by Rosanna Leo
Nina screamed his name, clutching the sheets.
Seven.
“Have I ruined you for other men yet, gorgeous?”
Her garbled response only made him laugh. This was going to be the best night of his life.
* * * *
Four hours later, Nina held on tight as Killian fucked her against the wall. Both covered in sweat, dripping with it, she lay her head on his shoulder and wondered at his inexhaustibility. The man was a machine. No, an animal. No, a machine.
And she was just as bad. Each time he called out a number, she despaired, knowing she couldn’t possibly come again, but he’d wrung orgasm after orgasm out of her.
She couldn’t think straight anymore. He’d ravaged her for hours, had taken her over and over. He owned each part of her body, had claimed every nook and cranny. Sometimes hard and fast, sometimes with utter gentleness, Killian laid waste to her body and soul.
And she couldn’t have felt more like a glutton. She wanted it all, wanted more.
“Look at me,” he commanded.
She dared to raise her tired head and licked at the sweat on his nose.
“Watch.”
His muscular thighs, powered by shifter magic, knew no fatigue as he pistoned into her. Her back slid up and down on the wall, lubricated by her perspiration. As much as her pussy clenched at his delectable girth, as much as her whole frame seized and hoped, she didn’t think it possible. “I can’t…”
“You will,” he muttered. “Now.”
Just like that, Nina fragmented, rent asunder by his plundering cock. “Oh, God. Oh, God. Twenty!”
He roared in triumph and his jaguar roared with him. “Fucking twenty!”
And as he shot his seed into her, they both collapsed to the floor in a tumble of limp arms and sticky legs. No one moved for a long time. Nina was barely conscious of a trail of his semen working its way down her right thigh. A tractor trailer could have barreled through the cabin and she wouldn’t have noticed.
She had no clue how much later it was when Killian opened his sleepy eyes and nodded to the bed. “Think we can make it?”
“No. Let’s sleep on the floor. I like it here.”
His deep chuckle proved dangerous. It made her want him again. Oh no, you don’t. Not for a month. Okay, maybe a day, tops.
He stumbled to his feet and somehow found strength to gather her in his arms and carry her to the bed, dropping her in and tumbling in after her. He pulled her close, not caring about her sweaty body and cum-drenched legs.
“You,” she mumbled, pointing at his matted chest hairs, “are a beast. Gioia was right. Shifter men are savages.”
“But did you like it?”
She laughed like a crazy woman. “I think you’re a saint and I love you.”
“I love you, too, my Tasmanian Devil. Now, come here and sleep.” He rolled her over so he could spoon her and his arm latched about her waist. He growled into her skin and she visualized his jaguar curling around her lady cat, their paws entwined. Within seconds, Killian’s arm was a comfortable dead weight and his growls turned into the soft rumble of a contented, sleeping man.
Her mouth set in a happy grin, Nina closed her eyes.
* * * *
Nina sat on a piece of driftwood on the beach, watching as Killian discussed security with Bart further down the shore. During the time she’d been on Gemini Island, she’d seen the residents fix the old watchtowers, erect new ones and construct traps in various vulnerable spots around the island. The planks of wood from the constructions peeped through veils of leaves. In certain areas, made known to the residents, one had to be careful where one walked. All in all, she felt a little like a Survivor contestant.
But it made people feel better.
If only the sight of those watchtowers didn’t give her the heebie jeebies.
Although there hadn’t been any further overtures from the Alpha Brethren, the employees of the Ursa stood on guard. Part animals, she supposed they knew to trust their instincts. Her own jaguar, a proud cat if she’d ever seen one, stood sentinel inside her soul as well. With wary eyes, it observed all, sending out gruff signals whenever it felt something wasn’t quite right. Nina was still learning to interpret the signals, but remained optimistic she’d grow to learn her feline’s methods of communication.
Killian told her he heard his jaguar’s voice, a deeper version of his own. She didn’t hear any voices, other than Killian’s, but understood the nervous prowl of her cat.
I will see you dead, girl, before I see you mate with my son. Mary Moon’s shrill voice still haunted the recesses of her brain.
Well, they’d mated. In several inventive ways, she might add. Would Killian’s mom know the deed had been done? Would she just assume?
Or had she simply given up on her deranged folly?
No. Her jaguar warned her the Moons were not the giving up sort. If they knew Killian had imparted his gift to her, they’d come for her head.
Which was why her mate spent so much time with Bart and the other men in security, making sure Gemini Island had its defenses in place. Even still, she could see the itch of tension in so many shoulders. Why, even as Bart and Killian talked, they stared hard at the lake, as if wanting to cross its expanse and hunt their foes. She couldn’t miss their clenched fists and tight jaws.
Everyone, from Ryland to the maids, was pissed. They all wanted a piece of the Alpha Brethren.
“They make quite the Alpha pair, don’t they?” Charlotte approached with a pensive smile, her hand always on her tummy. She stood next to her and they regarded their men.
“Yeah.” She frowned. “I know they’re all worried.”
Charlotte shook her head and motioned toward one of the nearby watchtowers. “We’ve never needed all this shit. All these defenses. Gemini Island has always been a peaceful place. That’s why we love it here, why we stay. Hell, I have a job in the city but even when I’m there, I wish I was home, cuddling with Bart in our cabin.” She looked at her from under her lashes. “I can see you feel the same way about Killian. I’m happy for you.”
“I feel guilty,” she admitted. “If it weren’t for me, a former human, his parents wouldn’t have it in for him. I feel as if I brought trouble to your peaceful island.”
Her friend turned to her and reached for her hands. “Hey, don’t talk bullshit. And this isn’t just our island. It’s your island now. You’re family, Nina. Besides, don’t think for a moment each of us hasn’t brought a little trouble to the Ursa. We’re shifters. Trouble seems to follow us but we always land on our feet.” She winked at her. “Even though some of us had the good sense to be dogs and not cats.”
She looked back at her mate. “Do you think the Alpha Brethren really will come for Killian and his brothers?”
Charlotte’s silver eyes flashed. “I know they will. Those Moons are bat-shit crazy. But I guarantee you, no one will hurt our family and get away with it.”
The two women, bound by friendship and the mutual respect of their spirit animals, exchanged a determined glance. Nina, being a shifter now, knew in her heart she wouldn’t go down without a fight. And thanks to Killian, she now had some sharp weapons at her disposal.
“Girls, stay back!”
The shout came from Killian. Nina and Charlotte, both headstrong in their own ways, ignored the call and ran toward their mates.
“Jesus,” Nina grumbled. “Does Bart always tell you to stay back?”
“Always. And I never listen.”
Killian and Bart had waded into the water, just by a few feet. Even from her distance, Nina saw their bodies tense, preparing to shift if necessary.
A small boat approached, a modest fishing vessel. Motor-less, with no one to paddle, it drifted with the soft current. The men closed the distance to the craft, peering into it. When they got close enough, curses sounded on the air. With quick movements, Bart and Killian grabbed the boat and dragged it to shore,
their faces matching masks of fury.
“What is it?” she called.
Killian shook his head. “Don’t look.” His jeans dripping water he raced over to her and tried to shield her from the sight in the boat. “Nina, don’t look.”
Pushing past him she shuffled over to the small vessel. Inside lay two bodies, one male and one female, both of them horribly mutilated. Their throats torn out, the strangers were pale and stiff. Even in death, however, she could tell they had been mates. Somehow their bodies still clung together, their arms and legs entwined. The woman’s head rested on the man’s chest. And she could almost smell the spirits of their dead lynx, crying out for revenge.
Killian stood at her side, his gaze locked on the woman’s throat. “It’s Horace and Elizabeth Williams. Horace used to work at the Ursa but he opened up a shop on the mainland not long ago. Elizabeth was his human mate.”
She looked at him, her eyes burning, unable to find words.
Charlotte made a sound and hurled herself down on the sand, vomiting up her disgust. Bart knelt behind her, rubbing her back, already on his walkie talkie to Ryland.
Her gaze kept straying to the bodies in the boat, a clear threat from the Alpha Brethren, the bastards who thought nothing of destroying a lynx couple in their prime. As tears saturated her eyelashes, Nina wondered who’d gone first. Had Elizabeth been forced to watch her mate’s life being snuffed out? Or had Horace endured that hell? She prayed they’d gone together and quickly because she knew couldn’t stomach seeing Killian get hurt.
Bile forced its way up her intestines too, but she choked it back.
Killian pulled her away from the boat, made her train her gaze on him. “Don’t torture yourself by looking. Please, sweetheart.”
“Why would they do this? How can anyone be so vicious?”
He curled his fingers around the back of her neck and rested his forehead against hers. “I can’t answer that, but I can promise you I won’t ever let anyone hurt you. I’d die for you, Nina.”
A stab of pain assaulted her chest at the thought. “Don’t talk like that.”
He looked her in the eye, his face set with determination. “I just need you to know. I will give my life before I see you harmed.”
She shook her head. The idea of no Killian in her life sounded like the most abhorrent future she could conceive. If he were to die, she might as well crawl into a hole and wither away. Her jaguar concurred with a lonely howl. “Stop. Don’t…”
“I know it hurts to talk about these things. Believe me, I know.” He sighed. “If anything ever happened to you, my life would be over. And that’s why I need you to promise me something.”
She nodded, not liking the morbid turn to their conversation.
“This farce, this battle of wills, ends here and now. It’s time my parents and the Alpha Brethren get a healthy dose of their own medicine. I’m not sitting put anymore. But Nina, promise me that if things go wrong, you will run. You will leave this island and not look back. Promise me.”
Absolute horror crept into her soul, filling her vision with dark spots, hateful shadows. Frozen to her spot, she gaped at him, stricken by his request. “I’ll do no such thing.”
“Nina…”
“No, Killian! How can you even ask? You went through all the trouble of making me a shifter, of pledging your love. And you think I’d be capable of deserting you and our friends? You think I could turn tail and let you fight on your own?” She grabbed his arms, wanting to shake the hell out of him. “I will never leave your side, do you hear me? And if something bad happens, we face it together. Understand, you big oaf?”
Patches of dark panic flitted through his eyes and she heard his pulse race. But just as he looked ready to put her over his knee for defying him, he grabbed her and kissed her so hard, she knew her lips would bruise. “My strong mate,” he whispered, his face softening. “I can see you’ll torment me for many years to come.”
“You’d better believe it.” She held her head high, like the jaguar queen inside her. “Now let’s open a can of whoop ass on the Shit Brethren.”
Chapter 12
WITH great difficulty, his jaguar moaning with every movement, Killian rose from bed in the dark of early morning. His bones creaked in objection at leaving Nina alone in bed. She ought to never be by herself in bed.
However, he had a task ahead of him, one he had to do alone.
Well, sort of alone. Percy and Byron sat in wait outside his cabin. He had to hurry so they could all get off the island, get to the Moon family home, and make it back before dawn.
No, his jag grumbled. Don’t leave our mate. Feel how warm she is.
I know she’s warm and I’ll be right back. I swear. He had every intention of keeping his word, including the promise he’d made to Nina. He would use his every skill, his every breath, to defend her.
As he quietly dressed, he gazed at her exhausted form. So peaceful, she lay on her back with the sheets at her waist, her dark nipples turned toward the ceiling. Tempted to lean down and take one into his mouth, he stepped away from the bed and zipped up his pants. When all was said and done, there would be plenty of time to kiss her tasty nipples.
First he had to send a message to the Alpha Brethren and his parents, a very clear one.
Don’t fuck with Gemini Island.
He’d smelled his parents all over Horace and Elizabeth, the slain lynx couple, although his senses told him Crane had done the deed. Still, his folks had been willing participants, goading. Terrorizing. Doing what they did best.
No more.
But before they “opened up a can of whoop ass” on anyone, as Nina put it, he needed to do one thing. He knew the fight with Crane was coming, knew it loomed on the horizon. Before he indulged in that particular piece of revenge, he needed to have it out with his parents.
A part of him, the scared child of years ago, still wondered if they could change. If they could love. He doubted it. His actions today would cement his intentions, would confirm their response.
After today, he would know where they stood, and they would know, unequivocally, where he and his siblings stood.
He covered Nina with a spare blanket and she curled toward his side of the bed, sighing. As he walked to the cabin door, he looked back at his mate. He knew Nina wanted so badly to be with him in the fray, but he had no intention of letting her fight. If she knew what he planned, she’d tan his hide for leaving her behind, but he had to take the chance. The deaths of Horace and Elizabeth had been meant for him and his brothers. He’d almost heard his parents’ voices hovering above the boat.
This is what happens to shifters who rut with humans. This is what we’ll do to your woman.
Not while he had breath in his body.
With the lightest of kisses on Nina’s brow, he exited his cabin. Percy, Byron, and Connor stood outside, their faces grim. He turned to Connor. “Thanks for watching over Nina.”
“No sweat. If she wakes up, I’ll distract her.”
He looked at his brothers. “You got the stuff?”
Byron nodded. “You bet.” They held up a couple of gas tanks and a bag of rags.
“Okay,” said Killian. “Let’s go turn up the heat.”
No one said a word on the boat ride to the mainland. No one made a peep as they piled into Percy’s truck, stowed near the mainland dock. And he was sure they all held their breath as they drove toward the family home, a few kilometers away. As they neared the house, memories ripped into him like his mother’s lash cutting into old wounds. The same memories would be assaulting his brothers as well.
Although often at the Brethren compound, the Moons still kept the old house in the hamlet of Gemini Grove. As they pulled into the long dirt driveway, Percy cut the lights and slowed the vehicle to a crawl. The three brothers slid out of the truck under cover of night, holding onto their accelerants, and crept toward the house.
As Killian spotted the broke
n blinds at the windows, the bags of garbage piled high outside, he was reminded of umpteen instances of neglect. He wondered if the fridge was still bare, considered whether or not the bathrooms had been cleaned in the past year. It had never been a question of wealth for the Moons. They’d been comfortable.
They just hadn’t cared their boys lived in a pigsty.
The only way they’d ever shown their “love” was through discipline. Believing a good beating cured most ills, especially on three smart-mouthed boys, the Moons had truly felt they’d raised their kids properly.
Thank God the Snows took them in when they did. Killian knew, without a doubt, if he and his brothers had stayed another day at home, they would have become a headline in the evening news.
“And here we are,” he whispered, wondering how circumstances always seemed to come full circle.
Percy and Byron exchanged a look with him and headed to the back yard. Gritting his teeth, Killian followed.
They weren’t here to kill, not even to injure. But hopefully, in sending this message, their folks would understand they could not be intimidated. The time for intimidation was long past.
The three of them moved into the spacious back yard. Immediately, their three sets of eyes landed on the hated fence, the one where their mother had tied them for their beatings. Killian bet, if they hired a DNA expert, they could find traces of each brother’s blood ingrained in the wood.
He looked at his brothers and his heart broke when he spied the twin grimaces on their faces. Maybe they’d all feel a measure of closure after tonight. “Let’s do this.”
Without another word, they took the gas cans and began drenching the fence surrounding the back yard. They went nowhere near the house, but made sure the symbol of their beatings would not escape the fire. Moving with caution, they poured some gas on the rags as well and placed them at the bottom of the various posts. Killian then lit a match and tossed it at the base of the first post.
The fire caught, spread, and within seconds, the entire fence had burst into flames.
Killian, Percy, and Byron turned their backs to the fire and stood together, facing their parents’ bedroom window. They waited no more than a minute when Mary and Lawrence appeared at the window, their eyes wide.