by Cecy Robson
“Because Liam does love her and wants to continue being with her. It’s just not enough. As much as he loves Emme, it will pale in comparison to how he’ll feel toward his mate.”
I didn’t want to be right about them, but I guess I was. I focused on our clasped hands. Aric and I had something so special. Emme needed to have it, too. “If he weren’t a were, do you think they would have made it?”
“Most likely, yes. The majority of humans don’t ever come close to having the kind of relationship Liam and Emme shared, and yet they still marry and do just fine. But he’s a were and weres need their mates.” He released my hand to feed me a bite of roast from my plate. “Sometimes it takes years for mates to find each other. They may not always be on the lookout, but their inner beasts constantly are. Before the war began, most found their mates sometime during their lives.” Aric rubbed his eyes. He seemed so tired then, as if the mere mention of the war exhausted him. “We’ve lost so many weres. I’m afraid most won’t meet their mates until the hereafter.”
“What if Liam’s mate is no longer living? It would be sad if he never marries or has a family.”
Aric regarded me with a flicker of sadness. “It would be worse if Liam’s mate does exist and he and Emme eventually marry. There have been multiple instances of when the human side of a were has tired of searching for his mate and settled into a relationship with another. The results have been disastrous for the weres and their families when they discover their mates after the fact. Most weres leave their spouses heartbroken. Some stay out of obligation, living a life of misery because of their desire to be with their mate.”
I stared down at my plate. “In being forced apart, this almost happened to us. You would think the Elders would care about leaving so much emotional devastation.”
Aric leaned back in his seat. “For years they didn’t have to worry as much. Weres had become plentiful. The war changed everything. Now their focus is on maintaining the race. The Elders aren’t made of stone, Celia. But they won’t allow their emotions to interfere with what they believe must be done.”
I understood the Elders’ reasoning. Hell, in their place I probably would have made the same decisions. The circumstances surrounding my upbringing never allowed me to be selfish. Everyone and everything came before my own needs and happiness. But in choosing to continue my relationship with Aric, I was being selfish. Perhaps that’s why the pangs of guilt made it difficult to finish my meal. “Aric, do you think we shouldn’t—”
Aric’s response was stern. “No, Celia. There’s no doubt that we should be together. I can’t and I won’t be with anyone else. I’ll continue to guard the earth. But I won’t abandon you for it.”
I believed his words. And I desired the same. But sometimes the obstacles we faced made our relationship seem impossible to maintain. He must have sensed my concern, because he quickly changed the subject. By the time we finished our dessert, we were laughing again.
Aric carried me to the couch and placed me on his lap. He rubbed his nose against mine. “I should have told you I loved you long before this. If I’d just listened to my wolf, we would be married now. Nothing could have come between us.”
My hand slid over his chest. “Your wolf told you to marry me?”
He chuckled. “No, but he howled to me you were my mate that day we met on the beach. I didn’t know what the hell had happened. I’d heard stories of mates recognizing each other—crap about gazing at each other across a crowded room. I always dismissed them as bullshit exaggerations.” He shook his head as if trying to clear it. “I never expected that—hell, I never expected you. Everything about you struck me right away—your eyes, your face, your body, your scent—but when you flashed me that sexy smile it was all I could do to hold my wolf back. He wanted to chase you down. I just wanted to not look like a stalker.”
I threw my head back laughing. “Aric, you don’t even know how pathetic I was after I met you. I ran on the beach sometimes three times a day, hoping to see you again. One day I ran five times.” I held out my hand. “Five times. Only to see you with that wereslut a few days later.”
A spark lit Aric’s light brown eyes. “I’d made the date with her before I saw you. I only kept it because my Warriors made me.”
“They made you? I doubt that.” I smirked. “I saw what she looked like and what she was wearing.”
Aric’s hand slid over my knee. “They thought something was wrong with me. I couldn’t focus and I could barely put two words together. I started to believe them. Then I saw you again and that squashed any doubt that remained.”
He kissed me then, his soft lips and sweet taste as welcoming as the first time we touched. We were both breathing heavily when he finally pulled away to pass his lips over my neck. “My father told me I’d go through a lot of females. He warned me not to marry until I found my mate. He didn’t explain how I’d find you; he just knew I would.” His hand wandered farther up my thigh. He growled when his fingers found the strap to my garter belt. I was so turned on I didn’t know if I’d be able to stop. “You had to go and wear this, didn’t you?”
I was panting heavily but forced myself to glance at the clock. My heart worked to beat. “It’s time,” I whispered.
Aric played with the lace. “The pack can do without me tonight.”
I rubbed my face against his. “No, they can’t, Aric.”
His hand tightened around my thigh. Then, very slowly, he released me. I rose, embracing him closely when he straightened. He tightened his hold and placed his chin on my head. “It shouldn’t have to be like this. We should be together all night.”
“I know.”
We kissed one last time before finally stepping away. I grabbed my purse, flowers, and keys. Aric walked me out to the car. The ward buzzed behind us as we passed through, rubbing against the small hairs on my arms and letting me know it was ready to blow anything threatening to smithereens if it approached.
Aric kept me behind him while he scanned the area. My predator’s eyes replaced my own, searching as he did for what awaited in the darkness. In leaving my house, we were leaving our escape from our worries. Outside, the reality of my life-and-death struggles and his demands as a pureblood resurfaced with a vengeance.
He opened the door to the Ying-Ying mobile and waited for me to slip inside. “I’ll follow you back to vamp camp. If you sense anything unusual, flicker your lights.”
“I will.”
Aric watched me for a moment before shutting my door. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” he said quietly.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, love.”
CHAPTER 26
Aric’s phone rang.
I was topless and his hand was inside my pants.
Aric’s phone rang again, and again, and again.
The Elders were calling him, but he couldn’t seem to stop. I’m sure it didn’t help that I was screaming like a banshee and thrashing about, having lost all control.
I finished. For a moment, there was only the sound of our pounding hearts and ragged breaths. The windows of Aric’s Escalade were fogged and I’d dug holes into his leather seats with my claws.
His phone rang again. My lips swept over his. “We need more time.”
Aric growled. “We always need more time.”
He hauled himself off me and opened the door. I caught a glimpse of the hard-falling snow before he slammed the door.
Aric and I had barely seen each other over the last several weeks. The Elders continually sent him on missions or kept him busy at the Den. They suspected our relationship and these maneuvers served only to keep us apart.
My hand slid down my breasts, still moist with perspiration from Aric’s heat. We were parked in the forest at the base of Squaw Valley again. I didn’t mind so much; it was important to see Aric any way I could.
What I did mind were Anara’s calls, a
nd how they affected Aric.
“It’s none of your business where I am or who I’m with, Anara. I’m a Leader, not your goddamn servant.”
“Watch your words, boy,” Anara snapped on the other end of the line. “I remain your Elder, or perhaps you’ve forgotten?” Aric tried to suppress his growls, but his beast side threatened to take control. “Return to the Den now. Or face the consequences of your insubordination.”
Anara hung up. Aric exploded in a series of curses and growls. When he climbed back in, melting snow dripped down his face and bare chest. I was just as he’d left me: partially naked, sweating, and panting. He leaned over top of me. Despite the cold outside, his skin felt warm. “I have to go, sweetness.”
My eyes traveled the length of his hard chest. His excitement at hearing my cries continued to be obvious. I lightly touched the outside of his jeans. “Can’t you just let me please you, even a little bit?”
Aric swallowed hard and his light brown eyes glazed with ardor. “It won’t be enough. I need to take you completely.”
I unbuckled his pants and reached in, my eyes returning to meet his. “Then do so.”
Aric lost it. He tore my jeans and panties off in one motion. He entered me, thrusting savagely. I climaxed quickly as he growled my name. It was rough, hard—and astounding. The entire car shook wildly as he exploded inside me.
• • •
The knock on the guesthouse door saved me from explaining to Emme what my jeans were doing in the garbage . . . and why they were ripped in half. Aric had apologized afterward for “getting carried away.” I made it clear he never had to apologize for mind-blowing sex.
I opened the door to find Misha with Tim and Hank directly behind him. Misha stepped forward. “Kitten, we are needed at the Den. The matter is of tremendous urgency.” He glanced past me to where Emme had been emptying the trash. “My dear, your presence is also requested.”
I gripped the knob of the open door. My first guess was that Anara had discovered my rendezvous with Aric. But then, that didn’t make sense. For Misha and also my sister to be summoned meant the Tribe had struck once more. We marched out of the guesthouse and followed the vampires into the BYTEME Hummer.
None of us spoke on the ride to the Den. Misha seemed unusually distant despite maintaining his focus on me. “Do you know what’s up?”
He leaned forward, frowning slightly. “No. Only that I may not be able to protect you from what’s coming.”
Emme gasped. I tried to smile reassuringly. “Isn’t this the reason you’ve trained me? So I wouldn’t need protection?”
Misha regarded me closely. “Not the only reason,” he answered quietly.
The moment we arrived, Misha grabbed our hands and led us swiftly into the main building and into a large meeting area. The grand open space reminded me of a supersized family room. A large bookshelf comprised one wall, stuffed with old leather-bound novels, while the opposite was made almost entirely of glass with magnificent views of the setting sun. A few plush red couches wrapped around a large granite fireplace. But no one sat. Everyone was on their feet and tension thickening the air would likely keep them that way.
My sisters and the wolves were already present along with Tye and the Elders. Their presence didn’t surprise me. Uri’s did. I was also shocked to see Bren and Danny. Anara refused to recognize them as Aric’s Warriors and never allowed them to attend any meetings. God, what’s happened?
Aric glared at Misha when he caught him holding my hand. I released Misha’s hand as subtly as possible. Misha smiled at Aric, gave him a wink, and then wrapped his arm around my shoulders. I elbowed him. “Don’t antagonize him, Misha.”
Taran and Shayna slipped next to us. Their beautiful faces creased with fear and worry. “You’re not going to like this shit,” Taran muttered.
Martin acknowledged us with a slight tilt of his head and spoke. “Thank you all for joining us. We have unfortunate news that we need to act upon. The depletion of their numbers has forced the Tribe to take more desperate measures. In an effort to destroy us, the most formidable among the Tribe have sought to raise Ihuaivulu.” I didn’t know who or what Ihuaivulu was, but judging by the grim faces of Uri and the Elders, the news was worse than I could have imagined. Martin gestured to Aric. “Please ask your Warrior to explain.”
Aric looked to Danny and motioned him forward with a jerk of his head. “You’re on, Dan.”
Danny remained where he stood, trembling. We waited, but he wouldn’t speak or move. Aric nodded encouragingly. Still nothing happened. Bren gave Danny what he’d probably intended to be a soft nudge. Unfortunately, it sent him flying forward. He stumbled and slid across the polished wood floor and just barely missed barreling into Anara.
Koda grabbed him by the collar and lifted him to his feet before any of us could blink. Danny was nothing short of a hot, frazzled mess. Sweat dripped down his shivering form as if he were fighting the flu. If so, the flu was winning. He cleared his throat a few times before finally speaking. “A Chaitén volcano recently erupted after being dormant for a millennium. I found it suspicious considering this same volcano is said to house Ihuaivulu—a seven-headed fire-breathing demon.” He paused to wipe his hands against his slacks. “I brought my concerns to Aric. He thought it was worth investigating and encouraged the Alliance to send spies to Patagonia—”
“Where the hell is that?” Bren muttered. I was glad he asked. Geography and I were mortal enemies.
Danny regained his confidence—academic matters had that effect on him. He smiled. “Patagonia is a region that encompasses Chile and Argentina—that’s where Chaitén is located. Our spies discovered the Tribe found scriptures to raise the demon.” He stopped smiling then. “That’s why the volcano erupted. They’ve awakened Ihuaivulu.”
My mouth went dry. They awoke a seven-headed fire-breathing demon? Was he kidding?
Misha stiffened next to me. “Can we halt the demon’s rise?”
Danny shook his head. “We’re too late. Ihuaivulu has already broken through the first part of the mountain.
Bren held out his hand. “Wait—did you say he broke through a mountain?” Danny nodded. “How big is this asshole?”
Danny scratched at his moppy curls. “I’m not sure. Maybe the size of an average office building?”
My heart skipped a beat, then a few more. Seven-headed demons would do that to a gal. “So he could be bigger?” I asked.
Danny nodded and Taran swore up a storm. Around us, the pack of wolves growled. Aric stepped forward. “How do we kill Ihuaivulu?”
“He can’t be killed, Aric.”
Emme moved next to me and took my hand. She was scared—rightfully so. Some scary monster that couldn’t die had just been roused from sleep. I squeezed her hand tight. “What can we do then?” I asked, hoping there was something.
“There are two ancient rocks called the Sacred Stones of Mughal. They both need to hit Ihuaivulu at least once.”
Gemini rubbed his goatee. “Do they need to hit at the same time or in the same area?”
“No, but the second must hit him within twenty-four hours after the first. The first stone is only meant to weaken Ihuaivulu. The second will force him back into a dormant state for at least the next millennium.”
“Do we know where to find Mughal’s stones?” Bren asked. He chuckled slightly when he thought about what he’d just said. That earned him a smile from Makawee and a dirty glare from Anara.
“The Tribesmen who performed the awakening are guarding one in Chaitén, believing they can control the demon with it.” He shook his head. “But they can’t. No one can.”
“Where’s the other stone, Dan?” Aric asked.
“It’s at the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania. They have to be stored far apart—on separate continents—otherwise they blow up like atom bombs if they’re not used for their purpose. T
he Tribe is trying to locate the one in Tanzania to keep it from us. But the map that describes its location is written in ancient Mapudungan and difficult to translate. According to what the spies uncovered, I believe they have the wrong location. It gives us time to find the second stone.”
I grinned at Danny. I couldn’t even repeat the name of the language he mentioned. But I knew he could, and a lot more. “You know where the second stone is.”
Danny’s obsession with ancient magic, myths, and languages was paying off. He raised his chin in all research-geek glory. “Yes, Celia. I know exactly where it is.”
Makawee tilted her head, bowing respectfully. “Well done, young Daniel.”
Martin faced Aric. “You will take your Warriors to Chaitén and obtain the first stone.”
Uri in turn addressed me. “Celia, we’re counting on you to locate the second stone. Young Daniel will accompany you. The Elders have also agreed to send one of their fiercest weres to aid you on your quest.”
I looked to Koda, Gemini, and Liam, expecting it to be one of them. I wasn’t expecting nor happy to see Tye step forward, flashy dimple and all. “What’s the matter, dovie? You can’t go to Africa and not get some lion action.”
“No.” Both Aric and Misha growled at once.
“We’re not asking for your permission or advice,” Anara snapped at them. “This is the plan whether you wish it so or not.”
Makawee placed her hand on Aric’s shoulder as he continued to growl. “Tye has been chosen based on his fighting abilities and his many talents. He is among our most valued Alliance members and will no doubt be a tremendous asset to Celia.”
Misha’s blatant disapproval swept into the room like a breeze—a really annoyed, possibly menopausal breeze. “I insist on accompanying Celia.”
Uri adjusted his ridiculous opera cape without bothering to acknowledge him. “No,” he said simply.
“Then one of my family, Grandmaster.”
I now pictured myself hiking across the plains of Africa with Catholic schoolgirls in tow. It wasn’t a pretty picture. Neither was the way Misha continued to argue with Uri.