The entire right side of her face was black and purple. Her eye was swollen so badly that he doubted she’d even be able to open it. Whether it was the from the stark contrast or just from the trauma he didn’t know, but the other side of her face was too pale in his estimation. There was a thick bandage wound around her head and the hair that stuck out was matted with her dried blood.
One of her legs was elevated and was covered in a cast from the tips of her delicate pink polished toes all the way up to her hip. A bandaged arm rested across her stomach and she looked so small and helpless that it actually terrified him. He didn’t know if her body would be able to handle so much trauma. His teeth gnashed together in anger. He wanted to do something, help her, fix her, but he was powerless and it was the worst feeling in the world.
Slowly approaching he lifted a hand but was afraid to even touch her anywhere for fear he’d hurt her. He settled on stroking the hair that peeked out from the bandage.
A slight moan escaped her parted lips and his eyes locked on hers. Her swollen eye didn’t move, but the other one slowly opened. He leaned close to hover over her face and plastered on a reassuring smile that he didn’t quite reach his eyes.
“Hey beautiful,” his words were a mere whisper.
Aries blinked several times then her lower lip began to quiver. She tried to lift her bandaged hand to her face but Conn caught her fingers.
“Shhh, it’s gonna be okay. You’re fine now Aries. You’re safe.”
Tears welled in her eye then slid down the side of her face as she spoke softly, her voice scratchy as if she were severely parched. “They shaved my hair.” Her shoulders shook and she closed her eye even as more tears slipped free.
Conn’s heart felt like it broke in two. “It’s alright baby, they didn’t shave it all.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to her shoulder before pulling back to swipe the tears from the un-bruised side of her face. “They only shaved a small part,” he reassured her without even knowing if he spoke the truth or not. He didn’t care, he just wanted desperately to soothe her.
She nodded but kept her eye closed.
“Look at me.”
She opened her eye and stared up at him.
He made a show of studying her face and glancing down her body, drinking in the sight of her. “Do you know you’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen in my whole life?” He leaned closer and brushed her bottom lip with his thumb. His eyes locked on hers, “Do you know if you asked me to I’d gladly kill whoever it was that cut your hair and made you cry?”
She smiled through her tears and Conn’s heart melted.
“D-did I hit the deer?”
“No,” Conn lied. He didn’t know if she had or not and he certainly didn’t care.
“Was it Remy?”
His teeth clenched and the muscles in his jaw worked as he bit back the response he wanted to give. “No, Remy’s fine.”
She smiled again, “I got away from him.”
He couldn’t believe that in her condition she was actually beaming with pride at having eluded yet another Walker. “Of course you did beautiful.” He traced her jaw, his eyes following the movement before he looked at her again, “And just where exactly did you think you were going?”
She sobered then, her brows drawing together, “I was coming back to you.”
He had to swallow several times before the emotion that thickened his throat finally subsided. “Why?”
“You were alone and you couldn’t wake up. It wasn’t safe.”
“You were coming back to make sure I was okay?”
She nodded frowning at him as if it should have been obvious. She lifted her bandaged hand and one finger slowly extended to finger his halo. “Did it work? Our binding?”
He smiled, “Yes Aries. It worked.”
She sighed and her eye closed. It was closed so long he thought she’d fallen asleep when it opened again. “You can take it back now. I-if you want to.”
His hand found hers and gently eased it back across her body. “Not now Aries. You need to rest and heal. Don’t worry,” his eyes flashed dangerously, “no one will ever take you from me again.”
“Promise?”
He leaned closer until his nose touched hers and his warm breath whispered across her lips, “I swear it to you on my life.”
“Will you stay until I fall asleep?”
“All the Walkers in the world couldn’t drag me away.”
Aries inhaled slowly and her eye closed. “Conn?” Her eye opened again and she stared up at him, “Do something for me?”
“Anything.”
Her tongue darted out to wet her lips. “Don’t kill Remy.”
“Aries, he did this to you, he…”
She cut him off, “He’s just hurt and alone. He misses his angel.”
Conn was silent for long moments. He didn’t bother telling Aries that Amanda wasn’t Remy’s true angel. He’d only been sleeping with the woman and a slew of others when Mason met and claimed Amanda Chandler. The woman had been so insignificant to Remy that he hadn’t even gifted her his halo. It was galling to watch Remy pretend that his mate had been taken from him. Amanda was not Remy’s Angel.
Sighing Conn didn’t know how to respond to her request. He was looking forward to killing Remy and certainly didn’t want to promise Aries that he wouldn’t, but he didn’t want to upset her either.
“Please?”
He couldn’t say no to her, not when she was in this condition. “Fine. I won’t kill him.” However, he still intended on inflicting some serious pain.
Aries smiled and her eye closed as she whispered, “Thank you.” The tips of her fingers brushed Conn’s hand and he grabbed them and held on.
He hovered over her until her breathing grew steady and her shoulders slumped. He watched her sleep until there was a light tapping at the door. He considered ignoring it, but discarded the idea just as quickly when he realized that Aries could need medications.
Unlocking the door, he quietly pulled it open and York poked his head in. “Boss, Dr. Arkinson says Aries needs pain meds.”
Conn nodded once, “No one else enters.” He walked back to Aries’ side and didn’t take his eyes from her as Dr. Arkinson entered.
The Doctor didn’t wait for Conn to inquire into Aries’ health before she began rattling off the long list of injuries she’s sustained. “She fractured her left femur, and severely bruised the other thigh on the steering wheel. Her wrist is sprained and her head went through the glass of the driver’s side door. Luckily, there was no serious damage to her brain. She’s got one hell of a concussion and she’s going to probably be more sore tomorrow than she’s ever been in her life, but she’s alive and she’ll heal fully.”
“Who cut her hair?” The words came out as more of a growl than Conn had initially intended but when he remembered her devastation over it, he couldn’t control his own anger.
Jenny cleared her throat, “As I said, her head struck the window. She needed numerous stitches so a patch of hair had to be removed. It’ll grow back Commander. A small price to pay for what could have been a tragedy.”
His eyes snapped to hers, “Where is Remy?”
The Doctor paled visibly. “After the wreck he contacted Monroe. We flew Aries here on one of our…”
“Where is Remy?”
“If he hadn’t contacted us, she could have died. The nearest hospital is nearly an hour aw…”
“Where is Remy?”
Jenny huffed in exasperation and inserted a shot of something into Aries’ IV. “You don’t actually think he stuck around do you?”
“So he was here?”
“He flew in with Aries. He didn’t want to leave her. He’s gone now.”
If the admission was supposed to garner Remy any respect, it failed miserably. Conn stalked toward the door and pulled it open to frown at York, “Any word from the men?”
“They searched Remy’s cabin. It’s where he and Aries were holed u
p. They’re trying to follow Remy’s scent from there.”
“Tell Shane to stay there in case Remy returns. I want James here. Remy was on the premises and fled before we arrived. Go now and trace his scent. Instruct James to report to me when he arrives.”
“Yes Sir.” York shifted in the hall. In bear form he’d scent Remy more strongly and had a better chance at finding him more quickly.
Conn returned to Aries’ side and ignored Dr. Arkinson as she planted her hands on her hips and frowned up at him. “Killing Remy will solve nothing.”
His eyes flashed to hers and he spoke through clenched teeth, “Keep your voice down or get the fuck out!”
Jenny’s mouth fell open and she gaped at Conn before snapping her mouth shut to hiss quietly, “She is my patient!”
Conn pinned her with steady eyes, “And she is my angel. Do what you have to do to make her comfortable then leave!”
Jenny’s lips pursed and her face flushed before she dropped her eyes to Aries. “She’ll sleep comfortably now and you should let her.” The Doctor turned and exited the room, visibly shaking with anger.
Pulling the lone chair from where it sat across the room, Conn carried it and set it next to Aries’ bed. He sat down and sighed wearily. It had been a long past few days. After he’d claimed Aries and gifted her with his halo he’d awakened feeling rejuvenated. He smiled at the memory of taking her and snorted when he instantly hardened.
He studied her face but had to drop his eyes when his erection became too painful. He took several deep breaths and then remembered the panic he’d felt when he’d awakened to discover that Aries had been taken. At the time, he thought it was the worst feeling in the world until Monroe contacted him through the mist to tell him about the accident. “There’s been an accident. Aries is hurt. Get to StoneCrow now!” Even the memory of Monroe’s words sent a chill down his spine. He hadn’t realized how much she’d meant to him until he’d almost lost her. Licking his lips, he stood and approached her sleeping form. Bending he brushed his lips over hers. “Aries,” he whispered her name, “what have you done to me? I…”
“We’ve got him boss!” York’s snarled words came through the mist loud and clear.
Conn hesitated with his lips still brushing Aries’. He didn’t want to leave her, but he’d never forgive himself if he didn’t exact revenge on her behalf. “Hold him. I’m coming!”
Chapter 25
Conn couldn’t have timed it better if he’d planned it himself. In mountain lion form he crossed the small creek that ran through StoneCrow at the back of the main estate house in one graceful leap. His claws buried in the earth as he both pulled with his front legs and pushed with his back legs to propel himself forward at a break-neck pace.
He shifted as Remy and York’s mingled scents hit him and he rose from a crouched form to circle one of the numerous cabins that dotted the landscape of StoneCrow Estates behind the main estate house.
York held a handgun leveled at Remy’s face. Just as Conn rounded the corner of the cabin, James dropped to flank his right side, shifting from eagle form before he landed at his Commander’s side.
Conn pulled back a lip to flash sharp canines at Monroe who was swiftly approaching from the opposite direction with King and Bishop.
“Don’t do this Conn!” Monroe’s shout drew Remy’s attention before his head turned and his eyes locked on Conn.
“It was an accident!” There was no fear in Remy’s tone, only resigned acceptance.
Conn growled in response as he quickened his pace.
York stepped back, but kept his pistol aimed at Remy.
When Conn strode angrily past the pistol wielding Walker, both York and James planted themselves a few feet from Conn facing Monroe, King, and Bishop. The two mercenary Walkers hunched and prepared to defend their Commander and prevent Monroe or his men from interfering.
Wordlessly Conn approached and smiled wickedly when Remy staggered his feet preparing for the battle.
Remy’s lips thinned into a grim line before he opened his mouth to speak but didn’t get the chance. Conn launched himself at Remy. Grunting loudly, Remy stumbled back as the two larger Walkers crashed to the ground. Remy twisted and lifted his gaze in time to see Conn’s fist flying straight at his face. The punch landed solidly on Remy’s cheek and shock was evident in his expression.
Conn growled ferociously, he pulled his arm back and hammered it down repeatedly until Remy’s face was a bloody mess. His arm slowed when he realized that Remy wasn’t fighting back. He knew he should stop, should let Remy go, but the memory of Aries’ broken body lying battered and bruised in the infirmary was too much and only re-ignited his anger.
He pummeled the Walker until strong arms gripped him and had to rip him off the nearly unconscious Remy.
“Easy boss,” York and James struggled to keep hold of their Commander.
“Enough!” Monroe barked from somewhere over Conn’s shoulder. Then he began again more calmly, “Enough Commander.”
Allowing his sharp canines to retract as he eased out of his partial shift, Conn jerked out of the hold his men had on him before he spun and stomped angrily toward Monroe only stopping when their faces were inches apart. “If you ever try to take her from me again, I’ll fucking kill you!” Conn’s eyes flashed to both Bishop and King, “You and all your men!”
Monroe had tensed as did both King and Bishop who still stood on either side of the CEO. With the threat out there, Monroe relaxed knowing Conn wasn’t going to attack outright. The CEO cleared his throat, “I don’t have to take her again. My sole purpose was to force your claiming.” His eyes dipped to where Conn’s halo should have been. “It has been done. She is yours, which means there’s no longer need of my…persuasion.” Monroe turned to leave but Conn’s crushing grip on his bicep prevented the action.
“What?” The word escaped Conn as a harsh snarl.
King growled and stepped forward, which brought York and James up to flank their Commander.
Monroe held up a hand to still his Chief of Security as his eyes dipped to Conn’s hand on his arm then he looked up to coolly meet Conn’s penetrating gaze. “My only concern in this life is the preservation of our kind. That means the production of Walker children, which first requires the binding of a Walker to his angel. Congratulations Conn, you’ve claimed your mate.”
“It’s only temporary,” Conn growled his response. “She asked for my halo to alleviate the effects of the affliction.”
A smile touched Monroe’s lips and his eyes twinkled mischievously. “Is that so Commander? Take your halo back then.”
The challenge hung in the air. Conn wanted to snarl that he had every intention of doing so, but knew his fellow Walkers would scent the lie. He didn’t want his halo removed from Aries, not now…not ever. The revelation rocked him. He’d never enjoyed anything more in his life than claiming her, but never dreamed it would be the key to his undoing. He wanted her, and not just to aid in his affliction, but he genuinely wanted to keep her, to bind her to him, to make her his.
His eyes dropped to Remy as the beaten Walker tried to get to his feet. “You live only because Aries begged me to spare your worthless life.” He took a threatening step closer, “But come near her again and I’ll gladly suffer her disappointment at my broken promise.” He turned then and stormed back to the infirmary with York and James fast on his heels.
Before they reached the main estate house Conn was barking orders. “Shane on his way back?”
“Yeah boss.”
“Good. York, contact Tyce. Tell him you three are returning to base. Make preparations. When I return, Aries is coming with me.”
York’s tone was laced with concern, “Isn’t it too soon to move her?”
“I won’t move her until it’s absolutely safe. But I want everything prepared.”
“You think he’ll let us keep her?” James quickened his step to shove his way between the two larger Walkers. “I mean, Mason paid for her a
nd the delivery’s been made.”
York used a large hand to shove James back. “She’s his angel bro. Tyce has no say.”
James smiled and lunged at Conn wrapping both arms around his Commander’s shoulders from behind in his typical sneak-attack-hug. “Congratulations XO! You’re mated.”
James’ smile and mood was infectious and Conn couldn’t help but grin at the young man’s exuberance.
York too slapped Conn on the shoulder. “Congratulations boss!”
Conn’s smile faltered momentarily. He knew he should tell his men that he hadn’t truly bound Aries, that it was a plan the two had devised for the best interest of their safety, but he simply couldn’t bring himself to spoil his men’s jovial moods.
“You’re lucky boss,” James spoke from behind York and Conn. “Aries is badass and hot as hell.”
Conn frowned at James over his shoulder, but it didn’t halt the younger man’s rant.
“If you hadn’t claimed her I so would have…”
“JAMES!” York barked.
“What? I’m just saying.”
Conn chuckled as he shook his head taking longer strides to get back to his Aries.
Chapter 26
Conn entered Aries’ room silently not sure whether she slept or not. It’d been two weeks since she was first brought into the infirmary and he’d visited her daily. He stopped just inside the door and noticed two things instantly. One, Aries was pissed as she frowned at him from her bed, her arms crossed over her chest, and two, Remy’s scent lingered in the room.
“What in the hell was he doing here?” Conn crossed and dropped the dozen tissue paper wrapped roses he’d brought onto Aries’ bedside table. Her room was full of flowers, it literally smelled like a garden; he’d made it a habit of bringing her a dozen every day.
“You promised me,” Aries accused indignantly.
“I promised you I wouldn’t kill him.” He dropped into the chair beside her bed, “Did he look dead to you?”
Aries uncrossed her arms. “Conn! You knew what I meant. I didn’t want you to go after him. He looked like hell. His face is practically one giant bruise.”
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