by Kim Faulks
“Why?”
I waited for an answer. I waited for something I could fight, or beg, or plead. But all I received was her silence. How could I battle that? “Talk to me. Tell me what I can do.”
“They’re waiting.” She whispered, hunching her shoulders forward—creating distance. “Don’t let them wait any longer. That’s what you can do.”
A hiss slipped from my lips at the sting. She was ice, stone… she was the same as me, suffering.
I dropped my head to a nod. “Then we’ll go. But I want to talk about this later, okay?” The heavy beat of my heart filled the space. “Abrial?”
She gave me a slow nod and dropped her hand. “Okay, we’ll talk later.”
I forced my feet to move, to give her space. “We’ll find your pack. We’ll bring everyone here. This place is plenty big enough for all of us.”
“Thank you. Thank you for everything. I can never repay you. All I can say is I won’t let you down. I’ll keep all of us safe.”
“Well, if you haven’t already figured this out, there’s twelve of us. Twelve Zodiac dragons. We might not look like much now, but we’ve seen our fair share of battles.”
“I know who you are.” She whispered. “My mother used to tell us stories about you. The Bloodletter she called you. You represent each sign of the Zodiac, you belong to all creatures and we, in turn, belong to you. The elders told us that the Guardians were so terrifying they killed every vampire, every warlock, and every demon. I was terrified of you once.”
My stomach trembled, still I had to know. “And now?”
“I don’t think you’re a Bloodletter at all.” Her hand passed in front of my face. Fingers probed the tender bone where my horns sprout. “I think you’re the most beautiful being I’ve ever seen.”
“I’m broken. I’m weak.”
She shook her head. “Not in my eyes.”
My throat thickened as a battle raged in her eyes. Something was tearing this woman apart, some secret she wouldn’t share. Not yet anyway.
This time it was me who stepped away. “Then let’s go and get Maddy and this special baby of hers. I could do with a few more strong, independent, stubborn-as-hell women to scream at me.”
The sound of her chuckle made me soar. “Thank the Goddess for that. I guess you won’t be disappointed then.”
I glanced down at the dark blotches on my shirt and reached for the buttons. “I might not act like the Bloodletter, but right now I sure look like him. Let me put on a clean shirt and we’ll go. Your jeans are okay, but your shirts a damn mess. I’ll grab something from my closet.”
I strode across the room to the open closet door as my fingers worked the buttons of my shirt. I scanned clothes lining one side of the room as I dropped my shirt to the floor. I turned at the soft sound of boots scuffing the floor. I waited, heart in my throat, as she stepped into the doorway.
Most of my shirts were too big for her. I grabbed a black singlet that might come close to fitting and held it out. “My shirts will be too big, but at least you can wear this underneath.”
“Thank you.”
She turned and dragged the ripped singlet over her head. I stared at her back. Her skin was perfect, not a scratch, or a blemish. I exhaled hard, mesmerized by her movements as she shrugged into my singlet—the damn thing looked a thousand times better on her.
Abrial turned to face me. Her gaze trailed my chest and arms. I turned, giving her what she wanted. Electricity filled the air. Goosebumps spread across my arms, a breath on the back of my neck urged me forward. The need in her eyes impaled me. I could force her, one slow kiss, one flick of my tongue.
No.
Not like that.
Not until she’s ready.
I dropped my hands and grasped a pair of jeans from the hanger as Abrial dragged her hand along the row of shirts. She plucked a light blue pin-striped shirt from the hanger and pulled it on. “Don’t you own a T-shirt?”
I smiled, stepping to the side and wrenching open a drawer. “A few, do you have any particular color in mind?”
“Red.” She grinned. “I like red.”
I plucked a crimson shirt from the drawer and slid the opening over my head, tugging the shirt into place.
She stepped away and I followed, crossing the dressing room to the bedroom door. Then it hit me. I lunged forward, ready to take her in my arms, as she gripped the handle and yanked the door open.
All eleven of my family waited for her. One glance and I saw relief in their eyes. Even Xael gave the wolf one nod and snapped. “Glad to see you’re alive. Can’t stand to see the sight of a grown man weeping.”
I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out.
Abrial’s cheeks reddened and she dropped her gaze. “Thank you. I want to thank all of you. I know the circumstances of our meeting haven’t been the best. But, I owe you a debt of gratitude.”
Victor stepped closer taking the wolf in his arms, towering over her. “You’re welcome to stay for as long as you need, you and your pack.”
I narrowed my gaze, searching every face. “You guys were listening, huh?”
“It was a bit hard not to.” Isaiah chuckled.
The twinkle in his eye and the tight curve of his lips said it all. I stepped past and ruffled his long blond hair—even the lion hated the thought of living without someone to care for, someone to love.
I turned, watching as each of my brothers and my sister nodded in acceptance. And in this moment I floated, tethered by the swell of my chest and the hope that we could be more than a faded children’s story. The hallway lights sparkled, blurring into one through a tear, as Abrial gave Victor one last squeeze and headed for the stairs.
Victor’s stride matched mine. “I’ll take the Jeep. You get Zadoc to follow me.”
Abrial raced ahead, stalling at the bottom of the stairs before I called. “Turn right. The garage door’s straight ahead.”
I let her take the lead, falling back to whisper. “I want you to be careful. Something doesn’t feel right. If anything goes wrong, I want you to protect Abrial. Can you do that?”
“Yes.”
Victor’s voice never wavered, still the knot in my belly wound tight. I hit the last stair as the slam of a car door tore through the air. I’d take her to find her pack and bring her home, whatever the cost.
My inner dragon fixed his sight on her as I strode through the garage door and hit the button. She turned her head when I yanked open the driver’s door.
Through the dark canopy behind us the sun fought through the trees. Abrial jerked her head, staring over her shoulder. She breathed one long sigh of relief as I shoved the car into reverse and backed out of the driveway, then nosed the car forward and down the drive, catching sight of my brothers following behind us.
“For a second there I didn’t think I’d see this.”
I glanced across the console.
“I didn’t think I’d see today.”
The words stuck in my throat, until I forced them free. “Well, I’m glad you’re here.”
“I appreciate you taking us in like this. Maddy’s going to love it here. Odessa, too. You’ll love her. She’s strange and wonderful all at the same time.”
I reached across and gave her hand a squeeze. “I think you’ll fit in beautifully.”
“Just until we’re rested.”
I nodded and wound the car toward the gate. I hit the button and the gate clunked. In my mind I was searching for reasons to make her stay. I’d take anything.
I rolled the car forward, punching the button before yanking the wheel hard and finding the asphalt once more. Abrial leaned her head against the window, her steady breaths were quiet and soothing. I stole glances. She looked so fragile sitting there. Her breathing deepened. I risked a brush of her hair, running the crimson strands through my fingers.
I wanted to drive forever, listening to her softly snore. But only she knew where the track was that would lead us to her pack.
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nbsp; I reached over and brushed her arm. “Abrial, you need to wake up.”
She jerked awake, glanced around the car, and settled on me. “I’m sorry. How long was I out for?”
I glanced at the clock. “Ten, fifteen minutes.”
She scanned the trees, and searched the horizon. “I think it’s just up ahead. You might want to slow down.”
I slowed, catching sight of an opening in the trees. The front wheels hit the gravel, pinging against the belly of the SUV.
Abrial leaned forward and scanned the track. “It’ll be slow going for a while, but this will take us close to the pack.”
I countered a hole, slowing the car and easing the wheel to follow the trail as Abrial rolled down the window and inhaled the frigid air. We left the fire-trail behind and carved our own track through the woods, skirting fallen trees and inching over rocky mounds, heading deeper into the forest. The seconds felt like hours, I kept the Jeep steady, watching the rear view mirror for Zadoc’s dark blue four-wheel drive behind me. “Keep going. I think we’re almost there. When we get there, I want you to stay in the car, okay? It’s going to get… complicated.”
The orange flames of an open fire flickered through the crowded trees. I slowed the car, pulling to a stop. “You sure you don’t want me to come?”
She never looked at me, only stared out of the window. “No, it’ll only make things worse. The most important thing is for Maddy and her baby to be safe. That’s all I care about right now.”
Her hand lingered on the handle. For a second I thought she was going to stay. Just drive, she whispered in my mind, and I would turn this car around and do exactly as the woman asked.
Then the door was open, and she was moving. I’d never felt loss as I did in that moment. I’d not wanted, yearned for something or someone before. The ache was inescapable. I reached up sliding my heavy hand over the hard mound of my chest, searching for the hole as she disappeared through the line of trees and wondered what in the hell was happening to me.
I stared at the trunk of the pine where I lost sight of her. The bark wept with morning dew, glistening as the sun glimmered brighter, higher.
The minutes ticked by on the dashboard. I scanned the forest, listening to the birds take flight while I glimpsed Zadoc’s Raptor in the rear view mirror. I dropped my hand to the handle and leaned into the door. The snap of a branch cut through the air.
I inhaled at the sight of her. She led a small group through the trees. My gaze drifted to the woman beside her, clutching a wrapped bundle to her chest. I fumbled with the handle. The door opened with a thunk and I spilled out of the car.
“Let me grab the door.” I muttered and rounded the back. The tiny mound in her arms wore a woman’s blue shirt, mewling like a lost lamb.
“Thank you.”
I dragged my gaze from the mother’s arms, to her face. Her smile was beautiful. She was beautiful. But exhaustion stole the sparkle in her eyes. I yanked open the door and turned to Abrial.
The sight of her hit me. I swallowed hard, dropping my gaze to her arms. They were overflowing, laden with heavy sacks that seemed to swallow her chest.
I lunged, grabbing the first strap I could reach. Something tore and the sack dropped to the ground. I wasn’t sure if it was the material or me, as I heaved the pack to the rear of the Jeep and returned. “What the hell do you have in these things?”
“Our home.”
I stared at the opening, tied down with ties and clamps as Maddy climbed into the back seat. A shuffle through the trees drew my gaze. An old man, head down trudged toward us, followed by an older woman. A younger woman followed. A child clung to her fingers of either hand. Their faces were mud-stained, clothes tattered and torn. Too thin, they were all too thin.
“There’s more,” whispered Abrial apologetically.
I turned my head, glancing at Zadoc’s navy four-wheel drive pull up behind me. “Of course, bring as many as you need.”
I snagged the phone from my pocket. My thick fingers punched the screen. Victor answered after the second ring. I spoke quickly, giving instructions, and shoved the phone back into my pocket.
One-by-one they walked out of the forest. I heaved pack after pack into the rear of the Jeep and nodded as they smiled. Maddy climbed into the back, followed by the other woman and her children. Abrial yanked open the passenger door. She knelt, gripping the old man’s feet as he sat, and gently placed them inside the car, as though he were too weak to do even that for himself.
“We’ll be right behind you.”
The old man clung to her hand. He wouldn’t let go. I tore my gaze away and winced at the thick sounds echoing from the front seat. Even staring off into the distance I caught the jerking sobs. Goddess above. How did these people survive?
The bushes parted as a small group of men pushed their way through. I settled on the older man in the middle. Even from here I could see the resemblance. His thick beard tinged with red. He had her eyes, not green, but darker, brown eyes, inquisitive eyes.
He held my gaze as the other’s closed ranks. Where the women and the children looked lean, these men were strong and well-fed. Warriors. Three men in the middle were older. The two on either side looked approximately Abrial’s age.
They slowed, allowing an older man to step ahead. “My name’s Samuel. People call me Sam.” He gestured. “This is my pack. I hear you have a place for us to rest while we gather some supplies?”
I felt her gaze burn into the back of my neck. “That’s right. There’s plenty enough room at the compound. I heard young Maddy here had a little girl. My family and I wanted to meet her.”
“We’ll take no charity. The women will work for the privilege of a place to stay.” I felt my stomach harden at his words. A spark lit the darkness inside. He turned his head. “Abrial, I’ll sit up front. Owen can ride in the back with the women.”
“B-but, D-dad—” she stammered.
The Alpha lunged, slamming his hand against the car, inches from her head. “Or he’ll be left behind.”
She dropped her gaze, her defiance gone. That spark inside me turned into a flame. I covered the distance before I realize I’d moved to tower over him. “The old man stays where he is.”
I caught the twitch, and the slow rise of his lip as the sound of an engine echoed through the trees. “Don’t worry. There’s more than enough front seats with my brothers.”
He captured my gaze, then turned, staring as Zadoc and Victor neared.
His daughter was everywhere in this man. But she was more—more fire, more strength, more compassion—and nothing like this man.
Abrial’s father’s gaze slipped from mine as he caught sight of Zadoc. His eyes widened and brow lifted. Heavy combat boots decimated the forest floor as the biggest of my family stopped at my side. “Brother.”
“Zadoc,” I muttered. “Meet Sam, the Alpha of the Bloodstone pack.”
There was no shaking of hands. One stony look from my brother turned the conversation cold.
I yanked my head toward my brother. “Can you take him and the rest of the men back to the compound? I’ll follow as soon as Victor gets here.”
“We’ll make sure the compound is safe.” Sam muttered.
I turned back to Sam at the remark and caught the glint of satisfaction in his eye and smiled. “Of course it’s safe. For the women at least.”
He paled underneath the glowing beard before turning to follow the others.
She waited until the truck doors slammed shut before turning. “Well, that went okay.”
I reached for her hand behind me, clasping her fingers tight. “At least he knows where we stand.”
“And where is that?”
I turned and held her gaze. “Together.”
Tires crunched as the navy four-by-four swerved and pulled over. Victor climbed out, leaving the driver’s side door open and headed toward me.
Abrial dropped my hand to help the others into the four-wheel drive.
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��Is this all of them?”
I nodded, as the Raptor started and reversed. “We might have some problems with the men. But they’ll learn to fall into line.”
“Hi.”
I turned as a tiny shifter stopped beside us. Her blue eyes lingered on my brother. One small hand reached out, “My name’s Odessa.”
My brother reached out, swallowing her palm in his. “I’m Victor.”
Her smile widened as she answered. “I know.”
The moment lingered as they stared at each other. Dropping his hand, she moved away. I wanted to laugh at the stunned look in Victor’s eyes, but managed to stifle the urge.
He raked his hair back and murmured, unable to take his eyes of the wolf. “What was that?”
I shook my head and chuckled. “Hell if I know.”
“Okay. Odessa and I’ll stay behind with the others.”
I gave her a nod. “I’ll be as quick as I can.”
Victor turned back to the Jeep and climbed inside. I rounded the front end and jerked open the door. Their smiles greeted me. Maddy reached forward, touching my hair as I climbed inside. I flinched from the touch, still she ran her fingers along my shoulders. “Thank you. Thank you for saving my baby.”
I swallowed the lump and started the car, remembering the words of their Alpha. “You and your baby are safe with me. No one will harm you while we’re around.”
The cars turned, leaving Abrial behind. I shoved the Jeep into reverse and followed. I watched her step away from the others, as though she knew I’d be watching. I kept my hands on the wheel, catching glimpses of the road while I stared into the rear view mirror.
“She’s a good girl, our Abrial.” Whispered the old man next to me.
“Yes,” echoed Maddy. “Without her and Odessa I wouldn’t be here. They stayed and delivered my baby when everyone else left. She’s a true godsend, a true Alpha.”
“Yes,” the old man agreed. “A true leader.”
The road curved. I lost sight of her. I crawled the car out of the brush and the fresh carved track toward asphalt. The others were already gone, racing ahead. I eased the accelerator, eager to catch up and climbed the mountain as fast as my precious cargo would allow.