Wolf's Fall (24 page)

“Kalen was the last one,” Calla said. “He'll be fine and everyone's okay now.”

“I hope you're right.”

“I am.”

Over Calla's shoulder, Nick saw Tarron making his way down the slope. When the prince reached them, he gave them both a collective hug and stepped back.

“Will your Sorcerer recover?”

“We think so, but we'll know more soon. It seems as though Jinn pinned him to the bottom of the pool, thinking he'd drown. But the staff must have saved his life somehow.”

“I don't know how magical things work, but that's possible. Perhaps it knows its master somehow and kept him alive.”

Nick gave Tarron an apologetic look. “I need to get to the compound and see about Kalen, and check on some things I've been neglecting. I'll leave some men here to help with cleanup, but—”

“Go, Nick.” Tarron smiled. “You've spent so much time taking care of us, it's time you took care of your own for a while.”

“Thanks.”

“You going with your mate, sis?”

“Was that even a question?” She smiled at her brother and Nick.

Nick's heart lightened. Especially when he spotted Damien walking down the slope. Moving toward him, Nick enveloped him in a bear hug and lifted him off the ground.

“Whoa! No PDAs, man!”

He was kidding, though, and everyone laughed, including Nick, who set him back on solid ground and clapped him on the shoulder. “I appreciate you and your clan coming to the rescue.”

“It's your clan, too, if you'll accept us back.”

The enormity of that statement almost bowled him over. He cleared his throat. “I'd be glad to be a part of the clan again, even though my duties lie at the compound. Whatever I can do to help, I want to take part.”

“Music to my ears, brother.”

“I really do need to get back.”

“I understand,” Damien said. “My men and I will stay here for now and assist Tarron. I'll catch up with you later.”

“Sounds good.” It did indeed sound fine.

Nick hooked his arm through Calla's and they were home in seconds.

Or at least where he hoped would be the permanent home for them both.

C
alla's mate's first task on their arrival at the compound was breaking up a catfight. Or was that a she-wolf fight?

Selene had started by tearing into her father for using Zan's healing, even though Zan strenuously protested that he had been careful not to overdo it. When Mac stepped in, the game was on.

“Of course you're going to defend Zan's actions! He risked his health to save your mate!”

“Selene,” Mac began. “Zan has been cleared to heal within certain limits. And of course I'm grateful. How could I not be? I love Kalen, and our baby needs his father.”

“Oh, pull out the baby card, yeah? You know—”

“Enough!” Nick's voice boomed down the hospital corridor, making everyone jump. “Selene, that's enough!”

Turning, she blinked at him. “Dad.”

“I know you love your mate, and so does Mac. Everyone works together here. We're family, all of us, and it serves no purpose for us to be at each other's throats.”

Selene hesitated, then looked at Mac, eyes shining with tears. “I'm sorry. I just can't stand the thought of losing Zan the way I did not so long ago. Or almost did.”

“I understand,” Mac said softly, taking her hands. “I almost lost Kalen like that, too, more than once now. Peace?”

“Yeah.”

Dr. Mallory interrupted. “Nick, Kalen would like to see you now. He's still on the mend, so make it short.”

“I will.” He turned to Calla. “Come with me?”

“Sure.”

Kalen was propped up in the bed when they walked in, looking awfully pale with his black hair falling around him. “Nick! How do I keep getting myself into these messes, eh?”

Her mate chuckled. “You're a troublemaker—that's how. Didn't I tell you that the day we met?”

“Not in so many words, but you were right.” His grin banished some of the shadows. “So, did you and the guys catch that Jinn creep yet?”

Nick shook his head. “Not yet. We've got feelers out for him in the paranormal community. Now that Ivan's dead and Jinn's got no mission to
perform, I'm not sure if that'll make him easier or harder to track.”

Some of Kalen's good mood faded. “Yeah. Sorry I couldn't kill his ass. That fucker's a lot more powerful than I gave him credit for at first. He's got more black magic in his little finger than I have in my whole body.”

“But your white magic saved you. Don't forget that. Good always wins in the end.”

“Does it?” the Sorcerer asked.

“I hope so. That's my story, anyway, and I'm sticking to it.”

Kalen gave a quiet laugh. “Sounds like one I can get behind. When I'm out of here, I'll help you guys look for that bastard. I owe him, big-time.”

Nick leaned forward. “Did he say why he was pinning you under the water like that? Did he know you'd survive?”

“He said he was doing it because he could,” Kalen said thoughtfully. “As for whether he knew my staff would protect me, I can't say. But I would think a powerful creature like him would know that.”

“Which means he could've been toying with you.”

An idea struck Calla. “I think he left Kalen like that as a message to all of us. He could've killed him and chose not to, this time. But he can get to us anytime he wants.”

Those words brought the memory rushing back
again—Nick's vision of Noah being kidnapped by Jinn. Why would the creature want Noah? How would Nix's mate fall into that horrible creature's clutches? His gut churned at this possible future threat, but he put that aside to deal with later. Somehow, he managed to keep the vision to himself.

Kalen nodded. “Makes sense. But does he have the motivation now? Was he that attached to Ivan that he'd seek revenge for his death?”

“I don't know,” Nick said. “But I do know he's angry. And that makes him dangerous.”

“True.” Kalen sat back into the pillows, visibly worn-out. Just then, there was a knock at the door, and Sariel strolled in. Kalen smiled at his half brother, obviously pleased to see him. “Well, if it isn't the hero of the month.”

“I do try.” The Fae fluffed his feathers and grinned.

“On that note, we'll let you visit with Blue and get some rest.” Nick stood. “I'll check on you later.”

In the hallway, Calla stood on tiptoe and kissed her mate on the lips. “I think lying down is a great idea. But how about the rest comes . . .
after
?”

“God, baby,” he groaned, his cock hardening between them. “I like the way you think. Just as soon as I take care of some business, like finding out what happened to Tom, our mechanic.”

Calla sobered and regarded Nick thoughtfully. “He could be anywhere.”

“Anywhere Ivan was,” Nick corrected.

Just then, a thread of an idea came to him. Something about Ivan and Carter's joint bank accounts—

“They had an address,” he said, straightening.

“What?”

“Carter and Ivan had an address in Chattanooga listed on their joint bank accounts. What if Ivan held Tom there?”

“It's a long shot, honey,” she cautioned him. “Isn't it more likely he killed the poor man and dumped him in the woods somewhere?”

“Maybe. But even though Ivan was consumed by anger and revenge, he still needed to feed.” He shuddered at the thought of the friendly mechanic enduring with Ivan what Nick had at Carter's hands. “I've got to check it out.”

She nodded, taking him into her arms. “I understand. Go. I'll be waiting when you get back.”

“Thanks, baby. I need to know one way or another what happened to him.”

After giving her a lingering kiss, he left. Quickly, he rounded up a few of the team and explained where they were going and why. The guys were in full agreement—Tom hadn't vanished into thin air, and if he was out there, they were going to do their damnedest to find him.

Nick considered taking the Huey, but that area of Tennessee was very hilly and forested. It meant hours of travel, and they'd have to set the craft
down miles from their destination. Too much wasted time.

In the end, he was forced to call on Tarron for help one more time, but his new brother-in-law was happy to assist. He'd been to Chattanooga before, and a few of his guard accompanied the team and provided transport. Then they made their way across town to the correct address after they'd searched for the location on the Internet.

Once they appeared on the porch of the house, Nick quickly double-checked the address, then gestured for them to move around back where they'd be out of sight. The house was in a rural area rather than a busy neighborhood, which made sense for a couple of vampires who'd wanted to retain privacy. But they couldn't be too careful.

The lower level of the house was built into the side of the hill, as so many were in the region. At the rear entrance, Nick stood to one side of the door and held up a hand for silence as the rest of the men gathered on either side of him. Once he was satisfied he heard no movement inside, he moved quickly.

Stepping in front of the door, he raised his foot and kicked with all his strength. The wood splintered near the doorknob, and another kick sent the door crashing inward. The lower floor had the look and feel of a basement, he noted as he stepped inside. It wasn't finished. No carpet on the concrete floor, no paint on the walls. Just a serviceable
area with a wood stove, a pile of logs beside it. A pool table.

To the right of the pool table was a long hallway. Nick nodded toward it, leading the way. Soft footsteps sounded behind him, the men at his back ready. Tense. The narrow corridor wasn't the ideal spot for a fight, should there be one.

“Hey,” a voice called out. It was quiet, muffled. But there.

“Did you hear that?” John whispered.

“Yeah.” Nick listened, and the faint cry came again. “Careful. It could be a trap.”

Cautiously, he moved forward. He crept down the corridor until he came to the last room on the left. Taking a steadying breath, he kicked in the door. Rushed in, ready to do battle.

And stopped short at the sight of Tom, chained to a bolt in the cold concrete floor. His clothes were filthy, his face gaunt. But the younger man gave them a weak smile as he raised his head.

“What the fuck took you guys so goddamn long?”

Nick hurried over, and without Kalen there to spell the shackles, getting the man free took some doing. Finally, someone found a key on the upper floor and the mechanic was unchained. Zander checked the man from head to toe, scanning for injuries.

“You're anemic and we need to get some food and water into you, but you're going to be fine,” he told Tom.

The man looked relieved, though his hands shook with nerves. “I'm glad. After what that crazy fucking vampire did to me, I wasn't so sure.”

“His name was Ivan Cardenas,” Nick told him. “How did he get you?”

“
Was
Ivan?” The man zeroed in on that word like a hawk.

“I killed him.”

“Good,” Tom spat. “Was on my way to work one day. My car was run off the road, and the vampire snatched me before I even knew what was going on. He brought me here and has been feeding off me ever since. Only, he hasn't come back since last night, and now I know why.”

“Tom, this is important. Did the vampire mention how he was able to pull off putting another mechanic in his place?”

“Yeah. Asshole bragged about it. Said that Sorcerer of his spelled Grant to think I'd quit and sign off on hiring the Sorcerer in disguise as some guy named Morgan. Grant never knew, according to the vampire.”

Damn. Jarrod was going to feel terrible about this, even though it wasn't his fault. But they'd deal with that later.

“The important thing is, you're going to be all right,” Nick told him, giving him a reassuring smile. “We're going to take you back to the compound where you're going to be on strict rest for a few days, and that's an order.”

“My job?” he asked anxiously.

“Is still yours. That wasn't even a question.”

“Thanks, Nick.”

Tom was fading fast, and needed medical attention. They whisked him back to the compound, and Nick left him in the capable hands of his medical team. Once Tom had been taken away, Tarron turned to Nick.

“I'm going to go. Give my sister my love, and I'll see you both soon.”

“I will. And thank you, for everything.”

The vampire smiled, showing off a hint of his fangs. “I'd say we helped each other. Besides, there's no thank-you necessary among family.”

Family. Nick had one now. A real family. His life truly had turned into a walking miracle.

He couldn't ask for more.

*   *   *

When Calla awoke, the first gray streaks of dawn were just beginning to spread across the sky, chasing the darkness back to the other side of the world. She knew exactly what had awakened her.

Nick was wrapped around her, but he wasn't asleep. Not even close. He was nuzzling her neck, one arm draped across her, his fingers tracing the swell of her breasts.

“Baby, are you awake?” he whispered playfully.

“No, I'm not. Go back to sleep.” Of course, he'd do no such thing and she'd have been disappointed if he had.

“You feel so good. Come here,” he growled, rolling her onto her back.

“You're insatiable.” She smiled up at him.

“Only when it comes to you.”

Nick captured her face with both hands and lowered his lips to hers. God, she couldn't get enough of him. He was becoming an addiction. The more she tasted him, the more she wanted. He'd loved her for hours the night before, in every conceivable way, but it still wasn't enough. Moving over her, he covered her body with his, enfolding her in his embrace.

He claimed her once more, this time loving her with great tenderness, as if she were a priceless treasure. In her entire life, she'd never imagined sharing this sort of intimacy in lovemaking. Nick wasn't like anyone else, ever.

He was the man—wolf—for her.

Moving within her, he stoked the fires until the blaze consumed them both. Their passion erupted with force as they melted together, riding the pulsating waves. At last, he collapsed with a shudder, holding her tightly.

Calla ran her hands over his back, wondering how she'd ever lived without this, without him.

“Where are we going to live?” he asked. “I've been meaning to broach the subject, but there hasn't been time. I'd be glad to travel back and forth between here and the stronghold.”

“But that would make your work harder for you,” she said.

“Some. But what you do with teaching the children is important, too.”

“I love you for that,” she said, stroking him. “But it's easier for me to travel than you. I say we live here and travel to my brother's as needed.”

“Are you sure?”

“Positive.”

He kissed her soundly. “It's settled, then.”

He became quiet, and she asked, “Is there something else on your mind?”

“There is.” After a pause, he said, “You know how you said it's rare for vampire females to give birth?”

“I remember.” She pulled back and looked into his earnest face, already smiling inside and out.

“Well, do you think we could try? If you want to, I mean. I know I already have a daughter, but I missed out on so much of her growing-up years, it aches,” he whispered.

“Oh, honey.”

“Please, consider it? He could be a little vampire, or a wolf. Could he be both? I wonder.”

“Well, I can't consider it.”

His face fell. “Why not?”

“Because it's already a done deal, my commander.”

“You mean—?” His face lit with untold joy.

“Yes. We'll just have to find out what special gifts our baby has when he arrives.”

Laughing, her mate pulled her into his arms and made love to her again. And again.