by Karen Lynch
Blood roared in my ears when I reached the SUV and saw the Incubus’s fist slam into Beth’s face. Blinding rage consumed me, and I was barely aware I was moving as I caught her before she hit the pavement. I didn’t remember the next minute, but when I came to my senses, I was sitting on the ground, holding Beth on my lap, and the Incubus was a bloody lump a few feet away.
Someone spoke to me in a deep, calm voice, and it took a moment for the Irish brogue to penetrate my mind. I looked up at Seamus, who stood at a safe distance with his hands up.
“I know you’re still a bit out of it, but we have to see to the lass,” he said without coming closer. “Is she okay?”
I lowered my gaze to Beth, who lay silently in my arms. Her eyes were closed, and her face looked pale in the streetlight. A trickle of blood ran down from a cut on her temple.
Her chest rose and fell steadily under my hand, and I closed my eyes as relief made my world spin. A hard blow to the head might have temporarily stunned me, but Beth was a young warrior, and I’d seen how strong these Incubi were.
“Beth,” I called to her.
I tried to force myself to sound calm, but my Mori was nowhere near that state. My voice came out harsher than I’d intended.
I tapped her cheek gently. “Dove, you need to wake up for me.”
Her eyelids didn’t flicker once, telling me she was fully unconscious. I needed to get her to the healer.
I stood with her in my arms and turned to Seamus. He spoke before I could tell him what I needed.
“I’m going to get these bodies out of sight, and then I’ll drive you back to the house. Niall will see to the other lass.”
“Thank you.”
I settled myself in the passenger seat of the SUV with Beth cradled on my lap. A few minutes later, Seamus got behind the wheel.
“Another team is coming to help Niall handle things here,” he said as he started the vehicle. “And I called Nikolas. Margot is waiting for us.”
It seemed to take forever to reach the house, and Beth didn’t stir once during the drive. When we drove around to the garage, we found Nikolas, Sara, and Margot waiting for us in the backyard.
Nikolas opened the door for me, and I got out, holding Beth. Sara gave Beth a worried look before she hurried ahead of us to the guesthouse and opened the door.
I carried Beth to her room and laid her on the bed. It took most of my willpower to step back so Margot could examine her.
When Margot took a syringe from her medical bag, I put a hand on her arm.
“What’s that for?”
“It’s a healing accelerant, with a sedative mixed in.”
“She has a head injury, and you’re giving her a sedative?” I asked incredulously.
Margot smiled. “It sounds like an odd combination, but it’ll keep her body in a relaxed state so her Mori can heal her. She’ll be as good as new in the morning.”
I released the healer’s arm so she could administer the drug. When she finished, she straightened and began packing up her bag.
“Can I hold her?” I asked. There was no way I could leave Beth tonight. I’d sit by her bed and hold her hand if that was all Margot allowed.
Margot turned to me with bag in hand, and her calmness eased some of my worry.
“I’d recommend it, actually. Her Mori is distressed, and physical contact with you would calm it.”
I followed the healer to the living room where Nikolas and Sara waited to hear about Beth. Before either of us could speak, the front door burst open and Mason ran in.
“Is Beth okay?” he asked fearfully.
Sara motioned for him to lower his voice. Understanding crossed his face, and he shut the door quietly.
“Beth has a concussion, but she’ll be fine,” Margot assured everyone. “I gave her something to help her heal, and all she needs now is a good night’s sleep.”
The tension in the room dissipated, and everyone seemed to sag with relief.
“Thank God,” Sara murmured.
Nikolas put an arm around her, pulling her close. His eyes met mine, and his expression told me he knew exactly how I was feeling. He’d been there a few times.
“We’ll get out of here and let her rest,” he said, already turning Sara toward the door.
Mason followed them out. Margot stopped at the door and looked back at me.
“I’ll be at the house, but I doubt you’ll need me anymore tonight. All she needs is rest and you.”
“Thanks for everything. I’m glad you were here.”
I closed the door behind her and returned to the bedroom. Turning off the light, I kicked off my boots and eased my body down next to Beth without jostling her. She lay on her back, so I turned on my side and laid an arm over her with my head on the pillow beside hers.
I hadn’t realized how worked up my Mori still was until I had Beth in my arms again. It strained against me, trying to get closer to her Mori.
“I’m here, Dove,” I whispered against her ear, wishing I could do more for her. If she and I had been mated, I would have been able to share my strength with her, and I wouldn’t feel so helpless. All I could do was offer her the comfort of my touch.
Gradually, her nearness calmed my agitated demon, and I was able to focus on something other than her attack. I replayed our conversation in the SUV, my chest tightening when I remembered the pain in Beth’s eyes when she’d asked me why I hadn’t gone back to Longstone. I’d been waiting for the right time to tell her the truth, but it was the last thing I’d expected to talk about tonight. She’d looked happier after our talk, and I had felt the rift between us finally heal. All that was left was for me to make her mine in the only way that remained.
My body burned with need when I thought about our smoldering kiss. God, she had no idea what she did to me. She was sweet innocence and seduction at once, so responsive yet demure. She’d made me forget where we were and why we were there, and I’d stopped only because I had sensed her hesitation when I’d started to take it beyond a kiss.
I was still awake hours later when Beth stirred. She murmured incoherently then turned and snuggled against me as if she couldn’t get close enough to me.
“I didn’t break my promise,” she slurred.
I smiled and kissed the top of her head. “I know.”
She sighed happily and went back to sleep. I followed soon after.
It was daylight when I awoke to the sound of the front door opening. A minute later, a smiling Margot appeared in the bedroom doorway.
“Came to check on our patient,” she whispered. “How did she sleep?”
“Good. She only moved once.”
The healer entered the bedroom. “Why don’t you go get cleaned up? I’ll stay with her until you return.”
I looked down at my clothes splattered with dried demon blood from last night’s kills. The last thing I’d been able to think about when we got back here was changing my clothes, but I should do that now. I didn’t want Beth to see me like this when she woke up.
Thanking Margot, I went to the main house to shower. I’d been staying in my old room since Gregory and his team had moved into the new safe house.
Freshly showered and changed, I headed to the kitchen where Nikolas was making breakfast for him and Sara.
“How’s Beth?” he asked.
“Much better, I think. Margot is with her now.”
He put four slices of bread into the toaster and checked on his bacon.
“Seamus filled me in on what happened. We’re doubling the protective detail on Paige Collins until this is over.”
I leaned against the breakfast bar. “Does she know she was almost kidnapped again?”
“No. As far as she knows, she drank too much and fell asleep on the back porch.”
“If he’s set on her, he’ll try again,” I said.
Nikolas nodded. “Possibly. But he knows we’re protecting her now, so he might think she’s too much of a risk.”
“That’s true.�
�
I hoped so for Paige’s sake. One thing I knew for sure was Beth was not going on another job that might put her in contact with the Lilin or his sons. She wasn’t going to like it, but I was putting my foot down, something I should have done weeks ago. She was too young and inexperienced to be involved in a dangerous situation like this one. And my heart couldn’t take another scare like last night’s.
“No more jobs like this for Beth,” I stated with finality. “Jordan and Mason should be pulled from them as well.”
Nikolas nodded gravely. “I agree. I’ll call for a meeting this afternoon to let everyone know.”
The doorbell rang, and Nikolas and I looked in that direction as Sara walked past us.
“I’ll get it,” she called over her shoulder.
I heard the door open and the murmur of female voices. Sara reappeared, wearing something that closely resembled a scowl.
The reason for Sara’s unhappy expression sauntered in behind her. The newcomer pushed her sunglasses atop her head and tucked her long black hair behind an ear as her lips curved into a genuine smile.
“Nikolas, Chris, how lovely to see you again.”
Beth
The pounding in my head woke me, and I opened my blurry eyes to stare up at the ceiling of my bedroom. I was groggy and disoriented, and I lay there for a few minutes until my mind could piece together my distorted memories. Chris…Paige…Incubi…
“Chris!”
I shot up in bed and flopped back down as the room spun.
“Easy there,” said a soothing female voice.
I turned my head to see Margot entering my bedroom.
“Where’s Chris?” I demanded, my panic rising. If I needed a healer, he’d be here. Unless he couldn’t be.
The healer smiled as she walked over to the bed.
“Chris left a few minutes ago to clean up. He was still wearing his clothes from last night, and he wanted to shower before you woke up.”
Relief hit me so hard I could barely speak. “He’s okay?”
“Yes. How are you feeling?”
I took stock of my aches and pains before I answered her. “I’ve never had a hangover, but I imagine this is what a bad one feels like.”
Margo chuckled. “That’s an apt description. You took a hard blow to the head, and I gave you something to help you heal faster. It has unpleasant side effects.” She held up a can of gunna paste. “And this will remedy those.”
I made a face and dutifully ate some of the horrid paste. No matter how many times you took the stuff, you never got used to the taste.
“Why can’t they make that taste like chocolate?” I complained after I’d drunk the glass of water she’d held to my mouth.
She laughed. “Maybe to discourage warriors from getting hurt.”
I let my head fall back to the pillow, grateful the room had stopped spinning at least. I was going to need a gallon of coffee once I could get out of this bed.
It took a good fifteen minutes before I felt well enough to shower. I stood under the hot spray of water, all discomfort forgotten as I remembered talking to Chris in the SUV and sitting on his lap, kissing him. God, that man could kiss. Heat spread through me, and it had nothing to do with the water temperature.
I dried and hurriedly dressed in jeans and a soft sweater. My headache was almost gone, but I felt irritable and jittery. Margot had left, so I couldn’t ask her if this was another side effect of the medicine. Maybe I just needed to see Chris.
Trying not to analyze this new dependence on him, I left the guesthouse in search of him. I could sense him in the main house, so I let my Mori guide me.
I entered by the French doors and came to an abrupt stop at the sight of Chris on the far side of the room, wrapped up in the arms of another female. Pain lanced through me, but it was immediately burned away by a wave of white hot anger.
Mine, my Mori growled.
I was dimly aware of Sara calling to me as I sped across the room. Grasping the woman’s shoulders, I ripped her away from Chris.
“Hands off,” I snarled, placing myself between her and Chris.
Her green eyes flashed angrily as she spun back to face me. “How dare you?” she fumed. “Who do you think you are?”
She took a menacing step toward me, and I reacted on instinct. My fist slammed into her jaw, and her eyes widened in shock as she stumbled backward. Not waiting for her to recover, I went after her, only to be stopped by two strong arms that came around me from behind.
“Easy there,” Chris crooned in my ear as he turned us so we were facing away from the other woman.
I started to calm until I replayed the image of him holding her. Incensed, I elbowed him in the gut, taking satisfaction from his low grunt.
“Let me go,” I bit out. I struggled in vain to break free of his hold. When that didn’t work, I elbowed him again.
I let out a strangled cry when Chris swung me up over his shoulder and strode toward the French doors.
“Excuse us, folks. I think my mate and I need some alone time.”
“Put me down, you jerk,” I railed as he crossed the yard.
He ignored my demands until we were inside the guesthouse. He turned and let me slide down until my feet touched the tile and my back was against the door.
I looked up at his grinning face, and my anger surged again. “You think this is funny?” I yelled, shoving at his immovable chest.
He captured my hands with his and entwined our fingers before he raised my arms above my head. I was helplessly trapped between his hard body and the door, a predicament that made me excited and angry at the same time.
“You’re hot when you’re jealous,” he said huskily, his heated gaze making me squirm with something that was definitely not anger.
“I’m not –”
His mouth covered mine, smothering my denial with a dizzying kiss. His tongue teased the seam of my lips until I opened to him, and then I was swept away. I pressed against him, frustrated because I couldn’t get close enough, and kissed him back with delicious wantonness.
Chris made a sound deep in his chest, and I let out an answering moan when I felt his hard arousal against my belly. I didn’t know if I was ready to go where this was heading, but in my haze of desire, I didn’t care about anything but his touch.
Without warning, Chris broke the kiss. He released my hands and pressed his palms against the door as he rested his forehead against mine. His breaths came in short pants, matching mine.
“No,” I whined.
“Give me a minute,” he said in a strained voice.
“Why did you stop?” I demanded, squirming against him.
He let out a laugh. “Jesus, Beth. You’ll be the death of me.”
His lips brushed my temple where the Incubus had hit me, and I could feel his deep shuddering breath.
“If I don’t stop now, I’ll take you to that bedroom and make love to you.”
A fresh bolt of desire shot through me, and my Mori pressed forward, eager to complete the bond we’d forged weeks – or maybe years – ago.
“But –”
“You’re barely recovered from a head injury,” he reminded me tenderly. “What kind of man would I be if I took advantage of you in a moment of weakness?”
“I want this, too.”
He swore softly and captured my mouth in the sweetest of kisses. Then he stepped back with his hands on my shoulders. I felt the sharp sting of rejection until his eyes met mine again.
“I need you more than I need to breathe, and it kills me to wait. But I love you too much to take any chances with your recovery. I promise it’ll happen soon.”
I stared at him for a long moment, replaying his words to make sure I’d heard them right.
“I… You love me?”
“Beth.” His thumb caressed my jaw. “I’ve always loved you. Don’t you know that?”
My lips parted, but no words came out. I think I already knew he loved me, despite all my doubts, but
hearing him say it made my heart feel twice its size.
Chris smiled. “You stole my heart the first time I held you in my arms, and it’s been yours ever since. It’s okay if you’re not ready to say the words. I know you love me, too.”
“I do love you,” I blurted. “I never stopped loving you.”
“I know,” he murmured as he kissed me again.
And again, and again, and again.
Until my stomach rumbled and we broke apart, laughing.
I rubbed my stomach. “I guess I need some fuel after all that healing.”
“Then we need to feed you so you’ll be good and strong.” His mouth curved into a rakish smile that made butterflies take flight in my belly. “You’re going to need it.”
I blushed to the roots of my hair, despite the fact we’d just spent the last ten minutes making out. But before I could spend too long being embarrassed, someone pounded on the door.
We stepped back, and Chris opened the door to a grinning Jordan.
“Is it true?” she demanded gleefully. “Did you really punch Celine in the face?”
I scowled, some of my happy glow fading. “If you mean the woman I caught wrapped around my mate, then yes.”
Chris laughed and defensively held up his hands. “It was a friendly hug.”
“Uh-huh.” I had trouble maintaining my stern face when he was so damn cute. “Well, your friend can find someone else to hug. You’re taken.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He leaned closer. “I kind of like this bossy side of you.”
Jordan rolled her eyes. “She can boss you around later. Right now, she needs to tell her BFF about the Celine smackdown.” She looked at me. “And don’t leave anything out.”
Chris
My phone vibrated on the desk, and I smiled when I saw Beth’s name on the text message.
All done. See you soon.
She’d been checking in with me every half hour since she went out shopping with Mason a few hours ago. I’d been worried about her going out two days after the attack, but she was fully healed and there was no good reason to ask her to stay in.
She must have sensed my reservations because she’d volunteered to take a tracker and a Taser. The regular check-ins were a bonus.