by Leilani Love
As he walked upstairs he heard Damien call out after him, “Put a shirt on”
Warrick chuckled as he ran up the stairs two at a time. Grabbing a shirt first from his room he walked across the hall, knocking on Hopes door. Not hearing anything he slowly opened the door to find her sitting on the bed. She took one look at him and started laughing.
For a split second, he wondered if something was really wrong but she jumped up and threw herself in his arms. Warrick took a step back as he got his footing. Holding her tight, she laughed in his arms. The sound brought a smile to his lips.
“Are you okay?” he asked after a few minutes of just holding her.
Hope pulled back, looking down at him, a smile on her lips as her amber eyes seemed to almost dance with mischievousness. This was the girl he remembered. Eyes shining bright and a smile that seemed to tease her lips. Her happiness was so bright it was contagious and he smiled back at her. One hand slid and cupped his cheek and he winced slightly when he felt her fingers trace the scar on his face. “I’m perfect,” she whispered before brushing her lips against his.
When he put her down he missed her in his arms. This was all new to him and he didn’t want to mess it up. “Should I tell your brother to leave?”
He watched the light shine off her as she shook her head, “No, he’s just getting me back for every time I embarrassed him.”
Hope gave him another kiss and he could feel her smiling under his lips. “Go downstairs. I’ll be there in a minute.”
Warrick gave her one more look before nodding and heading downstairs. When he got into the living room he saw a note on the table. Picking it up he almost laughed when he saw what was written on it, It’s about time. Kassandra says Congratulations. We will see you tonight at dinner.
He laughed as he read it over. Damien had treated him more like a brother than his own brother had, and he enjoyed the teasing the two of them shared. The reminder about dinner made him nervous. Tonight, he would be meeting the man Hope thought of like a father. He was happy to thank him for saving her, but that weird queasy feeling in his stomach wouldn’t go away. He just hoped tonight went off without a hitch. As he walked back toward the stairs he realized that he and his mate were alone and it made him smile as he went up the stairs.
12
The dinner was to be informal but Hope still wanted to look nice. She chose a pair of black jeans that hugged her just perfectly and a black and gold blouse. She left her hair down, curling it slightly on the bottom, and applied just a hint of makeup. Keeping it simple she went with red lipstick and mascara then she checked herself out one more time.
She felt a pair of eyes watching her and she looked up and smiled at Warrick leaning in the doorway. His eyes roamed over her body and she felt herself blush under his gaze. After her brother left, he came upstairs to join her and she thought he was going to take her again. She was a bit disappointed when he only kissed her and told her that he had some things he needed to get done and left her to go out.
Warrick returned a few hours later and she watched him in the mirrors reflection. His shirt was white and the top button was left unbuttoned. He had freshly shaved and his shoulder length hair was combed back. His slacks looked molded to his legs. Over the past few weeks, with his wolf healing ability and working on rebuilding the town, his muscles had developed nicely. She could still see a bit of a limp when he walked but it did not take away from the fact that when he walked you knew he was a predator. The way he was watching her now made her feel like she was his prey and she wanted nothing more than to be caught.
When he was behind her, she noticed his hands come up doing something behind her. The angle of the mirror didn’t let her see what he was doing and she fought the urge to turn around and look. When his hands finally came up and over her head she was surprised to see he was putting a necklace on her. Hope brought her hands under her hair picking it up and out of the way for him as he clasped it.
When he was done she looked at the reflection in the mirror. The necklace had two gold wolves that were cuddled together. Hope looked at him over her shoulder and smiled, “It’s beautiful. Where’d you get it?”
Watching Warrick, she was aware of the slight pull of his lips. He looked happy at her reaction. “I was helping one of the families move into a home the other day. She was the daughter of one of my mother’s best friends. Her mother found some of my mother’s jewelry and managed to keep it hidden. She had it stored in a box and asked me to come by because she wanted to give it back to me.”
Hope smiled, her fingers tracing over the two wolves. Tilting her head up, she reached out to pull his face to hers and kissed him gently. “I love it. Thank you.”
Warrick slid his hands around her waist pulling her back, tighter against his chest. He brushed his lips along the back of her neck and she shivered, loving the feather light touch. “We better get going. Your brother will be waiting for us at his house. If we’re late he’ll make sure everyone knows why.”
A giggle escaped Hope as she nodded her head in agreement. “I think he’ll enjoy telling everyone why we are late. He’s waited years to embarrass me.”
Hope felt happier than she could ever remember feeling as Warrick placed his hand on her back and led her out of the room. They were quiet as they drove over to Damien’s and Kassandra’s. Since Kassandra and Damien would be moving soon into the house next to theirs the two had been debating about selling the house and using the money to help the pack. After much debate, Kassandra decided instead of selling her house she would lend it out as a halfway house for other shifters that needed temporary housing after an attack from the Orion hunters. More and more families were losing their homes and needed a place to go.
As they pulled up she saw Damien and Kassandra on the porch. Kassandra looked stunning in a pair of snug black, low-rise jeans and a red blouse that had a scoop neck showing off just a hint of her generous cleavage. The outfit was complete with a pair of heeled boots that Hope loved. Her brother, true to form, was wearing all black. As a couple, they looked stunning together.
Hope got out of the car and Damien called out to her as he walked down the porch stairs. “I was about to go to your house and see if you two needed a douse of cold water.”
Kassandra rolled her eyes, shaking her head. “Will you leave them alone.”
Damien laughed pulling her close, nuzzling her neck as he whispered something that made Kassandra laughed.
Hope smiled as she looked at Warrick out of the corner of her eye. He was smiling before Warrick said back, “You two look a little busy. We can just tell everyone you couldn’t make it.”
Damien chuckled and took Kassandra’s hand leading her toward his truck. “I’m driving,” he said with a grin.
Kassandra told Warrick to sit in front as she got in the back. Hope got in and smiled, blushing when Kassandra gave her a very happy smile. “You look beautiful,” Kassandra told her after they were all seated and Damien pulled away.
“Thank you,” Hope said knowing she still had the same goofy smile she’d had on all day. The two of them chatted in the back as their mates discussed what work was still left to be done. All the homes were finished except for Damien’s and Kassandra’s, which they had requested to be built last. The downtown section of town had old rundown stores and they had finished most of the wiring and rebuilding of those buildings. The town was starting to come together and everyone seemed to have fallen into their jobs easily.
Going through the gate to Viktor’s house, Hope looked around to see if she could see Lazzaro’s car. He would be one of the last to show up since he couldn’t travel when the sun was at its highest. His special tinted windows worked well but weren’t able to block out all the light. This left him to travel either early in the morning or closer to dusk if he chose to drive himself. If he sat in the back and had a driver he was covered better since it was the front window that had to have very specialized glass so as not to be pulled over by the police.
Knocking on the door Hope smiled when Eva answered. With her dark hair and laughing blue eyes Eva greeted them with a big hug. She was the second oldest of the witch sisters and was finishing up her second year of college. “Violca is in the living room with the rest of the gang.”
“Lazzaro isn’t here yet, is he?” Hope asked, knowing if he’d arrived early he would have parked in the garage.
With a noncommittal shrug, Eva shook her head. “I don’t think so. I just got here a few minutes ago and was about to check on the food when I heard you guys at the door.”
Kassandra gave her a big grin. “You look beautiful.”
Hope had to agree with her. Eva was wearing a blue blouse that made her eyes stand out even more. They were already a lovely shade of blue but with the emerald blouse on you could see them from across the room. Her black hair was only partially up, with a few ringlets framing her face. Hope noticed she was wearing more makeup than usual. Normally she wore just lipstick but today she had eyeliner that further enhanced her eyes and a shade of lipstick that definitely made her pouty lips look more kissable.
“Do you have a date after dinner?” Hope asked, deciding she looked like she was definitely trying to get someone’s attention.
“No,” she said shaking her head, smoothing her hands over her dark jeans as she led them down the hall to the living room.
The men could be heard through the door and Hope smiled. Tonight there would be Viktor, the dragon king, and his queen Aithne, Chase and Violca, Scott and Eryk, the panther shifter brothers, Eva and Lazzaro, and of course, the four of them. At one table there would be two kings, a dragon, and a vampire, two alpha wolves, panther shifters, and the witches who brought them all together.
Hope would have never thought a union like this was possible. All supernaturals tend to stick to their own kind. With rivalries going back long before most of them were born. It took orphaned witches, who didn’t even know about magic, or supernaturals to bring them all together. A group of five females, all descendants of the first witch, possibly destined to change the world. They were already breaking so many rules; including the one that said only one female witch could be born from each set of parents. Normally males would be less powerful than the female. It must be interesting to live in a family where the strongest were women.
Eva opened the door and everyone looked to them. Violca, a warm welcoming smile on her face, was the first to greet them, followed shortly thereafter by Chase. Viktor, always a little more reserved, hung back and waited until the rest of the group said their hellos. Hope watched as Viktor shook Warrick’s hand. “You look like you’re doing much better.”
Warrick nodded. “Again, thank you for all your help. The town is starting to thrive.”
Viktor shrugged him off and Aithne smiled at them, “We’re very glad to hear it. Don’t let him fool you.”
Viktor raised an eyebrow giving Aithne a look that simply made her smirk in reply. Aithne’s name meant fire. Hope loved watching when the light hit her flaming red hair, she truly looked like she was surrounded by fire, fitting for the dragon queen. Her bright green eyes and her height made Aithne stand out. She was one of the few females that stood almost as tall as Viktor. She was the daughter of Boudicca, saved by a goddess who had made her and her sisters immortal. Aithne was a trained warrior and Hope often smiled thinking that the Fates definitely had an interesting way of picking ones mates. She glanced at Warrick and she couldn’t help but think they enjoyed turning one’s life upside down.
Hope felt, sadly, like she was lacking something, surrounded by these strong females. Violca was bringing groups together that before would have never thought about talking. Aithne was an assassin, hired by Lazzaro to kidnap Chase before she mated with the king. Even Kassandra was a guard to the king. Hope, however, was basically Lazzaro’s secretary. Lately, she wasn’t even that because she was helping the town get ready.
Smiling, Eva came up next to Hope and handed her a glass of red wine. Hope knew Eva was a telepath who had learned to block out most thoughts. She had told her that supernaturals were harder to read. For a moment, Hope thought Eva might have read her mind before shaking it off. Eva was very good about trying to respect everyone’s privacy.
“I drove through town yesterday. It looks so different. You guys must be so proud,” Eva said as she sipped her own drink.
Hope gave her a smile, nodding, “We are. The people all look like they’re happy. It’s interesting seeing such a big change in the way they carry themselves.”
Eva nodded, quickly agreeing. Hope looked around smiling when she saw Warrick talking to Chase. The two of them got along very well and he had told her that Chase used to help him walk around when he first started to heal.
She would never be able to thank Chase and Violca enough. Violca used her healing ability and Hope had often seen her come out of the room looking exhausted. Violca had the natural ability of healing so even though she was still learning how to use her magic, just her touch was enough to heal someone. Her instinct took over and she was able to use the mating connection with Chase, and her natural connection with her sisters to pull more power to help heal him.
Warrick looked up at her and smiled, causing her to blush. When she looked up she noticed Eva grinning. “You two look like you’re doing much better.”
Hope smiled, opening her mouth to change the subject when a knock was heard at the door. Viktor excused himself to go answer the door. It was impossible not to notice the slight change in the air. Lazzaro loved getting under people’s skin. Violca smiled as she laced her arm through Chase’s and smiled at Hope. “I really hope you plan on telling us, during dinner, embarrassing stories of Lazzaro from when you were younger.”
Hope was laughing when Lazzaro walked in the door and his slight frown made her laugh even harder. “I hope you are not laughing at me, my cucciola.”
She beamed at him before walking over and hugging him tight. Lazzaro used to affectionately call her his puppy in Italian when she was younger. He hadn’t called her that in years but this was the longest she had gone without seeing him and she had missed him terribly. His silver blonde hair was slicked back. Everyone always thought his demeanor was cold but he had always been warm and affectionate with her. She thought he was a giant when she was younger. He was still tall, well over six feet and the tallest guy in any room. Despite what everyone thought about him she loved him like a father.
Damien came up behind her and Lazzaro clapped him on the back. “I drove through your town Damien. I’m impressed with how much work you’ve done.”
Hope couldn’t help but notice how Damien puffed up a bit. The two of them had often disagreed about whether or not he should go back and claim his alpha status and fight for his pack. Damien felt betrayed by their people and Lazzaro had always dealt with betrayal and backstabbing but had felt it was his duty to lead the vampires on a different path than the destructive one they were on when his father and grandfather were kings.
When Violca stepped forward Hope noticed the look of affection that crossed his features. “Violca, you’re looking stunning. Are you sure you wish to be mated to a guard when you could have a king?”
Chase’s growl could be heard through the room but Violca simply laughed. She leaned up to kiss Lazzaro on the cheek and he dutifully bent down so she could reach. “I’m pretty taken with my dragon guard but I will remember your offer should he ever step out of line.”
Chase came up and put an arm around Violca. Hope had a hard time reading him but was hoping he knew that Lazzaro was simply teasing him. “I believe my wife and mate has made her choice.”
Lazzaro gave him a cocky grin. “You can’t blame a guy for noticing how lucky you are and hoping to find a mate of his own. At last you and Viktor turn me a little green with envy.”
Viktor chuckled as he looked down at Aithne on his arm. Hope felt a small twinge of envy, eager for the time when she and Warrick would be that comfortable with each other. They were
moving in the right direction, but she was a bit impatient.
“Lazzaro I would like you to meet Warrick,” Hope said redirecting his attention to her mate who had come closer to her during their interaction. He was watching everything and looked a little amused by the banter.
Lazzaro turned and she noticed him quickly look Warrick over, sizing him up in a single look. Hope watched, as Warrick stood taller, the look on his face was remote as if he didn’t care, which was not the same feeling she was getting through their connection. Lazzaro’s eyes focused on the side of his neck and Hope realized that her bite mark on him was sticking partly out from under his shirt. The scar looked new and a little frenzied before he looked up at Warrick’s face.
When he didn’t smile, his scar looked more prominent. The pink puckering around the skin was mostly gone. By the time he awoke he had gained some weight and Violca had healed most of it. That first day after he was cleaned, it pulled on his lip and now his skin looked relaxed and the red angry looking skin that surrounded it was better.
“Let me know if you need any help finding your brother. It’s unfortunate when your family are the ones you cannot trust,” Lazzaro said as he nodded in Warrick’s direction.
Warrick gave him a nod in return, reaching his hand out. “I wanted to thank you for taking care of Hope and making sure she was safe.”
Lazzaro shook his hand. “Hope’s mother made a plea I couldn’t refuse,” he said, looking at Violca.
Hope tilted her head wondering what that look was. She knew Violca had agreed to help him find a cure for the vampires who had been cursed to the night. Who would have believed playing with a witch’s heart would have ever backfired? She used to tease him about all the girls she saw around him. Asking if he’d learned anything from his relatives –– women were dangerous.