by Denise Carbo
Glancing around the room, she wondered briefly which wall, but did it really matter? She really wished he’d get on with it, but at the same time dreaded hearing what awful family skeletons he was about to reveal. The glee on his face and in his voice were rather sickening. Didn’t he realize this was also his family he was talking about?
“Dear Uncle Elsof was a bit of a braggart. He couldn’t very well publicly brag about his deeds, so he wrote them down. For posterity’s sake, I imagine.” Aaron leaned forward and propped his elbows on the desk, pinning his gaze on her. “He killed his father in the loch and let everyone believe he died in his sleep.” Giving an artless shrug, he leaned back. “He was ancient, so no one questioned him.”
Closing her eyes, she wished the dainty chair had a higher back, so she could rest her head. It suddenly felt like it weighed too much for her neck to support. Her uncle had killed her grandfather?
“Would you like to know why?”
Opening her eyes, she stared at the lines the wooden planks made in the floor. Each one straight and narrow, no deviations, no cracks or grooves, or crazy lines. Unlike the path her family tree possessed. Those lines were bent, diseased, and downright rotten.
Aaron didn’t bother waiting for her reply. “For the throne of course. You see our grandfather planned to announce his son was not his heir. He was choosing someone else to rule the clan. He foolishly told Uncle Elsof of his plans. Apparently thinking his son would calmly accept them. Dear old Uncle Elsof put an end to that.” Aaron chuckled.
Nausea churned in her stomach. She wanted to leave the room, the building, the compound, the whole city. She was fed up with the violence and the sickening delight men took in killing one another for power. She wasn’t naïve enough to believe some women didn’t hunger for it as well, but men were enthralled by it.
Bethany gripped the arms of the chair, preparing to stand. Wait, who had her grandfather planned to name as heir? “He intended for one of his daughters to inherit the clan?”
Aaron outright laughed. “Don’t be ridiculous. A woman cannot rule a clan.” He clasped his hands together on top of the desk. “However, her husband could if named as a successor.”
Bethany grasped her knees and locked her spine. She was damned if she would give him any more reason to gloat. She knew now why he called her in and didn’t fight the issue of Davis staying within earshot. He wanted him to hear. He wanted everyone to hear. It was his father named to be the successor, and he would use this to cement his right to rule the clan.
“My father, not Uncle Elsof should have been ruler.”
Pushing to her feet, she avoided eye contact with him. The sight of him was impossible to endure any longer. She had already decided she could not support him, but now she would oppose him with relish. She would support Advisor Heyes publicly. Aaron would not only perpetuate the twisted reign of the past but make it infinitely worse.
“Leaving so soon, dear cousin? But I have more news to share.” Aaron stood and stalked around the desk to stand in front of her. “Uncle Elsof didn’t stop his murderous tendencies with his father. Oh no, he made sure to eliminate any possibility of competition all together.”
She stared at the floor in horror as the implications of his statement flashed through her mind.
“My parents and yours, dead at his hands. Quite the Machiavellian ruler our uncle was. I simply had no idea he had it in him.”
Wrenching her gaze to his, she let the utter disgust and contempt show on her face. “He murdered our parents, and you sound as if you admire him. You are as depraved as he and my brother were. You don’t deserve to rule. I will never support you.”
Aaron seized her arm and dragged her up on her toes to snarl in her face. “I will rule, and you will show me your support!”
She wrenched her arm away as a furious growl sounded behind her. “Never!” She stumbled back as a blur rushed by her.
Catching herself against the wall, she gawked at the sight of Davis as a wolf straddling Aaron prostate on the floor. Davis snarled in his face.
Watching his jaws open, Bethany leaped forward. If he tore out Aaron’s throat, it would mean war!
“Davis!”
She swung her gaze to the guards standing in the doorway. They made no motion to intervene, not that she could particularly blame them. A trail of shredded clothes was strewn across the floor. His fur stood on end around his thick neck. Saliva dripped from his snarling mouth.
Bethany stepped closer and held out her hand toward him. “Please, this isn’t the way.”
The wolf cocked its head slightly to meet her gaze before turning back to Aaron, who was gasping in horror on the floor. A long canine tooth appeared as he growled low before slowly backing off and standing between her and Aaron.
She couldn’t resist delving her hand into the soft, thick fur of his coat. He leaned against her briefly before turning back into a man.
“Get him some clothes.” Ned jumped to do her bidding as the two remaining guards stood in the doorway.
Davis stared down at Aaron. “Looks like he’ll need a change of pants too.”
Bethany glanced down to see the telltale wet spot on her cousin’s pants and grimaced.
Chapter Eighteen
Davis paced the length of her living room while talking on the phone to Malcolm. They’d left Aaron shouting dire threats as spittle shot out of his mouth. Davis filled his clan leader in on the heinous acts of more members of her accursed family. She stopped listening at the recounting and started making herself some tea to soothe her nerves, but it only made her think of Kate and the poisoned tea she had drank. Pushing the tea back in the cupboard and turning off the stove, she wandered into her bedroom to stare out the window. Had Aaron been the one to assault her and try to poison her? Had he been working with Bryant all along or had he stumbled across her brother’s scent blocker and poison like he found her uncle’s journals? She hadn’t thought her brother and Aaron had ever been close, but could it have been an act? Had they united against their uncle? Had Bryant known about their uncle’s treachery?
Davis’ light tread announced his presence before his reflection appeared in the window over her shoulder. “Malcolm is notifying the other council members of Aaron’s claims and threats.”
She turned to face him. “Even if what Aaron said is true, it’s all based on my uncle’s ramblings in a journal. It doesn’t provide Aaron with a solid claim to rule the clan.”
“That’s basically what Malcolm said as well.”
She nodded. Even if he wasn’t guilty of colluding with Bryant, or the one trying to kill her, Aaron was too damaged to ever be allowed to rule the clan.
“Come back to my clan with me.”
Bethany swung her head up. Her gaze collided with his. What?
“It’s not safe for you here. My clan will protect you.”
Ah, of course, he wanted her to go to protect her, not to claim her as his mate. She pivoted back to the window. What did it matter?
He stepped up behind her. “What’s left for you here? More betrayal? My clan will welcome you.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why would your clan welcome me? I am not only the sister of the man who murdered a clan member, but he also attempted to kill your leader and his mate. And then there is the rest of my horrible lineage. Why would they want me there? Why do you?”
Squeezing her shoulders, he pulled her back against his body. She closed her eyes. She wanted to turn and throw her arms around him.
“You know why.”
She opened her eyes and met his gaze in the reflection.
“You’re my mate.” Joy and sadness rose within her at his words.
He dipped his head and trailed kisses down her neck. She tilted her head to provide him with more access. Davis touched her, and any thought of resistance fled. She wanted the pleasure she found within his arms—even if it was only one last time. His arms slipped around her waist, pressing her back flush to his f
ront. She lifted her hands and covered his.
Davis couldn’t resist the need to touch her any longer. She was his mate, and she had been endangered too many damn times. The rage had been simmering under the surface for days. When Aaron had dared to touch her, the only thought going through his mind was a need to protect what was his. He had barely stopped from ripping the bastard’s throat out. Only she had stopped him. Her calming voice slipped past the fury and allowed reason to return. He needed her.
The taste of her soft skin urged him to devour her, but he wanted to savor every touch and taste. Her hands fluttered, hovering over his a moment before dropping back to clutch his thighs, as he raised his hands slowly up to cup her breasts. Two exquisite handfuls of perfection.
Her head dropped back against his shoulder. A soft, blonde tendril of hair tickled his nose. Bethany's eyes drifted closed on a soft exhale of breath. Her pale lashes fluttered over her ivory skin. An angel of such beauty, and she was his.
One hand continued to cherish her breasts while the other slipped down to unfasten her pants and slide inside. A bright pink blush bloomed on her pale cheeks as his fingers discovered the warm honey between her thighs. Her lips parted on a gasp, and he couldn’t hold back the groan of arousal when the pleasure of her response washed over his fingers.
Swinging her up into his arms, he walked the short distance to the bed and laid her down. She helped remove her clothes and reclined back to watch him take off his own. He withdrew a condom from his pocket before dropping his jeans to the floor. He wasn’t taking any further chances. Her eyes widened slightly when she spotted the condom. She blinked but said not a single word.
While Bethany welcomed him into her arms, he reveled in the feel of her skin against his. Kissing her deeply, his body demanded to join with hers. He couldn’t hold back any longer. He donned the condom and returned to Bethany, sliding into her warmth inch by inch.
Their movements quickly became frantic with need. She cried out in release, and his orgasm hit him like a tsunami. Pleasure exploding in the base of his spine and rushing throughout his body.
He sank against her, momentarily unable to support his own weight. Sucking in a deep breath, he rolled over, taking her with him and tucking her against his side. Her hand lazily trailed over his chest.
The cool air swept over his sweat-dampened skin. He kissed her forehead and rolled to his feet. He walked into the bathroom to dispose of the condom and wash up. By the time he returned she had burrowed beneath the covers. Her gaze tracked him, but there was little emotion on her face for him to read. What was she thinking about? Would she go with him to his clan?
He climbed into the bed and pulled her back into his arms. She came easily, and he counted it as a good sign. He stroked her arm from the shoulder to her wrist and looped their fingers together on his chest.
“Should I make the arrangements for us to fly home?”
She stiffened slightly before she relaxed and rubbed her cheek against his shoulder.
“I want to say yes.”
“Then say yes.”
She gazed into his eyes silently pleading with him to understand. “I cannot walk away and do nothing to prevent Aaron from claiming rule over my clan. If you were in my place, could you?”
He sighed. “If I were in your place, I would have killed him a long time ago.”
The heat of her gaze burned him, but he closed his eyes instead. What did she want from him? Her decision was clear in her voice. He could admire her conviction and resent the hell out of it at the same time. She was making her choice. It wasn’t him.
Chapter Nineteen
“What’s that?”
Bethany glanced up at Davis peeking over her shoulder, and then back down to the vial she held in her hands. “I don’t know. It fell out when I picked up the sweater.”
Davis snatched it from her hands and opened the top. He sniffed it, and his face instantly hardened. As he swung about to leave the room, Bethany grabbed his arm.
“Wait, what is it?”
“The poison,” he snapped.
Gasping, she glanced out the open doorway of Celeste’s bedroom to the rest of her flat. Celeste and Kate were in the living area. Kate had insisted on getting out of her flat, so they had convinced her to come to Celeste’s, the closest to hers. Kate had been chilled, so Bethany jumped up to get her a sweater from Celeste’s drawer, while Celeste finished getting Kate some coffee. Her attempts at weaning herself off the brew long forgotten.
“Don’t jump to conclusions! There has to be another explanation.” She refused to believe her friend was guilty of trying to poison her. It was terrible enough her family was a pit of vipers. She couldn’t accept her friend was as well. It just might break her.
“Fine, let’s hear her excuses.” He turned to go again, and she tugged on his arm.
“Let me think for a minute. She couldn’t have done it.”
“There’s no other scent here but hers. I know you don’t want it to be true, but you can’t keep denying the evidence stacking up against her. By her own admission no one else had access to the tea once she left the shop. Kioshi got ahold of the video at the shop, and there’s nothing suspicious on the recording. The sample of the tea we took from the shop was normal. Logic suggests the poison was added somewhere between the shop and your department. Maybe that was the real reason she stopped back in her department before going to yours. To add the poison.”
Bethany stared at his scowling face. He thought Celeste was guilty. She franticly gazed about the bedroom trying to come up with an alternative explanation. The white furniture with gold accents, canopy bed, dressing table all gave the room the princess feel her friend desired. Her friend had always been the one to believe in fairy tales and see the innate good in people. Could someone have taken advantage of that and tarnished her somehow? Convinced her to try to kill her? Why? For what possible reason did someone want her dead?
She shook her head. No, she refused to believe Celeste would intentionally harm either one of them.
“Did you find the sweater?”
Bethany swung her gaze to see Celeste standing in the doorway staring at them.
“What is that?” She stepped toward Davis and pointed to the vial gripped in his hand.
“You tell us. It was in your drawer.”
Celeste frowned up at his scowling face. She glanced at the vial and then to Bethany. “I don’t understand.”
She stepped forward past Davis to approach Celeste, but Davis pivoted to block her. “No. You’re not getting anywhere near her until we get some answers.”
Celeste stepped back. “Bethany?”
Davis’ anger was readily apparent and scaring Celeste. It would likely send her into a crying fit and get them nowhere.
“Stand down, Davis. You’re frightening her.”
“She should be terrified.”
Celeste gasped and fled into the living area. Bethany let Davis see her exasperation before pushing her way around him to follow Celeste.
Kate sat up. Her tired blue gaze peered over the back of the couch. “What is going on now?”
Celeste stood by the kitchen with her wide eyes welling with tears.
Bethany approached slowly with her hand held out palm up. “Honey, don’t get upset. I know there’s a perfectly logical explanation for the vial of poison to be in your drawer.”
“What!” Kate swung her gaze between Celeste and Bethany and landed on Davis.
Celeste burst into tears and wailed, “I don’t know!”
Davis snorted behind her. Bethany sighed and started forward to comfort her friend. Davis clasped her shoulder, and she glared at him over her shoulder. “Stop.”
He let go but dogged her steps as she walked over and wrapped her arms around Celeste.
Celeste’s hiccupping sobs lessened, and Bethany guided her to a chair. She perched on the arm of the chair with her hand on Celeste’s shoulder to soothe her. Celeste twisted the hem of her pink top in her fin
gers. Bethany and Kate shared a speaking glance. Neither of them believed Celeste capable of harming them.
Davis opened his mouth, probably to interrogate Celeste, but closed it when she adamantly shook her head. He rolled his eyes and stood silently with his arms folded across his chest.
This was not how she thought the day would go. She had planned to visit with her friends and then meet with Advisor Heyes to tell him of her support and warn him to be wary of Aaron and possible treachery. If she could be convinced her friends were okay and safe and Aaron would not rule the clan, then she could leave with a clear conscience and follow Davis home to his clan. She hoped once they were free of all the madness they would find a way to be with one another, as mates. His use of a condom had proven to her he wasn’t thinking long term. The only reason to use a condom was to ensure she didn’t conceive. Maybe if they were given the opportunity to focus on each other, that would change. They were mates. They each only had one shot. It had to be worth it to try and make it work. He had to see that didn’t he?
But how could she leave now? Someone had been in her friend’s flat planting evidence to frame her. It was the only possible explanation. Someone had used the scent blocker once again to hide their identity. They were all in danger, but she couldn’t figure out why. What possible threat did she pose to anyone?
She caught Davis’ gaze. “Someone is trying to frame her. We need to discover who and why, as well as how.”
Davis stared at Celeste for a long moment. Bethany shook her head. “She didn’t do it.”
He gazed back at her before nodding. “I’ll trust your judgement. But she better fully cooperate in any investigation I deem fit. Which means her, and this apartment are going to be under full surveillance. If someone is framing her, I want undeniable proof. We need to catch this bastard once and for all.”
Bethany rubbed Celeste’s shoulder. Celeste peeked up and nodded. “I didn’t do it,” she whispered.
“I know, but we need to know who did. Who’s had access to your flat?”
Kate handed Celeste a box of tissues. Celeste used one after another while biting her lip in thought.
