Authors: Aliyah Burke
Are you okay?
No. I need you with me, Aida.
No, you don’t. Dane. The darkness only has
power if you let it. You’re stronger than it. You’ve defeated it
before and can do so again.
Because of you.
He felt her smile and the
warmth of her love surrounded him.
You can
always reach me.
“
Dane.”
He snapped his gaze and
found three sets of concerned eyes watching him. “Sorry, I can’t
stay.” Correction, he
wouldn’t
stay.
“
What?” Heller said on a
gasp. “You just got here. And what the hell was that all about,
just now? Christ, man, you looked like you wanted to rip our heads
off.”
He shrugged. What there was to say, he had.
“He went after my mate once, he’ll do it again. I can’t protect her
if I’m here and she’s there.”
“
And my niece?” Heller
asked in a hard tone, his eyes flashing fire.
“
She comes with
me.”
Aqua eyes narrowed. “Your family could
help.”
Dane placed a hand on his
brother’s shoulder. “Heller, I know. And I know you don’t like how
I keep you blocked out. But until
I
know for certain what’s going on within me,
that’s how it is going to be. No matter how grown you are, I’m
still and always will be your older brother. I will do everything
in my power I can to protect you. I can do nothing less. Please,
understand this.”
Three jaws dropped open in surprise. “You
never say please,” Heller said, shock in his tone.
Dane never blinked. “I’m saying it now.”
“
I don’t like it,” Heller
stated. “Not at all. But I will stay out of it.” He spun around and
walked off. “You’d better bring your mate so I can meet
her.”
Killian followed Heller, no more pleased
than him, and Dane knew they did that to give him a moment with
Aren. They’d be back.
“
You had better take
care,
vriend
.
I’ve no wish to face Nahia and tell her you are no longer with us.”
He gave a slight smile. “Plus she is very agitated. I’ve had the
pleasure of meeting your mate, and she has not. She insists that be
rectified.” A slight pause. “And soon.”
“
I don’t plan on dying for
a long time. I have three very important reasons to stick around.
And tell Lady Nahia it will be our pleasure to come for a
visit.”
Aren grinned. “Congratulations.”
“
Thank you.” Dane sobered.
“Aren, if something does happen…” He trailed off, unable to
actually speak those words.
“
They will be well
protected and cared for.” His eyes were ablaze with golden fire as
he spoke with utter sincerity.
“
You and I…our
bond…”
“
I know. It is something
you never have to worry about. It’s a given.”
“
Dank u,
Aren Van der Ness,” Dane said with a slight bow.
He and Aren had a bond that made them tighter than brothers. They’d
been through so much with one another. Each would die for the other
without hesitation. Or for one another’s mates. It’s how they
were.
Heller and Killian returned, and the men sat
along the steps leading to the porch of his cabin.
“
Let’s talk more about
this
Uffernangau
.”
Dane knew Heller was still angry, but
hopefully, one day, he would understand. They shifted topics when
Bryndis and Lera returned. He watched Lera hesitate before coming
nearer and knew it was the three men near him. He nearly burst with
pride when she lifted her chin slightly and walked to him and sat
on his knee, the one closest to the edge.
“
I made you
this.”
He heard Aren’s laughter when Lera placed
the wreath of flowers on his head. It was a sound echoed by the
others there. Dane ran his tongue over his teeth and touched it
before smiling. “Was this your idea?”
“
No,” she said,
straightening it. “Cousin Bryndis said you’d like it.”
Spearing his cousin with a look, who was
really trying to contain her laughter, he lifted a lip in warning.
Then, he met Lera’s gaze. “It’s beautiful. Thank you, little
one.”
Dane touched the one she still held. “Are
you not wearing yours?”
“
This one’s for my
angel.”
“
I see. I’d really like to
meet your angel.”
“
One day he
says.”
“
He’s here?”
“
Yes.”
Dane flashed a look to the others, they all
replied with a negative. They didn’t find anything around. “I see.
Well, we have to get ready for dinner, so come on.”
Lera slid off his lap and took his hand in
hers. The four adults were in the living room when he walked out of
his bedroom. He arched his brows at them while waiting for Lera to
come down the stairs.
“
Wearing your flowers to
dinner?” Heller asked.
“
If she wants me to,” he
replied easily, enjoying the look of shock on their faces. Luckily
for him, she didn’t. The meal wasn’t all bad, but he knew Lera had
about reached her limit though; she fell asleep on the way home
from dinner at the restaurant, Sanjai’s. Back at his cabin, he sat
outside, ice water in hand, while she slept in her new
bed.
He remained seated when the air shimmered
and two cloaked figures approached.
“
Enforcer Dane Sidorov,”
they said as one.
“
No longer enforcer,” he
corrected, sipping his water.
“
What do you mean?” one
asked.
“
I mean I’m done.” He
pushed to his feet and placed his glass on the porch railing as he
stood there, feet shoulder-width apart. “I’ve spent more years than
I care to think about enforcing laws. I was good. I was damn good.
But now, because of that, my mate is in danger. I’m tired. I want
to live my life. You have plenty of youngsters who can be
enforcers. You don’t need me.”
“
So you turn your back on
Savoy?”
His tiger hissed a deadly
warning. “Don’t go there,” he snarled. “I’ve spent hundreds of
years defending Savoy. Both here and away. Do not try to guilt me
like others have, it won’t work. I have found my mate.
My mate,
after being
alone for so long. She is my priority, her and our family. I don’t
turn my back on Savoy, I’m embracing my future. Seems to me, you’re
the ones turning from me.”
“
You always were
stubborn.”
“
And
you
always call me that when you
know I’m right, Grandfather.” Dane lifted his glass and took
another drink.
The corner of the man’s mouth lifted
slightly. “Would you consent to assist with training of new
enforcers?”
“
That I can
do.”
“
Thank you, Dane.” They
vanished before he could say another word.
He sat back down, glass again in hand. The
night air blew coolly over him. The shape of a large bird blotted
out the moon for a brief moment, and he propped his feet up on the
railing.
His visitor didn’t ask for permission to
come onto the porch, just made his way up there and sat in a rocker
beside Dane. The men remained with a companionable silence between
them for about five minutes.
“
You were very quiet
tonight, Dane. Is everything okay?” Booted feet landed on the
railing beside his.
“
I’m not sure, Aren. I
have my wards up, keeping everyone out. Aida can get in whenever
she wishes. And has the ability to keep me out. I’ve never seen
anything like it before. So while I can feel the mating bond strong
between us, she is still in control if I can get in to
her.”
Aren pondered in silence. “Do you think she
is more than just human?”
“
No. I’ve not sensed
anything else about her. No spikes of power anywhere.”
“
A truly remarkable woman
then.”
A grin lifted the corners of his mouth. “You
have no idea.”
“
Actually, I do. I watched
her face off with the ‘Master’ in front of her home. She has more
mettle and backbone than some of our own kind in that
situation.”
Dane nodded. “I wish she would have come
with me.”
“
You told me about what
happened to her cousin, Dane. She doesn’t like this country. Hell,
you’re gone from here more often than not as well. Go to her. Trust
me when I tell you this, don’t wait too long and have her taken
from you. When I...lost Nahia, I didn’t want to continue on. I was
lucky she was returned to me. We both know that bastard wouldn’t be
so kind to Aida should he capture her. And I know what would happen
if she were killed.”
So did Dane. The darkness would consume him,
and there would be no way of stopping him short of killing him.
“
Does it ever get easier?”
he asked, finishing his water.
“
Nope.” Aren’s response
came immediately and without hesitation of any kind. “I am
overprotective every day, and I know it bothers her, but she allows
it because Nahia realizes it is something I can’t change about
myself.”
“
Aida’s carrying my
baby.”
“
Shit. Congrats man.” Aren
clapped him on the shoulder briefly. “Nahia will be thrilled to
hear of this.”
“
I wish I could be here
for the birth of your first,” he said.
“
Do not worry about
it,
vreind.
We
both understand you need to protect your mate.” Aren stood.
“Besides, you are the godparent to my child. We’ll be seeing one
another. Stay safe,
vreind.
”
“
You, too.”
Dane stood and embraced his friend before
watching the magic transformation from man to golden eagle. With a
powerful shriek, the eagle winged higher until he could no longer
be seen. Dane stared at the sky for a few more minutes. Then, he
went inside and picked up the phone.
“
General Herbert,” the man
on the other end said.
“
I need a favor,
General.”
* * * *
“
Good job, boys,” Aida
said, patting each of them before walking to the tranquilized
feline. Crouching beside him, she checked the tag and removed the
dart. That done, Aida cleaned out the large gash on his side.
Normally, she wouldn’t interfere with an animal’s state of being
but this wasn’t from a fight.
“
Fucking
poachers.”
The cat twitched, and she backed off, making
sure she had her things with her. She moved quickly, knowing he
would be awake soon. In her vehicle, she watched from a distance as
the African lion rose and shook before heading off. Not long after,
she could hear him roaring in search of his pride. Slipping down
behind the wheel, she drove off, heading back home.
It was early evening when she reached her
house. She couldn’t help but notice the shiny black helicopter in
her yard. General Brad Herbert. She shut off the engine and jumped
out, her dogs at her heels.
“
God, I just want a
shower, food, then bed,” she muttered. “And not necessarily in that
order.”
Kamau barked and bounded off toward the back
of the house. Ruger followed. Aida groaned. “Great. Man went and
made himself at home. Patience is a virtue.” She shook her head.
“Or some bull like that.”
Walking around the corner, Aida froze. Down
on one knee with the dogs was Dane. Not the general.
“
Dane,” she
breathed.
He pushed to his feet and strode toward her,
his tawny-green-gold gaze glowing fiercely. His arms hauled her in
close as his lips descended upon hers with possessiveness. Aida
melted into him, her arms slipping around him, holding him tightly,
tears gathered in her eyes.
“
Aida,” he moaned on a low
guttural thread. “My Aida.”
His hands cupped her ass through the khaki
material of her pants. She rubbed against him, purring in the back
of her throat. His erection pressed firmly into her. Every synapse
fired, responding to him, and she became overwhelmed with her
desire for him.
Nibbling along her neck, Dane lifted her and
carried her back to the bedroom, his hands tearing at her clothes.
The door clicked shut, and Aida found her back against it as he
feasted upon her swollen breasts. Each lick, nip, and suckle felt
one hundred percent more intense given how much more sensitive her
breasts had become.
Aida shook from the stream of orgasms
rippling through her, his rough tongue creating a maelstrom within
her.
“
Dane!” she cried,
pressing his head even tighter against her, her hips grinding into
him the best she could.
“
Tell me,” he commanded
around one nipple.
“
Uh…now…oh shit…sweet
goddess…please, Dane,” Aida babbled, her brain mush. He shredded
her pants and underwear. Aida didn’t give a damn. She panted for
him. When he slid home, her eyes rolled back and she hissed,
“Yesss!”
“
Listen to me, mate,” he
rumbled in her ear.
“
Talk later, tiger-mine.”
She undulated against him and tightened her core
muscles.
He purred at that, and so, she did it again.
And again. Until Dane thrust hard and deep into her, spreading the
blaze throughout her entire body. Right before she crested, he
stopped.