But this Fae had once been her aunt in everything but blood. She could not be responsible for her death. And Davi had listened.
He had saved her and spared her aunt. She would never be able to repay him.
Carolina couldn’t explain it, but there had been something in her aunt’s eyes that begged for someone to listen, to understand. Before she was killed, Carolina had to know the truth.
The three of them hiked back up the mountain. Garrett led the way and Davi and Carolina flanked her Aunt Lioslaith, keeping her well guarded.
“I did not believe that she would harm us. But she might try to escape,” Carolina said.
As we neared the highway where Davi had left his car, he looked over at her. “As I said, we should call Kellan now. He has quite a bit of experience with these sorts of issues, and as you know, one of his sisters-in-law is Fae.”
At the mention of another Fae, my aunt's head came up. She had been walking with her head down and her eyes on the ground. But now her eyes were bright with interest. “Another Fae? Fallon?” Then she hung her head. “I apologize. I don't have the right to ask.”
“You may ask. We are not guaranteed to answer. I do not want to speak out of turn,” Davi said to Lioslaith. “I will not give away any information until I have spoken to my friend.”
Carolina reached out and squeezed her mate’s shoulder. He was already thinking ahead and planning the best solutions. She knew it was too soon, but she couldn’t help but notice what a wonderful father he would be to their hatchlings. If they made it that long—if he could forgive her for running away.
With Garrett next to her aunt, and with Carolina having the spelled rope in hand, she felt secure enough to fall behind and walk beside Davi. She needed to apologize, and soon. “I'm sorry that I didn't give you a chance to explain,” she said without preamble.
“I am deeply sorry as well,” Davi said, turning to look into her eyes.
Carolina reached for his hand. “I don’t know why left like that. I should have let you talk.”
His apparent relief was immediate. His shoulders sagged. “Thank you, but I am the instigator. I am thankful that you are willing to listen, but I will take full responsibility. I never should have misled you. Especially not when we were making love.”
She exhaled. He was so forthright about it, not making excuses or trying to justify what he’d done. “You’re right. But I can tell that you regret it. And that you’ll never do it again? Right?”
He put his arm around her, and stroked her shoulder with his hand. “Never.”
“Good. If you never lie to me again, and you never conceal the truth, then we’ll be fine.”
“I will always wish I’d handled it differently.”
Her poor Davi. He was so serious now. She had been pissed, but she didn’t want him to become maudlin over his mistake.
“But think how well it worked out. What if we’d been in the city when my aunt showed up? Maybe this was the best way for things to happen.”
He gave her a small smile. “That is a very optimistic outlook about a very traumatic situation.”
He was right. They’d been through a lot tonight. She’d been faced with her aunt, gained new information, been afraid for her life, and terrified that her mate would be harmed. And yet this felt like her real life, the one she was supposed to be living, not the one she’d left behind with the humans.
She laid her head on his shoulder for just a second, making sure they kept up with Garrett as he walked ahead of them with her aunt. “Davi, are you okay? You’ve been through the wringer all week.”
“I am still processing all of the events of this week. But I will prevail, as always.” He lifted her hand to his mouth, and kissed her knuckles.
“You have also experienced trying circumstances this week,” He said. “I would like to know if you are in distress.”
“You know. Now that we have some closure, and you’re back in my life, I’m actually doing pretty darned well.”
He couldn't help himself. At her declaration, he lifted her into the air, right out under the bright starry sky, and spun her around, not caring that they weren’t alone.
16
Davi
As they trudged through the sandy desert, Davi dialed Kellan’s number.
“Davi! Are you okay? How’s your mate?” Kellan yelled through the phone.
“How did you know anything was wrong?”
“Well, word travels fast. Among the eight of us in Texas, there are no secrets. Now, if you asked one of us specifically to keep it quiet, we would do it. But if you don’t specify that, then the eight of us know within about five minutes if anything happens, good or bad.”
“So Niall called?” Davi asked.
“Yes. Niall called earlier when Carolina ran away from the Grand Canyon. He was freaked out. Are the two of you okay? Do you need anything? I can be there in just a few hours, maybe even one hour, if I leave now.”
Davi suspected his original Portuguese clan had been much the same way. Everyone’s heartache belonged to the group. That did not bother him at all. “Actually quite a bit has happened since we spoke earlier today. I called Garrett since he was so close, and he came down to meet me. The two of us begin to search for Carolina. We found her out in the desert not far from Lake Mead. But she was not alone.”
“Oh God, who was with her?”
“The Fae who tried to kill all of us. The one who was with the wizard who wiped out our entire clan.”
“Oh shit! Davi! I can’t believe it.”
“Yes, thanks to Nora for teaching me some defensive spells. And my brilliant mate had held onto a piece of the rope. She managed to tie the Fae up with that, while I subdued her.
“But the main reason I’m calling is because I was about to kill her. I know now that I am the one that killed the wizard. I don’t remember how, but I did it. I was about to break the Fae’s neck with my bare hands and end her life.
“Then Carolina stepped forward and stopped me. She wonders if maybe she’s been brainwashed this whole time. Both of us are at a loss. We know that you’ve had experience with this.
“And there’s another thing, I mentioned Fallon's name to Carolina, and the Fae perked up. She seemed to recognize her name. I just wanted you to be aware that Fallon could be of interest to this Fae.”
“Alright. I’m going to let her know right now. And then I’m going to get on a plane and head toward you. As soon as you pick a place to stay for the night text me the location.”
Having a clan, even if it wasn’t his by birth, sure beat being alone.
But nothing was as good as having a mate. He reached out, brushing his fingers over Carolina’s cheek.
In the middle of the desert, Davi rented a house for them to rest in until they could decide what to do with Aunt Lioslaith. It was far away from civilization. Between the three of them, they could guard the Fae.
First, he texted Kellan with the location. Kellan let him know that Brynne was coming along too, and Fallon as well.
Davi texted back: Fallon's insight would be perfect if she's willing. This house sleeps nine, so we have plenty of room.
After that task was taken care of, Davi stepped away from the house and dialed Niall’s number.
“Davi, oh Lord, I’m so glad to hear from you. Nora and I have been climbing the walls. Is everything okay?”
“Everything is okay now. I've had a bit of a rough spot.”
“Do you need me to come to you?” Niall asked.
“No. Kellan is here. I called him because he’s dispatched several witches, and I thought maybe Fallon might have some insight too.” He hoped he hadn’t hurt Niall’s feelings by calling Kellan first, but it was the most practical decision.
“Good plan,” Niall said. “Kellan and his brothers have quite a bit of experience in dealing with a rogue enemy.”
Davi rubbed his eyes, relieved that Niall thought so. The exhaustion had set in, but he wasn’t ready for bed yet.
The house they rented was breathtaking. He didn't really care where he stayed. He'd spent plenty of time sleeping under the stars in the desert during various missions, and he'd also slept in a concrete bunker more than a few times. But he'd hoped to salvage a little bit of his time with Carolina. It wouldn’t be much of a vacation, with her aunt here, and Garrett, but at least they’d have some nice scenery.
The rental house was in the middle of nowhere. It had three large bedrooms and two nice bathrooms. It was southwest style, with hand-carved wood. The windows looked out over the Colorado River, with Lake Powell in the distance. There was a hot tub and a swimming pool.
Kellan arrived just three hours later, with Fallon and Brynne in tow. They all spent several minutes hugging, and then Brynne lifted her head. “There’s another shifter here.”
“Yes. That’s Garrett. Garrett Hudson. He’s the shifter you originally felt back before Niall’s wedding in May.”
“This is the rock star?
“Yes. Do you want to come meet him?”
“Of course. I want to hear about his clan,” Brynne said.
He and Carolina made the introductions, and then they led Fallon to the room where they were holding Lioslaith.
As soon as Lioslaith saw Fallon, she broke down into tears.
“What's wrong?” Carolina asked.
“She's from my tribe. In Ireland. She was banished many years ago.”
Davi put his hand on Lisolaith’s elbow. “We will give you both a moment to reacquaint yourselves. But Kellan and I will be watching. Kellan’s skills rival mine. He has been in many battles with witches, and he has prevailed.”
“I will not harm Fallon in any way. I will also not try to escape.”
Unless she had learned to teleport, or make herself invisible and scentless, then she would not be able to escape from a dragon shifter. However, he had not expected her to know a witch’s spell either. He would not underestimate her again.
Davi glanced over at Carolina, concerned she would think he was being too harsh. But she was smiling at him.
Davi led them to the courtyard area where they could sit by the pool. Carolina poured them both a glass of strawberry punch. And then they all sat back to watch.
“I didn't expect this twist,” Kellan said.
“Nor did I,” Davi added.
After a few minutes, Carolina slipped into the house and didn’t come back out.
Davi wanted to check on his mate. He left Kellan and Brynne with Garrett, who promised to guard Lioslaith closely, and he went to find his mate.
Concerned that she was upset, he rushed through the house. He found her in a place he did not expect—the master bathroom, where she was brushing her hair, wearing only a black bra and panties.
He let his shoulders relax when he saw that she was not crying. “Carolina, are you alright?”
“I feel like things are a little unbalanced,” she said with a saucy grin.
His eyes lingered on her round breasts and her flat stomach. “How exactly is that?”
“Well, you have tasted me. But I have not tasted you in five years. And in your memory, you don’t have a picture of me on my knees.”
Davi groaned and pressed the front of his hand to his pants, where immediately, his cock had gotten rock hard. “Mate, you are going to kill me. I do not think I can function for the rest of the night if you speak to me like that.”
She pursed her lips. “So let’s take care of it.”
“Now?” He glanced toward the living area.
“Yes. We don’t have to entertain them.”
“But they’ll know what we’re doing,” Davi pointed out.
“If we want, we can go into the bathroom and turn the shower on. I promise you, growing up in a clan, everybody knew what was going on. There’s no hiding it. And if we live in a clan again the same will be true. Just as there are no secrets, there’s no real privacy either. But if you would rather wait until everyone is gone, then we can do that.”
“No, I do not want to wait. There is not a moment that I do not want to be intimate with you.”
“Good. That's what I like to hear.” Very slowly she slid to the floor until she was resting on her knees. She put her hands on the button of his jeans. Taking her sweet time, she popped the button open.
He peered down at her in awe. With reverence, he brushed her dark hair away from her face. “So beautiful,” he said.
She licked her lips as she pulled his jeans down off his hips. Next were his boxers. It felt good to free his cock from the confines of his pants.
His mate leaned in, licking the tip, and wrapping her hand around the base. She kept licking, making each stroke a delicate little taste, until he could stand no more.
Mate. Mine.
“You are teasing me,” he said.
With those big blue eyes, she looked up at him through her lashes. Now he could remember. They had been in this exact position many, many times. He put his hands on either side of her delicate face, and he held her there. He suspected she liked it when he took charge in the bedroom, at least sometimes.
They had just been through a life-threatening ordeal, and they both could use this time together. He wasn’t going to let it go to waste.
“Get undressed.”
“I am,” she said.
“No. Everything off.” He wanted to smell her arousal with no barriers between them. From her spot on the floor, she unhooked her bra and let it fall away. No matter how many times he saw them, his mouth would always water at the sight of her naked breasts, bared for him. Next, she slid her panties down. She sat down, leaning to the side, and tugged them all the way off.
Finally, she was naked, just as he wanted her. There’d be no barrier when he was ready to push his cock into her body either.
“Get back on your knees.”
She did that, clearly making sure to pull her shoulders back and press her chest forward. She also spread her legs, and thrust her hips back, putting her round little ass on display from him. Next time, he’d have to take her from behind. He’d missed out, not watching her pert bottom sway while he penetrated her with his cock.
“Open your mouth,” he said.
“It’s open,” she replied.
“No. Open it wide. And don’t move. I’m going to fuck your mouth.”
She moaned, loudly. “Yes,” she breathed, right before he thrust his cock into her mouth.
Her hands came up to rest on his hip bones, but otherwise she did exactly as he said. She knelt on the floor, mouth open for him, tongue flat, while he rolled his hips back and forth. The pleasure built fast, as it always did with his mate.
As he fucked his cock in and out of her warm mouth, he remembered doing it before. But it was never like this. He’d been more shy, and never quite as bold as he was now. Back then, he’d been unsure of himself, and worried that he couldn’t make her reach climax, or that she wouldn’t enjoy taking his cock into her mouth.
Now he was more confident, aware that his mate was a strong female, and that she was upfront about the things she wanted.
He wanted to give those things to her, always.
While he was thrusting, she curled her tongue, and he nearly came. He grabbed the base of his cock to stop his orgasm.
He knelt down in front of her, and pulled her up, lifting her into his arms. He helped her wrap her legs around his waist, and then he guided his cock to her entrance. While they were standing, he pushed his erection into her body.
He closed his eyes. This was heaven.
She wove her arms around his neck, and held on tight. “Thank you. For coming after me. And for knowing what to do. I can’t stand to think of what would have happened otherwise.”
His voice cracked when he spoke, and he knew it was going to. He blinked against the sting in his eyes. “I cannot stand to think of it either. I cannot lose you, ever again.”
“You won’t.”
She clutched at him, grabbing onto the back of
his hair where it curled against his neck.
He pressed his mouth over hers, kissing her with all the love he had inside, proving to her that he’d move heaven and earth to make sure she was safe and well.
After they broke the kiss, she pumped her body up and down on his cock. “I’m close. I can get there with just your cock,” she breathed, panting as her chest heaved.
“You are going to come on my cock?” he asked. “I like the sound of that.”
She tossed her head back, exposing the long, lean line of her throat to him. Her dark hair swung from side to side, and he just held onto her, holding her up while she fucked herself on his hard length.
A minute later, she screamed his name, and her pussy contracted around his cock, sending waves of ecstasy through his bloodstream. A second after that, his world exploded as he came.
Carolina trembled in his arms, and he carried her to the bed, collapsing onto the soft mattress with her. He never wanted to let her go.
With shaking arms, she pulled him even closer, resting her head on his firm chest.
He ran his hand over her head. “Can we stay in here? Do we have to go back out?”
“Don’t tempt me,” he said, pressing a kiss to the top of her head.
He valued the new relationships he’d made with the shifters in the living area, but he preferred his mate’s company by far.
Once they had finished talking on the porch, both Lioslaith and Fallon had red eyes. Davi hoped Fallon had been able to help the older Fae.
They’d set up a video call with Nora, who had walked them through checking to see if Lioslaith was still under Henri-Augustin’s influence. It seemed like a long shot, but it was worth trying.
In Nora’s opinion, Lioslaith was still affected by Heri, and she was hopeful that she could fix it. She guided Fallon through the steps over the video call, but they all planned to get Lioslaith to Ireland as soon as possible.
Soldier Dragon's Second Chance Page 9