What Rough Beast [Blood Oath 1] (26 page)

"Kate.” His fingers rose to catch her chin.
"When are you finally going to trust me?"

She swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat.
"Don't."

"Feed, love. Your hunger beats at me."
When he led her mouth to the pulse throbbing at his throat, her tongue tasted his skin. Her nostrils flared at the scent of his blood rushing just underneath, and she listened to the pulsing of his veins. Every night, it was the same, the terrible hunger only Garrick could appease. Kate welcomed it now, the need, recognized her lust for him as both lover and provider as yet another of the many ties that bound them together. She cherished her intimacy with him and wanted, always, more of him.

She sank her teeth deep.

He sucked in a harsh breath, not at the brutality of the bite, for Kate had learned over the past weeks what pleased him, but because she'd learned those lessons perhaps too well.

Kate's head swam as his strength flooded her, her fingers curling around the tender skin of his neck as she drank. He wrapped his arm around her, leaning back into the shadows and angling his body to give them what little privacy he could. “Weres are different than vampyr, Aidan, but different does not equate to barbaric or wrong."

"Do not forget our behaviors and traditions can be uncivilized, too,” Luc said.

"Yes.” Aidan swallowed. “Well.” He shook his head. “Vampyr can hardly be held responsible for sins committed by the dark masters when we fight against—"

"What of the sins of the rebels themselves?” Peter asked. “Weres fight only to protect our hunting grounds, our pack. Vampyr fight one another for mates. Which says nothing of the way you treat your women."

Luc glared. “Our women are our most cherished treasures."

Peter snorted. “You don't marry your women. You abduct them."

Aidan glared.

"He's right,” Garrick said, and Kate laughed against his neck.

"And how do you raise your young? Not at all. Women are hunted by masters and rebels alike, until she's mated—as a child! And your men are left to be tortured and bled dry in prisons you euphemistically call stables.” Peter's lip curled to a sneer. “I've killed members of my pack for a lot less."

A vein throbbed at Aidan's temple. “We choose a mate for love rather than strength and physical stamina."

"Your hormones choose your mates. Love comes later. Much later."

"Garrick loves me.” She lifted a finger to trace his full lips, her heart leaping at the sparkle in his blue eyes.

"But you don't love him."

Her smile faltered.

"No, she doesn't. Not yet.” Garrick kissed her fingers, his warm stare never leaving hers. “It's all right, love.” He threaded his fingers through hers, brought her hand to his jaw to cradle her palm there, comforting her as well as himself. “Your vampyr has chosen. You want me, need me. You trust me with your life and your body. It's enough."

"Who's to say I don't love my mate? I could love Elise. I'm capable of it.” Then Peter cocked his head, considering. “She's loyal, obedient. A proven breeder."

Aidan snickered. “You just described Isabel's favorite mastiff."

"I am were,” Peter growled, “not your mate's pet dog."

Kate ignored them, her attention, her heartache focused on Garrick.
"No, it's not enough."

"It is. For now."
He skimmed a kiss across her mouth and turned to address the two men. “Stop it. Both of you. Your bickering upsets Kate."

"This vampyr's determination to take her from us, from her home, upsets Kate."

"We won't take her from Garrick. She's obviously happy mated to him, but the rebellion cannot risk her with your kind. She must be protected."

Kate breathed his name, heart twisting in her chest.

"Aidan, why must you always pester Garrick's poor weres?"

A tall blonde stood at the door, glaring grim reproach at Aidan before tipping her head in greeting. “I apologize for my mate's behavior, Peter. His manners are deplorable."

Aidan bristled, body tensing as he raced to the door to aggressively shield her body with his. “You were to stay at the hotel.” He pivoted and planted his feet wide, his stance alert and defensive.

Peter smirked. “And he claims I'm barbaric."

Aidan flashed sharp white teeth. “Get out."

"Stop it, you great idiot. Peter likes me. He won't mistake me for his lunch. Garrick? Help?"

Kate swallowed the lump in her throat, eyes burning as she stroked and petted him.
"I care for you. You know that I do."

"Peter is right. Barbaric or not, it's the way of our people. You'll love me eventually, love me completely. Until then, I've love enough for us both."

"It hurts you. I can't stand that I hurt you. Let me..."
She brought his mouth to her neck.

"You are my beating heart."

Kate sucked in her breath as his teeth penetrated, feeling the powerful punch of pleasure in the pit of her stomach. “As you are mine,” she whispered into his hair.

"Oh, look. She's falling in love. How wonderful,” Isabel said, peering around Aidan's bulk only to shoot a glare up at him. “And you wanted me to stay home."

"You're being sentimental and foolish.” Aidan pulled Isabel into the shelter of his body. “They're mated. Of course, she loves him."

"No.” Peter's gaze studied Kate and Garrick sipping from her. “But she's starting to."

Isabel sighed. “Isn't it romantic?"

Aidan's eyes narrowed. “Garrick! You've had weeks to love her and centuries to love her still. Get over here. We've a war to run."

Chuckling, Garrick kissed her throat. “The prince bellows, love.” He rose, lifting her to stand beside him.

Fear and uncertainty curled in her stomach, and she reached for him, burying her nose in the crook of his arm. “Don't leave."

He frowned. “With so many others close, your vampyr feels threatened. That's natural, but you must fight those instincts. They are mistaken. Remember my feelings. I won't give you up. Understand?"

She nodded.

And held on to him tighter.

In the end, they gathered in the kitchen, the men separating to the breakfast nook just across the eat-in bar. Even Peter. Aidan protested, but Garrick overruled him. “You interrupted our mating, and you know as well as I what that normally means. Kate's vampyr is stirring."

"Need I remind you that you will soon become a member of the council? That we discuss vital war plans? Our unmated males are not privy to this, and you wish to share it with a were?"

"As her guardian, Luc would have been a comfort to Kate, but out of respect for the council, I asked him to go to the were camp. Because he is unmated and may someday turn. My weres, however, couldn't care less about the war."

Peter nodded. “Weres see your war as a vampyr affair and a vampyr affair only. Our sole interest is staying out of your way."

"They've been quite content to leave us to it, and the pack will ally with no other vampyr, much less a master, so you risk no spilled secrets. Peter reassures Kate in Luc's stead.” Garrick glared. “He stays."

In the kitchen, Isabel leaned against a marble countertop. “Why do you suppose the men outfit our homes with kitchens? It's not as though we need food."

Kate fidgeted at the island separating them from the men, struggling against the chaos of emotions tumbling inside her. Garrick loved her. He did. “I baked cookies for Peter and his mate once."

Isabel shuddered.

She tried to be friendly, forced her lips to curl to a smile though her thoughts skittered restless energy and her pulse raced. “Garrick helped."

"Oh, I would've liked to have seen that.” Isabel laughed. “You are blessed in him, Kate. Garrick's one of our best. I only wish my Aidan would heed his advice more often.” She shrugged. “Once he's mated, perhaps they will all listen."

"All?” But Kate's focus was on Garrick, the defensive stance of his body, the sweep of his angry hand as the men argued in low voices.

"The council.” Isabel crossed to take her hand.

She jumped, startled.

"I'm sorry we interrupted your time with him, more sorry than I can say, but the masters hunt Garrick more than any other. I'm convinced it's his fondness for the weres that so alarms them. Makes him unpredictable. They can't align the Garrick they knew with the man he's become."

Isabel darted a guarded, though no less curious, glance at Peter. “Masters hunted weres for millennia, stomped them out wherever they could find them. But your mate overcame his prejudices. He built a bridge, reached out to them. I think the masters fear Garrick will influence the rest of us into allying with the weres as well.” Isabel's gaze returned to Kate. “Fully mated and allied with the council, he presents a far greater threat to them. They hunt the two of you, and by our reports, have tracked you to Louisiana."

Kate bit her lip. Her nostrils flared, trying to scent him, but too many smells—the woman's subtle perfume, the other's more masculine tang, the pungent fragrance of Peter's were—they crowded in on her, hammered at her senses.

His gaze found her.
"Easy, love. I'm right here."

"The council fears for your safety."

Her skin itched. Her pulse shrieked vigorous warning, and no matter Garrick's whisper of assurance in her mind, nothing could stop the creepy-crawly snake of anxiety that hissed and coiled inside her. “I don't care about your council or your stupid war."

"Kate.” Isabel held her hand when she tried to yank it away. “Look at me.” When her eyes searched for Garrick instead, Isabel squeezed hard, and Kate gasped, shocked. “It will get better."

Kate pulled her hand.

Isabel's grip tightened.

"Let go of me."

"I know it doesn't seem like it now, but you'll be better able to handle his absence soon. You won't be so disturbed by the rest of us. What you're feeling is natural, but that does not change the fact that you
are
in danger. You must help us convince Garrick to allow us to protect you. Bring the weres. I don't care. Whatever it takes. We've found an isolated spot for you to finish your mating safely, in privacy. Just ask him to let us help. He'll listen to you."

Peter growled from the breakfast nook.

Kate's heart thundered in her chest. She yanked at her hand. “Garrick!"

Isabel released her. Hands raised, she stepped back.

"Kate?” Garrick strode to her, wrapped her in his arms, Aidan close behind him.

"What did you do?” Aidan said, glaring foul temper at his mate.

"She and Garrick shared blood in the den. Her vampyr should have been appeased.” Isabel sighed. “Obviously not."

"Why couldn't you leave this to me? You've made it worse. They'll never come with us now."

"You can't protect her.” Peter stalked into the kitchen, eyes narrowed to slits. “You don't mask your scent. If my pack hadn't followed your back trail to muddy your smell, masters would crawl the grounds of Pridemore already."

"It'd take a were to sniff us out, and none of the masters have allied with your kind. I'd know."

Peter laughed bitterly. “You know nothing."

"Hold on to me,” Garrick murmured to Kate, gathering her closer, but she still trembled. Why couldn't she stop shaking?

"Forget weres. You endanger her further the longer you remain.” Peter tapped his chest, the ropes of muscle and flesh that covered his heart. “Her vampyr cannot tolerate it."

Kate's eyes squeezed shut. Her fisted hands rose to her temples, pressing furiously to ease the awful racket in her head, but nothing worked; nothing helped. Her skull throbbed, full to bursting with scents, sounds, too many people talking, always talking. “Make it stop."

"Garrick—"

"Get out.” He lifted her into his arms. “All of you."

Kate eyes snapped shut. Her nails dug into his neck to bind her to him, but the sounds in her head only echoed in more harsh discordance. Aidan's determined plans for their protection. Isabel's fear. Peter's snarling, territorial anger. Their emotions crowded in on her, buzzed around her mind like swarming bees.
"It hurts."

"She's too vulnerable, and you tax your strength to defend her.” Kate cringed from the hand Aidan slapped to Garrick's shoulder. “You can't protect her alone."

"We won't be alone.” Garrick jerked from Aidan's touch. “Peter."

The were shoved the vampyr prince aside.

"Tell the council I've gone to ground with my mate.” Garrick strode to the door. Each step stirred nausea in Kate's stomach. “I'll kill any man who tries to follow. Even you, Aidan. Especially you."

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Jeeps, trucks, motorcycles, boats, and every other manner of vehicle began trickling from Pridemore at dawn. Children and their mothers were the first to leave, followed by the pack's lone unmated female.

"I sent Leona with Taggart,” Peter told Garrick as he unrolled a heavy carpet.

Garrick lay on it, snickered. “They'll have mated by Tuesday.” He opened his arms and Kate, eyes dazed and glassy, curled atop him. Her fingers dug into his shoulders. Her thighs squeezed his hips. “They'll be mated or dead."

"That's the idea. Watch your feet.” Peter rolled the carpet around them.

Kate shuddered in the inky darkness.

"Hold on to me, love.” He nudged her chin to the crook of his shoulder.

Kate didn't need blood.

She needed him.

Just him.

But his blood would comfort her. Comfort them both.

Her teeth sank into him.

"Luc's gone?” he murmured, rubbing a lock of her hair between his fingers as she fed.

"Half an hour ago. Thank you for asking him to accompany Elise.” Kate's teeth mauled his neck when Peter lifted them and, stumbling under their combined weight, carried them outside.

"Thank Luc. When I drafted you to double Kate's security, he insisted on chaperoning your mate.” Garrick grunted when Peter dropped them, ungraciously, in the back of the jeep chosen for the trip. “He's growing fond of weres."

Garrick barely heard Peter's snort through the thick layers of carpet. “He's no different than every other vampyr. He thinks weres are primitive, savage. Little better than vermin."