being mean because...well, some people are just mean.”
Sari nods, accepting his answer and the girls both begin to chatter. Chase halfway listens, making the appropriate comment when needed. He finds he really doesn’t like the idea of Sari being picked on and really hates that the stupid ‘moms’ at her school are talking about Violca. Instead of recognizing what a wonderful thing she did by keeping her family together, they talk about how they think she can’t keep a man. Only a boy would not recognize Violca’s worth and look at her raising her sisters as too much of a challenge for them.
When Chase pulls up to the house, he sees Eryk’s car pull up right behind them. Heading toward the house, Eryk jogs up to him. “Hey, Scott said he and Viktor should be arriving about six.”
Chase snorts. “Great. So he should be pulling up at the same time Violca gets home.”
Eryk stands outside with him as the girls head into the house. “H
ow is Violca feeling about Scott and Kati?”
Chase smiles, knowing Eryk is asking out of concern for his brother. “She finds it a little weird that with one scent and one look, Scott knows Kati is the one, but as long as Scott is willing to let Kati have a normal teenage life and not interfere with that, she says she will not interfere.”
Eryk snorts. “I understand why Violca wants Kati to have a normal life, but it is going to be hard for Scott to watch Kati date.”
Chase nods. “Yeah, it will be, but when we talked about it, he didn’t want to be the reason Kati missed out on something. He knows, in the end, Kati will be his. He says fate has already decided that. He might have to be patient and wait, at least he knows who she is, and he doesn’t have to wait as long as I did.”
Eryk chuckles, shaking his head. “Yeah, you didn’t look like you were suffering,” he says, opening the door to the house and going inside.
Chapter 62
Violca can’t help but smile, coming home to Chase and the girls. Chase is so good with them. She is a little surprised that Scott’s SUV is not there. She is nervous about meeting Chase’s king. Chase told her that Viktor is a good man, but he’s used to being obeyed. Violca has been on her own for so long, she does not do orders well, and she wants the girls to have as normal a life as possible.
Walking in the door, she hears voices coming from both ends of the house. Angyalka and Sari come running down the hall, stopping when they see her. “We’re going to go get pizza with Eryk,” Sari announces.
Looking up, she sees Eryk coming up behind them. “We thought you could use some time with Viktor, alone, so we are all going out for pizza.”
Kati and Eva come from the kitchen area, smiling at her. “Hey, we were just about to go and have dinner.”
The girls give her a quick hug before walking out the door. Eryk smiles, nodding in her direction as he follows the girls outside. Feeling Chase, she turns to see him standing in the doorway.
“Viktor and Scott should actually be here in a few minutes,” Chase says, walking over to her, wrapping his arms around her waist before brushing his lips against hers.
Violca stiffens in his arms and he brushes his lips against hers again. “Relax, just remember, he has you and your sisters’ best interest at heart. And the final decision on what happens is yours.”
Knowing he is trying to be supportive, she raises an eyebrow, biting her lip. “You have my back?” she asks as she hears Scott pull up.
He nods. “You are my mate and I will always have your back, I promise,” Chase says, kissing the top of her head.
Taking a shaky breath, she smiles and Chase takes her hand as she turns and walks toward the door to let them in. Seeing Scott first, she smiles at him and notices that he looks a little uncomfortable. She wonders if it is about Viktor or about being around her. She chooses to believe it’s about her because if it’s about Viktor, then she will have to admit she is really nervous.
Viktor walks in behind him and Violca feels her eyes widen when she sees him. He stands taller than either Chase or Scott, stooping to get in the door. When he looks at her, she finds herself almost lost in his startling, blue eyes. Chase squeezes her hand and she realizes she is staring.
Viktor nods in her direction before reaching his hand out to her. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Violca,” he says with a faint English accent.
“It’s nice to meet you, Viktor,” Violca replies and gestures toward the couch. “Would you like to have a seat?”
Viktor sits in one of the chairs while Chase sits next to her, putting an arm around her, in support. Violca sees Viktor stiffen and look at Chase before glancing at her, his startling blue eyes zeroing in on her neck. She can actually feel Chase’s mark on her pulsing as Viktor’s lip curls. “You marked the witch as yours?” The words are said between gritted teeth and she feels Chase stiffen beside her.
Before he can reply, Violca’s eyes narrow. “I marked Chase as mine and I am more than just the witch.”
Viktor smiles and Violca can see his canines poking out the side of his lips. “No, you are not just the witch, you are one of five who he was sent to protect, not to fuck.”
Before Violca can say anything, Chase growls low next to her and she can feel his body vibrating. “What I did with her, Viktor, is none of your business. All you need to know is she is mine, and you will not talk to her like that.”
Viktor chuckles at his words and Violca’s eyes narrow. Her anger builds at his arrogance and she can feel Chase tense more, next to her. Viktor raises his hand in surrender. “Since you felt free to mark her, she is your mate and yours to protect. I expect you to have them all packed and moved as soon as possible.”
Standing up, Violca looks down at Viktor who raises an eyebrow. “What the hell do you mean packed and moved? This is our home.”
Viktor looks at her almost sympathetically. “Violca, the fate of more than just my people rests on you and your sisters. It would be easier to protect you all if you move to my home.”
Violca paces back and forth. “I won’t have my sisters locked away. They need to have as normal of a life as possible. My sister graduates next month, I can’t just uproot her.”
Viktor gets up and walks toward her. Violca tilts her head up, meeting his eyes, and his voice softens as he speaks to her. “Violca, I am not trying to lock you and your sisters away. We will come up with a way to keep you safe while letting you live as normal a life as possible. My people have found a safe haven where they can hide in plain sight and plenty of space to hide when their dragons need to shift, when Chase’s dragon needs to shift.”
Violca glances toward Chase. His golden brown eyes meet hers and he nods at her, seeing the question on her face. He told her he would support her in every decision, regardless of what she chose. Biting her lip, she thinks about what Viktor told her. “I would like to talk to Chase about this alone.” Viktor nods, and she looks at Scott who is watching her intently. She knows her decision affects him too, but her first priority is to her sisters.
Viktor looks toward Chase. “We will leave you two alone to talk. My brother seems to be regrouping, according to what Kat has heard so far.” He looks back to Violca. “I understand your need to protect your sisters, my goal is to help you, but also to protect my people, little earth witch. I hope we can come up with a solution, quickly.”
Violca watches as Viktor and Scott leave the house. Sitting down next to Chase, she feels his hand come out and squeeze her hand, reassuringly. “Our lives will never be the same, will they?”
Chase shakes his head. “Not exactly, but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing.”
Biting her lip, Violca nods. “We are going to have to talk to Eva and Kati. I can’t make life changes without talking to them first. It’s their lives too and it wouldn’t be fair to them.”
Chase nods, pulling her against him, his hand gently stroking her arm. “I think that sounds like a good idea. You are probably the first person to stand up to Viktor in a long time. I don’t think he was expecting that.”
She grins. “Well, as long as you have my back, I can do anything.”
“Always, my witch, always,” Chase says before kissing her. Moaning into the kiss, she smiles when she hears Chase’s stomach growl and he pulls back. “Let’s eat before the girls get home.”
Epilogue
After arguing with Viktor, Chase finally got him to agree to let the girls finish up the school year before moving. Violca is sad to be leaving her childhood home but knows her sisters’ safety is more important than the house.
Viktor is going to send people to fix the cabin. They are going to sell the house but keep the cabin under a company name so that way they can still feel a connection to her parents. Plus, once Chase told Viktor about how her mom buried the book there for her to find, Viktor didn’t want to take a chance that her mother might have hidden something else out there. There was even some debate about doing the same thing with the house and renting
it out, just in case, but that wasn’t fully decided yet.
Brandon probably took them moving the hardest of all. The case he was working on blew up and some evidence came up that would have him going to Arizona. There were some bodies found that had similar wounds and a matching signature to his serial killer. This could be a career case for him. His captain told him that he could not believe a rookie caught the case, but since he did, he was being watched closely. Viktor is also keeping an eye on Brandon. When they talked about his ability, Viktor mentioned that they could use a guy like him.
Chase feels bad that Violca is sad to be moving away from Brandon and knows she is still upset about AnnaBelle. Brandon went to her condo downtown, only to find it empty. Violca never brings it up, but he sees her looking at her phone sometimes, like she’s waiting for a call.
Pulling up to the house, Chase notices an envelope taped to the door. Walking to the door, he sees Violca’s name on it and pulls it off. The girls are inside sitting around the table looking at old pictures and laughing. Violca looks up at him and smiles. Walking over, he brushes his lips against hers before handing her the envelope. “Hey, this was on the door for you.”
Frowning, she takes it, opening it carefully. Chase watches her face as she reads, seeing her eyes mist up. Before he can ask what is wrong, she hands it to him.
Dear V,
I am sorry for everything that happened. I promise, before Micah, I never was jealous of you. I love you like a sister and I don’t know what happened or how to explain it. One day everything was perfect then I was…I am so sorry, I understand if you never forgive me.
All my love, AnnaBelle
P.S. Please tell Kati and your sisters I love all of you and I’m sorry
Chase looks down at Violca. He sees relief in her eyes and is glad she has some closure before they move. Sitting down at the table with them, Chase puts his arm around Violca, who goes back to going through pictures with her sisters. Chase looks around the table and realizes this is what he and his dragon were missing. Love and family. He is finally right where he belongs.
