by Aline Hunter
“I’ll get the rooms ready,” Mary told them, leaving Ava’s side. “I’ll also have to get Rocky’s kennel,” she added, referring to the Boxer puppy Emory had given her that’d grown by leaps and bounds. “I don’t think it’s safe to let him roam outside.”
She walked to Emory, lifted onto her toes to kiss him on the cheek and left the room.
A door slammed and heavy footsteps approached. Cade breezed into the house as if he owed the place—typical. He didn’t look like a happy camper, scowling at them.
“You requested my presence, your majesty.” He mock bowed to Diskant. “Well here I am.” Glaring at Trey, he quipped, “As for you, don’t ever ask me to cover for your ass again. I don’t like being left high and dry and I don’t like being promised answers when no one wants to talk. Next time take care of your own shit.” Trey tried to talk but Cade waved him off. “Don’t worry about me. You have your own problems. Do you have any idea how angry the pack was when I told them you weren’t coming and had wasted their time? Smooth move, Ex-Lax.”
“Caden,” Ava acknowledged the man coolly. “It’s always such a pleasure.”
The man knew better than to confront Diskant’s female and said nothing.
Good choice.
“It appears something more important has come up,” Diskant informed the short-tempered male. “And before you start spouting off—I’m talking about ‘it’s the end of the world’ kind of shit. You can’t get the people you’re after if that happens, can you? So mellow the hell out and use that thing between your ears called a brain for a change.”
Since tensions were so high, Trey shouldn’t have been surprised when Sadie and Leigh popped into the room. The world loved to nudge those teetering on the edge. Still, relief almost sent him to his knees. She’d returned, just as she promised. He rushed to his mate, only to stop midway when she shook her head. He froze and looked at her companion.
Leigh—God help her—looked petrified.
“What the fuck?” Cade yelled, eyes trained on the females, going for the gun at his side.
Nathan charged the human like a freight train and took Caden down. They fought for the weapon, squirming on the ground. Cade was more than able to handle himself but Nathan was fighting for his mate. It didn’t take long for the Beta to rip the gun from Cade’s hand and send it skittering across the floor.
“Don’t you ever, ever, pull a gun on a woman in this house,” Nathan snarled in Cade’s face. The two men were almost nose-to-nose. “Especially mine. Everyone else might put up with your shit but I won’t. I’ll drop you where you stand. I will kill your worthless ass.”
“Women,” Cade replied menacingly, lifting his head so he and Nathan almost butted noses, “don’t appear out of nowhere. Neither do shifters.”
“It’s because we’re vampires, idiot.” Sadie schooled him good and proper, her eyes ice white. She glowered at the men on the ground. “It’s called phasing. Not that I’d expect a human to understand anything about that.”
She vanished again, going from Leigh’s side, reappearing crouched next to Cade and Nathan. She kneeled, getting into Cade’s personal space. “Shifters don’t have shit on us, mortal. You pull a gun on me and I’ll be behind you before you can blink. I’ll break your neck before you know what’s happening to you. You’ll go down faster than a five-dollar hooker.”
“Have you lost your fucking minds?” Cade’s gaze shot around the room. “Are all of you totally insane?”
Nathan gave the human a harsh shove and cautiously made it to his feet. Trey shifted closer, prepared to take the man down if need be. Cade moved slowly, keeping his attention on the Beta. Step by step Nathan backed his way to Leigh. The skittish vampire tried to move away from the werewolf but it didn’t do her any good. Nathan grasped her arm and tugged her against him, forcing her to his side. Trey could relate. He wanted to do the same with Sadie. Seeing his female relying on her abilities and speed instead of turning to him for assistance gnawed at his pride.
“Vampires?” Cade huffed, clenching his fists. “Aren’t your hairy asses enough for one house? You decided it would be good to add brides of Dracula to the mix?”
“Can I show him?” Sadie asked, her attention steeled on Cade. “It’ll be faster than any of us trying to explain and he needs to know who and what he’s dealing with. Plus I think your human needs a bit of enlightenment.”
“Do it,” Diskant directed curtly before Cade could bolt.
Fuck, Sadie was fast.
She had her fingers clasped around Caden’s wrist before the man could try to escape, trapping him in her strong grasp. At first he tried to yank free. She held her ground. After a couple of seconds he stopped pulling away, his untrusting gaze homed on Sadie.
He looked full of wonder.
He also looked like he was going to retch.
“That’s right, dumbass,” she whispered, holding on tight. “Watch, listen and learn.”
Caden relaxed, tight shoulders easing, the muscles in his arms going soft. Instead of leaning away from Sadie he moved closer. Trey’s beast snarled at their closeness, demanding he do something about it. Enough time had passed. Cade—the asshole of all assholes—had all the information he needed and then some.
Trey went to snatch Sadie from Caden’s range when she let go of the man.
His body collided with his mate’s and he curled his arm around Sadie’s waist, tugging her against him. At first she froze. Then she went soft. He felt her fatigue—a faint pulsing of exhaustion beating at him. Her ass nestled against his hips, the tantalizing globes settling perfectly around his cock. She felt just right, soft in all the right places.
Claim her.
Don’t waste any more time.
“It’s impossible.” Cade sounded as dazed as he appeared. “Things like these…events like that…it can’t be true.”
“You know it is,” Diskant said, and his sidelong glare at Cade made Trey uneasy. “Think about it.”
Hesitantly, with gravity, Caden nodded.
Fucking bastards.
They were hiding something—Diskant and Cade.
What had the Omega shared with the human member of the pack?
What didn’t he know that—as the Alpha of the pack—he should have?
If things were different he’d have pushed the issue, giving them hell until they told him what going on. But his inquisition would have to wait. Everyone in the room had to be on the same page. They had Leigh but Aldon was still on the loose. Until they had their safeguards in place they had to be united by their common interests.
“You’re going to need to crash at the station for a while,” Diskant told Cade. His irises stabilized, returning to their usual golden hue. “Trey’ll have to stay here until we sort things out. After we talk to the pack and find out how many are willing to stand in the line of fire, I’ll make sure to give you as many guards as I can.”
“And the information you promised?” Cade asked.
Diskant growled, lips drawn back. “You’ll get it.”
“You need to call Kinsley.” Everyone’s eyes turned to Ava when she addressed the room, reiterating her earlier concern. “We’ll need the prides with us on this. He’s the only one who can convince them to help us.”
Kinsley—a rare and respected sixth generation black panther—was one of the scarcest of the feline shifter races. The prides trusted him enough to listen to whatever the male had to say. The male was almost never wrong, seeing every curve before anyone else.
Ava was right.
Without the Alpha’s assistance, the pack would have to guard the city alone. As it was, the few felines who’d agreed to monitor the station and guard Diskant’s domicile did so grudgingly. Cats always looked out for their own best interests. Kinsley would have to flex some serious muscle to convince them to assist Trey. While Diskant could shift into any feline form—and remained their Omega—members of the pride didn’t feel his approval warranted their inconvenience.
&nb
sp; They turned to Kinsley in all matters.
He’d be the only one who could sway them on this.
“I have to warn the guards they’ll be pulling double shifts.” Diskant went to his female’s side and took a knee. He was so large—and she was so fucking small—he dwarfed both his mate and the piece of furniture. “We have to make sure everything is secure here before we worry about anything else.”
“Shit,” Sadie whispered and pivoted so that she faced Trey. “I’ll have to talk to Leigh. We’re the only ones who can make sure magic won’t penetrate the house.” She peered over his shoulder, looking around the room. “You don’t have any safety nets.” She appeared exasperated. “Anyone with magic can get inside. Aldon took my blood, he might be able to track me.”
Panic etched over her face as she closed her eyes and magic burst from her, the energy a sharp throb against his skin. She whispered something in Latin, evoking what could only be a spell. Her anxiety became his. His female was worried about something, so much so she was draining her already dwindling reserves. Her thoughts weren’t clear but he could sense them.
She was worried about Aldon and something else she perceived as a threat.
“There,” she sighed, opening her eyes. “It’ll hold, but only for so long.” Her gaze darted to Leigh. “We’ll have to take care of the rest of the residence. No one can know where we are.”
“Can you do that?”
Sadie had to turn her body to see Leigh. When she did, a frown marred the beauty of her face. “We can do it,” Sadie replied softly, “but we’ll have to be strong.” With a sigh, she shook her head. “I’ll have to talk to Leigh too. Shielding spells take up a lot of energy. She’s too weak to help right now, so more than likely I’ll have to provide for her. If I do, it’ll take more time.”
“Provide for her?”
Sadie’s breasts teased his chest as she rotated around. She lifted onto her tiptoes, her mouth caressing the ridge of his ear. “Feed her.”
His dick, already partially erect from the feel of her plush ass, hardened substantially. “Does that mean…”
“I’ll need to recover.” Fuck a duck, she didn’t move, her lithe form flush against his. “Giving blood means taking blood.”
It felt like all of the blood in his body went directly to his cock.
He’d give her all she needed to recover.
“You’re already mine,” he warned in a low growl, “but once I’ve put my mark on you it’s a done deal. You won’t be able to run, darlin’.”
“Even if it means coming clean with your pack? I won’t be swept away to a private place for you to fuck, Trey.” The misery he’d caused had never been more apparent, her despair visible in her gaze. “I won’t let you hurt me again.”
“Diskant,” he called out, keeping his eyes locked with the heartbroken female. He had a lot of damage to undo and a helluva lot of healing to start. “I’m taking my mate to our room. We’ve got unfinished business.”
The Omega didn’t fuss—not that Trey expected him to. Diskant knew the score, being mated himself. Shifters understood how it went. Once you found the one intended for you, nothing else mattered. The fighting, Aldon and all the rest could keep. Priorities went in a particular order. In this case, it was time he made his status in Sadie’s life known.
She didn’t trust him.
He didn’t blame her.
But goddamn it, he was about to show her he wasn’t the man she believed him to be.
Once he’d crossed this barrier, no one in the pack could argue the mating. They could resent it, demand he step down or try to make him leave the city. But they couldn’t prevent what had already transpired. With or without their backing, he had to do what was best for him for a change. If he didn’t he’d become the jaded, bitter and unfeeling asshole who existed but had stopped living, unaware of the beauty and grandeur around him.
“W-wait.” She looked back as he dragged her from the room. “I haven’t had time to talk to Leigh. She’s scared. I need to explain…”
“It’ll keep. Trust me. She’s fine here. She’s with Nathan. He won’t let anyone hurt her.” He waited until they vanished around the corner before he spun around and pinned her to the nearest wall. “I’ve waited too long for you.”
“The shields, we need them—”
Thrusting his hips against her, he growled, “You need blood and I’m going to give it to you. But first I’m going to devour you, baby. I’m going to strike the match that makes you burn.”
She lifted her mouth to his but he ripped his head away. His nose piloted him, directing him to where Mary had wandered through the gargantuan house. The female wasn’t far away, just a few doors down. When he arrived at his destination he found Mary tossing additional pillows onto a bed. Emory’s female stilled when she saw them in the entranceway, her chocolate-brown eyes becoming wide as saucers.
“I guess this’ll be your room,” Mary murmured and rushed toward them, her cheeks turning red. “I’ll go see if anyone needs anything.”
Trey moved aside to let Mary pass. The skittish woman didn’t miss a step, fleeing from the area. With an arm around Sadie’s middle, he carried his mate over the threshold and closed the door.
Finally, his wolf thrilled in his head, the wait is over.
It’s time.
Chapter Seven
Sadie’d envisioned this moment—in so many different ways—but she’d never thought it would happen. Yet here she stood, caged in Trey’s embrace. He dipped his head, dark strands of hair loose around his face. The desire in his eyes made her insides wilt. He looked like he wanted to eat her up and, given her sexual frustration, she was more than willing to let him.
“We don’t have a lot of time.” Although she hadn’t forgotten how much he’d hurt her, she wanted this. “We have to hurry.”
“That pisses me off, you know.” He dipped his head and nuzzled her neck. “I don’t want to rush. I want to explore every inch of your body. I’m going to find out what turns you on and gets you hot.”
An electric pulse zinged down her spine. She wanted the same thing—to lick every crevice of his body, to see how he reacted when her tongue darted over his smooth skin. His temperature was much warmer than hers, his body like a miniature furnace. When she nibbled at his flesh her lips would be cool and soft. On the other hand, when his hard, wet tongue slid over her clit it would burn her up in all the right ways.
Back they went, step by step.
He removed her holster and tossed her sword to the ground. Her knees hit the edge of the mattress and they went down together. His weight bore her down, his larger size ramping up her desire. As a vampire, she rarely felt vulnerable. That had been fine in the past, when she’d taken control and got what she needed from casual encounters. In hindsight the sex had been lackluster. She’d always wanted to let someone else take charge and see to her pleasure. With Trey she wouldn’t have to indicate what she wanted. Shifters were just as sexual as vampires. Only the males lived to dominate. They didn’t give an inch.
He’d take control. And she’d love every minute of it.
“Fuck,” he rasped, drifting down her body. “I want to see you.”
Undressing was never sexy. Taking off boots and clothing was usually awkward and time-consuming. Thankfully they were both so keyed-up that removing her garments didn’t prove a problem. He started at her feet, stripping off her boots and socks. She did her best to assist, squirming as she wriggled free of her leather pants. Her panties got caught in the mix, tugged away when Trey yanked her pants down her thighs and over her ankles. He cast the clothing aside and she lifted her torso from the bed, pulling her shirt over her head. Only her bra remained, shielding her breasts from view.
“Off,” he growled, watching her, his irises a prismatic shade of gold.
He looks so sexy like this. A big, bad wolf.
She teased him, bowing her back as she reached behind her to unlatch the clasps. When the bra was loose she brou
ght her hands around, holding the material in place. His gaze followed her movements, his tongue darting out to wet his lower lip. She cupped her breasts, rubbing the soft, lacy material over her skin. Her nipples tingled, the hard points aching with each brush of the cloth. Warmth flooded her pussy, her clit was practically pounding. She wanted to feel his lips on her nipples, to see how good he was with his mouth and tongue.
Trey met her eyes. “If you want to keep that bra, I suggest you ditch it.”
Lifting her arms, she maneuvered the straps over her hands and tossed the flimsy material over her head. Trey growled. The ominous sound filled the room—dangerous, low and harsh. A thrill shot through her, a wave of fire cascading under her skin. This was what she’d waited for. Not some dream but the real deal. She tried to lower her arms but Trey stopped her, capturing her wrists in one of his large hands. His dark head lifted slowly as his gaze traveled the length of her torso.
When their eyes met again, his stare froze her in place.
Dear Goddess.
She’d wanted to be mastered and to relinquish control but she hadn’t understood just how assertive Trey would be as a lover. A simple look—his eyes boring into hers—and she finally appreciated who and what he was. Not just a man, but an animal as well. He was about to take everything she had to give and then some. He wouldn’t accept anything less than her best.
“Stay,” he instructed, his golden irises vibrant. His face descended, coming closer. His breath caressed her mouth, warm against her skin. “Just,” he whispered, breezing his lips over hers. “Like.” He teased her lower lip with a flick of his tongue. “That.”
Who the hell was she to argue?
She did as he asked, remaining in place. His lips curved, forming into a small, sly grin. Slowly he released her wrists, his fingers drifting over skin. If he’d wanted, he could have pinned her down and forced her compliance. As susceptible as she was in his presence, he could do just about anything he wanted. Vampires were faster but a werewolf made up for their lack of speed with strength. So it surprised her he kept his enthusiasm in check, careful as he touched her. If he was this hot when he was holding back, she couldn’t wait to see what he’d be like when he let loose.