by Rachel Jonas
There was another whose existence, I believed, we both agreed mattered even more than our own.
“And what if things get out of hand?” I uttered, peering up again at the sound of the tremor in my own voice—the sound of a desperate man who couldn’t stand the thought of losing his family.
“What if it turns bad too quickly and there’s no time to get you to safety?” I added.
Our perspectives on this were so different, Evangeline’s and mine. A world apart I was sure. In my eyes, she was far beyond her years, and discovering what triggered Nick … it meant we’d been in this position before. In another lifetime, life grew within her, life neither of us had a chance to become aware of, and I was doing everything I could to pretend that part didn’t make all the difference, but … it did.
Knowing I failed them both that night … I couldn’t let that happen again.
My eyes closed at the feel of her hand to my cheek, at the feel of the love that one touch conveyed.
“We just have to keep believing this hasn’t all been for nothing, Liam—the pain, the fight … the loss,” she breathed.
Maybe she was stronger than me, capable of suspending reality longer than I was used to doing, because we clearly saw this ending two different ways.
“A keeper,” I blurted, bringing confusion to her expression when I uttered the term.
“A … what? What’s a keeper?”
“It’s an old phrase,” I explained. “One that hasn’t been used in our realm in centuries, but mostly because it hasn’t applied. In short, it’s a female warrior assigned to an expectant noblewoman. Her sole duty would be to watch over you. To tend to you and protect you at all cost.”
Evangeline said nothing, so I wasn’t sure how this was going over.
“I could send for someone,” I added. “I have allies overseas. I’ve crossed paths with some of the fiercest female shifters walking the Earth. Right off the top of my head, I can think of three who—”
“Liam, stop.”
My lips stayed parted when she cut me off midsentence and I stared. A soft breath passed between Evangeline’s lips and I knew she was getting ready to kill this option just like she’d killed the others.
“I can’t … It isn’t fair to ask someone to put their life on the line for me. To ask them to leave their families, their homes,” she added, falling silent before finishing her thought.
It dawned on me that she might have been reflecting on her own life, how she’d lost so much. Being a woman of integrity, having such a big heart, she’d never dream of letting me ask someone to walk away from their loved ones to protect her.
I understood. I hated it, but … I understood.
I was fully prepared to plead my case one last time, beg if I had to, but a knock at the door stole my chance. Unspoken words burned in my throat, needing to be said sooner rather than later. For a moment, I considered telling whoever interrupted to come back a little later, but a second, more urgent pounding finally got me off the bed.
I snatched the door open and my solemn expression was met by six impatient stares—Evangeline’s brothers.
The bed creaked behind me, followed by the sound of soft feet padding across the floor. The feel of a warm hand pressed gently to my back the next second was expected. The guys’ gazes shifted to Evangeline where she now stood beside me, leaning into my side despite our disagreement.
She greeted them with a smile that hid her true feelings, the fear and concern she was only willing to expose to me.
“Sorry to interrupt, but the others are here,” Josiah said first. “One of the guards just informed Dallas that they’re waiting at the gate.”
A deep breath left my mouth. It was time to head out, but I didn’t like the idea of leaving this conversation unfinished, didn’t like the idea of leaving with such an important issue unresolved.
Evangeline turned to face me, a weary smile on her lips.
“Go,” she urged softly. “We’ll talk when you get back.”
We both knew that wouldn’t be until morning, but there wasn’t much choice. Before letting me out of her sight, she stretched up on the tips of her toes and kissed me once.
“Please, be careful,” she said before glancing at each of her brothers when adding, “All of you.”
They nodded, assuring her they’d try, and I did the same.
“Before we go,” Josiah piped, “there was something we wanted to say earlier, but weren’t sure the time was right.” He paused, standing front and center as he held Evangeline’s gaze. “We’re aware the circumstances aren’t ideal, but—”
“But it seems congratulations are in order,” Ethan interjected, finishing his brother’s thought with a huge grin.
Yeah, this brood was amped up to go spy on Sebastian’s operation tonight, but this energy they exuded was something else. Excitement, brought on by the idea of there being a new addition joining our family in the coming months.
“The arrival of a child is always something to celebrate,” Ivan added, speaking with the same air of decorum as the others, a sound that had long since faded from time.
I managed a smile. A genuine one as I uttered a response. “… Thank you.”
My shoulder was shaken hard when Declan gripped it as he spoke. “Still as virile as ever. My guess? It will be a strong, healthy boy,” he said with certainty.
In our time, every man wanted a son—one he could teach to be strong and fearless. However, life experience had taught me to be grateful with fewer conditions. Whether Evangeline carried my son or daughter, I simply wanted him or her to arrive in this world safely.
Tobias rolled his eyes with a laugh, maybe acknowledging how blatantly macho Declan’s statement had been. “Girl or boy, we’ll be overjoyed,” he assured me.
Beside him, Declan shrugged before defending himself. “Of course we’re happy just to add to the family,” he quipped, but then leaned in with a grin to say more. “But Father always believed it was the work of a real man that made a boy,” he laughed, slamming a heavy fist to my bicep with the joke.
Evangeline smiled, but I didn’t miss the redness that spread across her cheeks.
Caleb reached for her hand, placing a kiss to the back of it. The adoration in his gaze was apparent when he all but bowed to her. “Forgive the crassness of the others,” he smiled. “We’re just excited.”
Evangeline’s smile broadened at his words.
“Thank you,” she stated. “I … honestly think I’m a little excited, too?” The comment left her mouth as more of a question than a fact. Her gaze was riddled with surprise when she turned to me. As if feeling this way was a shock to even her.
The confession made my heart sputter inside my chest, hearing that this news hadn’t been all bad in her eyes. I wasn’t sure that would be the case at first, especially because she’s been under the illusion that what she remembers is all there’s been to her life. But it was now clear I underestimated her growth, her maturing perspective.
Delicate fingers slipped between mine and I squeezed them, feeling the closeness we shared grow even deeper.
“We’ll wait for you outside,” Josiah concluded. “Dallas would like to talk strategy while we travel. He says the Council’s holding a meeting tomorrow and we’d like to be prepared,” he added.
“Sounds good,” I nodded, feeling like I was being tugged in two different directions as they walked away. On the one hand, I knew the importance of getting out in front of whatever stunt Sebastian might try to pull next. On the other, I wanted to be here, wanted to finish the discussion.
I glanced down at Evangeline before bringing her close. “We’ll finish sorting things out in the morning,” I promised.
Her cheek tensed against my chest with what I guessed to be a smile. “Okay,” she replied, “but I still won’t change my mind.”
Even if she hadn’t said as much, I wouldn’t have expected anything else.
I gripped her tight, bringing a laugh out of her that f
ueled my very soul. “We’ll see about that. I can be pretty persuasive when I need to be.”
She didn’t miss the hidden meaning behind the words when I buried my face in her neck, kissing her one last time.
“Be safe and don’t try to be a hero,” she said with a smile.
It took a moment, but my hold on her eventually loosened and I tore myself away.
‘If you need me … for anything,” I clarified, ‘don’t hesitate.’
Her smile grew at the sound of my thoughts echoing inside her head instead of speaking them aloud. Maybe because she missed that part of our connection as much as I had.
‘You have my word,’ she promised.
Chapter Three
Liam
“Fellas, I think it’s time to consider we might have a traitor within the clan,” Dallas breathed, staring straight ahead as Richie drove.
We were eleven deep, packed into the bed of a pickup nearing the outskirts of Seaton Falls. Until now, it’d been a quiet ride with several miles ahead of us before reaching Ridge Borough, but Dallas had just changed that. He opened the floor to discuss something I think we had all considered and simply hadn’t said aloud. My reason being that I still wasn’t sure who could be trusted, who might be the mole leaking information to the Sovereign.
Richie glanced over his shoulder from the cab, clearly interested in Dallas’ theory. “Took the words right out of my mouth,” he grumbled.
“It’s the only thing that makes sense,” Dallas went on, resting his elbows on his knees as the truck shook and swayed over uneven terrain.
“I thought it was just me,” Ben chimed in.
Dallas shook his head and shared more. “Think about it. The likelihood of it being brought up in a Council meeting that the Elders were planning to use the excuse of a faulty dam to evacuate the town, and then within a couple days that very thing happens … it’s a pretty big freakin’ coincidence,” he concluded.
“Any thoughts on who it could be?” Tobias asked, glancing around to see who might answer.
“Only thing I know for sure is it isn’t anyone in this vehicle,” was the only answer Dallas had to offer. “Out of everyone, we’ve got the most at stake. Our families are all at the heart of this thing. So, as far as I’m concerned,” he said, glancing around, “we need to make a pact, right here and now, to stick together.”
“Agreed,” several said in unison while others nodded to show they were on the same page.
“And whatever we discuss concerning strategy, should stay between us and the Elders,” Kyle interjected.
I had something to add and all turned when I chimed in for the first time, lifting my gaze from the floor of the truck bed.
“Evangeline’s condition … that stays between us, too. Not even the Elders need to know as far as I’m concerned.”
The expressions the group displayed reflected their compassion. I could only believe it meant that each understood why I, perhaps more than anyone, had so much riding on this newly formed alliance.
“You have our word on that.”
The declaration had come from Richie and I didn’t miss the conviction in his tone, the assurance that we were all fighting on the same team. It told of how he sympathized with my willingness to go the distance for my family. He recognized it because he’d do the same for his. Even if neither of us would admit it, we were a lot alike—both hellbent on protecting our loved ones.
At all costs.
It didn’t matter that, traditionally speaking, dragons didn’t form packs. Being raised in a kingdom where both species held equal rule, my perspective was different. As I rode in the truck, a dragon to my left, my hybrid brothers surrounding me, and a well-respected witch among our household, there was no denying our family was just that.
A pack.
“Way I see it, with Sebastian on his way out, Evangeline’s already queen,” Richie said in a calm, matter-of-fact tone as he watched the road. “I mean, what good are we if we can’t protect her, you know?”
I smiled at that, at how he had already begun to hold Evangeline to the same high regard the Council had. As the representative alpha of his pack, it was important that he, in particular, stood with me.
“I appreciate that,” I said. When I nodded his way, he did the same.
We hadn’t always seen eye-to-eye, but had grown to respect one another. Trusting he’d do everything in his power to aid my efforts to keep Evangeline safe, that respect only deepened.
We were all silent for a moment and I thought over the implications of what it truly meant to have a mole in Seaton Falls. What had they heard? What information had they taken back to Sebastian? How would we ever figure out who wasn’t truly on our side?
“We’ve all got your back.”
I turned to Dallas when he nudged me. To my surprise, he was even smiling a bit. “It’s not every day a man finds out he’s gonna be a father. Just know, if our lives were normal, we’d be heading out to grab a few celebratory drinks tonight, not … hunting down a madman.”
“In my opinion,” Caleb chimed in, “what we’ve set out to do tonight will be far more entertaining.” He let out a hearty laugh and the others joined him, but my thoughts were on other things, hung up on one word Dallas said.
Father.
Of all the roles I’d filled, that was one I honestly never imagined I’d have a shot at. I let go of the idea when I lost Evangeline, and this time around, we hadn’t had a moments peace to even think about the future, so to say this had thrown me for a loop was an understatement.
… A father
It was so hard to wrap my head around that.
Noah had been nurturing and levelheaded when he raised us. I wasn’t sure I could be either of those things. However, as I sat trying to picture it, a phantom squeeze to my finger had me imagining a small hand holding onto it. That feeling, imagining what it would be like to finally have it all … it was enough to make me want to try. It made me determined to be everything to this kid Noah had been to me. It was enough to make me certain I’d never stop trying, even if I didn’t always get it right.
This … was happening.
The circumstances were scary for too many reasons to name, starting with Evangeline’s refusal to leave, but now that I started, I couldn’t stop myself from envisioning what our future might look like. Envisioning what the embodiment of a lifelong love story would look like.
As hard as I fought the notion, for fear of losing it all … I wanted it, wanted everything that had already been stolen from me once before.
My family.
“I appreciate that,” I eventually said, remembering to respond to Dallas as I emerged from deep thoughts.
I gave a half smile, one I guessed might be hard to read. These circumstances were twofold. It came with the realization that my role, my inherent duty to protect the one I love, was now twice as important.
Twice as difficult.
Dallas, being perceptive, seemed to sense I didn’t want to talk about it, didn’t want to go deeper into this conversation than we already had. Luckily, he changed the subject, turning his attention toward Ben and Kyle.
“Were you able to get the situation at your grandfather’s place taken care of?” he asked.
At mention of the bodies, both their expressions dimmed.
“We uh … we took care of it,” Ben stammered. “Buried a good fifteen or twenty before deciding to burn the rest for the sake of time.”
There was no missing the remorse that riddled his tone—sympathy for those who’d been cut down for the sole purpose of the Sovereign proving some vague point.
“Did anyone show up to help?” Dallas asked next, folding both arms across his chest. He hadn’t said as much, but I knew he would’ve been there if he could have. However, with the new guards that showed up to secure the house, he’d been busy showing them the ropes a better part of the day.
Kyle gave a nod. “A few of the guys who usually work Nick’s shift volunteered when the
y caught wind of what happened.”
Just hearing Nick’s name made my blood run hot, fire threatening to explode from my palms.
“How is your brother? Is he … stable now?” Ivan asked, directing the question toward Ben.
It didn’t surprise me to hear an air of sensitivity beneath the words, even after Elise explained to him and his brothers that Nick was the Liberator incarnate. Regardless of what Nick represented to us, he was still just a kid in the eyes of his family, and Ivan hadn’t forgotten that.
A nod came first. “Seems to be doing better,” Ben shared. “Richie stopped in to see him before we got started with … cleanup.”
“He’s still not himself, but definitely more in control than when he left here,” Richie clarified from behind the wheel. “His emotions aren’t quite in check yet, but we have hope that’ll change with time.”
I heard them, believed they believed these claims, but I didn’t trust Nick any more now than I did when he was in a full rage outside the gate.
“Well, one thing’s for sure,” Dallas said, rearing back with a stretch as the truck bounced over a shallow pothole, “we’re all rooting for him to fight this.”
No one said a word, but the range of emotions was evident on every face. Caleb and Declan clearly didn’t share Dallas’ sentiment as a look passed between them. Meanwhile, Josiah, Tobias and Ethan were definitely sympathetic to the torment Nick’s state was putting his brothers through. Ivan, like me, wasn’t giving much away. However, if I had to guess, we were of the same mind. We’d sit back quietly for the time being, for the sake of alliances, but I believed he was also willing to go after Nick with all he had in him if it came down to that.
“Now that we’re all on the same page,” Dallas announced, “I suppose now is as good a time as any to figure out what we do know, so we can figure out what we don’t know.”
Ben agreed. “Well, for starters, I’m not totally convinced leaving all those bodies was a warning.”
Intrigued, we all turned to face him. Even Declan shifted from his seat up front to pay attention.