by Denise Lynn
Braeden could hear the frantic pounding of her heart and her ragged breaths. She was running blindly in the forest. He scanned the area behind her and saw a uniformed figure following her tracks.
Now he knew where Wilson was.
Without hesitation, Braeden pulled out his cell phone, hit the intercom, then ordered, “Cam, go to the entrance. Now.”
He didn’t wait for Cam to respond. Once Cam found Sean on the ground, he’d understand the call.
Braeden took one step toward the window and fought off the mind-numbing fear for his wife and the new life she carried. He sped through the dense forest.
He paused, listening for Alexia. He heard the crashing of her flight before he saw her. As she came through a stand of trees straight toward him, he reached out, looped an arm around her waist and brought her hard against his chest.
Before she could alert Wilson by screaming, he covered her mouth with his hand, then whispered in her ear, “I’m here.”
She sagged against him with a choked, frightened cry. Braeden turned her around in his arms and held her close. “Shh, baby, it’s okay. I’ve got you.”
“I tried to call you.” She curled her fingers into his shirt. “But you didn’t hear me. Then I tried to wish myself to your side, but it didn’t work. I didn’t know what else to do.”
“It’s all right, Lexi. You did the right thing.” She needed to learn how to call on her magic quickly, even when she was frantic or under duress. The problem was they didn’t know what sort of powers she did or didn’t have.
The sound of snapping twigs made her press more tightly against him. “It’s Nathan.”
He smoothed a hand down her hair, trying to keep her calm. “No. It’s the security guard.”
“He was one of the men who tried to kidnap me at the museum.”
Braeden cursed softly. Even though hiring was Cam’s job, he should have followed his instincts about this man and kept his brother from bringing Wilson aboard.
“Lexi, can you hang on a few minutes? Do you trust me?”
Hesitantly, she asked, “Why?”
“I want to see if we can catch this man. You won’t be harmed—I need you to believe that.”
She nodded against his chest.
The beam of a flashlight traveled over them. “Isn’t this sweet? The two of you together.”
Braeden looked over Alexia’s head and noticed the gun in Wilson’s hand. A spell meant to disarm the man didn’t work.
Wilson possessed no magic of his own. Apparently Nathan had set a protection spell around his goon. Fine. Braeden would simply find another way to capture the man while keeping Lexi safe.
He hoped to stall for time and maybe catch Wilson off guard, so even though he already knew the answer, Braeden asked, “What are you doing? Who do you work for?”
“Obviously not you.” In his cockiness, he stepped closer.
Braeden held out a hand. “Stay right there. Don’t come any closer.”
“Why?” Wilson waved his gun. “What are you going to do?”
“I’m unarmed, so not much. I just don’t want you frightening my wife any more than you already have.”
“Too bad. I’ll be doing more than just frightening her before the night is over.”
Alexia shivered and Braeden tightened his hold. He rested his forehead against hers for a brief moment so he could more easily convey information. “When I relax my hold, fall to the ground. Got it?”
She pressed her forehead against his. He hoped that meant she understood. Then he turned his attention back to Wilson. “Why did you come here?”
“Since you won’t be alive much longer. I see no harm in telling you. My boss ordered me to. Seems he wasn’t happy that we botched the job at the museum, so I was sent here to set things right.”
“You do realize your boss isn’t exactly human, don’t you?”
“Of course I do. I’m not stupid.”
Don’t bet on that. Braeden kept that thought to himself. However, from Alexia’s gentle shaking against his chest, he knew she’d heard him.
“What do you plan on doing with us?”
Wilson came another step closer. “Just hold you here until the boss arrives.”
Braeden had no intention of waiting around for that to happen. He relaxed his hold.
Alexia dropped to the ground.
Wilson hesitated just long enough for Braeden to extend his arm and throw a ball of energy in Wilson’s direction. The force knocked the man down.
But before Braeden could conjure a length of rope to secure the unconscious man, a bolt of lightning flashed through the trees straight through Wilson’s chest.
Alexia screamed as the stench of charred flesh filled the air around them. Braeden bent down and grabbed her up from the ground. He relaxed his hold a little only when they were standing in their bedroom at Mirabilus.
Chapter 17
She leaned against his chest, clinging to his suit jacket for support. Otherwise, she’d have collapsed on the floor. “Hold me.”
He tightened his embrace. “I am holding you.”
“I can’t feel you.” She pressed harder against him, wishing she could burrow beneath his jacket and shirt.
“That’s because you’re shaking.” He sat down on the bed and held her across his lap. “It’s over.”
She shook her head. “No, it’s not over. Nathan is still out there. He isn’t going to stop until he has that damn book.”
“Unfortunately I doubt he’ll stop even then.”
Tremors moved down her body. They were so hard her clenched jaw hurt.
Braeden rubbed a hand up and down her back. “Alexia, you have to stop this. He can’t harm you here. He’s powerless at Mirabilus.”
“I can’t stay inside these walls forever.”
“It isn’t forever. It’s just until you can be trained how to protect yourself.”
“Fine, as long as you stay with me until then.”
“Alexia, I can’t. I have to get back to the Lair.”
“No!” she nearly screamed. Softening her tone, she said, “Then I’m going with you.” She was adamant. “Braeden, I’m not leaving your side.”
“I need you to stay here.”
“No.” She repeated. “If you leave, I’ll only follow. I came to you for protection, so damn it, protect me.”
“I can only guarantee your safety here.”
His curt tone warned her that he was losing patience. She didn’t care.
She was acting like a frightened two-year-old. Again, she didn’t care.
There was magic out there more powerful than anything she ever could have imagined in her wildest dreams, and she wasn’t going to be left alone. He could get as angry as he wanted.
Braeden tried to pry her away from his chest, but she wouldn’t budge. “Sean was hurt,” he said. “I need to get back there and find out what’s happened.”
“Did you let Cam know?”
“Of course I did.”
“Then he can take care of it.” She cringed at her own selfishness.
“Alexia.”
Hysteria bubbled close to the surface. Tears welled in her eyes. “Don’t leave me alone. Please.”
He rocked her back and forth on his lap. “You’ll be fine here.”
“No. You don’t understand.” She pulled away from his chest and stared at him. Unchecked tears blurred her vision. “They’ve tried to kidnap me once and kill me twice. I have this…this magic that doesn’t work when I need it to. But I make dragons come to life.” Her fear and hysteria burst over the dam. “I’m afraid. I’m afraid for me and for our children. Braeden, please, don’t leave me alone.”
Speechless, Braeden stared at her. Everyone had their breaking point and obviously his wife had reached hers. He had to give her credit—Nathan had thrown nearly everything in his arsenal at her and so far she’d stood her ground. She’d held up far longer than most would have.
He couldn’t begrudge her a moment
of weakness, not when she’d earned it. And getting angry with her now would most likely only make matters worse. Although he wasn’t sure how much worse anything could get. Nor did he want to find out.
He turned and laid her down on the bed. “Shh, Lexi, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere. I’ll be here as long as you need me. I promise.” As he stretched out alongside her and gathered her into his arms, he hoped he could keep that promise.
He held her tightly as she sobbed against his chest. His heart twisted until he thought it would break.
It wasn’t more than a couple of hours ago that he’d wondered what would happen when she no longer needed him. Perhaps that day was further away than he’d thought.
Regardless of whether that day came tomorrow, next week, next month or next year, right now she desperately needed him. Almost as much as she’d needed him after the accident and losing Matthew.
He closed his eyes, swearing he wouldn’t let her down again. Because he knew damn well if he did, he would lose her for good.
That was a risk he was suddenly unwilling to take.
When her sobs lessened, he threaded his hand through her hair and coaxed her face toward him. She tasted of salty tears. He gently kissed them from her eyes and cheeks before covering her lips with his.
She leaned into the kiss with a strangled moan that sounded more like a terrified kitten than his wife. Seeing her like this made him angry—at Nathan, at the situation and at himself.
He was planning to pawn her off on Danielle for training. That wasn’t fair to either woman. Lexi needed to be in control now, not next week or next month or whenever his aunt found the time. Alexia had to believe she could protect herself and the babies if need be as soon as possible.
She was pliant in his arms, the tremors slowly subsiding beneath his touch. Braeden’s memory was in excellent working order. He knew this docile mood of hers wouldn’t last.
Once the fear wore off, she’d be contrary, vacillating between her need for protection and her anger because she needed the protection. It had been the same way before—one moment she’d want comforting, then in a heartbeat she’d be outraged that anyone thought to offer her the comfort.
It had made no logical sense to him whatsoever and he’d given up in frustration. This time it would be different.
He nudged her onto her back and rolled on top of her, resting his weight on his elbows. He kissed her slowly, thoroughly, trying to convince her that she was the most important thing in his life.
She slid her arms around him and returned his kiss. The moan he drew from her now contained no fear, only growing desire.
Braeden lifted his head and stared down at her. Satisfaction swept through him as he watched hunger replace the terror in her eyes.
Something tapped against the window. Nothing supernatural or magical. It could have been a bug, a leaf or a twig blown by the autumn wind. But the sound caught Alexia’s attention. When she brought her gaze back to his, Braeden saw the tiny glimmer of fear.
He touched his lips to hers. “Give me your nightmares. Let me hold your terrors.”
When Alexia blinked and hesitated a moment too long, he removed their clothing with nothing more than a thought.
Before she could comment, he said, “It wasn’t a request.”
He smiled at the flush of beginning anger tinting her cheeks. As she parted her lips to give voice to her thoughts, he covered them with his own.
At first she remained motionless, but he was well aware that she’d soon give up her anger beneath his onslaught. He fought back a grin of triumph when she tightened her embrace and returned his kiss.
Braeden shifted to her side and stroked a hand across her belly and up to cup a breast. Slowly, as if memorizing her body for the first time, he circled his thumb around the swollen peak and caressed the soft fullness.
When she arched into his touch, he pulled away and sat up on the bed. “Hold out your hand.”
He gave her a minute for the haze of desire to fade slightly before grasping her wrist to raise her arm. “Open your palm.”
She frowned, but did as he requested. Braeden released her wrist and held out his hand. A ball of luminescent bright blue swirled and shimmered on his palm.
“This is energy. It is power and protection.” He dropped the swirling mass on her outstretched palm and covered it with his hand. “I freely give it to you.”
Alexia shook her head, but he said, “This gift doesn’t decrease my own powers. It is just a small drop for you to nurture. Close your eyes and pull it into your body.”
The frown didn’t leave her face, but she closed her eyes. Braeden pressed lightly on the ball. It melted into her hand.
She shivered, then opened her eyes. “What do I do with it?”
“Right now, nothing.” He stretched alongside her again and circled a fingertip over her belly before leaning in for another kiss.
Once he was certain he had her full attention again, Braeden swept his hand down the length of her torso, across a hip, then traced a line up the inside of her thighs.
He nudged her legs apart to tease and torment her while their mouths sought more of each other. Alexia quivered beneath him, ready for more than a touch.
Again, Braeden sat up on the bed. When the desire faded from her face this time, it was replaced with building anger.
He ignored it and said, “Show me your power.”
“What?” Her passion-laden voice was laced with outrage.
She could get as mad as she wanted, but he wasn’t budging on this. “Hold out your hand and show it to me.”
Alexia stuck out her hand. “There’s…” Her words trailed off as a ball of shimmering blue wavered on her palm.
“Good.” He held out his hand, and when it filled with an orb of blue, he tossed the orb in the air and let it settle around him. “Now, see if you can poke a finger through.”
She reached out and tried. The shield held fast, not permitting her to touch him.
Braeden waved away the shield. “Now, you try.”
Once she had her protective shield settled around her, he rose and crossed the room. Before she could realize what he planned, he grabbed a paperweight from the desk and threw it at her.
Alexia shouted, raised her arms and ducked. After the paperweight bounced off the shield, she straightened on the bed and glared at him. “Cute, Braeden.”
He chuckled. By the time he was done with her today, she’d be good and mad. But at least she’d be able to protect herself, and that was the important thing.
From inside her wavering ball, she poked at the sides, asking, “Now how do I get rid of this?”
“Until you get used to doing it, hold out your hand and will it back into your body.”
Without taking her hot stare off him, she slowly followed his suggestion. He knew by her look what she was thinking. She was going to try using the shield to keep him away.
Braeden waited until the shield was almost gone from sight, then he lunged across the room, tackling her and putting her beneath him on the bed.
She pushed at his shoulders. “That’s not fair.”
He ignored her and concentrated, instead, on the soft flesh where her neck and shoulder met. When her struggles ceased, he resumed his teasing.
Alexia gasped. “Tell me there aren’t any more lessons.”
He shifted, bringing his body over hers, and slowly kissed his way down the length of her torso and belly to come to rest between her legs.
She lifted her head slightly and looked at him. “You can’t keep this up.”
He twirled a finger in her damp curls, parting them before asking, “Want to bet?”
When he stroked her with his tongue, Alexia fell back onto the pillow, sighing weakly. “No.”
“Good.” She trembled beneath his intimate kiss. He paused to add, “Because you’d lose.”
Although, he was so hot and hard right now he wasn’t sure he’d make it through this final session.
Forcing himself to have patience, he kissed and teased until her fingers curled into the sheets beneath her. Braeden slid a finger deep into her. When her body tightened around him, he eased away.
Their groans collided as he once again rose on the bed. This time, his breathing was as ragged as hers.
She tried to laugh, but it came out more as a strangled chuckle. “It serves you right.”
He took a breath, willing his heart to steady, ordering his burning body to wait.
Once he had himself under control, he held out his hand and grasped the hilt of a medieval battle sword that had just appeared. “This hangs with its mate in the Great Hall. It’s a real blade. Do you remember where they are?”
Alexia nodded.
He opened his hand and the sword disappeared. “Focus on the weapon and call it to you.”
She closed her eyes.
“No.” He reached out and grasped her chin. “Alexia, never close your eyes when drawing something dangerous to your hand.”
She opened her eyes and he released her. “Just hold your hand out as if you were going to shake someone’s hand. Visualize the hilt landing in your hand, not the blade.”
He stayed at her side, ready to grab the weapon if she drew it to her incorrectly.
Alexia took a long, slow breath and held out her hand. Within a matter of seconds the sword materialized in the correct position, and she curled her fingers around the hilt.
The corners of her mouth curved up in a smile. She raised one eyebrow and shifted to the other side of the bed. “Now we’re done.”
He could easily guess her intention, but she’d earned her fun. Opening his eyes wide, he innocently asked, “We are?”
Alexia pointed the weapon at his chest. “Lie down, Braeden. On your back.”
He did as she ordered, trying hard to swallow his own smile.
Once he was stretched out on the bed, she directed the sword back to its mate and then straddled him.
“I think it’s my turn to play.”
He shook his head. “I don’t think so.”
“No?”
Braeden slid both hands up the inside of her thighs. He paused at the top and stroked a thumb through the hot folds of flesh. “No.”
