Guarding His Heart (7 page)

Chapter
8

“W
hat did you find out?” Trevor asked Cemil, Rekkus and Cyrus as they filed into the lobby where he paced like a caged animal. Sage and Dana had been with Cassie in the staff lounge for over an hour now and he anxiously and impatiently waited for one of them to tell him her condition.

“Well, his name is Phillip Jeffries and he is human,” Cyrus said.

“I still can’t get over how I didn’t sense his intention. It just shows how dedicated that group is to infiltrate the island.” Cemil hung his head, obviously taking the blame.

Cyrus patted his brother’s back. “This was well planned, Cemil. It is not your fault. We will have to tighten security and let the Syndicate know of the latest threat. Mr. Branson needs to know of the specific threat to his son.”

Something about the frown between Cyrus’s brows bothered Trevor. “What do you mean specific threat?”

“The attack on the school was not to assassinate Allan Branson, but rather to abduct him.” He paused before adding, “And his teacher.”

Shock and fury seared his vision for a brief moment. “You mean they planned to
kidnap
Allan and Cassie?”

“Yes,” Rekkus said. “And there’s more.”

Cyrus’s nostrils flared while his jaw clenched. “This new group, the Mundus Novus, planned to use the boy to obtain information to further their ambitions. He’s a clairvoyant empath. Very valuable to vermin like them.”

Stealing the boy from his father made Trevor’s stomach turn. The boy was motherless already and had bonded with Cassie as his surrogate mother. His empathy had become a curse and he’d retreated to an emotionless world. She was the only one he’d let penetrate the shell he’d lived in since his mother had died.

“So based on their surveillance, they determined they needed Cassie to communicate with him, to get him to do their bidding,” Trevor said.

Bastards. He needed to see her now more than ever to reassure himself she was okay. Otherwise, he’d kill that son-of-a-bitch. No matter how well protected the prisoner, he’d make that asshole pay if Cassie’s injury left her permanently disabled.

“What did he want with Dana?”

Rekkus stalked away.

“Jeffries planned to turn her over to the Mundus Novus who he thought would kill her once she gave birth. If this is the faction that put the bounty on Cyrus, they would surely kill her as payback to Rekkus,” Cemil said, his fist clenching in restrained fury. “Rekkus saved Cyrus when he was targeted for helping the Syndicate take down immoral sects. Jeffries figured they would raise the baby in their ideology.”

Trevor gritted teeth. “And he is still living?”

“He is,” Cemil said, clearly angry though the least demonstrative of the three. “He is secured and awaiting transport via the portal to the Syndicate, who will continue debriefing him.”

I’d like to debrief him. Calm down
.
Focus on getting to Cassie. Destroy the Mundus Novus later.

“Can you take me to Cassie?” he asked Cemil. “I need to see her.”

The man’s anger dropped and a crooked grin tugged at the corner of his mouth. “You need to see your intended mate, Trevor? Why have you not told her everything? Why haven’t you mated with her? Look at Rekkus, how complete he is.”

“I really don’t feel like getting into this right now. Can you take me to her or not?”

Cemil exchanged a wry look with Cyrus and Rekkus before shrugging. “Sure. Follow me.”

With her right hand covered with a poultice that smelled like a guy’s week old gym socks, Cassidy had a problem opening the letter Sage handed her. Frustrated, she dropped the envelope on the blanket that covered her and she flopped back against the pillows of the couch in the staff lounge.

“Just read it, will you?” she huffed to Sage.

Sage retrieved the envelope, but seemed uncomfortable opening the message.

“Go ahead, I’m sure it’s not personal.”

Sage exchanged a glance with Dana who shrugged a shoulder. Sarka remained near the window, stirring her tea absently.

Sage read:

My dearest Cassidy,

I hope you are well. I expect by now you will have learned of the existence of our kind, paranormal races. You have been such an integral part of Allan’s recovery and more importantly his life. He loves you and I believe you love him.

I enjoyed spending time with you this last week. I would like to make you a proposition. Please come live with Allan and me. It would make him so happy; you alone have been able to reach him since he witnessed his mother’s murder.

It would make me happy, too. I believe we are compatible and could become good friends. If this concept makes you uncomfortable, please do not turn down my offer. My son is the most important thing in my life. I’d like you to consider that we’d make Allan loving parents.

Ian

Sarka, who’d barely spoken two words since Cassidy regained consciousness, sputtered out her tea. “He’s proposing marriage? Through a fecking letter? Asshat.”

Oddly, the idea did not repulse Cassidy. She did love Allan and she did like his father. And the one man she truly loved didn’t trust her. She didn’t have anything to lose.

As if conjuring him with a single thought, Trevor appeared just inside the archway.

Her pulse raced and her chest tightened. She forced air into her lu
ngs. Tension hung heavy into the room as she waited for him to say something.

“Cassidy.”

Oh, no. He hadn’t called her that all week. So formal, like—

Like he’d heard Sage read the letter.

Cassidy stared at his face, his brow pinched, his Adam’s apple jumping up and down in his throat.

Oh, yeah. He’d heard. Her heart ached that she’d hurt him. She hated hurting anyone, but he’d made his choice not to trust her.Her inner voice scolded her. She wasn’t being fair. He’d only known her a few days; he was only protecting his family. And she hadn’t been honest with him, either. He didn’t know she’d seen him change form the day of the school attack. How can a man pass a test he didn’t know he was taking?

Still, Mr. Branson—Ian—offered her a comfortable, stable life.

A life without love.

Would that be enough?

So Branson offered her a new life with him, essentially offering her a marriage of convenience. Using his son like a fucking carrot.

Too bad, she’s mine
.

“Would you all give me a few minutes with Cassidy?”

Not breaking eye contact with Cassie, Trevor waited as everyone moved out of the lounge. She was pale, having lost a significant amount of blood. His stomach twisted painfully that he’d missed the signals and put her in danger again.

Cassie—his sweet Cassie—bit her bottom lip and picked at the edge of the bandage until it frayed. She knew he’d heard the contents of the letter. She no longer met his gaze, rubbing the edges of the blanket nervously with the wrist of her unbandaged hand.

“I want to thank you—” she began before he cut her off.

“Don’t thank me, Cassie.” He paced toward the door, then turned back to face her. “Don’t thank me. If I’d done what I should have, you wouldn’t be hurt.”

Her soft voice broke his heart. “You don’t know that. He was willing to do whatever it took to get me. Apparently, I’m worth a lot of money to someone.”

“Cassie…”

“Trevor, you don’t have to say anything. I don’t blame you.”

“Are you considering Branson’s offer?” His heart thudded loudly in his ears as he waited for her response.

“It’s not your concern.”

“The hell it isn’t!” She wasn’t going to dismiss him from her life. He wouldn’t let her. He couldn’t let her.

Her eyes widened with surprise.

“I want you to listen to me for five minutes. Just let me have my say. Then you can tell me to go to hell if you want.”

The five seconds he waited for her to nod were the longest of his life.

“Okay. I’ve been an idiot. I know that.” He paced away, avoiding her gaze, afraid of seeing her anger or worse, indifference. “You know I’m a Paranormal. You know I’m able to disappear from human view. But my biggest secret is that I’m a Watcher.”

She confused him when her only response was to raise an eyebrow.

“Is that another word for Bigfoot or Sasquatch?”

He firmed his jaw, pride straightening his spine. “Yes. We prefer Watcher. We are very secretive for obvious reasons.”

“Because you are hunted by humans.”

Again, a statement, not a question. More curiosity and acceptance than surprise or disgust.

“Yes.”

“At least you finally told me.”

“What do you mean, ‘finally?’”

A sad smile crooked the corner of her mouth. “I’ve known since the day of the attack at the school.”

“I don’t remember shifting that day.”

“It was only a split second, but I saw you shift when you were shot.”

“You came to me, while I was bleeding out on the floor, knowing what I am?” Shock flashed through him like the time he’d grabbed an electric fence.

“I didn’t care.”

“Didn’t?” Past tense. Damn it. Had he fucked up too many times for her to forgive?

Cassie’s eyes filled and her lower lip wobbled, but she didn’t answer. Anger he could take, and preferred, but her silence and tears stabbed at his heart.

“Oh, baby, you’ve known all along and didn’t say anything?”

“I was waiting for you to trust me enough to tell me yourself. But you never did,” she whispered, her words spilling out slurred. She turned her head away, sobs racking her body.

An idiot
. He was an absolute idiot not to see his future right in front of him from the beginning. Somehow, he had to make her see. On his knees, he gently tipped her chin so that she had to look at him.

“I’m so sorry, baby. I should have told you. I was afraid you’d see a freak, not a man with another side to my soul.”

Her eyes glistened with unshed tears and her lower lip trembled. Was she still considering Branson’s proposal? Or opening her heart to him?

Come on, Greene, time to lay it on the line
.

“I love you and want you in my life. I need you in my life and I can’t imagine living without you. Please give me a chance.”

Gently, he pulled her into his arms, holding her as she cried, every tear a spike in his heart because of the pain he had caused her. On the floor, with Cassie in his lap, he enfolded her, waiting out the storm.

Finally, she eased back, sniffled and punched him in the shoulder.

He shouldn’t have, but he couldn’t help the smile that broke free. A frown creased her brow as her eyes narrowed. “You think this is funny?”

A chuckle burst forth, followed by outright laughter. He shouldn’t be laughing, but he was relieved that she felt some passion for him, even if it was anger.

Cassie hit him again and again and all he could do was laugh and let her expend all her anger on him.

Suddenly she was laughing, too, though she kept punching him.

Relief and passion flooded him. No longer was he laughing. Pulling her close, he brushed her mouth with his.

She sighed.

His heart stuttered in his chest.
Oh, by the gods, let me not mess this up!

When her lips parted, inviting his invasion, he growled and his tongue swept in. He found her just as hungry as he was and let her take the lead. His hands tangled in her hair while her lips traveled along his jaw and his neck then nipped at his earlobe.

He wanted her. Now.

But not here in this public room.

Gently, he pulled back and cradled her face in his hands. Searching her passion glazed eyes, he waited until they cleared and focused on him.

“Cassie. I need you, baby.”

A seductive smile curved her kiss-swollen lips and she tried to pull him back into her embrace. “I need you, too.”

He held her at arm’s length. “No, I mean I need you in my life forever.”

She frowned.

What is she thinking? Maybe she doesn’t want to be mated with a freak…

“Be specific.”

He frowned and cocked his head at her. “I want you to be my mate.”

Several moments ticked by.

“Is that what Paras call a spouse?”

She sure knew how to tie him in knots. Could he survive a lifetime of such treatment?

Hell, yeah!

“Yes. We mate for life. If you prefer, I can call you my wife.”