by Stacy Lee
“Is she asleep?” Dare asks in quiet tones.
“Yeah. We need to find this guy. He filled her head with all kinds of bullshit. Not to mention the abuse.” Cash growls out after he rises from the bed.
“What bullshit?” Dare takes his spot stroking my hair gently.
“That I was also a choice for a mate for her because she enjoyed my blood. She said she could feel it healing her and needed the relief. He told her I kept my mouth shut because you already claimed her. Trust me, I would never have kept my mouth shut if I thought she had been mine.” The honesty in his words is the final nail. He wasn’t lying to me because he wouldn’t lie to Dare. If nothing else, the brothers were honest with each other, no matter the consequences.
Dare was meant for me and me alone.
“No, she was mine. I wouldn’t have claimed her had I not known for sure. I even asked you all if anyone else felt it. You all said no.” Dare declares with confusion in his voice. His weight leaves the bed and I can hear his pants swish as he paces. I’ve noticed when he thinks he paces.
“That was the truth then and now. She is yours, brother. I might not agree with how you treat her sometimes or what you did to her but she is yours and I respect that. I’ll only bitch if I see a reason to. Right now she is happy with you just the way you are. Get in bed, man. Hold her tight and don’t let go. Some of us dream of what you have.” A slap sounds and I imagine he pats Dare’s back, then the door shuts.
“And he was the one I thought would be the last to want a mate.” Dare scoffs under his breath. I hear his pants hit the floor then the bed dips and his arms wrap around me pulling me close. Woods and man fill my senses.
Now, I’m home.
Chapter Eighteen
I wake to the ringing of my phone. Unknown number flashes across the display along with the time, it has only been an hour since I laid down. I growl out my greeting in frustration.
“This better be good.” I throw my arm over my eyes in exhaustion as a cheery voice breaks across the line.
“Hey Dare. Um, it’s Chuck. You know that favor you owe me?” Oh hell, not now.
“Yes?” Had I known he would choose this moment, I never would have told him that.
“Some of the supplies were left in Yellowstone and I’m being sent to retrieve them. You know, to cover our existence and all that. I was wondering since you were there could you ride with me and show me exactly where I can find them? I have coordinates but you know how that goes.” I sigh, realizing he wasn’t asking for much. Of all the things the man could have wanted, company wasn’t what I expected. I could kill two birds with one stone if I went and stop to get Marnie’s things while there. It would be a surprise for her.
“When?” Hearing the acceptance coming, his voice jumps with cheeriness.
“Half hour work for you? Archer wants it done, like yesterday.” Yeah, if Archer thought anything was left behind he wouldn’t let exhaustion change anything. I wonder what it took him a week to remember was left? Then again none of our minds have been on much else than Marnie and attacks since that night.
“I’ll meet you at the helipad.” I click off and let my heavy arm fall to the bed.
“Who was that?” Marnie mumbles sleepily.
“Just a guy I owe a favor to. I need to take a short trip. Are you awake enough to feed before I go? I don’t want you hungry. The babe needs continuous nutrition.” I know I am trying to convince her to eat with the words and aren’t sure why I feel the need. She had eaten no less than two hours ago and in theory would be fine for four more. And now that we knew my brothers could sustain her she wouldn’t have to suffer.
“I told you I wasn’t fighting you anymore. If you think I need to eat then I will. Besides, I’m becoming fond of this intimate act. It’s something you share only with me. I like that.” With her slightly amused, slightly embarrassed words she sinks her teeth into my neck, drawing deeply from me. Instantly the power begins to crackle through me.
I was getting used to the feeling. I’ve been thinking about this and have an idea of how I could control it. If it wasn’t dancing on my skin but inside me like the magic we use when fighting Fairies and Witches then maybe I could hold onto it and use it at a later time. And maybe I wouldn’t blow us all up with it.
So this time I ignore my raging hormones and concentrate on absorbing the power into my skin while she drinks. I watch as the light slowly disappears and the roll of power becomes internal instead of external. It gives me an indestructible feeling while it skitters around inside me. She begins to pull away and I place my hand on her head interrupting her.
“No. I don’t know for sure how long I’ll be. Take more, get completely full. You can’t take too much, it replenishes almost as quickly as you take it. In about five minutes after you finish I will have the same amount you started with. Eat your fill, Parvulum.” She hums an acceptance before continuing.
I don’t know that she has ever drank till she was perfectly content before. I have always thought she only went till the pain stopped not wanting to take too much from me. I never questioned it because I knew her struggle with this and wanted to let her do as she needed to get comfortable with it. Also, I was selfish, small amounts meant she had to bite me more often and I really enjoyed this time together. Even if she didn’t. Although with her words I believe that was changing.
This time she laps it up greedily without hesitation taking the most she ever has. The longer she feeds the more the power builds till it seems to hit a breaking point and levels off inside me. Even as she continues to draw long pulls the power maintains its consistency. I no longer feel like I am going to explode with excess energy either. If it wasn’t for the low hum in my ears I would think everything was normal. With the building power no longer an issue, the sexual tension in the room rises. My body hardens with need for her.
“Do you have time?” She asks as she tentatively brushes a hand over my erection. I growl low in my throat.
“No, I don’t. But I could go for a taste of what’s to come if you don’t mind?” I let my tongue run sensually over my mark on her neck, her body trembles for me.
“Yes, please do.” She purrs before clamping back down to enjoy her meal. Ever so slowly I slide my fangs into her skin eliciting a rough moan from her. This is my first drink since she became pregnant. Her brown sugar and vanilla burst over my tongue with a new flavor of innocence laced into the thick liquid. My child, our child. A small smile lifts the corners of my mouth as I drink deeply for only a moment before reluctantly pulling back. The babe needed the nourishment more than I did. She pulls away at the same time with a contented sigh.
“Wow. That much gave me a head rush. I feel like I could run a marathon right now but I’m too full to move.” She giggles, curling back up. I lay a kiss on her forehead then crawl unwillingly from our bed. “Be careful.” She mumbles half asleep already.
“I will, Parvulum.” Aggravated, I pull on clothes and jog for the helipad.
Chuck is already in his seat ready to go when I pull myself into the co-pilots chair. He nods without looking at me while flipping switches to rise into the air. Ten minutes into the flight he turns his face partially my way to gaze at me.
“I heard what happened. Is your girl home safe?” He asks pleasantly. I nod while answering a text.
“She’s home. Safe, I’m not so sure about. When I find the traitor that hurt her then I will know she is safe.” I grind out remembering her sureness it had been a Patronus, someone sworn to protect mankind, that hurt her. He flinches with my words.
“Traitors aren’t something we have often. Are you sure she wasn’t wrong and it was a Shifter or Vamp that was there?” He turns his attention back to the nobs in front of him.
“No. She was sure. It was a Patronus.” He looks back to me with a defiant look flashing in his eyes. The sun glints off his face, a small harsh bruise on his jaw is highlighted by the rising sun. “Damn. What happened to your jaw?” I chuckle.
“My brother lost his temper and broke it.” He mutters turning his head quickly away from me. I answer an incoming text then turn my attention back to him. Something wasn’t right about his explanation. His brother had catcher mitts for hands. The bruise on his jaw was from someone with a much smaller fist.
“Really? Denver hit you? When did it happen, it looks fresh?” He doesn’t answer while he fiddles with switches. Uneasiness begins to fill me. Hadn’t Marnie said she broke someone’s jaw? We heal fast, some faster than others depending on bloodlines, but it hadn’t been long since it happened. Three, four hours maybe? If she really broke it and he didn’t partake in any blood but let it heal naturally, then it would take that long for the bones to mend completely before the bruise began to heal. Bruises, being superficial, were always the last thing to go. “I’m surprised he only broke it and didn’t shatter it. He’s a big boy.” I force a chuckle relaxing him some.
“He wasn’t completely awake and only clipped me. I woke him up by accident last night and he has a tendency to swing before opening his eyes.” He lies easily but the set of his jaw and shoulders gives him away.
“Yeah, Marnie does that too. She has a mean right hook.” I laugh out while watching him for a reaction. He rubs his jaw unconsciously, a flash of anger lights his eyes before leaving. With it, I had my answer. It is all I can do not to break his jaw again. Somehow I restrain myself, I need to know where he is taking me. This had nothing to do with equipment left behind. If he was the one who hurt Marnie then he was worried about retaliation, he needed me out of the way. I bet Archer never asked him to go anywhere. This was a setup. I send a text to Archer. As I have been steadily texting he pays no attention to my action.
*On chopper with Chuck, his jaw was broke last night. Think I’m being taken into an ambush. Need help.*
“Did Archer tell you what was left? What is it we’re after?” I keep my tone casual, my body tension normal, however his fidgeting is getting erratic and I believe he suspects I know.
“Something about a small electronic device Emmitt was using. It has information on it and we should find it where your tent was set up. He thinks the recovery team lost it while they packed up the stuff when they came to retrieve it.” I nod. My phone goes off.
*On our way. Following GPS signal. Will be no more than five minutes behind you soon.*
The response has my tension easing. The rage roiling inside me however doesn’t let up as I try not to kill the man. “I know where the tent was. I also know what device you are talking about. It’s green and about half the size of a cracker, should be easy to find in the grass.” I say sarcastically. He chuckles nervously.
We fly in silence for another hour, my anger steadily building. The power from Marnie’s feeding wants to leap out and take him down and it’s all I can do to keep it in check as we fly into the forest terrain of Yellowstone.
****
After Dare leaves I toss and turn trying to go back to sleep. It’s no use. Without him here I feel restless and nervous. The energy I received from the power in his blood has my insides bouncing off the walls. Not to mention the fact I was scared. The image of that monster standing with me in his arms while Dare looked on in horror won’t leave me. Dare’s aggravation at having to leave skitters under my skin making it worse.
Giving up on sleep I sit up against the headboard and grab his sketch pad from under his pillow. He had left everything else in Texas. I flip through the first few sketches to find they are all of me. He is good. Damn good. I smile at the fourth drawing as I remember how scared and turned on I was at that moment. You think hanging precariously twenty eight feet up in a tree with a man pressing into you would not be a turn on when fear was racing through you. However, even when I was in that damn tree he had me snared in his charm. His was a frightening charm at the time, but charm nonetheless.
After last night, after meeting Monty, Dare didn’t scare me as much anymore. None of the brothers did. They weren’t the most dangerous predator out there. In my eyes, Monty was. I didn’t care if he claimed to be my father, that man, no…. Vampire, that Vampire would never have me. I didn’t want to be with Dare when things had been explained to me after The Claiming was complete but now, now I wanted to be nowhere else. He was stuck with me and if it meant obeying the man, so be it. After meeting Monty I will gladly do as Dare commands if he will keep me away from that Vamp.
Unease swallows me. Dare. I jump from the bed tossing the book aside and quickly throw on my clothes. Someone had brought the few outfits from Texas and put them in the drawer for me but I hardly notice as I shove my feet in my shoes. I sprint across the hall to pound on Cash’s door. It opens seconds later to give me a full access view of a very built, very naked Cash. I slam my eyes shut and throw my hand over my face as he chuckles. The last thing I wanted to have in my head was any of my new brothers naked.
Especially this one.
I hear his footsteps retreat and clothes rustle as he dresses however, I don’t wait to begin speaking, something wasn’t right.
“Something’s wrong with Dare. He is uneasy and upset. It’s slowly growing into anger but there is something else. I think he is in trouble.” The words fall rapidly from my lips. A hand lightly circles my wrist pulling it away from my face however, my eyes stay firmly closed.
“I’m dressed, Marnie. Isn’t Dare in your room?” I shake my head then I let one eye crack open. Relief floods me when I see pants covering him.
“Someone called. He said it was a guy he owed a favor to and he would be taking a short trip.” Suddenly unbridled fury rips through me knocking me backwards. Only Cash’s hand grabbing me keeps me from falling. “Oh man, he is pissed!” I moan out with the pain his fury was eliciting. This is the first time his emotions had caused me anything but wary thoughts. Even last night they had shook me but not caused me pain and last night he had been furious. What could have him so mad it hurt?
“Come on.” Cash drags me by the arm to the next door and enters without knocking. Archer is laid out over his bed on his stomach completely naked. I slam my eyes closed, again.
“Don’t men believe in pajamas!” I shriek. Cash drops my arm on a chuckle.
“Archer, Dare’s in trouble. Get up.” A slap sounds and I wonder where exactly he hit the naked man? No, I don’t want to know.
“What about Dare? He’s with Marnie, go away.” He mumbles sleepily.
“No, Marnie is right here cowering from your nakedness. She says Dare’s in trouble. He left…. When did he leave Marnie?” His voice grows louder as if he turns to face me but I am unwilling to look. I didn’t want to see any more naked brothers today. Springs creak, footsteps sound, a drawer opens and closes then material rustles. Thank God.
“Roughly thirty minutes ago. As I told you he said he owed the guy a favor and had to take a short trip but he didn’t say where or how long he would be gone. He’s just so angry. Something’s wrong.” Someone touches me and I jump.
“I’m dressed, Marnie. Look at me.” I hesitantly drop my hand to find a fully clothed Archer. He nods then opens his mouth to speak but his phone stops him. He yanks it from the dresser then inhales sharply while cutting a glance to me. “You said you broke the Patronus’s jaw, didn’t you?” I nod. “Well Chuck, the pilot Dare owed, has had his jaw broken recently.” He thumbs through his phone then turns it to me. “Recognize him?”
My heart stops beating when the Patronus that tortured me comes into view. I step back away from the phone as if he could reach out and get me just from the picture. Cash’s hard body stops my retreat. His hands land lightly on my shoulders then squeeze with comfort.
“It’s alright. We will take care of him.” I don’t have to look to his face to know Cash was plotting Chuck’s death. I nod.
“Dare?” I squeak. He was with this man. That’s why he was angry, he knew. He knew this was the man that he thought raped me. I’m surprised Chuck wasn’t already dead.
“They are flying right now. He beli
eves he’s being led into an ambush. Wake the boys and ready the men, Cash. We have a brother to save. We leave in five minutes.” They jump into action, Cash leaves with one more squeeze to my shoulder, Archer starts grabbing weapons from under his bed and dresser drawers, hiding them all over his person. I stand and stare at him. I needed to go with them. I needed to help Dare. He had come for me, I would go for him. I open my mouth but Archer cuts me off. “No.”
“You don’t even know what I was going to say.” I protest throwing my hands on my hips like a brat.
“Yes, I do. You were going to say you’re coming and the answer is no. Dare would kick my ass if I showed up in battle with you.” He is still pulling out weapons as his head shakes back and forth.
“Archer! He came for me. We are stronger together. I have seen the power my feeding gives him, felt it building. I can help him. I need to go.” I hadn’t said anything to Dare about it yet but the power that fills him seeps into his blood filling me with energy I have no idea what to do with. The first two times it was mild and knocked me out cold. By the time I woke it was gone. This morning had been different. I had felt the sleepiness coming that’s why I tried to pull away from him. When he urged me to continue something changed. He was more in control of the power coursing through him, he even made it stop building. When he did that it became constant and steady in his blood and filled me with an energy that hyped me up yet knocked me down leaving me comfortable but vibrating. I wasn’t saying I had magical powers but my body was humming for a good fight. Especially with Dare’s anger fueling it.
“Not no, but hell no, Marnie. Dare would kill me, brother or not. Do I need to force you to stay here? I really hate using that on you but if I need to I will.” If I pushed he would. No, I couldn’t have him doing that. It was bad enough I was desperately lying to myself to keep Dare’s wants and needs from stopping me