“Diskant Black will never agree to help me or Leigh.” She’d stopped fighting Nathan, passive in the man’s hold. “I’m the enemy, remember?”
“You saved his mate’s life,” Nathan reminded her. It was an important detail. “Ava means more to him than anything. Without you he’d have lost her. He owes you and he knows it. His pride won’t allow him to turn you away.”
“If you say so.” She lifted her arms in mock surrender. “You don’t have to hold me. I’m not going anywhere. We have the same agenda.”
“If you say so,” he chimed, throwing her words back at her.
Her glare of sheer disdain wounded him more than a solid punch in the gut ever could have. Fuck it to shit. He’d meant to be playful, not push her buttons. He approached her, strides steady. Once he reached her he wrapped his fingers around her wrist. He knew it pissed her off when Nathan let her go and Trey pulled her into his arms but fuck if he cared. She was here, in his world, where she belonged.
He wasn’t letting her go.
“Until I know that for sure,” he lifted her from the ground and marched toward the door, “I’m not letting you out of my sight.” Glancing over his shoulder, he told Nathan, “Get her amazing Ginsu knife and bring it along, would you?”
“What are you? A caveman?” She snorted and shook her head, waves of her thick blonde hair cascading down her back. “Why don’t you just drag me out of here by the hair?”
Maybe he was a bastard for laughing but who could blame him? His mate was feisty, smart and ballsy as hell. The pack had no idea how lucky they’d just become. This woman wouldn’t back down from anyone or anything, including him.
Striding for the car, he bent his head. “I’m going to be whatever you want me to be, Sadie. No more running away. No more bullshit. You’re mine, darlin’. All mine.”
“Barbarian,” she huffed, sounding indignant.
“If that’s what you want.”
Nathan opened the door and Trey sank into the passenger seat, situating Sadie on his lap. He gave her hair a soft yank, chuckling when she wriggled her ass against him. His body responded, the wolf reminding him they’d yet to fully stake their possession over her. The quick and sensual act against the wall had only been a prelude of what was to come. He wanted to see his female beneath him, her blond hair fanning over the pillows, and look into her eyes when she came next time.
Soon.
Even with danger knocking at their door—despite the threat of Shepherds, Aldon Frost and everything else he had to deal with—the future looked brighter than it had in weeks.
Chapter Five
A multitude of thoughts ran through Sadie’s mind as she tried to formulate a plan. Nathan had been correct. The coven wouldn’t have come for her. Even if Leigh had pleaded Sadie’s case and attempted to sway them to take up arms for the cause, they weren’t strong enough physically to face a threat. As a whole, her sisters-in-magic weren’t the most powerful nest of vampires in the world. That was the reason they’d approached her so long ago. Up until then Sadie had remained with her family in Alaska. Many supernatural creatures lived there, in a place far from mortal society.
She recalled accepting their offer, bidding her mother and father farewell, knowing there was a decent chance she’d never see them again.
Some vampires attached themselves to covens. Others—who found their brides or grooms and wanted to live their lives in harmony—generally floated from place to place. She’d assumed that one day she’d see her parents again but there was no guarantee. The opportunity to live her own life had been too tempting, so off she’d gone in search of adventure and her own place in the world.
Leigh.
That poor girl’s situation had been so different. No one knew who’d bitten her, changed her and left her to face the transformation alone. Anyone else probably would have died. Leigh’s heritage—one she didn’t know about—and having mage blood advanced the transition.
Much like Ava Brisbane…
Diskant’s mate was telepathic but Ava’d had no idea of her mage heritage when Sadie had mentioned the possibility to her. The Omega’s partner had seemed confused, wanting to know more before Sadie had been forced to leave. Often mortals with abilities didn’t know they came from a magic wielder somewhere in their bloodline. It wasn’t unheard of for traits to skip generations and manifest decades later in family trees.
A nagging feeling ate at her gut.
Had Geneva—the leader of the coven and vampire in charge—known what Leigh was capable of? Had the secretive and oftentimes bitchy head of their nest suspected something? Usually the coven voted on who entered their home. With Leigh, Geneva had simply held a meeting, told them of the young girl and her circumstances and pretty much welcomed the fragile vampire into their domain. It wasn’t unheard of but it was suspicious. Not to mention Geneva had seemed too protective of the girl—encouraging Leigh to stay indoors, indicating it was good that she take her time to accept what she’d become.
Recollections of her meetings with Geneva flashed before her eyes.
Her leader had seemed so intent on destroying Aldon the last few months. Sadie agreed a rogue vampire was a danger but what if there was a reason behind Geneva’s fear? What if Leigh somehow played a key role in Geneva’s plans? All of the members of the coven had secrets. Despite their bond, they didn’t share everything. Their leader was more aloof than most, appearing mostly when the coven gathered to address issues.
They lived under the same roof. How often did she really see Geneva?
Her heart raced and her palms went clammy.
Not much.
Driving for several miles, they came to an enormous set of gates in the middle of nowhere. Nathan rolled down the window, said something to the man who approached the side of the car and suddenly the mechanism keeping the barrier in place parted wide. Nathan drove past the guards, hands clutching the steering wheel, his knuckles almost white.
Like it or not, her heart went out to the man.
He’d said Leigh was his mate. She hadn’t wanted to believe it but his behavior told her he hadn’t been lying. He hadn’t spoken as they’d driven, jaw clenched, eyes pained. She knew how possessive and protective werewolves were of their females. Before Trey, she’d thought nothing could keep a shifter from its mate.
Maybe Trey hadn’t meant to be a total douchebag.
He’d been drunk as hell when he’d attacked her harshly with his words. Maybe she’d gotten it all wrong. Maybe there was a reason they’d found each other again.
Or maybe your brain is fried and you can’t think worth a damn.
Listen to yourself. Yuck, yuck, yuck!
“Promise me you won’t run.” Trey’s unexpected rasp against her ear sent a prickle down her spine. All of her mental observations flew out the window. “If you do, I don’t know what’ll happen. Think about the people this could impact. Not just Leigh. Not just me and you. This will hurt everyone in the pack, including men, women and their children.”
Damn him.
The magic words—women and children.
White mage vampires never harmed the innocent. It went against everything they stood for. Knowing she could be the cause of suffering sent a pang through her chest. Once again she didn’t have much choice in her decision. Hurt others and save her own ass? Or stand and face the firing squad? Neither option seemed all that promising.
Her word meant everything to her so it wasn’t easy to whisper, “I promise.”
Putting her thoughts on hold, she surveyed her surroundings.
Well, well, well. Trey hadn’t been kidding.