by Davis, Lia;
Bree crossed her arms and glared down at the demon. “So you thought you’d trick my father into summoning you and take over his mind?”
“It’s against our laws to kill humans but there are loopholes. I wanted him to pay for what I lost.” Orak growled.
Joel stepped forward. “I was already suffering. I lost one mate, then thought I was blessed in finding another only to have her taken as well.”
Orak studied Joel and Brady suddenly felt sorry for the demon and his father. He’d set out to kill his father because he believed he’d gone rogue. That wasn’t the case at all. Orak was the reason for Joel’s psychotic episodes.
“Orak, you can’t stay here.” Bree spoke softly.
“I know.” He stood and approached Bree.
Both Brady and Joel stepped in front of her. Orak shook his head. “I can’t harm her. She looks too much like Tasha. I thought that by taking you, I could heal the pain.”
He held out his hand and Bree handed him the bone. He curled his fingers around it. “Aubree, you can always call me if you need anything or just want to talk. All you need to do is place your palm to a mirror and focus on me.”
“Okay,” She simply stated, then added, “I’ll need a long while to think things over. You scared me and kidnapped me and made me hate my own father. That will take time to heal.”
Brady wrapped an arm around her, pulling her close. She hugged him back.
Orak watched them for a few moments, then crushed the bone in his hand. “Good bye. I’m sorry.”
He vanished. Bree sank into Brady’s side as if tired. Turning to face his father, he asked, “You should turn yourself in.”
Joel nodded. “I am.”
Bree muttered, “You should claim to hear voices and maybe they will retry you and put you in a mental hospital. It’s better than prison.”
“I think I’ll do that.” Hope brightened Joel’s features. “Maybe I’ll get help for my grief too. Learn to live again.”
Brady liked that idea. “Sounds like a plan. Let us know where you end up.”
“I will.”
Just then Bree turned and hugged Joel. The old man teared up as he hugged his daughter. “Sorry for everything.”
She pulled away and wiped her eyes. “You work on getting better.”
Pulling out his phone, Brady checked flights for home. “We should go. There is a flight leaving in about two hours that has seats.”
Plus Brady’s wolf was starting to go crazy from being away from their mate, especially since the bond was new. After booking the flight and arranging for a car to pick them up from the coffee shop a block away from the abandoned house Orak took Bree, Brady called his mate. “We’ll be home tonight. How’s your head?”
“Oh, thank God you are still alive!” Everly’s voice broke like she’d been waiting to hear from him.
“I’ll tell you all about it when I get there, after I make you scream my name a few times.” Everly laughed and Bree made a face.
“Brady, don’t talk like that around me. Ew.”
He ruffled her hair as he said bye to Everly. Then he studied his sister. “You really okay?”
“Yeah. I think.” Bree frowned. “I might need Sophia to sleep over again. Wait. What if she doesn’t like me anymore because I’m half demon.”
“She’ll like you. I bet Claire already knows. She is a seer, after all.” They fell silent for a few minutes. Then she asked, “Do you think Dad will really turn himself in?”
“I hope so.”
Because Brady really didn’t want to have to track Joel down and kill him. That would break Bree’s heart.
Chapter Eight
Everly tried to read something but she was too anxious. Brady and Bree’s plane landed almost an hour ago. She was waiting at his house, which was hers too. Maybe?
They hadn’t talked about the living arrangements. There was no time since Joel and the demon showed up.
God she hoped Brady and Bree were all right. Brady sounded good over the phone and she didn’t sense any pain through their bond. Still, that didn’t mean he wasn’t hurt.
She heard a car pull up in front of the house and she jumped up from the sofa, dropping her book on the cushion. She was at the door and pulling it open before Brady got his keys out of his pocket.
Before she knew what was happening, he pulled her into a hug, lifting her feet off the ground. “I missed you.”
She studied his features, searching for any signs of distress. “What happened?”
“The demon was a sad, grieving brother. And a little crazy.” Bree pushed her way passed them. “I’m going to take a hot shower and call Sophia. Don’t start doing the nasty until you know for sure if we’re still friends.”
Everly laughed, then locked gaze with Brady. “Why wouldn’t Sophia want to be friends with her?”
“Because she’s half demon.” Brady started to close the door then stopped when he noticed Sophia.
“Where is she? Is she okay?” Sophia fired off the questions so quick Everly wasn’t sure she heard her.
Brady pointed toward Bree’s room. “She’s in her room. She was going to shower and call you but I’m not sure which order.”
After a quick thank you, Sophia rushed to Bree’s room. There was a knock, then Sophia said, “Don’t be silly. You could be the devil’s daughter and I’d still be your friend.”
Then the girls giggled, and the door shut.
Brady waggled his brows at Everly. “I guess we’re cleared to do the nasty.”
Laughing, Everly wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. “I guess so.”
He scooped her up in his arms and carried her to his…no, it was now their bedroom. After laying her on the bed, he stared down at her. Running his fingers over her forehead, he asked, “How is your head?”
“It’ll be bruised but no concussion. The doctor on call was a wolf and said it was probably because of the mating.” She pressed her lips together briefly. “So being bonded to you means that I’m tougher than I used to be?”
“In a way. You will live longer because you will take on my lifespan and heal a little faster.” He moved his finger up into her hairline and found the small bump. It wasn’t that he didn’t believe her. He needed to let his wolf know she was okay.
“What other benefits are there?” She sucked on her bottom lip and slid her hand under his shirt.
A wicked smile formed on his handsome face. “There are many, but my favorite is the sex. The honeymoon period never ends.”
He lowered those sensual lips to hers and she melted into him, drowning in his earthy scent. When his tongue swiped across her lips, she opened and met it with her own, tangling them in an erotic dance. She lightly raked her nail up his back, drawing a shiver from him.
Trailing kissed across her cheek then to her neck, Brady nipped at the sensitive part where her throat met her shoulder. She moaned at the dizzying sensation, her breath coming quicker. Every movement of her clothes against her flesh irritated her. She growled and gripped the hem of her shirt and pulled, needing to feel his skin against hers.
Brady rose above her and removed her shirt, then worked on her jeans and panties. Once unclothed, she watched him undo his own pants. Groaning, she rubbed against him.
A sensual smile turned up the corners of his mouth and he removed his clothes. He gripped himself, drawing another moan from her. Damn, he was going to kill her. Her pussy grew wet and ached for his touch. But two could play his game. She cupped one of her breasts, pitching the nipple and rolling it between her fingers. He tracked the movement, hunger lighting up his gaze.
With her other hand, she flattened her palm on her belly and slowly slip it down, dipping her fingers into the folds of her sex. She spread her thighs to give him a better view and began circling her clit with two fingers. There was something highly arousing about her mate watching her pleasure herself. Rubbing faster, she lifted her hips and inserted the same two fingers inside her and pumped.
Brady was on the bed in next moment, brushing her hand away. Then his mouth covered her, and his tongue teases the sensitive bundle of nerves, making her cry out. Pleasure rolled through her and she sure she’d explode at any moment. He slid two fingers inside her, intensifying the pleasure. Closing her eyes, she gripped the sheets and rode the orgasmic wave as it crashed over her.
Crawling up her body, he nipped at her sensitive skin making her jump slightly each time his teeth connected with her flesh. When he reached her breast, he flicked one nipple, then the other. She groaned and arched her back, wanting more.
“Beautiful,” he breathed, barely audible, but she heard him and smiled.
Hooking a leg behind his, she flipped him over and straddled his hips. He eyes grew large as he started up at her. She bent and bit his lower lip.
She took his cock in one hand and guided him inside her, groaning at how he stretched her in the best possible way. He sucked in a breath before gripping her hips and pumping his own. She followed his lead, riding him faster and harder with each movement. Pleasure heated every inch of her as it built and then exploded in another bone melting orgasm. Brady roared out his own release a moment after, his body jerking under her hands.
She lowered herself to laid on him with her ear to his chest. The steady thump, thump of his heart. “What happened with the demon?”
“Not much really. When we got there, Bree was pacing a living room of an abandoned house shouting at him. He’d closed him inside a bedroom. It was odd.” Brady paused as if thinking about what had happened. Then he told her what the demon said and that Bree made him go back to the demon realm.
“I think your little sis is tired of being pushed around.” Everly lifted her head to rest her chin on his chest.
Brady smirked. “We train a couple times a week. I want her to be able to stand up for what she wants and have control over what happens to her. I’m proud of the way she handled both the demon and Joel.”
“That’s great. What about Joel? Do you think he’ll turn himself in?”
“He sounded sincere and I want to give him the benefit of the doubt.”
She laughed. “But you’ll call his council in a few days to check to see if he did as he said?”
“You bet I will.” Brady rolled and pinned her body to the bed. “He needs help to get his shit together or he will turn rogue for real.”
Kissing the tip of his nose, she smiled. “What about us? Where are we going to live?”
“Oh I thought we’d spend six months at my house and six months at yours.”
“Always the smartass.” She kissed his lips quick. “My sister has been talking about moving to town so I can tell her the good news and let her take over the house. That way it stays in the family a little longer.”
Brady gave her a crooked frown. “I thought you and Paige didn’t get along.”
Shrugging, Everly said, “We still bicker but we are all we have. All our other family is dead or lives too far to visit frequently. They never bother to return calls anyway.”
“You have a family now. It might be a little dysfunctional with a father who maybe running from the law or headed to a mental institution, a little sister-in-law that is half demon.” Brady chuckled. “I’m the only normal one of the bunch.”
“Hey.” She playfully slapped at him. “I’m normal.”
“That is still out for debate.”
When she slapped at him again, he grabbed her wrist and held both hands above her head. “You have a wicked side and you love kids.”
“You’re pretty good with them too.”
“Bree changed me. I discovered what type of father I’d be in the last three years.”
She lifted her brows. “And what type is that?”
“Overprotective, demanding, and a little awkward.”
“Welcome to parenthood.” She tried to pull her hands free, but he tightened his grip, then rocked his hips into her.
A groan escaped her. He leaned down and licked over his mark. Pleasure raced over her flesh and in her veins.
“I love you, Eve.”
“Love you more.”
“Always and forever.”
A grin formed on her face and it was there to stay. Her Brady was back, and they were mated. She nipped at his ear. “Always and forever.”
Epilogue
One Year later
Everly walked out into the sunroom and saw Brady tucking his phone in his pocket. “Who was that?”
“Dad. He says he’ll be out in a few months.”
She sat down beside him and rubbed her swollen belly. Just then the thumping of little feet ran in from the backyard. The twins, Mikey and Makayla rushed inside. They were only ten months old but already walking and trying to run. Especially when their big sissy, Bree chased them.
Mikey let out a squeal as he jumped up in Brady’s lap. Then Bree barreled into the sunroom in wolf form. Makayla giggled, which made the rest of them laugh.
“I love my family.” Everly snuggled into Brady.
He wrapped an arm around her, kissing her temple. “Me too.”
He rubbed her belly and Mikey pushed his hand off. Brady put it back on and Mikey pushed it off again and shook his head. “No.”
Brady burst out laughing. “Of course my son’s first word is no.”
“He said “Ma” the other day.”
“That’s just making sounds. It doesn’t count.” He kissed her, earning another push and “No,” from Mikey.
“Bree,” Brady said. When she looked at him and tilted her wolf head, he asked, “How do you feel about Dad coming to stay with us.”
She let out a huff and walked over to the wicker chair and pulled off the throw blanket, then shifted and wrapped herself in it. “When?”
“In about six months or so.”
She turned her gaze to stare out into the backyard. “I guess it would be okay. If I don’t like it when he gets here, I’m moving in with Sophia.”
Brady chuckled. “Fair enough. But I’m really seeing a change. You should talk to him.”
She shrugged. “I might.”
Everly broke the tension by tickling Mikey, which caused his twin to come join in. Bree shifted back to her wolf and danced around before biting at Brady’s pants leg.
Brady jumped up. “That’s it, you asked for it.”
Bree ran out of the sunroom to the backyard and Everly swore the wolf laughed. Brady took off his clothes, shifted, and chased her.
Heart full of happiness and love, Everly gathered the twins close and kissed each of their cheeks. Life was great.
* * *
I hoped you in enjoyed Everly’s and Brady’s story. A great way to stay informed about me and what’s coming next is to subscribe to my Newsletter: http://www.subscribepage.com/authorliadavis.newsletter
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About Lia Davis
Lia Davis is the USA Today bestselling author of more than forty books, including her fan favorite Ashwood Falls Series.
A lifelong fan of magic, mystery, romance and adventure, Lia’s novels feature compassionate alpha heroes and strong leading ladies, plenty of heat, and happily-ever-afters.
Lia makes her home in Northeast Florida where she battles hurricanes and humidity like one of her heroines.
When she’s not writing, she loves to spend time with her family, travel, read, enjoy nature, and spoil her kitties.
She also loves to hear from her readers. Send her a note at [email protected]!
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Shifter of Ashwood Falls
After losing over half of their dens to a group rogue shifters, the wolves and leopards merged as one Pack, but living together is much more of a challenge then they expected.
Series Reading Order
Winter Eve
A Tiger’s Claim
A Mating Dance
Surrendering to the Alpha
A Rebel’s Heart
Divided Loyalties
Touch of Desire
A Leopard’s Path
Jaguar’s Judgment
Bundles of Pink (A short story)
Shifters of Ashwood Falls Collector’s Bundle
Alpha Challenge
Mating Chaos
A Tiger for Two (coming in 2020)
Claimed by the Alpha (coming in 2020)
The Collective World is filled with vampires and lycans and steamy reverse harem paranormal romances!
Please see the suggested reading order for the Collective World below.
Welcome to the Collective World
Coven's End
Kane
Voss
Quin
Jillian
The Complete Series Bundle
