BirthMark

by Sydney Addae

  “Thank you, Patron,” she said through their link. “I’m sorry they can now positively identify the twins. If I could cut my eyes out I would.”

  Silas understood.

  “We will talk, get some rest.” He had security carry her to a more secure room and place her inside. They removed the cuffs and bandana. Silas watched through the camera as she found the bed and lay down. He heard her soft weeping through their link. If any person had been abused and misused, he suspected it had been Asia. He wasn’t sure why the Goddess wanted her spared, but he would do his best to make her comfortable until he knew more about her and her abilities.

  “She’s got a lot of problems,” Tyrese said, standing next to Silas watching the monitor. “They have done all kinds of experiments on her, even injected her with the same thing they gave me. I locked up that black case by the way. If it’s okay with you, I’d like to stand security when it’s being tested. I’d hate for anything to go missing.”

  Silas, nodded. “Okay. I want you to undergo a full check-up with Matt tomorrow. And then Asia, and then your dad. I didn’t sense anything but I want to be sure you didn’t pick up anything in the mine.”

  “What happened to Hamus and Shaun?” Tyrone asked.

  “They went to a hotel. They plan to rent a car and leave in the morning. Shaun plans to finish school so he can work for the Patron. Hamus tried to talk to the honor guard to see what it takes to become a member,” Tyrese said with a slight grin.

  “They did well,” Silas said.

  Tyrese nodded. “Rone told me about that bullshit note they sent you. It’s all bullshit.”

  “Organized bullshit,” Tyrone said as they moved to Silas’ office.

  “Yeah, you’re right about that.” He told them what Asia had told him and his conclusion regarding the root cause of what he had gone through.

  “You think they did all that to test the drug?” Tyrone asked, frowning.

  “Yeah, I do. They heard La Patron had half-breed pups, they saw us fighting in Texas, but we were so fast, they weren’t sure if it was one or two.”

  “They know it’s two now,” Silas said, agreeing with Tyrese’s premise.

  “What? How?” Tyrese asked.

  “Asia. Her eyes have some type of lens in them. I noticed something was off with her while she watched the two of you. I’m still waiting on Jayden to send me a complete file on her and Leon. We should learn more about those two in a day or so.”

  Tyrese nodded. “She watched the fight, didn’t get involved. Said it was because she couldn’t be captured and returned to the lab,” Tyrese said his brow creased. “So they got what they wanted? They saw me shift into that…that thing as a result of the shot.” He sounded disgusted.

  “You did a mid-shift, or hybrid shift, part man, part wolf. I’ve never seen a breed do it, but then again half-breeds are new to me.”

  Tyrese faced him with an eager look. “Full-bloods do partial shifts? I’ve never seen or heard of that.”

  “I do partial shifts. I stopped a while back because…my animal was too violent. I haven’t done it in over a hundred years. The blood-lust grew harder and harder to contain, so I shut it down.” He stared at Tyrese. “You have to work hard to control your wolf at all times or he will take over. It’s not good when you can’t think rationally.”

  Tyrese nodded. “Will you help me?”

  Silas nodded, pleased with Tyrese’s level of maturity. “Yes.” He looked at the twins and stretched. “I know you found release and are relaxed,” he said to Tyrese. “But I have not seen my mate or pups since you were taken yesterday. She misses me.”

  Tyrese laughed as they all stood. “I had to report in to you first, but I know and you know, I have to go let mama check me out. But I’ll try and be brief.”

  Silas smacked his shoulder and they left the room.

  “Mom tell you, Aunt Renee, Mandy and grandma are coming next month for the Christening?” Tyrone asked Tyrese.

  “Next month? Before or after the challenge?” Silas asked.

  The twins looked at him and laughed. “You should be telling us,” Tyrone said as they entered the elevator.

  “She’s planning this. I will show up of course. But…I’ve been busy with other things and don’t have all the details,” he grumbled.

  “It’s in two weeks,” Tyrone said.

  “Okay, before the challenge,” Silas said, his mind on the upcoming fight.

  “Have you made a decision about Cameron?” Tyrese asked as they left the elevator and headed to the below ground living quarters. Silas placed his palm on the scanner and was admitted. The twins repeated the process and within moments the wall moved and they walked down another hall.

  “No. Not yet. He talked to me about it, but winning the admiration of your mate doesn’t seem like the best reason to become Alpha of a state. What happens when she wants something else? Move to live near water or snow or sunshine, what then? I will decide soon and let you know if you are off the hook or not,” he said to Tyrone, who nodded.

  They reached the door and Silas punched in his code and spoke a word. The door opened and they entered. Jasmine unfolded from the chair and walked toward them, her eyes locked on Tyrese who opened his arms. She ran and hugged him tight.

  Tears leaked from her eyes and Silas noticed moisture in Tyrese’s eyes before he closed them while rocking her from side to side. When they broke apart, she cupped his cheek in her hand and smiled.

  “I am so happy to see you, I was so scared when they took you. Silas called me bloodthirsty when I told him to teach them a lesson about taking one of ours…” she nodded. “But I’d have neutered them myself if I’d have caught them.”

  “Mom,” Tyrese said, groaning and covering his private parts.

  Laughing, she slapped his shoulder and pulled her to him again. Silas met her eyes, she mouthed, “thank you” to him. He’d have to give a full accounting later as they soaked in the spring. He hardened just thinking about getting close to her. Not wanting to appear selfish or brutish, he left them alone and entered the area where his pups were resting on a large mat. Rose and Tyrone broke from a tight embrace as he entered.

  “Good night, Patron,” Rose said as she left the room, pulling an eager Tyrone behind her.

  He waved not wanting to wake his pups. A soft mewling sound from the bed had him reaching for David. His fingertip brushed across his son’s lip and David grabbed it and bit down hard.

  “Hey, that’s not food, buddy,” he whispered, surprised David was sucking his finger. Was that normal, he wondered as he pulled his finger out gently. David’s eyes widened and then his face split into a grin showing smudges of red on his teeth from the bite.

  “Da,” he said and took Silas’ finger again.

  Immobile from the burst of love and pride careening through him, Silas didn’t realize his son had bitten him again and was sucking on his finger. When it dawned on him that David was sucking his blood, he pulled his finger away.

  His son grinned and in an unprecedented move, crawled up his chest and touched his face the way the other kids had done numerous times.

  “Da.”

  “Did he just…oh, is he standing on you?” Jasmine asked with wonder in her voice.

  Silas hadn’t realized the boy was standing and now bouncing on him without assistance. The glow of excitement from David’s smile was catchy and he found himself grinning right along with the boy.

  “I can’t believe this,” Jasmine whispered through the fingers covering her mouth. “What happened?” She looked at him.

  Silas was clueless. “I went to pick him up, he was making some noises, you know how he does.”

  She nodded and stroked David as if his bouncing on Silas’ lap were a mirage that she needed to make sure was real.

  “I missed his shoulder or something and my finger grazed his lips. He grabbed it and bit down.” He glanced at Jasmine. “Has he bitten anyone?”

  “No.” She frowned, stroking the b
abe’s hair. “Adam is my biter, not David.”

  “He sucked my blood.”

  Her eyes widened and her hand froze in mid-stroke. “What?” she asked in a horrified whisper.

  He had to remember she was human and the idea of blood exchanges grossed her out. “He marked me, I guess.” Silas tried to sound offhanded about it.

  “But…he’s…just…why did he do that?”

  Silas thought about it. The Goddess’ words came back to him. “Maybe that’s the way I’m supposed to heal him.” He shrugged. It was good seeing the pup with a bit of life in him and if his blood was the catalyst for that, he’d feed the boy a steady diet. Jasmine took David and rocked him until he fell asleep.

  “He’s resting.” Grinning widely, she looked at Silas. “Really resting.”

  He placed a kiss on her forehead and assisted her up with her bundle. “Glad I could be of help, should have thought of it before.” He shook it off, feeding his sick pup his blood never occurred to him. “Put him to bed, the real test will be if he sleeps through the night.”

  She nodded and returned David to his spot between Adam and Renee. Silas spared his pups another look, took her hand and pulled her toward the bathing area. They had just entered the space when the chime rang, signaling someone at the front entrance.

  Silas looked at Jasmine. “It’s one of the stooges. Rone, Rese or Cam.”

  Chapter 20

  Jasmine chuckled as he patted her hip and left the room. David started crying and she went to check on him, visions of a rough ride from her sexy mate going up in smoke. When she walked into the room, David looked at her, his small lips quivering as he rolled to his side.

  Unsure why he moved that way, she touched his thigh and then checked his diaper. He whimpered and then yawned. He was damp, not wet, but she changed him anyway. When she lifted him to place the diaper beneath him she stopped, leaned down and then stood straight again.

  “Silas?”

  “Hold on.”

  She traced the pattern of the birthmark on David’s outer right thigh. Right now it looked like a purplish mark, but as she watched, it faded to his skin’s natural complexion leaving just the outline. It was strange.

  “Yeah?” Silas said, placing his palm on her neck.

  “Look at that.” She pointed to the new mark on David’s thigh. That wasn’t there before.”

  He leaned closer and then straightened. “You’re right.”

  “Have you ever seen anything like that before?” she asked, perturbed. He was a little too blasé about this for her.

  David had fallen asleep. Silas finished changing the diaper. He then took her hand and led her into their bedroom. “Yes, I’ve seen that before.”

  He walked into the bathroom.

  She remained in the bedroom waiting for an answer. The man had had a long day, she understood that, but something strange had just happened to her baby and she was not going to play twenty questions. She crossed her arms and stopped her feet from tapping.

  He re-entered the room. “I just saw it for the first time, on Tyrese.”

  Her arms fell and her mouth opened. “Whaaat?”

  “That’s what he wanted to show me, there was a burning on his right thigh, same place as David, and when it stopped, the mark was there. “I don’t know that it’s a birthmark, because it just happened.”

  Jasmine moved forward, “David’s was changing into an outline,” she said. “You think this is what Julie was talking about?”

  “Tyrese’s is not an outline, it’s completely filled in. As far as Julie and her predictions, David is my seed. As much as I wish it, Rese is not. They both received these marks at the same time. I think whoever is supplying Julie and her companions with information have a lot of it wrong.” He placed his fingertip on her lip when she started to speak. “I will seek the Goddess’ help, but not now. We are constantly interrupted and I want to spend some time with you, away from everything.” He ushered her forward.

  “Yeah.” She realized he was right, they kept getting interrupted.

  When they stepped through the gold inlaid Spanish tile to the rawness of the grotto, she stopped and breathed deeply, and pivoted in slow motion with a wicked grin.

  “It’s always so fresh and alive smelling in here.” She spun and gazed at him. “I love how wild and untamed this room is…like a certain somebody I know.”

  He watched her intently. A slow seductive smile crossed his handsome face.

  She backed away from him as he advanced.

  Silas’s brow rose. “Yeah?” he mocked as he caught her around the waist and pulled her snug against him. He slid his mouth over hers and tasted the inner sweetness between her soft lips.

  “Yeah,” she said against his lips before wrapping her arms around his neck and taking his lips again. His fingers slid beneath the straps on her dress and pushed it from her shoulders. The cool fabric brushed against his legs on the way down. She was naked. His cock rose in acceptance of her questing hip movements and returned them with a few of his own.

  “Off, take them off now,” she insisted, her hands were everywhere pulling on his pants.

  “Slow down, I’m not going anywhere, you’ve got me for the rest of the night,” he whispered, placing kisses on her face. He loved the soft texture of her skin, and the sweet lilac fragrance wafting from strategic points on her flesh drove him mad with desire.

  It had been a long, life-changing day, and she had been his solace. Throughout the entire ordeal with the mine, the honor guard, Cameron, she had been there for him, close but not too close. Ready to offer encouragement, to soothe his bruised ego and bring a much needed smile to his face. All he thought of was this moment when he’d be able to hold her tight and never let her go.

  Her fingertips brushed against the tip of his erection, canceling his thoughts. His mate was hungry for him and wasn’t willing to wait.

  “You want it right now? Like this, raw? No build-up?” he asked in a gravelly tone as he pushed his pants from his hips and slipped out of them. Pulling her close, he rubbed his long length against her.

  She pushed back, jumped and wrapped her legs around him. “Yes, you’ve kept me waiting all day while you took care of everyone else, now take care of me,” she demanded as she rolled her hips against his hardness while holding his eyes.

  The heat and juices from her core seared him. He held her ass, leaned back slightly as she gripped his thickness.

  “Ahhh, don’t play with me, put it in.”

  She placed the tip at her entrance and moved toward him as he thrust forward. “Yes,” she said on a long sigh. “I need this.”

  Remaining still, he looked around at the natural stone walls. That would never do for what he had in mind. He headed for the inner bathroom’s smoother walls. This coupling was going to be hard and fast.

  “Ooooh, somebody’s up for a challenge” she said, rolling her hips on his pulsing rod.

  He smacked her hips and then rubbed the sting. “Be still, I don’t want to drop you.”

  She snickered at the hollow threat and continued driving him crazy. Once inside, he backed her against the cool marble on the walls and pushed into her as far as he could.

  “You want me?” he asked huskily, needing to hear it. On one level he knew she was his. But right now, in this moment he was a man who’d been hit with uncertainties over the past forty eight hours that burned in his gut. He didn’t know when this need materialized; maybe it was seeing her with Davian and listening to the intimacy of their conversation. Davian and Jasmine had kids and history, something he was just now building with her. He could never compete with her past but he needed to hear they were on the same page for their future. Or maybe the scrolling message on the laptop had screwed with him on a visceral level, he wasn’t sure. He just needed her reaffirmation that he was it for her.

  “Yes.”

  “Look at me, say my name and tell me. Do you want me?” There was an underlying sense of urgency in his voice. Being
vulnerable like this was alien to him and he hated not being able to change it or shrug it off.

  Her eyelids fluttered open and she searched his eyes.

  Hopefully she found whatever she needed because he had laid it all on the line for her. And now he needed her to tell him that he was the one, the only one she wanted.

  “Silas, I want you. I need you, baby. Only you.”

  He closed his eyes and dropped his forehead to hers as her words filled and warmed him. “I love you,” he whispered as he slid back and then surged forward.

  “I need you to give it to me hard and fast…no chase.”

  His heart slammed in his chest. His beast howled as he held her hips steady while he pistoned into her.

  Jasmine growled as he took her in such a primal fashion. She couldn’t catch her breath. It felt divine as his cock slid deep inside her. She grabbed his hair, pulling his mouth to hers as he thrust repeatedly into her body, sending her spiraling towards her release. She felt him thickening inside her and urged him to come with her, to meet her at the cliff. His thickness pulsed.

  Her body shuddered as she tumbled over the precipice into a shattering climax. Her heart thrummed so loud she could barely breathe due to the intensity of the moment.

  He pumped into her over and over again, and then froze as he came with a harsh cry and shot his seed, coating her walls with his essence. She felt his reclaiming bite near her neck and stroked his hair. His grip on her tightened.

  His body shook beneath the force of his release.

  She placed gentle kisses on his face. This week had been one for the books, their relationship had been tested through fire. And yet, here they were, more solid now than before. Her heart clenched. “You chose us.”

  “Hmmm?” He didn’t move.