by Sayde Grace
He tilted his head before smiling widely at her. She returned his smile. “Sister?” His high-pitched, pre-puberty voice cracked.
Sidda sucked in a breath of air to settle her unease. Looking at the smiling boy, she knew without a doubt she would protect him, because he was her brother. “Apparently. I’m Sidda Brighton.”
Dane gritted his teeth. “Siddalee Velham is your name. You are my daughter and will carry my name to the world.”
Sidda’s head snapped in Velham’s direction. She’d choke using that as her last name. No way in hell did she want the world to know she had been born from such a bastard.
“I’m Zeke Velham.” The young boy’s voice caught her attention and stopped her from arguing with Velham about it.
“Ezekeiel Velham,” Velham said.
Zeke continued, “This is our mother and our brother, Russ.”
Dane huffed out a breath. “Demetrius. When will the two of you—”
“It’s nice to meet you, Zeke, Russ.” Sidda winked at them. She could call her brothers whatever she wanted. Her heart soared. She had brothers, and beautiful, strong wolves they were.
Her eyes flicked to her mother then to Jasper’s. “Strength and Reason?” Sidda had learned lots of trivial junk over the years trying to keep her mind from missing Jasper. Both women had named their sons well.
“Yes, and when I gave birth to you I named you Mossette, for savior.” Sidda’s mom’s eyes brightened.
Why did they all think she was some kind of miracle? She shook her head. “I go by Sidda, so please call me that.” She flicked her gaze toward the tall, thick-chested young man standing behind Jasper’s mother. The black-haired, green-eyed miniature of Jasper dipped his head slightly, his eyes swirling to the green she loved so much. The teenager smiled brightly.
“I’ve dreamed of you, sister. I see my brother has fulfilled one dream already.” His eyes strayed to her mark before his gaze fell to the woman seated in front of him. “My mother Delilah, your mate’s mother.” The tall thick boy squeezed his mother’s shoulders.
“My eldest son chose well.” She inclined her head, bringing tears to Sidda’s eyes.
Dane snorted. “Our first order of business. The bond must be broken between you and Jasper. You were promised to Stephan as a child before you were lost. Now that you are back, you’re his mate. I will not have another Gandillion whore in my home. You’re not with pup, so the bond can be broken.”
“Fuck you.” Damn. Sidda regretted the outburst instantly when Dane narrowed his steely black eyes on her.
“You defy me already?” Dane rose.
“Yes, I won’t break our bond.”
“You will, or I will force you.” He towered over Sidda. She glared up at him. “Do you challenge me already, daughter?” He leaned in close, his mossy scent filling her nose. “You’re strong, and I doubt physical pain would break you, however, there are other ways to inflict pain on you.” His gaze traveled to the four people behind her. His lips curved into a hateful smile. “I see four ways here in this room, not to mention the pathetic human who raised you. I’m sure she could fill this house with her screams before I killed her.”
Sidda jumped up from her chair, no longer able to contain her rage. She’d simmered until the boil of fury had taken over. He would not touch either of her mothers, nor would he touch her brothers. “You pathetic coward. You’d use innocent women and children to force me to mate with Stephan? Why? Why not just kill me now like you tried so many years ago? You know I won’t fall in line.”
Dane laughed. “Oh, but you will. Your beautiful soothing face is what all the Luna Nation will see and trust. And beside you will stand Stephan, the one wolf I’ve cultivated to cause fear in all others. The two of you beside me will gain me all the power I need.”
Sidda narrowed her eyes and opened her mouth to argue.
“Sir.” A lean blond man walked into the office. “A stranger has broken down the gate. He’s outside demanding you release his mate. With him are a female wolf and a human male. They are nearly through the guards.”
Jasper. Sidda’s heart sang as she bolted from the room. Behind her Velham cussed, and Stephan called after her while she ran as fast as she could to the door with her brothers on her heels.
She snatched the heavy wooden door open. On the lawn, Cole wrestled one short wolf to the ground. Fists were flying everywhere, and surprisingly, Cole held his own, years of fighting boyfriends and husbands finally paying off.
“Go out that door and I swear her blood will flow until she’s dead.” Velham’s cold voice stopped Sidda in her tracks. She spun around, nearly running into Zeke.
Velham held Delilah by the neck, a knife pressed into her throat. Blood trickled down the front of her neck from where he’d already cut her.
“Go to him and I will cut her throat open and make sure he knows you are the reason.”
Sidda looked over her shoulder to where Jasper stalked his large opponent, Dane’s other guard. The man stood a good six inches taller than Jasper’s six foot, but Jasper showed no sign of fear.
“Siddalee, make your choice. Go to him and have his mother slaughtered or step back to Stephan’s side.” Dane moved closer, dragging Jasper’s mother along with him. The blade of his knife dug deeper, creating a line of crimson running down her neck.
“Father, let my mother go.” Russ stepped to his side.
“Are you challenging me, little boy?” Dane snarled at Russ.
Russ glanced at Zeke than at his mother, her eyes filled with tears. “No. Not yet.”
“Aw, but one day you believe you will. Maybe so, but for now your sister is the one holding your mother’s life in her hands. Ask her to step back, to break the bond between herself and Gandillion.”
Russ stared at Sidda. His eyes met hers. “Sister, please help us.” His words were a soft whisper in her head.
Sidda looked out at Jasper ,who was now striding toward her. The guards lay unconscious behind him. “Siddalee Brighton, get your ass out here now,” he growled, making her cringe.
Without thinking, she opened her mind to him. His fury swept over her so strong she nearly hit the ground on her knees. “Jasper, please stop. I can’t go with you. I have to help your brother and mother. He’s going to kill them if you come in or I go to you. Please don’t make me knock you out again.”
”Sidda, you’re going to have to kill me to keep me from hauling your ass out of there after I kill Stephan and Velham.”
Tears burned Sidda’s eyes. She didn’t know if he’d forgive her, but the angst in Russ’s face and the fear in Delilah’s eyes kept her focused. Jasper would just have to hate her. Sidda closed her eyes and focused on all of his Alpha power, praying the entire time he’d realize when he cooled off this was for the best. “Jasper, I love you, but I have to stay.”
“Sidda…”
Before he finished his thought, she pushed past all his mental barriers and commanded him to sleep. His eyes closed, his mind relaxed, and he slumped to the ground. Behind him Cole’s eyes widened while her sister’s filled with regret. Regret for what, Sidda didn’t know, but she did know Jasper really was going to strangle her if he ever got his hands on her again.
Chapter Twenty
“Very good, Sidda. I’m glad to see you have your powers in control. This week we will need them.” Dane’s malicious smile sent a sliver of cold down her spine.
“Let her go. I’ve sent him away, so there’s no need to have a knife at her throat now.” Sidda’s eyes bore into his.
He narrowed his at her and shook his head before releasing Delilah. “Gandillion hasn’t done a very good job showing you how to express respect for your Alpha.”
Sidda snorted. “Of course he has. But you’re not my Alpha, he is.”
Pain shot through her face, and her eyes blurred. The son of a bitch had hit her. Her jaw throbbed. She sucked back all the rage burning inside her, knowing he’d get off on seeing any pain or weakness. Stephan was at he
r side, cupping her face to make her look at him. His eyes, a deep purple, nearly black, left hers to bore into Dane’s. The buzz of his wolf neared the surface, and his hands vibrated with magic from his upcoming shift.
If she didn’t stop his change, Velham would destroy him. For a split second, she thought of letting it happen, but then clarity hit her. Stephan was her ally in the house. If he truly believed her to be his last grasp at sanity, he’d help her.
She put a hand on his heart. He stilled, gazing down at her. Sidda closed her eyes and opened her mind, dragging the anger and rage from his to hers. She imagined a door, a plain white door. Turning the brass doorknob, she opened the door to reveal a huge black hole. She smiled and poured his anger into that hole before shutting the door to it.
After shutting the door, she thought of the joy she got from seeing Jasper’s sexy teasing smile. Her body instantly warmed, and the hand over Stephan’s heart burned as she poured the peace she gained from Jasper to him. A shudder passed through Stephan.
Sidda opened her eyes. Behind them Dane smiled brilliantly.
“So I see he’s taught you more than I’d thought. You are strong, very strong. But disrespect me again, and you will force me to harm your lover’s mother. Do you think he’d ever look at you again?”
“Yes. He’d know I hadn’t caused her pain, but you had. Don’t threaten me with bullshit. Jasper’s smart. He’d know.” She stepped away from Stephan to glare at Dane.
“Maybe, but how would you ever live with yourself if you got your own blood killed? Stephan, take Ezekeiel to one of the cages. Either Siddalee will cooperate and break the marking bond this afternoon, or her brother dies.”
Panic welled within her. He couldn’t, he wouldn’t. Would he? “He’s your son. You wouldn’t hurt him.” She shook her head, hoping and praying he’d say she was right, but his eyes narrowed to thin slits before he grabbed Zeke around the neck, jerking him backward.
“That’s why I have a spare.” The knife he’d held against Jasper’s mother was now firmly placed against Zeke’s neck. He pushed into the flesh. A small line of crimson pebbled near the knife.
Stephan growled beside her. “Let the kid go.”
Dane’s eyes flicked with rage. “You dare speak to your Alpha that way? You pissant, I’ll slice his head off, followed by yours.” His knuckles whitened when he gripped the knife tighter.
Zeke paled but held still. Delilah and Scarlett inched forward. Sidda spared them a glance, but there was nothing either could do. Dane wanted her, and he was just insane enough to do what he’d threatened.
“Fine. Just let him go.” She sighed.
Stephan trembled with rage but eased back. Dane cocked his head to the side and then nodded toward two of his guards. “Escort Stephan to the cages. He’ll stay there until I’m satisfied he’s remembered who the Alpha here is.”
Stephan’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t protest. Sidda sent him one last string of calmness before the guards grabbed his upper arms and hauled him out of the foyer.
“I’ll do whatever, but let my brother go. I’d also like to take a shower.” Sidda crossed her arms.
Dane smiled. “Good girl. You’re a fast learner.” His arms dropped from around Zeke then he grasped Zeke’s shirt to wipe the blood off the blade. “Ezekiel, show your sister to her new room, away from Stephan for now. Let him remember who controls everything around here.” Dane snapped his fingers, and two other guards appeared. “Show the bitches to their room.”
Russ’s eyes caught Sidda’s for half a second before they flicked to his mother.
A buzz began in her mind, silent at first, then a full-out lightning shock. She fought to keep her hands from going to her head. No show of weakness, she reminded herself.
“Sidda?” A tentative voice drifted into her head. “I’m sorry about the jolt, but sometimes I can’t control my power when I’m angry. I’m going to try and read Father, and Zeke’s going to use his powers to calm dad enough to let me into his head. He doesn’t know I can yet, but I’ve been practicing for a few weeks. We need your help. If I can find out what Dane is up to, can you stop him?”
Could she? Sidda wanted to scream yes, but she wasn’t sure. She needed to talk to Jasper, yet she couldn’t, not yet. First, she had to have her stuff.
“I need my purse. I’ve got to call Jasper when I go take a shower. While I ask about my stuff, will that give you enough time to find out why he wants me now?” Sidda hoped Russ would be able to pick up on her thoughts.
“That’s good. I’ll be pretending to be looking over my mother while you distract him.”
“Wait, you need to focus on sneaking into his mind. If he feels you, he’ll know and slam up blocks. Slither in like a snake.”
Russ stepped to his mother’s side while Sidda stared up at Dane. “I need some clothes, and I’d like to have my purse.”
Dane nodded. “I believe your belongings, including a change of clothes, are in Stephan’s old room. Ezekiel will gather them for you. And to show you an act of goodwill, I’ll even allow you to call Gandillion and tell him what’s coming, along with your goodbyes. Then get prepared for your new life. If you stay in the past, you’ll die alongside them all.” He flashed a sardonic smile then left.
Sidda turned to Delilah and Scarlett. They both gave her soft, warm looks. Delilah patted her hand. “Call him, tell him not to speak until you’re done. Tell him about his brother, and he will silence. Jasper always had a temper, and he will want vengeance, but you must make him see past the red. Make him see you as our Alpha female.” Without another word, she spun away toward the awaiting guard.
Scarlett cast a nervous glance at the guard. She turned her head to meet Sidda’s eyes. “Saturday is the day, we’ll leave this place at your hand, and I will be reunited with my daughters and son. I look forward to thanking the woman who raised you.” Then she was gone, too.
Sidda’s heart drummed in her chest, swelling with unexpected emotions. Joy and fear both assaulted her. What if Scarlett thought she could take over her mother’s position? Sidda could never love someone the way she loved her mother, never. Yet Scarlett had given birth to her, and Scarlett’s eyes shone with love whenever she looked at Sidda. Was there enough room in her life for two mothers? Or would they even want to be in her life when this was all over?
Sidda’s tear-filled eyes met Russ’s. He winked, looking more like his older brother than she expected. He grinned before he opened his mind to her. Sidda sucked in a breath, closed her eyes, and struggled to stay standing. The boy had some intense power. Jasper would have to teach him how to reign in that zap he gave off. Sidda smiled at the thoughts he’d stolen from Dane and opened her eyes. She patted the boy on the back before following Zeke to her room.
* * * *
Goddamn son of a bitch. When Jasper got his hands on Sidda, she wouldn’t have to worry about Dane Velham killing her. No, he was going to do it himself. Shit, what the fuck had she done to him this time? He sat up on the couch again. She’d knocked him on his ass three times in the last twenty-four hours. Yes, he was going to whip her ass good when he finally got his hands on her. But first he had to figure out a way to keep her from making him pass out.
“You know it’s getting to be embarrassing.” Cole’s laughing voice rang in Jasper’s eardrums.
“What?” He grunted while rubbing his hands together.
“It’s embarrassing that little Sidda knocks you flat on your ass every time y’all fight. Hell, man, she’s a fighter, but all she has to do is look at you and wham! down you go.”
A growl ripped from Jasper’s throat. Anger pulsed in every fiber of his being.
“It is not his fault. Sidda is very powerful and doesn’t yet know how to use her power.” Vivian sat down on the opposite couch. “At least I don’t think she does. If she did, she wouldn’t continue to cause him to lose consciousness, at least I don’t think.” Her blonde hair swept from side to side as she shook her head.
“
Holy shit, you’re naïve.” Cole gaped at Vivian. “You’ve got a lot to learn about Sidda. Payback is a bitch with her. She simmers and plans until she gets it just right. This time I don’t think she’s planned it all out, but using Jasper’s power against him is right up her alley, especially since he did it to her twice.”
Vivian cocked her head to the side and chewed her bottom lip. “I still do not understand. Her planning is what will ruin Velham and return our family to its rightful place.”
Jasper surged up from the couch. “She’s not planning. She’s not thinking things through. Instead she’s gone off half-cocked and playing with death.”
Cole sighed, shaking his head. “Jasper, Sidda’s strong. I know you think you have to protect her, but over the last few years, she’s changed. Sidda isn’t the same little girl you used to run cock-block on.”
“What is cock-block?” Vivian’s flip voice drew their attention. She leaned forward, her eyebrows drawn together. “I don’t understand all these phrases.”
“Later. I’ll explain the opposite of it later.” Cole winked before his face turned to stone, and he looked at Jasper.
“I know Sidda’s strong, but she’s in over her head.” Jasper sat back down on the couch. “Dane is using her for something, and I imagine he’s not real happy she’s mated with me. For now, our bond is strong, but it’s said an Alpha has the power to break a bond between mated wolves. She’d have to be willing, and from what I got from her earlier, he’ll use our mothers to will her.”
Jasper closed his eyes, searching for the link that connected him to her. It vibrated strong with emotions. She missed him, loved him, and wanted to protect him. He opened his mind, trying to reach her, to telepath with her, but that line closed. She’d put blocks up to keep him from popping into her mind.
He wanted to be angry, wanted to rant about her blocks, but she’d given him her emotions. Those emotions meant more to him than being able to telepath with her. His anger was far from extinguished, but it had begun to smolder again.