Horse (Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Club Book 6)

by Candace Blevins

  Gabby did the whole formal introduction thing and her grandmother said, “What kind of a name is Horse, for a Grizzly Bear?”

  The conversation was surreal, with them bound as they were and us just standing here. Gabby answered for me. “He’s hung like one. He had the nickname before we met.”

  We proceeded to have the most bizarre ‘meet the parents’ conversation I’ve ever had, and I was actually kind of relieved when The Winter Queen stepped to us, instructed everyone to say their goodbyes, and then waved her arm. The stocks and pole, as well as the two grandparents and the whipmaster, all disappeared.

  Gabby bowed to Her Majesty once again and said, “You’ve been most gracious, Your Highness.”

  Aaron walked with us to the portal and put his hands on Gabby’s shoulders. She’d memorized two statements, but I knew which one she was going to tell him before she opened her mouth.

  “I authorize you to speak for my grandparents on my behalf today, to anyone in authority who needs to hear my wish for my grandparents to regain their freedom.”

  He dipped his head and told her, “I accept this responsibility.” We all stood in silence as he stepped to the edge of the clearing, turned into a huge dragon, and flew away.

  Without another word, we walked through the portal and back to the human realm. We were deep in the woods, but we all paused to be sure there were no threats.

  Gabby turned towards me to say something, but Nathan caught my gaze and said, “May I have a few moments with her?”

  I smiled and told him, again, “I’m not the jealous type. I appreciate your consideration of my feelings, but Gabs is the one you should ask.”

  She reached up, grabbed my shirt, and gently tugged down. I leaned forward for her, saw she wanted a kiss, and gave her a quick peck on the lips. We grinned at each other a moment and she turned towards the Amakhosi.

  He pulled her to him and held her a few seconds before telling her, “I’m proud of you, Gabriella. You were raised to hate them, and you managed to set that aside to see them for who they are. Knowing when they lied and when they told the truth for sure helped, but the way you handled them, as well as your composure with The Winter Queen, tells me if you end up with the weight of the Crown on your head one day, you’ll do fine.”

  I’ve tried to explain to some of the wolves how I feel when I see Gabs with one of her lovers. Since I love her, I want her to be happy, safe, secure, and loved. The more people who love her, the happier and more loved she is. I know she’s mine, and I’m hers — we’re a partnership, and her affection for others doesn’t take away from our love for each other.

  I’m happy she has Nathan in her life. We’re both fortunate he gives us advice and helps train us. I know he isn’t doing it out of the goodness of his heart — having responsible leaders who can handle their power benefits everyone — but I still appreciate the time and energy he’s put into training and befriending us.

  “Thanks for taking care of her,” I told him. “I couldn’t have given The Winter Queen my undivided attention if I’d been worried about her, but I knew she was in good hands with you.” He nodded, kissed the top of her head, and nudged her back into my arms.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Three months later

  Gabby

  I met Horse a year ago. It’s hard to believe everything that’s happened in that time.

  I have grandparents who dote on me. My father’s parents even venture to the human realm to see me, and I go to Faerie to see my family occasionally.

  I’ve also finally been able to let my mother’s parents know I’m their granddaughter. I’d met them briefly when I lived in Faerie as a teen, but hadn’t been able to tell them who I am. Now that it’s out in the open, I offered purchase their freedom, but they said they have a good life and merely asked me to negotiate so we can spend time together. Their owner has been most kind, and has freed their schedules so I can see them when I’m in Faerie. Their status as slaves bothers me, but I’ve respected their wishes.

  I have a four-point-nine-seven grade point average, and one of the werewolf FBI agents arranged for me to spend two days at Quantico this summer for a training workshop. Aaron is working with UTC to make me a paid intern at Drake Security so I’ll get college credits for it, because he’s decided he wants me working for him instead of the FBI, though he says the choice will be mine when I graduate. One of my lovers works for Aaron — Lou is an actual horse, and he’s responsible for all of the Drake Security computer and technology gear. They’ve let me sit in the control room during a couple of ops, so I can hear everything and see much of the action via cameras, and I’m beginning to think working for Drake Security might be a better career path than working for the FBI. Time will tell, and I have at least three more years of college before I have to decide.

  My father is alive. I was shown what his owner said was a recent picture of him, and assured he will never escape. He’s owned by a powerful Strigorii vampire with homes around the world, but his primary residence is currently on the shores of the Black Sea in Romania. The vampire told me if I’d agree to be his for a week, he’d let me visit with my father for an hour. I told him I have no interest in visiting with my father. He’d bartered down to my being his for forty-eight hours before Horse stepped in and told him I’m not interested in seeing my father under any circumstances. I told him at least fifteen times, but Horse only had to tell him once. Apparently, I need to work on asserting myself better.

  Aaron made some inquiries without my asking him to, and he told me, “Dwight is in another kind of prison now. One that can hold him indefinitely, and is teaching him every day what it’s like to not be the most powerful person in the room. He lives the life of a slave, and knowing who has him, I imagine his life is pretty hellish.”

  I’ve been to five Concilio meetings now, and Horse and I have similar feelings about them. We don’t especially want to make the kinds of decisions that need to be made, but someone has to make them so we’ll step up and do our part. There’s a battle brewing between good and evil, and Chattanooga is set to be the battleground. Aaron, Abbott, Bran, and the rest of the local leaders are doing everything possible to keep it from happening — and to be assured our side wins if we can’t stop it before it starts.

  The wolves of the RTMC don’t terrify me anymore. Gonzo still makes me uncomfortable, but apparently I’m not alone because most of the other ol’ladies feel the same. Harmony seems to be the closest to him, but he treats her differently than he treats the rest of the women.

  I can be in the same room with the Rabbit King for short periods of time without worry of my accidentally becoming Queen. By mutual agreement, we avoid being in close proximity when possible, but we’ve managed it okay for family functions. He likes being King and I don’t want to be Queen.

  Most importantly of all, Horse and I are happy. He’s the love of my life, my best friend, confidante, and protector when I need one. It’s true with the powers I have now, I can take care of myself under most circumstances, but I really don’t want to have to. No one messes with Horse. When he’s around, there aren’t any problems.

  I don’t know for sure what the future holds, but I know Horse and I will deal with whatever happens, together.

  The End

  If you enjoyed Horse, you may also like the other books set in the same universe, though in different series.

  Chattanooga Supernaturals series, paranormal romance:

  The Dragon King (Aaron Drake’s story, and the first time we meet Duke and Brain)

  Riding the Storm

  Acceptable Risk

  Only Human series, urban fantasy

  Only Human

  Rolling Thunder Motorcycle Series

  Duke

  Brain

  Bash Volume I

  Bash Volume II

  Bash Volume III

  Horse

  Nix (summer 2016)

  Ghost (2016)

  Dark Erotica Shorts from the world of Th
e Chattanooga Supernaturals

  Pride

  Indentured Freedom

  The Safeword series, intense BDSM contemporary romance

  Safeword Rainbow

  Safeword: Davenport

  Safewords: Davenport and Chiffon

  Safeword: Quinacridone

  Safeword: Matte

  Safeword: Matte – In Training

  No Safeword: Matte – The Honeymoon

  No Safeword: Matte – Happily Ever After

  Safeword: Arabesque

  Check out other books by Candace Blevins at candaceblevins.com.

  Keep reading for an excerpt from The Dragon King.

  The Dragon King

  By Candace Blevins

  Prologue

  Aaron

  Sophia is the most adorable two year old I’ve ever seen. Fluffy blonde hair, rosy chubby cheeks, and a laugh that makes my heart sore.

  I turned to her father, the Swan King, and chose my words carefully. “Raul, you’re sure this is the best course of action? I know you’re still grieving over Angelique’s death, but can you truly prepare Sophia for a life of leading your people if you keep her a prisoner in your home her entire life?”

  I could only get away with asking this question because I’d helped raise and train Raul, helped prepare him to take the crown when he beat his brothers and won the throne.

  “I did my best to protect my wife from supernaturals, and a damned human hunter took her out. Sophia won’t leave the walls of the castle until she marries, and hopefully whoever wins her will follow my lead and also keep her behind protective walls. She won’t see the same fate as Angelique.” His voice was firm, didn’t waver, and let me know further conversation on the matter would be met with hostility.

  Sophia is the first Swan Princess without at least one brother since before I was born, and by my best guess I’m around nine thousand years old. Give or take a thousand.

  Swan Princesses are usually given to other royalty as a way to unite families and sometimes species, but they never have a hope of the throne. Their brothers are required to fight each other for power, the strongest and most cunning winning the crown.

  Instead of finding another wife to give him sons, Raul is arranging for a contest between the other Swan royalty, with the strongest being allowed to care for her until she turns twenty five, and then marry her and eventually take the crown. Personally, I think Raul wants to step down and find a way to join his dead wife. The grief of her death still holds him.

  I’ve trained the past seven Swan Kings, including Sophia’s father, Raul. I know him well, and I know he loves his daughter. However, he’s still feels such pain over his wife’s slaughter, I worry about the decisions he’s making.

  There is precedence amongst some other supernatural species for his keeping Sophia in seclusion, finding a suitable King, and not giving her a choice in who she’ll marry. However, watching the toddler play and laugh and flirt, my heart hurts with the knowledge she’ll grow up with no control of her major life choices. Or, likely the minor ones, either.

  She’s such a happy baby, so full of life and adventure. I hope her life turns out better than most fairy tales.

  * * * *

  Ten years later, my heart aches as the court Herald announces me into the Swan King’s mansion for Sophia’s final unchaperoned lesson. I’ve been coming to the mansion once a week for a four hour session since she was six, but this must stop once she becomes a teenager, which in swan lore makes her a woman.

  I’ll be allowed to come four times a year for an all-day review session, but will never again be alone with her. After today she’ll have a chaperone or minder with her anytime she’s with a man besides her father — or husband, once she’s married.

  I’m going to miss my time with her. In my busy life, my half-days with the Swan Princess have been the sunshine of my week. Sophia is a special child, so smart, so willing to learn, and a joy to be around. My heart is happy when I’m with her, and we most often go to our spot near a manmade waterfall on their property so we can talk without worrying so much about being overheard. Someone from the house can see us, but our words are drowned out. Sometimes, though, my favorite part of the day is her smile when I arrive and she skips to me for a hug. Today will be the last time she’ll be allowed to hug me for no reason, just because she’s happy I’ve arrived. My heart hurts as I wrap my arms around her and tell her I’m happy to see her.

  We walk to our spot, sit on our rock and I open a few books as I give her another to hold. The rushing waters may provide white noise to block our voices, but we still need to appear as if I’m teaching her.

  “You know this is the last time we’ll be alone, right, Soph?”

  Sophia looks down, takes a breath, and raises her gaze back to mine. “I know. I’ll miss my time with you.”

  “And I’ll miss you, but you’re a Princess, and one day you’ll be Queen, and this is the way it has to be. I’ll be back to review the important stuff, but there are some things I’ve taught you that I won’t be able to review with you out loud. I’ll try to write it in a notebook and let you read it, so you’ll remember, but there is some danger in that, so I won’t do it every time.”

  “Why take the risk? If I’ll never rule, never make a difference, why put yourself in danger?”

  “Because I’m grooming you for power, Princess. No one knows for sure what the future holds, and to fully do my job I can’t just teach you the palatable parts of your history. I understand your family wishes to shield you and protect you, but I can see the strength in you.”

  Sophia sighed. “I’ll still see you at social occasions? Not just the four times a year you’ll be allowed to come for review?”

  “Yes, and I may or may not be allowed a dance with you. I will certainly not be able to take you outside for a conversation.”

  She nodded, and I carefully said, “Sophia, if ever you find yourself in need of a protector, get a message to me. Your father and Cyrano will look after you, but if you find yourself without their protection I hope you’ll feel comfortable letting me keep you safe.”

  Shaking her head, Sophia said, “Cyrano scares me. My latest Governess tells me when I’m a woman I’ll appreciate him for his strength and resolve, and I must remain meek and quiet around him while I’m a child.”

  I wanted to wring Cyrano’s neck for frightening her, as well as the Governess’s for giving crap advice, but I had to walk a fine line. “I’m sorry he scares you, Princess. I would advise you to speak to your father about it, see if he can intercede on your behalf.”

  “You always do that.”

  I tilted my head and let my eyebrows raise, and Sophia explained. “When we’re just talking, I’m Soph or Sophia, but when you’re thinking politically, you call me Princess.”

  “Yes, because this is the way an elder speaks to someone of royalty. I’m your teacher, I know more than you, but I must also show respect. It’s a balance, Sophia.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t know what you are, and my father either doesn’t know or won’t tell me, but I’m positive you’re royalty, too. I’ve learned to tell the difference in someone with their own power who addresses me and my father as an equal while using all the right words, and someone with no power who addresses us with the same words but a completely different energy.”

  I hoped my smile showed how pleased I was with her insight. “You make me proud, Sophia. I hope you’ll keep your suppositions to yourself, though.”

  She nodded. “Of course, and I hope someday you’ll trust me enough to tell me what and who you really are.”

  I needed to be sure she understood my offer, so I repeated it. “Do you understand what I’m saying, Soph? If you ever need help, a protector, a friend, an advisor…If you’re ever in trouble I hope you’ll find a way to get a message to me.”

  Chapter One

  Sophia

  I’d been planning my escape for eleven years, and tonight I’d either fly to my freedom or
die trying.

  I was to be married to Cyrano on my twenty-fifth birthday, in seventeen days. However, I was determined it was never going to happen.

  Tomorrow, my governess was meeting with people in Charleston on my behalf to assure the wedding would go off without a hitch. Since I was never allowed off my father’s property, if someone couldn’t come to me then I had to send someone to them, and the caterers had decided they couldn’t make yet another trip to go over last minute details.

  I knew they wouldn’t, it was part of my plan.

  I’d sent my governess away earlier this evening so she could stay in a hotel and be present for the seven o’clock meeting tomorrow morning, and then make surprise visits to check in with the florist and a few other vendors.

  I’d brought books up from the library to my bedroom, asked for my tea service a little early, and told everyone I wasn’t to be disturbed.

  I’d been nervous and anxious for months, so no one paid any attention to my scent anymore. I was perpetually on edge.

  It was eight fifteen, and I figured I’d have until the guard shift change at three in the morning before anyone realized I was gone. My current guard wasn’t likely to decide he needed to put eyeballs on me, but I knew they’d look in on me at shift change. They always did.

  Swan shifters need to Change a minimum of four times a year, at both equinoxes and both solstices. However, since my father didn’t want me leaving the property, when I Changed they immediately turned me back human. I’d never been allowed to even try to fly. The rest of the time I wore an anklet my father had brought someone in to create especially for me. It kept me from turning into a swan any other time of year.