“You have to,” George said.
“Why? How did you … you called him?” he asked his brother, glancing back at Jax for a moment.
His brother looked a little pale at the sight of Jax. “Yeah, ah,” George swallowed deeply then looked back at Thaniel, “I did. I wish I could get to know you, but you don’t belong here, Thaniel.”
Thaniel ducked his head and began to descend the steps because George’s words, although possibly true, still hurt.
“Shit, I’m sorry. I just meant that you are not mean or nasty enough to stay here,” George explained from behind him.
Thaniel stopped and thought about what he said, then he turned back to his brother. He started to say that George wasn’t mean or nasty, but then remembered the day he arrived. He wondered how much of it was defense against everyone else. “Thank you,” he finally said. “But what about you?” He didn’t want to get George into trouble.
George shrugged. “Don’t worry about me.” He nodded at Jax. “And I think your friend can protect you,” he added with a look that made Thaniel think he knew what Jax was. Thaniel glanced at Jax waiting by his car and nodded.
“Yeah,” he said. Then he looked at his brother, surprised to realize he’d miss George. “Thank you,” he whispered.
George nodded. “Take care of yourself, bro.”
Thaniel continued down the steps when Jax pushed away from the car. He had a furious scowl on his face.
“What happened to your hair?” he asked, then, without waiting for an answer, he started toward the steps and George. “I warned you,” he said to George.
“Jax,” Thaniel said, the fury in his friend’s face terrified him. Without thinking, Thaniel grabbed his arm and then almost dropped it, surprised at himself. But he held on. He couldn’t let Jax hurt George. “It wasn’t his fault.”
Jax stopped and looked at Thaniel’s hand on his arm. Thaniel trembled but still he hung on. He watched as Jax took a deep breath before his furious blue eyes met Thaniel’s.
Quaking inside, Thaniel met and held Jax’s gaze, not daring to let go. A moment later, Jax scanned him from head to toe before looking back into his eyes. “Are you all right?”
Although it shouldn’t have, Jax’s protectiveness still shocked him, but it also felt kind of good. Thaniel bit his lower lip and nodded. “Yeah,” he whispered, now that he was leaving this place. Although he was also really nervous about facing Tierney.
“Fine.” And that was it. Jax turned back to his car and Thaniel’s hand dropped to the side. He had just started after Jax, when the front door of the big mausoleum the Were-leopards called a home, opened behind him.
Thaniel froze for a moment, thinking it was the guards coming to stop him, then he caught a mix of familiar jasmine scents and looked back. It took him a second to realize it was George’s mother with her arm around someone.
Deseria crossed the veranda and started down the steps. Thaniel blinked when he realized it was a severely beaten and barely conscious Elianna.
“You have to take her with you. She’s not safe here,” Deseria said as she helped Elianna past Thaniel and toward Jax’s car.
“Oh, hell no,” Jax said, stepping between them and his car.
“Please,” Deseria pleaded, looking up at Jax, then at Thaniel.
“W-what’s wrong with her?” Thaniel asked. Elianna’s eyes were closed and her head rested on Deseria’s shoulder.
“She was punished. Badly. She’s heavily medicated. You have to get her away from here,” Deseria repeated and Thaniel could see that she was frantic.
“Why would I do that after what she did to him?” Jax asked with a frown, indicating Thaniel.
“If you don’t take her, there is no telling what the Tomlee will do. He’s not done punishing her,” Deseria answered.
Thaniel looked at Jax. He still didn’t know if he was even welcomed back, but he also couldn’t leave Elianna to be hurt anymore. “Jax?”
“Fine,” Jax huffed, then turning, he opened the rear passenger door. “But she goes in back.”
Thaniel nodded and with a last glance at George, he climbed into the front passenger seat and closed the door behind him.
Chapter Fifty
Homeward Bound
THANIEL STARED at George and his mother as Jax put the car in gear and they drove away, wondering if he’d ever see his brother again.
“Hey, buddy, you really all right?” Jax asked in a quiet voice once they got out onto the main road.
Thaniel shrugged, but he could feel Jax’s eyes on him, probing him, and suddenly he knew that Jax and Tierney had figured out how he felt about them. Mortified, he hunched his shoulders.
“You know, I told you I’d come for you, right?” he asked, drawing Thaniel’s gaze.
Thaniel swallowed deeply, knowing the large, wonderful male beside him was right. Jax had promised Thaniel that he’d come for him, and he kept his word.
“You don’t have to say anything, but if you want to talk, I’m here,” Jax said.
“Thank you,” Thaniel whispered and tears pricked the backs of his eyes. With a deep swallow, he turned back to stare at the road. He had no words for how he felt.
They were halfway home when Elianna struggled to sit up in the back seat. “Where am I? What’s happening?” she asked groggily as she frowned out the window, then moaned in pain.
“Apparently, you weren’t safe where you were. We were asked to take you with us,” Jax said and looked at her in the rearview mirror. Elianna just stared at them. A moment later, she turned to watch the passing scenery.
She was silent until they drove over a bump, making her suck in a breath, and while Thaniel didn’t like her, he hated that she was in pain from being beaten. He’d been that way too often himself, and didn’t wish it on anyone.
Jax glanced back at her in the rearview mirror again. “Hey, you’re not going to upchuck back there, are you?” he asked and it was a few seconds before they heard a quiet no.
“Because if you are, I can stop,” he added and Thaniel knew he didn’t like having the girl in his car.
Elianna shook her head but didn’t say another word until they were almost home. “I tried to find him.”
Thaniel looked back to find her staring at him. He frowned, not sure what she was talking about, but it didn’t matter, he didn’t want anything to do with her.
He turned and faced forward, but Elianna wasn’t done. “Your Peanut cat. I tried, but he ran off—” She sniffed. “I don’t know why I bothered, or why I’m telling you all this,” she mumbled, her speech a little slurred, but as she continued to ramble, Thaniel figured she must be on something, or have a concussion. She certainly had the bruises for it.
“I’m not a good tracker, found you by luck. Overheard the Tomlee.” She sighed deeply. “Guess when you turn someone, you get a connection to them.”
She shifted around in the back seat. “That’s how I found you, surrounded by wolves and … and I thought if you came with me. It was a stupid idea. Stupid,” she said and quit talking.
Thaniel swallowed and looked back to see Elianna passed out.
“I got some of that. Who was she looking for?” Jax asked.
At the mention of his furry friend, Thaniel’s heart had clenched and he hoped Peanut was okay. Not wanting to talk about it, he just shrugged. “Don’t know.”
Thaniel was glad when Jax gazed at him briefly, eyes filled with understanding, and let it go.
“Sami’s home,” Jax said instead and relief filled Thaniel. Jax continued. “Yeah, he and Hellfire, along with her brother Brimstone made it back safe and sound. Oh, and Sami and Hellfire have now mated.”
Shocked, Thaniel digested that bit of news, wondering about how Goldy was taking it.
As if he read his mind, Jax sighed. “It’s not going to be easy for Goldy, she really liked Sami, but late last night, someone else showed up.”
Then Jax snorted. “This … ah, female, Xeata, she followed Brimstone
back here and she had someone in tow. His name is Isoul and Goldy seems to be pretty taken with him,” Jax explained.
Thaniel tried to digest all that happened while he was gone, and sadness filled his heart.
Jax continued. “Not sure how it’s all going to work out, Sami told me that Isoul has a mate, another guy, but from the way he and Goldy seemed attracted to each other, well …”
Jax shrugged and without comment, Thaniel turned his wide blue eyes back on the road, hoping that Goldy didn't end up hurt again.
***
TIERNEY WAITED impatiently just inside the kitchen, with Sami and Hellfire, for Jax and Thaniel to arrive back home. At first, she hated the Phoenix shifter who had hurt Sami not so long ago by rejecting him. But she finally understood what drove Hellfire, and while the woman wasn’t her favorite person, she no longer hated her. Plus, seeing how bad Hellfire felt over everything, went a long way. Still, she couldn’t help but feel bad for Goldy, although after their unexpected visitors the evening before, she figured Goldy might be okay after all.
Thankful that no one told her to relax, she continued to pace about until she heard Jax’s car pull up outside. It was all she could do to stay put and wait in the kitchen, but when the outside door opened, she couldn’t hold back any longer. She hurried into the mudroom and pulled up sharply.
“What the fuck is she doing here?” she snapped at the sight of the unconscious girl in Jax’s arms. The very same girl who had taken Thaniel from them. Then, when she didn’t see anyone else behind Jax, panic filled her. “Where’s Thaniel?”
Jax ignored her second question to answer the first. “George’s escape plan for Thaniel had strings attached.”
Eyes flashing, Tierney waited for more of an explanation. Jax sighed. “Elianna wasn’t safe where she was, but this is only temporary,” he said, letting Tierney know he was equally as unhappy about the female Were-leopard being with them. She followed him as he hurried into the kitchen. “Sami, can you put this in one of the guest rooms?” Jax asked, handing Elianna off to his brother.
“Ah, sure,” Sami said and accepted the burden, then with a perplexed glance at Hellfire, he nodded and she followed him from the room.
“Where is Thaniel?” Tierney asked, repeating her earlier question. She frowned at her mate, worried that he hadn’t brought their friend home after all.
“He’s coming. Just give him a minute,” Jax said and shrugged his shoulders sadly. “Something happened while he was there. He was upset when he saw me. I don’t think he wanted to come back. I’m sorry,” he said, seeing the look of devastation on her face.
It hurt and Tierney sucked in a breath at the pain that knowledge caused. “Oh.” Feeling defeated, she settled on one of the stools. As much as she wanted Thaniel here, if he didn’t want to be here, she wouldn’t force the issue, no matter how badly it pained her. Jax stared at her a moment before going to the cupboard and pulling out a bottle of Tequila.
He poured himself a shot, tossed it back and then refilled the shot glass and slid it across the counter to her.
Tierney met her mate’s eyes. She felt so hollow, so sad, and the feelings were reflected in Jax’s gaze. “Nectar?” she asked. It was near impossible for their kind to get drunk off human alcohol unless they added a few drops of nectar from their home world to the bottle. Jax nodded.
“Good,” she said and quickly swallowed the fiery liquid.
The Tequila burned as it slid down her throat and with the touch of nectar added, it practically sang through her blood.
A moment later they both turned at the sound of the mudroom door opening and then closing. Tierney held her breath until Thaniel walked into the kitchen. “Thaniel,” Tierney said, unable to keep the relief out of her voice at seeing him. She stood up and hurried over to him, but when she began to put her arms around him, he sidled away.
He appeared exhausted, and she could feel so much emotion churning inside of him. The hurt he carried around was still there, but much more pronounced, and now she could feel a deep, furious anger as well. And his hair … oh, sweet angels, what happened to his beautiful hair? “Sweetie,” she whispered, aching to hold him.
Chapter Fifty-One
Bruised Heart
THANIEL EASED PAST Tierney and Jax. “I-I’m tired,” he said, barely hanging on. He knew if he let her touch him, he’d dissolve into a messy puddle and it wouldn’t be pretty. Not meeting his friends’ eyes, he hurried from the kitchen into the great room and was halfway across, when the scent of pine reached him. Thaniel stared across the room at the funny-looking Christmas tree. The lowest branches were weighed down with the most ornaments, telling him that Lilly must’ve helped decorate.
Heart racing and palms suddenly sweaty as the nightmare of his past consumed him, he looked at the multicolored lights. With a deep swallow, he shoved the memories away and rushed down the hall and into his room.
***
TIERNEY GAPED AT JAX IN SHOCK. “What the hell happened?”
Jax shook his head, eyes glittering. “I don’t know.”
Tierney sat down on the stool, reached for the bottle and downed another shot of Tequila, then waited while Jax did the same.
Finally, he sighed. “He wouldn’t talk to me. He barely even looked at me.”
Just then, Sami and Hellfire walked back in. “What happened?”
Tierney and Jax frowned, not sure what he was talking about.
“We just saw Thaniel, said hi, but he just hurried past us to his room,” Sami said, staring at them.
With a frown, Tierney got to her feet and headed after Thaniel.
“Where are you going?” Jax asked.
Tierney took in the three of them. Hellfire was staring at her curiously. She turned her gaze on Jax and Sami. “If it was either of you hurting like this, I wouldn’t leave you alone, right?”
“No. I know you wouldn’t,” Sami said and Tierney smirked, knowing he was remembering the time she demanded he tell her his dream.
Hellfire frowned, but Jax just nodded with a grim smile on his face.
“Right, so I’m not leaving Thaniel alone either,” she said and turning away, she hurried toward Thaniel’s room with Jax right behind her.
“Let me know if you need me,” she heard Sami call behind her.
Tierney walked into Thaniel’s room and gazed about. “Thaniel?” she whispered and frowned. She had expected to find him sitting with his knees drawn to his chest in the corner of the room where he could see anyone who entered.
When she didn’t see him there, she swept the room, stunned when she spotted him. For the first time since they had rescued him, he lay on his bed, facing the wall.
“That has to be a good sign? Doesn’t it? Maybe he trusts us now?” she asked Jax.
“I don’t know. That, or he no longer cares,” Jax said, and Tierney’s heart plummeted at the thought. Then fury filled her as she wondered what the hell they had done to her sweet Were-leopard.
Tierney slowly climbed up onto the bed behind Thaniel. “Hey, I know you’re upset and hurting. I’m really sorry things didn’t go the way you wanted.” She lay down near Thaniel, making sure not to touch him. She didn’t want to scare him, but she did want him to know that they were there for him. Jax climbed up behind her and lay his arm across her for comfort and support.
Thaniel didn’t move, but he didn’t tell her to leave him alone either, so Tierney took that as a good sign. Slowly, she reached out and lay her hand on his shoulder. “I know you didn’t want to come back here, and you don’t have to stay.” Just the thought of him leaving again brought tears to her eyes, making her sniffle. “Jax and I, we’ll help you get to wherever you want to go.” Tierney wiped away the tears. “I hate that you’re hurting. I don’t know what happened, but I know how badly you wanted this.”
At her words, Thaniel tensed up, then a moment later, he turned over. Gorgeous pale-blue eyes met hers.
“No, Tierney,” he whispered. “You’re wrong. I do
want to be here. I don’t want to be anywhere else. I just—” his eyes lowered and he hunched his shoulders, “I just ruined it. I hurt you, just like my dad hurt me. I did the same thing and I’m sorry. I never meant to hurt you. I just wanted to see him, talk to him. Ask him why he—” Thaniel shut his mouth in a tight, thin line. Then, he closed his eyes and shook his head.
“Oh, Thaniel. Sweetheart. We know. We may have been hurt, but that was only because we love you so much.”
At her words, his eyes opened. “I missed you both so much,” he said and trembled as he met her gaze then Jax’s.
Jax nodded. “We missed you too, buddy.”
“I’m so tired,” he whispered, and Tierney’s heart broke for him.
“You sleep, love, we will stay here with you,” she said and watched his eyes drift closed.
“Oh gods, Jax.”
“I know, babe.”
They lay with Thaniel for the rest of the day, keeping watch while he slept. At one point, Sami popped in. “How is he doing?” he asked.
Tierney looked up at him. “I think he’ll be okay … he wants to be here at least,” she said, heart happy about that, though she was still worried about what had happened to him. Able to feel his deep anger and pain, she worried about what kind of damage his father had inflicted on him now.
At supper time, Tierney left Jax with Thaniel and hurried out to eat and check on her dad. Then, seeing that Chloe had taken care of feeding him, and Sami had taken care of Dimitina, she started to go back to Thaniel’s room when Kyrian informed her that a big white delivery truck had arrived.
“Great, I’ll be right there,” she told him.
“Do you need my help unloading anything?” he asked.
“No, I’m good, thanks,” she said and hurried outside. “Over there,” she told the driver and led the way to the barn. A moment later, Sami joined her and together they unloaded the surprise she’d ordered for Kyrian and his wolves.
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