by Tigris Eden
He was tall, with pale white skin and long, dark, stringy hair. She couldn’t tell if it was brown or black, but she could see the sharp contours of his features and the thin line of his lips. She couldn’t see his eyes, but she could feel them scanning the grounds as he searched for Oliver.
“The human’s close, I can hear her heartbeat.” His voice was slimy and hollow and slid over her skin like a cold sweat. Her bones cringed, and fear held her to her spot. It whispered in her ear, begged her to run. She couldn’t gather the courage or the strength.
“Human, if you want your bastard child to live, you will show yourself to me,” he said. What the hell was she supposed to do? Walk out into the open? He could kill Faith anyway. There was a rustling next to her and a large warm hand covered her mouth. Jesminda opened her mouth to bite down on the hand, when she realized who it was. Royce.
Don’t speak, listen. Draven has Faith; there is no need to come out. Calm yourself. Royce was speaking into her mind. What the hell? How had Draven gotten in and retrieved their daughter?
Match the beat of your heart to mine. I can mask your presence once you do. Jesminda took calming breaths and listened to the sound of Royce’s heart as it beat against her back. It was slow, calming, a steady reminder of how in control he always was no matter the situation. She’d never seen him show emotions on overload. Nothing stumped him, nothing rattled him. Royce was rock-solid. Her breathing slowed. He stood behind her and they slowly took steps back. The dark figure on the porch put his hands on the rail and leaned over, as he did, the moon pulled his face out of the shadows and she almost gasped. He eyes were dead, soulless.
“I may not be able to sense you, human, or the immortal who has you masked, but make no mistake, I know you are there, listening to me.” He smirked and walked down the steps to stand in front of the cabin.
“Shall I make her scream? Do you want to hear your brat scream?” He groaned out loud, as if in ecstasy. “How about I make her beg for mercy? Bring her out here in the open and cut her from navel to throat. Bare her open and eat her insides right in front of you?”
Don’t listen! Draven has her. I swear it! Royce screamed in her head.
The man laughed and walked back into the house. It was silent for a moment, eerily so. Not even the insects chirped. The immortal inside the house let out a bellow that literally shook the cottage’s very foundation. Bells balanced herself and flew to a nearby tree before the shaking could jar her.
That’s our cue, Royce said, and then they were flying down the path they had come. She didn’t see any of the others. She chanced a look to her left and saw a dark shadow on all fours barreling through the forest with a child on its back. Faith’s head was low and she hugged Draven’s wolf form as he sped through the trees. She looked up and saw Bells following closely behind, leaping lithely from branch to branch, and Dietrich had a body slung over his shoulder, running at a speed only immortals could run. Royce carried her as if she weighed nothing as he ran back to the open road.
Her baby was safe, and at that moment, that was all that mattered to her. She was content. For now. But in her mind, she wondered who that man had been? And where was Solon?
19
Draven cradled his sleeping daughter in his arms and walked up to his parents’ door. He still couldn’t believe his luck. His wolf had accidentally gutted his friend, and had been laying Ollie on the ground when the window above him had opened. His daughter was resourceful. Somehow, she’d known he was there and had climbed through a window. How, neither he nor the wolf questioned. But he wasn’t going to dwell on it. She was safe, and that’s what mattered most. They’d find out more, later. Royce couldn’t get a bead on Oliver’s thoughts, a definite problem, but they would get to the bottom of it.
Draven hadn’t had time to call his family, knew they wouldn’t turn him away; especially when they saw the reason why he’d come calling at this hour. Jes was silent during the trip back. Faith hadn’t been harmed. She’d told them a man name Enri had said he would keep her safe, and he was the one that had pushed her through the window, telling her Draven had been on the other side. Her body flinched at the other man’s name. She’d held Faith in her arms and closed her eyes exhaling in a long breath. She checked her for wounds, bruises, anything that seemed out of place. Enri still had to die. Anyone who took part in his daughter’s capture would suffer.
Draven’s mother, Mara, answered the door in pink, fluffy pajamas sporting white bunnies. Her hair was under one of her infamous sleep hats. Black curls laced with silver poked out of the edges, giving his mother a quiet look. She was the exact opposite. Mara was a fire-breathing dragon to those she felt were in opposition to her family’s needs.
“Draven, boy, do you know what time it is?” Yeah, he knew the time, and he also knew his mother would change her tune in about two-point-five seconds.
“What have you got in your arms, son?” His mother sniffed. She looked between him and Jes, then back down to his daughter. Her hands reached across and plucked Faith from his arms. He took the invitation and ushered Jesminda in front of him through the door. The others had gone ahead to the station with two of their suspects, Oliver and Solon. The bastard Solon had thought to ditch them. He’d appeared unexpectedly, and then tried to disappear the same way. Everything wasn’t adding up. Answers were needed, and they were needed now. Nothing made sense.
Dietrich had somehow overpowered and apprehended Solon while they’d surrounded the cottage. Draven wanted the fuckers to resist questioning. Ronin and Royce would go to town on their asses, and hand them their spines as a consolation prize. Good times! The sooner they got the questioning over, the sooner they’d find the missing vampiri. The sooner they found the missing vampiri, the sooner Draven could get his hands on Marcus. Abusive bastard was due his reward. Mara abruptly brought him back from his thoughts.
“Why didn’t you tell me I had a grandbaby?” his mother squealed. “Huh? Boy, you better answer me, or…” He gave his mother a look and she quickly moved to the back of the house. She knew his patience was thin. Instead of facing him head on, she called the one person who’d give him shit. Dear old, Dad.
“Tony, come here quick and see what Draven has brought for us,” his mother bellowed.
Mara was already in her grandmother doting mode. He could see it in the way she held Faith, cuddling and cooing at his little angel as if she were still a baby. She was definitely an angel, sent from the heavens to bring him mass quantities of happiness. I’m someone’s dad. The thought floored him. From the moment he’d found out about her, he was responsible for her. Any other day, as early as last week, it would have freaked him out. Now, it only brought him joy and love. He loved this little girl and her mother more than his own life. It had all happened so fast and taken him by surprise. Time and distance couldn’t break what had always been his.
His father approached from the back of the house in his boxers and a tee shirt. He was scrubbing his hands over his face as he made his way to the front. He took a long sniff and froze.
Of course, Antony Stone would be the first one to take in his entire surroundings. His wolf always looked for danger, trying to spot potholes before they appeared. His mother only saw the child, whereas Tony not only recognized the child as his kin, but also smelled the human woman Draven had marked as his own.
A low growl burst from his father’s throat. Draven immediately went into defensive mode. Mara hushed him and motioned for them to go into the living room. He watched as Mara pulled the blanket from the back of the couch and draped it over Faith. She looked at everyone, including Jesminda, and nodded her head in the direction of the kitchen.
This was going to be good, he thought. Mara had a serious look on her face but busied herself making coffee for everyone.
“Humans are not allowed in this pack,” his father stated in a harsh tone.
“Shut up, Tony,” Mara scolded.
“Why didn’t you tell us you got a human female pregnant wit
h a pup? Huh?” His mother eyed him in the way she always did when he was in for a good smacking upside the head.
“I didn’t know, Mother. I swear. She only just came back into my life due to a case I was on,” he answered truthfully.
Mara eyed him and then turned assessing eyes on Jesminda. He didn’t move in her direction. He knew she would stand up to his mother. His mother and his mate were presently engaged in a staring contest, both marking their territory. It was unnerving as hell. Any minute, his mother would do one of two things. Attack Jes or welcome her with open arms. Pack mentality was brutal. Jes needed to stand her ground, and there was nothing he could do to help. If he stepped in, she’d be viewed as weak. It would also be a direct assault on his Alpha. His father would see it as a challenge to his mate. Both men would be at one another’s throat, familial relationship be damned. This was why humans were not allowed. They didn’t understand the customs. Jes would probably think the entire situation was barbaric. There were some wolves mated to humans, but they weren’t widely accepted, which generally led to the wolf leaving the pack. If that was what it came down to, he’d do it. Nothing else mattered except Jes and Faith.
“Well, come on, child. Let me get a good look at you. He’s already marked you. It’s too late to take it all back now.” Mara stood in the middle of the kitchen with her hands on her hips and gave Jes a no-nonsense look. Hesitant at first, Jes stood there, most likely choosing her next words.
“My daughter gave me that same look once. We had it out. I won.” Her voice was strong, shoulders squared. His mate was preparing for battle. Even after everything in her past, she was still a force to be reckoned with whether she knew it or not. You are strong, love.
Mara ignored her comment and shrugged. His mother was still waiting on Jes to respond to her request. Jes looked to him for assistance, and Draven gave a brief nod in his mother’s direction. He couldn’t interfere. Wouldn’t. Shoulders up and chin high, Jesminda stepped closer to his mother.
“Well, she’s got good child-bearing hips.”
“Excuse me?” Jesminda asked.
“Don’t talk to my wife in that manner, human. Mother of my son’s pup or not, you will not be addressing the Luna that way.”
“I’m not a child, and I was not being disrespectful,” Jes snapped at his father. “We came here for help, and if you’re just going to have your paw up your ass, well, you can just shove it.”
Mara choked on a laugh and Jes stormed from the kitchen, making a beeline for Faith.
“When this is over,” Draven said to his father. “You will owe my mate an apology. Pray she accepts.” He walked over to his father and stood chest-to-chest, nose-to-nose with the Alpha of House Canidae. With direct disapproval, he whispered, “Because if she doesn’t, I walk.”
Draven followed Jes quietly. Before she reached Faith, he drew her to a stop and turned her into his arms. He kissed the top of her head. Needed her touch just as much as she needed his, if not more. She was skittish, and he knew she’d planned on leaving him after the mission was over. He needed to convince her it was a bad idea on all fronts. He rubbed his hands up and down her arms in a soothing motion. Her body was stiff, but as he rubbed further, she slowly thawed little by little.
“My father’s an ass, don’t worry, my mom will deal with him. Alright?”
She let out a long breath. “Okay.”
# # #
Jes looked down at her sleeping daughter and sighed. Being in Draven’s arms made her feel safe and protected. It was the first time in a long time she’d felt anything for a man. It was mostly due to her body’s needs, not her. Whatever helps you sleep at night. He was trying to wear her down, one hug and soft lingering kiss at a time. Her mind rebelled at the thought of starting something profound with him. It meant permanence. Her heart—or was it her libido—felt something else. Her body tensed, she wasn’t ready for this type of relationship. She would never be ready. Maybe he would just accept her body and not her heart or her soul. She knew he wanted more, a small corner of her brain understood it, but when faced with the day-to-day challenges she had where men were concerned, she couldn’t follow through. He’d already planted the seed. It had grown, when she wished it wouldn’t.
Draven had inserted himself into their lives and her heart. The thought paralyzed her with fear. Somehow, she’d let it happen. His emotions were attuned to hers; even that first night, he’d known what she needed, and had given it to her without question. All except for a name and number.
He tipped her chin up with his finger and bent his forehead to hers. His eyes were like x-ray vision, penetrating her to her emotional core. He picked past the dirt and grime as it burrowed further into her body and saw the real her. Why did he have to be so damn consuming right now? She needed to get her head in the game, and he wasn’t helping her when it came to matters of the heart. Matters of the heart? She pushed him so she could take a step back. He wouldn’t let her, there was a slight rumble in his chest, and she realized he was growling his dislike as she tried to step back. Men were such animals, and this one was, too. Literally.
“It’s not easy, baby. I know, but please trust me when I say I will take care of this, take care of us. We’ll get through this. Our daughter will be safe, and then we can start working on building our life together.”
No, no, no! Her mind panicked. There was no relationship! Didn’t he understand that? She was too broken, too fucked up. She’d bypassed the seven rings of hell and landed straight into eternity. There was no coming back. Wading through the shit, taking it one day at a time, loving Faith with everything she had. That would be her only survival from here on out. She couldn’t let amazing sex cloud her mind. There wasn’t any room for him in her organized life. She wanted to believe him—desperately—but things had a way of not working out in her case. Her future was bleak, bare existence at its best when it came to her own well being. She couldn’t afford the extra emotions.
“I’ll teach you how to protect yourself so you will never have to worry about losing control. You’ll be in control of your life. If I can’t do anything else, I will do that.” His voice was determined, hard. “I know you don’t understand what’s happening between us, but I promise you this, I didn’t recognize it before, but I do now. You and Faith belong to me. I will do everything in my power to see this through to the end.” How could he be so sure?
That sounded more like a pledge, not a declaration of love. She relaxed at bit. She didn’t want him declaring love. That would be worse than death. Was she expecting a declaration of sorts? No, you were preparing for it, not wanting it. That was true. She’d prepared herself. Her body had begun tensing for the verbal slap, which normally was followed up with a blast of pain. His lips a feather caress, tugged her forward, deeper into his embrace. She could feel the hard length of his arousal pressed tightly against her stomach. Didn’t he ever have any down time? She really didn’t have time for all this. She needed to rest, regroup, and figure out what their next move was. She knew he was trying to console her, soothe her into submission, but she was too tense for that. She was hard-wired for pain. Words that should have made her smile and bloom into the perfect wife and doting mother were harsh to her ears and tore flesh from her skin. To hear them was agony.
“We need to get back to headquarters and meet up with Royce and the others.”
“I know, baby, let me go talk to my mother. Faith will be safe here, I promise.”
He dropped another kiss to her lips and walked towards the kitchen. Jes pulled the blanket tighter over Faith’s body and knelt down beside the couch. She couldn’t take her on this leg of the journey; it wasn’t a safe place for a five-year-old. She touched one of her daughter’s curled strands of hair and took a deep breath. She’d be safe here, and Marcus and that man from the cabin would never find her. She’d gut anyone who tried to lay another hand on her daughter. She may be human, but she’d make whoever came between her and Faith hurt like hell.
Dra
ven walked to the front of the house and his mother was next to him, a look of concern on her face. She managed a smiled when she noticed Jes was paying close attention. Jes stood, and his mother took a steady step forward and hugged her, arms squeezing her tightly. What side of the coin is this?
“I bid you welcome to our family,” his mother said in a formal voice. “I will protect my grandchild with my life, and so will her grandfather, you have my word.” She walked over to the couch, scooped Faith into her arms, and disappeared into the darkness of the house. Jes felt the solid warmth of Draven’s hand return, his fingers threading with hers. She wanted to know about Solon. She needed to see what was right in front of her. There was more to it. What had been presented in the beginning was an elaborately constructed ruse, but of what, she didn’t know.
20
Headquarters was dark when she and Draven entered the doors. The secretary who’d been there the first day was no longer manning the desk. It was quiet inside, and the normal hustle and bustle she expected wasn’t there.
“Shouldn’t there be people here, especially at this time of night?”
“They’re here, baby, don’t worry. I can smell them. Everyone is right where they’re supposed to be. They’re all waiting to watch Ronin and Royce’s interrogation. It’s somewhat of a spectacle here among us.”
Draven tugged her to his side and they took the elevator down to the sub-level. The walls were stark white, soundless; not a hum or buzz of electrical items doing their job to support the building. It was too quiet. She wasn’t worried that they’d be attacked, but the silence put her nerves at attention and made her twitchy. There were only a few doors lining the walls, and each of them was slightly ajar with no lights. The door at the end was closed. Draven steered them towards it. His steps were light, making no sound at all.
