by Anya Nowlan
Suddenly, there was no one to hit, no one to attack. Cillian stood in the middle of a circle of fallen bodies, looking like the bloodiest messiah known to man with his hair clinging to his face and his body soaked in sweat and the blood of him and his foes. He met Ruby’s eyes across the room and saw fear in them, and he wasn’t sure whether it was because of the situation or because of… him.
That sobered him up. He lowered his fists and stood up straight, rolling back his shoulders. He couldn’t will the demented eyes of gold to shift back to green – the dragon was too strong to be dragged back to dormancy. He wasn’t even sure if he wanted the dragon to back down just yet. Nothing was over, and he got the distinct feeling that the state of his body might fail him if it were left only to his human half.
“The fuck do you want?” Cable asked, surprisingly calm, considering that more than half of his pack was lying in pools of blood around Cillian’s feet.
“I want my mate back,” Cillian pressed through gritted teeth, every fiber of his body pulsing with rage.
“She’s my mate,” Cable spat back.
Cillian registered the look Ruby tossed both of them, her lips thinned into that line that immediately told him that his mate was not particularly amused by anything that was going on.
“I have it on good account that she isn’t,” Cillian hissed, the hairs on his neck standing up at the sound of his voice, full of ancient fury and ready to bring the world down around him in ashes if need be.
And he had no doubt he’d do just that. All of those old tales that had sounded like fables, speaking of the kind of white-hot rage that could make a dragon do impossible things, now made perfect sense. Cillian felt invincible, as if the combined force of all his forefathers flowed right into him. And just one look from Ruby could bring that sensation crashing down around his ankles – chilling, what love could do.
Cable’s hands were also balled into fists, and Cillian could almost taste how good it would feel to punch the werewolf’s lights out. Rationally, he knew that the man was just a little fish in a much bigger game that his brother had set in motion (it was obvious to him now that the only way Cable could have taken Ruby from him discreetly, was with Carrick’s involvement), but that wouldn’t stop Cillian from anything.
“How about both of you shut up and let me decide whose mate I am, huh?” Ruby said sternly, shaking Cillian from his revelry.
Cable looked at her in surprise, as if he’d realized for the first time that she was in the room at all. Ruby’s cheeks were lit with red, and absently, Cillian considered how much better she would look if that dress were green. Not that she didn’t look absolutely devastating as she stood, but still.
“Ruby, shut…” Cable started, receiving a look from the feisty redhead that could fell a tree and dry up the oceans of the world in one fast strike.
“No, you shut up,” she snarled, ripping her hand from Trident, who had been keeping a hold on both Ruby and a small chocolate-skinned beauty Cillian remembered seeing at The Rusty Nail.
“Both of you, I get it. You’re such big, scary shifters, and I’m supposed to stand aside while you two duke it out, but that’s not how we’re going to play it, okay?” Ruby said, and despite wanting nothing more than to make sure Cable wasn’t more than a bloody speck on the floor, Cillian listened.
“We’re going to go and talk about this, like the fucking grown-ups that we are, and if it still seems that the best way to solve this is to have one of you end up with all of your bones broken, then so be it. You hear me?” Ruby demanded, her hands on her hips like she was chiding two insubordinate toddlers.
Cillian couldn’t help but feel that she would make a great mother to dragons one day. He and Cable exchanged a look that could have been comical if it hadn’t been for the situation they were in, and with a mirrored shrug, they nodded their understanding.
“Good. Now, um, march!” Ruby said, obviously somewhat surprised that it had worked.
Cillian followed as Ruby led them out of the central room, escorted by surprised looks and confused murmurs mixed with heart wrenching howls of pain. Cillian didn’t hide the dark smirk that clung to his lips at the sound of the pain he had caused. It was joyless, but he couldn’t deny that it had relieved him a little of the barely controllable anger that had taken hold of him since figuring out Carrick’s plot.
Of course, seeing Ruby safe and sound had also played a big part in bringing forth a slightly calmer mindset. Trident had been hot on Cillian’s heels, and Cillian could smell the fear and distrust on the man. He was relieved when Cable told his second in command to stay outside, closing the door behind the three of them.
Fear was the last thing they needed between them. Fear could only lead to dumb decisions and, dragons above, there had been plenty of those going around lately.
“Now, could someone explain to me what the fuck you two think you’re doing?” Ruby asked, crossing her hands over her chest.
It took all Cillian had to not step up to her and kiss the anger right off her face.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Ruby
Ruby’s dress was smeared with blood that formed darker spots on the fabric, and her body was vibrating with adrenaline. Seeing Cillian was both such a relief and such a turn-on that it was hard to keep a cool head as she spoke. Though, witnessing him break through a pack of werewolves, each the size of a brick wall, had certainly sobered her a little. She hadn’t doubted the man’s strength and determination, but seeing him in full force was certainly a lot to take.
The golden eyes that stared back at her were a mix of the man and the dragon, both of whom she felt like she knew better than herself. It was a strange sensation, being so sure that she knew him inside and out without even having spent much time together, but there it was, absolute certainty. It felt liberating, in a way, knowing that what she was doing was for the right reasons and for the right man.
She took a deep breath before she started, making sure both of the men were watching her. She was going to fix this, somehow. She had to, if she wanted that happiness that had seemed so impossible to attain. Now that she knew exactly what she wanted, she would just need to make it happen.
That wasn’t so hard, right? One look at Cable, ready to pounce on Cillian at a moment’s notice, and Cillian still heaving, cut, injured and bloodied, told her that things weren’t anywhere near as easy. They were now standing in Cable’s makeshift bedroom, and Ruby felt a sense of déjà vu. It felt somehow fitting that she would try and figure things out at the same place where she’d made the commitment to go through with her plan in the first place.
„Enough is enough. I don’t want any more blood spilled because of me. Cable, what is it that you actually want from me? And don’t give me any bullshit about how I’m your true mate and whatever, I know that can’t be true or you wouldn’t be parading me around like a prized hog at the county fair in front of all your buddies and other gangs at the Nail.“
From the corner of her eye, she could see Cillian opening his mouth to say something, and before he could make a peep, she had shushed him with a raise of her hand. Dealing with one overblown ego was enough, she didn’t want to delve into the inner workings of a deranged dragon in one fell swoop as well. Though Ruby would have loved to fall into his arms and never come up for air even in his current state.
Cable exhaled after an excruciatingly long pause, a glint of tiredness in his cold eyes. She could see him relaxing slightly, the tenseness in his shoulders lifting. For a moment, she saw the man she had been attracted to in the first place – strong, calculating, free. And then his expression fell, and what she’d seen was lost under a veneer of exhaustion and worry.
The big man slumped back, falling to sit on the edge of the large bed, the mattress heaving under his weight. It was like the heat suddenly fizzled out of the room, relaxing both her and Cillian. She watched his eyes shift green for a moment, and Cillian swayed as if blown by a strong wind. A moment later his eyes went gold again
, and he settled back into a position that invited anyone to come and take a stab at him if they could.
He must be really hurt, she thought, considering the way he held his body.
It was hard to tell, which of the blood was his and which was just the blood and grime of others. He slipped the brass knuckles off his hands, and Ruby chose to take it as a sign of co-operation. She sat next to Cable, giving him a long look.
„Tell me,“ she urged him, her eyes pleading.
She was ready to do just about anything she could to make the situation unravel itself and become manageable.
„It’s not a particularly compelling story,“ Cable said with an uncharacteristically wry smirk.
Ruby cocked a brow, giving him a long look. It certainly wasn’t like Cable to crack wise about anything, let alone in a situation where half his pack lay bleeding on the floor.
„Tell me anyway,“ Ruby said, noticing Cillian correcting his posture a little.
Her stomach dropped. She wasn’t entirely sure how long he could keep standing. Whatever was going to happen, it had to happen fast.
„The Crimson Riders aren’t what they used to be,“ Cable noted with a look that spoke of bygone times.
Ruby couldn’t disagree with him. Not long ago, the Riders had been a name that incited fear in the hearts of others, but with changing times, their power over the city had slipped, much like the Accardos’. It was amusing, in a way, sitting there as the heir of one relic, being courted by another relic.
„The pack is falling to pieces around me. You can see it. Trident doubts me, and though he still works for me for now, I don’t know how long that will last. Any hint of weakness and they tear me apart. You, my little cherry, seemed like the best option I had. The Accardo name along with the strength of the Crimson Fang Riders could have been something. You’re right, you’re not my true mate. But these days, it hardly seems to matter,“ Cable said, looking somber.
Ruby noticed Cillain bristle, and she hoped against hope that he wouldn’t do anything they both might regret. Though, one look at him told her that he was becoming less and less of an active threat… Until someone decided to piss him off again, which she was certain Cable was capable of doing.
„So you were just going to marry me tomorrow night to tie the Riders with the Accardos?“ Ruby asked, not sure why she sounded surprised.
It did make sense, after all. And, as much as her father despised Cable for what he was and how he had taken her, she was sure that he would also see the wisdom in the plan, as soon as his fatherly outrage wore off that is. Ruby’s lips thinned. Who would have guessed – Cable, a shrewd strategist?
„That was the plan, yes. Until prettyboy here showed up and decided to do his thing,“ Cable said, scoffing.
„Watch it,“ Cillian growled under his breath, the room almost reverbing with the strength of his words and the dragon that backed them up.
Cillian Greenmeadow was certainly not the right dragon to piss off at that moment.
„What? You want another round? I have no issues kicking your ass to the curb. You seem to think I am like those pups you mopped earlier. You’re no match for a real wolf,“ Cable hissed, standing up and matching against Cillian, their faces close together, anger contorting their expressions.
„That’s not what happened last time, mutt,“ Cillian bit back, all spite and irritation.
Ruby jumped up and wedged herself between the two men, pushing them apart. Her cheeks were flushed with anger. One step forward, two steps back.
Men, she thought with frustration, putting herself as a barrier between the two.
„Both of you, shut up. Way I see it, things are simple,“ she said, unsure of where her mind was going with that line of thought but willing to follow it for lack of a better option.
She just hoped that whatever her subconscious was up to, it wouldn’t get her in an even bigger mess than she was in already.
„I want Cillian, and he wants me. We’ve shown that you can’t just make me marry you, no matter how lucrative it would be for you. But I think I’m also the first to admit that keeping Chicago in the hands of those who’ve had it before, and have shown that they are capable of keeping the balance, is in everyone’s best interest. So how about this? We tell the Riders that you’ve magnanimously decided to hand me over to the dragon. Wait, I’m not finished,“ Ruby yelped, seeing Cable’s brows curl together threateningly.
„In exchange, you will become an ally to the Accardos. We’ll give you all of our major protection runs. You’ll become the city’s biggest player again, and help boost up the Accardo name along with it. And, you will have shown that you won’t just give in without a fight. That you could have destroyed Cillian but chose not to, for the good of the pack.“
Ruby stilled, watching Cable. She wasn’t sure if what she was saying made any sense, but she could certainly appreciate the fact that Cable hadn’t laughed her out of the room yet. He looked pensive, but something in his eyes shifted, the wolf driving the tiredness away from them. Cable glanced at Cillian, who was still surrounded by a thin plume of smoke and rearing to go if need be.
Ruby could see he was doing his damndest to hold onto his lucidity. The dragon wasn’t far under the surface, but the exhaustion and wounds were taking their toll.
„What’s keeping me from just marrying you and getting the same thing?“
„Without my co-operation, my father would never agree to it. Antonio Accardo is not a sentimental man, but he would destroy you if I asked him to,“ Ruby said matter-of-factly.
If it sounded too much like a threat, she knew Cable would not take it well. The last thing she needed was another battle on her hands.
Cable considered it, his gaze squarely on Cillian, whose eyes flickered between green and gold, threatening and tired at the same time. Still, if poked or prodded, Ruby was sure he’d easily bring the whole complex down in ashes around him.
„So be it,“ Cable finally agreed, a smirk cracking his lips. Ruby had to gather all her strength to keep from leaping with joy. „But you better hold up your end of the bargain or I’ll bring a world of hurt down on Chicago,“ Cable promised, the wolf controlling his words now.
Ruby nodded. Living by mob rule all her life had taught her that a promise was a promise, and those who didn’t keep them would not be around for long.
„I promise,“ she said solemnly.
However, her mind didn’t rest on the sudden victory but sped on. She saw Cillian’s eyes flicker again, and his face went rigid, a mask halfway between man and dragon. Relief could come later. Now, how the fuck was she going to get Cillian home?
CHAPTER TWENTY
Cillian
When Cillian opened his eyes, it took him a moment to readjust. He wasn’t sure what he had been expecting, but it certainly hadn’t been waking up in his bedroom at the Emerald Ridge keep with Ruby Accardo sitting at his bedside. She seemed to be lost in thought, her lovely hazel eyes staring wistfully out of the large bedroom window. It seemed to be getting dark already, the late afternoon sun falling lower and lower in the sky.
Experimentally, Cillian reached out his hand and took Ruby’s small fingers in his grip, squeezing them slightly to bring her out of her revelry. Worry took him, one that overshadowed even the aches and pains in his limbs and joints.
„What time is it?“ he asked, his heart filling with warmth at the sight of Ruby smiling at him. That had to be a good sign, if being back in Colorado wasn’t hint enough.
„Just the right time,“ Ruby said with a small smirk, leaning down to peck him on the lips.
Cillian didn’t need to be told twice. With one smooth motion, his hands encircled Ruby’s generous body, and he pulled her down onto the bed next to him, angling himself so he was hovering above her. Already, he was half-hard at having her so close to him. His muscles protested, sore and tired from his mad cleaving through the Crimson Riders, but they’d just have to make do.
He’d been without Ruby for far to
o long, and if the ordeal had taught him anything, it was that there was no time to waste. A private moment with his beloved had to be taken full advantage of.
He smothered her with kisses, lavishing them on her lips and neck and chest. She was dressed in a green blouse and a formfitting black skirt, the emerald tone of the blouse giving her skin a warm glow. He appreciated the gesture. Without a second thought, he peeled the shirt off of her, and then just as quickly, he had removed her lacy bra, one finger hooking around the clasp and undoing it with seasoned ease.
She let out a small moan underneath him, her back arching to bring her closer to him as he cupped her breast in his big palm, kneading it so that her nipple was caught between his fingers and pinching it just enough to make her gasp with surprise.
„Cillian, it’s almost time,“ she managed between groans – sweet, sultry sounds he never wanted to hear the end of.
„Time for what?“ he queried, only half-interested.
Cillian had every reason to believe that he might have slept through the gold moon, if he had been in a weak state after what happened in Chicago. But at that very minute, he couldn’t care less about it. There would be another gold moon. There would never be another moment just like this, with her pinned under him on satin sheets, writhing and mumbling little sounds of ecstasy that he could drink in until they filled him completely.
„For the ceremony,“ she said softly. That got his attention.
Cillian looked up from his path down her body, stopping at the edge of her skirt that he was already shamelessly unzipping.
„We didn’t miss it?“ he asked, relief in his voice.
She nodded, and he grinned a wolfish smile, ripping the skirt open without further carefulness.
„No, but almost everyone’s here,“ Ruby protested weakly as he slid the skirt off of her right along with her panties.
His nostrils filled with her sweet scent, her sex calling to him like the best treat in the world.
„Let them come. But we shall come first,“ Cillian said absently, pushing her back on the bed so she’d stop her flustered complaints and give herself to the moment.