Protection: A Bad Boy Stepbrother Romance

by Wood, Vivian

  “We’ve talked this to death, kitten. If James won’t give up the information, we don’t have enough ammo to advance on the Legion’s encampment. And you won’t let me torture the poor bastard.”

  “Yes, but I think I just figured out how to turn James. I realized that every time I’ve talked to him, he’s asked me about Camilla,” Tessa explained.

  “I don’t see where you’re going with this,” Jace replied, tilting his head and furrowing his brow.

  “When he asked me about her, he kept calling her ‘Milla’. At the time I thought that he’d gotten her name wrong, but now I don’t think that’s it at all. He was using a nickname for her. A sweet nickname,” Tessa said, looking at Jace.

  “Okay, so he’s not bad at names. So what?”

  “You’re such a guy. Men don’t call women sweet nicknames unless…” Tessa prompted, motioning for Jace to finish her thought.

  “Unless they’re in love?” Jace asked.

  “Exactly. If James feels that way about Camilla, then maybe we’ve been approaching him the wrong way. Or rather, we shouldn’t be the ones asking the questions.”

  Jace nodded slowly, thinking it over.

  “You think he’d talk to her if he knew she was in the Legion’s cross-hairs,” he said, processing.

  “I do. You have to tell Shaw about this! If we can bring James around, Shaw will be floored,” Tessa said, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

  “Why don’t you just tell him?” Jace asked, eying his mate.

  “Well, I mean… I’m not really the best authority, am I? I’ve done nothing but misjudge people since I got here. Actually, scratch that; I’ve been on this path since I was a teenager,” Tessa said, her mouth thinning.

  “Are you talking about that bastard guardian of yours?” Jace asked, his expression darkening instantly.

  “Well, yes. Him, and James, and… I’m just not a very good judge of people. Besides, Shaw will take you more seriously. It’s obvious that he respects you,” Tessa said, trying for good cheer.

  “Despite all that respect, he hasn’t approached me to help with his brother. He came to you for help, Tess. That means he trusts you with the only family he has left. I think that’s a pretty big deal, don’t you?”

  “Well, yes…” Tessa started, but Jace cut in.

  “James, that asshole from Boston…”

  “Byron,” Tessa corrected.

  “You couldn’t know what they were planning, Tess. It’s not your fault that you trust others. Not everyone can get away with being suspicious all the time,” Jace joked.

  “Are you calling me naive?” Tessa asked, eyes narrowing.

  “I’m saying that you’re lacking the ability to manipulate others. How would you even know to look for that in someone else?” Jace said, his tone soft.

  “Oh,” Tessa said, flushing. “Well, alright then.”

  “Let’s backtrack for a second. Do you think Camilla will really be able to persuade James to switch sides?” Jace asked. Tessa gave a husky laugh that had Jace’s wolf perking up, taking interest in the beauty of her voice… and her other assets as well.

  “I think you haven’t spent much time with my sister. If Camilla wanted him to, the devil would switch sides for her. She does that sexy innocent thing that drives men wild,” Tessa said, rolling her eyes.

  “I think I know where she learned that,” Jace said, reaching out and pulling Tessa back down into his arms. Tessa laughed again, swatting at his chest.

  “Oh come on. I’m the older sister, after all. I’ve seen some things and been some places,” she said.

  “I bet you anything that I can show you some things you haven’t tried before,” Jace teased, picking up her hand and kissing her fingertips.

  “And if I’m not impressed, I get anything I want?” Tessa asked. Jace gave a soft growl and rolled over to cover her body.

  “You’d better not have seen any of the things I’m planning to do to you right now,” he threatened, running a possessive hand down her flank.

  Tessa giggled again and kissed her mate.

  “I guess we’ll see,” she teased.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  “You want me to do what, exactly?” Camilla asked, wrinkling her nose. “You want me to trick James into helping us?”

  “No exactly, no.” Tessa slipped out of Jace’s embrace and sat down on the bed next to Camilla. “We think— I think, that is, that James is already on the verge of changing his sympathies. We just want you to help us give him an extra nudge.”

  “I’m not sure how I’m going to change his mind. I mean, you’ve already basically laid it all out to him, haven’t you?” Camilla asked.

  “I have, but I think he’ll listen to you. I’m pretty sure he has some feelings for you, Cami,” Tessa said.

  Camilla’s face reddened, and her frown deepened.

  “He sort of… confessed his undying love for me,” Camilla admitted, dropping her gaze to her hands. “I didn’t do anything at all to encourage it. Really, we just talked a handful of times.”

  “I can assure you that there is probably some crazy Shifter reason he’s acting that way,” Tessa said. Looking at Jace for support, she reached out and patted Camilla’s hand in an attempt at comfort.

  “It’s your Ascendant pheromones, Camilla. They’re extremely hard to resist for an unmated male,” Jace said. Tessa rewarded him with a smile.

  Camilla nodded, sucking in and releasing a deep breath.

  “So we’ll just take you right down the hall to his room, and have you ask him some questions. If possible, we’d like you to bring him over to our side. At the very least, we need to know what the Legion is planning.”

  “Okay. Let’s do it,” Camilla said, climbing out of bed. She smoothed down the scrubs she’d been given to wear, stretched, and cracked her neck.

  “That’s my girl,” Tessa said, tousling Camilla’s hair. The trio went down the hall to James’s cell. Tessa paused at the door to warn her sister.

  “He’s been violent. They’ve got him sedated, but please don’t get too close,” Tessa said. Camilla nodded, eyes wide.

  As soon as they opened the door, Camilla grabbed the room’s only chair and dragged it to his bedside. He rolled his head to face her and they locked gazes.

  “Milla,” he croaked. He coughed a couple of times, but didn’t struggle in any way.

  “I’m right here James,” Camilla said. Tessa could see Camilla’s hands shaking, her sister’s dead giveaway when she was nervous.

  “Stay back from him,” Jace rumbled, earning a hard look from Camilla.

  “James, you wouldn’t believe all the things I’ve learned since we were brought here,” Camilla said, lowering her voice to a more intimate tone.

  “They’re all werewolves,” James whispered.

  “Shifters. Call them… us, really. Call us Shifters. That’s you too, in case you didn’t already know,” Camilla replied.

  James didn’t reply, his gaze intent on Camilla’s face.

  “I need you to help me, James. I’m very afraid right now. I know the Legion is planning on coming here, and I don’t want to go back with them. Do you remember what the Monsignor called me?”

  “Brood mare,” James mumbled.

  “That’s right. And if I’m a brood mare, you’re a stallion. They’ve only kept us around to experiment with us. It’s sick, and it scares me.”

  “I won’t let them hurt you,” James said, pulling at the restraints in an effort to reach Camilla. She beat him to it, putting a hand on his shoulder. In an instant he relaxed, satisfied.

  “I don’t think one person could stop them. I think we need a big group to protect us. And these are our people, James. Can’t you feel it?”

  James was silent again for a long time before he responded.

  “You trust them?” he asked, searching Camilla’s face.

  “With my life, and with Tessa’s.”

  “Then I will trust you, Milla. They can ask t
heir questions.”

  Jace cleared his throat, but Tessa silenced him with a look.

  “When are they coming?” Tessa asked, not breaking eye contact with Jace until she was certain he’d remain passive.

  “What day is today?” James said, squeezing his eyes shut.

  “Thursday,” Jace replied. Tessa looked at him again, but he raised his hands to indicate peaceful intentions.

  “They’re coming in three days, then. Monday at midnight.”

  Jace pulled out his phone and started texting, so Tessa continued her questioning.

  “How are they going to get into the Den?” Tessa asked.

  “They have two witches, twins. The Monsignor said that the Legion has used them before, and that they are very powerful. He is certain that they will be successful.”

  A knock came on the door, and Shaw entered.

  Camilla gently patted James’ shoulder, then stepped back to let Shaw move closer to his brother.

  “I think that’s all we have for the moment, James. I feel a little light headed and I’d like to lie down. Will you answer questions for the others?” Camilla asked.

  James looked at her, his eyes sad.

  “You don’t love me.” It came out as a statement, rather than a question. The pain is his voice was obvious, and Shaw reached out a hesitant hand to James. The younger man flinched, and Shaw’s face mirrored his brother’s agony.

  Tessa couldn’t help but put a comforting hand on Shaw’s arm, giving him a sympathetic smile. Jace tensed the second she the touched the other male, but he knew Tessa was only trying to help.

  “I barely know you,” Camilla said, hesitant.

  “But you don’t feel it. The pulling, like magnets?” he asked, furrowing his brow.

  “I’m afraid not,” Camilla said with a soft shake of her head. “But I hope that you will still join us. Help us protect ourselves, James.”

  “I said I would protect you. I wouldn’t go back on my promise, Milla. If you ask me to join the were— the Shifters, I will. I would do anything for you,” James said, his voice growing rough with emotion.

  “Thank you, James.”

  With that, Camilla rose and left the room. Tessa followed her, leaving Shaw and Jace to work out all the details with James.

  Camilla went back to her room and climbed into her bed. Tessa was just behind her, and she sat down on the bed next to her sister.

  “Can we share?” Tessa asked, nudging her sister with a shoulder. Camilla scooted over, then snuggled down into the blankets. Tessa did the same.

  It was only then that Camilla sniffled once, and released a soft sob. She covered her face in her hands as the tears came, and she couldn’t hold them back anymore.

  “Oh, Cami,” Tessa said, reaching out for her sister. “What’s wrong? Is it James?”

  Camilla nodded her head. Tessa slid an arm around her sister and rocked her, humming a soft melody. It was their ritual, as it had been for their entire lives. One sister would vent all her sadness or anger or fear while the other comforted her. Tessa felt a tear or two slip down her own face, but it was more because she wished she’d never drawn Camilla into any of this in the first place.

  After a few minutes, Camilla’s desperate sobs subsided.

  “It’s just—” Camilla mumbled, trying to find the words to describe her pain. “It’s just that I feel so terrible. Poor James doesn’t deserve it, but I can’t separate him from my time at the Legion. He helped them pull me into the back of a van, you know?”

  “I know. I feel just the same way, except that he doesn’t care for me like he does you.”

  Camilla sighed and laid back, trying to get comfortable.

  “I really don’t understand men,” she said.

  “Wait until you find a Shifter you like. It’s a thousand times worse,” Tessa replied, only half joking.

  “So you and Jace… it’s serious, huh?” Camilla said with a weak smile.

  “We completed the mating ritual. We’re bound together forever now.”

  Camilla whistled low and raised her eyebrows.

  “That’s a lot of commitment for someone who’s really never even had a boyfriend. You seem pretty confident, though,” Camilla noted.

  Tessa shrugged.

  “I can’t explain it. I didn’t have much say in the whole thing, and it felt silly to fight something that makes me so happy. Er, most of the time anyway.”

  “I’ll take your word for it. I think the whole thing is creepy,” Camilla said, pursing her lips.

  There was a light rap on the door, and Jace stuck his head in.

  “Shaw’s calling a pack meeting to discuss what we should do. He asked me to bring you, Tessa. He also said to tell you not to get sidetracked this time, whatever that means.”

  Tessa laughed and looked back at her sister. She leaned over and gave Camilla a long hug.

  “Get some rest while we’re all meeting. I’ll update you when I get back,” she said, crawling out of the bed.

  “I’m on it,” Camilla said, pulling the blankets up over her face.

  Tessa followed her mate out of the room, softly closing the door behind her. Turning, she ran right into the solid wall of Jace’s chest. He swept her up off her feet and kissed her hard on the mouth, eliciting a squeal of surprised delight.

  Tessa melted against him, and Jace carried her several paces down the hallway before setting her back on her feet. She rose up on her tiptoes and kissed him again, savoring his kiss. Jace let out a gentle growl, and Tessa giggled.

  “I don’t see what’s funny about this,” Jace uttered, running his nose along her jawline and just under her ear. She shuddered and giggled again.

  “I think this is what Shaw meant about getting sidetracked,” Tessa said, pulling away and slipping her hand into Jace’s. He let her tow him toward the door, but he didn’t look happy about it.

  “Like Shaw knows anything about this. He wouldn’t know a good distraction if it bit him on the ass,” Jace grumbled.

  “Well,” Tessa said with a devilish glint in her eyes, “at least our alpha’s not a mimbo.”

  Jace cocked his head, confused.

  “What the hell is a mimbo?”

  Tessa just laughed and continued to pull him toward the all-important pack meeting. With her mate by her side and the pack at her back, Tessa had never been more confident. Nor had she ever felt so safe and accepted. Assuming that the pack didn’t hold a grudge over her involvement with the Legion, Tessa felt she could truly number herself among the pack members. The pack’s future was to be decided in a handful of minutes, and she was ready to face whatever challenges were ahead.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Tessa looked over the crowd assembled in the Mess and bit her lip, nervous. Even though she wanted to be here and was determined to stick out the meeting, she worried that the rest of the pack might not be as forgiving as Jace and Kat. So far no one had mentioned her treachery, given her a nasty look, or even avoided her. It seemed that when Shaw said someone was forgiven, they really were forgiven. Every time that she thought she’d seen every facet of the Shifter culture, they surprised her all over again. They were wonderful, but so alien. In some parts of the human world she’d have been stoned to death by now.

  Tessa had also worried that if the pack gathered there would be difficulty reaching a consensus with so many people; it had never occurred to her that the pack only boasted forty or so members, and that her real fear should be going up against the Legion with such a small contingent.

  The babble of voices washed over her as she sat in the Mess Hall’s large dining room area, which resembled a middle school cafeteria. Tessa fidgeted, crossing and recrossing her legs to try to find a comfortable position on the narrow bench seat of the table she’d chosen. Resigning herself with a sigh, Tessa looked around and wondered where her mate had gone. He’d said something about the security office, and then dropped her in front of the Mess Hall. It had taken her a full minute to gather th
e courage to walk in alone.

  Tessa noticed a delicious garlic smell wafting from the kitchen area, and her stomach growled in response. Tessa chuckled to herself; of course there was food being cooked. Shifters never thought about anything but food and sex, it seemed like. Not a bad way to live, all things considered.

  “All right, everyone have a seat. We need to discuss all of this before we eat,” Shaw said, raising his deep voice to bring all the other conversations to a halt. Shaw stood and moved to the center of the Shifters who were scattered over a few tables. All eyes went to him, the pack watching their leader with perfect obedience.

  “As most of you know, we are once again in conflict with the Legion. They have set up a base less than ten miles south of here, which means the Den is compromised,” Shaw explained.

  A murmur of discontent rose from those assembled before Shaw raised a hand to silence the crowd. Tessa looked around to gauge the general feeling of the crowd, but it seemed too mixed for a consensus. She wondered what Jace thought, but he still had yet to appear.

  “We must outline our choices and then make the best decision for the entire pack. For once, we are lucky to be such a young group with few mated pairs and no children. It will all come down to whether we defend the Den,” Shaw said, his expression grave.

  “Are you suggesting that we should flee?” Angel demanded, her tone offended.

  “I’m not suggesting anything. Let’s lay all the options out on the table,” Shaw said.

  “I’m only seeing two: fight or flee. We’ll either lose the Den or potentially lose some lives,” Rhett rumbled from his seat, rubbing a hand against the back of his neck.

  Tessa sensed Jace half a moment before he broke into the conversation, coming in through the side door and approaching the circle. He stopped next to Tessa, brushing a hand along her shoulder as he spoke.

  “No. There is a third option,” Jace said. “We take the fight to them.”

  Silence reigned for a full beat before the crowd burst into discussion, the noise level doubling and redoubling in a heartbeat.