by Aliyah Burke
The sound of voices and the smell of food reached her. Pulling her hair up into a loose ponytail, Aida opened the door and stepped out. Dane stood with Lera at the table, whispering something only they could hear.
“Morning,” Aida said.
“Good morning,” they answered together, sharing a smile between them.
“Come and eat breakfast,” Dane said, his look whisking away all her common sense.
She sat down to a bacon, egg, and cheese bagel with orange juice and coffee and listened in silence while Lera chatted happily about the trip.
Why so pensive, Aida?
Not pensive. Wanting a shower and some clean clothes.
I’ll take you to your parents’ after breakfast.
Thank you.
I can be nice, solnyshko moyo. He flashed a wicked grin.
Oh yeah. That tabby attitude just overflows from you. She smiled sweetly and drank some coffee.
His smile turned primitive, and his eyes grew wild. Mark my words, Aida. I’ll show you just how much of a tabby I am not before the sun sets today.
Despite all attempts not to, Aida couldn’t help the quivers his words delivered. Thought you were leaving today.
We are.
Aida nodded and stood. “I should get back to my parents’ house.”
Dane glanced at Lera who was in the process of swallowing her last bite. “Very well.”
Aida rode in silence except to tell Dane where to go. Her mom was out in the front garden when they arrived. She never even batted an eye when the child got out. Dane gave Aida a look, and she knew he had something to do with that as well.
“I’ll be right back,” Aida said, heading to her room.
Grabbing some clothing, she stepped into the attached bath and pulled her shirt off. Tawny-green-gold orbs met hers in the mirror. She jumped and dropped the cotton shirt on the floor, her heart pounding hard and fast.
“What are you doing in here? Where’s Lera? And the whole bell thing…seriously thinkin’ on that.”
“She’s with your mother, learning highly prized gardening secrets. No bell.” Tanned fingers skimmed her shoulders, slipping her white bra straps down. “Let me love you, Aida.” Need flared in his gaze.
It was on the tip of her tongue to say no but the only word to escape was yes. She ached for him. For his touch. For the feeling only he could bring her. Aida was silent as he removed their clothes and carried her to the bed. His touch excruciatingly gentle as he settled over her and pushed his cock deep within her.
She undulated against him. “Faster.”
“Slow, Aida. Nice and slow.”
His slid his arms under her shoulders and shoved his hands into her hair. Dane kissed her as he moved continuously within her.
Thank you, Aida. For everything you’ve given me. He buried his face in her neck.
She held him tightly and closed her eyes as the slow burn engulfed them both.
I love you, Aida. His words rang in her head as he came deep within her. Now and for all eternity.
Dane. Her body shuddered.
“I’d love to stay like this, too, Aida, but we can’t.”
She sighed. “Reality sucks sometimes.”
Dane carried her to the shower and stepped in with her. “Come, solnyshko moyo, let’s shower quickly.
“What does that mean?” she asked once they were out and drying off. “Whatever it is you keep calling me.”
He kissed her shoulder. “I’ll tell you when we get home.”
Her belly knotted. “Home?”
Dane pulled his black shirt down over his ripped abs, hiding them from her admiring eyes. “Of course. Savoy Valley.” He frowned. “Why are you shaking your head? It’s the safest place for Lera.”
Aida tied on her shoes and met his gaze. “It may well be the safest place for her. And that’s fine, but I’m not going.”
“Yes, you are,” he said confidently, blowing her off. “You’ll love it there. Mountains. I have a nice cabin with a lake in front of it, lots of room for Ruger and Kamau.” He frowned. “And you’re shaking your head again.”
Aida opened the bedroom door and headed up the hall to the front. Dane stopped her on the porch, his eyes hard and glittering with disbelief.
She swallowed back her tears and said with calmness she didn’t feel, “I’m not going with you. But you and Lera should get going.” Even her cells seemed to rebel against her decision.
“You’re coming.”
She tore her gaze from his and stepped off the porch. “Lera, Dane’s ready to go. Are you?”
The girl ran up. “I’m ready.” She slipped her hand into Aida’s. “Are you?”
Aida walked her to the sports utility vehicle, well aware of Dane’s dominating presence behind her. She buckled Lera in and touched her cheek gently. “I’m not going with you.” A low rumble echoed in her mind, and she ignored it. “That’s not my home.”
“But,” Lera frowned briefly, “okay. My angel says not to worry.”
Her heart hurt; she didn’t want to leave Lera or Dane. Forcing a smile, she held the child’s gaze. “He’s right. Between your angel and Dane, you are very well protected, Lera. You have nothing to fear. Have a safe trip, Lera Sidorov.”
“Goodbye, Aida.” Lera hugged her.
“Bye, sweetie.” She shut the door, blinked away threatening tears, and faced Dane. Anger snapped in his gaze.
“Not happy, mate,” he informed her.
With a deep breath, she stepped in close. “Goodbye, Dane.” Aida looked over her shoulder briefly to where Lera sat. “Take good care of her.”
“This is not the way for mates to act.” The wildness surged to the forefront in his eyes, and she forced herself not to back away.
“It is the way I act. I won’t be dictated to.” It didn’t matter if she did carry his child. She was her own woman and wouldn’t take orders like that. She had her own plans and was going to see them through, no matter how much it hurt her to leave him.
He stared at her. “Is that what this is, defiance because I didn’t drop to my knees and beg you to come with me?” His words were clipped and cold.
Pain lanced her heart, and she shook her head sadly. “If you really think that, Dane, you never truly knew me. You should go.”
“You are carrying my child, mate.” His words were low and surly.
Stop snapping at me. You’re making me angry. I have to go pack myself. You know where we’ll be and I’d would never keep you from seeing your child. You are welcome anytime. She reached up and placed a quick kiss on his cheek. “Bye,” she whispered. Aida struggled not to run back inside the house. She didn’t leave the house again until the time came for her to depart. After hugging her parents, she loaded up her rental and drove to the airport. Dane’s anger still lingered, and that didn’t help her own agitation. Her heart was in pieces when she got on her own plane.
Chapter Sixteen
Dane struggled. Really struggled to stay in control of his emotions. Damn it all, she was his mate! A small hand tucked into his, and he stared down into eyes which were way too old for the face they sat upon. Lera was actually ten, just a very small child.
“I’m excited,” she said. Her joy hid the sadness behind an amazing twinkle in her eyes.
“I’m glad.” He pointed out the window. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
Lera pressed both hands to the small window and stared down as they flew over the Pantera Mountains beginning their descent. “Wow!”
The plane landed, and they walked off together. Dane ignored all the looks he received, knowing full well they were questioning ones. He’d been gone for a while, and now, he returned with a young child in tow. He relaxed only marginally when he saw his Jeep and the blonde woman leaning against it.
Lera’s hand tightened and he gave her a reassuring squeeze. “You’ll be safe here, Lera. Don’t worry.” He looked up and met the gaze of the woman against his vehicle. “Hello, Bryndis,” he said, stopping before
her.
Her intense blue eyes swept him from head to toe then moved to the child at his side before returning to him. “Good to see you again,” she said, and he could hear the reproach in her voice. Bryndis placed her attention on Lera. “And who are you?”
“I’m—”
“This is my daughter, Lera Sidorov,” Dane broke in, claiming the child to ensure everyone knew.
Bryndis jerked her gaze to his, unable to hide her shock. Dane arched a brow, challenging her to say something. Anything.
“Well,” Bryndis said, lowering herself back down so she was eyelevel with Lera, “I guess that makes us cousins. Welcome to the family, Lera.”
Lera smiled at Bryndis but didn’t touch her. She tugged on his hand, and Dane bent down.
“Yes, Lera?”
She kissed his cheek and whispered, “I told you, you’d be a great daddy.” He touched her chin gently.
Bryndis cleared her throat and said, “Your house is all ready.”
“Wonderful. Thank you, Bryndis.”
He lifted Lera into the back of the Jeep and made sure she buckled herself in before slipping behind the wheel. As he drove, he heard Bryndis talking to Lera, pointing out things along the way. By now, everyone would know he had returned with a daughter. Bryndis wouldn’t have been able to keep that to herself.
Coming home was supposed to feel good. And while it did, something was missing. Something extremely important.
Aida?
Hello, tiger-mine. Her words were laced with sleep. Make it home okay?
Driving to the house now. What about you?
Well, I was sleeping on my flight, but something woke me.
I miss you, solnyshko moyo.
I’m sorry, Dane. I wish I could be what you needed.
You are exactly what I need. I have to get Lera settled in. Aida?
Hmmm?
Take care of yourself and our baby, mate.
He almost laughed at the image she shot him of her saluting. If he wasn’t still so mad she wasn’t with him, he may have. Dane parked in front of the house and shut off the engine. Bryndis watched him strangely, and he ignored her.
“Here we are,” he said to Lera.
“It’s beautiful,” she murmured. “Much more beautiful than my angel said.”
He shrugged away Bryndis’ look, having no explanations on that front. Lera took a short tour and was currently out in the field, her stuffed wolf beside her. She had her hand on him as she stared up at the sky.
“Start talking,” Bryndis snapped as she leaned against the railing beside him.
He arched a brow at her tone. “About?”
She growled, and he answered with one of his own. Bryndis backed down. “We were worried about you. Why can’t we reach you?”
“No one can.” No one but Aida.
“Okay,” she said with a loud sigh. “Let’s try something else. What about her? She’s not of your blood.”
“She is my daughter.” His tone rang strong with unquestionably no room for dispute of any kind. It was the kind he used when he trained to show he wouldn’t accept anything less than absolute compliance on his decision.
“Dane,” Bryndis spoke in a gentle tone, “by that alone, she is under all our protection, she will be safe here.”
An approaching vehicle had her sighing again. He knew his cousin had something else on her mind and struggled for the time to say it to him.
“I know, it’s just—” He snapped his head up, Lera’s fear making his tiger deadly furious. He hastened to her side as three men left the vehicle. “Lera,” he murmured softly. “It’s okay.”
“They’re big.” He could hear her teeth chattering.
He looked at them. Brother, cousin, and best friend. “You think so? They don’t look all that big to me. Do you remember what I told you? And what your angel said?”
“How you’d protect me?”
“Yes. And I will. These men won’t hurt you.” Dane lifted her effortlessly in one arm and she held the wolf by the neck. “The one in the middle is my brother. The one with the blond hair is another cousin and the other guy is my best friend. Okay? They will all be uncles to you. And they will protect you like I will. No harm will come to you here, not anymore, Lera.”
Tremors still rocked her but she nodded. “Okay.” It was like steel was infused into her spine for the shaking vanished, and she seemed perfectly composed. He could still smell the fear on her, but damn if she didn’t hide it well. To look at her one would merely see a child waiting to be introduced. He knew the trio would be able to scent her fear, but she didn’t know that and tried so hard not to let on she was scared.
Dane headed toward the trio of men. “Welcome home,” Aren said with a brilliant white smile. His golden brown eyes swung to the child he held. “And who is this?”
“My daughter. Lera.” She drew back slightly and pressed against him.
“Maybe, Lera would like to come with me,” Bryndis stepped up and offered. “We could go,” her eyes darted around, “pick some flowers. And still keep an eye on your daddy.”
Dane looked at Lera who chewed on her lip for a moment then stared at him. “Cousin Bryndis is safe?” she whispered in his ear, unaware that everyone present had exceptional hearing.
He touched the tip of her nose with his index finger. “Yes. Absolutely.”
“Okay.”
He set her down and watched her stand next to Bryndis, still not touching her. They headed out into the field teeming with flowers. Every few steps, Lera would glance over her shoulder as if to reassure herself he was still there.
“Where’s your mate?” Aren asked, hugging him.
“Home.” Dane returned the hug and did the same with the other two.
“So when do we get to meet her? Isn’t she coming out?” his brother Heller asked.
“She’s not here. She’s at her home.” Dane bit back his anger at that.
The other men exchanged glances then wisely dropped it.
“And the child? We were a bit shocked, to say the least, when Bryndis said you claimed a child as your own,” Heller said.
“She is my daughter.” He glanced over at her briefly. “Be careful around her, she’s leery of people, especially men.” His voice dropped. “And for good reason.”
Fire snapped in their eyes, and he knew they got what he meant.
“Why isn’t she scared of you?” Killian questioned.
Dane shrugged. “She said her angel told her about me.” He exposed his wrist. “And my scar.”
“Her angel?” Aren looked skeptical. An expression shared by the other two men there as well.
“I haven’t figured it out yet. It’s a male, and she isn’t scared of him. Or me.” Dane smiled at Lera when she looked at him. “Now,” he said in a more serious tone after she returned to picking flowers, “tell me. Any more attacks by that self-appointed and so-called ‘Master’ of Uffernangau?”
“No, and we can’t get a bead on him. Dak and Kaida lost him in India but they’re still looking.”
His tiger came to full alert. Dane snarled low in a tandem with the cat. If Dak had lost him then this thing was way more powerful than he’d given him credit for.
“Dane?” The word seemed to come through a fog. “Dane. Damn it, Dane! What the hell?”
He couldn’t identify the speaker, yes logically he knew it was one of the guys with him, but to put a name to the voice wasn’t happening. Dane saw red, and he wanted to hurt someone. All it took was the mere reminder that his mate and unborn child were in danger, and the fury nearly took him to his knees. The darkness still lingered and pushed him to the edge.
He could feel his tiger slipping through. An undeniable urge to lash out, render flesh from bone, and sink long fangs into soft skin and tissue. Feel the warm blood leaking out from the damage he caused. Rage in its rawest form consumed him and he reached for the closest person there.
You need to calm down, tiger-mine.
A beac
on of light through the dark halted him. Love sped down the mating bond and over him, bathing him in the touch and scent of his mate. He blinked a few times and released a shuddering sigh. The haze of anger faded, and he unclenched his fists. “Aida,” he murmured.
Are you okay?
No. I need you with me, Aida.
No, you don’t. Dane. The darkness only has power if you let it. You’re stronger than it. You’ve defeated it before and can do so again.
Because of you.
He felt her smile and the warmth of her love surrounded him. You can always reach me.
“Dane.”
He snapped his gaze and found three sets of concerned eyes watching him. “Sorry, I can’t stay.” Correction, he wouldn’t stay.
“What?” Heller said on a gasp. “You just got here. And what the hell was that all about, just now? Christ, man, you looked like you wanted to rip our heads off.”
He shrugged. What there was to say, he had. “He went after my mate once, he’ll do it again. I can’t protect her if I’m here and she’s there.”
“And my niece?” Heller asked in a hard tone, his eyes flashing fire.
“She comes with me.”
Aqua eyes narrowed. “Your family could help.”
Dane placed a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “Heller, I know. And I know you don’t like how I keep you blocked out. But until I know for certain what’s going on within me, that’s how it is going to be. No matter how grown you are, I’m still and always will be your older brother. I will do everything in my power I can to protect you. I can do nothing less. Please, understand this.”
Three jaws dropped open in surprise. “You never say please,” Heller said, shock in his tone.
Dane never blinked. “I’m saying it now.”
“I don’t like it,” Heller stated. “Not at all. But I will stay out of it.” He spun around and walked off. “You’d better bring your mate so I can meet her.”
Killian followed Heller, no more pleased than him, and Dane knew they did that to give him a moment with Aren. They’d be back.
“You had better take care, vriend. I’ve no wish to face Nahia and tell her you are no longer with us.” He gave a slight smile. “Plus she is very agitated. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting your mate, and she has not. She insists that be rectified.” A slight pause. “And soon.”
