by Marie Harte
His. His bonded. Soon, he’d claim her. Once he did, he’d forbid her to cut herself again. He might just forbid her the bike, as well.
Tabithia tipped her head back, running a small hand along his arm, and his brain did a full stop.
“Well, we’d better get on with this programme or she’s going to flip out on us, not the little fire demon.”
Little? Agni was many things, but little was not one of them. The demon stood as tall as Aeros, if not a few breaths taller. Lean, but muscled from years of sword fighting, the demon was a force of nature when he fought. Aeros didn’t doubt for a moment the demon was more deadly than all his Spartans put together when pissed off and more intelligent than was good for the puzzle-loving demon. Aeros had seen the man stare at a problem for weeks, strategise and plan, until finally finding the answer. He had one of those one-track minds that drove most people insane to be around, but aided them more than once in the long years he’d fought with the man. Fire was his nickname, and he was quick to temper. His light hair and golden skin marked him as a member of the fire demons. His way with the ladies was legendary, though, and, if he thought Samantha was his, he wouldn’t see her trap until it was sprung.
Torment, on the other hand, was almost the opposite of his fun-loving friend. Tall, dark, silent, thoughtful, he moved with purpose in all he did. Aeros had fought side by side with both, and yet he knew Torment far less than he knew the boisterous fire demon. Very little set Torment off—in fact, Aeros had never seen the man lose his temper. Tattoos ran along the left side of his face and piercings along his ear marked him as a leader among the Free Demon Councils. He always sat in the background of the Immortal Council, barely speaking, but when he did, others listened.
Tabithia moved to pull away, as if to follow Samantha, but he gripped her around the waist, halting her easily. “Just as long as you aren’t helping her teach the demon a lesson.”
She tossed her head and grinned up at him over her shoulder. “Nah, I think you made your point quite clear, Sparkie.”
“As long as you got the point, Tabithia, that’s all that counts.”
“Aeros, you don’t need to worry about me in that way…” She paused, clearly serious, but worried enough to nibble her lip. She looked so adorable he wanted to kiss her but knew she’d not be too pleased. They’d shared a few kisses before Samantha had arrived, much to the dismay of the barkeep, One Eye, but he knew she had been self-conscious.
“Come, I know this. Now, let us help your friend as best we can. I still find it hard to believe that Agni would lie to her.”
“Well, he definitely gave her some messed-up information. Come on, and do you know everyone?”
He slung an arm over her slender shoulders and tucked her in tight to his side as they pushed their way through the crowded tap room. She threaded her arm around his waist.
“I know the members of the council, Tabithia. I serve on it. As does your aunt, Sorcha.”
“Ah, yes, the very wise Sorcha. You sound nervous of my aunt, Aeros.”
“Me? Nervous? She is nothing but a candle to your blaze, sweetheart.”
Tabithia stumbled and gave him a quick, doubtful frown. Clearly she didn’t agree.
“‘Tis true,” he whispered right before they reached the others.
He straightened and greeted the men in a louder voice, “Agni, Torment, it’s good to see you both.”
Both demons grinned, and they clasped forearms. Agni’s distracted grimace and brief hello made him grin at Torment. If Samantha thought to get information out of the man the way Tabithia hinted, Agni was a goner. Torment’s amused look said he knew his friend was walking into a trap. He doubted Samantha would hurt Agni, and he knew Agni would never harm a woman, but still his instincts warned that more was afoot.
Agni curled his arm around Samantha’s waist, and the witch allowed it. Agni flashed his perfect smile and said, “Get us a booth, would you, Tor?”
“Aeros, it is good to see you, and looking so well. Tabithia, I know your aunt well. It’s a pleasure to meet you at last,” Torment said, pausing by a large booth set back in a corner of the pub.
They still had a clear view of the establishment, the front door and the hall Samantha was leading Agni down. Aeros nodded at Torment’s choice and helped Tabithia scoot in before he sat down close to her side.
“Oh? Did my aunt speak of me?” Tabithia sounded almost hopeful under her normal teasing tone. “I can’t imagine she had much good to say, Torment.”
“Ah, your aunt keeps her heart well hidden, little one. And those closest to her, even more concealed.”
“Sorcha is quick with orders and slow with the information,” Aeros agreed, knowing Tabithia would laugh.
She did and curled her hand in his. “Ha, you do know Sorcha. Do you know everyone?”
“I have lived long, Tabithia. Agni and Torment have fought together with my men in several battles throughout the years.”
Torment nodded. “Aye, the Spartans don’t hold the same kinds of ideas on demons that many other immortals maintain.”
“Ideas? Like that you’re devils with forked tongues and horns hidden in your hair? Those kind of ideas?” Tabithia sipped her drink and grinned at Torment.
The demon sat back in his seat and Aeros knew from experience that the man was reassessing Tabithia. She looked amazing tonight. The tiny pink T-shirt she wore with glittered words across her full bosom made her look ultra-feminine, that and the low-slung, barely-covering-her-hip-bones jeans. With her red hair down and her fair complexion, she looked young, too young, and completely harmless.
It seemed looks could even fool a full-grown demon.
“Ah, yes, those would be some of the ideas. You forgot long, forked tails, too.”
Tabithia laughed merrily and saluted with her drink. “So, how long did you say you’ve known Aeros?”
A disturbance from across the bar caught Aeros’ attention. Tabithia’s thigh tensed next to his. A tall, dark-haired Lykae entered the bar from the far end. Eyes flickering with his wolf, he gave the room a long sweep of his gaze and started off for a table full of Lykae at the other side of the crowded room.
“I’ve fought in many battles with the Spartans. They have always come to the aid of the fiercest battles. Aeros more than most. I’ve never fought beside a man so used to war. He’s taken hits most men would never recover from and simply shaken them off and kept up his defences, giving his men hope, even in the worst of fights.”
Aeros shifted, suddenly uncomfortable with Torment’s praise. Tabithia would think him… She snuggled up closer to his side.
“He is very brave. He didn’t even flinch when the jungle attacked us in South America. Most men would have. Instead he stood his ground and, even when we were attacked by a disgusting goat-eating monster, he simply found a way to kill the thing before it killed us.” She spoke as if he could do anything, solve any problem, and conquer any enemy.
The warmth in his chest threatened to swallow him. With Tabithia, he would do whatever it took to keep her. Safe. Whole.
“You’re a lucky man, Aeros. See you remember that.”
“I doubt I will forget, Torment.” He’d waited his entire life, how could he?
A commotion shuddered through the crowded bar then, dragging all their attention from the conversation. A large man in black, followed by four others, suddenly came down the hallway from where Samantha had led Agni. One of the men stayed behind to block the hallway.
He glanced at Torment, but the demon grimaced and pulled out his phone. Checking the thing, he grumbled something under his breath that sounded like “Damn fool woman” and got up from the booth.
“I have to go. Agni has left, either way. It seems your friend might have met more than she can handle alone.” Torment tilted his head and frowned. “Or maybe not. You’d do good to let them have a little time, though.”
Tabithia pushed at him urgently to get up. He didn’t budge. “Them?”
�
�I think little Samantha may have met her mate.”
“Mate?” Tabithia popped him with a fist in the gut. He pulled her hand up and kissed her fingers, not looking away from Torment.
“Derrick is her mate?”
Torment grinned and saluted as he misted out of the room.
Tabithia struggled harder to move him. “Shit. Oh, shit no. I have to get out there. Move, Aeros!”
“Let them have some time, Tabithia.”
Tabithia squirmed and moved away from under his arm. “Look, Samantha is my friend. I will do anything, anything, for her. So, either you’re with me or you’re not. She needs me, well, she might, and that’s enough for me. Now, move it!”
Her eyes sparkled, and her hands glowed green. She hesitated…waiting for him? He nodded and rose, helping her up and stepping back to let her lead.
“She’s my friend, Aeros.”
“I understand, sweetheart. We should use the front door.” He moved next to her, pulling her close when the crowded bar halted their progress. He shouldered his way through and caught a glimpse of Ranger, a Lykae general he knew was the right-hand man of Alrick, the king of all Lykaes. Shit, what had Samantha got herself into? And them?
They burst out into the night air and halted at the sound of a deep, menacing growl.
Tabithia swung her head around to the right and then back to him. “See! I told you! I’ll nail his ass to the wall if he’s harmed Sammie.”
Her hands blossomed with power, and, before he could stop her, assure her Derrick would never harm his mate, she tore off at a fast run. Caught by surprise, he took off after her, heart pounding at the trouble they’d landed in.
How was he supposed to handle seeing his old friend after so long, if his own bonded wanted to nail his ass to the wall? And she could, too.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
“Silver? What the hell is—? Oh, shit.” Tabithia slowed her jog as soon as she saw Samantha standing, whole and apparently unharmed. Well, she looked like she’d been having sex in an alley, but other than that—whole.
Aeros pounded up behind her. He shot her a confused look. Yeah, she got that. So much for the rescue. It seemed Samantha had the wolf on a leash.
“It’s all right. I got what I needed, plus some.” Samantha jerked a thumb at the huge, very intense Lykae standing guard over her.
“Tabithia, Aeros, meet Derrick MacKenzie.” Catching her gaze, Samantha rolled her eyes.
Next to her, Aeros surprised her by striding forward, a big grin on his face as he clasped forearms with the guy. Derrick even pounded Aeros on the back a few times, grinning back at Aeros.
“MacKenzie, it’s been a while. Glad to see you’ve survived.”
“Aeros, damn, man, look at you,” Derrick said.
Tabithia shared a look with Samantha. Men. Really, they were odd. But it kinda figured one ancient warrior knew the other, Tabithia supposed.
The two men exchanged a few more words, and Aeros blew her away by introducing her with something close to pride in his eyes.
“This little witch came out here to fry your ass, man. I’m glad it wasn’t necessary.”
Derrick turned and gave her a cocky grin. Hand over his heart, he bowed at the waist.
Tab blinked, and exchanged the ‘what the fuck?’ look with Samantha.
“‘Tis nice to meet you, Tabithia.”
“Uh, yeah…” Tab looked behind them to the broken back door, before giving their dishevelled clothing a once-over. “So, what did the demon have to say?” Tab finally asked.
A tense, ‘oh-shit’ second filled the alley.
Samantha glared daggers at her. Still, it was pretty funny. Had her friend finally met her match? It would seem so.
“Pow-wow not so good?”
“The pow-wow went okay,” Samantha grumbled.
Derrick appeared to grow much more serious and a hell of a lot bigger. His eyes flashed lighter, and Tabithia sucked in a breath. His wolf was wild. The inner part of all Lykae lay hidden from view most of the time, but that eye-flashing shit meant his inner beast was listening. And not pleased.
“There will be no more pow-wows, female.”
When he reached up to grab Samantha, her friend broke away, her anger apparent—and rightly so. She exchanged a look with Aeros at his friend’s actions, but Aeros simply met her stare, an unrecognisable look on his face. Worried, maybe. He should be.
Tabithia turned back to the wolf. Obviously, the ancient wolf needed an attitude adjustment.
Hands on her hips she said, “Whoa there, did you just—?”
“Tabithia, Derrick has been missing for a very long time. Captured, I take it?”Aeros asked.
Derrick gave Samantha a suspicious look, but shifted his eyes to Aeros when Samantha didn’t speak. Oh, she glared like she wanted to take his head off, but her friend was silent.
Derrick nodded sharply. “Aye. Samantha found and released me.”
Interesting. So captive for two hundred years. Maybe he was a bit rough around the edges because of that. She nodded and gestured to Samantha. “And you found Silver here, tonight. How?”
He stared at Samantha for a long, intense moment before his golden eyes flashed to her face. Reluctantly, he reined in his aggression and nodded towards the back door.
“I had help.”
Tabithia glanced at Aeros again for help deciphering his friend’s meaning. The guy had a wicked, thick, Scots accent, but it wasn’t that. Hell, she was used to that. The problem was what he said. Or didn’t say. The guy barely spoke.
Samantha suddenly shifted away from him, her face set in a scowl.
“Help? Who helped you?” she demanded.
Derrick shrugged a shoulder casually, clearly not realising how upset Samantha was.
“My brother, his men, the man you just met, Ranger. We found your home—’tis verra beautiful.”
Tabithia felt the ground sway under her feet. He’d been to Samantha’s cabin? No one, no one except for very few select individuals knew where Sammie called home. The Death Stalkers wanted her too bad for her to let her location become common knowledge. And this guy had been there?
She took a step forward only to have Aeros draw her back. Impatient, she shook his hand off her shoulder and said, “Wait, wait, wait. You went to the cabin? How? With who?”
Samantha spoke on top of Tabithia’s question, “Bethany. Did you scare her?”
Derrick shook his head, and Tabithia let out a breath she hadn’t realised she’d been holding. If he’d harmed Bethany… Without really thinking about it, Tabithia took Aeros’ big hand. He held hers firmly, giving her some much needed strength.
“Nay, nay, we merely hovered, we dinnae land the ‘copters.”
“Holy shit,” Aeros muttered.
He rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. His other hand on Tabithia’s tightened once before he loosened his grip a bit. They exchanged a look, and she tried to silently tell him he needed to ask what the hell Derrick was talking about because she couldn’t speak.
Aeros narrowed his eyes and turned to Derrick. “You flew helicopters to Samantha’s home?”
“Nay, nay, no’ me. My men, no’ me.”
Samantha exploded. “Holy shit! Do you realise how many evil little shits would love to know where my home is? Where to find it? And you flew to it? With a helicopter? Discussing coordinates on a radio?”
Tabithia stepped forward, pulling her friend’s arm to get her attention. They needed to find out what the damage was, if there was any. The wolf had no idea he’d harmed Samantha or her sister—that was clear, at least.
“Silver, calm down. Call Star, see—”
Samantha’s phone interrupted them. Samantha nearly dropped the thing trying to answer it.
“Star?”
Relief flooded Tabithia, but tension tightened her shoulders. Had there been an attack?
Star spoke for a few moments, then Samantha said, “Wait, wolves? They’re there, still?”
; Samantha shot Derrick a quick look.
Derrick frowned, clearly upset. He shook his head. He’d folded his big arms over his chest, looking a bit like a boy caught in some kind of trouble. If boys could be over six foot and dangerous-looking, that is.
“Are there wolves outside my home?” Samantha demanded.
“Nay, they are with me now. No one is there, Samantha. I dinnae know such a thing would cause you—”
“Star, are they still there?”
Moving closer, Tabithia heard Star say, “Well, as of two minutes ago, yeah, but now, no. Who was that?”
Samantha speared Derrick with a don’t-mess-with-me-now look when he tried to speak. “Two minutes ago they left, Derrick.”
He looked confused, then pissed off. “What? No’ possible, Samantha.”
“Samantha? Who is that? And yeah, first round left hours ago, this was the second round of wolves.”
Derrick shook his head.
Aeros shot Derrick a look, then another look—a worried one—to her.
“There was only our team, no other,” Derrick finally said.
“Shh—” Samantha interrupted him again.
Tabithia gripped Aeros’ hand tighter.
“Ask her who is there, now,” she urged Samantha.
Samantha’s blue eyes darkened in worry. She nodded once. “Star, who’s there now?”
“No one, no one. Just me. Bethany called, worried about the helicopters. She said it was a pack of wolves in two helicopters, then right before I got here, she called to say different wolves were here.”
Derrick snorted. “I dinnae know who was there afterwards. But I will find out.”
Damn it, the guy was irritating. And obviously telling the truth. But he’d gone to Samantha’s house? In a ‘copter? The other men had to know how dangerous—in mid thought her instincts roared and the hair stood up on the back of her neck like a scalded cat. Death Stalkers approached. She shot a quick look down the alley and sensed them coming closer, from that direction.
“Samantha, cut the call short!”