by Morgan Fox
How the hell was she supposed to know that she should’ve remained a virgin and finding the love of a man was against all protocols?
Tiffany swallowed hard, glancing over at Brie who sat to her left. Both were awaiting their sentence, their punishment for breaking the most sacred of laws.
A law we didn’t even know existed.
Relax. Brie’s voice glided into her thoughts like a subtle breeze.
Tiffany couldn’t believe that Brie was not protesting, fighting tooth and nail to convince everyone in the darkened boardroom that this ruling was absolutely preposterous. She and Tiffany had been practically abandoned since childhood, given no information about their birthright. How exactly did they expect them to know that they were never to have sex?
She remembered what they had done to her parents.
The thought of never touching Zane again, of never having touched Zane, shot a chill up her spine. Her heart began to race as her eyes moved to meet his. He’d been watching her. She could feel his stare upon her like her own skin. His expression was filled with sadness, confusion, and longing. She could feel his need to be with her just as she was desperate to eradicate everyone from the room so that she could finally be with him.
Only him.
She licked her lips, her brow pinching tight at the bridge of her nose. She wanted to cry, terrified that the man she’d come to love was about to be ripped from her fingers, stolen from her heart.
I’ll die without him.
Her eyes watered.
Relax. Brie’s voice echoed again.
How was Brie able to remain so calm? Staring at her lover in chains, she was about to erode into nothingness, helpless and consumed by loss.
Zane had been placed in handcuffs and forced to kneel in what could only be described as a cage. To his side were both Sebastian and Jonah, bound at the wrists and ankles. Each of them had been stripped of their clothing and given a loin cloth to cover them. All three of their bodies were enraged and bulging with muscles. Their bodies exuded the hidden beasts that were being forced back by the power of fey witches. The battle raged on inside them, and Tiffany could feel the struggles burning within Zane and the others.
The Lupinari were not about to take any chances that these men, powerful lycans, would do anything to escape. And judging from the feral growls rippling from the three of them, they would destroy anyone who gave them the opportunity.
Sadly for them, her people’s magic was strong. The lycans stood no chance against them. Whether or not they had weapons or could morph into werewolves shouldn’t even be a concern.
Why did they cage them? Why are they doing this? Tiffany forced back the tears that threatened to spill from her eyes.
It’s a test.
Tiffany steeled herself. Her mind filled with a million thoughts. Why are they testing us?
My guess…they want to see if we are stronger with or without our mates. To find out how much strength we steal from them.
Tiffany frowned. That’s ridiculous. I don’t steal strength from Zane.
Brie shifted in her seat. Don’t you?
Tiffany licked her dry lips. She did receive a great deal of strength and confidence from Zane. She would never have been able to make the transition to learn about her birthright without him. He’d also given her every reason to trust and love.
Shit. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
Good.
Then what are they waiting for? What are they going to do to them?
I’m not sure, but whatever happens, Tiffany, if they try to hurt them, I’ll need your help to stop them. They might be our people, but Sebastian, Jonah, and Zane are our family.
Tiffany’s entire body buzzed at the thought of anyone trying to harm her family. The lycans who had taken care of her when the rest of her family abandoned her meant everything to her. Nothing would stop her from protecting what rightfully belonged to her.
You’re damn right I will.
The room began to stir as several of the council members rose from their seats and moved to stand in front of Tiffany and Brie. The sound of Brie’s baby crying drew her attention toward their father, who sat holding the child tightly in his arms. Her stomach rolled with nerves.
Tiffany’s gaze settled on the tall, dark-haired man draped in an oversized white-and-purple robe laced with golden thread. He placed himself directly between her and Brie.
“My name is Conrad Black, and as the head of the council it is my duty to inform you that you are both guilty of acts unacceptable among the Order of the Lupinari.” Tiffany’s mother rose to her feet in protest, but Conrad simply raised his hand and slowly lowered it, and as he did, Tiffany’s mother returned to her chair, fear consuming her gaze. “You have both polluted the sanctuary of this house by allowing these…” He motioned toward Sebastian, Jonah, and Zane and disgustedly added, “Werewolves to defile your bodies, tarnishing the purity of your magic.” He stared down at Brie. “You have even allowed the alpha to impregnate you. That child”—he pointed toward her father and the baby—“is the only reason we are not going to slaughter your mate.”
Brie’s jaw flew open. Her eyes were like daggers as she asked, “Both?”
Conrad’s eyes twitched as if annoyed by Brie’s question. He studied her for a long moment, glancing from her to Sebastian and Jonah. Then he asked, “You enjoy saving their lives, don’t you?”
Brie frowned. “What are you talking about?”
Conrad smiled. “You seem to come to their rescue quite often. When Sebastian was infected with the virus, it was you who healed him. When Mason Levi tracked you down to the ranch, it was you who saved them all.” His smiled faded. “And now here you sit requesting to save them again.”
Brie stiffened her spine. “I love them. They are a part of me.”
He nodded. “I have no doubt that they are.”
His gaze shot to Tiffany’s, and she suddenly felt like crawling into a dark hole. “You on the other hand haven’t done near as much.” His tone was mocking. “You have sort of been selfish with your powers.”
“I didn’t even know I—”
“An excuse,” he said sharply. “You have always known about your magic, and you selfishly ran from it at every chance. Had you just embraced it—”
“So I could end up cold and jaded like you?” Tiffany’s eyes widened. Where had that come from? She wasn’t sure where that bout of confidence arose from, but it was there nonetheless. “I don’t really know what your plan is here, but I do know that those men you have chained have only been the best thing that ever happened to me. Without them I would’ve been killed. Without them I wouldn’t have discovered who and what I truly was. Without them I never would’ve known my sister, and without Zane I never would’ve discovered love.” Her chest tightened. Zane’s eyes flickered with silver as she turned to lock gazes with him. Her body roared with need. “I love him more than I ever realized I could love anything.”
Conrad folded his arms over his chest. “What would you have me do?” he asked, glancing from Brie back to her. “You’ve broken the laws of our order. You’ve taken a man to your bed, lycan or other, and you’ve ignored our request to separate from them. You are leaving us with little choice but to remove them for you.”
“You want to destroy innocent men because of some centuries-old rule?” Tiffany scoffed. “Are you out of your fucking mind?”
“You will do well to keep your tongue in check,” Conrad warned.
“And you will do well to remember who you are speaking to.” Tiffany’s hand waved, releasing Zane from his chains. “You think you are the only one with power? I will not allow you to hurt the people I love.”
Tiffany’s hands glowed with a brilliant blue light. She lifted her hands palm side out and launched a wave of energy that had the bars of the cage bending to her will. The chains that held the others were disintegrated within seconds and the men were free. In a moment’s notice, Brie was at her side. They quickly clasped hands,
and a protective shield was placed around their lovers.
“We will not allow you to hurt those we love,” Brie said passionately. “Nothing matters more to us than our family.”
Tiffany’s mother, father, and the baby were now standing in their own protective circle. Tiffany was unclear on how she and Brie were doing it, but once she willed it to happen, as long as Brie was at her side, it was done.
“I think you should rewrite your bylaw, Conrad, and perhaps toss out that little rule about the Lupinara and the chosen one needing to be virgins. That’s so last year and clearly untrue.” Tiffany snickered.
“Totally,” Brie acknowledged, squeezing Tiffany’s hand.
Conrad stared around the room. Tiffany and Brie had invoked fear on the council members’ faces, and Tiffany couldn’t be more pleased.
Conrad faced them. “Well done, ladies. You’ve truly embraced who you are and what you stand for. I’m honored to have you as part of the Lupinari. You’ve passed the test with flying colors.”
Tiffany frowned. “Wait. What?”
“Brie was right. This was a test and you passed.”
Brie’s expression was cold, her eyes piecing. “Why the theatrics? Why put those we love through this?”
“We had to be sure,” Conrad said plainly. “We had to know that you would not risk others for yourselves. We had to know that you are the unselfish women we believed you to be. We also had to know that you finally accepted your birthright and that only together you are strong enough.”
“Strong enough for what?” Tiffany asked.
“Strong enough to kill Lilly and end the spread of the hybrid virus,” Brie said, as if knowing that that was exactly what Conrad was about to say. “They had to know that when push came to shove that we would respond the way were are supposed to…that we would be able to handle the pressure.”
Tiffany scoffed. “And placing those we love in danger is the best way to do it.” Tiffany hated it, but understood it.
“Welcome to the Lupinari,” Conrad said, extending his hand for either her or Brie to shake.
Brie reached out first, but Tiffany grabbed her hand away. “Before we accept, I think you need to promise us something first.”
“Name it.”
Tiffany closed the distance between them, and even though she was much shorter than Conrad, she still used her powerful presence to make her point understood. “Never use those we love against us again. It’s bad enough we have assholes out there trying to kill us on a regular basis. We don’t need our”—Tiffany glanced around at the men and women in robes—“family trying to do it, too.”
“Understood.” Conrad shook her hand and then Brie’s. “Should you need us, you only need to call us.” With a smile, he turned and exited the room, the council following close behind.
In an instant, Tiffany ran for Zane. Her arms closed around his neck just as she leapt up and anchored her legs around his waist. “Oh, God. I was so frightened I’d lost you.”
“Never,” Zane whispered against her ear.
Frantically, Tiffany began kissing him. His hands caressed her back. She couldn’t stop touching him.
The cry of Brie’s baby shook her thoughts back to where she was. Zane eased her down and together they moved toward the others. Brie held her baby.
“With everything that happened, I don’t even know her name.” Tiffany felt shame wash over her. She hadn’t even thought to ask. She was so consumed with everything else that she hadn’t even congratulated her sister and Sebastian. “Congratulations, by the way. I’m so happy for you guys.”
Brie smiled warmly. “Thank you.” Sebastian and Jonah came up behind her, all three glancing down at the bundle wrapped in a pristine white cloth. “This is Kayla, your niece.” The child was perfect and unaffected by her captive time with Lilly.
Tiffany breathed a sigh of relief and felt her throat tighten just as her eyes began to tear up. Her life was nearly complete. She had parents, a sister, brothers-in-law, a niece and a lover. Joy charged through her like a volcano erupting. Hard sobs rocked her.
“What’s wrong?” Zane whispered, holding her by her shoulders and turning her to face him.
“Nothing’s wrong,” she said with a smile. “Everything’s perfect.”
Zane cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. “Let’s get out of here. I know we all really want to get home.” Zane placed his arm over her shoulder.
“Would it be too much to ask the Lupinari for our clothes back,” Jonah asked.
Tiffany giggled. “I don’t know. I sort of like my man half-naked.”
“Whoa. You can keep that conversation private, little sister,” Sebastian replied, shaking his head as if to shake the thoughts from his mind.
Turning she moved to stand in front of Sebastian who was looking down as her with soft, brotherly eyes. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Sebastian brushed his knuckles over the dampness of her cheek. “You never have to thank me, Tiffany. I’ve always cared about you. Even before I knew you were Brie’s sister, I’d always thought of you as my own sister. You’ve been a part of my family since the day you walked through my doors.”
Tiffany hugged him. “I love you, Sebastian. You are the best big brother a girl could have.”
“Hey,” Jonah spat. “What about me?”
Tiffany giggled, reaching to hug Jonah. “I love you, too.”
“Not that I’m the jealous type or anything,” Zane said. “But can I have my mate back?”
Tiffany smiled, slipping from her brother’s arms and into Zane’s. “Happy now?”
Zane’s eyes darkened, his gaze filling with need and longing. “Not just yet, but I will be soon.”
* * * *
The plane trip home had taken more than fifteen hours with the layover. Tiffany was thankful to be back home in Dallas. She was even more thankful to finally have some alone time with Zane.
“Can I open my eyes yet?” Tiffany sighed. “I’m getting concerned.”
Zane chuckled. “What’s there to be concerned about? You’re with me, and I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Tiffany smiled. “I’m concerned that you’re doing something to me that might end up on the Internet and I’ll have a lot of explaining to do.”
“Not likely,” Zane said with a smile in his voice.
She felt him brush up against her legs. He’d taken her to a quiet park that was normally used for mountain bikers, and since it was twilight, they pretty much had the place to themselves.
“Okay, open your eyes.”
Startled for a moment to see her own reflection in the dimming light staring back at her, she glanced over to Zane. Her brow furrowed. “What’s with the mirror?”
Zane held the mirror firmly as he gazed down at her. “You can stop hiding who you are now. Take down the illusion, Tiffany. It’s time people saw you for who you are. No more being afraid.”
Tiffany had forgotten all about the illusion she put up to hide herself from the world, and even though she convinced herself she’d done it to protect herself from those that would hurt her, she knew Zane could see right through to the real reason. She had been afraid to let people in to see the real her.
“I honestly forgot all about that.”
“I haven’t,” Zane shared. “I know who I see, and I want the rest of the world to know that person, too.”
Amused to learn who Zane saw, she asked, “And who exactly do you see?”
“I see a determined woman full of strength, beauty, and passion. A woman who would gladly sacrifice herself for her family and friends. A woman that I want to share the rest of my life with.”
Tiffany’s chest swelled. “You really see all that in me?”
“I do.” Zane lowered the mirror, placing it beside her on the picnic table she sat at. “I also see me marrying you. I see us having lots of kids and us trying to figure out which one magically hid the refrigerator and who accidently bit the mailman.”
; Tiffany laughed, her soul bursting with love. “You do, huh?”
Smiling broadly, Zane said, “I do, and when I ask you to marry me, I see you saying yes and I see you melting into my arms as I kiss you.”
Tiffany nibbled her bottom lip. Her heart raced with thoughts of so much more than kissing.
Zane eased toward her, his eyes fixed on her lips. She placed her hand on his chest, stopping him before he could reach her mouth.
“And if I said I didn’t want to get married?”
“I’d force you,” he said, grinning. “You’ll never escape me, little witch.”
“I do possess magic,” she teased.
“You certainly do,” he said, bending to take hold of her head, placing his fingers behind the base of her neck, arching her chin up to face him. “You’ve weaved me under your spell.” His lips took hers in a hungry passionate kiss.
Instantly, her arms wrapped around him, pulling him closer. His chest pressed firmly against hers. His lips were gentle but aggressive, seeking every inch of her mouth. Their tongues dueled, colliding in a dancing frenzy. He tasted of sweetness with a hint of masculine power. She drank him in, loving the sumptuous flavor.
“I want you so much, Tiffany,” Zane whispered against her lips.
Tiffany wanted him, too. She’d never wanted anything more. Zane had filled her heart with love and her soul with never-ending happiness. He was her everything.
Her life.
Her love.
Her destiny.
She needed him, wanted him beyond anything she’d ever desired before, and if she didn’t have all of him soon, she was sure she would self-destruct.
“Make love to me, Zane.” She was breathless, kissing his face, tearing at his clothes. “Mark me as your mate.”
He took hold of her shoulders, forcing her to meet his heavy-lidded gaze. “Here? Now?” he breathed.