Skin Walkers: Leto (18 page)

The man was hauling her up from the ground when a flash of fur took him down and had Shy falling back to land hard on her ass.

The large man fought with the mountain lion and Shy, who’d been about to make a run for it, froze in place when she heard numerous foot-steps pounding toward them.  Her head whipped around when someone stopped behind her.  Tears of relief filled her eyes when York dropped to a knee and pulled her into his arms.

“LETO!  REDKNIFE!  STOP!”

Shy recognized Conn’s voice, but didn’t look up.  The snarls and grunts of the fighting stopped and she felt York tense around her.

“
Let go of her!”

Leto’s voice above her had her pulling back from York’s arms even as they tightened around her. 

“You failed to protect her!”  York’s tone was accusatory and challenging.

“YORK!”

Both men looked at Conn and Shy took advantage of the opportunity to scramble to her feet.  She backed away from the two men as they squared off.

“You never wanted her Leto.  Give her to me.”

What?
  Shy paled and backed up some more.

Leto’s
head lowered as his upper lip curled back in a fierce snarl to reveal elongated canines.  “Never!”

“Shy?” Conn ignored Leto and York and inched closer to her.

A soft whimper escaped her parted lips and it drew the attention of both Leto and York.  Concern flashed across both men’s features and they advanced.

“DON’T!”  Shy held up her good hand and when she took a step back her knees buckled.  It was all just too much.

“Shit!”  All three men lunged for her, but Conn was the one to catch her before she could hit the ground.

“Give her to me!” Leto growled.

Obviously displeased, Conn looked from Leto to York in apparent indecision before holding Shy’s slumped form out and allowing her Walker to take her.

Chapter 24

Leto was livid.  How dare York attempt to claim what was his.  Shy carried his child and his scent and still the Celtic Walker had the audacity to ask Leto to relinquish her.  Looking up he glared across the Hummer at the red-haired Walker that still watched him as if he intended on hurting his angel.  A low
warning growl vibrated in his chest.

“Knock it off Leto!” Conn
peered back from the driver’s seat and flashed sad eyes to York.  “She’s safe.  It’s all that matters.”

“She would never have been placed in danger if she were mine!”

Leto wished he could set Shy down and beat seven shades of shit out of York.  The man was basically accusing him of failing to protect his mate.  Hell, he hadn’t even been at StoneCrow when she’d escaped.  He and the Chief of Security, King Mulholland, had left as soon as he’d carried Shy to the infirmary and been assured she and his baby were safe.

After watching the video of what had happened to Shy, he’d felt sickened.  Not only had he assumed too much, he’d been flat out fucking wrong.  She’d suffered as he had…worse!  He’d caught her when she’d fainted and felt sheer terror seize him when Monroe, who Leto had never seen get emotional, paled and ordered Leto to get Shy to the infirmary.  Wordlessly, Leto
had stalked to the door when Monroe shoved him and barked, “Run Leto!  She’s with child…
your
child.”

A million questions had raced through his mind but he didn’t stall to ask.
  Instead he tore down the hallway and raced to the first floor infirmary, cursing that the CEO’s office was on the third floor.

When he arrived at the infirmary Jenny was waiting for them. 

“Lay her here!”

The Doctor had made short work of attaching monitors and
checking Shy’s vitals.  She smeared a lubricant on Shy’s too flat belly and scanned her with some device.

Whoosh-whoosh, whoosh-whoosh, whoosh-whoosh.
 

The sound startled Leto and he
gaped at Jenny.

Her eyes found his and she frowned.
  “It’s your baby’s heart.  The child is under stress.”  She pulled the device away and the rapid sound stopped.  “What in the hell were you idiots doing up there?”

Unable to formulate any words, Leto shook his head
as shame seared him.  He hadn’t known…the information was too much.

Jenny drew in a deep breath and exhaled slowly, struggling to regain her composure.  Her angry expression softened. 
“She was artificially inseminated by the Megalya.  It’s why they held her.  It’s why she carries your scent.  She carries your child.”

For the first time in his life, Leto felt the sting of tears at the back of his eyes. 
I’m going to have a child with…
  His eyes flashed to Shy and he knew in that moment beyond any shadow of a doubt that Shy was his angel
.

Tearing his furious gaze from York
and his memories, Leto looked down at the fragile creature passed out in his arms.  Her face was pale but she was breathing evenly.  There was a dark bruise and swelling under one of her eyes and high on her cheek and her wrist was the size of an orange.  Knowing he’d killed the Megalya lackeys quite painfully did little to placate his anger. 

Shy stirred and Leto lifted her higher so that he
r head was propped against his shoulder, her lips brushing his neck.  One strong arm wrapped around her shoulders and a possessive hand clamped on her thigh.  He looked up and caught York frowning at his hand on Shy’s thigh and just to piss the other Walker off, he inched it higher until it curved possessively over her rounded hip.

York’s head snapped up, his eyes locking with Leto’s.  God he wanted to kill York!  He wanted to rip the Walker limb from fucking limb and if the Walker continued to look at his Shy as if
he
had some claim to her than that’s exactly what Leto intended to do.

“ETA four minutes.  Jenny’s waiting so be ready.”

Even in her unconscious state Leto could scent Shy’s pain.  It had been the same when, after watching the video of her being tortured and she’d passed out, he’d carried her to the infirmary.  Emotional pain and physical pain smelled different, but when either scent emanated from Shy it put Leto into a killing rage.  It’s why he’d left her in the infirmary and gone hunting.  He wanted to kill every single technician he’d seen on the video and it wasn’t a fantasy.  He’d do it if it was the last thing he ever did.  He’d get Shy to safety, get her home, get her healed, and then get back out there to avenge his angel, his mate!

W
hen he’d decided she was his, he didn’t know.  When Monroe had told him she was pregnant with his child he’d been overwhelmed simultaneously by fear for Shy and the baby, regret over his treatment of her, and more fucking joy than he ever thought possible. Deep down he realized that a part of him had known she was his all along.  It’s why he’d never been able to harm her even when he knew she was an admitted Megalya.  Guilt ate at him over his treatment of her.  If he’d known then…

He couldn’t beat himself up over it.  All he could do was protect her now.  He slid his hand from her hip and placed it gently over her belly and his child that grew within.  Without moving his head his eyes snapped up to sneer at York who still watched him intently.  “MINE!” he growled with such a fierce possession
and vehemence that he knew it wasn’t just for show.  Shy belonged to him.  She was his angel and the first chance he got he intended to bind her and claim her! 

***

Shy woke back in the infirmary and moaned at both the ache in her muscles and cheek as well as the throbbing in her wrist.  Looking up she was surprised to find Leto standing over her with concern marring his handsome features.

Memory came back and her hand flashed to her belly.  “The baby?”

Leto twined strong fingers with hers, “He’s fine.  It’s you I’m worried about.  I can scent her pain.”  He looked up and Shy followed his gaze to Dr. Jenny Arkinson.

“Well,” Jenny began reluctantly, “we can’t give her a very strong
pain reliever due to the baby, and the mild shot that I did give her has already been burned off by her accelerated metabolism.”  Her perfectly manicured brows furrowed, “Carrying a Walker child isn’t the same as carrying a fully human child Leto.  The gestation period is more rapid.  Shy will need to eat more frequently, sleep more often.  She’s in an incredibly fragile state right now.”  Jenny turned sad eyes to Shy, “Unfortunately, we have had few Walker children born here at StoneCrow and all of those have been female.  Your son is a miracle and a very terrifying one for me to have to deal with.  This is a case of first impression for me.” 

Shy looked to Leto with worried eyes before staring back at Jenny.  

“I’m assuming that because Walker men are stronger that your son will demand more from your body Shy.  This is going to be difficult for you.  Honestly, I’d like to admit you for the duration of the pregnancy but Leto has already refused.”

Shocked, Shy looked at Leto.  She agreed with him.  There was no way in hell she’d be confined to a bed for the next nine or so months…
wait! 
“What do you mean the gestation period is more rapid?”

“Mahkya
Mulholland, King and Lilly’s daughter, was born at just seven months.  I believe your son will come sooner.”

Shy gasped and struggled to sit up, “Sooner?”

Leto reached down and gently eased her to a sitting position as Shy noted her swollen wrist was now wrapped in a bulky brace.

“How much sooner?”

Jenny shrugged, “I’m not sure.  Hopefully around six or more preferably five months.”

“Hopefully?”  She felt fear inch up her spine.

Shaking her head Jenny threw her hands up in a resignation.  “Look, your heart rate has increased with the baby’s demand for blood supply.  That coupled with your increased need for food and rest.  It’s putting a strain on your system that will only increase as your son grows.  Carrying this child to term could be…”  She dropped her gaze.

“Fatal?” Shy supplied shakily.

Leveling her eyes first on Shy then on Leto, Jenny nodded once.  “Potentially, yes.”  She cleared her throat and Shy saw the intent as she began, “Perhaps it might be best if we just…”

“NO!” Shy refused to let her finish. 

“You need to hear me out,” Jenny demanded.

Confused, Leto looked from Jenny to Shy.

“No Jenny!  It’s not an option.  Don’t suggest it don’t even waste your breath.”

Realization dawned and Leto growled.  “I have no say?”

“No!” Shy snapped swinging her legs around off the med bed.  “You don’t.”

Both Dr. Arkinson and Leto were shocked by Shy’s outburst.

“As a matter of fact, you can leave.”

“It’s my child Shy.”

“Wrong,” she countered, “it’s
my
child.  You hate me remember.” Slowly she inched off the table and stood on wobbly legs.  When Leto reached for her she slapped his hands away.  “You finally know the truth and must now know that you have no cause to hate me or hunt me or…
harm
me.”  She walked toward the door.  “I’d appreciate it if you’d leave me alone.” 

Turning at the
door, she caught Jenny attempting to hide a smile while a look of such distressing exclusion crossed Leto’s face that she actually felt bad.  The look only lasted a moment before his brows furrowed and he crossed the room in seconds.  Two strong hands gripped her hips and he lifted her, forcing himself between her legs and shelving her ass with one arm so that she was wrapped around him as he carried her back to the med bed.

“Hey!  Put me down.”
  As Leto walked, he pulled Shy into him and the friction caused when he walked had her clenching her teeth at the luscious sensation of her sex rubbing up against him.

“Don’t get riled up Shy,” Jenny ordered, “it’s not good for the baby.  Besides, you do need to hang on for just a
moment; I’ve got some meds I need to retrieve for you and then I’ll get you signed out.”

“Fine,”
she crossed her arms over her chest and tried to ignore the zing of interest that shot through her when Leto had wrapped her around him.  Her breasts felt instantly swollen and she wasn’t crossing her arms in an attempt to appear formidable but rather to hide her nipples that had instantly pebbled and hardened to stiff peaks as they’d rubbed against Leto’s chest as he’d walked with her. 

It’s the pregnancy
, she lied trying to convince herself that her sudden flat out horniness was hormonal and had nothing to do with the Walker whose child she carried.

Jenny exited the room while Leto
towered over her with his body still between her legs as she sat on the bed.  She tried not to look at him as she fought her own arousal.  God he was hot.  Her eyes locked on his broad well-defined chest and slid down his thickly corded arms to rest on his hands.  She remembered the way he’d touched her, how he’d made her come.  Her sex creamed with wanting and when Leto inhaled loudly and a long deep rumble emitted from his chest, Shy’s horrified gaze shot up.

His eyes had darkened dangerously and she recognized the
burning desire that reflected in the swirling brown and black depths.