“We’ll stay behind and make sure you get out.” Kerry gave them a nervous smile. “Close your minds. No telepathic communication. We can’t risk it. We’ll get in touch with you once we’re settled.”
“We have to find Malcolm and Zachary.” Dante’s face was a mask of fury. “If they’re not already dead.”
“What about Dominic?” Tatiana asked. Panic gripped her as she realized she might never see him again. For all she knew, he and Richard were dead.
“Dominic’s your mate. Believe me, he’ll find you,” Dante said tightly. “Now go.”
Tatiana nodded her understanding and prayed Dante was right. Dominic was her mate, and after everything they’d been through, all that they’d shared, she had to believe she would know if he was harmed. He was okay—he had to be.
Tatiana picked up Casanova and handed him to Savannah, which instantly calmed the girl. Then she made quick work of removing the heart monitor pads from Courtney’s chest and grabbed two more bags of IV fluid from the cabinet. She placed them on the bed next to Courtney and prayed her friend would survive whatever would come next.
“Okay.” Tatiana shoved her hair off her face, wishing she could wipe away her anxiety as easily. “What do I do?”
“Place one hand on Courtney. Now, picture your house in your mind, Tatiana.” William’s voice, edged with tension, filled the room as he stood next to Tatiana with one hand on her shoulder. “The sounds and smells that distinctly remind you of home.”
Steven clasped Courtney’s hands and the IV pole as he leveled a glare at Savannah, whose shaking hand clung to Tatiana. Tatiana laid one hand on Courtney’s arm and closed her eyes, doing as William instructed.
The thick green line of trees filled her head. The fresh smell of pine mixed with vanilla from scented candles wafted through her head. A smile played at her lips as she remembered the beautiful solitude of her cabin in the woods. Home.
Static flickered in a pulsing blanket of prickling heat, and with a flash of light, they whisked along a surge of psychic energy. Tatiana held the picture of her log cabin–style home at the forefront of her mind, and like water swirling down a drain they swept through time and space. Minutes later, they landed with a dizzying snap in the living room of Tatiana’s home.
As she steadied herself and the fuzziness cleared from her head, the scene around her slowly came into focus. Courtney lay on the gurney with Steven at her side and once again totally tuned into her. The IV drip and the pole it hung on had even come along for the ride. William already stood guard in front of the stone fireplace with his weapon trained on Savannah who stood next to Tatiana. Cass was snuggled to within an inch of his life, and Savannah had her eyes fixed on Steven.
Tatiana sucked in a deep breath and looked around her home. The one place she swore she’d never soil with the Amoveo and their world was now bursting at the seams with them. Yet, instead of feeling intrusion, all she felt was empathy. These people were her friends, her new extended family, and she had no doubt they would shelter her the same way if she needed it.
As Tatiana launched into action and worked with the others to get Courtney settled in the guest room upstairs, there was only one person on her mind.
Dominic.
Tatiana had no idea where he was or if he was alive or dead, and without telepathing to him, she would remain in the dark. She prayed that this whole mate thing worked, and he’d be able to find her. The idea of facing this without him was more terrifying than anything else.
When Dominic’s attempt to telepath Malcolm didn’t work, he connected with Dante, who filled them in on the latest shit storm. His only consolation was that Tatiana was safe—for the moment. Dante and Kerry found Malcolm and Zachary—both men were badly wounded. Richard instructed them to take the two men to Pete at the vampire stronghold, and with any luck the vampire’s healing blood would do what they hoped.
Tatiana and the others had fled the ranch, and Dominic knew where she’d taken everyone. However, when he’d heard what had happened, all he could think about was her. He had to see her, hold her in his arms, and breathe her in. As he worked with Richard, searching the property for Eric, he made a promise to himself that whatever happened, he would never leave her side again.
Duty could be damned. If she didn’t want to move to the ranch, then he would resign his post as Guardian and live wherever the hell she wanted.
Dominic cut off communication with her and severed the connection between their energy signatures when he left for the meeting with Moravian, and the emptiness in his chest was nothing short of torment.
Standing alone in the cool, cavernous space of the Council meeting hall, Dominic opened his mind and extended his energy signature in search of Tatiana’s. It took a few minutes, but finding her had been far easier than he thought. His lips curved as the familiar scent of cherries and vanilla filled his head.
Then again, he’d never been mated before.
As Tatiana’s sweet tendril of energy merged with his, Dominic whispered the ancient language and threw his arms wide as the rush of static enveloped him and carried him away.
With an energizing surge of electricity, he materialized in the driveway of Tatiana’s home. The sun was beginning to rise and cast soft golden rays of light over the A-frame log cabin. To the right was the barn, which she used for her veterinary practice.
Dominic raised his gun and surveyed the area, but the only energy patterns he picked up were of his friends inside the house—and Savannah.
As he lowered his gun and holstered it, the front door of the cabin swung open, and Tatiana came bursting through. His heart thundered in his chest at the sight of her. With a wide smile and open arms, she ran down the steps and leapt into his arms, and the force of it almost knocked him over.
Clinging to him, she rained kisses all over his face before nuzzling his neck and breathing him in. Dominic held Tatiana, her feet dangling off the ground as she pressed her warm lips to his throat.
“I thought I’d never see you again,” she whispered, her voice thick with tears.
“It’s okay, baby,” Dominic growled as a tsunami of feelings washed over him. Joy. Relief. Home. This woman, wherever she was, that was home. He placed her on her feet, cradled her face in his hands, and brushed his lips over hers. “I’m not going anywhere.”
“You better not.” She sniffled and kissed him again. “Since you scared the shit out of me, you do realize this means lots and lots of make-up sex.”
Dominic grinned and murmured against her lips, “I’m counting on it.”
“Wait a minute.” Tatiana’s smile faded, and she looked around as concern and reality crept in to steal their moment. “Where’s Richard?”
“He’s in New York with the others.”
“Daniella?”
“She’s gone.” Dominic shook his head curtly.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured.
Dominic kissed her forehead and draped his arm over her shoulders as he walked toward the house. “Let’s go inside so I can fill everyone in at once.”
As they climbed the steps, Dominic took one more scan of the property. He knew Eric would eventually find them. He was smart and would figure out where they were holing up, but it was over a twenty-four-hour drive.
Thank God he couldn’t imprint on anyone here. That bought them time to prepare for the battle that would inevitably come. At least Tatiana’s house was hidden in the hills, and there didn’t seem to be neighbors in sight. Let him come, Dominic thought. No more hiding. The man he once thought was his friend, his brother in arms, was now his enemy.
Dominic followed Tatiana into the cabin and was immediately hit with her familiar, comforting fragrance. The space was cozy with an open floor plan and carried her scent throughout, but nothing could mask the tense, fluttering energy waves of Savannah and William.