Cole’s Redemption (15 page)

“And if you die?”

“Then I die,” he said with a small smile. “Most creatures do, sooner or later.”

“You’re a rare man, Healer.” She stood and looked between him and Selene. “I hope
you both realize how lucky you are.”

With that, she left them alone. Zan stared at the door she’d just gone through. “She’s
lonely. I wish she could find a mate who completes her the way you complete me.”

Warmth shone in his mate’s eyes. “I wish she could, too. Did you know her deceased
mate very well?”

He cocked his head. “You know, it’s funny you should say that. The team and I worked
under Terry for five and a half years. But in all that time, I never felt I knew him
as well or was as close to him as I’ve become with Nick in the months since he took
over.”

“What about the rest of the team? They feel the same way?”

“I’m pretty sure they do. Especially Jax. He never cared for Terry that much.”

“That’s sort of strange.”

“Yeah. A part of me wonders whether Terry had anything to do with the ambush that
killed half our team. Then I feel like a complete shit for even thinking ill of the
dead.”

“It’s a legitimate concern. When someone holds himself aloof and then something bad
happens, you find yourself questioning what you thought you know.” She suddenly got
a strange look on her face.

“What is it?”

“That’s exactly how I feel about my uncle right now,” she said quietly. “He’s always
held himself so aloof, up on his moral high ground that nobody else can possibly reach.
And now I find myself questioning why he’s always been so against me finding my father.”

“Have you asked Nick lately about the past?”

“Yes. He said I wasn’t ready to accept the truth, and maybe he’s right. It scares
me.”

“You don’t want to find out something you believed was really a lie.”

“Yes, same as with your team and this Terry.”

“Sometimes the truth isn’t meant to come to light,” he said. “I wonder at times if
that’s not best all around.”

“I don’t agree, at least not where my uncle and my father are concerned. Despite our
differences, I’m really worried about Nick. He’s depressed, Zan, and I mean that seriously.
Something has to give, and one of them is going to tell me the truth if I have to
beat it out of him!”

He smiled. “I don’t doubt you would.”

“Believe it.”

He did. Selene was fast reaching the end of her patience with both men.

For now, all Zan could do was be a comfort and source of support to his mate.

•   •   •

Nick was about to crawl out of his skin.

He was starting to feel like a fucking bat, and he had to get out of this big rock
and into the sunshine before he went crazy. How the hell did the vampires stand living
inside a mountain?

Walking the corridors and searching without success, he finally found a vampire who
directed him to the nearest exit. One that had a pathway leading from it into the
forest below the mountain.

When he arrived at the exit, he discovered a large vampire soldier guarding a heavy
metal door, presumably to the outside. The vamp stood straighter, eyeing Nick suspiciously
as he approached.

“I was told this way out leads to a good place to go for a run. I’m assuming that’s
not a problem?” His light, friendly tone had no effect whatsoever on the vampire.

“You assume wrong. Prince Tarron doesn’t like anyone leaving the stronghold in daylight.”

“Well, I’m guessing he meant vampires, members of his coven who shouldn’t go out because
they’ll get burned. I’m neither—I’m a wolf and I’m a visitor.”

“Same rules apply.” The soldier was as immovable as the rock they were standing on.

Shit. “Listen, man. My wolf needs to run or he goes a little nuts. If he goes nuts,
there might be trouble when he gets mean. And then it would get back to the prince,
and he’d demand to know why I wasn’t allowed the simple courtesy of—”

“Fine,” the soldier growled. “But if something happens to you, it’s your ass.”

“Thanks.”

The soldier muscled open the heavy door and let it swing wide. Fresh mountain air,
tinged with just the right amount of cold, hit him in the face, and he sighed in appreciation.
As he stepped through and made his way down the steep path, the sights and scents
of the wooded area below had his wolf straining to be freed.

The woods met the path some one hundred yards down, and he found a good place to stash
his clothes. Quickly, he stripped and let the change flow over him. Muscle stretched
and bone popped, his body reshaping into his wolf—a form he didn’t get to enjoy nearly
enough just for the sheer pleasure of it.

And there was so little enjoyment in his life.

His wolf darted into the forest, and he thought of Selene. She hadn’t spoken to him
in the two days since Zan had begun his recovery. His daughter wanted him to open
up and he’d claimed she wasn’t ready. He didn’t want to face that he was the one who
wasn’t ready to open wounds best left closed.

Except those wounds were festering, and would be until they were dealt with once and
for all. In the aftermath, he could very well lose his baby for good.

Heart heavy, he ran. His wolf gradually took the forefront of his mind, and it was
a relief of sorts from the troubles that had been crowding his mind and giving him
no peace. He reveled in the leaves and dirt under his paws, the fresh air. His wolf
body, unencumbered by his human limitations, soared over rocks and fallen trees.

He’d been running for maybe half an hour when he slowed to a trot and heard . . .
singing. Halting, he cocked his head, unsure at first. But yes, there it was. The
sweetest female voice, softly singing a popular tune about love lost and found again.
The voice was captivating, the melody like a bird’s trill among the branches. For
a moment, he thought maybe he was hallucinating and it would turn out to be a bird
after all.

But as he approached a break in the trees, the breath left him. If he weren’t in wolf
form, his knees would’ve buckled and he might have uttered a quiet exclamation.

The woman was beautiful. The most stunning piece of living artwork he’d ever seen.
She was of average height, about five feet, five inches tall, and a dark cloak hugged
what he figured was a slim frame. Her face was exquisite, her skin pale and creamy,
with high cheekbones and a thin nose. Her long-lashed eyes were huge, dominating her
face, perfect pencil brows arched over them. He couldn’t tell their color from where
he stood, but that hardly mattered.

Gorgeous, straight, shining chestnut hair tumbled around that striking face and to
her waist in a silken fall. She was sitting on a rock by a babbling stream and thankfully
wasn’t aware of him watching. He shouldn’t spy, but he wanted to observe this beautiful
creature unimpeded for as long as he was able.

She kept singing. And he kept watching and listening, the sound reaching somewhere
deep inside him to soothe the hurts that had been raw and bleeding for too long. He
tried to catch her scent, but the breeze was blowing in a different direction.

Though he couldn’t be sure, he assumed she was one of Tarron’s coven. They were so
far into the mountains, and there were no houses around these parts. If she
was
a vampire, how could she be out in the sun? He’d heard only ancient vampires, and
now rogues, could do that.

The urge to reveal himself was strong. In fact, the pull became so irresistible that
he took a few steps forward—but a loud voice shattered the tranquil atmosphere.

“Calla! Calla! Dammit, where are you?”

Tarron. That was the prince’s voice, and he sounded both annoyed and worried. The
vampire he now knew was Calla snapped her head up, startled, looking around. Moving
quickly, she slipped from her rock, uttered a curse—

And vanished.

Nick couldn’t understand the sudden despair that washed over him as he stared at the
empty space where she’d been. He’d observed her for only a brief time, so his reaction
didn’t make sense.

In the next instant, Tarron appeared close to the spot where the mysterious Calla
had been. Muttering, he looked around and shoved a hand through his hair. Nick kept
his cover for some reason, instead of going to his new friend. Who was Calla to Tarron?
Friend? Family?

Lover?

A low growl rumbled in his chest, but thankfully Tarron didn’t hear the noise. The
vampire vanished, translocating to who knew where. Teleportation was one ability that
sort of freaked Nick out. Hammer, his friend and right-hand man, could do it, but
he was the only Pack member who could.

Deciding to head back, he took off at a trot. All the way back to the stronghold,
he found himself recalling every minute of his observation of the beautiful vampire.
Calla. He wondered if he’d see her again, perhaps meet in person sometime. He very
much hoped so.

He located his clothes and got dressed, then made his way back to the metal door and
knocked. The same guard let him in, appearing no happier than he had before.

He thanked the soldier anyway, started to take his leave, then stopped and faced the
man again. “By the way, do you know a vampire named Calla? About five-five, beautiful,
long chestnut hair, sings like a bird—”

“That would be Princess Calla Shaw,” the guard said, eyes narrowing. “Prince Tarron’s
sister.”

Well, fuck a duck. “Maybe we’re talking about different females? Tarron’s last name
is Romanoff, not Shaw.”

“The princess is the only Calla in this coven, and she is a widow. She is much adored
and fiercely protected by her brother, and I suggest any leanings you have in her
direction you allow to pass.” His tone was curt.

Aw, hell. “Thanks for the warning.”

Heaving a sigh, he walked to Tarron’s office, cursing his luck, which never seemed
to change. Then he booted up his laptop. He’d check his e-mail, see if anything of
interest had come in today.

Immediately, he was sorry he looked.

All thoughts of beautiful vampires vanished at the knowledge of the choice he now
faced.

•   •   •

Two days later, Zan was declared fit to leave the infirmary, as long as he promised
to take it easy. Which he did, with his fingers crossed under the sheets. He was a
wolf. They didn’t do sedentary very well.

He wouldn’t be taking it easy in other areas, either. Today, his rampaging dick simply
would not stand down. All of this nearness, cooped up in the infirmary, smelling his
mate’s sweet scent night and day, was making him bug nuts, so to speak.

He wanted to have wild monkey sex in the infirmary bed. But that’s where his mate
drew the line, messing around in such close proximity to people who weren’t well and
where the doctors and nurses could appear any minute. Kink in the dark of night was
one thing, this something else entirely.

Zan got his walking papers, and he was never so glad to get out of confinement.

One of the prince’s household staff led him and Selene to their room. The vampire
stopped in front of a door, opened it, and stepped in, gesturing to the expansive
suite.

“This is yours while you are here,” she said; then, to his surprise, she stepped boldly
forward, as if his mate weren’t standing
right there
, and rubbed the front of her body against him. And, unfortunately, his rampant erection.
“If there’s anything I can do to improve your stay, let me know.”

Two things happened simultaneously. He jumped back, putting distance between himself
and the vamp as though he’d been electrocuted, and his mate partially shifted, shoving
the vampire to the floor and snarling at her with canines the size of butcher knives.

“Get the fuck off my mate! And don’t ever touch him again unless you want to end up
as my evening meal!”

White-faced, the vampire stammered an apology and practically ran from the room. Selene
stood there seething with rage. Hating to see her upset, he stepped forward and caressed
her face.

“Come on, baby. Deep breaths. I’m not interested in her. You know that, right?”

She nodded. “You’re mine!”

“I know. Yours.” Inside, his wolf howled in joy at her possessiveness. Her claim.

“Why would the stupid bitch do such a thing? Does she have a death wish?”

“Vampires are very sexually free, my mate. To her, that offer was probably as natural
as breathing.”

“Well, if she wants to
keep
breathing, she’ll keep her fucking body to herself!”

Gradually, she shifted back to her human form. But her possessiveness remained. He
knew what she wanted without question when she palmed his erection through his jeans
and rubbed.

“God, that feels good! It’s been too long,” he murmured.

“I want to suck you.”

“Reestablish who I belong to?”

“That’s right!”

“Fine by me.” Grinning, he unzipped his jeans and shoved them down, exposing his hard
cock to her hungry gaze.

The veins stood out, purple against the reddened skin. He was so fucking horny. The
slit oozed pre-cum, and she swirled some with her finger, then brought it to her tongue
to taste.

“So good,” she moaned.

“Have as much as you like. It’s all for you.”

She sank to her knees on the carpet in front of him. But if he thought she was going
for his shaft right away, he was wrong. Between his legs, she brought her face to
his balls and nuzzled. Nipping and licking him, she rubbed all over his sac, marking
him with her scent. No female within a hundred miles—no sane one anyway—would come
near her man with him carrying her scent.

He groaned, spreading wider for her. He liked this side of her, aggressive, taking
what was hers. Her questing tongue laved every inch of his balls, even bathing his
perineum, and he almost shot right then. But he managed to hold off, because this
was just too damned good.

Finally, she licked his cock, making sure it was well loved also. There wasn’t a single
erogenous zone left unexplored, one spot left untouched. Then she took his rod deep
into her throat, slowly and with lots of good suction, and he thought he must have
died and gone to heaven after all.