by Lexi Blake
“She’s feisty for what we’ve put her through. Her vitals are still incredibly strong. Watch them.” He gestured to a small panel at the back of her cage. Numbers played there in red colors.
“She gets stronger every moment we don’t inflict pain. She heals at an incredible rate.” Palgrave stared at the monitor. “What do you think causes that? If we could isolate the gene that gives her that healing ability, we could make a fortune. Do you have any idea what peasants and royals without a consort would pay for that?”
“I need to take some samples. I’m sure I can isolate it with a bit of work.” White Coat turned around and began gathering materials. Kaja tried to shrink back.
“You’re going to keep her alive, right?” Amanda’s voice seemed strained. She clung to the wall as though she didn’t want to get any closer to the crime she’d taken part in.
Palgrave’s chest puffed, and a vicious laugh came out of his mouth. “For a while, though I suspect she’s going to wish she’s dead.”
“The Dellacourts aren’t simply going to let you take Dante’s consort.” Amanda’s arms came over her chest.
“I’m sure they’ll thank me. Did you see the press coverage today? She’s a freak. Everyone is talking about what an embarrassment the bitch is. Donald Dellacourt will more than likely shake my hand.”
“I don’t think you understand them.”
Palgrave’s eyes narrowed. “And you do, peasant?”
Amanda’s back stiffened. “Well, I know Dante well enough to know that he won’t let it go. I know he started out with a stupid plan, but this is what he does. In the end, he almost always does the right thing. He broke up with me. I certainly didn’t expect that. Why would he break it off with me if he intended to put her aside?”
Palgrave’s lips turned distinctly cruel. “I think you overestimate your charms, dear.” He stalked toward her.
Kaja began to growl. She could sense Palgrave’s intent, but Amanda didn’t seem to have the same instincts. She stood there as the huge man walked up to her.
“He liked me,” Amanda protested.
Kaja watched as Palgrave took the woman’s head in both his hands. He cupped her cheeks in a mockery of affection. “Of course he liked you, dear. Every male likes a female who opens her legs for him. Every man likes a whore until she’s served her purpose.”
Palgrave’s hands snapped around, and a loud crack reverberated through the room. The blonde slumped down, her eyes dead before she hit the floor.
“Doctor, do you have a morgue somewhere in here?” Palgrave asked the question with a lackadaisical tone, as though he was mentioning the weather.
Rage filled Kaja’s gut. Amanda hadn’t been a good person, but Palgrave was worse. This was what he would do to her. He would use her and dispose of her.
The doctor looked up from his work. He glanced down at the dead body. “I’ll have someone take it to the harvesting room. I can always use organs. Although you could have told me you were going to dispose of her. Now I can only use the eyes, skin, and hair. You destroyed many organs that would have made this company money.”
Palgrave waved it off. “I just wanted her to stop yapping. And she might be right about Dellacourt. He might come after her if only to save face. Luckily, he has no idea I’m the one behind everything. I’m sure he thinks King Torin is doing this to fuck with him. He has an overinflated sense of his own worth. Now let’s get back to this little bitch. Unlike the dead one, she can still make me some money.”
And then Kaja smelled something wonderful. She opened her senses and caught the smell of sandalwood and hair gel. It smelled like home.
Dante was here. He had come for her.
Years of loneliness washed away in an instant, and she realized all her pain had led her to this place. Had the pack treated her with the smallest bit of kindness, she would never have left. She would have stayed and lived only half a life, never realizing what it meant to love. She would have told herself that this was the way the world worked and accepted what she was given.
Dante had shown her a different way. Her world, her love, her soul were all worth fighting for. She could see herself through her husband’s eyes, and she was lovely.
She couldn’t contain it one second longer. It had been there in her gut, churning and begging to be released ever since the moment she’d met him. The mating howl. The call of a wolf to her true mate.
Kaja threw her head back and howled.
“What the fuck is that?” Palgrave yelled, putting his hands over his ears.
Kaja opened herself and was flooded with him.
A couple minutes more, Kaj. I love you, baby.
She felt his intent. He’d heard her call and opened himself, too. He might not understand the formality of the call, but he’d recognized the meaning behind it.
Fight, Kaj. Fight.
She pulled her strength around her and charged the cage. The bars shook but held. She snarled and barked at her captors. She might not be able to get out of her cage, but she could buy Dante time and give him the edge of surprise.
“She’s gone fucking insane. Do you think she has rabies?” Palgrave took a long step back. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small device. When he flicked it on, a little charge pulsed through the room and a blue light flashed. “This is a sonic blade, you dumb bitch. Do you know what it can do to you?”
“I think she understands quite well what we’re planning on doing to her. You see, this is why using animals without reasoning skills is better. This one understands English. She’s not going to be distracted by a treat when she understands we’re going to remove one of her limbs for study.” White Coat shook his head. “I can get her to stop that infernal howling. If this kills her, at least we’ll have some quiet.”
He flipped the switch, and Kaja’s howl stuck in her throat. The pain was even worse, but Dante’s voice was there, comforting her, sharing the pain. She felt him. He was close, so close. The connection between them was a strong rope tethering her to the plane. She felt her heart beating too fast, but then it slowed, even as Dante took the pain for her.
Play dead, Kaj. Hurry. I can’t hold out much longer.
Kaja dropped to her belly and let her eyes go blurry and unfocused. The pain wracked through her, but it was less now. No matter how bad it got, she wouldn’t move because Dante needed her. She thought about closing the connection again but felt a low growl roll across her skin. It didn’t come from her. Dante had sent it. It was a warning to obey him.
If she didn’t, she would get the worst spanking. Kaja stopped breathing.
It was time.
The machine flicked off. It took every bit of concentration to keep her body still.
“Gods be damned, Doc. I didn’t want the bitch dead.” Palgrave still held his knife. Kaja could hear it humming.
“Bah, she’s better dead. None of my techs would have been willing to get close to her. She’s too dangerous. Now I can perform an autopsy and get everything I need.”
There was a loud crash, and Kaja opened her eyes. He was here.
Dante fell from a hole in the ceiling. He landed on his feet and stared at her. She could feel his rage. He had understood that she was in a cage, but seeing it seemed to have opened something volcanic inside him. His eyes became orbs of pure forest green, and his claws were far longer than she’d ever seen.
“What the fuck?” Palgrave quickly yelled for security.
“Did you think you could take my consort and I would let her go?” Dante’s voice was deep, his words clipped.
“I thought you would run around trying to figure out why that fucker Torin had your consort.”
Another body fell from the ceiling. Kaja immediately recognized him as the mercenary who had taken Dante and Meg. He was out of breath, but he had a weapon in his hand. It was reassuring since he seemed to be working with Dante, not against him.
“I’m afraid I have a new friend, Palgrave.” Dante wasn’t out of breath. He stood
there, a solid figure casting his shadow across the room. Roan moved to stand next to him. Neither one seemed to notice White Coat behind them. He was moving quietly, the needle in his hand.
Kaja barked a warning, but Dante was already in motion. He moved fluidly, his body twisting around. Before White Coat could raise the needle, Dante had a hand around his throat and he squeezed. His claws sank into White Coat’s throat. Dante picked the smaller man up. White Coat’s feet dangled, kicking out uselessly. After a moment, the man stopped moving, his face blue, his throat a mottled mess of blood and tissue.
Dante tossed him away like a rag doll.
“Whatever you’re on, Dellacourt, it’s some good shit.” Roan watched him with obvious appreciation.
Dante ignored him, preferring to look at Palgrave, who now had the backing of three security guards. Each held a sonic Taser unit in his hand.
“I really should have come more prepared,” Roan said. “I feel naked without my kit, but I can still take out the two on the left.”
“Let my Kaj out, and she can take them all.” Dante’s lips quirked up as he looked over at her. She could feel his love and desire. “Kaja, when you get out, I want you to know that I release you from that whole ‘no killing things that talk back.’ You can kill any asshole in this place. Except that one.” He pointed to Palgrave. “He’s mine.”
“Like you could take me,” Palgrave preened. “You’ve never been a fighter, Dellacourt. You might be able to take a lightweight like Doctor Wilson there, but I doubt you can take a royal.”
“I will kill you. You touched her. I would kill you if you had touched her with affection. I’ll take you apart for touching her in violence.”
Roan was inching toward her cage. Kaja got prepared to pounce.
One of the security guards aimed and fired his Taser unit at Dante. The air crackled with electricity, but Dante ducked, his body bending backward with grace and precision. The dart bit into the wall behind him. Dante straightened up, and his hand was on the tether that connected the dart to the hand unit. He jerked the line back, and the guard moved with it. Before he could think to scream, the guard stood before Dante. With a quick flick of Dante’s fist, the other man fell.
“Not so smart, Palgrave, but then I should have expected that from you. None of us killed your brother, you know.” Dante stepped over the unconscious body of the guard.
“I know one of your cousins did the deed,” Palgrave spat. “I’m not stupid.”
Roan was close, so close. Dante seemed to be trying to keep Palgrave’s attention on him. “Torin had a hag in the village. We believe she’s the one who called your brother to the Refugee plane.”
“You’re lying. And it doesn’t matter. I know what I know.” Palgrave strengthened his stance and held the blade tightly.
The two guards behind him moved forward.
Roan leapt across the distance, his hand reaching for the button that released her cage. Both security guards fired and hit Roan. His body jumped, spasming as the electrical current ran through it. Struggling, his hand moved forward. His teeth gritted, but he slapped his hand on the button, and her cage opened.
Chaos reigned. The guards released the darts and brought their weapons back online. Palgrave moved forward, his sonic blade lifted and ready. Roan fell, utterly unconscious. Kaja leapt from her cage. Her body ached, but it didn’t matter now. All that mattered was getting Dante out of here alive. She attacked the first person she saw. The guard screamed as she went for his throat. He tried to get the Taser unit to work, but he dropped it as she dug her teeth in. She felt the blood begin to flow and let go. She didn’t have time to play with him.
When she looked up, Dante had caught the second guard’s dart and had it wrapped around his throat, but Palgrave was coming for him. Before Kaja could jump, Palgrave was thrusting the blade into Dante’s back. She smelled the blood beginning to flow, felt the horrible pain, but she took it because it was halved. Dante was able to twist and block the next blow. He swung out, catching Palgrave in the chin.
Kaja leapt into action. She jumped up, trying to get Palgrave’s throat, but he was fast with the knife. It caught her leg, and she fell.
“Kaja!” Dante screamed her name, but she felt it more than heard it.
He got to his feet and faced off with Palgrave.
“Give it up, Dellacourt. I have reinforcements coming. You can’t win.”
“You’re not leaving here alive.” Dante was unarmed, but he didn’t back down. “Kaja, you get behind me.”
Limping, she moved to his side.
He looked down at her. “Yes, I suppose that is your place. I love you, Kaj. I’ve never loved anyone before. You’re half my soul and all of my heart. No matter what happens, I want you safe. When the time comes, you run and don’t look back.”
She heard the words, but she wouldn’t heed them. She would never leave him. If this was the end for him, then she would take out whoever she could, and she would follow him. She didn’t know what came after this life, but she would follow him.
Palgrave pounced. He raced forward, knife out. He hit Dante with the full force of his bulk, and the two men went down. They rolled, and then Dante got to his feet. He’d been hit again, this time low in his gut. Palgrave moved, circling her husband. Kaja growled and got ready to leap.
“Mine, Kaja. This kill is mine.” Dante bared those magnificent fangs her way.
“You’re not killing anything, Dellacourt. You’re bleeding out. You’re so fucking weak, I won’t even have to try this time.” Palgrave’s lips curled in a sneer.
Dante was weak. Kaja could feel it. She remembered how females during the hunt sometimes sent their mates energy. She took a deep breath and sent every spare bit of energy she had his way. Her body sagged down, unable to stand a moment further. She was done. If Dante fell, she would go with him. She held tight to the invisible thread that bound them. If he went down, he would take her, and they would be together.
“That won’t happen, baby.” Dante could read her thoughts. He stood tall, his skin practically glowing. “I’m taking you out of here.”
Palgrave ran, and Dante was with him. They met in the middle, and there was a horrible crack as Dante punched at Palgrave’s chest. His fist met flesh and didn’t stop. Kaja managed to lift her head as Palgrave’s face took on a horrified, blank look.
Dante pulled his hand out of his opponent’s chest. It didn’t come back empty. Palgrave’s heart was in Dante’s hand.
“That was for my consort.” Dante held the heart as it turned to dust and everything that was Chalen Palgrave became a pile of dirt on the floor.
Dante turned and raced to her. He got on his knees. “Baby. Gods, baby, tell me you’re all right.”
She was tired. So tired. She felt her body failing, but it was all right to go because Dante was safe. Dante was whole. The energy she’d sent him had healed and saved him. She wanted to hold him with two hands. Using the very last bit of strength she had, Kaja changed. She brought her hands up to touch his beautiful face. He was her magnificent beast.
She heard Dante curse. When she looked up, his eyes were still full green, but there was a sheen of tears in them. He clutched her with one hand but drew his other to his mouth. “Don’t you leave me, Kaj. This has to work both ways.”
He gouged at his own flesh, and his blood began to flow. He put his wrist to her mouth. “Drink, baby. I’m full of you. Your blood, your energy, your strength. Take it all back. Please. I need you.”
Kaja felt the blood fill her mouth. Immediately she felt the healing begin.
“That’s right, baby. Take it. I can handle it. Drink.” He pressed his wrist to her mouth, cradling her head.
Kaja fell back the instant she knew she would be all right. She heard Roan groaning in the distance. Her body was laid across Dante’s, and she could feel his soul reaching for hers, brushing and touching. Safe.
But he was still a vampire. He pulled out his phone. “Hey, Susie. Yeah. St
art a hostile takeover of Palgrave. No. He won’t fight back. Why? Because I just pulled his heart out of his body. Yes, I’m serious. I want half.”
Dante tossed his phone away and cuddled her against him as he stood.
“You all right, Kaja?”
She managed to nod. She was whole and happy to be alive.
Chapter Twenty
“It’s official.” Dante’s father laid his tablet down with an audible thud. The silence in the room was utterly oppressive.
Dante looked between his cousins as they stood in his father’s office.
Beck paled at the news. “We’re renegades?”
Dante forced himself to speak. His cousins needed to understand how deeply fucked they were. “Every mercenary on the plane will be after you.”
Dante’s own heart seized even though he’d been expecting the news since Julian had told him what was going on only hours before. He knew he should be in bed, holding his wife while she recovered, but this couldn’t wait.
His family surrounded him. His mother and sister were crying. Colin looked grim but kept holding Susan’s hand. Kaja placed a hand on Meg’s shoulder. Kaja looked tired but resolute.
Beck and Cian were silent for a long moment, something unspoken passing between them. Meg sat beside Kaja, her eyes tearing up, but her chin had settled into a stubborn lift. She wore casual clothes, but there was no mistaking who Megan Finn was. She was a queen.
“Can you get Meggie off this plane and back to the Earth plane?” Beck asked, his shoulders squaring as though he knew he was in for a fight.
Meg appeared ready to give him one. She stood and went toe to toe with her warrior husband. “I’m not going anywhere, Beckett Finn. Do you hear me?”
Cian got up and lent his strength to Beck. “Meggie, you can’t stay.”
“Try to get rid of me. I know the way home. You can dump me somewhere, but I’ll be back.” Meg’s hands separated and grabbed a fistful of both her husbands’ shirts. “I won’t stop. I’ll fight. I’ll fight to my dying breath.”