by Cecy Robson
I blinked back tears. Since we’d returned from the forest, Aric had kept his distance. I understood why. We didn’t have the luxury to be together like Shayna and Koda. But he needed me at his side. Couldn’t the Elders grant us that much? I brushed my hand over his before stepping closer to Emme. Aric glanced down at his hand. Though his damaged face gave no indication of whether he appreciated the gesture, I hoped he had.
I wiped my eyes only to smear more of that wretched ash continuing to fall. My tigress paced with the need to abandon this wasteland and return to Aric. It took me a moment to soothe her enough to focus on the leaders and the words they were sharing with the gathering crowd. Martin and Uri thanked the survivors for their courage and sacrifice. Their words were hopeful and uplifting, and most of all sincere.
The atmosphere changed when Anara took center stage.
His gaze scanned the crowd until it fell directly on me. I sensed the chill he brought with him, and his fury when he spoke. “We lost many great Warriors and friends today and I fear more than ever for the future of our were race. Only through proper breeding can we ensure the survival of our species.” He shook his head from side to side, anger digging further into his hawklike features. “It disgusts me that even our own Leaders fail to see that the world will crumble without us.” He looked to the were dignitaries of Central and South America, ignoring Uri and Misha beside him. “I plan to put forth a decree before the North American Were Council that will require all unmated weres to fulfill the same duties we demand of our purebloods. And I urge you all to ask the same of your governing bodies. The future of our kind depends on it!”
My gasp was barely audible over the uproar that ensued. Martin stormed forward and muttered low into Anara’s ear, his angled brows illuminating his displeasure with Anara. Anara kept his attention on me, refusing to acknowledge a single word. Was he that arrogant? Pureblood Beta or not, Anara wasn’t stronger than his Alpha.
Many weres disagreed with Anara, but a surprising number took his side. I covered my face and bit back a furious roar. The Tribe might not have succeeded in taking over the world, but it had succeeded in massacring the numbers of weres who guarded it. God damn Anara. He wouldn’t stop with creating a law to force all weres to breed. He’d make sure my relationship with Aric was construed as a crime.
• • •
We separated into groups following Anara’s rousing speech, waiting like cattle to be transported out of Chaitén. Aric was ushered out quickly, leaving me with Emme, Taran, Bren, Danny, and a couple of Alliance members I’d never met.
Bren took in the mess around us. “How the hell are they going to explain all this shit?”
“Most of it will be blamed on the volcano erupting.” Danny wiped some of the ash covering his hands on his jeans and sneezed. He only succeeded in soiling them more. “The vampires in the South American Alliance are pretty high up politically. They feel a few hypnotic suggestions will take care of any loose ends.”
Emme crinkled her forehead. “Is that all they plan to do?”
Danny scratched his coated curls. “The Alliance feels since they just saved the world from Ihuaivulu, the least the Chilean government can do is pay for the cleanup.”
Taran agreed. “You’re damn right they can.” Her head jerked to the side, where a vampire stood waving from the bed of a battered pickup truck. “Come on—it’s our turn to go.” Although she was eager to leave the destruction far behind her, she waited for me to join her side. “How are you holding up?”
I watched as my filthy sneakers passed over the trampled ash-ridden soil, my head so heavy I couldn’t lift my chin. “I don’t know—angry, numb, seconds from losing my mind.” My voice cracked as we passed a few weres lifting another who’d lost both his legs. Taran’s hand gripped my arm as if to stabilize me and my volatile emotions. “This wasn’t supposed to happen, Taran. The Tribe was after me. Me. No one else should have suffered.”
Taran whirled me around. “Don’t,” she snapped. “This bullshit is not your doing. These bastards go after everyone—the weak, the strong, it doesn’t matter. If it wasn’t you, it would have been anyone else who had the balls to stand up to them.” Her tone carried such an edge, I didn’t realize she was crying until I glanced up and caught the thick drops leaking from her eyes.
Her grip tightened. “And don’t think it’s over, Ceel, because it’s not. We have majorly pimp-punched them and sent them running. But whatever remains of them still fucking remains. They’ll continue to come after you. So be sharp, and stay strong.” She motioned ahead to where Aric and Koda had disappeared. “And fight for those you love.”
The ride down the mountain required us to wear masks. Between the breeze continuing to sweep the chunky powder off the leaves and the smoke from the smoldering forest, I didn’t take a decent breath until we reached the airport. My silence, however, wasn’t solely due to my muffled mouth or the state of Chaitén. Taran was right. The efforts of the Alliance had pummeled the Tribe. But that didn’t mean it was gone. I was safe—for now. Maybe even for the next week, or month, until the legion of superscaries regrouped and remembered I’d helped bring them down.
And that I was indeed as formidable as they’d feared.
We scrambled out of the pickup at the outermost edge of the runway. The air remained thick and covered, but considerably lighter and more bearable. We walked along the tarmac, carrying the tightly wrapped bags of clothes the jeep driver had tossed us, and searching along the fleet of planes for our ride home.
Gemini rushed out from one of the private jets ahead of us and raced to our side. He took Taran’s hand and motioned forward. “Come with me—hurry.”
We moved fast. It wasn’t fast enough. The Elders caught me ascending the stairs as they boarded the plane just to our right. Martin and Makawee averted their gazes. Anara didn’t. His piercing dark irises raked at mine like a branch of thorns. Never had anyone hated me so.
We entered the plane, where Shayna, Koda, and Liam waited in silence. My entire body tensed. “Where’s Aric?”
Liam met my face with sad eyes. “He’s in the back, Celia. I think he needs some space. Maybe you should give him a moment.”
I waited until we reached altitude. Then waited another half hour more. Aric never joined us. My anxiety worsened and kicked my patience aside. I grabbed the I LOVE CHILE shorts and T-shirt set I’d been given and entered the small suite. All the lights were out. I didn’t bother turning them on. I knocked on the door to the bathroom, once, twice. He didn’t answer, but even through the door I could smell the lingering aroma of his burnt flesh.
I gathered my resolve and opened the door. Aric stood before the mirror, unmoving and barely breathing. My stomach twisted hard enough to make me clasp my hand over it. Oh, God. He’d finally seen the extent of Ihuaivulu’s damage. And there wasn’t a damn thing I could do to ease his hurt and shock.
I beat back my sorrow and took a breath. Aric didn’t need my tears; he needed my strength. I shimmied around him and turned on the small shower. It wasn’t until I started ridding myself of Taran’s borrowed dirty clothes that Aric acknowledged me. “Celia . . . what are you doing?”
“We’re both filthy. Come on, hop in with me.”
Aric didn’t make an effort to remove his clothes, so I did it for him. He stilled as I yanked his shirt over his head, but when I tried to unsnap his shorts, he clasped my wrists. “Don’t, love.”
His grip was tight, but loosened when I stared up at him and tried to smile. “Why? You like being naked with me.”
Aric shook his head slowly. “Things are different now . . . My face isn’t the only part of me damaged.”
I unwittingly followed the trail of ruined tissue down his chest, past his belly button, and into his . . . Jesus.
I tried to tell him it didn’t matter, only to stumble and stutter over lies he didn’t need to hear. Of course it matt
ered. So instead of spewing foolish mutterings, I pulled him under the water with me. He just stood there watching me without moving, so I sat him down on the small bench.
There wasn’t a lot of room. I placed my legs between his knees and washed what remained of his hair. My breasts hung near his face, but he kept his head turned away from me. When I was done, I kissed his lips and concentrated on the rest of his body. I tried not to react with grief as my fingers ran over the thick grooves in his skin pooling with water. “Remember the last time we showered? I do . . .”
Aric didn’t respond. His only reaction was to turn back to face me. With his healthy eye, he watched the water slide down my body before turning away once more. I didn’t like him looking away from me. Neither did my tigress. So following a little boost of her charm I gave him my back and made a show of washing my hair and curves. I continued until I felt his rising heat stroking against my back. I slipped out and teased him with the way I applied my lotion, careful not to make eye contact until I heard him step out of the shower.
Aric had tossed his shorts and covered his waist with a towel, a towel that did little to hide the growing strain of his arousal. My fingertips slipped up and down the length of the long lotion bottle and my husky voice fell into a seductive whisper. “Come with me.” I snatched the bottle from the small counter and backed into the bedroom. Aric prowled toward me and followed me onto the bed.
I warmed the lotion in my palms before sliding it along his damaged skin. He tensed beneath my touch until I began my deep massage of his shoulders. Heat spread along my palms in almost visible circles, inciting the bond between us. My hands drifted along his chest until they linked around his neck. I kissed his cheek and waited. He panted softly as if trying to hold back and stay in control, but that’s not what I wanted. My lips continued to sweep across his jawline. When I reached his lips, he pushed my wet hair away from my face and drove his tongue deep into my mouth.
Our passion escalated, urging me to roll on top of him. I cried out when his hard length struck my tender region. Maybe he was damaged, but everything seemed in optimal working condition. My hands found him, playing and exploring until his growls and grunts rang in my ears like a lustful melody. My heart thundered, yearning with the desire to have him inside me. I needed to feel close to him. And he needed me, too.
Aric reached for my breasts. I jerked a little when the sharp edges of his damaged fingers scratched against the tips. His want distracted him, and he failed to notice. But when his hand slipped between my legs, I couldn’t mask the pain from his touch.
He pulled away from me, breathing hard. “I’m sorry,” we both said at once.
He stared at his butchered hands before his frozen expression ran the length of my body. The air left my lungs in a gasp. His caress had marked my skin with scrapes and scratches. Not enough to scar or bleed, but enough to halt our wandering hands and extinguish our fervor.
“I’m sorry,” he repeated, with more regret dripping from his voice.
We watched each other for what felt like too long until my need to feel his arms around me shoved the strain of the moment aside. I lowered myself so we lay facing each other, and cuddled against him. He pulled me to him, but still I scented his apprehension and his fear.
He was afraid to hurt me.
We waited in silence, both of us searching for something to say. Yet not even our beasts could give us the knowledge to form the right words. Aric shuddered once before the aroma of his tears pricked at my nose. “Are you sure you want to stay with me?”
I kissed his chin before the start of my own sorrow. “I’ll never leave you. I swear it.”
CHAPTER 32
We both fell asleep. I awoke sometime later from the discomfort of dehydration. Aric draped his arm over his face. I imagined that without the ability to lower his lids it was the only way he could manage to rest. I decided against disturbing him and walked into the main cabin.
Everyone glanced up when they saw me. Their bleak expressions mirrored mine. My maternal instincts made me want to comfort them, but the emptiness in the pit of my stomach surpassed any emotions.
Emme squeezed my hand. “Celia, have something to eat.”
My eyes skimmed along the table filled with chicken, vegetables, and rolls. A wave of acid burned my throat and made me grimace. I cleared my throat to prevent from gagging and placed my hand over my belly. “I’m not hungry. I still feel kind of ill.”
Emme released my hand. “I’m feeling ill, too. I called Dr. Belman and set up appointments for us for tomorrow. I’m worried it’s more than just jet lag.”
Emme was right. God only knew what bizarre infections we could have picked up from all our globe-trotting. Africa alone had a growing list of frightening ailments.
Liam stood, frowning. “Why can’t you just heal yourselves?”
“I can’t cure diseases, Liam. Sometimes if it’s related to a physical injury I can fix it, but that doesn’t seem to be what’s happening.”
Liam placed his hand on Emme’s shoulder. “But you’ll be okay, right?”
Emme slipped her hand over his. “We’ll be fine, Lee.”
I grabbed a water bottle out of the small fridge. I’m not sure why such a simple task made me so emotional, but I started to cry after chugging half the bottle. My sobs made me spit out some of the water. Koda didn’t care. He just wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into an embrace. “Stay strong, Celia. He needs you.”
• • •
Taran eventually convinced me to eat. I managed to nibble on a few pieces of bread before preparing a tray for Aric. He sat up when I placed the food in front of him. His burned flesh had tightened and shriveled the muscle, making it arduous for him to chew and swallow. I shredded the chicken for him in smaller bites and mashed the potatoes and carrots for him with a fork. “I’d like to take you to a burn center. There’s one in Santa Ana we could go to.”
“Weres don’t belong in human hospitals, sweetness.” He scanned his injuries. “And there’s no plausible explanation to justify the extent of my scars.”
I returned to mashing the vegetables. “I just want to help you.”
“I know,” he responded quietly.
Aric and I barely spoke the remainder of the eighteen-hour flight. Mostly we just held each other and tried to rest. He’d fidgeted, unable to sleep until I moistened a washcloth and placed it over the hard slit covering his eye.
“Thanks, love,” he murmured beneath the cloth.
Out of habit, I reached to stroke back the bangs he no longer had. I fought back my sorrow. It wasn’t fair. Once upon a time, however brief, we were both safe, we were both whole. Now the scars enveloping his form marred and claimed us both. Happily-ever-afters in the mystical world didn’t come without a hefty price. And yet it was a price I’d willingly pay. I crawled beneath the covers and found my place beside my mate.
Aric nudged me awake sometime much later. “We just landed in Tahoe, sweetness. The Elders are outside waiting for me.”
The realization we would be apart jolted me awake. “Okay . . . but when will we see each other?”
Aric turned from me. “I don’t know.”
My hand covered his. “Aric, we’re going to work through this, okay? You have to believe me.”
He lifted my knuckles and tried to kiss them, but I barely felt the movement of his mouth. “I love you, Celia.”
He said it, and maybe he meant it, but his words sounded more like good-bye. By the time I climbed into Misha’s limo, I was an absolute mess. I wanted to be with Aric. I wanted to care for him. And I wanted him to know I’d never give up on us. Instead I had to watch him leave without me.
Emme tried to console me, but I couldn’t stop crying.
Misha watched me. Initially he held back. Finally, I guess my despair became too much. He slipped onto the long leather seat beside
me. “My darling, look at me.” I was so embarrassed by the blubbering spectacle I’d become I couldn’t do as he asked. “Kitten, please look at me.”
He lifted my chin, taking care not hurt me. As soon as I met his soft gray eyes, I lost myself in their tenderness and beauty. A sense of calm surrounded me. My soul took a breath and silenced my tears. Emme’s soft voice echoed from a faraway place. “What are you doing to her, Misha?”
“Just granting her some peace, sweet Emme.”
“Will it be permanent?”
“No. My power is no match for her pain.”
CHAPTER 33
I awoke in Misha’s guesthouse. The first thing I did was check my cell phone for messages. There were none. Aric hadn’t called. I took a moment to calm before I showered and started my day.
I drove to my house in Dollar Point to gather some personal items following my doctor’s appointment. I was about to take a walk along Lake Tahoe to clear my head when someone knocked on my door. Anara waited on my doorstep holding a charm similar to the one I had to pass through the wards. My hackles instinctively rose. How did he have access to my house? “What are you doing here, Anara?”
A long vicious growl rumbled through his chest. “I’m here to tell you that if you ever see Aric again I’ll—”
“You’ll what? Kill me?” I was livid. How dare he come to my home and threaten me!
This made him laugh. “No, you stupid woman. I’ll kill him.”
His response infuriated me. I crouched and readied myself to attack. “Not if you’re already dead.”
Anara threw out his hand as if batting a fly, sending me slamming into the portrait-covered wall. Glass from the frames cut into my skin, stinging and piercing my flesh like the jagged teeth of a shark. Warm blood trickled down my back and soaked through my thick cotton sweater. He held me a few feet off the floor with just his will. I jerked my shoulders, trying to move, to kick—anything to break from his hold. My limbs failed me. I reached into my tigress for strength, but Anara’s power caged her within me.