Dual Embrace: 3 (Shadowpeak Wolves) (18 page)

“Yes, but don’t mistake him for a good guy. At first he probably sought you out, wondering if he could use you. Our kind doesn’t procreate often. To have one child is considered advantageous, two is nearly unheard of.”

“Advantageous?” Jay asked, frowning.

Brynn nodded. “Progeny is power. We are intensely loyal to those we consider family. The more family you have, the more power you have to draw from if you need it. Once our father learned you wouldn’t be of any help to him, he probably left you alone for the most part.”

“So why’d he leave a letter for you, telling you to watch over me?”

“He may not have wanted you, Cassie. But he would never allow anyone to hurt you. A demon who cannot protect what he owns loses prestige.”

“It sounds so cold.”

“It is.”

“And you grew up like this?” she asked, looking sad.

Brynn shrugged negligently. “I never knew any different. Not then. Now, I am old enough to choose my own path.”

“Why didn’t you stick around and explain all this last time? Why come back now?”

“You are something I never imagined I would have—a sister. When I first saw you a few months ago, getting off that bus, you looked so scared. Perhaps this is how any brother would feel for his sister, but I feel protective of you. I left because you had a lot going on—you weren’t ready to accept me. But I came back to check that you were okay. I wanted to make sure the mutt was looking after you properly.”

Jay scowled and leaned forward. “We know you’ve been watching the pack. Why?” A muscle ticked in Jay’s cheek and Brynn was delighted at the waves of anger and aggression coming from him.

“Why not? It has been quite informative. I’ve found out all sorts of things. You sure you want to live here, little doe? I can set you up somewhere you’ll be appreciated, taken care of, protected.”

Jay stood abruptly. Brynn sat back and smiled.

Cassie sighed and grabbed Jay’s hand when he growled. She tugged on his arm. “He’s taunting you. Sit down, Jay.”

“Oh I am quite serious. I can take you away from here. I do not like the way these werewolves look down on you.”

Jay snarled.

“Jay. Calm down. I live here now. I’m not leaving. Brynn, how long are you planning on sticking around?”

“I’m not sure.” He avoided her gaze, uncomfortable. He wanted to stay forever. But it was impossible.

Jay’s cell rang. He pulled it out, answering the call.

“Hello… Yes… I’ll be right there… Yes, okay.”

He put the phone down. “Visiting hours are over,” he said bluntly. “Cassie needs to rest.”

“Oh but I—”

Brynn nodded and stood. “He’s right. You’re exhausted.”

“Brynn.” She reached out and clasped his hand. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For everything. For saving me, for finding me, for helping me. I’d love it if you could come and see me again. I’d like to hear about our father, you, what you are. But if you have to go, if you can’t stick around, it’s okay.”

Brynn stared down at her, shocked by the understanding in her eyes. He nodded, speechless.

Jay waved his hand to indicate Brynn should walk ahead of him.

Smart wolfie.

Once they were outside, the mutt turned to him, snarling. “If you’re going to leave, just go, will you? Don’t stick around and let her get to know you then leave without a word. She doesn’t deserve that. Hurt her and I’ll hurt you.”

“Oh silly wolfie, threats only work if you can follow through. You cannot hurt me.”

“Trust me, I’ll find a way.”

Brynn shrugged.

“How do I know you’re telling the truth about any of this?” Jay asked.

“Cassie believes me.”

“Cassie sees the best in people.”

“Oh and you see the worst?” Brynn smirked. “I guess you will just have to trust me, won’t you?”

“Trust you? I don’t think so. Don’t come and visit her without me being here, understand?”

Brynn grinned. “And how do you plan on making sure I follow your orders?”

He turned away, disappearing just as Jay pounced for him.

He did love to make an exit.

* * * * *

“What a goddamn mess.” Dusty flopped back on the sofa. Why did nothing seem to run smoothly lately?

“I’ll drink to that,” Cain agreed. “But first I’ll make us some dinner. You need to take your pills.”

“I’m fine,” she countered.

“You’re in pain, I can see it.”

Ten minutes later, he strolled back into the living room carrying a plate piled high with chicken sandwiches. They ate in silence, both deep in their own thoughts.

“Take your pills. I’ll run us a bath.”

Dusty sighed and swallowed the pills he’d left for her.

“Bossy, isn’t he? You know, if you come away with me I’ll never order you around. Well, not unless you ask me to.”

Dusty’s breath caught in her throat as she turned.

She stood. “Fucking hell, are you trying to give me a heart attack?” She glared at Brynn as Cain reentered the room, moving up beside her. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

Brynn held his hands up. “It was just a joke. Really. It was. Not a good one, I’ll admit.”

Tension filled the room as Brynn and Cain stared at each other. Dusty tensed, ready to step between them. Although Cain said he was okay with all this, she knew that wasn’t entirely the truth. He was trying to be okay.

For her. For them. Because he felt the same tie to Brynn that she did.

“Keep your trouble stirring away from this house and this pack,” Cain said coldly.

“Why are you so surprised to see me?” Brynn shifted his gaze to Dusty. “I told you I would be back.”

“Well, for one, most people use the front door,” Dusty grumbled. “And two, you have a habit of disappearing without a word. I have no expectations you’ll do what you say.”

“Ouch. That hurts.”

Dusty frowned. “You think this is all a joke? Something weird happens between the three of us and then you leave for days. Now you’re back and you want to joke about it? Do you know how hard this has been? You’re practically a stranger. I already have a mate who I love, who I don’t want to lose. And yet these last few days I kept thinking of you, wishing you were here, wanting you.

“Do you realize how many times I’ve tried to catch your scent, a sight of you? There’s been this empty space inside me and that pisses me off because my life would be a lot simpler without this. But most of all it fucks me off because you can just throw us away like we’re nothing.”

“I did not throw you both away.” His eyes grew dark.

“No?” Cain asked quietly.

“No. I had to get away from you both. To figure out what happened.”

“What exactly did happen? Why can’t we get you out of our heads?” Cain asked.

Brynn knew he had to tread carefully. He found that he dreaded their fury, felt guilty over his unwitting part in this. For a being not used to giving a damn about anyone but himself and his family, it was a hard pill to swallow.

“Let me give you a bit of background first. Demons have the power to manipulate minds, to make ourselves formless and teleport distances quickly, among other abilities. To feed our power, we need energy. Hell is energy, it feeds us. But on Earth we take energy in other ways.”

“How?” Dusty asked.

“Through humans. Werewolves have a lot of power of their own. I have always steered clear of your kind, as have other demons. You are far more suspicious than humans. Your senses are sharp. Demons don’t want humans to discover who and what we are. But then my sister fell for a werewolf and I followed her here. And I saw you, Dusty.” He turned to look at her, his gaze roaming over her lush body and creamy skin.

“I could not get you out of my head, my mind. I was attracted to you. But it was more than that. We had started to connect. That night at the Wild Oak Motel, I had a small taste of your energy, your power and I wanted more.”

He stopped and took a deep breath. “My power connected with yours. I have never experienced anything like it. Humans don’t have power like we do. It’s impossible to bond with them this way and I never realized it could happen with werewolves. The other night our powers merged with one another, bonding us together. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

He braced himself for their fury.

“Our powers have merged? Bonded? What does that mean? Is it permanent?” Cain asked.

“Yes. Apparently any cases of this happening with werewolves have been kept secret. Our powers have entwined. It only happens between demons—between beings—who are attracted to one another. We’re not joined at the hip, but my power will constantly call to yours and vice versa. I spent these last few days trying to understand what happened, trying to find a way out. But there is not. And I will admit that part of me is pleased. I feel this connection to you both that I don’t want to break. I understand you will be furious about this.”

There was a long moment of silence. He waited for them to explode.

Cain shook his head. “You’re applying human emotions to us. We’re werewolves.”

Brynn looked at him in shock.

Dusty nodded. “We feel the tie as well. It sounds a little like our true mate link. And how can we be angry with you when you had no choice?”

“I searched you out with the intention of seducing you.” Brynn had to make sure that they understood. “I am not good. I do not have the same morals that you do. What I have done in my life will disgust you. You should want to kill me, not give me your understanding.”

She frowned. “Why are you trying to convince us to reject you? Won’t that kill us?”

“And that is the core of the problem. I am damned if I do and damned if I don’t.”

“What are you talking about?” she asked.

He took a deep breath. Time to come completely clean.

“I’m an incubus. I take in energy through sex. If I take too much I could drain you dry, effectively killing you.”

“Wow.” Dusty gaped at him. “That would be a real mood-killer.”

“I told you I wasn’t good. But I’ve tried to never sleep with the same human woman twice, to reduce the risk of draining anyone. And I promise I will never take more than either of you can give. With how much energy you two give off, I shouldn’t have to feed nearly as often as I have to from humans.”

“So you fed from us the other night?” Dusty asked.

“Yes, and it was amazing, I have never felt anything like it. No human energy has ever felt like what the two of you fed me. It was a huge hit that is still sustaining me.”

He fell silent. Dusty looked over at Cain. It was a lot to take in and her head was buzzing. But she didn’t think he would kill them. He appeared to be taking great pains to protect them. He needed them as much as they needed him. Cain nodded at her and she turned back to Brynn with a smile.

“So are you still willing to welcome me to your bed?” Brynn asked. “Believe me, I know this is a lot to ask. I still can’t believe you’re not coming at me with a gun, not that that would kill me, but this has to be confusing and infuriating for you both.”

“What about you?” Dusty asked. “I’m guessing you never imagined you’d end up with two werewolves. Won’t you miss living in Hell? What about your friends? Your family?”

Brynn shrugged. “My family is gone. There is little holding me to Hell. I’ve been getting restless of late. Nothing interests me. Except you, Dusty. Both of you. I find I would do a lot to be with you both.”

“I can’t turn you away,” Cain said slowly. “These last few days have been painful without you. We don’t want you to leave. But I will not put Dusty in danger. You will be careful about how much energy you take from her. You will not harm her. Because if you do, I will kill you.”

Brynn nodded. “I understand. I promise I will not take too much energy from you.” For the first time since he’d arrived, Brynn looked hopeful and she realized he’d fully expected to be rejected. But she and Cain had done a lot of talking and planning.

They wanted him. Flaws and all. They hadn’t expected this. But they hadn’t expected it to be easy either.

“So what happens if you don’t take in any sexual energy?” Cain asked.

“I would fade and die. Energy to us is like air to you. We need it to live.”

“How long do demons live?” Dusty asked curiously.

“Possibly forever.”

She gaped at him in shock. “So you won’t age?”

“Well, our immortality is tied to Hell. So I guess if I stayed here for long periods of time I would start to age.”

“So staying here is slowly killing you?” she asked, horrified.

“I am over a thousand years old. I have lived a full life but I have never truly been happy. I will still live a long time more. So will the two of you, being tied to me. How long, I do not know.”

“Oh.” She frowned. “I don’t want to live for a thousand years.” She wouldn’t want to watch her friends all die.