by Dannika Dark
“You don’t think Justus would accept the baby? He’s a man who would do the right thing,” I offered.
Although, I said it with hesitation. Justus had professed it was an honor to be a paternal figure, but that didn’t mean he wanted a baby. Aside from that, he would realize the danger. The wrong amount of energy in his hands could kill her child. Justus was also a member of HALO, and that placed him in a respectable position. Many opposing forces, such as Nero, perceived HALO as traitors for sharing information among different Breeds. That put anyone he cared for in danger, including myself. I didn’t know if he had the kind of commitment it would take to protect a mortal child, let alone the ability.
“It’s not fair to ask that of a man you’ve only known for a night or two.”
“He cares for you, Page.”
She wrung her hands together and placed them in her lap, glancing down at her belly. “I couldn’t ask a man to love me that much.”
“Maybe you should give him the choice. You changed him, whether you realize it or not. He’s a great man, and you brought that out in him in the short time you were together. Who am I to judge when it’s love? Five minutes, five decades—in your heart, you know when you love someone.”
Her voice trembled and fell to a whisper. “I have too much to deal with right now.”
“Have you seen a Relic?”
“Not since the night I left Justus. Remember when I became ill at your house? The Relic came by and after an examination, she revealed I was pregnant and how far along. I was just sick to my stomach and needed to get away from everyone to think it through.”
“So you haven’t seen a Relic since? Maybe you should call the old bat.”
Page chuckled softly and her eyes brightened. “She’s not so bad. She just takes the bitter pill in the morning.”
“She’s a pill all right.”
“I’m afraid someone might try to hurt me or the baby if they find out. You know how the Breed condemns those who are different, and genetic testing has always been a nasty rumor. If people knew the truth, they would hunt and kill us out of fear. That includes you too, Silver.”
“Well, they can join the club,” I said with a smirk. “They’ll have to stand in line with everyone else coming after me these days.” I got up and dumped my cocoa in the sink, then rinsed out the cup.
“That’s the life I’m trying to save this baby from. I’ll love him no matter what, but I want him to have a normal life. Can you keep this between us for now?” she asked, easing out of the chair and supporting her lower back with her hands. “This puffy coat can pretty much throw anyone off, and lately I’ve been seeing my clients through the Internet. I think some of them have grown suspicious, but I told them I’ve been ill. I probably won’t be leaving my apartment much until the birth.”
“I just can’t believe this,” I said in a breath, watching her zip up her coat and pop a marshmallow into her mouth. “You need a Relic. Who’s going to deliver the baby? Don’t you know someone you can trust?”
A worry line formed and she touched her hair. “If you want to know the truth, I have no idea what to do. I haven’t had enough time to really figure out the answer because of how fast the pregnancy is moving along.”
I stepped forward, holding out my hand. “Is it kicking?”
A smile relaxed her face and it was mischievous, with a little hook at the corner of her mouth. “Just the last couple of weeks it started all of a sudden. At first, I thought maybe the baby wasn’t alive because I didn’t feel anything. Now he’s running a marathon in there.”
“That’s a good sign.”
She unzipped her coat enough for me to place my palm on her firm belly. Page moved my hand to the left. “Here,” she said.
I felt a hard push against my palm. “Wow! He’s going to be a kickboxer.”
Page’s smile waned and she zipped up her coat. “He’s my little fighter. I just hope he won’t have to do it all his life if he isn’t normal.”
I laughed and jutted out my hip. “Haven’t you heard? Normal is out. Mutants are all the rage. Just look at me; I turned out okay, right?”
The door to the closet clicked open. Logan rubbed the back of his neck and walked past Page, then eased up beside me. “Can I make you breakfast?” His soft lips touched my neck and I playfully pinched his earlobe.
“After all that drama, I don’t think I’ll be hungry for a while.”
“Mmm, but I seem to have an appetite for lemon cake all of a sudden,” he growled in my ear.
Page looked away, a blush rising on her neck and face. “I should be going. Finn needs rest after he wakes up, but make sure he eats plenty of protein and greens. If he shows any unusual symptoms or behavior, please call me right away. I’ve never had any adverse reactions from the injection, but just keep an eye on him.”
She glanced down at her bag on the floor and I realized she was going to give away her secret if she tried to bend over and pick it up.
“Here, let me get that and I’ll walk you out. Did you drive?”
A melodic laugh flew out of her mouth and she handed me a key. “I borrowed your Ghuardian’s car, so I’ll go ahead and leave it here with you. Just let him know that Simon doesn’t need to come get it. I’ll hail a cab.”
“Do you need an escort?” Logan asked.
His nose twitched and his tone seemed off. I also noticed his brow was pushed over his eyes and he wasn’t acting himself.
“No, I’m fine,” she insisted. “I hope you find a safe place to stay. I’m sorry to see this attack happened, but the Shifter will heal. You know how to reach me, and I’m always available. Have a good morning.”
Page saw herself out and as I was lifting her cup from the kitchen island, Logan captured my wrist and set the mug down.
“What ails that female?”
Damn, that man could scent a lie. I could tell he was reading my emotions—tasting them on his tongue and interpreting every layer.
“She’s just getting over something.”
Logan narrowed his golden eyes and drew in quick puffs of air. It was animalistic the way he’d pull in a scent, from the intense look in his eyes to the movement of his tall and powerful body. I stepped back and Logan corralled me against the cabinet, placing his arms on either side of me.
“Is that female with child?”
“Logan, you can’t tell anyone. There’s no sense in me lying because you’d figure it out on your own, but Page swore me to secrecy. It means a lot that she trusts me, and I’ve already broken her trust by telling you, but it can hardly be helped. Please don’t say anything. I can’t go into the details because it’s not for me to tell.”
He cupped his large hands beneath my jaw and slid them back until his fingers slipped into my hair. I could never tire of feeling that man’s lips on mine, of his gentle approach, the sweet taste of mint on his breath, and the moment his grip tightened on the back of my neck as he slid his tongue in my mouth. Logan wrapped his arms around me and lifted me onto the cabinet, but I didn’t give him my mouth. He leaned in and when I pulled back, his lips twitched in amusement.
“On my word as a Chitah, your secret is safe.”
“Thank you, Mr. Cross,” I said, intoxicated by his presence.
I leaned back on my hands while he explored the slope of my breast with his nose, taking in my scent.
“Do you know what attracted me to you on the night we met?” he asked.
“You mean the night you kidnapped me?”
Without missing a beat, he ran his tongue along my neck and kissed the soft patch of skin beneath my ear. I melted a little, hooking my ankles around the back of his legs.
“Your tenacity. I hadn’t felt desire for a woman in years until the moment you talked back and challenged me to a fight. Keep the fire within you burning and always be honest with me. You have no idea what a turn-on it is to have your trust.”
“So whenever I tell you the truth, it works like an aphrodisiac?”
A subtle scent wafted in the air and had an immediate impact on my body. My breath hitched when his fingers unexpectedly slipped beneath my shirt and gently smoothed their way up my back. His mouth found the curve of my jaw and he worked his delicate kisses all the way down to my chin.
“Are you going to let me go?” I whispered.
His mouth hovered over mine and desire licked over my body. “On one condition.”
My breath bounced back against his and the energy between us was fierce. The butterflies returned when I caught him staring ardently into my eyes. A vibration rose deep within his throat.
“What’s that?”
His lips lightly brushed against mine. “Kiss me, Little Raven.”
***
Logan had connections and called a professional to repair the living room window. We were lucky the attacker hadn’t been able to get inside through the main door, but that hadn’t deterred him from scaling the outside ledges and crossing over some of the neighboring balconies.
I drove the new Mercedes home and Logan tailed me in his car, Finn asleep in the back seat. Levi was at work and Lucian didn’t seem to be a reliable option. In any case, Logan felt responsible for what had happened and said it was his job to make sure Finn was taken care of. Passing him off to someone else would set a bad example.
Logan wasn’t amused when I pulled up to a drive-through and ordered breakfast. These men were going to be starving by the time we reached the house, so I decided to grab a few sacks of biscuits, sausages, hash browns, and pancakes. I cracked the windows so Justus’s new car wouldn’t smell like fast food. I paid the cashier using my Ember Gates card, which connected to a shared account with my Ghuardian. Justus denied it, but I knew he still monitored my charges daily.
The temperature was ten degrees above freezing and hardly noticeable, thanks to the intense heat from the sun. As soon as I pulled up the driveway and neared the garage, the door lifted and Justus ducked beneath it. He walked toward my car with a powerful stride.
“Uh-oh,” I muttered.
He passed my car and approached the driver’s side of Logan’s car behind me, then leaned in the window. I drove the sleek black Mercedes into the garage and parked farther down to the left. His massive garage could fit an airplane.
I gathered up the sacks of biscuits in my arms and got out of the car. Logan pulled in and parked behind me. Before the engine shut off, I saw Justus carrying Finn to the elevators.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
Logan was supposed to go back home and check on the guy repairing his window.
He slammed the door and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his black jacket. “Your Ghuardian wants us to stay here for the night.”
“You are kidding me.”
Justus had slowly been warming up to Logan, but he’d never offered to let him sleep over. The times that Logan had stayed, it was at my request.
“Novis is on his way over.”
My heart did a flip-flop. “What’s going on? Is there something you’re not telling me?”
“I guess we’ll find out.”
I peeled off my coat, hung it on a hook, and walked through the quiet house.
“Ghuardian?”
Justus came out of the guest hall on the left. We never used the rooms off that hall—they mirrored our living quarters so an intruder wouldn’t suspect a lower floor.
“How long will he remain that way?” Justus asked.
Logan unzipped his jacket and slung it over a chair. “The Relic said a few hours. I want him locked up in that room until I’m certain he won’t shift.” Logan lowered his voice and leaned in toward Justus, so slightly it was barely perceptible. “You have my gratitude for offering your home to us for the night. The windows will be repaired by morning.”
Justus rubbed his hand across his tattoo and dragged his eyes over to mine. There was a pregnant pause as he folded his arms and stepped in front of Logan in a confrontational stance.
I tensed.
“This will be your new home.”
My jaw slackened.
Logan looked at me sideways. I shook my head to confirm my disbelief.
Justus continued. “You have proven yourself as a man of worth, one who has stood by my Learner’s side and who has put your life on the line so that she might live. I cannot sit idly by while your life is at risk; it is not the honorable thing to do. You’ve had more than my gratitude over the past year, for I have been in your debt.”
Those were heavy words. Monetary gain held less value than collecting on debts. Favors were paramount among Breed—we all honored them and you could collect at any time. That’s a valuable coin for an immortal to have in his pocket.
Logan stood up straight and glowered at Justus. “I did not save her life for the purpose of placing you in my debt. This is not something that requires payment.”
Justus had inadvertently insulted Logan. It was subtle, but Logan’s reaction had been immediate.
“This is nonnegotiable,” Justus countered. “I’m not making this offer as a friendly gesture, but as a preventive measure. Yes, I am in your debt and this will clear that away. But there have been some recent developments that have put us all in immediate danger.”
“And you think hiding away in a bunker like a cockroach is the dignified thing to do? I’m sorry, Justus, but this is where we disagree. If you run from something, you only become prey. Maybe you manage to save your own life, but at what expense? Your dignity, that’s what. Life is full of peril, and at any moment we could be taken.”
“Had the Shifter been killed, would you still feel the same?”
Logan pointed his finger in my Ghuardian’s face. I stood speechless, uncertain of how to defuse the situation.
“That Shifter had lived his entire life in slavery. He’d never known freedom until we released him from captivity. The only life he’d had was one of fear. He was too afraid to escape, knowing the punishment would be severe. Now he has tasted freedom, and freedom always comes at a price. Can he be snuffed out by some maniacal traitor with an agenda of war? Yes. But for the first time in his life, he knows what it feels like to have a choice about something as simple as an ice cream flavor. He’s discovering his identity through his clothes, and his mind is opening because of an education he never had access to. Finn has become a man who can think for himself, make decisions, and put his footprint on this world. Those are the fundamental things all men strive for and die for. If you take that from a man, they are no longer alive. What is the value of a life unlived—of a person who refuses freedom only so they may draw another breath? Had he been taken last night, I would be proud of the life he’s lived in the short time he’s had with me. I would not regret that I didn’t shove him away in a closet to protect him. Life is more than a heartbeat, Mage. It’s the essence of our souls and the fiber of our beings. It is the breath of imagination within our souls; it’s the fire in our hearts that burns for change and progress. Extinguish the fire and you have killed the man, even if he still draws breath.”
Justus cracked a smile and chuckled softly, stepping back and dragging his eyes to mine. “I always knew I liked him for a reason. We can continue to argue about this, or you can wait until Novis arrives. There is much to discuss.” His eyes flicked down to a paper sack I still held in my hand—the others I had put on the kitchen counter.
I swung my eyes between the two men. “Um, anyone feel like pancakes?”
Chapter 8
Adam relaxed on his black motorcycle outside Northern Lights. Tonight’s act was attracting a sizeable crowd and the parking lot had quickly filled up, including a gang of bikers who had given Adam the once-over when he drove by them. He shut off the engine and removed his helmet, running his fingers through the tangles in his hair. Adam kept his thick hair a little long on top because it had a slight wave and never looked right if he kept it closely trimmed.
Oliver had asked to meet outside the club. He said he didn’t care for crowds, but Ada
m suspected that as a human, he felt the parking lot was neutral ground that would allow him to bail more easily. He’d adamantly refused when Adam offered to swing by the hotel.
To be fair, it was a smart move. Men with information should never be in a situation where they’re not in control.
A group of men made catcalls at two young women sauntering toward the main door. The men leered while adjusting their packages. The girls must have left their jackets in the car, and they wore slinky dresses and swung their hips like pendulums. Adam parked at a respectable distance from the front entrance, close enough to hear the chatter.
“Fuck off,” one of the girls said, her middle finger proud and high. Laughter erupted from the crowd and they cheered as the girls made their way inside.
The bar had a classic appeal with its brick exterior and dark windows. The sign had Northern Lights written in off-white italics on a panel that shifted colors from green to purple, just like the aurora borealis. Someone had attempted to decorate one of the windows with yellow twinkle lights, but half of them were hanging askew.
Adam scraped his black boot along the gravel and kept his hands tucked in the warm pockets of his leather jacket. A few flecks of snow swirled in the air but melted as soon as they hit the ground. The smoky aroma of flame-broiled hamburgers filled the air and made his stomach growl.
“Razor, you gotta be shitting me. You ride that thing out in this weather?”
Adam turned around and watched Oliver hop onto the open bed of a pickup truck. He sat down on the tailgate and wiped his hands on his black jeans.
“It’s Adam. I don’t go by Razor anymore,” he said, inching up to the edge of the truck.
Oliver swung his legs, drawing attention to his bright orange running shoes.
Good thing Knox isn’t here, Adam thought. He would have yanked them off his feet and hurled them into the sewer.
“Adam Shmadam,” he replied. “Not a very tough-guy name for someone who’s Breed.”
“I suppose Oliver is about as badass as it gets,” Adam said, leaning against the truck on his right arm.