by Rena Marks
“You’re going to love him, Mike. He’s the sweetest little baby I ever saw.”
“I’m sure I will, Leah. I’m sure he’s beautiful, your genes and those of my best friend.”
“And Julian.”
He nodded, his eyes dazed. As if he couldn’t quite comprehend a child with two fathers.
I understood exactly.
* * * * *
After I'd helped Mike from the tub, helped him dry off and put him back to bed, the door opened a crack. Leo entered, with a squirmy Luc in his arms. I rose to meet him, kissing Leo. I took Luc from his arms, as he wriggled to lick me.
“He’s a cub,” Mike said, surprised.
I nodded. “Mike, this is Luc. We haven't been able to change him back since I was kidnapped and brought here by Victor and his father.”
“You were kidnapped? Recently?”
“I guess I forgot to tell you that part. They kidnapped me thinking I would have Luc. Apparently they thought to study him to see how to keep you alive. But lucky for us Luc was with Rhett and Anna at the time.”
Luc had stilled in my arms. Leo and I brought him over to the bed where Mike lay.
“Come here, little guy,” Mike whispered.
I'd never seen Luc so quiet or still. He sat in my lap, and I stroked his fur. Eventually he sniffed.
“Come see Uncle Mike,” Leo encouraged.
Luc wasn't sure. He kept sniffing the air.
Mike looked like he'd hyperventilate.
“What's wrong?” I asked.
“I'm not sure. Anxiety. I don't think it's mine. I think I'm picking it up from your son.”
Luc chose that moment to leave my lap and jump onto Mike's. Mike reached out to pet him. Luc's change was instantaneous.
His fur vanished, his form changed, and pink skin shone.
A naked baby lay where a wolf had.
“It zapped me,” Mike said, wonder in his tone. “Some kind of magic.”
“You changed him back,” Leo murmured.
“He was anxious. He must have sensed his mother's kidnapping. But even though she was recovered and safe, he couldn't change back,” Mike said.
Luc kicked his hands and legs out. Mike picked him up, stark naked. His baby butt peeked from underneath Mike's arms. Luc let him cuddle him for a minute, and then he raised his arms to me.
I hugged my baby to me, smelling his sweet, sweet skin. Luc hugged me back just as tightly.
“He’s calmer now,” Mike said, his tone soft.
“Where’s Julian?” I asked Leo.
“I’ll reach him,” Leo said, and activated our three-way connection.
When Julian burst through the doors, Luc reached up for him.
“Da!”
Julian gathered Luc to him, and I hugged them both. Then Leo came, and we were all kissing and hugging Luc. Mike watched it all from where he was.
“He’s so happy,” Mike said. “He’s happiest when all three of his parents are together. But he understands that the lives of the vampires and the werewolves are so different. He considers it an adventure, going from one way of life to the next. He loves them both. The vampires and the werewolves.” Mike was silent for a minute. “I can hear his thoughts pretty clearly, and I can pick up on how he’s feeling. I also can learn a lot from Luc. I’ll take my life as an adventure, too. I assumed I’d live with the wolves, and everyone would pretend that I wasn’t vampire. But watching you three—I finally realized I am vampire. I don’t know how, and I don’t know why. It’s a life I’ll have to embrace, just like my tiny nephew, Luc.”
Luc turned and raised his hand at Mike when he heard his name.
“He’s been a miracle for all,” Julian said.
“I’m glad you’ll be able to accept your new life,” Leo said. “The warring between the vampires and werewolves isn’t what it used to be. You’ll be accepted in both cultures, the same way Anjelia was, and the same way Luc is. I’ve been worried about how to let you know this, but I have to return to the States. I wasn’t prepared to head out early, and I have a few pressing surgeries to get to. I was going to leave my wolves here, and send out Rhett.”
“Already in the works,” Julian murmured. “He and Anna are on the way now.”
“Leo, you’re leaving?” I knew I sounded worried. Hell, I had both of my guys finally, and here he was heading back.
“Yes, my love. I’m sorry. But there are patients who need me.”
“It will be all right, Anjelia. We will head back in a couple of weeks, too. You won’t be without your mate for six months,” Julian said.
I pulled Leo’s head to me for a kiss.
I understood the predicament. Leo had to leave, but Mike wasn’t well enough to leave. Julian wanted to make sure he was comfortable before we left him.
“We’ll see how well Mike adapts, and perhaps he can come back to the States.”
He didn’t look well enough to travel. He looked like he just crawled from the grave.
“Stay for the month,” Leo said. “I will be fine without Anjelia for that long. You can see how Mike is then.”
Julian nodded. “In the meantime, let me get a diaper on you,”—his fingers tickled Luc’s abdomen—“because I remember that trick.” Luc giggled. “Then I’ll take him to Niki and Verity.”
The three of us watched as Julian fastened a diaper on the baby, and then he scooped him up to take him.
“Anjelia shouldn’t have to be without you just because you’re worried about me being left here,” Mike said.
“It’s not for long, Mike. The most important thing is to get you healthy right now.” Leo turned to me. “I’m going to take a shower.”
I nodded. “Send Verity, will you?”
“Of course.”
Verity poked her head in the room a bit later. She came inside and sat on the edge of the bed.
“We’re going to have to put a bench or something in here,” she said.
“You have some manpower for that,” I said, eyeing Marcus who hovered in the hallway.
“Go round one up, Marcus,” she commanded, and as usual, her tone changed when she spoke to her former master.
“Immediately, mistress,” he said, then turned to do as she commanded.
“He used to be your master?” Mike asked, his eyes wide.
Verity nodded. “Julian gave him to me.”
“Why?”
“He tortured me for centuries. Now it’s his turn to wait on me hand and foot. Respond to my every whim.”
I smiled. “I have an experiment I’d like to try. Mike, will you try to bite me?”
He stared, aghast.
“Humor me.” I held up my forearm.
But, though he stared at my flesh, his teeth refused to descend.
“Hmm. Verity, hold out your arm.”
His fangs erupted from his gums.
“Apparently you don’t take human or wolf blood, Mike.”
He was quiet, perhaps embarrassed around Verity.
“You can feed from me whenever you wish,” she whispered. “I will be your sole donor, if you like.”
He nodded. “I’m not sure as to the protocol. If I’m supposed to ask, or whatever.”
“You never need to ask. Just come to me. Or call me to you. I’ll always be here for you.”
They stared at each other, and all around me, the air thickened. Very quietly, I made my way out of the room, closing the door behind me.
Julian was in the hallway.
“The relationship between him and Verity grows,” Julian said. “Now that you’ve found out Mike needs vampire blood instead of human—”
“—Verity can be his main squeeze.” I smiled.
“Well played,” he said. “Leo’s getting ready to return. I’ll feed Luc. Take as much time with him as you need.”
My heart felt like it would burst with the love I felt for him. I pressed my lips to his. “I love you.”
I opened the door to Leo’s room to find his bags packed and
set by the window. He whistled from inside the bathroom. I stood in the doorway, watching the play of muscles in his back. A towel was tied loosely around his hips.
Need shot through me.
“Will you call me every single night?”
He turned. “You know it. Now come here.”
As I approached, he flicked the towel away. “My wolf wants you.”
I pressed my body to his. It never failed to amaze me, the feelings that arose between us. I kissed his magnificent chest, trailing my lips to a nipple so I could flick my tongue out to taste. His chest rumbled as he groaned.
“Witch,” he panted. He lowered his lips to mine, kissing me finally. Our tongues melded, and desire shot through me, enticing the witch.
His wolf knew what that meant. Suddenly he reached out and ripped the shirt from my body in one fell swoop. The tear echoed through the small bathroom.
He reached down and cupped my breasts, so much fuller now. His hands were deeply tanned against the paleness of my flesh. “I love you,” he said.
“I love you, too.” It amazed me how far we’d come, and how against all odds, we were still together.
His thumbs flicked repeatedly against my nipples, sending delicious ripples throughout my body. He dropped to one knee and kissed my bared belly. It was flat again, but softer than before. He ran his tongue along the edge of my abdomen, and very deftly unsnapped my pants, pushing them along my hips.
He breathed deeply and then his mouth traced along the lacy edge of my panties, his tongue dipping into the seam between fabric and skin. I was hot and ready as he picked up one leg to swing over his shoulder, pressing me back to lean against the wall.
His mouth covered my mound right through the fabric of my panties, making everything hot and wet. Then he blew his heated breath, and the instantaneous electric sensation made me cry out.
I needed his touch so badly. He was my mate, my other half. I was almost like two different people, with Leo being my other half—yet Julian was also my other half. I was incomplete without my guys.
“Leo,” I gasped, and he came back up to kiss me some more. While his mouth worked mine, his hands reached down and pushed the wet panties from my hips. They slid down my legs and as I stepped out of them, his hand covered my pussy.
He tapped my clitoris, sending shock vibrations rocking through my body. I moved my hips in rhythm to his hand. His body shifted slightly away before he scooped me up and carried me into the bedroom.
He laid me on the bed, and kissed his way down me, gently tonguing the dip of my navel and tracing circles around my belly button ring.
“I want your legs over my shoulders,” he whispered as he buried his face between my legs.
More longing curled in my belly at the prospect of what came next. I flung my legs over his broad shoulders and he plunged his tongue into my sheath. Liquid heat exploded in my lower region as his hot, moist mouth teased and tasted my folds.
“There is nothing in the world like a wolf-mate,” he muttered. “Nothing in the world like you, Anjelia.”
“I’m so close. I can’t take anymore.”
He moved up and thrust into me to the hilt. His thrusting became powerful, stroking into me deeply.
“Baby,” I said. “Like a wolf.”
He knew what I meant. Without separating us, he flipped me over in one smooth move. I moved up onto my knees and arched my back, my rear angled toward him. His large, warm hand reached out to cover the base of my spine.
“This is so sexy,” he muttered, and his voice was a deep growl. His erection prodded the entrance to my body, but I was so slick with need he pushed right in. Slowly he slid in, both of us groaning as we savored the feeling of coming together.
When he’d sunk in all the way, he pulled out and began to stroke. Fire ignited in my sheath.
I could already feel his body beginning to swell when he collapsed to the side of me and pulled me close for our ten minutes of cuddling. His heartbeat thudded against my back as he pressed kisses to the back of my neck.
“I love you so much,” he said. “I can’t wait ‘til you get home.”
“I know, baby. That’s why I want to talk to you every day. I’ll miss you so much, too.”
“Yes. But you’ll be safe and protected here, and I’ll put in for some much needed vacation. You can take care of Mike for me.”
* * * * *
Mike continued to heal under Verity’s watchful eye. Whenever Julian, Leo and I visited France, Verity was able to take her own much-needed time off. Right now she spent as much time as possible with Mike, to help him fit in and adjust to his vampire side. Verity would be good for him, they were both outcasts in a way.
The month went by quickly, especially as Luc and I talked to Leo each night. As the weeks wore on, Leo seemed to get a little more stressed, and I chalked it up to us being away for so long. It seemed there was something he wasn’t telling me, and the only reason why I was okay with it was that he was spending time talking to Julian. I figured things were safe if they were confiding and conspiring together. But finally we headed home, taking a handful of vampires with us, and leaving some behind. The flight home was a long one, Julian and the other vamps were getting rest. Luc and I were trying to stay up to adjust to the new time zone.
Leo broke through our three-way connection, waking Julian, who came into the front of the plane where Luc and I sat.
“I take it—since no one can reach you—that you’re in mid-flight?” Leo asked.
I glanced at my phone. No calls. “Yes,” I said, looking at Luc on my lap so Leo could have a mental image. “We’re more than halfway there.”
“There’s been a drastic change of plans. Have the pilot land the plane on my runway, instead of Julian’s. I have your limo waiting there to take you all directly to Bang’s. It’s a madhouse here.”
“What’s going on?” Julian asked.
There was a big sigh. “The discovery of werewolves has come about. We’re doing damage control as best we can. Jack Horntrey is debunking the story of Anjelia cheating on you, and instead will offer his version of how she brought two cultures together by being the wolf queen and vampire mistress.”
Julian and I were stunned into silence.
“How was the discovery of wolves released?” Julian asked.
“It’s unknown. All we can do is get ready for it. Many of us will lose our jobs, but in the end, will it be so bad? I know I work a lot of hours being on call with the hospital, and now—well, I can spend time with my family. I no longer have to deny a relationship with Anjelia, nor do I have to pretend Luc is my sperm donation.”
“We’ll find new jobs for everyone,” Julian said. “It’ll be a temporary setback. After a while, the humans will realize you’re still the same people.”
But prejudice still existed, and would always exist. Hell, vampires were still spurned in certain circles.
The plane touched down smoothly, and we were spirited directly into Julian’s limo without me even getting to see my mate. The few vampires that came with us were picked up by Leo’s staff in cars with darkened windows.
Reporters were all over the front of Bang’s, and were shooed away by Johnny. We entered through the back entryway.
“What are they doing here?” I asked when we’d come inside. I peered out the front window since they were blackened reflective on the outside.
“They want a statement from you or Julian. The whole sharing aspect. Of course they’re looking for an excuse to wring more information about the wolves out, since they’re not speaking yet.”
“The sharing aspect is a little personal.”
Johnny shrugged. “It’s the media.”
“Coming here was a mistake,” I said, watching the reporters outside Bang’s. “At least Leo’s mansion has gates that keep them out unless we allow them on the property. Here, they’ll never leave.”
“It’s a distraction while Leo prepares things. Let’s get some sleep and we’ll get you a
nd Luc home tomorrow. Hopefully it’ll die down soon.”
The crowds didn’t die down. Leo’s decision was to allow a select handful onto his property for an exclusive, as long as Horntrey was included.
Further, it was decided that I would be the spokesperson. Once again, I was outvoted.
Johnny made the announcement to the reporters that were gathered around Bang’s the next morning. Luc and I were spirited away through the back. Luc fussed on my lap in the back of the limo, tired from the time change, and feeling the displacement between schedules. Probably missing his life at the mansion also.
“It’s okay, hun bun,” I murmured, kissing his sweet head. “Soon you’ll be up in your own nursery. Just a little while longer.”
“I’ll take him upstairs,” Julian murmured. “Leo can prep you for what you’ll say.”
There was a row of guards at the gate, keeping the reporters at bay while our limo entered the property.
“Is that Julian Bax’s limo?” One of the reporters called out. “Is Anjelia inside with him?”
The gates closed behind us with a metal clank, and we drove up ahead to the garage in back. Only when we were safely indoors did we get out of the car.
Julian took Luc from my arms and headed upstairs to the nursery.
Leo met me right at the top of the garage door. I went straight into his arms. It had been so long since I’d been with my mate, and I could feel the tension in his strong body. He inhaled the scent of my hair. Instant need shot through me, but we’d have to delay our own wants.
“God, I’ve missed you,” he breathed.
“You should have told me what you were going through. We’d have come back sooner.”
“It exploded quicker than I expected. How’s my son?”
“Sleepy. It was a long trip and he was fussy last night. Julian just took him up to the nursery.”
“We should get a move on. The guards at the front gate are bringing the reporters outside. We’ll hold the conference out there so we can get away when necessary.”
“Anjelia. Good.” Leo’s spokesman, Giorgio Nakos, entered the room. “I hear the reporters have also camped out at the vampire headquarters.”
“Yes. None of them have spoken.”
“Good. They’ll dissipate when they get their news from here. Now, you know they’ll want to turn this personal and want to know how your relationship works. I have Jack Horntrey in front, so when you start to feel the heat you can call on him for more normalized questions. They’ll want to know how long werewolves have been in existence, whether the disease is contagious, if you are one, etc. Just answer truthfully and try to separate the vampires from the werewolves, because the media will try to lump them together against humans. We want to avoid the us versus them mentality. It’ll just inspire fear regarding the supernaturals as a whole.”
