“Fine,” he growled and stared at his brother. “But he comes to us. You stay right where you are.”
“Barbarian,” Sadie reprimanded him privately.
“You’re damn right,” he replied immediately. Fuck grabbing her by the hair and dragging her around. He was going to chain her ass to his side. “You ain’t seen nothing yet, baby.”
Emory hesitated, his attention riveted to his mate. After several seconds he gave Mary a nod and moved away, walking slowly toward the couch. Mary seemed uncertain, gnawing at her lip, wrapping her arms around herself.
“What’s she going to do?” Emory asked, cautious and jumpy. “Bite me?”
“You’ll never be that lucky, fuckwad.” The simple notion of Sadie feeding from Emory had Trey’s wolf clamoring for his brother’s blood. “She’s going to touch you and share what she knows. Which is more than you deserve after the shit you just spouted.”
Sadie lifted her hand when Emory stopped beside them. Emory didn’t want to accept her touch—Trey could smell the detestation coming from his brother—yet he did just the same. He wasn’t aware just how quickly Sadie could send another person shared thoughts and images, thinking it took minutes at the very least. He found himself surprised when she pulled away in seconds, appearing pleased. Emory, on the other hand, looked like he was going to toss his Cheerios.
“Fuck,” Emory exhaled, taking a step back, eyes saucered. “Jesus.”
“Now you know why I couldn’t break it down to you like the ABCs,” Diskant said, validated. “Not that easy to explain, is it?”
The double doors opened and Diskant, Emory and Trey growled in unison. The sounds lessened when Nathan stepped inside. The poor bastard looked like shit. He’d obviously been running his hands through his hair—the strands darted in all directions—and he was as wired as a wild animal in a cage. If they didn’t find Leigh soon he was bound to look even worse.
“Cade’s on his way,” he informed them as he walked to the couch and rested Sadie’s sword against Trey’s leg. “Have you decided what we’re going to do?”
“We’re going to get our shit in order.” Diskant’s power as an Omega fell over the room as he spoke. “We need to find this girl who’s so important and bring her here before we even think about addressing the pack.”
Nathan took a step back and took a deep breath. As a Beta he was the most sensitive to strong emotions, especially when a shifter called on his or her beast. With Diskant being able to change into every single animal form, it pulled more energy from the man. Trey tried to compensate, calling on his own beast, directing waves of fortitude to his second-in-command. His wolf met Nathan’s and strengthened it, giving it a measure of comfort. Nathan righted himself, his nod in Trey’s direction his expression of gratitude.
“I don’t know if she’ll come,” Sadie confessed, sounding sad.
“Oh she’ll come,” Diskant’s voice lowered an octave. There was an underlying threat in his words. “She’s placing every single person I’m in charge of in danger.” He turned his gaze to Sadie. “I’ll fight your nest and take her by force if I have to.”
“You’re not putting a fucking hand on her.” Nathan stormed into the room, baring his teeth. “I don’t care who or what you are. She’s my mate. As such she’s due protection from the pack. If you hurt her, you violate everything we stand for. I’ll contact every single pack we’re connected to. I’ll tell them what you’ve done. They’ll bring you down one by one.”
“He won’t hurt her, Nathan,” Ava chimed and shuffled from her seat. Diskant moved to assist her immediately, his anger about Leigh swiftly turning to concern for his mate. “She’s only a girl,” Ava whispered, using the hand Diskant offered her for balance. “She didn’t ask for this.”
“If you promise to give her your protection, I can find her,” Sadie said. “There are only so many places she could be.” Everything inside Trey rebelled at his mate’s offer. She must have sensed his unease because she pulled away so he could see her face. “I’m not running. I’m presenting an option. None of you can cover as much ground as quickly as I can. Besides,” her eyes lowered to his mouth and returned to meet his gaze, “you and I have to talk. There’s a lot we need to discuss.”
“Are you sure she’ll come back?” Emory questioned, wary despite what Sadie had shown him. “Are you sure we can trust her?”
If you want to earn her respect—if you want everyone to believe in her—balls up.
“Yes,” Trey responded as he stood, lifting them from the couch. “We can.”
As soon as he was upright he let his mate go—his wolf howling in his head at the loss of contact—and took a step back. He retrieved her weapon and handed it to her. She accepted the sword like the warrior she was, gripping the sheath that covered the blade. He knew she was capable of defending herself—she’d practically saved their asses when they faced Aldon—but he couldn’t prevent the instincts that demanded he prevent her departure. It was his duty to watch over her. Only a pussy would stand idly by as his mate ventured off without his assistance, guidance or protection.
Fuck. This was one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do.
Letting her leave, left with only the hope she’d return.
What if I can’t trust her? What if I’m wrong?
“Come back to me.” Even in his own head he sounded like a sappy, lovesick pup. “Don’t make me hunt you down. I will if I have to. When I find you it won’t be pretty. I mean it, Sadie.”
His pride had been forgotten. He couldn’t care less what the others thought.
If he lost face in front of those he trusted most, he’d get over it.
If he lost his female, he’d never survive.
Her eyes lingered on him as though she heard the thought. “I’ll be back. Promise.”
Gazing around the room, she slid her sword into the sheath that protected her weapon. “Don’t wait up on me,” she instructed. “The clock is ticking. Start making plans.”
Then, before anyone could stop her, she gazed at Trey and disappeared.
Chapter Six
“You can’t be serious.” Leigh strangled the pillow in her arms, staring at Sadie as though she’d lost her mind. “I’m not going there. With a bunch of werewolves! Haven’t you had enough of them already? Did you see how they act? They’re like animals. You can’t talk to them. They don’t understand reason. You’ve lost your mind!”
“Leigh…”
“Don’t ‘Leigh’ me,” Leigh snapped. “You’re crazy. Certifiable even.”
Sadie clenched her fingers, trying to stay calm.
Finding the terrified vampire had been easier than Sadie had thought. Just to be safe, Sadie had phased to the home she shared with her coven, taking sanctuary inside her bedroom. Leigh had been there, seated on her bed, clutching one of her pillows. The young vampire had made an intelligent decision. Their sisters wouldn’t ask Leigh questions about being in Sadie’s space, and Leigh probably figured it was the first place Sadie would go once she escaped Aldon.
Speaking of which…
“I don’t have time to explain, you’re going to have to trust me.”
The moment she’d landed and seen Leigh, she’d simply blurted the truth—they had to return to Trey and Nathan. And they had to do it now. She’d promised Trey she’d return and she was going to keep her word. She’d glimpsed so much from him—things she hadn’t dared believe.
She had to know if his feelings were as true as he thought they were.
“You’re not safe here.” Sadie kept going, trying to persuade Leigh. “I have to show you something.”