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Hearts of Warriors Ch. 01

By: JazCullen



Here we go again. Buckle seatbelts, hold on tight, and have fun reading LOL!

That break I was having didn't last too long again. Can't keep the stories out of my head or my fingers off the keyboard :-)

This story is probably best read after reading the preceding ones in the FTI saga, the order to read can be found on my Lit profile.

To my regular readers, welcome back. To any new ones, I hope you enjoy.

Special thanks as always goes to the Guild for all their help. Also to the tweeps who I've teased mercilessly with updates on how far I've gotten in this story without posting it up yet (LOL). They've been very patient with me.

Once more mikothebaby is giving up her valuable time to edit for me and I can never say thank you adequately enough to her. You're the best!

Enjoy 

*

Prologue

Romania -- Twenty-five years ago

The two dark-haired males travelled fast, the scent of blood strong in the air as they ascended higher into the heavily-wooded mountain range. It was well past dawn but the air was cold despite the sunshine piercing the wide canopy of the trees. 

Not that either of the males felt the cold. They were vampires; one so Ancient he'd existed over two thousand years, the other an Elder who was barely a handful of years from reaching his thirteenth century. They'd known each other a long time and were comfortable travelling together in silence as they strove to reach their target.

Their passage was silent despite their incredible speed, their eyes completely black, long wicked-looking black talons at the ready. Modern day humans had such a mythical view of what real vampires were. They would have been horrified to see them running in sunshine without burning to ash.

It was what the species had propagated over the years, lies and deception to hide their very existence. Humans had to believe vampires didn't exist and if they did then humans had to feel safe, had to think vampires had Achilles heels like sunshine, (and) holy water, garlic and crosses. 

The truth was it was all ridiculous nonsense. Taking a vampire's head could kill him; complete incineration could kill him but that was about the sum extent of what could endanger a vampire's life. They could walk in the sun, their hearts beat just like anyone else's, and they could even drink any beverage they wanted to if they enjoyed the flavour. 

The one myth which was true was they required human blood to survive. Most existed by utilising the many private blood banks run by their kind. They did indulge on humans but it was for recreational purposes when they were involved in their second favourite pastime, having sex. Their human partners were never aware of the vampire taking a small sip of the precious life-giving blood in the throes of passion.

They had managed to maintain their secret existence for millennia this way.

With long life came apathy though. The vampire species had become cold, devoid of emotions and incredibly arrogant. Their superiority had set them up as being the only species they cared about and that had led to imbalance and intolerance.

The two males were on their way to seek another of their kind. He was urgently required for a task that was so important it could stop a civil war and possibly avert the destruction of the vampire nation. If he didn't agree to help, if harm came to those who were about to be placed under his protection, then the Ancient vampire with midnight black hair was positive the wrath of a reincarnated vampire queen would spill over. 

And heaven help all who stood in her and her allies' way when it did.

Demetri Bozic slowed when the scent of blood became overpowering, signalling Pietro de la Rios to slow his run as they approached the area. The other male instantly obeyed, his dark brown hair swaying in the wind as the sound of fighting reached their ears.

They came across the body of a slain vampire almost immediately. The head of the Youngling was detached and lay a few feet from the mangled corpse. There was still an expression of horror on the face of the male, as if he couldn't quite believe what had been coming his way.

It shouldn't have made Pietro smile but his lips quirked. If you were stupid enough to piss off an Elder then you paid the price. It was that simple for him. The law of the jungle was how he lived his life when he wasn't tending bar for Andrei Romanov. 

But even in supposed civilisation the rules were still the same. In a place like The Dive, a seedy club frequented by vampires, the law of the jungle still ruled. Only he was the king in that environment, taking care of the club while Andrei took care of his Council business.

The next body they came across was another Youngling, just as dead and just as surprised that his happy existence had been cut short.

"I'm seriously starting to like this guy," Pietro said with a laugh, his black eyes flashing with a hint of viciousness as the scent of blood became even stronger. He didn't bother keeping his voice low. The other vampires in the area would have heard his quietest whisper.

Demetri allowed himself a smile as he turned to his friend. "Yes, Mac is pretty impressive when he gets pissed off about something," he conceded. 

His own feral nature was asking to be set free at the blood and death around him. It was always a tightrope he walked when the hunt was on. But Demetri was Ancient and he'd learned to master the need to kill, only doing so when it was required. He was sure that whatever was going down at the moment, Mac had it all in hand and his help would not be required.

They moved forward past the dead and entered a wide clearing where two vampires danced around each other. It wasn't a natural clearing. It had been created as huge trees had been ruthlessly felled in the heat of battle. The once proud monoliths now littered the area at odd angles.

Demetri clacked his talons together as he watched another dark-haired vampire spin high in the air, his left leg coming out to catch a blond male Youngling across the face sending him crashing into another tree which groaned and shook with the impact.

Mackenzie moved with a lethal grace which was almost hypnotic to watch. His hair as black as Demetri's, his eyes even blacker, he flowed effortlessly towards the stunned vampire, moving in for the kill. Hard muscles flexed under his black silk shirt, his talons ripping through flesh as if it was the most gossamer lace.

The Youngling shrieked in agony as his face disintegrated before he could defend himself. His shriek cut off as the merciless talons ripped through his throat. With almost no exertion required, Mac severed the head from the body and watched dispassionately as it rolled to the forest floor.

"Sometimes it's too easy, Demetri," he said quietly, his back still towards the new arrivals. His muscles were tense but there was no hint of fear in his voice.

"I know what you mean, Mackenzie," Demetri replied, his lips quirking. His friend had felled half a forest taking out three Younglings and he called it easy. He knew he had chosen the right man for the task ahead.

Mackenzie turned then, his thick warrior's plait swaying as he made a subtle shift inside himself and his fangs and talons disappeared. Returning from his feral state should have shifted his eye colour too but they stayed as black as night. He regarded Demetri intently for a long moment then switched his gaze to the other vampire.

"You're not travelling with your usual cohort," he remarked. Though he very seldom made it stateside he was well aware of what was going on over there and knew that his friend was tight with Caleb Cullen, an Ancient he hadn't had the pleasure of meeting.  

He didn't know who Demetri's current travelling companion was but he didn't view him as a threat. The Ancient was the only person that Mackenzie came even close enough to trusting. His friend wouldn't bring anyone untrustworthy into his presence.

Mac strode over to Demetri and clasped arms in the traditional greeting of vampires who considered each other friends. "It's been a long time. I take it you need me for something? I hardly think you're here to enjoy the scenery."

Demetri laughed quickly, surveying the area again. "You don't appear to be too enamoured with the scenery yourself, Mac." It had been too long since they'd caught up with each other. He'd forgotten how much he enjoyed Mac's blunt way of speaking his mind. 

"Pietro, meet Mackenzie," he continued, getting the introductions out of the way. His gaze met Mac's. "Pietro's a friend, so please refrain from trying to detach his head from his body. I'd hate to have to kick your ass for you."

A rare smile cracked Mac's face, amusement dancing in his eyes. "You could try but I've just had a little warm up session so I fear you may be at a disadvantage." He nodded at Pietro in acknowledgement and then turned to start building a funeral pyre for the dead.

"I am really starting to like this guy," Pietro laughed as Demetri rolled his eyes but didn't respond to the subtle jibe Mac had thrown his way. 

The Ancient found a stable tree trunk and sat down as he watched Pietro vanish from the clearing only to return a moment later with one of the bodies they'd passed on their way there.

"So what did these three do to piss you off, Mac?" Demetri knew there had to have been a reason for his friend destroying their kind. The other vampire never did anything without a reason.

"It's wild out here, Demetri," Mac answered as he continued to collect wood for the fire. "You've got it too cushy stateside. There is a lack of mentoring being done for new Sirings. Some cross over like these three and need to be put down. Our kind on this continent has forgotten the old ways; a fair number think they're even superior to The Council. They've lost respect."

Demetri nodded silently, watching the others work. Secrecy was paramount and all remains were always burnt to ash to ensure no humans accidentally stumbled across proof of their existence. The likelihood of anyone coming across remains this high in the Romanian mountains was small but it was ingrained in all of them to cover their tracks.

"We are aware of the issues," he finally said. "Alexei had to sort things out in Ecuador a number of years ago. But we've had our own issues to deal with too. We only just managed to stop a civil war not so long ago."

Mac snorted, tossing his blond victim onto the gathered wood as Pietro tossed the other two on top of him. "I love the way you prevent a civil war," he laughed. "Dissolve a Council and set up another to your own liking. Isn't there something a little autocratic about that, my friend?" 

Demetri shrugged, and a smile lit up his handsome face. "Times are changing, Mac. You know how resistant to change our people can be. Sometimes the ends justify the means. The last Council was corrupt, ready to start all out war with the Weres. That couldn't be allowed to happen."

Mac straightened and looked him in the eye. His expression was carefully neutral. "Why not? Isn't natural selection the way of the world?"

Pietro barked out a loud laugh as he struck a match and lit the pyre. "Andrei Romanov naturally selected a she-wolf for his mate, as did his twin Alexei. Add in the fact that Nors Eriksson did too and that should answer your question, Mackenzie."

He watched the flames dance for a moment then turned to look at the vampire at his side. "Or maybe I should say their wolves selected them," he amended. "The night Loretta caught Andrei canoodling with Marcia was priceless. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time. Loretta calm as you like just upended a whole bucket of iced soda on the pair of them, right in front of everyone. I don't think Andrei knew whether to kiss her or kill her."

"Pietro," Demetri sighed, trying to stifle down his impatience. If he'd heard that story once since they'd been travelling together, he'd heard it a thousand times. While it had been amusing the first couple of times it was wearing old now.

"You had to be there, Demetri. It was funny as fuck."

Mac watched them carefully, his mind whirling as he tried to figure out what Demetri wanted from him. He knew three Ancients had mated with Weres. He could also tell that, despite his laughter, Pietro was tight with the Romanovs and would view anyone out to hurt them as a personal threat. His amusing anecdote was more than humour; it was a subtle warning to him to be careful what he said.

There was more to Pietro than the easy, relaxed persona he displayed. Stupidity not being one of his character traits, Mac tagged him as one to watch in the future. 

"There's more," Demetri said, ignoring Pietro and signalling for them to come and sit down. They both moved gracefully towards different fallen trees and sat facing him.

"What I tell you now is so secret that if either of you utter a word of it you will die instantly," Demetri said calmly. There was no false bravado in his voice; it was a statement of fact. This secret would end a life in a blink of an eye and they had to be under no illusions about it.

Demetri's matter-of-fact tone piqued Mac's curiosity as well as Pietro's. Both of them knew how to hold their tongue and they weren't concerned with his statement. 

"Go ahead," Mac said quietly.

Demetri gauged their expressions for a moment and then let out a deep breath. Caleb had told him he could reveal this if he was certain it was safe enough. He trusted Mac a lot and had known Pietro most of his life. 

"The Queen of Vampires had been reincarnated."

Silence greeted his words and then a slow smile crossed Pietro's face. "That's a neat trick, Demetri. I didn't even know there was one, let alone that she'd died."

"The Council destroyed all knowledge of the past countless millennia ago," Demetri answered. "But they were unable to destroy the natural way of things. Over six thousand years ago our people lived in a matriarchal society, ruled by a vampire queen. Her name was Anakatrine and her king was Callain. She also had a Guardian in her brother and together they ruled in peace, a triumvirate of power, not just vampiric but also magical."

Mac quirked an eyebrow in surprise; his thoughts were racing at what was being revealed. "I'd heard rumours that the dark arts were once used by vampires. I'd always considered it nonsense."

"To a certain extent it was," Demetri conceded. "Only the triumvirate had those powers, not the entire nation. And I wouldn't refer to them as the dark arts either. They were only used for good, not evil."

"If these three were all powerful as you say, then how could they be destroyed?" Pietro asked. His mind was whirling too, trying to piece together who the players were in his world so he could work out what was going on.

"Anakatrine formed the first vampire council. She thought our people were ready to govern themselves. Instead they rose up against her when the very first Vampire/Were mating occurred three thousand years ago. She was destroyed along with Callain but their souls have been reborn."

Mac took the news the way he did everything, in stride. He knew it had to be true because it was Demetri who was regaling him with the knowledge. His faith in his friend was absolute. It was the only thing he could be totally sure of in his life. "Do they wish to reinstate this ancient royal hierarchy?" he asked curiously.

Demetri laughed. "Quite the opposite, my friend. They wish to live their lives on the sidelines, enjoying the peace they craved so badly long ago. But to do that they must nudge our people in the right direction. The first steps have been taken and change is coming, but they need good people to help create the world they envision."

"Fuck me!" Pietro exclaimed loudly jumping up from his perch, his hazel eyes going wide with shock. "It's Caleb and Annie, isn't it?" 

Demetri's complete loyalty to the other Ancient and his mate was renowned. There was no one else in their world the Ancient respected more, no one else he would follow. Putting two and two together had turned out to be easier than he'd anticipated.

Demetri's slow nod confirmed the identity of the royal couple. "The Guardian survived the cull at the time, as did the first hybrid child," he told them gravely. "They are now mated and live within the Armand-Hanlon pack, which brings us to the reason why I've sought you out, Mac."

Mackenzie waited silently, digesting the news and mulling things over slowly as he waited to hear what else was to come. He would have to be very careful with how he proceeded. He had no doubt Demetri would try to take his head if he made the wrong move. Pietro was an Elder too, a couple of hundred years younger than himself but he no doubt had strong skills to be travelling with his friend.

"There was an incursion recently against the Armand-Hanlon pack," Demetri continued. "The consensus is it was instigated in Europe and has something to do with the recent births of a number of hybrid children. This is unacceptable. No harm can be allowed to come to the children; they are our future, our most precious treasure. Pietro has been tasked to try and infiltrate this shadowy body who would try to hurt them. You, Mac, are being asked to protect them as they grow."

It was the last thing Mac had expected and his surprise clearly showed on his face before he could mask his expression. "You want me to be a babysitter?"

Demetri laughed at his dry tone. "Not as such. They have an entire pack and half the stateside vampires to babysit them on a daily basis. No, the triumvirate wish you to head an elite team of guardians they intend to resurrect from the past."

He rose and paced across the clearing, tensing slightly as he scented the night air before he relaxed and returned to his seat. "The Praetorians were once the queen's elite guard. She disbanded them when she raised the first vampire council. If she hadn't maybe she would have survived what was to come, but the decision was made at the time and it proved fatal.

They were unknown to anyone who wasn't in their ranks with the exception of the triumvirate. The same restrictions would be in place this time around. The pack would know about you but not who you are. The children would be unaware of your presence."

Mac shot a pointed look in Pietro's direction. "Is he supposed to be my first recruit?"

Pietro looked stunned at the prospect, glancing from Demetri to Mac and back again. No one had said anything to him about being part of some secret organisation when he'd been asked to take on his current mission.

"Pietro will be loosely aligned with The Praetorians though not a full member. His own task is vital, so we need him in place as soon as possible. He will report to you anything he discovers and you will then update the triumvirate. It's an added cloak of secrecy to protect them and the children should Pietro be discovered."

The clearing fell silent as both vampires mulled over Demetri's words. Pietro had no issue with anything he'd heard. Caleb had come to him, placed his trust in him, and pissed off Andrei big time when he'd stolen him from tending bar. His amusement alone had been enough to make him want this mission. He so enjoyed seeing Andrei having to back down when he didn't want to. It was one of his favourite pastimes.

And he adored the wolves. He knew his views on Weres went against the grain for most of his kind but he couldn't help it. When Loretta had come into Andrei's life, it had set the Ancient's head spinning. She had saved Andrei's life as surely as if she'd taken a sword aimed at his head. For that she would always have Pietro's allegiance as would any child of hers. 

Loretta had taught him that wolves had a fierce nature, steadfast loyalty(,) and were sassy as hell. He loved all those character traits, hell he might even end up with a wolf bitch as his mate too one of these days. Stranger things had happened.


Hearts of Warriors Ch. 01



"I'm in," he smiled at Demetri. "Just point me where you want me and I'll get all the intelligence you need."

Demetri nodded turning his gaze to meet Mac's. He wondered if he would need to use his ace card to convince the other Elder to take up the reins of The Praetorians. He didn't want to but the children were at risk. If he had to bring up the past to secure their future then he would.

"So you want me to run this elite guard, train up loyal vampires and protect a wolf pack without being seen by them or our charges?" Mac finally asked staring into the dying embers of the funeral pyre. "Just how is that supposed to work, Demetri, if we have to stay hidden from the very people we're meant to protect?"

Demetri smiled, relaxing completely as he watched his friend. The tone of Mac's voice told him everything; his request for more information a clear indicator that he would accept the task given to him.

"By scent," he answered. "The children are extraordinarily talented, Mac. They can mask their true scent and are receiving instruction in how to do so as quickly as possible. The Praetorians will be given their true scent. Only when they leave the compound will you have to track them. They will release their scent for a fraction of a second before they mask it, allowing their guardians to follow their 'new' scent at a distance. 

They will have no idea why they're doing it, but this practice will be taught until it becomes an ingrained habit. It's imperative they have a normal childhood, not just for their sake but for everyone who loves them. You know how volatile the Romanovs are. They've become worse since they've had children."

Mac did know the Romanovs well, though it had been many years since he'd been in their company. The fallout of anything happening to their offspring would be catastrophic. 

He'd known instantly he was going to accept control of The Praetorians. Demetri had known it too, the moment the children were mentioned. Memories flashed unbidden; a babe in a bloody gown with her throat ripped out, a woman lying dead at her side.

Mackenzie pushed down the memories ruthlessly, his face a hard mask, no sign of the gut wrenching pain he was experiencing coming to light. He had failed a child once before, so very long ago when life had been much simpler. He would never fail a child again. He would die before another babe was destroyed because of his inaction.

"What else do I need to know?" His voice was as unemotional as his expression, acceptance in the words he spoke.

Demetri's deep green eyes glowed with respect, his nod conveying his thanks. He knew what Mackenzie was thinking of, knew his hard mask hid an agony he would never personally understand. 

He'd been there that day so very long ago, had seen the madness of grief in the human male's eyes as he'd discovered his wife and child dead. It was one of the very few times Demetri Bozic had ever chosen to Sire another to the life of a vampire. He had stopped the man from taking his own life, had healed his wounds and mentored him past the bloodlust. 

Then he had taught him everything he knew about how to protect and how to kill. Mackenzie had been honed in a fire of fury and revenge. His entire life had been consumed with the need to fight for a cause, to right any wrong he came across. 

Without realising it, Demetri had carefully crafted the ultimate killing machine on the side of good. The children could have no better protector, of that he was certain.

The sun slipped low over the horizon as the three male vampires huddled together talking in low voices despite their secluded location. High in the mountains in the wilderness of Romania, the Praetorians were once again born.

*****

Present Day

A quarter of a century had passed since that day and Mac was standing in the outer courtyard of a secluded building high in the mountains surrounding the Armand-Hanlon pack. He was staring at five men and three women who had applied to join the Praetorians, vampires whose loyalties had been checked rigorously before they reached this point of their induction.

The Praetorians' one objective remained the same. Protect the Vârcolac, the Romanian title given to Vampire/Were children. Technically the word could be used for either a vampire or a Were. There was no true name for a hybrid, but someone had decided they didn't like the term hybrid being used for the children so Vârcolac has been as good a name as any. 

Whatever their charges were termed made no difference to The Praetorians. They were to be protected at all costs; nothing was more important than that, even though the children were now fully grown adults. 

The Praetorians were above the normal chain of command, answerable only to three people, the members of the triumvirate. Before final selection occurred, one of the three would arrive and scan each candidate using their magic to determine any deception hidden deep within. No one could hide from the power they wielded no matter how skilled they were.

Mac knew that from personal experience. He could still remember that day as if it had just occurred. Demetri had taken him stateside straight to Caleb Cullen's home after Pietro had headed off to begin his mission.

He'd heard of Cullen before, though he hadn't met him. The sheer power oozing from the towering Ancient had been impressive, the way his golden brown eyes had bored into his soul intimidating even to one as confident as Mac. 

The Guardian had been equally as impressive, with flaming auburn hair and age oozing from his skin. His glowing lavender eyes were piercing as he too dug deep within Mac's soul.

But it was the petite redhead standing beside them that had brought a true chill to Mackenzie's soul that day. Rhianna Armand was but a babe, a Youngling not even a decade old. But by God, her eyes had held such power, flashing lavender like her brother's but with an intensity that had stripped him bare and left him feeling helpless.

One glance and he was hurtled back in time, screaming in raw agony over the bodies of his wife and child, wanting to die with them, unable to stand the thought of never seeing them alive again.

The vampire queen's eyes had suddenly brimmed with tears as she pierced every barrier he'd ever had, a muffled sob escaping her and drawing the eyes of the males who'd flanked her.

"Such suffering for one so noble," she'd whispered shakily, moving to stand before him and reaching a hand up towards his face.

He'd found himself leaning down without conscious thought, allowing her to cup his cheek gently and soothe some of the inner anguish he'd felt. The pain had dulled slightly, had become more bearable. He'd instinctually known she would be able to soothe him.

She wept for him. This small woman with eyes so old they told a thousand tales of her own loss and suffering, her own heartbreak at what had befallen her people. She had stolen his allegiance in that very moment. He'd been ready to sink to his knees before his queen but her eyes had told him not to.

"You will be the perfect guardian for our children, Mackenzie," she'd said softly. "One day you will know peace again, proud warrior. I don't know when that will be but I do know it's fated for you. Welcome, my Praetorian."

And his new life had begun that day, blessed by a queen and her king and guardian. The males had used their powers to assess his loyalty but he'd sensed Rhianna's acceptance was all they'd required to accept him as the right candidate to lead the elite guard. 

He had pledged himself wholeheartedly to his task, and to date he had been worthy of his queen's trust. Not one hair on the children had been harmed since they came under his care. They'd seldom left the compound as they grew up and were zealously protected by their parents when they did. The Praetorians had followed discreetly on those occasions, close enough to be available if required but always far enough to escape the children's notice.

Not one Praetorian had ever sighted one of the Vârcolac even though they knew where they were every second of every day. Their charges had been able to grow up happy and carefree. 

Mac was proud that he'd achieved what was asked of him. For some unknown reason, no new children had been conceived in the last twenty-five years. Rhianna had told him once that it was a puzzle to everyone why this was the case. 

The current train of thought was it had something to do with the hybrid nature of the parents. With both being effectively immortal there was talk of it possibly being nature's way of balancing out the numbers. 

The Were doctors believed that once the current generation reached full maturity, the reproduction cycle would likely begin again. If that was the case then the possibility of new Vârcolac being conceived was highly imminent, which meant Mac needed to increase the number of Praetorians.

Sometimes the elite guard were also called on to come in contact with the Weres directly though their counterparts had no idea they were in the presence of one of the Praetorians. They were usually disguised as mere bodyguards for a Were/Council meeting, something so ordinary none of the Weres thought anything of it.

To this end, Mac had two of his most trusted people in close proximity to the Alphas of both the Armand-Hanlon and Hanlon packs, though they never entered the compounds so they could avoid being detected by the children.

All candidates went through rigorous training by his lieutenants, but Mac had final say on all who came under his command. And he wasn't easy on those who thought they could hack it.

Now his cold, black eyes surveyed those gathered before him. He'd already discounted two of them. Neither had held his gaze for the required length of time he demanded of them. If they couldn't look him in the eye for more than ten seconds then it showed they were weaker than they thought.

Holding Mac's gaze was a chilling experience. He knew others saw death when they looked in his eyes. Most vampires had to be in their feral state to have irises the same hue as his, but Mac wasn't in his feral state. His eyes were a bottomless pit of utter darkness, disconcerting and deadly in appearance.

He discounted one of the women when she looked away after less than five seconds and turned to the final woman at the end of the line. There was something unusual about this one. He'd known it instantly because he'd noticed her the second he'd walked out of the large house the Praetorians used as their base. 

She'd drawn his eye as he made his way down the six steps to stand before them, his agile mind flicking through what he knew about her. Andrea Ruminskey, an Elder of just under one hundred and fifty years old. She was the sole survivor of a European coven massacre a decade ago. 

Not a lot was known about her other than that, except she was fast, deadly, and was the top candidate out of the eight wanting to join him. He'd tasked Pietro to find out as much as he could about her. His report hadn't thrown up any red flags.

She appeared to be just what her file told him. What his eyes told him was she was five foot nine inches tall, had thick, wavy brown hair with traces of gold hidden within. She currently had it tied back in a high ponytail and the style accented the graceful sweep of her high cheekbones and exquisitely beautiful features. 

Sleek, toned muscles graced her body clad in black cargo pants and tank top. She was dressed as a soldier but had none of the butch look some fighting women could develop. 

No, the generous handful of breasts beneath her tank top screamed woman at him and his cock had fisted hard as he'd walked down the steps to come and stand before the gathered candidates. 

That was an interesting development. He hadn't lain with a woman for a couple of weeks, having been away on assignment. He didn't usually fuck the women in his team either. Maybe Andrea Ruminskey would fail his test. He could fuck her before he tossed her out on her ass.

Mac stiffened as he stared into chocolate eyes that appeared to be amused. How long had he been ruminating? How long had he had her gaze trapped with his as his cock twitched at the thought of fucking her? He knew the answer to that question even though he hadn't been paying much attention at the time. Their gaze had been locked for at least twenty seconds. 

Fuck, that put paid to thoughts of fucking her. He was irritated to note she was not only holding his gaze. She appeared to be silently laughing at him, as if she knew the direction his mind had wandered. He would have to put her in her place, make sure she knew just who was in command here. Over confidence was just as dangerous as being too weak.

Turning from her, he pointed out the three he'd marked earlier and one of his men marched forward and motioned them to follow him. They would be gone within five minutes. He could feel the brunette's eyes on his back and forced himself to disregard her, as he did the others, to have a quiet word with Karn, his second in command.

Liliana Rose Romanov watched the tall vampire turn away from her and fought hard to keep her expression neutral. Her lips were so tempted to curve into a wide smile, but she didn't think that would go down well with the male she wanted to impress. 

Mac was glorious, everything she had been told and then some. His physique was that of a seasoned soldier, all hard muscles and lethal grace. He wore his inky-black hair long and secured in a thick braid but the best feature about him was his eyes. They were black as midnight, devoid of any light or softness. They were the eyes of a predator.

When she'd made the decision to join the Praetorians, she'd researched its leader carefully and had been intrigued by what she'd discovered. He was an Elder just past fifteen hundred years old and he was the perfect vampire. Unlike most of their kind who had some affiliation to at least one or more people, Mac appeared to have none.

There was no family lurking in the background, no friends or acquaintances he aligned himself with. He appeared completely alone though she wasn't fooled by the knowledge she'd unearthed about him.

Yes, the man was cold and remote, ruthless in his dealings with everyone but she'd managed to ferret out that he classed Demetri as his friend. As her adopted uncle had impeccable taste and didn't give his friendship lightly, that spoke volumes about just what kind of man Mac was. 

That information earned him her respect and she'd delved deeper, loving everything she'd managed to uncover about Mackenzie. She was very good at ferreting out things, which was how she'd come to discover the shadowy world of the Praetorians in the first place.

She was eighteen the first time she'd become aware of something not quite right around the compound. Her inquisitive nature had kicked in and instead of telling anyone she'd began working harder on her shadowing technique until she could shift to her wolf form and shadow herself deep within the forest.

She'd caught her very first glimpse of Mac that day. Her heart had faltered as he'd stridden into a clearing obviously meeting up with his soldiers. He'd reminded her of some great general from the past commanding his people with short clipped sentences. He'd been nothing short of a God in her eyes, the first unattached male to catch her inexperienced eye. 

She'd had an ill-advised crush on Aaron the month before but Jen had sat her down and been very kind even as she'd politely advised her she'd kick her ass all over the compound if she came anywhere near her mate. Lily had wanted to die of embarrassment but Jen had finished her warning with her customary warm hug and a promise that one day she'd find her soul mate so she should practice patience until that happened.

The problem was Lily had a bit of an issue with patience sometimes, which was how she'd found herself deep in the forest, listening to Mac talk with his people, learning all about the Praetorians and their mission. She was amazed and pleased to discover that Jen had been proven right and she'd had barely a month to wait.

As her eyes had feasted on the delicious male in front of her, the need to growl loudly had almost overcome her and given away her presence, but she'd managed to contain her wolf as the stupid thing had started screaming mine at the top of its lungs. 

She hadn't needed her wolf to tell her that, she'd known the instant she'd seen him that Mackenzie belonged to her. It was then she understood Jen's words of wisdom about having patience. 

A man like Mac needed a strong woman and she was barely into maturity. She'd need a little more time to grow up and work on becoming the kind of woman Mac would find irresistible.

Today, the final phase of Operation Mackenzie would begin. Lily didn't even entertain the possibility that she would fail to win this proud warrior's heart. Failure was just not an option. He belonged to her; it was as simple as that. She was everything he desired even if he didn't know it yet.

Lily continued watching him as he kept his back to the waiting candidates. Everything about him screamed danger; the way he moved, the dead black eyes he used mercilessly against everyone. Most people would shy away from a man like him but Lily wasn't most people. She was used to dealing with feral males with lightening tempers which could spring up out of nowhere. Her father was a prime example of that.

Lily couldn't stop her lips from twitching fractionally as she thought of her dad. She adored him even when he drove her to act impulsively as she was doing now. Her mother tried her hardest to temper his over-protectiveness but the man still managed to be everywhere Lily turned around.

Not one male in the pack had been brave enough to come near her. Any that had even dared look in her direction quickly averted their gaze once her father noted their interest. The man could be so insufferable at times, pigheaded and frustrating. No one was good enough for his little girl and it had driven her insane.

That was the second reason she'd carefully constructed a personal history for 'Andrea Ruminskey.' Apart from the obvious one - the Praetorians would recognise her name and send her home with a flea in her ear - her false identity made it harder for Andrei to track her down. She'd had to use every bit of her computer skills to create the fictitious woman so she could get past the stringent checks done on all candidates for the Praetorians. 

Thankfully she wasn't well known in the vampire community because of Andrei's paranoia that someone would hurt his children. They'd been kept to pack lands the majority of their lives. It had taken her a good decade of slipping away using her shadowing abilities to 'live' a secret life as Andrea. She'd only needed to put in small appearances here and there so people got to know of her.

Having the ability to mask her scent was an added bonus. She'd carefully practiced her skill until she had it down to a fine art. Anyone could scent her now and all they would sense would be her vampiric half. Her Were side was hidden deeply within her. That pissed off her wolf a bit but she understood. She was just as frustrated at being caged by their father.

Lily knew her parents were probably furious with her right now, but she was determined to go through with her plans. She'd left them a note to say she was fine and would be in contact soon. She didn't want them to think she'd been kidnapped and call out the Praetorians to try and track her down. That would be too ironic.

Andrei's overpowering protectiveness had caged her, stifled her adventurous spirit so much she'd had to get away. She was almost thirty and had never truly experienced life. She knew her father loved her, was terrified something terrible would happen to her because of her heritage. But he was incapable of seeing that he was smothering her and denting her self-confidence. She needed to prove to herself what she was capable of, learn who she was as a person and not just a Vârcolac.




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 01



Now she stood at the threshold of learning just who she was. Another man stood in her way of that but she was confident she could impress Mac enough to join his people. He already desired her, a fact which had her preening. The first step in her campaign was underway. True, his instant desire could possibly prove an obstacle if he decided it would get in the way of working together. Still, she was used to finding ways around potential problems.

Letting her amusement show in her expression had been a deliberately calculated move. Their leader didn't strike her as the type of man who would appreciate being laughed at. She wanted him pissed off, ready to take her down a peg or two. She was in for a world of hurt when he kicked her ass but she'd cope with it if it meant she would be accepted into his team.

Lily knew she could most likely escape most of the punishment Mac would deal out. But to do so would be advertising she was a Vârcolac and that was something she wanted to keep a closely-guarded secret. The moment he found out who she was he'd kick her out and she'd be back at the compound before she could blink.

No, she'd have to keep her reflexes just dull enough to get marked up a bit, lose a bit of blood and some of her dignity. She could cope with that.

Her heart sped up as Mac finally turned around and looked at her again. His expression was cold and hard, his dark eyes bleeding into her soul. The man took her breath away just looking at her and she felt an unfamiliar flutter in the pit of her stomach.

So this was what being attracted to a male felt like? It wasn't something she'd experienced much of but she certainly liked the thrill of anticipation running through her body. It made her heart kick up another beat and her pulse start to race. It made her feel alive.

She quickly used a mental exercise to calm herself down so he couldn't pick up her elevated pulse. One long finger crooked in her direction, beckoning her forward.

"Front and centre, Ruminskey!" 

Lily almost trembled as his voice rasped over her skin in a delicious caress. It was so deep, so cold; it was like being bathed in an ice bath. Her wolf growled her approval and her vampire coiled tight with anticipation. Mac was just perfect in every way. He called to her as no man had managed to before. 

Demetri had a saying he was fond of, "Time to dance with the devil."

Liliana Rose stepped forward smartly and kept her gaze locked with Mac's. It was most definitely time to dance with her own personal devil, and she couldn't wait for the experience.

To be continued...



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 02



 My thanks to mikothebaby for giving up her time to edit for me once more :-)

Enjoy! 

*

Mackenzie watched the woman step forward, his dark gaze analysing the way she appeared to flow across the ground. Toned muscles rippled with strength, her movements fluid and graceful. He felt need claw at his gut, hard and relentless as he imagined other situations a body that tantalising could move in. It was unwelcome and irritating because Ruminskey still had that almost-smile on her face, as if she were reading his mind.

He felt his irritation ratchet up and fought to contain it. He was a firm believer that fighting in anger led to a man's downfall, particularly when you were simply training. In a fight, you need to stay clear-headed at all times, to analyse your opponent's weaknesses and strike at them. Allowing emotions to get in the way led to mistakes that caused serious injuries, maybe even death.

So he pushed down his irritation and watched the brunette carefully, trying to work out if there were any little tell tale signs he could exploit while they sparred. He wasn't expecting to see much until they began sparring, but he'd be a fool not to begin his assessment immediately.

He turned away from her and let his gaze travel over the others. "Confidence in your abilities is commendable," he informed them, his voice low and cold. "Overconfidence is a death sentence. You've made it this far but you still have two hurdles to get through. The first will be hand-to-hand combat with me. The second will come after I am satisfied you're worthy to be here."

His gaze turned back to Ruminskey who was standing at attention, her deep brown eyes riveted to his face. There was a question in her gaze as if she itched to ask what the second thing was. He had no intention of telling any of them what their last hurdle would be before they became Praetorians. Some of them may fail this stage and secrecy was paramount.

"Follow me," he said, turning on his heel and striding around the large house towards the back.

Lily had to bite down the urge to sigh with pleasure as she watched Mac walk away. Her expression appeared impassive but her body was humming with excitement. Her greedy gaze took in his strong back and narrow waist, but it was his thick thighs and taut ass which caused her the most pain. Lord, could a man look any hotter? The urge to sink her teeth into his delectable flesh was almost overpowering.

'Concentrate, Lily," she mentally shook herself. If she became distracted by thoughts of hot sweaty bodies writhing together she was seriously going to get her ass kicked by Mac and destroy any hope of joining the Praetorians. She had to contain her lustful thoughts until the time was more appropriate.

As if she had the first clue about what to do with him anyway. Oh, she knew the whole concept about sex and mating; hell, growing up in a Were compound was an eye-opening experience. Wolves were very sensual creatures and she'd gotten many an eyeful of some very interesting things once she was older. 

She knew all about lust and how wild and untamed it was between mates. She just didn't have any first-hand experience because her father had kept all men at bay from the moment she was old enough to be interested in the opposite sex.

Not that she'd wanted any of her pack mates. Not after she'd seen Mac in the forest all those years ago. From that moment onwards he'd been all she'd thought about, her every fantasy. And she'd had lots of fantasies! 

Despite her lack of experience, Lily was confident in her own abilities. She was half Were and half vampire. Both species were incredibly sensual creatures in their own right. Combined they had to be spectacular and she had no doubts she'd be a very fast learner in the bedroom.

"Whenever you're ready, Ruminskey!"

Mac's sharp words brought her out of her reverie and she realised she was still rooted to the spot ogling his backside like a teenager. She hid the flush which threatened to cross her cheeks and headed off after him, beginning one of her many mental exercises to focus her attention on what was to come. 

Behind the large house, the trees had been felled to create a huge open area. The ground was rough and hard and it was clear this was where a lot of fighting occurred. Some tree trunks had been placed together to the side, creating a natural seating area. The others had followed the two of them and one of Mac's men signalled to the other candidates to sit. 

The Praetorians placed themselves strategically close to the house and the candidates. They appeared relaxed but Lily wasn't fooled. These vampires were lethal. One wrong move by any of the new recruits and they would act without mercy.

Mackenzie stopped and turned to watch Ruminskey come to a halt a few feet in front of him. He was in control of his emotions once more, ignoring her womanly curves completely and sizing her up for her fighting abilities. The reports he'd had about her said she was fast. That point had been stressed, so he knew to be extra vigilant.

"We train in weapons as well as our natural abilities," he informed the entire group, although his gaze was locked with his opponent's. "You can use anything in that chest over there at any time."

Lily's gaze flicked to the chest that was being opened, having just been carried from the house by one of the Praetorians. She tried not to show her excitement. The Vârcolac had claws rather than the wicked talons vampires could produce. With that in mind, Gard had made sure they'd all been trained with knives and swords to protect themselves and keep vampires at arm's length. She excelled in both and she knew Mac would assume she would be a novice in that area like any typical vampire.

A blur of movement out of the corner of her eye was the only warning she received as she was distracted by the chest. She moved instinctively, dropping down rather than stepping to either side. She knew she didn't have time to avoid him completely and he would most likely expect her to back away.

She used Mac's forward momentum against him, punching up hard into his solar plexus and sending him flying over her head. She came up and spun around, her eyes never leaving him as he twisted agilely in the air and landed facing her, instantly at the ready.

A muscle twitched at the side of his mouth, the only indication he was impressed with the speed of her defensive move. "Never become distracted when facing an opponent," he said, giving her fellow recruits a running commentary as he began to circle to the left. 

"Distraction means not only failing to protect your charges but also your impending death. You must always know where your enemy is as all times." 

He nodded slightly at Lily and she felt a rush of pleasure wash through her. She'd impressed him, her mate, and it made her wolf howl with glee that their male respected their abilities. Another blur and a hand slammed painfully into her breast bone, sending her flying backwards.

"Fuck!" she hissed through clenched teeth, landing on her back but rolling instantly to the right and coming back up before Mac could launch himself at her again. She was furious with herself for being caught napping like that.

"Try helping me rather than rolling over on your back in submission," she derided her wolf, her eyes flashing with annoyance. Her wolf growled and crouched down low, eyeing their male with irritation. He was a sneaky one but they were sneakier. He didn't know just what was about to hit him.

Mac's lips curled in a slight smile, watching the irritation in Ruminskey's eyes as he landed a blow. She really didn't like that at all. He'd been surprised when she'd countered his first attack so easily, sure she was distracted enough that he'd land his first blow. 

He wondered what she'd been thinking of that allowed his second blow to connect. He'd naturally pulled his punch. Breaking her sternum wasn't the goal today but he'd packed enough of his strength into it to ensure it hurt -- a lot. 

He watched the irritation fade from her eyes to be replaced by calm thoughtfulness. He was impressed by how quickly she regrouped. Perhaps she was as good as his men reported her to be. He was instantly on alert. 

When she moved, she was so fast, so graceful that for a fraction of a second he could only stare at her in amazement. He braced for her attack, watching alertly to gauge where she was going to try and catch him off guard. She was almost on him when she suddenly veered away, catching him by surprise.

That split second of inattention was all Lily needed. Her gaze locked with Mac's and she saw the almost imperceptible widening of his eyes. She blurred as if moving left, watched his head tilt in that direction to track her. Her fist slammed down hard as she immediately countered her movement, catching him on the side of his face. Her other fist hit him in the sternum in the exact place he'd caught her a moment before.

She was over his head, flying gracefully through the air and out of arm's reach a nanosecond after her blows had landed.

A startled gasp resounded from the spectators as Mac slowly shook his head and turned around to face the woman who had just done the impossible. No one had ever sucker punched the head of the Praetorians in that manner. Sure, he took the odd hit now and then when sparring, but Ruminskey had just made him look like a clumsy novice.

While he could acknowledge that she lived up to her impressive file, there was no way he'd let her get away with making him look foolish, even if that's how he'd behaved. His attraction to her had knocked him off balance and he'd tempered his initial blow because she was female. He was furious with himself for making such a rookie mistake.

"Never underestimate your opponent." His tone was factual, calm, and steady. It masked the lethal anger he was battling deep down. "And always learn from your mistakes."

Lily read the intent in his eyes but managed to keep her expression impassive. He was pissed and that meant this sparring match was about to get ugly. She would have to be at full strength to avoid being hurt, but she couldn't do that without Mac realising there was something different about her. An Elder at her supposed age simply could not beat someone as old as Mac.

"Crap, this is going to hurt, girl," she told her wolf with a sigh. "You need to follow my lead. Don't get pissed and try to shift." She took a deep breath and felt for her animal's agreement. 

She could hold her other half by sheer force of personality but she liked sharing equally with her wolf. She believed that was what made her so good when it came to fighting, her respect for her wolf and acceptance of her duality.

Mac attacked before she got her animal's full agreement and she hissed as she was suddenly overcome by a thing of sheer beauty. Even as she dodged away from the vampire he was flowing through the air, all sleek muscles, deadly speed, and bone-crushing accuracy. Talons raked down her left cheek, slicing into her neck and hitting her collarbone.

"Sweet Jesus!" she groaned not even trying to counterattack, deciding to use her speed to get away from him before he could touch her again. Her face and neck ached and she could feel her blood flowing under her top and over the curve of her breast. 

"You concentrate on keeping our scent masked while I work on healing," she told her wolf. She usually healed as quickly as vampires did but she wanted to make sure that nothing gave her away, so she split her concentration to ensure the wounds closed as quickly as they should. 

Her eyes glittered as she kept her gaze locked on Mac's face. His expression was impassive but she could have sworn she saw his nostrils flare slightly, as if the scent of her blood was a weakness to him. Pity she couldn't let it flow longer and keep him off balance. Still, it would dry on her skin and hopefully tease him mercilessly.

So the gloves were off? Fire raced through her, adrenaline making her body coil with expectation. He'd drawn first blood but he would not get away with it. She would have the scent of his before their sparring session was over. 

She smiled a slow, lazy smile full of respect and also a hint of amusement. She already knew Mac didn't like it when she smiled. He'd be pissed that she was amused by his little nail session on her skin.

"Have we finished pissing about?" she asked tauntingly. "Let's do it then, Mackenzie. I was starting to get bored with your little love taps." She crooked a finger at him insultingly. "Come and get me."

It had the desired effect. It shouldn't have. Mackenzie was too old and experienced to fall for a ploy as blatant as that but her quiet laughter, her deliberate taunting appeared to infuriate him. He came at her with talons out and fangs elongated. Lily suddenly had to use every single trick Gard had ever taught her to keep him at bay.

They spun, slashed, and danced around each other in a flurry of strength and speed. Mac managed to land blows but nothing as hard as his last hit, just as her own blows glanced harmlessly off him as she attacked and then spun away.

Her male was lethal, poetry in motion as he parried and struck, twirling at superhuman speed to try and get under her guard. She danced towards him and then away, waiting for the moment when she could be close enough to draw his blood and be so quick about it that no one would notice her wolf claws coming out. 

It was exhilarating, sheer joy to spar with her mate, to see and feel his strength flowing around her. She was strong and fast and she needed a mate who could keep up with her, who could earn her respect enough that she'd be willing to submit to him. Mac was proving to be everything she could need and more.

Lily finally got her opportunity, finally managed to slip under his defences while his huge body blocked her from the others. Her subtle shift was instantaneous, her wolf alert for it, sharp claw breaking through her fingertips. They imbedded deep into Mac's right side, punching hard and ripping down. Blood flowed, the rich, heady scent of it filling her nostrils and making her head swim.

She saw shock in his gaze, his lips tightening against the pain, then his black eyes turned feral and her heart thumped painfully hard in her chest. Agony like nothing she'd ever experienced ripped through her. Mac's talons tore through her shoulder as they stood locked together.

"Does that hurt, sugar?" he whispered, gritting his teeth as her claws flexed inside him, curling instinctively against the pain she was experiencing. "You don't know what real pain is, little girl."

Lily screamed hoarsely, white light exploded in her head as he ruthlessly dislocated her shoulder from within her body. Her claws retracted, her hand coming up to grip his wrist and pull him away. But Mac was already moving, releasing her as soon as she released him, backing up to watch her with cold, expressionless eyes.

The pain was excruciating and not something which would easily heal without some intervention on her part. He would expect the wound to right itself in the manner of vampires and that wasn't going to happen. She turned and blurred out of the clearing, vanishing into the surrounding trees. 

She shadowed herself the moment she was sure she was alone, using the Vârcolac's unique skill of appearing invisible, unseen by the eye, their scent completely masked. Picking a spot, she stood silently so as not to give away her position. 

Her shoulder was throbbing; her blood had stopped flowing but she needed to knock her shoulder back into place to complete the healing process and that was going to hurt. She also knew Mac was going to come looking for her.

Mac stood in the clearing trying to fathom just what had happened. Sparring could be tough at times and pain was a necessary teaching tool, but what had just occurred crossed the line, even for his tough standards. 

He'd become frustrated with Ruminskey as they'd sparred even as he'd been impressed by how good she was, how she managed to block his attacks with such skill and precision. She'd been exquisite and deadly in her movements, catching his interest as both a fighter and a man, which was how she'd managed to pierce his side. He'd become distracted by her and left himself open to attack.

That had infuriated him and he'd lashed out to counteract her blow. Something dark and dangerous has passed through him as she'd clawed inside him. Her actions had enraged him. Inside his head he could hear a word chanting over and over again. Wrong. It was wrong for her to hurt him. He couldn't explain it but he had reacted to it.

Her resulting scream had pierced his soul. Somewhere deep inside him pain had blossomed and it had nothing to do with her talons clawing at him. It had felt wrong for her to hurt him but that was nothing compared to what it felt like returning the favour. It wasn't just wrong for him to hurt her; it was unforgivable.

He'd released her at the same time she'd released him, trying to conceal his stunned shock. Her eyes were clouded with pain, her shoulder at the wrong angle. The scent of her blood was in the air, his hand red and slick. 

Before he could say or do anything, she turned and vanished into the trees. Her retreat confused him and he could only stare at her as she disappeared. Then he took off after her, ignoring everyone else as he hunted down his prey. For the first time in a long time he had no idea what he was going to do with someone once he caught up with them, and he didn't like that one bit. 

Andrea Ruminskey was messing with his head and he had no idea why he was letting her.

Lily held her breath as Mac streaked past her. She followed his scent, waiting until he was far enough away before pressing her lips tightly together and ramming her shoulder into the large tree trunk beside her. More agony raced through her but she managed to contain her scream this time. She leaned on the strength of her wolf as colours pulsed behind her closed eyes and tears slipped down her face.

After a few moments, the pain receded and she flexed her shoulder carefully to check the injury. There wasn't even a twinge now that her healing abilities could complete the process. As she wiped at her wet face, her wolf growled in fury, livid with their mate for causing so painful a wound.

"It hurt like a bitch but we scored against him too," Lily soothed her beast. "He is lethal though, isn't he? An excellent match for us. I think he's almost as good as Dad and that's saying something."

She wanted to be pissed at Mackenzie for hurting her but she had to concede that he'd won that battle. True, she had been hiding some of her more enhanced abilities and he probably wouldn't have caught her off guard so easily if she'd been at full strength, but his skills had been impressive. Even she could admit to that.

She slipped through the trees carefully and returned to the clearing. All eyes were watching the tree line, waiting for the combatants to come back. The Praetorians appeared surprised that she sauntered in on her own. She opened up her abilities and tested their emotions. Interesting! Shock, concern, surprise, and also respect. Something told her the recent sparring session had not turned out as most sessions usually did.

Walking casually over to the open chest, she inspected the many weapons contained within. Was her test over or would Mac expect to continue when he returned? She pulled out a short sword, balancing it on her palm. Would fighting him with weapons be a smart move? The man was lethal enough with his talons; things might get out of hand if they moved on to swords and knives.

She felt Mac approach and turned to watch him stride back into the clearing. His expression was neutral, his black eyes devoid of emotion as a slight breeze rippled through his inky locks. He looked like an avenging fallen angel, all dark menace and evil intent as he came to stand before her.




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 02



"I think you're lethal enough without any knives being involved," he remarked dryly. There was a hint of respect in his voice and she preened inside at the compliment.

"I was thinking the exact same thing about you," she answered, her own tone respectful as she placed the short sword back inside the chest.

He nodded once in her direction and then turned to the others. "Sparring is essential for honing our skills. Pain is used as a teaching tool so you learn how to ignore it to achieve the goal of protecting our charges. Emotions should not come into play when sparring. Loss of control can lead to the death of your fellow soldier. Control is everything. Remember that at all times."

Lily had the distinct feeling there was something more to Mac's teaching words. Was he indirectly apologising for hurting her? She'd wondered if brutality was part of sparring in the Praetorians but the shock she'd sensed from the others appeared to negate that.

Mackenzie had crossed the line and he was warning the others not to cross that same line. She was just as guilty and she took his words to heart. She wouldn't apologise for her actions without an apology from him first, but she would heed his words and ensure they do not reach this point again.

After a brief pause, he signalled one of the other recruits to come forward. Lily sat down to watch the rest of her team match wits with the leader of the Praetorians. She watched eagerly, admiring the sheer animal beauty of her mate, holding in a pleased sigh as he went through the motions with each of them.

Her male was glorious; total perfection all wrapped up in the most sensually pleasing package. He was strong enough to tame her wild spirit but most importantly he was strong enough to stand up to her father. The male she chose as her life's mate would have to be strong to combat Andrei's objections. She had no doubt her father would object most strenuously to the idea of her mating. 

It wasn't going to be easy claiming Mackenzie as hers. First she had to get him to realise that he did belong to her, and then he had to convince her father that he had the right to claim her as his. She had no doubt her mate would walk through fire to secure her. She couldn't imagine Mac allowing anyone to take what he considered his and she was most definitely his.

* * * *

The four remaining candidates passed Mac's rigid testing and he was hot and sweaty by the time he'd put the last of them through their paces. The entire time he'd worked with the others, he'd felt Ruminskey's eyes on him following his every move. It had been a little distracting being so conscious of her appraisal, but not enough to make him reckless with the others. 

A dull pulsing anger still burned within him because of his lack of control when sparring with her. She'd managed to elude him in the forest too which was another irritation. He was the most skilled tracker among the Praetorians; hell, he was probably one of the most skilled among their species. How had she managed to elude him? 

He turned to Karn, his second-in-command. "Assign them rooms and get them fed." He turned and walked away without a backward glance, feeling eyes tracking his movements. He didn't need to look back to know who it was; his body's heated reaction to her told him all he needed to know.

He cursed under his breath as he headed inside and took the stairs two at a time, stripping off his top and wiping his face on a clean section as he reached the attic floor which was solely his. The scent of Ruminskey's blood saturated the top making his body clench hard.

What the hell was it about the damned woman that made him think of sex every five seconds? So she was beautiful. He'd seen many beautiful women in his lifetime and hadn't felt the need to bend them over the first thing he could find and pound mercilessly into their hot sheathes. Beauty wasn't the be all and end all so why he was reacting to hers was a complete mystery. 

And why the fuck had he felt concern and guilt at having injured her? She was nothing to him, just another Praetorian candidate being put through her paces. Why was she under his skin, and how the fuck had she managed to do it? He wasn't a man who allowed people to slip past his barriers. 

Andrea Ruminskey was an enigma and something told him he would be a fool to keep her around. But she was the best of the five he'd just recruited and he'd be just as foolish to let his personal feelings get in the way of his assigned task.

With that thought firmly in place he picked up his cell phone from his coffee table and considered sinking down into his favourite plush, black leather armchair. He needed a shower though so opted to do that first. Hitting the first speed dial he waited for the call to be answered, stretching his back muscles to work out a couple of kinks.

"Mac, how lovely to hear from you." 

The soft, musical voice caressed his ears and he found himself relaxing as he always did when he heard his queen speak. When Demetri had told him they had a queen, it had merely been words to him, a new cause to fight for. Then he'd met her and had known instantly he would serve the petite redhead until his dying day.

He smiled and breathed out softly. "It is always a joy to speak with you, Annie. I have five new candidates to be vetted. Can one of you attend either today or tomorrow?"

"I will come," she answered and he knew she was smiling as she spoke. "It's been too long since I've seen you, and Caleb is busy at the moment with his Ancient work. Gard is still acting as if he's on honeymoon with his mate. You would think after twenty-five years they would have worked that out of their systems."

Mac laughed loudly. "Just as you and Caleb have worked it out of your systems?" he teased. Her soft laughter was all the answer she gave him.

"Will ten o'clock be okay, Mac? I'm heading over to the pack for a visit so I'll be in the area then."

"Ten is perfect, Annie. I look forward to seeing you."

She said goodbye and he placed the cell back on the coffee table. One last hurdle and he would know if choosing Ruminskey to join his team was the correct thing to do. He was suddenly anxious that she pass the triumvirate's test. Because if she failed, if their queen detected deception in the woman, Andrea Ruminskey would die and he would be the one to carry out her execution. 

Once the triumvirate were involved and the candidates became aware of that involvement, there was no discreet way to handle the situation. Rhianna Armand was under the impression she was powerful enough to slip into vampire minds and erase their memories. Caleb and Gard had appeared to share her confidence so Mac hadn't questioned it.

Until Caleb had returned the night after they accepted their first recruits and they'd had a private conversation. Although all the recruits had passed the final test, Caleb wasn't one to leave any eventuality uncovered. His instructions had been blunt and ruthless. In the event a spy was unearthed and Annie's safety was jeopardised, death was the only recourse.

Mac had agreed wholeheartedly. Mercy towards enemies was suicidal. He'd learned that young and had lived by that code ever since. Their queen would most definitely object to it but the other three males wouldn't allow her kind heart to sway them. They'd take her fury, endure her wrath because keeping her safe was more important and worth any disappointment she may feel.

Pushing the weight of his responsibilities away for a short time, he headed into his bedroom and walked straight through without glancing around. He was sweaty and his body was hard and aching with need. Ruminskey's blood still lingered on his skin and his clothes, her scent seeping into his every pore and making his head spin. 

He had to wash the woman off him before he did something stupid, like look for her and fuck her senseless until she screamed his name in ecstasy as he lost himself inside her delectable body. He wasn't sure he'd be able to kill her after taking her, and he didn't want to put himself in that position. 

Even now just the thought of hurting her in any way felt wrong. He didn't know if he had it in him to kill her. And that concerned him immensely.

Mac turned the shower on and looked at the top in his hands. It was washable but he was inclined just to throw it away. It wasn't as if he was short on clothes. He paused at the bin raising the cloth to his nose so he could scent the female's blood that was making his head spin. His body hardened further, his irritation spiralling almost out of control.

Mac tossed the offending garment in the bin and stripped off the rest of his clothes. No way was he going to allow a woman to mess with his head. He didn't care how beautiful or intoxicating she was.

* * * *

Lily followed Karn into the house via the back door, straight into a huge kitchen/dining room. The sandy-haired vampire jerked his head towards an enormous stainless steel refrigerator. 

"Bottled blood's in there. You drink one daily when training. I don't give a fuck what you get up to on your downtime but while you're here you stay off the vein completely. I catch any of you indulging, you deal with Mac personally." His pale blue eyes shifted to Lily. "As you will no doubt have noticed, pissing Mac off isn't a smart move."

She took the intended rebuke with a toss of her ponytail over her shoulder. She might have gained some respect for holding her own against Karn's fearless leader, but he was quick to ensure that none of them had better challenge Mac so openly again.

It took everything in her power not to shudder as she pulled open the fridge and plucked out a bottle of blood. She could exist on blood alone for a prolonged period of time but she didn't particularly enjoy it. She preferred a nice juicy steak with all the trimmings, real food to soothe her wolf. She wasn't sure how long she'd be required to stay here. She might have to work out a way to sneak out and find some real food.

As far as she could uncover, the Praetorians only trained at the house, sleeping there when they were on duty. They returned to their own homes when they took their downtime. How long would Mac expect them to stay here before he was confident enough in their loyalty to let them go home?

And where was he anyway? She scented the air unobtrusively under the guise of drinking down her nourishment. She sensed him at the top of the house, the farthest point away from her. Was he hiding? Had she rattled him enough that he instinctively sought to protect himself?

Her wolf rumbled her disapproval at the thought of their male running away from them. "He can run all his wants, girl, but he won't get far," Lily reassured her animal as she swallowed down the last of the cold blood and dropped the empty bottle into a waiting trashcan.

"Where's my room?" she called to Karn as she headed out of the kitchen.

"Pick one on the second floor," he called back. "They're all the same."

Without a word, she grabbed her pack which had been tossed into the hallway of the main house with all the others. Her gaze quickly slipped over the entryway. It was dark and bleak, wood dominating the area. Her Alpha's house also contained a lot of wood but it also oozed warmth and welcome. The Praetorians' house was the complete opposite.

Fighting down a sigh, Lily bounded up the first flight of stairs then headed up the next one. A glance upwards told her there was only one further flight, which would take her up to Mac's quarters. She chose the door directly in front of the stairs, the one closest to him. She would hear him as he came and went. She wondered if he'd try and figure out which room she was in. Would he understand the significance of her choice? 

He wasn't a stupid male. He would immediately understand the signals she was sending out. Whether or not he acted on them was a different matter. She headed inside after one last glance up the stairs and closed the door behind her.

"I could so get sick of the sight of wood." Her wolf growled her agreement as they looked around the spartan interior. 

The room felt small even though it was quite a decent size. There were no adornments on the walls, just relentless dark wood panels. The floor had the same panels, and the wardrobe and chest of drawers appeared to be built from the same material. The only relief from the starkness was the large king-sized bed with its crisp white bedding.

Dropping her pack, Lily headed over to the door closest to the bed and peeked inside. The bathroom was modern, starkly white and completely depressing. She couldn't help longing for her girlie rooms at home. She might like to kick ass but she adored her creature comforts too.

Her wolf urged her to do something about it but she resisted the temptation. How the hell would she explain redecorating her room? She'd maybe get away with a couple of small knickknacks but covering the walls would be a bit of challenge to explain.

Lily's conjuration skills were top notch, surpassing even Rayne's in some regards despite her friend being three thousand years older. Every Vârcolac could create clothes for themselves by using their minds. Lily was the only one who could create things which didn't relate to clothing. 

Granted they had to be small things. She couldn't suddenly magic up a car or a house and she couldn't create food, but she could create jewellery, other feminine essentials like makeup and hair ties. If she really wanted to, she could probably conjure up tins of paint and a brush to pretty up her new bedroom though she hadn't tried anything like that before. She just felt an enormous wealth of potential deep within her which she hadn't tapped yet.

But experimenting with it here was most definitely not the right thing to do. She retrieved her pack and quickly emptied it, settling her few clothes into the drawers. They were practical clothes, cargo pants, jeans, tank tops, all the things a soldier would be expected to carry around with them. 

There was one feminine blouse and one short skirt with a complementary pair of slinky heels. A girl had to be prepared just in case she might be called on to dress up for an occasion. And then there was the sexy lingerie too.

She'd gotten her addiction for delicate lingerie from her favourite aunt. Cedar was so elegant and refined all the time and she put it down to always having the sexiest undergarments on no matter what she was wearing. Lily had to concur with that. She felt feminine even in her cargo pants when she had sheer lace panties hugging her hips.

The thought of lace and sex made her think of Mac and she pushed down a strangled groan as her body reacted. Time for a shower! There was no way she could throw herself at him this soon into her tenure under him. A nice cold shower would wash away the day's training activities and also cool her blood.

A knock at her door an hour later had her springing from the bed in an instant. She'd showered and changed into dark blue hip hugging jeans and a deep red tank top which gave tantalising glimpses of her bare midriff as she moved. She opened the door to find Karn standing outside.

"Mac wants you."

Lily blinked in surprise. She hadn't expected him to come looking for her so soon. "He does? Where am I supposed to meet him?"

"Downstairs. Study next to the sitting room." The vampire turned and walked away.

Lily smiled, amusement crossing her face. "Hey, Karn, do you ever do warm and fuzzy? Enquiring minds want to know if you know the meaning of the word charm." 

He shot her the finger and kept walking, her laughter following him as he disappeared into a room on the first floor. 

Lily closed her door and headed downstairs. She liked Karn. His little speech in the kitchen earlier had been the most she'd heard him speak in one go. Usually he just grunted words. As long as he got his point across he was happy. If he had to repeat himself he wasn't averse to using his fists to make sure his point was made the second time. 

That was what she liked about him. You always knew where you stood with Karn. He was blunt, rough around the edges, but fiercely loyal. If he considered you worth the effort then he gave you his entire attention. She'd been two weeks into her initiation as a Praetorian when he'd judged her worthy enough. He'd been tough on her but he'd helped shape her until she was the top of her group. She had a lot of time for the anti-social vampire.

She gave herself a mental shake when she reached the study door. Her knock was sharp and quick, Mac's voice urging her to enter before her hand was back at her side. Squaring her shoulders she turned the doorknob and entered.

"More wood!" she groaned internally her eyes quickly flicking around the stark room. There was a large desk against one wall, a deep mahogany colour. A black leather chair was behind the desk, an open laptop the only thing on the dark surface. Two smaller black chairs faced the desk and there was a dark brown leather sofa taking up most of the wall underneath the window. 

Surprisingly there were no bookcases to be seen, though there was a large open fireplace on the wall directly opposite the door. Mackenzie was standing with his back to the fire, his black gaze intent on her.

He'd obviously showered, having changed into tight-fitting black jeans with a matching silk shirt. His thick black locks were loose around his shoulders, his expression unreadable. 

The man had to be Satan given form. No mere male could be so gorgeous, so intimidating. Lily could feel liquid heat running through her body as she met his hard gaze, tilting her chin up in challenge. She had no idea she looked a lot like her mother when she adopted that pose. She had her father's volatile personality and just assumed she was more like him.

"The room isn't to your liking?" Mac had noted a slight tightening around her mouth as she'd surveyed the room. He'd been watching her keenly since she'd entered, determined to discover what it was about her that seeped under his skin.

He hadn't stopped thinking about her for the last hour. He'd finally decided to confront the woman, talk to her, try and get inside her head so he could work out this uncomfortable obsession he appeared to be developing for her.

The moment she'd stepped into the room his breath had halted, his throat constricting as his eyes travelled over her exquisite face, down over the obscenely short red top that hugged her breasts like a second skin. A golden strip of bare flesh teased him and something shiny in her navel attracted his attention.

His body had hardened in an instant, the shiny pink jewel in her navel capturing his attention completely. He'd almost groaned out loud. Delicate little piercings turned him on immensely. He couldn't help wondering if she had more on her body. 

She didn't strike him as the type to have her nipples pierced; he didn't see any evidence of it either under her top. It had been an effort to tear his gaze away from her body. Thankfully she'd been too busy wrinkling her nose at his study to notice his reaction.

"It's not exactly homey," she said with a hint of amusement in her voice, and it took him a moment to realise she was answering the question he'd just posed to her.

"It's not meant to be," he countered. "This is a training camp, not a sorority house. If you want frills and lace then fuck off home and decorate your house the way you want it."

Lily raised an eyebrow in surprise, fighting the urge to smile. Mac actually seemed offended that she didn't like his house. His reaction had been a little over the top and from the way the muscle in the side of his jaw ticked, he appeared to realise it himself.

"So you wanted to see me so we could argue about interior décor?" she asked coolly, keeping her expression as neutral as possible. "You asked me what I thought. If you don't like the answer then maybe you shouldn't ask the question."




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 02



He scowled then, a hint of anger crossing his face before he smoothed out his expression. "A fair point," he finally conceded. "I asked you here because we need to get something straight before things go any further."

Lily was immediately alert, taking a chance and moving across the room to stand in front of him. She invaded his space but stopped short of touching him. She saw his nostrils flare and heard him suck in a deep breath. She smiled. He was not immune to her charms and in the relative privacy of the study he was allowing his reactions to be noticeable.

"Things?" she repeated softly, feeling a tad braver after his reaction. "Define things, Mac?" 

She was tempting the devil, prodding a sleeping tiger. Those lines may be tired old clichés, but pushing him set her heart racing. Heat ran through her body as she stood so close to her mate, his scent invading her senses. Her body practically hummed for him and her tongue snaked out to wet her lips in anticipation.

"Andrea." It was a growled warning. Mac could feel her body heat, scent her growing arousal, and his own body was reacting predictably. He hadn't summoned her for this. Yes, he wanted her to know exactly where they stood but he hadn't counted on her acting so aggressively, testing the very limits of his self-control.

He stepped around her and walked behind his desk, forcing his muscles to obey his brain. "There is one more test to pass before you are fully accepted into the Praetorians," he bit out, swallowing hard before he turned around to face her.

"If you pass that test you will be sworn into this life and you will never be free of it. I know you're attracted to me. I won't insult you by denying I feel the same attraction. But I don't fuck members of my team, Ruminskey. There will be no sex between us. Accept that and you'll move on to the last test. Refuse to accept it and you can pack your bags and fuck off right this instant."

Okay, that was so not what she wanted to hear, and she had to take a moment to think it over. Her mate admitted to wanting her, and that was certainly something to be happy about. To keep his attention, she had to join the Praetorians. But if she joined them, he'd keep her firmly away from him. How was she going to get around that?

"Why not?" she finally asked, and he frowned at her.

"Why not what?"

"Why don't you fuck the females on your team? It can't be that they're not strong enough to cope with your sexual demands. Is it because they're too butch? The couple of the females I've seen have been quite manly in appearance."

Mac's mouth actually dropped open at her question. Was she for real? She was seriously questioning his reasoning for not having sex with his female team members? "I don't have to justify my reasoning to you," he bit out. "The no sex rule stands. Agree to it or get out, those are your options." 

Lily licked her dry lips and tried not to let his thunderous expression intimidate her. She glanced down at her body, doubt suddenly creeping in. He'd admitted he was attracted to her but maybe attraction wasn't enough. 

Was there something wrong with her body? Was she possibly not his ideal woman? Mates where supposed to want each other, they were supposed to be ravenous for the taste and touch of each other's bodies.

She looked back at him unable to hide her uncertainty. "Am I too butch?" Her voice sounded small even to her own ears. "I've tried to maintain my femininity despite my speed and strength. I thought I'd managed it quite well but I may have gotten it wrong." Her lower lip trembled as she let her words trail off. This was so embarrassing. How could she have gotten it so wrong?

Mac was dumbfounded as he stared at her. The tough, sensual woman who had all but undressed him with her eyes had suddenly vanished and in her place was a shy, uncertain girl whose eyes were suddenly moist and whose bottom lip trembled as if she was on the brink of tears.

What was equally astounding was his reaction to this new Andrea. He was overcome with the urge to pull her into his arms. Not because he wanted to taste every inch of her sun-kissed skin which he did, but because he wanted to soothe the uncertainty from her expression, to convince her she was an extremely beautiful, desirable young woman.

His reaction stunned him as did her sudden transformation. "I do not have sex with my team because we need to work as a unit, Andrea," he answered gruffly. 

"Our mission is paramount. There can be no distractions from that mission. Becoming involved with someone on the team could lead to one of my charges being endangered. If I was forced to choose between her and one of my charges, I could hesitate just long enough for someone to be killed. That is unacceptable."

Lily blinked slowly, almost sighing with relief that no tears fell. Mac's expression almost looked apologetic and her little moment of insecurity evaporated instantly. His speech was impressive, his commitment to his duty commendable. 

She smiled. "Is that all? That won't be a problem then."

Mac was oddly disappointed by her instant agreement. The devil inside him wanted her to argue more, to push at his iron self-control just enough that he could blame her when it broke and he crushed her soft lips against his.

"I'm glad we've cleared this up." He kept his tone formal, hiding his disappointment.

Lily's smile widened and she moved to sit on the edge of his desk. "I am too, Mac. Now that you've seen my skills in action, you can see how silly it is to be concerned about me while we're on the job. I'm more than capable of taking care of myself. Your charges would never be compromised just because we were sleeping together."

Every muscle in his body went taut with strain as she swung her legs around and draped them on either side of his body. She leaned back on her arms and tilted her head back, her long glossy ponytail brushing the desk behind her. Her pose pushed her breasts up, the heat from between her thighs tantalisingly close to his legs. She was like a voluptuous goddess offering her body to use at his will.

"I've just told you..." Her eyes connected with his, dark chocolate pools with flecks of gold flashing through them. He couldn't continue with his rejection. He literally couldn't breathe. Against his will, his hand rose and circled her slender neck. He was bending his head to her parted lips before he could stop himself.

Need gripped him, hot and hard, so powerful it was a wrench to his gut. His nostrils flared as her scent engulfed him and rational thought fled from his mind. He had to taste her, had to slake his hunger for her even if it was just a kiss. Surely there was no harm in one kiss?

Lily sighed softly, her heart careening wildly in her chest as Mac's dark head bent down to her. He was going to kiss her! Finally, she would receive her first real kiss and from her mate too. The hunger on his face took her breath away. She knew his kiss would be the most intoxicating thing to happen to her. She closed her eyes, a soft moan escaping as she felt his breath against her lips.

"Oh dear, am I interrupting?" A very feminine voice broke through the spell wrapped around them.

Mac immediately released Andrea, straightening up and working to conceal his shock and disappointment at the interruption. He'd been so lost in the woman sitting on his desk he hadn't even been aware of the additional presence in the room.

Lily's entire body went rigid in denial, panic crossing her face as the scent of lavender and jasmine hit her, confirming the identity of the woman who had entered the room. 

No way! It couldn't be! She'd masked every bond she had with everyone. There was no way anyone could have tracked her. Her head turned slowly and she looked over her shoulder, directly into a pair of amused lavender eyes.

"Oh fuck!" she groaned inside her head as she met Annie's gaze.

"I don't think you've quite reached that stage, Lily darling," her Alpha's sister answered her privately, laughter echoing down her mental touch as well as love and reassurance. "You've created quite a stir, little one. We'll talk privately later. For now let me see what Mac has to say for himself." 

To be continued... 



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 03



 As always my thanks to mikothebaby for editing for me. I confess I have tinkered with the chapter to add something I missed so any errors are mine :-)

Enjoy! 

*

Mac rounded the desk to meet his queen with a pensive expression on his face. "You're early, Annie," he remarked, shielding Andrea to give her time to collect herself. He bent down to brush his lips against the redhead's cheek.

"Well, I'm certainly glad I didn't arrive ten minutes later," Rhianna smiled, unable to curb her teasing. She'd never seen Mac so flustered, but then he'd never met Liliana Rose Romanov before. She had a thousand questions flying around inside her head but she kept silent, waiting to see how this was going to play out.

"Andrea Ruminskey, meet Rhianna Armand."

Lily had slid from the desk, her expression already under control. She had even managed to slow her heartbeat. She watched Rhianna's face carefully, waiting for the redhead to announce her true identity.

"A pleasure to meet you, Andrea," the other woman answered, her expression giving nothing away to the male watching them both. Of course she wasn't ready to leave it at that. 

"Nice play on the name, Lily. I don't think it's going to mollify your father much, though. He is rather irate at the moment, which is why Caleb couldn't be here. Your little note was more of a red rag to a bull than an appeasement for your disappearance."

Rhianna always managed to make her feel like she was five years old again. She didn't do it unkindly and was always supportive and caring, but she still managed to reduce her to a defensive child. Lily straightened her shoulders and tilted her chin up.

"I'm sorry Dad's upset, Annie, I really am. I don't want to cause the family any grief, but I need to live my own life, and disappearing seemed to be the only way. Do you know I'm a month shy of my thirtieth birthday and I haven't even been kissed by a male? I can't breathe at the compound without Dad getting a written report about it." 

"You could have spoken to Rafe, Liliana, or even to me if you didn't want to discuss anything that personal with him." Rhianna's mental tone was still kind but there was a hint of reproof in it. "We could have spoken to your father on your behalf." 

"The only person Dad listens to is Mom and you know that. Sure, Rafe could have Commanded him but he won't impose his will on a member of his pack if it's a family matter. If Mom couldn't convince Dad to unbend, no one could have." Lily could hear a whiny tone creeping into her mental voice and she worked to tamp it down. She was a grown woman and shouldn't need to justify her actions to anyone.

Rhianna didn't answer her immediately, turning instead to Mac as if she hadn't just been having a private conversation. "So is Andrea one of these new recruits you were telling me about, Mac?"

"She is," he replied looking down at the woman who was now standing at his side and appeared to be fascinated with his queen. He needed to speak to Rhianna alone.

"Ruminskey, go find Karn and tell him to assemble the rest of your team. We will be out shortly." It was clearly a dismissal but she turned her head to glare at him as if he'd done something wrong before she moved to the door.

"Are you going to tell him, Annie?" Lily asked the question as she closed the door behind her, irritation lacing her mental voice at being dismissed so summarily.

"Can you give me one exceptional reason why I shouldn't?"

Lily swallowed hard, turning to look back at the closed door. Mac was behind that wood, seconds away from learning her true identity. If he found out who she was before he learned to love her there would be no hope for them. His sense of duty was too strong. He would push her away before she could convince him they were meant to be together.

"He's my mate, Annie," she whispered mentally.

Silence greeted her words for a long moment. Then a deep surge of warmth enveloped her, and the fear that had been slowly building deep within her began to ease. 

"Okay, Lily darling, I will keep your secret. Now go do as you were instructed so I can do what I need to before Caleb comes looking for me. He would not be as inclined as I am. Be quick about it."

Rhianna watched Mac carefully after Lily left, seeing his eyes drawn reluctantly to the closed door. When Lily had disappeared and all attempts to find her had failed, the redhead had realized with dismay that the Vârcolac could suppress the bond she'd made with them at birth. All this time she'd assumed that it was because Lily had been too far away for her to sense. Learning now that the missing girl had simply been in the heart of the Praetorian compound was a shock. 

Finding her in a compromising position with Mac of all people had been downright staggering! The questions she had were overwhelming; Lily's confession that she intended to mate with Mac posed a huge problem and was now giving her the biggest headache ever.

The Armand-Hanlon compound was in total uproar over the disappearance of one of their own. Andrei was practically homicidal, kept in check only by Loretta and Alexei working together. Twice Rafe had stepped in and Commanded him to calm down. Once he'd removed his edict, though, Andrei had become worse. The Alpha had eventually stopped. 

Granted, the Ancient vampire was trying hard, managing to hold onto his temper most of the time with only a few lapses requiring intervention. Loretta was concerned for her daughter, but appeared to empathise with her too. They all wanted Lily brought home, but if she was unhappy with her life they knew she wouldn't stay. 

Andrei appeared unable to understand that he was forcing his child into this course of action. She was his little girl, his baby, and he couldn't believe that she would run away from him. He'd insisted than an outside influence had to responsible for her leaving. And now, with the shocking announcement that Mac was Lily's mate...!

Rhianna suppressed a shudder and turned to look at the mate in question. Mac was good, one of the best, but could he survive a direct assault from Andrei? The Ancient would blame Mac even though it wasn't his fault. There was no fighting the mating pull. And it looked as though Mac was not even aware that he was Lily's mate. He was frowning at the door with a perplexed expression on his face.

What a mess! And here she was, right bang in the middle of it. Caleb was leaning more towards Andrei's point of view. His overprotective streak was in full on mode, his need to protect the hybrid children his sole priority. He loved Lily as if she was his own and he wanted her home. If he knew Lily was with the Praetorians he'd march her straight back to the compound, which would just be a disaster.

So she was going to have to keep this quiet from her mate. Keeping secrets from Caleb was not something she relished doing. If their positions were reversed she'd be livid if he kept this from her. And there was the thorny issue of what Mac would do when he finally discovered Lily's true identity. He'd be furious with Lily for deceiving him. Hell, he'd be furious with her for keeping Lily's identity a secret too.

And what would all this mean for the Praetorians as a group? They were supposed to be a shadowy organisation, their charges ignorant of their presence. Now one of those charges was among them, fighting by their side. When all this came out in the wash there would be hell to pay and she'd end up being the one paying.

Rhianna couldn't halt the weary sigh that escaped her. It drew Mac's attention from the door.

"It wasn't what it looked like," he said quickly, his tone defensive.

"So you weren't just about to lock lips with that attractive lady perched so temptingly on your desk, Mac? I must have read the scene all wrong."

He cursed and ran a hand through his hair, frustration riding his body hard. "That was a mistake, Annie. One I won't be repeating. Ruminskey is a potential Praetorian and nothing more. The whole point of meeting with her was to knock any amorous notions out of her head."

Rhianna's lips quirked. "I see you managed to do that successfully."

"Fuck! Annie, will you just let it drop?" It was a testament to how rattled he was that he didn't moderate how he spoke to her. Usually he was unfailingly polite, respectful with a touch of old school gallantry. 

"If she's affecting you this badly then maybe you shouldn't fight it so hard," she mused. "Sometimes forbidden fruit takes on a more tempting taste because you deny yourself."

His eyes swung to meet hers and he blinked slowly. "You're encouraging me? I would have thought you'd be warning me away from the girl." The raw disbelief in his voice was almost comical.

"You need to make a decision one way or the other and stick to it, Mac. You can't be distracted by a woman to the point it clouds your better judgement. And now, that I've done my "Dear Abbey" moment, can we get to the point of why I'm here so I can go visit my family?"

Mac pulled himself together, nodding sharply as he eagerly strode towards the door. He probably had no idea just how fast he was moving, heading towards the woman who was shattering his self-control as no one had ever done before. 

Despite the complete mess and its inevitable fallout, Rhianna couldn't help but smile. Mac was most definitely Lily's mate even if he was currently clueless. The way he hurried from the room made that more than evident. 

He was a good match for her. Lily was wild and untamed, feisty and so reckless at times it was scary. She needed a tough male who could curb her excesses while appreciating her inner strength and allowing her the freedom she needed to be herself. Somehow they would find a way to convince Andrei of this, though it wasn't going to be an easy task.

Lily was standing at attention with the other four candidates when they stepped outside the house. Mac's eyes automatically sought her out though she remained staring ahead as if oblivious to his gaze. 

Rhianna glided down the steps and approached the first of the candidates. She smiled at the male, introducing herself and holding out her hand. Her words were inconsequential, asking about the tough training, what personal growth he felt he'd achieved since becoming a candidate.

Deep within his mind, the vampire queen sifted easily through his memories, finding his mind refreshingly open and honest. He was a good man for a vampire, his crueller nature not as evident as in most of their kind. She released his hand and moved on.

She repeated the process with the others, giving her blessing as each met her stringent assessment. They were all proud to be Praetorians; they were all willing to die to protect the Vârcolac. 

Rhianna finally reached Lily and took her hand as she had the others so as not to show any different treatment.

"You need to talk to your father, Lily darling," she sighed softly. "Half of the problem is you've closed off all mental communication with your family and friends. I obviously should have made my own link to you a lot deeper," she added dryly, sensing the younger woman's chagrin at her subtle rebuke.

"As it is, I'm only able to speak through your blocks now because of Anakatrine's power and the fact that I'm close enough to see you. You know they can't track you through your mental link. Let them know you're safe and well."

Lily adored Rhianna and hated to disappoint her in anyway. She'd known when she suppressed her link to Annie that the vampire queen would be unhappy. While she did regret it, she knew she would do it again. Despite Annie's championship of the Vârcolac, the redhead had other claims on her loyalty. It would have been wrong to put her in an awkward position.

"I don't want to disobey anyone, Annie. You know Dad will order me to come home, and I don't want to be in the position of refusing his order. It would break his heart."

"It would be the lesser of two evils, Lily. He doesn't know if you're alive or dead, and that's making him homicidal. You know how your father gets sometimes. At least this way he'll know you're safe. It will calm him down a little. 

You've chosen your path, little one. I think your choice of Mac as a mate is a perfect one. You keep claiming you're a grown woman, so start behaving like one. Be firm with your father but hold your ground. If you want Mac you need to fight for him. But be warned, keeping secrets from your mate will only bring you tears in the end."

Lily stared deeply into her eyes, squeezing her hand tightly. "Will Caleb be very angry with you, Annie?" She'd correctly read the other woman's unease.

"I expect so. Still, it's been a quarter of a century since our last big fight so I dare say we're overdue." Rhianna kept her tone light, instinctively soothing the younger woman because she knew she'd feel bad about causing any potential conflict with Caleb.

Lily lips twitched in a small smile, warmth and love engulfing her in a strong mental hug. "You approve of Mac." She was elated Annie was blessing her choice of mate.

"When I told him twenty-five years ago he would be happy again one day, I had no idea at the time that you would be the cause of that happiness. I love Mac very much, Lily. Not as much as I adore you but almost. I couldn't be happier to give my blessing to your mating. But it's your parents' blessing you really need, and to gain that you need to talk to them."

Lily almost rolled her eyes in resignation but managed to contain herself. She knew she couldn't avoid it much longer. It wasn't going to be easy facing her father's wrath but she had to do it. She sighed mentally. "Yes, Annie."

Rhianna dropped her hand and smiled, giving her a quick wink before she turned back to Mac who was silently watching her test the candidates. There was tension in his stance and she knew why. She'd spent a little too much time with Lily and he was concerned she'd found some deception.

"As always you find the very best of our people to entrust our loved ones to," she smiled as she reached him. 

His tension melted away and he leaned down to brush her cheek with his lips. "Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Annie." 

He was once more in control, the same old Mac she was used to seeing. Did that mean he had made his decision and it wasn't Lily? She almost snorted in laughter. If he had, then good luck with that one. There was no way in hell Lily would ever let him get away.

"I should come more often, Mac. I keep forgetting how beautiful it is up here in the mountains. You could do with making your home a bit more appealing though. All the wood is just... oh, never mind. It's your house, not mine." She smiled again and turned to flick her eyes once more down the line of new Praetorians.

"Well, I must be going before Caleb reaches the compound and finds me AWOL. He'll be calling out the Praetorians to track me down. I love him dearly but he's such hard work at times." Her voice was full of laughter as she waved over her shoulder, vanishing into trees an instant later.

"She's amazing," Brandon muttered under his breath, his expression full of hero-worship when Lily turned to glance at him. He was one of the new recruits and the one she liked the most. He was a bit on the wild side, so their personalities were in sync.

She smiled. "She is that," she answered just as quietly. 

Her gaze shifted to Mac who was staring intently at her. She couldn't tell what he was thinking. Was he imagining their almost-kiss in his study? She sure as hell was and had a knot of frustration in the pit of her stomach. It had been wonderful to see Annie once her initial fear of discovery had passed, but she couldn't help but wish the redhead had arrived five minutes later so she would know what it felt like to kiss her mate.

"Karn, break out the alcohol," Mac said tearing his gaze from Andrea's and turning to survey the rest of them. "You have tomorrow off so get the partying done tonight to celebrate your acceptance into the Praetorians. The day after tomorrow the real training starts."

He strode away without a backward glance, disappearing into the house and to the sanctuary of his private rooms. He had made his decision. Andrea Ruminskey was a Praetorian now which made her off limits. His moment of madness was over. It would never happen again.

Lily watched him leave, wanting to go after him but knowing it probably wasn't a good idea. She had a lot to think about. Annie showing up had scared her witless. Now she understood why everyone was so confident in the loyalty of the Praetorians. Annie, Caleb, or Gard performed their Ancient magic on each candidate before they were fully accepted into their ranks.

All the Vârcolac had been told the true history of the vampire nation. It had been hard to keep that knowledge from them because they were so attuned to Rayne they'd been able to tell something was different about her even though they were only children at the time.

The more they'd been around Rayne and her mate Gard, the more they'd come to understand that magic surrounded them. Real magic -- the kind they'd read in stories about witches. 

A decision must have been made in a pack meeting to inform them of the whole story. It was obvious that the Vârcolac had their own brand of magic, linked to the same kind the triumvirate used but different. They would most likely detect the same power in others, so it made sense to let them in on the secret.

Thinking back, Lily couldn't understand why their parents and Alpha had kept the Praetorians secret from them. It didn't make sense. If they'd trusted them enough with the knowledge of the reincarnated king and queen, then why hadn't they trusted them with the knowledge of the Praetorians?

Her internal musing was cut off by Brandon nudging her in the ribs. "Earth to Ruminskey!" he laughed. "We've got some serious alcohol consumption ahead so let's go get some."

"How old are you?" she snorted, shaking her head even as she laughed.

"Too young for you, cupcake, I'm just a mere one hundred and one years old. Find someone else to be your boy toy, you lecherous woman!"

"Like I'd ever be desperate enough to look at a mutt like you," she laughed, ruffling his black curls and elbowing him in the ribs. 

Brandon's fighting skills came a close second to hers, but when he let his hair down he did it with outrageous flirting, lewd gestures, and a hint of wildness in his eyes. He sometimes reminded her of her father. Maybe that was why she was drawn more to him that any of the others.

"Come and get plastered, Andi girl! The night's young, the company's good, and no one's going to hand us our asses on a plate tomorrow. Let's take advantage of this brief reprieve and have some fun."

Lily rolled her eyes and laughed loudly. This was why she'd chafed at being restricted to the compound. This was why she hid her identity. With these people she was just Andrea Ruminskey, a fierce fighter and a good friend to chill with. 

There was none of the hybrid rubbish, no delicate little girl to be cherished and kept safe. There was no need to look over her shoulder to ensure her father wasn't waiting to smack someone around for having a bit of fun with his daughter. This was what freedom felt like. 

She allowed Brandon to push and prod her into the house, laughing as he performed some outrageous dance moves sans music because no one had put any on yet. His lewd movements earned him a smack around the head from Karn.

"No fornication!" The vampire grunted as he walked into the sitting room where about twenty Praetorians were gathering, both old and new.

"He was just dancing, Karn," Lily laughed following him into the room. "You do remember what that is, old man? Or maybe they didn't dance in your time?"




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 03



A loud "Fuck you," followed by a rude hand gesture was all the answer she got. The rest of the room burst out laughing. 

Vampires were a strange bunch. When they weren't beating the crap out of each other or someone else, they were either having sex or getting drunk and partying, which usually required an enormous amount of alcohol because their metabolism burned it off so quickly. For some reason Lily had thought the Praetorians would be different what with their 'holy' mission to protect the Vârcolac. It would appear they were just like everyone else.

Mac stayed away as long as he could but eventually the noise drew him downstairs. About the only time his people had a social night off was when they welcomed new recruits. It had been a long time since they'd increased their numbers and it sounded as if his team was making up for lost time.

He stood in the doorway, his eyes searching for Andrea. She was dancing with one of her team, the dark-haired one he'd watched her laughing with outside from his bedroom window. They had seemed close then and appeared even closer now. Brandon's arm was snaked around her slender waist, his lower body grinding against hers suggestively.

Both were laughing and clearly under the influence of alcohol. Considering the party had been in full swing for a number of hours he wasn't surprised to see a few of the younger ones had already succumbed to a more drunken state. His longer-serving team members were obviously pacing themselves, ensuring some in the compound were still alert, just in case. He made a mental note of who they were so he could commend them later on.

The closeness between Lily and Brandon was setting his teeth on edge. He had to fight the urge to cross the room and rip her out of the other man's arms. The intensity of his proprietary and territorial reaction surprised him. 

He didn't even know her, let alone want her for himself. He'd tried to make that abundantly clear this morning in his study. So he'd almost kissed her. She was beautiful; sexy with all the right curves in the right places. Most males would want a taste of her. Didn't mean they wanted to keep her. 

Karn appeared beside them, slapping Brandon hard to the back of his head. His slap was powerful enough to snap the male's head forward at just the moment Andrea grabbed her wine glass and put it to her mouth to take a sip. It was an accident waiting to happen.

Even as Mac was moving to intercede, Brandon's head banged forward, shattering glass against Andrea's face. The scent of her blood filled the air as did her unladylike curse. He reached the trio just as Brandon slumped to the floor with a groan and Andrea landed a punch on Karn's nose.

"Asshole," she yelled at his number two, blood running from the open cut on her cheek. A large shard of glass was imbedded in the wound, keeping it open.

Karn grunted, wiped the blood from his nose and then flipped her the finger. "No fornication!"

"I'm surprised you know what the word means. Can't imagine why anyone would want to fornicate with a miserable old bastard like you."

Brandon groaned and pulled himself to his feet, using Andrea to steady himself. He was well out of it, grinning madly. "I've heard of glassy-eyed stares, Andi, but glassy cheeks? That's a new one, girl. Is this a new craze 'cos man, if it isn't you're gonna be a trendsetter!"

"Crap! You cut me?" Lily didn't know who to glare at in outrage. Okay, so it was Brandon's thick skull that had broken the glass, but if Karn hadn't hit him in the first place his head wouldn't have connected with the glass.

She had to think this one through—slowly. She'd had a few too many. She'd been smart enough to hand over control of her safeguards to her wolf before she'd decided to get plastered. Her animal was keeping her scent masked for her and ensuring she didn't try to shift into wolf form accidentally. She'd been known to do that before when drunk.

Pain in her cheek washed over her and she tried to concentrate on what she was doing a moment ago. Oh yeah, that was it, she was working out who she was going to punch for cutting her face. She glared at Karn and he glared back with four eyes.

"That is so fucking unfair, Karn. Four eyes are just so not allowed. You're a complete freak of nature." She squinted at him, leaning forward slightly. "Is that blood on your nose?"

"You should know you punched me, Ruminskey," he growled back at her trying to keep a straight face. Four eyes? She was totally wasted.

"I did?" she echoed, looking very pleased with herself. Her fist struck out and she caught Brandon on the side of the head. He groaned and went down again. "Guess it was his turn then," she smiled and then hiccupped loudly.

The sudden movement made her cheek sting and she raised her hand to find the offending piece of glass that was seriously killing her alcohol buzz. A hand wrapped around her wrist instantly, large and so warm she uttered a startled gasp. Lily turned around slowly and found herself staring up into Mac's dreamy black eyes.

Mac wasn't sure whether to laugh or scoop her up in his arms and take her somewhere where he could shake the living daylights out of her. Andrea's blood was flowing openly from her cut face, sliding down her neck and seeping under her red tank top. She was clearly so drunk she could barely stand and yet she'd managed to successfully punch out two of her contemporaries.

"I'll take it from here, Karn. Make sure Brandon gets to his room okay."

"You came to the party," Lily breathed. She leaned into him at such an acute angle he had to wrap his remaining arm around her to keep her upright. 

A shudder went through her body and she uttered a small moan under her breath. His arms felt so good around her, well his one arm did. His other hand had a tight grip on her wrist for some strange reason.

"Come on," Mac said through what sounded like clenched teeth. 

She squinted up at his face but his expression appeared totally bland. She said the first thing that came to her mind. "At least you don't have four eyes. There's something really dodgy about your friend Karn. I'd watch him if I were you."

Mac's lips twitched. He didn't want to find this amusing but her earnest expression was so adorable it was hard not to smile. "I'll bear that in mind, Andrea. Now come and let me get you cleaned up and ready for bed."

"But..."

"No buts, sugar," he sighed, lowering his mouth close to her ear. "You don't want to piss me off again do you?"

Lily gulped audibly and trembled. "No sir, Mackenzie," she whispered fervently. "The last time you ripped my shoulder to shreds and that hurt like a bitch. It hurt so much I even cried. I fucking hate crying. It's such a wimpy thing to do."

His body tensed at her words, his arm tightening around her. He raised his head and looked into her face again. Her eyes were huge in her head, liquid chocolate with golden swirls. He'd hurt her so much she'd cried? Just the thought of it made him feel like a bastard. He knew she would never have admitted that if she'd been sober. 

"Then let me fix your face for you so I can make amends for past actions," he answered carefully, keeping his emotions well hidden.

She smiled and then winced as her cheek stretched. "I'd like that very much, Mac, 'cos it hurts like a bitch trying to smile with half a wine glass imbedded in your cheek." She allowed him to escort her up a flight of stairs.

"Which room is yours?" he asked when they reached the second floor.

"Guess."

Mac closed his eyes and counted to ten. The scent of her blood was slowly driving him out of his mind. He didn't have time to waste playing guessing games with her, but he could tell she was enjoying herself and wouldn't divulge the information voluntarily.

He looked at the doors ahead of them, trying to work out if she would choose the room with direct access to the exit. Some vampires were superstitious that way, always wanting a way out. Something told him Andrea wasn't so inclined.

She'd been looking for a way into the Praetorians. His brain whirled and he headed down the hallway towards the stairs that led to his rooms. She'd been interested in him right from the moment she'd arrived. He stopped at the door directly in front of the stairs leading upwards.

The pleased smile on her face told him he'd guessed correctly. Turning the doorknob, he escorted her into her room. He flipped the light on and glanced around the gloomy interior. He never been in these rooms, had never paid much attention to them. 

No wonder she'd mentioned finding wood unattractive. It seemed almost sacrilegious to ask someone as vibrant as Andrea to bed down in such an austere setting. Christ, even Annie had commented earlier on his décor. Maybe he should think about tarting the place up a bit, making it a bit homier.

He brought his wandering thoughts to a halt and shepherded his charge into her bathroom. "How's your balance?" he asked, turning on the sink taps and running warm water into the bowl.

"I am not drink...I mean drunk," she denied with a frown marring her bloodstained face.

Mac cursed under his breath and lifted her onto the counter top beside the sink. "I didn't ask you if you were drunk, Andrea. I asked you how your balance was," he said patiently. "I don't want you to fall from the counter when I turn my back on you."

"Oh, right. I understand," she sighed and leaned against the wall. "Lily," she muttered as she closed her eyes.

Mac frowned, soaking a cloth in the warm water. "Lily?" He had no idea what she meant by that.

"Call me Lily, not Andrea," she mumbled, frowning with her eyes closed when he helped her to sit up. 

He very carefully removed the main shard of glass from her cheek, his intent gaze searching for any smaller shards that may have become imbedded in the wound. He didn't see any. "Why would you want me to call you Lily?" he asked gently, washing the blood from her face and neck.

Her eyes tried to open but she was clearly too far gone. She'd had an exhausting day, had lost blood twice now, and probably needed to drink some to replenish her loss.

"My name, Mac," she answered so quietly he almost missed her response as he rinsed out the bloody cloth in the water.

He kept his touch light, his voice low and soothing as he followed the trail of blood underneath the neckline of her top, taking care to touch her bare skin with just the cloth. A feeling of unease was settling over him. "Your name is Lily?" he coaxed gently. "That's a beautiful name. Is your last name as beautiful, sugar?"

She giggled and leaned forward, pressing her face into the side of his neck. "I'm two flowers, Mac. A lily and a rose. Is that pretty too? My dad calls my mom Rose. I don't know why 'cos her name's Loretta. Rose isn't a nickname for Loretta is it?"

Ice-cold chills travelled down Mac's spine, his arms reaching around her to hold her close. "I don't think it is, sugar," he managed to say in a gentle tone. "You're right; your name is pretty, Lily. I bet your scent is really pretty too."

She stiffened slightly and then relaxed with another giggle. "Hold on, I've got to convince her to let go."

"Convince who, sugar?" Mac didn't really need any further information from her. His gut was clenched hard, his brain screaming his denial. He knew her scent would confirm his suspicions. Lily Rose with a mother named Loretta? What were the odds of there being more than one in the surrounding area?

"My wolf. She's in charge of masking our scent tonight 'cos I was having too many drinks," Lily sighed forlornly. "She doesn't want to let go no matter how much I try and make her." She pulled back and stared down at her body.

"Stop it, girl!" she said sternly. "It's okay to let Mac know the truth. You heard Annie earlier. She said it's bad to keep secrets from our mate. If you don't let him scent us then you're denying he belongs to us."

Mac's body went rigid with shock. He stared at Andrea... no, at Lily, her words seeping into his stunned mind. He'd just opened his mouth to speak when the wonderful scent of lilac suddenly filled the bathroom. His head spun, his gut clenched, and he was forced to grip the sink hard on either side of her legs.

He'd scented her true scent many years ago when she was a young child. It had been a pleasing scent then, a delicate aroma which had brought a smile to his face with its freshness and innocence. Now she was a woman and though her scent brought up those same emotions, having attained puberty had brought a new element to it. The maturity of a woman was subtly woven through the lilacs changing it just enough to punch him hard in the gut.

He cursed himself for having stopped doing guard duty all those years ago. It had been close onto twenty years since he'd escorted one of the Vârcolac when they'd left the pack compound. 

He'd left Karn in charge of Liliana's protection. If he hadn't then he would have been aware of...aware of what? He didn't know what the hell he was thinking at the moment. All he did know was he had to hide her scent before the other Praetorians came running upstairs. 

"Lily, can you ask your wolf to mask your scent again?" he said through clenched teeth. "It's very powerful and we don't want the rest of the Praetorians tearing upstairs to find the Vârcolac among us, do we?"

Her scent changed instantly, going back to the warm nutmeg it had been before. He gazed intently into her face as she raised her head to look at him. Her big brown eyes were swimming with moisture, her bottom lip starting to tremble.

"You're pissed at me, aren't you?" she whispered. "Because I kept a secret from you. Are you going to send me back? Please, Mac, don't make me go home. Daddy will be so angry with me for running away to join the Praetorians. He won't let me see you again and I'll just die if I can't see you. Or go Rogue... maybe." 

Her impassioned plea cut off and she frowned in confusion even as tears trickled silently down her face. "Do you think Vârcolac go Rogue if their animal half can't be with their mates, Mac? I guess there aren't enough of us to know if we would. No one else has found their mate either. I don't think we would. I was eighteen when I first saw you and knew you were mine. That was twelve years ago and I didn't go Rogue in all that time so I guess that must answer my question."

The more she talked the more tense he became. His brain was whirling, trying to take everything in. She was a hybrid, daughter to Andrei Romanov who would rip his head off without blinking when he found out he had his daughter here. She'd obviously run away and Annie had protected her identity, lying to him when she was here earlier.

He was furious at Lily for her deception. She was under the mistaken impression that he was her mate, which was just utterly ridiculous. She'd developed some kind of crush on him and behaved stupidly. Her actions could endanger everyone in the Praetorians as well as her family and friends. 

Just what did she think she was playing at? And what the fuck had Annie been thinking leaving her here with him when she knew who she was? His queen must have known what a fucked up mess this was when she waltzed off and left it in his lap. He would be having words with her in the morning. But first he had to deal with Liliana Rose Romanov.

He wanted to groan out loud just thinking her name. Her silent tears were still falling, her big eyes swimming with fresh tears as she bit her bottom lip. He could feel his fury ebbing in the face of her misery, his heart twisting hard in his chest, and he was astounded by his reaction. 

No one manipulated him. No one climbed into his head and made him second guess himself, or forced him to do anything other than what he knew was right. The correct course of action was to throw Lily's tempting backside into one of the Jeeps in the garage and take her straight back to her pack.

But there was just something so very wrong about seeing tears on her face. The sight did something to him, made him want to hit something hard. He should be taking her home and yet he was holding her close, running a hand down her spine in soothing strokes, comforting her.

"Shhhh, don't cry, Lily," he said softly reaching out to brush at her wet cheeks. "We'll figure something out in the morning. For the moment this is our secret, yours and mine. You can't tell anyone else, okay sugar?" Mac had no idea what he was promising her, he just wanted her tears to stop.

She threw her arms around his neck and buried her face against him. He hugged her close, his lips brushing the top of her head as he lifted her from the counter and carried her back into the bedroom.

"Get ready for bed and I'll be back in a minute," he ordered, turning to stride away before pausing. "Can you drink blood? You'll need some after the amount you've lost today."

"It's not as nice as a steak but I can survive on it," she muttered with a scowl on her face, heading over to her chest of drawers. 

Mac made a quick exit before she decided to take her clothes off in front of him and make him do something he shouldn't. Part of him was slowly starting to cease to care. The shit he was in at the moment was astronomical. Bedding Andrei Romanov's daughter wouldn't make the situation much worse than it already was. It was such a tempting prospect. His body was screaming at him to give into his baser urges.

Jaw clenched painfully, he headed downstairs to give her time to change and give himself time to find a way out of the hole Lily had just dug for him. She'd been planning this for twelve years, convinced he was her mate. He'd scoffed at the very notion, ridiculing her claim in his mind. And yet the moment she'd unmasked her adult true scent something had stirred deep within him.

He'd been unaccountably attracted to her from the first moment he'd seen her. When he'd hurt her when sparring it had almost crippled him with pain and guilt. He'd wanted to rip Brandon to pieces when he'd been rubbing his body against hers. Now her tears were melting his fury in an instant and her scent was driving him crazy. And Annie had encouraged him to be with her. 

Fuck, if Lily was right, if he was her mate, then he had no idea what they were going to do.

Because the moment he crossed that line, the moment he accepted that she belonged to him, no one would ever take her from him. He wouldn't give a fuck who it was, he'd fight to the death to keep her. And that meant he may have to kill her father.

Strangling down a groan, Mac closed the fridge door, a bottle of blood gripped tightly in his hand. He'd work out some way to get normal food for her until they figured out what they were going to do. For now she had to survive on what he could provide, and he'd have to work out a way to keep her identity secret while she was with him.

He hurried back upstairs, relieved that no one else had noticed Lily's true scent in the house. He was back in her room and closing the door quietly less than five minutes after he'd left her alone.

His breath locked in his throat and he froze as he stared at the bed. Lily was lying across it, a cream satin and lace chemise slithering all over her womanly curves. 

Way too much of her sun-kissed skin was on display. Her toned thighs stretched on endlessly beyond the short hem of her nightwear. He could just make out a scrap of lace against one hip which was way too exposed for his comfort.

Mac's body slammed hard with need. His breath whistled out on a harsh groan as he tried to drag his eyes away from the temptation before him. The noise made Lily open her eyes and she raised her upper body up on bent elbows.

He groaned again, quieter this time, his gaze riveted to the silky masses of thick brown hair which flowed around her and over the bed. She'd taken her hair down and it was the most glorious thing he'd ever seen in his life. She'd always had it tied back until now. He'd never imagined hair could be so fucking erotic he was ready to rip his clothes off and join her on the bed.




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 03



"Mac? Did you bring the blood?" 

He swallowed hard and crossed the room slowly, working to even out his breathing. Lily looked like a tempting goddess but there was also an air of innocence about her too. She may be dressed for sin but she was under the influence of alcohol and not in control of actions. He would never dream of taking advantage of her.

"Here," he answered his voice sounding gruff in the quiet room. "Why don't you slip under the covers while I open it for you?"

Mac's body screamed at him as he clenched his fist hard to stop himself from reaching out to her. Maybe he should have pulled the covers back for her. Watching Lily crawl on her hands and knees, her lace-covered bottom wiggling at him was not such a good idea. That position brought up all kinds of kinky thoughts. It teased him to press his hands against her soft flesh and...

"Fuck!" Mac's strangled groan filled the room as he turned his back to the bed and started counting to a million. He was sure that once he got there he'd be under some form of control.

"Is something wrong, Mac?" Lily's voice sounded uncertain and he risked a glance back over his shoulder to find her tucked under the virginal covers, her luxurious hair framing her face like a satin curtain.

The view was only slightly better but he figured he had enough control to approach the bed safely without ripping her clothes off and pounding into her hard.

"Have you heard of flannel?" he asked hoarsely as he opened the bottle for her. "I hear it's all the rage these days in sleepwear. I could pick some up for you if you'd like." She'd probably make even flannel look like an invitation to have sex.

Lily giggled, pulling up her knees so she could wrap her arms around them and rest her cheek comfortably. "You don't like lingerie, Mac? I thought all men liked it."

"That's the problem," he grunted back sitting on the edge of the bed and passing the bottle to her.

She frowned and wrinkled her nose in distaste. "I hate blood. I don't know how you manage to enjoy it."

Her reaction surprised him and he frowned too. "You said you could drink it."

"Didn't say I liked it," she countered reaching for the offending bottle. "We prefer to feed our wolves rather than our vampire, though I do like my meat extremely rare. Blood is so thick and slimy and just gross."

"You could always try heating it up first," he suggested. "Maybe it's because it's cold that you struggle with it? Bottled blood has sufficient nutrients to sustain us but it doesn't compare to a drink from the vein."

Lily's hand tightened on the bottle and she raised her head to look up at him. "Do you do that, Mac, drink from a woman when you're having sex with her?" Her eyes were huge in her face, unhappiness marring her features.

He suddenly found himself wanting to apologise for every woman he'd ever lain with, for all the times he'd ever taken their blood as he'd taken their bodies. It was stupid to feel that way and he knew it. He was a vampire and he'd lived a long time. She was a mere babe compared to him and didn't need to live on blood alone.

"Many times," he finally answered her keeping his voice neutral. "I'm a vampire, Lily. I need blood to live and blood banks have only been around for a very short period of time since I've walked this world."

"What's it like?"

He shifted uncomfortably. "None of your business," he bit out a tad more harshly than he meant to. He softened his tone. "Drink, Lily, and go to sleep. We'll talk about this in the morning when you're more your normal self."

This vulnerable side to her was killing him. He'd glimpsed a small part of it in his study earlier when she'd thought her body was unattractive. He'd been astounded by her transformation from a confident, sensual woman into an unsure young girl. Now she was displaying that same insecurity and he had to fight the urge to comfort her.

Lily thrust the bottle at him, misery washing over her. She knew she'd fucked up and was going to pay for it in the morning. Her head was swimming, she was hungry, and there was no food, and her wolf was pretty pissed at her. 

Mac was treating her like a kid sister, being so careful around her, ignoring her best lingerie set which had been a complete pain in the ass to put on when she was under the influence.

Her whole plan had gone right out the window and she knew she was going to regret waking up in the morning and seeing the accusations in Mac's eyes. He'd probably send her home and her father would lock her up for the next five hundred years until he deemed she was old enough to make her own decisions.

"Take it," she whispered miserably. "I don't want it. I'll just go to sleep. I'll slip out tomorrow and go find some real food, that's if you don't pack my bags and toss me out the moment I wake up."

Mac searched her face, his heart clenching at the defeated note in her voice. Lily wasn't the type to give up. He didn't know how he knew that but he did. She was a fighter, a skilled soldier who had managed to bloody him while sparring. She was fast and lethal, strong and brave. She was meant to fly free, not be caged in a world that clipped her wings and stole the light from her eyes.

He took the bottle and quickly drained it. He was an Elder and didn't need to feed often, but it had been a few weeks since he'd last indulged himself. He placed the bottle on the bedside table and turned back to her.

"Come here, Lily." His voice was gentle, full of warmth, and it pulled at her until she shifted forward.

He was going to regret this, but her unhappiness was a knife to his heart and he'd do anything to ease it. He unbuttoned his shirt and tugged it away from his body even as he was reaching to pull her into his arms.

"You need to eat something, sugar," he growled softly, fighting his body's reaction at having her so close. This wasn't about sex; it was about taking care of her. He burrowed his fingers in her thick hair and tilted her face back, taking in each exquisite feature and resisting the urge to kiss her trembling lips. 

"Let me provide for you, Lily," he murmured softly, slicing the side of his neck with one of his talons. He pressed her mouth against the wound and his body went taut with strain.

Lily moaned softly, fascinated by the hard muscles of Mac's chest. His sexy voice was washing over her, his words tempting her as she curled her hands into fists against his hot flesh. He was pressing her head to him and the most wonderful flavour was suddenly on her tongue. She moaned again and licked greedily at the sweet taste.

Pleasure exploded deep within her. It was so intense it made her head swim and she wanted more. She began to suck at his neck, taking the rich, hot essence of him deep inside her. It was the most delicious thing she'd ever tasted, the most erotic moment of her life. She took what he offered and felt his blood within her, warming her entire body, giving her life.

Mac groaned, tightening his hold on Lily, fighting hard not to disgrace himself in his pants as her mouth sucked at his neck, sparking a fire so intense he thought it would consume him from within. She was burning him up, stealing his very soul as she fed from him.

Possessiveness swept over him mingled with a deep feeling of satisfaction that he was providing for his woman. This was right; this was how it should be. Lily should never be left wanting for anything. Her every need, her every hope and dream should be catered for in an instant, and he was the only one meant to take care of her.

In that instant he acknowledged the truth. Liliana Rose Romanov belonged to him. She was his mate as he was hers. Nothing would ever separate them except death, and he had no intention of allowing even death to come between them.

He closed his eyes and savoured her mouth against his hot skin. He felt the moment she sighed and stopped feeding, felt the weariness engulf her as sleep claimed her. Very carefully, he eased her back under the covers, trailing a hand slowly down one perfect cheekbone.

She was perfection, his beautiful Lily Rose. She was also opinionated, stubborn, deceitful, a terrible drunk, and the most vibrant person he'd ever come across. Total perfection.

With a sigh, Mac reluctantly pulled his shirt back on and picked up the empty bottle from the bedside table. Tomorrow was going to be a pain in the ass and he needed to get some rest so he could deal with it. With a final glance at Lily, he headed out the bedroom.

Karn was leaning against the wall, his arms folded and his pale blue eyes intent. Mac stiffened slightly and then shrugged. He should have known Karn wouldn't have missed her scent. He was too good not to.

"This is fucked up, Mac."

He agreed with Karn wholeheartedly, his expression saying it all. He nodded and passed his friend the empty bottle. "No one goes near her, Karn," he answered before heading up to his room. "She's mine."

A loud snort sounded behind him. "Like I said, fucked up!"

To be continued...



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 04



 Thank you mikothebaby once more for editing for me and also the Guild for their invaluable assistance, as always :-)

Enjoy! 

*

Mac rolled over onto his back with a groan and threw an arm across his eyes. His body felt heavy and sluggish, lack of sleep being the main cause of his tiredness. He had needed to complete an errand after leaving Lily the night before, and then he'd simply been unable to stop himself from going into her room and watching her sleep.

The need to see her had almost been a compulsion and there was something quite unnerving about it. No one had managed to get under his skin the way she had, not for a very long time. The last time he'd opened himself up to someone, his entire world had changed. Sorrow and anguish had been carved into his soul before being replaced by a cold, brutal determination.

It was the latter emotion that had kept him going for the last fifteen hundred years. But as he'd watched Lily sleep last night, he'd found himself wondering just what he'd been missing by closing himself off. 

He'd shaped himself into the perfect vampire, ruthless and cold. He'd assigned himself a personal mission; one frowned upon by his people even though they understood the need for it. He'd set himself up to be the judge and executioner of the vampires who crossed over.

Not only had he taken on the task, but he'd done so with relish. At each encounter, he saw Maria's face and little Sophia's torn body. With each vampire he killed, he avenged his family's deaths and fed a darkness that had grown steadily within him as the years rolled on. Like the vampires he hunted, he too had been just as consumed by the need to kill. It was only because he limited himself to vampires which had crossed over that he could justify his actions and stop himself from crossing over too. 

The Vampire Council had let him go his own way, unofficially sanctioning his actions as long as he continued to limit himself to kills they'd deemed appropriate. He'd always managed to toe the line but he'd been forced to be sneaky about it. When he'd run out of obvious targets, he'd started hunting the ones who were about to turn. 

He could always tell who was about to lose their grip on sanity long before they even knew. The humane thing would have been to guide them away from the destructive path they were on, but he did nothing to help. Instead, he'd stalked them, shadowed their every move until they snapped. Then he'd swooped in and dispensed his justice.

He'd been so close to crossing over and had been at the breaking point when Demetri had found him and given him a nobler task. He'd often wondered if his friend had known how lost he'd become and had invited him to lead the Praetorians to 'save' him as he should have been saving the vampires he waited to turn.

Demetri had been there centuries ago when Mac had given up and allowed his feral side to take control. Instead of putting him down, his friend had kicked the shit out of him until the pain had been so intense, it broke through the haze of insanity that had consumed him. 

When reason finally returned, Demetri had kicked the shit out of him even harder and told him in no uncertain terms that he'd take Mac's head the next time he allowed himself to turn. It had been a painful lesson, one that left him broken and covered in blood. It had taken him almost a full day to completely heal from the beating. When Demetri made a point, he sure as hell made it.

Three times now the Ancient had saved his life. He owed Demetri a debt he doubted he'd ever be able to fully repay. Demetri must have seen something in him worth saving, though Mac still had no idea what it was his friend saw. Losing his family had damaged him beyond repair. He just wasn't capable of tenderness any more, not the kind that someone like Lily deserved.

She'd been brought up in a warm, loving environment, was adored and cherished by all around her. She was used to being pampered like a princess and he was used to being on his own, closed off and remote. No one was more surprised than he was by his own unexpected behaviour the night before. Lily had slipped under his guard for a moment, made him start thinking about being mated, about sharing a life with her... even when he was so wrong for her in every way.

Lily fought like a true warrior, all graceful lines and deadly precision. She was tough and resilient, a woman to be admired. But hiding beneath that tough exterior was a confused girl who hid a vulnerability that was shocking in its intensity when it surfaced.

He hadn't been prepared for it the night before. He hadn't been prepared for his reaction to it. One look into her tear-stained face and his barriers had started to crumble. The need to protect her, to wipe those tears from her eyes had almost been a physical ache.

Maybe he could give her tenderness once in a while but it wasn't who he was. He wasn't suddenly going to change for her no matter how much he wished he could. He'd been honed in pain and spent his life doling out pain and ultimately death. He was a killer and there was no escaping that fact.

Lily might think that was what she wanted in a mate but he knew being with him would destroy her in the long run. She was currently running from her father because she couldn't cope with the type of dominant male he was. He had no doubt she loved Andrei, adored him even, but she chafed at the restraints he imposed on her. 

She would wilt under the control Mac would force on her if he accepted her as his.

With a loud snarl into the silent room, Mac pushed himself out of bed and strode naked into the bathroom. Last night had been a mistake. For Lily's sake she had to understand that. He was not the mate she needed and he couldn't damage someone as vibrant as her. He would make sure she understood that when she woke up.

* * * *

The scent of lilac woke Lily and she tensed instantly. Had she released her hold on her scent? Her eyes flew open and her head turned to the bedside table, following the sweet fragrance. Sitting in an exquisitely cut glass vase was a bouquet of lilacs. The tension slowly eased from her body.

"Lilacs are a pretty flower."

She squeaked and sat up, her startled gaze flying to her bedroom door. It was closed but Karn leaned against it, his arms crossed over his chest, his expression so neutral it looked as if he'd donned a blank mask. 

He was big and imposing, his expression slightly frightening as he stood in her room and watched her so intently. She had no trouble understanding his message. He was letting her know that he knew who she was. Had Mac told him?

"Fuck!" she groaned as memories of the night before flooded into her tired mind. Mac! She'd told him everything! She'd tried to seduce him with sexy lingerie and, God forbid, she'd taken his blood. Could it get any worse? Even Karn knowing her identity paled in comparison to what Mac was likely to say to her when she saw him.

"My thoughts exactly," Karn agreed as he pushed off from the door and moved towards her closet and drawers. He pulled out clothes with quick, economical movements, raising an eyebrow at her as he dangled her lacy underwear by a finger.

She blushed scarlet and he laughed. "Oh the hidden depths," he chuckled as he tossed the garments on the bed. "You've got ten minutes to get ready. Meet me outside." He turned for the door.

"Is he sending me home?" Lily managed to keep her voice calm and composed. Inside she was anxious, wondering if Mac had sent his number two to do the dirty work. It wasn't his style to delegate unpleasant tasks but it was something he might do if he was fighting the mating pull.

"Get dressed, Ruminskey." The door closed behind Karn, leaving her none the wiser.

Cursing under her breath, she got up and took a quick shower. She was dressed and on her way downstairs within her time limit. It was never wise to keep Karn waiting. She'd learned that pretty quickly during her initial training. He hadn't told her to pack so that had to mean Mac hadn't issued that instruction -- yet.

She found Karn outside, waiting beside a Jeep. Without a word, he got into the driver's side and waited until she'd walked around the vehicle and climbed in. He started the car and pulled off down the dirt road leading away from the compound. Lily's anxiety ratcheted up a notch.

"Where are we going?" She was annoyed that some of her fear leaked into her voice. Displaying fear to Karn was like bathing in blood and telling him he wasn't allowed to lick you. Not that she'd ever done that, but she could imagine how he'd react if she had.

His gaze snapped to hers for a moment and then he looked away. "You'll see when we get there."

"Karn, I swear if you're taking me back to the pack, I will fight you every step of the way! If that's what Mac has ordered you to do then you'd better just tell me now and stop the car because I'm not going." 

The utter conviction in her voice brought his gaze back to her. "I'm not taking you back to the pack," he finally said and there was anger in his voice. "Just so you know, I do not agree with Mac's decision. Not even a tiny bit. If I had my way I'd been dumping your ass back with your Daddy and to hell with you, Ruminskey." He snarled when he used her name.

His hostility cut her to the quick. She really liked Karn, respected him immensely. He'd always treated her fairly, their relationship being more like a mentorship, a strong friendship. Experiencing his displeasure hurt. His quiet calm was gone and in its place was rejection and disapproval.

All Karn saw when he looked at her now was a Vârcolac. He didn't see her any more, just as no one ever looked past the label that hung over all of them. 

Lily wanted to scream in frustration. Instead, she lowered her head and clutched her hands tightly in her lap. She mourned the loss of respect and friendship she had felt from the man at her side. She cursed herself, hating what she was with every fibre of her being. She didn't want to be different. She just wanted to be herself.

The silence in the car was oppressive. Fury roiled off Karn in waves when she tested his emotions. Tears threatened and she had to swallow hard to contain them. She'd never felt so alone before, so unsure. She reached out to the one person she could always rely on.

"Kal."

"Lily? Where the fuck are you? Do you have any idea the trouble you're in? Dad is ready to kill something. The whole pack is in an uproar. What are you playing at?" Her brother's strong mental voice was filled with anger but also relief at hearing from her. It threatened more tears which she had to swallow again to contain.

"I miss you too, little bro," she answered, managing to include the mental image of a smile in her words.

He was silent for a moment and then she felt a strong surge of love, the equivalent of one of Kal's mental hugs. "What's wrong, Lila?" His use of his pet name told her he at least had forgiven her. "You sound so sad."

Lily sighed softly and closed her eyes, shutting Karn out completely. "I found my mate, Kal, but it's complicated. I had to pretend I was someone else and my secret is out. Understandably some people I like a lot are pretty pissed at me right now." 

"Do you need me to come get you, Lila? I won't tell anyone where you are if you don't want me to. Are you sure this male is your mate and not just a way to try and escape the compound? I know you've always found it hard being confined here, but you know it's just because they worry about us so much. Dad loves you so much he's just scared something bad will happen."

Lily smiled as she listened to her brother. He was an Alpha to his very core even though he had no pack to call his own. Protecting people came easily to him. He formed his own opinions and made his own judgement calls as quickly and as naturally as breathing. She knew she could trust him with her every secret and he'd never betray her. He accepted what she told him because he knew she would never lie to him.

"I don't know where I'm heading at the moment," she finally answered. "I am safe, though. Apart from needing a hug I'm doing okay. He is my mate, Kal. I've known that for twelve years now. I can't explain it all right now but if you go to Annie and tell her I said 'Mac' she will explain everything. I think she'll tell you if she believes we've spoken and I've agreed to it."

More warmth travelled down their mental bond, so much love and assurance from Kallum that a tear did escape her closed eyes. Thankfully, it was on the cheek farthest away from Karn's view so a slight turn of her head was enough to conceal her weakness.

"Will you contact Mom and Dad; let them know you're okay? They're worried about you, Lila. We all are. I feel so much better now you've contacted me."

"I will later today. I intended to when I got up this morning. Annie's already had words with me about it." She could sense his curiosity about Rhianna's involvement in this.

He appeared to be slowly digesting the new information. "Fine. I'll talk to Annie. I don't know what part she's playing in all this but Caleb is pretty pissed about your disappearance. If she's helping you he will not be happy about it."

"I know, Kal. I didn't deliberately drag her into this, it just sort of happened. I was just as shocked to see her as she was to see me. I don't want to cause any issues between them."

She felt Kal sigh and then a mental shrug washed over her. "It's Annie's call," he admitted. "I'm going to go try and track her down now. Lila, you keep in touch with me, okay? No more suppressing your mental voice. That's been the worst part, not knowing if you were alive or dead."

She couldn't stop the gasp that escaped her. Annie had mentioned her father's concerns, but she'd never once suspected that her silence would have Kallum thinking something bad had happened to her. "Kal, I'm so sorry! I never dreamed you'd think something so awful. I just assumed you'd know that I was hiding from Mom and Dad's anger."

A muffled snort sounded in her head. "I did, Lila, at first, but then I never expected you would trust me so little you'd shut me out too. When I didn't hear from you I started to think the worst."

"Kal! It's not that I didn't trust you! I didn't want to put you in the position of having to lie to Mom and Dad. Forgive me, please. I never meant to hurt you like that." Pain rippled through her. It was harsh and crippling. She couldn't bear the thought of ever having Kal doubt her. 

His warm laughter danced through their bond and she could picture his gorgeous face easily. His brown eyes would be dancing with laughter, his lips curling in a smile that stopped most of the hearts of the unattached females in the pack. 

"When have I ever been able to stay mad at you, Lila? You wrap me around your little finger and you know it. Of course I forgive you. Just keep in touch and let me know if you need me to come get you. I'll deal with Mom and Dad, so don't worry about that. I hope Mac's worth it. I'm assuming his name is Mac, as that's the codeword you've given me for Annie."

Mac's face came to mind, the memory of his deep voice gently soothing her the night before. Lily could almost taste his essence in her mouth, could almost feel the pleasure exploding deep within her as she'd tasted him.

"Lily!" Kallum's shocked interjection startled her and made her realise she'd been projecting some pretty intimate emotions down their bond. "I get the message," he laughed softly. "He's definitely worth it. Now turn down the eroticism! That is just way too icky, sister mine!"

"Sorry, Kal," she blushed, keeping her head turned away from Karn so he couldn't see her reddened face. "I'll talk to you later."

She felt her brother recede from her mind after blowing her a quick kiss. Her lips quirked in a smile and she let out a quiet sigh. She always felt better after talking to Kal. He didn't piss about or point fingers in blame. If something happened that he didn't like, he dealt with it and moved on. 

She may be the older of the two but Kal was the one who was the sturdy rock. He'd tempered a lot of her wildness in her younger years but he'd also known how to let out his own wild side when he felt they could get away with it. 

All the Vârcolac had close interpersonal connections with their siblings as well as with each other. They were different from the rest of the pack, a new species coming into life. It had been inevitable that they would group together and become somewhat separate from everyone else. It didn't mean they loved their pack any less or felt superior to them, it just meant they were more closely linked.

It had given Lily an added layer of comfort as she'd grown up. They were a mini-pack within the greater pack. She'd felt safe within her group of peers and was more than willing to give up any position of being their leader despite being the eldest. Kal had taken that position as if it was his right. He was Alpha and no one challenged him about it.

The structure was simple. Kal was Alpha, Lily was his protector. Some things were hard to shake, and taking care of her baby brother was one of them. She had his back without ever being asked. She'd kicked a young male's ass many a time when they'd teased Kal as he grew up. He'd been shy and uncertain in his younger years. Once his Alpha tendencies had kicked in she hadn't been required to protect him any more, but until that time a few wolves had received the blunt edge of her fury.

Dara and Cassia were their main soldiers. They had a lot of their father in them. Alexei had been a Council enforcer for the vampires before he'd met their mother. He was used to taking care of business as was Cedar in her role of Beta with the pack. Both their children had grown with that same fierce protectiveness. Their stunning looks and easy charm fooled most people. They were excellent at ferreting out information from their wolf counterparts.

Liam... God love him, Liam was their heart. Everyone adored the quiet, auburn-haired man, it was simply impossible not to love him. He'd grown huge like his father, was the spitting image of Nors, who had to be the biggest vampire Lily had ever seen. 

Liam looked scary and intimidating but he had his mother's personality. He was so empathic that the feelings of others had become a burden to him. To solve that problem, he kept himself withdrawn from most of the pack. He lived almost completely within the boundaries of their mini-pack. They were able to shield their emotions so much better than others, that it was easier for Liam to relate to them. 

His empathy and fierce love was probably what had kept most of them from rebelling against the constraints placed on them for so long. Being confined to the pack had been hard on all of them except Liam. He didn't want to leave and by default didn't want his support network to crumble either. He'd automatically soothed any discord and discontent they'd felt as they grew older. 

They had always known what Liam had been doing, but no one had minded. Liam needed them and when one of their own had a need, the others were always there.

Where Liam went, Elina was never far behind. They were cousins but their bond appeared to be almost a sibling bond. Elina had set herself up as Liam's personal protector, just as Lily had done with Kallum. 

She had Freya's haunting beauty but Dayton's deep blue eyes. Her dark brown hair was streaked with reds and golds like her mother's but she also had an inch-wide streak of silver hair that framed her face. 

Elina hadn't been born with the silver in her hair and no one had been able to explain why the moment she hit puberty she'd suddenly taken on Dayton's colouring. She'd suffered no personal loss like her father so there was no reason for the colour to bleach from her hair but it had.




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 04



On the rare occasions when even the emotions of the mini-pack were too much for Liam to bear, Elina was the only person he could stand to be around apart from his parents. They would vanish into the forest together, sometimes for hours. When they came back, Liam was always so much more balanced.

Kothari was the outsider. He was one of them and yet he wasn't. Maybe it was because he was born of a Vârcolac and a member of the triumvirate, and that had set him slightly apart. There was an aloofness to Kothi that the rest of them couldn't fully breach. He mingled with them, was included in the wayward scrapes they'd gotten up to, yet he was always just that little bit apart. It didn't make them love him any less, they just respected his boundaries.

No one knew why conception was so unpredictable with the Vampire/Were mated couples. Various ideas had been tossed around and some tests done on blood samples, but there was still no rhyme or reason behind it. The truth was the matings were just too new that it could be centuries before any pattern started to develop to explain it all.

Lily closed her eyes and rested her head back against the seat. She wondered what side of the coin she and Mac would fall on. Would they have a child straight away or would she have to wait to know the joy of being a mother? It didn't cross her mind to consider that Mac may reject her. 

He belonged to her and there was no escaping that fact. It might not be an easy thing getting him to accept her as his mate but he would eventually, as long as Karn wasn't taking her back to the pack. He'd said he wasn't and he'd never lied to her before. But then, he'd always believed she'd never lied to him too. Maybe Karn was paying her back; maybe he was lying to her to keep her docile while he delivered her up to her father. 

She didn't even want to go down that road. If Karn was being a sneaky bastard she would not be pleased about it. Talking with Kal, feeling the strength of their mini-pack around her had hardened Lily's resolve. She was not going home. She didn't care what she had to do to stop that happening. Karn was in for a very nasty surprise if he thought differently.

* * * *

Karn was acutely aware of the woman at his side even though he wasn't looking at her. He'd learned early in life that it was wiser if he keep his mouth shut when his temper had been incited. He hadn't curbed himself earlier and had lashed out in frustration. He regretted doing it, even if he hadn't changed his opinion on the matter.

He was livid with Mackenzie. He was angry with Lily too but it was a pale imitation of the fury he felt at his friend's present course of action. He was between a rock and a hard place and he didn't know which way to jump. He was not used to dealing with uncertainty and his irritation was at an all time high as a consequence.

He'd almost passed out in shock the night before when he'd scented the true scent of a Vârcolac within the house the Praetorians used as their base. He'd just dumped Brandon on his bed and was heading out of the room when the sweet fragrance of lilacs had filled his nostrils. How none of the others had noticed was beyond him. They all knew the children's true scents.

He supposed he knew this particular scent better than most. Mac never did guard duty and it wasn't often one of the children left the pack's compound. On the rare occasions Andrei allowed his daughter to be away from the pack, he'd always demanded that the very best Praetorians be assigned to Liliana. Karn had always led the group which guarded her from a distance. 

It had almost been his personal mission to guard her and he'd been doing it for a quarter of a century. The shock of finding his charge within their very midst, of discovering that the woman he thought of as Andrea Ruminskey was in fact Liliana Romanov had knocked him sideways.

He was supposed to protect her and he hadn't even known she wasn't safe at the compound! And if that wasn't bad enough, he'd been training her for weeks now. He'd tossed her on her ass on numerous occasions during that training. He'd blooded her; hell, Mac had practically ripped her fucking arm off yesterday. He was supposed to be ensuring no harm came to her and he'd been knocking seven shades of hell out of her for weeks.

It was just unconscionable. It didn't matter that he hadn't known it was her. He should have known something wasn't right about Ruminskey. He didn't form bonds with others. The only person he gave a shit about on a personal level was Mac. When he'd started looking at Ruminskey as something other than just another soldier he should have known something was wrong.

He had to have recognised Lily on some subconscious level somehow. He may not have seen her in the flesh before but something about her aura or masked scent must have registered deep within him. Maybe she'd used a scent which bordered on something he'd smelled before. He had to have known it was her on some level and that was why he'd struck up a different relationship with Ruminskey during the training.

He'd scheduled extra training sessions for her. She'd already surpassed the others in her group. He'd been surprised by her skill level, but he could understand why now that he knew who she was. The Guardian was a formidable trainer. Karn had tweaked her skills even further, teaching her how to fight a little dirtier when required. 

He'd been proud of her and had grown to respect her abilities. He'd been keeping an eye on Brandon around her too. They were thick as thieves when they were together, the pair of them trouble waiting to happen. He'd known the other male was interested in more than friendship and he'd found himself making sure things didn't cross the line between them. 

The more he thought about it, the more he realized that his watchfulness with Brandon was yet another red warning flag which he'd blithely ignored. If he'd paid more attention to his reactions to Andrea Ruminskey, he could have nipped this in the bud and they wouldn't be in the shit they currently were.

Mac had claimed her the night before. He hadn't repeated that claim this morning when Karn had seen him, but that didn't matter. Mac had declared Andrei Romanov's daughter as his. Karn's protective instincts had immediately kicked in but he found his loyalties torn.

He would gladly lay down his life for Mac. His friend was the only vampire he could say that about. Andrei would kill Mac to keep him away from his daughter, which meant Karn would have to stand against the Ancient to protect his friend.

But his primary job was to protect Lily at all costs. He couldn't help kill her father because that would destroy her. That act would bring the wrath of the Ancients down on their heads, not to mention the triumvirate and the Armand-Hanlon pack. The Praetorians would no longer be the protectors but would become the enemy.

The only sensible solution to the problem was to take Lily back to her pack and for Mac to forget about her. It wasn't fair to his friend but it was the only way to protect the children and the Praetorians. 

Mac wasn't having any of it though. When Karn had brought it up this morning, the expression on Mac's face had been chilling to witness. He'd never been on the blunt end of Mac's legendary temper before, but he'd found himself there earlier.

Looking into Mac's black eyes had been difficult. They'd been pools of darkness, devoid of all life. When he'd spoken it had been quiet, almost subdued. His tone had been deceptively soft.

"I didn't ask for your personal opinion on the matter, Karn. This is how it's going to be, so live with it. Take Lily to the apartment as instructed and stay with her until she's ready to return. Once she's safely back here you can go about your business as normal."

He should have kept his mouth shut but his warring loyalties had made him stupid.

"This is fucking insanity, Mac. You can't keep her. You're going to start a fucking war and you know it. The Praetorians follow you but their loyalty will be tested to the extremes. They can't go up against the parents of their charges, not to mention the triumvirate. You're going to get us all killed because you can't keep your cock in your pants!"

Yeah, hindsight was a great thing. He hadn't even seen Mac move. One minute he'd been across the room and the next he'd been standing in front of Karn, his talons wrapped painfully around his neck.

It hadn't even crossed Karn's mind to strike back at his leader. Mac hadn't been trying to kill him, merely warning him. He'd been out of line with what he'd said and he knew it. He took his punishment and waited for the cold fury to seep out of his friend's taut body.

"Do not ever disrespect her like that again, Karn. I don't want to have to hurt a friend just because he can't contain his hot temper. I know the issues involved. I also know that Lily needs this moment of freedom. It may not last but if it's all I can give her then she'll have it as long as I can give it to her."

Karn had backed down. He'd had no choice in the matter. He still didn't agree with Mac but he wouldn't go against him. He'd said his piece on the matter, now they just had to see how it all played out, which was why he was now driving his charge to Mac's apartment on the edge of the city's limits.

Beside him, Lily had fallen silent since he'd snapped at her. He hadn't meant to take his temper out on her even though he was annoyed with her for acting out against her father. It can't have been easy for someone with her feisty nature to be cooped up at the compound. Maybe there was even a certain amount of justification for her feeling she had to run way, but that didn't negate the fact her actions were endangering everyone.

She kept her head turned away from him. For a second earlier, he'd thought she was crying but she'd made no discernible sounds so he'd decided he'd imagined it. 

The thought of her crying didn't sit well with him. He didn't have the first clue what to do with someone's wounded feelings. He'd have to try and lighten up a bit around her until he could dump her back into Mac's waiting arms. This was all his mess so he could clean it up.

He let out a long sigh the instant the thought crossed his mind. He could no more dump her ass than he could quit the Praetorians and leave Mac swinging in the wind when Andrei Romanov came after him. Who was he was trying to kid? Liliana was his charge and it was his job to protect her.

"Are you very disappointed in me, Karn?"

Lily's quiet words startled him and he glanced at her. Her expression was carefully neutral, quite expertly done but she'd failed miserably at keeping the sad note from her voice. He'd have to teach her how to completely conceal her emotions.

"I'm angrier with myself and Mac than I am with you, Lily," he finally admitted. "I've been your main protector your whole life. You've never stepped foot outside the compound without me watching your back. Not officially anyway," he added with some consternation. 

She had to have been sneaking out to build up her fake persona. Just the thought of it gave him chills. How many times had she snuck out of the compound over the years? Anything could have happened to her.

"Really, Karn? I didn't know that." Lily glanced at him sideways trying to gauge his true emotions. She didn't want to open herself up to him again in case his disappointment was really intense. She'd just use her eyes and be grateful he was finally talking to her.

"I saw you in the forest with Mac," she offered tentatively. "It was just you at first, then he came and the two of you talked. I had to be very quiet as I sneaked closer to hear what you were saying. I was shadowed in wolf form at the time. That's how I found out about the Praetorians."

Surprise crossed his face for a moment before his lip twitched slightly. "Yeah, we'd heard what a handful you were growing up. How old were you at the time?"

"Eighteen."

Karn's head swivelled around and he gave her a long look before he turned back to the road. They were almost at their destination. A few more turns and then she'd be safely inside, away from any potential harm.

"You waited twelve years? That's a long time."

She smiled. "It takes a while to invent a new identity. I imagined the Praetorians would do thorough checks on all the candidates. And Pietro is one of my father's closest friends. I had to use Europe as a base because it's easier to be unknown there. I knew Mac would have Pietro do a check seeing as he's been there for more than two decades. I had to be sure I'd pass even his scrutiny."

He was proud of how intelligently she'd thought out the situation. He shouldn't be proud of her but he was. Lily had planned this meticulously; it hadn't been a spur-of-the-moment thing. 

"How did you circumnavigate Pietro? I know he probably hasn't seen you in the flesh since you were a child, but he must have seen photos or at least see your resemblance to your parents?"

"I used photos of someone who looked a lot like me, enough that she satisfied Andrea's description. Because of the supposed reclusive nature of the coven Andrea belonged to, it was easy to pretend there were very few photos and they were slightly blurry. I took them myself, had a human girl pose for me. She wanted to be a model and needed a portfolio done. I fudged a few shots for myself."

"So Pietro gave Andrea the green light and you somehow managed to switch the photos under my very nose when you came for training." Karn couldn't make up his mind whether to be outraged or impressed with her ingenuity. She had fooled them all.

"Don't be cross, Karn. It's not your fault. I'm able to shadow myself and you're not an Ancient so you wouldn't be able to detect me. It could have all blown up in my face if the timing had been wrong but luck held out. I was able to switch the photos before you met Andrea in the flesh."

He felt another chill run down his spine at her words. He pulled into the underground parking garage of the apartment complex and found a spot close to the elevator. He switched off the engine and turned to look at Lily.

"You are truly terrifying the shit out of me," he admitted, concern in his voice. "The thought of you being out alone would have turned my hair grey if I was human. You have to promise me you will not shadow yourself while you're with us. We can't protect you if we can't track you, Liliana."

Lily frowned at him and bit her bottom lip. She could understand why he wanted that promise but she wasn't sure she could give it to him. She didn't want him to be angry with her again. He'd spoken more to her this morning that he had the entire time she'd known him. She liked this more communicative side to Karn.

"I can only promise that I won't shadow myself unless I'm required to protect myself in some way. It's our primary defence, Karn, the first thing we were taught as children."

He didn't like it but he had to concede she had a point. He finally nodded his agreement. "Don't make me regret this concession," he ground out before getting out of the car and waiting for her to alight. His keen gaze swept the area for any signs of people around them. They were alone.

"Where are we?" Lily asked as she too scented the area as was habit. It was another thing drilled into all of them, to always be aware of their surroundings.

Karn locked the Jeep using the remote and kept her in front of him as he ushered her to the elevator. "Mac's apartment. He swung by last night and stocked up with some human food for you." His gaze turned pensive for a moment as they entered the elevator and he hit the button for the penthouse floor.

"How long has it been since you've eaten anyway? I've seen you drink some of the others under the table but last night you revealed your identity and you can't have consumed more than half of what you normally could handle."

Lily was stunned by the news that Mac had been out buying human food. Not only that, he had a penthouse apartment and had obviously instructed Karn to bring her here so she could eat. Those didn't sound like the actions of a male who was about to send her packing. Karn had said he didn't agree with Mac's decision, and he probably still didn't but he was obeying his instructions. 

Mac was taking care of her. She tried not to get too excited by the thought but it was hard. He was acting like a mate, his need to provide for his woman dictating his actions. Maybe it wouldn't be so hard to convince him they were meant to be together.

"You didn't answer my question." Karn broke into her reverie as the elevator doors opened and they stepped out onto the penthouse floor. He had the door open and ushered her inside before she could blink.

"About a week," she answered, her gaze taking in the enormous great room before her. It screamed of luxury, with thick carpeting, the colour scheme lush with creams and browns accented by splashes of black and red. The sofas and chairs were brown, the cushions adding the accenting colours. The walls were cream with a real open fireplace against one wall. 

To the left was a fully-equipped kitchen with shiny white cupboards and countertops made of gleaming black marble. It was modern and probably hadn't been used in a very long time, not since Mac had owned the place at least.

After the spartan finishing of her current accommodations it was sheer heaven to stand in the midst of such luxury. Lily shrugged off her jacket and let it drop onto the back of one of the sofas. She was tugging at her boots an instant later, baring her feet so she could sink into the sheer indulgence of the thick cream carpet beneath her. 

Karn watched her carefully, seeing her face light up as she surveyed the room. Her delight was evident and he found himself smiling as she sighed softly when her bare feet caressed the floor covering. She was simply breathtaking and for a moment he completely forgot that he shouldn't be finding so much enjoyment out of seeing her pleasure.

He watched Liliana Romanov and realised he was seeing the real woman for the first time. She wasn't pretending to be Andrea; she wasn't hiding behind her natural defensive walls. Before him was Lily and she was pretty spectacular. 

If he'd had the usual morals his kind were prone to, he might even have been tempted to make a play for her himself. Thankfully, stupidity wasn't something he suffered from too often. Was this what Mac had seen the night before? Had Lily shown her real self to him? If she had, it was no wonder his friend had succumbed to her. He was slowly beginning to understand his friend's dilemma.

"Does Mac live here?" Lily asked turning to look at him. Her face was full of curiosity, pleasure dancing in the depths of her brown eyes. He decided it probably wouldn't be best to tell her what Mac used the penthouse for.

"Not full time," he finally answered. "It's more of a retreat, a place we can use if we need to be closer to town. Mac stays at the compound most of the time."

He crossed the room and headed into the kitchen. "There should be something here you'll like to eat. Vampires are not too clued up on human food and can't cook, but I assume you're capable of doing that?"

If he'd given anything away about the penthouse and Mac, it wasn't apparent because her smile stayed in place as she walked over to pull open the door to the fridge. "He remembered," she sighed softly, her smile widening. Her face literally shone with pleasure.

"Remembered what?" Karn was confused by her sudden happiness, the almost loving note in her voice.

"That I preferred steak to blood," she answered while pulling out a plate with the largest piece of raw meat he'd ever seen on it.

He watched her move around the kitchen effortlessly, placing a frying pan on the stove before turning to chop and dice salad greens and tomatoes as the pan smoked over the hot gas flame. 




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 04



There appeared to be some kind of art to cooking, at least Lily made it seem so. He was fascinated by the way she moved and timed things. The smell of burning meat didn't appeal to him much, but she didn't leave it in the pan for too long so he could cope with it. He made coffee as she prepared her meal. He headed over to dining area to sink into a plush mahogany chair. 

Lily joined him a moment later, her stomach making a loud rumbling noise. "God, this is going to taste so good," she sighed as she cut into the meat. Bloody juices spilled out and Karn's eyebrow rose in surprise.

She shrugged. "I'm a mix between a wolf and a vampire, Karn. I may not like drinking blood but I do like my meat extremely rare." She began to eat, chewing slowly as if savouring every morsel.

He shook his head and gave up trying to work out what made her tick. She was so contradictory in her words and actions it was hard to keep up with her. He decided to just go with the flow; it would save on the confusion.

"Will three days be too long?" he asked as she ate. "I can probably get away with scheduling some one-on-one training with you every three days so we can come here and you can eat. Any sooner than that and it might cause some suspicion."

She nodded as she swallowed a mouthful of food. "Three days won't cause me any inconvenience. But why you, Karn? Why can't Mac bring me here?"

The sudden tension in his body had her setting down her knife and fork carefully on the delicate china plate. She gave him her undivided attention. "Why does the thought of Mac and I being here make you tense, Karn?"

"I'll bring you," he answered quietly. "Just leave it at that, Lily."

She opened her mouth to argue with him and then slowly closed it, glancing around the luxurious room. Karn had deftly answered her question about how Mac used the penthouse. His answer had been quick and very smooth, his expression completely neutral at the time.

Realisation dawned and she wanted to kick herself for being so dumb. She'd asked Mac about his feeding habits the night before and he'd answered her honestly. She wasn't naïve enough to believe he wasn't sexually promiscuous. He was a vampire and a virile male to boot. He would have indulged his needs when the notion took him.

But to be sitting in the place where he'd indulged his passions was completely different from just hearing the words. This was where Mac brought his women. He couldn't take them back to the Praetorian compound so he'd need somewhere else to go.

"Lily..."

She stood up, her eyes moving to the door which obviously led to the other rooms in the apartment. She was walking towards it before she could stop herself.

"Lily, don't." Karn's words were quiet though he didn't move to stop her.

Lily kept walking through the first door and then through another. The bedroom was almost as big as the great room. The bed was enormous, covered in black satin sheets with deep wine satin pillows. The walls were deep red, the drapes on the windows a shiny black material. She figured they were satin too.

The room screamed of sex. She could imagine Mac's black hair spilling across the pillows, his tanned body sliding over the black sheets as he took some nameless, faceless woman with his body. The image was burned in her brain, and her chest hurt as she gripped the doorframe so hard the wood splintered under her fingers.

She felt Karn come to stand behind her. "This is where he brings them." Her voice was low, a harsh whisper in the silence of the apartment. The food she'd just eaten was sitting heavy in her stomach. She knew her reaction was stupid, irrational and yet she couldn't seem to breathe through the thick wall of pain erupting inside her.

"I shouldn't have brought you here," Karn said quietly. "We should have worked something else out. I'm sorry, Lily. It didn't cross our minds that this may be distressing for you."

Distressing? It was more like cutting her off at the knees. It shouldn't matter to her. Mac hadn't known about her until a day ago. It wasn't his fault that she'd known about him for twelve years, had claimed him so very long ago. 

Oh God, it shouldn't matter but it was breaking her heart. She couldn't get the image out of her head, couldn't breathe thinking about him lying with someone else in this very bed, his hands and lips touching someone else's skin. A tortured sound escaped her and her wolf howled in torment.

"Lily!"

Karn's concerned shout seemed to come from a distance. 

"Lily!" Kallum's mental cry rebounded in her head.

She shut them both out, and did the only thing she could think of to protect herself. She surrendered to her wolf, burying herself so deeply within its body that barely any of her conscious thought remained.

The air rippled slightly and Lily shifted to wolf form. The animal howled up at the ceiling and then bounded away from the room. It tore through the apartment trying to find a way out but all the doors were closed. It had to be free! It had to escape! 

The large black wolf turned at a sound behind it. The male that stood there was staring at the wolf with a surprised expression on his face. The vampire could free the wolf. It bared its teeth at him, wordlessly commanding him to open the door. The male held his hands up in a non-threatening gesture.

"Lily, I know you're hurting, little one," he said soothingly. "You're confused and a little scared, and you're feeling trapped. I understand that. It's overwhelming, but you need to take a few deep breaths and try to calm down. Shift back, Lily. You need to shift back to your human form."

The wolf snarled loudly, fury in its eyes. The animal sprang at the vampire with a loud growl reverberating through the air.

Karn caught the wolf squarely in his arms. The impact of the animal's leap forced them both to the floor and knocked the breath from his body. He held the wolf on top of him and threw his head back, baring his neck in submission. He'd seen the wildness in the animal's eyes, had known Lily wasn't in control at that moment. He did the only thing he could think of to save his life, he submitted to the animal.

There was a good chance he could kill the wolf if he defended himself, but there was no way in hell he could ever kill Lily. He had to hope she had enough control to realise that she didn't want to kill him either. One thing he did know for sure, if he got out of this alive he was going to kick the shit out of Mac for placing him in this position.

Strong jaws snapped around Karn's neck and he froze while keeping the wolf cradled against his chest. Any sudden movements could mean his life. He did his best to moderate his breathing and hide any scent of fear so as not to inflame the animal any further.

"Lila, what's wrong? Talk to me, sister mine. You're worrying me."

Kallum's voice pierced Lily's misery. She shook her head to try and get him to leave her alone and heard a sharp cry of pain. Her startled eyes focused on Karn and she screamed and jumped up. Her body didn't obey her immediately, the wolf confused as she tried to stand up on two feet. The wolf collapsed beside Karn and Lily shifted back to human form.

She scrambled forward, her hands going to his neck to help stem to flow of blood. "I'm sorry! Oh God, I'm so sorry, Karn." She was sobbing as he placed his hands over hers and increased the pressure against the wound. It was already beginning to heal and they were managing to stem the flow of blood.

"Lily!"

"Fuck off, Kallum!" she screamed both mentally and vocally. "I've got an emergency on my hands and I don't need you in my head right now. Go away!"

She didn't know why she was yelling at her brother. There was no telling what her wolf would have done in its panic if he hadn't reached out to her. She'd hurt Karn accidentally by shaking her head. It wasn't Kal's fault. It was nobody's fault but hers. She'd lost control and her friend was bleeding because of it.

Tears flowed and she couldn't stop them. She'd hurt Karn and he'd probably never forgive her. He'd tell Mac what a monster she was. He'd have to, so the others could be protected. This had to be why her father had insisted she stay at the compound. She was flawed in some way, a killer if not controlled by a stronger, dominant personality. Andrei hadn't been protecting her, he'd been protecting everyone else.

"I'm a monster, Daddy," she wept. "Why didn't you tell me? If you'd told me the truth I would have listened to you. The Praetorians aren't there to protect us, are they? They're there to protect everyone else from us!"

She felt her father's presence in her mind. He had the most powerful aura she'd ever encountered.

"You are not a monster, Liliana. You're a wilful, disobedient child who clearly needs to have her backside paddled to bring her in line, but a monster is the last thing you are," Andrei answered, his mental tone laced with disapproval. "I don't know what put the foolish notion into your head but you can get rid of it immediately. Tell me where you are and I'll come pick you up."

Oddly, his voice and words soothed her and she felt his strength seeping into her. His threat of paddling her backside even brought a slight smile to her lips. Her father had never laid a hand on her in anger her entire life. As if he'd ever do so now.

"I'm waiting, Liliana."

She met Karn's gaze and saw him watching her expectantly. She frowned, expecting him to be angry or even maybe a little afraid of her.

"You can let go now, Lily. The wound has healed." His calm words surprised her and she looked down at their joined hands. He was right the wound was fully healed now. She sat back on her heels and bit her bottom lip.

"Well, this has been an interesting morning," he continued sitting up slowly. "We're going to have to work on containing your emotions. I was thinking about this earlier, but now I see we've got a panicked wolf to deal with too. I'll have to factor that in."

Lily's mouth dropped open and she struggled to speak.

"I'm starting to get very annoyed now, Liliana. Where are you?"

"Fuck!" she hissed, frowning at Karn. 

He wasn't angry with her; in fact he wanted to keep training her. He didn't think she was a monster and neither did her father. She could go home, back to the safety of the pack or she could stay with the Praetorians and be with Mac. She had to decide on the safer course of action and her father was becoming very impatient.

"My father wants me to go home, Karn. Maybe he was right all along. I lost control and hurt you. I didn't mean to do it. I'm scared that I -- I'll do it again. Maybe it would be better if I went home."

Karn stared into her confused face as he considered their options. The wolf attack was a cause for concern, he couldn't deny that. But hiding within the pack wasn't going to solve that problem for Lily. She needed to be taught to control her wolf.

It hadn't been pleasant being shaken like a rag doll but it had been unintentional, he was certain of that. Lily would never deliberately hurt an innocent if she could avoid it. He knew her well enough by now to be certain. Neither Andrea nor Lily was the monster she thought she was.

"Mac will come looking for you," he finally said. "He'll do his damnedest not to but he'll fail. If things come to a head before you've learned control then something terrible could happen if he and your father go up against each other."

He didn't think Lily could cope with being forced to choose between the two most important men in her life. His job was to protect her and not just from the physical things that could hurt her.

"Liliana, enough of this! Tell me where you are now!"

Her father's loud roar startled her so much she flinched. It also helped her choose. "I'm sorry, Dad, I can't come home right now. There are some things I need to do first. Tell Mom and Kal I'm fine and I'll be in touch again soon."

She shielded her thoughts instantly to avoid the backlash from his fury. She'd probably have to leave it a few days before contacting him again. She hoped her mother could soothe him.

"I owe you a debt I can never repay, Karn," she said solemnly. "I wounded you. It doesn't matter that it was unintentional, I still did it. I don't deserve your help but I need it badly. Teach me. Please." 

Karn's eyes never left her face. He saw fear in her eyes and it made his gut clench hard. He'd had the opportunity to hand her off to her father and he'd talked her out of it. He was now officially as crazy as Mac.

"Shut up!" he growled, reaching out and pulling Lily into a tight embrace. "You just told Andrei Romanov to go fuck himself. Anyone with balls like that just can't do humble and get away with it."

Her startled gasp turned into a hesitant laugh, and then her body began to shake as she tried to contain her laughter. Her arms tightened around him. "I'm so dead when he gets his hands on me," she choked out.

"I'm booking a ringside seat for that one," he grinned back. "Payback is such a bitch! Now let's get back to the house before anything else can go wrong today."

To be continued...



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 05



 Sorry it's been so long everyone. Thanks for all the emails, comments and tweets. Life is still hectic and may not be able to post weekly for a while yet but here is chapter 5.

Enjoy! 

*

The silence in the kitchen of the Romanov household was chilling. Loretta stood perfectly still in the doorway, her dark brown eyes concerned as she watched her mate carefully.

Andrei's face was devoid of all expression, his body so tense it gave the illusion that he'd break in two from the slightest touch. His usually brown eyes had bled into the thick blackness of his feral state. Wicked black talons tapped against the back of the wooden chair he was gripping.

The sharp crack of splintering wood broke the silence and Loretta started, a barely audible squeak escaping her lips. Fear rushed through her body unbidden as memories of another time quickly surfaced. She had last seen Andrei in this state when he'd thought they'd lost Lily. He had exacted his vengeance by dismembering a vampire named Roberto, and all the while insanity had swirled in the depth of his eyes.

Something had to have happened to Lily. Nothing else could bring him so close to the killing edge. Her fear ratcheted up as he turned slowly to stare at her, his attention drawn by the sound she'd made. There was nothing civilised in his expression, nothing of the man she loved.

"Andrei?" Her voice shook and her eyes were anxious as she kept her gaze fixed on his. She knew he wouldn't hurt her, but until he told her what was wrong she could only guess that something had happened to their daughter. She could only detect an icy chill through their mate bond. It was so cold it was freezing her very soul.

"Who told Lily about the Praetorians?" His question was asked in a cold, reasonable voice. There was no heat or anger in the words, and that made his words more chilling than anything else.

"Is Lily okay?" she countered, ignoring his question, needing assurance that her child wasn't hurt and suffering somewhere.

Thick silence fell across the room for a long moment and then Andrei breathed out slowly. "Loretta, when I ask you a question I expect it to be answered. Who told Lily about the Praetorians?"

Again it was asked in an even tone but Loretta wasn't fooled by the calmness. One wrong move and Andrei was going to explode. While he might not hurt her, there was no telling what he might do to anyone else he met. 

Despite his coldness, Loretta knew he would have answered her if Lily was hurt in some way. Her fear abated at that thought and she focused on his question, a frown marring her face. "No one would have told her about the Praetorians, Andrei. No one would have told any of the children about them."

"Then why the fuck did my daughter just ask me if she was a monster? And why did she just say that the fucking Praetorians were there to keep people safe from her?!" 

The furious roar and red hot rage suddenly burning down their mate bond almost made Loretta stagger backwards. The depth of Andrei's fury worried her, but she almost sighed with relief. She may not know how to deal with his coldness, but she knew how to handle his anger.

"I don't know why she said that, but I do know that no pack member privy to the knowledge of the Praetorians would ever tell Lily about them. You know that too, Andrei."

He fell silent again, his body taut with the strain of holding himself in check. He continued clutching the broken chair as Loretta moved further into the room to stand behind him and rest her cheek against his back. She didn't touch him with her hands, merely allowed her body to press against his until her scent began to seep into his pores and he slowly started to relax.

Andrei looked down at the mangled chair and slowly released his death grip. Hot, spicy cinnamon swept over him while soft, delicious curves pressed against his back. His red-hot fury began to ease as he breathed deeply, letting his mate soothe him down with her wolf's touch and her heady scent. 

Reason returned and he released his vampiric side. His talons disappeared and his eyes returned to a light shade of brown. He felt Loretta's hands slide around his waist and he leaned back against her, his arms coming to enfold hers around his stomach. A shaky breath escaped him as he realised how close he'd come to crossing over completely, to becoming nothing but a mindless killing machine.

"She thinks she's a monster," he whispered. "How could our baby think she's a monster, Loretta?"

Andrei turned as Loretta moved to slip into his arms. "Something must have frightened her," she said. "She's alone without the protection of the pack and she's very powerful. Lily has always had a buffer for her abilities here, but out there she has no one."

Andrei dropped his head to bury his face in the side of her neck, inhaling her scent deeply to calm himself down. His mate's words made sense even if he didn't like hearing them. His daughter's refusal to come home had infuriated him, but the fact she thought she was a monster had broken his heart. The thought of Lily hurting at all was enough to send him over the edge.

"What are you saying, Loretta? Are you implying that by protecting her we've somehow stifled her growth? And that she's out there with powers and abilities she can't control?" He didn't want to ask the question but he knew he needed to hear the answer.

His mate took a deep breath and stroked a hand through his long hair soothingly. "It's possible we've done more harm than good," she answered truthfully. "Lily and the other children were never given the chance to test the limits of their abilities. Until we give them that chance, there's always the potential they'd be overwhelmed by outside stimuli."

Loretta knew that not all of the children had this issue. Liam did and possibly also Kothari, but the others had more grounded personalities.

"So you're saying this is my fault?" Andrei's tone was harsh as he pulled away, heat in his eyes as he glared down at her. There was a hint of accusation in his mate's words which turned his tone defensive. He didn't like to be proven wrong about anything, least of all the way he raised his children. 

"We couldn't leave them unprotected, Loretta. We couldn't assume that our children weren't still at risk just because there were no further attacks on the pack."

She agreed with him wholeheartedly in one respect, but in another she couldn't disagree with him more. She was gravely concerned about her daughter's well-being. She wanted to know where Lily was and she wanted assurance that her daughter was all right. Her fear for her child sparked her own temper and her eyes flashed with molten heat.

"Yes, when they were children we did need to protect them, Andrei," she snapped angrily. "The problems started when you and Alexei wouldn't let them grow up. Lily isn't five any longer. She hasn't been five for a quarter of a century but you've been hellbent on keeping her that age and this is the inevitable result! We don't know where our daughter is. We know she's frightened and alone somewhere and she won't come home or let us help her because she's terrified you'll cage her again. So do I think this your fault, Andrei? You're damned fucking right I do!"

The venom in her voice startled him and he blinked at her in surprise. The start of their relationship had been rocky but over the years they'd learned to work together in a peaceful harmony that had always soothed the feral beast that lived deep within him. His mate was usually more supportive, but now she was looking at him not only with anger but also disappointment.

He instinctively reached out through their bond, wanting to wrap himself deep within it but he couldn't get close to her. She'd done something to mask their mate bond, had withdrawn from him completely until all he could feel on the other end was a sense of emptiness. For a moment he could only stare at her open-mouthed. Had she severed their bond? Was that even possible?

"Rose..."

She stepped back from him, shaking her head as she held up a hand to keep him back as he went to follow her. "No, Andrei. My child is out there hurting. She won't even contact me to let me know she's okay because she's afraid I'll try and convince her to come home. 

I've done my best to be a good mate to you. I've spent the last thirty years catering to you, running interference between you and our children so they could be happy. And what do I have to show for it? Our son spends more time out of his home than he does in it and our daughter has run away. 

I'm losing my children because I've failed to protect them. Oh, I might have protected them from physical injury and attack, but I've failed to protect them from emotional harm."

Tears filled her eyes as she looked at him, pain welling up deep inside at the disbelief on his face in response to her rejection. She loved Andrei so much; he was the other half of her soul, but right at that moment she didn't like him and that was hurting her almost as much as it was hurting him. Her wolf howled miserably inside her.

"Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that I should have been protecting them from you, Andrei," she whispered hoarsely as the tears started to fall. "I never knew that by loving you I was failing them."

Andrei carefully blanked his expression and fought his need to pull his mate into his arms and comfort her. He knew she wouldn't accept any overtures from him, not while she was this upset. Her words were lancing through him, slicing him like knives. He wanted to deny them, wanted to protest his innocence but he couldn't make the words come. 

Loretta didn't want to hear denials anyway. Her expression said it all, her body language screaming at him to stay away. There was a gulf a mile wide between them and he didn't know how to bridge it. "What exactly are you saying here?" he finally asked. 

It was a fight to keep his tone neutral, to hide the sudden fear inside him that had nothing to do with his errant daughter and everything to do with the woman standing before him.

"I'm saying you have to find a way to fix this, Andrei. I love you but you're hurting our children and I can't stand by any longer and let it continue." She held up her hand again when fury crossed his face and his mouth opened.

"I know you don't mean to hurt them. I know you think you're protecting them but you're destroying their spirit, Andrei. Maybe not so much Kal because he's Alpha enough to withstand it, but Lily is so much like you it scares the life out of me sometimes. She needs more than a domineering male ordering her around. You can't force her to do what you want her to but you can 'lead' her in the right direction."

Andrei stared at her for a long silent moment, battling down his anger. The last few weeks had wreaked havoc on his emotions. Worry for his daughter and the constant effort to suppress the urge to kill something or someone had taken its toll. Only Loretta and Alexei had been able to temper the wildness in him, and he took a deep breath to examine just what that wildness actually was.

Guilt. It washed through him like a tidal wave. It was hot and ugly and crippling. His rage was based on his feelings of guilt, of knowing that he was responsible for Lily running away. 

He took a step back from Loretta and turned away from the accusation in her eyes. He didn't want to see that expression on her face, didn't want to admit that he'd let her down so badly he'd put her in the position of having to choose between him and their children.

She was his life, the very reason he woke each morning. He didn't know how he was going to cope if he'd destroyed their bond. He didn't know if he could cling to his sanity, if the children would be enough to hold him to reality if Loretta left him.

Loretta's scent wafted over him just before her arms slid around his waist from behind. He felt a rush of love flow down their mate bond. He stiffened in surprise before relief washed through him as he realised their bond was still there, that she hadn't severed it somehow.

"I just wanted to keep them safe," he ground out hoarsely, turning in her arms to drag her hard against his chest. His body shuddered as tears threatened, his heart racing wildly in his chest. "I'm so sorry, Rose. I would rather die than hurt you or our babies."

"I know, love," Loretta whispered, clinging to him tightly, rocked by the sheer intensity of his emotions flowing through her. 

She'd wanted to stay angry with him, wanted him to understand the consequences of his actions, but Andrei's emotions were always erratic at best. He felt everything so intensely that it was sometimes just too dangerous to allow him to experience his emotions without tempering their effect.

When he'd turned away from her she'd unmasked their bond so she could be prepared for his next move. The complete self-loathing she'd experienced was more than she could stand. He was her mate. She couldn't stay angry with him when he hurt so badly.

"Are you going to leave me?"

She'd never heard him sound so uncertain before. He did nothing to conceal the thick fear in his voice, his arms crushing her tightly to his chest.

"Only on the day I finally stop breathing," she sighed trying to inject a little humour into her tone. "I may be pissed at you, Andrei, but you should know by now that I keep what belongs to me."

She raised her head to look at him, her expression serious. "If I believed for one second that you deliberately meant our children harm that would be a different matter. I know you love them. You've made mistakes, love, but they're not irreparable ones. You're just an overprotective father. If you can finally understand that now, then we can work together to reassure Lily that she doesn't need to hide from us any longer."

"She doesn't have anyone out there to protect her," Andrei said in a haunted voice. "Now that she knows of the Praetorians, she'll most likely shadow herself so they can't track her. She'll think they'll report back to us."

That concern had also occurred to Loretta but she kept her worry hidden. Having Andrei freak out was more than enough. Lily didn't need to have both parents out of control.

"You could both try trusting her," Kallum said drolly, striding into the kitchen and heading over to the fridge. He could feel his parents' eyes tracking him and deliberately kept his thoughts neutral just in case they tried to sneak in and try any weird mind shit. He wasn't too sure just what mental skills his father had gained over the years as he creeped closer to his second millennia.

He was tall like his father, his shoulders broad, his chest well-muscled but not to the point of being overdeveloped. His brown hair had taken on a lighter tone to mirror his father's colour more than his mother's. He wore it long like most Weres and vampires, though it was tied back with a leather thong at the nape of his neck.

His waist was trim, his stomach taut and his long lean legs appeared to go on forever in the washed-out blue jeans that clung to him like a second skin. Kallum knew he cut a pretty package. With their own good looks, his parents couldn't possibly produce a child that wasn't easy on the eye. 

But he didn't let it go to his head, which was why he was decidedly popular with the females in the pack. He had his pick of unattached women and he enjoyed himself liberally, but he always treated them with respect and he never bedded more than one woman at a time. For however long or short a time he was with someone, they got his undivided attention.

The air was thick with tension in the kitchen and he could tell his parents had had one of their rare fights though they looked like they'd made up. He'd come home the moment he'd felt Lily's distress and she'd screamed at him to go away. He'd known she would reach out to their father. She always did when she became frightened. He'd had a feeling his mother would require some help.

Pulling out some cold meat to make a sandwich, he risked a glance over his shoulder at his father. Andrei's eyes were riveted on him as he'd expected, suspicion on his face as if he knew Lily had contacted him. He swung his gaze to his mother and she too had a similar expression.

He felt a rush of love well up as he watched them. They were by no stretch of the imagination a typical family but they loved each other fiercely.

"Where is she, Kal?" his mother finally asked, her hand stroking lightly over his father's chest.

Kallum shrugged and went back to making his sandwich. "I don't know where she is but I know she's fine. She contacted me a little earlier to let me know she was safe." 

He considered how much he could to tell them without his sister feeling he was betraying her. He loved his parents dearly but Lily was his to protect, she was a Vârcolac and he protected all of his people. She watched his back as he watched hers. 

Part of him realized in that moment that he'd probably been tempering Lily's wildness over the years just as his mother had tempered his father's. Now he could hand off that task to the man she'd gone to claim.

"She's found her mate," he finally answered, taking a deep breath while he waited for the eruption from his father. When nothing came he risked another look at them. Stunned shock was on his father's face. His mother looked equally as surprised but there was a slight smile on her face.

"Now Andrei, before you explode you know there's no way to fight the mating pull," Loretta said quietly, as perplexed as her son by the lack of reaction from her mate.

"But she's just a little girl," Andrei hissed out, his shock starting to transmute into raw fury as his eyes began bleeding to black.

Kallum snorted loudly. "Dad, you have no problem whatsoever with me bedding half the females in the pack. Lily's a year older than me. She stopped being your little girl about twelve years ago. Believe me, all the unattached males in the pack certainly noticed when she grew up. You're probably about the only male that didn't."

Andrei opened his mouth and then closed it again, no words coming out as he stared at his son. He was all too aware of Kal's sexual prowess within the pack; hell, he was proud of the man his son had grown into. He was an Alpha to his very core, protective and strong but with a vein of deep compassion running through him.

If he could look at Kallum as a grown man then he had to acknowledge that Lily was a grown woman too. He took a deep breath as he battled his conflicting emotions, tried to really listen to the words his son had said.

Lily was half-vampire and half-Were, a mix of two very sensual species. She'd never had a chance to explore that part of her personality because he'd wanted to kill any male that had even looked at her with sexual heat in his eyes. He hadn't been willing to let her grow up. He hadn't wanted her to leave him.

He looked down at Loretta, the weight of his sudden realisation in eyes. He let out a deep groan as she quirked an eyebrow at him. "If I've fucked up in any other way, please feel free to hit me with it all at once so I don't have any other nasty surprises creeping up on me," he finally said, his tone clearly unhappy.

Loretta couldn't help the smile that crept across her face. Her daughter was out there somewhere but just hearing that she was tracking her mate had settled her concerns because that meant she wasn't truly alone. Her mate was with her and he would protect her. That knowledge was enough to soothe most of her worries.

"And who said you couldn't teach old dogs new tricks?" she teased lightly, watching emotions dance across Andrei's face as he worked his way through them. "You know the power of a mate, love. You know what a man will do to protect what's his. Lily isn't alone out there. She'll be safe."




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 05



Andrei did know the power of a mate. He knew exactly just what he'd been willing to do to keep Loretta safe. He'd done terrible things in the past when she was threatened. He wouldn't hesitate to do far more terrible things if she was in danger.

Somewhere out there was another male who felt that way about his daughter. While he could never be completely happy that this male was taking his Lily from him, just knowing that she was with someone who would give his life for her settled him down a bit. 

"What did she tell you about this mate?" he finally asked Kallum, reluctantly conceding that there was nothing he could do to stop the mating even though he dearly wanted to. He knew it was his problem, not Lily's or the male she'd chosen. It would be hard to work through the issues but thankfully his own mate would help him through it.

Kallum finished his sandwich as he watched his parents, swallowing down a glass of milk. "Not a lot, but she sounded pretty determined." He started to laugh. "She told me to fuck off and leave her alone so I figured I'd give her a couple of days' breathing space before getting in contact with her again. I suggest you give her some space too. Trust in her. She knows what she's doing."

"She was frightened, Kal. She told me she was a monster." Andrei's tone was harsh.

"Dad, she's so much like you at times. I'm sure you've done things that have frightened you. I know she'll work through it and only become stronger because of it. You have to let her discover who she is as a person. She obviously couldn't do that here at the compound. She'll come home when she's good and ready."

Loretta walked across the kitchen, pride shining in her eyes as she looked at her son. Kal leaned down and embraced her, feeling her lips brush his cheek gently.

"You are the most amazing young man," she sighed softly. "I'm so proud of you, Kallum. I couldn't wish for a better son."

He tried not to puff up too much from the warm approval in his mother's voice but he was fighting a losing battle. He may be an Alpha male and was sure of himself in that role, but he would always crave his parents' love and approval. He squeezed Loretta in a big bear hug, revelling in her warmth and love.

A moment later his father squeezed his shoulder, respect apparent in his eyes when he turned to look at his son. "You'll keep us informed when you speak to your sister again?"

"I won't let anything happen to Lila, Dad. I love her just as much as you do."

*****

There was a second Jeep parked in front of the main house when they arrived back at the compound. Lily's eyes connected with the man that was loading a pack into the back of the vehicle Mac's expression was remote; nothing showed in his eyes as he quickly perused her and then turned to Karn.

The blood on the other man's clothes automatically caught his attention. "What happened?" His tone was as devoid of expression as his face though the tension in his body was unmistakable.

"Ruminskey, why don't you head inside and check on Brandon?" Karn said quietly keeping his gaze fixed on his friend.

For a moment Lily considered arguing with him. She wanted to know what he was going to tell Mac, and hoped to learn where her mate thought he was going. Karn's pale blue eyes turned towards her. She swallowed at the coldness she saw in them and decided to head inside as ordered.

She shot Mac a final glance but his entire attention was on Karn. It was as if she didn't exist. With an angry scowl on her face she stomped up the steps into the house.

Karn breathed out slowly as Lily vanished in the house. He quickly scanned the area to ensure no one was hovering around and then he turned to his friend. "Where the fuck do you think you're going, Mac? You're not dumping this shit in my lap. This is your problem, not mine."

Cold blackness met his words. Mac's eyes drilled into his as his muscles tightened even more. "Answer my question," he said calmly. There was no threat in the words but it was there in the calm tone he used.

"Lily's what happened," Karn hissed out as quietly as he could. "You had me take her to your little fuck nest, Mackenzie. Did you think she wouldn't put two and two together and come up with four? She lost control of her wolf and just about ripped my fucking throat out. So I'm asking you again, where the fuck do you think you're going because I am not going to take care of your problems for you. I like my head firmly attached to my body, thank you very much."

Mac stared at Karn, shock rippling through him. Lily had almost killed him? The thought was just ludicrous and yet his friend was deadly serious. He was turning to look back at the house even though he tried hard not to. She'd been upset about him taking women to his bed the night before. It wasn't as if she wasn't aware of that fact. Why had being at the apartment caused her to lose control of her wolf?

He stared at the door for a long moment then he walked around the car and pulled out his pack. He slammed the rear door loudly. "Send her to my study in fifteen minutes." He turned and walked towards the house with Karn falling into step beside him.

"What are you going to do, Mac?" Karn's anger had faded as soon as he'd seen the expression on his friend's face. He'd only seen that expression a few times and usually someone ended up seriously hurt at the end of it. He was suddenly afraid for Lily.

"I'm going to teach her it's unacceptable to attack a member of my team without provocation, Karn. I suggest you fuck off and find some way to clear the rest of the house while you're at it."

"Mac...!"

"Just do it, Karn!" 

Karn watched Mac take the stairs three at a time, his concern escalating at the barely restrained fury radiating from his friend. He should have handled this differently but it was too late now. Once Mac made a decision there was no swaying him.

He turned and headed into the living room, spotting Lily on one of the sofas with her partner-in-crime, Brandon.

"Ruminksey, Mac's office in fifteen minutes. Brandon, get everyone front and centre now. We're all going for a little run."

"But Mac said last night we had the day off today," the younger man protested. He was only just awake and didn't fancy going on any hike. He gave a startled gasp as Karn suddenly blurred and pulled him up by his throat.

"That wasn't a request, boy," Karn said quietly, his face a bare inch away from Brandon's. He tossed him roughly in the direction of the open doorway.

Brandon didn't need to be told twice, quickly recovering his balance and hurrying from the room.

Lily was staring at Karn in shock. She'd never seen him react in such a feral manner before. It made her heart thump in a painful rhythm. "Karn?"

His expression was completely closed as he looked at her, his big body tense. "Don't challenge him," he finally said, working to push down his unease. "He's dangerous and don't you ever forget that. He won't hurt you physically but he's a cruel bastard and isn't loath to use more psychological means to achieve his aims."

She felt a thrill of fear rush through her body even as her brain refused to accept that Mac would ever do anything to hurt her. Karn may have known him for a long time but Mac wasn't his mate. There were different rules when it came to mates. They didn't hurt each other. So why did she suddenly feel so afraid?

Fifteen minutes didn't seem like a long time but time dragged for Lily as the house suddenly emptied and she was left alone with Mac. She heard him come downstairs and go into the study. He must have known she was still in the sitting room, but he hadn't looked in or called her to follow him. Swallowing hard, she approached the study door and knocked before entering.

Mac was sitting behind his desk, his long hair loose and falling over his shoulders in silky waves. His eyes were fixed firmly on hers but there was no warmth in their dark depths. His expression was the perfect bland mask that vampires managed to master over their very long lives. He looked so beautiful but he also looked deadly. 

He reminded her of her father when he was displeased with something she'd done and she felt her heart kick up a beat as she walked further into the room after closing the door behind her.

"That's far enough." 

It was a command and there was no disputing it so she halted in the middle of the room and clasped her arms behind her back, standing to attention automatically. If she'd pleased him with her instant obedience there was no clear sign of it.

He left her standing there for a full ten minutes, his gaze never leaving her face. It was hard to take his scrutiny. She couldn't read his expression, couldn't predict what he was going to do and she couldn't stop the feeling of trepidation that was running through her confusion.

Mac finally stood up slowly, walking towards her as her heart kicked up a beat and her fear escalated. She held her position though, and was careful to keep her gaze slightly lowered. Karn had said not to challenge Mac and for once she was going to do what she was told. Something told her it was very important that she heed those words of advice.

"I can scent your fear," Mac said softly, his head bending slightly to inhale against the side of her neck without actually touching her. "There's nothing more heady to a predator than the scent of its prey's fear. It's intoxicating; it excites the beast within."

Lily swallowed hard and tried to dampen down her response. She ran through all the mental exercises Rayne had ever taught her to rein in her emotions.

"Good mental discipline," he said, inhaling again. "So you are strong enough to control yourself when you're being threatened." He straightened and when he looked at her this time, his eyes were molten blackness. "So where the fuck was this discipline when you tried to rip out the throat of the man who has protected your fucking ass all your life?"

His expected fury still managed to startle her. Lily backed away a step instinctively, confusion on her face. Guilt washed over her and she fought to stop her bottom lip trembling. She didn't need Mac to tell her she was out of order for what she'd done to Karn. She knew that already.

He stalked forward and she stepped back again, kept retreating until her back slammed against the door with her arms pinned behind her as Mac loomed over her. The heat of his closeness had her body reacting instinctively. The threat of his fury should have turned her off completely and yet she was reacting to it in a feral manner.

Lily knew without a doubt that he wouldn't hurt her. He was trying to scare her, trying to get a specific reaction out of her. And he would continue to crowd her until she gave him what he was looking for. Mac was determined to teach her a lesson; she just didn't know what it was.

"Did you like my bedroom, Lily?" he whispered against the shell of her ear.

Pain lanced through her and she stifled down the sound that wanted to rip from her throat. She trembled and her wolf growled.

"Did you like the satin sheets, little Vârcolac?" he continued, his voice low and husky. "Did you imagine what it would feel like to lie on those sheets as my body covered yours, or were you imagining other women lying there? Is that what set you off, Lily? Did you have images of me sliding deep inside other women, pounding hard and fast into their luscious bodies as I drank down their sweet blood?"

Her wolf howled a mournful sound. The animal rose up within her as she tried to escape his words, tried to escape the raw agony searing through her body. His words conjured images she didn't want to see. Her wolf snarled in a combination of fury and pain as it sought to protect her.

"Don't you fucking dare shift," Mac hissed in her ear. There was no compromise in his tone. It was an order, one he expected to be obeyed.

Sweat broke out on her brow as she fought to control her wolf. She wanted to surrender to her beast, wanted to hide and lick her wounds but his words stopped her, demanded she obey him. Her wolf snatched control and she felt the shift begin.

"If you fucking disobey me you're out of here, Romanov. No second chances," Mac grated in her ear.

She screamed, her denial and fury in the raw sound that escaped her. She wrested control from her wolf, sweat trailing down the side of her face as she pushed the animal down ruthlessly, forcing her to obey. It was torture; the struggle for control left her breathless and exhausted, but she finally won the battle, her chest heaving from the exertion.

Mac hadn't moved away from her, had remained so close they were almost touching. She would have ripped into him without conscious thought if she'd shifted with him so close while her wolf was panicked and threatened. She could have killed him and he would have just stood there and let her do it. She didn't know how she knew that but she did.

"Never lose control, Lily," he finally breathed against her neck. "Without conscious control of your beast, it's just a mindless, savage animal. It will react instinctively and you'll hurt people you care about. You have the strength to control your wolf if the need is great enough."

He pushed away from her moving to sit behind his desk again. "You can go catch up with the rest of the team, finish out the run."

She swallowed hard, opened her mouth to speak but he was studiously ignoring her, turning to his laptop and beginning to tap on the keyboard. She swallowed a second time and took a hesitant step forward.

"I would suggest you leave before I change my mind," he said coldly, still not looking at her. "Karn likes you and he'd be pissed at me for tossing you out before he's had the chance to teach you the control you obviously need, otherwise your ass would be out of here right now."

He looked up then and his eyes were as cold as his voice. "As soon as Karn tells me you're not a danger to anyone, you're out of here, Lily. I don't give a fuck what little fantasy world you're currently living in. You want to think I'm your mate then fine, go right ahead. But let's get one thing clear: I will never mate with you. The sooner you believe that the better."

Lily let his words wash over her, waited for her wolf to surge forward to protect her as pain suffused her. Her animal remained silent and dormant within her even as she wept inside at his rejection. She could feel tears gathering but she bit her lip hard to stop them. 

Mac could fight the mating pull all he wanted but she wouldn't give up. If he seriously didn't want her then he wouldn't have allowed her to stay at all. She'd be leaving so quickly her head would be spinning. She straightened her spine and tilted her chin defiantly, glaring at him before turning away and leaving the study without a word.

Mac stayed behind his desk as still as statue. He listened to Lily leave the house and followed her scent until she vanished into the trees in the direction the others had taken earlier. As soon as he was certain she was far enough away, he threw back his head and let out a bellow of rage so loud the windows shook. His fist lashed out and he punched through the mahogany table, splitting it in two jagged pieces that crashed to the floor.

Rage he'd never experienced before took hold and he reached for the broken wood to hurl it across the room. The broken table shattered further when it hit the wall, sending chunks of wood and plaster flying everywhere. He whirled furiously, looking for something else to break, something else to pound into oblivion.

There was nothing close at hand so he punched his fist through the nearest wall, swinging over and over again until his hand broke and bled profusely. Only when he couldn't swing another blow did he drop to his knees and hang his head, his breaths coming out sharp and fast.

He closed his eyes and saw Lily's frightened face before him. Her big brown eyes had been terrified and then so full of pain. The scent of her fear still lingered in the room, her anguished scream still resounded in his head. Her pain crashed over him, breaking him in two.

He had to push her away, had to make her hate him but it had ripped him apart. 

He'd always thought the loss of his wife and child would be the worst anguish he'd ever have to bear. Hurting Lily was a different kind of pain, but it was just as intense, just as soul destroying. He craved to go to her, to beg her forgiveness but he knew he couldn't. She didn't belong with him no matter how much he wanted to keep her. He couldn't be who she needed him to be, but he could do his best to help her learn enough control.

It would be torture to have her so close and yet never touch her, but he deserved to suffer for what he'd just put her through. All he had to do was stay as far away from her as possible. If he couldn't be close to her then he would entrust her to Karn. He had every faith in his friend. He knew she would be safe with him. And after today's little lesson, she would never lose control of her wolf again and accidentally hurt the other man. 

He just prayed that Lily would learn control soon and be gone quickly. He prayed he would not need to repeat today's lesson. He'd ripped her to shreds because it was the only way to keep her safe. He didn't think he'd have enough self-control to do it again, not when he could still feel each and every emotional wound he'd inflicted on her. 

If he lost control, it would be disaster for both of them when Andrei Romanov came to claim his only daughter.

* * * *

Lily ran. She ran so fast tears didn't have time to fall down her face; they simply vanished as soon as her eyes filled with moisture. She wanted to scream out loud but she could sense the other Praetorians not too far ahead. They would hear her and turn back and she wouldn't be able to explain why she was so furious she was ready to level some trees.

The shock of Mac's taunting and outrageous behaviour was wearing off and she was starting to feel anger. It wasn't just anger, it was a slow burning fury that was ready to overwhelm her. She was also furious to note that her wolf was still dormant within her. "You traitorous little hussy," she hissed at her animal. "He says roll over and you're on your back in two seconds flat."

Of course her other half ignored her completely. Their mate had exerted dominance and like a good little submissive the stupid animal was playing possum and probably wouldn't show itself for days.

Although she was angry with Mac, she did concede that she'd needed some help with her wolf. If she'd been able to control her emotions better she would never have accidentally hurt Karn. 

She slowed to a stop and leaned over to catch her breath, fighting the urge to throw up the food she'd eaten earlier. She could have killed Karn, and had come so close to shifting and hurting Mac too.

"You okay, Andrea?"

Brandon's voice startled her and she almost shrieked as she straightened abruptly to see him standing a few feet away from her. Heart thumping wildly, she took a deep breath and tried to calm herself down. 

She'd been so distracted she'd let a vampire sneak up on her. Sure it was only Brandon, but if it had been someone intent on hurting her she wouldn't have stood a chance against them. It was stupid to let her guard down; she couldn't allow herself to get so distracted again.

"Thought you were supposed to be running with the rest of them," she answered, ignoring his question.

He grinned at her and rolled his eyes. "Karn scented you. Told me to double back and make sure you caught up with the rest of us. I wasn't about to argue with him; didn't want to be tossed about like a rag doll again. He's in one shitty mood today. What did you do to upset him earlier? And why did Mac want to see you?"

Lily rearranged her ponytail, making it more secure. Brandon's presence was soothing her and she gave him a quick smile. "I've been known to piss off the most docile of people. Pissing off bad tempered bastards is easy after that," she answered. "Come on, show me where we're being tortured before Karn decides he wants his pound of flesh from me as well."




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 05



She took off into the trees, matching Brandon's long stride effortlessly. She could feel him glancing at her from time to time and knew he was wondering what was going on. She liked him a lot but he was could be very nosey at times. She'd need to remember that. If anyone had a chance of working out her true identity other than Mac or Karn, it would be the vampire at her side.

It didn't take them long to catch up with the others. Karn kept them running for another two hours. By the time they made it back to house, Lily was much calmer and actually thankful for the gruelling pace the Praetorian had put them through.

She still didn't know how she was going to beard Mac though. It was obvious he was determined to keep her away, but she was a Romanov to her very core. She had no intention of letting her mate slip through her fingers just because he'd acted like an ass. Hell, if her mother had done that she'd never have been born.

She headed up to her room to shower, grimacing at the stark interiors as soon as she entered. She sensed a presence behind her and turned to see Karn at the door. She left it open and allowed him to follow her inside. 

"Everything okay?" he asked quietly, his pale blue eyes intent.

She knew what he was asking. "He was a pig like you said he'd be, but he didn't touch me. He made a great attempt at some nifty mental abuse but I'm a lot stronger than I look, Karn. You don't need to worry about me."

He quirked an eyebrow and she gave him a repentant smile. "He did teach me to control my wolf so there will be no repeat of today's earlier problem. You do know I never meant to hurt you."

Karn was silent for a moment before he nodded. "You do know that I wouldn't have stopped you, Lily," he countered. "I've sworn my life to protect you. I could no more hurt you than any of the other Praetorians could, even if it meant protecting ourselves."

Lily looked down at the carpet sucking in a deep breath. "I know," she finally whispered. "That's what makes it so much worse, Karn. Anyone else would have tried to defend themselves. No one here would and I could cause a lot of damage."

She looked back at him, her face full of misery. "I know you think it's madness for me to be here. You don't agree with Mac's decision. Hell, I don't think he even agrees with it either. But I need to be here so badly. I need to be sure I'll never be a danger to anyone like that again. I can't do that in the safety of the pack because no one there would ever push my boundaries to the limits. I need you to help me, Karn."

He couldn't deny that she did need them. He'd come close to death at her hands even if it had been accidental. His lips quirked in a smile and he let out a long breath. 

"And I can't deny you that help," he admitted ruefully. "We Praetorians can twist the word protection into just about any connotation we want to. I'll help you all I can, Lily. I'll protect you from anything, even if that means protecting you from yourself. Just stay out of Mac's way. Don't push him to his limits because you may very well break him and he's my friend."

She chewed on her bottom lip as she met his intent gaze. "I can promise you that I'll work with you to learn all I need to but I can't promise you anything when it comes to Mac. He's my mate, Karn. He's fighting the mating pull and that's unacceptable. I'm going to push him and I'll keep pushing him until he can't hide from the truth. He belongs to me. It's a simple as that."

"I hope you know what you're inviting," he sighed wearily, shaking his head as he turned away. "You have the power to split the Praetorians apart and get most of us killed. Keep that firmly in mind, Liliana Romanov. You hold our lives in your very hands." He walked out of the room without a backward glance, leaving her staring at the closed door.

His words were sobering. She was beginning to realise just how much her actions were endangering the men and women who were becoming her friends. Karn was so sure Mac wouldn't break and give in. Lily disagreed with him. Only time would tell which of them would be proven right.

She headed for the shower and stayed under the spray until she felt as relaxed as she was ever going to feel. As she towelled herself dry, a smile began to spread across her face as an idea began to form. Mac was so sure she wouldn't be hanging around for very long. She was about to disabuse him of that notion.

Lily didn't bother getting dressed, returning to her bedroom naked. She made sure the door was locked and the curtains closed then she sat down crossed legged on the bed and slowed her breathing with a couple of deep relaxation exercises. 

Once she was calm, she dipped deep inside herself and found the hidden well of power that she could barely tap at the moment. She imagined a deep green sari made of gossamer silk and sighed as she felt the soft fabric wrap around her body. With a smile, she took the yards of material off and imagined another one in the same colour.

She sat for over an hour, conjuring up endless swathes of silk in deep greens, dark blues, soft lilacs and pale reds. By the time she was finished, the bed was covered in fabric. Pleased with her efforts, she pulled on a pair of cargo pants and a tank top before heading down the hall to Brandon's room.

"Hey Bran, do you know where I can find a staple gun?"

Her friend looked up from the book he was reading, surprise on his face. "Why do you need a staple gun?"

"You know how Rhianna remarked yesterday that Mac's house was full of wood? Well, I got approval to have some fabric delivered to brighten up my room, but I don't have any tools to hang them up." She made her tone sound as innocent as possible, hiding her smile as she saw Brandon swallow the lie easily.

"Didn't know you were such a girl," he laughed, sliding off the bed. "There's a tool cupboard next to the kitchen. I'm sure I saw a staple gun in there. Do you want a hand hanging your drapes?"

Lily shot him her most winning smile. "You grab the tools and I'll steal a bottle of wine and a couple of glasses. Just don't break anything in my face this time."

Brandon laughed and started downstairs as she hung back and looked defiantly at the silent attic floor above.

"So you think I'm going home soon, Mac? Think again, my mate."

To be continued...



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 06



The ringing of the telephone in the early hours of the morning would have woken Mac had he been asleep, but his earlier encounter with Lily had made sleep impossible. He retrieved his cell phone from the coffee table, the familiar number automatically setting his instincts on high alert

"Hello?" He deliberately altered the sound of his voice, making it huskier. His caller wasn't due to check in for another week and it paid to be cautious.

"You do that very well, Mac," Pietro laughed softly. "For a moment there I didn't recognise your voice."

Mac blew out an irritated noise. "Just because the number belongs to you doesn't mean someone else didn't get their hands on it," he countered. "I know you think you're infallible but even the best make mistakes." He couldn't stop the little dig. He wouldn't have been awake and brooding if Pietro had paid more attention when he vetted 'Andrea Ruminskey.' 

"Who pissed on your parade?" Pietro laughed again. "Almost wish I was there to witness it, but you'd probably be tempted to rearrange my face for me."

Mac counted to ten, then kept going until he reached twenty. When he could trust himself to speak calmly, he let out a slow breath. "I assume you called in the middle of the night to tell me something important? Or did you just feel like pissing me off?"

The other man sobered immediately. "I got a whiff of something and followed the trail to the UK. I'm now in Edinburgh with a couple of barely-turned Elders. They act like brain-dead idiots, but it's all just a good show. These two are deliberately hiding their smarts. But they're not that intelligent though, as they've bought into my anti-establishment rhetoric. They appear excited by the prospect of having someone more experienced sharing their views. Makes me think an individual is running this little European rebellion after all. And it feels like someone important is coming soon to check me out."

Mac's tension increased at the news. "So you think they're finally going to make a move?"

"Something's in the wind, Mac. It's been so long since the last attack and I'm getting little clues here and there that appear to be nothing on their own. But taken together, they all point to an offensive about to happen. Our European brethren have a distinct lack of concern about The Council and even the Ancients. They don't view themselves as being under Council control. I also think they expect the Vârcolac to be easier targets now that they're grown and more likely to be out and about unescorted."

Mac's eyes automatically drifted to the door as he inhaled deeply to scent Lily as she slept just down the stairs from him. Pietro couldn't be more right about the timing of the Vârcolac's movements. He felt a surge of rage at the thought of someone making plans to harm the woman he was now personally protecting.

"You're sure there isn't a central figure pulling the strings from here stateside?" he finally asked.

"It's unlikely but not impossible," Pietro conceded. "The anti-Council rhetoric is pretty fierce over here, but that could just be a smokescreen. There could be someone close to our leaders who hates all the changes. The formation of the Ancient Council could have stirred up bad blood. Someone could be plotting to bring down both Councils and set themselves up as the new ruler of our nation."

Mac's smile was grim. "If they had any inkling of the triumvirate's existence they wouldn't be so stupid," he growled. "If someone close to the Council is involved then your cover may not be as good as you think, Pietro."

The other vampire laughed softly. "Why, Mackenzie. For a moment there it actually sounded like you care."

"I care about losing the only eyes and ears we have over there, de la Rios. I've got people to protect and losing you would make my job that little bit more difficult."

The other man still laughed, delight in his voice. "You know that's not the only reason you sound worried, Mac. I know you like me, really."

Mac growled in annoyance, his mind whirling at the possible implications of Pietro's intel. He chose to ignore the teasing. "How much longer will you be in Edinburgh?"

Pietro sobered again. "Don't know, but it'll probably be a while longer. I get the impression I'm receiving my final vetting before they let me in deeper."

Mac mulled over his options. If the vampires were preparing to move then the Vârcolac and possibly even the Council were in danger. Lily was tucked in bed downstairs and his gut instinct was to send her home. But no one knew she was here, and it would be logical to assume the attack would be made against the Armand-Hanlon compound. She would be safer staying with the Praetorians. The question was: could he safely leave her with Karn and the others?

"I don't have all day to hang around on this call, Mac. The others could come back any moment."

"Send me details of where you are and how long you expect to be there. Update me if you move again. I've a couple of things I need to do here but I'll meet you there as soon as possible. I want to get a feel for these people personally," Mac finally answered. 

His gut clenched hard at the thought of leaving but it was the right decision. The more firsthand intel he had, the more effective the Praetorians would be in their mission to protect Lily and the others. He trusted Pietro, but he was used to trusting in his own abilities more. If something was off about the Elders Pietro had met, he'd be able to spot it right away.

And there was the risk that Pietro wasn't safe. If someone stateside was running this little rebellion then the final vetting process could blow Pietro's cover. The other vampire's link to the Romanovs wasn't exactly a secret here, even though Pietro had been cultivating his cover in Europe for the past 25 years. Mac had no such ties so his cover would be harder to expose.

"You do care, Mac," Pietro laughed softly. "I'm really touched."

"Fuck off and just send me the information, de la Rios. I'll let you know when I'm heading out."

Mac ended the call, his gaze going to the pack that he'd tossed against the wall. He had planned to stay away from the compound for a few of days to clear his head but Lily had halted that escape. Now it looked like he would get his chance after all.

The thought of leaving Lily alone was like a punch in the gut, though. It hadn't felt this bad before, but after their confrontation in the study he loathed the thought of being away from her. He knew Karn would protect her but it didn't feel right leaving her protection to someone else. 

He knew it was her mating instinct calling him. Her Were heritage was asserting itself fully, actively seeking the one man who was destined to be hers for eternity. Mac couldn't afford to be that man.

And yet, he found himself stopping outside her door on his way out. He wanted to walk away but found it impossible. Leaving his pack in the hallway, he opened the door silently and stepped into the room. The yards of fabric were the first thing he noticed. There were swathes of the stuff in different colours covering every inch of the walls.

He stared in shock and wondered how she'd managed this feat even as his lips curled in a reluctant smile. She was a Vârcolac and he knew they shared some of the magic the triumvirate used. He also knew she'd prettied up her room to send a great big 'fuck you' in his direction. He couldn't help but admire her determination even if he had no intention of letting her win the battle.

His gaze swung to the bed. Despite the darkness he could see her just as clearly as he could see the material. Lily lay curled on her side, her hair loose and partially covering her face. She'd kicked the top sheet off as if she'd been restless in her sleep and her soft curves were covered in a bright red silk camisole and panty set.

It was enough to send him to his knees. He couldn't breathe as his eyes ran slowly down her body, lingering on the swell of her breasts before moving down to areas he knew better than to dwell on. Need slammed his body hard and a groan ripped from his throat.

"Mac?" Lily breathed sleepily, her head rising from pillow. She rubbed at her eyes, a gesture that made her appear younger than she was. "What are you doing in my room?" There was no irritation in her tone, just curiosity.

Mac let out a slow breath and walked to the bed. This was sheer insanity but he couldn't stop himself. He wanted to reach out and run his fingers slowly along the tempting curve of her bare leg. Instead, he held himself rigid as he stared down at her.

"I have to go away from a while," he answered, his voice coming out thick and husky. He watched a shiver run through her body even as she started to frown.

"I didn't take you for a coward, Mac. Running away doesn't seem like your style."

"It's work-related, Lily," he sighed, moving to sit on the side of the bed. Every instinct he possessed told him he should be running away from the temptress before him and yet here he was sitting on her bed. He should never have come into her room.

"I need to go to Scotland," he explained when she looked sceptical. "I didn't want you to panic in the morning when you found me gone. While I'm away you have to stick close to Karn at all times. No going off on your own. Try to keep a minimum of three Praetorians around you. And don't you dare shadow. If I find out you've slipped the leash even once I'll make you pay for it when I get back."

Lily was wide-awake now, so completely conscious of Mac sitting on her bed. Her hormones were going haywire and desire was flooding her body. Despite Mac's stern words she could feel his tension, scent his arousal. He wanted her even though he was keeping himself in check.

Underneath all the emotions she sensed from him, though, the prevailing one was fear. She knew he feared for her safety, that he was leaving to protect her in some way. She didn't know what was going on and didn't want him to leave, but she also knew she couldn't stop him if he was determined to go. 

He wasn't going to get away easily, though.

"I will promise not to shadow while you're away but I have one condition," she breathed softly, sitting up until her body was so close to his they were almost touching. She felt him stiffen but he didn't move away.

"Name your condition." His voice was so low and raspy she barely heard him.

"I want a kiss goodbye. Not a peck on the cheek or lips, Mac, but a proper kiss. Give me that and I'll give you my word."

He froze, his breath catching in his throat. She was so close all he had to do was lean forward and their lips would be touching. One kiss? He scoffed silently at the thought. He didn't trust himself to stop at one. She was just too tempting.

"Lily!" It was a growled warning when he caught her looking at his mouth.

"Then I won't give you my word, Mac."

Anger flared at the determination in her voice. He almost forced her to promise him, to dominate her as he'd done in the study, but the memory of her fear was too close to the surface and he knew he couldn't do that again. Not if he wanted to stay sane.

His eyes dropped to her lips. She sat so temptingly close to him. He could feel her breath caressing his face, feel the heat of her body. He wanted to kiss her just as badly as she wanted him. Surely he could stop at one kiss if he tried hard enough? 

Mac found himself reaching for her, brushing the back of his fingers down the soft curve of a perfect cheekbone. Lily shivered and his fingers trailed down the side of her throat before moving to cradle the nape of her neck.

God, she was so soft, her bones so fragile beneath his large hand. His head bent and he closed the distance between them, brushing his lips against hers gently. The instant they touched, his hand tightened painfully hard on the back of her neck. Lily let out a soft whimper, her lips parting for him. Then he was really kissing her, slanting his mouth over hers, claiming her completely.

The sound she made went straight to his head; the softness of her mouth was a temptation he couldn't resist. She literally took his breath away, and fire raced through his veins as she moaned softly, her mouth hungry against his. Mac lost all conscious thought, was completely caught up in the moment and the exquisite taste of Lily's mouth. He groaned and dipped into her sweetness, sliding his tongue against hers in slow, languorous flicks. 

His heart was racing, his body hard and aching with need as he wrapped his arms around her body and forgot that he was supposed to stop with one kiss. He dragged her onto his lap, desperate to feel her soft curves against him as he slid his hand against the sensuous material of her top. 

A warning was screaming in his mind but he ignored it, a deep growl erupting from his chest as he pulled Lily's body astride his and rocked his hips up to rub himself against the scalding heat that teased him through the tiniest silk panties he'd ever seen.

The kiss deepened and became more frantic as Lily writhed on his lap and tried to grind herself against him. Her small hands were in his hair, keeping his mouth to hers. His own hand had moved into the mass of luscious brown silky waves that rippled down her back and draped over his thighs. He clenched his fist in the heavy weight of her hair and kept her pinned against him.

Mac pushed into her damp heat as he pulled her down with his arm around her lower back. The desperate little sounds she was making had his head swimming, and liquid fire raced through his veins. He wanted to free himself and slide into her body, to lose himself in the scent and taste of her. He could smell her arousal, feel the dampness between her thighs. The way she rocked against him made it clear she was lost in the moment, desperate for the pleasure that was a heartbeat away. He wanted to give her that pleasure, wanted to watch her shudder and gasp as she let go and soared.

The voice in his head was becoming more urgent, screaming at him to stop, but the scent and taste of Lily was stronger, more demanding. He took her mouth over and over again in long, hot kisses, sweeping his tongue deep into her moistness, biting at her full lower lip with sharp little nips.

Lily was on fire. It was the only way to describe the sensations Mac was wreaking deep within her. His mouth was hot and dangerous, his hands hard and unyielding as he held her pinned to his body. She couldn't catch a breath, didn't want to because that would mean he'd take his mouth from hers.

Desire rippled through her, a hot and heavy sensation that tightened her breasts to a painful ache and sent liquid heat flooding straight to the juncture of her thighs where she cradled the steely hardness of his body. 

She strained to get closer, whimpering urgently. The feel of him so close to her most intimate place was heady and just as frustrating because she wanted -- no, she needed him inside desperately.

Her wolf howled with glee, was frantic to claim her mate as Lily tried to pull his T-shirt from his jeans. She wanted to feel the touch of his bare skin beneath her hands. 

Mac groaned loudly, sanity returning when Lily tried to take his clothes off. For a brief second he was tempted to let her and ignore the consequences but he knew he had to fight that temptation. His heart was pounding hard as he dragged his mouth away from her and pushed her off his lap onto the bed. He caught her hands in his, stilling her frantic grasping at his clothes.

"No," Lily whimpered, desperation in her eyes as she tried to get closer again. "Don't stop, Mac. Please don't stop."

He kept himself still, fought the need to pull her back into his arms as his gaze raked over her flushed face. She was so fucking beautiful he was sure it would break him to deny her. Her mouth was swollen from his kisses, her chocolate eyes flecked liberally with golden swirls. 

Her breath was coming out in harsh pants, making her breasts strain against the fragile material covering her body. God, her scent had to be the most potent aphrodisiac he'd ever come across. Her entire body was hot with need, her nipples clearly outlined against the silk, almost begging his mouth to slide over the fabric and tease her mercilessly.

Mac fought his own need, suppressed the desperation he felt as his hands itched to pull her closer, to strip away her clothes and taste every inch of the soft flesh he would uncover.

"You said one kiss, Lily. That was slightly more than one kiss, but I held up my end of the bargain. Now give me your word that you won't shadow while I'm away." 

Was that really his voice? How could he sound so unemotional when his entire body was attuned to hers, when what was left of his shattered self-control was barely enough to stop him from completing what he'd started? He watched her face carefully and caught the fleeting emotions that raced across her beautiful features. It made him suck in a deep breath. 

Mac's cold tone was like a bucket of ice being thrown over her. Lily stared at him, biting her bottom lip as the heat of passion began to fade and she was left with Mac in all his unemotional glory. 

He'd seemed as caught up in the moment as she was; hell, she hadn't been thinking clearly but the way he'd responded to her made it clear that he'd wanted her as much as she'd wanted him. Now it was like he'd flicked a switch and just shut off the passion between them.

Had he guessed at her inexperience? Was she just not tempting enough for him? Her reaction to his kiss has been instinctual and she'd burned up like a living flame. Even as he pushed her away she was still aching for him, her body strung out and desperate for completion. But Mac had just cooled off as if it was the easiest thing in the world to do. Maybe for him it was.

Lily could feel tears threatening and she fought to swallow them down. She wouldn't cry for him, wouldn't let him see how much it hurt that he could just walk away as if she didn't affect him. "I promise," she finally said, amazed that her voice sounded so neutral when she felt as if she was dying inside.

He was silent for a long moment, his eyes trying to penetrate her soul. "Why do you do that?" he asked quietly. 

His gaze was relentless and she wanted to look away, but looking away from Mac wasn't always the easiest thing to do. "Do what?" Her tone was sullen, colour creeping into her cheeks.

"Turn from a sensual, vibrant woman into a vulnerable young girl. You were so passionate just a moment ago and now you appear so young and unsure." There was more than a hint of confusion in his voice.

"Probably the same reason you turn from a passionate man into a cold, hard vampire, Mackenzie," she answered bitterly, unable to keep the thread of hurt out of her tone as she leaned away from him. "I guess that's just the way we're both made. You got your promise. Just go now." The tears were getting closer to the surface, becoming harder to contain. She needed him to leave before she disgraced herself completely.

Mac could hear her voice quiver, could feel the pain she was trying so hard to conceal. He muttered a curse, knowing he'd hurt her again. Suspicion was starting to rear up inside him. He was probably crazy for even thinking it, but he needed to know if he was right.

"Lily, how much experience have you had with men?"

She stiffened instantly and her cheeks flushed with colour. It was all the answer he needed and he cursed again, loudly this time. If he'd known, even suspected that she was so inexperienced he would never have touched her. 'Yeah right,' a little voice whispered in his head even as a part of him sat up and preened at the knowledge that no man had touched her before.

It was an insanely possessive reaction, but he couldn't help it even as he was astounded that she'd led so sheltered a life. His expression must have given something away because she flushed even more and stared down at the bed.




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 06



"You do know who my father is, don't you?" she muttered defensively. "How many males do you think were willing to take him on when it came to his only daughter? They were too frightened to even kiss me let alone do anything else."

His heart banged painfully in his chest and he reached out with a gentleness he didn't know he possessed, tilting her chin up so their eyes met. "Was that your first kiss, sugar?" It should have been a stupid question to be asking a woman of her age but her expressive eyes answered him eloquently.

Mac wanted to kick himself. The uncertainty he'd seen on her face when he'd broken off their kiss was now very understandable. He'd had to use all his self-control to restrain himself, digging deep inside to find the cold, ruthless edge he wore so easily. And Lily had thought it meant she was somehow lacking in her sensuality. He swore long and hard.

"Liliana," he breathed softly, cradling her face gently in his hands. "You could tempt an angel to abandon heaven for one taste of your sweet lips. Never doubt yourself as a woman. I want you so badly it's only a lifetime of control that's stopping me from taking you right now. I know it's wrong to want you, to crave your taste and your touch. But still I crave you with everything inside me. If you believe nothing else I ever say to you always believe that."

He kissed her again, a soft gentle touch. He didn't want to incite her passionate nature, knew he would succumb if she melted into his arms again. His kiss was full of reassurance and tenderness, letting her know that she was a beautiful, sensual woman any man would give his right arm to be with.

He pulled away reluctantly to stare down at the woman who had somehow managed to reach inside him and find the hidden well of softer emotions he thought he'd lost centuries ago.

"I really need to leave, Lily," he finally sighed, resting his forehead against hers because he didn't want to let her go just yet. It felt so good to be with her like this, to feel her breath on his face and her warmth against him. "Remember your promise. Do whatever Karn tells you."

Lily watched Mac stand up, feeling bereft when his hands left her. He confused the hell out of her and made her feel so insecure one moment and so protected the next. The short glimpses she'd seen of the softer side to her mate made her heart race hard in her chest, made her believe that she would be able to win him. But every time he retreated behind his walls, as he was doing now, she knew she'd have to start breaking them down all over again.

He walked out of the room without a backward glance and she swallowed hard, her fingers touching her swollen lips tentatively. A slow smile curved over her face and she lay back against her pillow. As first kisses went, Mac's were pretty spectacular whether they were hot, fiery, and passionate or gentle, slow and loving. 

Her wolf rumbled her approval and she stretched languidly on the bed. She was content with the progress she'd made in this first foray against Mac's heart. She'd proven he wasn't indifferent to her. He had told her that he wanted her. It was only a matter of time before she was in his bed. Once that happened, her mate would never be able to leave her again.

* * * *

Mac leaned against the wall outside Lily's door and closed his eyes, wondering just exactly where he'd left his brain because he certainly wasn't using it today. He couldn't believe he'd been stupid enough to kiss her. He'd known it would be crazy to give in to the temptation and yet he'd gone and done it anyway.

Now her taste was in his mouth, and his body craved the feel of her soft skin. Walking away from her had been sheer torture and all he could think of was going back inside the room and finishing what he'd started. He had to be completely out of his fucking mind to behave no better than an untried youth.

But she was Lily; so beautiful, so feisty and sassy, and so bloody vulnerable. He wanted to wrap his arms around her and protect her from the world. He had to remind himself that she wasn't his no matter what she thought. He couldn't be who he needed to be, couldn't do the things he needed to do if he allowed himself to be sidetracked by the woman on the other side of that door.

His body stiffened with tension and he opened his eyes to look down the hallway. Unsurprisingly, Karn stood at the head of the stairs looking as if he hadn't been to bed yet. His expression was neutral, but Mac could tell he was displeased about something.

Grabbing his pack, Mac walked past Karn, ignoring his friend as he headed downstairs into the wrecked study. A minute later Karn entered too. Mac knew Karn would have checked on Lily before following him down. The fact that his friend had felt the need to check on her cut deep.

"I hope she wasn't in this room when you wrecked it," Karn said quietly, disapproval lacing his voice.

Mac shot him a quelling look and surveyed the room slowly. "Make arrangements to clean this up," he answered coldly, not deigning to respond to Karn's comment. "Pietro called and I have to go to Europe. I need to stop by Annie's before I head over there, so I'll stay at the apartment the rest of the night. I need to pick up a few things anyway."

"What do you want to do with Lily?"

Mac moved to the fireplace to stare into the empty grate. "She stays here, Karn. Make sure nothing happens to her. She's promised not to shadow while I'm away so protecting her should be easy enough. Pietro thinks something is about to happen and I need to check it out firsthand. I also need to let the triumvirate know."

Karn watched him for a moment, feeling a mix of anticipation and concern. It was only a matter of time before their unknown enemies struck again and part of him was itching to pit his wits against them. The rest of him was trying to work out how to keep the Vârcolac safe.

"I'll keep her safe from the vampires," he finally answered. "But what's to protect her from you, Mac? I don't know what the fuck happened in here earlier or what you were doing just now in her room, but she needs to be fully focused on the here and now. She can't afford to have her head up her ass because you're fucking with her mind."

He watched his friend tense and waited for him to explode. Mackenzie didn't always like hearing the truth and tended to lash out first and think later. He was prepared to get his ass handed to him on a plate, but his friend obviously dug deep and managed to restrain himself.

"Your point is duly noted," Mac answered in a cold voice. "I won't be around so she'll be focused on what she needs to be doing. I've told her to listen to you and she respects you anyway so her focus shouldn't be a problem."

He turned to pierce Karn with a cold stare. "I appreciate your concern, my friend, but tread carefully. What goes on between Lily and I is not your concern. I strongly suggest you remember that."

Karn knew it was pointless to argue with Mac when he had that look on his face. He was right on the very edge of his self-control and it wouldn't take much to tip him over. He wisely kept his mouth shut.

"I had the apartment cleaned up earlier," he told his friend, changing the subject. "It stinks of cleaner and you need a new carpet but I've managed to find a rug to hide the worst of the damage."

Mac nodded almost absentmindedly and then let out a long sigh. He rubbed his hand tiredly over his face. "How the fuck did everything go tits up, Karn?" He couldn't keep the weariness out of his voice. It was a sign of the trust he placed in Karn that he lowered some of his carefully constructed barriers when he was alone with the other man.

His friend gave him a rueful smile. "That's women for you. Why do you think I stay as far away from them as possible, Mac? Let them get anywhere near you and before you know it, you're thinking with your cock instead of your head and all hell breaks loose. I'm stuck between pitying you and wanting to kick the shit out of you if you hurt her."

Mac couldn't stop the snort of laughter that escaped him. Give Karn an inch and he took a mile. Hell, he took two. He eyed his friend speculatively, trying to work out just when their relationship had changed. 

They'd known each other for over a century, had worked together on some of the more taxing assignments Mac had undertaken. He respected the other man immensely for his skills and his dedication to his tasks, but at some point in the last few decades their relationship had changed. He'd started thinking of Karn more as a friend and not just a colleague. He'd come to trust him.

It was a disconcerting thought. Since he'd met the triumvirate, he was starting to trust more people, letting them into his life, allowing them to matter to him. Was that why Lily had slipped through his defences so easily? Just thinking about her was enough to send his blood pressure sky high. He took a deep breath. He really needed to get away.

"Keep her safe, Karn," he ordered softly, his tone resolute. "If anything happens to her while I'm away..."

"You don't need to threaten to kill me," Karn snorted, rolling his eyes. "If anything were to happen to her then I would already be dead, Mac, and you know that."

He did know that. It was the only reason he was willing to leave Lily's side. Why he'd even opened his mouth he had no idea. Was he really so far gone that he needed Karn's reassurance? The situation was becoming intolerable. He couldn't afford to have his thought processes muddled. The threat to the Vârcolac was becoming more dangerous and he had to get himself under control as soon as possible. Now was not the time to become unfocused.

He nodded to Karn and headed out of the house to the waiting Jeep. Dawn wasn't far off but it was still too early to go and see Annie. He headed to his apartment, not surprised when he did not encounter another soul in the building upon his arrival. Anyone with half a brain would be tucked in bed fast asleep. 

As he let himself into the apartment, Mac wondered if he'd ever get a full night's sleep again. He'd had precious few hours of sleep since Lily had crashed into his life. Something told him this was about to become the norm for him rather than the exception. He surveyed the apartment, finding the expected scent of the cleaner and the underlying trace of blood.

He tried not to inhale too deeply but couldn't stop himself. Lily's 'scent' of nutmeg still hung in the air and he stifled a groan, trying not to imagine her here in his private space. Karn was right. It had been insanity to bring her here, to the very place he used to satisfy his sexual needs and his blood lust. It had been disrespectful, especially when he knew she considered him her mate.

But it was done and if nothing else, her reaction had highlighted the issues she had with her control of her abilities and her wolf. If something good came out of it then they'd both just have to learn to live with his insensitivity. 

He spent the remainder of the night and early morning hours reviewing the data Pietro sent to his cell phone, trying to work out how best to tackle things once he got to Scotland. When the clock hit nine o'clock, he gathered his gear and headed back outside. It was time to have a chat with Annie and find out just what the hell she was playing at leaving Lily in his care.

* * * *

Rhianna smiled, her head turning to the front door as she felt her guest's approach. It was so unusual for him to visit her at home that for a moment she genuinely felt surprised -- a feat very few managed to accomplish.

"The door's open, so just come right in," she called out, her smile widening when she heard his footsteps falter on the steps for a second before the door swung open to reveal Kallum Romanov.

"How do you do that?" Kallum laughed, shaking his head ruefully as he closed the door and leaned down to give the petite redhead a kiss on the cheek.

"Magic," she laughed, giving him an affectionate hug. She loved all the Vârcolac as if they were her own and loved to spend time with them. She usually had to visit the pack to see them, but today one of them had actually come to see her.

"Should I guess why you're here?" she smiled, leading the way to the living room with Kallum close on her heels.

"Lily sent me," he admitted with a smile. "Said I was to mention Mac to you and you would fill me in on where she is."

Rhianna stiffened noticeably then let out a slow breath. She turned to give him a long, measuring look. The Vârcolac had been children and in need of protection when she'd first set up the Praetorians. Back then, it had been a simple matter to keep their charges ignorant of the threat whilst ensuring they were never left unguarded. 

It had worked for almost twenty-five years. What none of them had factored into the equation was the way the children's skills had advanced so dramatically as they had grown up. It was plainly obvious now that the children, if trained properly, would outstrip their guardians when it came to protecting themselves.

She should have seen it coming, should have realised that they needed to reassess the situation once their charges became adults. With the benefit of hindsight, she could see that the triumvirate and the pack had created an untenable situation for Lily by failing to act earlier. 

Rhianna couldn't blame the girl for fleeing everyone she loved if that was the only way she'd have a chance to discover who she was as a person. And Lily was not alone. Some of the other children clearly exhibited character traits that indicated they'd have a hard time adapting to the real world and coping with their abilities.

Thankfully, Rhianna knew Kallum wouldn't have any issues. The young man was every inch the Alpha, and reminded her of her brother Rafe in some ways. He had a slightly more ruthless streak, though, which he kept strictly controlled. There was no doubt in her mind that the young man standing before her could more than adequately take care of himself and all those he considered part of his pack.

So now she had to decide just how much she was going to share with him. She was almost certain that she would tell Kallum everything, even though Caleb would be furious once he learned that she had not only concealed Lily's whereabouts, but she'd also made the unilateral decision to reveal everything without consulting him first.

"First Lily and now you," she smiled ruefully. "Caleb is not going to be very happy with me, Kal."

Kallum frowned slightly, disbelief on his handsome face. "I can't imagine Caleb ever being unhappy with you, Annie. He adores you."

She laughed softly. "Believe me, I frustrate the hell out of him very easily. Thankfully he doesn't stay mad long."

He stared at her for a long moment before speaking. He knew Caleb worshipped the ground Annie walked on, would do anything for her. Lily had to be involved in something pretty big for Annie to be so certain that Caleb would be angry with her.

If there was some way he could get the information he needed without causing any dissent between the couple, he would take it. But Annie was his only link to Lily now, and he needed to track his sister down and make sure she was okay. Her voice had been filled with panic when she'd yelled at him, and their father's news of her distress was worrying. He knew Lily needed to have someone she trusted unconditionally at her side. He wasn't about to leave her all alone and afraid.

"Lila needs me, Annie. She thinks she's so tough and can handle anything but she isn't. She reached out to Dad yesterday, and told him she was a monster. Something has scared her so much that she talked to Dad even though she knew he would be furious with her."

Kallum's words brought a frown to Rhianna's face and a sense of unease. Surely Lily would have contacted her if something was wrong? Lily knew she'd come to her if needed. 

"She was fine when I saw her, Kallum. In fact, she was more than fine; she was ready to lead Mac in a merry dance. I would have loved to stay and watch the fireworks, but Caleb would have come looking for me and if he'd found her, he would have sent her home to the pack."

She watched Kal's frown deepen before he sat in one of the large leather armchairs close to the fire. She followed and took the seat across from him. "Maybe Mac is fighting the mating pull," she murmured quietly.

The instant she thought of Mac, she could sense he was close. Her head shot up and she narrowed her eyes at Kallum. "Did you shadow yourself before leaving the pack?" she asked suspiciously.

Mac was almost at the door. He would not be approaching the house if any of the Praetorians were stationed nearby, not when they made a point of keeping themselves hidden from their charges. Kallum's unrepentant look gave her all the answer she needed and she bit down a curse.

"Caleb, love, I think it might be best if you come home. There's a bit of a situation developing." She felt her mate's immediate concern, followed by a quick kiss running down their mating bond. Her own mental tone had made it obvious she did not feel threatened.

"What have you gone and done now, my Annie?" Caleb's rich, deep voice was laced with exasperation as it echoed in her head. "I'm not going to like it, am I?"

Rhianna's lips quirked in a small smile and she shivered slightly at his tone. "Probably not, love," she laughed.

"I'm on my way."

Caleb disappeared from her head a second before the front door opened and Mac stepped into the house. Kallum had obviously sensed his approach as well, because he shadowed himself just before Mac walked straight into the room. Until Caleb arrived it was probably best for him to remain hidden.

"Mackenzie! I wasn't expecting you today," Rhianna said smoothly, rising to greet her additional guest. She saw a flash of irritation in his dark eyes before he quickly masked it. She sighed as she surmised that Lily's secret was out.

"And here I was thinking you're some kind of oracle, Annie," he drawled softly before he bent to brush his lips against the top of her hair. "Or did you think I wouldn't find out about Liliana Romanov so quickly?"

He watched her face intently, searching for some sign of remorse. Her light laughter raised his hackles and he frowned down at her in disapproval.

"It's not funny, Annie. You must know what a nightmare this is? Andrei will not be happy to learn that his little girl has flown the nest and become a bloody Praetorian. You know he'll personally come in and disband the lot of us... permanently. How could you leave us in this mess? What were you thinking?"

"I was thinking how remarkable Lily is that she managed to learn about the Praetorians, breach our defences, and become part of the elite team we had created to protect the Vârcolac." She couched her words to ensure that Kallum gleaned as much information as possible through their conversation. 

Mac's frustrated snort was a testament to how annoyed he was. His hands raked through his hair as he glared down at the unrepentant woman in front of him. She might be his queen but he could quite cheerfully shake her right this moment.

"I suggest you take a few steps back, Mackenzie," Caleb Cullen said coldly from the doorway, his eyes fixed on the vampire standing so close to his mate. He didn't bother trying to hide his anger, his body tense as his eyes briefly flickered over Kallum before coming to rest on his mate.

Rhianna's heart skipped a beat as she read the raw fury burning in his amber gaze. He was magnificent when angry, a golden avenging angel full of raw power. Even dressed in a dark grey business suit he looked wild and untamed. Her vampire was the epitome of an Alpha male: big and dominant... and right now very, very displeased with her.





Hearts of Warriors Ch. 06



She could see him trying to rein in his fury at Kallum's presence. He could tell that Mac had no idea one of the Vârcolac was sitting right there, but it didn't alleviate his building rage.

He strode into the room, his footsteps taking him right up to her. The hands that reached for her upper arms were gentle despite the raging emotions surging down their bond. His head bent slowly, his eyes intense as he rubbed his lips gently against hers. 

"I don't quite know why Mac wants to strangle you, Rhianna, but I can understand the sentiment. There had better be a very good reason for this because I am sorely struggling to rein my temper in."

His use of her given name was always a bad sign. He only used it when he was seriously pissed at her. She smiled gently and stepped into his embrace, knowing he wouldn't be able to stop himself from wrapping his arms around her.

"We have a bit of a problem with the Praetorians or I suppose I should say the Vârcolac," she admitted feeling the tension in his big body. "Lily knows about them as does Kallum now. There's no point in trying to maintain secrecy any longer which is why I wanted you to come home. We need to work out what we're going to do about it."

Caleb's body stiffened further and his arms tightened so much she almost gasped at the pressure he was applying. He appeared to notice and relaxed his hold, glancing down at her in apology.

"There's no way we can do damage control?" He had to ask even though he knew whatever was going on was probably beyond that. He kissed Rhianna's forehead, running a hand slowly down her back. Despite her brave little smile and the defiant tilt of her chin he knew she was worried about his reaction to the news.

He sighed wearily as he read the answer in her lavender eyes and then his lips quirked in a reluctant smile. Yelling at his woman was pointless. She would only yell back or smile at him until he'd vented his displeasure and succumbed to her charms. If there was no way to contain the situation then he'd be better off finding out just exactly what the situation was.

He tilted his head slightly to catch Kallum's eye. "You might as well reveal your presence. There's no arguing with my woman when she makes her mind up about something and she appears hell-bent on this course of action."

Mac immediately stiffened, turning to gaze at the empty chair. His eyes narrowed and he bit back a curse as a large, brown-haired man suddenly appeared. Brown eyes met his, wary but also full of curiosity. He'd seen those eyes before, only they belonged to someone else. 

The spicy scent of sandalwood with the barest hint of lilac on the edges had him stiffening further as he realised who the mystery guest was. His eyes darted to Rhianna and he growled low in his throat.

"You have got to be fucking kidding me," he ground out through clenched teeth. "There are no Praetorians out there, Annie, which means he's as bloody reckless as his sister. How the fuck are we supposed to protect the Vârcolac if they all start shadowing themselves and running around on their own?"

Kallum rose slowly to scrutinise the man his sister had chosen as her mate. It was more than evident the vampire was deadly, a large, well-honed fighting machine. It was also evident he had a temper to match their father's, which would most likely make for some pretty explosive moments with Lily.

Obviously the Praetorians were an elite group, as Annie had mentioned, tasked with protecting the hybrid children as they grew up. It didn't take a genius to work out that there had to be some reason that protection had been required, something none of them knew about. The scent masking, no-shadowing rules when leaving the pack sort of made sense now.

He wanted to learn a bit more about his sister's mate, to make sure he was good enough for her, but something told him that it wouldn't matter to Lily whether or not he liked the man. She would prefer it if he did but she wouldn't allow it to affect her decision about mating with him. He shuddered at the thought of her bringing Mac home to meet their father.

He kept his gaze locked with eyes so black they were bottomless pits. He had a sense that Mac was waiting for something to happen, for him to do something. When he didn't drop his gaze, the vampire's mouth twitched ever so slightly, almost reluctantly.

"Might have known he'd be as bad as she is," he muttered irritably. 

"Actually, Lila's a lot worse than I am," Kallum corrected. "I take it she's inveigled herself into your little band of protectors and that's what's causing all the consternation? God, that is just so like Lily. How did she manage to do it? Surely there are checks in place or something when recruiting?"

Mac's eyes tracked back to Annie and he gave her a pointed look. Caleb's eyes also dropped to his mate and he growled loudly.

"Tell me you know nothing about this," he bit out.

Rhianna grinned sheepishly up at him. "I knew nothing about it until a couple of days ago when Mac called me to check the new recruits. Lily assured me she was okay and she appeared happy where she was. She didn't want to return to the pack and I saw no harm in leaving her with the Praetorians. They are her protectors after all."

"Rhianna, you know the pack have been going insane trying to find her," Caleb bit out, his voice starting to rise as his temper flared again. "You know Andrei has been at the killing edge for weeks now. How could you keep this quiet? We talked about this. We agreed that the sooner we found Lily and got her safely home the better."

"No, you decreed that Lily should be brought back to the pack and locked up for her own good," she countered quietly. "I just didn't argue with you about it. It was more than evident as you, Andrei, and Alexei all sat around plotting the poor woman's incarceration that there would be no reasoning with any of you. I didn't agree with you, Caleb. I just didn't disagree with you."

Caleb stared down at her for a long moment, then his arms dropped away and he stalked over to the other end of the room. He turned, his eyes almost black with anger when he pinned her with his gaze once more. "Don't you bloody argue semantics with me, woman. The very fact you didn't disagree implied that we had your agreement and you know it."

Rhianna took a deep breath to quell her own burgeoning temper and met his gaze unflinchingly. "You only hear what you want to hear sometimes, Caleb. I've learnt when it's pointless arguing with you. You knew very well that I disagreed with your decision, which was why you never actually asked me outright. You avoided it because you didn't want to get into an argument over it. But all this is rather a moot point anyway. Lily joined the Praetorians and I didn't give her up to Mac when I approved the recruits."

Her tone quite clearly dared him to deny her accusation. It also left the room in no doubt that she was quite finished with the topic and wouldn't be drawn into any more arguments about it. Caleb glared at her furiously, opened his mouth to speak, and then growled as he clamped his lips closed.

He wanted to call her a liar, wanted to be the one in the right, but as he cast his mind back a few weeks he could see that she hadn't once agreed with him and the twins. She'd been present in the room and he'd felt her disapproval down their mate bond. And that was why he hadn't asked her if they were doing the right thing. He hadn't wanted her to tell him no.

"You should have opened your mouth at the time," he finally muttered, his unhappiness still very evident.

Rhianna sighed deeply. "Andrei wasn't willing to hear it and quite frankly keeping him in check was more important at that point. I should have said something afterwards but you were all so certain you were in the right that it seemed pointless trying to get you all to see reason."

She crossed the room to her mate, stopping just before him. Her eyes raked over his face, watching him struggle to calm his annoyance at her. She hated arguing with Caleb and was thankful they didn't do it very often. But she wasn't about to apologise for the decision she'd made, not in this instance. Lily had needed freedom and she didn't regret allowing her that freedom. 

"Caleb, you're almost as blinkered as Andrei on this point," she finally sighed softly. "Maybe it's a male thing, but for some strange reason none of you seem to have realised that the Vârcolac are no longer children. They're fully grown adults who are quite capable of making their own decisions and going out into the world to find their mates. 

"We have no right to restrict their movements, to damage their spirits by denying them that. Yes, we can love them and want to protect them but we have to allow them to live their lives. We can't cage them or confine them to pack lands because we're frightened something may happen to them. That's just wrong and you know it."

"In more ways than one," Mac reluctantly agreed. Everyone turned to look at him and he sighed in resignation. "Annie does have a point, Caleb. Lily can fight like a professional -- hell, she blooded me when we were sparring. She's smart, fast, and utterly lethal when she's in fight mode. But when it comes to interacting with others she struggles with her emotions. 

"She's fine when everything is going well and she's feeling confident but the moment things don't go to plan she reacts in one of two ways. She either loses all confidence in herself or she reacts so negatively she turns violent."

Kallum growled softly, his body tensing. "Lily isn't violent," he argued, anger creeping into his voice. "Yes, she's a bit on the wild side but she'd never deliberately hurt someone, not in anger."

Mac turned to spear him with a cold stare. "Tell that to Karn. She lost control of her wolf yesterday because she was upset about something and she ripped out part of his throat. He's lucky she regained enough control otherwise he'd be dead now. He's been her main protector all her life. He wouldn't lift a hand to defend himself against her."

Rhianna let out a startled gasp and Caleb's arms automatically gathered her close, comforting his mate even as shock rippled through him.

Kallum continued to glare at Mac for a moment longer before his eyes softened and concern etched across his face. "That's why she contacted Dad and told him she was a monster," he breathed quietly. His heart ached for his sister. He knew her so well, could guess at the awful guilt she would have felt over her actions.

The room was silent as Mac's words hung heavy in the air. Caleb held Rhianna close, running soothing fingers through her riot of red curls as her distress flooded over him.

"You're right, Annie," he finally conceded. "We all should have seen this coming. There's been way too much testosterone in play. We've all let the children down."

"Not deliberately," Rhianna answered with a sad smile. "We've been working blind for the most part. Rayne came to us as an Ancient. Any issues she may have had to overcome as she grew up she handled on her own. None of us really knew what to expect. And it's not as if major harm has been done either. We just need a new plan of action going forward."

Mac had more information to impart and the news wasn't going to be very welcome. "The timing sucks," he announced bluntly. He glanced at Kallum then looked pointedly at the others.

"Whatever it is, Kallum can hear it," Caleb said, motioning for everyone to take a seat. 

Mac chose the sofa closest to him and Caleb manoeuvred Annie over to the sofa across Mac. Mac's eyebrows rose when Kallum chose to sit beside him but he continued with his news without saying anything about it.

"Pietro called and said there was activity over in Europe. He's fairly certain he's about to get access to whatever is going on over there. I fly out to Scotland this afternoon. I want a firsthand feel for the situation."

Caleb's lips tightened and he looked at Kallum. "There was an attack on the compound a quarter of a century ago," he explained. "Freya and Dayton were surprised by vampires. They didn't get anywhere near the pack but an investigation into the attack led us to believe that someone was trying to harm the Vârcolac. Pack security was enhanced and we set up the Praetorians to protect you. 

"The attack came from our European brethren and Pietro has been there ever since trying to infiltrate the group so we can take it out. Until now there haven't been any further incursions."

Kallum quickly digested the information. Everything about their sheltered lives and growing up in the pack suddenly made sense. "So whoever is after us probably thinks we've grown complacent and now would be a good time to have a second attempt at harming us."

He felt a bubble of fury begin to well up inside him and he fought to push it down. There was no point getting angry about the problem. He needed a clear head to protect his people. Sensing Mac's eyes on him he turned his head to meet the vampire's gaze. He was slightly surprised to see approval in the other man's eyes.

Mac was impressed by how quickly Kallum had interpreted the situation. He didn't ask any unnecessary questions, just got straight to heart of the matter. He examined the Vârcolac carefully, trying to get a feel for just who Kallum Romanov was as a man. 

He was important to Lily and he knew she would be unhappy if he didn't find some common ground with her brother. He also had the impression that Kallum was equally trying to size him up too. Had Lily told her brother that she thought he was her mate? So far that little gem hadn't come up in the conversation and Mac would prefer if it didn't.

He turned back to Caleb and Annie. "So where does this leave us?" He blinked slowly when Kallum answered him.

"Everyone has underestimated just who and what the Vârcolac are," Kallum said firmly. "Everyone is so hell-bent on protecting us that you appear to have forgotten just what we're capable of. Mac said himself that Lily was a lethal fighter. I can tell you right now that she would have been curbing her skills in any sparring matches she's undertaken. If she was trying to pass as a full vampire, and a reasonably young one at that, then she'd have no option but to hide her true abilities."

"Yes, you've have extensive training, Kal," Caleb agreed though his tone was slightly doubtful. "Gard has done his best to ensure you can handle yourselves in emergency situations until backup arrives. But it's an entirely different thing when you're being assaulted by a group of experienced fighters out in the real world."

Rhianna kept her eyes on Kallum's face, noting the way his lips tightened in displeasure. She let out a slow breath, the sound drawing his gaze to hers. His lips quirked into a smile and she felt herself answering him with a smile of her own as realisation dawned on her.

"How much have you all been hiding from us?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "It varies depending on skill level. I'd say the majority of us probably train at about eighty percent. Me, personally, I dial it down to about seventy percent, Lily about seventy-five. I'm not entirely sure about Kothari because he only does the basic training. I think he's hiding a lot of his power from all of us. 

"The same goes for Liam. He's so empathic he doesn't want to fight but he knows he has to be able to defend himself. I think he's got a lot in reserves. It's almost as if he's afraid of what he's capable of..." Kallum trailed off to give the people in the room time to process his admission.

They'd never made a conscious decision to hide their abilities from their pack; it had just sort of happened. When it had become so obvious that they were outstripping their teachers at such a young age, they'd become concerned that their friends and family would start to fear them. 

Without discussion, they'd all started training that little bit under their skill level until it became the norm for them. The only time they trained at their full abilities was when they were alone and sparring against each other.

Rhianna wondered why she wasn't overly surprised by the news. She could sense Caleb's consternation through their bond. He didn't say anything though. He appeared to be content to let her decide how to deal with the situation.

"Does that include whatever magical abilities you have?" she finally asked.

Kallum frowned and shook his head. "That's the one area we've still not managed to break through yet. We can all do the small things that Rayne does but no one's exhibited anything more enhanced than that. Lily can create things other than clothes when she shifts, mostly jewellery and girlie trinkets. She's certain she's got untapped power deep inside. She believes she can create things that don't necessarily relate to her body, though she hasn't been able to so far."

"Why is this the first time we're hearing about all this, Kallum?" There was disapproval in Caleb's tone. He wasn't happy that they'd all been kept in the dark.

The younger man met his gaze steadily. There was no apology in his eyes. "Nobody wanted to listen to us, Caleb. You were all too busy telling us what to do and how to do it. I know it was done out of love and concern but you guys dropped the ball big time. You left us with no choice but to rely on ourselves."

More silence filled the room and it was Mac who eventually broke it. "So basically, Kallum's saying that the Praetorians are a waste of time and the Vârcolac could run rings around us when it comes to protecting themselves?"

"On the contrary, I think the Praetorians are completely necessary," Kallum countered. "When we were younger, we needed the protection you gave us. Any new children born will be in dire need of that same protection as they grow into their skills. 

"Lily's problems highlight that we still need you, just in a different way. We need to train with you, learn what issues we have as individuals and work to correct any problems which may crop up. Everyone just needs to stop treating us like we're incapable of protecting ourselves and let us train properly."

His gaze left Mac's and turned to Rhianna. She wasn't one to hide her emotions and he could clearly see the distress in her eyes. He hadn't meant to make her feel bad. Learning about Lily's anguish had just been the last straw. The situation was no one person's fault. They had all failed to communicate properly.

"No one's angry, Annie," he said soothingly, giving her his usual lopsided grin. "We love our families and our pack. We know you love us too. It's a relief to finally be taken seriously and tell you about this. I've wanted to for a long time, and until Lily ran away there really wasn't a compelling reason to break the silence."

"I feel like we've failed you, Kal," Rhianna whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "How could I have gotten this so wrong?"

He moved to kneel before her, taking her hands gently in his. He was just like everyone else; he couldn't bear to see her so upset. "You didn't fail us, Annie. All you've ever done is love and protect us. We just need a different kind of guidance now. I should have told you sooner. I'm sorry I didn't."

He squeezed her hands gently, his eyes turning to Caleb to see his reaction. The Ancient didn't like it when his mate was upset. He couldn't read Caleb's expression though his hand was stroking gently through Rhianna's curls.

Caleb nodded to Kallum, silently urging him to return to his seat. They'd learned so much in this meeting, and it was a lot to take in. He gathered Rhianna against his side and brushed his lips soothingly against her hair as he sensed her distress starting to subside.

"You really think your presence is required in Scotland?" he finally asked Mac.

"I'm concerned that Pietro's cover could be blown if we're wrong and someone close to the Council is actually involved in this plot. I know he's not technically a Praetorian in the real sense but I class him as one of mine. I don't leave one of my team hanging out on a limb with no backup, Caleb."




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 06



The Ancient couldn't fault his logic. He wasn't willing to lose Pietro either should there be a spy hidden among them. "And you're content to leave Karn in charge?"

"I wouldn't leave Lily if I didn't trust Karn completely," Mac answered. His voice rang with certainty.

Caleb nodded again and turned to look at Rhianna. "How do you want to play this, Annie?" He could make the decisions himself but he knew she was feeling uncertain because of the recent revelations. She needed to be doing something to address the mistakes they'd made.

Instead of answering, Rhianna glanced at Kallum. He met her gaze, smiling as he did so. "What do you think, Kal?"

His smile broadened and he relaxed back on the sofa. It was only then that the others realised he'd been tense, as if waiting for something.

"If Mac's going to be out of the country, then Lily needs someone she trusts close to her," he answered instantly. "Mom's managed to get through to Dad somewhat but I think it's too soon for Lily to come home and face him. 

"I'm sure this Karn is a reliable person otherwise he wouldn't be Mac's second-in-command, but he's not family and she's already lost control once when he's been her companion. She needs someone she can't dominate, someone who will kick her ass if she's about to lose it. If that person can't be one of our parents then I guess that only leaves me."

"And just how are we going to explain you to the Praetorians?" Mac growled softly. He knew what Kallum said made sense, but he still didn't like hearing Kallum say he was ready to kick Lily's ass, even if she may need to be kept in line until he returned. He ignored the possessiveness that was shifting through him like a whirlwind when he thought of Lily.

"That's the point I've been trying to make," Kallum retorted, a hint of steel in his voice. "You don't explain me, just as you don't explain Lily or any of the others. The time for secrecy is past. The Vârcolac aren't hiding any more, Mac. We're joining the Praetorians."

To be continued...



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 07



Mac turned his black gaze on the man sitting beside him pinning him with a cold stare. His entire body was rigid with tension, his muscles taut with the strain of remaining still. Kallum's words rang around the silent room, his expression fixed and determined. It was all Mac could do not to explode as he glared at the other man.

"Let's get one thing straight between us, Kallum," he said in a voice so cold it could freeze water. "I decide who becomes a Praetorian. I select them; have my people train them, and only the best come anywhere near our compound. When I'm confident the candidates are worthy, I call the Triumvirate for the final confirmation of their loyalty. There's only one person who leads the Praetorians and that's me." 

The quiet coldness suddenly vanished and red hot fury filled the room. "So don't you fucking dare tell me what's going to happen in my own backyard. I don't give a fuck who you think you are. No one tells me how to run the Praetorians. I've been doing it for twenty-five years and the only people who can tell me what to do is the Triumvirate. Until they decide I'm no longer needed, the Vârcolac are mine to protect and I decide whether or not they're allowed anywhere near the Praetorian compound."

Caleb tensed immediately, his head turning to Rhianna as she placed a hand soothingly on his chest and gave a minute shake of her head. She was clearly indicating that he keep out of the discussion between Mac and Kallum. It was hard to do so when his protective instincts were kicking into gear, but she had to have a reason for holding him back. He turned his gaze back to the two men.

Kallum was watching Mac with a guarded expression on his face. He didn't appear tense but there was a slight tightening of his lips which was one of the few signs he gave when he was displeased about something. He wasn't backing down from Mac, but he wasn't deliberately inflaming the situation either.

He'd known his announcement wasn't going to be popular. He hadn't intended on forcing their way into the Praetorians, but it was clear they all needed to be there. He had to find a balance which Mac found acceptable and would allow the others to get the training they needed. In the event of an attack, they had to be able to defend themselves. And he also had no intention of leaving Lily alone while Mac was out of the country.

He considered his options carefully. He could probably take the head Praetorian in a fight. He could sense the age of the vampire and knew it would probably be a hard fight but he was confident he could win it. But that would piss Lily off if he started beating up her mate and a pissed off Lily was not an easy thing to live with.

He didn't particularly want to fight Mac anyway. In just the short time he'd been in the other man's presence, he'd found himself coming to respect him quite quickly. There was no doubt in his mind that Mac would be the perfect mate for his sister. He was strong enough to cope with her wildness and yet he instinctively knew that he wouldn't cage her spirit either.

The fact that he'd been angry that Kallum was threatening to kick Lily's ass was a clear indicator that he was well on the way to mating with her. He might not be too happy about the prospect but Lily was never one to be thwarted when she really wanted something. And she wanted Mac.

Taking a deep breath, Kallum let it out slowly while he dialled down his Alpha tendencies and thought of what was best for his people. He gave Mac a wide grin feeling a bit of the tension leave the room. "Damn," he laughed softly. "You're so much like Dad it's spooky."

He watched annoyance flare across the other man's face and he knew he didn't want to discuss Lily's declaration of mating with him. It made his smile widen and he had to fight the urge to really annoy Mac. There was times when even Kallum was just a little too much like his father and this was one of them.

"You say the Vârcolac are yours to protect, Mac," he continued, his expression turning serious. "So protect us. I've already listed the reasons why we need the Praetorians, some of us more than others. It makes sense that now that everything is out in the open, that you use everything that's available to you to ensure we're able to protect ourselves. You know what I'm saying makes sense. If you didn't, then Lily wouldn't still be at your compound."

Mac couldn't argue with him. He had no doubts that he was hard enough to send Lily packing if he really thought her presence would damage the Praetorians beyond repair. The fact that he hadn't, meant he was well aware of just how much she needed to learn control. If the others needed that training too...?

He turned to the Ancients to try and judge their thoughts on it. Caleb appeared thoughtful and Rhianna was smiling at Kallum with fondness on her face. She appeared impressed with his stance, almost like a proud parent. Caleb rolled his eyes and shrugged his big shoulders.

"The Praetorians are yours to run how you deem fit, Mac," he said quietly. "We have every confidence in you. You've never let us down."

"You'd better do as Karn tells you," Mac rumbled irritably turning back to Kallum. "There's only one person in charge while I'm away and he's it. If Karn feels we need to bring any of the others to the compound then it's his decision. If you try any of your Alpha shit, then you and your sister will be sent back to the pack. Am I making myself perfectly clear?"

"I know how to follow the chain of command, Mac," Kallum smiled, satisfaction spreading across his face. "There can only be one Alpha in any pack. I would never dream of challenging Rafe or his Betas and I wouldn't do so in the Praetorians either."

He leaned forward, his gaze intense. "We need you," he said quietly. "Lily needs you. I'll do just about anything to ensure my sister's happiness, Mac. If you want to kick my ass a hundred times over to prove you're the Alpha and that's what it takes to ensure she's happy, then you can start kicking."

The sincerity in his voice and his expression was undeniable. His quiet words were loaded with hidden meaning and Mac heard what he was saying. Kallum believed that he was Lily's mate. His closeness with his sister meant that he accepted her choice and he'd move heaven and earth to ensure that she was happy; even if it meant having to accede to the man she'd chosen.

Kallum's relationship with Lily was the deciding factor for Mac. The younger man had impressed him already with his keen intelligence and his fierce loyalty towards his pack and fellow Vârcolac. But it was his deep abiding love for Lily that really penetrated Mac's objections to having him at the compound.

He knew his people would die to protect her in an instant. But he knew that Kallum was probably one of the best people who could truly protect her. Lily had been lethal when sparring with him. If she'd been holding back...if Kallum was as strong as and possibly stronger than she was no one would be able to hurt her as long as he was around. 

"Just so we're perfectly clear about things," he finally said, allowing acceptance to creep into his voice. "I'll call Karn and let him know you're coming." 

"What about the pack?" he asked as he stood up, pulling his cell phone from his pocket.

"We'll talk to Rafe about it," Caleb answered. "He'll keep the Romanovs away from the compound and make sure they behave themselves. Andrei could be a problem but hopefully when he finds out Lily is surrounded by the Praetorians it'll calm him down enough. We won't let him disrupt the compound while you're away."

Mac nodded and moved into the outer hall to make his call to Karn. Part of him wished he wasn't leaving so he could orchestrate the changes about to take place, but it would leave Pietro without any backup and he couldn't bring himself to do that. He had to trust Karn was up to the job of keeping things in hand until he returned.

Kallum smiled sheepishly at Caleb and Rhianna. He knew he'd thrown them a massive curveball and was relieved they were taking it so well. They were so closely tied to the pack that everyone considered them pack mates even though they weren't under their Alpha's command. They were like a second set of parents to all the Vârcolac as well as the Alphas' children. 

"Oh come here," Rhianna laughed softly holding out her arms. She hugged him tightly, so proud of the man he'd grown into. Caleb squeezed his shoulder in reassurance too.

"We've learned to roll with the punches, Kal," he smiled. "You use what tactics work for however long they do and then you adapt as required. Rafe might be a bit put out that you've been concealing things and I dare say your parents will have a few things to say on the topic, but you have our backing if you need it."

"That's good to know, but I'm sure we'll be able to handle things," Kallum answered with a grin. "Our parents don't usually stay angry too long, except for Dad. And Rafe is pretty cool once he gets over his initial annoyance."

Mac returned, glancing at his watch as he slipped his phone back into his pocket. "Karn knows you'll be around at some point today," he told Kallum. "You do what he tells you at all times. The only exception to that rule is if it comes to Lily's safety. I can't argue with the fact that there may be instances when you'll know better than we do how to protect her. Karn knows to accede to you in that event but don't push your luck with it. Only in a dire emergency, Kallum."

The warning was implicit in his voice, his expression hard as he pinned the younger man with his steely gaze. Kallum Romanov screamed Alpha to everyone around him. How he managed to submit to all the other Alpha personalities around him was a clear indication of just how strong a male he was. Somehow Kallum could keep his need to be king of the castle in check, something most other Alphas failed miserably at.

Kallum nodded his agreement, fighting to keep a smile from his face as his respect for Mac went up a notch and laughter bubbled up inside him.

"Do you have any idea what you've let yourself in for, Lila?" he whispered to his sister privately. "How the hell could you choose a mate so like Dad? That's bordering on being slightly creepy."

He felt his sister utter a startled gasp, shock rippling through his mind before pleasure flowed down their bond.

"You approve," she smiled softly, her mental tone overjoyed. "He is impressive isn't he, Kal? Where are you? How did you meet him? Is he angry that you know about him?"

"I'll answer all your questions later, sister mine. I need to go now. I just wanted to check in and make sure you were okay and let you know that I'd met Mac. Behave with Karn!"

He cut off their mind link before she could ask any more questions. He wanted to surprise her later on when he made it to the compound. Their conversation had taken scant seconds but he'd already missed Mac's next words to Annie and Caleb.

He was telling them he had to leave to make his flight to Europe and Kallum concentrated on the others as they said quick goodbyes. He smiled at Mac and silently nodded his head. The fierce protectiveness in the vampire's eyes was unmistakable. Though no words were said he knew Mac was silently commanding him to keep Lily safe.

As Mac left the house, Kallum was suddenly anxious to go find his sister. 

"Oh, go on," Annie laughed seeing his expression. "Lily will not suddenly go to pieces because Mac's left the country, but you're not going to believe that until you see her with your own eyes. You know that was a really pretty speech you gave about everyone else underestimated the Vârcolac. I think part of you underestimates your sister too, Kal."

He blushed slightly at the mild rebuke, reluctantly conceding her point. But he'd been protecting Lily all his life and it was a hard habit to break, even though he now knew she'd been slipping out of the compound for years and living a second, clandestine life none of them knew about.

Caleb hugged Kallum goodbye and then turned to his mate with a raised eyebrow as the younger man closed the front door behind him on the way out.

"Caleb."

"Don't you 'Caleb' me, Annie," he growled softly, his tone a mix of irritation and amusement at the uncertain expression on her exquisite face. "Haven't you learned by now that keeping secrets from your mate is not the done thing?"

She bit the inside of her mouth and tried to look innocent. It was so clearly an attempt to divert him that he burst out laughing at her transparency. His hand snaked out and he pulled her hard against his body, dipping his head so he could inhale the sweet fragrance of her skin and slide his tongue against the side of her neck.

"You know I have to punish you," he growled softly, feeling a shiver run through her body as she melted against him. Husky laughter greeted his words as she rubbed against his aching body which was alive with need for her in an instant.

The problem with punishing his errant mate was it usually drove him insane too, but it was a heady kind of insanity. He wasn't angry with her. He had learned the hard way that his mate acted impulsively but always for the greater good. Sometimes it took him longer to reach the same conclusions she did instinctively, but he always ended up agreeing with her decisions in the long run.

She still should have told him about Lily though, not waited until she'd been put into a position that made it impossible for her to keep silent any longer. "I'm going to enjoy teaching you the error of your ways, sweet one," he breathed against her skin, his voice laden with husky promise combined with a thick, pulsing need.

"I'm ready for my lesson," Rhianna laughed rubbing her breasts against his chest, her laughter turning into a low moan as his arms tightened around her and his lips brushed slowly up to her chin and then across her cheek.

She knew she was in for a world of teasing, a slow erotic torture as Caleb stamped his dominance all over her in a way which left her under no illusions that she belonged to him. She shivered in anticipation of each slow, languid stroke of his fingers, every whispered breath that would tease her skin until she begged for more.

He would deny her pleas, push her to orgasm after orgasm without giving her what she really craved, his body sliding deep within her, claiming her completely until the world melted away and there was only Caleb. 

Only when she was mindless with need would he sate her craving and they'd come together in fiery passion, both of them driven beyond their limits. It was a glorious way to be punished and she was anxious for her lesson to begin. The thudding of Caleb's heart against her told her he was just as eager to begin their erotic dance.

Caleb's lips found hers an instant later and he was picking her up, as his tongue plunged deep into her mouth branding her as his, as he strode determinedly from the room and upstairs, the object of his lesson willingly allowing him to do as he pleased.  

His Annie was always willing, always eager to dance with him, to allow him those moments when he needed her to be just a woman, just his mate who surrendered herself to his every whim with no complaint.

He wondered which one of them would break first. He always set a time limit on how long he would pleasure her to insanity. He never told her about the time limit; because if he did she would know that she won every time. No matter how he tried to resist, how he tried to keep control, his luscious mate always caused him to roll over in defeat and give her what she wanted long before he ever reached the time constraints he'd set himself.

She had enough power over him as it was. He wasn't insane enough to give her any more and allow her to play with him shamelessly as he knew she would. But even as he kicked the bedroom door shut and headed to their bed, he had a sneaking suspicion that his Annie already knew all that. The damned woman appeared to know everything anyway. And he was hopeless at hiding his clawing need, his deep abiding love for her.

He tossed his woman onto the bed, his gut tightening as her fiery curls flowed over the pillows. She was his greatest weakness and yet she was his greatest strength. They steered a nation between them, they changed the paths of every life they touched. She was his air and his heartbeat, his conscience and his sanity. She was his.

He watched her through heated eyes, his nostrils flaring as he took in the scent of her arousal as she pulled off her top to bare her breasts to him. The strength of his feelings for her overwhelmed him and he loomed over her, forcing her to lie back against the sheets.

"Punishment time," he breathed softly, his voice low and thick, his body hard and aching. Without giving her time to respond, he fastened his mouth to her breast and bit deep to savour the sweet flavour of her blood. He began to suckle strongly drinking down the essence of his woman, the intoxicating flavour of the one woman he could never survive without.

He feasted at her breast, used his magic to keep her pinned to the bed as he greedily took his fill. As his bloodlust began to ease, he slid a hand between her thighs, rubbing hard twice against the coarse material of her denims and growling loudly as he sent her soaring for the first of many times yet to come.

****

Lily was sweating, her breaths coming out in sharp pants as Karn ran them up and down the steep heavily wooded mountain range. They'd been at it for hours, the pace relentless but invigorating. It took her mind off Mac leaving so she was grateful for the extreme workout.

She kept close to the leading group of Praetorian's slipping back slightly when Kallum had contacted her. She was glowing at her brother's approval of Mac. She'd secretly been a bit concerned that he might disapprove of her choice. She should have known better. She knew Kal only wanted her happiness. Her brother would accept whatever choice she made as long as he was convinced that it was the right choice.

She'd caught back up with the leading group again after her quick talk with Kal, slotting in beside Brandon and easily maintaining the pace. She sensed him looking at her but didn't say anything. Talking when running at such a brisk pace wasn't easy and Brandon would have been suspicious if she'd spoken to him with her mental voice. 

He was already giving her too many considering looks as it was. He was fiercely intelligent and she did trust him...sort of. She didn't trust him the way she trusted Mac and Karn, but she classed him as her best friend outside of the pack. Her instincts told her he would never betray her but she wasn't quite ready yet to fully trust her own instincts. She'd already let herself down by hurting Karn. That was a lesson she needed to pay close attention to.

It was another half an hour before Karn switched direction and led them back towards the compound. It was close to lunchtime and Lily's stomach growled quietly. The increase in exercise was playing havoc with her need for proper food. At this rate, three days would be too long to wait to feed her wolf. She was going to have to find a moment to speak to Karn about it.

"Ruminskey; Oliver... Katanas," Karn barked as they arrived at the rear of the house, the wooden chest already outside and latched open.

Brandon uttered a quiet groan but strode over the chest beside her. They pulled out a sword each and moved to the centre clearing to stand facing each other. They were both covered in a light sheen of perspiration, Brandon's hair sticking to the side of his face.

Lily smiled tauntingly at him, mischief dancing in her eyes. "Aw is poor Brandon too tired after his little run?"

He grinned back at her, a spark of challenge entering his eyes as her taunt struck home. "Not too tired that I can't kick your ass, Ruminskey."




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 07



She twirled the blade in her hand expertly, tossing back her ponytail as she slowly started to circle him. "You haven't managed to yet," she quipped back. "Don't know why you think today will be any different."

"When you two have finished measuring the size of your cocks perhaps we can see some training?" Karn's harsh rebuke just made them both smile wider, Lily laughing happily at the coarseness of his words. This was the Karn she knew so well, the one who pushed her to be the very best.

She was flowing at Brandon before the laughter had stopped, her sword whistling through clear air as her opponent moved agilely out of the way. She spun and blocked his counterblow, the ring of metal meeting metal loud on the air.

They split apart, measured each other with shrewd eyes, slowly circling for a fraction of a second before they flowed together in attack once more. There was no more time for laughter or taunting words, they came together as lethal fighters each determined to be the winner of this little training session.

Kallum stood silently, just within the tree line, his eyes full of pride as he watched his sister match swords with the vampire almost four times her age. He'd been halfway towards pack lands when he realised he'd forgotten to ask the location of the Praetorian compound. Instead of turning back he used a skill not even Lily knew he was capable of.

He reached out with his senses as he dug deep within himself to find the spark of his magical powers. He let his mind fill with images of his sister, her scent, and the sounds of her laughter. His feet turned unerringly in the direction he knew he would find her.

Unlike the others, Kallum could track anyone he was bonded with as long as they weren't blocking that bond. Now he stood watching his sister fight, his heart swelling with pride.

Her opponent was no slouch with the sword, his movements graceful and well thought out. Kal could see that he pushed Lily to be alert, to try and predict his next four moves in advance.

His sister countered all attacks, her own strikes well thought out and choreographed. He could tell she was tired though, because she let her guard slip a couple of times and received shallow cuts to the same arm twice. 

That annoyed her, and he could sense her anger spark, but she kept it in check and managed to bleed her sparring partner with her next attack. She pulled her stroke though, to ensure she didn't cut too deeply across the chest of the dark-haired male.

He realised they were both tired and that fighting with swords was dangerous when they were in that condition. His gaze swept to the male who must be Karn, trying to judge if the vampire was merely being foolish or if he had a reason to push them so hard. 

Kallum was ready to intervene when Karn suddenly halted the match with one simple word spoken in a low voice. 

"Enough."

Immediately Lily and her partner lowered their blades grinning at each other with obvious affection. Kal didn't know who the other male was but it was clear Lily liked him a lot. As he let his eyes quickly take in the position of all the Praetorians present, he opened up his senses to his sister's emotional state.

Piercing hunger filled him instantly and he smiled slowly and released his shadowing skills, allowing his true scent to permeate in the air. The reaction was instant.

As all eyes turned to look at him; Karn's expression, the usual blandness of an Elder, suffused in power. The other Praetorians began to fan out towards his position with no instruction being given. They didn't come at him in aggression; instead they circled him, three immediately behind him, another three on his left and right. 

Of the groups of three, one faced into the compound and two faced out towards the area surrounding them. Kal couldn't help being impressed with how skilled they were, how they immediately adopted a protective position around him even though he didn't need it.

Lily's expression was priceless. The sword dropped from her hand and she stared at him in shock her mouth dropping open. Catching his sister off guard was no easy feat and he found himself laughing as he held up the paper bag he'd been holding down at his side.

"You forgot to pack your lunch," he laughed softly, delighting in teasing her as his keen gaze checked that she was okay.

Lily gaped at her brother, confusion and joy flooding through her at the same time. She knew the other Praetorians were aware that he was Vârcolac and wouldn't harm him; he'd released his true scent. But what was he doing here and why wasn't Karn going ape shit about his appearance?

Her eyes shifted to Karn to find him not watching Kallum but instead focused on her reaction to him turning up. There was no surprise in his pale blue eyes, which meant he'd known beforehand her brother knew about the Praetorians and where she was.

He raised an eyebrow at her and his lip actually twitched in a half smile. "At least my throat will be safe from now on," he drawled quietly. 

It was his permission to reveal her true nature. Mac must have decided that the need for secrecy was past and informed his number two. It was the release she needed to give into the joy of having her brother close. She'd never been separated from him for so long and it had hurt unbearably to be apart from him.

Lily began to run, tears gathering in her eyes as she closed the distance and threw herself at Kallum. He caught her expertly, bracing for her body colliding with his, his arms strong and protective around her.

"I've missed you so much, Kal," she whispered through her tears, her arms tight around his neck as she buried her head against him to take in his scent. An immediate feeling of total safety surrounded her. It cut through the misery of being separated from her family to leave an overwhelming feeling of joy.

"Missed you too, Lila," he whispered back his own joy in each word as he hugged her close. He'd felt lost without his sister being near and frightened that one of his own was out there alone without his protection. He'd missed her on both levels and could only hold her tightly until his feelings of loss began to fade and he was once more secure in the knowledge that she was safe and well.

Finally Lily pulled back out of his embrace and reached for the paper bag still in his hand. "Burgers," she groaned, her mouth watering at the scent of the meat hidden from her gaze. "I'm starving! Seriously, Kal, we may be able to exist on blood for short periods of time but it sucks. I was about to go wolf and hunt some poor little rabbit, I was so hungry."

He pulled her ponytail playfully and let her have the bag. "Save some for me. I haven't had lunch either, little miss greedy guts," he teased though his gaze was shifting towards the sandy-haired vampire who was now walking towards them.

"You must be Karn," he greeted the vampire. "Mac said he'd called and let you know I was coming."

Karn appraised him for a long moment keeping his silence and then he nodded his head. "I'm well aware of the rules Mac set in place so don't think you can pull any shit on me, Kallum."

Lily bit into a burger and let her gaze travel up to her brother's face. It was clear there was male posturing going on and she was curious to see Kal's reaction to her mentor. She didn't realise she was actually holding her breath until she saw his lazy smile cross his face.

"You're the boss in all things, Karn, with the exception of Lily's safety, if I deem a different course of action. I'm more than happy with that arrangement if you are."

"Agreed," Karn answered immediately though his gaze didn't lose its penetrating stare. "The same applies for you or any other Vârcolac who may come to this compound. You do exactly what I say when I say it unless it will cause extreme danger to either yourself or one of the others. It's still our job to protect you and you'll let us do that. If you can't agree to it then you can fuck off back to the pack and take Lily with you."

Kallum felt respect for the vampire blossom deep within. This male was every bit as intelligent and lethal as Mac. He was also one dominant son of a bitch and wasn't about to let anyone as young as he was start trying to usurp his position. 

He could understand that and also understand the cost to the vampire of having to concede that there may be a point when he would have to accede to a younger man he felt was still a Youngling in vampire terms. 

Kallum conceded all the time to the dominant males in his pack even though he knew deep down he was stronger than all of them. He understood that sometimes the needs of those under his protection were more important than his own need to dominate. He had that in common with Karn and it was a good base for what he hoped would become a good friendship. He could see Lily thought highly of the vampire.

"That sounds fair to me," he finally agreed reaching to grab a burger before Lily ate them all. He'd brought plenty, sensing Lily's hunger in their brief contact earlier. "Now we've finished with the pissing contest, do you mind if we have lunch while you brief everyone else?"

For a moment Karn just blinked slowly at him then he threw back his head and laughed. A quick hand movement and his people were heading towards the big house, Lily and Kallum securely circled as they followed them.

Brandon waited until Lily came level with him and pierced her with a hard look. A frown marred his usually smiling face, disapproval wafting off him in waves. "You could have bloody told me," he snapped irritably. He was in shock at discovering the woman who was most probably his best friend in the whole world wasn't who he thought her to be.

"What would you have done if I had, Bran?" she asked softly, a sad expression crossing her face as she was once more the subject of displeasure from someone she classed as a friend.

He pondered the question searching deep within to come up with an honest answer. His frown melted away and his lips quirked. "I would have ratted you out in an instant to Karn like a good little Praetorian," he admitted looking slightly sheepish at the thought.

Lily shot him a tentative smile. "I would have forgiven you if you had," she sighed softly. "I would have been mad as hell at you, but I would have understood why you'd felt compelled to do so."

Brandon nodded his gaze turning slightly apprehensive. "Just how much of Andrea Ruminskey was the real Liliana Romanov?" He held his breath as he waited for the answer.

Lily knew what he was really asking and it hurt that her actions had caused him distress even unknowingly. "Everything apart from the name and the blood drinking," she reassured him nudging him slightly with her shoulder. "You're Lily's best friend just as much as you were Andrea's."

He was silent for a long moment and then he grinned widely at her, his eyes dancing with merriment and a hint of pride. "My best friend's a Vârcolac," he said smugly. "How many other people can claim that?"

Lily burst out laughing. "You're such a status whore, Bran. You're so bloody easy; it's a wonder no woman has managed to seduce you into mating them yet."

His laughter joined hers and he nudged her back, only he did it hard enough to bump her into her brother who automatically corrected her momentary imbalance. "Many have tried and all have failed," he laughed. "It'll be a cold day in hell before any woman clips my wings."

Kallum listened to the easy camaraderie between Lily and Brandon, keeping silent as they worked out just what the revelation of her true identity meant for their friendship. He was perturbed to realise just how stilted Lily's growth had been within the pack confines.

The woman he was witnessing was so much freer in spirit and obviously well thought of among her peers. Her relationship with the others was easy, full of mutual respect and loaded with trust when it came to Karn and Brandon. The two males obviously cared greatly for his sister and she returned their feelings with abandon. 

It was like seeing Lily come alive watching her interact with the Praetorians. He could only guess at how Kothari and Liam would thrive in this environment, possibly Elina too. 

He was more certain than ever that they all needed to spend time with the Praetorians. It was just getting Karn to agree with it that could pose a bit of a problem. He would need to spend some time with the vampire to find the right way to get his point across.

Lily turned to him then, an unspoken question in her eyes. 

"Can we talk privately somewhere?" he asked with a smile on his face. He couldn't help reaching out to pull her against his side, relieved to have her under his protection once more.

"My room," she responded looping an arm around his waist. "You can tell me everything, where you met Mac, what you thought of him. Is Dad still furious with me? Is Mom okay?"

Kal kissed the top of her head, following her into the house and past the eyes of the Praetorians who watched them silently. Sometimes his sister sounded so much younger than her years. She wouldn't settle until he alleviated her fears. He had no idea if Karn expected them to stay or not but he didn't care. Soothing Lily was more important at the moment.

He laughed loudly as his sister ushered him into the room and closed the door. The riot of colour on the walls was so typically Lily he wasn't sure why he found it a bit startling to see the fabric there. He supposed it had something to do with the fact they were in the heart of an elite soldier's training ground.

Lily grabbed a can of soda out of the bag she was still clutching in her hand and hopped onto the bed with a grin on her face. "Mac thinks he's sending me home," she explained after taking a drink and searching for more food. "I'm letting him know I'm making myself at home."

Kallum joined her on the bed, opening his own can of soda and helping himself to another burger. "I wondered if he was fighting the mating pull. He kept going on about how you were going home once you'd learned control but his body language was saying the exact opposite. I think the only reason he agreed to let me come here was because he realised I was the best person to keep you safe while he was away."

Lily was devouring chips as if she hadn't eaten in a week. For all he knew maybe she hadn't. She met his gaze with a frown on her face. "He's being difficult. I think he doesn't believe he's good enough for me. The number of times he's told me he has no intention of mating with me. But I did get a kiss out of him last night before he left."

Her expression turned dreamy and a soft smile curved over her lips. Her face literally shone with radiance and for a moment Kallum could only stare at her in wonder. He'd never seen this side to his sister before, so soft and ethereal. Usually she was fierce or arguing with their father. Sometimes she was forlorn and prone to bouts of low self esteem. When she thought of Mac she was more alive than he'd ever seen her, even with having just witnessed her interaction with her new friends.

His heart melted and his smile was full of affection as he leaned over to touch her cheek gently. "You never forget your first kiss," he breathed softly, his love for her evident in his voice.

Lily laughed and tried to wipe the goofy look from her face. She knew she had to have one because of Kallum's reaction. "So, who was your first kiss, Kal?"

He grinned and eased back on the bed. "Wouldn't you like to know?" he teased before relenting. "My first kiss was Rowan." 

His sister's eyes went wide with shock at finding out he'd dallied with the daughter of the pack's most senior Beta and second in command to their Alpha.

"Oh my God! Seriously, you and Rowan? Weren't you scared that Aaron would kick your ass?"

He shrugged nonchalantly. "She is older than I am and I was twenty at the time. Plus she's a Were as is Aaron. Unlike our vampires they don't have the same hang-ups about their grownup children indulging in their perfectly natural, healthy sexual appetites."

Lily was still shocked. Rowan and Kallum? They had such opposite personalities. Rowan was very quiet, studious almost to fault. Despite her being a Were, Lily had a hard time imagining the other woman having a romantic interest in anyone let alone her brother.

"You can close your mouth now, Lila," Kallum grinned. "It was fun while it lasted but it wasn't serious. We knew we weren't mates. There's a lot more to Rowan than meets the eye. You shouldn't be so blinkered." His tone was fond when he spoke of her, making it obvious that he still had warm feelings towards Rowan.

It wasn't that Lily didn't like her, because she did. She was fond of all of Jen and Aaron's children. She'd just never pictured her brother being intimate with anyone she knew very well. She'd always assumed he indulged his appetites with some of the less well known females in the pack.

She gave him a startled glance. "It was just Rowan wasn't it? I mean...you didn't do anything with Elina?" Dara and Cassia were their blood cousins so she knew Kallum wouldn't have been tempted in that direction. That only left Elina as being the sole other female she was close to.

Kallum shot her an incredulous look. "Lila, I love Elina to death you know that but seriously could you see the two of us together that way? She makes Freya appear warm and cuddly and that's saying something."

Lily bit her lip hard upset by Kallum's assessment even if it was accurate to a certain degree. "Elina's not cold," she reprimanded with a frown on her face. "You know why she's the way she is."

Her brother's expression sobered into something dark. "Yeah, we all do," he agreed, a hint of self-loathing in his voice. Lily had surprised him with her question and he had reacted without thinking. He felt a rush of guilt wash through him at his insensitivity. 

Elina couldn't help the way she was. As a child she had been prone to laughter, a sweet little thing that raced around the compound squealing in joy. Until one day she had come across her cousin Liam hunched up in pain, his face a mask of agony. His empathic abilities had peaked out of nowhere, driving him to his knees and overwhelming him because he couldn't shield himself from all the emotions within the pack.

She'd hugged him instantly, her little face turning so smooth and calm in the blink of an eye. As the expression died on her face, the pain began to ease from Liam's as they'd connected on a level so deep no one could explain it. The little girl, barely seven years old, had stared solemnly into her older cousin's face and whispered an oath she had kept to this very day.

There was no more laughter from Elina, no more spontaneous hugs, no more smiles of such heart-tugging beauty people stopped in their tracks just to bathe in them. Elina's oath to always be at Liam's side and to buffer him with her own mental barriers had most probably saved his sanity. But the price had been all the joy and happiness that should have been hers.

Kallum swallowed hard and looked away from his sister. "If there was something I could do for her, anything, you know I would," he whispered. "But she won't let any of us in, Lily. She won't even let Annie try to find a way to buffer Liam. I want to help Elina, but I just don't know how to."

Lily could hear the heartbreak in his voice and she curled herself around him, snuggling into his chest and letting her wolf have a little bit more freedom. She knew it would call to his wolf; that it would ease him having their animals react to each other as only wolves could.

"I know, Kal and so does Elina. She knows we're all there for her. One day she'll get her chance to finally free all the emotions she's buried for so long. One day Liam will be happy too. I'm certain of it."




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 07



Kallum rubbed his cheek against her hair and allowed himself to slowly relax. His smile was still tinged with a hint of sadness but his eyes weren't as bleak as before. "Are you challenging Annie for her oracle position, sister mine?" he teased lightly.

"No, but I have faith in that we're all destined to find someone special. When that happens for Elina and Liam, there will be no choice but to find a solution to Liam's problems," she answered quietly.

They lay silent for a moment and then Lily sat back up feeling her brother's inner balance settle once more. "You were telling me where you met Mac?"

Kal smiled at her fixation on the topic. "You sent me to Annie's," he reminded her. "I'd just arrived when Mac chose that moment to show up too. Annie must have called Caleb home as well because he showed up and we all had a little talk about things.

Mac was pissed at Annie for not revealing your identity when she vetted the new recruits. She didn't bat an eyelid at his disapproval though. Caleb was pretty pissed too, but she didn't back down. The end result was they all agreed that now that we're grown, we have different needs when it comes to the Praetorians."

He sat up and caught her gaze his expression serious. "I know what happened with Karn, why you were so upset, Lily. It's made us all realise that the Vârcolac need outside stimuli, to be less sheltered by the pack. We can learn a lot more about protecting ourselves here and how to just be around other people."

Lily's expression turned miserable, her eyes haunted. "I lost control. I could have killed Karn. Mac was livid with me. He pushed and pushed at me until I almost lost control again and then he ordered me to control my wolf. It was hard, but I managed to do it. But it was frightening."

Kal reached out to hug her, wanting to take the stricken look from her face. "The Praetorians can give you what you need, Lila. Mac can give you what you need. You made a mistake and you're working to fix it. You shouldn't be so hard on yourself. From the short period of time I've had to study Karn, he doesn't seem to hold it against you."

She let him soothe her because she didn't want to feel the guilt of her actions. And because he was Kal and it was what he always did. When they were younger, Lily had protected him because he was her little brother. The roles were now reversed and he was the protector, the one they all turned to when things became too much.

"You think Liam and Elina could be helped by coming here," she guessed accurately. "Kothari too."

"Maybe, "Kallum agreed stroking her hair gently. "The decision of who comes here will be Karn's but he strikes me as an intelligent man and he obviously has a deep rooted need to protect us. I'm sure once he meets them he'll see their need is just a great as yours."

Or so he hoped. He didn't know Karn and was working on first impressions. He was usually a good judge of character, but there was always a first time to be wrong about someone.

"Dad's finally coming around." He changed the subject peering down at her face to see her reaction. "He got a little riled up about you thinking you were a monster. Mom finally managed to get him to listen and while he was being so receptive, I pointed out the obvious that you were a grown woman. He didn't like it, but he had to admit the truth, albeit reluctantly."

Lily's eyes flew to his concern crossing her face. "Did you tell him about Mac?" If her father knew where she was, knew about Mac then he'd come and most likely attempt to drag her home. The resulting bloodbath would be a nightmare.

Kallum shook his head. "He knows you've found your mate but when I left he had no idea who or where you were." He watched relief cross her face and felt bad. "That won't last long, Lila. Caleb and Annie are going to let the pack know what's happened. They've promised they'll make sure Dad doesn't come here."

His sister wrenched herself out of his arms and flew from the bed. She began to pace up and down in agitation. "What if he doesn't listen? You know what Dad's like when he loses his temper. Karn was right. I'm a danger to the Praetorians. Mac should have made me go home the moment he discovered who I was."

"Lila..."

"No, Kal. You know I'm right. If Dad loses control he's going to come and he'll take no prisoners. Uncle Alexei will probably come with him too. If they go against Rafe, this will not just hurt the Praetorians, it will also split the pack."

Lily could feel her wolf trying to surface, could feel the animal wanting to reach out and take control to protect her. Kallum's anxious voice sounded from a distance as she fought to maintain control. For the first time that she could remember, her brother couldn't seem to breach the panic welling up inside her. Her wolf refused to listen to him.

"Liliana!" Kallum called to his sister, but her eyes were unseeing, terror creeping across her face as she stared blankly at him. His wolf surged forward, reached out to hers and found an animal so feral there was nothing he could do to try and soothe the beast.

He was smart enough not to approach Lily. If she shifted and he was within touching distance she'd lash out. The sound of the door opening made him stiffen until he scented Karn.

"Best to keep your distance and be prepared to move quickly if she shifts," the vampire said calmly, his pale blue eyes intent on Lily. "She's blindingly fast in this state."

Their voices were a buzz in her ears as she struggled with her wolf, tried to convince her everything was going to be okay. Lily knew it was her panic which was setting off her animal, that she had to calm down but no matter how hard she tried nothing seemed to work. The only thing that had worked was...

The hiss of sound so close to her ear, his scent invading every inch of her being refusing to be ignored. "Don't you fucking dare shift!"

Lily shuddered, closed her eyes and dropped to her knees. Her wolf howled in fury, but the fury was now targeted in a different direction. It lashed out, clawed to be free but his words kept reverberating through her mind until finally the animal listened. And then it howled once more, a mournful sound filled with such pain and longing.

"Mac," Lily whispered tears running down her face as she lowered her head to the floor and shivered in the aftermath of fighting her wolf so violently.

Kallum was staring at his sister in shock, fear pounding through his veins like a living thing. Whatever had just happened appeared to be over and he wanted to go to her, but he'd never witnessed this before and he waited for Karn to give the all clear.

"Front and centre, Romanov," the vampire barked, his voice cold and hard, his order implacable.

There was a moment of complete silence and then Lily rose smoothly, standing to attention with her arms clasped behind her back. Her face was wet with tears but her eyes were fixed on Karn's, awaiting his next instruction. She'd gone from wild animal to the perfect soldier in the blink of an eye.

Karn watched her shrewdly for another long moment and then nodded his head in approval. "At least we all got to keep our throats intact this time." His tone was sardonic even as his eyes remained hard.

Lily's expression turned crestfallen. She refused to meet Kallum's gaze not wanting to see the shock and horror on his face at her loss of control. It was different with Karn because he knew just how weak she was. "I'm sorry," she whispered with a catch in her voice.

"Sorry is too late when someone's lying dead at your feet, Lily," Karn barked out. His voice was like a razor sharp blade slicing her skin and she flinched.

He growled in irritation. "This isn't going to work."

"It has to, Karn. I can't keep losing control like this. If you send me back to the pack it will only happen again eventually and I'll hurt someone. Please don't send me back. Please! I need to be here." 

She was begging and she hated how weak it made her sound, but she knew she had to convince Karn that she was in the right place. She was equally aware she was pleading to stay with the Praetorians when it was the very thought of her father decimating them which had caused her loss of control.

The loud snort he gave surprised her and she watched his expression carefully trying to work out what he was going to do.

"I've no intention of sending you back and you damned well know that," he grunted pulling his cell phone from his pocket. "I said this wasn't going to work and it bloody well isn't the way things are going. I never once said I was giving up on you though, did I?"

He flipped open his phone and hit the first speed dial as the two Vârcolac watched him silently. He was conscious of the fact Lily appeared ashamed to look at her brother and that concerned him because it was apparent how close they were. If Kallum Romanov couldn't contain Lily, then there was only one option open to them.

"Are you on the plane yet?" he growled into the phone when it was answered. "Well get your ass back here."

There was a pause as he listened to what was being said and then he growled loudly. "I don't give a fuck, Mac. You left me in charge of protecting Lily and I'm telling you I can't fucking do it. And from what's just happened neither can Kallum. So stop giving me shit and get your ass back here and do what you signed up to do a quarter of a century ago. Protect the fucking Vârcolac!"

To be continued...



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 08



Mac felt a surge of emotion wash through him as Karn hung up on him. He stood in the middle of the airport trying to work out what the emotion was. He was astonished to realise it was a combination of fear and need. He was afraid for Lily and he had a pressing need to return to her. It was so sharp it felt as if his gut was twisting inside.

He swore under his breath, cursing the rise of emotions he couldn't afford to deal with, cursing the stunning brunette who was wreaking havoc on his life in a way no other could. Damn Liliana Romanov to hell! She had no right to do this to him. But even as he cursed her, his feet were moving of their own volition heading out of the busy airport.

He called Rhianna when he got outside and started heading to the long stay car park where he'd left the Jeep. "I can't get to Europe," he said with little preamble. "Pietro should have backup though just in case. Can you send someone?"

Rhianna didn't bother asking what was wrong. She knew it had to be something relating to Lily to have Mac turning back from his course of action. "No one as inconspicuous as you," she answered her tone thoughtful. "I'll ask Demetri to go. It's not ideal, but if your gut instincts are right, then Pietro needs someone at your level if not higher to watch his back."

Mac felt some of the weight of responsibility seep from him. Demetri was an excellent choice if he couldn't go himself. Sure he wasn't invisible, some of the older vampires may recognise him, but he was deadly in a fight if it came down to it.

"Thanks Annie. I need to find out what new trouble Lily's unleashed at the compound. Apparently Karn's not sure that even Kallum's presence there is enough to temper her. For some reason he thinks I'm the only one up for the job."

She had to laugh at the disgruntled tone in Mac's voice even as she heard the sound of a car door slamming and keys jingling as he tried to fit them into the lock to start the engine. He may not be happy to be returning to the compound but he appeared to be in a rush to get there.

"You're her mate, Mac. You may not want to admit it, you may be mad as hell about it, but it's inevitable, my friend. You should stop fighting it."

An audible silence stretched and then his breath blew out in a loud sigh. "Has anyone ever told you you're as annoying as hell sometimes, Annie?"

She laughed harder. "I've heard that a time or two. Just as I've heard a time or two that I'm always right. You should think on that, Mac. Now go sort out your problems and let me call Demetri. Caleb and I have set up a meeting with Rafe for later on tonight. We'll keep you informed of the outcome."

Mac didn't say goodbye, he simply hung up and started the engine. He pushed Rhianna's words from his mind, refusing to listen to them. The redhead's confidence should have soothed his concerns but it didn't. He knew Andrei Romanov. If he lost control the way Lily was losing control, then there would be no stopping him. 

He didn't know if Loretta had the power to control Andrei when he hit the killing edge, so the only option was to make sure the vampire didn't get to that point. If that meant denying Lily, then he would, no matter the personal consequences of his actions. 

There were far too many lives at stake, not just the Praetorians but also the Vârcolac. This could rip them all apart and leave them vulnerable right at the time when they needed protection the most. 

Mac uttered another loud curse and headed towards the Praetorian compound. When he got his hands on Lily he was going to shake the living daylights out of her. She would obey him or so help him God, he...he....well he didn't quite know what he'd do but he'd think something dire up if he had to. 

*****

Lily had barricaded herself in her room refusing to speak to anyone. Kallum had tried to talk to her but she'd been unable to meet his gaze, ashamed at her loss of control. He sent her love down their bond and it had hurt to feel it, so she'd masked the bond tightly until nothing and no one could get in.

Her brother had finally hugged her silently, kissing the top of her head and leaving with Karn when he'd realised she needed space. She knew he was keeping a light touch with her mind just in case she let him in. It made her feel worse because she was aware he was hurting because she was shutting him out.

And Karn had summoned Mac home. She shivered at the thought of seeing him again. He'd be angry with her, disappointed with her weakness. He had important work to do and he'd had to give that up to come back and babysit her like a child.

How would he ever accept her as his mate when he had to take care of her like a two year old all the time? Why couldn't she be mature enough to be the woman he needed? She'd spent over a decade shaping herself into the kind of woman Mac could be proud of and it had all been for nothing. She was weak and pathetic and he could never love a submissive woman.

Lily let the tears fall as she buried her head in the pillow to muffle the sound. She was so confused she didn't know which way to turn, what to do to make things right. She reached out mentally; searched for that one rock she knew would always be there no matter what she did wrong or how angry he was with her.

"Daddy?"

Instantly she was assaulted with conflicting emotions, relief, anger, concern and layering them all was a deep rooted pain that threatened to take her breath away. Her tears flowed harder and she bit her bottom lip to muffle her sobs.

The emotions suddenly vanished, cut off in an instant to be replaced with a strong sense of love and acceptance. "Shhhh, baby, don't cry. There's nothing so bad we can't fix it. You know that."

"I keep doing everything wrong," she wailed. "I try to be good and I fail all the time. I'm frightened, Dad. I'm so fucking scared of what I'll do, who I'll hurt. I keep losing control and I've already hurt one friend."

Andrei took a deep breath, his heart clenching painfully at the plea for understanding in his daughter's voice, at the sheer terror trembling through his bond with her that he could suddenly sense. He knew that feeling well, that moment when the sane part of him realised the madness was about to take hold and sweep away the last piece of goodness within his soul.

Of all the things he could have given to Lily, this was the one he'd prayed neither of his children would ever inherit.

"Language, Liliana," he answered gruffly fighting to keep his growing fear from his tone. "I know you're upset but I'm still your father and don't want to hear foulness from my little girl's mouth."

Surprisingly, his stern words actually helped to calm her down a little. It was such a normal parent thing to hear that she sighed softly and rubbed at her cheeks to try and dry the endless tears.

"I think I was into my third decade as a vampire when I first noticed the faint whiff of what I've always termed my insanity," Andrei continued in an even tone. "It terrified me how hard it was to maintain control of the feral part of my nature. I was lucky I had a close bond with your Uncle Alexei. He was able to help me when I danced too close to the killing edge. Later, I learned to control it myself but I was always aware it was there, always knew that one small lapse on my part and a monster would be born."

He let his words sink in, feeling her startled emotions as he opened up to her and let her know that she wasn't alone, that he truly did understand what she was currently going through.

"I managed to control it for centuries with just a few slip-ups along the way. And then I met your mother. Lord, that woman was enough to shatter any man's self control no matter how hard I fought against her. You know what happened, Lily. We never hid from you the choice your mother had to make back then. We glossed over my part in the whole affair though."

Lily was fascinated and repelled at the same time. She knew her father wasn't perfect, that his dark side was something most sane people feared. But he was still her father, still the rock she clung to when she was frightened. She didn't want anything to come between them and yet she knew she needed to know what it was about him that made her the way she was. She couldn't hide from the beast within.

"Tell me," she whispered even though she was afraid of what was to come. Another rush of love and reassurance invaded her mind along with a strong sense of pride.

"When my Rose was hurt by my people, when I thought we had lost you before we'd ever had the chance to know you, I crossed over, Liliana. I stopped dancing the killing edge and embraced it. Blood flowed that day, but more than that, I took a vampire apart piece by piece. I felt no remorse, no constraints, only mindless satisfaction as I listened to Roberto's screams as I ripped him apart."

He paused again, taking another deep breath as he relived that day as if it was only yesterday. "Your mother brought me back," he finally said when his daughter remained silent and waiting for his next words. 

"For some reason, watching her walk barefoot through Roberto's blood was just so wrong on every level. I was tainted, beyond redemption, but she was beauty and light, the other half of my soul. I couldn't bear to see my taint on her skin, couldn't bear the thought that if I left her forever, someone else would hurt her as she'd just been hurt.

She didn't give up on me. My Rose refused to let me lose myself and clung on with her love and acceptance, seeing past my horrendous act and finding something worth saving in me. She gave me back my sanity and she gave me back my little Lilac. When I felt you still alive and growing in her womb, I knew I was being given a second chance and I was greedy enough to reach out and grab it with both hands."

Lily felt more tears falling, heard the pain and suffering her father had carefully kept hidden from his children. So much guilt and self-loathing, so much self doubt over whether he deserved the redemption he finally found with his family. She loved him so much she was sending that love down their bond in an instant, no hesitation at all.

"I don't know if I'm as strong as you, Daddy," she admitted brokenly. "I thought Kal could help but I lost control today again even in his presence. There's only one person who seems able to calm my wolf when she goes feral but he has so many lives he needs to protect. He needs to be able to concentrate on them and I know he feels he can't do that and be my saviour too."

Andrei's mental tone was gruff when he answered her as if he was trying hard to hide his emotions. "Your mate. I think only a true mate can soothe the beast within our souls, Lily. Can you tell me why he can't do both?"

She couldn't answer that question. To do so would give away everything and though she knew it was about to happen anyway, she wanted a few more hours of pretending, of dreaming that everything would somehow work itself out.

"It's because of me isn't it?" Andrei suddenly asked and there was so much pain in his words that she thought it would crush her. "Am I so terrible, Lily? Have I failed you so badly that you believe I would take the one thing in your life that would grant you the peace your soul needs?"

A choked sob ripped out and she buried her face into the pillow again trying to muffle the sound. She didn't want to hurt him any more, didn't want him to know she had thought that, that just about everyone who knew him expected something so terrible from him.

"I love you, Liliana. I will always love you no matter what. When you're ready, come home so we can talk more. Get in touch with your mother too because she's worried about you and it's unfair to punish her because I've been a complete ass. I would never hurt your mate, daughter mine, no matter how angry I became. When I've earned your trust back, I hope you can believe that."

He cut off their contact and she felt guilty that she was glad of it. Her emotions were so raw, his revelations staggering. And yet just knowing that she wasn't alone, that her father truly understood the sheer terror she felt deep inside, did help ease her pain a little.

Forcing herself from the bed, Lily headed into the bathroom and took a shower. She dressed without paying any attention to her clothes, her thoughts chaotic as she tried to work out what to do for the best. She had almost come to her decision when she heard the sound of a car pulling up outside and knew her time had run out. Mac was home.

The sound of raised voices startled her when she opened the bedroom door. She'd had no idea the sleeping quarters were soundproofed in the house but it was the only explanation for not being aware an argument was in full swing. Squaring her shoulders she peeked over the banister down into the entranceway.

Her breath caught as her eager gaze took in every nuance of Mac's expression. His eyes were molten black, his features hard and uncompromising as he stared down Kallum as if it was an every day occurrence for him.

Her brother was equally impressive and more astounding because she'd never seen him this way before. Kal was usually so easy going, so understanding but the man facing off with her mate was rigid, so furious his eyes were actually glowing with flecks of pale amber. Power wafted off him in waves. 

When had her brother become so strong? How much of himself did he hide from everyone the way she had hidden her own weakness all these years? For the first time she thought she could truly understand the pack's obsessive need to protect them. They were an unknown entity; with powers so strong they could be dangerous. Watching Kallum cemented the decision she'd come to.

Mac's gaze shifted an instant later and his head snapped up to her. God he was so beautiful, so intoxicating, she felt as if she'd melt from the heat in his eyes even at a distance. Her heart twisted painfully in her chest though she kept her expression carefully neutral. Seeing Mac made it so much more painful to do what she had to do but she wouldn't be swayed from her decision.

Lily hitched her pack over her shoulder and walked serenely downstairs conscious that every eye was on her quiet descent. The Praetorians had been watching Mac and Kallum argue, now they watched her, the cause of the argument.

Karn's expression was unreadable but then she didn't expect any less from him. He would never openly show what he could keep hidden. Brandon raised an eyebrow at her and she couldn't stop her lips quirking. There were just some things her friend would never get the hang of; denying his friendship with her was one of them.

She swept past them all and came to stop at Kallum's side. She thought she detected a slight tic in Mac's jaw but she could have imagined it. He was the master at shielding his emotions, so much so she would have doubted he had any if he hadn't let slip his mask the night before.

"I'm ready to go home now, Kal," Lily announced in an even tone, her gaze never leaving Mac's. She felt confusion run through their bond as she opened herself back up to her brother.

"You've just turned the pack upside down for your right to be here, Lila. Now you want to go home? Did I miss something?" Kallum couldn't keep the anger from his voice even though he wasn't angry with his sister as such. He'd just spent the last five minutes arguing with Mac to allow her to stay at the compound! Now she was doing a one hundred eighty degree turn on him?

"I've talked to Dad and it's apparent that I need to go home." Her gaze shifted to her brother, her body language irresolute. "We're endangering the pack by being here, splitting both the Praetorians and our families. Mac needs to be in Europe to track down the threat against us and he can't do that if he has to keep babysitting me. I'm safe at home so it makes sense to be there until all this has been cleared up."

She was agreeing to go home for the moment but she wasn't giving up on claiming her mate. She needed Mac on more than one level; her talk with her father had made that abundantly clear. It had suddenly struck her that Mac couldn't be who he was meant to be when she was around. She was hurting him by dividing his focus and that was something she couldn't live with. 

She wouldn't be a burden to her mate. She had waited twelve years she could wait a few more if that's what it took for Mac to be able to come to her with a clear conscience and no regrets.

An irritated snort filled the air and she had to smile as she turned back to look at Brandon. "You need to work on your impassiveness, Bran. You're pretty hopeless at it. Don't worry I'm not vanishing completely. You can come visit me at the compound, if Mac has no objections to it."

She turned back to look at her mate. His eyes bored into her soul and for a moment it was almost as if they were the only two people standing there. She couldn't tell what he was thinking or feeling. 

It was an effort to tear her eyes from his to smile up at Karn. She would miss him almost as much as she would miss Mac. "No sigh of relief, Karn? I'm just about to make your life so much simpler." Her tone was teasing even as she felt as if her heart was about to break under the strain of keeping up her calm façade. 

He grunted and looked away not bothering to answer. He was watching Mac carefully instead, waiting to see what he would do now that Lily had decided to leave.

Mac stared at Lily, his body so tense he felt as if the slightest breeze would break him in two. Her face was pale, the telltale signs of weeping in the slight redness around her eyes. She was stunning, her hair loose for once, still damp from her shower. 

The smile she gave Brandon and Karn didn't meet her eyes, the serenity in her face a cold mask she wasn't quite adept enough to carry off to perfection. When she spoke there was just the slightest hint of a quiver as if she was holding onto her self-control by the faintest of margins. She looked so fucking fragile it was enough to break his heart.

His earlier rage had dissipated only to be replaced by a new anger. Lily was leaving him. The decision was clear in her eyes, her pack on her shoulder the physical announcement of her intent. He should have been glad about it. He'd be able to go to Europe and track down the threat to her. He'd be able to do his job as he'd promised he would all those years ago. But he didn't feel glad. He felt a cold, chilling anger which threatened to turn the blood in his veins to ice.

She was fucking leaving him!

He reached out gripping her upper arm firmly and marching across the entranceway towards his study. He ignored her startled gasp and held up a hand in warning when Kallum moved to intercede.

"Mind your own fucking business," he ground out, piercing him with a hard glare. "You know I won't hurt her."

A silent moment passed between the two men and then Kallum backed off. He wasn't looking at the head of the Praetorians but instead the furious gaze of a mate who was being driven to distraction. One thing he knew well was never to come between mates. Mac wouldn't hurt Lily so he let them go to work out their issues.

"Mac!" Lily couldn't believe he'd just frogmarched her into the study in front of everyone. The door slammed shut behind them with a loud bang and she would have jumped if the scent of fresh paint hadn't distracted her. It was so strong it made her nose wrinkle in distaste.

There was a new desk too, slightly smaller than the last one but in a soft cedar wood rather than the dark mahogany of its predecessor. The walls were devoid of wood panelling; now smooth plasterwork with a soft cream finish. It was so completely changed she was momentarily stunned into silence. 




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 08



"The last time we were in here I wrecked the place afterwards so I suggest you keep your mouth shut unless I ask a question. Karn will be pissed if he has to redecorate again."

Her mouth dropped open and she gaped up at Mac in astonishment. The last time they'd been in here he'd made her control her wolf. It had been painful in the extreme, cutting so deep she didn't think she'd be able to survive it. Had his actions hurt him just as badly? Was that why he'd wrecked the room afterwards?

Mac yanked the pack from her shoulder, dropping it to the floor impatiently before he picked her up and strode across the room to perch her on the side of the desk. His intent gaze searched her face for a moment and then he bit out a harsh curse.

"Why were you crying?"

It was the last question she expected him to ask, so for a moment she could only stare at him mutely.

"You're allowed to speak. I did ask a question."

The sheer audacity of his words and actions sparked her temper and she scowled blackly. "Oh thank you so much for giving me permission to speak, Master. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have you here to instruct me."

A loud sigh escaped him and he reached back to tug out his plait and release his hair so he could run his fingers through it in frustration. "I don't know why you seem to think I have unlimited self-control, Liliana, because I can assure you I don't. So stop playing with fire and answer the fucking question."

He roared the last words at her, his icy façade vanishing in an instant to be replaced with anger.

"Don't you yell at me, Mackenzie," she shouted back. "I'm not the one who's pissing around pretending we're not mates. I'm not the one who doesn't give a fuck that denying me is ripping me to shreds. I'm not the one who isn't brave enough to say to hell with everyone else and take what belongs to me. I'm not the fucking coward here, Mac, you are!"

The force of raw fury and pain in her voice rocked him back on his heels. She was aware of all the reasons why they couldn't be together. She wasn't stupid. She knew there were lives at stake. And yet, the pain in her eyes was enough to bring him to his knees.

"So you were crying because I won't mate with you?" he asked, his voice devoid of all emotions. "Is that what all this 'I'm leaving' little scene is all about? Are you trying reverse psychology here?"

Lily's mouth dropped open again. She couldn't believe the sheer gall of the man to accuse her of playing silly games when there was so much at stake. Was that what he really thought of her? Suddenly it was all too much for her. She didn't have the energy any more to argue with him, to convince him of the truth.

"You know something, Mackenzie, you were right all along and I was the one in the wrong," she finally answered swinging her legs over the desk so she could slide to the floor away from him.

"It's more than obvious we are not mates because I sure as hell don't think I could ever pick a man so odious that he could think something like that about me. So I'll answer your question about why I was crying. It's none of your fucking business. Just like anything I do on a personal level is none of your business. I might not have any say in how you guard me as a Praetorian but that's the sum total of our relationship from now on."

She marched over to her pack and picked it up. She could tell he was momentarily stunned by her words and she needed that fraction of time to get away before she collapsed into a flood of tears. She had to keep it together until she could get to Kal. He would help boost her defences until she was safely home.

The pack was ripped from her once more startling her as she reached the door. She was whirled around and pressed against the wood so quickly she didn't have time to react. Mac's hand was fisted in her hair, tilting her head up to meet his gaze. She saw fury etched on his face and denial. And then there was a raw hunger that took her breath away as she opened her mouth to protest.

His lips crushed hers hard. She whimpered in response, her hands coming up to push at his chest as he ravished her lips beneath his in a kiss which was pure, unadulterated hunger. 

Karn's word came back to her about just how dangerous Mac was. He'd cautioned her not to push him and now it appeared she had and she was paying the price with a kiss so hot and hard she felt as if she was about to spontaneously combust.

"Mac." Her whimper breathed into his mouth, a plea for respite and also for more. She didn't know whether she wanted him to stop or keep going. She only knew her senses were being overloaded and she didn't know how to cope with what she was experiencing.

The sound of Lily's whimper cut through the haze in Mac's brain, the red hot fury and crippling pain he felt as she walked away calmly telling him that they weren't mates. He'd been fighting against her pull for so long he'd convinced himself he was in the right, was certain of it right up until the moment she'd tried to leave him.

Then he'd simply lost all control and now found coming to his senses brought a new wave of agony to his soul as he stared into her uncertain face, saw her bruised lips, and heard the echoes of her whimpers in his mind.

"Lily," he groaned tracing a shaky finger against her mouth. His breath was ragged; his heart thumping hard as he fought to contain his emotions, tried to find the right words to make her understand how he felt.

"I'm the one who's wrong, Liliana," he ground out hoarsely. "I've known it from the very first moment I laid eyes on you and I've tried to fight it, tried to do what was right but I can't. Every time I try to walk away I ache for you. I never dreamed you'd be the one to walk away from me. Don't leave me, Lily. Stay with me, please."

For a moment, Lily thought she was dreaming. The heat in Mac's eyes, the impassioned plea on his lips was all she'd ever wanted, her mate claiming her. She was afraid to speak, terrified that anything she said would break the spell and he'd retract his words, change his mind as he'd done before. 

Were his walls completely down this time or would he build them up again when the haze of passion passed and he once more looked at the bigger picture? She didn't think she'd be able to stand it if he finally accepted her and then rejected her again. She was afraid of the insanity that curled up deep within her, ever present, always alert for the opportunity to come forth and destroy her completely.

"Talk to me, Lily. Tell me what frightens you so much. Whatever it is I'll take care of it. I won't let anything hurt you ever." The need to protect her was overwhelming. He wanted to take the fear from her eyes, needed to convince her that she could rely on him to be strong enough for both of them.

Mac knew he hadn't been the most reliable person so far, that he'd blown hot and cold and had confused the hell out of her. But he was done with that now. He was no longer fighting the mating pull, no longer denying she belonged to him. She was his and always had been right from the very day she'd taken her first breath. They'd find a way to convince her father they were meant to be together.

Lily wanted to believe him. He sounded so sincere, his expression anxious as he waited for her response. So much had happened to her emotionally, she felt fragile and uncertain. She knew she needed to go home. She had to be there in case her father reacted negatively to the news of the Praetorians no longer being secret.

She swallowed hard and closed her eyes taking a deep breath. She let it out slowly, her lashes fluttering open to meet his gaze again. "I was crying because I almost lost control of my wolf today," she admitted, feeling her cheeks burn hot with shame. She waited for his anger, some sign that she'd disappointed him but he remained silent, waiting for her to continue. 

"I was afraid about my father learning where I was. I convinced myself there would be a bloodbath if he tried to take me home and my wolf reacted negatively. Usually Kal can calm me, but he couldn't today. I was panicking and so close to the edge I was terrified I would hurt my brother. Only remembering your order in this room calmed my beast."

Mac could feel her distress; hear the self-loathing in her voice. It ripped through him so hard he wanted to weep for her. He knew there was still more to come so he held his peace brushing his hand gently through her hair as she took another deep breath. 

"I talked to my father. I told him what was wrong and he told me about himself, about his own challenges with his inner demon. He said only my mother was capable of holding his insanity at bay. It appears I share the same personality flaw which is why my wolf is so feral at times."

"So I'm the only one who can help you?" he asked in a soft voice, his fingers never ceasing their movements through her silky hair. He didn't wait for her confirmation. "Were you crying because of your father's revelations or because you thought there was no hope for you because I was rejecting you?"

"Maybe a bit of both," she admitted on a hoarse whisper. "Dad's emotions were so strong, so bitter and introverted. He hates that part of himself so much. He's probably only ever admitted that to Mom because he keeps it locked up so tightly. 

I didn't know what the future held for me if you wouldn't accept me as yours. I need you as a mate, Mac, as a woman who loves you so much it's almost a physical thing. But I need you as my anchor too, to hold the insanity at bay, to keep me safe and stop me from ever hurting anyone."

The vulnerability on her face, the unspoken plea in her voice was another blow to his already battered heart. She'd needed him and he'd walked away from her, left her floundering on her own, afraid. 

"Lily." He whispered her name against her lips, his mouth soft and gentle as she offered him her soul, handing him her heart with such trust despite his actions. He didn't deserve her. She was too good for him. But she'd stolen his heart long before he'd realised he was missing it. He didn't know when it had happened he just knew it had. He'd never be able to walk away from her now.

"You're mine, sugar, just as I am yours. We're mates and no matter what happens in the future, we'll stand together always. I'm sorry I wasn't here for you. I'm sorry I tried to run from us and I swear I'll never do it again. I can't lose you, Lily. I can't be without you."

He pressed her against the door, took her mouth in a kiss so sweet and tender a soothing heat flowed through her. Lily's arms wrapped around his neck, as she pressed closer to him needing to feel his body touching every inch of hers.

Mac kissed her over and over, the same sweet loving kisses that spoke of emotion rather than passion. She felt protected, safe from everything including herself. She felt loved, even though he'd never said the words to her. Her wolf rumbled its approval in a long breathy sound making her laugh softly into Mac's mouth.

He raised his eyes, his dark gaze warm and sensual as a smile tugged at his lips. "Kissing me is amusing?" There was a teasing note in his voice, a playful side she hadn't seen in him before.

"My wolf is so damned submissive where you're concerned it's quite nauseating," she answered truthfully.

"I can't wait to meet her...in a controlled manner," Mac smiled running his knuckles gently against her cheek. The joy in Lily's eyes made his heart kick up a beat and pride swell up within him. He'd put that expression on her face. He'd made his woman happy. 

The rush of love he felt for her was like nothing he could remember experiencing. It was different from the love he'd felt for his human family. He'd loved Maria and little Sophia deeply, but it had been so long ago now he couldn't really remember the intensity of those feelings. If it had been anything close to what he felt looking into Lily's eyes, then he'd been blessed twice in his lifetime.

"How can I love you so much in so short a time, Liliana? How could you come to mean everything to me so quickly?" There was genuine curiosity in his question, an almost dazed expression on his face.

Her eyes glowed with happiness as she smiled beatifically at him. "Isn't that what mates do, Mac? Don't they just know instantly that they love their partners and no one else will ever do? I've loved you since I was eighteen years old. I didn't need to speak to you; I didn't need to know what kind a man you were. I just knew I loved you."

Such trust and honesty it was almost too much to bear. What had he done in his life to deserve someone as vibrant and beautiful as the woman in his arms? He didn't know and he wasn't going to question it. He might have a thick skull sometimes and take a while to reach the right decision but when he did he never wavered from it.

"So no more talk of leaving me?"

Lily frowned and looked down before tilting her head back up. "I do need to go home, Mac. I need to talk to my father so I can understand a bit more about who I am as a person. My mom is worrying about me too, as is the rest of the pack. 

With everything coming out in the open, it's best if I'm home when it does. It will soothe my father and hopefully mean he'll be more accepting of things. He understands the importance of my mate to me now, so his reaction should be a lot more restrained."

Mac could understand her logic but he wasn't happy about letting her go. He knew the pack would be informed tonight about everything but he wanted one night with Lily before they had to face her parents and the pack.

"Tomorrow," he finally said brushing her lips tenderly with his finger, halting any objections she might have. "Give me tonight, Lily, and then I'll take you home myself and we'll face the music together."

She smiled shyly at him, a faint tremor running through her at the heat in his eyes and the silken promise in his voice. She wanted this night with him too even if the thought scared her witless. "Tomorrow," she promised accepting his kiss eagerly.

*****

She should have known Mac's definition of 'night' was different to everyone else's. It was barely six o'clock when she sensed his eyes on her as she washed up the dishes she'd used after Kallum had cooked dinner. 

Her brother had vanished somewhere with Brandon and she was on her own for the first time since Mac had come home. Since their time in the study the rest of the day had been spent with training which Kal had decided to join. 

The sparring match he'd had with Karn had been a thing of sheer beauty as the two males spun, kicked and lashed out at each other. She knew her brother was tempering his speed and strength but not as much as he usually had to. She could see he was thrilled that he could let go of his restraint a bit more than normal.

Even then she'd felt Mac's eyes following her. There was no sign of him when she'd turned, but his presence was unmistakable. It was thrilling even when it was irritating. Kal had caught a dull blow on her shoulder when they'd sparred with staffs, an event which had all the watching Praetorians transfixed as they witnessed just what the Vârcolac were capable of when they didn't need to temper their abilities.

Lily could have sworn she'd heard Mac chuckle when Kal scored the point against her, as if he'd known his presence was distracting her. She'd decided then she'd be having words with him about it when she caught up with him. Now it looked like he had finally finished his game of hide and go seek.

Drying her hands, Lily walked out of the kitchen to find Mac lounging against the wall with his arms across his chest. His long hair was loose around his shoulders a faint smile teasing his sensual lips giving him a playful look. It was a side to him she'd never seen before.

"You are in trouble." She was trying to keep a straight face and not grin back at him like an idiot. He looked entirely too pleased with himself and too gorgeous for words. He didn't need her simpering like a swooning female.

"What was my first lesson?" he asked arching an eyebrow as he pushed off the wall to come and stand in front of her. She could see the muscles of his thighs flexing in his tight fitting black jeans, his white T-shirt so form fitting she could make out his nipples. It was enough to make her swallow hard.

Despite being tall herself, Mac always seemed to dwarf her. Lily tried to keep a stern expression on her face, but her heart was starting to speed up as his body heat washed over her.

"Don't become distracted," she sighed in resignation.

Mac reached out and traced a finger along the curve of her jaw until he tilted her chin up as he lowered his head. "I never gave a stipulation about what was construed as a distraction," he growled softly before his lips feathered across hers in the briefest of touches.

"Mac..." Was that really her voice, all soft and breathy, his name a soft moan of need?

"Lily..." he mimicked his hands sliding down her arms in a slow caress until he captured hers with his. He stepped back and tugged her with him, heading for the stairs.

She followed him knowing she would go wherever Mac led her...within reason. She wasn't about to follow him blindly, but in this one thing she would bow to his experience until she was confident she could hold her own against her vampire.

She allowed Mac to lead her past her bedroom and up the final set of stairs which led to his private space. 

Lily gasped as she took in the furnished living room they entered. Unlike the rest of the house this part was decorated in plush rich furnishings, brown and cream sofas, muted wooden bookcases and a thick sumptuous carpet beneath her feet.

"The rest of us have been short-changed," she said, a hint of reproof in her voice as well as amusement.

"The rest of you don't live here almost permanently," he countered, coming to stand behind her his hands resting lightly on her hips. "This is my home."

"Not the apartment?" Her words came out sounding tart as she remembered the bedroom there and the way it had made her feel.

His hands tightened on her hips, his breath warm as he leaned down and kissed the side of her neck. "I won't apologise for my past, Liliana," he breathed softly. "But I will apologise for being insensitive and not considering how you'd feel when I told Karn to take you there. I should have realised it would upset you and for that I am sorry."

Mac waited quietly to see if she'd accept his apology. When she leaned back and rested her head against his shoulder he brushed his lips against her tempting flesh once more, circling his arms around her front to fit her soft curves to his aching body. He groaned as he pressed against her back, unable to stop himself from moving against her.

"Red or white?" he whispered against her skin, his tongue snaking out to brush erotically against the pulse in the side of her neck. He could scent the sweet flow of her blood and it was as intoxicating as her heady scent of lilac and the deep musk of her arousal.

"What?" Her voice came out sounding dazed and his lips curved in a smile as they travelled up to her ear.

"Wine. Would you like red or white?" He nibbled at her earlobe feeling a tremor run through her body as she sucked in a deep breath.

"Red," she whispered turning her head to try and capture his mouth with hers. 

He ached to taste her lips again but he forced himself to step back and release her. There was nothing he wanted more than to strip off her clothes and ravish every delicious inch of her body but he needed to exercise some self-control, needed to make this first time special so she would always remember it.

Mac poured two glasses of wine and handed one to Lily, his eyes greedily drinking in her flushed cheeks and the swirling gold in the depth of hers. He could see excitement and a slight touch of uncertainty on her face. He could scent her hunger and had to fight the urge to let his need answer hers.




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 08



"Don't drink it too fast," he cautioned with a smile. "I'm not sure if I'm up to being a gentleman if you get wasted on alcohol. The last time was torture and I don't want to go through that again."

Outrage danced across her exquisite features as she sipped her wine. "I am not some kind of lush," she answered tartly. "I hadn't eaten proper food in days and that interfered with my tolerance levels."

Her indignation at his teasing merely heightened his pleasure and he trailed a finger from her brow down the side of her face keeping her gaze fixed on his. "Just making sure you know the ground rules, sugar. There will be no excuses tonight, nothing to get in the way of my plans for you."

Lily sipped at her wine, giving him a long measuring look as she worked to calm her rapidly beating heart. Mac looked every inch the predator he was though his eyes burned with a liquid heat that promised untold pleasure. "Your arrogance is quite breathtaking," she finally said, fighting a smile as a muscle ticked hard in his jaw.

His expression was suddenly intent, his hand still against the side of her face. "Yes, I'm arrogant," he agreed his voice serious. "I'm also possessive, dominant and a protector. Have no illusions about me, Liliana. If you take me, you accept the bad with the good."

His hand moved, sliding down the side of her neck to gently trace the spot Kallum had hit earlier. His gaze followed his hand for a moment and then travelled back to her face. "I'll try to give you the freedom you need, try to let you fly free. But you need to understand who I am right from the start, Lily. Where you go, I go. Where your wolf runs, I run at her side. You belong to me but I belong to you too. I may be possessive but you have that same right with me."

His words should have frightened her, should have had her running out the door and never looking back but she examined his face carefully, saw that he was half expecting her to run. Despite his words, there was a hint of fear in Mac's eyes as he waited for her reaction to his warning.

Lily knew what it was like to be so loved by a dominant male that their world revolved around her. They made mistakes and they suffered for the unwitting harm they caused. Her father was one such male and it appeared her mate would be another. There was a certain amount of irony that she would choose a man so like Andrei to claim as hers.

She smiled and shook her head sipping at her drink once more. "Just so you know, I will exercise my rights most diligently," she replied. Her smile widened at the flash of relief in his eyes. "And I'll most probably roast your heart as you try to keep me in line." She couldn't help teasing him.

"I have no doubts about that whatsoever," Mac laughed softly, some of the tension easing from his body. He plucked the glass from her hand, placing it on the coffee table along with his. "But I think you know I always play to win, sugar. You can fight against me all you want but I will win in the end."

"Arrogant!" Lily grumbled as she stepped closer to Mac, pressing her body flush against his and feeling the hardness of his erection rubbing against her stomach. Her breath sucked in sharply as his hissed out. His dark gaze turned molten and he wrapped his arms tight around her. "Let's play then, Mackenzie and see who comes out the winner."

Mac growled, her challenging words exciting him almost as much as her softness teasing against him. The uncertainty was gone from Lily's expression, leaving only excitement and hunger. She was exquisite, so beautiful and tempting that he forgot all about going slow and reached out to take what was his.

One hand fisted hard in her hair, the other snaking around her back to pull their lower bodies tight against each other. His mouth was a hard, sensual brand as his tongue dived intimately into the moist cavern of her mouth. There was nothing soft or gentle about his kiss it was pure male demand, a claiming on a primal level.

His lips devoured hers, his tongue insistent as he licked and tasted every inch of her mouth over and over again until Lily struggled for breath and his own lungs threatened to burst. Only then did he let up the pressure enough for them both to drag in a ragged breath. His lips didn't leave hers though, his teeth nipping at her full lower lip sensually, teasing little bites that brought a soft moan from the woman in his arms.

He had her instant surrender and the very male part of him that was dominant luxuriated in her easy capitulation. Mac kissed her again, long and slow this time now that his hunger had been appeased slightly, savouring the sweetness of Lily's mouth as it deserved to be savoured. 

God, he could kiss her for hours on end. Never had a woman's mouth been so lush and tempting that all he could think about was sliding his mouth over hers endlessly. If the rest of Lily tasted as good as her lips then they'd never get out of bed. He'd indulge in her body over and over until she lay exhausted beneath him. Then he'd take her again and keep taking her until she fell asleep in his arms.

Mac broke away and looked into Lily's flushed face. He'd been congratulating himself thinking he'd won this first round with his feisty mate but he suddenly wasn't so sure if he had. Her kisses had stolen his very reason until nothing mattered except being with her. His woman was very, very dangerous and oh so tempting.

"You are lethal, Liliana Rose Romanov," he growled softly his lips quirking in a small smile as her lashes fluttered open and she stared up at him with a dazed expression on her face. "Just as well I love danger because I intend to bathe in your particular brand until we're both exhausted."

It was a husky promise backed up by the glittering darkness of his eyes. Mac swept her into his arms effortlessly and she let him do it, looping her arms around his neck. His kisses were breathtaking and she was still trying to calm her heart, which was no easy feat, resting against his chest as he took her into his bedroom. How could a woman be calm knowing her gorgeous male was about to wreak untold pleasures on her body? 

She shivered with anticipation, her body tight with need that only he could assuage. The strength of his arms around her made her feel safe, the play of his chest muscles against her so erotic she ached to run her hands over his flesh and watch his body react to her touch.

She was drowning in Mac, surrendering completely to him and she didn't care. Lily knew there would always be a part of her that needed to feel protected, that needed to trust in her mate being strong enough to temper her wild spirit. It didn't mean she would be an easy mate to live with, but it did mean they would have a lot of fun learning the boundaries of their relationship.

The brief moment of being free from Lily's lips was enough to cool Mac's blood somewhat, to give him a bit of breathing space. He had to remember that this was her first time. His mate was reckless and didn't always think things through properly. She was as eager as he was to be together but he was the one with the experience. He would have to rein her in so he could keep his own need in check.

Lowering her gently to the floor beside his bed, he took a moment to run his fingers slowly through her hair. It was soft and silky gliding effortlessly through his fingers. He could just imagine how it would feel sliding over his chest, brushing across his stomach as she kissed her way down his body. 

Mac had to swallow a groan and take a deep breath to control himself. Staying in control wasn't going to be easy with his woman. She drove all sane thought from his head. He had to put some distance between them even though it was the last thing he wanted to do. 

He slowly released his hold on Lily taking a step back to admire her standing beside his bed. She was beautiful, her expression full of passion, her lips parted in eagerness. She looked so wanton it was agony not to throw her onto the bed and take her hard and fast until she screamed her pleasure.

"Don't move," he breathed huskily, reaching out to run his hands lightly across her hips until he reached the hem of her tight fitting tank top. He realised the stupidity of his words as he started to tug the material upwards exposing her taut stomach. 

To take off the top she needed to move her arms but then he was distracted by the shiny gem dangling from her naval and his hands stilled on her waist, his gaze fixated on the flash of silver and pink glittering seductively at him.

Mac sank down to his knees, his hands tightening on Lily's waist, his head dipping so he could place a soft kiss on the swell of her belly. He heard her breath hiss out, felt the muscles move beneath her skin and gave into the need to flick his tongue across her piercing in a long, slow swipe.

Lily cried out, her hands tightening on Mac's shoulders as he began to kiss and lave his tongue across her stomach. Her insides tightened, heat blossomed between her legs and her knees suddenly didn't want to support her any more. Mac's mouth was wicked, relentless, toying with her piercing over and over again as she melted under his assault. He appeared to find it very erotic and she wondered what else her mate liked.

"You threaten to shatter my self-control," Mac grated out, tasting her skin and feeling as if he was addicted to her flavour. The scent of her arousal made his mouth water and his hands itch to peel off her cargo pants so he could feast on her body.

Seeing as he was down there anyway he gave into his impulse, sliding the material over her hips as he continued to play with the gem in her naval and she continued to issue soft breathy cries which made his cock pulse so hard it was a mixture of pleasure and pain.

Mac stopped breathing, his heart banging hard in his chest as he revealed pale blue silk panties already wet from Lily's arousal. It was the most erotic thing he'd ever seen, the delicate scrap of fabric caressing her curves having been hidden by the functional clothing of the soldier she was.

"Take your top off, sugar." The words came out in a strangled groan as he looked up to see her pulling the top over her head. "Sweet Jesus," he groaned again as she revealed a matching lace bra, her breasts cupped lovingly in the fragile fabric.

His hands were half way down her thighs, their progression halted in their job of taking off her pants. His fingers tightened around her flesh, gripping her hard as he fought for breath. "Do you wear lingerie like this every day?" he choked out. "Even when training?"

Lily nodded shyly, secretly pleased with Mac's reaction to her underwear. It was what she had hoped for...it was better than she'd hoped for. He looked stunned and so hungry, it was a wonder he wasn't trying to eat her alive. He made her feel beautiful and desirable. She had pleased her mate.

Mac somehow found the strength to remove Lily's boots and pants, rising slowly to his feet. He couldn't keep his eyes from her sleek curves, couldn't stop salivating at the sight of her semi-nude body covered only in silk and lace. He'd never be able to function sanely when training with her again. Not knowing what lay beneath her clothing.

"You're going to kill me, sugar," he suddenly laughed softly. "I'm going to have a permanent erection just knowing what's covering your skin every day. We should maybe discuss cotton as well as flannel." 

He didn't really mean it. He wanted to spend endless hours staring at her body draped in all kinds of sexy lingerie. He wanted to run his hands over it, slide his tongue against the material until she writhed with pleasure.

Mac growled and clenched his fists hard. "Climb up onto the bed, baby, and lie back for me."

As she did as he asked, he took off his T-shirt, watching her face intently as he raked his hair back with an unsteady hand. Lily's face was etched in hunger, her gaze caressing the hard wall of his naked chest, the gold swirls in her eyes seeming to dominate.

He felt like preening, his own arousal reaching fever pitch as his mate clearly found his body desirable. He was kicking off his boots, snapping open his jeans and giving Lily her own surprise as he tugged them off. 

Mac never wore underwear, hating the constriction of it. He stood before her proudly and so aroused his cock pulsed with each beat of his heart. He let her take in his body, become accustomed to it so she didn't become nervous when he came to her.

Her hungry appraisal set his blood rushing to his groin and he fisted his cock hard at the base as he felt his body threaten to disgrace him. Lily moaned loudly, her gaze dilating as she watched him touch himself and it brought pure male satisfaction surging through him that his woman found it erotic.

"You like, sugar?" he growled softly stroking himself a few times before moving towards the bed. "It gets so much better than this," he promised as he straddled her body forcing her back so he could look his fill.

He didn't know where to touch first, what part of her body he wanted to taste. He was calling himself a liar a second after he thought it. He knew exactly where he wanted to taste her and he was going to indulge both of them.

Mac slid down her body, his hair trailing over her sensitive breasts making Lily catch her breath and moan again. He dipped down for another taste of her abdomen, flicked his tongue around her piercing once more because it was sexy as sin and he loved seeing the tiny jewel on her body.

Then he slid his mouth lower, teasing the edge of her panties with his tongue as he gently forced her thighs apart with his hands. He splayed her luscious body open to his greedy gaze, staring at the damp fabric covering the very heart of her.

With a loud growl Mac gave into his hunger, pressing his tongue against her panties so he could taste her damp heat for the first time. Lily screamed hoarsely and bucked up into his mouth as he tongued her again, slow and languid, teasing her relentlessly.

He nuzzled at the wet material making it wetter with each flick of his tongue, drawing out the moment when the flimsy barrier would no longer be an erotic torture for both of them and instead become an unwelcome restriction.

The scent of her, the taste of her arousal was an aphrodisiac which heated his blood to boiling point. He licked harder, flicked just beneath the elastic to drive them both insane. "So wet, sugar. So fucking tasty I feel like I'm losing my mind." His hands were suddenly hard on her hips dragging the panties down and over her feet so fast they were gone and she was lying bare to him before she'd even managed to whimper.

It had taken every single bit of iron self-control not to rip the delicate fabric. He liked her lingerie and wanted to see her wear it for him again. But he needed more now; he needed to taste her straight from the core of her body. His fingers brushed the damp brown curls trimmed so neatly, then slid slowly downwards opening her up like a present.

"So fucking beautiful," Mac groaned hoarsely sliding his fingers gently against her searing hot flesh, stroking and caressing until she writhed against his hand wantonly.

He flicked his gaze up to watch the pleasure dance across her face. "That's it, sugar, let yourself go," he instructed lost in the sight of his mate surrendering to his touch with such abandon. 

He pressed against the tiny bundle of nerves that brought her most pleasure, growling as she cried out once more and pushed hard into his hand. He was going to stroke her like this all night long, tempting her, teasing her body until she was mindless with pleasure, working only on instincts.

He flicked against her again, hard and relentless, picking up a steady rhythm which made her body dance but kept her from reaching the point of orgasm. He needed her to be wet for him, so wet that when he took her it would ease his entrance, bringing her pleasure and not pain from their first joining.

Mac had to taste her, couldn't resist the urge to suck on his fingers before bending his head and running his tongue along her wet heat. She had the sweetest taste, her musky, sensual flavour a deep honey he would never tire of tasting. He was ravenous for her running his tongue over every delicious inch. 

Lily screamed as Mac used his mouth on her. It was wicked and delicious and so intense she felt as if she was about to fracture into a million pieces. Nothing had prepared her for being loved like this. No amount of reading books, frank conversations with female Weres, nothing could adequately describe the sheer beauty of having her mate lick her so intimately.

"Mac, please," she whispered pushed to sensory overload, desperate for the tight pressure within her body to be released before she died. She surely was close to dying because nothing good could come from the unrelenting strain within her body. Everything was coiled so tightly her body was bowing up, perspiration covering her, every nerve ending so sensitive they hurt.

The pressure eased as Mac's mouth slid from between her thighs, travelled over her stomach and up her rib cage. Her bra was suddenly gone and his wicked mouth was fastening onto her aching nipples tugging hard as his fingers slid between her legs and the torture began anew.

"No more," she pleaded her voice frantic. She pulled at Mac's hair trying to dislodge him from her nipple even as she arched into his hand. "Mackenzie, it's too much. I can't stand it!"

"We've barely started, Lily mine," he growled, licking up to her throat, laving against her pulse before nipping hard at the fragile skin. "I want everything, sugar. Every last moan and cry of pleasure -- your wet heat accepting my body eagerly -- the sweet essence of your blood sliding down my throat. We've started this tonight and we will end it as full mates. I will accept nothing less."

He dropped his body down on top of her, his thick erection resting at the juncture of her thighs. He pressed against her in slow strokes coating himself with her slickness, preparing their bodies to be joined. His gaze slid to hers and he fisted a hand in her hair.

"Claim me, Lily," he urged. "I'm yours as you are mine. Accept me with your body and your soul. It's the only way it can be between us."

She rubbed against him, ached for his hardness to slide deep within her. Lily met Mac's gaze, gasped as she saw a streak of silver rim the blackness of his pupils. It was the first hint of colour in his eyes and she wondered where it had come from. Was it a sign of his arousal?

She didn't get the opportunity to ask because the thick head of his erection was pressing against the entrance to her body. She instinctively pushed up to meet his intrusion, frantic to be joined fully with him.

Mac wrapped his arms tightly around Lily's back, fighting to keep control when everything in him wanted to push deep, to claim as only a male could claim his female. He hoped she was ready enough, ached that he might hurt her but nothing could stop him taking her.

He sank his fangs into the side of her neck as he surged forward hard. Her body tensed at the dual penetration, a startled gasp escaping her lips as he pressed through the evidence of her purity, pushed on relentlessly into her slick heat until he was buried to the very hilt.

Only then did he swallow her precious life giving fluid. Her hot blood slid down his throat, invading his body internally as her moist heat wrapped around his cock and gripped it like a velvet glove. Mac moaned, swallowing hard, holding still to give her body time to adjust to his intrusion.

He could feel Lily shaking in his arms, hear her deep cries of pleasure and knew the venom from his bite was focusing her pleasure and taking away any discomfort she might have felt as he took her innocence. He fed slowly, taking his time, finally moving his hips to slide out of her and then pushing back in.




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 08



Mac's thrust into her body was a pleasure pain like nothing she could ever have imagined. The brief burst of pain was quickly overcome by the sheer erotic pleasure of his bite and the feeling of being stretched so full. The tightness she'd been experiencing suddenly shattered and she was floating on a wave of ecstasy, her body pulsing with each wave until she couldn't remember how to breathe.

Mac began to move, in and out, slow and torturous until she thought she would fragment at his slow pace. She knew he was being gentle with her but she didn't want gentle. She was aching again, desperate to feel the heady release she'd experienced only moments ago.

Lily wrapped her arms tightly around Mac's neck, hooked her legs around his and pushed up hard impaling herself on his body. Her mouth found his neck the moment he released his bite, her teeth scraping the chorded muscles she found there.

"More," she ground out biting at his pulse hard. "I won't break, Mac. Take me the way you want to. I can feel the tension in your body."

He surged in deep and hard and she threw her head back and screamed up to the ceiling. "Yes, more!"

He obliged her by losing all control and taking her hard and fast. He plunged into her relentlessly, recklessly and she revelled in the wildness of his claim grinding back eagerly claiming him just as frantically.

Her claws came out and she raked them down his back, crying out as he hissed and gritted his teeth pounding harder into her body with each score she put on his flesh. His eyes were black and silver, flashing sparks as he arched over her, his face a picture of male passion in all its beauty, his muscles standing rigid as he gave himself over to her completely.

Lily reared up, gripping his hair hard so she could have unobstructed access to what she wanted. Her wolf howled within her demanding she take what was theirs. He was their mate and they had to claim him to ensure no other female took him from them. He had already proven his worth, dominated the wolf in the library, and shown his strength and his ability to protect them.

He had taken her body, claimed her with his bite. Now it was her turn to take what belonged to her. "Mine," she cried a low growl escaping her throat as he reacted to the possession in her voice surging deep within her and allowing her to bare his neck trustingly.

"Forever, Lily mine," he answered, his eyes flashing silver and black, his body hard and unyielding against her. He ached for her claim, was desperate for her to complete their mating fully. He would accept nothing less because she was already his.

Mac ground into her hard, surged so deep she gasped loudly and then she sank her teeth into the place where his shoulder met his neck, piercing his skin, drinking down his blood as her wolf claimed her mate.

Mac roared, his cock pulsing deeply as Lily bit him. He thrust into her once, twice, three times more and then his world disintegrated and he erupted deep inside her, bathing her with his seed as she threw her head back and screamed his name into the air. 

Her body shuddered wildly, milking his cock so tightly it bordered on pain but stayed just the right side of pleasure. She took everything from him, his seed, his heart, his very soul as he continued to pulse inside her, the pleasure lasting so long he didn't think he could bear it.

He collapsed wearily, falling onto his elbows instinctively so he didn't hurt her, his body so drained he didn't think he would be able to move for hours. He worked on trying to remember how to breathe, on trying to stop his heart from climbing out of his chest.

Mac had known they would be good together but nothing had prepared him for just how intense loving his Lily would be. Who was the winner of their little game? He had sneaking suspicion it was his beautiful mate because he would always be putty in her hands after the kind of loving she'd just given him.

"Did I hurt you?" he finally managed to get out raising his head to look down into her flushed face. Amusement danced in her eyes as well as a sleepy satisfaction which brought a smile to his face.

"I was about to ask you the same thing," Lily murmured huskily, trailing a hand down his back. "I got a little carried away with the claws there."

Mac started to laugh, kissing her between chuckles as he framed her face in his big hands. "God, I love you, Lily," he whispered deepening his kiss into something hot and yet tender, full of the emotions threatening to explode from his chest.

Only his Lily would worry that she had hurt him after he'd just lost control and taken her harder than he'd wanted to for her first time. She was so perfect for him it was downright scary. He could feel her smiling against his mouth and he let her up for air and lowered his forehead to hers.

"I love you too, Mac," she sighed sleepily. "I really like this lovemaking stuff. Can you give me ten minutes and then we can do it again?" She was drifting off before Mac had finished laughing.

He curled up beside her, pulling a comforter over them as he pulled her into his arms tenderly. His woman was the most amazing creature he'd ever met. He knew his life was about to be turned upside down but he'd never felt as alive as he did in that moment. He was up for the challenge of taming his wolf and of convincing her father that he had the right to do so. 

Kissing Lily's hair, Mac curled his body protectively around hers and allowed himself the luxury of dozing for a little while. It would just be a little while though. He had plenty of loving to show his mate for the rest of the night.

As his eyes fluttered closed Lily's voice whispered inside his head. "So glad we can talk like this now, Mac."

His eyes opened and he stared into her face but she appeared to be sleeping. The Vârcolac had always been able to speak telepathically with anyone unlike being restricted to a mate or family bond as was the case for Weres and vampires.

It suddenly occurred to him that Lily had never once spoken with him like this though she surely must have spoken to Annie and Kallum since she'd been with the Praetorians and most certainly her father. He hadn't stopped to think now they were bonded they could speak telepathically too.

"Why did you never do so before?" He tested the strength of their new mate bond.

A sleepy giggle sounded in his head, so soft and refreshing it made him tightened his hold on his woman.

"That would have been rude, Mac. It's unfair to talk to someone this way when they can't talk back to us. Now shhh...I'm sleeping here."

Mac laughed softly, brushing his lips against Lily's forehead gently. "Sleep then, sugar, because I'll be waking you up soon to love you some more."  He closed his eyes once more and let sleep claim him.

To be continued...



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 09



 My thanks to mikothebaby for editing.

Sorry for the wait for the chapter. 

Enjoy 

*

Rafe looked around the room stifling down a need to sigh. A summons from his sister usually always spelled trouble of some kind and when she asked for various people to be in attendance, namely the ones who were now spread out in the closed off community centre, it set his warning radar off big time.

The mated vampire couples were there, Ash and Nors sitting with their heads together as always, his arm looped loosely over the back of her chair. Their body language screamed of intimacy, Ashleigh's face radiant as she smiled up at her mate. There was no sign of the lost young girl who had suffered a weight of heartbreak at such a tender age. Happiness seemed to waft from the little blonde, contentment in the way she leaned into her mate's body. 

There wasn't a day that went by that Rafe didn't feel thankful to Nors, the biggest vampire in the room, so scary and intimidating to look at and yet so loving and protective of not only his own family but also the pack. Without his devotion, they would have lost Ashleigh to the grief that had once clung to her like death. He had loved her enough to bring her back to the pack and bring love and laughter back into her life. How could anyone not love him for that?

Rafe's gaze turned to the Romanov twins, the volatile brothers who were fierce and protective but often hard to handle. Even after all these years, there were still moments when either Alexei or Andrei tested his patience as Alpha and made him wonder why he was stupid enough to accept the role of being leader to everyone in his pack.

At the moment it was Andrei giving him all the headaches with Lily missing. Alexei was helping out as best he could along with Loretta to keep the more mercurial vampire at bay but it was challenging.

As always, where the twins were, so were their mates. Loretta had a thoughtful expression on her face, as her eyes kept flickering to Andrei, even as she listened to something her sister was saying to her. She was a striking woman, not tall for a Were, but sleek with toned muscles that signified strength. Andrei looked at her, his brown eyes flashing with some untold emotion for an instant before his expression became neutral again. He turned back to his brother raking an impatient hand through his hair.

Cedar caught the look which passed between the mates and raised an eyebrow, obviously querying her friend on it. Her blonde curls were tied back in a loose ponytail which Alexei was playing with absentmindedly with a faint curve of a smile across his lips. 

Whatever was going on in that family group obviously wasn't being discussed. Loretta confirmed Rafe's suspicions by giving a quick shake of her head at Cedar. He did sigh then, mentally preparing himself for having to deal with whatever fallout would soon be coming his way. The Romanovs would test even the patience of a saint.

His gaze swept on coming to rest on Dayton, one of his most trusted Betas. The change in Cedar's brother, a wolf who had lost his first mate and almost succumbed to madness, was remarkable. After decades of exile from the pack he had been home for a long time now, once more a valuable addition to his pack. He smiled constantly these days, teasing his mate mercilessly until she was ready to explode in a whirlwind of fury. 

Freya was still coming to terms with developing a sense of humour. Only Day was insane enough to needle the Ancient vampire past the point of no return, confident that she'd never hurt him no matter what he did. Rafe watched him gather his scowling mate into his arms, kissing her soundly until she melted against him. He couldn't help smiling as he watched them. Seeing them so happy together reminded him of the upside to being an Alpha.

The remaining people in the room where the Vârcolac. Liam was sitting on the floor as far back from everyone as he could get, his brown eyes full of concentration as he leaned against the wall. He was huge like his father, dark auburn hair hanging over shoulders so wide he looked as if he could barely fit through some doorways.

Liam broke Rafe's heart on a daily basis. Not because he was hard to work with or had a mean bone in his body. No, he broke his heart because no matter how he hid behind his neutral mask, Rafe could always feel the muted sensation of pain down their Alpha bond. Liam hid it well but his empathy crushed him, overloaded him and threatened to break him.

Only the tall, willowy woman at his side could temper Liam's agony. Elina Alexander was as stunning as her mother Freya with her skin porcelain white, her hair a crazy mix of browns, reds, golds and that one streak of pure silver she'd inherited from her father. 

So serious and reserved, her face was almost severe in its beauty. She'd given up a piece of her soul to protect the cousin she adored more than life itself. Now she sat close to him, leaning into his body with her eyes closed. Rafe knew she was sharing her mental shields with Liam, helping him to buffer all the emotions in the room with so many people in attendance.

Cassia and Dara were less reserved than some of the other hybrids but still separate from the rest of the pack. The sisters' relationship was an enigma to all of them including their parents sometimes. They weren't twins like their father but they gave every indication of being so by the way they interacted together.

Cassia was the elder sister, sharing her mother's curly blonde hair and blue eyes. Dara's blonde hair was straight like Alexei's her, eyes the same shade of brown. Both wore their hair to their shoulders, both invariably dressed the same even if they chose different colours. 

Arms wrapping around Rafe's waist had his lips curling in a smile as he wrapped his arms around his mate's. Her scent washed over him, soothing his tension and he leaned back against her. Lacey always knew when he was worried about something, always reached out to bring comfort to him.

"It might not be as bad as you think," she sighed sliding around his body to rest against his chest as he hugged her tightly.

He could never get enough of his mate. She was everything good in his life, beautiful and loving with hair a pale silvery blonde that reminded him of moonlight. Her light green eyes were striking, her lips looking eminently kissable at that moment.

He indulged himself, rubbing her mouth with his to ground himself and ease more of the tension which was making his muscles ache. "This is Annie we're talking about," he breathed against her mouth. "Lily is God knows where. Kallum appears to have joined her and once again Kothari has disobeyed a direct order to attend a meeting." His displeasure was evident as he finished speaking.

The final hybrid child, the only issue of a mating between an Ancient vampire and the very first Vârcolac, tested Rafe's patience to his limits. Not only did he drive Rafe to insanity but also Aaron, the most pack orientated Beta and second-in-command of the Armand-Hanlon pack. 

Aaron took on all the troubled pack members, worked diligently to integrate them and help them through any issues they had, but even he struggled to get Kothari to meet him halfway. Which was probably why it was lucky Aaron was over at the Hanlon pack with his family and also Lacey and Rafe's sons.

Rafe would fill them in later on whatever happened at the meeting but it was just as well some of those who should have been there had been otherwise engaged. Aaron losing his temper wasn't something which happened often, but when it did, he was downright vicious. Liam could do without that level of emotion battering at his mental shields.

"Oh Ye of Little Faith," Lacey whispered as the door opened and Gard and Rayne entered followed reluctantly by their son.

The impressive vampire, one third of the triumvirate and over six thousand years old, strode confidently into the room his expression determined though a faint smile hovered over his lips. His arm was draped over Rayne's shoulder, his mate moving with the sleek grace of the panther she was, her long black hair secured in her customary high ponytail.

Behind them came Kothari, his eyes hidden behind a pair of sunglasses so darkly tinted that not even the enhanced sight of vampires or Weres could penetrate the darkness. The most volatile and unknown of the Vârcolac, Kothari hid behind his dark glasses and silent demeanour never letting anyone get truly close. He was dressed completely in black, his wide shoulders encased in a black leather jacket full of silver zippers and studs.

Unlike the rest of the pack, Kothari's hair was cut short tapering in sharply at the nape of his neck though the front was longer, falling in a wide sweep across his forehead. He was as tall as his father and just as wide and his body language screamed out the need to be anywhere else but where he was. Kothari was pissed and he didn't care who knew it.

The only change in his demeanour was when he sighted Dara and Cassia. The first hint of a true emotion crossed his face and it was anything but pleasant. His expression turned hard, his lips thinning in a straight line of disapproval as he raked his eyes over the women.

"Kothi." Rayne's voice cut through the instant tension in the room at their entrance and her son's head snapped round to look at her. 

There was a brief pause and then his expression softened, his lips curving into a semblance of a smile. He dropped a kiss on the top of his mother's head and walked further into the room, separating himself from everyone as he leaned against a far wall beside one of the many windows, his gaze peering into the night.

"Kids," Gard rumbled, rolling his eyes as they reached the Alpha couple. 

Rayne shot him a reproofing look trying not to glance over at their son. He'd always been different but the older he'd become the more isolated he appeared. It concerned her greatly and she knew it concerned Gard too. 

At home when they were alone, the hard mask dissolved and he was their Kothi, a hint of happiness on his face, a certain level of peace in his eyes. The moment they were in company he became the cold, hard stranger who now stood staring out the window, so alone it broke her heart. She didn't know how to reach him when he was like this so she just loved him as a mother should, unconditionally.

"Where's everyone else?" Gard was asking Rafe as she turned her attention back to the room.

"Demetri's off to Europe for some reason and Mara's at the Council chambers. Aaron and the boys are over at the Hanlon compound along with Jen and their three. Still no word on Lily and now Kallum's vanished too. We're just waiting for Annie and Caleb and we can find out why this gathering has been called."

"Actually we've brought another couple of people with us," Rhianna announced in her soft, lilting voice as she entered the room at Caleb's side. Kallum was just behind them, along with a vampire a few of them recognised. 

"Karn?" Rafe frowned in confusion, wondering why his sister had brought a Council Enforcer to the meeting. He'd met the sandy-haired vampire a few times when he'd been backup for a Were/Vampire Council meeting over the years. He knew there had to be a good reason for it because Annie would never endanger the pack but he didn't like being surprised. Though he should be used to it by now when his sister was involved.

"Rafe," Karn nodded, his eyes quickly flickering over the room, taking in the various people he knew by sight, honing onto the younger attendees who were obviously the other Vârcolac. His appraisal was quick though his eyes rested a shade longer on the couple sitting on the floor at the opposite end of the room.

He stopped first on the male, his protective instincts flaring. His appraisal was quick, accurate, his concern deepening. The woman at the male's side brought a different reaction -- anger. He looked at her and he felt his temper spike, his instincts perk up. He filed the information away to deal with at a later time.

"There's little point in beating around the bush," Caleb announced as he pulled up two chairs beside Rafe and Lacey and sat down beside Rhianna. "With the exception of the children, everyone here is aware of the Praetorians and what their remit has been with regard to the Vârcolac. There have been some...issues regarding that which have recently come to light."

The younger members of the group looked at each other and it was clear that there was some form of quick mental conversation occurring as was often the case with them.

"You mean the vampires that have been dogging our footsteps all our lives?" Kothari asked when no one spoke, his voice quiet and toneless. He didn't turn to the room though his shoulders tightened slightly. 

"He's one of them. I recognise his scent," he added.

"One of them?" Dara echoed unease in her tone as her eyes flicked around the room and finally rested on the man at the window. "We've been followed for years and you knew about it, Kothi? Why didn't you tell us?"

"Why didn't anyone tell us?" her sister asked sounding just as unhappy. Her gaze was on Kothari too, irritation dancing in her eyes. She was annoyed that one of them knew of these secret vampires and had chosen to keep quiet. It was so like Kothi to do something like that it was a wonder she was even surprised to hear it.

"The decision was made a long time ago to keep the Praetorians a secret," Rafe answered calmly. "You were all so young when the first attack was made on the pack, the first attempt to reach you and cause you harm. Some of you weren't even born." He smiled at Elina for a moment and then looked at Kothari briefly.

"You shouldn't be angry with your parents or Rafe," Rhianna added. "I needed to protect the pack, to protect you. The Praetorians seemed the best way of doing so at the time. We wanted you to have normal childhoods, as normal as possible considering your heritage."

Elina shifted beside Liam, leaned into him slightly and rested a hand against his arm as though picking up a rise in his distress levels. He smiled briefly closing his eyes and rubbing his cheek against her hair.

"So not all vampires were accepting of hybrid children coming into the world?" Elina guessed correctly as she soothed her cousin unconsciously, strengthening her shields within his mind not realising her expression turned colder, more remote when she did so, her voice dripping with ice.

Karn noticed the subtle changes and felt his anger ratchet up a notch, though he kept his expression neutral. He didn't like what he was witnessing, was worried at Liam's sensitivity levels and also the effect it had on the woman at his side. The warning signs were clear to him. How no one else was reading them was criminal. He wanted to yell at the others, ask them how they could have let things become so dangerous.

The ensuing silence was broken when Gard spoke addressing his son. "How long have you known about them?"

"Longer than Lily has." Kothari turned from the window to look at his father before his hidden gaze swept over Dara and Cassia. Liam and Elina didn't appear to be put out with what they were hearing but the sisters were not happy about it, were particularly unhappy with him. The corner of his mouth twitched in a satisfied smile.

"It was amusing watching Lily work it out. She was so smug when she worked it out and thought no one else knew." His words sounded harsh but there was an undercurrent of warmth in his tone revealing a hint of genuine affection.

Andrei growled softly and Kothari met his gaze for a moment and then nodded at the silent rebuke. Andrei didn't like it when he felt someone was maligning a child of his. The vampire was already volatile. It was pointless antagonising him any further and Kothari genuinely adored Liliana and her wild ways even if he didn't show it.

"How did you and Lily find out?" Rafe asked his gaze sweeping from Kothari to Andrei and finally settling on Karn who had been identified as a member of the Praetorians. If his scrutiny made the vampire uncomfortable, there was no outward sign of it.

"My senses are sharper than the others," Kothari answered. "I was about six when I first realised we had silent guardians shadowing our every movement. Lily's senses are not as acute as mine but she has an agile brain and not a lot escapes her. She worked it out by the time she hit maturity."

Andrei's irritation faded his eyes boring into Kothari as he spoke. He couldn't help but feel pride at his daughter's intelligence, proud of the knowledge she'd been one of the few to have worked out a secret so closely guarded that most people didn't know it. 

"Lily would have seen the Praetorians as a challenge," he mused almost to himself. He turned to look at Karn his eyes narrowing. "That's where she is, isn't it?"

Karn pursed his lips and then nodded. Mac had told him to attend this meeting, to bring Kallum with him to help. He'd thought it madness, but Mac had been insistent. His opinion hadn't changed but so far everything was going reasonably smoothly.

"We didn't know who she was," he answered carefully. "She managed to circumvent all our careful screening to become accepted as a Praetorian candidate. She was the top recruit in her class, the best soldier I've ever trained." 

His pride in his charge was evident in his voice as well as his affection for one of their own. Because of that Andrei found it easier to accept, his own pride escalating higher. His daughter had fooled everyone and been the best soldier. She was so much like him it was scary but he was proud of her anyway. 

"How did she get past the final check?" Rafe asked suspiciously his eyes already dropping to his sister for confirmation. He was stunned at the news and not entirely happy about it. Seeing Rhianna's sheepish expression ignited his temper.

"For the love of God, Annie, what were you thinking?" he ground out furiously, her guilty expression telling him all he needed to know. Once again his sister had kept a secret from him, one that directly affected a member of his pack. He was furious with her. 

"You know the uproar Lily's disappearance caused. How could you keep quiet when you knew she was safe?" Because Lily had been safe all this time only they hadn't known it. She couldn't have been safer living in the heart of the Praetorians.

"Sometimes the needs of the one is more important that the needs of many," Rhianna answered, accepting Rafe's anger because she knew it was justified on one level. It hurt though. It always hurt when she disappointed her brother even if sometimes it was necessary.

"Lily needed her freedom, Rafe. You would only have dragged her back here and despite the fact that we all love her it would have been the wrong thing for her. You know that deep inside. And in my defence, I've only known a few days. I was just giving her a little time until she was ready to come home again."

Rafe opened his mouth to retort, fury still in control. Deep down he knew she was right, Annie was always right. But he still wasn't ready to let go of his anger. If she'd told him, explained her reasoning, then he would have listened to her no matter what she thought. He trusted her decisions. His scathing words were silenced when Andrei spoke. 

"Annie's right."

All eyes turned to the one person they'd all expected to be demanding they march up to the Praetorian compound and retrieve his daughter instantly.

"Lily contacted me earlier today," Andrei continued in a quiet voice. "She has the same genetic flaw I have only it manifests itself in her wolf side rather than her vampiric side. She's scared and a little confused but she's found the one thing that can help her and she can only find it with the Praetorians." 




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 09



He paused as if struggling with the next words, as if they left a bitter taste in his mouth. "She's found her mate."

Loretta wrapped her arms around Andrei's waist knowing how hard it was for him to admit this to everyone. When he'd told her earlier of his talk with their daughter there had been such guilt in his eyes. Convincing him that it wasn't his fault had been hard but there was nothing he could have done to interfere with genetics. It was just a part of life they all had to live with.

Of all of them, Alexei was probably the one who could most understand the agony his brother was experiencing, having lived with it for so long. He laid a comforting hand on his twin's shoulder, silently adding his strength to that which his mate was giving him.

"That changes things," Rafe finally sighed, though his eyes promised Rhianna they'd be having a chat later about just what was acceptable to keep hidden from him. She shot him a rueful smile, but her lavender eyes couldn't conceal the distress she was feeling. He hated being at odds with his sister even more than she did.

Andrei's acceptance, the shock of hearing that Lily balanced on the edge of crossing over as her father did was enough to soothe Rafe's wolf. He was an Alpha wolf but he was also a man who knew that none of the people in this room would ever do anything to hurt his pack. 

If he accepted that Annie was always right then he had to abide by her decision even if he didn't like his lack of inclusion in it. He sighed again and reached over to ruffle her curls to let her know they were okay. He couldn't stay mad at Annie for very long.

"It changes everything," Kallum spoke for the first time moving to stand behind his father and give him his support. "It's highlighted the fact we need the Praetorians in a different capacity now. Lily is thriving there and now that she has her mate, I know she's going to be fine." 

He glanced around the room gauging everyone's reactions to his next words. "Some of the other Vârcolac could do with spending some time with the Praetorians too."

He expected uproar from the adults, denials of some kind but the reaction he'd expected came from a completely different direction.

"No." Elina rose from her seated position beside Liam, her voice carefully modulated to hold no emotion. 

"You can't send Liam away where he doesn't feel safe. It's taken long enough for him to find a balance here among the pack. Strangers will be too much for him." Her words were for Kallum but her eyes were fixated on the strange vampire in their midst whose cool blue eyes appeared to be boring into her soul.

Ashleigh was on her feet, too, worry etching her face as she looked at her son. "Elina's right." She hated sounding like an overprotective mother but Liam didn't function well around strangers.

She turned pleading eyes to her mate. "Nors, you can't let them take him away." She could see indecision on his face, as if he was conflicted about the possibility.

"Ash, honey, no one's said anything about Liam going but maybe it wouldn't be a bad idea?" Nors asked gently reaching for her hand. He was just as concerned about his son's struggle to contain his empathic abilities but he could divorce his emotions to a certain degree, better than his mate could. If the Praetorians could help him in some way...

Disbelief crossed her face and he let out a deep groan. "Ash."

She turned away from him to her Alpha. "Rafe, don't agree to this. Maybe it would help some of the others but not Liam."

Rafe was at a loss with what to do. Changing the whole concept of the Praetorians' remit was staggering. Allowing vulnerable members of his pack to be spirited away went against every instinct he possessed. But deep down, he knew that some of the Vârcolac needed more than he could give them.

A loud cough attracted everyone's attention to Karn who was scowling blackly, not the least intimidated by the people in the room. "I think you all seem to have forgotten one very important fact. You don't get to decide who comes to the compound. I make the decisions and if Mac agrees with me then the decision stands."

He stared down Rafe ignoring everyone else. "If you decide as Alpha that being with the Praetorians can benefit some of the Vârcolac then I will choose which of them I feel will gain the most good from the experience."

Silence greeted his words though Kallum fought a smile. Karn was just as impressive as Mac when he was pissed. His words were also indisputable unless the triumvirate overrode him.

Rhianna shrugged her shoulders. "Mac has protected the Vârcolac most of their lives. We've never had cause to doubt his decisions and I see no reason to now. If you're in agreement, Rafe, then Karn, as his representative, has final say as to who should go." She looked at Caleb and Gard who instantly nodded their agreement. The triumvirate had given their approval; it was now up to the Alpha.

Rafe looked at Lacey, saw her unwavering support and knew she would back up any decision he made. It still didn't make it any easier as he looked around the parents in the room. Their children may be grown but they were still their children and Ashleigh was already distressed over Liam.

But he had to balance the needs of the Vârcolac, as well as the pack. "If the Praetorians can help, then I have no objections to their remit being changed," he finally said. "But if any harm comes to my people while in your care I will come down on the Praetorians with every able-bodied wolf I can find."

"They are safer with us than in the pack," Karn answered confidently. He'd already chosen the ones that needed help, had done so the moment he'd entered the room. He wouldn't take them at the same time though. They already had Lily, one more would be enough to handle. 

"You need to let us do things our way, though. No interference. I don't do pretty words and tenderness and you aren't helping the Vârcolac by doing so either." 

He strode across the room to stand in front of Liam, ignoring the woman at his side even though her scent was the one in the room he would from this moment on always find first among the Vârcolac. "You'll come with me tonight."

Ashleigh stifled down a gasp of dismay as Elina let out a long, slow hiss. "You didn't hear me the first time, vampire. Liam is not up to going anywhere, least of all with an uncontrolled male like you." Her tone was still devoid of emotion, her expression calm despite the hiss she'd given.

Nors was pulling Ashleigh into his arms to soothe her distress; Elina was fixated on the male who looked through her as if she didn't exist. His huge size and pretty face, the inherent maleness of him which sparked something unknown deep within her, it all did nothing to counter the cold fury she fought to contain inside.

Karn turned his gaze on Elina allowing himself the luxury of scrutinising her now she was talking directly to him. He took in her heart-shaped face, her cold beauty and multi-coloured hair. 

His lips curled in an unpleasant smile. "I heard you just fine the first time, Vârcolac. Repeating yourself isn't going to change my mind. Liam comes with me and you're not invited to the party."

Elina's mouth dropped open at his dismissive tone. She had to work hard to keep her emotions in check, something she hadn't had to do for a very long time. "Where Liam goes, I go," she managed to answer evenly, while battling the unfamiliar emotion of hate which was quickly forming towards the vampire in front of her. His arrogance was outrageous, the way he towered over her unacceptable.

"Not in my compound you don't, Missy," he shot back instantly, his eyes hard, and his smile never wavering as the delightful creature matched wits with him and tried to stare him down. 

He knew despite her cold aloofness, that her emotions were whirling deep inside her. He could tell because Liam's stress levels were starting to escalate despite his expression never wavering. It was a little known fact that Karn shared one of the Vârcolac's abilities. He could sense emotions, which was why he was so good at what he did, why he was Mac's second-in-command.

"You're part of the problem so you need to be taken out of the equation," he continued ruthlessly. "Now if that offends your sensibilities -- tough shit. You've helped cripple Liam so I'm not feeling particularly charitable towards you at the moment."

Fury like nothing she'd never experienced washed over her. Green eyes began to glow as a loud hiss escaped Elina. "Who do you think you are?" She wasn't even aware that her voice had risen, that her cold façade had cracked and Liam was wincing at her side. 

"I've spent my entire life helping my cousin. I've been there for him every second of every day. Where the hell do you get off saying I've crippled him? You don't even know him and you think you can come in here and make snap judgements about people?"

Karn growled, facing down the furious woman who was making his gut tighten in need as she literally crackled with power and rage now that her emotions had been released. She was fucking glorious and he knew one day he would have her. Not today because the timing sucked but one day soon he would have all that pent-up fire and passion in his bed. He would bathe in her and she would scream his name as they rolled in his sheets.

He dampened down the desire he felt, hid it from prying eyes and noses as he kept the smirk on his face, feasting on her.

"Do you want a fucking medal?" he barked. "What do you want me to put on it for you? Saint Elina – Black Widow to all who love her? You may not eat your lovers but you know how to cut a man off at his balls with your brand of love."

His words whipped across her flesh, harsh and stinging but he kept going. The truth often hurt but it was undeniable. "You've made Liam so dependent on you he's never had the opportunity to learn what he's needed to do to protect himself. Great fucking job there, Missy. Let's all give you a round of applause for your selfless act."

Dayton let out a furious roar as his daughter went chalk white, a harsh gasp escaping her as she took a step back from the raw fury burning in Karn's eyes. He was out of his chair in an instant ready to beat the vampire senseless.

Freya reached out and wrapped a hand calmly around his wrist, using her vampiric strength to halt her mate even though her own fury was bubbling deep inside her. She had made her daughter a promise twenty four years ago. She would keep that promise and so would her mate. 

"Don't interfere, honey," she said levelly. "Elina is more than capable of taking care of herself and she won't thank you for it." She sounded reasonable though her eyes were almost bleeding to black belying the calm she was exuding.

Dayton shot her a disbelieving look, tugged at his wrist but she held firm. If he pulled hard enough she would release him but he could see that it was important to Freya that he allow their daughter to be strong even if it went against every protective instinct he had. He glanced at Elina but her gaze was on the vampire. She was completely oblivious to her parents' family drama.

"You'd better be right, Freya," he finally conceded unhappily, sitting down while still plotting as many ways to kick the shit out of Karn as he could think up.

Liam rose to his feet towering over Karn for a moment, his brown eyes thoughtful before turning to his cousin. He reached out and pulled her into his arms, for once being the one to soothe her.

"It's okay, Elle," he whispered stroking her hair gently. "Karn's right on some levels, just not all of them. He doesn't know you, doesn't understand what it has cost you to give so much of yourself to me. But I know and I will always be grateful for it even as I will always be ashamed for taking from you so selfishly."

It was hard for Karn not to snort out loud, not to react to the tension in the room. He knew exactly what it had cost Elina all these years. His mouth may have said one thing but his mind was fully aware of the amount of damage suppressing her emotions had done to her.

It was as crucial to separate Elina from Liam as it was the other way around. Liam needed to learn to shield his abilities on his own but Elina needed to learn how to experience her emotions too. She was so close to breaking it was a wonder she hadn't cracked earlier.

Elina swallowed hard staring into Liam's face. She worked on her emotions, utilising years of painstaking discipline to batten down her defences and construct the necessary barriers to shield her cousin from her distress. She stepped back knowing what it cost him to touch her.

"I regret nothing, Liam and I never will," she finally answered, her cold eyes turning to look at Karn for a moment before she turned back to her cousin. "If you feel you need to go with the vampire then you must do what is best for you. Call me if you need me. And I'm so sorry for this."

"Elle?" Liam's confusion was nothing compared to Karn's when Elina stepped around her cousin to face him.

Liam felt the surge of violence and braced for it as Elina's fist connected with the vampire's face sending him flying clear across the room to crash against the wall. It obvious she hadn't contained her strength.

"That's my daughter," Freya sighed smugly into the silent room as Karn slid to the floor in a daze.

Elina stared at the male, cringing at the violence she'd committed. He had hurt her with his words and she'd wanted to hurt him back. She couldn't even blame it on her emotions taking control. She'd made a conscious decision before she hit him, otherwise she wouldn't have apologised to Liam first. What kind of person did that make her? 

Ashamed of her actions, she crossed the room heading for the door as Karn struggled to his feet a wide grin on his face that contained nothing but delight. "Is that the best you can do, Missy?" he taunted as she walked past him, her expression a mask of serenity. "I'll look forward to the rematch."

She ignored him and kept walking leaving the room with as much grace as she could muster after her shocking loss of temper. Liam was going away and for the first time in her life she had nobody to rely on her. The vampire was taking away the one person who truly needed her and she was battling a hatred towards him that threatened to consume her.

She was battling fear too because if she wasn't needed to help Liam, if she had to admit that she had hurt her cousin more than helped him over the years as Karn had accused her, then she didn't know how to deal with it or what else she had in her life. Everything had always been about Liam. If he was gone then she was all alone and that thought was more frightening than anything else.

Kallum broke the continuing silence with a bark of laughter. "Now I know why you're single, Karn. Your chat up lines suck."

"Truth hurts sometimes," the vampire snorted, stifling down a groan. The witch had snapped a couple of ribs which would hurt like a bitch until they healed. It still didn't stop him grinning though. Elina Alexander was glorious in her fury. It was just a pity she'd repressed her emotions so badly trying to help her cousin she'd inadvertently stifled her own growth. Learning control was going to be just as difficult for her as it was for Lily.

"Have we covered everything now?" he asked Rhianna, his gaze sliding to Rafe's for confirmation. "I need to get back to the compound." He was about done with his first foray into pack life, though it had been pretty entertaining for the most part.

"I don't think the pack can take much more at the moment," Rafe commented somewhat dryly. Conceding control to the vampire had been a difficult experience. He wanted the other male gone so he could spend time with the others and ensure himself they were fine.

A quick glance to Liam and he nodded his consent for him to leave. The expression of relief which crossed the younger man's face was enough to tell him he'd made the correct decision. 

Liam crossed the room to say goodbye to his parents as Kallum turned to his.

"Lily's fine," he reassured them hugging his mother tightly. "She'll be home tomorrow with Mac." He watched his father intently, saw the instant he put two and two together and worked out the significance of Mac coming to the compound.

"Mackenzie?" Andrei growled softly conflicting emotions welling up inside him. He'd known Mac for centuries, had fought at his side a time or two. He knew just what the other vampire was capable of and also knew just how dangerous he was. Part of him liked that because he knew Mac could keep his daughter safe. Another part of him wasn't best pleased though. Mac came with baggage, a past he'd never appeared to have truly recovered from. He was Lily's mate?

Alexei started to laugh and slapped his twin hard on the back. "Who'd have thought Lily would pick someone as screwed up as you?"

That got Loretta's attention and she frowned. "What's wrong with this Mackenzie person?" She was overjoyed her daughter had found her mate, but if there was something wrong with him...

"What's wrong with Andrei?" Alexei countered with another laugh as Cedar nudged him to halt his teasing. She could see her friend was worried enough as it was. Having Alexei goad the other couple wasn't helping matters.

"There's nothing wrong with him," Loretta answered firmly, sticking up for her mate loyally. Andrei may have his odd quirks but he was hers.

"There you go then," her brother smiled.

At the confusion on Loretta's face Kallum burst out laughing. "What my uncle is trying to say is that Lily has chosen a mate just like Dad," he soothed her. "He's a good guy, Mom, and he adores her. She adores him too." The last was said for his father's benefit.

Andrei nodded to his son and sought comfort in his mate's arms. He was desperate to see Lily again, needed to reassure himself she was safe and well. Dealing with her mate at the same time would be a bit of a challenge but as he held Loretta close and felt the soothing calm she gave selflessly to him, he knew that if Mac gave his daughter that same balance then he'd accept him with open arms.

As Karn rounded up his charges he sensed Kothari watching him and turned his head to find the Vârcolac standing close by. He raised an eyebrow in query waiting for the other man to speak.

"You didn't choose me," Kothari commented a carefully constructed expression of curiosity on his face.

Karn snorted. "I choose those I think I have a hope in hell of shaping into the best they can be. You, boy, you don't even know who you are at the moment. Until the day you decide who you are there's nothing I can do for you."

Kothari's lips quirked in a brief smile which was gone almost as soon as it formed. "I think I like you, vampire. Doesn't mean I won't rip you to shreds if you hurt any of mine though. You should bear that in mind the next time you meet Elina." He turned and walked away unconcerned if Karn was offended by his words.

"Nice talking to you," Karn quipped back rolling his eyes and turning to usher Kallum and Liam from the room. Yeah, he was most definitely finished with the Armand-Hanlon pack for a long time. It was time to go home to the relative sanity of the Praetorian compound. He left the pack to their business.

*****

Lily yawned and tried to stretch sleepily only to find her movements constricted by an arm wrapped around her front and a thick muscled thigh resting securely between hers. For a moment she panicked, her eyes flying open in shock and then the events of the previous evening flooded back and she smiled.

Mac had her securely wrapped up in his arms, his body curving over hers in a way which was both protective and propriety. She could tell he was still sleeping but had a feeling if she tried to get up all that would change quickly. So she settled back against him and luxuriated in the feeling of utter peace invading her soul.




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 09



For the first time she could remember her wolf was happy. Usually her other half paced restlessly within her, challenging her for dominance, demanding more time to be allowed free, but this morning her wolf was sated, content to curl up in a ball and sleep. It was so surprising, Lily couldn't help laughing softly, disturbing her mate who shifted restlessly against her his arm tightening around her body.

Lips caressed her shoulder gently as Mac rubbed against her back sleepily. "What's so funny, woman?" he grumbled. "Shouldn't you be passed out with exhaustion after last night?"

Lily laughed louder, rubbing her bottom against his morning erection and receiving a muttered curse for her troubles. "I'm a Vârcolac," she answered smugly. "We obviously have more stamina than mere vampires."

She shrieked when Mac rolled onto his back, dragging her across his body until she lay on top of him. His hand clamped around the nape of her neck holding her securely as his eyes glittered like a midnight pool of water. 

"You want to talk stamina?" he asked huskily his expression full of amusement laced with desire. "I wasn't the one pleading so prettily to stop two hours ago. Or was that begging, sugar? Do you want me to repeat your words verbatim?"

"You probably could too," she laughed, her face burning with heat at all the things Mac had done to her body during the night and all the things she'd done to his. She had begged him to stop, unable to take any more sensual overload. 

She could see why he had been picked to head the Praetorians. When given a task, Mac went at it with a ruthless determination to succeed. Nothing got in his way and last night, his mission had been to take his mate over and over again until she was exhausted. He'd passed with flying colours and it had been glorious.

Lily had never felt more loved, more desired, so utterly cherished. It left her feeling awestruck. Mac had taken her with hot, lustful passion and also with a tenderness which had threatened to bring tears to her eyes it was so beautiful. Then he'd allowed her to explore his body at her own pace, lying back as she learned each spot which brought him pleasure.

Well, that part had lasted all of five minutes before his natural dominance had taken over and he'd flipped her onto her back and taken all control out of her hands. She hadn't had the opportunity to indulge all of her curiosity of his sexy body.

Sighing softly, Lily laid her head on his shoulder and breathed in the scent of her mate. It was still a shock to realise that Mac belonged to her completely now. For some reason, she'd thought they would wait to become fully mated at least until after they'd spoken to her father, but Mac had been pretty adamant about how the night was going to progress.

She could still feel his fangs sliding through her skin, the numerous little bites he'd given her as they'd made love. All Weres learned from an early age that vampire venom was toxic to them. One bite and they were dead. The only way for a Were and vampire to mate was for the vampire to heal the Were from a fatal wound...at a DNA level. 

They all knew the stories of how their parents had mated with their vampires. Andrei had healed Loretta when he'd found her dying in the forest. The side-effects of that healing were only discovered by accident. Nors had healed Ashleigh when his own people had tried to kill her, allowing them to mate. Even Freya's healing of Dayton had been relatively easy, saving his life when he'd become trapped in a pit, his body impaled on wicked spikes.

It was Cedar and Alexei's mating which always brought chills to Lily. Her aunt had had no fatal injury caused by someone or something else. The only way for them to mate was for Alexei to wound her to the point of death. She couldn't even begin to imagine which of them had been the bravest, Cedar for being strong enough to demand her right to be mated to him or Alexei for going against everything he believed in to give his mate what she needed so badly.

Thankfully, the Vârcolac were immune to all vampire venom. They were half vampire; therefore, the venom couldn't hurt them, as it was part of their DNA. It wasn't common knowledge among the pack, only the hybrids knew and trusted members of the pack hierarchy...their adopted family. Naturally, the Praetorians knew, which was why Mac had had no qualms about claiming his mate the night before. 

"You didn't answer my question," Mac yawned turning his head to see it was just past six thirty in the morning. They'd barely gotten any sleep and he fancied another couple of hours before they had to get up.

"You wore my wolf out," Lily giggled, pressing her lips against the hard wall of his chest. "She's quiet for the first time ever. It feels wonderful."

"You feel wonderful," he groaned, fighting the urge to rub against her. He shifted their position again, spooning against her back and settling the sheet around them. "But I need sleep. Your wolf wore me out too. Go back to sleep, sugar." He pressed his lips against her shoulder and sighed in contentment.

Lily didn't see the point in arguing with him. It felt so good lying in his arms she closed her eyes and allowed sleep to claim her again, safe in her mate's embrace.

When she woke a few hours later, she was in bed alone, the sound of the shower running a soothing wash across her senses. The shower shut off just as she registered it was on and a few minutes later Mac came into the bedroom towelling his hair dry.

He was naked, apart from a towel wrapped around his waist, his skin damp and oh so tempting. She must have moved or made a sound because he turned to look at her, a sensual smile curling over his lips.

"You shouldn't look at me like that, sugar. We've got to go visit your parents today," he laughed kneeling on the side of the bed to drop a kiss on her mouth. It was supposed to be a quick kiss but she tasted so good and it felt like forever since he'd last kissed her, so he dived in and thoroughly explored her mouth with much enthusiasm.

He was instantly hard for her, his blood heating so quickly it was almost like a fever. He growled and deepened the kiss, half raising her from the bed until her silky hair draped over his arms and cascaded down to the pillows.

His woman was intoxicating, so fucking sexy he was losing himself completely in her sensuality. He plundered her mouth, drank in her sweet moans and then reluctantly forced himself to lower her back to the bed. 

"You need to shower, Lily," he groaned pulling away and heading to the closet to dig out some clothes. It was an effort to walk away from her but Karn had stopped by when she was sleeping. They needed to talk before they headed over to the Armand-Hanlon Pack.

"You're not serious?" Lily grumbled letting out a frustrated sigh. "You can't kiss me like that and then tell me to go and shower as if nothing happened."

He grinned over his shoulder, dropping his towel to pull on a pair of light blue jeans. He heard a frustrated growl as he covered his body and it filled him with satisfaction. 

"I can and I just did," he laughed, buttoning closed his jeans and reaching for a black silk shirt. If he was officially meeting hiss today he'd better dress the part.

"We don't have to go home today, Mac. We could go tomorrow." Lily kicked off the sheet rolling to her side to watch him with a sultry smile on her face.

God, how he wanted to join her in the bed, but she wasn't aware of what had transpired the night before and he had a feeling she wasn't going to be very pleased with him when she found out. He should have told her last night about the meeting but he'd had other more important things on his mind.

Mac buttoned his shirt and tucked the ends into his jeans, cinching a belt at his waist. His expression was serious as he looked back at Lily, raking a hand through his tangled wet hair.

"Kallum told your parents last night we'd be over today," he admitted watching her reaction intently. "Before you ask, the pack was informed last night of your whereabouts. Annie and Caleb told them. Kallum and Karn went to represent the Praetorians."

The sensual expression died from her face and for a moment she just looked at him blankly and then she sat up and hunted the floor for her underwear. She couldn't find them fast enough so she grabbed her cargo pants and tank top and pulled them on jerkily.

Once dressed she put her hands on her hips and tilted her head back to glare up at him. "So let me get this straight...while you were fucking me last night a secret meeting about me and my future was taking place. One you knew about but neglected to inform me of?"

Mac counted to ten slowly because he could see the hurt in her eyes which she was trying hard to suppress. He blew out a long breath and raked his hand through his hair again.

"While we were making love last night a meeting did take place relating to the Praetorians and the Vârcolac, one I judged Karn was capable of handling so I let him," he correctly her calmly. "If I'd judged it imperative for us to be there then we would have attended after we'd mated."

He curved a finger under her chin, his jaw tight as he regarded her intently. "Don't ever denigrate what we share together, Lily. I don't care how angry you are with me, don't you ever lower it down to fucking. There's a world of difference between fucking and making love."

Lily's nostrils flared as she gritted her teeth, struggling to fight the fury and fear overwhelming her. She couldn't believe everything had suddenly gone from being perfect to being the biggest pile of shit she could imagine, that Mac had kept something so important from her.

"You want to argue semantics, Mac? You think to distract me on one point so I'll forget all the rest? My father found out where I was last night and he could have lost it completely. I told you I had to be there when he found out. You knew that and you kept quiet."

"Andrei didn't lose it so there isn't an issue," he bit back, reacting to her temper when he knew he shouldn't.

Lily screamed in frustration throwing her hands up in the air. "That's not the point! I wanted to be there, Mac. I needed to be there and you took that decision out of my hands so you could have sex." She ignored the dangerous expression which crossed his face incensed by his high-handedness.

"I can't believe I ran away from my father ruling my life right into your world so you could do the exact same thing. Do I have masochist stamped all over me? Is there some sign that says "Lily's incapable – make her decisions for her?" You had no right to decide for me, Mackenzie, especially after I told you what I wanted."

Mac felt a stab of guilt deep down and frowned as he stared into Lily's furious face. "It wasn't like that," he defended himself. "We needed time together, Lily. We needed to be strong for when we confronted Andrei. The timing of the meeting was inconvenient I grant you but there was no deliberate attempt to keep you away. And Karn knew to call if there was a problem."

She glared at him a moment longer and then she let out a weary sigh. "It's that simple for you, isn't it? Everything worked out okay; you didn't mean anything by your actions. It all just sort of worked out so what's the problem?"

She felt tears starting to well up and swallowed them down ruthlessly. "The problem is you can't see what you've done wrong, Mac. When you figure it out let me know. Until then I think I'll shower in my own room. You can let me know when it's time to leave for the pack."

"Lily, for goodness sake put things in perspective." Mac reached for her, but she stepped around him, hurt dancing in her eyes as well as moisture, which looked suspiciously like tears. He felt as if he'd been punched in the gut, his hand dropping away to fall at his side.

"I am putting them in perspective, Mac. The problem is it's not your perspective so therefore you ignore it. I can put up with a lot of things from a dominant male but I will not have my free will taken from me, not by my father and not by my mate."

He let her go when every instinct screamed at him to hold her close until she stopped hurting. He'd expected anger, was even prepared for it, but he wasn't prepared for the hurt in her eyes nor the look of betrayal crossing her face.

He hadn't meant to hurt her. Hadn't deliberately tried to keep her in the dark, but Lily had spent so long having others direct the course of her life, that every little thing was now a fight for survival for her. 

Mac rubbed a hand wearily over his face and then continued getting ready. He'd give Lily time to calm down, to feel less hurt. They could talk when her emotions were less raw. When his were too. 

He was barely into the whole mating thing and already he was failing miserably at it. He would have to do better, because hurting Lily was the last thing he ever wanted to do.

Lily showered in her room nursing her hurt for all of ten minutes before she let the sadness wash away under the soothing hot water. Mac had messed up but he'd do better the next time, once he understood the difference between protecting his mate and trying to take over her life. 

And she wasn't the type to wallow in self pity for too long. She was still annoyed with him but she didn't feel hurt any more which was the important thing.

Drying herself she surveyed the clothes she had in her closet. She hadn't packed any of her usual clothes so it looked like she had her 'slut' outfit or cargo pants and tank top. Or whatever the hell she wanted from her closet at home. All she had to do was concentrate and she'd be wearing it.

She'd been so used to not magicking up anything which was inexplicable in her role as Andrea Ruminskey that she'd quickly gotten out of the habit of doing it. It was nice being able to indulge that side of herself again.

Closing her eyes she mentally flicked through her wardrobe and finally settled on her favourite summer dress which tucked in at the waist and buttoned all the way down into a flowing skirt just above her knees. It had thin straps and the upper swell of her breasts peaked over the top when she wore her satin strapless bra with it. Matching panties and strappy sandals completed the outfit along with a button down sweater just in case it became a little cooler later on.

Opening her eyes she surveyed herself in the mirror and giggled. Every single thing she had on was red. She was going home in a true scarlet woman outfit. Her father's face would be priceless.

Peeling off the sweater and throwing it on the bed she smoothed her hands over her waist wondering what Mac would think when he saw her in her normal clothes. So far he'd seen the soldier hiding some sexy lingerie. 

Would he like the real Lily, the ultra feminine part of her who loved flowing skirts, and silky material, who dreamed of old fashioned romance? She guessed she was going to find out sometime soon.

Brushing her hair she swept up the sides in intricate braids fastening them with red ties at the top of her head and leaving the rest to flow freely down her back. A light touch of make-up and she was ready to go. 

She scowled for a moment in the mirror remembering her fight with her mate. "Hope your tongue hangs out," she whispered childishly and then she grinned. She did hope his mouth watered all day long when there was nothing he could do about it. It would make for so much fun later when they were alone.

Brandon's jaw dropped open as he came out of the kitchen just as she got to the bottom of the stairs. He gaped for a full minute before he burst out laughing. "I was going to ask if I could come too but Mac might kick my ass."

"Probably," she laughed back gratified at the male appreciation and the way he knew she was off limits...that she belonged to Mac. It sent a shiver of delight through her.

"We got a new recruit last night," Brandon continued heading into the sitting room where Liam was lounging comfortably on one of the oversized chairs, his face lighting up when she entered the room.

"Lily!"

She didn't know what was more surprising, seeing Liam at the compound or the way he jumped up and threw his arms around her squeezing so tightly for a moment she couldn't breathe. Liam never touched anyone voluntarily. Their emotions leaked all over him and caused him pain. But he was the one hugging her and she couldn't resist wrapping her arms around him and squeezing back.

It was hard not to love Liam. She didn't think she knew anyone who'd ever said a bad word about the gentle giant who wept silent tears for everyone else's pain and suffering.

"Liam what are you doing here? And where's Elina?" Lily looked around for his cousin, frowning slightly when she couldn't see the other woman. Elina never left his side if she could avoid it.

Liam pulled a face biting at his bottom lip as he stepped back. "Karn wouldn't let her come. They had a fight and she punched him clear across the room. I could feel the violence, Lily. She didn't hold back at all so it must have really hurt."

Brandon laughed as he threw himself down onto one of the sofas and opened his bottle of cold blood. "Now I would have paid to be a fly on the wall to see that."

"But why would she do that?" Lily managed to choke out shocked at what she was hearing.

"Because she didn't like hearing the truth," Karn answered as he walked into the room. "While her efforts have been commendable they've been in error. Possibly I could have gotten that point across a little nicer than I did but I wanted to go home and didn't have to piss about any longer."

Lily spun around to glare at him, disapproval on her face. "Karn! I can't believe you were nasty to Elina. She's my friend." She was truly distressed to hear of the altercation between them. While she was used to his grouchy ways, he must have shocked the life out of Elina.

"Hey! I'm your friend and you don't mind when he tosses me around by the throat," Brandon interjected in a peevish tone.

"You deserve all you get," she laughed, before her expression turned pensive again and she gave Karn another disapproving look.

He grinned back at her unrepentantly. "Scowling doesn't work on me and you know it. Anyway, I probably gave little Miss Icicle the most excitement she's had in years. She's probably dreaming of me right at this very moment." He appeared very satisfied at that thought.

"She probably working out how many different ways she can take you apart piece by piece," Lily retorted. "She is Freya's daughter."

Karn's grin broadened. "Guess I'll have to pray enough of her daddy's genes have mixed her up so I live to breathe another day."

His lack of concern was evident and she shook her head in exasperation and turned back to Liam who was watching the exchange with a smile on his face.

"You're so different here, Lily," he said in an awed tone. "It's like you're truly alive. I can feel your happiness. It's so radiant, so beautiful it makes me want to start smiling and never stop."

Lily's eyes filled with tears at the look of wonder on his face. It had been so long since he'd opened himself up to experience other people's emotions willingly. Usually he was fighting to hide from them.

"It isn't too much for you?" she whispered suddenly afraid she'd been too free with her emotions in his company. It was instinctive when in the pack to shield around him but they weren't in the pack now and she hadn't thought to.

"It's amazing, Lily. All of the Praetorians are so mentally disciplined I can't feel anything from them. We're so far away from everyone. There's only you and Kal, Brandon and another male I've not met yet who I can sense. Even Karn shields instinctively so I'm picking up very little and what I am picking up, I can easily block. For the first time in so long I can even open myself to others without fear of being overloaded."




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 09



"Oh, Liam." She threw her arms around him laughing when he picked up her and spun her around, his joy seeping into her pores. Even if his respite didn't last, just knowing he was free for a little while was enough to fill her with joy.

Mac stood in the doorway watching his mate cling to another male, another Vârcolac. Karn had told him he'd brought Liam Eriksson back with him. He'd never seen the man before but he was impressive, his physique very reminiscent of his father, Nors.

His first instinct was to rip Lily out of Liam's arms; his second was to feel down their mate bond. He was glad he went for the second option. Lily was so happy, delight, affection and joy flowing through her as she hugged Liam. A far cry from how he'd left her feeling earlier. He couldn't do anything to take that happiness away from her.

The other man's eyes suddenly focused on his and his expression changed in an instant, the laughter dying from his gaze as he slowly set Lily down on her feet. Mac frowned recognising he must have been giving off negative emotions to shut Liam down so quickly. He cursed his initial jealousy and worked to bring happier thoughts to mind.

"Forgive me, Liam," he said quietly. "I've just found Lily and I'm doing a bit of a piss poor job at this mate thing. It's making me a bit erratic at containing my emotions."

Lily whirled around to stare at him and it was only then that he realised she was dressed in the sexiest little red dress he'd ever seen. It hugged each delicious curve sensually, accenting her breasts and waist, drawing the eye down to her shapely calves and delicate ankles. His body reacted as he knew it would and he swallowed hard to contain a groan.

Liam suddenly smiled, relaxing once more. "I think you're doing just fine but if you could dial it down a little? This close it's a bit too intense, that level of...emotion."

Mac actually blushed, choking out a laugh as he walked forward to gather Lily into his arms because he just couldn't bear not touching her. If he rubbed his scent against her it was purely a male thing, something he couldn't stop and wouldn't have even if he could. She had been in another man's arms even if he was just a friend. Mac needed to remind everyone who she belonged to.

"What's Liam talking about?" she asked, forgetting she was supposed to be angry with him and wrapping her arms around his waist.

Mac pressed his erection against her stomach as he leaned down to kiss her. "That emotion," he chuckled as she flushed scarlet and shot a guilty look at her friend.

"It's not my fault," Liam protested. "I'm just the innocent bystander who's being bombarded by a newly mated couple."

"I'm Mac in case you haven't figured it out," Mac introduced himself. "We're just heading to the Armand-Hanlon compound. I know you've just left but do you want us to pass any messages on while we're there?"

Liam glanced at Karn before turning to look at Lily. "Will you make sure Elle is okay? She's not used to being on her own, Lily. It might be a bit strange for her. And reassure Mom too if you see her."

"I'll check on Elle for you. I'm sure she'll be just fine. I think you should be more concerned about whether Dad kills Mac and I." Lily laughed to make a joke out of it trying to cover her growing nerves.

"Andrei will surprise you," Liam answered quietly. "Last night the emotions where pretty intense. Elle was helping me shield but when she lost her temper, I was on my own. I tasted Andrei's emotions, Lily. Even if he says or does something that hurts you, don't give up on him. Make him talk to you."

He was so earnest in his request that she knew he understood some of the depth of her father's hidden fears, just as she was now beginning to understand too. She nodded her agreement and then slipped out of Mac's arms to hug him. "Thank you, Liam. Love you."

"Love you too, Lily," he whispered gruffly. "Make sure Elle's okay." He released her and stepped back watching as she walked back to Mac's side. The leader of the Praetorians expression was the same as the one his father wore when he looked at his mother. He was sure that Lily would be okay now that she had her mate and it made him happy.

"Ready?" Mac asked, concern in his eyes as he ran his knuckles down the side of her face, uncaring of the audience.

"As I'll ever be," she answered, plastering a brave smile on her face. She waved goodbye as he led her outside.

Once they were alone Mac halted at the bottom of the steps. "I'm sorry about earlier," he said quietly a frown on his face. "Are you still angry with me?"

Lily pursed her lips as if in deep thought and then skipped ahead and twirled around until the skirt of her dress lifted into the air. A deep growl rumbled from Mac's lips, his eyes turning liquid black with a hint of silver dancing around the irises.

"Is this dress going to have you hard and uncomfortable all day, Mackenzie?" she asked, with a little smirk on her face.

"It's going to be sheer fucking torture keeping my hands off you," he ground out, his cock pulsing hard in his jeans as she twirled around again.

"Then I'll consider that punishment enough," she laughed softly. She walked towards him swaying her hips suggestively and making his blood boil even further. "You can show me how sorry you are when we get back home."

"You are a fucking tease of the highest order," he ground out, capturing her mouth in a hot, hard kiss." Enjoy it while you can, sugar. Tonight I'll show you the true meaning of the word tease. Prepare to be outclassed."

Lily shivered in delight at his silken promise. He took her mind off the coming meeting with her father for a moment and it felt delicious to kiss his mouth and feel his hands skirt the side of her breasts before he moved away to open the Jeep door for her.

She climbed in feeling better than she had for a long time. Liam was sure everything was going to be okay with her father. Mac was promising to love her into exhaustion again. She had hope that everything would work out just right. Lily leaned back in the seat and closed her eyes, allowing Mac to take her home, trusting he would keep her safe from all harm.

To be continued...



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 10



 Thank you so much for all the comments and votes. Glad you enjoyed the last chapter so much and hope you're not too mad at me for the sudden departure in location for this one :)

mikothebaby, many thanks once more for editing for me. It is greatly appreciated.

Thank you to 'E' for ensuring I didn't murder the French language in this chapter :P

Enjoy!  

*

 Europe 

Pietro groaned, trying to force his eyes to open and shuddering when pain greeted his attempts. Something was very wrong. Something so frightening that he knew he needed to stay alive at least long enough to alert the Council and to warn Mac when he arrived, so that one of them could get the information out.

The damage to his body was severe. It was enough to tell him that the likelihood he would be the one escaping was pretty low. They'd done something to him that slowed, if not completely halted, his vampiric healing abilities. Each wound healed slower than the last time. Some of them were still weeping blood as he hung from the steel chains in the ceiling, his feet barely touching the cold stone floor.

He cast his mind back trying to work out how long they'd held him. He knew it was at least one day, possibly even two, since he'd sent Mac the information he'd asked for. It had been shortly after that Pietro had become aware of a feeling of lethargy seeping into his movements. It had been so subtle at first he hadn't really noticed it.

Something about the way Michael and Bruce had been looking at him whilst trying not to look at him had sparked his suspicion that something wasn't right. By that time it had been too late. He'd already drunk the contents of the bottled blood. 

It had to have been contaminated with something. Whatever substance they had put in it that was capable of incapacitating a vampire, had already been creeping through his blood, making him sluggish and weak.

It should have been impossible. A vampire's metabolism broke down all foreign substances instantly rendering them harmless. But those two had found something that even vampires couldn't protect themselves from. 

The thought of being brought low by the two other males made his blood boil. Even as he conceded they'd been intelligent enough to come up with the unknown substance, he knew deep down they were too stupid to do so on their own. They were followers, monkeys. Someone else was directing their actions, the true organ grinder Pietro had yet to meet.

He should never have underestimated them. It was a rookie mistake and something a Youngling would do. He'd been around too long to fall for anything so obvious and yet he had. His pride had been his downfall, his belief in his superiority over them. And they had played him hook, line and sinker. They'd counted on him underestimating them and he'd played right into their hands.

He deserved to be in his current predicament but Mac didn't deserve to be pulled into the same trap. His captors wanted something from him which was the only reason he was still alive. He was too weak to defend himself. Killing him would be like taking candy from a baby.

Pietro had never felt so disgusted with himself or ashamed. If he was responsible for anyone else's death he'd be pissed as hell. He'd be dead himself so it was stupid even to worry about it, but all he had left was his rage, be it at himself or at his captors. They had taken everything else from him but he would hold onto that rage with every last fibre of his being.

The key turned in the lock and Pietro stiffened as the steel door slid back to reveal not one of the males but a female this time. Through his one working eye he could just about make out her features in the darkness. She was pretty and looked to be in her mid twenties but he could scent the age on her.

He stiffened when he realised she was close to Ancient, at least five centuries older than he was. In all their history, no European vampire had lived that long. They were wilder, more isolated, preferring to live in secluded covens and warring secretly over territory. How any of them could have reached close to eighteen hundred years old was a shock. 

She had to be European because the Council knew of all Elders stateside. The general practice was to present any newly made vampires to the Council once they'd achieved their first year without losing their heads. The population was recorded meticulously. If this woman had been one of them then her identity would be known and Pietro had never seen or scented her before.

He watched her close the door behind her not the least concerned at being in the room with him on her own. The thought almost made him smile in derision. What would she have to feel concerned about? A naked male hanging limply in chains with one shoulder dislocated? 

Just about every one of his ribs were broken, blood seeping from the mass of cuts covering every inch of his flesh. One of his eyes was swollen shut, hell for all he knew maybe he was missing the eye completely. With his hair matted with blood hanging dank and limp against his bruised face, he didn't think he cut a very scary figure.

The woman came closer and he could see her skin with a light caramel colour hinting of some kind of mixed heritage in her family. She was curvy in all the right places and he was male enough to admit she was pleasing on the eye. 

Her face was expressionless as she slowly ran her grey eyes over his body, walking around him as she did so, her breathing never once changing its rhythm. If she was pleased or unhappy about the damage to his body she gave no clear indication of it.

Not until she was once more looking up at him, then a small frown furrowed her brow and she tsked under her breath. "The boys were a little enthusiastic, I see. They were unsure of how much of the poison to slip into your drink given your age. They may have applied a little too much as your wounds are not healing." 

Her voice was light with a musical lilt to it. Under other circumstances Pietro might even have found it pleasing. "If you hire monkeys you have to live with their failings," he managed to grind out through his swollen lips. It hurt to talk but he wasn't going to let her know it. 

She smiled and her face transformed into something so beautiful it seemed at odds with the room of horrors they were both standing in. "Ah, I see they may have broken your body but not your spirit." She appeared pleased by his strong will.

Pietro remained silent watching as she moved away from him to retrieve a chair from one of the corners and place it in front of him. He was still trying to process the knowledge that they had some type of poison which, when introduced into a vampire's blood stream, did irreparable harm. He watched as she sank down onto the chair with a grace that screamed of an era long gone, of flowing dresses and elegant manners.

He was uncomfortably aware that her new position brought her eye level with his genitals. He wasn't normally concerned about a woman enjoying his ample view but the way her eyes ran over his limp shaft made him feel uneasy. So far that had been one area the males had surprisingly stayed away from.

"Such a pity," she sighed softly. "You really are a very impressive male. I so abhor waste but I suppose in your case it can't be helped." 

Her grey eyes slid up to meet his, a smile still teasing her lips. "I would have liked to have spent a little time with you before now but I was occupied elsewhere. I think I would have enjoyed sampling your lovely cock before we reached this stage."

If she thought her words would shock or embarrass him she was in for a disappointment. Pietro was male enough to admit that if she'd shown up and made some plausible argument to explain her age, he'd have quite happily have ridden between her thighs with no real need to be tempted into it. Sex was a way of life for him just as it was for most vampires.

The woman admired his body a moment longer and then she sighed and closed her eyes. "The arrogance of you vampires stateside is quite appalling," she said in a matter-of-fact tone. "You, with your little Council and rules and regulations, expecting everyone to obey your word as law. I'm quite staggered by just how arrogant you are."

Pietro listened to her speak trying to place her accent. He guessed she was definitely from the UK but it was hard to determine if she was from Scotland but had lived in England too long or vice-versa. Her accent mostly sounded English but there was a faint Scottish lilt to it.

"The arrogance isn't a regional thing," he finally drawled. "More of a male thing. We can't seem to help ourselves."

His answer pleased her because her smile lit up the room again and she tilted her head back with amusement dancing in her eyes. Silky midnight tresses fanned her face to trail down to the top of her shoulders. She looked exotic and tempting and he felt his body start to react to her on a primal level.

He tried to stifle his reaction, concentrating on the broken ribs which hurt like a bitch. It did the trick thankfully and he heard her laugh softly as he once more went limp.

"Almost had you there, Pietro," she laughed, not the least disappointed that he'd resisted her charms.

He'd closed his eyes to concentrate on his pain, now they flew open and his rage surfaced sharply. Pain exploded in his right eye which refused to see but his left was full of hatred as he glared down at her.

"Is this how you intend to torture me?" His fury seeped into his words. "Have your boys left you no room to mark my skin so you're going to try and rape me into telling you what you want?"

She hissed loudly, her pretty features twisting into a hard expression. "You can't rape the willing, vampire. I did nothing to you except look and enjoy. If you liked me looking then that's your issue not mine." 

She appeared truly offended by his words, so offended he decided her emotions were genuine. Whatever else she was, this female considered herself to be honourable. Her brand of honour differed greatly from his but she set store in whatever values she applied to herself.

And that was what made her the most frightening woman he had ever come across. 

She believed as only a zealot could. Whatever course of action she was on she felt she had the right of it which meant she would stop at nothing to achieve her goals. If her target was the Vârcolac she would stop at nothing until she reached them, harmed them. He prayed he lived long enough to alert someone; anyone to what was coming their way.

She appeared to gather herself, her expression smoothing out to become pleasant again. "I forgive you your harsh words, Pietro. The boys have been too severe with you and you are obviously in a lot of pain. I can alleviate your discomfort if you answer just a few questions for me. The most important one being how I can gain access to the abominations?"

Abominations? For a moment Pietro couldn't work out what she meant and then he realised she was referring to the children. He fought to keep his expression neutral as a wave of horror washed through him. If she viewed the hybrids as monsters then the perceived threat to them was worse than any of them had imagined.

This female was old enough and contained enough power that if she was able to pull the other vampires into her scheming, if she could unite them as one, then it would mean all out war with the Council, the Weres...everyone. There would be no way in hell they'd be able to keep the humans from learning of the existence of their paranormal neighbours. The fallout could lead to the total extinction of some species.

Despite keeping his expression calm she obviously sensed his concern somehow. "You care about them." She uttered the words flatly, plainly disappointed in him. "They should not exist. They are against everything which is natural. Surely you're intelligent enough to see that?"

"They shouldn't exist because you decree it?" he found himself arguing back. "Who died and made you God? You're just some crazy-assed bitch who has delusions of grandeur. You're not even an Ancient. You think you can take us on and win? I'm furious I'm not going to be around to see your downfall."

Her lips tightened at his tirade and she stood up placing the chair back in the corner. She came to stand before him again her face now suffused with sadness.

"It's your Council who have delusions of grandeur, pretty vampire," she sighed quietly. "They've spent so long believing they're the most powerful of us all that they've neglected to pay attention to what was happening on other continents. They will learn at their peril."

She sighed again and ran a finger slowly along one of the larger wounds on his chest. "I am sorry you have suffered so much. I would have preferred your end to be less painful but you are such a stubborn male I can see you will not volunteer any information to me willingly. I wish things could have been different."

Pietro held his silence, ignored her touch until she stepped back and gave him one last appraising look. Without another word, the woman turned and walked out of the cell, locking the door after it clanged shut.

As the door clanked shut Reasa sagged against the wall as Michael locked it. Christ, the vampire had been strong, forcing her to use her abilities at such a high level that she'd been fighting to maintain it at the end of their brief meeting. 

She pressed a shaky hand against her stomach as she tried to gather herself, accepting Michael's arm as they moved silently up the stone steps into the kitchen of the cottage they were renting. Bruce quirked an eyebrow at her pallor and went to rise from the table but she shooed him down and lowered herself into another of the wooden chairs around the table.

"I'm fine," she reassured them, accepting the glass of water Michael handed her before he sat down beside Bruce. "His mental shields were some of the strongest I've encountered. Even with the damage to his body, I had to fight to slip inside unnoticed."

When she'd first seen what they'd done to the male she'd been ready to berate them for their overzealousness, now she was thankful for it. If Pietro had been in more control, there would have been slim to no chance of her breaching his shields unnoticed and she'd have had to force her way in. It would have fried his brain.

She was under no illusions the vampire would not leave the cottage alive but that didn't mean she wanted his death to be at her hands. That was why Michael and Bruce were here. It was their job to clean up the mess and hers to gain the information before they did so.

Getting into a vampire's mind was generally judged as impossible to do without destroying their personality. Reasa could and did regularly invade vampiric minds, utilising her skill for her coven leader as directed. She wasn't completely happy with this current assignment though.

Why Louis had agreed to this was a mystery to her. He didn't usually get involved in the politics of their kind and she knew he even had some respect for a few of their overseas brethren. Maybe he was genuinely concerned about the hybrid children and what it meant for their species.

That was the only part of this mission Reasa did agree with. She'd had no major issues when she'd heard about the matings but producing abominations was something she just couldn't tolerate. If they had just stayed barren everything would have been fine. Maybe Louis felt the same way?

What made her so uncomfortable about her task was the need to hurt a fellow vampire. Sure, discipline was required within a coven and in extreme circumstances like a vampire crossing over, then death was the only solution. But to harm their own kind for no good reason didn't sit well with her.

And that was going to be inevitable. The stateside vampires and Weres weren't going to surrender their young to be put down like the animals they were. There would be some casualties but she lived in hope she could do what she needed without having to take out her people as collateral damage.

"So what did you learn?" Michael interrupted her thoughts and she pulled herself together enough to report.

"A name...someone called Mac. He's expecting him to arrive soon and was worried about him walking into a trap. His thoughts were hazy but I got the impression that they've set up some kind of elite guard to protect the hybrids. I'm not going to get anything further from him so I think it's best if we wait for this Mac to arrive and see if we can learn anything from him."

"Should we kill the vampire?" Bruce asked, his eyes shining with excitement at the prospect. He was looking forward to killing Pietro. His superior attitude had been driving him insane for months now. It would be satisfying for him to be the one having the last laugh over the smug bastard.

"No, we need him alive until his friend arrives," Reasa sighed, thankful for being the one in charge but knowing she'd regret that position fairly soon. For the moment she could keep Pietro alive. 

Given his injuries she didn't know if he would class that as a blessing or a curse. A part of her hoped he counted it as a blessing. As long as he was alive he'd have hope of escaping. Maybe he'd even manage to achieve it and she could be spared the final decision on his fate. 

It was stupid to think that way and she knew it. Sometimes hard decisions had to be made and a true leader made them despite having to hate themselves afterwards. "Give him some blood. He's dangerously low and it may ignite his healing process a bit. If things continue as they are, he'll be dead within the day."

"He's dead anyway, Reasa," Michael snorted. "The poison is eating his internal organs. No amount of blood is going to stop that from happening. We had no idea how potent the stuff was." 

The excuse was pathetic. The formula for Amort was a closely guarded secret known only to a handful of coven leaders. She only knew how to make it because Louis hadn't had any on hand and he'd had to give her the ingredients to mix it. 

Amort didn't play favourites...it targeted all vampires, so keeping knowledge of it out of the public domain was crucial. Still, Louis had been adamant of the dosage to use and she'd reiterated that information to the two males before she left them.

Reasa's mental fatigue made her lose control and she glared at the two males in front of her. Pietro was right...hire monkeys and you had to put up with their failings. She'd be having a word with Louis about these two.

"You mean you were both such cowards you overdosed him because he scared you witless," she corrected him icily. "Louis told you two drops would be sufficient. He is your coven leader and you disobeyed him. How many drops did you give Pietro?"

Michael at least had the grace to look away. He wasn't pleased about being called to account but he didn't argue with the chain of command. Maybe there was some hope for him after all. 

Bruce was unrepentant. "I gave him five," he admitted. "I hate that smug bastard. I'm glad he's suffering."

"I'll be sure to inform Louis of how well you obeyed him," Reasa snapped secretly appalled at how the vampire in the basement must be suffering. An extra drop would have been bad enough but more than a double dose?

Bruce frowned and started to look less sure of himself. Their coven leader could be brutal when angered though he was generally fair in most instances. "Come on, Reasa. He's the bloody enemy."

"The abominations are the enemy!" She was shrieking now, the two males wincing as her shields cracked and she began projecting her emotions. "Louis hasn't even openly declared his intent to join with the other covens. Until such time as he gives that order this was an intelligence gathering mission which has already gone to shit and will lead to the death of one of our kind possibly two."




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 10



The fatigue of being in Pietro's mind was so strong she was holding onto herself by a hairsbreadth. Any more stress and she was liable to lose all her mental shields and then they'd know all about it. 

Convincing Pietro she was almost an Ancient, playing with his male emotions to try and tempt him, as well as listening into his thoughts as she'd distracted him had been far too much given his own mental strength. If her shields shattered under her weariness, all her fury and pain would blast out and everyone would be shrieking under the weight of her agony.

Taking a deep breath Reasa stood up trying to calm her breathing. "I'm going to call Louis. Give Pietro at least three bottles of chilled blood if he'll take it. If he wants more give it to him. And see if you can convince him to take from source. You can each donate one of your little harem members if he's willing. Just keep him alive until we get clear instructions on how to proceed."

She hurried to her room collapsing to the floor against the door. It took a good fifteen minutes to repair her mental shields enough to call her coven leader. Taking deep breaths, Reasa worked through the mental exercises she had learned over the years until she felt her inner balance slip back into place. Then she pulled out her cell phone and hit the first speed dial number.

"Louis, there's a problem. Those imbeciles gave him too much poison and he's dying. His shields are still strong though and I wasn't able to glean too much. Just something about a group protecting the hybrids and that Pietro's waiting for someone called Mac to arrive." Louis didn't do small talk so it was pointless to begin with niceties. 

"You're sure about Mac?" Terse words to suit the type of male her coven leader was.

"Yes, he thought it a few times. His friend's name is definitely Mac."

Louis cursed gutturally, his displeasure seeping down their connection. "This is not good, ma chérie," he sighed, his French accent at odds with his volatile personality. He sounded so cultured, so civilised but he could be a monster to rival most monsters when called for. 

"I've had dealings with Mackenzie; he's done me a few favours over the years. I wasn't aware he was involved in this otherwise I wouldn't have agreed to this information gathering exercise. You're sure the vampire is dying?"

A mental image of Pietro came to mind and Reasa shuddered, her expression sad. "Nothing will stop that, Louis. I've told them to give him as much blood as he'll accept but the damage has been done. Parts of his skin are already turning black. The Amort is eating him alive. Maybe a complete bleeding would help but the amount of blood required to replenish him would be too great."

"Merde!" Louis spat, his fury escalating and making her shiver. 

He classed her as one of his favourites but if her handling of the mission had disappointed him enough he wouldn't be lax at punishing her for her failure. She waited for him to speak again.

"Which one of them was it?" he finally asked.

"Bruce. He hates Pietro. I think he was scared of him. If I'd been here sooner maybe I could have stopped it. But I needed to feed and I was distracted thinking we had more time. I'm sorry, Louis."

"Ce n'est pas important," he said soothingly and she breathed a sigh of relief that he was forgiving her so easily. She'd only once been punished by Louis and a century on could still remember every single detail of it. She never wanted to go through that again.

"Leave the vampire alive and ensure Mac has enough clues to discover his whereabouts quickly. If there is any chance of him being saved Mackenzie will find a way. Have Michael clean up the Bruce problem and then come back to the coven. We're sitting this one out. I don't owe anyone a big enough favour to betray a man who's never done me wrong."

He hung up and Reasa bent forward resting her head on her knees. She felt so relieved she thought she would throw up; only vampires didn't have the need to regurgitate. Louis had handed her a lifeline...more than one.

She didn't need to pronounce a death sentence on Pietro and there was a fragile hope he may still be saved. Louis also didn't view her leadership as being a failure so she had escaped punishment because of this fiasco. And he had pronounced judgement on Bruce. 

In this situation it was a decision Reasa would have made herself. Taking a life should never be an easy decision but when it was the right thing to do, it should be carried out.

Which brought her back to the abominations. Louis had ordered them home, had made it plain they would take no further part in any actions taken against the monsters that had been birthed. In her eyes that decision was wrong. 

They couldn't be allowed to live. She had meant what she'd said to Pietro. They went against everything which was natural. They weren't meant to exist and she wasn't sure if she could walk away and ignore her conscience on their fate.

If she went against Louis' command he would either order her killed or if he was fond enough of her maybe just throw her out of the coven. If she could reach her targets without harming this Mac person then there was a good chance it would be the latter decision he reached.

Reasa was still trying to work out what she could live with when there was a knock on her bedroom door and she opened it to silently usher the blond vampire into the room. She began tapping out a text message on her phone which she had no intention of sending.

"He drank the bottled blood once both Bruce and I had sipped from each one," Michael informed her. "He managed four before he was too glutted for more. There's some slight improvement, he's a little stronger and the blackness has slowed across his skin. I'm not sure how much time we've bought him though."

"Louis will be pleased with the news," she answered still tapping out her message. "He wants sufficient clues left for Mac to find Pietro while he's still alive. We're to return to the coven, the mission is over."

She handed him the cell phone and let him read what she'd written. Coven life was hard so all members learnt to be devious, learnt to listen into conversations they weren't supposed to be privy to.

Louis says to take care of Bruce. You're to return to the coven after it's done. I've been assigned to another mission and will leave directly. Don't fail him!

There was no indication if Michael was pleased or displeased with his orders but she took a flavour of his emotions and sensed acceptance. He may have screwed up on this mission but he was redeemable as she'd suspected. He wouldn't hesitate to take Bruce's head and ensure the other details were taken care of.

Her decision made, Reasa moved instantly. It would take Michael a few hours to set everything in place and maybe half a day to get back to the coven. She had that long to vanish off the radar. She wasn't stupid enough to go straight for her target. Louis would most probably expect that of her once he realised what she was up to.

No, she had to lay low for a while, gather as much intelligence as possible so she was fully informed before she made her move. She had a starting point now too. Mackenzie. She had no intention of hurting the vampire but something told her he would be in the thick of things when it came to protecting the abominations. If she could track him back to his lair then she just knew she would find what she was seeking.

Packing her travel bag swiftly she headed out towards the front door, her grey eyes settling on the pool of blood dripping along the kitchen floor and down the stone basement steps. 

Michael obviously didn't waste time and was exercising his brain too. An infusion of vampiric blood, even blood as young as Bruce's, may halt the damage to Pietro's body long enough for Mac to arrive and save him somehow. She genuinely hoped something could be done for the vampire. Under different circumstances she could have liked him a lot.

She left the cottage and vanished into the surrounding trees. It was time to become a ghost as she set about working out how to track her prey.

*****

Demetri Bozic appeared to be like any other tourist as he strode down the busy street. He'd been in Edinburgh for hours and hadn't managed to track down Pietro as yet and was starting to feel concerned. He paused to do the tourist thing, raising his camera high and pointing it towards Edinburgh Castle as if taking a photograph. He did actually snap a couple of photos but he was working at scenting the surrounding area at the same time.

Dressed in jeans and T-shirt, his long black hair hidden beneath a black Fedora, he didn't look the least out of place among the throng of people on Princes Street. There was such a mix of cultures and visitors to the capital city of Scotland he blended in easily.

It was a help but also a hindrance. Picking out individual scents with so many people around was a nightmare even for an Ancient vampire. He was starting to feel irritated at his lack of progress and had to fight to contain the emotion. He'd never track the vampires he was seeking if he didn't remain calm.

Letting the camera hang from his neck he pulled out his cell phone and dialled the number Pietro had given Mac. He didn't expect it to be answered; it hadn't the last ten times he'd called. When it was he froze for a second, his body tensing.

"Is this Mac?"

The male on the other end wasn't Pietro and Demetri decided not to contradict his assumption. Someone knew Mac was supposed to be arriving to meet with Pietro and that someone obviously wanted to talk.

"Yes," he answered tersely. "Where's Pietro?"

"He's incapacitated at the moment." A derisive snort sounded. "You people are supposed to be good. At the rate you're deciphering the clues left the vampire will be dead."

Demetri felt a chill of unease ripple through him, his hand tightening on the phone. "Maybe your skills leave a lot to be desired. I've yet to see any sign of a clue and believe me I've been looking most diligently," he responded coldly. "So let's stop dicking around and you just tell me what I need to know because if Pietro is dead when I find him, you'll be joining him. And any of your friends I can lay my hands on."

It was a risk to be so blunt but he had a feeling time was running out fast. He had to consider this call was a trap too. The enemy could be trying to lure him in but it was a chance he was going to have to take.

"You're lucky my leader wants him found alive," the male answered after a pause. "If it was up to me he'd already be dead. But I don't argue with my leader so I'll text his location to your number. Whether or not he'll still be alive is another matter."

"I don't make threats, vampire." Demetri's voice was pure ice. "I make promises and I keep my word. If Pietro dies I'll rip this continent apart looking for you and your leader. Be sure to let them know that. Now text the fucking location and stop wasting any more time."

He hung up, knowing it was a risk. The male he was talking to was young and obviously able to follow a chain-of-command. He was gambling the other male respected power and would obey. 

Digging out the map he had, he was already opening it up as the text message came through. He cursed under his breath when he located the area Pietro was being held at. It was miles away according to the map and he was bang in the heart of civilisation. He wouldn't be able to use his vampiric speed until he was out of the city centre at least.

Continuing to curse mentally, Demetri took off in the direction he needed to be going in, walking as fast as he could towards the train station. He'd seen a symbol for a station on the map fairly close to where he needed to be. It would be the quickest way to get there.

Waverley Station was busy but thankfully the staff were very helpful. They were obviously used to tourists and their inane questions. He was quickly shown to the correct counter to purchase a ticket and then to the platform the train would be departing from.

The notice board told him the train was due in ten minutes and would take another ten to reach its destination. He used that time to call Caleb. "Do we have anyone we can trust in the Edinburgh area?" he asked when his friend answered.

"Give me a minute to think," Caleb answered. "Is there a problem?"

Demetri quickly related the previous conversation. "I've got a bad feeling about this, Caleb. I don't think it's a trap as such but I do think something is seriously wrong with Pietro and it may not have anything to do with the usual injuries we have to contend with. I didn't get the impression Pietro's problem lay at the hands of a third party."

It was hard to have the conversation with so many other people around. He was keeping his voice low knowing Caleb could hear him easily but if he kept it too low the humans would notice something was out of the ordinary and start paying attention.

"I'll see if Joshua's still in the area," Caleb said pensively. He trusted Demetri's ability to size up a situation accurately. "He was there when I visited with Annie a few years ago but he mentioned he was thinking of moving on. He can be trusted. I'll give him a codeword only you'll know. Be careful Demetri. I'll arrange a private plane to be ready for you. Joshua should be able to skirt around any potential issues at the airport."

The train pulled up as the call ended and Demetri stepped aboard and sank into the first available seat. His concern was increasing, his feeling of being too late starting to spiral out of control. If anything happened to Pietro...

The vampire was a pain in the ass but he liked him, trusted him more than he did most people. His easy laughter, the way he took the piss out of Andrei, his steadfast loyalty to his friends...all those things were what made Pietro a friend to Demetri. And no one fucked with his friends.

He hadn't lied to the vampire on the phone. He would rip the continent apart to get justice for Pietro if he died. He'd done it before for people he'd cared less about and he would do it again. Despite the veneer of civility Demetri wore, his feral side dominated his spirit. It was more subdued since he'd met Mara but it was always there, always waiting for a chance at freedom.

It was simple for Demetri...if his friends were hurt then the enemy would bleed a river of blood in penance. Most of his kind were smart enough to know this. It would appear the European contingent were lacking in brain cells. They'd better pray he wasn't required to educate them.

The train journey was quicker than he thought it would be or maybe he was just so deep in his dark thoughts he hadn't noticed the passage of time. Whatever the reason, he was alighting the train and heading quickly out of the station in next to no time.

He scented the other vampire instantly and his gaze zeroed in on the tall man leaning against a SUV in the parking lot. The other man had blond hair to his shoulders, the blond colouring the top layer, a deep brown hiding beneath. He was an Elder around about the thousand year mark and built like a well-honed athlete. 

Cautiously Demetri made his way over to the vampire and stopped a few feet away.

"Demetri? I'm Joshua. Caleb said to mention Serengahi and also I'm only to listen to you if you're making sense. He also said if you start crossing over I'm to run like fuck."

Joshua looked relaxed but Demetri could tell he was ready to move in an instant. If he'd lived as long as he had then he wasn't an idiot. He scrutinized the other male a moment longer and then nodded. He'd had the promised codeword Serengahi. Only Caleb knew the name of the field they had met on so many millennia ago.

"You got here fast," he commented, tossing his tourist ID into the back of the SUV and climbing into the passenger seat. He tied back his hair once he'd tossed the Fedora.

"I live close by and I didn't have to take the train," Joshua answered, a hint of laughter in his voice.

It made Demetri bristle but he tamped his annoyance down. Caleb wouldn't have sent him an idiot to work with. If his friend trusted this man then he would too...to a certain extent.

"My friend's life hangs in the balance, Joshua. I'm not feeling very amused at the moment. Just get us to the location." He closed his eyes and worked on calming down. He would only go feral if the worst happened. For now he had to use his more logical side. It was Pietro's only chance.

"Caleb explained the seriousness of the situation." Joshua was pulling out of the parking lot and down the street. "I'm a firm believer of waiting for the shit to hit the fan before I start worrying about it. If it's possible to help your friend we'll do so. If it isn't...you tell me what you need and I'll make sure you have it."

His Scottish brogue was soothing as he spoke, easing some of Demetri's tension. It had been a while since he'd visited one of the Celtic nations and he'd forgotten how much he enjoyed listening to the people talk. The content of his words were also soothing. Just knowing there was backup available helped to loosen him up a bit more.

"Let's hope I don't need anything other than a quick way home," he finally said, opening his eyes as Joshua pulled the SUV to a halt bare moments later. "This is it?" He hadn't realised the location was so close to the station.

"It's another couple of miles on foot but I figured you'd want to approach a bit more stealthily."

Demetri's respect for the other man went up a couple of notches. He uncurled his big body from the car and quickly appraised his surroundings. Every instinct was on alert, every sense reaching out to ensure they were unobserved. His green eyes finally met the deep blue ones regarding him intently. A smile curled his lips but didn't meet his eyes.

"I can see why Caleb likes you so much."

Joshua's gaze narrowed, intelligence dancing across his face. "I can see why he told me to run like fuck if you lose it," he countered seriously and then he grinned. "Anyone ever tell you that you're a scary son of a bitch?" 

Demetri laughed. It was a deep laugh but held a hint of menace. "Yeah, Pietro tells me that all the time." Joshua reminded him of his friend, the same mix of lack of respect, humour and reliability. 

Caleb had chosen well. He'd picked just the right personality type Demetri would need to be around should the worst happen. There was less of a chance he'd kill Joshua if he crossed over. The other man should remind him enough of the friend he'd just lost.

"Time's wasting," he said quietly, heading off in the direction he could scent his friend. It was a faint scent and it smelled wrong but it was there and he needed to get to him as fast as possible. Joshua fell in beside him and then the two vampires put on a burst of speed, covering the remaining distance in less than a minute.

The cottage nestling in the rocks looked empty and smelled empty with the exception of Pietro's scent. There was an underlying scent of blood which didn't belong to Pietro, but it wasn't fresh so Demetri wasn't too concerned about it.

The two males circled the stone cottage twice taking opposite directions and then going around a third final time. "Just the one male," Joshua commented when they met up again. "I scent no one else in the vicinity." 

Demetri concurred and gave him a nod of agreement. They headed to the front door and entered the building. Joshua put a hand lightly on his arm for him to wait a moment. The blond vampire scented the air for what felt like forever and then dropped his hand.

"I've an affinity for explosive devices," he explained. "Anything that combusts makes my nose itch like crazy. There's no scent here. Blood trail in the kitchen and down the stairs, your vampire's scent is in one of the bedrooms."




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 10



"You take the blood trail, I'll see to Pietro," Demetri ordered. "It might be best if you're not with me at the moment." His feral side was reacting to the heavy blood loss and the awful taint he could scent on the air. He wanted to try and ensure Joshua's safety as best he could.

The other man didn't argue simply peeled off into the kitchen and down the stone steps into the bowels of the cottage. Demetri turned to the door that hid Pietro from his view. He reached out telepathically now he was close to his friend.

"Are you sleeping on the job?"

There was a long moment of silence.

"Fucking wish I were, D," Pietro's weak response came back, pain lacing every word. "You have to be close to reach me. Be careful when you touch me. My blood's poisoned. Don't know what with but the delivery agent was bottled blood. The poison seems to eats our insides up and we can't regenerate. Thank fuck someone got here in time so I could at least get that information out before..."

Demetri turned the doorknob and swung the door open as his words trailed off. He sucked in a deep breath as he stared at the man lying on the bed. A large portion of his skin was black, rotting away even as he watched. 

Pietro was missing an eye, his entire body one open mass of cuts, his bones sticking out in sharp angles which were just unnatural. The black rot was covering so much of his skin that it was hard to see if there was untouched flesh on his body. 

The odour of rotting flesh was sickening, turning Demetri's stomach and making his nose wrinkle in distaste. Whatever this poison was it was deadly. He could only imagine the excruciating pain his friend was in. Fury rolled over him as Pietro's one good eye opened and the depth of his suffering was evident.

"That good?" 

It was obvious that he couldn't speak. It was only his sheer strength of will which was allowing him to maintain the mental contact. The fury raged through Demetri, burning lava hot and then slipping into freezing cold as he stared at his dying friend. Heads would roll for this atrocity. He would bathe in the blood of those who had done this to Pietro.

He pushed at the fury, fought to keep himself on the edge of the killing rage without crossing over. Pietro needed more from him than mindless violence right now.

"Well you're not going to be getting dates any time soon," he finally managed to answer when he'd gained enough control. He walked into the room. "Report." He knew it would help his friend to feel useful despite his circumstances. He listened silently as Pietro's weak mental tone recited all he knew; trying to wrack his brain for anything he could do to help him.

Joshua came into the room briefly and Demetri turned to look at him. The other vampire's face twisted in sympathy as he stood silently for a moment before vanishing again. He was back before long with an armful of bottled blood which he put on the bed. 

"How good are your mental skills?" he asked tersely. "Do you have a limit on how many humans you can mesmerise?"

Demetri frowned at him. "I tend to do it one at a time but I'm Ancient. I dare say I could handle a group of half a dozen or so." His confusion at the question was evident in his tone.

Joshua nodded to the bed. "I've seen this before only not as bad. The other vampire was found early enough. We bled him out and used humans to replenish him enough to stabilise him. Then we fed him the oldest vamp blood we had. He recovered. I don't know if it will work for Pietro because he's so far gone but it's his only chance."

Could they do it? Demetri had no idea but if it was the only option open to them? "Go," he ordered brusquely, grabbing a bottle of blood and twisting the lid off. He tried not to hurt Pietro as he dripped the blood into his ravaged mouth.

"Demetri." The mental tone was so weak. "Demetri, it's too late, my friend. The damage is too severe. I'm not walking out of this room and we both know it."

"Then I'll fucking carry you out! Now, finish your report and swallow this blood before I kick the shit out of you. You don't know the woman's name but you reckon she's the most dangerous? If you got to feed on Bruce then it must have been this Michael one who called me with the location. Is there anyone else? Any other names mentioned?"

Pietro swallowed painfully wishing Demetri would stop. He wanted to ask him to end it quickly. It would be no effort for his friend to take his head and then the burning agony would cease. But as long as he kept him focused on his mission, his vampiric side wouldn't give up. It kept fighting to keep him alive so he could protect his friends, protect the children.

"Bastard!" he ground out, his mental tone conveying what little trace of humour he could still find under the circumstances. "You never were one to accept failure but in this instance you're going to have to. Just don't hurt the vampire you're with. He's helping you, Demetri. Don't cross over when I die. Please, promise me that."

His friend was so tense, so strung out, he feared for the blond male who was out there somewhere trying to lure humans to the cottage. Only Caleb could halt Demetri when he lost control and he was thousands of miles away. Or Mara. The dark-haired vampire always listened to his wife no matter how feral he turned.

"Pietro, if you only ever do one thing I ask of you then do this one. Stop fucking talking about dying and fight! If you want Joshua to live then you have to live. If you want to halt a bloodbath then keep fucking breathing." 

There was a sob at the end of the words, something so alien when it came to Demetri that Pietro was stunned into silence, his agony momentarily forgotten.

"Aw fuck, Demetri! Don't do this to me. You can't go all hearts and flowers on me right at the end. Save that shit for Mara. I'm sure she appreciates it." He managed to get enough teasing into his tone, giving his friend what he expected from him.

When Demetri next spoke his voice was firmer, harder, the expression on his face shifting from the naked anguish Pietro had just witnessed to his more customary neutral expression. He even managed a small smile, his green eyes full of a warmth he didn't display easily.

"You tell anyone about this and I'll fucking kill you myself," he responded gruffly dripping more blood into his mouth. "As soon as Joshua returns I'll start bleeding you out. It shouldn't take long; you don't have much blood left as it is. I have no idea if this is going to work and it'll probably hurt like hell but I need to do this, Pietro. You understand that I need to try?"

Pietro did understand. He didn't believe it would make any difference to keeping him alive but if it made the difference of whether his friend could hold onto his sanity then that was all that mattered. He didn't care about the additional pain. What was a little more discomfort compared to saving a few lives?

"I'm ready when you are, D. Just promise me if it doesn't work...you'll say goodbye to Andrei and Alexei for me? You'll make sure nothing happens to the children? Don't let me die in vain, my friend. Make it worth something."

"You know you don't need to ask, Pietro. If this doesn't work..."

The sound of the approaching SUV had Demetri moving to the window to look outside. Joshua was chatting away with a group of kids barely into their twenties. They looked so young, so carefree. They looked like food...a way to save Pietro's life.

"Demetri, you need a sample of my blood. Maybe the Were doctors or scientific types can work out what the poison is. The children are half vampire. This poison could work on them."

Demetri turned away from the window and headed back to the bed, a nod acknowledging Pietro's words. He met one pain-filled hazel eye and smiled gently. 

Black talons whipped out and slashed across Pietro's throat, blood pooling instantly as the man on the bed began to gargle and choke and the scent of tainted blood added to the rot filling the room.

"Forgive me, my friend..."

To be continued...



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 11



 The warmest of wishes to everyone for a wonderful festive period. Whether you celebrate the holidays or not I hope the end of 2011 is a joyful time and that 2012 will brings much happiness.

Thank you for following me this year, for reading my stories and taking a moment to comment, email and vote. You have laughed, cried and most probably cursed me at times but it has been a fun ride with you all.

This will be my last submission this year but I hope to be back early in January :) Happy 2012 to everyone and most especially to mikothebaby for giving up her valuable time to edit for me.

Love

~Jaz~

xxx

Enjoy! 

*

Demetri turned from watching the blood gush from his friend's torn throat. Ordinarily the wound would have been healing by now but the poison lacing Pietro's body kept the wound raw, allowing the tainted blood to flow unhindered.

Grabbing one of the empty bottles beside the bed, he used his vampiric speed to clean it out in the bathroom sink while Joshua was still outside with the humans. He returned to the bedroom, his gut wrenching painfully as he collected a sample of Pietro's blood and ensured it was left somewhere safe for retrieval later.

He pulled out his cell phone and hit the first speed dial number. "Stay with me," he whispered as the call was answered. He wasn't sure if he was talking to the man on the bed or the person on the other end of the call. All he was sure of was the coldness seeping into his bones as his humanity slowly ebbed away.

"Please carry on without me. This is an emergency call."

Mara's sweet voice echoed in his ear as she excused herself from most probably a Council meeting. He listened as her footsteps echoed over the marble floor he could picture as if he were there. The small amount of steps she took told him she'd entered one of the quiet rooms just off the main Council chambers, a place she could speak in complete privacy.

"Talk to me, baby. Tell me what's wrong."

A long tortured sound escaped him. "Pietro's dying. His body is ravaged with poison. His only hope is for me to bleed him out and try and replenish him with untainted blood. I have to use humans and I'm afraid I won't be able to retain enough reason not to kill them to save him. I need you."

His wife's pained gasped sounded in his ear. He was too far away to sense much from their mate bond but he knew she was hurting. She adored Pietro, loved his quirky sense of humour. His death would be a blow to her if he couldn't save him.

"You listen to me, Demetri Bozic. I don't want to hear any of that defeatist crap from you. You damned well can maintain control and you will. I'll be right here with you every step of the way. Do whatever it takes to save Pietro."

She had her Council voice on, that no nonsense tone she adopted when she was serious about something. It cut through the blackness surrounding him and brought a faint smile to his lips. His woman was something else and she was all his. Her confidence in him helped to clear his head and he gave himself a mental shake.

"Well, you know how I hate to disappoint a lady," he sighed. "Guess I'll have to do as I'm ordered."

"I should be recording this call. Demetri Bozic actually doing something he's told for once." Mara's teasing tone was full of love, so much warmth that reached out to wrap itself around her husband. "I know you doubt yourself sometimes but I have faith in you, baby. I'll always have faith in you. You can do this. Just let me know what I can do to help."

Straightening his shoulders he turned back to the bed, saw the flow of blood trickling slowly now. Pietro's eyes were closed, what was left of his skin that hadn't rotted, so pale it was almost translucent. 

"I'm going to hand the phone off to Joshua in a minute. If he judges the need he'll place it to my ear. Just talk to me when he does that, ground me and remind me what I'll lose if I surrender to the darkness."

"Always, Demetri," Mara whispered softly, maintaining the warmth and love in her tone so he knew he wasn't alone. She was frightened for Pietro and terrified for her husband. He was so far away with none of his safety lines available to touch him, to hold him close when the monster came calling. A phone link was the best they could do. It had to be enough.

Demetri strode out of the bedroom walking straight into Joshua and the five humans. He reached out instantly with his mind, ensnaring the humans and using his abilities to place them in a light trance. It was the first time he'd attempted to do this in a group environment and he was surprised at how easy it was.

He handed the phone to Joshua. "My wife is on the other end," he informed him. "If the humans' lives are in danger tell her I need her and then put the phone to my ear. Don't speak directly to me; don't attempt to interfere in anything I'm doing. Just hold the phone out to me."

He waited for the other vampire to signal his understanding and then ushered them all into the room. He scrutinized the humans carefully, trying to view them as people and not food. There were three males and two females, all healthy looking with pink cheeks and tantalising blood flowing just beneath their skin.

He separated the strongest looking male from the group and led him over to the bed.

"This won't hurt," he said in a deep soothing voice watching the man shiver as his compulsion washed over him. He turned his gaze to Pietro, barely able to see the rise and fall of his chest. He was too weak to feed so Demetri would have to orchestrate everything for the moment.

He gently opened the vampire's mouth forcing his mind to be calm as a piece of rotten flesh from his friend's chin came away in his hand.

"Lean over," he coaxed the human, his talons elongating as he helped the man line up his throat with Pietro's mouth. "You're with a pretty woman, my friend, walking along a beach holding her hand. The sun is glinting in her hair, laughter dancing in her eyes as she's looking up at you..."

His talon sliced the human's throat even as the man's eyes glowed with happiness, imagining himself in the environment Demetri had conceived. Hot, fresh blood pumped out splashing into Pietro's mouth and beginning to leak out of the corners.

"Swallow, Pietro. I know you're tired. I can feel your pain. But you have to feed so swallow. You said you would do this. You know why you cannot fail. Take what is offered to you."

Pietro heard a voice from far away. It pulled him away from the edge of darkness he was rushing towards. He didn't want to go back, knew he would feel the burning agony if he did but the voice speaking to him was insistent, refusing to be denied.

It could only be Demetri. The man was arrogant and stubborn and refused to fail at anything. He'd often wondered if Alexei and Andrei had gotten their own stubbornness from hanging around the Ancient so long or if they were all just such similar personalities they'd naturally banded together.

He swallowed, his throat raw and painful, the hot blood oozing into his body seeking to replenish what was lost. Everywhere ached, there wasn't one piece of his body which didn't burn with an agony so unbearable he was ready to give up and return to the waiting darkness.

More blood choked him and he swallowed again, cursing Demetri for tormenting him, hating him for being so demanding. If he was ready to give up then why wouldn't Demetri? He'd done his job. He'd alerted the others to the danger. Wasn't he entitled to rest now?

"Lady, your husband needs you," Joshua breathed softly into the phone before he held it out to Demetri's ear. He didn't touch him, tried not to even breathe close to the other vampire.

He had crossed over almost instantly once he'd shed the first human's blood. Demetri's eyes were black, his fangs out, and his talons wicked and sharp as they clutched the dying human tightly. 

The man had lost a lot of blood, his expression still pleasant though the healthy pallor of his skin was gone. Another few minutes and he'd be past the point of return. They would have to consider Siring him if Demetri didn't stop.

"Do you remember the first time we met, baby?" Mara asked with a small sigh. "You scared the life out of me in my kitchen. I tried not to show it but I was terrified at the time. Still didn't stop me admiring you though. You looked so gorgeous, so impossibly beautiful that I had to acknowledge it even when I was sure you were going to kill me. I've never told you this before. I didn't want to feed your male ego."

Demetri laughed, first silently in his mind and then a soft sound into the room. "I was admiring your ass," he answered as he drifted back to that night, closing his eyes to savour the memory. "You were wiggling it in time to your music and I was thinking of what it would feel like in my hands. I've always loved your ass, wife."

He opened his eyes slowly as she laughed and called him a rude name. The room came into focus and he looked down at the human bleeding out into Pietro's mouth.

"Thanks, beautiful," he whispered and then pressed his hand against the man's neck. He felt Joshua step away as he bent his head and quickly sealed the wound on the human's throat. The man was weak and could barely stand but he was alive.

Demetri led him over to the wall and helped him sit down. "Sleep now, my friend. We are thankful for your generosity." 

The humans hadn't come willingly to the party but they deserved some respect for what they were unwittingly doing to save Pietro's life. He nodded his thanks to Joshua and selected the next healthy male.

Again he planted a scene of beauty into the man's mind before he made the incision to begin pumping fresh blood into his friend's mouth. This time Demetri was able to retain enough of himself to watch the transfer, his keen gaze raking over Pietro's body. 

The wound in his neck, being the most recent one, was closing. A small amount of blood was leaking out but most was being retained. He thought he detected some of the shallower cuts beginning to heal too but it was hard to tell at this stage with so much damage still visible.

By the time the third male had donated his blood Demetri was relatively confident he could hold onto his control. Pietro was stronger, healing slowly as the untainted blood bolstered his system. His working eye was open and the pain didn't appear as severe as before.

"Can you feed?" he asked his friend.

Pietro tested his fangs and they elongated painfully but they worked which was more than he could manage earlier. "Think so..." he managed to wheeze out.

"Joshua, bring one of the females. Help him feed. If it's too difficult for him call me. I need a moment."

Demetri took the phone and headed out of the room. He stepped outside into the night, leaning against the side of the cottage. "God, I love you, Mara," he sighed wearily. "I wish you were here right now. I need to bury myself in your scent, to feel your softness against my body, to remind me that I'm not a monster."

"The humans are alive, Demetri. You haven't hurt them. So they'll be a little tired for a while and need some extra iron. The situation isn't ideal but it was necessary. That you care about what you've had to do is a sure sign that you're not a monster."

Mara paused to let her words sink in, soothing her mate as her heart broke for the anguish she could hear in his voice. Most people would miss it, but she was so attuned to his emotions she could hear it clearly.

"Is it working? Is Pietro going to be all right?"

Demetri rubbed a hand over his face, taking a deep breath before answering. "He's stronger; there is some evidence of healing, the most recent cut and the shallower ones. I don't know about the deeper wounds though. I guess we'll find out when I feed him my Ancient blood. I think there will be some scarring and I don't know about his eye. There's also his mental state to consider. He's been in a world of agony for days, Mara. It could make him cross over."

That was his major concern at the moment, that they could heal most of the physical damage only to lose Pietro to insanity.

"He's strong, baby, mentally strong as well as physically. He won't give up easily. He loves life too much and he's always been that little bit more human than most of you. If anyone can get through this Pietro can. Have a little faith."

He groaned and smiled, staring into the darkness. "Have I told you lately that I love you?"

Mara laughed loudly. "About five minutes ago but please feel free to tell me as often as you want. I love you too, Demetri. Now how about you get off this phone and get Pietro well enough to come home? Our bed is lonely without you in it. I want my husband back as soon as possible."

The sultry drop in her tone was enough to have him groaning again but not for the same reason as the last one. "Keep our bed warm, beautiful. I'll be home soon and then I'm going to keep you captive there for at least a week. So if you have any Council meetings planned...cancel them!"

"Yes, dear!" she laughed, pouring false meekness into her tone to have him laughing too.

Demetri ended the call and headed back inside, feeling so much better after talking to his wife. She always knew the right tone, the correct line to take to ease his worries and bolster his resolve. If she thought he was joking about cancelling her meetings she was in for a rude shock and he was looking forward to getting home and showing her just how serious he was.

When he walked back into the bedroom Joshua was just resting the last woman beside her friends and urging her to sleep. The signs of healing on Pietro's body were most noticeable, his breathing a lot stronger. Demetri breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the right eye beginning to regenerate.

"How's the pain?"

"Manageable," Pietro answered his voice still very weak. "I don't want to try moving in case I misalign any broken bones. My shoulder?"

"I set it for you before the last feeding," Joshua answered coming to stand beside Demetri. "The untainted blood appears to be working but it's limited. You need vampire blood now to really kick start the regeneration process. I have to warn you the healing process is long and you will be susceptible to slow healing from new wounds for a while. The previous case of this, the vampire took a month to fully recover and he was in no way as bad as you."

"A month!" Pietro ground out, shocked at the thought he'd be weak for so long. A month was an eternity for a vampire to be injured.

"What's a month compared to death?" Demetri snorted, rolling his eyes. He couldn't fully hide his relief that they'd pulled his friend back from the brink of death. He wasn't usually so lax in front of strangers but Joshua had proved himself today.

"I said a month for our vamp. It's likely to be longer for you, Pietro," the blond was saying with a frown on his face. In all honesty he was guessing at how long it would take the vampire to recover, if he ever fully recovered from his injuries.

"Why didn't we know about this first instance?" Demetri couldn't help slipping into his Ancient role. If vampire poisoning had happened before, the Council should have been advised at the time.

Joshua picked up instantly on what he meant. It was hard not to smile at the arrogance of the Ancient. "You forget we don't follow your Council over here, Demetri. They may think we do but we're not responsible for their misapprehension. When was the last time any of your Council crossed the ocean? I don't think I can recall an instance in my living memory."

Demetri couldn't recall one either. Maybe Joshua actually had a point. How could you lead people when you couldn't even be bothered to visit them once in a while? It would be something to discuss with the other Ancients when he returned home.

"Anyway," Joshua continued. "We had no idea what was wrong with our vamp. He was newly Sired. Our coven leader assumed it was a reaction to the Siring and we had no reason to think otherwise. If I'd known I would have called Caleb."

Pietro was still unhappy, barely listening to the conversation going on over his head. His mind was clearer now. He was able to compartmentalise the pain and push it back until it wasn't all he could think about. He couldn't be out of action for a month, possibly longer. The woman was out there somewhere. She was hunting the children he had no doubt about that. He had to be back on his feet so he could track her down and neutralise the threat.

"Stop fidgeting or your bones won't heal properly," Demetri growled, irritation dancing across his face. "I know what you're thinking and you can just stop it now. I'll need to check with Rafe but probably the best place for you to recuperate will be with the pack."

He motioned Joshua to begin feeding Pietro. At least with his fangs sunk in the other man's wrist his friend wouldn't be able to argue with him.

"The pack has its various protections in place and the children are there so you'll be protecting them while you heal. That should soothe your wounded pride. You know the twins are going to insist on it once they find out what's happened."

Pietro wanted to argue but the rich blood flowing through his body was too intoxicating. Joshua was old enough to have quite potent blood and he could feel his healing beginning to pick up a pace. Strength was flowing into his body and he thought he could detect a little bit of light from his right eye.

Too soon the vampire was moving away from him and he fought to contain his disappointment. He listened as Demetri and Joshua discussed plans for the humans and then he closed his eyes as they picked them up and took them outside.

A few minutes later Demetri returned and sat down on the side of the bed. "Joshua is taking care of the humans. It will take him a while so it's just you and me. Are you strong enough to take more blood? I was thinking afterwards we could get you cleaned up and moved to one of the other rooms. Joshua will bring clothes back for you."

Pietro opened his eyes to look up at him a soft smile curving his lips. "I think this is going to be the one and only time I thank you for being a stubborn bastard, Demetri." He made it sound like a joke but underneath the teasing his true emotions bled through.

In answer, his friend brushed his hair away from his shoulder and raised Pietro's head up enough to reach his neck. "Shut the fuck up and feed," he growled.

Stunned, Pietro could only stare at the thick vein pulsing with what had to be some of the richest, most powerful blood in the world. That Demetri offered the vein in his neck was an honour unparalleled. A vampire would only offer such trust to a family member or their lover. Demetri was baring his neck to him, trusting him implicitly. 

"I can never repay you," Pietro whispered, tears gathering in his eyes as he sank his fangs into the rich vein and felt the power of an Ancient overwhelm him.

Demetri cradled Pietro's head gently, blinking the moisture out of his eyes as he gave his essence to help his friend heal. He stroked his fingers through the matted hair as he felt the warmth of Pietro's tears against his skin, soothing him with a gentleness he normally reserved for the two women in his life, Mara and Annie.

"You already have, Pietro. You fought and you survived. You stopped me from having to learn if I'm more monster than man. You laid your life on the line to protect those I love. This little thing I do now is small in comparison. You owe me no debt."

He kept stroking his hair, kept soothing him as Pietro wept through his feeding reliving the horror he'd just been through, a horror which would probably haunt him for the rest of his life. Demetri couldn't take the horror away but he could offer basic comfort until maybe Annie or one of the pack healers could work to help repair the mental damage to his friend's soul.




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 11



Pietro fell asleep after his feeding. Demetri was loath to leave him in the filthy bed but he needed his hands free for the moment. He left the blood-soaked room with the sickening stench of rot still in his nostrils. In the main bathroom he turned on the shower careful not to have it too hot. He filled the bath too.

He quickly examined the cottage trying to find any hint of the poison used but coming up empty. The room downstairs where Pietro had obviously been imprisoned was just as bad scent wise as the bedroom, the bloodstained chains having his fury building again and he had to work to stifle it down.

Heading back to the bedroom after a desultory glance at the dead vampire in the basement, he was already mentally working out how to clean up the mess. He considered calling Caleb but figured Mara would take care of that. The entire cottage would need to be sanitised once they left and there was still the unknown woman out there somewhere and Michael. 

The pungent aroma of the bedroom assaulted his nostrils once more and he stifled down a groan and quickly crossed to the bed. The change in Pietro was staggering. His skin was no longer black though still covered in angry red scars. It was pink and so fragile looking Demetri was afraid to touch him for fear of hurting him.

"Wake, my friend," he urged softly. "I can't leave you lying in this shit any longer. It's disgusting."

Pietro's eyes opened instantly and Demetri blinked in surprise as he stared down at him. "Well, that's going to get the ladies attention," he smiled, feeling the first real amusement since he'd arrived in Scotland.

"What?" Pietro's voice was still weak but getting stronger the longer the untainted blood had to work.

"Your regenerated eye...it's black like Mac's."

Pietro frowned, closed his eyes and then opened them again. His expression asked a silent question and his friend's smile just deepened.

"You're not shitting me?" Brown was his dominant eye colour though they were flecked with green to create the hazel hue. Or they had been until he'd lost his right one. "My eyes are different colours? Fuck!"

Demetri reached down and very carefully helped his friend from the bed ignoring the blood and dead skin coating his clothes as he touched him. "It's quite striking. I'm sure the ladies will love it," he quipped, distracting the other man from his pain.

He could have carried him to the bathroom easily but Pietro needed to feel as if he was in control. It had been taken away from him by his abductors and he wasn't the kind of male who ceded control to others willingly. So he supported his friend into the bathroom teasing him about his new eye the entire way. 

"Shower first to get all this shit off and then a soak in the bath," he told him, opening the shower door. 

He stayed close watching to see if Pietro was strong enough to shower unaided. When it became apparent he wasn't, Demetri stripped off his shirt, boots and belt and entered the cubicle with him clad only in jeans. 

Pietro let the water wash over him closing his eyes so he couldn't see the debris falling from his body. The scent of it was vile enough and he was still in shock that his eye hadn't retained its natural colour. The water hurt the new skin which was regenerating but at a much slower rate than normal. He was afraid to look in the mirror and see the evidence of his capture.

Would he be scarred? He'd overheard enough of Demetri's conversation with Mara despite being weak at the time. The very thought of bearing a permanent reminder was enough to make him shudder. Vampires were vain. They couldn't help it. Something happened when they were Sired, their genetics mutating and enhancing their physical attributes. 

Pietro was used to being perfect and now he wasn't. Already he had a flaw with his eyes. Would his skin be marred too? Would he carry more permanent reminders of his utter humiliation at the hands of his abductors?

Now that safety was guaranteed, now that he didn't have to court death, his emotions were rebelling deep within him. He was used to being strong, invincible. Having to admit that his own arrogance had been his downfall was hard to take. Having to admit that he'd been taken, stripped naked, his body abused and tortured at the whim of others...he couldn't accept it, couldn't deal with the humiliation.

Something fell from his hair to land on the shower floor and he moaned pressing both hands against the wall as his knees weakened and he had to hold himself up so he didn't fall down beside the red and black clotted *thing* lying in the drain.

"I'll do it."

Demetri's quiet words reminded Pietro he wasn't alone. While he was relieved to be able to lean on his friend and avoid what he couldn't face at the moment, another part of him screamed in denial as Demetri began to shampoo his hair.

He was like a helpless baby. For the last two days he'd been fucking helpless, alternating between screaming in agony at the pain and crying like a child. 

Helpless! The word banged through his skull, taunting him, laughing at him, adding to the awful humiliation he couldn't shake. All the time Demetri's strong fingers stroked through his matted hair, shampooing and rinsing over and over again as chunks of something unknown landed with a thud on the shower floor.

"It's okay to cry, Pietro," Demetri voice was low and gentle. "There is only you and I here and nothing will leave this room. I understand. You've been through a terrible ordeal and the pain has to come out. I will not think less of you, my friend. I would be honoured that you trust me enough to allow me to help you through this vulnerable moment."

His words were like turning on a faucet. The instant Demetri spoke, Pietro's head reared back and he uttered an anguished scream up to the ceiling. His knees buckled and he fell, strong arms catching him from behind to hold him tightly as he screamed again.

Every second of the pain had been like an hour, every cut, every punch, the talons imbedded in his eye. He couldn't escape the painful memories and he couldn't assuage the feelings of helplessness, reliving the moment when he was ready to give up and he'd prayed for death as the only end to his agony, the poison burning him like a furnace as the torture raged on.

The bastards had broken him, he who was so strong in his world, so powerful and feared by those beneath him. He was broken and he didn't think he would ever be able to fix what they'd done to him.

A loud hiss in his ear, bands of steel squeezing his chest.

"You are NOT broken," Demetri hissed his voice full of fury. It was those words that made him realise he'd been whispering the word 'broken' over and over again as he sobbed like a child.

"I wanted to die, Demetri!" he admitted hoarsely. "I prayed to die before you arrived and when you came, when my body was eating itself apart, I wanted to beg you to end it so I didn't have to suffer anymore. I was willing to abandon everyone, the children, my friends."

The self-loathing in Pietro's voice cut Demetri to the quick. He knew what it cost his friend to admit that, how he would view himself as a coward for wanting his torture to end. He understood because he knew he would react the same way if their roles were reversed.

He didn't know what to say to him. He was no Annie; he didn't have the perfect response when someone's soul was so shattered. He tried to think what she would say.

"You did not die, Pietro. You stayed strong until help arrived and you did not ask me for mercy. No sane person would have thought any differently in your situation. Most sane people would have given up and stopped fighting. Only a stubborn, crazy bastard like you would keep going. You like to piss people off." It was possible Annie would have phrased it a bit more eloquently but he figured it was close enough.

"I don't know how much of me is left," Pietro choked out. "I don't know if I will ever be the same man again, Demetri."

"You've eternity to work out just who you are going to be from this moment onwards, my friend. Know your limitations. Don't try and work it all out when you're probably having your first ever shower with what has to be the sexiest male specimen to walk the planet. It's too much sensory overload."

Loud laughter burst through the room. It bordered on hysterical but it was better than the anguished sobs Pietro had been spilling for the last ten minutes. "You fucking suck as a counsellor."

"That's because you're not my type. Now if it was Mara in my arms she wouldn't have time to be worrying about whether she was broken or not," Demetri laughed.

Pietro laughed again struggling back to his feet, standing a little straighter even though he still felt raw inside. His friend's diversion tactics were helping and he latched onto it. "I'm done with the shower. Just don't think you're climbing into the bath with me."

Keeping up his light tone, Demetri headed out of the cubicle. "Nah, I measured it. Won't fit both of us." 

His head tilted to the side. "Joshua's back."

He stayed long enough to be sure Pietro was fine in the bath himself. Snapping open his jeans he grabbed a towel and headed out the room. The blond vampire was in the sitting room. He didn't comment at seeing a soaking wet Demetri appearing in the doorway.

"Your bags are over there." He nodded to the corner of the room.

Demetri stripped off his sodden jeans and quickly dried himself, digging out clean clothes from his travel bag. He noted Pietro's bags were there too.

"Are the humans okay?" he asked as he pulled on the first jeans and sweater he found and began towelling his hair dry.

"I dropped them off at their rented cottage and left full provisions for them, iron rich foods to replenish their blood loss." Joshua disappeared into the kitchen and came back in a few minutes with a pot of fresh coffee on a tray complete with mugs, cream and sugar.

He placed it on the low coffee table as Demetri finished brushing his hair and tied it back. "I used your credit card and transferred 50K to my personal account," Joshua continued.

Demetri raised an eyebrow in inquiry. He'd given the other man his card so he could purchase food for the humans and anything else they might need in recompense for using them.

Joshua poured himself black coffee and sat down in the nearest armchair. "I keep cash lying around," he explained. "I figured you wouldn't want your financial details tied to the humans in any way. I was reimbursing myself." 

"I take it that was 50K sterling?" The dark-haired vampire asked, moving to grab a coffee and taking five minutes to regroup before he had to go deal with Pietro again. 

He sank down into the armchair across from Joshua. He didn't have a problem with the money leaving his account. It seemed only fair that the humans gained something from the experience even if they wouldn't remember it. His answer was a brief nod.

Sighing, Demetri sipped at his coffee and then rested his head back against the chair. Silence filled the room but it was a companionable silence and it took him a minute to realise that he was trusting Joshua. Normally it took a long time for him to reach the level of relaxation in a stranger's company that he was currently experiencing. There was just something about the man.

Joshua broke the silence. "How's Pietro?"

Demetri frowned and took another drink. "Fragile mentally. I'm not sure how he's going to react to your presence. He doesn't know you, Joshua. Being vulnerable in front of a stranger may be too much for him. Don't be offended if I ask you to leave. Your assistance today has been invaluable. Thank you."

Joshua had been anticipating the possibility of having to make himself scarce. He wouldn't be offended if that was the case. He'd hate to have a stranger close if he'd just been through what the other vampire had. "I owe Caleb a few favours," he answered with a smile. "This scores one off my list. No thanks are necessary."

Demetri nodded and drained his cup. "I need to check on Pietro."

Joshua watched him riffle through the other man's belongings for clean clothes. "The local coven is waiting to clean up here. I know them well and they can be trusted. One of the few things we do share in common with you is the need to ensure our existence remains secret."

He watched Demetri pause for a second as if considering whether or not he was willing to trust someone else to sanitise the cottage before he nodded his agreement and gathered up the clothes. 

"Caleb's plane is waiting at the airport," Joshua continued. "As soon as you're ready to go I'll alert the pilot and he can request clearance to leave. One of my friends is working the airport tonight. She'll slot the flight into the schedule but there may be an hour or so delay, depending on how busy it is."

Demetri halted in the doorway and turned to look at the blond vampire with a speculative expression on his face. Joshua appeared to have thought of everything. He'd told him earlier that anything he'd need would be facilitated. The man was certainly holding true to his word.

"Have you ever considered coming stateside? We could use a good man like you over there."

Joshua laughed loudly shaking his head. "Caleb tried that on me too, Demetri, and I'll say the same thing to you as I did to him. If I'm over there then who do you have to help you out over here? I know enough of what's going on. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know your Council is about to come down on the covens in all their fury. You'll need someone you can trust here when that day comes."

Demetri couldn't argue with him, not entirely. Joshua's only error was in believing it was the Council who were going to be taking on the European covens. No, they had something much worse than just vampires coming their way. 

He had no doubt that once all the intelligence had been gathered and analysed, it would be the triumvirate who would be calling the shots on just what punishment was meted out for the threat against the Vârcolac. Turning, he went back to the bathroom.

Pietro was drying himself gingerly trying not to rub his skin too hard. Demetri took a moment to catalogue the ugly scars on his back and thighs. He could tell some of them wouldn't heal fully. How many would remain he wasn't sure but he could see at least four deep ones on his back that most likely wouldn't heal.

When his friend turned he kept his critical eye on his front and took the same mental inventory of damage. When Pietro had lost his right eye, a talon had ripped through his flesh causing a deep groove from the outer corner down past his ear and ending at his jaw. It didn't look like it would fully heal.

Added to that, was a line running from his neck, across the joint with his shoulder, coming to an abrupt stop on his collarbone. There was hole healing where the line stopped, clearly indicating the talon had stabbed deep at that point.

A jagged scar cut across Pietro's left nipple, two further scars on either side of it which looked deep and painful. Green eyes swept over the remainder of his body but the rest of the wounds appeared to be fading, albeit slowly. Demetri supposed it could have been a whole lot worse.

"Are you going to have a problem with Joshua being here?" he asked, as he handed Pietro his clothes.

Pietro thought about it for a moment, remembering the other male's calm, steady voice, the feeling of competence and reliability he'd sensed even through his pain. It had been Joshua who'd known what to do to help. It had been Joshua who had offered his blood to replenish him.

He started to dress pulling on briefs and then his jeans. "He helped me. If you say he's okay then I can deal with it."

"Good," Demetri smiled. "We need him to drop us off at the airport. I didn't want to take his car from him. The plane's ready when we are so hurry up. The sooner we're out of here the happier I'll feel."

Sounding so much like the Demetri he knew, it helped Pietro feel almost normal. Maybe being finally dressed in his own clothes; his body clean of the filth which had covered him for days, helped too. 

Pietro felt a lump in his throat and swallowed it down. He was going home. A few more hours and he'd be back where he belonged. It'd been so long since he'd stepped foot on home soil. It couldn't happen fast enough for him.

He followed Demetri into the sitting room and took his first proper look at the blond vampire who'd aided them. A faint smile curved the other man's lips as their eyes connected.

"You look much better than the last time I saw you," Joshua said. "That eye thing you've got going is pretty interesting. Wonder if it's symptomatic of the poison?"

His matter-of-fact tone, the way he sounded genuinely interested in the cause of the discolouration stopped Pietro from feeling offended by his words. It sparked something in him, a part of himself he was sure he'd lost. They needed as much information about what the poison could do as they could get.

He nodded to Joshua in acknowledgement and turned to Demetri.

"Did you keep a blood sample? We need to get it analysed to try and work out what it is. I ingested it in blood but if there are other methods of transmission we need to know."

"I've already packed it away. Do you want to look around the cottage before we leave? Maybe there's something here which will appear out of place to you which we wouldn't notice?"

Pietro shook his head. "Whatever they gave me was not given here. I'm positive they'd have kept this area totally clean just in case they were discovered."

Demetri shouldered his travel bag and handed Pietro his. "In that case, let's go home. Joshua, can you contact the coven? I want this place completely clean within the hour."

"It's already in hand. One of them is watching from a distance. As soon as we clear the area they'll move in. They know what to do."

Looking around the room one final time, Demetri headed out, trusting Joshua's word. If it was good enough for Caleb then it was good enough for him. Pietro followed silently with Joshua bringing up the rear.

Pietro opted to take the back seat as they climbed into the SUV. "A fedora?"

"My tourist disguise," Demetri laughed. "Stick it in my bag along with the camera."

"Damn, I was hoping you'd forget the hat," Joshua laughed. "I'm partial to them myself."

Demetri turned to look over his shoulder at Pietro. "He's not getting the camera but he can have the hat. I took some photos of the area to show Mara. Once all this shit is over with I'm thinking of bringing her to Scotland for a long holiday."

Pietro packed away the camera and tossed the hat to Demetri so he could get as comfortable on the back seat as possible. 

Having someone local driving made a world of difference to how long it would have taken them to get to the airport. Joshua was dropping them off in less than half an hour, leaving the motor running.

"I'm not coming in," he said with a rueful smile. "Too many humans. They all smell so tempting after my little donation earlier. I need to replenish myself and quickly."

"We can't thank you enough for all you've done to help," Demetri answered. His tone was solemn, gratitude shining in his eyes. "I know you said you're marking off favours you owe Caleb but you owe me nothing. So if you ever have need of me, let Caleb know. I'll do my best to assist should that time ever come."

The blond smiled nodding his head. "That's a pretty huge favour to be owed and I promise I won't use it lightly." His grin widened further as he inclined his head to a silent Pietro and turned back to Demetri. "You know, I've heard all manner of crazy shit about you and after having met you I believe every word of it. I'm so fucking relieved you like me, Demetri Bozic. I'd hate to ever be on your shit list."




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 11



Pietro burst out laughing. He was surprised at the genuine amusement he felt at the other man's words. He'd seriously thought it would a long time before he ever found anything funny again after what he'd just been through. "Most people don't remain on Demetri's shit list for very long," he chuckled quietly. "He's spent most of my life trying to work out how to put me on it. Guess I'm off for good now after this little fiasco."

Demetri growled and tried to look mean but he was so relieved at the teasing in his friend's voice he couldn't maintain his grumpy expression. "If you make me regret that you'll be sorry," he laughed back, his eyes meeting Joshua's in a silent thank you.

Joshua watched the two males head into the airport and then pulled out and made his way to one of the only two vampire bars in the area. It blended in so well the humans who patronised it had no idea they were part of the drinks on offer to some of the other patrons.

He'd given a lot of blood to Pietro and hadn't fed properly for a few weeks so his bloodlust was pretty high. After the bottled blood poisoning he was loath to feed that way. It crossed his mind that he'd need to partake from more than one woman to satisfy his hunger. That brought a smile to his face and a familiar throb to his body as he entered the bar and made his way to the back booth which had a reserved sign on it.

He slipped in smiling at the waitress who came over with a bottle of red wine and two glasses automatically. "Hey gorgeous, the place looks busy. Any particular vintages to my taste tonight?"

Mhairi gave him a sunny smile and a quick kiss on his lips. She nipped her fangs against his bottom lip and licked leisurely. It made his body harden further and his feral side rumble in appreciation. "You can have me later, lover, once you've eaten," she purred.

He'd spent time with the buxom blonde before and enjoyed her sultry nature. If he hadn't been so hungry he would have been tempted to indulge his other needs first. Instead he leisurely squeezed one plump breast as he bit her back and sucked on her bottom lip before releasing her. "I'll keep that in mind, gorgeous, but my hunger lies elsewhere at the moment."

She laughed and nodded her head towards the bar area. "There's a tipsy brunette who should catch your interest. She's alone and horny. I can't see her wanting to turn down a stud like you. There are two blondes in that large group by the door who came without partners. If you can separate them from their friends they'd most likely be willing too. Enjoy! And look me up before you head home."

Joshua was already sizing up the three women Mhairi had pointed out even as she walked away with an exaggerated wiggle of her hips. He was smiling as he became aware of a female scent approaching him. She was a vampire and a complete knockout. 

His appreciation ratcheted higher as he watched the female glide towards him, silky black hair framing a face of light caramel temptation. Grey eyes searched his face with interest, lush red lips slightly pouty as they hinted at a smile. The woman screamed sex so loudly that for a moment he was ready to forget about feeding and just concentrate on sliding himself deep into her body.

"Someone looks hungry," she drawled, as she stopped beside the booth. Even her voice was low and sultry, whispering to his male senses of just how good they could be together.

"Someone looks tempting," he replied, running his eyes over the black dress hugging every curve like a second skin. His body was hard with need, his mouth starting to water at the prospect of bedding the beauty before him. 

He uttered a groan when she straddled his hips and sank down onto his straining erection. His hands automatically cradled her hips and pulled her harder against his body as he jerked up to meet the hot dampness between her thighs.

"Tread lightly, honey," he growled against the side of her neck as he buried his head and licked against her pulse in a slow, sensual movement. "My control is weak tonight as I need to feed. Incite my needs too much and I'm likely to take you over this table and to hell with the consequences."

Her laughter danced across his skin making him shiver with anticipation and his feral side become more dominant. He was a hairsbreadth away from doing just as he'd warned her and his feral nature liked the thought of that. She pulled his head up and nipped at his mouth the way Mhairi had but her effect on him was completely different to the waitress's.

Joshua growled again and thrust his tongue deep into her mouth, licking hard and fast, thrusting his cock against her body. His kiss was hot and demanding, sweeping them both under in a fraction of a second. Her response was just as feral and he knew if he didn't get control right away they'd do something incredibly stupid.

It was an effort to rip his mouth from hers but he managed it somehow. Breathing heavily, he scented her neck once more and thrust against her for good measure before he reluctantly pushed her away. "I need to feed, honey. Come back and see me later and we can finish this."

The dark-skinned beauty pouted at him though her eyes flashed with amusement. "Don't take too long. A woman has needs and mine are great tonight. I'd hate to get bored waiting and miss this impressive body of yours."

Joshua's sexual lust was almost as high as his bloodlust as she turned away from him. He was already reaching out with his mind to the girl at the bar, slipping into her thoughts and urging her to look his way. As she started to come to him, he glanced around for the vampire.

"Whose name will I be screaming in ecstasy later, gorgeous?"

"Thereasa."

The brunette had weaved her way over to him and he gave her his full attention, smiling his usual charming smile and delighting in hearing her heart kick up a beat as she succumbed to him. His need to feed was everything now. He'd forgo having sex with the humans, they suddenly appeared insipid in comparison to Thereasa.

He reached for the fedora he'd thrown on the seat next to him and stiffened. The seat was empty. He was sure he'd picked the hat up from the front seat of the car where Demetri had left it at the airport. He had carried it into the bar, he was certain of it.

The fog of lust was clearing from his mind as realisation set in. "Fuck!" The word hissed out startling the human woman at his side and he instantly soothed her mind sending her into a light trance as he dug out his cell phone. Pietro's words kept resounding in his head, talking about the woman who was out there somewhere.

"Joshua," Caleb answered his call after barely two rings. "I trust everything went okay? Mara called and said Pietro was recovering."

"They should be on their way home by now or just ready to leave," he answered. "That's not the problem, Caleb. Pietro talked about a female vampire who he thinks somehow managed to get inside his head. She got away and he was very concerned about that. I think she's just fucked with my mind."

"Explain."

Joshua sighed, furious with himself for being so stupid. He was too old to be caught napping like this. "I haven't fed so my defences are weak at the moment. Demetri gave me his hat because I took a liking to it. A female vamp just came onto me all guns blazing and I fell for it. When she left I noticed the hat was missing. It's covered in Demetri's scent."

Caleb didn't answer him though he could hear him talking to someone in the background. It was probably Annie. He came back on the phone a moment later. "Does this vampire have a name? She appears very resourceful and someone to watch if she can mess with vampire minds."

"She said her name was Thereasa but she could have been lying. She's got caramel coloured skin, grey eyes and black, shoulder-length hair. She's around five feet six inches tall and very attractive. I'm sure if you check with Pietro she'll match his description of the woman who was part of his abduction. I'm sorry, Caleb."

Caleb breathed deeply and let it out slowly. "Don't worry about it. I'm reliably informed by my woman that this is to be expected and everything is playing out as it should. I hate it when she does her 'seer' act and can only tell me little cryptic things. Annie's not sure exactly how this is all going to play out she just knows it's meant to happen. Though what the fuck 'she has to save three souls' means I have no idea."

There was the sound of feminine laughter in the background and then Rhianna came on the phone. "Don't listen to him, Josh. He gets grumpy when he's not the one knowing everything. We're expecting our guest's arrival and will plan for it. Thanks for alerting us that it will be happening so soon. I wasn't expecting this one to play out for a few months."

Joshua was relieved at her light tone and the feeling of total confidence radiating from Rhianna. She was paranoid in her need to protect those she loved so if she wasn't concerned about Thereasa's imminent arrival then he didn't feel so bad about it.

"Glad I didn't fuck up too badly," he smiled, though his hunger was starting to take a stronger grip. He really did need to feed. He was about to say goodbye when something else occurred to him. "Oh, she probably thinks she's following Mac's scent. I don't believe Demetri disabused anyone of thinking he was Mac who they were expecting."

"Which will throw off her search for a while once she hits stateside," Caleb answered having liberated the phone from his mate. "Thanks for all your help on this, Joshua. I don't think it would have turned out so well without you."

"Anytime, Caleb. I think I still have three more favours to repay. I'm looking forward to the day when you actually owe me one. I think that will be even better than Demetri owing me." 

Joshua laughed and said goodbye, turning to the woman waiting patiently for his attention. She was rather pretty and it wasn't just her blood which was tempting him. "Come on, honey. Let's go somewhere private so we can both enjoy ourselves." 

As he wasn't about to indulge his sexual lust with Thereasa after all, he might just as well make his feeding a night to remember for the pretty brunette tucked under his arm.

*****

Reasa clutched her prize tightly, already on her way to the airport which thankfully was close to where she'd waylaid Joshua. Luck had been on her side tonight. First she had waited at the airport for hours, sure that if Mac could save Pietro they would eventually end up there. Her persistence had paid off.

She'd been relieved to see the dark-haired vampire looking so much better after his ordeal. The fact that this Mac person had managed to save him from the Amort overdose only added to her interest in him. 

Louis valued their friendship enough to halt any further action against the Vârcolac and now Mac was miraculously saving the dead. She'd never truly believed Pietro could've been brought back from the brink, despite wishing it so.

Her second stroke of luck had been Joshua. She'd followed him on impulse sensing his weak mental barriers because he needed to feed. At full strength, he'd have been aware if she'd tried to get inside his mind but it had turned out to be easy as he was distracted by the waitress.

The fedora was a gift from God. Mac's scent was all over it and it hadn't taken much to boost Joshua's already heightened lust to allow her to get close enough to steal it. She'd gotten a little carried away because of Joshua's charms. He was a very sexy male and she was as sexual in nature as any other vampire. 

For a moment she'd been tempted to spend a few hours with him, but he was stronger than she'd first thought. He'd managed to slip her compulsion long enough to escape her wiles which was probably a good thing. Once he'd fed he would have been too much on his guard and she didn't have the strength to manipulate a very strong mind at the moment. She was still too drained from having to break through Pietro's mental barriers.

Still, regretful as it was that she couldn't have a little fun with Joshua, she had what she really needed, a way to track Mac once she got stateside. She knew the flight plan of the only private plane waiting to depart and also knew that there was a hold up on take-off. There was no doubt in her mind that this private charter was the one her quarry would be on.

It would only take a little judicious work on her part but she could steal a ticket from a human who was due to fly on an earlier flight arriving at the same airport. Human mind manipulation was so much easier than vampires. It wouldn't tax her strength too much to divert any suspicions from the flight attendants or boarding personnel.

She would be lying in wait when the private plane touched down and then the hunt would begin in earnest. Mac would lead her to the abominations and once she'd worked out how to get close to them, she would ensure they were removed from the world. 

It might take her a while to get inside their guardians' minds and turn them from seeing her as an enemy into seeing her as a friend, but she had faith she could do it. All she had to do was stay hidden from Louis and the Vârcolac's elite guard long enough. It was only a matter of time before she would complete her task.

To be continued...



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 12



 Sorry for the delay in posting up a new chapter. Real life and all that...makes for a bit of trying time when it comes to writing and being online sometimes.

My thanks to mikothebaby for editing for me as always :)

Enjoy! 

*

Mac knew he should be concerned about driving to the Armand-Hanlon compound but he couldn't take his mind off the soft skin of Lily's thighs as she sat demurely beside him in the Jeep. She'd made a show of pulling the hem of her dress down as far as possible but it had still ridden up to expose her flesh.

He was so hard it was painful to drive and the slight smile on Lily's lips let him know she was well aware of her effect on him. He wanted to growl in annoyance but his feral side approved of the way she was keeping him on his toes.

Their earlier disagreement was playing on his mind, her apparent easy forgiveness of his blunder appearing a little too easy. He was sure it wasn't natural for a woman to just let something that important go so easily. But then, he was also aware that there was a hell of a lot he didn't know about his mate as well.

He knew the important things, that she was strong and feisty and had a wicked sense of humour. He knew she tasted divine and was spontaneous in her affections and gave herself freely to him. She was sexy and addictive and she appeared to crave him as much as he did her. It was just her thought processes he wasn't completely certain of. She didn't come across as a typical woman at times which baffled him.

"You're frowning," the object of his thoughts said, with a hint of amusement in her voice. "Are you worried about meeting the parents?" She sounded relaxed enough but Mac knew she had to be concealing her own concern about the up and coming meeting.

His eyes travelled quickly from her bared thighs up to her face. "I was actually trying to work out the way you think," he admitted, seeing the turning for the wolf compound coming up and concentrating back on the road.

Lily laughed, though inside her stomach felt as if it was going to revolt as they turned onto the dirt road leading home. A few more moments and they'd be there and she'd have to face her father's disapproval not to mention Rafe's. She was pretty sure her mother would just be relieved to see her and not too angry but the pack males tended to overreact very easily.

"And here I was thinking you were too engrossed in staring at my legs to be thinking with any part of your anatomy above the waistline," she teased him to keep her trepidation at bay. They were bonded now and he'd be able to sense her emotions. She had no doubt that if she was too tense he would be too and then Lord only knew what would happen when they came into contact with her father.

"You made sure exactly where my thoughts would be," Mac grumbled, unable to stop his hand reaching out to touch the flesh which was teasing him mercilessly. It was a mistake and he knew it straight away. The second Lily gasped at his touch and his fingers connected with her skin he was slamming on the brakes and turning off the engine.

"Mac..." Lily's breathless cry was cut off as he pushed open the door and headed around to her side. He was pulling her out of the Jeep before she could utter his name a second time, his intentions plain. She couldn't expect to get away with wearing a dress that practically begged him to take it off without him reacting to it. He couldn't remember ever having signing up to sainthood. 

Her expression was adorable as he picked her up and dumped her unceremoniously onto the hood of the Jeep; part surprised but mostly sensual as she reacted to his need. Those lips which tempted him shamelessly parted and he swooped down, diving into the moist cavern of her mouth to sip at the honey that was undeniably his Lily. 

There was nothing tentative about his kiss. It told her how badly he wanted her, how insane her red dress and sassy mouth had driven him. He had to have her or he'd go mad with want. 

The heat from the car was burning Lily's backside as her dress had ridden up exposing her tender skin to the heated metal. It stung a bit but Mac's kiss was even hotter, melting all her objections in an instant as she scooted forward trying to get closer to her man.

The determination on Mac's face when he'd yanked her from the car, the way that strange hint of silver had flashed in the blackness of his eyes, had made her heart flutter and her lust rise so she couldn't resist his kiss when he began his assault. 

Not that she wanted to but if they were utilising their brains at the moment one of them would realise that turning up to meet her father smelling of sex was practically suicidal. One of them should have the sense to stop this before it got out of hand but Lily was already addicted to her mate's touch and they hadn't properly kissed and made up after their disagreement.

She was tugging at his braid, freeing his hair so she could wrap her fingers deep within it as he continued to devour her mouth like a starving man, his erection branding her between her thighs as she twined herself around him. 

Her fingers moved to pluck at the buttons of his shirt as Mac's lips scorched a path of fire down her neck towards the swell of her breasts peaking temptingly from her dress. It was then she scented their observer and her body went rigid in Mac's embrace.

Her mate was instantly alert his body twisting around to face the forest ensuring she was completely blocked from view. Lily was tempted to laugh knowing she was not in any danger and also knowing Mac wouldn't have a hope in hell of spotting their company. He was shadowed and masking his scent, only she could see him.

"Kothi, stop being an ass and show yourself," she said in her best stern voice, trying not to smile. She adored Kothari but then she always did find herself reacting intensely to the more marginal elements of their group, Liam, Elina and Kothi.

Mac relaxed slightly when Lily spoke, his expression curious as the young male appeared out of thin air a few feet away from them. He was big but then his father was Gard though he was dark-haired like his mother and had dark glasses shading his eyes. So this was the issue from a Vârcolac and an Ancient? Kothari was not what he'd expected having met three of the hybrids already. 

The man before him appeared cold and suspicious, so remote he gave off the appearance of being completely emotionless, and yet Lily's voice held such a warm tone he knew there had to be more to him than met the eye. 

He eyed the fourth of his charges with cool detachment only mildly irritated that he'd interrupted them. The faint smile when it came surprised Mac because he didn't think Kothari was capable of it from his initial impression.

"I thought it best that someone act like a grown-up, Liliana. You're in enough shit with Andrei without showing up ten seconds after you've just had sex," Kothari said, his expression unrepentant.

Having him echo her earlier thoughts made Lily blush as Mac helped her from the hood of the Jeep. She took the handful of steps needed to give Kothari a hug which he returned with almost as much enthusiasm, surprising Mac even further as he saw the other man's expression soften into open affection.

He held still as Kothari kissed Lily's cheek and curled a lock of her hair around one finger tugging lightly.

"The compound's been quiet without our resident spitfire," Kothari remarked in a low voice. "It perked up a little last night when Elle decided to smack that vampire around but nobody outclasses our Liliana when she's on a roll."

"I'm not that bad," she groaned, tilting her head back to look at her mate. She didn't want him to think she was too high maintenance. "Don't listen to him, Mac. He's just as much trouble as I've ever been."

That brought a laugh from the other Vârcolac. "I've never claimed otherwise," he countered, a glint of humour on his face before he turned his concealed gaze to the vampire watching them. His expression smoothed out as he released Lily.

"So, you're Mackenzie? I hope you're good, vampire, because Andrei's been pretty pissed these last few weeks. If you're better than Karn you might hold your own."  There was a hint of challenge in his voice as if he were testing Mac.

Lily glared at him smacking at his arm. "Don't, Kothi. Mac is my mate and remember I can still kick your ass. He's off limits to your brand of humour."

Rather than being offended by the younger male, Mac was struggling not to smile at his blatant attempt to intimidate him. Lily's automatic defence also amused him and he reached out to curl an arm around her waist to pull her close. "How did I survive so long without you to protect me," he teased and kissed the tip of her nose.

His black gaze met Kothari's dark glasses and he allowed his amusement to show. "I've known Andrei for close on a thousand years now, Kothari. I'm sure we'll be just fine when we have our little chat."  His tone was pitched just right to subtly smack down the younger male but not incite Kothari's need to step up his aggression level.

If he'd been anything other than a Vârcolac and someone Lily obviously cared greatly for, Mac's response would have been completely different to his challenge. Instead he moderated himself while still letting Kothari know that he wouldn't be easy fodder if the younger male wanted to test his luck.

He felt Lily stiffen at his reference to her father and looked down. "What? You didn't know I knew your father or is it the length of time we've been friends which surprises you?"

Lily hadn't considered that Mac might know her father; know of him yes, but to have met him? His past was so well hidden considering he'd moved around Europe so much over his lifetime. It had taken her forever to discover that he was friends with Demetri, finding out he knew her family too rattled her a bit. She frowned as she looked back at him. "You didn't tell me you were friends with Dad."

He shrugged. "You never asked. I just assumed you knew seeing as you managed to find out just about everything else there was to know about me when you did your research."

He had a valid argument and it didn't really affect anything anyway. He was her mate and there was no disputing that. Lily relaxed and leaned into his heat wishing Kothari would disappear so she could spend a few more moments alone with Mac before they had to face the music.

"I don't suppose you're going to go away anytime soon?" she asked privately, quirking an eyebrow at her friend. She received another of his enigmatic smiles which could hardly be called a real smile because his mouth barely moved. Most people would even miss it if they weren't one of the Vârcolac.

"And miss all the fun, Lily? You have to be joking. I like your mate, by the way. He seems more together than Karn though he's no slouch either. That vampire hides a lot behind his gruff exterior."

She smiled with pleasure, her eyes dancing. "Elle really punched him last night? Liam told me but I found it hard to believe. Karn didn't deny it though so I figured it had to have happened."

"She smacked him clear across the room. I don't know who was more surprised, Elle or Karn or maybe it was the rest of us standing there with our mouths hanging open. I thought Dayton was going to burst a blood vessel when they were arguing and then Elle punched the vampire and Freya was as smug as you please saying 'That's my daughter.' You missed a treat with that one, Lily. Elle's real strength is phenomenal when you see it in action."

Mac figured the two of them were having some form of conversation he wasn't privy to. He found he didn't much care for being excluded so he gave in to his more base urges and kissed his mate, hard and fast. He took some satisfaction at her instant response. No one continued a telepathic conversation while having their mouth claimed as thoroughly as he was claiming Lily's.

"I am still here," he muttered dryly, when he let her up to breathe. "And we still have to go get this meeting over and done with." He kissed her again and then nodded to Kothari. "I'm sure we'll see you around before we leave."

Lily rolled her eyes and smiled as Mac tugged her back to the Jeep and made sure she was settled inside.

"Isn't he wonderful, Kothi? So possessive. Wait until you find your mate. You won't know what's hit you."

Kothari didn't answer, merely frowned slightly before raising his hand and turning and vanishing into the trees. Lily watched him go with a slight narrowing of her eyes.

"What is Kothari's problem?" Mac asked, starting the Jeep and continuing on towards the compound. "It's like he has a split personality or does he just dislike me."

She glanced at him in surprise. "He likes you just fine. Kothari is just Kothari. Today he's been more approachable than normal. I guess he missed me being away and with Liam and Kal up at our compound and Elina acting out of character last night, he may be feeling a bit unsettled hence his need to connect with me."

"So he's usually worse than he was with me?"

She laughed at Mac's dry tone. "Oh, he's usually much more reserved than he was just now. Sometimes a whole week can pass without Kothi uttering a single word to anyone in public. He'll be there but keep totally silent. I'm sure he talks to his parents and he sometimes talks to one of us telepathically. He's...well he's just not easy to explain. He's Kothi and we love him."

Mac filed the information away for future consideration. Kothari plainly had extreme anti-social tendencies which could spell an issue waiting to happen. He'd get Karn's initial thoughts on the man when they got home later. He was curious as to why his second-in-command hadn't selected him to come back to the compound the night before.

For the moment they were pulling up into the centre of the suspiciously empty compound and Lily was tense at his side, her eyes flickering around the empty square nervously

"Crap! Rafe must have warned everyone to stay away," she muttered under her breath, tapping a finger nail against the dashboard as she leaned forward. The lack of people milling around was not a good sign. She'd been hoping for lots of pack mates being their usual nosey selves to run interference. "Park here, Mac."

He brought the Jeep to a halt outside a two storey house with a large tree to one side of it.

"This is where I grew up," Lily sighed, a faint smile gracing her lips as she thought of all the fun times she'd had sneaking out and climbing down that very tree beside her bedroom window. She turned to see Mac's reaction and her smile grew softer as she watched him quickly tie his hair back at the nape of his neck.

His dark gaze connected with hers as he turned sideways to look at her. His expression was serious as he picked up her hand and kissed the back gently. "No matter what happens, Liliana, I promise I will do my best not to hurt your father. But this you must know and accept before we do this. You will be coming home with me. No one had better try and stop that happening because I will not tolerate it under any circumstances."

She shivered at the promise in his eyes, knew he was telling her he would fight to the death to keep her, be it her father's or his. It sent fear flooding through her which she couldn't hide.

"Let me deal with him, Mac," she whispered. "Don't do anything which can't be fixed. I will be coming home with you, no one will prevent that. Just trust that I know the best way to deal with this."

Mac had to fight down his instinctive need to be the strong one, the one to protect what was his. If it came down to a fight between him and Andrei, despite Liam's reassuring words, it would be messy and bloody and would most likely end in someone's death. He knew it would kill Lily to lose either of them so he battled his natural instincts and nodded his head in acquiescence.

"I'll do the best I can, sugar," he sighed, leaning forward to brush her lips gently. "Let's hope Liam's right and Andrei feels the same way as I do, that your happiness is the most important thing here." With that he pulled back and opened the door.

Lily followed him anxiously smoothing down her dress and wishing she'd picked something old, something Victorian and reserved that wouldn't incite her father's anger. She pushed the thought away as being unjustified. Her father understood. They'd talked about things and he'd been hurt that she'd thought he would do anything to her mate. She had to keep that firmly in mind.

The front door to the house suddenly opened and Mac's gaze swivelled from Lily to the gorgeous brunette who appeared from the house. He'd never seen Loretta Simpson before but he could see where Lily got a lot of her looks from. While not as classically beautiful as some women, Loretta's allure was just as impressive. 

Her thick brown hair was perched haphazardly on top of her head with strands framing her face. Her brown eyes were shining with moisture as she regarded her errant daughter standing sheepishly in front of her.

"Hi Mom," Lily said, biting at her bottom lip as she tried to work out how much trouble she was in. She felt as if time had rolled back and she was once more about to get a telling off as she had that day she'd persuaded Kallum to try shifting into wolf form and they'd met Dayton in the forest.

"Oh, come here and stop trying to look so repentant when we all know you're not," Loretta laughed, rolling her eyes as she gathered her child into a tight embrace, swallowing back the tears of relief which were threatening to fall. She held her in a death grip, relief and love surging down their bond now she could see Lily was well and unhurt.

"You scared the living daylights out of us, Lily," she whispered. "Don't you ever suppress our bond again. I thought your father was going to explode when he couldn't contact you. He was all for calling out the Praetorians thinking someone had kidnapped you and drugged you so you couldn't call for help."

The chastisement brought tears to Lily's eyes even as she hugged her mother back just as fiercely. Despite her words, Loretta was pouring so much love and forgiveness to her it was making her feel even guiltier for her actions. She hadn't wanted to hurt her family; it had just turned out to be unavoidable. "I'm sorry, Mom. I should have stayed in contact, I know that now. I just wasn't thinking clearly at the time."

Loretta framed her face gently and gave her daughter a reassuring smile as she wiped at her wet cheeks. "Yes, you always did have a habit of acting first and thinking later," she remarked, her smile turning rueful. "You're so much like you father. How I've managed to stay sane with two of you to contend with I don't know. Thank God Kallum was less of a handful."

She hugged Lily tightly again and then stepped back to regard the vampire standing silently beside them. Her gaze was critical as she measured his suitability to call himself her child's mate. She'd have to be dead not to notice how attractive he was and she could see he was strong and a good age for one of his kind. Mackenzie exuded power much like Andrei.

She turned back to Lily and gave an exaggerated wink. It had the desired effect, causing her daughter to burst out laughing. "Yes, I think he'll do nicely, Lily, though you can fill me in on all the details later."

She directed her gaze back to Mac and held out her hand. "I'm Loretta, Mackenzie. Welcome to the family."

He took her offered hand and raised it to his lips rather than shaking it as she'd expected. "I can see where Lily's gets her looks from, Loretta," he answered smoothly, immediately liking his mate's mother for the way she instantly soothed his Lily. She didn't feel as stressed as she had a moment before.




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 12



"Oh God, we've got another charmer in the family," Loretta laughed. "I'm going to try for another baby. We need more girls to counteract all this male charisma." She gestured for them to enter the house.

"Your father's in his study," she said to Lily as she ushered them inside. "Have you had breakfast? Having a vampire for a mate can be a complete pain in the ass. They forget we need to eat just because they don't."

Mac flushed red and frowned at his mate. He had no idea if she'd eaten and was chagrined to admit he hadn't considered that she would need to. He would need to rectify his way of thinking now he was responsible for taking care of Lily. Loretta's unladylike snort of amusement made him blush harder.

"See, this is what I've had to put up with for years, Lily. Hopefully you can train Mackenzie better than I was ever able to train Andrei. Go ahead and see your father. I'll give your mate a crash course in cookery while you're talking."

The low growl that rumbled from Mac's chest didn't even faze Loretta as she raised an eyebrow at him. "Trust me; Lily knows how to handle Andrei. Give them time to scream at each other and they'll join us when they're ready."

Mac's expression was comical as Lily watched her mother override his objections. He was obviously trying hard not to offend her but he was clearly unhappy at the thought of not being with her when she saw her father. It was his expression that had her resolve hardening and her lips twitching with a smile.

"Mom's right, Mac," she said, moving to wrap her arms around his waist. He was gathering her close, securing her protectively in his embrace in an instant. "It's better if Dad lets off steam when you're not around. He'll only shout for a little while. Just stay with Mom until he calms down."

"I said we'd do this together, Lily, and I meant it," he argued, anger lacing his tone. "You're my mate and I'm not leaving you to face Andrei alone." His arms tightened around her to emphasise his point.

Loretta gave them some privacy heading into the kitchen but remaining close enough in case Andrei became tired of waiting for his daughter to come to him and reacted negatively to seeing her wrapped around Mac so intimately. Not that she thought he would do anything too stupid but it was always wise to err on the side of caution after he'd been through such a volatile few weeks.

"You agreed to trust my judgement on this," Lily whispered, tilting her head back to look at Mac. She searched his face intently. "Don't repeat your mistake from last night, please.  You have to learn the difference between protecting me and taking over my life. My father would never hurt me."

Mac struggled with the conflicting emotions raging through him. He rebelled at the thought of Lily facing Andrei alone and yet if he didn't let her do this then he'd hurt her as he had this morning. He was damned either way whatever he decided. He'd go quietly insane not knowing what was happening in the study if he let her go alone, and she'd hate him if he refused to let her deal with this herself.

"You call me immediately if you need me," he finally said. There really had been no choice for him. He couldn't do anything that would hurt her so he would just have to suffer through wondering what was happening.

Her big brown eyes sparkled with such joy he knew he'd done the right thing by her. It was the completely wrong thing for him but when she pulled his head down and kissed him so thoroughly he forgot all about where they were, he conceded that he could live with the choice if this was her reaction.

"I love you, Mac." Lily knew how hard it was for him to agree to this. Though he kept his expression as neutral as possible she could feel his emotions through their bond. He was fighting hard to tamp down his protectiveness so he could do the right thing.

"I love you too, sugar," he rumbled quietly, kissing her again before reluctantly letting her go. He stepped back and watched as she squared her shoulders and headed over to a closed door towards the back of the house. He turned and followed Loretta into the kitchen, trusting his mate knew what she was doing.

Lily smoothed down her skirt nervously before she opened the study door and stepped in side. Her father was standing staring out the window with his back to the door and he didn't turn as she entered. She knew he was well aware when they'd arrived and that he'd most likely given her mother time to greet them first. 

She closed the door and took a deep breath. "Dad?" She wanted to cringe at how tentative her voice sounded. She was a mated woman now not a child but being around her father always regressed her back to childhood. She hated disappointing him or her mother but she always managed to.

Andrei inhaled the scent of his daughter, reaching out mentally to lightly brush their familial bond. He'd deliberately given Loretta time with Lily, fighting his own urge to go to their child the minute she'd arrived home. His mate hadn't had any contact with her since she'd left the compound. Loretta deserved a moment to ensure herself of her daughter's safety and to meet Mac and form her own opinion of him.

He'd doubted Kal's words the night before. He hadn't thought Lily would be ready to come home so soon after their last discussion, after he'd revealed so much about himself. He'd been frightened she'd think him a monster after his confession and never come home. But she had and she sounded so unsure of herself as she waited for his reaction.

He'd never been one to hide from the difficult things in life but for the first time ever he wanted to stay staring out of a window so he didn't have to turn around and see disappointment in his child's eyes. He'd failed Lily; he knew that now. He'd loved her too much, been possessive and overprotective to the point she had been forced to run away from him. He'd given her his genetic flaw and she'd spent her entire life fighting that inner darkness.

Was this his real punishment for all the wrongs he'd done over his long life? He'd once believed Loretta's abduction had been his punishment but maybe it was more than that. Maybe his entire world of happiness built around his family was the real punishment, where someone somewhere laughed at him as those he loved suffered because of his actions or his physical flaws.

"Dad?" Lily's hesitant voice filled the room again and he forced himself to turn to look at her.

Andrei wanted to look away immediately. He didn't want to see the uncertainty on Lily's face or the gathering moisture in her big brown eyes. It killed him to see her cry, it always had. It killed him knowing that he was responsible for putting those tears there. His heart twisted painfully as he looked for signs of change within his daughter and found them instantly.

She had already mated with Mac which meant she was already leaving his world to embrace the other male's. Losing Lily had always been one of his greatest fears, now it was becoming a reality and it was a blade to his heart knowing their relationship would never be the same again.

He could see the telltale signs of strain in her eyes. It was so subtle most people wouldn't notice it but he did because he knew what to look for. He saw it every day in the mirror, the strain of wondering if today would be the day his battle with his nature was lost.

He knew he should say something, reassure her somehow but he couldn't force his mouth to open as he struggled with the conflicting emotions whirling inside him. He didn't know what to say to make it right, to take away the gathering tears and see her smile again.

Andrei's silence was ripping Lily to pieces inside. He was so still, so unmoving with his neutral expression and cold brown eyes. She had no idea what was going through his head but she knew she'd hurt him badly with her actions. She had to keep swallowing to try and fight the misery inside, knowing he hated it when she cried but feeling the tears coming despite her best efforts.

She loved her father so much and she'd let him down. She was honest enough with herself to admit that she would have done just about anything to claim Mac as her mate. She couldn't regret loving Mac but she could have tried to do things differently so her family wouldn't have been hurt.

The tears spilled over and her breath hitched in her throat. "I'm sorry I've disappointed you, Daddy," she choked out, dropping her gaze from his because she couldn't bear to look at him and see that disappointment cross his face.

Her father moved then, so fast he was standing in front of her between one breath and the next. She was hauled tightly into his arms, squeezed so hard she thought she might break.

Andrei's heart shattered the moment Lily spoke and her tears began to fall. His baby was hurting and he just couldn't tolerate that for an instant. No one was allowed to hurt his children, not even him. "You could never disappoint me, Lily Rose," he whispered gruffly, releasing control of the tight hold he had on his emotions.

His daughter's tears were his undoing and he let his own fall as he ran his hands over her body to reassure himself she was uninjured in anyway physically. 

Yes, she'd made mistakes but only because his had been the greater ones. If he'd been less overbearing she would have been able to talk to him safe in the knowledge he would've listened to her. She wouldn't have had to put herself at risk to claim her mate if he'd been more reasonable and less hot-headed. Loretta was right when she'd said he'd driven his children away. He hadn't meant to but that didn't negate the truth of it.

"I let you down, Lily," he groaned hoarsely. "I sheltered you too much because I loved you so much. I was warned years ago that I'd pay for my actions but I was so arrogant in believing I knew what was right that I ignored the words and went on doing things my way. It was never my intention to hurt you though. I just needed to keep you safe."

Lily was hugging her father as tightly as he was hugging her. The relief of being home, of knowing he wasn't still angry with her made her tears flow harder. She'd expected angry words, their usual clash of tempers when things became strained between them but she hadn't expected his apology or his tears. It was just so wrong to see her father like this and yet she felt honoured that he was letting her in, treating her as an adult rather than a child.

"I know that, Daddy," she whispered tremulously, running a hand soothingly down his back because she hated seeing him so miserable. "I've always known that, so has Kal. We might not have known all your reasons for doing things but we've always known they were done out of love for us."

She pulled back so she could look up at him and give him a tentative smile. "I guess I'm just too much like you sometimes. I don't always think through the consequences of my actions and then pay the price for them later."

Andrei brushed the tears from her cheeks and stared at his daughter in amazement. She had Loretta's big heart when it came to forgiveness, instantly absolving him of all his wrong doings. He was so proud of the woman Lily had become. It may have taken him a long time to acknowledge that she had grown up but now that he had, he was so full of pride at how wonderful she'd turned out.

"I was afraid of losing you," he admitted, pressing his hand against the side of her face. "I didn't want any other male coming along and stealing your heart from me."

A burst of laughter escaped Lily and she rolled her eyes. "You're so silly sometimes. No one could ever replace you. You're my dad." She said it with such finality as if it was carved in stone for the world to know. "I love you, Dad.  I'll probably still have moments when I'm reaching out to you when I feel insecure about something. I know you'll always be there for me no matter what."

"But you have Mac now, Lily. He's your mate and it's his place to take care of you, not just your physical well-being but your emotional well-being too," Andrei pointed out, hating to say the words but knowing they were true. He still had his exceptionally close bond with Alexei but it was Loretta he turned to now when he was troubled which was how it should be with mates.

"Well, I can't very well turn to him when he's pissing me off, can I?" she retorted with another laugh, though her expression softened as she spoke of the man she'd chosen as her mate. "And boy, does he know how to piss me off already. He actually thought he could fight the mating pull. The stupid male even tried to go to Europe to get away from me!"

Her indignant tone eased the last of Andrei's sadness and he burst out laughing at her outraged expression. She looked so much like her mother the way she tilted her chin up and her eyes flashed with indignation. It reminded him of when his mate had caught him with Marcia all those years ago. She'd that same steely determination that nothing and no one would get in her way of claiming her mate.

Andrei actually felt some sympathy for Mackenzie. If Lily had been as determined as Loretta, then he hadn't stood a chance against her just as he'd never stood a chance against his Rose. 

Maybe he could handle this whole mating thing better than he'd initially thought. Seeing Lily so alive, the love and happiness on her face as she spoke of her mate...that was priceless in his eyes and if it was what Mac gave to her then he could accept it.

"You love him." It was a statement rather than a question. He could see her emotions clearly in her expression.

"He's everything to me, Dad," she smiled softly and then her brow furrowed and her eyes narrowed. "You're not going to do anything silly like play the overprotective father routine, are you?"

It had crossed his mind, he couldn't deny that, but he knew he wouldn't do anything to let his child down again. She had made her choice and despite the few misgivings he had about Mac's past, he conceded the other vampire was an excellent choice of mate for his wayward daughter. He had the strength to not only protect her but to keep her in check when she needed it.

"I told you I wouldn't." He kissed her forehead and hugged her close again, enjoying this moment with her. "If he gives you even a fraction of what your mother gives to me I could never take that away from you, honey. I'm surprised he's not in here with you."

Lily laughed and gave him another squeeze before moving out of his arms to perch on the edge of his desk. "He would've been only Mom and I managed to persuade him to stay away until we had time to talk."

Andrei knew just how hard that would've been for Mac. Any mated male would struggle to allow his mate to go into a potentially hazardous situation alone. It would be doubly worse on a newly mated male who was being subjected to all manner of extreme emotions. He could remember his own instincts going haywire when he'd first mated with Loretta.

"Dad, you're growling," Lily sighed, amusement creeping into her tone.

He shot her a lopsided grin. "Sorry. Thinking about what newly mated couples get up to isn't a wise move in the same context with my daughter."

"Dad!" she blushed scarlet, scandalised laughter filling the room. It filled Andrei with such joy to hear the sound and see the happiness on her face. It was all he'd ever wanted for his children, to be happy. The changes in Lily were so easy to see and they were all good changes.

Leaning against the desk beside her he tackled the topic he'd been trying to avoid and knew he couldn't. ""Your wolf...she's respecting Mac's dominance so far?"

Lily sobered at the serious note in her father's voice. She could tell he was still feeling responsible for something which wasn't his fault. He probably always would and she didn't know how to convince him otherwise. She'd felt his pain and despair when she'd told him about it. It was buried deep within him. Cauterising that wound would be nigh on impossible.

"This morning my wolf was content for the first time ever," she admitted in a quiet voice. "She listens to Mac, respects him as her mate. I know it's not always going to be easy and there will be times when Mac may have to be very harsh to help me, but I know together we can achieve anything we set out to."

That brought a raised eyebrow from her father and her own curiosity to the fore. "How does Mom help you?"

The smile that crossed his face was so full of love she found herself automatically smiling too. Her parents' relationship had always been beautiful to watch as she was growing up, the way they just fit so well together and obviously adored each other. It was the template from which she'd built her own dreams of what her life would be with her mate when she grew up.

"Your mother soothes me with her love. I guess it would be different for you and Mac because I'm the aggressor in our relationship and while your mother is pretty formidable herself as a Beta, my beast requires her love to be tamed rather than aggression."

She nodded her agreement. "My wolf needs to be dominated when she gets out of hand. She needs someone stronger, more aggressive than her to make her submit. Mac does that instinctively though I don't think he likes it very much. The one time he had to do it, he wrecked a room right afterwards."

She sighed deeply at the memory, and then she smiled ruefully. "Hopefully we won't have to redecorate the house too much even if it's badly in need of it. That man sure does like dark wood."

Andrei was quiet, taking in her words and working on the guilt he felt inside. It was good to know Lily had the safety net she needed but still he felt bad that she even needed to have one. If he had been stronger then maybe she wouldn't have had to deal with this aspect of her personality.

"I haven't thanked you for all you've done for me," Lily said quietly, her expression sombre as he turned to look at her with a surprised expression. She gave him another smile so full of love he wondered how he could have been so lucky to be blessed with such a wonderful family.

"You've kept me balanced all my life, Dad. Kal has too to a certain extent but the reason I was able to control my wolf for so long was because of you. She respects you as a dominant male in her life. I know you feel as if you've given me some kind of curse but you also gave me the means to fight it by loving me and protecting me as you have. I don't want you to feel guilty about this. It's just one of those things and it has shaped me into the person I am today."

Andrei slipped an arm around his daughter, pulling her against his side as she wrapped her arms around him. "When did you get to be so wise?" he asked gruffly, his emotions once more close to the surface. "You've grown into a wonderful young woman, Liliana. I'm so proud of your strength and integrity. You're everything a father could wish for and more. I love you so damned much it hurts sometimes."

She felt tears gather in her eyes again but they were happy tears this time as her father's love and approval surrounded her in a warm cocoon. She adored him so much. Having his love and respect meant the world to her. "I love you too, Dad," she whispered. "So much that I get scared sometimes I'll let you down so badly you'll find it hard to forgive me."

"Never, Lily," he ground out hoarsely, pulling her tightly into his arms and kissing the top of her head. "There is nothing you or your brother could ever do which would make me turn away from you. You're my children. You're my life just as your mother is. I would forgive you anything and give my life to keep you safe. Don't ever think otherwise, honey."

Silence filled the room as they hugged each other tightly. Lily had always had a special connection to her father but it was different now, stronger in a way she could never have imagined. He was no longer treating her like a child. He'd opened his heart and mind to her, shown her his fears and his deep love for her. She hoped she'd given him the same feeling of peace and acceptance he'd given her.




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 12



"I think it's time to go tease Mac now," Andrei finally said, his tone full of mischief. "I'm quite partial to my study door so maybe we shouldn't tempt him too much by staying in here any longer."

His unrepentant expression at her low groan told her he wouldn't be dissuaded. "I've got to get some fun out of all of this."

Lily sighed in defeat and rolled her eyes. At least having her father onside was better than the alternative. They were just going to have to put up with his brand of teasing until he got it out of his system.

*****

Mac couldn't tear his eyes away from the open doorway even as Loretta bustled around the kitchen, the noise and smell of cooking assaulting his senses. He could feel Lily's erratic emotions through their bond and he was desperate to go to her but knew she wouldn't thank him for interfering. 

It was only Loretta's calm attitude which was holding him back. She clearly knew her family dynamic and if she was unconcerned about her mate and daughter being alone then it stood to reason that he shouldn't be worried either. And yet, he wanted to go to Lily, itched to protect her from whatever Andrei was saying which was making her swing from misery to joy and then back again.

"Remarkable." Loretta's laughing words dragged his attention from the doorway and he looked around to see her watching him intently. She had a sparkle in her eyes and he could see exactly what it was about the wolf that attracted Andrei. She was the perfect foil for his erratic personality. She was a blend of strength and compassion which was very much part of her children's personalities.

"I don't know what I'm more impressed with," she continued, turning back to the stove and flipping some bacon in the frying pan. "The fact those two aren't screaming at each other or the fact you're still seated in that chair." 

Like Mac, she could feel her mate's emotions and knew he was struggling with coming to terms with how to cope with the changes in Lily. Unlike Mac, she'd had countless years to come to know her mate and knew he was handling everything just fine, so therefore, she wasn't concerned about what was going on behind the study door.

She'd taken time to watch Mackenzie, to get a feel for who he was as a man and her daughter's mate. She was impressed so far. It was killing him to stay away from Lily but she'd asked him to and he was trying hard to give her what she needed. Loretta had no doubt he'd fuck up just as much as he succeeded but it was obvious he was willing to try and that was the important thing.

Mac let out a loud breath from his seat at the kitchen table. "I'm using you as a barometer on whether or not I need to be concerned," he admitted with a slight smile. "You're the glue that holds this family together."

Loretta beamed a wide smile and nodded her head in thanks for his compliment. "Oh, I'm going to just adore you, Mac. I knew Lily would pick a good mate. Kal will probably be the one who ends up giving me grey hairs when he chooses a mate. He's been too easy to bring up so far. He has to have something up his sleeve to drive me insane."

He laughed at her resigned tone so full of love for her family. He was sure she was right too. What he'd seen of Kallum so far was pretty impressive. He was a strong Alpha male with a wide streak of compassion running through him. 

But the man who had confronted him the day before when he was defending his sister's right to stay at the compound had been a different male entirely. That man had been stubborn and resolute. Backing down just wasn't an option for him as he defended Lily. He took what he considered to be his responsibilities seriously and wasn't afraid to go up against anyone if he felt he was right.

No, there was a lot more to Kallum Romanov than first met the eye, a power that bubbled under the surface just waiting to be unleashed. Mac was certain that when Kal finally let go of his tight self-control they would all be surprised by just what he was capable of, including his parents.

"You're handling this so much more reasonably than I expected," he commented, surprised at her acceptance of him when she didn't know a thing about him.

"That's because I'm the sane one in the family," Loretta joked, as she dished up the food onto waiting plates and put them on the table. She gave him a measuring look. "Don't be fooled by me, Mackenzie," she continued her expression serious. "I'm as protective of my family as Andrei is. If I thought for one moment that you were bad for my daughter I'd rip your throat out without a second's hesitation."

Mac had no doubts about that. He'd been around wolves long enough to be able to sense their strengths and weaknesses. He knew Loretta was a senior Beta in the pack and was just as much of a soldier as Lily. That she had a sunny personality didn't detract from the feral wolf nature she had deep inside. It just made her even more deadly because some people would be foolish enough to underestimate her. And he was no fool.

Giving her one of his rare smiles, he accepted the wolf into his suddenly growing family with barely a flicker of an eyelid. He knew he was going to adore this woman almost as much as he did his Lily. "Just as well you like me then," he quipped, drawing a wide smile.

"Lord, save me from charismatic males who think one smile is enough to make a woman melt," she grumbled good-naturedly, her hand coming to rest lightly on his shoulder in a gesture of acceptance.

"Be good to my girl, Mac. That's all a mother can ask." She bent down and kissed his cheek lightly before turning towards the door. "Oh, and cut Andrei some slack too. This isn't easy for him."

The sound of Lily and Andrei approaching had his head turning too even as he worked on his stunned surprise that he'd managed to win over Loretta so quickly. He knew it would please Lily if he could gain approval from at least one of her parents.

Mac's gaze zeroed in on his mate the second she entered the kitchen. Her eyes were red from crying and he had to fight to contain a growl of displeasure. She was smiling happily so that helped. He ignored Andrei completely which probably wasn't a wise move but he needed to make sure Lily was okay.

Her gaze connected with his and her smile brightened as she was drawn across the room as if she'd hated their separation as much as he had. Uncaring of their audience he was reaching for her pulling her down into his lap and searching her face intently.

"Is everything okay?" He used their private form of communication; glad they had it so they could maintain a level of privacy when around her family.

"Everything's fine, Mac. Dad was much more understanding than I gave him credit for. We're closer than ever now and he understands how important you are to me. Thank you for being as understanding and letting me do this my way. I know it wasn't easy for you." Lily rested her forehead against his as she spoke, proud of her mate as she was of her father. This meeting was going so much better than she'd expected it would.

"So Mackenzie, you're sleeping with my daughter."

Andrei's cool words brought a groan from said daughter and a muttered sigh from his mate.

"Dad!" Lily all but squeaked as Loretta groaned out, "Andrei!"

Mac simply tightened his hold on Lily and met Andrei's gaze. His expression was neutral but his eyes were anything but. He responded to the male challenge instinctively though he did work to keep his aggression levels down. "That's what mates do, Andrei. I would've thought you'd managed to work that out after being mated to Loretta all these years."

Silence descended over the kitchen as both Lily and Loretta tensed waiting to see what Andrei's reaction would be. Mac kept his tight grip on his mate as she wiggled on his lap attempting to stand up to try and make the situation less volatile by not rubbing her father's nose in their relationship.

He was having none of that. She was his mate and it was natural to express their love physically. He wasn't about to deny that and he wouldn't allow her to either, not even to appease Andrei. No one would dictate when he could and couldn't touch his mate. 

And it probably wasn't prudent for her to rise at the moment. Her wiggling was inciting a reaction which was very natural. They might be pushing their luck a bit if Andrei had to see the evidence of his sleeping with his daughter.

"Mac, let me up."

"Not a chance in hell, sugar,"he growled. "Your father has to accept that I can't keep my hands off you and you have to know that I won't tolerate you denying us in any shape or form. This is a male thing. You asked me to let you do things your way. Now it's your turn to let me do things mine. Trust me, Lily."

She couldn't really argue with him. He had given her the space to talk to her father first and she was reasonably confident the situation wouldn't come to blows. Lily stopped wriggling to escape and settled against Mac's chest, her gaze intent on her father's face.

Andrei would've been a liar if he denied that he was tempted to rip Mac's arms from his shoulders. They were so securely wrapped around his daughter's body, one hand resting possessively on her hip. He'd have had to be a saint not to have some negative reaction to it but the resolute expression in Mac's eyes earned the respect of his more feral side.

He'd always liked Mac, had always been impressed with his integrity and the way he handled himself. He liked the fact he wouldn't back down in his presence. If he was willing to stand up to him to secure his right to be Lily's mate then he would defend her to his dying breath. There was nothing he wanted more for his daughter, someone as committed to protecting her as he was.

A smile slowly crossed his face and he could feel the tension level in the room dropping. The smile reached his eyes which wasn't a normal occurrence outside his immediate family and pack. 

"Oh, I think I've got the hang of that just nicely," he smiled, crossing over to Loretta and gathering her into his arms so he could ground himself in her scent and ease down his aggression levels a bit more. He turned back to Mac.

"It's been a while, Mackenzie. I wasn't expecting our next meeting would turn out to be with my daughter wrapped all over you. Father's prerogative to be a little pissed off about it even if I'm willing to accept that my little girl is all grown up now."

"Fair enough," Mac agreed, with a brief smile. "Just as long as you do accept that Lily's mine and I'm not going to let anyone come between us."

Lily watched the byplay wondering idly if this was akin to a father handing off his daughter in a marriage ceremony. Weres and vampires didn't adopt the human bonding ceremony, their mating bonds being that much deeper and fixed. 

Surprisingly the one couple who were actually married was the last couple most people would have thought of. She adored the story of how Demetri had proposed to Mara when she was still human and not ready to join his world as a vampire. It was so romantic that one of the most intractable vampires ever appeared to be the one who had bent the most to secure his mate.

Andrei shrugged as if it was a given and dropped a kiss on Loretta's mouth. "I suppose we could continue having a pissing contest or we could let our girls eat breakfast. I know which one I'd prefer to do and I'm sure I don't need to recite the whole 'You hurt my daughter and you're dead' routine."

Mac laughed even as Loretta slapped Andrei's chest in admonishment and Lily groaned in despair. "Duly noted and understood," he answered, slipping his mate from his lap into the chair beside him so she could eat. His kissed her temple and played with a lock of her hair as Loretta and Andrei joined them at the table.

Lily started eating, sparing a glance at her mother as her father and Mac started catching up as if they hadn't just been about to go at each other to prove who was the biggest, badass vampire a handful of seconds ago. She couldn't believe she'd been so worried about this meeting and they were chatting away so amicably. Mac was filling her father in on the formation of Praetorians and he appeared genuinely interested in the subject.

"Don't even try to understand men, honey," Loretta said, as she chewed on a bacon sandwich. "They're a completely different species and that's nothing to do with the whole Vamp/Were thing. I like your Mac by the way."

Lily's mental laugh was full of happiness. "I'll take your advice on the whole male thing, Mom. And I'm glad you like Mac and Dad seems to as well. I just feel so happy right now. Everything's just perfect."

"Perfection is pretty boring, Lily. Being mated is no easy feat especially when your mate is a dominant, overbearing vampire who thinks you need their help to just breathe properly. It's not always going to be heart and flowers, not if I'm reading Mac correctly."

Her mother's caution was spot on and so like her that Lily smiled as she forked some eggs into her mouth. "I know that. Do you know he didn't tell me about the meeting last night until this morning? I was furious with him about it. Come to think of it, I think we've argued more times that we've kissed at this point." 

She blushed slightly remembering the night before and heard her mother's laughter in her head. "Okay, maybe that was a slight exaggeration. There was a lot of kissing being done last night."

"Tell me more," Loretta teased. "Is he as good as he looks?"

"Mother!" Lily's exclamation was half scandalised, half amused.  Her mother was incorrigible at times and sometimes she forgot just how much of wolf lived inside her.

"What? I was only asking," Loretta said innocently. "I was just wondering if there was a chance you might be making us grandparents in the near future. I'm trying to envision your father's face if I manage to fall pregnant at the same time as you. It would be priceless to tell him he's about to become a father again and a grandfather."

Lily choked on her breakfast, Mac immediately patting her on the back as she tried to laugh out loud and swallow the food in her mouth. Both he and Andrei shot the two women perplexed looks wondering what was the cause of such hilarity. 

Lily managed to catch her breath and take a sip of coffee. "Mom, you're terrible!" She turned to her father laughter dancing in her eyes. "You do know she's talking about having another baby, Dad. Another girl to drive you insane now I'm out of your hair."

Andrei stared at his mate shaking his head in disbelief. "No, I had no idea such devious thoughts were going through your mother's mind." 

He answered his daughter though his gaze never left Loretta. While stunned by the announcement, he couldn't help feeling excited at the prospect of having another child now theirs had grown. Another adorable little girl would be more than he could ever hope for, if they could work out what would make them fertile again.

Loretta grinned unrepentantly at him. "Actually, I was hoping we could time it so Lily was gifting you with your first grandchild at the same time," she teased, having no idea of what the impact of her words would be.

Mac suddenly froze on the spot; the hand which had been running up and down Lily's back ceasing all movement. The pleasure on Andrei's face evaporated and his gaze swung to look at the other male. 

Mac was stunned by Loretta's announcement. He couldn't believe he hadn't even considered that now he was mated to a Vârcolac he would be able to father children again. His one experience of fatherhood had been an agony he couldn't bear to repeat again.

He knew Andrei was aware of his past; the look in the other male's eyes a stark warning as they stared at each other. It was an effort to ensure none of his inner turmoil travelled down his mate bond with Lily as his past memories reared up and he saw his daughter again. 

Barely a fraction of a second had passed since Loretta had spoken and both he and Andrei were the only ones aware that her words had set off memories Mac never wanted to relive. 

Memories of Sophia, only they weren't of her laughing or of him holding her in his arms, she was always lying dead with her throat torn out and her clothes covered in blood. Losing his wife had been hard; losing his child had been hell on earth and the thing which had tipped him over the edge until he'd tried to leave the world with them.

Demetri had stopped him. He had changed him into a vampire and given him a goal to go on. He had stood at his side as he had buried Maria and Sophia and helped him track down the vampire who had taken their lives. Knowing he would never be able to father a child again had been the one thing Mac had always relied on. Now he didn't have that any more.

"Mac?"

Lily's voice dragged his attention from Andrei and he smiled automatically, continuing his slow caress of her back as he struggled to fight off the memories. She was looking at him speculatively, sensing something was wrong but not quite knowing what it was.

"I think we stunned Mac more than we stunned your father," Loretta chuckled, completely oblivious to the world of hurt she had just opened up. 

He murmured some polite response, something along the lines of there being plenty of time to consider parenthood. All the while his thoughts were on Lily. 

How could he explain it to her? 

It was obvious she wanted to be a mother. It was part of her Were heritage the need to bring life into the world. If he'd stopped to consider it for a moment he wouldn't have mated with her. He would have let some other male know her love, allowed someone else to give her what she needed.

Because Mac knew he never could. He would never father another child and know the hell of losing that child as he'd lost Sophia – not even for Lily. 

To be continued...



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 13



 Once again my thanks to mikothebaby for editing for me :)

Enjoy! 

*

Andrei knew that neither his mate nor daughter were aware of Mac's tension. They had no idea of his past and he was masking his emotions quite well. Hell, if Andrei hadn't been aware of Mac's past he would have been fooled too.

But he was aware and he knew the other male was about to break his daughter's heart. He couldn't allow that to happen.

"Mackenzie, if you've got a moment would you join me in my study?"

"Dad..." Lily frowned at her father, immediately concerned that he was going to so something rash despite his promise.

Andrei gave her a brief smile. "I just want to catch up on how Pietro's getting on. I promise to be on my best behaviour." Her relieved smile was worth the small lie he told. He did intend to ask about his friend but that wasn't the reason he was inviting Mac for a private talk and the other vampire knew it.

He left the kitchen and headed to his study, letting Mac know in no uncertain terms that refusal wasn't an option.

Mac knew there was no avoiding the conversation with Andrei. Part of him even understood because he would do the same thing if someone was about to hurt someone he loved. But he didn't want to talk about it. He was under no illusions that he would have to discuss it with Lily at some point but he wanted to choose the time for that discussion.

He reluctantly followed Andrei into his study staring at his friend's rigid back as he closed the door. "I know what you're going to say. Just leave it, Andrei. I don't want to discuss it."

Cold brown eyes turned to meet molten black ones. "You're about to break my daughter's heart and you don't want to discuss it?" The words hissed out of Andrei's mouth, his expression hardening into a terrifying mask.

Anyone else would have quailed at his expression, but Mac held his ground. "This is between me and Lily. It doesn't concern you."

A low growl erupted from Andrei and his eyes began to bleed to black. When he spoke his voice was cold and low. "Only a walking dead man would have the nerve to tell me that my child doesn't concern me. Are you seriously that stupid, Mackenzie? Do you seriously think I'm just going to stand back and watch you destroy my daughter?"

"That's a tad bit melodramatic even for you," Mac answered just as coldly, his eyes a bottomless pit of darkness as he refused to be intimidated by the other man. Losing his temper with the volatile vampire wasn't the way to go. Andrei was waiting for an aggressive reaction so he could feel justified in committing the violence he so obviously wanted to.

"What goes on between mates is no one else's business but their own. Or should I start interfering in your relationship with Loretta now that I'm classed as part of the family?"

The unexpected question appeared to divert Andrei for a moment and his next growl was more feral at the prospect of anyone interfering between him and Loretta. He wouldn't tolerate such a thing and neither would she. Unless the pack was endangered somehow, mates' relationships were sacrosanct. Everyone knew that.

He hissed again and glared at Mac, who calmly met his gaze with a raised eyebrow.

With an irritated snort Andrei turned away and stalked over to the window, staring out into the trees surrounding the house. Deep down he knew his friend was correct, that he had no right to become involved in Lily's relationship now she was mated. But how could he just stand back and do nothing when she was going to be hurt? She was his little girl and always would be, no matter how grown up she was.

"Lily would be a wonderful mother," he finally said, loosening the grip of his feral side. "She's part Were, it's in her blood. You can't take that away from her, Mackenzie. She'll stay with you because you're her mate and she loves you but she will never be truly happy being childless. Her happiness should be all the matters to you."

"Do you think I don't know that?" Mac ground out releasing the tight control he had on his emotions now he sensed the danger had passed. He kept his mate bond muted but his voice betrayed his inner turmoil.

He ran a hand through his hair and walked over to the chair in front of Andrei's desk. He sat down and lowered his head into his hands, rubbing them wearily over his face. "I can't do it again, Andrei." 

The words came out on a choked sound causing Andrei to turn to look at his friend. The expression on Mac's face helped release some more of his aggression. 

When he'd first met Mac, he'd still been in the grip of relentless grief even though centuries had passed since the death of his family. His ferociousness had been one of the things which had formed a bond between them at the time. Andrei could relate to the wildness living in the bleak darkness of Mac's eyes. 

Over time, the grief had waned and his friend had found some inner balance but he found himself looking at that same expression he had seen a thousand years ago when they'd first met. He was stunned to realise that the pain of losing his wife and child had never really left Mackenzie; he'd just managed to hide it better.

"I can't have another child," Mac continued shaking his head in denial at just the thought of it. "Try and imagine it, Andrei. God forbid, but try and imagine losing Lily or Kallum, how it would make you would feel. There is no pain in the world worse than losing your child. You can endure anything else after it because nothing can compare."

He broke off and looked away, swallowing hard. The memories had never faded, never once left him since the day he'd found his family dead. They were worse now because his vampiric memory was so much more accurate that his human one. 

Each moment played out in his mind in glorious technocolour. He could see everything so clearly. He could smell the scent of the blood, the acrid smell of death in the room. Hell, his imagination could even replay the agonised screams of Maria as she watched her daughter being murdered before her very eyes.

"Imagine it, Andrei and then you tell me if you would be willing to father another child into the world, to spend every waking moment terrified that you'd lose that child as you lost Lily or Kallum."

Mac's voice broke and he blinked back unshed tears as he tried to keep some level of control. "I can still see Sophia as if it happened yesterday. There are nights I lie awake in tears because the only memory I have left of my little girl is of her lying dead. I can't remember her smile or the sound of her laughter. I can't remember her scent or what it felt like to hold her in my arms. All that remains is her throat torn out, the blood and the awful stench of death."

Andrei slowly crossed the room fighting with the urge to rip something to shreds at just the thought of anything happening to his children. The raw pain in Mac's voice helped to keep him calm, helped to diffuse the need to turn feral and attack his friend. Logic told him that Mac wasn't threatening his children with his words but it was his nature to overreact when his family or pack appeared to be threatened. But he held his emotions in check and concentrated on what Mac was saying and the pain he was in. 

Andrei couldn't understand how Mac had borne the level of pain and grief he'd had for fifteen hundred years and still remained sane. Only a strong male could have endured it. He had to reluctantly concede that Mac's pain was so deeply embedded, that the likelihood of him changing his mind on the topic was remote. 

Lily was in for a world of hurt but she would stick with Mac to the end because she would put his happiness before her own. If having children would hurt her mate then she wouldn't have any. It would be that simple for her.

When he reached Mac's side, he laid a hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently. "I will never know your pain because no one will ever take a child of mine from me," he said quietly. "Try not to hurt her too much, Mac. Make sure she understands everything. Once she does, she will be content with her life but if she thinks you are rejecting her in some way she'll react negatively. Remember she is my child in every way."

It was the best he could do because his heart would always side with Lily. She was his blood and therefore his priority. He couldn't hurt Mac because that would hurt Lily and when all was said and done, this was between the two of them to work through. 

He had to take a step back and allow his daughter to make her own decisions. She had chosen Mac as Loretta had chosen him. Both of them came with baggage that even a saint would struggle to cope with. But Lily was as strong as her mother. If Loretta could weather the storm with him, then Lily could cope with anything that Mac threw her way. He had to trust in her. 

Mac shut down the memories fighting to overwhelm him. It was hard because the shock of realising he could now bring a child into the world again had caught him out unexpectedly. Usually he could control his emotions better because nothing ever blind sided him, but this...this was just so unthinkable, completely intolerable.

He dreaded having the same conversation with Lily. Andrei was right and he'd have to be careful how he discussed it with her so not to incite her wolf and cause another outburst like the one with Karn. She would be hurt and he would be the cause of her pain. The very thought of that caused his heart to ache and self-loathing to invade his soul. 

But he couldn't have another child, he just couldn't do it. Lily had to understand that. She had to accept it because he would never change his mind. And he had to find a way to explain it to her and still retain his composure. Losing control as he'd just done with Andrei was unacceptable. He couldn't allow Lily to see him like this.

When he turned to his friend, his expression was once more controlled, his inner pain carefully masked. "I'll talk to Lily when the time is right, Andrei. You won't say anything to her about my past." It wasn't a question.

He watched his friend's eyes narrow sharply and then the reluctant nod he gave. Mac was amazed at how calmly Andrei was taking it. Obviously, the years with Loretta had tempered his friend's wildness a lot because the old Andrei would have tried to tear him to pieces by now. Or maybe it was because he carried the wolf gene inside him.

Mac too carried that same gene but he didn't feel any differently than he always had. He did sense something deep inside but it was so muted it was hard to pick up most of the time. It was easy to imagine it wasn't there at all. Was it because Lily was only half-Were? 

It was another thing he hadn't considered when he took her as his. All his instincts had been on claiming her, marking her so everyone knew she belonged to him. He'd tried to be logical about the situation but it had backfired and now he had to live with the consequences of his actions. Mac wasn't entirely sure what his genetic make-up now consisted of but he decided he'd worry about it later. There were more important matters that needed to be addressed, more painful ones for both him and Lily.

*****

Lily's eyes kept drifting to the open doorway wondering what her father was talking to Mac about. She couldn't sense any strong emotions down either bond but that didn't mean they weren't deliberately keeping her clueless. Overprotective males were like that and hers were two of the very worse for it.

They wouldn't physically hurt each other, she was certain of that. They'd both know it would cause her pain so they would avoid it at all costs but that didn't mean they wouldn't fight verbally. She frowned slightly and her mother laughed.

"Try and trust them to behave honey. They can act like adults every now and then."

Lily sighed and shook her head. "I'll take your word for it Mom."

A knock on the front door had them both turning in that direction as it swung open and Rafe Hanlon strode into the house. Lily wilted immediately. In her worry about how the meeting would go between Mac and her father, she'd completely forgotten she'd have to deal with her Alpha too. 

The stern expression on his face as he walked into the kitchen wasn't a good sign. Rafe was usually laid back and approachable but the look he shot her way was enough to tell her he was less than impressed with her at the moment.

"Lily; Loretta." His tone was laced with disapproval. "Where's Andrei and Mackenzie?"

Loretta was immediately on her feet unconsciously placing herself between her daughter and her Alpha as she went to greet him. "They're in the study, Rafe. Do you need to speak to them?" She could sense there was something on his mind which wasn't just related to Lily's reappearance in the pack.

Rafe nodded and his expression relaxed slightly and he managed a brief smile. "I do but I need a moment alone with Lily first. Can you give us five minutes, Loretta?"

"Rafe..."

He reached out and tousled her hair. "I'm not going to harm your chickie," he said with another brief smile. "Stop being such a mother hen. You know me better than that. But I do need to talk to her and then I need to speak to all of you."

Loretta relaxed, shooting him a sheepish smile. She'd known him for so long now that she should have known better. He would never do anything to harm Lily but he was Alpha and he played no favourites with any of the pack. If they did wrong then they felt the weight of the Alpha's disapproval.

Still slightly reluctant to leave them alone, she headed out of the kitchen and went in search of her mate and new son.

Rafe waited until Loretta was out of earshot before he turned his full attention to Lily. His thoughts were in turmoil about the recent news he'd received, serious news that meant his pack was threatened again. He needed to address that threat but it was more pressing to deal with his errant pack member first and all the issues her actions had brought.

His eyes roamed over her face as he quickly checked that she was unharmed from her little disappearing act. He was surprised at her posture and even impressed. She stood to attention with her arms clasped behind her back and her eyes forward. There was a maturity to her expression he hadn't seen before. Lily looked every inch like a soldier, hell she looked like one of his Betas the way she stood there waiting for him to speak. It was hard not to feel a spurt of pride in her even if he did need to exert his authority as Alpha.

"I'm going to keep this brief because I have other, more urgent, issues to deal with, Lily," he finally said. "The next time you disappear and mask my Alpha bond I'll take that as your declaration that you no longer wish to be part of this pack. I'll work with you to find another pack to join before we terminate the bond but I will terminate it. Are we clear on this?"

The colour leached from Lily's face as his words struck home. He couldn't be serious, could he? Leave the pack...her family and friends? Just the thought of it brought panic rushing to the surface and her wolf howled instantly adopting a submissive position. She knew she deserved Rafe's censure but she hadn't dreamed he would consider her actions so serious he would propose something this drastic.

It was an effort to keep her emotions in check and she couldn't raise her eyes to meet his. "I understand, Alpha. It won't happen again, I promise."

She could feel his eyes burning into her as she kept her gaze fixed on his wide chest, a chest she had cuddled into many times when growing up. Rafe had always had time for her, always treated her as one of his own when she played with his children. Earning his disapproval was hard to swallow.

It was an effort to maintain his tough stance. Rafe frowned as he stared down at Lily's bent head, his pride in her swelling as she didn't try to justify her actions but instead took ownership of her wrongdoing. Her time away from the pack, whilst worrying, had obviously been good for her. This Mackenzie person was obviously good for her.

"Glad to hear it," he finally said with a hint of dryness in his tone. "Oh, come here!"

The warmth suddenly blazing down the Alpha bond was unmistakable, as well as the affection in Rafe's words. Lily raised her head to meet his eyes and then surged forward with a cry of relief as her Alpha held his arms open to her and quickly gathered her into a bone-crushing hug.

"You worried us all, Liliana. You should have come to me, told me you needed help. That's what I'm here for." Rafe rested his cheek on the top of her head soothing his errant pack member. He couldn't bear seeing Lily unhappy. It was almost as bad as seeing Rhianna unhappy. 

He knew he should be sterner with her, especially considering all he had recently learned but he couldn't do it. So he hugged her tightly and let her know how much he loved her as she clung on tightly.

"I'm sorry I let you down, Rafe. I promise I won't do it again." Lily's voice caught and she took a deep breath and bathed in his forgiveness, thankful that he was the man he was and not one of the harsher Alphas she'd heard about from other packs.

"I'm sorry we let you down Lily," Rafe answered quietly. "I did, the triumvirate did...the whole pack have let the Vârcolac down by not seeing that we were stifling you. We've been educated now and we're working to improve things. Just come to me if there's a next time. I can't help if you hide from me."

She hugged him tighter, nodding against his chest as she worked to get her emotions under control. She could feel Mac's concern through their connection and knew he was coming because she hadn't thought to suppress her inner turmoil.

"Mac's on his way," she mumbled, taking a deep breath.

Rafe released his hold and smiled down at her. "The joy of being mated," he chuckled. "Having a moment's privacy becomes a luxury until you learn to work the mate bond. I trust I'll be allowed to retain my limbs for upsetting you?"

Her scandalised expression had him laughing and it felt good to laugh even if only for a moment. The news he had to impart was not something he relished but he wanted to give Lily a moment with her family and her new mate, to feel a little joy before the situation impacted on them all.

Mac entered the kitchen followed closely by Loretta and Andrei. His gaze immediately went to his mate and he relaxed as he saw her smiling sheepishly up at the huge male who was the Alpha of the Armand-Hanlon pack. They hadn't officially met but he'd seen the other man many times.

The mate part of him wanted to intercede whilst the leader part of him understood the need for the chain of command and to ensure that all under his command obeyed his orders. Rafe Hanlon had the right to discipline his pack members as Alpha. 

His quick gaze told him that Lily was unharmed by their encounter so he dialled back the need to cause some bodily harm to the man beside her. He met the Alpha's gaze as he turned to inspect him with a thoughtful expression on his face. 

Rafe frowned slightly and turned back to Lily. "You two have mated?" 

She flushed slightly and nodded her head wondering if she was going to get into trouble for that too. Rafe had a strange expression on his face as he regarded her intently before turning back to Mac.

"There is no Alpha bond."

Everyone stiffened in the room with the exception of Mac. He looked around the room and saw shock on their faces and Lily had even turned pale. It was too much for him and he strode to her side and pulled her into his arms. "What's wrong?"

"When Loretta and I mated it created an Alpha bond with Rafe. Same for all the mixed matings. You should have the same bond," Andrei explained with a touch of concern in his voice as he looked at Rafe for an explanation.





Hearts of Warriors Ch. 13



"I don't feel any different," Mac commented. "Perhaps the wolf gene is muted because of Lily's unique heritage?" He, too, looked to the Alpha for an explanation.

Rafe shook his head his frown deepening as he thought back to the first matings and how none of them had realised the vampires were his until the night Loretta and Ashleigh had been taken by Daniel.

"No, it's something other than that," he answered. He met Mac's eyes and held them for a long moment before he had to concede the unthinkable. 

"I'm not your Alpha."

The words hung on the air, the tension in the room thick.

"But that means..." Loretta choked out shooting a glance at Lily and seeing the understanding crossing her face.

"That I will be leaving the pack after all," Lily finished, sadness creeping into her voice as her eyes filled with tears. There could be no other explanation and it hurt to think that she would be separated from her family in such a significant way. Being part of the Armand-Hanlon pack was all she knew. She trusted Rafe. 

Her distress was enough to snap the fragile hold Mac had on his emotions. He tightened his hold protectively around Lily's slender frame. "Explain for the non-Were," he ground out, leaning down to brush his lips against his mate's temple as her tears silently flowed down her cheeks.

"Loretta was in the Hanlon pack at the time of her mating to Andrei," Rafe answered with a deep sigh. "He didn't bond with Jared Hanlon but instead bonded with me as did the others. When I accepted my position as Alpha, it broke the bond the girls had with Jared and they joined with me and became part of my pack. The same will happen with Lily."

He paused and let the words sink in, keeping his gaze fixed on the angry vampire. "Somewhere out there, you have an Alpha who hasn't accepted his position yet. When he does...Lily's bond will break with me and she'll become part of his pack."

Lily raised her head from Mac's chest to glance tearfully at Rafe. "But you can manipulate the bond. You just said so...we can put it back."

Rafe sighed again, his eyes sad as he tried to explain. "I could, Lily, but the natural Alpha bond is instinctive. I can't sever another Alpha's bond. He would have to give it up willingly. He may agree with you but the likelihood of him doing so with Mackenzie is very low. Your mate has never been part of my pack therefore I have no prior claim."

Mac was quickly piecing the information together, a low growl sounding from his chest as Lily's tears flowed faster as she realised there was nothing they could do. They would be at the mercy of the whim of some unknown Alpha somewhere. 

He knew that his woman wouldn't stand to be separated from him by being in another pack. She would stay with him wherever the Were bond placed him which meant she would be cut off from her family and friends. It was another blow, more pain that he was heaping on the woman he loved and he cursed himself.

Lily struggled to control her tears, glancing at her father, who was remarkably silent through the discussion. He was so still it was hard to imagine what he was thinking or feeling. A strong surge of love rushed through her as their eyes met.

"The changing of the Alpha bond won't affect the other bonds in place?" Andrei asked quietly, his heart banging in his chest. He had no idea if Rafe had ever had the power to sever the familial bond they had with their children. He wasn't the type of man to but if this new Alpha was...

"I don't believe so," Rafe answered carefully. "Though we lack the knowledge because this is all so new to us. I don't think even Caleb or Annie would know but we could ask them. The Alexanders retained their familial bond though it is nowhere near as advanced as the Vârcolac one. And neither I, nor, Jared would have done anything to interfere with it either."

"So we're basically reliant on what kind of man this unknown Alpha is?" Andrei asked. 

"We just don't know." Rafe hated feeling so helpless. He didn't want to lose Lily or any of the other children but the signs were there that it would happen, with Lily at least and possibly some of the others depending on whom their mates turned out to be.

He cleared his throat as the room remained silent, everyone lost in their own thoughts. He would check with Caleb and Annie but he wasn't expecting any answers from them. But it would have to wait while he pressed on with the reason he had come over.

"We'll have to shelve this for the moment," he announced, gesturing the others to take a seat at the dining table. "Caleb received disturbing news from Mara which impacts on everyone."

The tension level ratcheted up another notch and Mac frowned deeply as he took the chair beside Lily, keeping her hand firmly clasped in his and resting it on his thigh. "Pietro?"

Rafe nodded his expression solemn. "You were right to be concerned, Mac. When Demetri arrived in Scotland, Pietro was already in trouble. From what I've been told, the European vampires have created some kind of poison which breaks down your healing abilities. Given in too strong a dose, it effectively rots a vampire from the inside out."

"Oh my God!" Loretta gasped, looking first at Andrei and then her daughter. Fear rippled through her as the news sank in and suddenly she was being faced with the knowledge that her entire family, who she'd always considered as indestructible, were now at risk.

Mac kept his expression neutral though his hand tightened on Lily's. He was instantly in protective mode, his mind whirling as he considered what this meant for the Praetorians and how they could work to keep the Vârcolac safe in the face of this new threat. 

"Is Pietro alive?" He asked the question they were all thinking.

"Demetri was able to save him but at a cost. He retains scars from his experience and by all accounts he is fragile mentally at the moment. The damage was severe and his recovery time is being estimated in months rather than days. The triumvirate have asked the pack if we'll allow him to recuperate here and I've agreed."

"He stays with us," Andrei bit out, fury on his face as he gripped the table hard. The thought of the coming threat was enough to send him over the edge; the news his friend had come so close to dying incensed him beyond measure.

Loretta placed a hand gently over his, her own concern evident. "There's no question about it," she concurred. "We have the room now that both Lily and Kal are up at the Praetorian compound. He'll have privacy to recover here."

"I thought you would say that," Rafe nodded, glad he didn't need to ask. If Pietro was as bad as Caleb had informed him, he most likely wouldn't want to interact much with the pack when he first got there.

"Caleb's asked for a meeting tomorrow here at the compound. There's more but now isn't the time to go into it. We can form an action plan once everyone can be updated on the situation. Demetri is on his way with Pietro and I wanted to prioritise getting him set up somewhere he'd feel safe first and let Mac know of the impending danger so he can alert the Praetorians."

Mac nodded. "Do you want the Vârcolac home?"

Rafe hesitated, watching Lily press against Mac's side. With the threat against the vampires it made more sense for the Vârcolac to be surrounded by Weres who weren't endangered by the poison. But Caleb had said there was no sign of a move state side yet so they had some time and he didn't want to separate Lily from her mate. Mac would have to do his job as a Praetorian and wouldn't be able to come to the pack with her.

"No, they're safe for now, Mac. I may patrol some Weres up close to your compound as additional backup, so let your people know. Caleb gave me the location when he called. They can do outer sweeps so you can keep closer to the compound and everyone is at less risk."

"Makes sense," Mac answered, not the least put out their location was now known to the pack. The time for secrecy was past and he'd use anything and everything available to keep Lily safe. 

He stood up, pulling Lily up with him and securing her under the shelter of his arm. "It will probably be best to have less people around Pietro when he arrives. I want to get back up to our compound as soon as possible as well to alert my people."

The others stood and Loretta hugged Lily tightly whispering in her ear before nodding to Mac. "I'm going to organise a room for Pietro. Should I call Mallen over?" she asked Rafe.

"He's watching for their arrival and will come over when they do," Rafe answered.

"Give me five minutes to grab some things from my room, Mac," Lily said, her expression grave as she kissed him quickly and followed her mother from the room.

"Who are you sending up to the Praetorian compound?" Andrei asked the moment they were alone.

"AJ and Ben, possibly Thorne too," Rafe answered after a brief pause. "They can do with the experience. I'll send up Harley and Sam as well and sound out Lacey on whether or not she wants to tag along. I need Aaron here and it's too risky to send anyone up with vamp DNA. We'll work out where best to place everyone else after the meeting tomorrow. For now, I want our strongest fighters close to the pack."

Andrei nodded his agreement as Rafe quickly worked through the logistics. Both Aaron Junior and Ben displayed an Alpha tendency which wasn't surprising considering who their father was. Thorne was also showing signs of being a strong Beta along with his brother DJ. 

They were still young compared to most Weres but with the more experienced members of the pack going along too it would be a good proving ground for them if the danger level was reasonably low.

Mac listened to the conversation though his main concentration was on the direction his mate had disappeared in. He waited impatiently for her to return, anxious to be on his way to alert his people. His respect for Rafe Hanlon was building as he listened to the Alpha discuss options with Andrei. He was a man he could quite easily come to be friends with. He exuded a calm, authoritative confidence which Mac liked a lot.

Finally, the sound of Lily returning caused a little of his anxiety to recede. He took her pack from her as she paused at the kitchen doorway. The fact she allowed him to without commenting showed how distracted she was.

Lily had packed as much as she could in the short time frame she had. The trip home hadn't turned out as she'd expected and her thoughts were in turmoil at everything that had occurred. On top of that, she could sense something wrong with Mac. Oh, he made all the right gestures, acted like the usual dominant male most mates were but there was a slight reserve about him.

She had tried to place when she'd first noticed it but she couldn't put her finger on the exact moment. Was it before or after he came out of the study with her father? It nagged at the back of her mind even as she tried to concentrate on the impending threat.

"Do what Mac tells you," Andrei said, coming to gather his daughter into his arms and hold her close. "I'll talk to Kallum but make sure he and Liam do the same. No heroics from any of you. If Mac says move, then you shadow instantly and get the hell out of danger."

"Dad, we'll be fine," Lily sighed, even as she held onto him tightly. She could feel some of his fear leaking down their bond. "Rafe said the danger isn't imminent. Stop being such a worrier."

"There's no harm in pointing out the obvious," Rafe answered, stealing a quick hug when Andrei released her. "You're all vulnerable to this poison with your vamp DNA and we don't know for sure what the method of delivery is. Caleb may have been reasonably certain we have time on our side but that doesn't mean we shouldn't be prepared for all eventualities."

"Yes, Rafe." Lily smiled. She'd be better off asking them to stop breathing than to ask them to stop being overprotective. 

Mac gathered her against his side and shouldered her pack. "Let us know if you hear anything before the meeting. We'll be back in the morning, early." He nodded to the others and escorted Lily out of the house and towards their Jeep.

Once he'd stowed her belongings in the back seat, he pulled her close and caught her lips with his. His own fear was in his kiss, searing her like a hot flame as he dived into her sweetness.

Lily moaned and pressed close to Mac, threading her hands in his hair as he took her mouth ruthlessly, branding her his in every way possible. His body was hard and unyielding, his grip tight around her body as he fit her curves to his.

Her head swam and desire rose instantly, her breasts swelling with need, wet heat blooming between her thighs. She battled her tongue against his, rubbing against his instant erection and causing him to groan into her mouth.

Reluctantly, he dragged his mouth away from hers and stared down into her flushed face. She looked stunning in her seductive red dress and he wished he had time to strip it slowly from her body so he could lick every inch of her soft skin and drive her wild with pleasure.

Only the consequence of doing so was unthinkable. They were mated now. If they made love there was a high probability they could create a child. As if everything else wasn't bad enough, he still had that to contend with.

"Mac, what's wrong?" Lily breathed quietly, a frown marring her exquisite features.

"We'll talk later," he sighed, resting his forehead against hers. "We need to get back to the compound. I need to alert everyone to the situation and start doing my job of protecting you."

"You're at risk too, Mac. All the Praetorians are."

He released her and walked around the Jeep to open the door. As she stepped inside he ran a hand through his hair. "Yes, I know. That's only going to make our job harder but it's not going to stop us from doing what we have to."

He closed the door and slid into the driver's side. Starting the engine he gave her a brief glance before he put the car in gear and headed towards home.

Kothari stepped out of the trees as they passed and released his shadowing abilities when they were out of sight. He leaned against the side of the house for a long moment digesting all he'd heard. He could feel his rage building, the surging darkness within him fighting to take hold.

It would only be a matter of time before it erupted. It was too deeply rooted. He moved back into the trees taking off at a run to get as far away from the compound as he could. He shadowed as he ran, the rage building fast and furious at the threat to his pack, to his family, to her.

A soft glow began behind his dark glasses, quickly turning into a harsh glare as they melted away from his face and dropped in a molten mess to the forest floor. Fangs elongated and talons erupted from his fingers, a long red gouge streaking down his face as he fought to contain the coming storm.

With an inhuman shriek he cast his fury outwards as blood began to pour down his face. Ahead of him a swathe of trees turned to ash in an instant, the ones behind them snapping and splintering where they stood.

Barely five seconds had passed and the glow in his eyes vanished but the destruction before him remained.

Kothari closed his eyes and took a deep breath as his wound healed leaving a trail of stickiness in its wake. He wiped at his face as he opened his eyes once more to survey the damage. Silver orbs rimmed by a deep crimson red took in the devastation and he breathed out a sigh of relief that he'd made it far enough away from the pack.

It had been close this time but the release would take the pressure off for a while. He'd be able to control himself over the following week as long as he kept up his mediation and Tai Chi exercises. He wouldn't endanger his angel or anyone she loved. The pack was safe from him for a while.

Reaching within his inner core, he conjured up a new pair of dark glasses, hiding his eyes from the world as he turned in the opposite direction heading towards his special place where he could be alone and clean up before he had to return to the pack. 

So the European vampires thought they would come here and hurt what was his? He would kill them all if they tried. Not one would leave pack lands alive. 

What chilled Kothari's heart wasn't that he was prepared to kill to protect his people but that he knew he would take pleasure in it. Just the thought of it had his lips curling in a smile he didn't want to be smiling but couldn't contain.

The monster within was pleased with the turn of events. 

*****

Mac was silent the entire way home which Lily couldn't help being concerned about. The few times she'd attempted to engage him in conversation, he'd merely given her a small smile and answered in monosyllables. She knew he had a lot on his mind but something told her there was more to his silence than just the news they'd received about the poison.

She was fighting not to become angry at being shut out. It was hard though because things should have been different now they were mated. Mac should be treating her as his partner not like any other Vârcolac. His distraction was really starting to irritate her but they were at the Praetorian compound now and the opportunity to talk with him about it was slipping away. 

Before she knew it, Mac urged her forward into the house, his sharp gaze scanning the area continually until they were safely inside. Karn was just coming out of the kitchen and stiffened immediately when he saw his friend's expression.

"What?"

"Get everyone together in the sitting room. I'm just going to get Lily settled," Mac replied. "Where's Kal and Liam?"

Karn's gaze turned to the stairs. "They're in Liam's room."

Mac nodded as he wrapped his arm around Lily's waist and headed in that direction. "Station some guards outside his bedroom window. They can be updated on the news after the meeting." He all but pulled Lily upstairs with him as he spoke.

"Mac..." She tried to pull away but he kept his grip firm as they made it onto the first landing. Lily tugged at his arm and he released her, his expression inscrutable. 

"What's wrong with you? You've been acting weird and don't tell me it's because of what we've just learned. Something was wrong before Rafe arrived. What happened in the study? Did my father say something to you?"

Mac stared down at her, easily reading Lily's building irritation. He knew he wasn't being fair on his mate. They had so much to talk about but first he had to get his people briefed. He was also aware that he was being a coward. He was almost happy he had something else to concentrate on rather than talk to Lily about their personal issues.

"You know what we're facing, Lily. I've got a job to do and don't have time for this right now. We can talk later once I've briefed everyone." His tone was sharper than he intended and he wanted to claw the words back the moment they left his mouth. The flash of hurt in Lily's eyes was quickly replaced by anger.

"You've barely said a word to me since we left the pack and now you're blowing me off? You're using this poison business as an excuse to hide something and I want to know what it is. I'm your mate. There should be no secrets between us." 

Lily could hear a shrill note starting to creep into her voice and she battled hard to calm down. The stress of going home, the news that Rafe wasn't Mac's Alpha and the added stress of a bunch of wackos out there somewhere running around with a poison that could take out most of her family and friends, not to mention her mate, was too much to handle. Mac keeping additional secrets on top of that was the final straw.

Mac's resolute expression fuelled her growing anger as he thrust her pack into her arms.

"I said we'd discuss this later and that's an end to it, Liliana. Take your things up to our room. You can let Kal and Liam know what's going on though Andrei's probably already been in contact with Kal. If you want to come down to the sitting room fine, if not the three of you stay in Liam's room. I don't want you split up while we're preoccupied. I'll come get you when I'm finished."




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 13



Mac spun on his heels and headed back downstairs, forcing himself not to react to the further hurt he saw in Lily's eyes. He needed time to think things through and work out what they were going to do about the issue of children as well as what the impact would be of some unknown Alpha appearing in the future. But before he could do that he needed to address the threat to the Vârcolac. 

Lily wasn't the only one thrown completely off-balance by the events of the day. Granted, he was older and should have been able to deal with everything better but for so many centuries everything had been work related to him. Nothing had touched him on a personal level. Nothing had ever been so important and yet so totally incomprehensible that he just didn't know how to react to it.

Walking away from Lily was hard when every instinct within him demanded he turn around and protect his mate but how did he protect her from himself? When all was said and done his Lily was getting the worst of the bargain when it came to their mating. He didn't deserve her and she sure as hell didn't deserve the pain he was about to inflict on her.

Lily watched Mac walk away, swallowing down the hard knot of pain lodged in her throat. She had no idea what Mac thought he was protecting her from and she was angry that he hadn't listened to her earlier. Was it really only a handful of hours ago that she'd made it clear to him just what she was willing to accept from her mate? It felt like a lifetime ago. And he hadn't listened to her.

Spinning on her heel she marched into her room and threw her pack onto the bed. She was aware Mac expected her to take her things up to his room and it had been her intention of moving in with him when they returned from the pack visit, but if he wasn't willing to treat her as an equal then she wasn't willing to take that final step until he did.

Uttering a frustrated curse, Lily unpacked and hung her clothes in the closet before she changed out of her dress and into a pair of comfortable jeans and a red tank top. Pulling her hair up into a ponytail she headed back out of the room and went looking for Liam and Kallum.

She found them easily enough; Liam was only two doors down from her own room. It was a subdued Lily who joined them on the bed where they were sitting discussing the news Andrei had imparted to her brother as he'd said he would.

Both males dwarfed her in size and immediately sensed her mood. Kallum reached out silently, pulling her between them. The need to comfort her was a tangible thing as they tried to digest everything they'd learned. Liam moved closer until she was curled protectively between them, their wolves reaching out and connecting on an inner level that excluded everyone bar the other Vârcolac.

Dara joined them first, closely followed by Cassia. Elina arrived, her aura moving to Liam instinctively. Kothari joined them last, a remoteness to his mental touch which hinted at darkness.

"We will not let this happen." Kallum's firm mental tone was implacable. "No one threatens our families or our mates." His gaze turned to Lily and she nodded silently.

"They will seek to overprotect us," Kothari answered. "They don't have the first clue of what we're capable of despite recent events."

"Do any of us know what you're truly capable of, Kothi?" Dara's words held a bite to them which was unmistakable. They sparked mocking laughter with a cruel edge to it.

"Little girls should be careful of what they wish for, Dara Romanov."

"Enough," Kallum sighed wearily, keen to stop any petty bickering before it began. Sometimes dealing with Kothi challenged even his patience. 

"Everyone stay in close touch with at least one other. No going off on your own. That includes you, Kothi. No vanishing acts. We'll see what course of action Rafe and the others come up with and work out what we'll do once we have more information."

"What if they won't let us help, Kal? Elina asked. "My mother will most likely speak on our behalf but the rest of our parents still view us in terms of what they know of pack and vampires."

Silence greeted her words for a moment. There was no denying that any action they tried to take would be met with strenuous objections. 

"We'll deal with that if or when it happens, Elle. For the moment we watch and listen. I'll let you know when we need to act. Hopefully our parents will understand that we don't need protecting anymore." 

One by one, the Vârcolac agreed with Kallum's words, Liam's mental voice being the last to give his assent, his tone clearly unhappy at the possibility of any conflict with the pack and their parents. 

Lily extracted herself from her brother's embrace and moved to wrap her arms around Liam. "It'll be okay," she whispered. "We'll make them understand." 

Secretly she wondered just how she would be able to make Mac understand anything he didn't want to. Her mate was proving to be particularly obstinate about most things already, hence her current irritation with him. 

Still she soothed her friend as the other Vârcolac dropped from their mental link leaving the three of them alone once more, quiet and introspective.

*****

It had taken longer for Mac to organise his people than he'd anticipated. The day had waned into early evening and finally full dark as he increased the duty roster and recalled all Praetorians from leave.

He sent Karn out to liaise with the wolves, his number two reporting back that the Alpha's mate had indeed come along to help supervise the younger males and protect her pack members residing at the Praetorian Compound.

Mac had taken the time to meet with Lacey Hanlon as she was second only to the Alpha of the Armand-Hanlon pack and rated the respect of being greeted by the head of the Praetorians. She was an impressive woman, physically beautiful but also with an inner-beauty that shone out from behind the eyes of her outraged wolf. 

He'd have had to be dead not to admire her and think that Rafe Hanlon was a very lucky man to have such an exquisite mate. Which inevitably turned his thoughts to his own mate and the fact she was pissed at him and he hadn't seen hide or hair of her since he'd left her without a backward glance.

Sighing, Mac ran his hand through his hair and took the stairs two at a time heading up to their room. He couldn't avoid Lily forever and didn't want to. After the events of the day, he wanted nothing more than to breathe in her sweet scent, to hold her close and try and find a moment's respite from everything.

He knew she wasn't in their room the instant he entered. Always before, he'd found a joy in entering his inner sanctuary after a hard day. Tonight it was just another series of rooms in the house, the feeling of coming home he usually experienced not in evidence. How could it be when his Lily wasn't there? Home was now very firmly wherever she was, no matter what their differences were.

Mac slipped back downstairs scenting the air as he did. Lily was still with Kallum and Liam so he headed there, opening the door quietly. He froze in the doorway taking in the sight in the darkened room.

His mate was piled in a mass of arms and legs fast asleep in the middle of the bed. She'd changed into the cutest pair of pyjamas he'd ever seen, the top deep red, the cropped-legged pants white but covered in hundreds of red butterflies.

Her brother was curled around her back, his arm loosely around her waist as he slept. Lily's head was resting on Liam's lower thighs, her hair tangled about her, Liam's hand resting in the silky mass.

As he took in the scene his feral nature rose in a flash. His mate was in bed with two other males! It didn't matter that they were siblings, that Lily counted Liam as much her brother as Kallum. She was supposed to be in Mac's bed, not someone else's!

A low growl reverberated around the room filled with so much menace that it cut through Mac's fury and he blinked in surprise.

"Don't go there, Mackenzie," Kallum breathed quietly. "We are pack. We are Vârcolac. Don't ever forget that and don't ever think that you can take Lily from us." He silently extracted himself from his sister and sat up, turning molten amber eyes on the vampire in the doorway.

Mac remained still as he confronted Kallum's wolf in full protective mode. He had enough sense not to make any sudden moves until the animal backed down from its aggressive stance. Unlike with Lily, her brother's wolf was a true Alpha and any aggression on his part would spark a confrontation which would hurt his mate so he allowed the wolf its dominance.

Kallum suddenly relaxed and shot a rueful smile at Mac. "Sorry about that. I don't like being woken by aggression." He turned to look at his sleeping sister for a moment and then his gaze met Mac's again.

"She was upset earlier. We heal our distress with a wolf's touch. We go pack, our animal instincts taking over. This is normal for us."

Mac relaxed too, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. He'd had no idea how much the wolf half of the Vârcolac played in their psyche. He realised he was guilty of thinking of them as more vampire than wolf because they didn't appear to let their animals free as often as normal Weres. 

He could see he was going to have to rethink some of his previous misconceptions when it came to his mate. Walking into the room, he approached the bed cautiously, earning a soft chuckle from Liam as he sleepily opened his eyes.

"Kal's bark is worse than his bite," he yawned, before closing his eyes again and stroking Lily's head lightly. "My legs are going to be cold when you take her," he added with a sigh, before going back to sleep.

Mac smiled as he bent down and scooped his sleeping mate into his arms. Lily didn't wake but she did instinctively curl into his chest, an arm wrapping around his neck. Her closeness instantly soothed him, her scent surrounding him and invading every part of him. God, how he'd missed her.

"Whatever it is you can't talk to Lila about, perhaps you can talk to me?" Kallum said, as he settled back on the bed, lying on his side as he watched his sister being cradled tenderly by the vampire.

Mac regarded him intently for a long moment before brushing his lips against Lily's forehead. "Thank you for the offer, Kal. I will bear it in mind." He headed to the door with his precious bundle. He turned before he left the room.

"Security is heightened around the compound and some of your pack are in the area too. Stay within the compound limits though. If they want to visit, fine, but none of you are to go looking for them."

He waited for Kallum's nod of agreement before he left and closed the door behind him. He stared down into Lily's sleeping face as Karn walked upstairs to come and stand beside them.

"Was it only the other day I said this was fucked up?" the other vampire asked with an ironic laugh. "Didn't know I had psychic abilities."

Mac's lips twitched in a half smile as he met his friend's gaze. "Sometimes fucked up is so worth the effort my friend. Wait until you meet the woman who brings you to your knees."

A pair of cold green eyes flashed in Karn's mind and he unconsciously ran a hand over his recently healed ribs. "Never going to happen, Mac. I'm going to run like fuck the instant I see her." He laughed and headed off towards his room.

Mac watched him go, a shadow of a frown on his face before he looked back down at Lily once more. "There was just a hint of a sparkle in his eyes there," he whispered, kissing her temple. "I think our Karn is in as much trouble as I am, sugar."

Lily snuggled against him at the sound of his voice and he smiled. Even pissed at him she still wanted to be close to him. She couldn't argue with her subconscious mind though he was sure she was stubborn enough to try. 

Mac swept his mate upstairs to their bed. He was tired and tomorrow would bring about more headaches to deal with. For tonight he wanted to luxuriate in the feel of his woman in his arms. Tomorrow he'd deal with her wrath and find some way to answer the questions she had without breaking her heart.

To be continued...



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 14



 Many thanks to mikothebaby for editing for me once again.

Enjoy :)

*

Pietro lay awake on the bed staring up at the ceiling. He was waiting for Demetri to let him know it was time to leave. He'd heard his friend talking with Mara somewhere downstairs but no one came to break his solitude so he remained alone in the room Mara had shown him to when they'd arrived from the airport a few hours ago.

Lying alone gave him a lot of time to think and a part of him envied his friend. To know what it felt like to find ones true mate was something most vampires could only ever aspire to. There was a certain irony in how quickly it was seeping into the vampire nation that finding a mate was something they craved. Prior to Caleb finding Rhianna, it had never been a consideration for most of them. They'd been happy living their hedonistic lifestyles.

Now everyone looked to what Caleb and Demetri had and they felt envy for what they lacked. To a lesser extent, that same envy was directed at the Romanovs and the Erikssons, but there was still a certain level of distaste about mating with Weres even if it was abating more as the years passed.

Pietro had once looked to the future, dreaming there was a mate out there waiting for him. He'd even entertained the idea that his mate would be a Were, that there was the added possibility of there being a child in his future. Now that was nothing but a pipedream.

What woman would look at him with his scarred face and body? Come to think of it, what woman would be able to deal with the emotional scars now embedded on his soul?

All of his life, he'd felt invincible, untouchable. He'd always been a strong vampire but he'd had the added weight of the friends he'd associated with, the Romanovs in particular, and more recently Demetri and Caleb, to back him up.

Those associations alone had been enough to give most vampires a reason to pause before trying any aggression towards him. The few idiots who had ignored the prominence of his inner circle were soon disabused of any grandiose ideas that they could take on Pietro de la Rios.

Despite his lazy humour and irreverent attitude, Pietro was just as much a feral animal as most of his kind. He swung to the same excesses of ferociousness and was quick to take down any enemies who crossed his path. And that had been his undoing.

His successes had led to his overconfidence and ultimately his abduction and torture. He was the architect of his own downfall and that was hard to live with.

With a sigh, he rose from the bed and walked naked across the room to stand before the long mirror standing in the corner. He'd done this countless times since he'd been left alone, viewing the healing of wounds on his body with a dispassionate eye. Most of the lesser wounds had healed completely now and his skin didn't look as raw as it once had.

But the once flawless lines of his body were forever marred. Looking in the mirror there was no escaping that fact and it was hard for him to examine each of the jagged scars he encountered.

Tentatively, Pietro raised his hand and brushed the three ragged marks across his chest, feeling the imperfection that he now carried for life. The image of a vampire came easily to mind, Bruce, with his eyes full of hate and his talons extended.

There was insanity in the other vampire's eyes as he'd dug his talons deep into Pietro's body and ripped through the resisting flesh and muscle, chipping at bone as he went. The memory of the searing pain crashed through Pietro's mind and a low groan escaped him as he relived the moment.

It had been Bruce who'd destroyed his eye too, gouging deep as Pietro had screamed like a child, fire and agony exploding in his head as the torture had gone on and on. Another groan escaped him as he raised his eyes from his chest and looked at his now black iris and the scar running from his right eye over the curve of his cheek and down to his jaw.

Another scar covered his neck down to his collar bone and he knew if he turned around he'd see the scars on his lower back and down his shoulder blade. It didn't matter which direction he turned in, the evidence of his torture was visible. There was nowhere to hide.

And there would never be anywhere to hide again. Every single second of every day, his failure would be there for all to see. Everyone would know that his arrogance had led to him being bested by mere Younglings and in his world, that loss of reputation was everything. He would be deemed weak and a target open to all manner of slights and maybe even outright attacks despite who his friends were.

He could live with that, could work to show everyone that he was still a force to be reckoned with. What he couldn't live with was his own feelings of failure. The memories of his screams were still too raw, reliving the blinding pain, another form of never-ending torture.

Breaking down in front of Demetri...he shuddered at the thought and wrapped his arms tightly around his body even as he felt moisture in his eyes and knew he was going to cry again. He never cried and yet now, he found tears only a moment away far too often and it was a struggle to keep them at bay.

He was an Elder, a formidable vampire and now he wept like a baby reliving the experiences of the last few days over and over as if watching a movie looping endlessly.

Pain engulfed him and Pietro sank to his knees before the mirror with his head bowed, ashamed to look at his damaged body and see the weakness that now lived in his soul. He had failed and he knew he'd never be the same again. He was damaged beyond repair and his dream of having what Caleb and Demetri had, well that was gone forever now.

If he ever had the misfortune to meet the woman that was his mate, he'd turn around and walk away so fast she wouldn't even know that she'd been in the company of hers. He was broken and he'd never burden his mate with his weakness.

The sound of Demetri approaching broke him out of his reverie and he quickly rose and dressed. By the time his friend knocked on the door, his expression was neutral, giving no hint of his inner emotions.

"It's time," Demetri said, as he hovered in the open doorway, his gaze shrewd as he ran his eyes over Pietro's face. He wasn't the least fooled by the blank expression. Pietro didn't want to hide out with the pack even though he was smart enough to know he was too vulnerable to avoid it. He watched silently as, without a word, his friend gathered his packed belongings and shouldered the travel bag.

Demetri allowed Pietro to precede him out of the room. Giving Pietro the lead gave him the illusion that he had some say in what was happening. They both knew that was false. Caleb had agreed with Demetri's assessment and made it abundantly clear there was no debate on the matter. Even over the telephone, the vampire king was formidable and not one to argue with. Pietro had been given no option.

As Demetri closed the door behind him, Mara hurried down stairs and smiled at Pietro before engulfing him in a tight embrace. "If you need anything call me, doesn't matter if I'm in a Council meeting. I'll leave instructions you're to be put through to me no matter what."

Pietro felt moisture start to gather in his eyes again and took a deep breath to centre himself as he returned her hug. Mara Bozic was a good woman. She was not only Demetri's wife but also a member of the vampire Council. She brought him comfort on many different levels and he was grateful for it.

"Thank you, Mara, for your hospitality and your support. It means a lot."

Soft lips brushed his cheek as she pulled back and he heard an irritated snort from Demetri, followed by a resigned sigh.

"Wife, we've discussed this kissing business before."

Mara laughed softly as she gave Pietro one final squeeze and let go. She turned to her husband and raised an eyebrow. "And when you stop driving Caleb nuts by hugging and kissing Annie at every opportunity then, just maybe, I will listen to what you have to say on the subject, husband," she countered, amusement lacing her tone.

Demetri laughed and gathered her into his arms, kissing her soundly to erase Pietro's scent. He wasn't really bothered about the kiss, seeing how his wife's easy touch and acceptance of his friend had settled him slightly.

But he liked to tease Mara when he could and she would expect him to grumble at her display of affection with another male. It was normal and Pietro would expect it of him too, so normal he gave them. With a reluctant sigh, he pulled back and looked at his friend.

Pietro squared his shoulders and turned and headed down to the ground floor with Mara and Demetri behind him. He waited patiently while Demetri kissed Mara once last time and then the two men headed outside.

"This sucks, Demetri."

"I know but it's necessary." Demetri unlocked his car remotely and Pietro scowled as he got in.

"No comment?" Demetri sighed as he started the engine.

"Is there any point? I'm as weak as a newborn baby right now and you and Caleb have made it plain this is happening. Arguing about it isn't going to get me anywhere." Pietro couldn't contain the anger in his voice.

Demetri sighed again and rolled his eyes before he shifted into gear. "I meant about my new car. Cost me a fortune and you didn't even comment on it."

The change of topic threw Pietro for a moment and then he looked around him. His eyes widened and he let out a low whistle. "A McLaren F1? You have way too much money, Demetri."

His friend beamed with pride, lovingly stroking the steering wheel as he gunned the engine and took off. "No point in having money if you don't get to treat yourself every now and then," he laughed.

Pietro shook his head and rested back, closing his eyes and trying to psyche himself up for reaching the pack compound. He hoped there wouldn't be a lot of people around, that Rafe would realise he needed space and would keep the wolves away from him.

He could cope with the Andrei and Loretta where he'd been informed he was staying. He could even bear Alexei and Cedar around him but everyone else...he just wanted them to stay away and leave him in peace.

He kept his eyes closed the entire journey, grunting one syllable answers to Demetri until his friend finally fell silent and gave him some space. His trepidation grew as they pulled into the compound and stopped in front of Andrei's house. A quick scan of the area showed it was deserted and he sighed with relief. Rafe was obviously smart enough to tell everyone to stay indoors when he arrived.

Andrei appeared at the side of the car, opening the door and peering inside with a neutral expression. "Don't think this means you're getting out of your bar duties. We'll reassess how you're doing in a few weeks' time and if I feel you're up to it, then it's back to work for you."

Pietro's lips twitched in a small smile. He was relieved to feel a bit more settled being in a familiar situation. He hadn't seen his friend for 25 years but Andrei was always going to be Andrei. If you were in his inner circle you could always count on him to never change.

"Now seems like a good time to instigate labour laws for vampires," he grumbled as he climbed out of the car.

"Don't you listen to him, Pietro," Loretta said in a prim tone, coming to stand beside her mate. She gave him a warm smile. "Is it okay to hug?"

He stared at the pretty brunette, remembering the first time he'd seen her walking into The Dive with her head held high; a Were in the heart of a vampire den. He'd been both disgusted and also impressed with the feisty she-wolf who had sat down and all but demanded to see Andrei.

She'd met his eyes then with no fear and now she held his gaze once more. There was no sign of any loathing or disgust on her face. Instead there was warmth in her deep brown eyes, concern etching her features. Again, he was amazed at the strength of the females his friends had chosen for their mates. Loretta would always be special to him because of who she was as well as because she was Andrei's mate.

"For you, always, Loretta," he finally answered, moving forward to embrace her tightly and accept her welcome into her home.

"Make it quick," Andrei growled, grabbing Pietro's travel bag and motioning Demetri inside. As soon as they were alone, he gave the other man a questioning look.

"It's hard to tell," Demetri said quietly, nodding his head towards Andrei's study. It was safe to leave Pietro with Loretta. He'd scented Nors and Alexei close by as well as some of the pack betas. They'd kept out of the way of their arrival but the pack boundaries were effectively being patrolled to ensure no harm came to anyone, including Pietro.

"Mallen can take a look at the scarring but it's highly unlikely anything can be done about it," Andrei sighed, closing the study door behind them. He moved to one of the armchairs beside the fire and sat down, Demetri taking a seat across from him.

"The physical scarring is bad enough," Demetri concurred. "It's the emotional scarring I'm more concerned about. Annie's going to head down in a few days. She wanted to give him time to settle into pack life but she wants you to let her know if you think she needs to come sooner."

Andrei nodded. "I think that's a good idea. Let him feel a bit more comfortable before someone starts poking about inside his head. If it becomes apparent he needs more, we can deal with it as and when it crops up."

His eyes suddenly began to bleed to black and fury began to build inside him. "What the fuck is going on in Europe, Demetri? It's bad enough they attacked Pietro but if those fuckers think they're coming anywhere near my family, I'll rip them apart limb from limb."

Demetri could understand the other man's fury because he shared it. He'd also seen first-hand what the poison could do. But they had to try and keep a level head. Going off half-cocked was not going to do them any good.

"Be calm, Andrei. We all share your fury and are equally as concerned for our families. At the moment, there's only one European vampire on the loose and we're more than capable of taking care of her when she arrives. The rest of them seem to be waiting for something before they act. God only knows what that is but we have allies over there who will give us a heads up should they move."

It felt odd being the one advising caution but then Andrei was as volatile as him, sometimes even more so. Now he was back on home soil, Demetri could afford to engage his brain before acting.

"Anyway, the people in most danger are full vampires," he added, as he watched Andrei start to calm down. "The poison is designed to target us. There's no telling how dangerous it will be to hybrids or any of us mated to Weres."

"Even if what you say is true...even if it didn't kill Loretta and the children, it could still hurt them." Andrei fought with his feral side, tried to stifle it down. He couldn't countenance any harm coming to his family. The vampire nation had hurt Loretta enough in the past, almost killing her twice. He'd wreak havoc before he allowed them a third chance.

"And Mara is a full vampire. As is Annie," Demetri growled. "You think it's any easier for me to sit here and urge calm? Your family has a chance, Andrei. Mine doesn't. Possibly Annie could survive a poison attack, who knows? But what I do know is that Mara wouldn't and she'd be a prime target because she's a member of the Council. So, if I can keep myself in check, then you sure as hell can too."

Demetri's words were sobering. Andrei sat back and closed his eyes, trying to imagine how hard it was for his friend to appear so calm in the face of the potential threat to not only his wife but their queen, a woman Demetri classed as his sister. If he could control himself then so could Andrei.

"This is just so outrageous," he finally sighed, opening his eyes which had reverted back to normal. "How the hell did this happen? How did we become so complacent that we let the Europeans get so out of hand without doing something about it?"

Demetri arched an eyebrow at him. "Isn't that a question the Council should be answering?" He watched his friend frown. "Caleb was talking about a meeting of some sort. I'm not sure what he has in mind yet but we'll find out soon enough. The Council need to be appraised of the situation. Pietro and I will provide as much information as we can."

Demetri stood up and flexed his shoulders. "I need to go. Cristoph and Stefan are watching my house and Jared sent a few Weres to patrol as backup but I don't like being this far from Mara when this unknown vampire is on her way. For now, get Pietro settled. I don't think anything's going to happen today. One of us will be in touch with Rafe and also the Council officially tomorrow."

Andrei nodded and rose too, feeling only a little less angry. He buried his fury deep and forced himself to think like a Council member. Officially, the ruling vampire body didn't know of the current events. Unofficially, with himself, Alexei and Mara being Council members some of them were aware and would need to address it before too much time passed.

He walked Demetri out, quickly determining his mate had taken Pietro upstairs to settle him in Lily's old room. Loretta had spent most of the day neutralising the room to be less feminine.

It made sense to use his daughter's room as she was now mated and living permanently at the Praetorian compound. Logically, the idea had been sound when they'd discussed it, but it hadn't made it any easier for him to accept that his little girl no longer lived at home. Letting go was a lot more difficult than he'd imagined it would be. Still it had to be done and he had to accept it or risk losing Lily completely.

With an inward sigh, he said goodbye to his friend and then went back inside just as Loretta was coming downstairs. There was a frown marring her pretty features and he couldn't stop himself from pulling her into a tight embrace and kissing the expression away. He didn't like to see his mate so worried.

"He's so sad, Andrei," Loretta whispered, as she rested her head on his shoulder. "No one has the right to do that to someone, to take the spark from them. I don't know if Pietro will ever recover from what was done to him."

Andrei knew his mate was thinking of her own experiences, that she could relate to the pain his friend was in. "You did, Loretta. You not only recovered you became stronger for it. Pietro will too. Just give him some time."

She sighed and tightened her hold. "I hope so, Andrei."

*****

Demetri woke to an empty bed and frowned in irritation until he heard the subtle sounds of water splashing in the adjoining bathroom. His long body relaxed and he stretched, a satisfied smile crossing his face.

Mara had been very solicitous towards Pietro when they'd arrived back from Europe, tucking him safely into a room when it had become apparent he wanted to be left alone for a while. As soon as the other vampire had locked himself away, she'd turned her critical eye on her husband, and smiled.

That smile had been enough to tell him that she was more than pleased with his efforts in Europe and also that he was about to get some serious loving from his woman, something he was particularly addicted to. He hadn't realised how draining the last few days had been until he woke up to an empty bed and the sounds of his wife luxuriating in the bath next door.

The struggle to hold onto his human side in Europe had been more challenging than he'd expected. Maybe it was because it had been so long since he'd been on a true hunt? He'd become used to having Mara around to counter his feral side. Suddenly being alone with no support network had thrown him off balance.

He made a mental note to never become that complacent again. To remember that at all times the urge to cross over would be lurking in the wings. It was safer for everyone concerned that he never forgot what he was capable of when pushed to his limits. The carnage which could ensue if he ever did was unthinkable.




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 14



But there was also another startling revelation which had come from his time in Europe. Somewhere deep within him he'd found the capacity to care for someone out of his immediate family group. Though he had always liked Pietro, he'd never truly classed him as being part of his inner circle. His reaction to his friend's pain and suffering had been instant and volatile.

Was this new softer side something to be concerned about? Did it make him vulnerable to his enemies or was it a required check and balance within his psyche to try and counter his aggressiveness? He wasn't sure and he didn't like being uncertain about things. Maybe he would talk with Mara about it. She was much better at analysing emotions.

Demetri slid from the bed and prowled naked to the bathroom door which contained the delightful female flesh awaiting him. His body hardened instantly. No matter how many times he took his wife, he was always ready for another tussle with her. Thankfully for him, she shared his insatiable need to be together at every opportunity available.

*****

Mara sighed with pleasure as she leaned back against the bath and let the hot water soothe her long limbs. She'd clipped her long, brown hair on top of her head to avoid getting it wet but a few stray tendrils were stuck to the back of her neck and fanning out in the water.

Demetri had been rampant on his return, using his wicked body, hands and mouth with deadly precision to bring her to climax after climax. There had been a hint of wildness about him, the echo of his dance with his feral nature still fighting for dominance. It had been passionate and exciting and more than made up for them being parted for a few days.

Her husband walked a fine line with his darker side, something which hadn't been as prevalent in the last couple of decades. It had thrown her off balance when he'd called from Europe and she'd had to react quickly to find the right tone to use to keep him grounded.

She'd allowed herself to become content, to forget just how dangerous her man could be because things had been running so smoothly. It was not a mistake she would make again.

Demetri was her life. She was nothing without him. To lose Demetri would end her world so she would do everything in her power to ensure he was always safe, even if he didn't like her over-protectiveness. She didn't like his but she'd learned to live with it.

A slow smile curved her lips as the object of her musings entered the bathroom. Turning her head slightly she watched her husband pause for effect in the open doorway.

Her languid gaze slid down all six feet plus of delicious man flesh.

Demetri was nothing short of a God descended from the heavens. His black hair was rumpled from sleep, his face carved in sharp lines and angles, softened by the heated green depths of his eyes and curved, sensuous lips.

He stood boldly naked before her, his smile widening as she looked her fill. Her husband knew he looked good; delighted in her enjoying his body. He held still so she could slide her gaze further downwards, over his strong shoulders, down his toned, broad chest.

Mara's breath sucked in as she reached his stomach and saw the evidence of his desire standing proud. Demetri was impressive in all areas and very skilled with his body. She felt her breasts tighten and the familiar ache begin between her thighs. Her tongue darted out and licked her bottom lip.

The throaty chuckle that action produced sent a shiver down her spine and caused her own desire to escalate higher.

"Hungry, wife?" Demetri sauntered forward, all sleek grace and deadly predator in his every move.

"Always, husband."

His hand fisted around his cock teasing her with long, hard strokes as he neared but kept out of range. "See anything tasty?" His smile grew wider at her frustrated expression.

"Demetri Bozic, if you tease me, I may have to kick your ass for you."

"Bring it on, Mara," he laughed, devilment glinting in his eyes.

Mara flew from the bath at vampiric speed, spaying water everywhere, but she was no match for her husband, he was an Ancient and she was still a Youngling. He easily evaded her, staying out of reach and all the time stroking himself with obvious enjoyment.

"Come on, beautiful. You can do better than that. Or don't you want this?" He stroked himself faster, a low groan escaping his throat.

"You're an evil bastard sometimes, husband," Mara growled, trying to anticipate his next evasion technique as she pounced again. Water continued to spray around the room as they danced together, laughter mixing in with frustrated sounds as Demetri continued to evade his woman.

Mara quickly tired of his games, desperate for the taste and feel of him. She'd never be able to meet him on his terms but she could meet him on hers. The next time she pounced she pretended to slip on the wet floor, letting out a little shriek as she over-balanced.

In an instant Demetri was at her side, strong arms wrapping protectively around her to prevent a fall. Mara's leg shot out, hooking around his calf and bringing him down to the floor to land on top of him.

"Gotcha!"

Demetri threw back his head and laughed, delight on his face at his woman's deviousness. After all these years he should have known better. His Mara was not one to be so inelegant as to slip and fall over.

"You've won your prize, wife," he conceded, pressing into her soft curves. "Now what are you going to do with it?"

Mara laughed sitting astride him and running her hands over his chest. She tweaked both nipples hard, drawing a sucked in breath and narrowing of eyes from her husband.

"Delicious, naughty things, my husband." She tweaked his nipples again and then lowered her head to soothe the tiny ache with her tongue.

"God, I love you, Mara." The words came out on a strangled groan as her fangs elongated and she pierced his flesh, sucking slowly and moaning with pleasure.

Instantly his blood was on fire and his own fangs elongated, aching to slide into her tender flesh. He held himself still, allowing her to take her fill. Mara's needs always came before his.

Demetri closed his eyes and luxuriated in the bliss of his wife's intimate kiss. There was little more satisfying than to taste the life force of ones mate, to feel the strengthening of a bond that was already so strong nothing could ever break it. Nothing short of death.

The darkness of the time in Europe invaded his mind and he twisted sharply, flipping Mara onto her back so he could stare down into her exquisite features. He was home now, where he belonged. Nothing could touch him when he was in the arms of his woman, bathing in her scent and her beauty.

The memory receded as he lowered his head and nuzzled at her neck. His hand fisted into her hair and he pulled to expose the tender skin for his possession. Gentle nips brought soft sighs and the scent of Mara's arousal to fever pitch. It was the sweetest smell in his world, the thick warm honey aroma mixed in with the earthy scent of a woman in heat.

With a growl, Demetri sank his fangs into Mara's soft flesh, pulling hard to drink down her life's essence. Her blood was so thick and rich, pulsing with the vibrancy of life. He wanted to sink his body into hers, to pound away until she screamed with pleasure.

But his wife had another craving first and he always ensured she received everything she wanted. With one last pull at her neck, Demetri withdrew his fangs and licked at the small puncture marks. Then he sprang to his feet gracefully, pulling Mara half-way up with him until she was kneeling before him.

"I'm all yours, beautiful."

Mara's smile lit up the room and made his heart crash hard in his chest. He'd move heaven and earth to give his woman what she wanted. All she had to do was name it and it was hers. And all she ever asked for was him, mind, body and soul.

The love shining from her eyes told him more eloquently than words that that would be all she ever wanted. She humbled him and yet she made him strong too. How he'd ever managed to survive without his Mara he had no idea.

And then thought was the last thing on his mind as his woman leaned forward and ran her tongue slowly up his pulsing erection. His body jerked and his breath hissed out and all he could think about was the sheer pleasure of having Mara love him so intimately.

Her hot mouth closed over his tip and he groaned his pleasure as he was engulfed in wetness and Mara began to suck eagerly at his straining flesh. It was impossible not to buck his hips and drive into her delicious mouth. It was impossible not to grip her hair and begin the slow steady rhythm of taking her mouth over and over again.

Mara moaned and increased her suckling, tilting her head so he could slide in deeper and brush the back of her throat the way she loved it. Her tongue laved along his shaft when he pulled out, driving him wild with little flicks against his rigid body.

Demetri could feel a climax quickly building as his wife laved his cock so lovingly with her attentions. He didn't want to finish in her mouth despite how good it felt to be there. He could scent Mara's arousal, knew she was ready for him but he wanted a taste too before their fun was over.

Sliding from her mouth, he pulled Mara to her feet. He took her mouth in a hard kiss, their tongues duelling as he tweaked at a nipple and massaged her breast.

Breaking the kiss, he spun Mara around and leaned her over the bath kicking her legs apart. His hand ran down the graceful arch of her back as she was forced to grip the far edge to maintain her balance.

"My turn, lover," he whispered, before sinking to his knees and inhaling deeply at her sex. His mouth watered and his tongue flicked out to dance through her soft folds.

Mara cried out with pleasure and pressed towards his mouth, eager for more of the delicious torture her husband was so good at inflicting. Her body shook with the strain of maintaining her stretched position as Demetri indulged himself between her legs.

Long, slow sweeps of his wicked tongue brought more cries of pleasure as he teased her with light touches before he slid deep inside her, licking her so intimately she felt her climax approaching quickly. Demetri was so attuned to her body, knowing exactly how to play with it for the best effects.

He thrust his tongue in and out, setting up a steady rhythm that had her rocking back in time with his ministrations. It was delicious but it wasn't enough. She needed him inside her, filling her as only he could.

Her cries turned to wordless pleas, urging him for more and hearing his throaty laughter as he kept up his teasing, denying her what she wanted. He really was an evil bastard at times but she knew he'd give her what she wanted eventually.

Demetri flicked his tongue hard over her clit and her body convulsed instantly and she screamed as her climax crashed over her in a pulsing wave. Again he flicked, and again, keeping her on her high as her breath rushed out in laboured pants.

And then he was behind her, leaning over her body and bracing his hands beside hers. "This is what you want, darlin', isn't it?" Demetri drove his cock home, burying himself hard within her body, growling as she welcomed him into her tight sheath.

Mara tried not to laugh at the arrogance in his tone but it cut through the intensity of him claiming her so abruptly. Her gasp of ecstasy turned into breathy laughter as her husband filled her, his body curved protectively over hers.

She tilted her head to the side capturing his bottom lip and biting down hard. "You talk too much, husband mine."

Her bite brought a low growl from Demetri's lips and a flare of wildness to his eyes. His slow smile was one of pure sensuality mixed with a hint of retribution. "Let's see who can still talk by the time I'm finished," he countered.

Mara braced for his next move, her own feral side rising to meet the challenge in his eyes. Fire licked along her nerve-endings as Demetri slowly withdrew and then slammed back in hard and fast.

Her breath exploded on a loud cry and ecstasy rippled through her. Then her husband showed her just how arrogant he was, just what he was willing to do to always win their little games.

Demetri took Mara hard. He'd wanted some gentle lovemaking with his wife after their earlier tumultuous joining, but it appeared she had other ideas and he was all about giving her what she wanted.

He thrust into her over and over, sinking completely inside the lush warmth of her body, growling as she gripped him so tightly. His talons grew as he straightened up, holding her fast at the hips and pounding deep within her. She took all he gave her, urging him on breathlessly for more.

Home was being buried inside Mara. It was breathing in her scent, feeling her wrapped around his aching body, watching the pleasure dance across her exquisite features. He belonged to his beautiful woman just as much as she belonged to him.

The need to come was a fever-pitch inside him. He wanted to spill his seed inside her eager body, to feel her come apart on his cock as she surrendered to him at the same moment he did. He increased the speed of his thrusts, moving a hand down and tapping a talon between her legs.

Mara shuddered and cried out, her movements becoming frantic as Demetri scraped his talon along her sex, hard enough to sting lightly but still on the right side of pleasure. He tapped her clit hard and she screamed, rearing up and wrapping her arms around his neck to hold on as he ravished her body.

"Time to come for me, wife," Demetri growled, continuing to abuse her clit with one long talon. He wrapped his other arm beneath her breasts, curling a large hand around one so he could tug at her nipple and tease it with his talons. All the while his hard thrusts rocked deep within her, her cries sending his blood soaring.

He was close, so close to coming apart but he needed Mara to be with him. His assault between her legs intensified, alternating between sensual strokes and harder love taps to the aching bundles of nerves which would send her flying any moment now.

His breathing was harsh, his chest heaving with the ferocity he was taking his woman. Her cries filled the room and he felt the sting of her bite as Mara sank her fangs into his bicep.

Demetri roared loudly, throwing his head back as his body erupted in ecstasy. His head fell forward and his fangs sliced into Mara's neck as he pumped his seed into her and gave her clit one last hard stroke to push her over the edge.

Time seemed to halt as Mara came apart in his arms, her body clutching his tightly as she climaxed and her body shivered with the pleasure coursing through her. They strained, locked together in perfect harmony, hearts beating as one as they achieved that one perfect moment of being a single soul living within two bodies.

It was with reluctance that Demetri pulled out of Mara. He kept his arms wrapped securely around her as he listened to her heart race. Her breath was coming out in short pants and he smiled as he nuzzled her neck. No, she wouldn't be talking for a while.

She did let out a little shriek though when he tipped her back into the bath and climbed into the huge tub with her. Water splashed everywhere and he laughed at the glare she shot his way, reaching out to gather her into his arms to snuggle her against his chest as he rested back.

Demetri turned on the hot water to fill the bath up as they slowly relaxed after their workout. His thoughts turned to Pietro and he frowned at what was to come. No matter how much he wanted to spend his time luxuriating in the love of his wife, he knew he had things to do and there was the threat out there which had to be dealt with.

"He'll recover, Demetri." Mara's soothing tone whispered over his skin and he relaxed a bit more tightening his arms around her.

"You didn't see him, Mara, what he went through. This poison...it's a threat to all of us, a threat to you. We have to find a way to stop it and fast. My feral side can't countenance any kind of threat to you. Until this is neutralised, I'm going to be walking the killing edge no matter how hard I try to rein it in." There was a hint of concern in Demetri voice.

Mara stroked his chest, turning to look up at him. She smiled, confidence shining from her eyes. "Whoever created this poison is about to get a very nasty surprise, honey. They have no idea about the triumvirate. They have no idea of just how powerful we are as a group. As a Council member, I share your concerns for our people, but as your wife, I am fully confident that this is something we can deal with and fast."

The look he gave her dampened a little of that confidence but she kept her expression serene to hide the trickle of unease with coursed through her. Anything which rattled Demetri was something to be very wary of.

His expression smoothed out and he leaned down for a deep kiss, caressing her lips gently with his own before dipping in to drink at her sweetness. "Let's get cleaned up, beautiful. I need to check in with Caleb."

Demetri let out a deep sigh as he grabbed a sponge and some soap and began to rub down his wife's body in quick efficient movements. Playtime was over, now they had to figure out how to deal with the coming threat.

*****

Reasa sank further into the shadows of the large oak tree, keeping a careful watch on the wolf which was patrolling down below. He was large and blond, attractive for an animal though not something she would consider lying with. It was vampires lying with Weres which had started this whole mess.

She shuddered internally, being careful not to make any movement within the leaves and attract any attention to herself. The two vampires protecting the house had been easy to evade because she could sense their mental signatures but the wolves had been an unexpected encounter.

Where she came from, Weres stayed away from vampires. They didn't congregate in dens either, always being on the move as a form of protection for their packs. If a coven came across a pack of wolves, they exterminated them on the spot. This new found love affair between species did not extend to Europe. Therefore, the wolves were nomadic by nature, keeping their packs reasonably small to make travelling faster and less conspicuous.

It appeared the wolves stateside acted as additional guardians to higher level vampires. This was going to prove problematic because she couldn't manipulate Were minds, only vampires. If the abominations were hidden within a pack, she'd have to find some way to draw them out to get to them.

Her cold, grey, gaze returned to the brick house in the distance and she tried to get a glimpse inside the upper storey windows. The scent of her mark had brought her here. She now knew that she hadn't followed this Mac person after all but instead the dark-haired male had been none other than the Ancient Demetri Bozic. 

That had sent a shiver down her spine as she'd overheard the two blond wolves talking earlier and she'd realised she was watching the home of not only an Ancient, but also one of the vampire Council member's. Even in the remotest areas of Europe, the name Demetri Bozic was known, though a lot of the Younglings thought the tales of him were vastly inflated.

Reasa had never been known to be stupid. If only half of the things said about the Ancient were true, then it was prudent to be wary so close to his lair and his mate. Only a fool would act without proper surveillance and intelligence.

She was again struck with the conflict of her situation. The Council supported the abominations and therefore, she was up against them as well as the Ancients. She had no real quarrel with those higher level vampires but she may need to go through them to reach her targets.




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 14



She was under no illusions that she would come out of this mission alive. As soon as she took out one of the abominations the whole might of the vampires and Weres would come against her.

And that was why she had worked on another delivery method for the Amort poison. No one would be stupid enough to drink bottled blood now that Pietro and Demetri had told their tale. To stand any chance of achieving her goals, she'd had to find the best form of defence against vampires that were faster and stronger.

Luckily she was resourceful with her hands. She'd managed to create a system of partially hollowed out bullets laced with the poison. It had gone against her conscience to overdose each bullet with the Amort, but she needed to make sure these superior vampires were put down fast and she also didn't know how much would be required to destroy a Vârcolac with them being of mixed breed. 

Still, she didn't have many of these bullets and would need to use them sparingly as she only had a limited amount of Amort left from the Pietro fiasco and the plant required to make it, which was the main ingredient, only grew in Romania. If she could take out her enemies without needing to resort to the Amort, she would and only fall back on it as a last resort.

It was clear that the wolves and other vampires wouldn't be leaving any time soon, so it was pointless Reasa staying in the area. As silent as a ghost, she slipped through the trees until she was far enough away to resume normal walking speed.

As she headed back to the small room she'd rented within the city, she made sure to avoid any other vampires as best she could. No doubt they would be expecting her to show up soon. Joshua must have alerted them to the missing hat by now. The last thing Reasa would do was underestimate the intelligence of her opponents. They hadn't become Ancients by being stupid.

She let herself into her room and carefully secured the door. Thankfully, feeding wasn't going to be an issue any time soon so she didn't have that headache to worry about. No, all she needed to be concerned about for now was hiding from the stateside vampires and Weres, tracking down the Vârcolac, and hiding from Louis.

With a sigh, Reasa lay down on her bed and stared up at the ceiling. This mission she'd set herself was no easy task and would require all of her intelligence to complete. The worst case scenario was she would only manage to take out one of the abominations before she died. If that was the case, then maybe her brief success would be enough to spur someone else on to take up her task.

For a moment she considered the wisdom of her actions and then she sighed again and closed her eyes. The compulsion to continue was too strong to fight. She had to reach the abominations and destroy them. They couldn't be allowed to live even if that meant her death.

To be continued...



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 15



 Wow just noticed this will be my 100th posting! When I submitted my first chapter of FTI in January 2010 I didn't think anyone would want to read it LOL. I'm pretty stunned that you have not only read it, but wanted more to the extent that I've reached 100 stories/chapters. 

Thank you all so much for your kindness and support. Last week was troubling for me and it's nice to see something positive for once. You guys ROCK!

As always, thank you mikothebaby for giving up your valuable time to edit for me #hugs

Enjoy!

*

Lily sighed sleepily and rolled over. She was immediately struck by the fact that she was alone in the huge bed that dominated what was now her new bedroom. She wasn't really surprised that Mac had come and retrieved her from Liam's room. She had a sleepy memory of his strong arms lifting her up and snuggling into his wide chest. What did surprise her was waking alone again. She'd only spent two nights in the bed since mating with her vampire and both times she'd woken to find him gone.

The subtle sound of movement by the window attracted her attention and she pushed her wild hair from her face and rolled over again to see Mac sitting on the loveseat with a pensive expression on his face. Midnight black eyes bored into her, making her feel unsure for a moment before she strengthened her resolve and met his gaze unflinchingly.

"You seem to have an issue with staying in bed with me," she commented with a yawn, before moving onto her back and staring up at the ceiling with a thoughtful expression on her face.

"Quite the contrary, sugar," Mac drawled with a resigned snort. "Leaving you alone in bed feels like the most exquisite of tortures." He rose and came to sit beside her, his long locks loose and falling over his shoulders as he searched her face.

"I don't like arguing with you, Lily. I try my hardest not to but always seem to fuck up no matter how hard I try." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "I've been alone for so long, sugar. I don't know how to be someone's husband anymore."

Lily turned to look at him, her eyes questioning. "Husband?"

The slip of the tongue seemed to be the opening he needed to explain why he'd withdrawn the day before. But she looked so beautiful lying there with her hair fanning his pillows, and her face soft with sleep. He didn't want to ruin the moment as he ran his greedy gaze over her features.

"Talk to me, Mackenzie. I'm your mate and whatever it is that's bothering you, I'm here to listen. Please don't shut me out."

Lily's soft words pierced him deeply and Mac took a deep breath, unable to deny that she had the right to know what was wrong as it affected her just as much as it did him. He knew he was being a coward trying to put the moment off for as long as possible.

Lily watched Mac, knowing instinctively that he was struggling with what he needed to say because he wasn't shielding his facial expressions as easily as he usually did. She could also feel the roiling emotions he was experiencing through their mate bond. Whatever was on his mind was so important it was enough to unsettle him completely and that caused a shiver of fear to run through her.

What could be so bad to have Mac rattled so much? He'd handled all the revelations yesterday as if they were minor annoyances. Whatever it was must be personal and that meant it affected them as mates. She felt her fear ratchet up a little more and her wolf began to pace restlessly deep inside.

"Mac, what do you mean by husband?" Her voice trembled slightly on the last word. She knew that only humans usually used the ritual of marriage to bind themselves together. That her mate had chosen that word could only mean that in the past he had once been married before he became a vampire. 

That was a surprise because the Mac she knew had always been a loner until he'd met her. It seemed strange to think of him being in love with someone else, of sharing tender moments with another even if it was so very long ago. Lily's wolf didn't like that train of thought, snarling so viciously that she quickly blanked her thoughts to pacify the beast. She somehow knew keeping control of her wolf right now was going to be one of the most important things she'd ever done in her life.

Mackenzie looked into Lily's troubled face and reached out to cup her cheek. His touch was tender, lightly brushing her soft skin and marvelling at how perfect she was. He could feel her fear through their bond and knew his next words would cause her nothing but heartache. His Lily didn't deserve to be tied to him for the rest of her life. She didn't deserve the world of hurt that was about to come her way.

Taking a deep breath, Mac let it out slowly and tried to calm his thumping heart. There was no avoiding this conversation and he needed to be in full control to ensure that should Lily's wolf react badly, he'd be able to contain the beast before it became too feral.

"I was married once, a very long time ago." He paused and let the words sink in, giving his mate time to digest the news and taking an extra few deep breaths to calm himself further.

"Her name was Maria and she had the sweetest, gentlest of dispositions. Her hair was only a shade or so lighter than yours and her eyes were a deep emerald green." Mac closed his eyes seeing Maria's smiling face as if he'd only seen her a few days before. Describing her to Lily helped him to remember his wife as she was and not how he'd last seen her.

"When I was human I was a farmer, brash and not very good with ladies. I was rough and spoke little, but for some reason Maria saw through all that and found something worth loving in me. It was a different time then, Lily. Ladies didn't approach men and show their interest. I guess Maria got tired of waiting for me to court her and despite being so shy decided to court me."

Mac smiled, closing his eyes as he remembered the day he'd finished seeding the bottom pasture and made his way back to his modest holding. He'd been surprised to see what was obviously a lady's horse chewing grass in the nearest pasture. On further inspection, he'd noticed the small figure sitting on his porch steps with a cloth covered basket at her feet.

Good day to you, Jonah," Maria called out, a shaky hand fixing a pretty deep green bonnet on her head. "I was in the area and thought I'd stop by. I was planning to find somewhere to rest and eat on this lovely summer's evening but was loathe to dine alone. I hope this isn't an inconvenience."

Mackenzie stared at the petite beauty before him, conscious of how hot and sweaty he was, and that she was a lady of worth, the Banker's daughter no less. Why had she travelled out of her way to his meagre holding? There was no way she had been in the area. He lived in a secluded spot far from town or neighbours.

"Begging your pardon for my state of undress, milady," he managed to stammer out when he remembered his basic manners. His chest was bare and he reached for his leather vest tucked in the waistband of his breeches. "If you give me a moment, I'll get cleaned up and presentable."

He moved around the house and out back, using the water trough to clean the worst of the sweat and dirt from his body and dunking his head in the cold water. His unruly black locks dripped moisture down his already wet body as he wrung his hair dry as best he could. 

Mackenzie quickly hurried inside his holding via the back door and dripped water all over the dusty wooden floors as he walked through the small living room and into his bedroom. Grabbing a cloth to dry himself, he selected his Sunday best, a pair of dark brown breeches with course cotton shirt and matching brown waistcoat. He dressed and ran a bone comb through his hair before tying it back and grabbing his best hat to hide the messy locks as best he could.

It had been an age since he'd been to a proper barber. He couldn't really afford to visit one so he tended to hack away at his hair with his knife until it was out of his way enough to work. Mackenzie was conscious that the delicate creature outside waiting for him was far above him with her pretty green dress with its bright yellow brocade of silk and lace. Why she had come to visit him was a complete mystery.

As Mackenzie stepped out the front door, he was once again struck by the beauty of Maria Malone and could only stare at her in awe as she turned to face him. She shyly appraised him with her emerald eyes and a faint smile curved lips that appeared a bit wide for so delicate a visage.

"You dress quickly for a man, Jonah," she smiled. "Men always say it is ladies who take forever to attire ourselves but Papa always makes us late for a dinner party. Of course, our hosts always assume I am the cause of our tardiness but it is Papa. Only don't tell him I breathed a word of that fore I shall be in trouble if he were to find out."

Maria was aware she was chattering nonsense but her heart was fluttering wildly as she stared into Mackenzie's steel grey eyes. From the moment she'd grown tired of waiting for him to court her and decided to do the deed herself, it appeared her heart had had a mind of its own.

Watching him stride back from the pasture, his manly chest glistening in the late summer sun, had almost made her swoon on the spot. The sweat and dirt were the signs of a good day's honest labour, something for which Jonah Mackenzie was renowned throughout town for. His hard muscles had bunched and flexed as he'd moved with a feline grace that had taken her very breath away.

It was watching him approach and his attempt at courtly manners that had convinced her she was right in what she was doing. Being in love with Jonah Mackenzie was a heady thing; something she had considered was possibly a daydream rather than genuine emotion. Now she was standing before him in his finery and she knew her emotions were true.

"I'm relieved to have met with your approval, milady." Mackenzie turned back inside and came out with his best table that he sat in the sunshine in the middle of the yard. He took the tablecloth covering the food in the basket and laid it over the table before Maria shooed him away.

"I have cutlery but a chair or two would be helpful, Jonah."

Mackenzie watched her begin laying the food onto pretty china plates she retrieved from the basket and then headed inside to get two chairs. They weren't very good chairs, nothing fit for a lady, so he grabbed the hand embroidered cushion his Mama had made years ago and was his only remaining possession of hers. He noted, as he laid the cushion on Maria's chair, that it was a lighter green than her dress and appeared perfect for the occasion.

"Why thank you, Jonah. That's most thoughtful of you."

The petite beauty's praise made him blush and he looked down at his boots wishing he'd taken an extra moment to shine them properly. Truth be told, he was way out of his league with this lady and had used up most of what he remembered about the manners his Mama had taught him.

"Sit, Jonah, and please stop calling me milady. My name is Maria and I'd count it a great honour if you would address me as such."

"Certainly, mil...Maria." Mackenzie sat down, wishing on one hand the ground would open up and swallow him, while on the other, he was mesmerised by the pretty brunette sitting across from him.

One more glance into the sparkling emerald of her eyes, one more soft curving of her sweet, delicate mouth and he knew his life would never be the same after this day.  

"She sounds lovely, Mac." 

Lily's soft words broke him out of the memory and he was surprised to realise he'd told his mate the story of his first real meeting with Maria. He'd never shared that moment with anyone before. It was special to him and his now dead wife.

It felt good talking about it, remembering Maria in all her simple beauty, the elegance of her movements, her demure genteelness. It didn't feel wrong sharing it with Lily and from the tender expression on her face, it hadn't upset her or her wolf.

"She was," he sighed softly, taking Lily's hand in his and running his thumb over the back in slow movements. "I think I fell in love with her that day. It was very difficult not to love Maria, the whole town did. I expected her father to object to us courting, as I wasn't wealthy like he, but Maria had a strong backbone when she wanted something and she wanted me. I still don't know why, to this day, she chose me when there were so many other more prosperous bachelors around."

"Maybe she saw the same in you that I do?" Lily answered with a small smile curving her lips. "You're one sexy male and you have an integrity that shines out for all to see. You are just so easy to love, Jonah Mackenzie."

She rolled the name on her lips, amazed that her mate had hidden his full name from the world for so long. Jonah Mackenzie. It had a lovely ring to it and she wondered if maybe Maria had been the only person other than his family to call him Jonah. Perhaps that memory was so special to him he didn't want to taint it by having others use his birth name.

Lily was surprised that she didn't feel any jealousy or animosity towards the long dead woman who had once held Mac's heart so completely and still resided in it from the expression on his face when he spoke of her. Her initial reaction had been to be jealous and her wolf had most certainly not been happy about another's claim on her mate.

But as Mac had told his story, she'd been transported back into another time, a world so different it was fascinating to listen to. Mac's happiness meant everything to her and she'd learned her lesson from the last time she'd learned about his more recent past and reacted without thinking.

Her mate had had a life before her and that was something she had to accept and could never change. And it was hard to think badly of anyone who had given her mate such happiness before they'd met, and her wolf seemed to feel the same way too as she'd settled down now and appeared less agitated.

"Maybe," Mac answered after a slight pause. He could see questions in Lily's eyes and was aware the time for procrastinating was long past.

"We didn't court for long," he continued. "Maria and I married that fall. She had no qualms about coming to live on my smallholding. It took her some time to come to grips with her new world, but she dove into the farming life enthusiastically. We saved up for a few years until we could afford to add on an extra room and then Maria became pregnant with our daughter Sophia. The day my little angel was born was the happiest day of my life."

Lily stiffened in shock, her gaze searching Mac's face as he stared off into space, adoration shining in the depths of his dark gaze. Her mate had been a father? All this was new to her, something kept so secret that she doubted very many people knew of Mac's history. To realise he'd had a daughter unsettled her wolf who began to prowl inside her again.

What had happened to Maria and Sophia? Why, even as Mac's eyes shone with adoration as he relived the birth of his child, did she sense such deep sadness down their mate bond? Lily wanted the story to stop now, feeling her heart start to pick up at beat. Something told her what came next was not something she wanted to hear.

But she knew she couldn't avoid it. Mac had changed yesterday at the compound and as he spoke, the pieces started falling into place. He'd been fine up until her mom had mentioned having children. Now he was telling her about a child he'd once fathered. Her heart raced a little harder and she sucked in a deep breath to await the ending of the story.

Mac turned his gaze back to his mate and saw realisation beginning to dawn on Lily's face. She was so intelligent, putting two and two together and getting the right result. In her eyes was a hint of fear and he could hear her heart beginning to race. Did she know what was coming or was she just guessing it was something bad?

His grip of her hand tightened and he kept her gaze glued to his as he went where he never wanted to go ever again.

"I was working the furthest away pasture one day when something told me I had to get home as quickly as I could." Mac's voice faltered as he struggled to keep control as the memory returned in an instant.

Running so fast, his heart beating wildly and in danger of bursting. 'Have to get home!' 

The urgency of the thought was like nothing Mackenzie had ever experienced. One moment he was working away and the next the compulsion to go home was upon him and he was moving before he even realised what he was doing.

"Maria!" Mackenzie burst through the last pasture, seeing the overturned washing basket with the clean linen lying in the dirt. 

Maria would be annoyed at seeing her clean laundry getting dirty like that. Had Sophia overturned the basket? His two year old was rambunctious for her age, a little powerhouse of independence but with a sunny disposition. It was hard to be stern with his daughter when she smiled her pretty smile at him. She well and truly had him wrapped around her little finger and his wife was always telling him off for spoiling her.

Somehow, Mac knew that the spilled laundry was not due to his child. The sense of foreboding that had come over him earlier was stronger now, the image of the laundry increasing the unease he felt.

"Maria!"

His wife usually answered his call in an instant. This morning there was only silence. He'd barely been away from the holding, an hour, maybe just a little more. He'd left Maria tussled and replete in their bed, the afterglow of their loving shining in her eyes and her breathy words of love ringing in his ears as he'd dressed for work.

He'd kissed Sophia's sleeping head, gently stroking her black curls before leaving her room before he disturbed her awake. Maria liked half an hour to herself to get organised before taking on the whirlwind that was their daughter. He'd headed out to work with one final kiss for his wife, the routine which had become their daily life.

Now Mackenzie ran towards the open front door, a feeling of dread in his heart, as he heard no sounds from Maria or Sophia. He slipped entering the house, falling to his knees and putting out his hands to stop himself. He connected with warm, thick liquid, frowning as his eyes adjusted to the darker interior. Had Maria dropped the coffee pot?

Colour came to Mackenzie and his heart stuttered in his chest as he stared at his hands. Red...so crimson as he turned his hands it looked almost black. Still warm but cooling fast. Still warm...

"MARIA! SOPHIA!"

The anguished cries couldn't be coming from him lips. The animal sounds, the disbelief and utter agony couldn't be coming from his soul. Mackenzie tried to get up but slipped in the liquid again, an acrid scent invading his nostrils. He'd scented that smell before, when one of the horses passed.

"SOPHIA! MARIA!" Another anguished scream left him as he crawled across the floor following the crimson trail towards his daughter's bedroom. The door was closed and Mackenzie staggered to his feet and burst inside.

Blood, everywhere, coating the once pink walls in an ugly spatter of red. The stench in the room was overpowering, as was the sight before him.

Maria was lying on her back on the floor, her once emerald eyes coated with the white sheen of death. Her throat was missing, her no-nonsense workday dress saturated in blood instead of the usual plain dark grey. Her face was remarkably untouched, so white in pallor. Her right arm was stretched out towards a red and white bundle of rags lying half under Sophia's small bed.

"No," Mackenzie groaned, his heart shattering as he stared down at his wife. Bile rose in his throat and a ragged sob escaped him as he sank to his knees beside her. "Maria, please God no, not my Maria."




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 15



It was as if he was possessed, denial blazing in his heart. He grabbed his wife by the shoulders and shook her, ignoring her missing throat. "Get up, Maria! Sophia needs you! I need you!"

Her head flopped sickeningly and the last of her warm blood pumped out of the tear in her neck. Mackenzie felt his soul die as he hugged Maria's lifeless body to his and began to sob his anguish into the room.

"Not my Maria," he wept. "Not my love. Dear God, please don't do this to me."

Mackenzie had no idea how long he wept as Maria's body went cold in his arms. It didn't even register in his mind that she had still been warm when he'd arrived, that whatever had happened to take her from him had occurred probably only a handful of minutes before he got back to the holding.

There wasn't much rational thought in his mind until he remembered his daughter and stilled in his rocking of his wife.

"Sophia." The word whispered out of his lips. He hadn't thought anything could be worse than finding Maria dead but the fear in his heart for his daughter surpassed even that. Maybe she had escaped whoever had done this to Maria.

Again, he knew he was in denial. Maria had been injured in the living room and had run to Sophia's bedroom. A mother always runs to protect her child when danger is around and Maria adored Sophia as much as he did.

Mackenzie's mind snapped back to the initial scene when he entered the room, Maria lying on her back with her hand stretched out...

"No! No, no, no, no, no!" He heard himself chanting even as his gaze returned to the bundle of rags half under the bed and saw a tiny white foot poking out.

Mackenzie's heart stopped beating; horror invading his soul as he gently lowered Maria to the floor and haltingly moved towards the bundle. With gentle hands he reached for the tiny body covered in her blood-stained nightgown, and picked up the lifeless form of his daughter.

Someone was scraping cut glass through his body. They were doing it repeatedly as a fire of agony tore through him.

"Wake up, Sophia," Mackenzie sobbed, cradling his daughter in his arms and pressing his large hand against her ravished throat. "Please wake up for Papa, angel. Please."

But he knew Sophia would never wake again. The deathly pallor of her skin and the coldness of her little body told him she had been dead longer than Maria, that his wife most likely had had to watch their daughter die before she was killed.

Mackenzie sat sobbing in a pool of blood beside his wife, cradling his daughter and holding Maria's limp hand against their child's body. They were a family and they did everything together. The only time they were apart was when he was out in the fields. If he'd been home today when whatever monster it was that had come calling had arrived, he'd have been lying beside his family, as dead as they were.

The tears wouldn't stop; the cut glass grating through his body wouldn't stop. His life was Maria and Sophia. They were his heart and soul and now they were gone, their end something so hideous and terrifying. He couldn't bear the thought of how they must have suffered. He couldn't bear the thought of living a life where they no longer existed.

Mackenzie still felt tears streaking down his face as he gently settled Sophia in her mother's arms and took his knife from his belt. He wasn't crying for himself but for the two beautiful angels who no longer graced the world.

"I'm coming, Maria," he whispered as he lay down, their daughter safely between their bodies. "Papa's coming, Sophia."

Mackenzie rasped the knife across his throat, closing his eyes as he felt his blood begin to flow... 

Lily was sobbing, her arms tightly around Mac, holding him as he wept out the death of his family. The anguish in his eyes, the heartbreak in his voice, was more than she could stand and she had to try to comfort him somehow. 

"I'm sorry," she whispered repeatedly, rocking him in her arms and holding him tightly, afraid he would splinter from the memory.

Mac held her tightly, struggling out of the past, grounding himself in the scent of his mate and her whispered words. He'd meant to keep control, he'd meant to make sure that Lily wasn't upset by this revelation and instead, she was the one holding him, soothing him and taking his pain on as her own. 

He was continually underestimating her, believing her to be young because of her years. But his Lily was so much stronger than he imagined and he let her ease the ache in his heart because it was overwhelming him and threatening to take him under.

"How did you survive, Mac?" Lily asked when his tears subsided and she felt him gain some control. Her heart was breaking for him but she knew he needed to complete this story if there was any chance of him healing from it. No wonder he'd been alone for so long after something so awful.

"Demetri," he answered after taking a deep breath. "I woke to find I was a vampire. At first, I thought it was Demetri who'd killed my family but he explained it was a vampire who had crossed over that he'd been hunting. I was angry that he'd saved me and turned me into the same kind of monster that had killed my family. I think he felt some guilt that he hadn't been in time to stop the massacre from happening."

Lily sat back and wiped at his wet cheeks, brushing a soft kiss over his lips. "Doesn't sound like the Demetri who must have been around in those days," she mused. "He's only calmed down since he met Mara from what I know."

A weak smile crossed Mac's face. "Yeah, he was a lot less civilised back then but maybe deep inside there has always been a stroke of goodness in his soul. Demetri helped me bury my family and say goodbye to the world I once knew. Then I joined him on the hunt for their murderer. I was too young and new to the life to take down the vampire myself but Demetri let me have the killing blow once he'd incapacitated the vampire."

Mac rose from the bed and paced back to the window, staring out for a long time before turning around. "You're probably wondering why I'm telling you this now."

Lily met his bleak gaze, tracing every line of anguish still visible on his face. Deep inside, her heart broke a little more. She didn't need Mac to say the words. That he carried the death of his daughter so close even after all this time was a telling factor. The pain cut him so deep he'd probably never truly recover from it. His change in demeanour when having babies was mentioned the day before now made sense.

Her wolf howled its anguish and tears gathered in Lily's eyes. "You don't want children."

Mac stared into Lily's anguished face, hating himself for putting that expression on it. "I can't, Lily, please try to understand that," he pleaded. "I can't father another child. I can't ever risk losing a child as I lost Sophia. I'd never survive it a second time."

Lily blinked and the tears slid down her cheeks. She would never know what it was to be a mother. She hadn't really thought about it in detail until recently and even then, it wasn't something she'd wanted to happen right away. She'd wanted to spend time with Mac first, enjoying their life as mates before they became parents. 

Now Mac was telling her that they would never be that and a little piece of her died inside. The tears flowed faster as she tried to reconcile herself to this added blow. Her wolf snarled her fury, clawing inside her to get out and hurt something or someone.

'Stop it!'  she growled at her wolf, forcing the beast down with a strength she didn't know she had. "He aches at the loss of his daughter. Our mate bleeds inside. Would you bleed him more my wolf?" 

The stern words had an instant effect on the beast. She stopped prowling and cocked her head to the side. Lily's eyes shifted to an amber colour as the wolf observed their mate's expression and tested his emotions within the bond. She howled mournfully and tried to surge forward to soothe their mate but was held back by her human side.

'Shhh. We will heal him together but he needs the love of the woman right now, not the protection of the wolf.'

Mac watched Lily's eyes change and braced for the wolf's assault. He knew he was in for a power of hurt when the beast attacked and he welcomed it for the pain he was subjecting his mate to. He couldn't fail to see a little of the spark die from Lily's eyes as she realised he wouldn't be dissuaded from this course of action.

It was criminal to keep Lily mated to him and to cause her this pain. If there was any way he could undo the mating he would, so she'd be spared the pain he was putting her through. But he couldn't. They were mated for life now, a life Lily had dreamed of having children in but now knew would never have. Mac cursed himself and prepared for the physical pain that would in no way compensate for the emotional anguish Lily was experiencing.

He tensed as Lily rose from the bed and walked slowly over to stand before him. When he looked in her eyes he saw no sign of the wolf, only the love and compassion of the woman that was his mate.

"It's okay, Mackenzie," Lily breathed quietly, wrapping her arms around him tightly and burying her head against his chest. "I understand. If I have a choice between eternity with you and the chance of being a mother I would chose you in a heartbeat. I love you, Mac. You are as necessary to me as the air I breathe." 

She leaned up on tiptoes and kissed him. "Anyway, Annie and Mara manage fine without children. They're more than happy with their mates. It's not the end of the world."

Andrei's words came back to him and he hugged Lily tightly, cursing himself repeatedly for hurting her. He could hear the quiver in her voice, knew she was being brave and strong for him and it only made him hate himself a little bit more. Andrei was right; Lily would stick with him no matter what, whether or not he deserved her.

"I love you, Liliana Rose Romanov," he whispered through more tears. "I don't deserve you but somehow I will make this up to you if it takes me the rest of my existence."

"Just love me, Mac," she whispered back through her own tears. "Never stop loving me and I'll have all I've ever wanted."

*****

Lily somersaulted in the air, spinning so fast she was a blur to even the sharp vampire eyes watching. She sailed over Kallum's head with a fluid grace that wasn't natural, but then, she was Vârcolac and she wasn't holding back.

Since talking with Mac, she'd buttoned down her emotions tightly, muting all her bonds to contain the inner turmoil she was feeling. Everyone had given her the space she so obviously craved and hadn't intruded, but as the day had worn on, Kallum's concern had grown to the point he'd issued his challenge of a training session.

Whatever was eating his sister inside was causing her to shut down and internalising was the worst thing she could do. Mac had studiously avoided him and always seemed to have something urgent to do when he sought him out. The proposed meeting at the compound had been set back a day while the triumvirate gathered information, so they were locked in at the Praetorian compound, the tension level high.

Kal grunted as Lily caught the back of his knee with her staff as he streaked out of her way. Her eyes were amber showing her wolf's aggression and letting him know that she wasn't holding back. The fact that this was the third time she'd managed to hit him was evidence enough. His sister didn't want any quarter so he gave her what she wanted.

His wolf surged forward, his eyes glowing the same amber as he released some of his carefully held control. As Lily watched him intently, he executed the fastest of back flips catching her off-guard. She streaked forward to avoid his reach but his staff came down hard on her back causing her to overbalance and fall to the ground.

She rolled and was back on her feet in an instant, ignoring the pain in her back and the wetness from the open wound he'd inflicted. Her wolf growled its fury at being bested and she feinted to the right, quickly changing her direction as Kal anticipated her move.

In two strides, she was at the large box housing the practice weapons. Throwing the staff to the ground, she came back at her brother wielding two Katanas, the deadly weapons slicing through the air and missing him by inches.

Kal had to throw himself backwards to escape Lily's blades. The utter fury he saw in her eyes told him that he'd most likely have to loose his wolf further to contain her. The depth of Lily's pain must be crushing to send her so feral and his concern grew even as he quickly swapped weapons and began to dance around the practice area meeting each blow Lily rained down on him.

"This needs to be stopped now," Karn growled, a deep frown on his face as he watched the combatants. "Brandon, go get Mac." He didn't want to leave the area while two of his charges were intent on slicing each other to pieces.

"Let Kal help her," a soft voice said behind him and he turned to find himself facing the Armand-Hanlon Alpha's mate. Lacey was stunning with her silvery blonde hair and pale green eyes. Those eyes were fixated on the duelling pair who were spinning and slicing at incredible speed within the workout area.

"They're going to kill each other!" Karn's tone was rough though he'd moderated it slightly because of whom he was speaking to. Anyone else he'd have told to fuck off and most likely knocked them on their ass for interfering.

Brandon hesitated, his anxious gaze sliding from the match to Karn and then back again. The might of the Vârcolac was something of beauty to watch but it was hard not to be concerned for Lily. She was his best friend and though he knew her brother wouldn't hurt her beyond repair; the viciousness being displayed was unsettling.

"Lily needs to vent her frustrations," Lacey said, keeping her voice low. "Kal knows how to handle her and he won't hurt her badly. If it becomes too intense, I'll halt it."

Karn considered her words and his gut instinct to have Mac come and stop the madness he was watching through narrowed eyes. Lacey was their Alpha and knew them better than he did. Would they listen to her if she stopped their sparring match? 

With a resigned sigh, he shook his head at Brandon letting him know he'd changed his instruction. No doubt Mac was probably already aware of what was transpiring in the practice yard anyway. If he was allowing it to continue then there must be a reason for it. Karn watched Kal launch an attack on Lily trying to shake off his concern, doubting any good would come from this.

*****

Mac sensed the wolves as he made his way through the trees putting as much distance between himself and the practice yard as possible. He couldn't stay and watch Lily work out her pain. Every time Kal landed a blow against his mate, he was overcome with the need to pound the Vârcolac into dust.

His head told him that was stupid, that Lily was more than capable of taking care of herself and was one of the best soldiers he'd ever come across. But since their mating, the need to protect her had started to dominate his thoughts more and more often.  

Was this a sign that there was some effect of the wolf gene within him? He still didn't feel any different inside but on an emotional level he was starting to notice changes which were illogical. He had a much cooler head than his current emotional make-up. 

Maybe it was because he'd talked about Sophia and Maria. He'd never shared his family with anyone quite the way he had with Lily. Demetri knew everything as he'd been there at the time, and Andrei and Alexei knew some of it. But Lily had been the first person he'd sat down and told of the event that had ended his world all those years ago.

He paused in his run, listening to the two wolves circle around him a few hundred yards away. He wanted to yell at them to go away but they were only abiding by the instructions both Rafe and he had given them. Protect the Praetorian compound. Ensure no harm came to the Vârcolac. How could he shout at them when they were keeping his mate safe?

He didn't need their protection and they knew it, which was why he was surprised that they were following him. Then he scented the air and understood. His head snapped around to the left as a large russet coloured wolf appeared through the trees.

He sighed as he watched the wolf approach him in the clearing. "You're dangerously close to being outside the protection of the compound, Liam."

The wolf sat down, rich golden brown eyes fixed on him. It surveyed him for a long moment and then the air shimmered and the redheaded Vârcolac appeared, straightening up from a crouch.

Mac found it surprising to see Liam dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, even though he knew the hybrids were not like other Weres and this was the norm for them. His whole life's experience consisted of his previous knowledge of ordinary Weres who did not have the ingrained ability to manipulate matter into clothing when shifting from wolf form.

Liam continued to regard him solemnly for another moment and then he turned to gaze over Mac's head into the forest. "I know why I'm running away, Mac. Why are you?"

Lily's turbulent emotions had been too much for Liam. He was better able to block emotions now, though nowhere near as good as he should be. Lily was so full of anger and pain inside, that even though she muted her bond; it was still too intense for him to stand so he'd tried distance to help him.

Whatever Mac was feeling, he was better at blocking his emotions, though Liam had to concede that Lily was past the maximum level of her control right now and this was why he was being inflicted with her pain. He turned his gaze back to the vampire and waited for his response.

"I'm trying to fight the need to kick Kal's ass," Mac finally answered with a sigh. He paused and met the other male's gaze, seeing questions in his eyes. He sighed again. "And I'm trying to escape the fact that I'm the reason Lily's trying to pound her brother to dust right now."

He didn't know why he told the younger man that. He wasn't one to open up to most people and Liam was someone he knew even less than most. It was out of character for him to discuss something personal with a stranger, even if that stranger was one of the Vârcolac. He studied Liam's expression and saw no judgement there.

"Lily's always felt emotions deeply," Liam said with a small smile on his lips. "She's probably the person I feel closest to in my heart, bar Elle, and yet she's always been one of the hardest people for me to be around because of that fact. The thing with Lily is, though she feels emotions intensely and sometimes needs space to work them through; once she does, she is always forgiving. She doesn't know how to hate anything or anyone."

"Some things are so hurtful that even the most generous of hearts find it hard to forgive." Even as he said the words, Mac flashed back to the understanding in Lily's eyes that morning, and knew that though she hurt over what she'd learned and the impact it had on her life, she would forgive him.

"And some hearts love so absolutely that there is no choice but to forgive," Liam countered, moving over to a fallen log and sitting down. "Lily hurts. Whatever it is that's causing this hurt is something pretty extreme from her reaction. But she's working through it and I can feel her love fighting to dominate the hurt. Whatever is between you...it isn't strong enough to damage her love, Mac. Nothing could do that."

Mac was surprised at the wisdom in Liam's words, the certainty in his tone. The younger man knew his mate far better than he did and he was privy to her emotions being the powerful empath that he was. If Liam said Lily was coping, then Mac had faith that she was. And yet, it still didn't assuage the guilt he felt inside for being the cause of her pain.




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 15



"Who's Sophia?" 

Mac stiffened at Liam's words. "Are you reading my mind?" He couldn't keep the accusatory tone from his voice, his expression hardening.

Liam laughed quietly, shaking his head. "Nah, I'm not that good, Mac. You whispered her name just now. You were obviously thinking of her."

Had he whispered his daughter's name? Mac moved over to a tree and sank down with his back to it, scrutinising Liam intently as he racked his brain trying to work out if he had spoken. He didn't remember doing it but that didn't mean he hadn't. 

He was perplexed by his reaction to the redhead. He didn't know Liam, had barely said a handful of sentences to him since he'd arrived at the compound. Why was he having a conversation with him about his relationship and now his daughter?

Was this a skill Liam had? He was Vârcolac after all and Mac was aware that the hybrids had a form of magic and skills that far exceeded anything they'd seen before. Was Liam's skill a variation on his empathy that drew people out and encouraged them to discuss things they wouldn't normally? 

He would have to ask Karn's opinion on that when he returned to the compound. For now, he simply stared at the younger man trying to work out how much, if anything, he wanted to say.

"Sophia was my daughter," he finally admitted, looking down at the moss-covered ground because he didn't need to see sympathy in the other man's eyes.

Liam watched Mac, feeling the tendrils of sorrow beginning to emanate from him. He didn't need to ask any further questions. Mac would've been human to father a child and as there was no Sophia around, it stood to reason that she had died a long time ago and he was still grieving that loss.

It hurt Liam's heart to try to imagine the suffering a human being would go through at losing a child. It surely had to be the worst pain any parent could go through. That Mac still grieved was a sure sign of just how badly it had affected him.

Liam was beginning to understand Lily's pain now as he watched Mac shore up his inner defences to try and deal with whatever memory he was currently experiencing. A man like Mac didn't suffer loss easily. He would strive to protect himself however he could, and the only way he'd be able to that would be to ensure he never fathered another child.

"Ah, Lily Rose, I'm so sorry."  He couldn't stop himself from reaching out to his friend. He heard her mental curse and surmised that Kal had scored a hit because of her distraction.

"Don't, Liam. Please just don't. How did you find out? Mac? Is he okay?"  Lily sounded winded which could only mean her sparring match with Kal was particularly aggressive. Her mental tone was muted until anxiety crept in at the end, concern for her mate winning through her distress.

"He bleeds because he's hurt you. I will do what I can to help but you are what he needs to heal from this." He knew Lily was aware of that and would feel guilty that she wasn't there for her mate, but she needed to know that Mac was suffering as much as she.

Liam sensed Lily withdraw, his heart aching for her pain. He knew she was strong enough to overcome this and be happy, but he wasn't so sure that Mac could live with the guilt he was feeling over hurting his mate. Always he'd had to hide from his empathy because it overwhelmed him. Maybe this time he could do something to help.

"Mackenzie, I know we don't know each other and that talking about something so personal doesn't come naturally to you. I'm not going to ask you anything further about Sophia but I do have something that I think you should know which is important to any life decisions you make."

He waited for Mac to say something but the vampire merely watched him intently. Liam decided to continue.

"The Vârcolac are hybrids, Mac. Our parents, the pack, even the Praetorians all acknowledge that and yet no one really understands what that means. Even with Rayne being part of our pack everyone still looks at us as if we're children to be protected at all costs. 

We are not children, Mac. Even when we were younger, there was so much more to us than anyone ever understood."

Liam rose and moved over to the tree line, smiling as he scented AJ close by with Ben. He knew they were too far away to hear the private conversation but just the closeness of other wolves made him feel good. His own wolf was suddenly antsy to go run with them though he had to quieten him down to finish his message to Mac.

He turned back to the vampire who remained seated and silent. "Humans are so fragile, Mac. A Were or Vampire can destroy them so easily. A Vârcolac, on the other hand, is very hard to destroy even from species as formidable as those. When you stop underestimating just who and what we are, what Lily is, then maybe, just maybe you'll be able to dare to dream again."

He shifted to wolf form, streaking towards his pack mates and leaving the vampire to ruminate on his parting words.

Mac watched the wolf vanish into the trees; Liam's parting words lingering on the air. What did Liam mean by his cryptic comments? Had he somehow surmised everything from just hearing that he'd once had a child? No one was that intuitive...were they? 

He stared into the trees knowing he couldn't avoid returning to the compound. Liam stressed how resilient Lily was but that still couldn't take away the imagery of Kallum striking her with his staff. He didn't care how strong and fast his mate was, it was still his job to protect her. This time he wouldn't fail to protect someone he loved. Not as he had in the past.

Mac rose and headed back toward the compound.

To be continued...



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 16



 Sorry for the long wait and the fact the chapter is shorter than usual. That's just down to the way the story is flowing at the moment and can't be helped. 

To make up for it, I promise to post the next chapter soon, well as soon as I get it back from my editor :)

Hope the wait is worth it :)

As always, my thanks to mikothebaby for editing for me. Appreciate all you do for me very much :)

Enjoy! 

*

Lily knew her concentration was shot after Liam contacted her. The contest between her and Kal had been pretty even up to that point but the moment she knew Mac was in pain, her aggression level began to abate. 

Ordinarily that wouldn't have been a bad thing but she'd pushed her brother to the edge of his self-control and that made him deadly. The slice of pain down her left arm was testament to that as the scent of her blood filled the air a second later.

The cut was deep, ripping through the tendons in her wrist and making her drop one of her swords. Lily dived forward into Kal, anticipating he would be expecting her to back off. It worked because his next move was to leap towards her which meant he effectively sailed over her.

She wasn't out of the woods yet though. She rolled to the right, willing her arm to heal quickly as Kal streaked back towards her. His wolf scented blood and was coming for the killing blow. Lily rolled again to avoid him, her arm still useless, her lone Katana halting her brother's blades though only just.

"Kallum." His name was said softly, the voice one he knew so well. His wolf snarled his denial, refusing to be denied its victory.

"Kallum." Again the lovely voice, a bit firmer this time, the hint of command in the single spoken word.

His Katanas stopped their downward swing and he was stunned to realise that they were aimed at Lily's neck.

Kallum blinked slowly, staring down at his blood and sweat soaked sister at his feet, stunned at how close he'd come to doing something so terrible it would have surely caused him to go insane. Horror filled him as he realised how close he'd come to taking Lily's head. If Lacey hadn't been here, would anyone have been able to stop him?

He'd lost control, allowed the wolf to dominate completely. Never in his life had he allowed that to happen. He knew how dangerous it was. Dear God, he'd almost killed Lily!

"Lila..." his voice shook as he threw the swords away and dropped to her side. Her left arm was coated in blood, the wound healing but obviously a crippling one to allow him to get so close to hurting her beyond repair. "Oh God, I'm sorry, Lila, so sorry."

Lily breathed out slowly pushing herself up into a sitting position, her eyes intent on her brother's face. She could read the horror and shame in his eyes and automatically reached out to comfort him. Wrapping her arms around him tightly she opened her mind to him, showing her instant forgiveness.

"It's okay, Kal," she whispered. "I'm fine. Healing just nicely as always." She laughed softly as she pulled back and showed him that she still had a blade in her hand. "And you didn't stand a chance of getting anywhere near my neck. I was ready for you."

The lack of concern on his sister's face told him she spoke the truth but he was still shaken by the loss of control and the potential tragedy that could have happened if Lily wasn't as skilled as she was and Lacey hadn't been watching the fight. 

"Lila, if anything had happened to you...I can't believe I lost control like that."

Lily switched to their mental communication too as she watched Kal struggle with the fright he'd just received. It was disconcerting to see him so rattled when he was always so much in control.

 "Emotions are heightened right now, Kal. There is so much happening, so many threats to those we love. It's understandable our wolves and also our vampires are on increased alert. We are still growing and though we talk about how our friends and families don't know what we're capable of, maybe we don't truly realise that either, brother mine." 

It made sense. Since the word of the threat to everyone, Kal's wolf had been more restless and he knew Liam's had too because they'd talked about it. He could feel his friend's wolf in his head at that very moment. 

Lily had her own stuff happening which was affecting the Vârcolac on an emotional level because of their empathy. Kal knew that Kothi's aggression levels were heightened too; he could sense it and that concerned him a lot. 

Elina had lost control only the other night and even Dara and Cassia were starting to show signs of increased aggression though not as markedly as the rest of them. Maybe Lily was right. If she was, then they would all need to be careful to avoid some disaster happening.

Lacey knelt down beside them, her pale green eyes full of questions. "Are you both okay?"

Lily smiled and inclined her head in respect. "We're fine, Lacey. We just got a little carried away there. What we both need is a long, hot shower to get this blood and sweat off us."

Their Alpha gave them a shrewd look before nodding her head. She knew she could push for more information but wanted to talk with Rafe about what she'd witnessed first so he was fully informed. 

The pack was coming to realise they'd underestimated the Vârcolac but not by how much. Watching Lily and Kal spar had been fascinating as well as terrifying. She'd never seen anyone move so fast or with such deadly precision as those two. She stepped back as Kal helped Lily to her feet and they headed off towards the house.

"You look concerned," Karn said as he came to stand beside her, also watching the departing duo.

"That little spectacle didn't concern you?"

"Hell yeah, but it's not my job to figure out what it all means. I'll leave that to you high honchos. It's just my job to keep them alive." With that he walked off, ordering the practice yard to be cleaned up by the watching Praetorians.

*****

Kallum was waiting for Lily as she stepped out of her rooms to head back downstairs. She'd known he would be so she'd showered and changed quickly.

"We need to talk, Lila."

Sighing, she nodded and followed him downstairs to his room, jumping onto the bed and sitting cross-legged as he closed the door. She smiled as she watched her brother move. He truly was an awesome individual, so strong and handsome. He would make some woman very happy one day.

"What's so amusing?" Kal sat down beside his sister, running his eyes over her to appease himself that she was fully healed. He was still a little shaken by the turn of events but less so than before, now that he'd had time to think about things.

"I was just wondering who your mate is going to be," she answered with a light laugh. "She's going to be one lucky woman."

He quirked an eyebrow at her, his lips twitching in a smile. He hadn't considered mating. There were far too many other pulls on his attention right now, Lily being one of them. It was obvious she was trying to lead the conversation by distraction but he wasn't going to allow that.

"You want to tell me what's going on with Mackenzie?"

He watched her frown and a shadow pass before her eyes. She looked down at the comforter on the bed and started picking at an invisible thread.

"Liliana." His tone was gentle, full of warmth and love as he sensed her inner turmoil.

"Mac doesn't want children," she admitted on a shaky breath. "He lost a child when he was human. It almost destroyed him and he thinks the same thing will happen again."

Kallum immediately wrapped his arms around her, giving her a fierce hug. "Oh, Lila, I'm so sorry," he whispered into her hair. No wonder she'd been so feral before. "Doesn't he realise that any child of a Vârcolac would be so much stronger than a human child?"

"I don't think he's really thought about that." Lily snuggled closer as she talked, needing the comfort of someone she trusted implicitly. "He's so closed down to the idea, so full of pain over Sophia, that I find I can't argue with him about it. I can't hurt him by forcing the issue, Kal."

He held her close and gently rocked her, trying to imagine Mac's pain and knowing he would never be able to fully grasp it. He was angry that Mac was hurting his sister by refusing her the chance of being a mother, and yet, he was so proud of Lily for standing by her mate. His emotions were conflicted.

"Maybe he'll change his mind."

Lily pulled back to look up at him, an expression of hopelessness on her face. "I don't think that's ever going to happen," she answered, her tone so quiet he had to strain to hear her.

"Can you live with that?"

She shrugged and gave him a wan smile. "Annie and Mara do. They are two of the most remarkable women I know so if they can then I guess I can. All I know is that I don't want to lose him, Kal. I can't lose him."

He stroked her cheek gently, proud of the determination he saw in her eyes. He loved Lily so much and only ever wanted her to be happy. If he could make this right for her he would but it didn't appear that there would be anything he could do about it except be there when she needed him.

"I can talk to him if you want," he offered. Maybe if he spoke male to male with Mackenzie it would help to resolve things.

Lily's immediate shake of the head was what he'd expected so he didn't press the issue, simply gathered her back into his arms and tried to give comfort to the pain he could feel down their bond.

"Whatever happens I'm here, Lila," he whispered. "I'm always here."

Kal felt his T-shirt become wet and knew she was crying silent tears as he rocked her. He felt his anger spark again and wanted to go looking for Mac to pound some sense into him. However, right now his sister needed him more, so he held her close and whispered words of love and support as she worked through her pain.

*****

Lily sensed Mac returning to the compound and opted to go for a walk until she got her emotions settled a bit more. Talking with Kal had helped a bit as had sparring with him. 

She knew Mac was hurting and feeling guilty and she wanted to be fully in control before they came face to face again. The only way to soothe his pain was for him to believe she had come to terms with everything and was happy with her life. She was almost there emotionally but needed another hour or so to clear her head completely.

Walking slowly through the trees, she replayed her morning conversation with Mac, hearing the pain in his voice, her heart breaking once more for his tears. Her own cheeks were wet as she imagined what a wonderful father he must have been, what an amazing father he would have been to their children. She had no doubts that he would have loved and protected her babies unconditionally.

That was what hurt the most. Mac had so much love to give and he'd never have that opportunity because of his past. It was so unfair that he would be denied the joy of being a father again because he couldn't come to terms with the pain of losing Sophia.

Lily was resigned to never being a mother. There was so much new life in the pack and she was sure her fellow Vârcolac would one day have children. She could content herself with being the best aunt in the world, spoiling each little boy and girl with her love. 

But she wanted more for Mac because she loved him so much. She wanted to give him beautiful babies and see his eyes glow with such love as he held them cradled in his arms. 

She knew his memories of Sophia were tainted in blood and death. If she couldn't give him new memories then maybe there was some way she'd be able to return his memories of his daughter before she died. Maybe that was the gift she was meant to give him? However, she would have to convince him to talk more about his past family.

Lily sighed as she glanced to the left and spotted the chimney top of Dayton and Freya's secluded lodge. She was surprised at how far and at the direction she'd walked in. She was skirting the boundaries of the Praetorian Compound and a quick scan of the area told her there were no wolves or vampires around. 

It was only then that she realised she'd shadowed as she'd walked, becoming invisible to everyone but Kal and Liam who weren't in the area. She couldn't recall ever having done that before, shadowing without being aware of it. It was mildly disconcerting to realise she had. The lack of control they were all starting to show was worrying and something they would probably have to talk about soon, if Kal wasn't already arranging a meeting of the Vârcolac.

Lily turned to head back and was suddenly overcome by a wave of dizziness. Surprised, she didn't even try to stay on her feet but allowed herself to sink to the dirt ground on her knees. Putting her hands out she leaned forward on all fours as a wave of nausea swept over her and she wretched up her lunch.

Staring in shock, she felt another wave overcome her as her body rebelled against the food she'd eaten earlier and more dizziness assaulted her. Moisture gathered in her eyes and she heaved again inelegantly.

What the hell was wrong with her? She hadn't vomited since she was about three and ate some unripe berries she'd come across in the forest. She hadn't liked the experience then and she sure as hell didn't like it now! 

Her limbs felt weak as she sank backwards as the nausea passed, lying flat on her back in the dirt. Fear raced through her. Had she been poisoned like Pietro? She'd been shadowed for her walk so surely no one could have seen her and shot her with a poison dart or something? She knew she'd been deep in thought but she was sure she would have felt a projectile striking her.

Lily took a deep breath and forced her fear down. There was no way she could have been poisoned so this strange sickness had to be related to something else, though what that something else could be she had no idea.

A light sheen of sweat broke out over her body and she shivered slightly as the nausea returned. Maybe she should call Mac and ask him to come and get her? As soon as she had the thought, her heart skipped a beat.

One of the things she'd always loved about pack life was how they gathered together and told stories of their history. A story was coming back to her right now and it was enough to fill her with dread. 

Her mom had been laughing as she'd told them about the day she'd called Andrei to come get her because she was too sick to move and her dad's panicked response. He had thought she was dying when all the time she was pregnant with Lily.

"No!" the word whispered out of Lily's mouth, her hands automatically going to her abdomen. Lord, she couldn't be pregnant! She'd only spent one night with Mac and after their conversation this morning...

"No, no, no, no!" She pulled herself up onto her knees, her entire body shaking with the effort as she delved inside her body, searching with her magic, looking for something that couldn't be possible.

Lily touched the tiny spark, felt her essence wrap around it as her wolf thrummed happily and surrounded the blossoming life within. A moan of despair issued from her lips. 

Mac would think she had done this on purpose.

She tried to comprehend what her body and wolf were telling her and what it would mean to her relationship with Mac. Dear God, she was pregnant! They had made a baby, a child that Mac didn't want.

Another moan escaped as Lily bent over and threw up again; only this time it had nothing to do with her pregnancy and everything to do with the terror she was feeling inside. She had meant it when she'd told Kal she couldn't lose Mac. She knew that if she told him she was having a baby then she most probably would.

She gagged again, fighting the reflex and slamming up every barrier she could on all her bonds. A little voice inside warned her about Rafe's words but she ignored it. She needed time to work out what to do, how to fix this before she lost everything that mattered to her.

And deep down inside, battling the fear of losing Mac, was a slow seed of joy springing to life at the thought of the miracle that was beginning within her body. She was going to be a mother after all; nature had taken the decision out of both her's and Mac's hands.

Lily started to sob quietly, torn between the joy of being pregnant and the fear of losing Mac. She knew she couldn't have both; her mate had made that abundantly clear to her. 

Why had this happened now, just when she'd resigned herself to what her life would be? What was she expected to do? Choose between Mac and her child? Like her mom had once had to choose all those years ago? She didn't think she was strong enough, not like her mother. She would never be able to live with the guilt of losing her child. 

Lily sobbed and rocked back and forth on the ground, her arms protectively around her abdomen. She couldn't lose her baby and she couldn't endure to see the accusation and pain in Mac's eyes when she told him she was pregnant.

He would walk away without a backward glance. She knew it with every fibre of her being.

Lily felt as if her heart was splintering. It hurt to think, it hurt to breathe. Anguish raged through her as she threw her head back and screamed up into the air. 

"Why?" she sobbed aloud. She had no idea who she was talking to and knew there would be no answer. "What did I ever do to deserve this? Am I such a bad person that this is all life has to offer me?" Silence greeted her words, just the sounds of her sobbing filling the evening air.

Lily cried for what felt like an eternity, her throat raw as her sobs finally subsided. Her wolf was anxious, pacing furiously around the spark of their child, protecting the unborn life within.

As she rose on shaky legs, Lily knew that the life of her child had to be protected at all cost. At some point since discovering she was pregnant, she had made a choice she never thought she would ever be able to make.

Mackenzie was her soul mate, the one male put on the planet just for her. She loved him intensely, had looked forward to spending her life with him, but children were not part of his world, of their life together. And she couldn't bear for him to hate her for destroying their life by choosing to keep her child and proving to him that his love wasn't enough for her.

Stroking her abdomen gently, Lily turned to gaze at the blanketed mountain range ahead. She was still shadowed and it didn't appear to have any effect on the burgeoning life within her body. A tear streaked down her cheek as she forced her legs to begin to move away from the Praetorian Compound.

"I'm sorry, Mac. Please forgive me."

*****

"What do you mean nobody knows where she is?" Mackenzie's words were spoken softly to the assembled group but there was no mistaking the hard edge to his tone or the dangerous expression on his face.

Brandon shifted uncomfortably under his stare though Karn, Liam and Kallum didn't appear to be affected by it too much.

"Lily said she was going for a walk. She needed to clear her head," Kal replied. He could understand Mac's concern because he was concerned about his sister too but Lily was a grown woman and didn't need to be protected every second of the day.

"Yes, I got that bit, Kallum," Mac grated out, spearing him with an annoyed glare. "What I don't quite get is why my mate, and your sister, is out 'clearing her head' all alone when everyone knows of the threat from the European vampires!" 

He yelled the last part of the sentence, a feeling of foreboding overcoming him as it had once so long ago. There was no reason for the feeling but it was there and it had his emotions at danger level.

"Don't you think you're over-reacting a bit?" Kal countered, his tone sounding tetchy. "You must be able to sense her through your bond. I can sense her through mine and she's just fine."




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 16



"That's beside the point, Kallum. Something is wrong. Don't ask me what it is because I couldn't tell you. I just know that something is wrong in connection with Liliana and not one person here knows where the fuck she is! Forgive me for being a bit pissed about that but the last time I looked, weren't we all supposed to be protecting her and making sure nothing happened to her?"

Kallum frowned and looked at Liam. Mac's concern was starting to ratchet up his own. "I'm sorry to ask but could you check...?" He left the rest unsaid, knowing what it would cost his friend and wishing he didn't have to ask.

Liam gazed at him intently for a moment and then nodded. He slowly released his tight control on his mental shields and reached out for Lily. Because of his enhanced empathy he was able to track his friend despite her muting her bonds right down. He sighed with relief when he found her.

He smiled. "She's just taking a walk. Her mental tone is good."

Mac was alert, watching him with a fixed stare. "Can you tell which direction she headed in?" His feet were already heading out of the living room.

"Due East, I think, though she's a bit of a distance aw..." Liam suddenly stiffened and groaned deeply, anguish crossing his face. "Lily!"

Mac's heart thundered in his chest as he spun round. The expression on Liam's face gave him the chills. A second later he felt a wave of pain roll through his mate bond. "Lily!"

Everyone stiffened in the room though it was Mac, Liam and Kal whose faces suddenly beaded with sweat as they felt Lily's pain down their bonds. A moment later that pain was gone, cut off ruthlessly.

"What the fuck..?" Karn ground out already moving out of the room, pushing passed a semi-stunned Mac. "Due East!" he roared at the top of his lungs, Praetorians and wolves appearing from nowhere as he ran outside.

Mac streaked passed him, Liam and Kallum hot on his heals as they vanished into the trees in the direction Lily had taken. Mac knew he was no match for the speed of the Vârcolac but Lily was out there and in danger. Nothing would prevent him from getting to her. 

He ran as if all the shades from hell were behind him, memories of the past in his head spurring him on. No way in hell would he lose what he loved again. No one was ever going to take Lily from him. He would never survive it. 

"Lily!" he yelled as he ran, able to make out Kal and Liam ahead of him. It crossed his mind that he shouldn't be able to see them. Their speed far exceeded his and yet he was only a few steps behind. His terror at losing Lily was making him run faster through the trees than he'd ever run in his life.

The trio dodged in and out of the trees, avoiding branches by a whisker as they raced towards the last known place Lily had been.

 'Please be all right, Lily,"  Mac whispered to his mate. "I'll do anything, be anything you want as long as you keep yourself safe!" The memories of his past were nothing compared to the fear in his heart. The thought of losing Lily...he just couldn't go there. She had to be safe! Anything else was just unthinkable.

Mac burst into the clearing a few steps behind the Vârcolac and stopped just short of barrelling into Liam's broad back. Both males were staring down at the forest floor and he had to walk around them to see what they were looking at. His heart banged hard in his chest as he looked down expecting to see the worst.

His puzzled eyes turned to the other men. "I don't understand."

"Lily was sick," Kal answered pointing at the evidence. "She hasn't been sick since she was a child."

Mac's heart plummeted again and fear seeped through his bones. Lily was ill? He hadn't thought the Vârcolac could get sick. Immediately he thought of the poison threat and his fear increased. Was she out there somewhere, alone and hurt? His black gaze scanned the area frantically looking for some sign of his mate.

"I can't feel her any more, Kal." Liam's frightened words cut through Mac's panic and he turned his head to look at them again.

"She is not dead!" He yelled his denial at them, refusing to even countenance the possibility.

Kallum shook his head slowly, letting his eyes travel up the mountain range. "No, she isn't," he agreed. "It feels like it did when she vanished to join the Praetorians. She's alive, I know she is, but she's sick and hurting somewhere."

Liam shifted to wolf form and streaked quickly around the area before returning and changing back. "There's no sign of any scents other than Lily's. Whatever is wrong with her isn't due to a third party hurting her. Though what would make her sick I have no idea."

"Mom, Dad, Lily's sick and has taken off," Kallum sent to his parents. "She vomited in the forest and hasn't returned to the Compound. We don't scent anyone in the area apart from Lily." 

"Rafe's just been to the house furious. She's masked all her bonds again. Whatever's wrong with Lily has upset her to the point of not thinking clearly. I've tried contacting her as has your mother but we're not getting through," Andrei responded, concern clearly in his tone as well as a touch of irritation that his daughter was being so foolhardy again.

Kallum spoke the words out loud for the benefit of Mac who couldn't hear the telepathic communication.

"Why would she vomit?" he asked. "We usually follow our vampire heritage in that respect with the exception of that one time Lily ate something when she was younger. It doesn't make sense."

"It would in one circumstance," Loretta said, entering the conversation. "Remember when I fell pregnant with her, Andrei? It happened so quickly and neither of us knew it was possible. Lily could be pregnant."

The colour drained out of Mac's face as Kallum relayed Loretta's words. It couldn't be possible! He hadn't touched Lily apart from their mating night and that had only been a couple of days ago. She couldn't be pregnant. She just couldn't!

"Kallum, I want you to relay this word for word to Mac for me. Don't ask any questions."Andrei's tone held a core of steel to it. 

"Mac, I don't give a fuck about the past or how you feel. You will go out there and find my baby and bring her home safely. Come back with anything less and I swear I will rip you from limb to limb."

For once Loretta didn't interject to soothe her mate. She didn't know what was going on but something told her that Mackenzie was the reason her daughter was running scared. She wanted Lily home safely and if Andrei threatening Mac was the only way to achieve that then she wasn't going to get in the way of it.

Mac was standing stunned, lost in the memory of the day Sophia was born. It had been a long hard birth and Maria had been exhausted at the end of it but so proud of their beautiful daughter. It'd been the happiest day of his life and the joy he'd felt that day sprang up inside him.

Lily was pregnant!? 

He could hear Kallum repeating Andrei's threat but wasn't listening to it. Instead he couldn't stop reliving Sophia's birth and how he'd felt that day. Tears sprang to his eyes as he realised that he'd had a memory of his baby girl that didn't involve her death. It was the first such memory in such a long time.

He looked at Liam; saw the big man watching him intently. "You can dare to dream," the Vârcolac said quietly. 

Mac shook his head, afraid to believe and yet knowing he had to make a decision. Lily had run from him because she was pregnant. He had told her in no uncertain terms that he never wanted another child. Now she was out there alone, pregnant and afraid to come home and tell him because of what his reaction would be.

Did she think he'd reject her, turn her away because of the baby? He hung his head as a tear slipped free and coursed down his cheek. What else was there for her to think? He'd been so intent on making sure his mate knew what his limits were that he hadn't stopped to consider the full impact of how badly that would hurt her.

Yes, he'd known that she'd be hurt but in his arrogance he'd believed she would adapt willingly because he was her mate. And she would have if they hadn't already had created a child together. 

Another thought came to him and he stifled down a groan. Did Lily think he'd forced her to choose between him and the baby? Did she believe he would do that to her to protect himself?

Mac cursed himself, hating the fucked up mess he'd made that had put his mate and their child in danger. There was only one person who could fix this and that was him.

"Liam, Kallum, return to the compound. I'll go on alone from here."

He expected Kallum to argue but he merely watched him speculatively for a moment before nodding his agreement. "Take care of them, Mackenzie."

Mac was grateful he didn't argue with him. He was holding onto his emotions by a hairsbreadth and didn't have time to argue with anyone. Lily needed him. He'd let her down so badly that he didn't deserve forgiveness but she was his life and he would have to do his damnedest to earn it.

"Tell the others to get back to the compound and to stay close. Just in case this is something untoward rather than me fucking up," he ordered. 

Mac turned and searched the area, surprised when he found Lily's scent. Surely she must have shadowed to escape being seen by everyone. He shouldn't be able to pick up her scent. Deciding not to question this new skill, he took off into the trees, following his heart and praying that when he found her she would listen to what he had to say.

"I'm sorry, Lily. Please forgive me."

*****

Reasa chose to follow the blond, male wolf she'd discovered protecting the vampires' house. It was a calculated risk but one she was willing to take. The wolf had still been protecting the house when she'd returned though the vampires she'd detected in the area had long gone.

There was no way in hell she could go up against an Ancient so she chose the weaker of the two. She had no idea if the wolf belonged to the pack that protected the abominations but he was obviously 'in' with them if he was on guard duty.

It turned out her instincts had served her well. The wolf was too relaxed and not as vigilant as he should have been so she was able to track him back to his lair without being detected. Obviously, his pack was not the one that contained the hybrids but they were clearly linked to them in some way.

He paused beside some trees and shifted from wolf to human form, exposing a well-honed body. He reached behind a tree and pulled out a bundle of clothes, which he quickly donned before moving further into the forest. 

Another golden wolf appeared and quickly shifted into human form.

"Brody, Jared expected you back hours ago."

The male stopped and pulled off his T-shirt He tossed it to the young woman standing naked before him.

"Something didn't feel right," he answered as he watched the woman slip the oversized T over her naked form. "I thought I scented something close to Demetri's house but couldn't find what it was. Thought there was no harm in hanging around a bit longer just in case."

The woman scanned the area quickly and looked back at him. "Jared's antsy. He called some of us in for a quick meeting. He's talking about sending a few of us up to Armand-Hanlon pack as an added precaution."

"And why would he call you into a meeting, Willow? You're hardly a Beta, little sister." Brody wrapped an arm around her shoulder to take the sting out of his words. His sister was a bit on the flaky side at the best of times and could become wounded at the simplest of things.

She shrugged and gave him a quick squeeze. "He wanted someone to let you know what was happening and didn't want any of the Betas being side-tracked, I guess. I'm good enough for carrying messages." There was a hint of pique in her tone.

"You're good for lots of things, honey, and don't you forget that." Brody couldn't help feeling the need to reassure her. He adored his little sister and didn't like to see her bouts of insecurity when they rose.

Willow shrugged again and gave him a quick smile before she turned serious. She lowered her voice and glanced round one more before speaking. "Jared wants you to head up to the Praetorian Compound and supplement the wolves up there. It's just up past Freya and Dayton's place. Lacey's there with some of the younger pack members but Rafe asked if Jared could send someone with a bit more experience."

Brody nodded running a hand through his unruly locks. He'd been looking forward to some sleep but if his Alpha needed him then who was he to argue. "Okay, I'll head up there now. Hope they have clothes for me." 

He stripped off his jeans and handed them to his sister. The air shimmered momentarily and the man vanished to become the large golden wolf Reasa had seen before.

"I'll stash your clothes in the usual place," Willow said ruffling the fur at the back of the wolf's neck before turning and heading back into the trees and out of sight.

The wolf watched her go, then turned, and ran off in the opposite direction.

From her perch high in the trees, Reasa waited for the count of ten and then took off after the wolf. They really were such stupid animals, never deigning to look up. Her heart began to beat fast as her quarry took her closer and closer to the place where she would find her targets.

She glided effortlessly through the trees always ensuring she was far enough behind that the wolf wouldn't detect her presence. A short time later thick leaves shrouded her as she watched the area around a secluded house high in the mountaintops.

The air was rife with the scent of vampires and wolves. Reasa had to remain totally still so as not to give away her hiding spot as she watched the heightened activity around the house. All it took was for one person to look up and she was dead before she'd be able to even try and flee. She had no doubt about that.

Something caught her attention and her eyes tracked to the left. She had to fight the need to hiss as a huge male appeared in her line of sight. Instantly she knew he was what she had been seeking. His scent was like nothing she'd ever experienced, a mixture of both wolf and vampire.

The tall redheaded male turned his gaze into the trees, his head cocking to the side as he perused the area. He appeared to be looking for something or someone, scenting the air like a wolf. 

For a moment she was afraid to breathe, certain if she did the abomination would somehow hear her. But then the male scanned the other direction before heading back inside the house.

Reasa breathed out slowly and tried to relax her knotted muscles. She was gripping the branches in front of her so hard it was a wonder they hadn't snapped from the force, alerting everyone to her position. 

She had just seen one of her targets. Now she had to work out how to get close to him. Checking to ensure she had her weapon with the poisoned bullets safely at her side, Reasa positioned herself as comfortably as she could in the trees.

She would have to out wait her prey. If she stayed there long enough maybe he would come to her and when he did...well if she was only able to take out one of the abominations before she died at least she'd make sure it was a big one. The redheaded male was hers and the one she would die for to ensure she terminated.

*****

Liam rested his back against the door, an itch in the back of his head that he couldn't quite place. He was worried for Lily and searched for her with his mind but she was keeping him out and there was no way to detect her when she didn't want to be found.

But as he'd searched outside just now, he'd thought he'd detected something else...someone else, but it was so faint that when he reached with his mind to quantify the other mental touch, he was unable to find it. It had been there one second and gone the next.

Maybe he'd imagined it? He considered mentioning it to Karn but decided against it. Everyone's emotions were heightened at the moment. They were all starting to react unpredictably and his feeling was most likely a reaction to that heightened emotion. 

So why did his scalp itch? What was it that made him want to head out into the woods to try and track down something that probably wasn't even there? He was tempted to do just that but Mac had ordered them to stay close to the compound. 

For now he'd hold his peace, wait, and see if the feeling went away or became worse. If it didn't subside then he'd mention it to Karn and Kal and get their thoughts on it.

To be continued...



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 17



 A little later than planned, but here is the next chapter. I may be in trouble after this one ;) LOL.

Once again my thanks to mikobaby for editing for me :)

Enjoy!  

*

The air in the Alpha's library was thick with tension. Rafe had kept the meeting small, opting to inform the necessary people who needed to know once any decisions were reached.

He stood with his back to the open fire, silently watching his sister and brother share some private communication. He could tell they were talking telepathically by their body language and the sparkle in Rhianna's eyes. There was no mistaking the love that shone between them, and it made him smile despite the worrying circumstances that had brought them all together.

Gard was perched on the side of his desk looking bored as they waited for the last invitee to arrive. His eyes kept lingering on the window, his body language tense. Rafe's lips quirked as he watched him. Once a Guardian, always a Guardian. He doubted the six thousand year old vampire would ever be able to break that habit even though his life had changed so much in the last quarter of a century.

Rafe shifted his stance slightly wanting the meeting to start but lacking the final person to get things underway. He sighed when he heard the sound of Jared Hanlon pulling up outside, relieved his former Alpha was finally here. Gard appeared to be of the same mind. 

"Finally," the auburn-haired vampire rumbled with a snort of irritation. It was clear to see that he wanted to be outside searching for Lily. His mate, Rayne, was out in the forest helping in the search and he didn't like being apart from her. 

It wasn't that she couldn't take care of herself because she was more than capable of that. It was the fact she had vampire DNA just like the rest of the Vârcolac that concerned her mate so much. That put her at risk like the children but, as usual, she didn't see it that way.

They'd had one of their rare fights over it and she'd promptly put Gard in his place. Rafe had stood silently as they worked out their difference of opinion. Despite Guard's irritation at not being able to dissuade his mate from her course of action, the large male had been fighting a smile threatening to tug at his lips. 

He'd had to concede defeat and let Rayne do what she felt she had to, but he made sure everyone knew he wasn't happy about it. The sooner the meeting was over and Gard could get on with doing what he was best at, the better. Rafe would feel happier with him out there looking for Lily too. Now that Jared had finally arrived, they could get down to business.

The study door opened and the Hanlon Alpha entered, his expression concerned as he crossed the room and embraced Rafe, before turning to hug Rhianna and nod his head in greeting to both Caleb and Gard.

"Sorry I'm late. I wanted to get everyone organized. Brody is on his way up to the Praetorian Compound. I've brought a few of the pack with me and told them to check with Aaron where he wants them."

"Thanks, Jared," Rafe answered with a brief smile. "We've got some of the pack out trying to ensure Lily's protected. She's in the area somewhere but no one knows where. With other pack members up at the Praetorian Compound it will be an added boost to have some more wolves around here just in case." 

He couldn't keep his concern out of his tone. For the second time, one of his pack was missing and he didn't like it one bit.

"Lily will be fine." 

Rafe turned to his sister as she rose from the sofa and slipped into his arms to hug him tightly. She smiled up at him, giving him one of her reassuring grins, which always helped to ease some of his concerns. "Mackenzie will take care of her."

Rafe sighed and gave her a gentle squeeze in thanks. He didn't have Lacey to turn to and he certainly needed some soothing. His wolf was prowling restlessly, wanting to strike out at something in its need to protect everyone.

"I told her the next time she muted my bond I would throw her out of the pack, Annie. I meant it at the time but I never believed she'd put me in the position of having to carry out that threat. What the hell am I supposed to do now?"

His sister gazed up at him with eyes so young and yet so old. Her smile was one of confidence. "You will do what is right for Lily, as you always have done, Rafe. Just because you say something doesn't mean you can't change your mind."

He grunted in response and filed that particular issue away for the moment. He knew he'd have to come to a decision about what to do with Lily, and while it weighed heavy on his mind, they had other things to discuss. So much had happened recently and this was the first time they'd been able to get together as a group to discuss everything.

"How's Pietro?" Caleb asked, crossing the room to pour a cup of coffee. He deftly reacquired his mate's attention, appearing nonchalant as he retrieved her from her brother's embrace. Settling her back on the sofa at his side, he handed her the coffee and turned back to Rafe. 

"Mallen looked him over not too long ago," Rafe sighed. "The scarring is permanent as we all believed. Whilst there is still some spark of the old Pietro there, he has been affected emotionally by his experience. He's withdrawn and agoraphobic, preferring not to have any visitors bar a few. It took the threat of having you come see him to get him to agree to the physical from Mallen."

Caleb's expression darkened, his eyes narrowing at the news. It was clear there was a deep anger bubbling under the surface but he was making a concerted effort to keep it at bay. He frowned and ran a hand through his hair, looking down at his mate. 

"I'll see if he wants to talk before we head home. It could just be time he needs though." Rhianna's expression was thoughtful and she didn't appear to be overly concerned at the news.

"The Europeans?" Gard interjected; keen to get the meeting onto the main topic they were all here about. It wasn't that he unsympathetic to Pietro's issues and not furious at what had happened because he was. He was just anxious to get back to Rayne as soon as possible.

"We know there's at least one of them here," Caleb said. "A female called Thereasa. Her description has been circulated to both packs and the Praetorians. What we need to do now is bring the Council up to speed on what's happening over there and develop a plan of action."

"How didn't the Council know what was going on?" Jared asked, sipping at his coffee.

"Do you know what your Were brethren are up to in Europe?" Gard growled impatiently, his eyes wandering to the window as he touched base with Rayne to check she was okay. He relaxed when he felt her send a mental kiss down their bond.

The Hanlon Alpha nodded his head in acknowledgement of the point. The North American Weres had no contact with their European counterparts and no idea how they ran their lives. Still, the way the vampire Council went on, he'd have thought they at least knew what was going on over there with their own kind. It was surprising they had let themselves be caught out like this.

"There's no denying more attention should have been paid to what was happening in Europe," Caleb conceded, glancing at Rafe as he spoke. "Annie and I will brief the Council on the situation and work out how we're going to tackle the problem. Unfortunately, because of this poison issue, sending vampires over may not be the best course of action. This poison is so virulent it doesn't matter the age of the vampire. They have no protection from it unless we find some kind of antidote." 

The Alpha met his gaze with a troubled one. "Demetri gave us Pietro's blood sample from when the poison was in his system. It's going to take some time for our doctors to try and trace the active ingredients to provide an antidote. You don't have research scientists because vampires have always been able to heal themselves. While we have doctors to treat wounds, we have precious few research scientists ourselves. This is new even to us."

"Luke did have a bit of a research background from years ago so he's testing out a sample of the blood too," Jared added. "So far the only thing he can say for certain is that it's a plant based poison. Until he can identify the plant and work out why it inhibits vampire regeneration, finding an antidote is a long way off."

"So a complete blood transfusion is the only way of combating this for the moment," Caleb mused, clearly unhappy with the news.

"We can most probably work on the assumption that there aren't huge quantities of the poison," Rhianna pointed out. "It's deadly to vampires so that leads me to believe that it will be heavily restricted with only a few who have the knowledge to create it."

"Makes sense," Gard concurred with a thoughtful expression on his face. An idea was beginning to cross his mind, one he didn't particularly like but an option the rest of them might find agreeable.

"I'm technically the oldest vampire living and also mated with a Vârcolac. I probably stand the best chance of fighting off any attack. I should be the one to go to Europe to see if I can track down where the poison comes from." He saw his sister start to frown and shake her head, and shot her a brief smile.

"You know it makes sense, Annie. I'm a complete unknown in Europe too. I'd have more of a chance of finding the intelligence we need."

"And what will Rayne have to say about this grandiose offer?" Rhianna's voice was tartness personified, a sure sign she was not happy.

Gard's smile widened and he shook his long auburn locks. "Quite a lot I dare say, and then she'll insist on coming with me. We're going to need someone to keep an eye on Kothari while we're away."

Caleb ran a hand down his mate's back to sooth her distress. Gard's proposal made sense even if he didn't want one of the triumvirate to be so far away. He had a sense of foreboding that something bad was going to happen. Rhianna was skittish too, and that only served to increase his alertness.

But they did need to find out what was going on in Europe and an antidote for the poison. Rafe wasn't objecting to the proposal of two of his pack heading off into a dangerous situation either so the Alpha clearly saw the logic in it.

"First things first, let's get Lily safely back within the fold. I trust we can leave that up to the packs?" Both Jared and Rafe nodded so he continued. "I will call a meeting of the Council. Rafe, can you make sure Andrei and Alexei know, and Nors too. We'll let Demetri and Mara know."

He rose, pulling his mate up beside him, his gaze fixing on Gard. "Europe comes later so no disappearing just now." He looked to Rafe for backup and the Alpha nodded his agreement.

Gard was already moving, pushing away from the desk to stride to the study door. He glanced back over his shoulder. "Agreed. Now, can I go join my mate? I presume this meeting is over?"

At Rafe's nod, he left the room, sprinting from the house and into the surrounding forest. He was so intent on finding Rayne that he didn't notice the shadowed figure lurking in the trees.

*****

Kothari watched Gard leave, and sank back into the shadows as the meeting broke up and everyone started to leave. He could feel his rage building but it was a slow build. His mother and father were going to be at risk? That was as intolerable as his angel being targeted. What the hell was his father thinking of?

"Eavesdropping?"

The whispered word startled him so much his beast rose instantly, long talons slicing through his fingertips. It was all he could do to remain immobile and not turn around and lash out. His heart missed a beat as he fought to contain the demon. When he was once more in control, he turned slowly to impale Dara with an icy glare.

Not that she could see his eyes. As always, they were hidden behind their standard camouflage of dark glasses. "Little girls should be careful about sneaking up on people." The words came out terse and full of menace.

Dara stared up at Kothari's furious face and felt the tiniest shiver of fear wash over her. She didn't truly think he would ever hurt her, but they all knew there was something broken in their friend. What that was, they could only speculate about because he wasn't into confessions, but it was there all the same.

She considered backing off and leaving him be, but his 'scary monster' routine was starting to wear on her nerves. She was a Vârcolac and a Romanov. She wasn't about to back down for him.

Dara forced her lips to curve into a smile she wasn't truly feeling. "Oh cut the crap, Kothi." Her voice dripped with derision. "Kallum said we weren't to be alone and that includes you."

He continued to glare at her, his body tense with barely controlled aggression, then he slowly relaxed and a faint smile curved his lips. "So who's with your Siamese twin?" He watched her prickle at the taunt, and his smile grew wider. She was so defensive of Cassia. It was easy to get a rise out of her.

"Cassia is with Elina if you must know, and stop trying to distract me. What were you doing eavesdropping?" She wasn't letting him get away without an explanation.

Kothari watched her, his expression intent. The determination on her face told him she wasn't going to go away. Stifling down a resigned sigh, he headed further into the trees knowing she would follow. When they were far enough away, he ran and jumped onto a large, flat rock perched beside one of the lakes close to the compound.

He stood for a long moment, scenting the air to ensure they were alone. His gaze finally turned to Dara, watching as she skirted the large rock to find a smaller one.

As she sat down, he mirrored her, crossing his legs and adopting a position of meditation. Maybe it would help him.

"So?" Come on, Kothi. I want to know what you were doing." Annoyance was creeping into Dara's tone and she tried hard to tamp it down. It was pointless being irritated with him. He could spend hours sitting silently and waiting everyone else out.

"You're a pain, Dara Romanov," he finally said. He kept his voice devoid of emotion. "You're stupid too. Most people know when it's best not to prod a sleeping tiger."

She rolled her eyes. "You're a panther, Kothi. Though, come to think of it, I can't remember the last time any of us have seen you in animal form. Why's that?" She let his obvious insult wash over her. He was trying to bait her and she wasn't going to fall for it.

Kothari was at a loss to what to do. He wanted to be alone, and yet, his fellow Vârcolac wasn't going to allow that. He was trying his usual techniques to get rid of Dara and it wasn't working. Usually she was easy to rile up to the point she stomped off in a temper. Today she was watching him intently, waiting for him to respond.

He smiled slowly. She was a brave little thing, tenacious when she wanted to be. Maybe she deserved some answers just for being that brave.

"Just because you run around as a wolf almost as much as a human doesn't mean the rest of us have to. I like my privacy."

She pursed her lips as she contemplated his answer. It was true, she loved being in wolf form, loved the freedom of running through the trees and playing with the other wolves. It would be nice to run with a panther, to experience the subtle difference of another animal. Only Kothi didn't play and Rayne had other things to do.

"You don't play well with others." It was a statement rather than a question.

"I don't play, Dara, ever."

There was such finality to the words, such loneliness in them, which she was sure he hadn't intended to be heard. She cocked her head to the side and scrutinised him with a thoughtful expression. It was as if he'd let an inner barrier down and shown her a little piece of the man hidden within. Her wolf sat up and scrutinised him too.

"I was listening in to the Alpha meeting," he finally said, when she remained silent. "My parents are going to Europe to try and find an antidote to the poison."

Dara sucked in a deep breath at the news. He would be worried about them if they took on that mission. He would be even more alone if they went away for a prolonged period. Something told her that would be very bad for him, and possibly even the pack.

"They're more than capable of taking care of themselves, Kothi. They're the oldest beings to walk the planet, if you disregard the fact Caleb and Annie are reincarnated souls." She was a naturally caring person and couldn't help reaching out to sooth him. 

Her soft tone irritated him. She sat there, her golden hair a halo around her head, her expression full of compassion. The beast within wanted to wipe that expression from her face, to see terror in her eyes. It was an effort to push it down.

"If they're not, the world will swim in blood."

He spoke so quietly Dara had to strain to hear the words. A shiver ran down her spine at the certainty in his tone. Kallum would need to know about this. She wasn't sure if even he would be able to contain Kothi if anything happened to his parents, but he was probably their best bet.

She pretended she hadn't heard what he said. "Anything else said at the meeting? Should we have a private conference?"

Kothari knew she'd heard him and ignored what he'd said. Well, maybe not ignored it. She would surely report back to the other Vârcolac. He felt his rage rising again at the thought. Why couldn't they all just leave him alone? Why wouldn't she fuck off and go somewhere else?

The beast was rising swiftly, its gazed fixed intently on the woman before it. He pushed at it, tried to dampen it down, but it fought with him. It watched the pulse at the side of her neck, its mouth watering at how succulent her sweet blood would taste as it ripped her throat out.

Kothari knew he was losing the battle to contain the monster within. "Leave!" he ground out, sweat beginning to bead on his forehead as he wrestled with his inner demon.

Dara tensed at the sound of his voice. There was command in it but also a hint of terror? What could possibly have Kothari terrified? He was one of the most intimidating people she knew. Her wolf howled loudly, tensing at the danger it sensed. The male before them was about to harm them and she didn't know what was the best thing to do.

Kothari was clearly in the grip of some impulse he was struggling to control. If she ran, that could be all that was needed to cause complete loss of control. If she stayed, she was in danger, her wolf growling furiously in his direction, acknowledging an enemy.

She did the only thing she could think of, she shifted.

Kothari hissed as the woman disappeared to be replaced by a beautiful wolf covered in silky brown fur with golden streaks running through it. The monster wanted blood, human blood. Losing its prey infuriated it and a long jagged cut ran down the side of his face as the monster sought its escape.

The pain helped him focus a bit more, gave him a little edge over the monster. Kothari felt a long rent scrape down his spine and welcomed the bittersweet agony as he turned his violence onto himself.

"Run, Dara!"

The wolf stood with hackles up, growling menacingly, its eyes never leaving him. Why wouldn't she run? Didn't she know he was barely in control?

"Run, damn you, run!" Blood blossomed on his T-shirt, deep furrows appearing in his chest beneath the material. The wolf sprang, landing agilely beside him, whimpering as it brushed against his bloody chest causing more pain.

She should have been running away but the vision of blood covering Kothari had her doing the opposite. Deep down she knew running was the wrong thing to do. She had no idea what was happening to her friend, only that it was something so awful it was literally ripping him to pieces. Dara couldn't leave him, she just couldn't.




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 17



Whimpering, she nudged at his chest, using the power of the wolf to try to bring him some comfort. It worked for the rest of the pack and even though Kothi wasn't a wolf maybe it would tease his panther out and help. She didn't know what else to do for him. She just wanted the blood to stop.

Something stirred deep within Kothari, clawing at his insides in a different way than the monster did. It felt weak and ineffectual but the more the wolf rubbed against his body, the stronger the being within grew.

The monster roared in fury at the usurper. Talons grew and closed around the neck of the she-wolf, tightening lethally. The wolf struggled, its whimpers becoming louder even as it continued to rub against him. Suddenly it went completely limp and the inactivity was enough to force some sanity into Kothari's mind.

 "Dara?"

Anguish laced the name as the being within burst forth, shattering past both the monster and the human. The black panther erupted into dominance, the shift violent and agonising.

Dara lay where she fell, struggling to regain her breath. She'd decided to change tactic when it became apparent her movements were inciting Kothari rather than quelling his fury. As soon as she had, the change in him had become noticeable, particularly when she'd played dead. It had been difficult to do when every fibre of her being had wanted to struggle for air.

Raising her head, she stared at the panther lying beside her. It was the most beautiful animal she had ever seen, even with its fur streaked with blood. It panted furiously, pain in its bright green eyes. Those eyes were unfocused as if Kothi wasn't used to being in animal form, which she was starting to think was the case.

"Kothi, are you okay?" Dara's wolf wanted to maintain the dominant part of their nature but she shooed her into the submissive role. She needed to be in control to help her friend.

The panther struggled to its feet, shaking its head and stumbling on four legs trying to get used to change.

"Kothari?"

Dara? What just happened?"

The uncertainty in his voice was surprising. She'd never heard him be anything less than totally confident before. Just when was the last time he'd shifted to animal form?

"I thought you could tell me. After all, you did just bleed all over the place and try to choke the life out of me. What the fuck is wrong with you, Kothi, apart from being a complete ass?"

Kothari turned his head, seeing the sleek fur of his animal and unable to comprehend what he was seeing. He was a child the last time his panther had come to life. He was convinced he'd never see it again after the monster became the most dominant part of him.

Dara's words started to sink in and his head swung around to see her watching him unharmed. Dear God, his worst nightmare had almost come true! He had been seconds away from destroying the most precious thing in his world. Only she had somehow managed to save him. His angel. 

She was a vision of beauty in wolf form. He always loved to see her running through the forest, her animal free and uninhibited. He'd lost count of how many times he'd followed her, silently keeping her safe as she frolicked with her friends. Even as she'd grown and her rendezvous had turned into more personal moments, he had still watched over her discreetly.

Keeping control of the monster in those moments had been his toughest challenge until today. Watching Dara sneak out to be with one of the other pack males had ripped him apart. But she was a Were and sensuality was in their nature. He couldn't be what she needed him to be, so instead he protected her and allowed no harm to come to her while she was with her current boyfriend.

Now she knew something of his secret, had witnessed some of it, and he didn't know what to do about it. He wanted to tell her. He had lain awake nights thinking of talking to her, revealing everything in the hopes that she wouldn't look at him like a monster, that she would understand. 

Dear God he had almost killed her!

"Kothi, I'm fine." Dara's words whispered in his mind as he mewled softly.

"If you don't want to talk about what happened right now, I understand, but one day you will need to. If you don't want it to be me then talk with Kallum or Rafe. Talk to your parents if you're more comfortable with them. Just talk to someone, Kothari. You're not alone."

He regarded the wolf intently, willing himself to say something, to open the walls around his heart, but he couldn't. The monster was silent for the moment but it was only a short respite. It would be back and the next time...the next time he may find himself cradling the body of his dead mate. He couldn't allow that to happen. He would never survive it.

The panther turned, leaping nimbly from the rock and running into the trees.

"I'm sorry," he sent back to her, before he gave over control to the panther and allowed the animal to speed through the forest, its natural instincts taking over as it clambered up a tree and leapt from branch to branch.

Dara shifted back, peering into the trees for any sign of Kothari as she scrambled from the rock.

"Dar, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, Cass, I was just out for a run and now I'm headed back to the compound."She knew her sister wouldn't believe her and would most likely quiz her later, but strangely Dara didn't want to tell her about what had happened with Kothi. She knew she should tell someone but for some odd reason it would feel like she was breaking a confidence if she did.

There was the briefest of moments when she'd seen yearning in Kothi's eyes. He had wanted to reach out, she was certain of it. Keeping his secrets, proving to him that he could trust in her, may be all that he needed to work out whatever issues were plaguing him.

"Okay, we can talk when you get back. Elle's heading up to the Praetorian compound. She says Liam is stressing about something and she wants to make sure he's okay."

She felt her sister's mental touch retreat and ran through the trees, wondering why it even mattered to her that Kothi was in so much pain. He'd done nothing but torment her all her life with his barbed comments. Why she would want to help him was beyond her, and yet she did.

Instinct told her Kothi needed an anchor if his parents were going away. Without that, God only knew what the consequences for the pack would be.

~~~~~ Lily groaned as she vomited again and straightened up. She hadn't made it as far as she'd hoped, the sickness and weakness slowing her down considerably. She was vaguely aware that she was leaving an easy trail for anyone to follow even if she was shadowed, but she didn't have the strength to hide her trail.

The worst case scenario was it would be one of the Vârcolac or the triumvirate who found her. She knew they were looking for her by now, that they would have sensed her masking their bonds.

She had no idea what she was doing, why she was running. Her legs just kept moving forward, taking her further and further away from Mac and the accusation in his eyes. Part of her knew she was being irrational but her flight instincts were strong. She had to keep going and hope the nausea receded enough to allow her to mask her trail.

Stumbling, she fell forward onto her hands and knees, retching once more but this time nothing came up. Her wolf rumbled its distress, trying to soothe the woman who was feeling so wretched, and failing. Lily panted hard and tried to pull herself to her feet but she was too weak to move.

"Liliana."

Mac's low voice startled her, and she scrambled backwards away from the sound. 

"No!"

Mackenzie's heart was pounding so hard it was a wonder the sound wasn't echoing through the trees. He'd followed Lily's trail steadily for the last half hour, catching up with her quite easily which had been a surprise. Now that he had, he wasn't sure if it wouldn't have been best to let her go.

His beautiful mate was two seconds away from backing off the mountain and plunging to what could possibly be her death.

Even if she survived the fall, if her Vârcolac nature could survive the drop, he was certain the baby wouldn't, and that would take the last spark of life from his Lily's eyes.

Of that, he had no doubt. She had run to protect the life she was carrying. Her maternal instincts had kicked in to surpass all others. Losing the child would destroy her spirit and no matter how many times he looked into her eyes after that, he knew he would never see his Lily again.

"Lily, stop, please. You're at the cliff edge. Don't move!"

Mac's words penetrated her shock and she froze, trying to orientate herself. Was he telling the truth or just trying to stop her from running? She could hear the fear in his voice and it was so out of character that she remained rooted to the spot, keeping her gaze averted.

"Listen to me, sugar. You know I would never do anything to hurt you. Please, just give me a moment. Hear me out and if you still want to leave then I'll take you anywhere you want to go. Just give me a chance, Lily. Please."

Mac's voice broke and he had to swallow hard. Losing Lily would kill him. Oh, he'd go on as he had, but his heart would be dead forever. She was everything to him, the very air that he breathed. If the only way to keep her and the baby safe was to let her go, then he'd cut out his heart and do it. First, he had to try to convince her to stay, to get her to see that they had a life together, a future as a family.

She stayed still, tense but clearly listening, though she wouldn't meet his gaze. It broke his heart to be so close to her and yet so far apart. How the hell had he managed to screw everything up so badly?

"I know about the baby, Lily," he said quietly, crouching down so he was less of a threat. "I know that's why you're running away."

"It's not my fault." The words tore from Lily's throat on a loud wail, tears running down her face. "I didn't do it deliberately. I didn't know, Mac, I swear I didn't know." She wrapped her arms protectively around her body, rocking back and forth on the edge of the cliff.

"I know, baby, I know," Mac ground out, his heart in his mouth. "Lily, don't move, sugar. Please stop moving. You're scaring the life out of me."

She ceased moving and he released the breath he was holding. "Being pregnant isn't anyone's fault, Lily. It's an act of love, a new life we've created together. A life I never thought I'd ever get the chance to experience again, but now it's there waiting for me, one I want as badly as you."

He breathed in deeply and gave his words time to register. "I know what I said this morning makes that hard for you to believe, but I want this baby, Liliana. I want our baby, so very much.

When Sophia died, I thought I'd never want to father another child, but now I know we've created something special between us, I want to know the joy of holding my daughter, or my son, in my arms. I swear I'm telling the truth, Lily. Open up our mate bond. See that I mean every word I'm saying."

Mac was saying he wanted the baby. Hysteria bubbled up inside Lily, wild laughter full of disbelief warring with yearning for his words to be true. He could just be saying that to get her to come home. Once home he could change his mind.

"You don't mean that," she yelled, scurrying backwards again.

"Lily, stop!"

"You can't just change your mind like that, Mackenzie. You can't be so certain this morning and then do a complete 360 this afternoon. I know what you're doing. You're just trying to get me to come home. I won't give up this baby, Mac. I love you but I can't do it, not even for you."

"Lily, please listen to me," Mac whispered, terror invading his soul as she moved closer to the cliff edge in her panic. "Liam said something to me earlier, about how we all underestimate the Vârcolac, about how strong you all were even as children.

"I was human when Sophia died. She was human. The grief I've always struggled with has been human grief. I didn't take into account that any child we created would be so much more resilient than a human child. I didn't take into account that I would be so much better prepared to protect my child now that I'm a vampire."

Lily heard him through her tears, and finally turned to face her mate. His expression was haggard, concern etched across his features. She gasped, stunned as she looked at him. "You're eyes. They're not black anymore."

He blinked slowly, frowning. "They're not?"

"Oh Mac, they're the most beautiful grey eyes I've ever seen." Lily was sobbing, wondering how his eyes could have changed colour and aware that it was a rather random conversation to be having considering the circumstances.

"That's their natural colour," Mac breathed softly, as surprised as she at the turn of events. "When I lost my family and Demetri turned me, my eyes remained black after the transformation. He always speculated it was my grief that was the causing factor for that."

He held his hand out. "Don't you see what this means, Lily? I'm done grieving for the past, sugar. I have everything I will ever need in you and our child that you're carrying. I love you, Liliana Rose Romanov. You are my world, and I want you and our child so very much. Hell, we can have as many children as you want, baby, just please come to me."

Sanity started to kick in, Lily's confusion clearing. Mac had never lied to her, not once. She could read the truth in his eyes, feel his love flowing down their mate bond as she let go of the restraints she'd place on her bonds. How could she have doubted him? He was her mate and he loved her.

Sobbing she shivered, reaching out to him. "Mac. Oh, Mac, I'm so sorry." She moved forward and the earth and rock beneath her moved too. Panic spread across her face, her mouth dropping open in a startled scream.

"LILY!"

Mac sprang forward, scrambling desperately as the cliff gave way. In slow motion, he watched his world crumble before his eyes, grasping desperately for Lily's outstretched hand. His talons shot through his fingertips, trying to give him that extra few inches of reach.

"LILY!"

"MAC!"

His hand connected with nothing but air, Lily frantically screaming his name. Mac threw himself further forward as a loud, piercing scream filled the air and Lily plummeted downwards with the crumbling rock.

"LILY! LILY!"

To be continued...



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 18



Sorry it took me a bit longer than anticipated to get the next chapter up. I didn't mean to leave you hanging (literally) for that long LOL. 

So I have good news and bad news. The good news is I have the next two chapters written and will be doing a couple of minor tweaks before shipping them off to the ever delightful mikothebaby for editing. The bad news is Hearts is now complete and the last two chapters close out this part of the story, Lily and Mac's journey.

I know, I know, there are so many new threads woven into Hearts, so many teasers to other characters and their untold stories. They will come, I promise, but not in this tale. 

I hope you enjoy the conclusion of Hearts :)

*

Across the area, the Vârcolac stopped, turning to face the direction of the mountains.

"LILY!" Kallum's cry was agonized, terror filling his soul as he opened his mind to connect with his sister.

He heard Liam cry out beside him, Karn swearing loudly and yelling something he couldn't understand. He was vaguely aware of Liam falling to the ground, clutching at his head. Karn was rushing to him as he rolled over to his side, three Praetorians following closely.

"Make it stop! Make it stop!" The redheaded Vârcolac writhed in agony as emotions cascaded over him, assaulting him from every direction. The sound of his cries was almost as heart breaking as the screaming going on inside Kallum's mind.

"Elina, help Liam now!"  Kallum bit out the order, his mind focused on his sister, as one by one, the others joined him in their mental link, feeling Lily's terror as she fell. He spared a fraction of a second looking back at his friend, wishing he could help in some way but knowing Lily needed him more.

"Karn, get the others back from him. He's overloaded. Elina's on her way." He turned and began to speed away from the compound.

"Where the fuck are you going? What's going on?" Karn roared after the departing figure, signaling men to follow the Vârcolac though he knew they had no hope of keeping up with him. But Kallum was already out of earshot and it was Liam who answered him.

"Lily's dying," he sobbed, anguish in his voice. "Lily's dying..."

Karn's heart stopped for a handful of beats and then he was roaring at the other Praetorians. "Find her! Protect the Vârcolac!" He couldn't leave Liam unprotected to find out what had happened to Lily, and Kallum had said Elina was on her way to help her cousin, so he had to stay at the compound.

Kallum heard Liam's words resounding in his mind and denial raged through his soul. "No!" he screamed, speeding through the trees towards his sister's last known location, knowing he was too far away to do anything but refusing to believe he was losing her. Within his mind he heard his mother screaming and the roar his father let out as they realised what was happening.

"No! Save her, Kal. Save her!" His mother's pleas broke his heart and sent an added burst of speed pulsing through him.

"Lily. Lily." He sent to her repeatedly, willing her to respond as he raced up the mountainside. Resounding screams filled his mind as everyone cried out to his sister. It was too late, he knew it was, and yet he kept running, faster and faster.

*****

Time seemed to move in slow motion, Lily's fall from the mountain taking an eternity. Mac was in her head, crying out to her. She could feel his grief; feel his heart breaking as she fell slowly through the air. Kallum called to her, Dara and Cassia, her parents, Elina, Rafe and Annie. They were all there in her mind, reaching out in terror but all she could hear clearly was Mac.

"Live!" One word called repeatedly. She wanted to live for him but surely even a Vârcolac couldn't survive a fall from this height. Even if she did, she would lose the baby.

"I'm sorry. So sorry."

Why was it taking so long to fall? Each second seemed to last an hour, drawing out the terror in her heart, the anguish of listening to all the emotions crowding her mind. Was it cowardly to want oblivion? Lily collided with an overhanging rock, banging her head hard. The impact hurt, blood beginning to flow from her head, blurring her vision as dizziness over took her. Her vision swam sickeningly then darkness descended.

"Lily! Stay with me, Lily, please, stay with me!" Mac's anguished cry was the last thing she heard.

*****

Kothari snarled, rage suffusing him as he connected telepathically with Lily. He was with her as she plummeted down the mountain, so close and yet he felt as if he was so far away. He had been halfway up the mountain, still in panther form, when he heard her scream and looked up to see the disaster playing out above him.

Linked with his fellow Vârcolac, he could hear them screaming to their friend, the sound of Dara's agonised crying more than he could stand. If there was one thing on the planet that he just wouldn't tolerate, it was knowing she was hurting. He had a split second to act, to co-ordinate his timing. He would have done it for Lily regardless, but he was more motivated to succeed because his angel was weeping. He had to be in time. He just had to!

Lily's chaotic thoughts suddenly disappeared from his mind and fear pulsed through his body, his and everyone joined with him. He knew she hadn't reached the bottom yet because she hadn't passed him. He could still see her above him and a little to to the left.

Mac was screaming from above, his words echoing in the valley. Kothari had never heard such pain from someone before, couldn't begin to imagine how much Mackenzie's heart was breaking being powerless to save his mate. He put on a burst of speed, sighting an outcropping on the other side and just beneath him. If he timed this right... 

Lily's form was limp as it neared, moving at incredible speed. Could he do it? He had no idea, but he was the closest so he had to try. He tensed, waited for a beat of five and then sprang forward. His body slammed hard into Lily, pushing her sideways with a speed almost as fast as her descent downwards. They both spun fast towards the outcropping. It looked like they might make it.

Kothari shifted in mid-air, wrapping one arm around Lily as soon as he did, the other reaching for the bushes on the small ledge. He caught them and twisted his body, slamming into the rock face with his back, dangling precariously. He was able to take the brunt of the impact as Lily groaned, consciousness beginning to return. Blood was pouring from a deep wound in her head, her face a mask of red. 

She hung limp in his grasp, their combined weight too much for the feeble roots on the ledge. They began to come away, causing Kothari to hiss loudly. "Move, Lily! Grab the ledge. These bushes can't support both our weight."

The sound of his voice seemed to shake Lily further into consciousness. Her eyes fluttered open blindly, and then the roots snapped further, forcing them to drop a few inches.

"Lily, I can't hold us both!" Kothari yelled.

Lily scrambled in confusion, reaching up blindly and finding the hard edge of rock just as the bushes gave way. They rent from the rock in a sickening sound, sending Kothari downwards. "Kothi!" 

Throwing out her free hand, Lily reached for him, catching his shoulder as he fell. For a moment, only Lily's grip on the rock was what held them suspended and then Kothi's hand snaked up and grabbed the ledge. He pulled himself up quickly, landing agilely in a crouch and grasping Lily's arms tightly to pull her up beside him. There was just enough room on the ledge for both of them. For a moment, they simply sat there leaning against the cold rock face, breathing hard, the sounds of their thumping hearts loud in their ears.

"Kothi. Oh God, Kothi." The words stammered out of Lily's mouth, fear and disbelief making her voice quiver. The sensation of falling was still surrounding her, Mac screaming her name as the ground gave way, everyone's screams resounding in her head.

"It's okay, Lily. You're okay." Kothari pulled her trembling body into his arms as shock kicked in and she began to shake and sob. He could sense Dara in his mind along with the others, she was still weeping for Lily. He had to reassure her.

"I've got her. She's fine. A little shaken up but she'll be okay." He sent the message down all mental bonds, feeling the collective sigh of relief that went up from everyone. "Give her a little time. She's a bit shocked right now."

*****

Kallum reached Mac just as his message came through. The Praetorian was on his hands and knees screaming for Lily at the cliff's edge. He had never seen Mackenzie so out of control before, a wildness to him that was frightening. "Kothi has her, Mac," he called; afraid they'd lose the vampire over the edge of the cliff too he sounded so desperate.

"The black thing? I saw something black crash into her and then they were out of sight." Wild eyes met his, pleading in them. "She's okay, isn't she? Please say she's okay."

"Lily, please Lily, tell me you're okay." He sent the message down their mate bond. His heart wouldn't stop pounding, fear an acrid taste in his mouth. Lily had to be okay. Anything else was just unimaginable. His vision swam from the tears falling, the horror of watching her fall playing in vivid colour in his mind.

Kallum nodded, his own heart barely starting to beat normally at the scare they'd had. He couldn't begin to imagine how Mackenzie felt watching his mate fall. "She's fine, a little scared but unharmed. Just give her a moment. She took a knock to the head." He did his best to reassure Mac even though his protective instincts were now rearing up and his eyes turned hard as he regarded his sister's mate.

Now that Lily was safe, the adrenaline was fading and leaving endless questions in its place. His sister had almost lost her life and she'd been alone with her mate at the time. It was unheard of for mates to hurt each other but there was always a first time for everything. Lily had told him Mac didn't want to have any children. Had the vampire tried to get rid of the baby? He hated thinking like that but he had to know. "What the hell happened, Mac?"

Mackenzie shook his head, trying to calm his heart and shake the image of Lily falling from his mind. He'd never been so scared in his life watching the ledge crumble and his Lily vanish before him. He dragged a shaky hand through his hair as he stood up, not oblivious to the subtle accusation in Kallum's voice.

He didn't blame him. If Lily had been alone with someone else when she fell, he would be equally as suspicious and demand answers. "She was too close the edge. She was coming to me and then it just crumbled beneath her. I couldn't get to her in time, Kallum. I tried, but I just couldn't get to her."

There was so much guilt in his tone that Kallum softened. Everyone had just had the fright of their life and they needed to let everyone work through that. Mackenzie's expression, the anguish in his eyes and voice as he spoke told him all he needed to know. He hadn't tried to hurt his sister. It had been an accident and the main thing was Lily was safe.

He leaned over the ledge and looked down trying to sight his sister and his friend. "They're further down than up. I'll tell them to make their way down and we'll meet them at the bottom."

He turned to find Mac already heading for the trail down. Shooting a quick message off to Kothi, he followed him, jogging to catch up. "It'll take them a little while to get down. Lily needs to get herself together before they can start. Take your time, Mac. This has been a shock to all of us."

He reached down his bond to his parents. "Mom, Dad, Lily's fine. Let her have a bit of time to recover from the fright. I'm sure she'll be in touch soon." 

"Who do I need to kill?"  The cold determination in Andrei's tone was frightening.

"No one, Dad. The ledge crumbled, it was an accident. I'll ask Karn to get some of the Praetorians up here to check the place out and make sure no one gets too close to the edge again." 

Kallum broke off contact with them, sending his mother a soothing kiss. That would hold them for a while and give Lily and Mac some space. It was plain the vampire needed to be alone with his mate judging from the speed that he was moving and the expression on his face. "Is now a good time to say congratulations?" He deliberately injected humour into his voice, trying to lighten the sombre mood.

Mac shot him a quick look and then stopped, taking a deep breath. "If I hadn't been such an ass none of this would have happened," he ground out.

"You need to stop that before we get to Lily, Mac. She needs you, her and the baby both. Wallowing in guilt will not help the issue. We can all look back and think if only we'd done something differently. The thing is we didn't and events happened. Let's all just be grateful Lily's safe."

He clapped him on the shoulder and walked past him, turning to look over his shoulder. "Though, if my sister throws herself off a cliff again to get away from you, I am going to rip you to pieces. Just thought I should let you know that."

"If Lily ever does anything like this again, I won't even put up a fight, Kal." Mac continued on down at his side, his thoughts solely on Lily, and how he could make this up to her. ~~~~~

The compound erupted into a hive of activity. One moment it was silent and then next vampires and Vârcolac alike were racing around. The tall, brown-haired hybrid took off into the trees with a trail of people following in his wake. Reasa watched them go, moving silently through the trees towards the back of the house where they'd come from.

Lying on the ground was the red-haired hybrid, a blond vampire standing protectively over him issuing instructions to more vampires. The men and women listened and then took off into the surrounding trees in formation, clearly protecting the outer perimeter of the compound.

What the hell was going on? The male on the ground didn't appear physically injured and there was nothing to indicate why the place had erupted into a panic. Reasa knew they hadn't found her. She was still alive and that wouldn't be the case if they had. No one was even coming in her direction but something was clearly wrong.

In the distance, wolves began to howl and the sound sent a shiver through her. The wolves would be immune to the poison, which meant she had to act now while everything was in disarray. If the Weres arrived too soon then she would fail in her mission.

There was only one vampire still within distance of her mark but he looked vicious. She would have to take him out first and that caused her a moment's pause, but it didn't last long. He was protecting the abominations. He was therefore collateral damage. Reasa pulled the gun from her waistband and sighted down the barrel at the blond vampire.

Liam struggled to close off the emotions assaulting him. The pressure in his head was mounting and he knew if he didn't stop it now something awful would happen, something much worse than Lily falling from the mountain. He slammed up mental barriers one at a time. It was slow and painful, closing each compartment in his mind, shutting down his own emotions as he did, but he had to do it to protect everyone.

Stray thoughts started to bleed into his head, no...not thoughts; emotions. They weren't coming from any mind he knew but there was something faintly familiar about it. Hadn't he sensed it earlier, that strange itch he'd had at the back of his head?

Intent. So powerful, so focused, so determined. 

Liam stiffened, shock rippling through him. Kothari was calling out that he had Lily, but he couldn't stop to think about that. Evil was near and it had a specific target in mind and it wasn't him!

Karn tensed the instant he saw Liam go still. He started to turn, sensing danger close by somewhere on the left. "Brandon!"  Even as he called telepathically, he knew that whoever was out there was already moving to hurt the Vârcolac. "The compound's under..."

He didn't get a chance to finish his warning. Liam suddenly rose so swiftly, he was a blur of movement. The air rippled as the man vanished and morphed into an enormous russet wolf. Something whistled through the air towards Karn, and then the wolf sprang, throwing him to the ground and covering his body like a shield.

Reasa fired the silenced gun. It should have taken the vampire down but the abomination changed into a wolf just as she pulled the trigger, barrelling into the blond. The bullet hit the wolf square in the back and it went down hard, pinning the vampire to the ground.

Heart pounding in her chest, she jumped from the tree running at full speed across the yard towards them. She still had to time to complete her mission; the vampire was helpless under the weight of the wolf. Talons bared, she raced for the wolf, screeching in denial as another wolf appeared from nowhere, sailing through the air to crash into her, spinning her away.

Reasa's talons sliced down the side of the attacking wolf but it was a glancing blow, the animal rolling and twisting on the ground to come back at her in a fury of teeth and fur. The sounds of more wolves and returning vampires told her she had failed, but she wasn't going out without a fight.

Her leg kicked out, catching the wolf in the stomach as it dived at her again. She used all of her strength to boost the animal as far away from her as possible, her sharp eyes searching for the dropped gun.

The multi-coloured animal attacking her had to be a Vârcolac. Reasa's talons were tipped in vampire venom and the animal was still coming at her. A normal Were would be dying in agony by now even from the shallow wounds inflicted. If she could reach her gun, she could poison this one as well before she died. She dived for the weapon as the wolf sprang again.

Liam felt fire racing through his back as the bullet struck home. He fell on Karn, effectively pinning him down but not being able to move as the shock of being shot stunned him.

"Liam, move. I can't get up." Karn pushed with all his strength but the wolf was too heavy even for him. "Liam, move!" He cursed loudly as he felt the other man's blood start to leak on him, fury exploding inside him. He'd failed! He was supposed to protect the Vârcolac and Liam was injured, possibly poisoned.

A startled yelp had him turning his head and he saw another wolf attacking the female vampire who'd breached their security. The wolf's exotic markings of red and golden streaks on brown fur told him who it was that had just been injured. Elina! More fury erupted, enough that Karn found the strength from somewhere to roll Liam from him and get to his feet just as Praetorians and wolves appeared in the practice yard. "Protect Liam!"

He was aware of Brandon and the others rushing to the fallen Vârcolac's side as he headed towards the battle taking place. The vampire had broken off and was heading towards the weapon she'd used on Liam. No way in hell was she going to use that weapon on Elina. It would be over his dead body. Karn leapt after the female, tackling her to the ground and driving his fist into her stomach as they rolled in the dirt. Talons wreaked havoc within her body as she shrieked in agony and the wolf joined the melee going for her throat.

"No!"  Liam screamed, struggling to get to his feet. "Elle, save her! Please, save her." 

Elina's head swung away from the assassin, wolf eyes blinking in disbelief as she watched her cousin in wolf form approach on shaky legs, falling and trying to drag himself forward. "She tried to kill you, Liam. Have you gone mad?"  The fury within Elina needed an outlet. Someone had dared harm her cousin and that couldn't go unpunished. She could hear the woman screaming as Karn ripped at her flesh and the sound filled her with joy.




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 18



"Elina, please!"  Liam's mental voice broke, his body aching with the effort to get to the woman. "Please, Elle, please!" 

She could not deny him. His distress was absolute and it had nothing to do with his injury. All his focus was on the woman who had tried to kill him, his goal only to save her life. It made no sense to Elina but if it was what Liam needed then she would protect her when he could not.

Reasa's vision swam, her body a mass of agony from the vampire's talons. She'd put up as much of a fight as she could but her blood loss was too great, her adversary a more skilled fighter than she. Through tears of pain, she saw his talon's descend towards her neck and knew this was the killing blow. She had tried and failed but at least she had tried.

Elina crashed into Karn, knocking him from his position straddling the vampire's body. He was so stunned at the unexpected assault that for a moment all he could do was stare at her in surprise. Then his rage took over and he sprang towards her. "What the fuck are you doing?" 

She remained in wolf form but he knew she could answer if she chose to but she remained mute, her position in front of the female making it more than clear that she was protecting the assassin. "Shift, Elina, now!"

The wolf bared its bloodied teeth, growling furiously, its hackles up and Karn's rage intensified. "She has to be put down. You know the penalty for an attack on the pack or the Vârcolac. She shot Liam and probably poisoned him. He's your cousin for fucks sake! You're supposed to protect him not the person who's tried to assassinate him."

Privately Elina agreed with him but Liam's pleas were still echoing in her head. He wanted the woman saved so she would save the woman for now. Justice could be meted out later when wiser heads' prevailed.

The Praetorians ringed them, Lacey appearing at Liam's side and kneeling before him. She slipped on a proffered T-shirt to cover her nudity from shifting from wolf form, and surveyed the scene. Liam was recovering from a gunshot wound, the damaged area healing as she watched. A frown crossed her face and she glanced towards the wounded female vampire. "Was the bullet poisoned?" Silence greeted her words as everyone waited to hear the answer. 

Reasa wheezed out a pained breath, laughter bubbling up from her throat. "Yes. The abomination will die. What blood are you going to transfuse it with, vampire or Were? Too much of either will have a negative effect. You can't save it as you did Pietro."

Elina growled turning on the vampire with hate in her eyes. Liam had wanted her to save the other woman but her taunts were a death sentence. She couldn't remain alive after what she'd done to her cousin.

"He heals," Lacey said, her voice quiet as Liam rose slowly to his feet, the air shimmering as the man appeared. He was still unsteady but he was feeling stronger by the moment.

Silence reined in the compound as the full import of Lacey's statement sank in. "The Vârcolac are immune?" Karn's stunned words broke the silence.

"It appears so," Liam answered, walking over to Elina and placing a soothing hand on her head. She whined softly and rubbed against him, bathing him in her scent and seeking comfort that he was indeed okay. He dropped down beside her and hugged her tightly, sending a private thought down their bond. "Thank you, Elle." 

It was said with such emotion that she rubbed against him again even though she knew she had to make him see sense. "I have no idea why you wanted her life spared, Liam, but you must know that this is only a temporary reprieve. The triumvirate will not tolerate this attack on you. The pack won't, our parents won't. Her life has only been spared for a short time. Justice must be served." 

"Then they must be made to see sense, Elle. She can't be harmed, not ever. If they want to kill her then they will have to go through me first."  

Elina shifted form, staring into Liam's eyes. "Why protect her, Liam?" She asked the question aloud but he answered her privately.

"She's my mate."

It was the last thing she expected to hear and she could only stare at him shocked for another long moment before she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "Oh, Liam," she whispered, tears gathering in her eyes. "I'll do my best to help but her crimes..."

She couldn't finish what she was saying. They were in an impossible position. If the woman wasn't punished, then word would get out and there would be more attacks against them. If the punishment Caleb had decreed so many years ago was enacted and she was put to death -- then they would likely lose Liam completely as he went rogue.

"What are we supposed to do with her?" Brandon asked, staring at the recovering vampire. He had wanted to go to Lily but his place had been at the compound. He wanted some resolution to what had happened at the compound so he could find out if his friend was okay.

Everyone looked to Karn who was glaring at Elina's back. "Put her in the holding cells in the basement. We can sort this mess out when Mac and the others get here." He strode over to Liam and Elina. "Are you sure there isn't any damage from the poison?"

"I feel stronger by the minute," the redheaded Vârcolac answered, his gaze watching the caramel-skinned woman with hate in her eyes as she looked back at him.

"In that case, the next fucking time you put yourself in danger to protect my ass I'll make sure you rue the fucking day you do it! Are we clear on that? And what the fuck happened to Lily? Is she okay?"

Liam's eyes tracked his mate, watching her being bound with chains of steel and led away towards the house. "The poison would have killed you, Karn." He broke his gaze and turned to the irate vampire. "Kothi got to Lily in time. She's okay."

"You didn't know it wouldn't kill you!" Karn yelled furiously, his pale blue eyes icy cold despite his raised voice. Inwardly, he was breathing a sigh of relief but the fact two of the Vârcolac had almost lost their lives on his watch was fuelling his fury no end. No, make that three as Elina bloody Alexander thought she was some kind of superhero.

Liam chose to ignore him, his focus once more totally on the woman moving away from him. He had to go to her, had to talk to her and try to find out why she felt the way she did, why she couldn't see that he was her mate.

"Today has been a distressing day for all of us," Lacey interjected, her voice calm and soothing. "The threat has been neutralised, both Liam and Lily are fine despite their trials. Let's all calm down and take some time out until we can all get together and decide what our next course of action is going to be."

Karn wasn't finished, not by a long shot, but he knew he was in over his head at the moment. He needed to calm down so he could think rationally and give Mac time to return and deal with the wolves that appeared to be put on the planet just to drive him insane.

His gaze fell on Elina again and the cold burn of anger ignited deep. She met his gaze defiantly and his beast stirred, quietly impressed with her arrogance. Neither looked away as everyone started to head into the house. 

It was only when Liam moved that Karn took the three steps necessary to get to her side. "You shouldn't have done that, Elina Alexander. Once, yeah I'll let you get away with once, but not twice, Missy. You will rue the day you interfered with my job of protecting the Vârcolac."

If he'd expected her to shrink from his fury, he was in for a long wait. She smiled slowly, but it was without warmth, her eyes cold. "Oh, I think you'll find it was you who made the mistake today, vampire. You allowed Liam to be harmed. No one allows my cousin to be hurt without there being consequences. Believe me, we will continue this, only now is not the time. I'll let you know when it is."

She turned and walked away, fighting down the rage that wanted to consume her, calming her wolf who wanted to bite the stupid vampire and show him who was boss. One day soon, they would have a reckoning and she had no intention of coming out the loser. She was very much her mother's daughter and Karn would know that when the time was right.

*****

"Mac." His name burst from her lips the second she saw him all but flying the last few hundred yards down the mountain trail. Lily threw herself into his arms, tears streaking the blood on her face as her mate crushed her tightly to his chest. "I'm so sorry, Mac. Please forgive me."

"Shhhh, Lily. Don't say anything. Just let me hold you." Mac was shaking, relief warring with the terror still infusing him. He could feel Lily's tears on the side of his neck and knew she could feel his. How the fuck had they come to this? Where had everything gone so wrong and what could he do to make it right? 

Lily had almost died. They had almost lost their child, an innocent brought into the world by love and who hadn't had a chance yet to experience all the wonders out there to live. "Lily, oh God, Lily, when you fell and I couldn't get to you in time..." Mac's voice broke, anguish in every word.

"It wasn't your fault," she whispered, automatically soothing her mate because she couldn't stand to hear the anguish in his voice. "None of this was your fault. I should have stayed at the compound, Mac. I wasn't thinking straight and I panicked and ran. I should have stayed and talked to you, but I was feeling so ill, I wasn't thinking rationally at the time."

"If I hadn't told you about Sophia then you wouldn't have had the need to run. You would have come to me, we could have talked things through, and I'd have seen what a precious gift it was you were giving me. I let you down when you needed me, Lily. The fault is mine."

"For what it's worth, if you'd both talked to each other none of this would have happened but that's a moot point anyway," Kallum interjected, running a hand down Lily's back to soothe himself more than her. He could see she was safe and knew that whatever the future held for his sister, it could surely only be good after everything that had occurred.

"This is mates business," Mac growled, his more dominant nature exerting itself as the shock of Lily's accident began to wane.

A loud snort from Kothari's direction had all eyes turning to him. His customary dark glasses hid his eyes but his expression was eloquent. "If this is the crap you have to deal with being mated then that's something I have no intention of experiencing." He half-smiled at Lily as he spoke, giving her a short nod. "And again our Liliana causes havoc. I want to be a fly on the wall when Andrei gets through with you, not to mention Rafe. You're in trouble again."

Lily paled, feeling queasy again, not just because of her pregnancy, but also at the thought of dealing with her father and Alpha. Her Dad would be okay once he got over his fear but Rafe...she had muted her bond and he'd warned her what the consequences of that would be.

"Leave her alone, Kothi," Kallum admonished, his eyes narrowing as he looked back at their friend. Lily didn't need any additional stress right now which was why he'd tried to buy her more time from his parents checking in with her. She needed to be with Mac and alone.

"Yes, behave!" A cool female voice said from the trees and Rayne strode into the small clearing, exuding a quiet confidence that seemed to lower some of the anxiety surrounding them. She gave her son a stern look, trying not to smile at his rebellious expression. He had always been a handful as a child and was even more so now, but there would always be a part of him that acceded to his mother no matter how old he was.

She shifted her gaze and gave Mackenzie a reassuring smile as she held out her arms to Lily. "You gave us all one hell of a fright, Liliana." She waited for Mac to release his mate so she could give her a hug. He did so reluctantly.

Kothari conceded to his mother, only slightly annoyed at the reprimand. He could scent his father close and dialled back his natural tendency to try to stir things up. There had been enough excitement happening today as it was. It was time to withdraw and work out what the connotations of today meant for him on a personal level.

"While this little drama was playing out here there was an attack on the Praetorian compound," Gard announced, coming to stand beside his mate. He ruffled Lily's hair, his gaze fixed on Mackenzie's face who turned to stare back up the mountain towards his domain.

"What happened?" The words were bit out tersely, fury starting to radiate from the vampire. Someone had attacked the Vârcolac while Lily's life was at risk? That was unacceptable!

"The European vampire slipped inside during the chaos of Lily's accident," Gard continued. "Lacey let Rafe know what was going on. Liam was shot with a poisoned bullet."

"Oh my God!" Lily cried out, as Kallum and Kothari tensed at the news.

Gard held up his hand to quiet them. "He's fine. It appears the Vârcolac are immune to the poison. Speculation is that is because of your hybrid D.N.A. From the scant information Rafe has been able to get so far, Mallen is of the opinion that possibly the were gene blocks the harmful effects. This poison appears to only target vampire D.N.A. Everyone at the compound is fine though Karn appears to be a bit put out with the day's events."

Mackenzie couldn't decide what to do. He wanted to spend time with Lily, to make sure she and their child were okay, and yet, his duty pulled him to the compound, to find out what happened and how to make sure it didn't happen again. His indecision was plain for everyone to see.

"The vampire's still alive at the compound," Gard told him. "She's in the holding cells but it's not deemed safe to take Lily back there yet, not in her current condition. The likelihood of the vampire being able to hurt either Lily or the child is small but there's no harm in taking precautions. Freya has offered the use of her cabin. I trust you don't want to be separated from your mate right now?" He arched an eyebrow, his lips quirking in a small smile at the deep frown on Mac's face.

"I swear Kothi gets his teasing from his father," Rayne sighed, shooting a reproving look at her mate. "Go spend some time with your mate, Mac. Sometimes family has to come first. We're heading up to the compound and will assist Karn. Caleb and Annie were on their way to brief the Council but have decided to put it off considering what's happened. It's going to take a bit of time for everyone who needs to be there to get up to the compound. There's time for you to be with your mate." She was concerned at how pale Lily looked and nodded her head in her direction.

Mac's grey eyes took in Lily's pallor and there was no decision to make. "Call us if you need anything." He collected his mate in his arms and cradled her tenderly. Ignoring everyone, he took off towards the secluded retreat so he could spend some much-needed time with his woman.

As soon as they had left, Kallum turned cold eyes on Gard. "Why does she still live?" Like Mackenzie, he was furious that someone had breached their defences and tried to harm Liam. Death was the only punishment for that crime.

"Liam had Elina save her." It was Rayne who answered.

"Why the hell would he do that?"

A sad smile crossed Rayne's face, concern in her deep green eyes. "The vampire is his mate."

"Oh, fuck!" Kallum groaned as Kothari's loud laughter filled the valley.

To be continued... 



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 19



 Once more real life got in the way of posting up the final chapters of Hearts. I had to prioritise the rewrite of FTI to meet a publishing submission deadline that came up unexpectedly (Wish me luck LOL). It's all done now so here is the penultimate chapter of Hearts.

I will be submitting the final chapter this weekend so it should post up a few days after this one depending on the schedule of the current contest running which can delay postings.

My thanks to mikothebaby for her speedy turnaround on the chapters. I have tinkered with this one since receiving it back so any errors are my own.

Enjoy! 

*

Halfway up the steps into the Council building, Caleb and Rhianna stopped at the same time, their eyes turning to the mountains in the distance. Long slow moments passed as scenes played out, fear and anguish, pain and suffering, and finally relief flowing through them.

Caleb turned narrowed eyes to his mate, watching her expressive face as she continued to stare off into the distance. He could feel her reaching out to the others, surrounding them with her love, as she was inclined to do. As he watched her, he felt a rage begin deep within at the events that had just played out.

Someone had come into his territory and hurt one of his own. A quarter of a century ago, he had issued an edict in this very same council building, letting everyone know in no uncertain terms, what the penalty would be for any attempt to harm those under his protection. Today, someone had done just that, and he would not countenance it. Ever!

"Liam's fine," Rhianna breathed quietly, relaxing as the danger passed. Her gaze turned to her mate's and she swallowed hard at the expression on his face. "Caleb." She placed a steadying hand on his arm but his expression didn't waver.

He gripped her upper arm and moved back down the steps towards his waiting car. "You said this wouldn't happen, Annie. You said there was no harm in allowing the female to come into my territory." His grip tightened painfully as he fought with the myriad of emotions crashing through him. He was livid on more than one level, not just at the woman who had hurt Liam, but also at his mate.

"Caleb." Rhianna tugged at her arm until he released her abruptly and she had to check herself from stumbling. Lavender eyes watched him warily. He very seldom lost his temper with her; it had been years since the last time. Looking into his face it was clear that he was angrier than he'd ever been with her before. She could understand that to a certain extent, but it still hurt deeply that he could look at her with such lack of faith. "No, I said she would heal three souls. I had no idea this would happen. I don't see the future, Caleb. I just sometimes know what needs to happen, and Thereasa coming here needed to happen."

He rounded on her, his eyes flashing amber in his fury. "She hurt Liam. She dies, end of subject. And don't argue semantics with me, Rhianna. I don't believe you didn't know the harm she would do. If she is supposed to heal three souls then she would have to have caused the harm in the first place. This is something Anakatrine would do. Not my Annie."

She felt her own anger rise, hurt at his condemnation and the fact he was calling her an outright liar to her face. She had never lied to him, not once in all their years together. He was allowing his rage to colour his judgement and failing to see the bigger picture. "You say that as if we are separate beings, Caleb. Anakatrine is part of me as Annie is part of her. I've managed to find a balance as best I can. I think your own lack of balance with Callain is what's prompting this rage within you."

Her eyes blazed with fire, hurt and anger dominating her emotions. "I have never lied to you, Caleb. Not once and I never will. I had no idea Thereasa would hurt Liam. I'm as angry about that happening as you are, but she cannot die. She still has three souls to save. That hasn't changed."

His expression turned thunderous. "This has nothing to do with Callain and everything to do with Anakatrine. Remember I know her well and know what she's capable of for the greater good. I know my Annie and she would never have allowed this to happen. She may never lie to me, but I'm not so certain Anakatrine wouldn't. If you're so balanced with her then what am I supposed to think?" 

He moved closer to the car, pulling the door open and waiting until she got in. It was an effort not to slam the door shut and for a moment, he drifted back to a night so many years ago, the night of his very first argument with a petite redhead who was to become his world. So much had changed since then, so much good and some not so good. Somewhere along the way, both he and his Annie had changed until they stood now at a precipice and he didn't know what was going to happen.

That was what frightened him the most, what lurked behind the rage. As each event unfolded, he sensed Anakatrine take more of a hold on his Annie. While Callain had loved Anakatrine in a past life, he was more prominently Caleb now, and it was Annie who was his soul, not the vampire queen. She was slowly taking over until one day he would wake and his precious Annie would be gone forever.

Climbing into the car and heading off into the traffic, Caleb took a deep breath refusing to look at his mate. His voice was cold and detached when he spoke. "Here me now, Rhianna. When we reach the Praetorian compound, justice will be carried out. Do not get in my way on this or you will not like the consequences."

His words sent a chill of fear through Rhianna as she blinked back tears and stared straight ahead. The chasm between them was so wide she didn't know how to breach it. Caleb was intent on one course of action and she couldn't allow him to do what he intended. She would have to side against him and if she did...she had no idea what that would mean for them.

*****

Mackenzie tenderly set Lily to her feet in the bathroom of the retreat high up in the mountains. His heart was still struggling to resume a normal beat and he was loathe to release his precious bundle.

"Mac, I'm fine." Lily was feeling better, the nausea starting to recede. She knew she was probably a sight covered in blood, but all her injuries had healed and her wolf assured her their child was safe. She wanted to take the anxious expression from his face.

"I almost lost you!" Mac's hands shook as he cradled her face reverently, his fingers tracing each perfect feature he loved so much. His voice dropped to a whisper as he leaned his forehead against hers. "It was worse than coming home all those centuries ago, Lily. I didn't think anything could ever be worse than that, but it was." His voice broke and he felt tears well up as the horror of the day's events replayed in his mind. He couldn't lose his Lily...ever. It would destroy him.

"Mac..." Lily wrapped her arms tightly around him, holding him as he shook silently. His tears broke her heart and she wanted to fix this, but didn't know how. All she could do was hold him until he worked through the emotions of the past, and what had just transpired. 

He was crushing her so tightly to his chest that had she been fragile she would have broken, but she was strong and could withstand the force of his hold. Lily held her mate and wept with him, not for herself, but for the pain he was experiencing. Pain she had caused.

"I heard that," Mac finally said, raising his head and staring into her chocolate brown eyes so full of remorse it hurt his heart to witness it. He could see self-loathing in Lily's eyes and it wasn't an expression he ever wanted to see on her face again. "Don't, Lily. Kallum was right. If we'd both talked rather than try to guess how the other would react then none of this would have happened. This isn't one person's fault, it's just part of learning to know each other. We'll do better the next time."

Her expression clouded further, guilt predominant in her eyes. "I shouldn't have panicked. I should have stayed and talked with you, trusted in you. Instead, I ran and nearly killed our baby and myself. I could hear them, Mac, everyone screaming inside my head." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I could hear you begging me to live, over and over again. Your voice...oh Mac...your voice." She broke off, unable to continue, more tears welling up and flowing down her cheeks.

It broke his heart to see her weep like that, to hear her voice full of disgust at herself. This wasn't his Lily, this wasn't his strong, feisty mate who'd rocked into his life like an explosion of dynamite and turned everything topsy-turvy. She had dragged him out of the pit of despair, healed his grief, and taught him to love again. He wanted his Lily back, her eyes full of joy, her spirit strong and boundless. He had to reach through her melancholy and he knew only one way to do that.

Mackenzie slowly dropped to his knees, wrapping his arms around the small of Lily's back and resting his cheek against her abdomen. He took in a deep breath, scenting the precious life they had conceived together, another beautiful daughter. He brought one hand around to rest on the gentle swell of her stomach. 

"She has your scent," he breathed softly, wonder in his voice as the delicate bouquet of lilacs washed over him. He knew some of that related to Lily's own scent but he could tell the subtle difference that made up their child. His daughter. He was certain of that. His actions had the desired effect. Lily's sharp intake of breath sounded loudly in the bathroom, her hand trembling as it came to rest over his.

"Really, Mac? She's a girl?" Lily's voice quivered through her tears but there was the sweet sound of joy in her words, which made Mac's heart soar. He glanced up to see uncertainty on her face along with the first glimmer of hope.

"Oh yes, sugar. I'm about to have a mini version of you to help drive me even more insane than I already am." His tone was light and teasing, his fingers threading with hers to stroke against her body. "Who knew going crazy could be such a wonderful experience?"

Lily managed a small smile, her heart beating wildly at the unadorned love shining in Mac's eyes. She knew she was most probably more at fault than he was for the barely-averted disaster. She knew that Mac would do his level best to protect her from everything, including her own feelings of guilt. He was distracting her, refocusing her on what was important, the child they had created. The child that earlier that day Mackenzie had been so certain he didn't want. 

"You really don't mind about the baby?" She couldn't keep the anxious note from her voice. Seeing the joy that spread across his face as he ran a hand gently over her stomach was enough to dispel any remaining concerns she had on that point. They still had a lot to discuss but she was now positive that Mac wanted their baby as much as she did.

He rose to his feet, cupping her cheek gently. "I will love our baby with everything in me, Liliana Rose. No one will hurt our child, ever. Not as long as I live." His grey gaze roamed over her blood-streaked face and he thought she'd never looked more beautiful. Under the dirt and blood, she was radiant in her beauty, his mate, so strong and proud, presenting him with the most treasured gift in the world. 

He hadn't thought he could love her any more than he already did, but his heart swelled tightly as he stared into her eyes. "I know I've made mistakes, Lily. I know you feel to blame for everything but it took both of us to get to this point. You think all you've brought me is pain and you couldn't be more wrong, sugar. You've taught me to love again, you've given me a reason to greet each new day with a smile. You've helped heal a grief I've carried for too many centuries. Hell, you've even changed my eye colour." 

He laughed softly, stroking her cheek with his thumb. "I love you, my Lily, more than I've ever loved before. I dare say we will have other moments, but we will get through them together. You give me so much. You've gifted me your heart and the children I never dreamed I would ever have again. I will love you and cherish you and those children forever. If you will have me"

His heartfelt words brought more tears to Lily's eyes but they were happy tears as she read the sincerity in his expression. He was laying himself fully open to her, taking down all the last barriers so she could see deep within his soul. What she saw filled her heart with so much joy, she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly, knowing from this point on, no matter what happened, they would lean on each other to get through it.

"I love you too, Jonah Mackenzie." The words were heartfelt though a small giggle escaped her. "Jonah...what a fabulous name. The grey eyes are going to take a little getting used to but they are so beautiful."

Mac smiled, feeling the last of his anxiety begin to melt away. "I guess I finally let go of the past. It was a long time in coming." He was surprised at the change in eye colour. It would be irritating not having his dark glare to intimidate people with but he was sure he'd manage to do the same with his natural eye colour. He didn't want anyone thinking he'd gone soft.

Lily nestled close and he tightened his hold on her, breathing in her sweet scent and luxuriating in her touch. Okay...maybe when it came to Lily and their children he'd be a bit of a pushover but just for his family, no one else. "Come on, let's get you cleaned up, sugar. I want to check every single inch of your skin to make sure there isn't a mark on you."

Lily heard the lightness in his tone and knew he was unwinding, putting the past behind him so they could move forward. Her own tension eased and she glanced up at her mate with a saucy smile. "Every single inch...?"

She saw the flash of excitement in his eyes before Mac stifled it with a rueful smile crossing his lips. "Don't get too excited. You've have a difficult day and there's the baby to consider too. Are you still feeling nauseous? Should we talk to your mother?"

"Mac, I'm pregnant not an invalid." Lily sighed, amusement in her eyes but secretly pleased at his concern. He was probably going to be like her father, overdoing the protectiveness thing during pregnancy. She would have to talk to her mother about ways to knock that out of him if she couldn't come up with a solution herself.

She began to strip off her clothes, watching his eyes narrow as she slowly revealed her body to his avid gaze. With a strangled groan, he spun away, turning the shower on and setting the temperature. He was obviously determined to be good but good wasn't what she wanted.

"Can you help me in, Mac?" Lily deliberately schooled her features to an uncertain expression, watching her mate become solicitous. In no time, he had removed his clothes and it was all she could do not to rub her hands together with glee.

"Are you feeling okay, sugar?" Mac manoeuvred them both under the spray, rinsing the blood from her face and hair. His eyes traced every feature, his fingertips gentle as they stroked down her cheeks, her neck, coming to stop at the swell of her breasts.

Lily sighed with pleasure, feeling her passion ignite instantly and craving more of her mate's touch. She could feel Mac's excitement pressing against her stomach and knew he wasn't immune the situation. "I feel a bit achy, Mac." Her voice came out on a breathless sigh.

"Where do you ache, sugar?" Mackenzie wasn't oblivious to what his mate was up to. He told himself that now wasn't the time to make love to her but she was so damned sexy he couldn't stop his body from reacting to her closeness. For an answer, Lily guided his hands to her breasts that felt so tight and swollen and needed to be touched. "Here."

Mackenzie threw his head back and laughed loudly, cupping the succulent flesh in the palm of his hands, flicking his thumbs over the hard tips begging for his touch. He growled low in his throat as Lily moaned and pressed into his hands.

"Let me see how I can ease that ache." He lowered his head, enclosing one taut nipple in his mouth and suckling gently. His reward was another throaty moan and he suckled again, harder this time, grazing her tender flesh with his teeth. His fangs wanted to bite into her breast but he was concerned about the impact that may have on the baby. He would wait until they knew it was safe before he dined on his mate's mouth-watering life's essence.

Mac raised his head to look into Lily's flushed face. She was lost in her passion, her hands greedy as they roamed down his back to cup his backside and pull him tighter to her body. "Lily, are you sure..."

Her eyes opened and the need he saw in their depths was his undoing. How was he supposed to deny his woman when her need was that great? "Love me, Mac, please love me."

He didn't need any more urging. He pressed Lily to the shower wall, taking her mouth in a hard, searing kiss. All of his fear and relief was in the meeting of their lips, desperation warring with tenderness as he sipped at the sweetness that was his Lily. His tongue demanded immediate entry, she granted it, moaning and holding his head to hers as their tongues duelled.

There was nothing quite like kissing Lily. It was love and lust, tenderness and passion all rolled into one. Losing himself in her mouth made his head swim and his heart race, his body hard and aching for the warmth waiting for him. He had to be gentle with her though, he had to consider her condition and keep a level head. He could wait to take his pleasure until he knew it was safe but he could never deny Lily hers.

Mackenzie eased back, smiling as his mate pouted and rumbled her displeasure. "Come on, out of the shower." He tugged at her, uncaring they were dripping water over the floor. Wrapping his mate in a large, fluffy towel, Mac dried her briskly, taking most of the moisture out of her hair before turning the towel on himself. They were going to get the bed wet but to hell with that, he didn't care.

Lily ached for Mac. It was torture watching him run the towel over his body. She wanted to be pressed against him, to feel his heat and hardness covering her body and driving hard into her. Her mate was being too considerate though. She would have to find a way to break his iron self-control. He was so glorious to look at, all sleek muscles signalling barely restrained power. Her mate was a beautiful specimen of maleness and she wanted him now. Lily shrieked as he suddenly threw the towel away and scooped her up into his arms. 

"Stop looking at me like that, sugar, or you're going to get the two of us in a lot of trouble." The strain in his voice told her he was almost at breaking point. It would only take a little push further...

She shrieked again, when he tipped her onto the bed, towering over her and running his heated gaze slowly down her body. "I don't know what part of you I love best, my Lily." He reached down and rolled a nipple between his finger and thumb, a very male smile crossing his face as she moaned loudly.

"I love these," he sighed. "They're so sensitive to my touch." He trailed his fingers lower, watching with narrowed eyes as her abdomen constricted under his touch. Her skin was so soft, so silky and inviting.

He reached her lower abdomen, halting as she sucked in a deep breath and held it. Mac met her gaze as he brushed his fingers lightly over her sex. "I love this," he growled low in his throat. "So hot and wet for me. I can scent your excitement. It makes my mouth water because I know how succulent you taste here. I want to lick and kiss you until you scream out your pleasure."

Lily squirmed under his touch, desperate for him to stop talking and do what he was promising. He made her so hot and needy for him, she needed a firmer touch, and she needed to feel his mouth on her body. "Mac, please..."




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 19



"Oh, I'm getting there, sugar," he chuckled, his heart thumping wildly as he teased a finger into her body, feeling her wetness coat him easily. His breath rushed out loudly, echoing the startled breath Lily expelled. Mac slowly withdrew his finger and pressed back in.

Lights danced behind Lily's closed eyes. She wanted to watch Mac pleasure her but the feelings he was evoking were so intense her eyes wouldn't stay open. His hand moved languidly between her thighs, drawing out her pleasure slowly. Her hips flexed up to meet each new thrust inside, her passion mounting quickly.

"Mac!" She was vaguely aware that all she could say was his name but she didn't care. The tension in her abdomen was spiralling with each slow stroke of his finger inside her and she knew she would fly apart very soon. A light flick against her most vulnerable spot and the lights exploded and she was falling in the sweet bliss of her climax.

Mac watched Lily explode, his greedy gaze capturing every nuance of her expression as she shattered against his hand. This was the only image he wanted to have of his beautiful mate, the one that told him he'd pleasured her to completion. His body ached to join her but he continued to press his fingers deep within her body, drawing out her pleasure for as long as he could. She bathed his hand with her release, the aroma so heady he growled loudly. He had to taste her nectar.

Mac knelt before the bed, spreading Lily's thighs apart and drawing in a deep breath. Her scent was the most potent of aphrodisiacs, a temptation he'd never be able to resist. His tongue snaked out and dragged roughly against her tender flesh, Mac groaning again as she filled his mouth with her essence. This was what he lived for, the heady taste of his mate's passion.

Lily cried out, bucking up wildly. Mac's mouth feasted against her flesh, his tongue dancing through every crease and fold, drinking greedily as he groaned. He was relentless, teasing and flicking, pressing deep inside her as he sought everything she had to offer him. She was going to climax again and he hadn't received any pleasure. 

Lily pushed at his head. "Mac, stop."

He growled, not wanting to be denied the wonderful taste in his mouth, but his mate was being insistent, pushing him away. He growled again and frowned up at her.

Lily giggled at his grumpy expression, crawling on hands and knees until she was face to face with him. Her damp hair fell forward in tangles, her eyes smoky with passion. "I want to taste you too, Mac," she breathed against his lips, hearing his sharp intake of breath. 

Her words had his heart thumping hard in his chest. The thought of Lily's mouth giving him the most intimate of kisses was so erotic he pulsed hard. He licked at her bottom lip, sucking it in and succumbing to the desire to nick the plump flesh with his fangs. He suckled softly at the sweetness of her blood, being careful just to take a little.

Once he calmed the racing of his heart at her words, he released her mouth and gave her a slow smile full of intent. "Whatever you want, sugar. Lie on your back." It was an order, plain and simple and one she obeyed instantly.

Mac rose up, covering her body, his hardness pressing against her lips. Lily sighed with pleasure, opening her mouth to receive him as his head buried itself between her thighs one more and his tongue began its wicked torture again.

Lily licked slowly up and down her mate's impressive shaft, loving the textures in her mouth. Mac groaned against her body and she knew he was enjoying her attentions and that gave her more confidence. Never had she thought that using her mouth on him would be so erotic. No wonder he didn't want to stop tasting her if he took as much pleasure from this as she was.

He was so hard and yet so soft too, his hips flexing uncontrollably to press himself deeper into her mouth. She was doing this, making him so mindless with pleasure that the head of his shaft was pushing against the back of her throat as he tried to fit more of himself in. It was a heady feeling and combined with his wicked tongue between her thighs, she knew she was going to climax again soon.

Mac couldn't decide what was sending fire racing through his veins more, Lily's heady flavour or the hot mouth sucking greedily on his body. He was trying to restrain himself, trying not to be too rough, but she was attacking him with such vigour all rational thought was receding, leaving only wildness in its place. 

Lily's mouth was both pleasure and torture rolled into one. He wanted to press deep, his blood so hot his fangs had elongated and were aching to sink into her soft skin. He could feel Lily tensing, knew she was a heartbeat away from shattering once more. He was so close to joining her, so lost in the lust she was teasing out of him.

His tongue rasped hard over her sweet spot, flicking the tiny bundle of nerves and sending her soaring high. Sweat bathed his body as he fought for control but she groaned against his flesh and his hips jerked convulsively. His fangs sank into her most vulnerable place, her musky aroma assaulting him as he suckled hard at her body, releasing his seed into her insistent mouth.

She took everything he gave her, shuddering wildly as he drank down her sweet essence. Mac was floating on air, his mate's life-giving blood nourishing his beast as he continued to lick and suckle at her sex, sending her into another climax as she drew his seed from him with her hot mouth.

Lily swallowed and moaned, her entire body on fire as Mac pushed her to greater heights of pleasure. He tasted so good, so amazing that she wanted more and swallowed again, drinking him down. The pleasure was absolute, her mate's wildness making her wolf preen. They had done this, driven him to lose control and take what was rightfully his as they took what was rightfully theirs. It was the headiest of feelings and one she knew she would want to experience again.

Mac withdrew his fangs, kissing Lily gently before reluctantly pulling from the hot moistness of her mouth. He'd lost control at the end and was concerned he'd accidentally hurt her but one glance at her satisfied smile was enough to tell him his mate was feeling very pleased with herself.

"Enjoy that did you, sugar?"

Lily almost purred as she stretched out languidly. "That was amazing." 

He threw his head back and laughed at the smug satisfaction in her voice before he pulled back the covers and settled her into the bed properly. She yawned as he snuggled down behind her, one hand cupping a breast while the other gently cradled her abdomen. "You're sure you're okay? I wasn't too rough?"

"I'm not fragile, Mac. I'm a Vârcolac remember." There was gentle chiding in her tone but the hand she placed over his, linking their fingers over the new life they had created, softened it.

"That you are, my love," he breathed against her shoulder, running his tongue up to her neck and giving her a light nip. "But even Vârcolacs need to rest after having such an eventful day. Sleep, sugar."

Lily snuggled closer, protected by her mate's strong arms, smiling sleepily as her eyes closed against her will. She listened to the gentle rise and fall of her mate's chest, feeling safe within his arms, knowing it would take him a while to get over the fright she'd given him, but comforted that she was where she belonged.

"How long do you think we have before Andrei checks in?" Mac asked sleepily, rubbing his lips against her shoulder.

"Kallum bought us some time," she smiled, "They know I'm okay. I dare say Dad will have a thing or two to say the next time we visit." She yawned and then tilted her head back to look at him. "Mac, how did you find me? I was shadowed. Did my vomiting give me away?"

Pale grey eyes connected with hers and he frowned. "I didn't track you that way and you'd closed off our mate bond so I couldn't track you that way either." He raised himself up slightly to stare down at her. "Come to think of it, when you vanished, I managed to keep up with Kal and Liam which shouldn't have been possible."

Lily's eyes widened, surprise crossing her face. "You saw through my shadowing?"

Mac smiled slowly, reaching deep within and sensing the changes slotting into place, changes that had come about from his mating with a Vârcolac. The wolf gene was muted and probably always would be, but it appeared he'd taken on the more enhanced characteristics that went with the vampire gene. "It would appear I can, sugar," he drawled, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "So, that's put paid to any future plans of running because I will always find you."

He chuckled at her mock-outraged expression and settled back down beside her, snuggling her in tightly. This was where he belonged, where he would always belong, with his beautiful Liliana Rose. "Sleep now, sugar."

"Mac, when I wake this time, you will still be in bed beside me?" There was a hint of vulnerability in the question, alluding to the fact that so far, she had always woken alone since they had mated. It was a mistake he wasn't going to repeat.

"Always, Lily. You won't ever wake alone again. Now go to sleep before I decide to sing you to sleep. Believe me, that is something you most definitely do not want to happen."

Sighing happily, Lily allowed sleep to claim her, safe in the knowledge that no matter what happened, she and Mac would always be able to work out any issues and overcome them, because that was what mates did.

*****

"Lily." 

She woke with a start, dread filling her heart at the sound of the male voice inside her head. Turning slightly, she glanced at Mac to see him fast asleep, the mental intrusion failing to disturb him.

"Lily." 

She couldn't ignore the command in the tone no matter how much she wanted to. Her wolf would always answer to that command, at least, until another came along to usurp that relationship. Schooling her emotions as best she could, she slipped silently from the bed and found a robe belonging to Freya. Slipping it on, she padded barefoot outside to the man waiting for her.

Rafe's expression was so neutral it was hard to tell what he was thinking. Her Alpha stood on the first step of the porch, brown eyes quickly running over her face. "You're okay?" Even his voice was neutral.

"I'm okay, Rafe. Kothi was in the right place at the right time. The baby's fine too." It was hard to look into his penetrating gaze and her head lowered automatically in the submissive position her wolf adopted. Her Alpha had warned her of the penalty of blocking his link and she had gone ahead and done it anyway. It was time to accept his judgement even though it would break her heart to leave the pack. She knew it was only a matter of time before that happened anyway, but she wanted to remain part of the Armand-Hanlon pack as long as possible.

Rafe sighed, staring at Lily's bent head. She had placed him in an unconscionable position and they both knew it. It hurt to look at her so he turned away, sitting down on the top step and staring out at the panoramic view of the mountains and forest. "What am I supposed to do with you, Liliana?" It was a rhetorical question and they both knew it.

He sighed again, running a weary hand through his shaggy hair. "Come, sit with me." Rafe waited for her to take a seat beside him, trying to work out what to say. Annie had told him he would know what to do for the best when it came to his errant pack member. He wasn't so sure he was that wise. Lily had deliberately undermined his authority as Alpha, knowing what the consequences for that would be. How was he supposed to resolve this?

"Have you no respect for me, Lily?" The words came out sounding pained, touching on the root cause of Rafe's dilemma when it came to her.

Her head whipped around, shock blazing from her eyes. "Good God, Rafe! No, you can't believe that! Of course, I respect you. You're my Alpha. You have always loved and protected me, always been someone I could count on. I have so much respect for you, Rafe, please don't ever think that I don't." 

"Then explain this to me, Lily. Help me understand why I fail so badly as your Alpha, because quite frankly I'm at a loss here. Why can't you put the needs of the pack before your own? What is it about my leadership that you find so onerous?" 

It hurt to hear the plea in his voice. Rafe truly thought that he was somehow lacking as an Alpha and that was the furthest thing from the truth. He was the best Alpha she'd ever known, and she knew a few of them. Jared was a good Alpha too, but there was something about Rafe's kind heart that was that bit more special, that earned him love and loyalty, not just because he was Alpha but because of who he was.

Lily took a deep breath, trying to overcome the shock of his words, feeling his disappointment running down their bond. She knew Mac wouldn't hold it against her if she discussed the situation with Rafe. He understood the pack dynamic even if he hadn't come under Rafe's command when they'd mated.

Swallowing hard, determined not to cry and be seen as weak, Lily took another deep breath before fully opening up her bond with Rafe, letting him feel the emotions behind her words. "Mac didn't want children. He'd lost a child when he was human and had never recovered from the grief. I only found out just before I discovered I was pregnant. I panicked, Rafe. I closed down all my bonds automatically without thinking. It wasn't because I was disrespecting you. It was never about that, you have to believe me. I was afraid I'd have to choose between Mac and the baby. I was trying to protect my child."

He turned his head to the side, seeing the slight puffiness of her eyes that wasn't due to being woken up by his presence. He tried to imagine what she'd been through, feeling the tumult of emotions flooding through the Alpha bond. He had known some of it but hadn't realised just how extreme the situation had been. What Lily must have been going through to run from her mate to protect her child? It was an inconceivable position to be in and he wondered what Lacey would do in a similar circumstance.

Not that it would ever come to that, but the protective instincts of a mother was like no other. He knew that and had witnessed it so many times within the pack on a daily basis. And not just from mothers but the fathers too. 

Rafe cast his mind out to his mate, feeling Lacey's disquiet and wanting to be with her. He delved deeper, feeling for, and finding, what he was looking for. Twin hearts beat within his mate, a son and a daughter. He felt love blooming within and smiled softly as he lightly touched on the thoughts of his growing babes. 

No one knew yet. Lacey had just passed the danger point for shifting, was in her fourth month with barely any change to her body as yet. They had planned on sharing with the pack once she could shift again, but events had overtaken that. Hell, even Annie had been so preoccupied she hadn't noticed yet.

Lacey was an experienced mother but Lily...Lily was still young in so many ways despite her many attributes. With so much happening in her life the past few weeks, no wonder she had acted without thought. The one good part of the experience was it appeared to have tempered her slightly, judging from the expression in her eyes.

"Come here," Rafe said, his voice gruff as he reached out and pulled his pack member into the warmth of his side. "Is Mac now reconciled to being a father?"

Lily looped an arm around his stomach, resting her head against his shoulder. "He is. A lot has happened, Rafe. We both have come to learn a lot about who we are as people and what we need to be as mates. I naively thought that once you found your mate everything just worked out. It never crossed my mind that there was more to it than that. I've been very foolish."

Rafe chuckled, brushing his lips across the top of her head. "We all are when we're young, Liliana, some more than others. You must understand there has to be some consequences for your actions though. While I understand now the reasons for your actions, you still disobeyed me. I can't let that go and do nothing about it. "

Rafe knew that now was the time for him to become the alpha, to do the hard part, and issue a consequence to one of his pack. It never came easy to him, because he instinctively felt that every member of his band of wolves were good at heart. It was always with great difficulty he meted out his punishments and punishing Lily, of all people, made it that bit harder.

Understanding her circumstances better provided reasons for the insanity that had ensued, however he had to take a hard stance and try not to be swayed unduly by the mitigating factors when setting his consequence. Rafe turned and looked into Lily's eyes, looking deep into her soul and knew what he would do.

Lily watched as Rafe, the man she respected most in her world outside her family, changed from the kind caring man she knew and loved to the Alpha he truly was. Shoulders squared, back stiffened, his sheer size gave little doubt as to why he was her Alpha.

"Do you understand what you did wrong, Liliana Romanov?"

"I let you down, and disobeyed your edict."

"No."

"No?" Lily stared up at him in shock, not fully understanding what he meant.

"No. While you disobeyed my directive; that was not what you did wrong."

"I don't understand."

"You let down the pack, child." Rafe watched as the realisation of the full harm she had caused slowly descended on her. "Let me explain to you why you're being punished. While you did disobey me, and that in itself is a huge strike against you, the harm you caused the pack outweighs everything else."

"The pack is a living organism, Lily; it's like a human body. I, as Alpha, am the head of the organism, my betas the organs, the pack makes up the remaining bones, nerves and tissues. Each action has a reaction on the body. Therefore, when a body part is lopped off, it's felt everywhere. If a body becomes pregnant, it's felt everywhere. If a limb stops doing what the brain tells it, it is felt everywhere."

Lily was now starting to see what Rafe was alluding to, and the guilt that she felt for her actions was beginning to increase.

"Child, when you left the first time, we felt it to the core. We, as a whole love you. Your absence had an impact on the entire body of our group. There was fear. Not only for your safety, but fear on your family's behalf and finally fear for ourselves, because if something were to have happened to one of the Vârcolac then we would be in grave danger. Your absence also stirred up helplessness, anger, and grief. Without you, there was a void in the pack, and each and every member felt it.

"When you fled the second time, it was felt tenfold. You had the pack searching high and low. You had members of the pack who were better served protecting the compound out searching for you. You put the pack at risk and on top of that nearly killed yourself and your child. Each and every time that link is closed the immediate impulse is for us to think that you are dead." Rafe held up his hand to ward off Lily from interrupting, he was not finished.

"You didn't just fail me, Lily, you failed the entire pack." Rafe let his words hang in the air for a several moments so that the severity of what was to come would sink in. "I warned you before that the consequence would be exile, but under the circumstances there are mitigating factors to be taken into consideration. You are pregnant, and I am not inhuman. Your mate is not of my pack, and we both know you will be leaving us anyway, but until that time, you will always have a home with your family and me. 

"As such, I must take into considerations the needs of the pack. The consequence for your actions should not be punishment but rather a repayment to the pack. You have taken accountability for your actions and that does make me proud, Lily. As Alpha, as father to the entire pack, I could not ask for more. 




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 19



"Liliana Rose Romanov, you are consigned to kitchen duties for the next three months or until your pregnancy progresses to the point you need to rest, whichever comes first. I won't be completely heartless. You're excused breakfast duties as you're living up at the Praetorian compound, but you will be on lunch and dinner duties from tomorrow onwards and I don't just mean cooking, you have to clean up afterwards."

Rafe watched confusion cross her face for an instant and then realisation kicked in. Her big brown eyes filled with tears even as a smile began to cross her lips and she threw her arms around his neck. "Oh, thank you, Rafe. Thank you for letting me stay. I swear I'll be on my best behaviour. I won't ever let you down again, I promise I won't."

Swallowing down the lump in his throat, he held her tightly, feeling her tears on his neck as she tried to hold them back. Annie had been right. Sometimes circumstances dictated a person's actions and they had to make decisions in the heat of the moment that weren't always the best decisions. It was his job as Alpha to see the complete picture and to determine what was best for the pack. 

He had no idea how long Lily would remain with him, but he knew right now it was the right place for her. It was for the good of the pack to have her with them. There was the potential to have the pack split if she left. He could never see Andrei and Loretta staying with their child banished. It was different with the new Alpha who was out there, that was simply the natural way of Were life. 

No, Lily was his to protect until such time that another came to take up that mantle. All of the Vârcolac were his to protect, especially with the attack on Liam, which filled him with such rage it was hard to control his wolf. How could he give Lily's care into the hands of another when she was with child and vulnerable to an attack from the European covens? What kind of man, let alone Alpha, would that make him?

"I know you won't, honey," he whispered soothingly, stroking her hair as his eyes met Mackenzie's in the doorway. He nodded to the vampire and received a respectful nod in return. "Tomorrow at lunch time, now don't you be late." Rafe disentangled himself from Lily and stood up as she followed him.

"I need to head up to the compound. Everyone's gathering there to decide what to do with the female that attacked Liam. Will you two be coming? I know there was some talk about your condition, Lily, but the poison isn't harmful to Vârcolacs. I doubt there is any danger."

Mac stepped forward and pulled his mate into his arms. He had been listening to most of her conversation with Rafe, having awakened to an empty bed and panicking for a second thinking she'd run again. It had been hard to give her the space to work things out with her Alpha, but he'd understood the importance of it. "We might head up in a bit, Rafe. I'd like a little more time with my mate, seeing as she's going to be occupied for the next while."

Rafe nodded again, sending a smile towards Lily before turning and running into the trees. He shifted to wolf form, brown shaggy fur glinting into the dying sunlight as he disappeared.

"Are you okay?" Mac turned Lily in his arms, brushing at her wet cheeks. She gave him a warm smile, her eyes glowing with love as she gazed up at him.

"I'm lucky to have Rafe as my Alpha and I'm lucky to have you as my mate. How could I not be okay?" Standing on tiptoes, she kissed her mate soundly, trying not to giggle as he groaned and began to harden against her. He really knew how to make a woman feel loved, and she had the rest of her life to bask in that love.

To be continued...



Hearts of Warriors Ch. 20



 ...and so we come to the final chapter of Hearts of Warriors. Thank you for all the votes and comments, I've enjoyed reading them all :)

Try not to lynch me at the end of this chapter LOL. The next story carries on from the end of this one and will be written, I'm just taking a little hiatus as I've previously said :)

Mikothebaby you have been a complete star!!! Thank you so much for all the time you've given me.

And a special thank you to E #yourock ;) 

Enjoy! 

*

Liam stood beside a wooden door in the kitchen of the Praetorian house. It led downwards into the basement that ran the length of the main building and it was the door that separated him from her, the woman who had tried to kill him. The sounds of raised voices from the sitting room should have concerned him, but it didn't dent his focus on the sound of the heart beating beneath his feet, the fast rhythm signifying the fear and stress the woman was under. 

He wanted to go to her but they wouldn't let him. Karn had threatened to have six Praetorians sit on him if he tried it and only Lacey's calm intervention had stopped the tension from escalating. They eventually reached a compromise. Liam could guard the only exit from the cells to reassure him no harm came to the woman, and he would stay above ground until the others arrived to discuss the way forward.

Karn was still angry, venting that anger at anyone who would listen. His voice was the loudest, the others more muted as they answered him. Liam tuned out the words so he could listen to the most wonderful sound in the world, the beat of his mate's heart.

Who was she? What was her name? Why had she come here with death in her heart? Those were only a handful of the questions on his mind. He wanted to ask her everything, to know everything about her. He wanted to breathe in her scent, to open his mind, and share himself with her. He wanted her to see him, to look past what he was and see the man. He wanted everything, but for the moment, he had to be content with listening to her heartbeat.

Liam knew he should be concerned that she'd shot him. She may have been aiming at Karn at the time but he was under no illusions that he wouldn't have been her next target. It had hurt like hell and the feel of the poison running through his veins had been a burning agony until his genes kicked in and neutralised it. He should have been concerned but he wasn't. He'd take that pain any day if it meant having the exotic creature enter his life and complete him. She was worth every second of the agony.

The sounds of people arriving interrupted his thoughts and he glanced at the kitchen door scenting the air. His Alpha was here, having arrived after a side trip to check on Lily. He'd assured them she was well and safe with Mackenzie. Liam was relieved to hear it, sure in his mind that everything would be okay. Now the scents greeting him confirmed the two people he was most concerned about had arrived, Caleb and Annie.

He thought he would have an ally in the vampire queen and he would need it to counteract the fury he could feel wafting from Caleb in waves. His brown eyes watched the doorway intently, until the petite figure with long auburn curls appeared. Rhianna stood there watching him, her lavender eyes revealing no hint of her thoughts.

"Will you join us in the sitting room, Liam." It wasn't a question, more of a statement.

"I can't do that, Annie. The door will be unguarded." He couldn't remember ever saying no to her before, but he knew there was nothing she could say that would convince him to leave his mate unprotected.

Her lips pursed and a frown marred her brow for an instant before she nodded. There was a flash of something in her eyes, the hint of the woman hidden within. There was a subtle change in her voice as she nodded once more and turned away. "We will discuss this again shortly."

Liam watched her leave, a feeling of disquiet washing through him. Usually Rhianna was smiles and understanding. The woman who had just spoken to him was anything but. It appeared that the vampire queen was close to the surface and that didn't bode well. He needed Annie's gentle compassion, not the judgement of the vampire queen.

Liam shivered, his disquiet increasing as he rested his cheek against the door and listened for the sound that had suddenly become his world. He felt Elina's mental presence in his mind, helping him to keep the tentative hold on his defences and soothe his anxiety. No one would hurt his mate. No one! He didn't care who they were, he would not allow anyone to harm her.

*****

Rhianna walked into the sitting room her eyes meeting Caleb's as soon as she entered the room. Her mate was still furious, the depth of that fury barely contained. She could see it in his eyes and knew he didn't understand why there was even going to be a discussion over what had happened. From the moment the news had reached them, he'd been in a rage like none she had ever seen before.

She had tried to soothe him, tried to speak to him about events, but it appeared he held her to blame for what had transpired. They'd had their odd disagreements over the years but nothing had touched them as this had. Caleb had muted their mate bond, shut her out completely. Every time she tried to reach him she was met by a brick wall, both physically and mentally.

It was black and white to her mate He had decreed his edict twenty-five years ago after Ashleigh and Loretta had been kidnapped and tortured. The pack was under his protection and no Were was permitted to be harmed by a vampire. The penalty was instant death and in his mind, the European vampire had to die.

His anger at her was palpable. She had told him the vampire would bring no harm, that she was crucial in saving three souls and he'd believed in her, trusted in her judgement. From his perspective, it appeared that she had failed. Liam had been harmed and the poison had been deployed on what should have been safe ground. If he hadn't listened to her, then possibly events could have been different.

It mattered little that Rhianna hadn't known Thereasa would get close to one of the Vârcolac. Someone had been hurt and he judged her because he didn't believe she would have prevented it from happening if she had known. Most of her shunned from thinking that she would have, but another part of her looked at it pragmatically. They had learned much from the attack. Thankfully, the Vârcolac were safe from the poison.

Moreover, she was still convinced that Thereasa would heal three souls. That hadn't changed despite the violence, of that she was sure. Caleb refused to believe that though, and that meant they were at odds. Rhianna was so used to working with her mate, of being in complete harmony with him. The current schism between them was something she hated but would have to endure. Events had to play out the way they were meant to otherwise they would lose two, possibly three souls. Rhianna couldn't let that happen.

Surveying the room slowly, she shivered as she took in the high level of tension. The Vârcolac were all here standing off to one side in a group. The only one missing was Lily but she'd had her own drama today and was safely with her mate. It was better that she wasn't here, not in her condition. Things were about to get very ugly and the poor girl had been through enough stress as it was. 

Her lavender gaze focused on her brother talking quietly with Lacey close to the Vârcolac. It wasn't surprising that Rafe and his mate would adopt a protective stance between the hybrids and the glowering vampires. They were pack and the Alphas protected their own. She expected nothing less from her brother and for a moment, her mind wandered back to another meeting so very long ago. That day Caleb had been determined to protect the Hanlon pack. He had done it for her to safe Rafe's life. Now most of the same players were in attendance, only they hadn't come together for the good of the pack this time.

Rafe met her gaze with a solemn expression. They had talked earlier and he'd told her he had reluctantly asked Nors and Ashleigh to remain with the pack. They had wanted to come to protect their son but this was way past a simple family matter. He hadn't wanted to ask it of them but there was still the chance another assassin could be around and he didn't want the pack depleted of its best defences. Once Ashleigh had had a chance to speak with Liam and reassure herself he was okay, she'd finally agreed, which had settled Nors down.

Rafe moved towards her, concern in his eyes. They hugged tightly and for once Caleb didn't perform his usual theatrics of extracting her needlessly from her brother's embrace. Rhianna had never thought she'd see the day that she would miss that irritating quirk of his but she did. Rafe quirked an eyebrow, his expression darkening more.

"What the hell is going on here, Annie? I trusted my pack members to you and the Praetorians. I never fought you over anything and now we've come to this? Have we descended to pack against vampire? To family pitted against family?"

"Have faith in me, Rafe, please. I won't allow any harm to come to the pack, you know that. Trust me." Rhianna whispered the words though she knew everyone in the room could hear them. The sound of a breaking glass resounded in the quiet room but she didn't turn around to look at Caleb. Instead, she gave Rafe another hug and stepped away from him so he could return to his mate's side.

As he walked away, she sighted Gard and Rayne also standing close to the Vârcolac, another sign of what were clearly divided loyalties. Gard was a vampire, part of the pack, and a member of the triumvirate. Technically, he was being pulled in three different directions. Their eyes met and she read clearly what he wanted her to know. Where it came to today, his allegiance was to his son. She couldn't fault him on that. 

The vampires all congregated close to Caleb, Demetri and Mara at his side, Karn and the Praetorians flanking him like a personal army. Karn's expression was closed, his inner thoughts hidden, but she knew he was like the others, divided loyalties pulling at him. One female vampire...that was all it had taken to test the loyalties of each and every person in the room. Her presence was worse than the poison used on Pietro. That had brought them together. This woman had the power to tear them apart.

All that stood in her way was Rhianna and her soul felt encased in ice as she regarded everyone silently. How in hell was she supposed to do this alone? She didn't have Caleb's backing, in fact, he was her main opposition. By the time this was over, she didn't even know if she would have him in her life anymore. It broke her heart to look at him, to know that come the end of this day he might walk away and never look back, but events had to play out this way. If that meant she lost her soul mate then she would have to find a way to endure it. 

Rhianna Armand hadn't been alive long enough to have the wisdom required to resolve this situation. But there was someone else who had...Anakatrine.

She would have to concede complete control to the vampire queen living within her, effectively doing what Caleb was so afraid would happen and what lay beneath his current mood. 

She wasn't completely unaware of what had prompted their opposite stance. He was afraid he was losing her, that she would become Anakatrine and she was about to do just that to ensure everything happened that needed to happen. Everything that made her Annie would be forced into submission. She hadn't willingly given up control of who she was before, and she was afraid of what the consequences of that would be. 

Caleb's angry gaze tore at her heart and forced her hand. The only person who could stand up to the might of Caleb was Anakatrine. She had to trust in the other half of her soul, that she would do the right thing.

"Well?" Caleb's tone was cold, unlike anything he had used with her before. It spoke of the level of his disappointment and rage. It had Demetri's head swinging around sharply to regard his friend in surprise. Everyone looked between them, the tension level in the room escalating higher.

"Liam is disinclined to join us," Rhianna answered, refusing to look away from her mate's irate glare. She watched disbelief cross his face before it hardened further and his voice came out like chips of ice.

"He doesn't have a choice in the matter, Rhianna. Why Karn allowed this madness to continue is beyond me. He knows the law. The vampire should have been executed."

The object of his fury shifted uncomfortably to his right. Pale blue eyes searched the room until he found what he was looking for. Elina Alexander was watching him, her face expressionless, her gaze intent. She regarded Karn for a long moment before she shifted her gaze to Caleb. "Liam wouldn't allow it." 

Karn had been turning to address the Ancient but his head swung back around and he pinned Elina with surprised look. She was effectively defending him. Her eyes flicked to his briefly once more but they were cold and flat giving nothing away.

The Ancient appeared oblivious to the glances passing between them, his expression hard. "Since when do Liam's wishes overrule the law?" 

"Since he claims the woman as his mate." Kallum stepped forward, moving past his Alphas. "If you harm her, you harm Liam. We cannot allow that to happen, Caleb. Mates are sacrosanct."

"You cannot allow that to happen." The Ancient repeated the words slowly, his voice dropping and becoming colder with each word. "Do you think you and your fellow Vârcolac are above the law, Kallum? Do you think you have the knowledge and wisdom to lead our people when you've barely been on the planet a quarter of a century?"

Kallum held his ground, enduring Caleb's wrath. There was so much at stake. His own thoughts and feelings were conflicted about the fate of the would-be assassin but he knew that he had to protect Liam and this was the only way they could, by standing firm with him and hoping the consequences wouldn't tear them all apart. He had to try to find a way to get the vampires to see reason.

"You know I don't, Caleb. I know you view this as a challenge to your authority but it isn't meant that way and deep down you know that. You're allowing rage to cloud your judgement. You don't want to harm Liam any more than anyone else here. Taking the woman's life will kill him. Would you stand idly by and let someone take Annie's life? Would any mated couple?"

Liam is not mated to that woman!" Caleb roared, his voice so loud some of the Praetorians took a step back. His eyes blazed furiously and he took a step forward. 

Rafe moved instantly, placing himself in front of Kallum. "Calm down, Caleb." His stance was protective, his wolf close to the surface in preparation of the vampire going feral. There was a subtle sound of movement around the room as the tension reached critical mass, everyone positioning themselves for potential hostilities. 

"You too, Rafe? What about you, Gard? Anyone else in this room who thinks they're above the law?" Caleb's eyes stopped on Rhianna, his fury almost a living thing. He pointed one long talon at her, appearing unaware that he was halfway to crossing over. "You said she would cause no harm! You were wrong, Rhianna." He gestured around the room. "Look at the harm she's causing! I should never have listened to you!"

His condemnation hurt but Rhianna couldn't deny his words because she agreed with the harm Thereasa was causing. However, Caleb was blind to the fact that there were two people causing the current disaster waiting to happen. His own arrogance was fuelling the division and helping to pit pack against vampire, families against each other. It had to end.

Demetri started to try to intervene, concern on his face at his friend's loss of control. He stepped forward, reaching out to place a restraining hand on Caleb's arm but Rhianna halted the entire room with a raised hand.

"Enough, Callain." The words were said so quietly but all eyes turned to the petite redhead. Her lavender eyes were blazing with light, an aura of power wafting from her body. The physical shape belonged to Rhianna, however there was no disputing who was now in control of her body.

Everyone took a step back with the exception of Gard and Caleb. Rafe stared at his sister, concerned that he couldn't see his Annie in her eyes. It wasn't often Anakatrine revealed herself, but when she did, it always unsettled him even after all this time. Only the knowledge that Annie would return soothed the Alpha as he pulled Lacey close and gave the vampire queen her space.

"Really? You're going to go there?" Caleb's coldness appeared to increase, his eyes hardening as he glared at his mate.

"You give me no option, Callain." The vampire queen crossed the room to stand before him, no hint of softness on her face. "When you stop listening with your heart and only hear your rage, that is time to overrule you, my mate. I take no pleasure in it but I will do what is right."

"My name is Caleb and my mate isn't here at the moment." He was so furious that she'd pulled this stunt. He was hard pressed not to throttle the woman before him and couldn't remember a time when he'd been so livid with her. She was betraying him, siding with the others and effectively telling their people that she didn't value his decisions. 

"Semantics and you know it," Anakatrine sighed, a frown marring her brow. "You never used to be this intractable. You were alone for too long this time. This has to end and end now. I will not have vampire pitted against pack, family against family. I have worked too long and too hard to let everything fall apart now. We have, Callain. Did we die for nothing all those centuries ago? Are you willing to sacrifice everything because of your wounded pride?"

He continued to glare at her, his expression resolute. His silence told her that he would not be dissuaded, that he felt his was the correct stance and she was in the wrong. His refusal to be one with Callain; his complete lack of faith in her hurt the vampire queen as much as it hurt Annie. It appeared both Callain and Caleb could be stubborn beyond bearing. 

"Annie is going to need you very soon, Caleb. What transpires this day will wound her soul as much as you feel yours is being wounded. I suggest you think about that. There are many people who will be hurt this day, your mate as much, if not more than most."

The dire warning in the vampire queen's voice had Caleb pausing. The part of him that was Callain knew just what she could be capable of for the greater good. She would make the hard choices and live with the consequences. His Annie was much more compassionate, much easier hurt. "What are you going to do, Anakatrine?" The first hint of softness entered his tone as he stared down at her.

"What is necessary to protect everyone, and end this madness now." She turned from him and looked to the open doorway. "Bring the woman here, Liam."

*****

Liam heard the vampire queen's words and considered the wisdom of defying her. His need to protect his mate was strong but the power in her order was something that had to be obeyed. Opening the door to the basement, he headed down the steps and to the room that held the woman. The steel door was so thick it would even hold a Vârcolac. Mac never did anything by halves and he'd planned well when he'd had the house built. 

Opening the door, Liam held his breath as his gaze fell on the woman who set every nerve ending alive in his body. She was the most exotic creature in the world with her dark skin and jet-black hair to her shoulders. She looked up as the door opened, green eyes meeting his, hatred blazing from their depths. He was tempted to unlock the strict hold he had on his mind but refrained. While he wanted to reach out and savour the striking beauty's mind, he knew the weight of the emotions above would crush him.




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 20



"You must come with me." They were the first words he'd spoken directly to her and he waited with bated breath for her response. She hadn't spoken a word since she'd been led away earlier. He wanted to savour the sweetness of her voice once more. Instead, she glared balefully at him, rising from the narrow cot she was seated on. 

She flinched as he took her by the upper arm, his big hand curling lovingly around her delicate flesh. Liam ignored her abhorrence and gave into the urge to run his thumb over her caramel skin. She hissed and tried to pull away, revulsion on her eyes.

"Do not touch me, abomination!" Not the first words he wanted to hear spoken directly to him but he would take what he could get.

"Pardon the intimacy but I have to take you up and I must ensure that you don't try to get away. If you run, I don't think there is anything I can do to stop them hunting you down and executing you on the spot. Please allow me to do what I can to ensure your safety." 

He waited for some kind of response but she dropped her gaze, staring directly ahead. Liam took that as a sign of her capitulation and led her from the room and upstairs to the fate that awaited them. He had no idea what was about to happen but he knew whatever did, he would face it with her. Their lives were now irrevocably joined together and nothing in the world would ever change that.

All eyes turned to greet them as they entered the living room. The emotions battered at Liam's mental defences and he stumbled slightly before regaining his balance. The vampire at his side paused, halting his forward movement as she regarded him with narrowed eyes. Something flickered in their depths as understanding crossed her face.

"Mon dieu!" It crossed Reasa's mind that her coven leader would most likely have found it amusing that she exclaimed in his native tongue, however, Louis was thousands of miles away and the situation had suddenly become so much worse than she'd ever imagined possible. The male at her side was a walking time bomb!

Anxious eyes cast around the room, taking in the vampires and Weres as well as the rest of the abominations. She knew they were there to protect the hybrids, she knew they would cheerfully kill her for her actions, but that didn't stop the frisson of fear running down her spine as she looked at hate-filled faces. They were all in danger, every single person in the room. The red-haired hybrid was barely in control, didn't they know that? 

It all made sense now, the way he was ill in the practice yard earlier. He hadn't been physically wounded but mentally; overcome with all the emotions flying around at the time. Didn't these people know what they had among them? Her own mental abilities were nothing compared to his. When she lost control, the results were bad, any human close by suffered catastrophic brain damage. Weaker younglings too suffered damage, often losing all trace of who they once were. This male...he was a thousand times more powerful than she was. If he lost control...it would be the end of them all.

"Bring Thereasa to me, Liam."

The petite redhead spoke and her eyes whipped to her, more fear trickling down her spine as she looked into the other woman's gaze. She had never seen eyes of that hue before, never seen eyes that old in one so young. Just who and what was this woman whose very presence soared above all others in the room?

"Annie, please don't hurt her. I know you're in there," Liam pleaded, his head beginning to throb painfully. He raised his other hand in surprise at the sensation, rubbing at his forehead even as his feet moved forward against his will. He was vaguely aware of Elina taking a step towards them, Kallum halting her progress by holding onto her arm. "Annie, please."

Anakatrine's gaze impaled him, demanding instant obedience. "All actions have consequences, Liam. Annie cannot help you now, this is not her time. It is mine and I must do this. An example must be set so others will know the futility of their actions. Caleb's edict is death but you make that impossible. You force my hand and I must go against the one I love most in this world. I must protect all, not just you. Do you understand, Liam?"

Pain exploded in his frontal lobe, searing blinding pain and he heard Elina call out and then she was gone from his mind and his fragile barriers wavered at her loss. He didn't see his cousin collapse against Kallum or hear the commotion behind him, his gaze fully fixated on the vampire queen. "You cannot hurt her. I will not allow it. I can change her, Anakatrine. I can make her understand who we are, what we are."

The desperation in Liam's voice heightened the tension. Karn crossed the room behind them, coming to Kallum's side to gaze into Elina's pale face. He bit out a curse, glaring over his shoulder at the vampire queen. "You charged Mac with protecting the Vârcolac. He, in turn, charged us with taking up that task. Stop this now. You're hurting Elina and Liam!"

Anakatrine could see the damage happening, Elina swooning and Kallum being the only thing holding her up. Sweat was beading Liam's brow, pain blazing from his eyes. One of the Praetorians suddenly clutched at his head, falling to the ground with a wordless cry. Immediately pandemonium broke out, people rushing to the fallen vampire's prone body. She had to end this now before things turned more desperate.

"What the fuck is happening?" Caleb ground out, coming to stand at her side. Her gaze fixed on Liam and she heard the woman beside him cry out.

"He's an empath and he's losing control. He will destroy us all. You have to stop him." Reasa struggled to get free of Liam, tried to run but he refused to let go, tears beginning to streak down his face.

"Speak! Now!" The order issued from the vampire queen demanded an answer. There was nothing Reasa could do to stop the words tumbling from her lips even though she didn't want to tell her anything. It was if she was under some kind of spell.

"He's like me, has empathic abilities. You must know that because she was helping him shield." She gestured to Elina before turning back to Anakatrine and Caleb. "A loss of control for one of us can kill humans in an instant. We cause brain haemorrhages. Vampiric minds are at risk too. Those with weaker minds can have their personalities wiped during a loss of control. That's what's happening to that vampire there. We can also affect Weres."

"Stop it this instant!" Caleb ordered, fury crossing his face as he thought of what this could mean to everyone present. The Weres weren't even safe? No vampire could manipulate Were minds but this woman was telling him they could? If any more of them had weaker minds then they could lose them all.

"I'm not doing it!" Reasa screamed at him, terror on her face. "I'm far too weak to affect just about everyone in this room. He's doing it!  He's losing control. With the amount of anger in this room bombarding him, he's overwhelmed, and projecting it back out into the room. It's fuelling itself now, growing stronger and stronger with every moment. He'll kill us all if you don't stop him. He's way more powerful than I will ever be."

Liam cried out, dropping to his knees and pulling Reasa down with him. She fell forward at the sharp movement, her arms automatically coming up to steady herself. Liam twisted around; resting his forehead against hers as another Praetorian screamed and fell to the floor. "Help them," he whispered, his eyes full of unshed tears.

Despite the agony in his head, he had heard her words. He knew she could help him in a way Elina never could. He was killing people and had no way to stop it. The pain of destroying those meant to protect him was mixing with the building fury and he couldn't construct barriers fast enough to stop it. Before too long it would be other minds disintegrating, minds of people that he loved. "Please help them. Do what you must."

Reasa shook her head, torn between wanting to stop the impending disaster and not wanting to go inside the mind of the man holding her trapped to his body. She couldn't do it. She couldn't go into the mind of an abomination.

"Do it," Anakatrine ordered. "Do it now before it's too late. He won't let me in and from the expression on everyone else's faces he won't let them in either. You're the only one who can save these lives, Thereasa. You have to show him how to shield and do it now!"

"Have you lost your fucking mind?!" Caleb roared, trying to intervene. He couldn't believe she was being so reckless when it came to Liam, despite the cost to the others around them. She couldn't seriously be allowing the would-be assassin to join with the Vârcolac's mind.

He was suddenly spinning away, pushed by an invisible force. Caleb staggered backwards with a flick of her hand, shock crossing his face as he realised what she was doing. Anakatrine hadn't touched him physically but that didn't stop her power reaching out and forcing him away from the kneeling duo.

"Annie, no!" Rafe cried, trying to move forward but finding his way blocked by an unseen barrier. Static electricity filled the air, crackling dangerously around the three in the centre of the room. Lavender eyes glowed with menace, daring anyone to get in her way.

"Take out the weaker minded ones. Help those who have fallen," the vampire queen said quietly, her voice a cold whiplash across the room. "Let no one approach us or you will feel my wrath. Do not test me. Do not presume on the relationship you hold with Rhianna Armand. I will do what is required to end this and no one, and I mean no one, will get in my way." Long talons pointed to Reasa, a spark of electricity jumping from the end to strike the vampire in the temple and cause her to cry out.

"Do not defy me, vampire. You came into our territory with murder in your heart. You hurt Liam and Elina and now it is time to begin making amends for those actions. Show him how to shield before we lose him. Begin your penance, Thereasa."

The pain in her head was astounding. Reasa cried out in agony, tears coursing down her cheeks as she knelt locked within the embrace of Liam, their foreheads pressed hard together. She had to do it. It was the only way to stop the agony inflicted by the other woman. She didn't know how she knew this but she did.

"Let me in, Liam. Relax just a fraction; don't let down your full guard. I'm like you, I know how to slip into the smallest of cracks in a mental guard. That's all I need." The words came out on a sob, more pain lancing through her temple. "Please, please let me in."

From a distance, Liam heard the pleas from his mate's lips. The sound of her tears filled his heart with more sorrow, a waft of pure grief flooding the room on the next wave of uncontrolled emotions he projected. He could hear Elina begin to weep, Cassia, Dara, even Lacey weeping in the background. He had to let Thereasa in without causing any more harm.

With a strangled sob, he pressed his forehead harder against hers, releasing the smallest fraction of what remained of his self-control over his mind. Immediately a soft brush of cool air assailed his mind. For a second, he was stunned by the sensation and then he reached for more, joining with his mate in the most intimate way he could imagine.

It was so beautiful, so right, the feel of his mate flowing within his mind, her cool breath soothing the raging mass of emotions within. Her touch was so light and delicate, hesitant at first and then bolder as she breezed through bringing peace wherever she touched.

"This is how you shield, hybrid," she whispered in his head. "Your analogy of bricks is too literal, too unyielding. Yes, it will work for a while, but eventually the bricks will shatter from the strain as they did today. A shield must be strong but have some yield in it so it can flex and move as needed and not become too brittle. Follow what I do." 

Liam was entranced by her words, his heart beating erratically as she danced within his mind. He watched her work, enthralled, as she appeared to pluck a strand of what looked like clouds and began to deftly weave the strands together until they formed fine barriers. He tested the strength on one, amazed that it moved to his touch but didn't break. As he stopped applying mental pressure against the barrier, it slipped back into shape, an impenetrable defence.

"It's so beautiful, Thereasa," he answered, awe in his voice as he tried to catch a strand of cloud to mimic her actions.

"No, don't snatch at it like that. You have to be more delicate." Her admonishment made him smile and he laughed aloud. He heeded her words though and his next attempt had him securing a strand though he struggled with weaving two together.

Let me do it for now," she told him, a hint of softening in her mental voice though it was still clear that she was uncomfortable being in his mind. He let her do as she wanted, watching each movement avidly so he could practice himself later. Why had he never thought of doing something like this? It appeared such a simple thing. It could have saved him years of grief.

It was over before he wanted it to be. Liam tried to keep her with him but the more he tried to hold onto her, the faster she withdrew. For the moment, his mental shields were the strongest they had ever been. He was still unable to do the weave himself, but the effects of Thereasa's help should last far longer than his own attempts at constructing safe barriers.

Reasa sagged from the effort of concentrating for so long within the hybrid's mind. Her own defences were weakened by the task but still holding. Slowly opening her eyes, she looked at the man she had just saved and in doing so most likely have saved most of the remaining people in the room. She had come here with the intent to kill him and ended up saving his life. The irony was not lost on her.

Most of the people were gone from the room, only the hybrids remaining with their pack mates and a few of the vampires. Most of the younger vampires were gone, whether this was a precaution or whether more had been damaged she didn't know. Her gaze turned to the woman who had hurt her and was now at her staring intently.

"You have done well, Thereasa. Though you came here with death in your heart you have performed a service that would grant you a stay of execution, had that option still been on the table." The vampire queen walked around the kneeling couple slowly, her electric gaze meeting the eyes of loved ones as she passed them.

In some she saw confusion, in others she saw hurt. In Caleb's eyes, she saw cold bleakness. She paused before him, read each minute detail on his beautiful face. A boundary had been crossed that should never have been. Only time would tell if they would be able to recover from the damage done this day.

Damage that wasn't over. There was still one more thing that needed to be done. If Rhianna had been present she would have begged her other half not to do this, but she was subsumed by a will six thousand years older and with a power far superior to hers. This last act had to be done and there was no one who could do it apart from her.

Anakatrine turned back to Thereasa, a small movement of her hand urging Liam to release the woman.

"Anakatrine...please." Liam didn't want to release his mate, his eyes pleading with the woman who held their fate in her hands.

"Trust in me, Liam."

He opened his mouth to speak again but suddenly found himself outside the circle they had been in, looking through what appeared to be a shimmering wall of air. Rafe was immediately at his side, holding him in a tight grip. "Don't try to get back inside. It's electrified or something. No one can breach it. We have to trust she knows what's she's doing, Liam. I know it's hard, Lord, do I know just how hard that is, but there is nothing else we can do but trust in her as she asks."

"She can't hurt her," Liam ground out, sinking back to his knees, his heart thumping, his gaze never leaving his mate. "Please someone, do something. Don't let Anakatrine hurt my mate."

Silence greeted his words, though his brethren joined his thoughts, Elina sinking down beside him and holding him close. They all stared at the two women so close and yet so far away. Foreboding filled the room as everyone was rooted to the spot, waiting for an impending tragedy to unfold.

Anakatrine knelt down before the vampire, a finger reaching out to brush away a lone tear. "You understand your actions cannot go unpunished, child. You have caused untold harm here this day, not just to the Vârcolac but to the very heart of all I have worked so hard to create."

"Who are you?" Reasa choked the words out, her entire body almost paralysed with terror at the being before her. She looked so small and fragile and yet, she appeared invincible.

"I am Anakatrine, last Queen of Vampires. I was murdered by my people six thousand years ago, along with my King, Callain, the rather irate male drilling holes in my back."

Reasa shook her head, denial crossing her face. "We don't have a queen. You North Americans have that stupid Council thing but we have never had a monarchy."

Anakatrine smiled, shrugging her shoulders. "Believe what you will, child, it's a moot point. You asked me who I was and I answered. Choose not to believe right now, but you will by the time this day is done."

Standing she looked down on the vampire, a small amount of compassion filling her heart at the fear she saw in her eyes. She had no room for manoeuvre though. The die was cast and Thereasa's fate had been chosen. And Heaven help them all.

Reaching within, Anakatrine delved deep, searching for the most hidden repository of stored knowledge she had. As she delved, she began to summon her magic, calling on every element and sucking the energy into her mind to join with the knowledge she sought. The air crackled loudly, sparks beginning to fly from her auburn curls as it whipped in the air by an unseen wind. 

Reasa tried to cower away, her terror mounting as power engulfed the vacuum she was imprisoned in with the other woman. There was nowhere to hide though, her way blocked at every turn. She could hear Liam calling her name but she was too afraid to take her eyes from Anakatrine. She had no idea what the vampire queen was going to do, but she knew it would be something that would wound her deeply, if not kill her. 

For the first time, Reasa truly questioned if she had done the right thing in coming here and trying to wipe out the abominations. Louis, the other covens in Europe, they had no idea what they were up against if they continued to produce the Amort poison and tried to bring down the vampire Council. They were outclassed and it was only now that she was realising that.

"Thereasa of the European Covens, you have been found guilty of attempted murder of one or more under my protection. You have been found guilty of causing untold mental harm to those under my protection, and you have been found guilty of being the catalyst to Liam Eriksson's mental break, which has caused the destruction of minds under my protection. Punishment for each of these crimes is death as decreed by my mate, Caleb. However, a conventional death is something that cannot be granted because of unforeseen circumstances."

The sparks erupted louder and brighter, contained within the circle with the two women. None of them touched Reasa, though they came close as her terror mounted. There was so much power encased in the tiny space with them. There would need to be an outlet for that power and she was certain where it was going to come. Glowing lavender eyes connected with hers as she began to weep silently.

"For saving Liam and those he loves, I grant you one lifetime to right your wrongs. Choose your actions wisely henceforth, Thereasa, for you shall be at the mercy of all those you have wronged in the past."




Hearts of Warriors Ch. 20



Outside the circle, understanding came to Gard. He had seen this once before, so many millennia ago when Anakatrine was just a babe and his mother had reigned as Queen of the Vampires. It was something so outdated it was long forgotten by all, apart from his sister it appeared. Ice ran down his spine as he watched on helplessly. "Don't do this, Anakatrine," he whispered. "Dear God, don't do this."

"I take from you that which was given." Talons shot sparks of fire into Reasa's body and she spasmed in pain, screaming into the air as her back arched and Anakatrine chanted in the circle. "I take from you that which you have dishonoured." More fire raced through Reasa's body and she screamed again, writhing in agony on the floor.

"As the first vampire was born with the blood of his Queen, did she bequeath to him his strength, his vitality, his speed and his everlasting life. Her blood flowed in his veins; her blood made him what he was. As she once gave, now do I take back that which was always mine to give and will forever be mine to retrieve. I take back my blood, my honour, and my protection unto the day you should be worthy to once more know my benevolence."

The circle exploded with light, obscuring all sight for a handful of seconds. Reasa's screams where animalistic, Liam screaming with her, his head thrown back in in a rigour of chorded muscles. 

Gard began to weep silently, weeping for the vampire within, weeping for Annie who would have to endure the most because of the actions of her other half. He wept for everyone and the fallout that would come from Anakatrine's justice.

The light evaporated, and the electrical barrier vanishing along with the build-up of magic. In the centre of the room, Reasa curled in a foetal position, raw cries of misery rasping out of her throat as she rocked on the floor at the vampire queen's feet.

Liam pushed Elina away, crawling to her, pulling her unresisting body into his arms and rocking her gently with tears streaming down his face. Accusing eyes met Anakatrine's, confusion warring with anger. "What did you do? What did you do to her?"

"Yes, what did you do, Anakatrine?" Caleb's cold words cracked around the room, flat eyes staring at the woman who was his mate and yet someone he didn't appear to know at all. Everyone was looking at her, trying to ignore the plaintive cries of the woman in Liam's arms, staring at the stranger in their midst who wore the face of their Annie. 

"You wanted justice, Callain. I gave you justice. Not the kind you wanted but a cruel justice nevertheless. I warned you that Annie would be harmed by the deeds done this day. I strongly suggest you remember that when you come to enact the decision I see in your eyes right now."

Caleb ignored her words, glaring at the woman he had loved for such a long time. His stomach turned as he looked in her eyes, searching for the girl he'd fallen in love with, not once, but twice, and not finding her. "What did you do, Anakatrine," he repeated in a flat tone, everyone shifting uncomfortably around them.

"I killed her, Caleb."

At his puzzled frown, Gard cleared his throat, moving away from Rayne's soothing touch to stand with them, completing the triumvirate that had once ruled the vampire nation in peace and harmony. "She stripped her of her immortality, Caleb. Thereasa is no longer a vampire. Anakatrine has made her human again."

Shocked rippled through the room, loud startled gasps of disbelief. The room exploded in sound as everyone started talking at the same time, denying it was possible, horror in the words they spoke. Liam scented the weeping woman in his arms, and stiffened as the truth of Gard's words was proven. Thereasa had no vampiric scent. 

She was fully human now and so fragile the slightest thing could kill her. He held her more gently, weeping with her as he continued to rock back and forth. He would have to protect her from everything and everyone now or he would lose his precious mate. For the first time in his life, Liam turned hate-filled eyes on the back of the woman who he had trusted to do the right thing. 

The expression on Caleb's face brought him some comfort. The Ancient was looking at his mate as if she had just grown horn and turned into the devil incarnate. Anakatrine would answer for her deeds this day, whether it was by his hand or Caleb's, she would answer.

Disgust rose in Caleb, so strong it was almost overwhelming. It took all his self-control not to reach for Anakatrine's neck and start squeezing. How could she have done this? When had she become this powerful? What did this mean for their people as a whole when it became common knowledge that there was a vampire queen running around who could strip away people's immortality? How could he be with her, this woman he didn't even know anymore?

"You bitch."

She blinked at him, confusion crossing her exquisite face as he spat out the words, his heart encased in ice.

"Caleb?" Annie whispered.

The End.