“Willfully ignorant? Not at all what you meant? Yes, mal’chik, I am well aware what you meant, just as you are of what I meant. But you running from me, from being honest with me, won’t help either of us.”
Trace wrapped his arms around his abdomen, tight, and shook his head slightly. “My past isn’t any of your business.”
“Everything about you is now. Just as my past is your business, as you put it.”
“I did not take you as my mate!”
The pain that lanced through Sasha’s heart along with those words drew a gasp from him, both from the physical pain and from the shock of it. He looked down at his chest and rubbed it with one hand, the other curled around the doorway. Sasha wasn’t even sure when he’d grabbed the jamb, but as that was the only reason he still stood, he shrugged it off and focused on the shock he’d just suffered.
“Sasha?” Trace grasped Sasha around the middle and quickly led him inside and to the comfy chair by the window. He lowered Sasha into it, then knelt in front of him, never taking his hands off him.
Sasha looked up into Trace’s wet gaze. “What was that?”
“What happened, hon? You cried out and clutched the doorjamb and your chest.”
“I….” Sasha shook his head and looked down at his chest again. The pain was gone, though there was a faint ghosting of it. Not painful, but almost as though his chest remembered the pain separately from his mind—not that that made any sense to him at all. “I have no idea.” But I’d like to never experience it again, if possible! Thanks.
“I’ll call for your doctor,” Trace said as he started to stand.
Sasha put one hand on Trace’s shoulder and Trace froze. “He’s gone to the tribe lands, remember? He’s not here for you to send for. Just as there’s no lynx doctor here for me to send for for you, though I’d like to.”
Trace slowly raised his head as he stared at where Sasha touched him, though he did nothing to make Sasha move his hand. Eventually he turned his head back so he could meet Sasha’s gaze. “Why do you think I need a doctor?” Trace shook his head, then continued, “I can call and have Dr. Niko return for you. Yes, what he’s doing is important, but so is your health. You can’t do whatever that was in front of some princess, or worse, your uncle. You can’t show any weakness in front of anyone whose loyalty might be questionable, much less an enemy. You know that.”
And he did. Whatever just happened couldn’t happen around his uncle or any he brought who were loyal to him, or who were in on the attack on Trace. Didn’t mean he wanted to be poked and prodded by the doctor.
“I want your scars examined” was all Sasha replied. There was no point in arguing the rest, as they both knew Trace was right. A prince did not show weakness, and Trace, considering his training and position, damn well knew that—just from a shifter point of view.
“Wait, what? What about my scars? Duncan’s doctor treated me and tended to things back then. I’m fine now.”
Sasha nodded. He still hadn’t moved his hand, and Trace still half stood, curled over Sasha. It was an odd position, but as Trace would only move away if Sasha released him, Sasha didn’t.
“I believe they’ve changed since I bound you. I merely want you checked over for your health’s sake.”
“Dr. Niko just did that before I left. Yesterday.” Trace finally stood the rest of the way, Sasha’s hand falling to his lap. He hated losing the connection but understood how hard things were for Trace. Or he was trying to, at least. “But my scars are old, so even if they’ve faded a little, it’s nothing to worry about. You having sudden and sharp pain is.”
He frowned, not appreciating the fact Trace was right. “Fine, I will have Jalin contact Dr. Niko.” Sasha took out his cell and fired off a quick text to Jalin as he continued. “I doubt he is planning to stay long this evening, as today was mostly to meet the other doctor and to see about setting up the blended research area.”
“I can call him, or you can. You don’t need to have Jalin do it for you.”
“So you would have me do everything myself and deny him his position? Take away who and what he is to me and to the coven?” Trace needed to understand and not say such things. If Jalin thought Trace wanted Sasha to replace him, it would devastate the male.
“No, but you can call the doctor just as easily as he can.”
“He’s my valet and assistant, Trace. Think about that carefully before you say another word.”
Trace snapped his mouth shut and stared down at their feet.
“Besides, I can’t call Dr. Niko and talk to you at the same time.”
“I didn’t mean to devalue his position. My apologies. It just seemed….”
“Pompous?” When Trace nodded, Sasha smiled. “I’m a prince, mal’chik, or did you forget? Yes, when I go and hang out with Jason, we cook together, I help him do the cleanup, we goof off and have fun, all of which you’ve seen me do. However, that is not who I am all the time, nor how I live my life. I am Aleksandr Tolstoi, Prince of the Konstantin Coven, and as such, I have things, people, servants, homes, cars, and more that others do not, will never have. I will not apologize for that either. Just as I will not for the fact I’m five six or that I’m Domish, as you put it. This is me. As you are my fated heart. That also means you have access to all this as well, and all the protection that comes with it.”
“So I’m going to end up with my own valet/assistant?”
“Wow, you don’t like staying on any topic, especially if it focuses on you.”
Trace sniffed and turned away. “Not… not really.”
Chapter Fifteen
SASHA SAT at his desk, staring at a small stack of papers, though he didn’t see any of the words he was certain were written on them. He couldn’t focus on anything other than Trace. Finally touching his fated heart had been… he couldn’t come up with any words that could encompass how he’d felt, or how terrified he’d been shortly after when Trace panicked. But the biggest issue right then was Trace had gone back to his home on the tribe lands. Sasha knew it was stupid to let that bug him so much. It did, though. Especially with the ones who attacked him still out there somewhere.
Trace had protection, so he was safe. Unfortunately that didn’t help either. He wanted his heart with him!
“Sir?”
The sound of Jalin’s voice broke Sasha’s spiraling thoughts apart enough for him to look up. “Yes?”
“You have a visitor.”
Sasha blinked a few times before he looked over to the window. The sky was a deep inky black, so he knew it was extremely late to any other race. It had to be one of his own, then. “Who wishes an audience?”
Jalin stood perfectly still, his hands behind his back, his arms folded formally. Odd. “High Councilman Greer, my liege.”
“I know I’ve told you to call me si— Wait, what?”
“High Councilman Duncan Greer,” Jalin repeated carefully, adding in the lynx’s first name, “is here to see you. He has only two of his guards with him, as well as Kelley, Alpha Keith’s friend and guard. He wishes a private audience with you.”
It took a moment for everything Jalin said to make sense, and then for his brain to catch up enough for Sasha to speak. Well, enough sense to form a reply, as it didn’t actually make any sense that the head of the lynx shifter council would be at his door. “The lynx council has never directly contacted me before. Even sending Trace as their representative was to Keith, not to me.” Sasha thought for a moment but couldn’t think of a reason unless it had to do with their doctor being there to work with Niko on Sean and his shifting. They hadn’t ever formally contacted his coven, even when Alpha Orin and Nadia, Sasha’s sister, were killed. “Did he say why?”
“That he was here in an adoptive parental capacity. That’s all he would say. I didn’t understand, but I came immediately upon notification of his arrival.”
Adoptive parental capacity? “I have no idea what that means.”
“Nor do I, sir, but that was al
l he would tell me. I did not think it wise to leave him outside, considering, so I have him in one of the receiving rooms downstairs. Summer is with him, as are a few of his men.”
“Timing could be better.” Sasha rubbed his hands over his face and sighed. “Have him escorted up here to my sitting room, as I have no interest in having anything said be possibly overheard. Nor do I want a strange set of lynx visible for any longer than needed right now.”
“Very good, sir.” Jalin turned and stepped to the door. He stopped, hand on the knob. His voice soft, he said, “You might want to freshen up, sir. You appear….”
“Stressed is the word you’re looking for, Jalin.”
“Probably. Either way it wouldn’t be good for the head of their council to see you at less than your usual powerful, in-command self, sir.” With that Jalin quietly slipped from the room.
No, it wouldn’t do. Not at all. Sasha quickly entered his room and stripped off his rumpled shirt and pants. He still had them on from earlier when Trace was with him, so they carried Trace’s scent. That was the reason he hadn’t taken them off already, as he hated being in messy clothes.
Five minutes later he was in a dark gray suit with a light blue shirt and dark blue-and-gray tie, his hair tidied, and highly polished ankle boots on his feet. His rings and bracelets back in place, he almost felt himself again. Sasha took his customary seat just before the knock came at the door.
Jalin stepped inside a moment later. “Sir, High Councilman Duncan Greer to see you.”
“Thank you.” Sasha stood as Duncan stepped through the doorway. “High Councilman,” Sasha said as he gave a slight nod toward Duncan. The shifter wasn’t all that tall, probably only a couple inches taller than Sasha, with light tan skin, hazel eyes, and gray-streaked light brown hair. He radiated strength and carried himself as though used to being deferred to—which made sense, given his position.
“Prince Tolstoi,” Duncan replied.
Jalin closed the door once all four guards entered.
Duncan frowned as he took in the largish group. “I wish to speak to you privately, if possible. Even my men do not know why I’m here.” From the tic of one male’s cheek, it seemed they weren’t happy about that fact either. “Would it be possible to thin out the numbers some?”
“I’m not concerned, and Kelley here knows I’m no threat to the shifters here.” He nodded to Kelley, who stood beside Duncan. The shifter gave him a small smile. “So it’s up to your guards if they are willing to wait outside. Summer and Dimka will return to their post outside my suite, and Jalin is only here to escort you.” No shifter alone was a match for a vampire prince, and the shifters all knew it.
“Leave us” was all Duncan said. He looked from one guard to the other, steel in his gaze. Neither was happy, but both allowed Kelley to guide them out, Dimka and Summer following behind. Jalin only stayed long enough to offer refreshments, then left as well.
“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice.” Duncan sat across from Sasha in a matching overstuffed leather chair, looking relaxed and cool. Only his elevated heart rate gave him away.
“I’m always happy to speak with one of the open-minded shifters.” Though the timing could have been better. The last thing he needed was his uncle’s entourage showing up while Duncan was still visiting. “What brought you here so late?”
“Trace.”
Sasha sat forward quickly. “What’s wrong with Trace?”
“Nothing specifically. Relax. I came to speak to you about him. Well, about you and him, to be more exact.”
Sasha frowned as he sat back, not liking the way that was worded. “What about us?” No one outside a select few of the lynx knew he’d bonded Trace as his fated heart. The coven all knew Trace was his, but he couldn’t imagine how that would have become knowledge to the council.
“As I told your man, I’m not here as High Councilman Greer, but rather as Trace’s… pseudoadoptive father, I guess you could say. You have claimed him, or so I’ve been told, and as the only parental figure he has, there are certain things that then fall to me to do.”
Blinking, Sasha fought not to stare. Father—pseudoadoptive or otherwise—was not someone he’d considered having to deal with. Trace was grown and did not live in a feudal society as Sasha did, so what the hell?
“Are you here to demand a marriage contract or some such? He’s not taking me as a mate—” A sharp pain spiked through his heart again, though not as severe as when Trace had said that before. Sasha fought not to show the pain outwardly as he continued, “—and I cannot imagine he has asked you to intercede on his behalf, so I’m at a loss here.”
Duncan chuckled and smiled slightly as he shook his head. “No, he doesn’t know I’m here yet, though he does know I’m on my way. I’m supposed to be coming to deal with the illustrious Dr. Petronia. I knew sending her would be a problem, but she’s the best. I had hoped she would be better behaved considering she knows she’s under the hospitality and observation of the Chosen of Baast and our council rep, Trace. Regrettably, that has not proven true.”
“I don’t mean to be rude, and normally I wouldn’t overly care if you thought I was, but what is it you want? He won’t take a mate, so your concern about me is invalid.” Maybe. Probably. Ugh! He didn’t know anymore. Did what happened earlier portend a possible future for them or not? His stupid self hoped, but he tried not to let that seed grow too much. “Though your help with the doctor would be appreciated, from what I understand.”
“Of course Trace won’t,” Duncan said, ignoring the comment about the doctor completely. “That abusive asshole, Ford, messed him up too much. He still hasn’t gotten over so much of what happened, and you being a vampire won’t help that problem.”
“Um….” Sasha stared at Duncan, unsure what to say or do. “As you pointed out, I’m a vampire, a vampire prince, no less, and I’m pretty sure him mating a vampire is frowned upon. And don’t get me started on that—” He cut himself off as his temper rose, not wishing to completely lose it in front of the lynx. Sasha forced himself to uncurl his fingers from the armrest of the chair, vaguely noting there were small tears in the leather—dammit!—then smoothed his hands down his slacks. He focused on the texture of the material as he fought for the calm he needed and usually had no trouble finding. “I don’t wish to discuss Trace’s ex, thank you.”
“Well, as much as we would both like to not discuss Ford, he is who we need to talk about.” Duncan smirked. “As for lynx and vampire matings, your sister mated with a lynx, so the fact your mate is also a lynx isn’t that odd to me.”
“She did, as we both know, but why do I need to discuss the monster who damaged Trace? Were he still alive, it would be a short-lived status.”
“There are things about Trace that he will not be able to explain to you. Some he probably doesn’t have the ability to know on a conscious level, even now. If you are his true mate, as I’ve been led to believe you are, and you’ve bonded him as your fated heart, then things must change for him, or you are both at risk. I won’t have him lost because he’s still too afraid of history repeating itself.”
“Who told you he’s my fated heart and that I’m his true mate?” Sasha hissed. That wasn’t information that should have been passed up to the council. Not yet, at least. Not all shifters would accept their relationship as a positive thing, and might seek to harm Trace for “tainting” himself. Or worse. And there were obviously some in the vampire world willing to hurt Trace to get to Sasha.
“An anonymous tip.”
“And on someone’s hearsay, you traveled all the way from Toronto, Ontario, in Canada, to Seattle, Washington, in the US to discuss my intentions with your… pseudoadoptive son? And what the hell kind of term distinction is ‘pseudoadoptive,’ anyway?”
“Trace’s parents are still alive, and he’s a grown male, so I can’t actually adopt him. I would if I could, though, and I do consider him mine. I don’t have a better term to explain our relationship. As
for the other part of your question, no, I didn’t travel all this way on just that tip. I contacted Alpha Keith and his mate, Jason, first—”
“No!” No way did Jason betray such a confidence to the lynx council. He knew Trace wasn’t ready! Keith might have thought he was doing the right thing, maybe… but Jason wouldn’t have done that. And if he knew Keith told them, he would have warned Trace and Sasha. Jason was his best friend. He couldn’t believe Jason would withhold such as this from him.
“Yes. I contacted them. Instead of getting either of them on the phone, though, I got one of their tribe’s council members. This person let me know about the bond you gave Trace after the attack.” Duncan’s lips turned down and his eyes clouded over. “He should have told me he’d been attacked. But then Alpha Keith should have done that as well, as Trace is still our representative, not technically his tribe member. I would have been here sooner, had I known.”
Okay, so not Jason or Keith. That’s… that was good. Sasha didn’t like that someone had betrayed Trace’s situation to Duncan, but it wasn’t them, so he could handle things. He just needed to figure out the best path for information control and how to best protect Trace. “And how is the council taking this?”
“Mmm…? Had it been any other vampire prince, most would have been ready to intercede on Trace’s behalf and try to find a way to separate you from him through any means possible. However, being it was the Tolstoi prince, I hoped that would not be necessary. I would normally have spoken to Keith about the situation, but as his mate considers you not only a close personal friend, but a member of his family, I believed coming to you direct would be best.”
A growl slipped out despite Sasha’s intentions. Separate Trace from him? Never! “The only way to do that would be to kill me, and I’m not about to allow that to happen.”
“Or to convince you that you were causing him harm. True harm,” Duncan replied, his voice calm and his face placid.
Fangs with a Heart Page 14