Flint’s legs shook as relief flooded him. “Thank fuck! I was ready to go over there and take on your men, you fucking idiot.”
“Indeed,” Jana rolled her shoulders. “And I would’ve been by his side. Trust me, Mister Alexander, you would’ve had a lot of clean up to do if that had happened.”
“Will someone please explain what exactly is going on here?” Quinn looked over at Flint then back at Jana, an annoyed expression flitting across his face. It was obvious that he didn’t like not being in the loop.
“Of course, but can we at least sit down? And I could do with a drink too,” Jana asked none too subtlety.
Quinn seemed to collect himself, arcing his arm toward the sofas. “Certainly, my apologies. Please, take a seat. What would you prefer? Wine, or something else?”
Jana went toward the fireplace, her body moving with a grace that turned heads wherever she went and it wasn’t lost on Flint that Quinn’s eyes watched her intently as she moved elegantly across the room. She looked over her shoulder, rolling her eyes. “Wine? No, I think we need something stronger. Don’t you? And as we’re in Scotland, I suggest a good Whisky.”
“As you wish. I already have one opened.” He nodded to the ornate table next to his leather armchair. “Will that be acceptable?”
“Sure,” she replied and sat down on the sofa nearest to his chair, crossing one of her long legs over the other, her eyes never leaving him as he went to get more glasses.
As he did that Flint took the armchair farthest away and Talon remained standing at the door, but Jana was having none of that. “Talon, come and sit down for goodness’ sake.”
“I’m fine here.”
“I said . . . come and sit down. How can we relax with you hovering about there?”
“I can go and wait outside,” he spluttered, looking uncomfortably at Quinn.
“It’s fine, sit.” Quinn returned with enough crystal for them all and poured large measures before handing them out.
Jana sipped hers and looked around. “I’m surprised you don’t have staff around to take care of you?”
Quinn’s lips pursed, his eyes darkening for a split second before he acknowledged Jana’s comment. “Usually I do. However, most of those are human and with this problem we have at the moment I didn’t want any harm to come to them. So, I sent some of them home and told them to stay away until further notice. I wouldn’t risk them getting in the middle of any of this . . . that would be unthinkable. They’ve been with me for years, in fact, a lot of them are third and even fourth generation workers. I take care of them so, no, there are none of them available at the moment.”
Jana pounced, on the one word that Flint had picked up on too. “Some? You sent some of them home? What did you do with the rest? Are they in the dungeons of this place perhaps?” she chuckled.
He didn’t laugh back. Instead his brows furrowed and his eyes darkened again as he stared hard over at her. “Of course not. They’re being well looked after at a nearby hotel. Those are the staff who live on the premises and have been in my employ for many years. They don’t own property so don’t have anywhere else to go. As I said, I’m taking care of them. I also have guards stationed with them, just in case.”
Jana’s head canted, and Flint knew that scrutinizing look. She was taking her measure of the man before them. As was he. Maybe he’d misjudged him, because that’s just the kind of thing that Victor would’ve done. Jana tipped her head. “That’s very commendable, Quinn. Not many would go to such lengths for their employees. Humans especially.”
He didn’t reply, sipping on his drink and shrugging.
Flint agreed.
A few seconds passed before Quinn spoke, coming straight to the point. His body appeared relaxed in the chair, but there was a telling tick at the side of his eye and his jaw was clenched just a little too tightly which gave away his feelings and how upset he was. He was angry, annoyed, and truth be told, Flint couldn’t blame him. “Why are you here if not on Directive business? As you say, you’re Second in Command, an extremely high position in the Directive, yet here you are in my home. You can understand why I was upset, can’t you? I deserve to know why you’re here.”
Flint remained silent, swirling his drink around before sipping it, he watched over the rim of the glass as Jana locked eyes with Quinn. She didn’t respond. Not at first. Her blue eyes staring right into his green . . . and he knew what she was doing. Damn, the woman was good. He’d seen her play this game before and not one damn time had she lost. Never. And he doubted she’d lose this time either. All it took was . . . time.
Talon shuffled on the sofa, the leather creaking beneath him, his breathing sounding strangled and uneasy. Flint glanced over and saw the Wolf’s head anxiously darting to look between Jana and Quinn. He could almost feel the apprehension rolling from him as he fidgeted before lifting his glass and downed his whisky all at once. Poor guy. Flint thought before he turned back to the tableau he was finding so amusing.
Jana hadn’t moved, although Quinn appeared not to have, his eyes told a different tale. His left eyebrow had risen, ever so slightly but it was noticeable, and there was also a tightening along his jawline as well as his fingers that wound around the expensive crystal that held the amber liquid that tasted rather fine. It wasn’t Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt, but it was still a good blend in Flint’s opinion. In contrast, Jana was as relaxed as always, apart from her steely eyes. Those were as calculating as ever, taking in every miniscule detail of her opponent . . . and there was no mistake that’s what Quinn was and Flint guessed that Quinn had just realized it.
Seconds ticked by until finally Quinn let out a long sigh, his hand rising with his glass to take a sip of his drink . . . and admitting defeat of a battle that he hadn’t known he’d been in. “Isn’t it rather rude not to answer a direct question?” he asked instead.
“I answer what I want, when I want.” Jana raised her glass, drinking and looking at Quinn over the top. “But I’ll tell you why I’m here . . . him.” She pointed to Flint. “He’s a personal friend of mine and I heard he was in trouble. It’s . . . as . . . simple . . . as . . . that.”
She lifted her glass, downing the rest of the amber liquid then holding it out toward Quinn, shaking it around and silently requesting a fill-up. He tilted his head, glancing over at Flint and then at Jana and back at him again. “Powerful friends you have, Flint.”
“I had no idea she was even in the country and even if I did, I wouldn’t have called her.”
“That’s Flint for you,” Jana exhaled, shaking her head. “He can never get over the fact that I work for Magno . . . can you?”
“Not really.” Flint shrugged and watched as Quinn proceeded to start peppering Jana with questions about her position within the Directive, most of which she tiptoed around with her usual elegant ease.
It was as they verbally sparred back and forth, Quinn refilling everyone’s drinks, that Flint grew restless. What was he doing here? Sitting drinking and listening to this while his Bloodmate lay injured?
He sprang to his feet, everyone’s eyes spinning to him as he slammed his glass onto the antique table next to his chair. “I can’t be here. You don’t need me, not now. There’s nothing happening and my Bloodmate is injured. I should be there, not here listening to you two sparring like a couple of . . .” He stopped, his breaths coming in great gulps as he realized he was ranting. It wasn’t their fault that he was feeling guilty. Shit. “Sorry. Look, I’ll be at the cottage if you need me. Talon has my number.”
Talon shot to his feet, his crystal joining Flint’s. “I’ll come with you.”
“You don’t need to do that.” Flint sighed, but knew the Wolf wanted an escape. He’d been uncomfortable from the moment they’d arrived. “But I’d be grateful for the company . . . Jana, I assume you’ve still got my number?”
She turned, raising an eyebrow. “I do. Do you need me to come?”
“No.” He shook his head. “Stay and keep
me updated on any developments.”
“Okay, Flint, and you do the same.” She gave him a smile, small and sad. “I hope your Bloodmate recovers soon, my friend.”
“Thanks.” He tipped his head at her and Quinn and turned to leave, guilt flooding through him as he did. What the hell kind of mate was he? Leaving Kenzie for hours instead of being right there with her? Fuck.
From now on, he was staying right there with her until Smithson and his damnable men made an appearance.
Chapter 21
Flint lay on the bed next to Kenzie, his body curled around hers, and fuck, she felt so good in his arms. Flint tightened his hold, pulling her against him, her soft curves fitting against him as if she’d been hand-made just for him . . . and in a way, she had by the Goddess herself. His heart beat faster as that hit home, the enormity of what he held within his embrace: his Bloodmate. The woman that meant everything in the whole damn universe to him, and he knew this tiny body next to him had wrought immense changes inside him. He felt them deep inside . . . feelings and emotions growing with each passing hour that scared the hell out of him and at the same time, in a strange way, calmed his soul. He placed a soft kiss on her hair, whispering, “I’ll keep you safe, baby, I promise I will. Nobody will hurt you ever again. Not now that I’ve found you.”
Moira had been surprised when he’d appeared several hours ago, but she’d smiled when he’d said he wasn’t leaving again until he had to, explaining his place was with Kenzie. The old woman had nodded and given him an update, one that was encouraging. Kenzie’s head trauma was almost healed and it was just a matter of time—for her body to rest and recuperate—before she’d wake. Flint had never felt such relief before in his extremely long life than he had at that moment. It flooded his body, a euphoria filling him up and making him feel light-headed, so much so that his legs shook and Moira had taken hold of his elbow and sat him on the edge of the bed. Her eyes crinkling at the side as she looked down at him as if she knew how he was feeling.
Talon was in the living room with Moira, enjoying a dram while Dougie and his men remained on guard duty, alert and allowing Flint to relax and spend time with Kenzie without worrying about her safety. It was late afternoon and he knew it wouldn’t be long until he’d have to leave, his heart pounding with the thought of releasing Kenzie from his embrace. Closing his eyes, he inhaled deeply, her scent . . . vanilla and caramel, allowing it to calm him and his fears as he drifted into a light slumber.
Her soft hands ran down his naked torso, her fingers raking across his skin, his cock twitching between their bodies as her lips trailed soft kisses across his chest . . . he was in heaven. “Don’t stop,” he gasped, his hands exploring her body, soft, silky skin that felt so damn good beneath him.
“I won’t.” She continued to pepper him with caresses, her tongue darting out, licking across his chest and latching onto a nipple, biting it playfully while she reached between them, her fingers circling his hard length, slowly working back and forth, ripples of pleasure cascading through him.
“You should be resting,” the thought whispered through his mind . . . from where?
“I am.” She looked up, her eyes sparkling brightly, her lips covering his with a searing kiss full of desire and longing, taking him higher and higher to a place he’d never been before and where he wanted to stay forever.
His eyes closed, pleasure coursing through him . . . suddenly a slithering coldness slid up his spine, her hands no longer on his body, his eyes springing open and he was back in Edinburgh, in the alley and . . . fuck. He was looking up into Kragen Smithson’s face, fear lapping inside him as hard hands held him securely. What the fuck? His heart fluttered wildly in his chest with terror running wildly, words flying out of his mouth. “Let me go! You’re a bunch of bastards!” Flint realized he wasn’t inside his own body . . . he was seeing through Kenzie’s eyes and he was back in the alley the night when she’d been accosted by Kragen and Stelian! He could feel her utter horror and dread, then the pain when Stelian had landed the fateful blow that caused her terrible injury. But that wasn’t all. No. She’d been able to look down and see what he’d had planned for her. Oh my god.
Flint saw it all. Saw it through her eyes as Stelian had prepared to rape her in that dank, dirty alleyway and he felt every single one of her emotions. Fear, dread, shock, panic . . . so many ran through her as that filthy animal prepared to ravage her unconscious, bloody and broken body. Rage stormed through him like a hurricane . . . a frenzy of wrath building up inside him that he thought he would shatter into a million pieces until . . .
“I feel you.” Her voice washed over him and he jerked awake, staring down at her still sleeping form, shock and surprise coursing through him.
His arms tightened over her, tugging her closer, his mouth at her ear as he whispered, “Kenzie? Are you awake?”
He waited, anticipation and longing building inside as hope coursed through him, desperately wishing for her eyelids to lift so he could gaze into her eyes and tell her how much he loved her, worshipped her, and would for all eternity. But no. Nothing.
“No, not yet . . . soon. But I’m aware you’re there . . . Flint.”
“Fuck, you know my name? How?” He stumbled over the words, his heart thudding in his chest like a freight train as it rammed into him that he was actually hearing her in his mind at the same time as the fact that she knew his name. How was that possible?
“I heard it . . . in the car, when you rescued me, before. Sorry, I need to rest some more but I’ll be with you soon.”
And she was gone. Gone! The dream he’d just had leaving him burning with an anger so great he knew he’d have no qualms about carrying out his planned sentence on those that had dared to harm his Bloodmate.
“Moira!” he bellowed, feeling bereft that she’d been so close and now she was no longer with him.
Her grandmother rushed in, her face full of hope . . . obviously thinking that Kenzie had woken. When she saw her still unconscious in his arms she looked confused. “What? What’s wrong?”
“She spoke to me . . . in here.” He stabbed a finger to his temple. “How’s that possible? What’s going on? And why didn’t she wake up? If she can do that then why can’t she wake up?”
Moira’s shoulder’s rose as she inhaled and exhaled loudly, a smile on her face that crinkled her entire face. “That’s my girl! She’s letting us know she’s healing and almost ready to wake up. Not long now, Flint.”
“What? But how? Can she talk to people like that? In their heads?” Flint barked, confused and shocked in equal measures.
“If she’s close to someone she can, yes,” Moira confessed. “She and I can, and obviously she can with you now. It’s one of her special abilities.”
“Shit.” Flint glanced back down at Kenzie in amazement. “Not only is she the most beautiful creature on this damn planet, she’s fucking remarkable too. I’m the luckiest man alive, Moira. You hear me, Kenzie . . . the luckiest man alive.”
“Aye, Flint, you are,” Moira agreed.
They were interrupted by Talon, who knocked on the open door. “Sorry, I don’t mean to disturb you but you’ve got a couple of visitors. You need to come out, Flint.”
“Visitors?” Flint frowned.
“Aye.” Talon nodded over his shoulder. “They’re pretty insistent that you come.”
“Shit.” Flint disentangled himself, kissing Kenzie’s lips softly and whispering, “I’ll be back soon, baby.”
Talon led the way along the hall, Dougie’s booming voice rumbling down toward them. “It’s great to see you again. It’s been far too long!”
Flint wondered who the hell he was talking to and sped up, entering the lounge to find . . . Dougie shaking Victor’s hand vigorously as Kimber stood next to him. What the hell?
“Victor, what’re you doing here? I said not to come and I definitely said not to bring Kimber. It’s too dangerous for her to be here.” Flint stopped dead, the words tumbling out fast as
shock overtook him.
Kimber spun around, rushing to him and flinging her arms around his waist. “Don’t you dare, Flint! You’re family and when Victor told me what was going on . . . well, there was no way in hell I was allowing us to stay away. I might be pregnant but I’m a Dragon. You think that Vampire’s going to get away with what he’s done? No way in Hades! So, here we are . . . and just for the record, I’m pretty sure Victor was going to try sneaking away anyway. There’s nothing that was going to stop him from being at your side, Flint. Nothing.”
She looked up at him, her brilliant emerald eyes full of concern and he couldn’t help but feel shamefaced for how he’d felt about how she’d impacted on his relationship with Victor. “Thank you, Kimber, I appreciate that more than you know.”
He glanced over at his best friend who was heading their way, his presence settling him like nothing else in the universe could. Seeing him here was just what he needed. Knowing he’d be by his side no matter what was coming . . . well, that was exactly where he should be, because they were brothers and that’s what brothers did for each other.
Victor stopped, pulling Kimber back against him. “Stop hugging him like that, baby, or I’ll start to get jealous.”
Looking over her shoulder she scowled up at him, rolling her eyes. “Don’t be silly.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” Flint admitted, his hand wiping down his face. “I’m on edge with everything that’s happened and seeing you has settled me down.”
“I couldn’t stay away,” Victor countered with his own admission. “After we spoke, I tried. With Kimber being pregnant, I did try . . . but I couldn’t. You’re my brother, not by blood, but you’re my brother and I couldn’t allow you to face this alone. After I hung up, I turned around and madam here was standing there, so we talked. I did attempt to sway her to stay away, but you know what she’s like. She wouldn’t listen and yes, I was going to try and sneak away without her. But then I knew she’d only charter another plane and follow me and she’d be pissed when she arrived, so I thought better of that idea. So, here we are. Want to fill us in?”
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