“You lost your temper?”
Her eyebrow raised and her lip quivered. She was fighting back a smile.
“Of course I did. He was messing with my wife.”
“I’m not really your wife, Carter. None of that was real.”
“Why not? If you want to stay here with us, why shouldn’t what happened this weekend be real? Both Jareth and I care very much for you. If you want to stay here for the rest of your life, we’d be happy with that.”
“But it’s just not the same.” She sighed, head falling forward a little. “I feel badly for the people who thought it was real. Like Siva and Martin. Oh, Martin. If only my uncle had been as kind as he is. Maybe my life would have been different.”
“Siva and Martin will understand. They both care a great deal about you, and neither would stand by and see you forced into something you didn’t want.”
Lydia sat down on the hall bench, letting her pack slip to the floor as she buried her face in her hands.
“That’s the problem. At some point, I forgot it wasn’t real, or maybe I fooled myself. This weekend has been the happiest of my life. I just want it to be real.”
Carter knelt before Lydia, gently pulling her hands from her face. He lovingly wiped away the tears on her face. He rested his forehead against hers.
“Lydia. Did you just say what I think you said?”
“I don’t know, Carter. I’m so confused.”
“So tell me about the things you’re sure of, and we’ll let the rest fall into place. It really can be just that simple.”
She took a deep, quivering breath, trying to steel herself for what she was about to say.
“The things I don’t know could fill a book, but there are a few things that changed in me. I don’t even know when. I just woke up one day and I was different. Do you know what I mean?”
“I do. I’ve felt that way for a while now.”
“I went from knowing that I had to run as far and as fast away from Kentucky as I could, to wondering if I should stay another week. Then another week turned into another month. And then, one day, I was dreading the thought of leaving in the spring. I don’t know. I just feel right here.”
“I know this place feels much better with you here.”
Carter kissed her damp cheek, the gesture very tender and without pretense. He was only offering comfort. His kiss nearly undid Lydia.
“That’s the thing. My entire life, all I’ve heard about tigers is that they’re bad people. That they’re cunning and they trap humans with their lies. And then, I meet you two. And you’re so kind, and loving, and gentle. You’re both everything I would ever have wanted in a man. That is, if I’d had the time to consider anything beyond survival.”
“But isn’t that enough, for now? To be safe and to feel protected? The rest will come. Maybe you don’t love us today. And maybe you never will. But you’re safe here, and we’ll protect you with our lives if we have to.”
“But what about Gavin?”
“What about him? Even if Adam goes to him, his decree is useless now. He can come here and fight, but the decree doesn’t go into effect until a year after our wedding. So what is he going to do?”
“It hasn’t seemed to stop him in the past.”
“He does what he wants, you’re right, but he’s not counting on one thing.”
“And what is that?”
“Almost every shifter in the state is at our home right now. And more than half of them have told myself or Jareth how much they adore you. Maybe everyone won’t fight, but you can bet that more than a few will be willing to stand up for you when the time comes.”
“Do you really think that?”
“I know Martin will. And Siva. I watched the way people looked at you. You have something about you that draws people in. I know we’re not the only ones that would protect you.”
Lydia nodded, but her expression didn’t lighten.
“Lydia,” Carter tilted her chin so she had to look at him. “What’s wrong?”
“I’m just not ready for all of this. I care about you both so much, but I want to feel like I have a choice. And not the choices I have now. But an actual choice that doesn’t put my life and the life of others in danger.”
“I can understand that. Tell me, what do you need to feel like you have some power in all this?”
“I just need some time. I need some space to think, and to figure out what I want out of all of this.”
“What about a vacation?”
“What do you mean?”
“We could send you on a cruise or pretty much anything you want for a few weeks.”
She sighed.
“I don’t think that’s really going to work. Because you’re still controlling what I do and where I go.”
She searched his eyes, doubt and uncertainty etched on her face.
“I get it. If we know where you are then we can just come get you at any time. So you really aren’t making a choice, it just looks like you are.”
“Exactly. If I walk away, with no promise to return, then I can live on my terms.” It was her turn to cup his face in her hands. “I hope you know that doesn’t mean I don’t love you both. I do. The scary thing is, I don’t even know how that happened. But I have to know that I’m here for the right reasons. And you’re right, if I can’t share my secret with you, then I’m not really ready. I want to do this right or not at all.”
“I understand. I don’t like it, and I don’t want to risk losing you, but I understand how you feel.”
She kissed him on the cheek.
“Thank you for not making me feel bad about it. It’s hard enough admitting to myself that I’ve been in love with both of you for a long time now.”
Carter chuckled.
“I totally get that. I’m not sure when it happened for me either. I just woke up one day and realized that I was terrified of you leaving. When you said you wanted to stay until spring, I was so very happy.”
Carter slid onto the bench beside her, pulling her into his arms and holding her close. He breathed in the scent of her, squeezing her tighter as he did.
“You were so beautiful tonight. You’re always beautiful. But there was something about seeing you on the arm of another man, walking down the aisle towards us that took my breath away. If you decide to come back, I wouldn’t be opposed to marrying you again.”
Lydia pulled back and laughed.
“Are you crazy? That was exhausting. Did you see how many times I had to change?”
“I didn’t really notice, I have to admit.”
“This weekend was over the top, and it’s not even over. No, when I come back, we can count this as our wedding. Doing it again is too much.”
“So it’s not if you’ll come back, but when?”
“Right now, that’s how I feel. When I get out of here, I might feel differently.”
“For now, this is enough. I really believe that you’ll come back. Even if it feels like an eternity without you, knowing you’ll come back will make it bearable.”
His strong arms wrapped around her again and she leaned into his embrace.
“I still need to leave. Sooner rather than later. Who knows, maybe I’ll be back long before the year is up and we’ll get pregnant anyway.”
“That was the hope.”
Lydia punched Carter’s arm playfully.
“You’re terrible.”
“You can’t blame a guy for wanting to be with you, Lydia. You’re amazing.”
He stopped, lost in thought for a moment before he continued.
“You can’t leave tonight. I don’t think anything will happen tonight, but Gavin is more likely to come after you in daylight.”
“Why?”
“Because he can shift and sneak up on you. You’d be dead before you knew he was coming. In the daylight, there are rules about shifting where a human might see. You’re safer leaving during the day.”
“So tomorrow?”
Carter
sucked in a ragged breath. Lydia’s heart ached for him and the pain she was causing, but she stood firm.
“Tomorrow, you can leave. But for tonight, you’re mine. And I’m not going to let you go.”
CHAPTER TEN
Adam groaned from the bushes between the walkway and the house. His head was throbbing and his cheek hurt. It was still dark, so he knew he hadn’t been out long.
“Is somebody there?” a man’s voice called out.
“Yeah. I’m here. Had a little too much to drink, ya know?”
The man chuckled, coming out of the darkness and reaching his hand out to Adam.
“Don’t I know it, buddy,” the man said, pulling Adam to his feet.
Adam’s head spun and he stumbled.
“Whoa there, son. Take it easy.”
The man was older, with a pleasant disposition and a friendly way about him.
“I’m fine. It’s my first wedding and I got a little carried away.”
The man clapped him on the back.
“Well, then. Let me help you to the tents so you can sleep it off.”
Adam stopped the man.
“I’m not drunk and I have a driver. I just need to get to my car.”
“Leaving already?”
“I’ve had enough,” he reached his hand up to his cheek and touched it gingerly, “and apparently, I got into a brawl with the stone walkway. I need to sleep this off at home so I don’t lose my job come Monday morning.”
The man chuckled.
“Fair enough. I’ll help you that way and you can be on your way then. It’s a shame you have to leave.”
The man wrapped his arm around Adam’s waist, holding him up as they went. When they moved from the shadows of the house and onto the brightly-lit driveway, Adam was surprised to see that the man helping him was none other than Martin. Lydia’s Tribute.
“You’re the man that gave away the bride.”
“I sure am. Proudest day of my life.”
“What’s she like? Did you get to talk to her a lot before the wedding?”
“You know she’s taken, right?” Martin’s voice was light as he playfully elbowed Adam in the ribs.
“Oh yeah. I know that. I just wondered because, well, she’s not from around here.”
“No, she isn’t from around here. I don’t know much about her, but I do know she’s incredibly sweet. And she loves those two tigers with all her heart, even if she doesn’t know it yet.”
“How do you know?”
“A man my age knows more than you would expect him to. I’ve seen that look in my own love’s eyes, and we’ve been together for more than half our lives. She loves them, it’s plain as day.”
Adam was silent. If he were a different man, maybe he would care that Lydia loved the men. It was obvious that, at the very least, Carter loved her fiercely. Wasn’t that enough?
But Adam wasn’t that type of man, and he couldn’t wait to get away from Martin so that he could report back to Gavin. Gavin was going to be thrilled when he got the news. All he needed was proof that Lydia and the men had married under false pretenses. With no baby to prove that they were truly married, it would be easy to convince the other council members that Lydia was an unnecessary risk. She’d seen too much.
“Well, here we are,” Adam announced when they made it to the car.
His driver was asleep in his seat, hat over his eyes and jacket pulled up to his chin.
“Glad you could make it, Friend. Have a safe trip home.”
With that, Martin waved as he walked off, heading back towards the party. Adam looked at the sleeping driver through the window with disgust. What was he doing? Just because Adam had been out at the party for hours didn’t mean this man was on a break.
He used his knuckles to rap on the window loudly, startling the man out of a deep sleep. The man sat bolt upright, looking around in confusion for a moment before he remembered where he was.
“This isn’t a vacation. I need to leave now.”
“Yes, sir.”
The driver turned the car on before he jumped out to open the front passenger door for Adam.
“Sir, what happened to your face?”
“What does it matter to you?”
“Sorry, sir. It just looks like you might need a few stitches, or ten.” He whispered the last part under his breath.
Adam turned on the interior light, pulling down the visor mirror and looking at his injuries in the dim light.
“Shit! You’re right. Take me to the hospital.”
“Yes, sir,” the driver’s voice was neutral, but there was a hint of a smile in it.
Maybe it was wrong of him, but he thought that maybe, just maybe, Adam had finally gotten a taste of what he deserved.
The hospital was a good ways away, and Adam was eager to give Gavin the news. Even if it was four in the morning on a Sunday. Adam hit speed-dial on his phone, dialing up Gavin’s office and cursing the fact that he didn’t have Gavin’s home number. More than once, he’d asked for it, only to be told that the private number was reserved for family and friends.
The last comment had hurt Adam, but he hid it well. He’d been Gavin’s assistant for a few years, since he was old enough to work. Even after three years of loyal service, Gavin still treated Adam like a peon. An orphan, Gavin was the closest thing that Adam had had to a family for a very long time. He wasn’t looking for Gavin to start calling him son, but acknowledging that Adam was more than just an employee would have been nice. Adam didn’t feel like this was asking too much. Gavin paid him peanuts and expected him to be available to assist him at any given time day or night. That kind of loyalty was worth more than Gavin gave him credit for.
Maybe now, Gavin would see how valuable Adam really was and give him the rank and title he so richly deserved.
“This time, I have something you want, old man. Maybe now, you’ll see that you can’t run your empire without me.”
“Sir?”
Adam was suddenly snapped back to reality. He looked around the little sedan at the driver and leered at him. Even though the man was the same age as his own father, Adam felt little need to show him any respect. After all, if he respected himself, he wouldn’t be a driver to more successful people than he. He would go after his dreams and be somebody instead of being content as a nobody.
His lack of drive and determination was not Adam’s fault, and Adam had no intention of coddling the man and making him feel good about himself when he didn’t deserve it. He was a servant to Adam, nothing more.
“No one is talking to you.”
“But we’re alone, sir.”
“Even if we’re alone, no one is talking to you. You’re to be seen and never heard, are we clear?”
The driver eyed him in the mirror but said nothing.
“Good boy. Now you get it.”
They rode the rest of the way to the hospital in silence, the driver focused on his task and Adam lost in his own thoughts.
His call had gone straight to voicemail each time, and he wasn’t about to leave a message. Not only did he want to avoid his driver hearing the news and running his mouth, but he wanted to be the first to tell Gavin. Gavin was destined for great things and was on his way to running the show among the tigers. Adam wanted to be sure his place beside Gavin was assured.
Everyone knew that the leader was just a figure-head. The true power was in being the leader’s right-hand man. Adam was going to be that person, and he didn’t care how he got there.
After several calls that went unanswered, Adam gave up and left a voicemail.
“Gavin, it’s me, Adam. Listen, this news can’t wait. You were right about that woman and her tigers. Totally fake. She didn’t even know about the decree. She took off when I told her, and she was angry. We need to act fast, I think she’s planning on leaving soon; maybe even this afternoon. Call me ASAP.”
He rattled off his number, repeating it a second time in case Gavin had missed it. Gavin wasn’t known
for his patience. If he couldn’t understand the number, he was likely to skip calling Adam and head out to confront Lydia and her husbands without Adam. Adam wouldn’t miss the fight that was bound to happen for anything in the world. He’d been itching to sink his teeth into Jareth and Carter for a while now. Those two smug bastards wouldn’t know what hit them when he was done with them.
Adam hung up and leaned back in his seat, feeling frantic. Gavin wouldn’t be in his office today and his call-service only worked Sunday evening through Friday morning. If Gavin didn’t get the message today, they might lose their chance.
He sat up abruptly, head spinning with the sudden motion. Maybe Gavin wouldn’t get his voicemail today, but surely the man checked his emails when he was out of the office. Who didn’t? Adam smiled. Yes, email was probably the better option.
He opened his emails on his smart phone, quickly typing out a short email.
Gavin,
I have news that can’t wait. Please call me ASAP.
-Adam
He sent it and sat back in his seat. His head was throbbing and, now that he’d seen the extent of the cut on his cheek, he could feel the edges of the cut pulsing as well.
“Can’t you drive any faster, you fool?”
“I’m already fifteen over the speed-limit, sir.”
“How far away are we?”
“From the nearest hospital, sir, it is about twenty more minutes.”
“What the hell! Can’t you do anything right?”
“I don’t build hospitals, sir.”
Adam’s face contorted with barely contained rage, but he said nothing. This driver was an idiot, but he wouldn’t be around for long. As soon as Gavin found out what Adam had for him, Adam’s life would get better. No more using his meager earnings to pay a driver so that he looked important. He would finally be important, and he’d have everything he ever needed.
Then, they would see.
“Wake me when we get there. I don’t want to hear a peep out of you until then, Winston.”
“Yes, sir.”
Adam reclined the seat. He winced as the change in angle caused his head to throb even more for a brief moment. A small lump on the back of his head forced him to turn his head to the side. He was miserable and Carter was going to pay for slamming him into the side of the house like that. He’d make sure that the girl died a slow and painful death right in front of Carter.
The Tigers Shared Mate Page 11