Raven took a deep breath in and let it out. “So, you two are mated,” she said.
Tierney practically glowed as she smiled. “Yeah, mated and bonded. Jax gave me a run for my money, but he’s mine now.”
Raven smirked. “I always knew you were meant for each other.”
“Really?” Tierney asked, staring up at her.
Raven nodded. “Of course, it was obvious to anyone with two eyes in their head.”
Just then a long blond-haired male that smelled of leopard inched close to Tierney and Jax. Raven smiled when Tierney pulled him close.
“This is Thaniel, he is also our mate,” her niece said and Raven finally smiled. Something she hadn’t done in a very long time. “Nice to meet you, Thaniel.”
A little shy, Thaniel inclined his head. “It is nice to meet you, too.”
Then she stiffened as a wild, dangerous presence walked in behind her. An uncomfortable heat slowly filled her veins and without even looking, she knew it was eyes—the large, dark-haired male she’d seen in her brother’s room. The one Tierney called Soroyan. She drew in a deep breath, trying to calm her racing heart before she turned and met his searing gaze.
Predator. Wolf. Her senses told her and not just any wolf, but a strong, extremely volatile one. A shiver of anticipation, a feeling she hadn’t felt in over twenty years, consumed her as his gorgeous bluish-green eyes seemed to devour her.
Raven felt his anger flare as he continued past and over to the other tall, handsome male who also smelled like wolf. This one had long pale hair with blue-and-silver streaks.
“Who are they, and why does the dark one look so pissed off?” she asked, unable to take her eyes off the one who seemed to set her blood pumping so furiously.
“That’s Soroyan and his brother Kyrian,” Tierney said.
“Yeah, Soroyan always looks pissed, you’ll get used to it,” Jax added.
Tierney continued. “Soroyan’s enforcer for the pack and Kyrian is the king of the Okami wolves. They were living up on the mountain, but they now live here with us.”
“How well do you know them, to have them living inside with you?” Raven eyed the formidable males, her protective instincts kicking into gear.
“Kyrian helped us when Jax went through his awakening, plus we’ve had a few attacks up here. They’ve fought bravely with us,” Tierney said.
“They held the Were-wolves off until Jax could find me, if it hadn’t been for Kyrian and his wolves.” Thaniel shuddered and Raven raised an eyebrow at him.
“They’ve stood with us, earned our trust,” Jax said, a protective glint in his own eyes over the wolves.
Raven smirked. “All right then.”
As if sensing she wasn’t convinced, Tierney held her gaze, wanting there to be no mistaking how serious they were. “They, along with the other misfits around here are our friends and allies, and are to be treated as such,” she said, and waited until Raven nodded. She didn’t have to like it, she just needed to accept it.
Raven couldn’t help the pride she felt at her niece. “Noted.”
“Anyway, we are trying to locate Kyrian’s son,” Tierney continued.
“Yeah, he’s being kept by some dick-wad named Val Jean, a Daywalker,” Jax commented.
Raven ignored the strange terminology. “I had a bit of a run in with a nasty Daywalker when I exited the portal on Earth here.”
“What did he want?” Jax asked, eyes flaring with anger.
Raven shrugged. “No idea, he died before he could tell me.”
“Well, that works,” Jax said and smirked.
“So, what’s the big guy’s problem?” Raven asked. It was a struggle to keep her eyes off the dark, menacing wolf.
Tierney sighed and studied Soroyan and Kyrian who were talking. “I fear we’re running out of time.” She looked back at Raven. “Val Jean and his daughter tried to capture Soroyan a couple days ago, as it is, they managed to get that disgusting collar on him preventing him from shifting. Jax had to compel his wolf to go to sleep, he kept trying to shift.” Tierney shuddered. “It was awful, heartbreaking.”
For some reason, Raven’s gut clenched as she covertly watched the big, dark warrior. Normally she wouldn’t have spared a worry. What happened in the lives of others was of no concern to her, but right now, the thought of how he must feel, being unable to shift into his other half, really bothered her.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Prisoner
Soroyan could feel Raven’s purple eyes on him and that, combined with her scent, was doing things to him he never thought possible. Intense heat flooded his system along with a desire to go over and sniff her. He wanted to rub himself all over her. Mark her.
Angry at himself, he went with his brother as two of their warriors moved Red into her cell. As soon as they tried to remove a pendant she was wearing around her neck, worried she might try to hurt herself with it, she went ballistic.
“Just leave it,” Tierney said and Red calmed down until they shut the door.
“I need Zander. Get me out of here!” Red yelled, eyes wild as she pulled at the bars.
“What the hell?” Jax asked.
Tierney moved close to the cell, fury bright in her eyes.
“Tiern,” Jax said, about to grab her arm, but she waved him off.
Jax dropped his hand with a little aggravated sigh.
Raven’s gaze locked onto his and a shiver rushed through Soroyan.
“She can’t get out of there, can she?” she asked him, but it was Kyrian who shook his head.
“She’s not going anywhere.”
Raven nodded.
Tierney’s voice was cold. “You can scream all you want, no one cares. You will never see my father again, unless it’s to reverse the spell you put on him.”
Red stopped struggling, chest heaving. She sneered at Tierney. “I almost had you as well. You wouldn’t be so high and mighty if I’d gotten ahold of you,” she said.
Tierney just continued to stare at her until Thaniel made his way up to her and nudged her.
Tierney noted the bottle of water and sandwich in his hand. She turned so Red couldn’t see, and smiled. “Thank you, Thaniel, can one of you give it to her? I can’t stand to get any closer to her.” Tierney indicated Red behind her.
“Yes, I will,” Kyrian said and stepping forward, took the food and water from Thaniel.
“Thanks, Kyrian,” Tierney said and then she swept out of the room with Thaniel behind her and Jax taking up the rear.
Kyrian attempted to use his charm, but the only thing they learned was the woman’s name. Amelis.
Then Kyrian gave her the food and water and after she retreated to the single bed they’d brought in, they turned away.
Soroyan called out and the two guards from earlier took up position just inside the door.
“The guards will switch off every two hours so no one gets complacent,” he informed his brother.
“Good,” Kyrian said, studying their prisoner. Raven had been watching her as well, but hadn’t said a word.
Soroyan began to summon his power to set wards preventing Amelis from using magic, only to remember that he couldn’t access his power.
“I’ve got it,” Kyrian said quietly.
Soroyan pursed his lips, seething at his situation. With a nod, he walked out. He needed some more fresh air, clear his head before he came back to see what he could get out of their prisoner.
***
Soroyan sighed in frustration as Amelis lay on the bed in her holding cell with her back to him. Everyone had left them alone after they’d secured the room, but now the woman had shut down and refused to talk unless they let her go.
A familiar wild tang filled his senses, then a moment later a husky voice spoke right behind him. “Maybe I can help?”
A shiver of pure molten desire shot through him, hardening him against his jeans uncomfortably so that he had to take a moment to regulate his breathing.
Not showing
any signs of his reaction to her, he glanced over his shoulder. Raven stood waiting for him to answer and he noticed that she was only a few inches shorter than him. Dressed in a tight black tee-shirt that outlined her breasts, and faded blue jeans that hugged her hips, his mouth went dry. Just the way she moved and held herself, he knew she’d spent years working out or more likely, judging by the weapons covering her, fighting.
As she stared right back at him, his breath caught and his cock throbbed, making him want to swear. He couldn’t afford to be distracted.
Deep purple eyes seemed to stare right through him and then her lush lips curled up just the slightest bit, and he couldn’t help but wonder how they’d taste. How they’d feel against his. With an inward snarl, he tore his gaze from her but it was too late. A deep, ferocious need that wouldn’t let go, pulsed through him, growing stronger by the minute.
“I got this,” he said, hating how his body was once again betraying him.
“Fine, I’ll just sit and watch,” she said and pulled one of the guard’s chairs over. Soroyan tried to ignore Raven as she sat back with her legs slightly spread. His pulse began to race and the need continued to burn. A faint tic started in his jaw as he turned back to Amelis. He attempted to block Raven out but found himself disturbingly attuned to her every movement.
“Where is Val Jean’s stronghold? Where does he keep his prisoners?” he asked once again, but just like all his other questions, Amelis didn’t answer.
The woman just wasn’t talking.
With a sigh, he finally nodded and gave Raven the go ahead.
Raven gave a little smirk that made his cock twitch as she walked up to the bars on the cell.
“Leave me alone. I’m not answering any of your questions,” Amelis snapped, glaring at Raven.
Raven was silent for a moment as she studied the woman, and Soroyan could feel a light touch of magic in the air and wondered what was happening. Then Amelis clutched her head and groaned, and a moment later the magic disappeared.
A perplexed expression crossed Raven’s face for a moment then vanished. “Would you rather speak to your son?” she asked when Amelis finally dropped her hands from her head.
Amelis snarled at Raven. “What did you do to me?”
Raven shot a wary look back at Soroyan before turning back to Amelis. “I didn’t do anything to you,” she said and Soroyan felt her confusion. “Would you rather tell your son what we want to know?” Raven asked again.
Amelis swallowed deeply and her eyes when they flicked toward him briefly looked almost pleading, but then her lip lifted in disdain. “No, I do not want to talk to that little traitor.”
Raven didn’t comment on that and instead asked her next question. “How do we undo the spell on my brother?” Tierney had filled her in on Zander’s capture, subsequent rescue, and why he was healing so slowly.
Amelis smirked up at her. “You can’t.”
“Can you undo it?” Raven asked.
Amelis stared at her for a moment and then with a slight shrug, she turned and gave them her back.
At that, Raven snarled and reached for the cell door.
“What are you doing?” he asked, curious, as she unlocked it and slipped inside with Amelis.
Raven grabbed Amelis, yanked her back around and had a knife pressed to the woman’s throat before Soroyan could blink.
“Raven,” he said softly, suddenly worried. They needed this prisoner and as attracted to her as he might be, he really knew nothing about her.
Then he rethought that. He could sense the volatility in her, it called to his own.
Raven ignored him. “Zander might buy your little tale about this being his baby, but I’m not so gullible or forgiving. I can hurt you very painfully while shielding your baby, then heal you and do it all over again.”
Amelis shivered at the conviction in her words and Soroyan sucked in a breath, knowing she could do what she claimed.
“Fine, I’ll tell you, just don’t … please.”
Raven waited.
Amelis licked her lips and glanced at Soroyan before looking back at Raven. “I-I can’t undo the spell on Zander, only he can, and before you ask me how, I have no idea. It’s different for everyone,” she said and Raven hissed.
Soroyan could feel her anger building and apparently so could Amelis.
Swallowing deeply, Amelis continued. “I can’t tell you where Val Jean’s stronghold is, I don’t know.”
Soroyan and Raven both felt the truth of her words.
When they failed to get anything else of use, they left Amelis alone. As Soroyan closed the door and motioned the guards back over, Raven moved away with a distracted frown on her face. “What did you pick up?” he asked.
Raven looked at him and her frown faded away. A smoldering heat lit her eyes briefly. “I’m not sure. I wasn’t trying to hurt her, I was trying to detect the truth and there was just something not quite right. Either she is completely nuts, or—” Raven shook her head. “I have to go talk with Zander.”
Soroyan couldn’t help admire her shapely legs and tight ass that filled her faded jeans to perfection as she walked away from him. The thought of them wrapped around him made him groan.
With a snarl, he turned away and went to talk to Caden.
Before he could knock, Genna opened the door and cocked her head at him. “Whatcha be needin’ Wolfy?”
Surprised, Soroyan started to tell her what he was there for, but Genna’s grin stopped him. “A course you can talk with Caden,” she said and opened the door wider.
Soroyan bit back a growl. He really needed to work on his shields. He entered the room to find Caden looking at him and, judging from the nervous tension, guessed the guy had been pacing.
“Cadey, Wolfy has some questions,” Genna said.
“Oh, all right.” Caden went to sit on the couch and Soroyan sat down in the chair across from him while Genna circled the couch to finally settle beside Caden.
“What can you tell me about Val Jean and his stronghold?” he asked, getting right to the point.
Caden sighed and his shoulders slumped. “I already told Tierney and Jax what I knew and it wasn’t much,” he glanced at Genna who was silent for once, before looking back at Soroyan with a shrug. “My mother was never a mother. I had to call her Master, and I’ve never been considered useful enough to be a part of any of her dealings with anyone. I’ve heard her mention the name Val Jean, but only when she’d tell one of her minions to prepare a shipment, or set up an appointment.”
“Shipment of what?” Soroyan asked, as he thought of all the Supe blood the Ilyium had been collecting. Could they be selling it to the Daywalker king, and if so, why? From what he understood, Val Jean had no end of pets to drink from.
Caden shrugged. “I’m sorry, I have no idea. Whatever it was, she went to visit him once a month, though I have no clue where.”
Soroyan felt defeat fill him. They were getting nowhere.
Then he noticed the look of consternation on Genna’s face. “Genna?” he asked, wondering what she was not saying.
“I can follow anyone when I get their mental signature, but when I tried to follow her to Val Jean, I got blocked by strong magic,” she said and Soroyan could tell she didn’t like to admit she couldn’t do something.
When he left, Soroyan felt beyond frustrated over everything. The inability to shift or use his powers, not being able to get the information he needed to find his nephew … along with the unwanted reaction of his body toward Raven.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Raizarch Wolves
Soroyan hadn’t gotten much sleep, though his body was feeling much better the next morning, telling him he was still healing quicker than a human would.
“Here,” Sami said, handing him a plate of food when he walked into the kitchen. Soroyan bit into the bacon, his blood heating as he covertly watched Raven.
She conversed so effortlessly with everyone and right now she was deep in conversatio
n with Goldy.
“When is your baby due?” he heard her ask.
Goldy pondered the question. “Not exactly sure. No one seems to have any idea of the gestation period for a Genesis Dracones baby.”
Raven smiled, but he caught a shadow of something sad in her eyes that made him ache to take it away.
Not understanding the reason he was reacting so strongly to Raven, he glanced at Tierney. While he cared about her, his feelings which he’d thought so strong before, paled in comparison. In fact, for the first time, he found himself glad that she was happy with her two mates.
Just then Tierney smiled at him and he remembered what she’d said about being his friend. It left him feeling strange though not in a bad way.
Tierney turned away to talk to someone else and Soroyan caught Raven staring hard at him.
“Up!” a growly voice demanded and Raven turned startled eyes toward the small wolfling pup standing unsteadily on his two human feet, tugging at her leg. It was one of the pack’s pups in human form, a thirteen-month-old and he was wanting to be picked up.
“You want me to pick you up?” Raven asked. The small boy-pup nodded and Raven hesitantly lifted him into her arms. A smile lit up her face as he reached across the counter and snagged a crispy piece of bacon and stuffed it in his mouth, then grinned at her.
“Hungry critter,” Brimstone remarked and Raven chuckled, and the look on her face as she held the boy warmed something inside of Soroyan. She seemed both happy and a little scared, like she was worried she’d drop him. Yet, there was yearning there as well.
Brimstone made another quip and at Raven’s abrupt laugh, Soroyan couldn’t help the low snarl that slipped out of him. The Phoenix was a little too close and comfortable around her and Soroyan didn’t like it.
No one seemed to notice, although Raven once again turned her smoky purple eyes on him. The embers that had been licking at his veins since he’d first laid eyes on the woman, suddenly fanned into a full blaze as brutal need slammed into him, almost taking his breath away.
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