“Mr. Dellacourt,” a very upper-crust voice said. “How nice of you to join us.”
He was surrounded. They moved quickly to encircle him, the vampire mercenary unit proving how well trained it was. Discipline marked their every move.
The impulse was there. He wanted to fight. He wanted to tear into these men and feel his claws rip through flesh. He would feast on their blood. It would fill his belly when he took his consort back. What had happened to him? That was barbaric. Only primitives fed on their enemies. But he wanted to.
One thing held him back. The sight of Kaja in Roan’s arms. The soldier held her, her human body naked and limp. Her beautiful brown hair trailed down toward the ground. Her skin was pale, but her chest rose and fell with her breath. A strange feeling gripped Dante’s heart. Kaja. She was alive. That was what mattered.
“Let her go,” Dante said.
The man who held her tightened his arms. There was a distinctly possessive stance to his hold. “I think I have the upper hand, Mr. Dellacourt.”
Dante really hated this guy. “I can cause a lot of trouble.”
The mercenary looked down at Kaja. Dante couldn’t miss the way his eyes softened. Simon Roan didn’t even try to hide the soft spot he had for Kaja. Of course, now that she was in her human form, she couldn’t hide her glow. Any royal with a soul would be soft toward her. Dante might be able to play on that.
“She might be worth a bit of trouble,” Roan said. “I was rather surprised. When I hit her with the Taser, she changed forms and became one of the loveliest females I’ve ever seen. Look at that glow. She would have every vampire with the money to enter a tournament after her. In the old days, we would have fought wars over her. How did you end up with such a gorgeous consort?”
Because other people were too stupid to see how amazing she was. “Just lucky, I guess. I won’t let you have her.”
“No, I suppose you won’t. It’s going to tear apart our plane, you know that, right?” He pulled Kaja close to his chest. His fucking head rubbed against hers as though he enjoyed the contact. Dante felt sick. “I’m one of the greatest warriors of my time. I can’t find a consort. I’m aging. It isn’t right. I could kill anyone in battle, but there are no battles to be had. I have to steal one if I want a consort.”
The fucker wasn’t going to steal his consort. “She won’t go with you. We’re bonded.”
Roan shrugged. “Perhaps she could bond again. The bond would be broken with your death. Someone wants you dead, Mr. Dellacourt. Someone wants your cousins dead so trade can flow, and we don’t have to tear each other apart over what should be our right.”
“She doesn’t belong to you.” Dante had to force the words from his mouth. His fangs seemed far too large for his head. “She’s mine.”
Roan sneered at him. “You didn’t fight for her. I saw the records. There was no tourney. Just a simple sale. How much can you buy with money? When do you have to prove yourself?”
He’d been asking himself that question a lot lately. His blood was up. If Roan wanted a fight, Dante would provide it. “Is that all you want? You and me, asshole. Let’s go now.”
Roan’s fangs were out. “If only it were that simple. I would love to kill you and properly claim the consort, but I can’t let you go so easily. I signed a contract to bring you in alive. Your death will have to wait.”
Torin. It had to be Torin. “What about my Kaja?”
Roan’s eyes become hooded with suspicion. “I believe my employer might be somewhat cruel toward her. It’s better I keep her.”
“Or, you could let her go. I won’t fight if you let her go.”
But the beast inside wanted to fight. It wanted to kill. Dante was stronger. If he could save Kaja, it would be worth it. He hadn’t done much with his life anyway.
Kaja was the best thing he’d done.
Roan looked down at her as though considering it. “I might be persuaded, but you have to tell me where the queen is.”
His gut hurt. He couldn’t give up Meg. How could he?
“I’m here.”
Damn it. Meg walked into the circle.
“Your Highness.” Roan nodded. “I promise, I will see to your safety. I had it written into my contract that you were to come to no harm.”
“Very nice of you,” Meg said with a wry smile. Dante wanted to shake her. She really should be more afraid. “So, you’re just going to kill my husbands and I’m supposed to thank you for leaving me alone in a Faery forest? Let me tell you, buddy, no one would thank you for that. Faery forests are freaky. There’s a ton of shit out there, and it’s all waiting to eat you.”
Yep. Meg had lost her damn mind. “Meg, get behind me.”
She shook her head. “So they can kill you first?”
Roan gently laid Kaja on the ground. “Your Highness, this really isn’t necessary. I have no intentions of leaving you to fend for yourself. Once the renegade kings have been captured, my men will be more than willing to see to your every comfort. We’ll take care of both you and Kaja.”
Meg’s eyes rolled. “Yeah, I’ll bet you’ll take care of us. I can imagine what kind of care we’ll get. Don’t worry about it. I think Cian will be here soon, and he’ll have a few things to say.”
Roan frowned. “What about the warrior king?”
Meg shrugged. “He was busy. That, or Ci drew the short straw. I know they weren’t playing Rock, Paper, Scissors. Cian always wins that because Beck always picks rock. There’s a reason Cian’s the intellectual half, if you know what I mean.”
Roan laughed. “Well, I suppose then I shall have double the reason for the warrior king to come to me. This is good. We can easily kill the intellectual half, and then the warrior will be vulnerable.”
It was Meg’s turn to smile. “You go on and try that, buddy. You just try to kill my Ci.”
Dante kind of wished they were both on their way. And he didn’t see what Cian was going to do. Cian was good with plants. Was he going to have the flowers attack or something?
“Don’t worry yourself, Your Highness,” Roan promised, his men standing stalwartly behind him. Dante tried to do a quick count. It looked like he had ten well-armed vampires. “As I told you, I will make sure you are unharmed.”
One of the goblins walked toward Meg, yellow teeth gleaming. “I won’t. I’m being paid double to take you down, Your Highness.”
Dante took off, his feet moving faster than ever. He wouldn’t let them take Meg. He couldn’t. He let his claws sink into the goblin’s flesh.
“Dante, don’t,” Meg called.
Two other goblins jumped him. He roared as he felt goblin teeth bite at the flesh of his shoulder. He winced and tried not to think about how nasty a goblin mouth was. Dude probably didn’t floss. He simply threw his elbow out and caught the fucker in the chin. The goblin fell off Dante’s back with a thud.
Meg was busy slapping at goblin hands as the vampires surrounded her, pulling the goblins off. No one seemed eager to help Dante. He hit the grass as a goblin shoved a fist in his belly. Goblins were squat but so strong. He was on Dante in an instant. Dante put his hands up, shoulder aching, but he managed to keep the goblin from his neck.
Black eyes stared down at him, and sharp teeth gnashed. “Torin will have your head.”
“Yeah, well, I’ll have your balls, asshole.” Dante brought his knee up, viciously catching the fucker’s balls. Goblin, sidhe, vamp, or human. It didn’t matter. If it was male, it didn’t like having its balls busted.
The goblin howled, and Dante was able to roll him off. He sprang to his feet. Meg was surrounded by vampires now. They formed a phalanx around her, keeping the goblins at bay.
Dante punched out at the goblin who came at him. He looked back at Roan. “You’re really trustworthy.”
Roan Tasered one of the goblins. The sickening smell of burning flesh hit the air. Cold iron. The mercenaries had tipped the darts with cold iron. They were really prepared to kill Beck and Cian.
Roan turned to Dante. “This was not my plan. Bloody hell! You better get your consort, Dellacourt. I don’t dare leave the queen unguarded.”
Dante turned, and Kaja was getting to her feet. She was unsteady, but she reached for a rock. There was a goblin running straight for Dante, a wicked, curved blade in his hand. Kaja was weak and obviously disoriented, but she threw the rock at the goblin’s head. It hit him, and he turned, growling at his new prey.
Not going to happen. With a burst of speed Dante didn’t think himself capable of, he crossed the distance between him and Kaja just as the goblin lashed out. It caught him across the chest, opening a gash in his skin. Dante hissed at the pain. That blade had gone deep. He heard Kaja scream as the goblin raised the blade again. Her hands pulled at him, as though she would take his place and the blade for him.
His brave, sweet Kaja.
He didn’t have time to avoid the blade. He shoved Kaja back and took it straight to his gut. The pain burned, an agonizing fire in his flesh. He was close, so close to the goblin.
“Enjoy that, vampire.” He shoved the blade in further, twisting it.
Dante stumbled back, the blade coming out of his gut. Blood. So much fucking blood. The world seemed to slow down. It got louder. Meg was screaming. Kaja called his name. The goblins began to circle, sensing blood.
He needed a fucking weapon.
“Kaja, run.” He held his hand to his gut, trying to keep himself together. The goblins would tear him apart, but they would take their time. Their bloodlust was up. They would ignore Kaja until they’d taken apart Dante. “You have to run, baby.”
It would be all right as long as Kaja got away. He could take the pain. His hands shook, but he could stay alive long enough to let Kaja get away.
The ground was shaking. Fuck. Why was the ground shaking?
Dante fell, the earth beneath him moving. Vines burst from the ground, sending dirt flying. Kaja was suddenly kneeling beside him, her hands covering his, trying to keep his guts on the right side of his skin.
“I told you to run,” he growled her way. Even as he roughed up his voice, something inside him calmed as her scent, the touch of her skin, her very nearness washed over him.
She shook her head. “I cannot.”
“This is going to cost you a very nasty spanking, Kaj.”
“Survive, Dante,” she replied, tears coursing down her cheeks. “Survive and I’ll lay over your lap.”
Her arms wrapped around him. The very earth seemed ready to swallow them whole. Vines and roots spat from the ground.
“Retreat!” Roan shouted, his eyes wide as he seemed to catch sight of something terrifying.
“Baby.” He forced himself to talk when it hurt to even move. “You have to go. Something bad’s happening.”
Kaja’s arms tightened.
Roan was suddenly in front of him. “Feed. No one likes to talk about it, but your consort can save you. Her blood can heal you, Dellacourt. I never meant to hurt the women. If I’ve been betrayed, then I assure you I’ll take care of it. Feed.”
Roan took off, and Dante finally got a good look at what had sent the mercenary running.
Cian.
He walked forward, the trees and bushes bending around him to give him access. Cian Finn’s hands were stretched out as though he embraced the world around him and it embraced him in return.
Dante watched as the goblins were caught by vines. They snaked across the field and caught their fleeing prey. The vines wrapped around their ankles and pulled the goblins screaming into the ground. It was as though they were being swallowed feetfirst. The goblins clawed and fought, but they went down screaming, the earth sucking them down.
“What is happening?” Kaja asked, her voice tiny and frightened.
“Cian is happening, love. He won’t hurt you.”
His cousin was utterly transformed. The Green Man walked toward them now, and he was pissed off.
The vampires were fleeing, but some of them got caught by the trees. They leaned over, and their heavy branches became wooden swords.
Kaja’s arms tightened around him, one hand covering his heart as though she could stop the trees.
Smart trees. And they had damn fine aim. A vampire screamed and exploded as a tree branch caught him straight through the heart.
Chaos reigned. Blood flowed. Dante just felt tired. Kaja would live. Cian would see to it. Cian would take her to Dante’s family, and his father would take care of Kaja. His father. Anger fled. He loved his dad. And his mother. And his annoying sister.
The world was loud with the business of dying, but Dante still spoke to Kaja. “Baby, tell my family I love them. Can you do that? You go to them. They’ll take care of you.”
Dante saw Meg run to her husband. She leapt into his arms and wrapped herself around him. The goblins were gone, taken deep into the ground. The vampires had fled, and those who weren’t fast enough were puddles of blood. Cian kissed Meg. It was a beautiful sight. The little pixies clung to Cian’s hair.
They had gone to find the Green Man. Clever pixies.
“Please, Dante,” Kaja begged. She put her wrist to his mouth.
Oh, he wanted to, but Dante wasn’t sure he was strong enough to stop. Instinct told him that Roan was right. Kaja’s blood could save him. Fuck. He couldn’t risk her. It was better to die than to live without his Kaja.
He leaned back against her. “No, baby. I could hurt you.”
Cian and Meg were suddenly in front of him. Cian looked down at him.
“You’re worse for the wear, cos.”
Ci was good at stating the obvious. “Yep. You suck, man. Next time, give me the heads up that you’re leaving.”
“Will do.” Cian’s gaze turned to Kaja. “I heard the asshole who I intend to kill say that you could save Dante.”
“Don’t,” Dante warned.
“Yes, but he needs to feed. He won’t feed.” Kaja’s voice was pleading.
Cian smiled. “I think I can fix that.”
“Don’t you fucking dare, Ci.” There was a knife in Cian’s hand.
Cian Finn neatly sliced a small hole in Kaja’s wrist. Not much, but enough to get the blood flowing, and Dante’s instinct took over when she pressed it to his mouth. Sweet, rich blood flowed and he couldn’t help it. His fangs sank in, and he drank.
Velvety warmth flowed into his mouth, and Dante could feel himself healing.
She invaded his system. Her memories, her hopes, her dreams assailed him. She was so sweet, so strong. She’d been battered, but her heart was whole, and she offered it up.
“That’s unbelievable,” Cian breathed.
“It’s working,” Meg said, relief obvious in her voice.
But Dante was concentrating on Kaja. His defenses were down, and he let her flood him. He was battered with her emotions. She’d wanted to die when she’d seen him gutted. She’d wanted to lie down beside him and never get up. She wanted to bear his child. She wanted it so much.
She loved him.
He saw himself as Kaja saw him.
Dante felt his skin knit together and forced himself to stop.
Kaja slumped to the ground.
Dante touched her hair. She was utterly exhausted, nothing more. He’d taken a bit too much, but he could sense she would be all right with rest and care. He stood and hauled his lovely, brave bride into his arms. She curled against him.
Cian looked at him. “Still thinking about setting her aside?”
“Never,” Dante said, and he walked from the forest.
He might not understand what had happened, but he knew one thing.
He would never let her go.
Chapter Fourteen
Dante walked into his father’s office freshly showered, shaved, and utterly presentable.
So why did he feel like he didn’t belong here? Everything about the office was perfectly normal. He knew every nook and cranny of this space. He’d spent great portions of his childhood in this office. Now it felt
foreign. Everything felt alien and odd, even the clothes on his back.
“Son, I will say, I never expected that you would find a consort so quickly,” his dad said, a smile on his face. He was a familiar figure in an expensive suit and worn boots. “You always were the smartest kid I knew.”
Dante thought about Kaja, asleep in his room. She was cuddled up in his big bed where no woman had slept before. He’d always taken them to hotels or gone to their places. His wife was asleep in his bed—their bed. And he wanted to be next to her, watching her breathe. She looked right in his bed.
He’d nearly killed her.
Damn. That was a bit overdramatic. He knew she was going to be okay, but he hadn’t really calmed until he’d made it to his cousins’ village and Flanna had pronounced Kaja perfectly fine, just tired from blood loss. She’d been sleeping for almost twenty-four hours, but she had opened her eyes and responded with the sweetest smile before sinking back into healing sleep. He’d carried her all day, placing her across his lap when he got his bike back. She’d cuddled against him.
“Dante? Have you heard a word I’ve said?”
He turned to his father. “Sorry, I was thinking about something else.”
His father grinned. “You were thinking about her, weren’t you?”
Dante nodded. It seemed foolish to try to hide it. “Yes.”
He seemed to always be thinking about her these days. Kaja was becoming an obsession.
His father came and stood beside him. They stared at the city. From Alexander Dellacourt’s office, Dallas spread out like a sea of buildings. From this far up, Dante couldn’t even see the ground. He rather thought that was the way his father liked it. His father had come from a ranch in west Texas, an impoverished royal, all the way to the heights of society. Dante hadn’t seen the ground as a small child unless he was being taken by hovercar to the door that led to the Seelie plane. That door was guarded now, and no one had been through it in years beyond the occasional political emissary.
“It’s only right, son,” his father was saying as he put an arm around Dante’s shoulder. “She’s your consort. I can’t wait to welcome her into our family. The housekeeper said something was wrong with her.”