Stolen By The Warrior

by C. J. Brookes

  “Always telling me no. Like I said, I will survive, kitten. You do not need to be concerned.” He tried to straighten, to touch her, but his hand shook. Mallory’s own hands trembled. Her body felt flushed and weak. She was terrified. For him.

  “Of course, I’m concerned! But…”

  He walked away from her. Theo and Aureliana followed.

  Mallory was left watching his back as he walked away. She looked at her brother, still held tightly by her uncle. “How long will he be like that?”

  “Who knows? Hours, maybe. Days, even. Damned beast is in control.” Cormac’s expression darkened. He looked back at Rand, and she got the feeling he wanted to attack himself. “Damned animal could have killed Aodhan. All while Aodhan refused to fight back, because of you. Your brother will be under lock and key for a while, until he regains control of himself. And he will not be allowed near you, your sister, Jierra, or Joselyn, and Dahn Emily until we can be assured of your safety again.”

  “But…”

  “Your Rajni was hurt because of your stupidity. Don’t you care?” Cormac’s words were harsh and had Mallory feeling even more ill than she already did.

  And she didn’t understand why any of this had happened.

  “No, Uncle Cormac. He was hurt because she was protecting me. Don’t be angry with her.” Jierra’s voice had them all looking toward her. Everyone could easily see how frightened she was. She looked as overwhelmed as Mallory felt. “I didn’t want to go with him, and she tried to make him leave me alone. I’m sorry.”

  Cormac nodded, his expression tender when he looked at his niece. “You should have told me what happened, Jierra. I could have helped you.”

  “I…don’t think anyone can now,” Jierra whispered, her attention on the wolf still snarling and snapping at everyone who got near. And staring—at Jierra.

  Aodhan disappeared into the hotel doors—Mallory followed.

  Jierra caught up with her quickly. “You didn’t have to do that. He is your brother. You didn’t have to make him mad at you. Not for me.”

  “He may be my brother, but he had no right to take you against your will. No man of any species or Kind or whatever does.” Never would she have thought Rand would do what he had. Not after what had happened to her. Mallory fought the feeling of betrayal. It was worse than learning he was a werewolf.

  “It wasn’t against my will. Not really. I don’t think. I thought…”

  Mallory understood the girl’s confusion. She’d felt nothing but confusion since the moment she’d met Aodhan. “Go on. You thought?”

  Jierra’s cheeks flamed. “I thought that he was my Rajni and, because of that, he would at least care about me a little. I trusted him.”

  Mallory stopped walking and grabbed the younger woman’s arm. “Jierra, did Rand force you to have sex with him?”

  She had to know. Needed to.

  “No. He didn’t. I wanted to be with him, Mallory. I wanted my first time to be with my Rajni. Or…who I thought was my Rajni.” Jierra sighed, then wrapped her arms around herself. “But…it wasn’t very good. I thought it would be…more like the Alaun Woald novels. At least…more fun than what it was. It was just so hurried, and he seemed so angry when he was done. I…well, let’s just say I don’t exactly feel the urge to do it again anytime soon.”

  “So…it wasn’t very good then? Rand always acts like he’s a damned stud with women. Very annoying, let me tell you.”

  “No. It was too quick, and he acted like I wasn’t even there.” Jierra’s confusion colored her words. “It wasn’t exactly a sharing of…I don’t even know what I’m trying to say here. And how can I ask my mother? Talk about awkward.”

  “Oh.” Her first time—the girl had been a virgin, and Mallory’s idiot brother had ruined the entire experience for her. Jerk. Now Mallory was stuck trying to fix her brother’s mistake by explaining good sex to a vampire. The irony wasn’t lost to her. “I’m sorry it wasn’t good. It should be, Ji. It should be. And it can be. Sometimes, it’s hot and hungry, and you just can’t breathe until you…sometimes, it can be sweet and slow and…comforting. But only if the two care about each other. I’m sorry Rand ruined your first time for you. He shouldn’t have.”

  “Everyone has said that when you meet your Rajni and you sleep with him for the first time, it’s supposed to be wonderful. That it’s everything you were waiting for. It’s why I waited. I guess I am just unlucky. Or stupid. Your brother scares me. He said…he said he would take my babes away from me if I don’t go with him when he leaves. He said I have to. That he’s the alpha and I’m stuck with him. He wants his mate. But he says he’s not my Rajni. So I don’t know how that’s even possible.”

  Mallory let out a squeak. “Babies?”

  “Yes. A Lupoiux mating always results in babes. And my mother checked. I have two babes growing inside me now.” Jierra laughed, a slightly wild, terrified sound. One that had Mallory’s blood freezing instantly. “And that they come early. At twenty-one weeks. But…I know that Dardaptoan females rarely have twins and live. They die from blood loss—between babes. Sometimes, the second babe dies with them. I probably won’t live to see my babes. If I die, what will happen to my babes? Out there. Wherever it is he would take them? And now I don’t know what it is I’m supposed to do.”

  33

  Aodhan’s explanation of Jierra’s past hit Mallory. If Jierra was pregnant, the other woman wouldn’t want her children raised by the Taniss family.

  That would be Jierra’s worst nightmare. Mallory couldn’t blame her for that.

  She impulsively wrapped her arms around Jierra, just as she would have Mickey or Becca or Jade or Cass or any of her cousins. Jierra possibly carried her first niece or nephew. Well, two. That held considerable weight for Mallory. More so than Rand did at the moment. Jierra needed to see that not all Tanisses were monsters.

  Just like not all Dardaptoans were.

  The girl in front of her was just a scared kid, practically. Not a monster at all. “Nothing. Nothing will happen to your babies. I promise you this. They’ll stay right here with your mother and uncle. And Mickey and Joselyn. And me. We’ll keep them safe. Even from Rand if we have to. Even if I have to raise them myself with Aodhan to protect them. They will stay here. I promise.”

  Jierra hugged her back, surprising Mallory. They clung to one another for a moment. “I knew he was a wolf. Just like those who hurt Joselyn. I didn’t know he was a Taniss until Rathan came and said so. But why does he hate me so much? I didn’t do anything to him. I did everything he wanted and didn’t ask for anything in return. So why is he so angry at me?”

  “I don’t know.” But she would ask him. Once he turned normal again. But first, she could hear Aodhan’s voice just up ahead. And she needed to see him. “Come on. Let’s go find Aodhan. I need…”

  To see him.

  Mallory made a silent vow. Whatever happened in the next few months, she would not be abandoning Jierra to Rand. Not when Jierra was so obviously terrified of him.

  She deserved better than that.

  And if there were babies—which Mallory seriously doubted; it just didn’t happen that quickly—she would do her best to help protect them. Even if that meant protecting them from Rand.

  Kindara waited inside with Aodhan and his sister. She looked up when Mallory and Jierra entered. There was censure in her eyes when she looked at Mallory. “We were wondering when you would get here. Aodhan was certain you wouldn’t.”

  “It’s my fault,” Jierra said. “I delayed her. We were talking, Mother. About him. And the babes.”

  “I see.” Kindara’s gaze was still judgmental. Guarded. Mallory fought the urge to bristle. Not every damned Dardaptoan had welcomed them with open arms, that was for certain. “Well, I’ve about finished here.”

  She put a bloody needle and piece of gauze on the tray beside the chair Aodhan sat in.

  Mallory lifted her gaze from the blood to the vampire. His shirt was missing, and his br
oad muscles were exposed for everyone to see. Slash marks, furrows that were horrific, marred his skin. Similar to what was currently healing on Joselyn. His arms were sliced near to ribbons. And he was pale, so very damned pale.

  Mallory’s breath caught.

  She hadn’t considered the possibility that Rand had hurt him. Had never even thought it. Aodhan couldn’t be hurt. It just wasn’t possible. She ignored everyone else in the room and stepped closer, fighting the urge to just touch him wherever she could. Reassure herself that he was alive and whole. “Are you hurt badly?”

  “No. Nothing that won’t heal.” He clenched his hands when Kindara poured an antiseptic on his arm. “Kitten, promise me something?”

  She couldn’t move her eyes away from the horrible red welts covering his arms and chest. Of the multiple stitches and patches of glue that held his flesh together. “Oh, Aodhan…I’m sorry. I don’t even know what happened. Why did Rand—”

  “You got between him and his mate, kitten. A Lupoiux has certain instincts. The strongest involve their mates. You were the threat to what he wanted.”

  “That’s crazy! Surely, he didn’t think he could just waltz in and take her from everything that she’s known? Expect her to go willingly? What about what she wants? Maybe she doesn’t want to give up her entire life here to just go with him?”

  Any more than she had wanted to give up everything either.

  “A Lupoiux in a full-on rage—especially a rage at a Dardaptoan—is far from reasonable. We’re lucky he didn’t hurt you. Aodhan was strong enough to keep him busy until help arrived. You wouldn’t have been so lucky,” Kindara said matter-of-factly. Mallory looked at her, just as the doctor used glue on one of the wounds. “Your brother is a very strong wolf. Much stronger than the ones that attacked Joselyn.”

  Jierra paled and shuddered. Her mother patted her on the shoulder after drying her hands where she’d washed them. “My daughter witnessed the attack. Someone had locked her on the balcony to her room. Her room doesn’t have steps to the garden, so she was forced to watch the attack and be unable to help.”

  “I didn’t know. I’m sorry. Rand…Rand normally protects women. I never thought he’d hurt me before. He never has. He and Rathan…I…they never should have done this.”

  They’d been her protectors. For a while, they’d been what stood between her and the nightmares that the world had become. There had been a few nights when she’d wake screaming at the top of her lungs.

  Rand or Rathan would hug her and tell her everything would be fine. That they would always keep her safe. Always.

  There had been one particularly bad night when Rathan had held her for hours on his lap and just told her everything would be ok. That he would make it that way.

  She never thought one of them would do this.

  “How is it that you were human yet your twin not?” Kindara asked.

  “Apparently, he and Uncle Jason were bitten when I was eight. They were on a camping trip.” Mallory kept her eyes trained on the still-bleeding cut on Aodhan’s chest. It was the largest. The worst. She fought the nausea. “He didn’t bite you, did he? You’re not going to turn into a werewolf, too, are you? Is that even possible?”

  Aodhan held out a hand, and Mallory took it without thought. He pulled her closer, then wrapped his arm—despite the fresh stitches—around her waist. He nuzzled her neck. She didn’t pull away. It actually felt kind of good. Comforting. He’d done it once or twice before when she’d been upset. “No, he didn’t bite me, kitten. At least not that way. There are two kinds of Lupoiux bites. One to just wound, the other to turn. Lupoiux rarely bite a Dardaptoan to turn. You don’t have to worry I’ll start howling anytime soon. And it is possible for a Lupoiux to convert a Dardaptoan. Sometimes. It’s somewhat rare. Come. Why don’t you escort me back to our suite, and I will answer all the questions you have?”

  “Like how long my brother will be kept prisoner in the basement?” She shot him an arch look. If she had her way, at this point, Rand could rot down there for eternity.

  “Like that. Come. Help me stand.” He grinned at her, a sloppy, sexy grin. He drew his hand down her side, dangerously close to her chest. He tried to stand but couldn’t. “I don’t seem to be too good at it right now. And I see two of my mate. I’m not sure if I’m in the heavens now or not. Two of you? It can go either way.”

  She looked at Kindara. “What is wrong with him?”

  “He’s lost a lot of blood. It’s made him a bit loopy. For lack of a better word.” Kindara patted Aodhan on the head like he was a small child. “It always has. Even the mighty fall. It’s one of his few weaknesses. Fortunately, these kinds of injuries for Aodhan are extremely rare. Still, see that he rests and takes it easy for a few days. No more battling with werewolves. And no wild antics in the bedroom. He might say he’s up to it—but he really isn’t. You’ll have to keep him in line. At least for a week.”

  Mallory nodded, though she wasn’t completely listening to the other woman. Her eyes were trained on his. Kindara and Jierra slipped out of the room, but Mallory was barely aware of them leaving. “What…happened? Why did my brother—”

  It wasn’t what she wanted to say. At all.

  She wanted to demand that he never do anything like this again.

  “It was pure animal instinct, kitten. You threatened his mate; that was all he could focus on. But your brother should have had better control. I’m afraid you won’t be allowed around him until he learns some self-discipline. He is simply too dangerous to be allowed around Dardaptoan females as he is right now.”

  Mallory fought the urge to tell him he couldn’t keep her from her brother, but she thought better of it. The animal Rand had become when he’d threatened her had not been the brother she was used to. “Ever?”

  She couldn’t lose her brother. She just…couldn’t.

  His expression softened slightly, and he held out a hand to her. “No. Not forever. Just until he and Jierra manage to find their way. Once they are properly mated, his instincts will settle. He’ll be almost a lapdog after that. All she’ll have to do is crook a finger in his direction, and he will start slobbering and fetching her slippers.”

  Mallory thought of Jierra’s face just before she’d been sent out of that sitting room earlier. Terrified didn’t even begin to describe how frightened the younger woman had seemed. Of Rand. “And if they never are?”

  “They will be. Just as you and I will be. The goddess chose your brother for Jierra, and the most basic, instinctive part of him recognizes that. That’s why he’s so unsettled right now. They will work things out for themselves eventually. Hopefully within the next four months, though.”

  “Why? Is there a time limit?”

  He hesitated. “There is something you need to know about Lupoiux mating, kitten. The first moment they meet, something is triggered in both of them. And they can’t keep their hands off one another. I suspect the same happened to Rand and Jierra. Babes always result. It’s how Lupoiux wolves have survived this long. Usually twins, sometimes triplets.”

  “Always? Are you telling me that my brother fathered twins with Jierra and she couldn’t stop him? She mentioned it, but I didn’t believe her.” Barbaric. Disgusting. Poor Jierra. To have that most basic choice taken from her seemed just as wrong as what Aodhan and his friends had done to her and her cousins and sister.

  He shook his head. “Not even if she wanted to. And for her to be his mate, he’d have to be her Rajni. Chosen for her by the goddess. All of what happened to her has been controlled by the Four Fates. This is what she is meant to do. And she knows that. So does he.”

  “That’s…that’s horrible!” Mallory stood again. She slipped his less injured arm around her shoulder and helped him stand. “She has no choice, no rights. Just like…”

  “Just like when I took you. When the others took your sister and cousins. I know. It isn’t right, or even fair by your human standards. We are not human, though. And neither is your brothe
r—or uncle. He’s most likely got a mate out there somewhere, too. But it works for our peoples, and it has for centuries. Longer. I…will explain how it evolved. And why it continues. Later. Tomorrow maybe. Right now…right now, I see two of you. A fun concept, but…I’m just not up to playing with two of you now. More’s the pity.”

  He staggered and she wrapped her arms around him tighter. If he fell, they would both go down, and he couldn’t afford to rip out the stitches holding him together. It took them forever to get back to his suite. Her arms ached from supporting so much of his weight, and she was relieved when he stumbled to the couch.

  He stretched his long legs out on the cushions and watched her with a slightly doped look. “Goddess, kitten, you are a beautiful female. The most beautiful I have ever seen. Did you know that? I’m glad you’re mine.”

  She struggled not to laugh at the grin he gave. He looked so dopey. So vulnerable, in a way. “I’m not yours.” She knew it was a lie. She was his. He had her right where he wanted her. All that was left for her to do was give in. She didn’t even need to be with him in his suite right now. Except that she wanted to. She could walk away in an instant. If she chose to. Instead…

  “Lift your leg.”

  He did obediently, and she slipped his boot off his foot. Then the other. She tried to ignore the blood that stained his turquoise trousers. His or Rand’s? She didn’t want to think about it.

  “Are you going to stop with just my boots, kitten?” He lifted his hips slightly. His eyes were intense—but glazed.

  He was aroused. And watching her like he could devour her. In the doped state, though, he looked almost… constipated.

  Her lips twitched at the thought. “Even if I didn’t, you couldn’t do anything about it.”

  He gave a semi-drugged/semi-sexy leer. “I bet I could.”

  “What did Kindara give you? I thought drugs didn’t work on your people?”