Ch. 341..350
Chapter 341
We had dinner a little later, and Henry got to give Cora his shocked congratulations on her pregnancy. His eyes were wet, a little, at the thought of his second grandchild, but it was all for joy. It was a wonderful evening that we all spent together surprising after such a horrible morning.
1
Tomorrow, I know, we have a lot to think about and decide. But tonight? Tonight I just want to sleep in my mate’s arms and get some rest under the knowledge that nobody is going to attack us and try to take my baby.
I’m tired, then, when Sinclair and I head back to our room with little Rafe in my arms, already asleep. A’s Sinclair opens the door for us I give a little wave to my sister and Roger, who are sleeping a few doors down.
“Aw,” I say, looking up at Sinclair as we walk into the room. “I’m jealous. I want to get knocked up.”
“What!?” Sinclair exclaims, laughing as he moves across the room to the little table where we’ve unpacked our clothes, eager to get ready for bed.
I pout as I move to the little makeshift cradle waiting by our bed that Henry instructed Sinclair’s men to make for us this afternoon, laying my sleeping baby down on the thin, firm mattress waiting there for him.
“I’m just a little jealous!” I declare, laughing a little.
“Ella,” Sinclair sighs, pulling his shirt over his head and coming over to me. I turn to my mate, eager, and wrap my arms around his neck, smiling up at him. “You do realize that you just gave birth to our perfect little baby, and that it was an incredibly complicated and dramatic pregnancy. Are you really so eager to be pregnant again?”
“No,” I say, grinning up at him. “That’s not what I said. I don’t want to be pregnant – at least, not right now. Not yet. I just want to get knocked up!”
“Okay,” Sinclair replies, laughing again and smiling down at me so broadly that it brings out all the little crinkles around his eyes that I love. “Please explain, then, my love, the difference between the terms.‘
“I just think it would be nice,” I say softly, “to just…” I shrug, “not be trying to get pregnant, and then one day poof! Surprise!” I look up into his eyes, still smiling, “suddenly knocked up!”
“Hmm,” he says, beginning to stroke my hair and, I think, understand. But he wants to hear more. “And why, Ella,” he asks, “does that sound so appealing?”
–
“Because,” I continue, taking a deep breath and resting my tace against his chest. “You know I love everything about our story, Sinclair we never would have met, or had our baby, if we hadn’t been thrown into that situation. But there was so much that was stressful about how Rafe was conceived – I had to spend so much money, and just hope that it worked, and frankly the idea that my sister put your defrosted sperm in me when you were just like somewhere else on the earth
”
–
He laughs now and I can feel him nodding. “Yes,” he agrees. “I see. A little,…less romantic and intimate than it could be.”
“Precisely,” I say. “Roger and Cora…it’s been so complicated for them, but there is something beautiful about them making that little miracle baby because they loved each other so much.‘
I feel Sinclairs knuckles graze my face and look up at him again.
“I’ll give you as many children as you want, Ella,” he murmurs softly, “and they will all be conceived in love. Rafe too.”
“J
“I know,” I say, smiling up at him. “I’m excited. It will happen one day.” And a memory flashes in my mind of the prophecy the priests showed me, of our little family of four. Could that really be possible? I mean, the eldest child in that vision was a dark–haired boy just like my sweet Rafe. Would the rest come true as well?
“I mean,” Sinclair says, interrupting my reverie and sliding his hands down my back to grip my ass. “If you’re that eager to get knocked up I’m right here and there is a bed – I am very happy to oblige –
I laugh, biting my lip as I look up at him and pressing my body closer to his. But then I hesitate. Let’s wait, a little,” I say quietly, “before we think about a second child. Until all of this,” I say, waving a hand to encapsulate the bunker and all of the reasons why we’re here, “is sorted. Is that all right?”
“Yes, Ella,” Sinclair says, bending down a little further to get a better grip on my ass and using the leverage to pick me up in his arms. I laugh and wrap my legs around his waist, hands looped casually behind his neck. “You control the timeline. In the meantime,” he growls playfully as he moves his face closer to mine, “we’ll just…practice.”
–
“Good,” I murmur softly against his lips, a little thrill running through me as I remember that enough time has passed. I can take my mate to bed really to bed – anytime I want now. But as I think about it, I pull away for a second, curious. “Dominic, what do wolves use for birth control?”
“Self–restraint,” he murmurs against my shoulder, carrying me the few steps to the bed and
sitting down hard on it, taking me with him. He rolls then and I laugh as he presses me down against the mattress, kissing down my neck. “We’re horrible at it,” he adds, “that’s why there are legions of wolf babies out there…”
I laugh again and lean my head back, enjoying the feeling of him running his lips over me, his hands under my shirt now, warm against my stomach. I idly play with his hair as I force the conversation to continue. “But really, love,” I ask. “If we decide to wait a little bit for another child, how do we make sure that happens? Because, you know we’re not going to be able to practice abstinence. If that’s the only solution we’re going to pop out a kid every six months.”
Sinclair laughs at the idea and then sits up, pulling me with him and then tugging my shirt up over my head and looking hungrily down at my mostly–naked torso. He quickly un–snaps my bra, pulling it off my shoulders and tossing it aside before laying me back down on the mattress.” There are herbs,” he informs me, kissing down my stomach now as he raises a hand to hold my breast, his thumb idly flicking over my nipple and sending a little shiver through me. “But you won’t need them for a while. Wolf bodies are more diligent than humans about making sure that there’s time between pups. It’s very unlikely that you will ovulate at all while you’re still breastfeeding.”
“Oh,” I say, surprised.
“Mmmhmm,” he says, tugging at the waistband of my pants now, getting distracted from the conversation. “Our pups are rare as you know. So the female wolf body is designed to ensure that the
pup gets all the nutrients it needs before making a new one. You don’t have to worry about it for a while, but we can talk to Cora if you want —“
“Later,” I murmur, looking down at my mate as he slides my pants and underwear down off my body. Then I’m panting in anticipation as Sinclair slides one of my knees over his shoulders, dipping his head down to give me a long, thorough lick just where I want him to. I moan a little, letting my head fall back on the pillow. “Let’s worry about all of that…later…” I whisper.
My mate murmurs his agreement and then, fully distracted, gets to work.
Chapter 342
Sinclair and I wake up late the next morning and frankly I’m grateful that everyone let us sleep in. We had to get up to feed Rafe, of course, but even with that? It’s the most sleep I’ve gotten in a long time.
“Morning,” I murmur, turning over to Sinclair and slinging a leg up over his hip, feeling just… ridiculously relaxed for someone who fought off a pack of kidnappers in her bedroom yesterday.
Sinclair doesn’t say anything, just growls a hungry little greeting and pulls my naked body closer to his, rolling over me a little so that I can feel the delicious weight of him on top of me as he kisses my neck, my shoulder, and then my mouth. “We’re skipping breakfast,” he murmurs, sliding his hand leisurely down the length of my body, “I have different idea for how we can spend
the time
”
“Noooo,” I moan in protest, my stomach audibly growling in support. “I need fooooood!”
Sinclair laughs and pulls away from me then. “Am I not sustenance enough for you?” he asks
pretending to be offended. “Here,” he says, offering his arm, bulging with muscles, “take a bite. It
will keep you going.”
I bare my teeth and lean forward towards it, making my mate laugh, but then I just press a quick kiss to the arm and push him away, reaching for the baby who is starting to fuss in his cradle at
the sound of our voices.
“As delicious as you are,” I call over my shoulder to Sinclair as I lean down to scoop Rafe into my arms, “the baby and I need pancakes.”
“Then pancakes you shall have,” Sinclair murmurs, yawning and crossing to the little metal
bathroom door in the corner of the room. “But I hope that you are aware that these will be bunker
pancakes,” he adds, twisting the nob and pushing his way through, “by which I mean plain toast.”
I laugh, nodding to indicate that that’s fine by me, and then I spend a few sweet minutes alone
with my son, talking softly to him while I feed him his own breakfast, taking my time looking
over, admiring his little face and his thick thatch of black hair, mussed from sleep.
I sigh a little, thinking that this will surely be a busy, complicated day. But with sweet starts like
this…how can it end badly?
Sinclair
A little later in the morning we gather in the conference room at the end of the bunker’s long
impassive as I look around at the men who we have brought with us, but honestly I’m proud of them. Many worked through the night to develop our reconnaissance, to make a plan.
A little pang of guilt runs through me as I realize that they were working, losing sleep, while I was relaxing and…well, doing a bit more than relaxing with my mate. But…
Well, I’m the boss. I built this system, I put in the hours in my younger years to get to where I am. I am allowed to indulge, a little, in some of the privileges of being in charge – even if my constant instinct is to work, and to push, and to keep going. Ella and Rafe need my attention as well, just as much as my
business and political life. And, considering what Roger and Cora went through yesterday, they needed me last night too.
“You’re doing fine, Dominic,” my father murmurs to me as he rolls up to my side, his voice quiet enough that no one is likely to hear.
“What?” I ask, surprised.
My dad gives me a little smirk, just for a moment, before placing some paperwork on the table and beginning to sort through it. “You think I can’t read the emotions on your face, even when you
work to keep it clear? I’m your father, boy. We still have a bond, even if it’s changed with time.”
I smile, then, and clasp a hand on my father’s shoulder, grateful for him. Roger comes over to us and gives us a sharp little nod, which we both return, and then I laugh a little bit as I realize how
much of our bodily movements we all have in common. My dad laughs a little too.
“What?” Roger asks, a little out of the loop, but I shake my head at him a little to let him know
he’s not missing anything big and he just shrugs it off, leaning in front of me to look at the plans
that dad came up with last night.
Roger stands up straight, though, when Cora and Ella come through the door, saying warm
greetings to everyone they encounter, Ella showing off the baby to anyone who wants to come
greet him and Cora handing out little cups of coffee that they thoughtfully made.
“Uh–oh,” Roger says, his eyes wide as he looks at the girls.
“What?” I ask, looking between Roger and our mates, trying to figure out the problem.
“Dominic,” Roger says, his voice tight, “do you not see the issue here?” he gestures towards them.
Frowning, a little disturbed that I don’t, I shake my head.
“Dom,” Roger sighs, scrubbing his hand down his face swiftly in a mix of worry and frustration.
I’m going to forgive you for this, since you’ve been a little…hypnotized by Ella since the moment
she walked into your life –”
“Wha-!” I start, but Roger gives me a significant look and I shut my mouth, frowning and crossing
my arms over my chest but letting him continue.
“Seriously, Dom,” he continues, speaking quickly, “Ella’s amazing, and I love her, but you let her get away with things that you wouldn’t let anyone get away with
“She’s usually right!” I protest, but he continues speaking, cutting me off.
–
“She is and I’m not calling your judgement into doubt – but I have had the privilege of getting to know both Ella and Cora without being in love with one of them from the jump –”
I raise my eyebrow at Roger, but he ignores me.
“And,” Roger continues, “I thus am more aware of what they can do when they combine their powers. You have a sweet spot for Ella, you think she’s funny and now Cora’s got me all wrapped
up
_”
–
I smirk, and look over at the two girls, realizing that he’s right.
“And,” I continue, speaking his thoughts for him, “with the two of us under their thumbs? If they want to, they’re going to control this meeting.”
“Yah,” Roger replies, sighing and folding his arms as he turns to watch both of them, as I’m currently doing.
“Shit,” I murmur, shaking my head.”
Ella turns to me by chance now, catching both of us looking at her, and her face bursts into a wicked little grin before she replaces it with a sweet smile and blows me a kiss, taking a paper cup of coffee off of Cora’s tray and handing it to another one of our men.
“Oh no,” Roger moans, seeing Ella’s changing expression. “They’ve become aware of their power – they know –”
“Shiiiiiit,” I murmur again, shaking my head even harder now.
“This is why,” Roger snaps, turning to frown at me, “we never should have gotten involved with
–
sisters what the hell were we thinking – we should have mated with two women who are
mortal enemies so that they can never team up against us –”
“You’re right,” I agree, sighing. “But it’s too late now. Unless you want to give yours up,” I quip, turning to grin at him.
“Not on your life,” Roger murmurs, smirking. “I got the hot one.”
“Whatever,” I laugh, knowing he’s wrong but happy to let him think that he’s right. That’s the way one should love their mate–believing them incomparable. I’m glad he sees Cora like that, the same way I see Ella.
Ready to begin, I clap my hands, loudly, calling the group to order. As everyone shuffles around to take their places at the table, I’m grateful that Roger has made me newly aware that Ella and
say in the plans. Indeed, they take two diminutive seats from us as far away as possible, Rafe bundled warmly in Ella’s arms. But I note, as I see them sit, that even though the seats they choose are at the end of the group, those seats could also be considered the head of the table.
And they are not going to like, at all, the direction in which we’re heading.
I grin a little, preparing for a fight.
Chapter 343
Sinclair and I wake up late the next morning and frankly I’m grateful that everyone let us sleep in. We had to get up to feed Rafe, of course, but even with that? It’s the most sleep I’ve gotten in a long time.
“Morning,” I murmur, turning over to Sinclair and slinging a leg up over his hip, feeling just… ridiculously relaxed for someone who fought off a pack of kidnappers in her bedroom yesterday.
Sinclair doesn’t say anything, just growls a hungry little greeting and pulls my naked body closer to his, rolling over me a little so that I can feel the delicious weight of him on top of me as he kisses my neck, my shoulder, and then my mouth. “We’re skipping breakfast,” he murmurs, sliding his hand leisurely down the length of my body, “I have different idea for how we can spend
the time
”
“Noooo,” I moan in protest, my stomach audibly growling in support. “I need fooooood!”
Sinclair laughs and pulls away from me then. “Am I not sustenance enough for you?” he asks
pretending to be offended. “Here,” he says, offering his arm, bulging with muscles, “take a bite. It
will keep you going.”
I bare my teeth and lean forward towards it, making my mate laugh, but then I just press a quick kiss to the arm and push him away, reaching for the baby who is starting to fuss in his cradle at
the sound of our voices.
“As delicious as you are,” I call over my shoulder to Sinclair as I lean down to scoop Rafe into my arms, “the baby and I need pancakes.”
“Then pancakes you shall have,” Sinclair murmurs, yawning and crossing to the little metal
bathroom door in the corner of the room. “But I hope that you are aware that these will be bunker
pancakes,” he adds, twisting the nob and pushing his way through, “by which I mean plain toast.”
I laugh, nodding to indicate that that’s fine by me, and then I spend a few sweet minutes alone
with my son, talking softly to him while I feed him his own breakfast, taking my time looking
over, admiring his little face and his thick thatch of black hair, mussed from sleep.
I sigh a little, thinking that this will surely be a busy, complicated day. But with sweet starts like
this…how can it end badly?
Sinclair
A little later in the morning we gather in the conference room at the end of the bunker’s long
impassive as I look around at the men who we have brought with us, but honestly I’m proud of them. Many worked through the night to develop our reconnaissance, to make a plan.
A little pang of guilt runs through me as I realize that they were working, losing sleep, while I was relaxing and…well, doing a bit more than relaxing with my mate. But…
Well, I’m the boss. I built this system, I put in the hours in my younger years to get to where I am. I am allowed to indulge, a little, in some of the privileges of being in charge – even if my constant instinct is to work, and to push, and to keep going. Ella and Rafe need my attention as well, just as much as my
business and political life. And, considering what Roger and Cora went through yesterday, they needed me last night too.
“You’re doing fine, Dominic,” my father murmurs to me as he rolls up to my side, his voice quiet enough that no one is likely to hear.
“What?” I ask, surprised.
My dad gives me a little smirk, just for a moment, before placing some paperwork on the table and beginning to sort through it. “You think I can’t read the emotions on your face, even when you
work to keep it clear? I’m your father, boy. We still have a bond, even if it’s changed with time.”
I smile, then, and clasp a hand on my father’s shoulder, grateful for him. Roger comes over to us and gives us a sharp little nod, which we both return, and then I laugh a little bit as I realize how
much of our bodily movements we all have in common. My dad laughs a little too.
“What?” Roger asks, a little out of the loop, but I shake my head at him a little to let him know
he’s not missing anything big and he just shrugs it off, leaning in front of me to look at the plans
that dad came up with last night.
Roger stands up straight, though, when Cora and Ella come through the door, saying warm
greetings to everyone they encounter, Ella showing off the baby to anyone who wants to come
greet him and Cora handing out little cups of coffee that they thoughtfully made.
“Uh–oh,” Roger says, his eyes wide as he looks at the girls.
“What?” I ask, looking between Roger and our mates, trying to figure out the problem.
“Dominic,” Roger says, his voice tight, “do you not see the issue here?” he gestures towards them.
Frowning, a little disturbed that I don’t, I shake my head.
“Dom,” Roger sighs, scrubbing his hand down his face swiftly in a mix of worry and frustration.
I’m going to forgive you for this, since you’ve been a little…hypnotized by Ella since the moment
she walked into your life –”
“Wha-!” I start, but Roger gives me a significant look and I shut my mouth, frowning and crossing
my arms over my chest but letting him continue.
“Seriously, Dom,” he continues, speaking quickly, “Ella’s amazing, and I love her, but you let her get away with things that you wouldn’t let anyone get away with
“She’s usually right!” I protest, but he continues speaking, cutting me off.
–
“She is and I’m not calling your judgement into doubt – but I have had the privilege of getting to know both Ella and Cora without being in love with one of them from the jump –”
I raise my eyebrow at Roger, but he ignores me.
“And,” Roger continues, “I thus am more aware of what they can do when they combine their powers. You have a sweet spot for Ella, you think she’s funny and now Cora’s got me all wrapped
up
_”
–
I smirk, and look over at the two girls, realizing that he’s right.
“And,” I continue, speaking his thoughts for him, “with the two of us under their thumbs? If they want to, they’re going to control this meeting.”
“Yah,” Roger replies, sighing and folding his arms as he turns to watch both of them, as I’m currently doing.
“Shit,” I murmur, shaking my head.”
Ella turns to me by chance now, catching both of us looking at her, and her face bursts into a wicked little grin before she replaces it with a sweet smile and blows me a kiss, taking a paper cup of coffee off of Cora’s tray and handing it to another one of our men.
“Oh no,” Roger moans, seeing Ella’s changing expression. “They’ve become aware of their power – they know –”
“Shiiiiiit,” I murmur again, shaking my head even harder now.
“This is why,” Roger snaps, turning to frown at me, “we never should have gotten involved with
–
sisters what the hell were we thinking – we should have mated with two women who are
mortal enemies so that they can never team up against us –”
“You’re right,” I agree, sighing. “But it’s too late now. Unless you want to give yours up,” I quip, turning to grin at him.
“Not on your life,” Roger murmurs, smirking. “I got the hot one.”
“Whatever,” I laugh, knowing he’s wrong but happy to let him think that he’s right. That’s the way one should love their mate–believing them incomparable. I’m glad he sees Cora like that, the same way I see Ella.
Ready to begin, I clap my hands, loudly, calling the group to order. As everyone shuffles around to take their places at the table, I’m grateful that Roger has made me newly aware that Ella and
say in the plans. Indeed, they take two diminutive seats from us as far away as possible, Rafe bundled warmly in Ella’s arms. But I note, as I see them sit, that even though the seats they choose are at the end of the group, those seats could also be considered the head of the table.
And they are not going to like, at all, the direction in which we’re heading.
I grin a little, preparing for a fight.
Chapter 344
“All right,” I say, keeping half an eye on trouble and sister-trouble as I look around the room at my assembled team. “We’re here today to make a concrete plan regarding our next moves against the Cult that attacked our pack and attempted to kidnap my child. Everyone here has been briefed on the events that occurred yesterday. I applaud your work in coming up with the information we need to make the next best step we can. But now it’s time to act. Dad?”
I turn the group’s attention to him, eager to hear what he has to say regarding the reconnaissance that we assigned teams to complete yesterday and last night.
“Right,” my father starts, leaning forward in his chair and glancing over his papers, though I know he’s memorized every word on them. “Our capture of a Dark Priest yesterday morning resulted in a great deal of new information, if not yet definitive answers regarding how to stop these attacks. However, one of the most significant pieces of information that we’ve gathered came in last night.”
I listen while my father speaks but keep my eyes on everyone in the room, wanting to judge my men’s physical reactions to the information. I know that we’re going to need to put together an assault team at some point, and I’m going to want the best and most engaged on it. At my father’s last line, everyone seems to perk up a little, but I spot a few men whose eyes burn with a particular hunger at this turn.
“Last night, there was significant consideration of the fact that, while Ella and Dominic shifted into their wolves to attack the men who came for Rafe yesterday, the attackers themselves did not shift. I want to particularly applaud Conner O’Mally for noticing this particular fact.”
All eyes move, then, to a bulky red- haired young man who nods humbly, even when a slight blush at the recognition colors his pale cheeks. I nod at him, marking him mentally as one I might want by my side.
“At least one of the men,” my father continues, “would have had to stay in his human body in order to carry the child, of course. But the others continued the assault without shifting which, as we all know, is
unique. And put them at a particular disadvantage.”
Ella catches my eye here and we raise our brows at each other. We were caught up in the moment, of course, but I feel, quite suddenly, a little stupid that neither of us noticed this. It’s true – considering the numbers we went up against, it should have been a more difficult fight and it would have been, had they shifted.
“There was speculation,” Henry continues, “that these men never intended to take my grandson yesterday, that they were, instead, a distraction meant to get Dominic and Roger out of the room so that the captured Priest could escape – which he did.”
My father nods a little, considering this fact and the entire room listens eagerly, on the edge of our seats.
“However,” dad continues, looking now to a slim dark-haired young man down the table, “Simon suggested an alternative. Simon?” Henry invites, “if you would?”
“Okay,” Simon says, leaning forward, I think a little put on the spot but responding ably to the pressure. “The men who came into the bedroom, according to reports,” he nods politely to my mate here and she smiles at him, “moved with incredible speed and were able to break glass that they should not have been able to break, which was installed recently against just such an assault. The obvious conclusion here is that the attackers called upon the magic that the members of this Cult are known for in order to aid them in their mission.”
“Ella,” I say, breaking in and turning towards her now, wanting her input. Does this line up with your memory of the event?”
“Yes,” she says, sitting up and looking around. “It was incredible how fast they entered and how they came through the window. It is difficult to describe but…it was not something the average wolf could do unaided.”
I give her a sharp nod in thanks and she smiles at me in return. I can’t help the little smile that twitches at my lips then, though I usually work hard to keep all of my emotions off my face while I work.
She’s just so…cute. Damn, but it’s hard to keep a straight face around her. Roger’s right – I let her get away with more than anyone else.
I ignore these thoughts and turn back to Simon, giving him a nod and inviting him to continue. As he begins I consider that he’s a little too small for an assault team, though he’s clearly clever. I make a mental note to assign him more rigorous tasks to see how he does.
“One potential explanation for this,” Simon continues, “the lack of shifting, as well as the use of magic – is rooted in my understanding of how certain priestesses of the Goddess operate. It is not a common practice, but there are certain enclaves where priestesses worship remote ones, monasteries really – where priestesses actually bind their wolves in order to differently access the magic that would allow them to communicate with their wolf and transform into it.”
“Oh,” Cora says, clearly surprised, though she’s the only one who responds aloud. The rest of us shift uncomfortably in our chairs. It would be …incredibly painful, and isolating, I consider, to choose to turn away from the wolf that lives inside me and forcibly bind him. An act of cruel self- flagellation that, I know, every other wolf in this room shudders to consider.
Inside of me my own wolf bares his teeth at the idea, snapping at it. I run a mental hand down his black fur, assuring him that I’d never do it.
“How do you know this,” Roger asks, sharp but curious. “I’ve never heard of this practice.”
“Um…” Simon says, looking down at the table for a moment, perhaps a little embarrassed. “My mother…lives in one of these communities. I was born there.”
My eyebrows raise in surprise. I hired Simon three years ago, selected him for his intelligence as well as his hard work and potential. We did a thorough background check on him and while I knew he came from a remote region, I was unaware of his unique connections to a priestess of the Goddess. I make a mental note to have a further discussion with him, both about his background and about transparency.
But still, even as part of me rankles at not having all the information, another part of me understands. If practices like this exist, they surely happen in remote communities that would otherwise be shunned. Perhaps Simon kept his secret because he didn’t want to expose his mother, or have his fellow workers mark him as a misfit.
I catch Simon’s eye and nod to him, warm enough to let him know that he did right by telling us but firm enough for him to understand that we will be having further conversations about this. Simon holds my gaze and nods in return.
Then, I turn back to my father. “This is significant, if true,” I say aloud. I know what I think it means, but I want his opinion before I voice it, so I nod to him, giving my dad back the floor.
“The consideration here,” Henry continues, “is that we may have a significant advantage over these priests if we attack in a large force. If we are facing cult members who do not have access to their wolves, even if they do have access to magic, there is a good chance that the sheer physical force of us could be overwhelming. My suggestion would be to move fast, now, before they figure out what we know.”
I nod, agreeing, pleased that my own thoughts are aligned with my father’s. We move tonight, as soon as we can,” I declare. “Roger and I will take lead.”
“Absolutely not,” Ella growls, and I turn to see my little rose-gold mate standing up and looking at me fiercely. “I will not allow it.”
Everyone freezes, awkward, not knowing what to do. Honestly, it’s the first time they’ve seen anyone counter me. But then again, it’s the first time Ella’s come to the table.
Ella and I glare at each other, locked in a stare from which we are both determined to never back down.
Chapter 345
Cora breaks the tension between Ella and I, but unfortunately not in a way that benefits me.
“I agree,” she says, standing next to her sister, her eyes locked on Roger’s. I sigh inwardly, my wolf grumbling with discontent, as I realize that Roger’s warning at the start of this meeting was quite apt. Each on their own is willful, but together they’re a disruptive force.
“It’s too dangerous,” Cora continues, shaking her head, “we don’t know enough about this magic to send anyone in like this – people could be seriously hurt.”
She says “people” but I know, of course, that she really only means Roger and maybe me. Cora is not cold she cares about the other team members, but as a newly-mated newly- pregnant woman, I imagine that her main concern is, at this point, quite narrow.
“We have to press the advantage when we can, Cora,” Roger explains, angry but wanting her to understand. “Time is not on our side -” Cora opens her mouth to argue but I interrupt.
“Enough,” I snap, glaring at her and at Ella. Sit, I command Ella firmly, mind to mind. Her eyes flare at the authority in my voice, both audible and internal, but slowly I shake my head at her, communicating as cooly as I can that this is not the time to press me.
I see their concern – I share it, honestly – but this is not the time for me to back down in front of my men. I hold her gaze steadily, not relenting, and slowly Ella sits herself back into her seat. Seeing her back off, Cora hesitates but then does the same.
The tight muscle of Ella’s jaw lets me know that this fight is not over, even if she has consented to sit and, as she settles back in the chair, I give her a deep nod, letting her know that I will hear her. Just Not Now.
Then, I turn back to my men, moving on as if it didn’t happen.
“And where do we plan to strike?” Roger asks, his voice tight but likewise working to get back to business. He looks down at the paperwork our father provided and, I think, figures it out based on the few maps that my father has placed on the table.
“The sewer,” dad says, pointing at some underground schematics of the city which indicate where, precisely, entrances and exits were built for workers and maintenance in the sewer system. “The priest we lost yesterday set up significant shop down there and it’s likely that he cannot operate
without some of the materials he left. If we want to capture him again – and, I propose that that is our best move forward then our best shot is to start there. Best case scenario he is still there, gathering the significant number of supplies he left, which will take a long time to move out. Worst, we can begin to learn his practices and his scent.”
“Good,” I agree, nodding. “Any opposing suggestions for how to proceed?” I ask, looking at my oldest and most established men to see if there are any other ideas. I deliberately do not look at Ella and Cora. But no one says a wood.
“It’s decided then,” I say, standing and crossing my arms over my chest, looking to the side at my brother. ” Roger and I will pick a team and take lead. We’ll give word when we are ready.”
I decidedly refuse to look at Ella and Cora as the men filter out of the room, some coming to have a quick word with me before moving on to their individual team tasks which they already know they must take up. Some move to check the armory and prepare the assault, others gather to discuss the best way to approach the sewers, and still more move to another room to prepare to select members of the team. Those, I know, are the ones who I will be joining in a few minutes.
But before that…
My father gathers up the papers in front of him and tucks him into the side pocket of his wheelchair before looking up at me, giving me a wry little smile. “I’ll see you two in a few minutes?” he asks..
“We’re coming now, dad,” Roger growls, turning away from the last of the men and towards the two of us.
“No, you’re not,” dad replies cheerfully, beginning to spin his chair away. “You boys know that I miss your mother but…” he laughs a little as he begins to roll towards the door. “Not quite as much, in moments like this.”
Dad gives us a little wave and rolls through the door next to which Cora and Ella stand, my baby boy still sleeping happily in my mate’s arms. As soon as dad rolls out with the last of the men, Ella shuts the door and turns to renew her glare.
I fold my arms over my chest again, glaring back, ready to renew our stalemate but Roger interrupts, walking quickly to Cora’s side.
“Cora,” he breathes, shaking his head, shocking me with the apology on his lips. “I’m sorry, Cora – I know you’re upset – ”
“Upset!” she gasps, and Ella spins her head to look at Cora, breaking my gaze. I blink, surprised. I had honestly thought we were going to be locked in that for…I don’t know. Days?
Perhaps Roger knows how to handle them better than me. As they start to argue, I begin to slowly walk over and join the group.
“Upset doesn’t cover it, Roger!” Cora spits, glaring up at him and brushing away the hand he attempts to put on her shoulder. “We find out that we’re having a baby and the first thing you want to do is rush off to get killed!?”
“We’re not going to get killed,” Roger replies, stating it in a breezy way that clearly lights a fire in his mate.
“You don’t know that!” Cora shouts. ”
Damn it, Roger!” She steps closer to him and I can see tears in her eyes now. “How am I supposed to let you walk out of her and put your life on your line! When we we finally -”
And my heart twists when I see Cora relent, a little, closing the distance between them and fisting her hands in his shirt as if she’ll never let him go.
I turn to Ella then, standing a few feet from me, hoping for the same kind of honest communication, but when I meet her eyes they’re still steel.
“Oh no you don’t,” she says, pointing a finger up into my face and setting her jaw. “Just because Cora is crying and is going to let Roger talk her into it doesn’t mean I will.”
Cora gasps and turns to her, “I’m not.
“Yes you are,” Ella snaps, flashing Cora a little glare. “He’s got you all softened up with an apology and now you’re puddy in his hands.”
Cora gasps again, betrayed this time instead of surprised, and steps away from Roger, coming to Ella’s side.” She’s right!” Cora cries. “You softened me up!”
Roger and I both sigh sharply through our noses, turning to look at each other, frustrated, and he gives me a little shrug that clearly says well, it was worth a shot. I nod consideringly, giving him credit for trying. Then, I turn back to Ella and try another tactic: brutal honesty.
“Ella,” I say, sliding my hands into my pockets and meeting her angry gaze. This is happening. There is no other way. We’re not going to send our men out there without us – Roger and I are each stronger than four of them put together, it’s in our bloodline. This is part of our jobs, this is why we’re in charge. There is no other choice.”
Her face falls a little then, and I can see that I’m making her understand. I take a step towards her then, my heart breaking to see her so upset, so worried. But it was the truth: we have to go. They need us.
“Can’t you,” she says, her eyes darting a little as she thinks, “can’t you just delay – by a day or two – just until you get more information – ”
“We will lose the opportunity,” I reply, taking another step closer and reaching a hand out towards her, begging her to see the truth of it. And then, as I look down into the face of my darling mate, I see her lip begin to tremble as she comes to understand. And slowly, she raises her hand and takes mine, and then in a flash she’s pressed against me, her free arm wrapped around my waist, and I wrap mine around her shoulders, wanting to press her tight against me but, of course, not wanting to crush the baby between us.
“I don’t want you to go,” she murmurs, and I can hear a little hitch in her throat. “I can’t lose you. We have so much…we just got safe…”
“You won’t lose me,” I murmur, bending down to kiss the top of her head, meaning every word of it. “I promise, Ella. I promise.”
“So do I,” Roger says, turning to Cora, and I turn a little to watch them, seeing him step towards her as well.
But Cora surprises me by stepping back. “Oh, I don’t need your promise,” she says, holding up a hand between them. “Because I’m going with you.”
Chapter 346
I blink, surprised, when I hear a laugh tumble from Roger’s mouth. Honestly, I had expected anything else. Yelling? Yes. Begging? Sure. Stern orders? Absolutely.
Anything, really, except the low chuckle that falls from Roger’s lips as he leans back and puts his hands in his pockets. “I’m serious,” Cora says, crossing her arms and glaring at him. “I’m going with you. You need me.”
“Cora,” Roger says, shaking his head. “I need you, absolutely. But if you think for a second that I’m letting my pregnant mate climb into a sewer with me as part of an attack on an unknown enemy.
“Well if you wouldn’t let me do it, why on earth would I let you do it!” she counters, angry.
“Because I’m not pregnant!” Roger shouts back, angry, as if it’s obvious. Sinclair shifts a little, moving behind me – his arms still around my shoulders – so we can both watch.
“We’re pregnant,” Cora shouts, pointing between herself and him. “ This is not a me or a you kind of thing! I am not interested in single motherhood on what is essentially day two of this pregnancy!”
“Cora,” Roger sighs, putting an exhausted hand on his forehead. “This is my job. This is what we do. You can’t ask me to back away from it.”
“Why not, when you’re doing the same to me?” Cora counters, shaking her head at him, being stubborn. I bite my lip, torn between wanting to support my sister and frankly agreeing with Roger. There’s absolutely no way in hell that Cora should be going on this mission.
“What are you talking about?” Roger asks, frustrated. “I can help,” she says, pointing at herself, “I’m a doctor. You guys are going to get all torn up out there – you need me!”
Have we had enough of this? Sinclair asks, speaking to me mind-to-mind as I lean back against him, tense as we watch our siblings argue. When do I interrupt?
Give them another second, I reply internally, wanting them to figure this out on their own if they can. But even if it did come to something as simple as a vote? It’s three to one. Cora’s staying home. “We’re trained in field medicine.”
Roger says, waving a dismissive hand. ” It will be enough to hold us through it until we can get home – ”
“People could die!” Cora counters, you could die! And how the hell would I feel, for the rest of my life – what would I tell our child – when I remembered that I could have been there and saved you?”
Roger’s face falls at this thought and I see him falter, no knowing how to reply. And frankly I’m torn by the idea as well if Sinclair died, and I could have done something…
I don’t know if I’d survive it myself. Now? Sinclair asks me, his own inner voice dark and sad. Let me, I reply, and I step forward, putting a hand on Cora’s arm.
“Cora,” I whisper and, after a second, my sister drags her eyes away from her mate to look at me. Slowly, I shake my head, “Cora, you can’t go.”
“Why not?” she growls, stern. “Because,” I reply, with a little shrug. “Your argument goes both ways. How the hell would Roger feel if you got killed and your baby with you – and he could have kept you safe?” a
Roger audibly groans at the idea and has to turn away from us, tortured by it, raising a hand to cover his face for a moment as he collects himself. Cora turns to look at him, surprised, I think, by the rare display of intense emotion. These Sinclair brothers – they’re so steady on the surface, but we always have to remember that still waters run deep.
Cora moves towards him, placing her hands on Roger’s shoulders, turning him back towards her and wrapping her arms around his waist. She lays her head on his chest when he puts his own arms around her. “I don’t like this,” she whispers against his shirt, “I hate it, Roger.”
“I know,” he murmurs, his lips against his hair. “I’m sorry. But Cora, I promise you it will be all right.”
“Is it always going to be like this?” she asks, looking up at him. “Is this what I’ve gotten myself into? Battle after battle, fight after fight? Constantly worried about whether or not you’re coming home to me, to…us?”
I feel my own stir of intense emotions at her question, looking up at Sinclair and meeting his eyes as he shakes his head steadily at me. No, he says, firm in my mind. We will have peace. I will bring you peace. Just…a little further.
“I promise, Cora,” Roger replies, tightening his arms around her. “I promise it will be all right.”
Sinclair turns me, then, and I nod, letting him shepherd me out of the room and giving the two of them a moment alone. My mate takes my hand as we pass through the door and head down the hall, both of us silent, me looking down at my baby and feeling, I’m sure, almost precisely the same feelings that Cora is at the moment.
“Is it different now?” Sinclair asks me as we head into our little room.
“Hmm?” I ask, brought out of my thoughts at his words. “Now that he’s born,” Sinclair says, nodding to the baby as I carry him over to his little makeshift crib. “This isn’t the first time you’ve sent me off to battle. Does it feel different, now that he’s a little person instead of part of you?”
“He was always a little person,” I murmur with a little smile as I lay Rafe down, “since very early on, he was my little guy. But no,” I reply, straightening and looking up at my mate, who stands close to me. “It’s always horrible, Dominic. I’m never going to get used to it. That time we thought you died…”
Tears spring to my eyes at the memory. He shushes me a little, pressing a finger to my mouth, and I nod, understanding. It’s not that he doesn’t want me to engage with these feelings these memories – he just….
Well, we both know that I don’t need to go there. Not really. He will come back to me today, as he did before. As he always does.
Slowly, seeing me pull myself together, Sinclair gives me a deep nod. “Brave little mate,” he whispers, leaning down to press a kiss to my mouth. I wrap my arms around his neck, clinging close, never wanting to let him go.
The day passes quickly, with all of the preparation, and Cora and I watch mostly in silence. We do what we can to help, but Sinclair has built a very capable team. Frankly, they don’t need much, which is worse for us. We’re both helpers – it’s our instinct to pitch in.
“I hate this,” Cora growls next to me as we watch the men pack all of their supplies into the cars they’ll be taking.
“It’s for the best,” I sigh, leaning my shoulder against hers as I bounce Rafe in my arms, trying to get him to stop crying. It’s almost as if he knows his dad is going away. “No battlefields for baby,” I say passively, smiling down at my boy.
Cora laughs darkly and I look over to see her rolling her eyes. “Honestly, Ella,” she says, shaking her head. “You were in like, three battlefield situations when you were pregnant.”
“True,” I say, quirking my head to the side. “Sinclair probably should have locked me up in a bunker long ago.”
“Truer words never spoken,” Sinclair says as he walks over to us, smirking. “Is it time?” I ask, stepping close as Roger likewise comes near.
“It is,” Sinclair replies, pulling me close and looking first into my face and then down at the baby. “Calm down, baby trouble,” he murmurs, reaching out a hand to trace a large finger across Rafe’s forehead. “I’ll be home soon.”
“You’d better be,” I growl, glaring at my mate and tilting my head up for a kiss, which he gives me.
“Don’t eat all the snacks,” he whispers, giving me a wink and a smack on the ass as he begins to turn away. “We’ll be hungry when we come home.”
“No promises!” I call after him, grinning as I watch him walk away. I turn, then, and watch Cora let Roger go as well, my heart breaking for her a little bit.
“See you soon, gorgeous,” Roger says with a wave as he moves towards the car. And I step closer to my sister, taking a deep breath, sending a quick prayer to the Goddess that this isn’t the last time we see them alive.
Chapter 347
Things move quickly once we arrive at the point of entry. Everything has been planned to the letter so that even our arrival is quiet, covert, in the darkest hours of the night when we’re least likely to be seen. Each of the cars filled with our men has parked at different points in the surrounding blocks of the city so that when we do converge on the sewer, we do it in near silence and darkness.
Roger and I are there first and, in preparation, we contact our father at home to let him know that we’re in position. Once we’re in the sewers, our ability to speak with him will be limited 1 it will just be us down there, along with whatever we find.
Dad replied readily, letting us know that all is well – if not a little tense – at the bunker. I smiled a little at the message, thinking of Ella and Rafe safe and worried. Of Cora pacing anxiously, waiting for Roger. It’s not that I like thinking of them being upset but, well. It’s nice to be missed. Nice to be able to think of someone at home loving you, wanting you to come back.
“Ready?” Roger asks, giving me a nudge and pointing down the road to where the first of our men are begin to approach. We meet each other’s eyes, knowing that it’s time. I give a slow, deep nod to my brother, and then he slides the manhole cover to the side so that I can slip in. I drop to the floor of the curving sewer below, all of my senses on high alert for anything odd, anything strange.
But as I look around, scenting the air, there’s nothing off – and nothing fresh. No signs of anyone here now, or anyone around in the past few hours. When I’m sure, I look up at my brother, who peers through the entrance above me. Then I beckon with my hand.
Come, my gesture implies. It’s clear. Or, it is at least for now.
Roger drops into the sewer with me and then we prowl forward, our hands free and our hackles raised. The wolf within me is on high alert, a growl already rumbling in his chest, his eyes sharp, his teeth
sharper. As we move forward, I hear my men start to enter the sewer as well, tiny splashes letting me know as each one arrives.
We decided on a team of sixteen, with Roger and I at the head of it. Enough troops to arrive as a force, but not so large that we could truly lose track of them. Each of our men carries a weapon – some guns, some close- combat tools like knives and tasers. Roger and I, however, carry only ourselves. Our wolves are more powerful than anything we’re likely to meet. We’re each weapon enough.
Slowly, we move forward, the map of the sewer that I’ve memorized aligning perfectly with the reality. We turn to the left when we come to a junction, and I hold up a fist in the air, asking my team to stop. This, I know, is where the test really begins. Because the priest’s lair is just up ahead.
Slowly, I turn to survey our forces and count twelve men behind us, which is good. Two, I know, are standing outside at the entrance as guards.
Slowly, so everyone can see, I move my hand to my shoulder and flip the switch on the radio that’s there attached to the strap of my bullet-proof vest with velcro. Everyone else does the same, ensuring that we’ll be able to stay in touch if anyone is separated.
As I turn back towards our target, I think that it’s not so important if we’re quiet anymore – Because there’s no going back now.
I signal my forces to move forward now, walking more quickly now, my boots splashing through the water as I head directly for the door that I know is 100 feet forward and to the left. Roger snarls beside me, a wicked sound, as we approach –
50 feet now, and we’re almost running -25, and it’s a charge –
I roar as we turn the corner towards the lair, ready to rip to shreds anyone that I find inside – But as I turn towards the door, ready to throw it open, I find that it’s already ajar dangling off its hinges. My heart
pounds with unused adrenaline as I survey the scene before me and realize –
“Shit,” Roger snaps, storming into the empty room and looking around. ” We’re too fucking late.” Another growl is my only reply as I signal my troops to stop the charge and set up a perimeter around the door, which they quickly do. Then, I step inside with my brother, looking around.
The room is not spotless – there are still scraps of paper around, beat up tables and chairs that the priest was clearly using to set up his potions or whatever it was he was doing down here.
“God damn it,” Roger curses, pounding a fist against the wall.
“It’s not totally lost,” I say, turning around and surveying the room. “There are some things here that could be useful…”
“Dominic,” Roger says, exasperated, and I turn to see him rolling his eyes at me. “He took everything that could tell us anything.”
“No, brother,” I say, my mouth curling into a grin as I lift my nose and scent the air. “He left us one thing…”
And then, intrigued, Roger lifts his nose as well and takes a moment to detect it as well. “You’re right,” he says, bringing his eyes back to mine with a flash of pleasure.
“We have a scent,” I growl, and then I look at him curiously. “What do you think?” I ask. “Is it…likely that he would have stuck around?”
“He had a lot of stuff, Dominic,” Roger replies, considering. “If he wanted to keep it all, needed it close, is it possible that he didn’t go far?
Perhaps…another part of the sewer, hoping that we’ll assume it’s a lost cause?”
“It’s worth following it up,” I say, grinning a little at the idea that the case is still on. “Would you like to take the honor? Or should I?”
“Oh please,” Roger growls, his voice low and eager. “Let me.”
I nod and, with a flash, Roger transforms into his wolf, shaking his fur loose as soon as he does as if he’s been eager to do this for hours, to become the animal that’s been prowling within him, eager to protect his family, his mate, his new baby.
I step back and watch Roger work as he moves slowly around the room, sniffing everything, his intensified senses picking up more of the priest’s scent than our human bodies are capable of doing. Then, when he’s ready, Roger lifts his eyes to mine and nods his snout once.
“All right,” I say, gesturing towards the door. “Lead the way.”
Eagerly, Roger prowls out, his gigantic wolf so tall that his shoulders nearly coming even with my chest. Our troops move aside to make room for Roger as he turns into the sewer, looking left down the long aisle. I signal my troops for their attention, which they give me eagerly, and then point down the hall after Roger’s retreating form, signaling that we will follow.
As one, the troops nod, and we start off with Roger in the lead and me close behind.
Chapter 348
I give our troops outside of the sewer updates on our movements, letting them know when we take left and right turns, all the time following Roger, who steadily pads along, tracing the priest’s scent. The troops outside relay the information back to my father, in the bunker, who is able to trace our movement on the maps so that he, at least, knows precisely where we are at all times.
About half an hour later, Roger looks over his shoulder at me, his eyes suddenly fierce and I nod, understanding his message. We’re close very close now.
I raise a hand above my shoulder, making the signal that tells my troops to be on alert, ready for action. Behind me, I can almost feel their bodies tensing, becoming ready to react.
As a group, we continue to prowl through the sewers, making as little noise as we can. Roger turns a corner and I am just on his tail, looking around, when suddenly I see light again – bright golden light, a significant contrast to the grey mossy sewer around us. We pause for a moment and listen, hearing – god, what is that?
Some kind of clanging rings from an open door on the left almost exactly like the one we just left. Roger was right the priest needed to set up shop – again. A clanging comes from inside the room, hitting an unnatural pitch that hurts my ears – I see Roger visibly wince and move toward him, but suddenly quite suddenly –
A figure emerges from the room – And, as one, Roger and I act.
Roger is in the air almost instantly, a snarl ripping from his throat as he leaps for the priest. I shout a command for our troops to surround, to contain
The priest’s face is shocked, stunned as he spins towards us, as Roger’s body collides with his, Roger’s paws slamming into his shoulders and knocking the priest hard to the floor, holding him down
in the slushy grey water –
I’m moving towards them, a shout on my lips, seeking to get behind the Priest to block the obvious direction of his exit should he seek to run – and as I move past him I see the moment his face changes from surprise and fear to fury, to menace, to a gleeful kind of hate.
I successfully block his exit, my own body tensed for any action, as Roger lowers his snarling face to the priests, warning him with body if not with words to stay still-
But the priest bares his own teeth and angles his hand up, pointed towards Roger’s chest, and then he says some archaic word –
And there is a blast of light, of heat, of fire that blinds me, makes me turn my head away for a split second before I hear a yelp of fear and pain. And as I snap my face back towards the priest I see Roger soaring upwards through the air, his back and shoulders slamming into the low sewer ceiling before gravity pulls him back down –
But the priest is fast –
Before Roger’s body can fall back down on top of him the priest has twisted to the side and turns, predictably, towards me – away from the troops he can see ranging in the direction from which we came.
The priest freezes when he sees me there, waiting for him, a slow and terrible grin spreading across my face as I focus my attention on him, resisting the horrible temptation to look towards my brother, who I can see struggling to find his feet behind the priest –
“Let’s try this again,” I growl as I focus on the priest’s face, recognizing him instantly as the man we captured before – the one who was in my house during the attack on my child –
The priest feints left but doesn’t fool me – I’m bigger than he is, far bigger, and have no reason to shift my position before he tries to get past me, which he does next. But as the priest goes right, seeking to slip by me and make a run for it, I grab his left arm and twist it up behind his back as I grab his right shoulder, working to incapacitate him.
It works, for a moment – before the priest growls another one of those arcane words and I feel a pulse of burning heat coming from his left hand, his wrist suddenly becoming white hot- way too hot for me to hold, lest my skin begin to melt
I roar at the pain and the frustration but hold on long enough to spin him around, pushing him hard towards the door emitting the yellow light instead of the long corridor – if we can get him in there, we can trap him –
The priest yells as he stumbles a few steps and then stops himself by grabbing the door frame. He sends a frantic glance over his shoulder towards us and then throws himself into the room, reaching for something-
“MOVE!” I roar to my troops, who have been waiting, tense, for precisely that order. And they do – quickly, my men spread out around the door, ready to trap him in. As they get in order, as I watch the first two of my troops enter the room to attempt to incapacitate the Priest, I also turn to Rodger, desperate to assess his condition.
As I turn to him, though, I see that he’s already standing by my side, growling at the door, likewise assessing the situation in a flash. I reach out towards him, sniffing, smelling something strange, and as I lay my hand on his fur he looks up at me and I see that under his chin – his chest – his belly as well, likely – his skin is a mess of seared flesh.
“Christ, Roger,” I breathe, starting to bend to look at him, but he snaps his teeth at me – clearly communicating to leave it, that he’s all right.
“Okay,” I say, making the quick decision to allow him to decide his limits for himself. “Just go easy, all ri-”
But before I can finish my sentence, screams erupt from inside the room and Roger and I barrel forward, our bodies instantly alert.
When we get inside we see that almost all of our troops are pressing the priest back against the far wall where he hurls spell after spell at them – some landing against the bodies of my men, some spells dying in the air
But where they do land – My eyes go wide as I see the magic slicing, burning, ripping, tearing –
And then, on more instinct than anything else, I roar and transform into my wolf as I throw myself across the room, heading directly for him. My eyes shift to my wolf vision in an instant and focus on the priest’s face just as he sees me coming, just as his eyes go wide-
And he opens his mouth, taking a deep breath, winding back his arm to throw something at me something big-
But I’m faster than him, faster than he thought I was. And my body slams into his just as the start of the spell falls from his lips – searing my skin but not cutting me down –
His head hits the wall, hard, and he groans, collapsing to the ground beneath me. In another flash I transform back into my body, whipping a knife from my side and pressing it tight against his throat.
“Submit,” I growl, glaring down at him. But he just grins – grins up at me through his pain – and I notice, too late, his hand clenching in a sack of powder that spilled conveniently open at his side.
“Not a chance in hell,” he snarls, “the master will have his boy!”
And then he whips his hand up – scattering the dust and saying a single word that lights the entire room on fire. I scream in pain, but my voice is barely audible –
I feel my body and my mind crushed under the screams of all of my men, and my brother, crying out along with me.
Chapter 349
“It’s been too long,” I mutter, twisting my fingers together with my eyes fixed on the hard iron door of the bunker. I have one hand on Rafe’s little carrier as he sleeps peacefully beside the two uncomfortable chairs that Cora and I dragged down the hall, wanting to be as close to the entrance as possible so that we get news as soon as it comes.
“Ella,” Cora seethes through her teeth. “You have got to stop saying that. You’re making me freak out.”
“It’s not me that’s making you flip out,” I retort, angry. “It’s our idiot mates, who insisted on leaving here four hours ago and haven’t called once to let us know that they’re all right -”
But then, as if my words are magic, the door bangs open and Cora and I instantly leap up from our seats.
I gasp, almost breaking into tears when I see that the first figure through the door is my mate. I hurl myself towards Sinclair, intent on wrapping him in my arms, but I come to a skidding stop as I realize that he’s carrying one of his men, unconscious and bloody and
“Oh my god,” I gasp, my hands flying to my mouth as I stop and actually look at my mate 1 notice the burns that have ripped through his clothes, leaving red welts across his exposed skin
Notice the horrible burned flesh of the man in his arms –
Sinclair’s eyes linger on me for half a longing second before moving sharply to my sister. “Cora,” he gasps, “help – it’s bad -”
She rushes to him in a moment, assessing the soldier, but Sinclair jerks him away, shaking his head. “No, Cora,” he insists, making her look up at him. “We need – we need space them-” all of
I gasp again, horrified now as I understand what my mate means, as I see my sister’s face go pale. But she snaps immediately into her professional demeanor, looking to me.
“Ella?” she snaps. “You’re my nurse now, all right?”
“Y-yes,” I hurry to agree, eager to help and reaching down to grab Rafe’s carrier and sling it over my right arm.
“Your largest room,” she demands, turning her attention back to Sinclair. Then she turns, pointing down the hall. “Go, now.”
As Sinclair begins to move, more of the men begin to stumble through the door. The hall is immediately filled with the sound of pain – moans, and groans, cries –
But to her credit, Cora doesn’t look back, storming forward, ready to get things prepared. I can’t help myself from turning towards the injured men who stumble through the door, my attention immediately going to the red- haired young man the one who spoke in the meeting, who noticed that my attackers didn’t shift as he falls hard against the wall, gasping.
I move to him immediately, working to sling his arm around my shoulder, taking as much of his weight as I can. Lean on me,” I demand, beginning to move forward as I feel his body shift hard against mine. It’s heavy,
struggling under his weight, trying to also balance Rafe’s carrier against my other arm, hoping to hell that he doesn’t collapse against me and squish the baby when we both fall –
But we make it – following the men who can walk by themselves through the door into what looks more like a
barracks than the small private bedroom that Sinclair and I have to ourselves. I look around swiftly and see my mate settling the man who cannot walk into a single bed and, seeing other men taking seats on bed and chairs around the room, I move the young man on my shoulder to the closest bed, holding steady while he takes his weight off of me and collapses there.
“Are you all right?” I ask, leaning over him, worried
“I’ll be fine,” he groans, waving a hand at me. “It hurts but it’s nothing bad – thank you, Luna,” he murmurs, leaning his head back against the pillow and squeezing his eyes tight in pain.
I nod to him, making a mental note to come check again soon, but I can’t help myself from moving swiftly away, holding my baby’s carrier in two hands now as I hurry over to my mate who is standing now, talking briskly to Cora.
“Are you all right?” I gasp, unable to stop myself from pressing myself up against him and raising a hand to touch his scorched cheek.
“I’m fine, Ella,” Sinclair assures me, turning his intense gaze to me for one long, lingering second, clearly relishing the sight of me before he turns his eyes to Rafe, who cries a little in his carrier. Sinclair lingers, looking at his son, for just for a moment before looking over to the door. “I’m sorry,” he says, rushed, “I have to go help -”
“Of course,” I say, touching Sinclair lightly on the arm and urging him forward.
But, quick, urgent, Cora stops Sinclair by grabbing his hand. He turns to her, torn, wanting to go and help his men but –
“Roger,” she breathes, her eyes worried.
“He’s fine,” Sinclair replies, brisk, looking steadily into her eyes for a split second. “He’s out helping some of the worst hurt get out of the cars -”
“Okay,” Cora says, her voice shaking as she exhales a deep breath and stands for a moment with her eyes closed, collecting herself. “Okay.”
And then, the moment passed, Cora’s eyes fly open again and she’s all business. She nods her chin towards the door, urging Sinclair forward, and he moves quickly away. Then she turns to me. “I need you to start moving clockwise around the room,” she says, a calm efficiency setting over her. “You call out to me if anyone looks like they need me desperately – otherwise, you ask each man his name and what’s wrong. Take notes,” she says, looking around and then grabbing a pen and pad of paper off a little bookshelf.
“Okay,” I exhale, and as I take the writing materials from her I realize that my hands are shaking.
“Hold it together, sis,” Cora says quietly, stepping close to me for a moment and taking my face in her hands, looking at me steadily. “You’ve got this. All right?”
I nod to her, anxious, and then we both move at once, her left and me right, to begin to help.
Time passes in a flash as I move from man to man, asking each what they need, getting it for them if it’s in my power but otherwise writing down what each man says before moving to the next. The only thing that interrupts my attention is Cora’s brief cry – just once as Roger comes into the room. He, too, is carrying a soldier who cannot walk and Cora is at his side in a second.
There’s a brief moment, after Roger gets the man to a bed, where Cora kisses him, pressing her body flush against his, but then it’s done –
My sister is the doctor again, ready to care, to help –
And I’m so grateful for her in that moment that I can barely breathe. And as I look at Roger’s face as he takes a second to watch her, I know that he feels precisely the same.
As I turn to the next man in my rotation, I feel a little hope swell in me, so glad that Roger and Cora found each other. Because the four of us, as a team? We can do this. I have so much faith that we can.
Chapter 350
It’s hours, hours later when I finally have a moment to step back and breathe. And when I do, I feel my head spin and stumble back a step or two. Roger is there, instantly, his hand on my back.
“Cora,” he says, pulling me closer to him, tilting up my face so that he can study me. “Are you all right? You’re – ”
“I’m fine,” I mutter, frustrated, trying to push away and get back to work. I have a moment to breathe, but honestly there’s so much more that – needs to be done for these men –
“No,” Roger says, stubborn. “You’re pushing yourself too far – you’re pregnant, Cora -”
“Roger,” I sigh, turning to glare at him in earnest now and putting a hand on his chest. “This cannot be the refrain that I hear for the next nine – or six or however many months, all right? I am not going to stop doing my job-stop healing people – just because I’m pregnant.”
I hear Roger begin to growl in protest but I lock my teeth together, staring up at him, hard. And, slowly, I see him start to relent, to remember the person who he chose as his mate.
“This is my life, Roger,” I whisper, ” my identity. I’m a doctor – I made an oath! I’m going to help them.”
“All right,” he replies, taking a step back. “But Cora, please -”
“I know,” I say, nodding and starting to look around the room. “I’ll be careful – I’ll stop before I’m totally exhausted. I won’t put myself or the baby at risk.”
“And how close are you to exhaustion now?” he asks, looking me over from top to bottom, his eyes pausing on my stomach.
I take a moment to pause, closing my eyes and checking in with myself. Honestly, I’m not far off – but there’s still so much that these men need. Honestly the extent of the burns that they came in with some of them down to the bone – I cringe to even think of it.
“Can I…” I hear Roger ask, and then when I look up at him again I feel him place his hand against my stomach.
“Okay,” I breathe, nodding a little as I agree to stay still so he can check in on the baby. Roger closes his eyes and concentrates and I’m a little sorry as I see that it’s hard for him. I remember the way that Sinclair communicated with Rafe while Ella was pregnant it seemed…simpler.
Roger has much more connection with the baby when he’s touching me and when he concentrates, but…I do wish it was easier for him. I want him to have the full fatherhood experience, with all of its blessings. And it breaks my heart that my body – my humanness has taken a little of that away from him.
“Baby’s okay,” Roger murmurs, opening his eyes and leaning forward to press his lips against my forehead. ” Just…let’s not push, all right?”
“Okay,” I agree, nodding. And then I turn to him fully, peering at some of the red skin on his face. “How is your healing going?”
“Slow,” he murmurs, his voice not much more than a growl. “Much slower than usual. Like whatever that priest did to hurt us like this had its own curse attached.”
I nod, listening, and then turn my attention to Roger’s forearms, which were the worst blistered. Slowly, I unwrap the bandage on one and he hisses at the pain of it. I get a brief glimpse of the skin below before I wrap him back up. “You’re healing,” I say, looking up at him, “but yes, the pace is …worse than what I would have hoped for a werewolf. Especially one of your abilities.”
“It will be all right,” he sighs, I think being brave for me. As Roger puts a sweet, concerned hand on the side of my face, Ella comes over. “Cora,” she whispers, glancing around the room. “What can I do?”
I turn to her, my poor tired sister, and open my arms out, inviting her in for a hug which she happily accepts. “How is Sinclair?” I ask, looking to the corner of the room where her mate naps lightly, Rafe secure in his arms even as he sleeps. Sinclair’s burns were worse than Rogers, but likewise superficial compared to some that their men faced. Only the two men who waited outside of the sewer came out unscathed.
“I think he’s all right,” Ella replies when she pulls away from me. “More his pride hurt than anything, and he’s frustrated,” she says, giving a chagrined little smile to Roger. “I know you guys are disappointed that the priest got away.”
“Such a missed opportunity,” Roger murmurs, shaking his head. “And he burned all of his supplies on his way out, along with us, so we don’t have much information from the misadventure either.” He sighs, full of regret.
“Your dad seems to be optimistic about the interviews,” I point out, nodding towards where Henry is rolling between the beds, speaking kindly to any of the men who are conscious and willing to report what they heard and saw. “He’s sure you’ll get something good out of it.”
“Not enough to compensate our losses,” Roger murmurs, looking around. “We are so…so lucky that everyone came out alive.”
Alive, I think, but certainly not unscathed. Roger and Sinclair, I suspect, came out of the situation relatively unharmed because of their genetics. As with the size of their wolves, their access to some of the other wolf powers – increased sense of smell, quick reflexes, the ability to heal – are likewise amplified. I wonder if, really, that ability to heal is what saved them their bodies burned out their magic
working to protect their skin and, because they have what can best be described as more magic, they came out with minor burns while some of the others…
I go a little pale as I look around and realize, again, that some of these men will bear these scars for life, and at least three will require major reconstructive surgery. As soon as possible.
And, as much as Roger won’t want to hear it….there’s really only one person who is best going to be able to perform those surgeries. I’m still wondering how best to bring this up when Ella produces the perfect lead-in for me.
“Cora,” she says, wiping a hand across her brow. “Are you all right? Are you tired?” I fight my instinct to point out that Ella, as a nursing mother, has just at much at stake in her exhaustion as me, but instead I take up the thread.
“I can keep going for a little bit,” I say, holding her gaze. She has been such a good, stalwart little nurse today honestly, I think she missed a bit of her calling in not going into that field. ” But I’m not going to be able to keep going all night. And some of these men they’re going to need extended care.”
Ella bites her lip and nods, understanding, glancing between me and Roger. “What should we do?” she turns to Sinclair. “Should we wake him? Ask him if he has ideas?”
“No,” I say, reaching out to take Ella’s hand as she impulsively begins to move towards her mate. “Honestly, Ella,” I say, and then I turn to Roger, because my words are actually addressed to him. “We need…more help. We need more hands.”
Roger instantly sees the direction that my thoughts are heading in and his eyes go dark, narrowing at me. “No way in hell,” he snaps, starting to shake his head. “Roger,” I plead, moving close to him. “Don’t make this about jealousy – we need him – ”
“Need who?” Ella asks, confused.
“Hank,” I say, turning towards her and sighing. “We need Hank.”