Nathan's Mate (2 page)

Nathan scooped up her body in his arms. 

Mage!

He could feel the magic zinging through her body.  If she was mage, she was a little stronger than the average human, but she wasn't immortal.  He scowled, knowing she couldn't go to a human hospital.  The mage had their own healers and their physiology was somewhat different than a human's. 

Liam.  I need you.
 

He sent the urgent call out for his healer brother before gathering the unconscious female close to him and dissolved into the night. 

Chapter 2

Nathan transported himself to the master bedroom of his home and laid the injured woman on his bed.  He knew without a shred of doubt that this was the female that had haunted his dreams.  Her long, blonde hair fell in waves that reached nearly to her waist.  Her eyes were closed but he already knew that they were an unusual violet color that wasn't produced by artificial lenses. 

Had he dreamt of her because she was in danger?  The dreams had been anything but a warning.  They had contained acts that were long forgotten and something that was only possible for him to experience in dreams.  She had been his lover. 

He stripped the clothes from her body with his magic and tried to stop as much of the bleeding as he could.  He wasn't a damned healer.  He couldn't heal the deep gashes in her shoulders and arms.  She also had one on each side of her hips where they had grabbed her.

Where in holy hell is Liam?

He knelt next to her naked body, wishing that he knew more about the mage.  Mage and vampire did not mix, so he knew only the bare minimum of information about the magical species.   

They were not immortal.  They lived a little longer than humans, but their existence was finite.  Born with magic, they could cast spells and bend magic to do their bidding.  Mage were stronger than humans, but not as strong as an immortal.

Oh hell...that was about all he knew.  He had never even come in contact with a mage since they seemed to have an aversion to vampires. 

Nathan jerked backwards, landing on his ass in shock as his fingers moved over her left hip to slow the bleeding on a deep slash in her skin. 

My mark!

"Christ!,"  he whispered harshly as he levered himself back to his knees and lightly touched the dragon symbol on her hip with trembling fingers.  He touched it gently, tracing the lines of the small marking.

Not possible.
 

He made his mark appear on his right arm to confirm that it really wasn't his marking.  Nathan hadn't even looked at his mating mark for so long that he couldn't remember the exact design.

They were identical matches. 

The dreams.

The marks.

My mate.

"You don't have to keep staring at it, brother.  She's definitely your mate."  Nathan jerked his head around to see his brother Liam with an arm propped casually against the doorframe and a smile on his face. 

He hid his marking as he asked hotly, "Where in the hell were you.  This girl is bleeding to death." 

Liam's smile only grew broader as he nudged Nathan aside and assessed her injuries.  "She's hardly a girl.  And I was busy.  I got here as soon as I could."   His hand moved quickly over her body, using his healing ability to completely stop her bleeding.  "She's mage and she needs a mage healer. There's only so much I can do.  She'll end up scarred."

"I don't give a damn about the scars."  Nathan answered fiercely.  "Just don't let her..."  his voice softened as he choked out the last word.  "die."

"Back away from my sister or I'll fill you both full of silver bullets." 

Nathan and Liam's heads both snapped up to stare at the woman in the woman in the doorway.  She was blonde, her hair not quite as long as her sister's, and her hands were shaking as she held a handgun trained on the two men.

"I think you have your myths confused.  Silver bullets are for lycanthropes and they don't really work on them.  That's a more modern myth."  Liam told the woman casually as he stood. 

"Yeah...well...I could certainly make you miserable."  Her voice sounded shaky and unsure. 

It would be painful, Nathan thought, but all it would do was really piss him off. 

"I'm a vampire healer.  I was trying to help your sister.  We weren't going to hurt her.  We want to help her."  Liam told her reasonably.

"It was vampires that attacked her."  The woman replied defensively, still waving the gun in their direction with shaking hands.  

"Fallen vampires.  They're the bad guys.  We aren't fallen.  We try to contain them.  It's my guess that my brother Nathan saved your sister's life."  Liam's voice was soothing as he spoke quietly. 

"Oh, thank God!  I was afraid I'd have to shoot you."  The blonde blew out a pent up breath and lowered the gun.  "I'm a healer...not a killer." 

Liam gave her a sympathetic smile.  "I've done all I can do.  Perhaps you can take over." 

"Yes.  Of course."  Dropping the gun in a chair she rushed to the bedside.

"How in the hell did you get in here?"  Nathan demanded.  "I have more security than Fort Knox."

"I spelled myself in.  I can't transport, but I can gain entry with spells.  You aren't mage protected,"  she answered distractedly as she took Liam's place that he had vacated at the bedside.  "Oh, Sasha,"  she whispered as she looked at the nasty gashes.  "Has she been unconscious like this for a while?" 

"Since I killed her attackers.  Is that bad?"  Nathan asked anxiously.

"No.  It's our way of conserving energy until we can be healed."  She opened a bag she had brought with her and began to apply a paste to her sister's injuries.

"Is that her name?  Sasha?"  Nathan questioned, breathing her name softly. 

"Sasha Taylor.  I'm her sister, Regan." 

"This is Nathan Hale."  Liam waved his hand toward his brother.  "And I'm his brother Liam.  I'm a vampire healer.  Can I help in any way?  I don't know much about the mage, but I'll do whatever I can to help." 

"I'm going to do a healing spell.  If you can send me any healing energy, it might help."  She crinkled her brow in concentration.

Sasha.  My mate's name is Sasha.
 

While Regan chanted her healing spell and Liam closed his eyes to send healing energy, Nathan stared at the vulnerable woman on the bed with awe and confusion.  Hundreds of years of waiting...and she was finally here.  He had given up hope.  He wasn't sure if he should rejoice or mourn.  He didn't want a mate.  Did he?

Sasha started thrashing, her long lashes flickering.  Nathan went to the opposite side of the bed and crawled over the empty space of the enormous bed.  He held her hand and put a comforting hand on her forehead. 

She was healing, her injuries closing before his eyes to leave nothing but smooth skin.  Nathan looked from her to her sister.  Regan's face looked strained and contorted as she continued the healing spell.  Liam's head was thrown back in concentration, his eyes closed.  Nathan wasn't a healer but he could feel the combined energy swirling through the bedroom.  It was all directed toward Sasha, making her thrash and moan as her body healed. 

Nathan stared fixedly at his mate, his displeasure at the whole situation evident.  She was in pain and he didn't like it.  He stroked her cheek and she quieted. 

Her eyes fluttered open, confusion and pain mingling in her panicked eyes. 

"Don't be afraid.  You're being healed.  You were injured.  Stay still."  Nathan tried to reassure her. 

Her gaze flew straight to his face and she started, her face frightened and alarmed.  "You're
him.
  I recognize your voice.  The man from my dreams." 

Nathan realized he was still stroking her cheek and she was awake.  He scrambled back on the bed, but he wasn't fast enough. 

His face grew feral and his body shook with reaction.  The mating instinct had kicked in and it seized his entire being, infusing him with possessiveness and lust.  His cock hardened like a diamond and heat rushed through every artery, vein and capillary in his body.   

"Mine!"

With the healing completed, his fierce, loud growl brought every eye in the room to him with shock and alarm.

Chapter 3

Sasha couldn't do much more than stare at her dream lover that had suddenly come alive in much too graphic detail.  Holy hell...the man was enormous and there was no veil or shadow this time.  Nostrils flaring and eyes burning, the man pinned her with his black stare but said nothing more.  He seemed to be struggling...with himself.  His eyes raked over her body and face hotly. 

Sasha scrambled for cover, pulling back the sheet and blankets to cover herself from chin to toes.  She flushed as she realized she had been as naked as the day she was born, exposed to every eye in the room.  Had they seen her mark of the vampire?

Liam was the only one brave enough to approach Nathan.  He walked calmly around the bed and dragged his brother to his feet, yanking hard with both arms around his shoulders.  Nathan was two hundred years older than Liam, but Liam had his own elevated degree of power as a healer and Nathan didn't really resist.  He was too busy trying control his animal instincts. 

"You okay, Nathan?"  Liam slapped him on the back as Nathan stood, stumbling a little as he gained his balance. 

Nathan held up his hand.  "I'm fine.  I'm six hundred years old for Christ's sake.  I can control myself."

Liam gave him a doubtful look as he returned to Sasha.  He introduced himself and his brother as Regan looked on curiously. 

"What's wrong with him.  He doesn't look so good."  Regan probed quietly as she continued gaping at Nathan.

"Let's go get some nourishment, Regan.  The healing was draining.  I'll explain everything."  Liam nodded his head toward the door, indicating that they should leave Sasha and Nathan alone. 

"Are you sure it's safe."  Regan didn't sound so sure that leaving them alone was a good idea. 

"They'll be quite safe, Regan.  Come along and I'll explain.  They have a few...issues to work out."  Liam coughed to cover his laugh as he motioned Regan out the door. 

Regan moved behind him slowly, shooting her sister one last, perplexed look as she followed Liam. 

Sasha watched as the pair disappeared, her mind whirling.  She remembered the monsters that attacked her and seeing a brief glimpse of the vampire that Liam had introduced as Nathan before she lost consciousness.  She also remembered sending out a calling spell to Regan.  She had obviously received it.  She was here, and she must have healed her. 

"You saved my life,"  Sasha whispered, knowing that he must have destroyed the creatures attacking her. 

Nathan walked around the bed and sat on the floor beside the bed before replying, "I almost didn't make it fast enough."  His eyes never left her face.  Sasha could see the fear and concern in his expression. 

She lifted a hand to his cheek, unable to stop herself from comforting him. "You made it.  I would have been dead had you not shown up.  What were they?"

"Fallen vampires."

Sasha shuddered.  She didn't know that vampires could fall and become such hideous creatures.  "And you hunt them?" 

"Yes."  Nathan answered simply.  "They prey on the innocent." 

"And you don't?."  She couldn't stop herself from asking the question.  Weren't all vampires evil?