Tatiana, on the other hand, knew exactly what to do. The woman was the calm in the storm.
“Steven,” she said firmly. “We have to get her back to the medical facility at the main house. The baby has to come now, or you could lose both of them.”
“I know.” Steven nodded and wept as he kissed his mate’s cheek. “I don’t understand why she was here. When the Purists showed up, I told her to hide in the meeting hall. She knew she’d be safe there.” He looked up at Dominic through tear-filled eyes, his voice laced with confusion. “Why did she come here?”
Dominic had no rational explanation why Courtney would risk her life, or the life of her unborn child, but she did. Courtney had sacrificed herself for Tatiana.
Why did she do this, Dominic? Tatiana’s voice brushed his mind.
I don’t know. Dominic kept their communication shrouded from Steven. She had to know she was no match for that elder, especially given her condition.
Maybe… that’s why she did it.
Before Dominic could ask what she meant, Courtney moaned in pain and captured their full attention.
“We’ll get you out of here.” Steven kissed her forehead and rested one shaking hand on her belly. “Please don’t leave me.”
Dominic. Tatiana’s strained voice touched his mind as she looked at him through worried eyes. We have got to get her out of here!
I know. Dominic had to reach out to the others. I have no idea what’s going on back at the house, and the last thing I want to do is to land in the middle of another fight. Anger gripped him as he glared at the dead body of the Purist. The traitor had shifted back to her human form. Her eyes were open, her head tilted at an unnatural angle. That bitch, Elvira, from the Arctic Wolf Clan—another fucking traitor.
I don’t give a shit what clan she’s from. She’s dead, and Courtney will be too, if we don’t do something.
Static filled the air again as Malcolm and Richard appeared, bloody and disheveled, having clearly fought similar battles. Their faces twisted in fury when they saw Steven’s fallen mate and the bodies of the dead Purists.
“Richard.” Tatiana scrambled to her feet urgently. “We have to get her to the medical lab and deliver the baby right now. We really don’t have much time. Is it safe to take her?”
“Yes,” Richard bit out. His fierce, glowing gaze wandered over the dead bodies of their enemies and lingered on the former Council member. “I suspected there were other elders still involved. I should have known. Elvira was able to break through the shield I placed around the property, but this serpent’s days of treachery are over.” His eyes burned brighter as he waved one hand and growled, “Ardebit in Inferno.” The bodies of both Purists erupted in flames and vanished with a cloud of smoke.
All of them laid hands on Courtney and Steven as Richard whispered the ancient language. As they vanished, one thought ran through Dominic’s mind.
Come hell or high water, he would find Moravian and kill him.
Dominic paced the hallway outside the surgical suite as William, Kerry, and Dante watched him through concerned eyes. He kept his intense gaze on the door of the operating room and growled with frustration. It seemed as though they’d been in there for hours. The other men were patrolling the property, disposing of the other three bodies—none of which were Moravian or his daughter, Savannah.
“What’s taking so goddamn long,” he seethed.
Dominic sensed Tatiana’s strained energy signature and attempted to send her soothing waves, but she cut herself off from him, leaving him with that odd void and sense of loneliness. He rubbed his chest absently, but dropped his hand abruptly when he saw William studying him.
“It’s unsettling, isn’t it,” William mused. He was leaning against the wall, cool and controlled as usual. “Makes you feel out of your element.”
“What?” Dominic asked with mild annoyance.
“Connecting with your mate,” William said in an irritating matter-of-fact way. “We’ve all been there.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Dominic said tightly.
“Ha,” Kerry said loudly. “Your goose is seriously cooked. I can’t believe you’re actually going to deny it. Before you get all macho and offended, take a deep breath and relax. All of us have been where you guys are now.” Kerry winked at Dante and linked her hand with her mate. “She’ll get there, big guy, but you have to let her figure it out on her terms, and then you can say the bonding rite to make it official.”
Dominic averted his eyes and crossed his arms as he leaned against the wall. He grumbled something inaudible under his breath but stopped short of coming right out and telling them. However, in Kerry’s usually perceptive fashion, it didn’t take long for her to figure it out.
“Oh shit,” Kerry said through a short laugh. She covered her mouth quickly when he shot her a disapproving look. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to laugh but… oh dear.”
“What?” William asked, looking confused as he smoothed back strands of his long blonde hair. The guy had ditched the shirt and tie, but even in jeans and a T-shirt he looked uptight.
“Oh man,” Dante said on a sigh. He gave Dominic a pained expression. “You’re screwed.”
“Will someone please tell me what on earth you’re going on about?” William said in exasperation. He looked at Kerry, who arched one eyebrow and looked at him like he was the class dunce. Awareness flickered over his features, and he raised his brow. “Did you say the bonding rite without her consent?”
Dominic nodded.
“Yes,” William mused. “You are indeed screwed.”
“I know.” Dominic butted the heel of his boot against the wall and let out a huffing breath as he looked at the tiled ceiling. He squeezed his eyes shut against the fluorescent lights. “I don’t know how it happened. It’s like I was possessed. I didn’t plan on saying it, but I sure as shit did, and now she hates me.” He ducked his chin and glanced at Kerry. “I can’t really blame her. I feel like a fuckin’ thief.”
They were all silent, which only made Dominic feel like a bigger douche. His inner voice berated him, and when he thought he’d go insane, the door opened, and Tatiana emerged looking completely drained. Any concern for himself evaporated, and all he could see was her.
Tatiana’s dark hair was tousled, her energy signature bathed in weariness. Yet in spite of it all, her beauty stole his breath, and it took Dominic a moment to realize he was standing there with his mouth open.
“It’s a boy,” she said smiling as tears filled her eyes. “A healthy baby boy.”
Everyone gathered around, but Dominic didn’t get too close. He knew she was upset with him for what happened in the barn, and he had zero idea how to make it right.
“The C-section went well, considering I’ve never done that on a person before. Thank God Steven was able to hold it together and help me through it.”
“Is Courtney…?” Kerry trailed off, unable to say what they had been worried about.
“She’s still unconscious,” Tatiana whispered in a quivering voice. She let out a slow breath, clearly trying to steady herself. “Steven’s with her now, and I doubt he’ll leave her side.” She smiled and ran a hand through her hair. “Steven wouldn’t even hold the baby. He said he wants to wait until Courtney wakes up so he can share the experience with her.”