by Cat Miller
Lindsay borrowed a slate gray dress and pair of flats from Koren. She wasn’t ready for heels just yet. She was having issues with her balance and didn’t want to tempt fate. If she stumbled, Kayden would drag her back home in a flash. He wasn’t happy with her decision to leave home, but he understood her reasons. She wasn’t ready to be out and about, but Sarah’s memorial service was that day. Lindsay insisted on being there by Samantha’s side when Samantha said good-bye to her mother. So Kayden pulled on his black suit and helped Lindsay get into her borrowed dress.
She studied herself in the full-length mirror and marveled at how quickly she’d recovered. The swelling was completely gone. There were no scars to attest to the fact that her scalp had been split wide open by the force of her head plowing into the locked prison bars that had separated Lindsay from Sheena.
She’d been released from the infirmary the day before after two weeks of around the clock care. According to Doc Steven’s it had been very touch-and-go for the first few days after her injuries. What everyone was calling a heroic act caused Lindsay a fractured skull, swelling of the brain, a broken shoulder, and several fractured ribs.
“I don’t like this. You should be resting. Samantha will understand why you aren’t at the service.” Kayden scowled at Lindsay’s reflection in the mirror. He was so beautiful, even when he wore that sour expression.
“She would understand, but I’m still going. We don’t have to attend the wake. I just want to show my respect to Samantha. So many people are angry about what Sarah did,” Lindsay said.
“As they should be.” Kayden was growling again. He’d been doing that a lot since Lindsay woke up after a week of being in a coma while her brain healed. “If she hadn’t died I would have killed her for what she did.”
Lindsay didn’t believe that for a minute. Kayden was a warrior, a soldier, and a born fighter, but he’d never laid a hand on a woman. Well, maybe he would end Sheena’s life, so would Lindsay, so she understood that feeling.
“We go to the service, then we come straight home, agreed?” he asked sharply.
“Agreed.” Lindsay smiled at Kayden’s reflection.
“I’ll be right back.” Kayden left her alone to finish twisting her long hair into a bun.
Lindsay didn’t take offense. Kayden had been through hell waiting to see if Lindsay would survive. He’d nearly drained himself dry giving Lindsay enough blood to sustain her until she could be stabilized at the Enclave. It had only been two weeks and he was still on edge. It was love, not anger that made her mate so disagreeable.
Lindsay struggled to remember what happened after she’d been dragged down to the dungeon in Sheena’s nest, but she vividly recalled what had happened before that. She had something to tell Kayden. It was a secret she wished would have been swept away with the other memories, but she wasn’t that lucky. Now that they had some privacy, Lindsay couldn’t wait any longer to tell the Kayden the sickening truth. She was going to tell him when they got home from the service.
“Tell me now,” Kayden said from the doorway. He was holding a pretty gift bag with ribbon handles. “I know there’s something on your mind. Something you’re afraid to talk about.”
Kayden came to Lindsay. Taking her hand, he pulled her to the chair in the corner of the room. He dropped the bag on the side table, sat down, and tugged Lindsay onto his lap. Wrapping her arm around his shoulder, she tucked her face into his neck. She’d somehow been able to hide this information from him. She hadn’t been trying to do it, though. Maybe it was her fear of his reaction or how it might change his feelings for her that caused the block.
“Nothing will ever change my love for you. You are my one true love. My mate. Now tell me what’s been eating at you.” He kissed her forehead.
Lindsay was more frightened in that moment than she had been at any time during her captivity and torture. She knew mates were supposed to be forever. That didn’t mean Kayden wouldn’t regret it if the truth were ever made public.
“You’re making me angry now.” Kayden squeezed her tight. “I could never regret our love.”
“Why do I have to say it out loud?” She began to cry. “Why can’t you just pick it out of my head, so I don’t have to taste the words?”
“I would if you’d let me. Just rip it off like a bandage. It can’t be as bad as you think it is.”
“Oh, I don’t know about that.” They sat in silence while Lindsay worked up the nerve to tell Kayden the worst news of her life. Kayden was also learning to keep some thoughts to himself. He was speculating what Lindsay’s nightmarish news might be, but she couldn’t see what he was imagining. He had ideas swimming around his head, but she couldn’t hear them.
“I know who my father is,” Lindsay admitted.
Kayden said nothing.
“I don’t actually know his identity, or I would have told you as soon as I came to my senses.” Lindsay was still hedging.
“And this male’s identity is what has you so worried?” Kayden asked.
“Yes.”
“It’s not about something that happened to you when I wasn’t there to protect you?”
“What? No, nothing happened that I didn’t already tell you about.” Lindsay looked at Kayden then. The relieved expression on his handsome face made her feel guilty for keeping this to herself for so long.
“I was afraid something terrible had been done to you. I was worried that you might never forgive me for leaving you during such a dangerous time. It’s my fault this happened to you.” Kayden’s voice cracked at the end.
Lindsay cupped his face. “Kayden, baby, none of this was your fault. You were doing your job. I don’t blame you for anything and you shouldn’t either.”
“Then tell me what you’re so worried about.”
“My father is the person who was backing Sheena. It’s her father. He’s also my father …” Lindsay choked on the foul words. That was the first time she’d said them aloud. “He was there at the nest. He came to give Sheena a talking to I guess. I was pretending to be asleep still. He saw me and flipped out. He knew everything about me, and he was irate that Sheena had me again. She lied and told him she was only using me as bait to bring in David. Then she was going to let me go. Sheena … is my half-sister.”
Lindsay watched as Kayden digested what she’d confessed. He was stone still for a solid minute. He leapt to his feet and sat Lindsay in the chair. He began to pace the floor, digging his hands into his thick, dark hair. Lindsay deflated. She wrung her hands and stared at her feet. She knew he would be disgusted. How could he not be when Lindsay was sickened by the information as well? He said it wouldn’t matter, but how could it not? The blood of a cold-hearted criminal, a killer, a monster, flowed in her veins.
“I’m so fucking relieved!” Kayden exclaimed. “This is your terrible news? I mean, yeah, it sucks, but it’s not as bad as what I was thinking.” Kayden dropped to his knees in front of Lindsay and pulled her to his chest. “I thought you were assaulted and you blamed me. I thought you were too ashamed to tell me and that would also be my fault. I was imagining spending the rest of my life with this guilt.” Kayden kissed her then. It was the first real kiss they’d shared since she woke up. Kayden was nervous around her. Now she knew why. He was afraid of what David or someone else at the nest might have done to her, and he was blaming himself.
“Kayden, I just told you the rogue that has been terrorizing your people for decades is my sister. Actually, now I’m not sure if Sheena is the rogue or her father. My father! Oh, God. It’s making me sick to think about it, and you don’t even flinch.”
“Here’s the thing, Hellion, I’m in love with you. Not your sister, your father, the people who raised you, or anybody else. Their actions are their own, and you don’t hold any responsibility for them. Do you blame Samantha for what her mother did to you or Griffin? Is it Samantha’s fault her brother and sister both almost died because of Sarah’s jealousy?” Kayden asked.
“Of course
it isn’t anyone else’s fault, but you have to admit that my parentage is decidedly more twisted and dangerous than Sarah.” Lindsay got Kayden’s point, but she had her own point to make. “You were just blaming yourself for what happened to me, weren’t you? You didn’t do it, and you didn’t cause it, but you were taking responsibility, right?”
“Let’s make a deal. Neither of us will worry about things that are out of our control,” Kayden suggested.
“This really doesn’t bother you?” Lindsay was beginning to hope Kayden wouldn’t hold her bloodline against her. Bloodlines were a big deal for vampires. Lord, they’d added Lindsay to his clan’s official history.
“I’m no happier about it than you are, but it doesn’t change my heart or yours. I think we should consult Griffin,” Kayden said.
“No, I don’t want anyone to know.” Lindsay was starting to panic. She didn’t want people to think less of Kayden because of her.
“I get that, but someone on the council should know. My father needs to know because it could make you an even bigger target. Sheena seems to have a vendetta against you. Now we need to think about whether this male who claims to be your father will want you to join him. If we involve Griffin, he can help us get a DNA sample from Sheena. We’ll verify what you heard before you get any more worked up over this. Maybe it’s not true. If it is, what does it really matter? You’re Lindsay Paris, my mate, now and forever. No amount of DNA will ever change that.” Kayden grinned. He was so arrogant, and she loved him for it.
She grinned back. “So your claim on me erases everything else?”
“Exactly.” Kayden kissed her again.
Lindsay finally began to relax. Everything would be okay. Love would conquer all. She and Kayden would weather the storms together.
Twenty-three
Griffin sat behind the council table twitching with the need to wrap his hands around Sheena’s throat and choke the life from her in front of all in attendance. Sheena had brought so much misery and loss to Griffin’s clan that he felt he deserved the right to end her life.
Griffin’s most recent reason for wanting to skin Sheena was waiting for Griffin in his office. Samantha was angry that he wouldn’t allow her to attend the hearing. Maybe it wasn’t fair to ban his adult child from this proceeding. Tessa didn’t think it was right. So Samantha and Tessa were both sulking in his office. Let them be angry. Griffin was looking out for his child’s best interest. They had buried his children’s mother. Samantha had nearly lost her life in Sarah’s last foolish stunt.
Mason appeared to be just as livid as Griffin at the moment. David’s memorial service was the day before this hearing. The Deidricks held out hope that David survived the fall that ended Sarah’s life until his body was found. They’d had to send in specialists to rearrange memories and erase official documentation with the human authorities and claim David’s remains before an autopsy could be done. His body looked completely human, but his genetics would tell a different story. They were all mourning—not only the loss of life but the loss of their belief in the council’s ability to protect the nation and punish the guilty.
Sheena had been held at an undisclosed location while the council debated her fate. They’d been arguing for weeks. Only Gage knew exactly were Sheena was being held because nobody else could be trusted. Griffin was sure he would have ended Sheena if he’d known where to find her. There was also the worry that she would escape. She had a way of making things happen. People disappeared. People died. The council was split between those who wanted the bitch’s immediate death and those who wanted to pump her for information first.
It was finally Sheena’s day in court. There were loud protests over the council’s decision to make this a private hearing. Many members of the nation had been affected by Sheena’s army over the years, and they all wanted to witness her sentencing, but the council stood firm in their decision. At least they’d all agreed on that point. Some questions needed to be answered in private. Only a select few people were permitted in the chamber. Gage and his immediate family were there as well as Abel. Brandi was not there because Abel didn’t trust Sheena not to stage a grand escape.
The double doors of the chamber opened, and Sheena was hauled in to the chamber in shackles between two warriors and plopped down on the floor before the council table. She wasn’t given the dignity of a seat at the defendant’s table because there was no defense for her action. Gage stood a few feet behind Sheena, placing his body between Sheena and Lindsay. Most of the reason for privacy related to Lindsay. No one on the council wanted to disgrace the clan of their chief of clans. Gage had been loyal to them all of his life, and for that an acceptation was being made. Lindsay didn’t want her relationship to Sheena to be known, but there was no getting around the council who was already investigating the murder of Lindsay’s adoptive parents. It was verified by DNA testing that Lindsay was Sheena’s half-sister. Today they hoped to learn who fathered both females. That male was the root of the evil. They needed to find him to end this war once and for all. If Sheena were to be executed, it wouldn’t be today. As was their way, members of the nation would be allowed to witness that end.
Sheena was a stunningly beautiful woman. She was also completely insane. Abel’s resemblance to his mother was clear. Thankfully, that was all they had in common. Sheena knelt before the council with a maniacal grin on her face. She looked each council member in the eye without fear. Griffin wondered if she knew there was a drain in the center of the floor for a reason. It made for easier clean up.
“Are we ready to begin?” Sheena wanted to know.
“Tell us, Sheena, what is your familial affiliation?” Leave it to Kane Stafford to get right to the point. “We’d like to know who your people are so that we may investigate thoroughly.”
“I come from the house that will soon rule this chamber and the nation it can no longer protect,” Sheena replied with a smile. “I am the child of God who will wipe out the weak and spread the fear of vampires across the globe.”
“Fear of vampires? What about you? You aren’t much of a vampire,” Mason said.
“I will be. I’ve served my father well. He needed me in my current capacity. Once he rules the nation I will be changed, just like your precious super vamp, Danielle Deidrick nee. Vaughn. I will be powerful beyond measure. Then I will kill that bitch, like I did her weak ass aunt. She died begging for her life.”
Sheena was referring to the homicide of Leann. Adele sprang from her seat and jumped over the table, ready to shred Sheena in defense of her murdered daughter. Adele had her hands wrapped around Sheena’s throat and was squeezing the life out of her before anyone else could move. Lloyd hopped the table next and grabbed his mate, trying to pull her away.
Everyone was on their feet. Lindsay turned her face into Kayden, so she didn’t have to watch. Abel was the only person still seated. He observed Adele’s outburst without batting an eye. Griffin could only imagine the life Abel had suffered at his mother’s hands. Abel would not come to his mother’s rescue.
“She’s baiting us. We expected it. Don’t let her shake you,” Lloyd spoke into his mate’s ear.
“I want to see how she will die, Lloyd,” Adele said through gritted teeth. “Will she plead for her life? No, she won’t, because she won’t have the breath to speak.” Adele was in a justified rage. This was why council members weren’t supposed to preside over personal cases, but there was no house on the council that hadn’t been touched by the rogue. They all stood by in horrified silence. Nobody else was stepping forward to stop Adele from exacting vengeance.
Sheena was squirming and gasping for air. Griffin knew his mother wouldn’t kill Sheena yet. Adele could have snapped Sheena’s neck before anyone could stop her if that were her goal.
“Please, allow me.” Gage stepped forward. Lloyd got out of the way. Gage used a pressure point hold to release Adele’s grip on Sheena, but he wasn’t quick about it. Lloyd wrapped an arm around Adele, who had collapsed
into tears. It was the first time Adele had ever been anything but the consummate professional in service of her people.
Sheena was choking and coughing on the floor.
“Taunting the council is a very bad idea. It is clear to me that you will not be of assistance in locating your patriarch, who we’re told is your master. Why shouldn’t we end you now?” Kane asked.
It took some time for Sheena to gather herself enough to respond, and when she did it was with pure menace and loathing.
“You will all pay for every mark left on my body,” Sheena wheezed. “You will kneel at my father’s feet.” Sheena turned her glare on Abel. “I’m coming for you, boy. You will be disciplined for your rebellion. Now that your useless father is dead, you’ll answer solely to me.”
Abel cocked an insolent eyebrow, seemingly unimpressed by the threat.
“If you kill me now, you have no chance of learning my daddy’s identity.” Sheena looked to Lindsay. “And rest assured, little sister, we’re not finished. Not by a long shot. You can’t have my daddy. You can’t have him!”
Sheena tried to run at Lindsay but found herself face down under Gage’s boot.
“Get her out of here, Gage. This is a disaster. Thank God this is a closed hearing,” Kane directed. “Put her in a holding cell until we decide how to handle this.”
“Respectfully, sir, I suggest you allow me to remove her from the premises now,” Gage replied.
“There might not be need to remove her at all unless it’s in a body bag. You’re too close to this case as well, Chief Paris. Please do as I’ve requested,” Kane demanded.
Reluctantly, Gage hefted Sheena to her feet and frog marched her away. She cackled and screamed obscenities as they went.
Griffin collapsed into his chair. Everyone looked a little bruised after the brief and unsuccessful attempt to get the information Griffin felt sure Sheena would never give up. He looked down the table at his fellow councilmen. Exactly what would they do now? The debate couldn’t continue until someone broke the tie.