by Ginna Moran
Chapter 21
Mini Beast
“WE NEED TO TAKE HER home,” Jameson says, hugging my arm to his chest. “It’s too dangerous to take her back to Brentwood’s.”
Bronx flicks his gaze to me in the rearview mirror. “I’m not leaving her.”
“What, so is everything going to be a group activity from now on?” Jameson squeezes my hand as I sit on Everett’s lap.
Mikkalo swivels. “I don’t know, brother. Are we? You look fully set on never leaving Gwen’s side.”
“I guess we have our answer,” Jameson snaps.
I groan and twist to rest my head on Everett’s chest. I wish I could pull down the seat and look at Ashton, but we’ve barely passed through the gate to leave Midnight Valley, and my guys won’t risk getting caught with him. If there is one sure way to piss off a vampire, it’s taking a blood source from their gen. pop. donations. The last thing we need is to anger the vampire who might actually have a mindset that will fall in our favor.
“All right. Everyone needs to relax. I agree that we shouldn’t take Gwen home. We need to stay together.” Everett runs his fingers up and down my arm. “Not just for our safety but for our sanity. I don’t know about you, but Corona really fucked me up with insisting to Blood Match.”
Mikkalo shifts and knocks his fist into Everett’s knee. “You’re not alone in your feelings. But still, it’s easier to protect Gwen in our own city. I’m with Jameson.”
Bronx releases a breath. “All right, dandelion. What do you want? You’re the tie breaker.”
I close my eyes so I don’t have to look at anyone’s reactions. “Sorry, Jameson. Mikkalo. I don’t want to separate unless it’s just to our rooms. I think we should stay together outside of our city until we can take care of the threat. I’ll worry too much otherwise. I like to know where you all are so I can protect you myself.”
Jameson groans the longest, most dramatic breath I’ve ever heard. He shifts and awkwardly rests his head on my lap, half crouching on the floor. I laugh and link my fingers through his soft hair, tugging his head up before he tries to stick his face under my dress.
“You will not be protecting us, Gigi,” he murmurs, managing to escape my hold. Instead of attempting to get under my dress again, he nuzzles his face into my belly. “Not in your condition.”
“My condition? I’m not suddenly some fragile donor. I can still kick your ass.” I snatch the hem of my dress and tug it over his head to distract him from whatever the hell he’s thinking. “Nothing has changed since yesterday.”
He kisses my thigh. “Everything has changed. Yesterday none of us knew you were going to be a mother and carrying one of our babies. Kill me for being protective.”
Silence falls between the five of us, and Bronx slows to go through the final checkpoint outside the city. Ten minutes pass before Jameson slides to the middle of the backseat and tugs the lever to get into the trunk. Ashton lies on his side with his eyes closed. I can’t blame him for falling asleep.
“Just let him,” I say. “Keep the hatch open in case.”
Jameson does as I ask and leaves the seat down, remaining squished against Everett. Everyone continues to keep their attention on me more than usual, and I know a lot of questions flit through their minds. Questions I have no desire to ponder if I don’t have to.
The sweet scent of Jameson’s blood trickles through the air, and my stomach roars like all it takes is a single drop of his deliciousness to unleash my wild side. Jameson sucks in a breath through his teeth and quickly presses his bleeding arm to my mouth without vocally offering it to me first.
“We should’ve given you blood before we left,” Jameson murmurs, stroking his fingers over my legs until I scoot onto him so he can hug me from behind while I drink. “Pretty sure that wasn’t just your stomach growling.”
“Jamie,” I murmur as I swallow, the burning in my stomach subsiding, though I can’t get myself to let him go just yet.
He hums softly against my shoulder. “What do you think the baby will favor? Human or vampire blood?”
I yank back from his arm. “Nu-uh. We are not discussing this. We don’t even know if it’s a sure thing.”
“Gwen, I know you’re scared—”
Bronx smacks the dashboard, setting the car into autopilot. “She said she didn’t want to discuss it, Jameson. I know this threw all of us off, but I need you to get your head together and push everything aside for now until we’re safely home. We don’t know what we’re dealing with, and I’m counting on you. We all are.”
Bronx’s growly voice startles Ashton awake, and he peers at me from his spot lying in the trunk. He doesn’t attempt to move, probably sensing the tension. I consider crawling back there with him.
“I’m sorry if we can’t all be as emotionless as you, Bronx,” Jameson snaps, flashing his fangs. “This is why I wanted to take Gwen home. I don’t want her anywhere near anyone. We have to rearrange our priorities. I know you’re now officially a board member, but I need to know that we come first. Our girl is too important. That little mini beast in her belly is too important. Who cares about everything else.”
“Mini beast, Jamie, really?” I ask, gently knocking my head into his chin.
“As wild as its mother. I can already tell. I wonder if this is why you’re always insatiable. If it drinks vampire blood—”
“Jameson,” Bronx warns. “Enough.”
Jameson growls. “Obviously some of us won’t be getting up for daytime feedings.”
Swiveling on his lap, I meet him with wide eyes.
He shrugs with a smirk. “Don’t worry. You’ve trained me to stay up all day already. I’ll be fine doing it.”
I tip my head back, releasing an almost maniacal laugh. Just the thought of any of my guys feeding a baby gives me a major case of giggles. I know I drank blood all my life growing up—from a bottle as an infant to a cup until I turned eighteen and met Laredo—but it’s hard even to imagine.
“Damn does our girl like that idea,” Mikkalo says, grinning at me.
“Well, I do love sleep,” I say. “Almost as much as eating.”
“More than sex?” Everett whispers.
I bump my shoulder to his. “Obviously not.”
Ashton clears his throat from his spot in the trunk, and because of his silence, I nearly forgot he was with us. I force myself to smile and motion for him to climb into the backseat. Jameson gives him a hand, and Ashton settles in beside Jameson.
“We’re almost there,” Bronx says like he expects Ashton to ask. “The Hunters are on the edge of our region. It’s pretty quick to get to from Midnight Valley.”
Ashton bobs his head. “Anything I should expect?”
Mikkalo meets my brother’s gaze. “From what I can see on the video feeds, the Barons didn’t wreak as much havoc on Sky Canyon as they did other towns. The Hunters only had three casualties. All vampires.”
Ashton rests his hand over mine. “And you think it’s a good idea to go there?”
Jameson throws his arm out. “See, Bronx? Even Ashton sees the problem.”
“It’s what they expect. We can’t change our usual protocol or they’ll change their plans. We just have to be ready.” Bronx glances at Jameson. “We are strong enough to handle it, especially with our girl.”
“He is right about that, Jameson,” Mikkalo says.
“Mmmhmm,” Everett adds.
“Plus, they’ll also expect that we picked up Ashton. They’ll try to go after him too. It’s what we need if we want Ashton to help us from the inside.” Bronx gives Ashton a look like he had better not mess up. “It’s what will help Gwen and...our baby.”
“Weird as hell to say, right?” I ask.
“Not weird, dandelion. Just different. Not something any of us ever expected.” Bronx’s sharp features soften as we stare at each other. “I’ve never even been around a human child since I was a human myself.”
Jameson slaps him on the shoulder. “It’s g
oing to be great.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” I mutter. “I’m the one the mini beast is growing inside of.”
“And the one who has to push it—”
I elbow Everett. “Don’t remind me.”
He smiles and kisses my cheek. “It’s an amazing thing.”
“Then you do it.”
All my guys laugh, and I groan and shimmy forward between the seats and into the front with Mikkalo. He slides his arms around me, and I sprawl my legs across Bronx’s lap. Bronx rubs his hand over my shins.
“Too much?” he asks, trying not to smile.
I fake glare at Jameson and Everett as they grace me with their best smiles. “No more talking about you know what. Got it?”
“Got it,” they both say in unison.
“Good.”
Mikkalo leans into me and kisses my cheek until I shift to meet his lips. I savor his spicy sweetness, my own desire playing off his. No one says anything as he deepens our kiss. I slip my tongue into his mouth and explore his with mine, feeling his body awaken under me.
“You’re the most incredible being in the world, you know?” he whispers against my lips, pulling back only to smile. “I love you.”
I grin. “I love you too.”
I meet Ashton’s gaze from over the seat. He stares at me with confusion wrinkling his forehead. I try not to let him get to me and stay cuddled up with Mikkalo.
“Gwen, I know I’m probably never going to get another minute alone with you, so I’m just going to be forward and ask you... Are the Royales always like this with you? I mean, I know you all have an obvious connection, but it feels so unnatural almost. I’ve never seen anything like it.” Ashton tries not to react under the weight of my guys’ sudden attention on him.
I bend forward to look at him better. “What do you mean?”
“They’re quite affectionate, and not in the way that makes me think they’re only trying to charm you to get you to give them blood or sex.” He shifts awkwardly, sliding more into the door to put two inches of space between him and Jameson. It doesn’t help that Jameson burns his gaze into the side of my brother’s head while my brother ignores him to continue to look at me.
“They are, aren’t they?” I ask, smiling at each of them. “But so you know, it’s not always this grossly romantic.” I lift my leg and poke Bronx’s chin with my knee. “This guy doesn’t like to give me my way all the time.”
“Which infuriates the hell out of her,” Mikkalo says with a laugh.
“And her stubborn ass drives me crazy.” Bronx smiles with the words. “Always getting into trouble.”
I stretch forward and hook my arms around his neck to pull him close enough that I can whisper in his ear. “I’m still waiting for you to spank me one of these days.” I say the words too quietly for anyone to hear but Bronx.
He purrs deep in his throat, tightening his fingers on my legs. “Gwen,” he whispers softly.
I grin and press my finger into his lips to keep him from trying to kiss me. “Nu-uh. You need to keep your shit together and not get distracted.”
He play-growls. “Don’t think I won’t save this thought for later, especially now.”
I give into him for a kiss. “Better not.”
The car suddenly jolts, and Mikkalo holds me in place as we bounce in the seat together. The rough terrain must scare Everett, because he reaches between the seats to take me from Mikkalo.
“What’s happening?” Ashton asks, bracing against the back of Bronx’s seat.
“We’re entering Sky Canyon. Looks like the Baron’s took out the main road,” Bronx says, taking the car off autopilot. He taps a few buttons on the dashboard, and the ride smooths out. “Everyone stay on guard. We’re meeting Brentwood south of the town on the outside of the wall. He’s put the place into quarantine. No one goes in or out until we personally complete the sweep.”
Mikkalo’s com device chirps. He draws his finger on the screen. “Change of plans. Head to the east wall. There is an access tunnel that’ll drop us into the groves.”
Bronx turns the wheel and navigates the hard-packed dirt where Mikkalo directs. “Something happen with Brentwood?”
Mikkalo tightens his jaw. “Yeah, he betrayed us.”
Jameson swears. “A repeat of the Crescents?”
“Looks like it.” Mikkalo continues to stare at his screen, flicking through different feeds of the city. “Here, Bronx. I need you to grant me access to the private feeds.”
Bronx presses his finger to the screen and it turns green for a split second. “The board works fast.”
Mikkalo nods. “Which Brentwood doesn’t realize. Donor Life Corp hasn’t announced your acceptance of the board position. He probably thinks we can’t access anything without permission or Zaire’s help.”
“That asshole,” I say, hunching forward. “The first thing you should do as region leader is pick new city heads. The ones we currently have suck.”
“The Barons must’ve offered the Hunters something they couldn’t refuse,” Jameson says.
“Like they’ll spare their lives? Give them power?” I say, throwing the thoughts out there. “Because if it’s those things, I’m about to offer them the same a second before I kick their balls and punch their hearts out.”
“Uh-oh. No sudden movements,” Jameson teases. “Gwen’s going wild.”
I flick him, not finding his amusement funny. “Damn right, I am. I’m pissed off. First, we had to deal with Corona. And then the board. Now this? I just want to go home.”
I punch the back of Mikkalo’s seat, and he jerks forward. My hand rips right through the leather and frame before sinking into the cushion. Everett snatches my hand, inspecting my bloody knuckles. He presses his cool fingers into them but doesn’t say anything as he stares at Bronx. Jameson and Mikkalo do too. But Bronx and Ashton look at me.
“We can’t take her out there like this,” Jameson says, trying to keep his voice even though it raises in pitch a notch.
“The hell you can’t. I’m done with this bullshit. These assholes can’t even get whatever sick fucking thing they wanted from me.” I curl my fingers into fists. “So just drive to wherever the hell the Barons are waiting.”
“No damn way, Gigi,” Jameson says.
“I agree with my brother,” Everett says.
“Same,” Bronx and Mikkalo say in unison.
“Which means majority rules,” Jameson says.
I glare at him, looking all smug as hell now that he gets his way. I shift and turn my back toward him, and he hugs me even though I remain stiff. He even has the nerve to bite his arm again to offer me blood.
“If you think your blood will chill me the hell out, you’re wrong, Jamie,” I say, pressing my fingers into the puncture wounds to stop them from bleeding.
“I don’t think, I know,” he grumbles, attempting to get his arm close to me again. “And if you’re too stubborn to let me satiate you, then let Everett. Please, Gigi. We can’t risk the uncertainty you create, especially not now. Think of—”
“Don’t you dare say it,” I snap.
“Our family.” He nudges me until I face him. “We can’t keep each other safe if we’re worried about you.”
I purse my lips at his words and silently lace my fingers around his arm. “Damn you.”
Mikkalo chuckles. “You’re getting pretty good at that, Jameson.”
“I’ve kind of had to. I can’t just submit to that sexy mouth of hers and die a happy man. I love what’s in store for our future too much.” Jameson combs his fingers through my hair.
“You’re ridiculous,” I mumble. “And sweet.”
Bronx slows the car to a stop and cuts the engine. He swivels in his seat, and I look past him to stare out the window. A couple of hundred feet away, a towering wall divides the town from the road that disappears into a forest of trees.
None of us gets the chance to exit the car before a figure blurs in front of us.
; I point at the vampire rushing our way.
The guy stops at the hood and slams his hands on the metal.
He screams my name.
Chapter 22
Impurity
BRONX AND MIKKALO ABANDON US in the car. Jameson crouches and motions for Ashton to get in the middle and hands him a dagger. Everett does the same for me, easing me off his lap to hide me on the floor. He adjusts the front seat to give me more room and shields me with his body.
“Give me Gwen. You can’t keep her. She doesn’t belong to you,” a guttural, almost manic voice says.
I shiver and clutch onto Everett’s leg. “Fuck off. I don’t belong to you either.” I know I shouldn’t say anything, but I can’t help it.
Bronx and Mikkalo both growl. I can’t see anything from my position, but something slams against the car, shaking it.
“If you leave now, we won’t kill you,” Bronx says, his voice sharp enough to cut someone. Hopefully this douche.
“I can’t. Not without Gwen. I will not let Freeport have her. He doesn’t deserve her. Neither do you.” The vampire releases a strange, animalistic noise unlike anything I’ve ever heard. “Gwen? Gwen, I know you can hear me. My name is Morgan Baron. I’m the protector of the Gallagher dhampir bloodline. Please, you have to come with me.”
Are you kidding me? Everett tries to keep me down, but I straighten up enough to peek at the guy staring at me from the windshield. Every time Bronx and Mikkalo close in on him, he evades their tactics and disappears.
“I don’t care who you are. I’m not going with you,” I say, meeting his gaze through the side window.
Jameson flings the door open fast enough to knock the guy back. Mikkalo and Bronx manage to capture him and haul him to his feet. They each hold one of his arms, restraining him. Jameson closes the space with a dagger drawn and ready to sever the guy’s head.
“Gwen, please. Don’t be stupid. If you don’t come with me, my brothers will get to you. You don’t want that to happen.” He struggles in my guys’ hold but doesn’t even flinch as Jameson aims the knife at his throat, cutting Morgan as he stretches forward in an attempt to get a better look at me.