Bear Marked

by Lia Davis

Ryan understood that. It was the way of shifters. Protect the den. Protect Family. Protect their mate. Adair wasn’t much different than Ryan.

  Deep within, the mating urge sparked. Ryan knew it was there but the bitter anger for what Adair did blinded him from the truth. And Adair had tried to tell him over the years.

  Fuck.

  They had bigger issues than Ryan’s pity-party. “How does he know about Kaylee?”

  Adair gave a single nod. “His connection to Lucifer must be the reason he knows who her father is. But Satan doesn’t want anything to do with her. It’s forbidden for an angel, half breed or not, to enter Hell without consequences. That rule was created after Kaylee was born. I suspect Lucifer made the rule to keep her safe and hidden. Malbhor must have another reason.”

  “To use her for her power,” Ryan snarled. His bear echoing his displeasure. “You have to fix this.”

  “I know.” Adair lowered his shirt and moved passed Ryan.

  Grabbing the large male by the hand, Ryan said, “Not just with Kaylee, but Tiffany too. You need to be the one to tell her the truth. Grovel. Beg her for forgiveness. Agree to be her slave for the rest of your life. Whatever it takes. If my family can’t accept you, then neither can I. Mate or not.”

  “I know,” Adair repeated.

  A shimmer of light rippled in his black depths. It was similar to when a shifter’s animal looked out from within. That was the first time Ryan had ever seen it in Adair’s eyes. “What type of demon are you?”

  With a tilt of the head, Adair studied Ryan a moment before answering. “Half demon. My mother was a wolf shifter. My soul-stealing father killed her after I was born and took me to Hell.”

  Adair watched the play of emotions drift across Ryan’s face. Confusion, sadness, and anger were just a few of them. Squeezing Ryan’s hand gently, Adair offered another piece of his tortured past. “The first time I shifted, my father beat me, then poked at the wolf. I knew instantly what he hoped to accomplish and vowed to never shift again. Because I didn’t want to become a monster.”

  Turning away, Adair crossed the living room to the French doors leading into the sunroom. When he discovered this house, he hadn’t a clue what he was doing. But it was similar to Ryan’s home. Not a copy, but close in style. Adair found it comfortable and quiet.

  Using his telekinesis, he willed the windows to open. The night air filtered in. It was a mix of early spring with a bite of winter. Crisp but not cold. Adair breathed in the clean mountain breeze as he crossed to the wall of windows.

  Behind him, Ryan moved closer and stopped when he stood beside Adair. After a moment of silence, Ryan asked, “Is that Blackrock?”

  Adair nodded, feeling too raw, too exposed to speak.

  “A demonic stalker who cares.”

  The tease in Ryan’s tone made the corners of Adair’s mouth lift. He faced Ryan. His blue eyes sparked with life and seemed to glow from within. “I can’t remove the mark until I’m sure you’re safe.”

  “You going to mark Kaylee too?” Ryan’s tone was husky and sharp.

  Adair blinked. He deserved all of Ryan’s sarcasm and anger. “I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to you. Do you think a normal demon would allow you to live your own life?”

  Ryan sighed and shook his head, then glanced out into the night. “I wondered about that.”

  Silence fell between them for several seconds. There was nothing else Adair could say to Ryan. It was up to the bear to forgive him. If they were truly mates as Adair believed, Ryan would have to let him in, eventually.

  “My family isn’t going to be so forgiving. You have a lot to make up for, especially to Tiffany. I’m not walking away from them or my pack. Blackrock is a part of me.” Ryan turned to face him again. “Kaylee is my mate. I’m not walking away from her either.”

  “Ditto.” Adair stared at the bear.

  Ryan raised a brow. “Then what are we going to do?”

  Adair hadn’t a clue. “We need to kill my brother and make sure Kaylee’s identity hasn’t been revealed to everyone in Hell.”

  “Agreed.”

  “But first…” Adair closed the small space between them. “…there’s something I’ve wanted to do since I first saw you.”

  He didn’t give the other male a chance to reply. He dipped his head and claimed Ryan’s mouth. Electrifying need shot through Adair. Raw hunger surfaced. Then he felt it. His wolf awakened for the first time in decades.

  Mine. The wolf wanted Ryan and was ready to claim him on a much deeper level than the demon mark could.

  When Ryan pressed his hard body into him, Adair growled and wrapped his arms around the other male. Ryan opened for him and their tongues tangled and swirled together. Hot liquid desire danced inside him.

  Adair broke the kiss and rested his forehead against Ryan’s. “That was…”

  Ryan leaned into him. “Yeah. How long does this Stockholm syndrome last?”

  Adair laughed—something he hadn’t done in while. “Call it whatever you wish. You’re mine.”

  “Yeah, yeah, stalker. We have to figure out how we’re going to protect our mate.” Ryan stepped out of the embrace and entered the living room, leaving Adair to watch him walk away. The male’s broader shoulders and narrow waist drew his gaze to the tight ass.

  Adair shook his head. Focus. We have to plot a demon assassination.

  4

  The soft dual snores coming from behind and in front of Kaylee made her smile and her heart melt. She had the urge to wake them to demand they tell her they were working out their differences—for lack of a better word. Issues didn’t quiet cover it.

  They were her mates. They needed to get along because if she had to choose…she’d walk away broken hearted.

  Ryan stirred behind her, hugged her close, and kissed her shoulder. “Morning.”

  “Good morning.” She rolled to her back to stare into his blue eyes. “You alright?”

  He glanced at Adair, who was still sleeping, then back to her. “We will be. The mating dance is the time to work out issues and learn to trust and heal.” Ryan kissed her nose. “Your safety is our priority.”

  She frowned. Thoughts of demons by the horde coming after her sent a shiver up her spine. Adair let out a low growl and linked his fingers with hers before bringing her hand to his lips. Instantly she relaxed.

  Ryan watched Adair, but she didn’t sense jealousy from him. Then Ryan sat up and stared down at her. “We have a plan.”

  Adair nodded and cuddled into her. Yes, he cuddled. She smiled and accepted the caring emotions from the demon by scooting closer to him. Then she felt it. A shimmer of magic similar to Ryan’s shifter power.

  Meeting Adair’s sleepy gaze, she asked, “You’re half shifter?”

  “Wolf. Apparently, Ryan’s bear woke my wolf up and the mutt likes to cuddle.” He nuzzled her neck and threw a leg over hers. “And he likes how you smell.”

  “And the mixture of both your scents are driving me crazy.” Ryan winked at her and shoved Adair’s shoulder.

  Adair moved faster than she’d ever seen anyone move. In the next moment, he had Ryan pinned to wall, his thigh between Ryan’s legs. At first Kaylee froze in fear they would hurt each other. Then they kissed. She relaxed while her body heated with desire.

  Mine. They were both hers. And they looked hot together.

  She eased out of bed and headed to the bathroom. “You two can go over your plan with me at breakfast.”

  They broke apart and stared at her. With a roll of her eyes, she shut herself in the bathroom. Pressing her back against the door, she squeezed her lids shut for a brief moment. Things were happening so fast. The mating she could deal with. The unknown of how many demons knew about her unnerved her to the core.

  Pushing off the door, she moved to the mirror, then pressed her palm to it. “Amriel, I need your guidance.”

  Her mother’s image appeared instantly. Her angelic, round face brightened for a moment, then Amriel drew h
er brows together. “What is it dear?”

  “Just wanted to ask a couple of questions.”

  Her mom tsked. “They must be some questions if you have to hide in a bathroom and summon me through a mirror. Really, dear. Your father and I have cell phones.”

  Yeah and Kaylee’s phone was on the nightstand in the bedroom. She didn’t want the guys knowing she called her parents. Not yet. Not until she knew exactly what she was dealing with. “Is Dad there?”

  “Yes. Did you want to speak to him?”

  No. “Yes.” Taking a breath, Kaylee prepared herself to face her overprotective father. What she was about to tell him and ask would push his protective instincts.

  Where her mother was light with golden blonde hair and pale blue eyes, her father was dark. He had black shoulder length hair and chocolate brown eyes. He stepped up behind Amriel and gave Kaylee a hard stare. “Are you in trouble?”

  Kaylee opened her mouth, then shut it. She couldn’t lie to parents. “Not at the moment. Maybe not at all.”

  Ripples of crimson flashed in his eyes a moment before he vanished. Kaylee pulled her hand from the mirror, cutting the connection. Her parents materialized behind her. With a thought, she sealed the door so the guys wouldn’t hear their conversation.

  Zorrol inhaled deeply and Kaylee cringed. Her father was Satan’s son and just as powerful. He knew Adair was there. Kaylee saw it in her father’s pissed off, crimson glare. “You have two seconds to explain where you are and why there is a demon with you.”

  Involuntarily, she took a step back. Two seconds wasn’t enough time to explain anything, so she gave him the short answer. “They are my mates.”

  Zorrol pushed passed her and exited the bathroom, breaking her spell. Kaylee’s heart sank to her feet as she met her mom’s apologetic gaze. Surely, he wouldn’t harm her mates. Not taking the chance she turned and rushed after him. “Dad!”

  She hoped the guys heard her warning. When she reached the living room, she froze. Adair faced off with her father, blocking Ryan in a protective stance while in a half-shift. His hands were claws and large fangs poked out from his upper lip.

  “Adair. Why are you here?”

  Dad knew him? Kaylee slowly made her way to stand beside Adair. Her father darted his gaze to her then back to her mates.

  “Explain!” Her father’s stern features sent a shiver through her.

  She jumped at the harshness of his voice. Behind her Ryan touched her lower back and she sank into him. Adair relaxed a little and shifted back to his human form, then inched closer to her so their arms touched. She linked her fingers with his. All the while her father noted every move they made.

  “Dad, this is Ryan and Adair. My mates.” Kaylee straightened her spine. Although she hated fighting, she was far from weak. And she’d protect her mates at all cost.

  Even from her own father if she had to.

  Instead of replying to her, Zorrol addressed Adair. “It’s been a long time.”

  Adair nodded. “A few decades at least.”

  Kaylee started at her father then moved her gaze to Adair. She guessed right. Her father did know him. “How do you two know each other?”

  Zorrol motioned for Adair to explain. Adair scrubbed his hand over his face. “As a way to stay off my father’s sadistic radar, I joined Lucifer’s army. Zorrol was my commander.”

  Kaylee glared at her father. He never spoke of his life before he fell in love with her mom. Kaylee never asked because she simply didn’t want to know about that world. Now she wish she had.

  Zorrol eased his stance, like the tension fell away. “Who else knows about her?”

  “My brother, Malbhor. Beyond that I’m not sure,” Adair answered instantly.

  Zorrol growled. “What about your father?”

  “Dead. Malbhor did us that favor a few months ago.”

  Kaylee’s mom placed a hand on Zorrol’s chest, drawing his attention to her. “Go sit and we’ll talk this through and plan accordingly.”

  After a few hesitant moments, Zorrol nodded. Kaylee relaxed and silently thanked her mom.

  They all took their seats. Adair was the first to speak. “It is possible my brother only knows because he’s been following me since he killed our father. I’d only found out about Kaylee’s heritage two nights ago and knew instantly she was my mate. That night Malbhor showed up at my home in the Ever After, taunting me about Kaylee. I knew I had to bring her here. No one knows about this place and it is warded with protection spells.”

  Zorrol glanced at Kaylee. That was when she saw his fear. “I don’t have to remind you that there are demons who would use her to bend Lucifer’s will.” He paused and released a sigh. “I’ll contact my father and see if he’s heard anything. He may send guards out.”

  Adair nodded as if he expected her father’s words. “Ryan and I formed a plan to draw out Malbhor. I was going to go and see if I hear any rumors of a hybrid by throwing your name around. If it is only Malbhor running his mouth, then he dies.”

  Zorrol hardened his gaze on Adair. “What if there are others that know?”

  Ryan answered, “Then Malbhor still dies and so does anyone who threatens her safety.”

  Kaylee’s father stared at her mates for a long moment then nodded. “Good plan. What’s the rest of it?”

  The rest of it? She glanced to Adair then Ryan. They didn’t look at her. Whatever it was, it was serious.

  Adair cleared his throat. “We want to complete the mating but I’m not sure if doing so would also expose her to the demon realm.”

  Zorrol stood and began to pace. Kaylee watched her father, waiting for an explosion of anger but it never happened. After a few minutes, he stopped and faced everyone. “You will need to disconnect yourself from the demon realm. Only then can you claim her for your mate. I will not allow her to be exposed to them.”

  Adair frowned. Disconnect from the demon realm. His home. The only one he’d ever known. But did he consider it his home anymore? He’d never felt like he belonged. Yet he didn’t belong in this realm either.

  Would that change when he claimed his mates?

  Meeting Zorrol’s stare, Adair agreed. “Then I must start things rolling for my exit from Hell.”

  The other demon remained emotionless. “I’d like a word with you in private.”

  Adair stood and motioned to the sunroom. As they turned to leave, Kaylee protested, “Dad.”

  Her mother said softly, “Let them be.”

  Then Ryan distracted her. “We should call Tiffany so she can call off the national guard.”

  A soft sigh met Adair’s ears. He turned and glanced at his mates. The worry in Kaylee’s blue eyes tugged at his heart. He winked at her then shut the doors.

  “Your father was a respected male until he caught the illness.” Zorrol’s word scratched against Adair’s nerves.

  The illness excuse was bullshit. “Dear ol’ Dad was never ill. If he was, he was born with it. He just had enough control to hide his bloodlust and craving for death.”

  “What changed?”

  Adair dropped his shoulders, then sat in an armed chair to stare off into the woods. “The death of Malbhor’s mother. She was Father’s true mate. My mother was a wolf shifter he stole from her own mate, marked her, impregnated her, then killed her the day I was born. I was the reminder of my mother’s rejection.”

  Zorrol dropped in a chair across from Adair. “I thought walking away from my family and Hell would be hard. It wasn’t. Amriel and Kaylee is my family. They are my life.”

  Adair let out a humorless chuckle. “I’ve walked away long before I met Ryan. At least I tell myself that when in reality my brother holds me there.”

  “Why do you think so?”

  “Because I fucking care too much. For Ryan and his family. Now for Kaylee. I don’t understand the feelings, but I know I’d kill to protect them.” Adair waved a hand and the windows opened. The scent of rain drifted in.

  Zorrol conjured a cou
ple of cigars and handed one to him. “I didn’t want to say anything in front of Kaylee or her mother, but I’m still in contact with Lucifer. He runs recon throughout Hell to make sure any rumors about me, Amriel, and Kaylee end before they get started. If your brother is still alive, then he hasn’t said anything.”

  Adair stared at Zorrol, then raised a brow as the meaning behind his words sank in. “So you keep the earthside demons in line for Satan?”

  A half smile formed on the demon’s mouth. “Someone has to.”

  “You think your mate is clueless?”

  Zorrol laughed. “She knows. She just pretends she doesn’t. But Kaylee doesn’t.”

  Good. “She won’t learn it from me.”

  A long, comfortable silence fell over them as they smoked their cigars. During that time Adair thought about when his brother taunted him about Kaylee. He wasn’t sure Malbhor actually knew Kaylee was Zorrol’s daughter. That might had been why Adair thought his brother was lying.

  “We focus on Malbhor, then. But promise me something.”

  Zorrol nodded. “What?”

  “I make the death blow.”

  “Done.”

  5

  Ryan handed Kaylee his phone. “You call her.”

  Kaylee laughed but took the phone. “Chicken.”

  “No, I’m a bear, remember?” He loved bringing a smile to her face after she was so anxious about her dad and Adair disappearing into the sunroom to talk. “Besides, the tension is gone from Adair. He’s actually determined and a little more focused.”

  “That’s good.” Kaylee dialed Tiffany’s number and put it on speaker. “Tif knows my mom is an angel.”

  But not about her dad. Ryan knew that. Kaylee had told him she hadn’t told her she was part demon.

  Tiffany answered on the first ring. “Where the hell are you?”

  Kaylee smiled. “Hello, Tiffany.”

  “Kaylee! Oh, thank the gods. Where are you? Wait. Where is Ryan?”

  Hearing his sister’s voice relaxed his bear. He hadn’t realized how much he missed his family, even though it’d only been a little more than twenty-four hours. “Right here, baby sis.”