A car traveled up her driveway, parking next to the Land Rover. Meridian climbed out, her pale blue eyes sparkling in the too bright sun, her short blue, wispy hair blowing around her pixie-like face. “You truly want Nikolai Svette revived?”
“Unfortunately, he may be the only one to break the wards protecting the Roantree property. My quest ends there.”
The Paineater nodded, a smirk on her lips. “And you’re sure you’ll find what you’re looking for there?”
“At least where to find it.”
“You realize his mission is to find the pendant and bring it back to his masters.”
“Yes, but I’ll kill him before he gets the chance.”
A shudder rocked through Meridian. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Canagan did too. “Let me suggest you take his ability to drain magic. I only need him long enough to get answers from Savon, or bring her wards down. And I don’t want him draining her, or us. The magic he siphoned before will run out soon. Let him use the rest up dealing with Savon and die.”
Crystal blue eyes narrowed. “He may not overpower her if he can’t.”
“Taking from Savon would make him too powerful. Sever his ability to drain magic and he dies before he can take revenge.”
“Bring me to him.”
Chapter 25
At the meat counter, Savon waited for the butcher to fill her order of lamb chops. She turned to Nate. “So, how was your day?”
Nate rubbed at his neck and looked down an aisle.
Gray-blue of doubt rolled through his aura.
“Talk to me. What happened?” she demanded.
“Needed answers, crossed lines I never thought I would, and I think your brother might be afraid of me.”
“What the hell happened?”
He met her gaze and shook his head. “This conversation can wait for the car.”
Savon looked around. There were several wolves in the grocery store. He was right. “We’ll come back to that. Other than that portion of your day, what’s going on with you?”
“That was my day, except when I was with you.” Nate smiled at the butcher.
Savon took the package of meat. “Thank you.” She placed it in the cart and went to the produce section for a few more things.
She couldn’t help wondering what he’d done to look so torn. Then she realized what might bother him.
Clay.
What the hell had her doctor done?
And discussing it around other werewolves with super-sensitive hearing couldn’t be wise. Man, she hoped he wasn’t changing for her.
Nate tried to reach for his wallet at the checkout counter. She grabbed his hand. “My treat.”
“You’re having a lot of people over. Some of which aren’t your friends.”
“Yeah, who? Robert and Preston? You aren’t friends with either of them.”
“Evangeline,” Nate corrected.
She smirked. “After this afternoon, I think it’s safe to call her a friend. Let me deal with dinner. You can do it next time.”
“What happened with her?”
“We had a good talk on the way from her café.”
He chuckled. “That’s a relief.”
“And it helps that she has a thing for Bran.”
“Wait, what?” he asked.
She glanced back and shrugged. “Figure it might take a little work, but they’ll be next to mate.” She paid the cashier and out the doors they went.
He helped her load the trunk and took the cart back before she could argue. She slipped into the driver’s seat, and he joined her.
She took his hand. “What happened today? Was it something to do with Clay?”
“Yeah, tore into him to get information.” He glanced at his hands with a sigh. “Bran had every right to freak out on me. I shifted and nearly ripped Clay’s guts out. Then made Bran hold him together while I sewed him up.”
Savon’s lips quirked. “What did he do to deserve that?”
“He didn’t do a damned thing at the time, but Bran told me what he planned to do to you. He’s never touching you.”
“Thank you.” She leaned over and placed a tender kiss on his lips.
“You aren’t shocked? Disgusted? Worried I’ll turn into my father?”
“Not in the slightest. You’re worried about that, which is the first sign you’re nothing like him. Second, and you need to understand this, I’ve done worse. Never without reason, but I can be downright scary when I need to be.”
“What’s the worst thing you’ve done?” he asked.
She winced. “Burned a vampire alive until he gave me the key to release a friend. Bastard was stubborn. Lost an arm and a leg. He gave it up when I got to his balls. I killed him anyway.”
“For a friend?”
Nodding, she shrugged. “Not a boyfriend. A friend.” She didn’t bother to mention the casual sex. That didn’t seem important.
“Do that kind of stuff often?”
“Sort of. Wasn’t all the time, but often enough to consider it a part-time job.”
“Is that what you want to do?”
“Not full-time. I need my time to create.” She released his hand to start the Jeep. “You afraid now?”
“No. Like I said, the important stuff hasn’t changed. You have a sense of justice and you follow your heart.”
“You did the same. Even if you aren’t comfortable with it now.”
“Does it get easier?”
“What? Hurting someone to get to the bottom of something? As long as they are guilty, yes. If it were an innocent, then I can’t imagine that ever feeling good. Not for you, not for me.”
“He wanted to take you from me. Just the thought sent me over the edge.”
A smile graced her lips. “Yeah, well, I’d do worse if our situations were switched.”
He wrapped his hand around her thigh. “I really don’t have to worry about you, do I?”
“Generally, no. Right now, probably. I don’t plan on going out on my own. Not until this is over.”
“I can’t lose you again.”
“You won’t.” She drove them back to her house and looked over with a smile. “And for the record, Clay couldn’t have entered my home. He couldn’t have stepped on the porch. He would have received one hell of a shock.”
“Why were Tremaine’s mage pals able to get on your porch?”
“They were with him. Had they been alone, they wouldn’t have.”
“And how many do you trust?”
“Not many. I did adjust my wards after Evangeline dropped me off to allow her in.”
“And Jay and his crew?”
“I didn’t put the wards up until after everyone left.”
“You didn’t lock me off your property.”
“Thought about it. But you did take care of me that first night. As much as I hurt seeing you in the flesh, part of me wanted to fall into you. I was scared.”
“No more fear. Not about me.”
“None,” she promised. What they shared was much more than what they had when they were kids.
* * * *
Savon gracefully moved around her kitchen like an expert. He was surprised because he didn’t have the first clue what to do with lamb.
She didn’t even complain when he stood there, transfixed, watching her every movement.
He lost himself in self-reflection. Savon was right. He’d been justified, even if his choice of action had been extreme.
The bell rang. Savon smiled over her shoulder as she chopped the salad. “Mind getting that?”
Dipping his head, he trailed his fingers across her back where her shirt rose slightly to reveal the tempting slice of flesh. He kissed her shoulder. “Sure.”
Evangeline stood on the porch, in front of Bran. She seemed far more comfortable around him than usual.
Nate had to wonder why. One more thing he should have
asked Savon while he had the chance.
“Evening, Nate. You okay?” Evangeline asked.
Nate looked over her shoulder at Bran and made eye contact.
Bran nodded, no longer looking at him like he was the Antichrist. “We’re good, man. Needed a little perspective.”
“Then I’m good. Come in.” Nate stepped aside and they both entered.
Nate walked back to the kitchen to carry everything to the table. She had the whole meal covered.
Bran laughed. “When did you learn to do all this?”
She shrugged. “Spent a lot of time with a chef. Learned a ton.”
Don’t want to know, Nate reminded himself.
They settled into dinner, and Nate insisted on cleaning, since he insisted on helping, then hadn’t. Bran joined him and they fell into their normal banter. He could almost forget the shitstorm brewing on the horizon.
Chapter 26
Maybe Silvertail Ridge could be her home again. Savon finally felt like she belonged somewhere, instead of simply drifting. And yeah, a chunk of that had to do with Nate.
She smiled as his hand splayed across her stomach, pulling her closer.
He nuzzled her neck. “Morning, lover.”
She turned her head, capturing his gaze. “Could get used to this.”
“What?” he murmured.
She rolled to face him, wrapping a leg around his hip. “Waking up with you. So how does this work? You staying here? Or your home?”
“Nothing I need is at my house. Your whole livelihood is here. You’re set up to paint.” He placed a kiss on her nose. “Honestly, as long as I’m with you, I couldn’t give a damn where we are, but you still have things to find here.”
“That I do.” She drew a slow breath and released it. “There’s really nothing you want from your house?”
“Nothing I can’t easily move. Besides, we could build our own home, something uniquely ours at any time.”
“And how do you feel about becoming Alpha?”
He rolled to his back and pushed his fingers though his hair. “Used to be afraid of it. Didn’t want to become my father. But Bran is right. I can lead without becoming that asshole.”
“Why would you ever think you would be anything like him?”
He shrugged.
“You’re not. So, don’t. Besides, you know what love is. I don’t believe he ever did.”
“Oh, I do love you. You were always mine, Savon.” He moved over her, dropping his lips to hers. She wound her arms around his neck, loving his body against hers, his taste on her tongue. Exactly where she never thought she’d find herself, but it was home, it was love, he was hers again.
Nate slid into her, filling her body and soul.
She flipped him over and rose above him. His hands caressed up her thighs, sides, up to cup her breasts. The firm pressure of his squeezing hands sent sensation straight to her clit as she rode harder.
His palms slid back down, gripping her hips as his worked faster, driving her crazy. Her hands landed on his chest as she rocked over him, letting him fill her over and over again.
He came, and she followed. She leaned down, sliding her fingers into his hair as she kissed him breathless.
He rolled to his feet, carrying her with him to the bathroom. “I want to play today. We can go to our willow, swim in the lake. I just want to enjoy you.”
“And what about Nikolai? Or Clay? Or Canagan?”
“We’ll bring our phones. If anyone sees anything, we’ll know.”
“Will we?”
Nate set her on the counter. “Don’t tell me you want to stay cooped up in your house.”
“No. Just wondering what everyone’s going to think if we are playing as you put it.”
He grinned. “Don’t give a damn. I finally have you after years of not having you. We can finally just be.”
She hopped off the counter and dodged past him to turn on the shower.
As soon as the water started, he pulled her hips back. “Slow down, Sav.”
She glanced back, pressing her ass against his length. “Why?”
His hand slipped between her thighs, sliding through her heat. “I like taking my time with you.”
* * * *
Pain, that was all there was. Sure, the Paineater gave him his sight back, but something was missing and Nikolai wasn’t sure what.
“Awake now?” Meridian asked, her blue eyes glowing, though she stood well away from him.
“Yes, and I can see again. Thank you.” He managed a polite tone, though he considered reaching for her magic. She did heal him, and he owed her a modicum of respect.
Canagan, on the other hand, could have found him another healer. One who wouldn’t exact a price.
He glanced through the room and locked gazes with Canagan, who stood in the corner wearing a blank expression. Far enough away he couldn’t tap her magic.
“We’ll be leaving, and you’ll go after your prey. Kill her, bend her to her will, break her. I don’t care, but I want whatever wards she’s put in place taken down. That’s where we’ll find the pendant.”
“Now why didn’t you say that before?” Nikolai whispered harshly.
She lifted a shoulder. “Would you have really gone to her home without her? You seem to think you’ll have her in the end.”
Unfortunately, he didn’t. Not after she tried to kill him, not once but twice. The first time it was easy to think it was an accident. The second time, she pushed until his eyeballs burst and pushed magic through him.
No, she chose her course. It was time to get her there. He’d send her to hell for refusing the love he offered.
“Where is she?”
Canagan shook her head. “That I don’t know. She disappeared sometime yesterday. I haven’t sensed her or Nate.”
Smiling, he stood and looked down at himself. Someone had changed his clothes. “I’ll be back after I find her.”
“Careful. She’s more powerful than I believed,” Canagan warned.
“Don’t worry about me.” No, they needed to worry about themselves. As soon as he had what he needed, he would destroy these two so they couldn’t take the pendant for themselves. He assured the leader of the Dark Templar he’d bring the pendant to her. Their branch of the Council had always been secretive, working in shadows, but even more so since the Dark Templar had officially been disbanded.
His eyes narrowed as he spotted his shoes and shoved his feet into them. As soon as they were tied, he walked through the door, out of the house, and climbed into his Land Rover.
Nikolai found a turn-off near Savon’s home and parked the Land Rover. Dazzling wards flared to life when he attempted to step onto her property. A crushing sensation pushed down on him as he dropped to his knees and struggling to get his breath back.
As his vision cleared, he leaned against a tree and called on his gypsy senses. He’d bound Savon with a tracking spell when he first seduced her.
Interesting, she wasn’t at the house, but nearby. Hopefully, she’d ventured beyond her property.
Then he sensed her and crept through the forest, heading deeper until he came to a blurry spot in the landscape that was surrounded by her magic.
He noticed the difference in her essence. Her Dreamwalker had claimed her. Nikolai’s heart constricted and he slid to his knees.
It was truly over. Now he just needed to wait until she reappeared beyond her wards.
* * * *
Nate was right. They needed some time alone, away from everyone and everything in a place they had called theirs. Savon lay beside him, her head on his shoulder as he napped peacefully.
The world had changed, yet their love never faded. Being in his arms was everything she needed.
A shiver ran down her spine. Nikolai was there, somewhere nearby. A dark blotch in the woods.
Savon sat up and considered her options. Nate would get in the way and likely take the brunt of
the attack. She had no ability with healing, at all. She wasn’t sure of the extent of Frannie’s powers, but she did erase third degree burns. It stood to reason she could fix whatever Nikolai managed to do.
Just in case, she sent a quick text to Tremaine. Follow the trail behind my house, down to the lake.
She placed a hand on Nate’s cheek and whispered a spell to keep him asleep for ten minutes. She hoped like hell that was all she needed. Either way, Tremaine would be there soon.
After yanking her clothes on, she stepped out from under the tree.
“Where’s your mutt?” Nikolai hissed.
“You’ll never find him,” she answered.
The dark shadow grew, sweeping out to reform Nikolai before her. His dark eyes bored into her. “Where is he? I’d love to destroy him before I kill you.”
“I’ll never tell.”
“Foolish woman. Nathan Taggert can never love you like I do.”
“Do you? Is that why you’re here?” She shook her head. “You attacked me, Nic. Since when do you have more say in my life than I do?”
His expression softened, but reds flared around him as he moved closer, pleading with his eyes. He was a good damned actor, but emotions betrayed his actions and words. “I was going to tell you everything, in a time and place you would have understood. You know nothing. I never wanted to hurt you.”
“You lied to me, Nic. And you really think your Blood Dawn is going to be better than this world?”
“We won’t have to hide what we are anymore.”
“If anyone lives.”
“I will. You would have.” He reached for her.
She threw her arm up and slammed a wall of force into him.
He stumbled back, rubbing at his bloodied nose.
“I don’t want to kill you, Savon, but you’ve left me no choice.” He translocated past her shield, caught her by the throat, and walked her into the water while she clawed at his hands.
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