Stolen By The Warrior

by C. J. Brookes

  He did something with his hands that had a misty cloud forming in front of him. Mallory stepped back, unsure what exactly was happening. The cloud darkened and widened. Rathan motioned for the other man, a Dardaptoan, to go first. The man stepped into the cloud and disappeared. Mallory just stared.

  Aureliana grabbed her hand and squeezed it. “It’s ok. We’re traveling to the other realm through this port-opening. It’s perfectly safe. Wicked, huh? Kinney, Bronwen, and I have never been outside of Gaia—this world. Do me a favor, ok?”

  Mallory nodded, her eyes on Theo’s sister Bronwen as she disappeared into the filmy mist next. “What?”

  “Take care of my brother for me. He needs you and loves you. Without someone to keep him in line, he’ll get a bit too arrogant.”

  “No kidding. I’ll keep him in line. How long do you think you’ll be gone?”

  If Aodhan was her mate like he claimed—like all of them, including Rathan, claimed—this was her actual sister-in-law now. Part of her family. She didn’t exactly like the idea of Aodhan’s sister going to a demon world. Even with Rathan. Demon worlds couldn’t be all that safe.

  “I have no idea. That’s what makes this so exciting. And if what we find can help our Kind, I’ll spend the rest of my life there helping Kinney with her research. Gladly.” Aureliana shrugged, then stepped toward the cloud. “But I’ll hold you to your word. Take care of him for me!”

  “I will. I promise.” Mallory doubted the woman heard the words as she disappeared into the other realm, followed by Kindara.

  Then it was just Rathan standing in front of Mallory. “Take care, kitten. I will see you and the rest of the family upon my return. Tell Cass I’ll bring her a special rose like I promised.”

  Mallory sank down onto the orange chair and stared at the space where the others had been just moments before. It really was a different kind of world she now inhabited. Demon worlds, sex demons, vampires, werewolves, and a goddess who stuck people together whether they wanted it or not. And it was normal?

  Yeah, right.

  “Quite a show, huh, kitten?”

  She looked at Aodhan as he approached behind her. “Have you ever been to another realm?”

  “Once or twice. Some are just like this one, others are more Middle Earth, Tolkienish. Interesting, actually. Maybe sometime we can go on a vacation. Your friendly demon is apparently the king of the entire demon world. We can visit. Did Auri get a good send off, then? I was hoping to catch them before they left.” Worry passed over his face. Worry she understood. She wouldn’t exactly like it if Mickey or Becca went to another world without her. Especially one populated by sex demons.

  “I think she’s excited.”

  “I’m sure she is. Auri has hungered for more for a while now. I think she wishes to distract herself from the fact that she’s not found her male yet.”

  “She wants me to take care of you while she’s gone. Not that I think that’s necessary. You’ve lasted this long without someone watching over you.” Her shoulder bumped his arm as they moved down the long hall. It felt right, so she didn’t move away. It was time she started listening to her instincts—at least where he was concerned.

  It felt right, so it was right. Trust. Trust in herself again—that was what she was going to work on now. Maybe eventually trust in him would come, too. “But she seems to think someone needs to keep you in line.”

  “And are you up to the task? I may actually cooperate with you.” His hand slipped around her waist as he led her to a bank of elevators at the end of one long hallway. “I think we may have a bit of fun if you take charge of me.” His words turned serious. “I did not hurt you last night, did I?”

  Mallory shook her head. “No. You didn’t. What about you? Did your stitches pop or anything?”

  “One or two. But I can say that it was entirely worth it. I’d gladly pop every stitch if it meant we could do it again and again. And again. I will never get enough of you, Mallory Adrastos.”

  Malory smiled, but didn’t look at him. Hunger twisted her insides again. Not for food. Not for blood. But for him. “Maybe we could. Where is my brother?”

  “He’s in the basement. But he is comfortable.”

  “But you’re keeping him locked up.” She didn’t have to like it, but she did understand. Rand could have killed someone. Her. Aodhan. Anyone who’d gotten in his way.

  Or someone could have killed him.

  What would a little time in a basement hurt him now? Time for the wolf pup to be put in his kennel. It might do the arrogant, stubborn ass some good. Give him time to think. To realize he couldn’t just have his way whenever he demanded it. He always had been a bit of an ass in that regard.

  “Just until he can control himself. Kitten, you have to know if there was any other way to ensure he wouldn’t hurt someone, I’d do it.”

  “I know. Rand…Rand is my best friend, my brother, and he would have hurt me yesterday without thinking twice about it. I don’t know who to trust anymore.” And that hurt. She’d thought she could trust her twin absolutely, yet that simply wasn’t true.

  They entered the elevator, and Aodhan pushed the button for the basement before turning to look at her. His hands wrapped around her upper arms, and he pulled her to his chest. “I know, kitten. And trust takes time to build properly. But you can trust me. Trust that I love you and that I will do whatever needs to be done to keep you safe and happy. For eternity.”

  Mallory buried her face in his chest and slipped her arms around his waist. She pulled away as the elevator doors opened. “I don’t know what to say to my brother.”

  “Just say what comes naturally. You’ll know what to ask when the time is right. And I’ll be with you.”

  Mallory slipped her hand into his when he reached for her. She didn’t let go as he led the way down the hall.

  A guard was posted outside a room, and Aodhan spoke with him briefly before being handed a key.

  He stepped into the room first, and she followed. Rand sat at a small table with a notepad and a laptop. A wall of bars dissected the room. The cell—and that’s what it was, despite the lavish furnishings—held a bed and couch and a bookshelf stocked with books. The room thrummed with hostile energy, and Mallory shivered. “Rand?”

  He jerked toward her. His eyes flashed once, showed a vulnerability she wasn’t used to seeing on her twin’s face, before a mask descended. When next he looked at her, his face was carefully blank. “Mallory, what are you doing in here?”

  “Talking to my twin brother. What else would I be doing?” Mallory stepped closer to the bars separating her from her brother. “Are you ok?”

  Rand shot a hostile look at her—and Aodhan. “Am I ok? Does it look like it?”

  “Don’t be a jerk, Rand. You have to admit you started this. If you had just left Jierra alone—”

  “Mallory, best not to mention his mate.” Aodhan’s hands settled on her shoulders. Mallory was grateful for his presence and she leaned against him, letting him support her for a moment. His hands dropped; she laced her fingers through his when he rested one palm over her abdomen.

  Rand’s gaze followed the movement. A look she didn’t understand passed over his face. “Are you pregnant?”

  “No.” Flame hit her cheeks as she recalled what she and Aodhan had done the night before. Birth control had been the furthest thing from her mind. “Well, I don’t think so, anyway. It’s way too soon to tell. I suppose I could be.”

  She looked at Aodhan. His eyes heated when he stared back. His grin was beyond wicked.

  “How long until I’m out of this cage?” Rand stared hard at the man behind Mallory. It hurt her, how he refused to look at her for more than a moment or two.

  When he did, there was guilt in his green eyes.

  “Until you can guarantee you won’t hurt someone again.” Aodhan’s words were firm, and Mallory had no difficulty hearing the bite and anger behind them. “You could have hurt my Rajni. That will not be tolerated
from anyone. Even her brother.”

  “Aodhan—”

  “No, Mallory. On this, I am firm. What if I hadn’t been able to stop him? Or if it had been your younger sister or Joselyn’s? He has proven he cannot control the beast within him. Until he learns that, he will not be allowed into a situation where he can hurt someone.”

  “He’s right, Mallory. You need to leave me alone for a while.” Green eyes met green. Rand’s shoulders relaxed, and he pulled in a deep breath. “Uncle Jason has suggested I take over the Fort Collins home after he sends men to collect Grandfather. It’s close enough to be here for the babes and…and my mate. Yet private enough for me to work out a few things. I have responsibilities that you don’t know about. To my pack.”

  “I see.” She didn’t. But she’d be asking Aodhan about what those responsibilities might be later. “When are you going?”

  “When we work out a few details with the new lab. And Grandfather. Until then, it’s best if I stay here, I think. Keep me locked in at night. Away from her. Far away from the little witch. Before I do something stupid to get to her.”

  “What are you going to do?”

  “Survive. Isn’t that all we can ever do?”

  Mallory stuck her hand through the bar, needing to touch him. His fingers wrapped around her wrist, and hers did the same with his. The connection had existed between them since before birth. She loved him and always would. “Why didn’t you ever tell me? I would have understood.”

  Pain was easy for her to see on his face. “It’s part of the rules. I couldn’t tell you, not and keep you safe. It was better if you just didn’t know. It’s going to be doubly dangerous for Jade now. Because she knows and is human. I’m sure Uncle Jason will do his best to keep her safe, but the risks have tripled. I could never put you or Mickey or Becca in danger. That was my greatest fear since I realized what I was.”

  Just like hers had been when she’d realized she was a vampire now. Hurting Becca and the others. No wonder Rand had kept it a secret. Even from her.

  “Always thinking you have to protect us. Rand—” Mallory leaned her head against the bars separating them. “I love you. I always will. Even if you have do have dog breath and a pet demon now.”

  “And I love you, too. Even if you are a blood-sucking mosquito now. And…who would ever want Rathan as a pet? That’s just crazy. He loves you, too. If I’m ever not there, go to him. Just go to him. That demon would die—and kill—to protect you.” He released her wrist and stepped away. Mallory wrapped her fingers around the bars, aware of Aodhan’s supportive hands behind her. “Mal? Keep an eye on Mickey. She’s going to be the wimpiest vampire I have ever seen. And…and Jierra for me? See she takes care of herself.”

  “Of course.” It felt like everything between them had changed forever. Mallory’s eyes filled with tears as Aodhan led her away.

  38

  Aodhan kept a tight hold of her hand as they entered the pool area and found a small crowd. Dhar Rydere stood next to the couples still clinging to one another on the cement beside the pool. He and Mallory had followed the screams.

  Her sister and cousins were there. Hurt.

  Mallory dropped to her knees and hugged her younger sister tightly.

  Rydere nodded at Aodhan, the gesture one designed to pull Aodhan away from the crowd. The two stepped off to a corner.

  “What in the three hells happened?” Aodhan asked.

  “An elhydra in the pool. We found a drainpipe with the guard removed. Tool marks around the frame show it was deliberate. And there were six Ahsouth demons here. To drive Mickey and her cousins toward the water.”

  “And Cormac’s female and her sister?”

  “We nearly lost the human girl. My new sister-in-law.” Rydere’s anger was very clear for anyone to see. Aodhan understood it. Barlaam was Rydere’s only surviving sibling. If the young female had been lost, Barlaam would have been as well. “She was between the two Equa. Cormac’s could not see or hear what was happening. Theo’s female was being pulled under and could not fight the attack, either. Faelix managed to hold off the beast until Barlaam arrived to help subdue it.”

  “Someone is plotting against our Houses, Rydere.” Aodhan kept his tone quiet though his fury wanted to roar through. It could have been Mallory there with her sister and cousins. Those three females hadn’t deserved such terror. “And they have made no attempt to hide the fact that they’re targeting our females, though they are cowardly enough to hide their identities. Is it the Tanisses specifically that have been targeted?” It was the most likely explanation considering the timing. “It’s most likely.”

  “Find them. Find them and do what must be done to protect our females.”

  “I’ll start now.”

  39

  Aodhan left his female to help care for her younger sister where Mallory could also be guarded by Theo and Theo’s younger brother Thadd. He’d taken a moment to speak with Theo and make it clear that Mallory was not to leave his presence until Aodhan fetched her himself.

  It was the second time his little sister-in-law Mickey had been the victim of an attack. By demons.

  That wasn’t just coincidence.

  Mallory did not yet know of the demons that had attacked Mickey earlier.

  His first stop was going to be the basement area. He needed answers. They needed to find out exactly what the Taniss Lupoiux had done in their attacks against the Dardaptoans and make peace. Before they could figure out where this next threat came from. Mallory’s brother prowled the cage like the animal he was. When Aodhan opened the door, the male’s head jerked in his direction, and his eyes burned. “Bloodsucker. Not hiding behind my sister now, I see. Why are you here now?”

  “Wolf.” Aodhan bared his fangs. They were just as sharp as the beast’s teeth. He was a formidable foe for the wolf, and he knew it. “Or should I say, brother?”

  “Despite what you have done to my sister, we will never be brothers.”

  “Then we shall spend eternity at war? Think you that will be easiest for your sisters? Know this, wolf. I love my Rajni and will have no one cause her unhappiness again. Even you. And though Theo is a kind and gentle male, he can and will kill for Mickey at less than a second’s provocation. Viciously. He just did not even an hour ago. Remember that.” Aodhan leaned casually against the bars as he studied the wolf who looked so much like his Rajni.

  Taniss was bigger than the average human; no surprise, he’d been Lupoiux since he’d been a small boy. Bigger, stronger, and fiercer than most humans who had been turned. Interesting.

  “Is that all you came for? I’m assuming you want something from me.” The wolf was just as casually arrogant. The smile he shot at Aodhan was a masculine version of Mallory’s.

  Aodhan had to admit he liked the other male. But he would never show him that. “I have a few questions.”

  “Shoot.”

  “Jambu.”

  Confusion crossed the wolf’s face. “The Dardaptoan traitor? What do you think I know about him?”

  Aodhan unlocked the cell door and swung it open. His brother-in-law eyed him. “Come on. Do you honestly think we would keep you locked in a cage like an animal? We’re far more civilized than that.”

  “Perhaps it would be best if you did. I would hate to kill you by mistake.”

  “Would it be by mistake? I wonder. If you kill me, you kill your twin. I don’t think you’ll ever forget that again. Our souls are bound together for eternity. I look forward to eternity with my Mallory.” He expected the growl and wasn’t disappointed when it came. “I want your word. A vow.”

  “Go on.”

  “If you feel the beast within you taking hold, leave. Hit the mountains; three hells, I’ll even give you a key to this room. But do what you have to in order to keep the females we both love safe.” Aodhan dangled the key out for the wolf. “It hurts my female to know you’re in here. To fear you. Make it right between you. I can’t stand to see her hurting. Every blade I’ve felt i
n my lifetime burned less than a single moment of her pain.”

  The wolf stared at him for a long while. He took the key. “I want your assurance, then, bloodsucker.”

  Aodhan nodded. He’d expected as much. Nothing was without a price. “Within reason.”

  “Should I get to a point where my sisters or mate are threatened like that again, lock me away forever. I will never put my sisters in danger again.” The wolf’s gaze was steady but filled with regret. Guilt in the green eyes like his sister’s told Aodhan the wolf knew where he’d screwed up. And most likely wouldn’t repeat the same mistake again. “I lost myself with my mate. I allowed my hatred for all Dardaptoans to cloud my judgment.”

  “Why do you hate the Dardaptoans?” Aodhan tensed when it occurred to him that it might be the damned wolf who had helped his grandfather with his evil. At least for the last ten years. “Tell me.”

  Fire burned in the male’s green eyes. “A Dardaptoan almost killed Mallory several years ago. His friends were waiting for Mickey and Joselyn. Emily was also in the building. I was able to get there in time to save my younger sister. But it was too late to protect Mallory. It was because of Rathan she survived at all.”

  Aodhan’s blood froze in his veins. “The male who attacked Mallory was Dardaptoan.”

  “She told you what happened to her?”

  “Yes.”

  “He was a Jareth. He and his brothers had been following my sisters and Joselyn that day. Mickey was sixteen. Mallory was twenty. He wanted vengeance against my grandfather. I wasn’t certain what for until I learned what my grandfather had done to your Kind from Jierra’s mother. I’ve been searching for the answers since the day Rathan found Mallory broken and near death.”

  “And the demon?”

  “He flashed to her side. I felt her pain, and I knew she was dying. I could not get to her fast enough; Rathan could. Rathan used demon blood to heal her enough to get her to the hospital—and to keep hold of her soul long enough for her to survive. He never left her side. He erased the memory of him being there from her and Mickey and Joselyn. Rathan kept my sister alive; and in the years since, he’s healed her more than any therapist ever could. I will always owe him a debt for that.”