by Lola Taylor
Neither of the men laughed at her attempt at humor. They looked at each other. Something unreadable passed over Gage’s face, then it was gone. “I hope so.”
Huh? Hope for what? Once again, she felt one chapter behind the class.
Malcolm at once took her hand and dropped to one knee, bowing his head low. “My lady, let me swear my allegiance now. I gladly serve the queen of the Moonstruck Cl-”
“That’s quite all right, Malcolm,” Gage said loudly, grasping the older man by his shoulders and helping him to his feet. He leaned in, whispering something into the butler’s ear while Danica stared, puzzled.
Malcolm’s eyes widened. “Oh. I thought I smelled something different about her. I see.” Malcolm, without saying another word, bowed and took off toward one of two staircases at either end of the large foyer.
Danica stared after him, then at Gage. “What the hell was that?”
“What was what?” he asked innocently.
“The whole bowing and swearing allegiance thing. Are you, like, some kind of foreign dignitary or something?”
“It’s hard to explain,” Gage said, running a hand through his hair. She wouldn’t mind running her hands through it herself, but she was a good girl and kept them by her side. “Care to let me in on the big secret?”
Gage actually looked scared for a second before his calm, suave mask slipped back into place. “Soon. I promise.”
“You know, you can’t avoid the topic forever. You’re gonna have to-” She sneezed, shivering. Gross! Snot was the worst in front of a hot guy, dream or not.
Gage frowned, feeling her skin. “You’re cold as ice. You need a bath to warm up before you catch a cold.”
Before she could argue, he had wrapped an arm around her waist and was guiding her up the stairs.
She looked around the foyer as they walked, her curious nature taking over. The room looked like it could have been used in a Jane Austen movie. Gleaming pearl floors, silver candelabra everywhere, with fur rugs and vases overflowing with roses adorned the place. Paintings of landscapes, particularly those of the Arkansas landscapes, hung along the walls. Most of them were of night scenes - moon overlooking a lake, moon shining through trees. Most also had wolves featured in them.
“What do you think?” Gage asked, studying her.
“I think it looks expensive.”
He chuckled. “Each… leader of my, er, business has lived in this house over the decades. We’ve had a lot of time to accumulate junk.”
“A lot of pricey junk.”
He offered her his arm. “May I?”
Secretly, she preferred the feel of his strong arm around her waist, but it was just so flipping romantic. It made her feel like a lady and not a hair salon secretary/bitch who earned minimum wage and ate raman for dinner.
As she stared into his hopeful eyes, her heart skipped a beat. It had no business whatsoever getting pitter-pattery with her. She still had no idea who this guy really was. At least, that’s what her common sense kept telling her as she let him guide her up one of the stairwells and down a long hallway on the second floor. It’s just a dream, she told herself. Just go with it.
You should find a phone and call the police! her common sense sang.
She sighed inwardly. Honestly, her CS was ruining her wet dream. While a good idea - you know, if the dream had actually been real - truth was, Danica didn’t want to wake up. She didn’t want to admit her life was nothing special, and she was starting to slip into depression thanks to her loneliness.
None of her family was left in Moonstruck, not that they’d care what happened to her anyway. Her mom certainly hadn’t when she’d run off with her boyfriend the day Danica had turned eighteen, leaving her to fend for herself. Who knew where her dad was. She’d given up looking for him after ten years of no contact. Some people didn’t want to be found. She wasn’t sure what she’d say to him if she did.
Pushing back those depressing thoughts, she lost her breath again when Gage led her to a beautiful room dripping in crystals.
“We call this the Crystal Room,” he said.
“No kidding. It’s so sparkly.”
Crystals were embroidered in the silver curtains and along the silver and champagne-colored comforter. The four poster bed was surrounded by crystal beads, as was the huge circular whirlpool tub she could see in the adjoining bathroom. Several pillar candles and candelabra had been lit, giving the room a soft, feminine feel, and pitching rainbows along the floor and walls when the light caught the crystals. Double French doors stood at the opposite end of the room, leading to the balcony. Malcolm knelt before the fireplace, getting a fire started.
“Is this her?”
Danica turned as an elderly woman dressed in a simple black dress with red trimmings scurried up to her. She looked about ninety, considering all the wrinkles folding her tanned skin. She gripped Danica’s hands, tears shining in her eyes. “Bless you, dear! I was worried our poor master wouldn’t find his mate in time!”
“Um,” Danica said, smiling because she didn’t want to be rude, “I’m sorry, I think there’s been some mistake.” She looked to Gage, raising a brow.
Gage rested a hand on the lady’s shoulder, smiling kindly. “Mary, Lady Danica doesn’t know all the details yet.”
Mary, frowning, turned to Danica - and sniffed her hair.
Danica’s brows shot up. Were all these people on crack? She’d been reading too many fantasy books lately.
Mary gasped. “Oh. I see. How surprising.”
Danica nearly growled from frustration. “How? How is that surprising? Is she talking about the type of conditioner I use? It is surprising it works so well, being as cheap as it is.”
Gage sighed and rubbed his temples. “I’m sorry, Danica. I’ll explain everything later, after you’re rested. Mary’s prepared a bath for you, if you’d like to get clean and take some time to relax. I’ll find a doctor and have him tend to your injuries afterward.”
“I’m fine,” she said, not wanting to be a bother. Which was stupid, because this was a dream, anyway. My, how polite her fantasy men were!
He frowned, not looking like he believed her, but he didn’t push the topic. “I also believe you said you wanted water, am I right?”
“Um, sure. Please.” She was parched. Must be the happy-beer.
“Miss Mary,” Gage said, “would you please get Lady Danica a glass of ice water?”
Mary smiled. “Sure.” She patted Danica’s cheek before scampering out of the room.
Lady Danica. Hmmm… must be part of some weird custom rich people do.
Malcolm, having finished the fire, left with Mary. Gage turned to Danica. “I know this is a lot to take in, but know while you are under my roof, you will come to no harm.”
“Sure. That’s why you kidnapped me, to protect me, right?”
“You didn’t seem to object back in the car,” he said huskily.
No, she sure hadn’t. Her cheeks heated at the reminder he hadn’t kissed her. Clearing her throat, she looked away, thankful the lighting was dim so he wouldn’t see her blush. Licking her lips, she said, “So, are you going to watch me undress, or give me some privacy?”
“Which would you prefer?”
There was that teasing, sultry tone again. Why was he flirting if he wouldn’t take advantage of what she was putting out? It was her dream, dammit! The sound of his voice made her sex quiver; it hadn’t stopped tingling since that weird Mark appeared on her hand. “A gentleman would leave.” It was the wise response. All she wanted to do was invite him to join her, but she knew so little about him.
Didn’t stop you from wanting to tongue him in the car.
Good grief, her conscience was super-chatty tonight.
Gage smiled, looking wicked and sexy. “As you wish, my lady.”
Nodding, he turned and closed the doors behind him, his gaze roving down and back up her body.
That suggestive gesture alone was almost enough to make her ru
Undressing, she gingerly lowered herself in the tub and sat back, trying to relax. She had no idea why she was dreaming about a bubble bath, but whatever. It was like a collection of her favorite things - bubble baths, hot men, a huge freaking house….
Popping bubbles with her toes, she smiled. All in all, not a bad dream. Sure, the earlier part had been pretty shitty, more of a nightmare, really, but this was nice. If every dream were like this, she never wanted to wake up. This was every little girl’s fantasy, to be swept away by the handsome prince and live happily ever after. She had no idea why she was thinking of “happily ever after” with a make-believe guy, but she felt a strong pull toward him she’d never felt with Seth. Sad, but true. She’d also thought he’d been the love of her life, that is, until he ripped her heart out by saying she wasn’t the type of girl a future doctor would marry. As if.
Asshole.
Irritated with herself for breaking her cardinal rule - never spend time thinking about jerks who wouldn’t spend a second thinking about you - Danica laid her head back and closed her eyes.
Something delicate tinkled beside her, and she nearly jumped out of her skin when she opened her eyes and found Mary offering her a glass of water.
“Jeez!” Danica said, heart hammering against her sternum. “You’re like a ninja.”
Mary smiled pleasantly. “It comes with being a wolf.”
The hell? “A wolf?”
“Oh, yes. Stealth is one of the attributes all werewolves share.” She said it as if she’d been merely commenting on the weather.
Danica stared at her as if her hair had caught fire. Maybe she had Alzheimer’s and didn’t realize what she was saying. “I see.”
Mary, still smiling, dipped into a little curtsy and scurried out of the room. A moment later, Danica heard the doors to her suite close, signaling she was alone.
Werewolves. A secret mansion in the middle of the woods. Strange markings on her hands and on that guy Onyx’s neck. Golden eyes, mates….
She giggled. She always thought the best part about all those Twilight movies was getting to see the shirtless werewolves. And considering she’d just read a werewolf romance the other night, it made sense she was dreaming about them.
Sipping on her water, she leisurely rinsed herself off, feeling sleep coming on.
Which was weird, since she was already technically supposed to be asleep.
Odd.
Brushing it aside, she finished up her bath, toweled off, and found a change of clothes had been laid out for her on the bed. It was an elegant red silk nightgown that was perhaps a little flashier than what she would regularly wear to bed. She admired the way the firelight bounced off the silk. It was so pretty. She’d always wanted to wear something as sexy as this, but showing so much skin always made her self-conscious. As Seth got older, he tended to favor more athletic types, always bringing up her curves and the topics of “diet” and “exercise” as often as he could.
But he’s not around anymore. What’s the harm in trying it on?
She chewed her lip. It was her favorite color. Not seeing any other options, she pulled it on, liking how it dipped low to show off her breasts. Pulling on the matching robe lying on the bed, Danica went over to the mirror, admiring herself. She looked different, bolder.
Wilder.
Moonlight spilled in through the open sheer curtains, landing on her skin and making it tingle.
She felt it build in her throat first, then her mouth stretched in a yawn.
She paused, a sliver of fear creeping into her chest. Why was she yawning? Never once had she dreamed about yawning. Then again, she usually couldn’t remember those dreams.
Chewing on her lip, she slowly reached up and pinched herself as hard as she could.
“Ouch!”
She stared at the red mark on her arm in disbelief. Then pinched herself again. And again, until her arm was red with the truth of the matter.
That she wasn’t really asleep.
And she really had been kidnapped by a gorgeous, mysterious stranger.
***
After suffering through a half hour of listening to his packmates argue, Gage’s head was ready to explode. This was exactly why he avoided get-togethers, like holiday meals, with this unruly crew. The food would end up decorating his walls, along with the blood spilled when their brawls inevitably got out of control. It’d start with “He offended me,” “I had to defend my honor,” and BAM! Full-blown pack fight.
He sighed. Family. Gotta love them.
Gage had barely paid attention throughout the meeting after explaining what had went down at the bar. He was too distracted by the thought of his future mate barely dressed, looking so sweet and ripe for the picking as she stood outside the door to the bathroom. He had wanted to close the suite off, strip her naked, then join her in the tub, but business called first.
Like who the hell had dared kill his queen.
“I’m telling you, this has Black Witch all over it,” Erik said. The older, more solemn wolf’s eyes darkened to a shade as black as his long hair.
Murmurs of agreement rose from the table, the only thing they’d been able to agree on. Well, at least, with the “witch” part. Black Witches were as rare as an eclipse. Theories - which had quickly turned into arguments - sprang up, and before long the room was once again filled with the voices of his blood brothers.
Gage thrummed his fingers across the massive, wooden table. He had had about enough of this chatter. Action was needed - and quickly. Threats were like roaches; they grew in number if not snuffed out quickly. “All right.”
The room immediately fell silent at his voice.
Gage stood. “Obviously, someone knew Danica was my future mate. They must have wanted to kill her so I would lose my position within this pack. To what other things they hoped to gain is something we must investigate. I say we start with men and women who have been vying for the position and lost in the past, someone with a vendetta. Erik is right - considering how Onyx had vanished and the fact he knew who my mate was before I did, a witch is involved. I want every packmember questioned about their recent encounters with witches. Find out who they go to. Interview witches and warlocks yourselves, if you must. We need to know who recently purchased any premonitions.”
His packmates fisted their hands over their hearts, bowing their heads to Gage.
“Erik, Nik. A word. The rest of you are dismissed. Report back to me the minute you find anything.”
The two wolves made their way over to Gage as the rest of the room cleared out. Gage lowered his voice. “I want you two shadowing Danica at every turn. Do not let her out of your sight.”
“Ever?” Nik prodded with a grin.
Gage frowned. “You know what I mean.”
“Yes, sir,” Nik said with a salute. “Speaking of Danica, I believe she’s at the door.”
Gage’s eyes snapped up. Sure enough, a blonde head poked in, as well as a touch of crimson.
Ah. So she was wearing the ensemble he had Mary lay out for her. He couldn’t wait to see it on her. He could already feel his body temperature rising at the thought of what lay beneath that soft silk, of the bare skin that was probably softer still.
“Excuse me, gentlemen,” Gage said, heart picking up its pace. “But I’d like a moment alone with my mate.”
Erik smiled, clasping Gage’s shoulder. “I am happy for you, sire.”
“As am I.” Gage smiled, though it felt stiff. What if he was getting his hopes up too soon? What if this was never meant to be? She was a human. To his knowledge, no other packmaster in the history of all werewolf lore had ever bonded to a human. They were always other royal weres. Not to mention she thought she was either drugged or dreaming. How would she react when she found out he truly had, in a weird sense of chivalry, kidnapped her?
; Erik left while Nik gestured for Danica to enter.
Slowly, she walked inside, like a doe cautiously entering a meadow, eyes searching for a hunter.
Gage’s inner wolf became interested. Oh, how he wished to hunt her….
Once the door was shut, he clasped his hands in front of him. She was ravishing. The silk suggested curves, and the outline of her nipples through the material made him begin to harden.
Damn it all. Was he ever going to be able to concentrate while she was near?
His heart skipped a beat, sending an unpleasant bolt of fear through him he was entirely unaccustomed to. It took a moment to realize what sparked it.
He was afraid of losing her. More than that, he feared she may never love him.
Thing is, he didn’t know he wanted her to until he’d Marked her.
“May I assist you with something, my lady?” Gage at last asked, noting his voice sounded significantly rougher.
She looked pale and frightened, but determined. “Yeah. You can.”
Her hand slipped into her robe, producing a large dagger.
Chapter 5
Danica fought not to let her hand shake. Dammit, why couldn’t she flip a badass switch and go all Buffy on this dude?
This very hot, enticing dude.
“There’s no phone, like, anywhere. But there are all these handy, decorative knives hanging all over the walls outside this room,” she rambled. Inwardly, she winced. Way to sound intimidating and not take any shit, Danica.
Gage stared at her. “As I said, my predecessors collected antiques. And we don’t have a landline. It was disconnected years ago when we moved to using cell phones. Why? Were you wanting to call your family?”
“I wanted to call the police. I know I’m not drunk,” she said, proud she’d kept her voice steady. “I don’t feel drunk. I’ve pinched myself silly out in the hall after hearing you guys talk, and I haven’t woken up yet. The only thing I can deduct is this is real, and I want you to let me go, right now.”
Gage didn’t reply for a long while. He stood there, staring at her, an amused sparkle in his eyes. “Is that really what you want?”
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