He glanced back at the woman. Her face had paled, eyes unfocussed. Lips purpled from lack of oxygen, her tongue protruded and saliva dribbled down her chin. She twitched, fighting still with whatever reserves she had left. He tossed her to the ground and didn’t look back as he rushed to his mate.
“Kjaere.” He grabbed her hand and pressed his lips to the inside of her wrist, listening to the steady beat of her heart. He inhaled, trying to determine if she suffered any grave internal injury.
“Is it over?” She reached for him, clinging to his shoulders and rubbing her cheek against his chest.
Gunnar looked over his shoulder. The sentinels had most of the faction members kneeling on the ground, hands on their heads. A few stragglers were quickly being subdued and rounded up. “I think so.”
“Hold me,” she asked, her breath hitching with a quiet sob.
He did as she asked, scooping her into his arms and carrying her away from the wall. Taking long strides, he came to a bench situated behind Aleksi and sat down with Nadia in his lap. He pulled the remaining pins from her hair and slipped his hands through the tangles looking for wounds. Nothing but snarls there. Tipping her head side to side, he inspected her face and only found superficial scrapes and mild bruises. She had no puncture marks from the needle on her throat either. Relief flooded Gunnar’s veins. Before he could scrutinize the rest of her body, she captured his hand and pressed it above her heart. “I’m fine.”
Cupping her cheeks with his palms, he watched her closely. “Are you sure?”
She nodded and gave him a weak smile. “But you’re not.”
“Of course, I’m not. Tory almost killed you.” He hauled her into his chest embracing her tightly.
“Gunnar!” she chided, pushing away. “No really. You’re bleeding.” She touched his side where a throbbing ache beat in time with his heart. When she showed him her fingers, they were stained red with blood.
“Shit. He got me good.” Hell! Gunnar twisted to see the wound. Damn, it was deeper than he’d thought.
“Here, take my vein,” Nadia held her hand close to Gunnar’s mouth.
He shook his head. “You’re too weak. I’ll be okay.”
She pushed up in his lap and pursed her lips, eyes flashing in challenge. “Are you refusing medical advice? I am a nurse. I think that makes me the authority here.”
“And I’m just a shoe shiner,” he scoffed, dragging a finger over the scratches across Nadia’s shoulder. Leaning close, he kissed each one softly.
A smack on his shoulder had him turning with a warning snarl.
“Easy, killer. I’ve got Ferragamos needing a spit shine.” One corner of Tray’s mouth quirked. “They require all sorts of elbow grease. Better get the scuffs out.”
“Fucker!” The urge to sucker punch his boss vanished. It’d been a long time since he’d seen the playful side of Traian Komar. Tray simply teased him and that was a good thing.
A shrill cry split the air and Gunnar turned to see what triggered the commotion. The female with the nose piercing and the scarred one had been corned by the sentinels. Anger sparked in the taller female’s eyes and she rattled off a slew of curses while pointing a small revolver at Izak. The skittish one held a long blade above her head. Her fingers gripped the handle tight but her arm trembled.
“Put the weapons down. I don’t like killing females.” Izak tried placating them.
“Fuck you.” The female pointed the gun aiming for the sentinel’s head.
“Only if you buy dinner first.” Izak grinned, winking.
From the corner of his eye, Gunnar watched Mikhail slipping from the shadows behind the females. Izak took a step closer and held out his hand, “You don’t want to even try it, baby.”
Izak flinched and grabbed his arm before the bang resounded through the chamber. “You fucking shot me.” Incredulity registered in his voice.
“I’ll do it again.” She grabbed Kirli’s arm and tugged her closer. “No one touches us. We go free.” Her thumb cocked the hammer and she curled her finger around the trigger.
“Like hell.” Izak charged and jumped across the space tackling the female. She fought like a wild animal spitting mad and going for blood.
Mikhail rushed up behind the scarred one and slipped his arms around her. She wailed a terror-filled sound that pierced Gunnar’s ear drums. Nadia bolted to her feet but Gunnar wrenched her back to the bench. “No. They’re too dangerous.”
“Kirli wouldn’t be able to harm a dust bunny.” Nadia stared at the females as they struggled to get away.
“Hey, that’s rude!” Mikhail shook his hand where an obvious bite marred the skin. He lashed his arm across Kirli’s midsection as she kicked out. “Stop fighting, I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Letmego, letmego,” Kirli’s words turned hysterical. She wrenched to the side and tried to knee Mikhail in the groin. He managed to block the attack. Gunnar didn’t envy him at the moment.
“Better go help my little bro. Seems he’s got his hands full.” Tray jogged through the kneeling faction members and came up to Mikhail’s side. Before he could offer to help Mikhail, the other female wrenched from Izak’s wounded arm and barreled straight at Tray. Gunnar’s boss whirled around and caught her before she could get away.
“Get your fucking Komar hands off me.” She attempted to stomp on Tray’s foot but he curved his ankle around her calf and in a flash brought her to the ground. Izak came over and restrained one arm and in a moment they had her cuffed. She lay on the ground sobbing. “I’ll kill you. Someday, you’ll be dead.”
“That’s enough, Melara.” Aleksi crossed his arms over his chest and took long purposeful steps to them. He wore jeans and combat boots. His plain black T-shirt stretched across his thick chest. Right now, though, he looked every bit their leader. It wasn’t the clothes that made him so commanding. It was the vibe he gave off, utterly powerful and menacing. And, the deadly glint in his eye, those long fangs and sharp jut of his chin, all amplified his authority. Though born to the position, Aleksi wore the kingly mantle in ways Kane would never be able to do. As the Komutani strode around the faction members, they visibly trembled and bowed their heads a guttural reaction to Aleksi’s sovereignty.
He came to where the female lay sprawled on the ground, her eyes sparking with hate. Kneeling, he leaned close and touched her cheek but she spat at him, wriggling to the side.
“I’m glad you survived the invasion,” Aleksi said as he straightened to his full height. “I’m disappointed you’ve chosen this side.” He scowled and exhaled slowly. “Izak, see to it that she’s put in a decent cell. Have Sevastian sift through her mind, find out what we need.”
“I won’t tell that Komar dickhead anything.” Melara kicked her foot at Aleksi but Tray stepped in front to prevent the blow. Izak hauled her to a standing position and dragged her toward the rest of the prisoners.
“And what have we here? Why are you so frightened?” Aleksi scrutinized Kirli while she shivered in dread. Her legs buckled and she went limp.
Mikhail lifted her to her feet but she wouldn’t stand.
“Release her.” Aleksi narrowed his eyes watching the female as Mikhail stepped away.
She rose with a whimper and took a step toward Aleksi. Nadia’s fingers gripped his hand as Kirli withdrew a dagger from her pocket. “Oh no, don’t do it.” Nadia sucked in a breath. Gunnar jumped to his feet, poised to intervene. He’d get there too late but Nadia would be hurt if something happened to the female. Gunnar needed to stop anything before it happened.
Kirli lifted her hand but Aleksi just stood there, still and quiet. He did nothing to stop the female. She pursed her lips and touched the scar on her face, fingers trembling at the thicker edge near her chin.
“What have I done to you child that causes such hate?” Though his voice held a dominant edge, Aleksi softened his tone to a gentler pitch.
Nadia stiffened and Gunnar curled his arm around her, tugging her against him. He kisse
d her temple and whispered, “She’ll be okay.”
Kirli took a step closer, the blade an inch from Aleksi’s chest. She remained silent but her face paled, breathing turned ragged.
Aleksi leaned into the tip of the weapon, the sharp point dug into the cotton of his shirt right below his ribs. “You want to punish me for the wrongs done to you.”
Though he didn’t ask a question, Kirli nodded.
“If only I could’ve prevented the horrors you experienced. If it will take away your pain, then do what you must.” Aleksi lifted his hands in a position of surrender.
A silent cry shook Kirli’s thin shoulders and she closed her eyes while gripping the hilt in a tight fist.
“Will you forgive me first?”
The Komutani’s request brought a quizzical look to the female’s eyes. She stared at him, brow furrowed. “For what?”
“Because, somehow, I failed you.”
Biting her cheek, Kirli shivered and blinked away a fresh sheen of tears.
Every instinct within Gunnar lambasted him to jump into the fray and intervene. The entire room had quieted, all eyes focused upon the leader of their people standing there with a dagger jabbed against a precarious spot. One look at his boss and Mikhail, confirmed they, too, struggled with the inactivity. Aleksi didn’t seem remotely concerned. In fact, his attention zeroed in on the female with tenderness, as if he sought to only calm her. Gunnar would’ve dropped her to the ground, cuffed her, and been done with the situation.
“You didn’t do anything to me.” Kirli lifted the weapon and turned it in her palm. She fell to her knees, bowed her head and lifted the dagger toward their leader. “Forgive me, Komutani. Efendim, hayir bana zarar.”
Gunnar heard the refined inflection once again as she begged for Aleksi not to hurt her. Nadia’s fingers laced around his hand as they watched their leader accept the weapon. He passed it off to the waiting sentinel.
“You’re brave. A fighter. You’ve endured too much, and I give you my promise you’ll never suffer again.” He cupped her scarred cheek in his palm, brushed away the trail of tears with his thumb. “Go with Mikhail. He’ll be on his best behavior. She doesn’t need to go to with the others to the delik. Take her to Anastasya. My sister will keep her company until we can question her. Arkadaş, stay there and watch over them.”
Mikhail rolled his eyes and saluted but kept his sarcastic retorts to himself. He simply walked over and waited for Kirli to stand and pointed toward the arched corridor. “You’re in the lead.” She crossed her arms over her chest and marched from the chamber, Mikhail following at a close distance.
Aleksi issued orders and the sentinels snapped to attention doing as he bade, moving faction members and searching the underground hide out.
Nadia leaned her head on Gunnar’s shoulder. “I hope he’s lenient with Kirli. She’s damaged. I don’t think she had anyone else.”
Yet, she didn’t seem to fit the profile of those in the faction. Her lineage had to come from the higher class. However, it no longer mattered to him. The whole nightmare was over. “Aleksi’s fair. He’ll do what’s right.” Gunnar needed to reassure his mate. He could sense her uneasiness, almost like it was his own.
“I know. I trust him.” Nadia licked her lips and lifted her arm. “Now, trust me. Take my vein.”
Gunnar kissed her wrist and held her hand but didn’t take the proffered vein. “I will, after.”
Nadia arched an eyebrow. “After what?”
He leaned close, trailed a finger along her lower lip. “I kiss you.”
Her eyes widened in expectation as her mouth curved into a sexy little grin. “And then, you’ll take my vein?”
Gunnar shook his head. “No.”
Her smile fell and irritation colored her cheeks. “Why not?”
Trailing his fingertip down the elegant line of her throat where his bruise lingered, he paused at her pulse points and circled his finger. “Because, I want you to take mine, too.”
Nadia’s eyes flashed with heat. Need. Understanding. “Oh.”
He parted his lips to show her the tips of lengthening fangs. “Then, I’m going to make love to you properly, like a newly bonded mate does.”
“How exactly does one do that?” She leaned in close and kissed his jaw.
Bracketing her face with his hands, he pulled her to him, pressing his lips to hers. His tongue slipped between, tasting the sweetness within. A moan rumbled in his chest. He pulled back, just a sliver of an inch and met her beautiful gaze. “He loves her slowly, adoringly, passionately, eternally.”
Nadia slung her arms around his shoulders and pulled him back to her mouth, kissing him again. He let her lead, for a moment, before he took control and deepened the kiss, savoring this connection with his female.
She paused, leaned her forehead on his shoulder and trembled. “Let’s get started, right now.
Standing, he pulled her from the bench and drew her into his embrace. He tucked a thumb under her chin, tilting her head back.
“Gunnar, what are we waiting for?”
“I need to tell you one more thing.”
One eyebrow quirked as she waited for him to continue.
“I will always love you, Nadia, my bonded mate. Mi kjaere, my heart is yours, forever.”
Joy sparkled in her eyes as she lifted on her toes to embrace him. “I really did get my Prince Charming.”
Gunnar laughed, “I wouldn’t go that far.”
“Will you at least go home?” Nadia stepped back but held his hand, keeping the connection.
“I’ll go wherever, as long as you’re there.”
“The ends of the earth?” She bit her lip to hide the grin.
“To a galaxy far, far away,” he teased while pressing his lips to her knuckles.
“Always and forever, with you Gunnar, my bonded mate.”
“Forever,” he promised as he scooped her into his arms and marched from the chamber, eager to take her home, to his bed, where he could truly start the rest of their lives together, for always.
Epilogue
“This is unconventional.” Mikhail pivoted on his heel and squinted, a look of revulsion twisting his features.
Nadia shook her head and tried to remain silent. She wouldn’t be the one to keep the playboy yammering.
“Your dress is unconventional.” He pointed at her with his nose scrunched.
She glanced at the pretty ecru midi dress and spun in a circle watching the skirt flutter with the motion. Shrugging a shoulder, she muttered, “Only matters if Gunnar likes it.”
Mikhail made a disgusted sound in the back of his throat. “Too damned sappy.” He made a show of inspecting the room. “Even this place is unconventional.”
Nadia propped a hand on her hip. “What’s wrong with it?”
He raised a hand and ticked his fingers. “One, it’s in fucking Las Vegas, land of sunshine. Sunshine sucks. Two, it has a damned drive-thru. Three,” he wiggled his third finger as if he was thinking really hard, “it’s human.”
Oh, God, she couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s special,” she tried to defend but he grimaced at her protest.
“Oh, leave her alone. I think it’s nice.” Bethany held up a white paper bag. “I hope you don’t mind that I got you this.”
Mikhail opened his mouth and covered it with his hand in a mock gesture of surprise. “For me, you shouldn’t have.”
“I’d pay good money for you to actually wear this, Mikhail Komar, but unfortunately, it’s for Nadia.” She turned to hand the bag over, ignoring Mikhail.
Nadia parted the tissue paper and pulled out a little plastic satchel. She opened the contents and a strip of blue frilly lace fell into her palm. Nadia giggled. “Oh, yeah, totally would pay to see Mikhail strap this on his thigh.”
She stepped into the lacy garter and inched it over her calf. “Don’t look,” she ordered Mikhail. Thankfully, he turned around and whistled while glancing at the low ceiling.
“
So, let’s see. You have the new gown. And, you’ve borrowed my silver choker. Now you have the blue item. That leaves something old.”
Mikhail spun around and hooked his thumb over his shoulder. “I thought that was her dad.”
“Mikhail!” Bethany chided.
Nadia looked past the male to see her dad standing there waiting to escort her down the aisle. He’d dressed in his best suit and stood tall. Proud. Maybe, he even looked a bit younger. “Are you ready, my daughter?”
“Almost.” She took a deep breath and hugged Bethany. “I’ve got something old. From Gunnar.” She raised her right hand and showed them the intricate bracelet of braided metalwork with a dragon head clasp. “It’s his mother’s.”
Bethany ran a finger across the dragon fang. “So pretty.”
“Don’t get any ideas,” Mikhail tsked. “Tray’s in enough hot water for mating you. The minute anyone gets wind that he’s in there, standing up for Gunnar like a best man in a human wedding and he’ll end up a pariah. Can’t imagine the fall out if he actually did something so…unconventional…like get married.” He pressed his hand to his temple and staggered back. “Oh, the shame.”
“Someone give this guy a dollar so he can go play the slots. He needs the distraction.” Bethany handed Nadia a posy of sunflowers. “I think this is so romantic,” she whispered conspiratorially. “Thank you for asking me to be a part of it. I’m honored.”
The doors of the small chapel opened and the strains of an instrumental tune reminded Nadia that right now she stood on the threshold of her new life. They’d been mated, sharing their essence. Now, she’d walk down that aisle and pledge herself to Gunnar. Maybe, it was sappy. But it was perfect for them.
Bethany laced her arm around Mikhail’s and tugged him toward the door. “Come on, you big baby. You’re the definition of unconventional. Revel in it.”
Mikhail grinned. “Fine, but I’m leading.”
Mated in Treason Page 34