Sleeper (Rise of the Fianna Book 1)

by Amy Brock McNew

  He forced words through gritted teeth. “You think you’re just going to walk away?” He shook his head. “That’s not how this works. A mating is forever. There’s no walking away.”

  “Rhys, our mating was an accident. It shouldn’t have happened yet.” She tried to squirm away again and he held her tight. “We don’t even know each other. Not really. Trust me, you’ll be better off. I can’t be what you want or what you need.” Her voice dropped. “I don’t know how.”

  “Funny you should use that word. Trust. You want me to give it to you, but you don’t want to reciprocate. And how do you even know what I want or need? We haven’t had a chance to figure this out!” He fought to keep his temper leashed. She turned her face and he grabbed her chin. “No, you’re going to face this.”

  She truly thought she was protecting him and knowing that was the only thing keeping him from losing it.

  Tears fell down her cheeks. “I have faced it. It’s you who doesn’t want to see the truth.”

  “Bullshit. You’re running because you’re scared. Scared of trusting, scared of what you are, and scared of what you feel.” Yeah, Rhys was the pot yelling at the kettle, but at least he wasn’t ignoring what he felt.

  Real fear flashed through him. He needed her. Wanted her. Loved her with everything he was. He couldn’t lose her. Not when they were just beginning to see what they could be.

  “Of course I’m scared!” She shoved him hard, her power zapping his chest, and he staggered back. “I’ve got the fate of an entire pack on my shoulders. Fire shoots out of my fucking hands. I turn into a wolf. I’m training to kill my father and my sister. And to top it off, I think I’m in love with a man I just met, and I have no fucking clue what that even means!”

  Her eyes flew wide, and she clamped a hand over her mouth.

  Everything in Rhys froze.

  She loved him.

  The world slammed back with a boom and he rushed forward, taking her face in his hands. He kissed her tears away. “I can help you with all of that. But you have to trust me.”

  “I do trust you. It’s crazy and ridiculous because I barely know you, but I do. I trust you.” She sniffed and grabbed his hands. “It’s myself I don’t trust. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Oh love,” he caressed her cheeks with his thumbs. “You’re not going to hurt me. Nothing that’s happened is your fault. Deep down, I think you know that.”

  “Maybe.”

  “I know it’s true. You have a heart of gold. You’ve just been dealt a shit hand. That’s all. But we can change that.”

  She shook her head, then pulled his hands away. “You can’t know that.”

  “Yes, I can. Kenna, we could have something amazing here. Don’t throw it away because you’re scared.” Seeing her denial building again, his anger reared its head. He shook her lightly. “Are you going to stick around and see what we can become, or are you going to run like a chicken shit coward?”

  It was harsh, but the thought of her leaving ripped his guts apart.

  “I’m not running!” She fled across the small room.

  She pulled at her hair and growled. Any pretense had fallen, and she was completely vulnerable to him, not holding anything back. It was progress, just not in the direction he wanted.

  “Yeah, you are. Be the fighter I know you are and fight for us!”

  “I’m broken! Don’t you get that? Why do you even want me?”

  Any reservations Rhys had fell away. He couldn’t hold it back any longer. Honesty for honesty.

  “Because I fucking love you!”

  Makenna stopped cold. “What did you say?”

  “You heard me.” He stomped toward her until they were nose to nose. “I love you. Do you hear me? I love you! I’ll say it as many times as it takes until you understand. I love you and I’m never letting you go. So fucking get used to it.”

  Heat seared the air between them as they stared each other down for what felt like an eternity. All the bullshit fell away. Their fear, their anger. Her mistrust. All the excuses.

  The only thing between them was love, desire, and need.

  Nothing stood in their way any longer.

  They lunged, colliding with a force that rattled his bones. Teeth, lips, and tongues crashed together with a voracious hunger. Hands grabbed for whatever skin they could touch. It wasn’t enough. Not by a long shot.

  Rhys slammed her against the wall, never breaking their kiss. She yanked the band from his hair and gripped it by the roots, holding him to her as he kissed and nipped his way down her jaw. When he got to his marking on her neck, he licked it long and slow. She shivered and moaned.

  She released him, and her claws shot out. She shredded his shirt, then retracted them. She kissed her way across his chest, as if she couldn’t touch him enough. The heat between them exploded as they glowed, her red and him a deep orange, their power feeding on the vicious need cutting into them.

  Their lips came together again as he ripped away the towel she wore. He had to have her skin against his, had to be inside her.

  Rhys kissed his way from her lips to her breasts. Her head tilted back, surrendering to his touch. He squeezed the perfect globes of her ass, lifting her to wrap around him. But Makenna had other plans.

  She wriggled from his grasp and moving with stunning speed and power, flipped them around. She gave a wicked grin before dropping to her knees.

  He reached to pull her back up. He’d sensed she was trying to regain some control of the completely out of control situation. He wanted her mouth on him, but not just because she wanted the power back.

  She slapped his hands away. “I want to do this. I have to taste you.” Her fingers went to his waistband, and she popped the button before lowering his zipper.

  Feeling the truth of her words, he acquiesced, burying his hands in her long tresses and holding tight. He didn’t know how she could form words. The ability to speak left him as she slid his pants down his thighs.

  “Commando. Fucking perfect.” She smiled up at him before her hot mouth engulfed him.

  No teasing, no tormenting. She swallowed him whole.

  A strangled groan rose from his throat as his head fell back. He surrendered to her as she took him into her mouth for the first time. He wasn’t a virgin by any means, but with her, it was different. The action meant more.

  He gripped her hair hard as she loved him, overcome with the need to claim her. He didn’t want her to stop, but she needed to or there would be no going back. Lightly tugging her hair, he pulled her away.

  “Stop, love. I’m not done with you yet.”

  Makenna grinned and licked her lips before rising. Pulling his head down for another soul crushing kiss, she pressed her body to him. The feel of her skin nearly undid him.

  He reversed their positions and dropped to his knees. “My turn.”

  He dove in with no preamble, spearing her with two fingers as he devoured her. He groaned, drunk on her. There was nothing in the world like the taste of his mate.

  It didn’t take much. She screamed his name when she exploded. He jumped to his feet and lifted her. She wrapped her long legs around him. Without warning, he thrust deep and hard, burying himself inside her to the hilt. They gasped.

  For the first time in days, their song wove with their magic and floated around them.

  Her eyes flew to his, and she smiled.

  They closed their eyes, enraptured by the melody that was only theirs. The sensuous harmony of their bond. The most beautiful, haunting tune ever heard.

  Flames licked their skin. She dug her nails into his back and drew blood. His fingers pressed into her hips hard enough to leave bruises.

  Tomorrow they’d be covered in each other’s brands. He loved the thought. More evidence they belonged to each other.

  He lowered his mouth to her shoulder. His canines extended into the soft flesh. Her claws slid deeper into his back. He hissed at the exquisite pain. Her own teeth dropped. Her mouth landed
on his pectoral, biting deep.

  “Ah, fuck!” The exclamation tore from his lips.

  One hand left her hip and cupped the back of her head. He held her to him while he continued to brand her with every stroke.

  Nothing had ever felt more right than becoming one with his mate. Than feeling her heat wrapped around him. Than their souls fusing until he didn’t know where he ended, and she began.

  Perfection.

  He caressed Makenna’s skin as he lowered his fingers to where they were joined. The second he made contact, a scream tore from her throat. She shuddered and squeezed him so tightly it was painful. A beautiful pain. He yelled her name and joined her in completion.

  Finally, they sagged in each other’s arms. Breathless. Locked together in a heated embrace.

  Rhys turned them and slid down the wall. He wasn’t ready to leave her body yet, but his legs had lost all strength. She curled into him, and he wrapped his arms around her. They basked in the afterglow. Both sucking in air, utterly spent and sated.

  The time was precious.

  The rest of the world and the demons they faced didn’t exist. There was only them and their love. He wished they could stay here for eternity.

  Though there was a very real world, a very real enemy closing in on them, it didn’t seem as frightening when they were facing it together.

  She rested her forehead against his. “I’m sorry.”

  He ran his hands up and down her spine. “I’m sorry too.”

  “I don’t want to lose you either. But I have to do this. For the right reasons. I know who I am, and I won’t back down from it.” She framed his face. “I want a life with you. To see what we can be. We can only do that by removing the threat.”

  Rhys reached across their bond. She was scared but determined. So courageous, his fighting Morrigan. His mate.

  “I’ll be close. One whisper and I’ll be right there.”

  “I know.” She kissed the worry lines from his brow. “I promise I’ll be smart. I will come home to you, Rhys.”

  “You better. I can’t live without you.” He buried his face in her hair and inhaled deeply.

  He had to have faith in her. Trust that she could do what she was meant to. She’d fulfill her mission, and they’d be rid of Kylian. That was the only acceptable outcome.

  Because if she died, he’d set the world on fire.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

  Bottom of the River

  “Remember, you have to take their heads or burn them. It’s the only way we can die.”

  Rhys reiterated his earlier instructions. He’d been going over everything she’d need to remember ever since they’d come down for breakfast. If it’s what he needed to reassure himself, Makenna wasn’t going to stop him.

  She cocked her head. “So essentially, we’re immortal.”

  He secured yet another blade to her thigh. “Almost.” He cinched the strap around her leg. “Keep your eyes open. Never turn your back to them.”

  “I know.” She smiled, trying to lighten the heavy mood. “How old are you, exactly?”

  “I’m exactly twenty-six.” He gave a half grin. “A pup compared to Bowen, who’s pushing two hundred.”

  She eyed the man, huddled with the other mages he’d brought together for the fight. They’d need all the fire power they could get. Rhys had told her they were some of the best magic throwers alive.

  “He doesn’t look a day over thirty.”

  “He was a friend of my parents. They were one hundred and fifty, or thereabouts, when they had me.”

  Makenna coughed. “That’s old to be having kids.”

  Rhys gave her a weird look. “You might want to get used to the idea. Sometimes it takes a while for mates to conceive.”

  “Then it’s a good thing I’m not ready for kids yet.” She laughed until she saw the frown on Rhys’ face. “What?”

  “You don’t want children?” He swallowed hard.

  She scrunched her face up. “I’m not saying that. I’ve just never thought about it.” She did then.

  She imagined herself round with Rhys’ baby. A little piece of both of them. Physical proof of their love. Warmth settled in her chest. It did sound nice.

  She kissed his corded neck and whispered in his ear. “I think I’d love to have your baby.”

  Rhys looked as if he’d been drowning, and she’d rescued him. “Good. That’s good.” He checked the knife in her boot. “I always thought I’d like to have a whole litter of pups.”

  She choked, and Amanda patted her on the back as she walked by laughing. “A litter?” She was suddenly having difficulty breathing. “We should talk about this later.” She gazed at the pack who watched them with mild amusement. “In private.”

  “Oh, we’ll definitely be discussing it.” He pulled her to him. “We’ll have plenty of time when this is over.”

  The mood plummeted again, and her heart stuttered. The weight of what was about to happen bowed her shoulders.

  “Rhys, I love you,” she whispered.

  “I love you too, Kenna.” He kissed the top of her head. “If things get dicey, you call me. I will come to you.”

  “I know.” She pulled him down for a passionate kiss, not caring who saw. “Let’s get the show on the road. I’d like to be back by dinner. Wouldn’t want to miss Amanda’s cooking.”

  She tried to laugh but it came out garbled.

  He thumbed her chin. “It’s a date.”

  Rhys turned to the pack. His face became stone, the grave look giving Makenna chills. “We’ve fought many enemies together. We’ve all bled for our people. This will be our greatest battle yet. But we are the Fianna. We will rid the world of Kylian’s evil and we will save our people.” The crowd rallied, vocalizing their support. As Rhys’ voice rose, a wave of confidence flooded Makenna. He lifted a fist. “Fianna, rise! Your time is now!”

  The crowd erupted with a reverberating battle cry that echoed in Makenna’s chest and rang through the trees. If she wasn’t on their side, it would have terrified her to her core. She raised her own fist in the air and lent her voice to the thunder.

  These were her people. She wouldn’t let them down.

  “Move out!” At Rhys’ command, the pack headed to their vehicles. He squeezed her tight. “Stay focused on the task. Don’t let emotion have control, and you’ll do fine.”

  Makenna nodded. She had no words. She tried not to think about all the forces against them as she looked at the bag containing the glamoured heads. She’d chosen not to look at them. She didn’t want to see the people she loved like that, even if it wasn’t real.

  Rhys tucked the bag in the satchel on the side of his bike. He straddled it and held out a hand to help her climb on.

  “Ready, love?”

  “As I’ll ever be.” She pressed a kiss to his broad back before wrapping her arms around his waist.

  The bike roared to life and they pulled out.

  Leading their pack into hell.

  Makenna stood in front of the familiar gates with her head held high, her shoulders back, and a bag of heads in her hand.

  Kissing Rhys for perhaps the last time and leaving him in the woods at the edge of the compound was one of the most difficult things she’d ever done.

  She forced the thought away when two guards emerged from the gatehouse. Curiosity and suspicion wafted from them.

  She glared, letting her wolf and the power of the Morrigan show in her eyes. “Open the gate.”

  One of the guards was the one who gave the command for Three to sleep when she returned. He cocked his head. “You’re late. And you’re different.” He started at seeing her wolf displayed and sniffed the air. His eyes widened. “It can’t be.”

  “I’m exactly what you think I am.” She stepped forward and growled. She focused her power and forced their submission, just like Rhys had instructed. “I said, open the fucking gate.”

  Both of them moved back, heads bowed.

  “As you wish,
Morrigan.” He nodded at the other who practically ran back to the gate house.

  The massive gates creaked open. When they were wide, she stepped through, not giving another glance to the guards.

  Makenna walked through the compound with her chin up. Three’s memories rushed to the surface. She glanced at her old bunkhouse and walked right on by. Only one destination on her mind.

  Kylian’s office.

  There were only a few soldiers milling around. That’s exactly why she and Rhys had planned the operation in the daytime. She let her authority spill out over onto them.

  She made eye contact with each one she passed. As she did, their shock was quickly replaced with deference. They bowed and shrank back.

  Even those under Kylian’s control couldn’t resist submitting to the Morrigan.

  A renewed sense of confidence coursed through her. The heady rush of power strengthened her resolve.

  Now if she could just convince Kylian, take him out, then find Brianna. It shouldn’t be too difficult to locate her. Their blood bond would lead her in the right direction.

  She reached out with her mind. She couldn’t pinpoint Brianna’s exact location yet, but she could sense her. Makenna breathed a silent sigh of relief that Bowen had masked the pack’s signatures. She didn’t need Brianna interrupting her before she was ready.

  Makenna closed in on the main building. She opened the door and entered as if she had every right.

  The place was eerily silent. She marched down the long hallway to the door at the end and paused. She hadn’t been summoned and wasn’t sure how he’d react to her barging in.

  She knocked and held her breath. The malevolent presence in the air made it difficult to breathe anyway.

  “What?” The gruff yell didn’t bode well for his mood.

  Shit.

  “It’s Three, or rather, Makenna. Sir.” She added the last though it galled her to do so.

  “Makenna?” Shock and a glimmer of excitement sounded in his tone.

  The door flung open, and she stared at the evil asshole who’d sired her. Like all the other Fianna, he was a large man. Though through her new eyes, he seemed smaller. The grey dusting his temples didn’t diminish his handsomeness, but the ugliness of his heart did. She met his piercing gaze confidently, her wolf still gleaming in her eyes. He couldn’t hide the flicker of fear that flashed across his face, but he quickly masked it.