He kept his distance though, still angry that she’d refused to stay behind.
Nine VampLycans, plus her, and the Lycan driver, were traveling in the bus. Glacier had left them once the jet had landed to meet up with one of his brothers. They’d all stay at a hotel, spend the night there, and attack at noon tomorrow.
She wanted to immediately go to the house but the sun had gone down. Velder ordered her to be patient and reminded her it would give them an advantage to attack midday. Eduardo would be down during the daytime, and the council assassins wouldn’t be able to leave the shelter of the house.
“It’s going to be fine,” Velder assured her, sitting next to her.
“Red’s still mad,” she whispered. “He won’t even look at me.”
“His anger is directed at me. Not you. He came, didn’t he? It’s because you’re his mate.”
She looked at him. “Thank you again for doing this.”
“I would have preferred to leave you behind, except I fear the Vampires will kill Malachi in retaliation if you’re not there. You need to get close enough to your grandfather to let him know an attack is about to happen. I hate to send you in at all, but we do need them focused on you. Make a hell of a scene or something. Just distract them. We’ll have surprise on our side.”
“I can do that. I hope you capture Eduardo. I’ve got a lot to say to him and none of it will be nice. I’m down with screaming at him. He’s the reason my mom is dead.”
“Just don’t encourage him to attack you. We’ve gone over the plan. Just stall as long as you can to keep them unaware.” His voice deepened. “Don’t rush inside, regardless of their tactics. Understand? Approach slow to give us time to make it through that tunnel.”
She nodded. “I know. Believe me, I know.”
“The less time they have you, the less harm they can do.”
A snarl sounded from Red.
Emma peeked his way. He didn’t glance back but it was obvious he could hear their conversation. She sighed, looking at Velder again. He winked.
She was glad he seemed amused. She wasn’t. All she wanted to do was be close to Red. Sure, he’d come along on the trip, but he hadn’t touched her once since he’d stormed out of his uncle’s house. Travel arrangements had been hurried, then they’d left within an hour after she’d drawn up the maps, driving off VampLycan territory to meet up with human pilots.
Red had hovered nearby, always. That had to mean something. He’d insisted on flying on the same small plane as she had. Sitting in the front instead of the back with her. It irritated her, more than anything. Why didn’t he just yell and then let them work it out?
The bus pulled up at the hotel. Velder gripped her arm as the driver got out, keeping her in her seat. “Let Graves go in first. We don’t want to alert any Vampires that we’re here. He’ll make sure it’s only humans inside and then we’ll get our rooms.”
“Who is this Graves? Is he part of our clan?”
“No. He’s family to some of the clan though and works for us at times. His alpha is half-brother to Trayis. He’s another clan leader.”
“I’ll pay whatever he’s asking to help us.”
“No need.” Velder released her and grinned. “Graves volunteered for the job. We reached out to his brother first, to be our scout. They were together, and not too far from here on vacation. Micah is probably already inside the hotel.”
“I’ll thank both of them then.”
He chuckled. “They might thank you instead. Both love a good fight, and it’s rare for me to leave Alaska. They didn’t want to miss this.”
She hadn’t even thought about that. “I’m so sorry! You’re away from your mate.”
“Crayla knows this is important. Glacier made the GarLycans’ position clear during a conversation with the Vampire Council. Now I want to personally send a message of my own. You’re part of my clan and under my protection. The bastards are going to learn not to fuck with one of mine.”
A slight shiver ran down her spine at his cold tone. She wasn’t afraid of him—but she almost felt sorry for the council.
Worry came next. All the things that could go wrong started to play in her mind. VampLycans were damn hard to kill though. Mostly, it was her and her grandfather’s lives on the line. She wouldn’t feel bad if Eduardo and the Vampires with him were slaughtered.
“The Lycans are tough?” She didn’t want them to get hurt.
“Graves is a judge for his alpha and other packs. He taught Micah how to fight. I’m not worried.”
“What’s a judge?”
Velder lowered his voice. “Graves is a nickname he’s earned.”
She let that sink in. He killed people for his pack. She swallowed and nodded. “Okay.”
The side van door opened and Graves smiled. “Humans only in the hotel. Let’s go. Micah already got you rooms and will pass out keys at the elevators. They have room service until midnight if you’re hungry. You should avoid the bar and restaurant, just in case a Vamp wanders in looking for a meal.”
Emma allowed Graves to help her out. He winked and she ducked her head. He was a handsome yet intimidating guy. She wasn’t used to being around Lycans. Then again, she wasn’t used to being around VampLycans, either.
She turned, watching Red get out. He met her gaze briefly but then passed her, stomping into the hotel ahead of her.
She sighed, following.
It was easy to identify Micah. There was a family resemblance to Graves. She allowed the men to greet him first before walking up to him. He had pretty eyes and a nice smile. He didn’t hand her an envelope with a keycard, but instead pointed to Red, already standing at the elevators.
“He has yours.”
“Thank you.” She paused. “For helping and everything.”
He winked too. Maybe it was a Lycan thing. “No problem. See you tomorrow. My brother and I are going to hang out in the bar to keep an eye on things.” He lowered his voice. “To make sure no one shows up who shouldn’t be here.”
She nodded and turned, walking to Red. He still looked angry, but he didn’t avoid her gaze. “Micah said you have my key.”
“Our key.” He turned away and punched the button for the elevator.
The other men were around them, also waiting for elevators. She sealed her lips but was surprised to find out they were sharing a room. This should be interesting. He isn’t even speaking to me. She bit back a sigh and got into the elevator when it opened. Velder and a VampLycan named Lake went to the fifth floor with them. All of them got out, and she noted their rooms were in the same area.
She followed Red to a door and he opened it, waving her in.
She walked inside and flipped on the lights. The room had two queen beds. “I guess we’re not sleeping together.”
He closed the door and engaged the inside bar. “Micah got everyone the same setup in their rooms. Some are sharing.”
She turned to stare at him. “Can we talk about what’s wrong now?”
He reached up and ran his fingers through his shaggy hair. “I’m pissed.”
“No shit. Sulking and avoiding me isn’t the way to deal with this, though.”
He growled and his eyes narrowed.
“What? That’s what you’ve been doing.”
“I’m not going to fight with you.” He slid past her and walked to the desk. “Here’s the room service menu. You need to eat.” He spun, thrusting it at her. “Find what you want and I’ll order us dinner.”
She took it, glanced at the options, and picked one. “We need to work this out, Red.”
“I said I’m not fighting with you.” He took the menu and went to the phone on the desk, lifting it. She used the bathroom while he spoke to someone to place their order. She stared at her reflection while she washed her hands and splashed some water on her face. A shower was in order. She stripped, not bothering to tell Red what she was doing. He would figure it out.
It wasn’t until she’d dried off that she re
alized she hadn’t grabbed her bag from the van. She wasn’t even sure what was inside it. There had been no time to go to the den. Mandy, Glacier’s mate, had brought it before they’d loaded up to go meet the small planes. They were about the same size.
She just wrapped a towel around her body and exited the bathroom. Red sat in a chair at the table, arms crossed, and eyes closed. He looked tired. She approached him.
He tensed. She halted.
“I’m not fighting with you,” he muttered. Yet again.
“Fine. I forgot my bag.”
He opened his eyes and pointed toward the door. “Graves dropped them off. Getting inside our rooms as fast as possible was the priority. We don’t want our scents lingering in the lobby.”
She turned and walked to the door. Two small bags sat there, just inside. She lifted the borrowed one from Mandy and paused at the bathroom door. “This is the plan? No talk?”
He growled low.
Her temper snapped and she dropped the bag. “Damn it, Red! I’m no expert on relationships but aren’t we supposed to fight when we disagree? Couples do that.”
He slowly stood. “I don’t. Go put something on. Room service should be here any minute.”
He infuriated her. “You want me to get dressed?”
“Yes.”
She tore the towel off instead, balling it in her hands and throwing it at him. The damp towel hit him in the chest.
He appeared stunned for a split second before he glanced down her naked body. His gaze jerked up to hers. “What the hell are you doing?”
“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But yell at me. Something. Anything! This silent treatment is driving me crazy.”
“Get dressed, Emma. They tend to bring food on a cart and push it into the room. I’ll be damned if I let some human look at so much of you.” He bent, picked up the towel, and tossed it back.
She caught it. “We’re going to have words when I do.” She snagged the bag and closed the bathroom door to investigate what Mandy had sent. There were no sleeping clothes but a T-shirt and sweats worked. Someone knocked on the door, and she wasted a little more time to avoid the hotel employee. The sound of the door closing and the bar being flipped was her que.
Red was at the table, transferring their food and drinks from the cart. She took a seat. “Want me to help?”
He dropped into the other seat. “Eat. Then we’ll sleep.”
“In separate beds, or are you going to share with me?”
He clenched his jaw.
So did she. He was so infuriating. “Is this our future? I do something that makes you mad and you giving me the cold shoulder? It sucks, Red. I can’t do this. Talk to me. Yell at me. Something. We need to work it out.”
He began to eat.
She wanted to stab him with the fork she unrolled from the cloth napkin, but instead she ate. It was the most uncomfortable meal she’d ever had in her life.
Red finished first then fled into the bathroom. The shower came on. Part of her was tempted to go after him. Let him try to ignore her if she stripped and climbed into the tiny space with him.
Reason won out. She finished eating and replaced everything on the cart, pushed it out of their room, and barred the door again. She picked the bed she figured Red would like best and pulled back the covers. She and her grandfather had stayed in many hotels. He always liked the bed nearest the door in case of attack. VampLycans were probably the same way.
She shoved off the sweats and got under the sheets. The shower shut off and forever seemed to pass before Red came out. The room went dark when Red flipped off the lights near the door, then she heard him moving—and the other bed creaking.
“Goddamn it!” she fumed. “You’re not sleeping with me?”
Red said nothing.
“Seriously?”
“Get some sleep, Emma.”
“Grandpa always told me to think things out before I said something when I was upset or angry, but you know what? I doubt he ever had to deal with someone as thick-headed and stubborn as you. Get your ass over here or I swear to God, once this is over, I won’t return to Alaska. Ever. I refuse to become a mate to a guy who shuns me every time I do something he doesn’t like.”
Red startled her when his big body shoved hers flat on the bed. He had her pinned before she could even gasp. His hot, minty breath fanned her face, telling her he’d brushed his teeth in the bathroom while he’d been in there. She could barely make him out. The curtains over the window had to be blackout ones, since no light came through them from the street. She struggled to get her arms free of the sheets and reached out, finding his shoulders. His hair was wet, his skin a bit cold and still damp from the shower, and he wasn’t wearing a shirt.
“You wanted me. Here I am,” he growled. “Happy?”
She slid her hands to his back and clung to him, digging her fingers in but being careful of her nails. “No. I’m anything but. I’m sorry, Red. I know you don’t want me in danger, but I have to try to save my grandpa.” Tears filled her eyes. “I can’t stand you treating me like this though.”
His rigid body loosened a tiny bit and he sighed, adjusting his body over hers. “I’m so damn angry.”
“I know.”
“You’ve put me in hell.”
“What do you mean?” She was glad he was talking to her. Even if he growled the words.
“I’ll hate myself forever if anything happens to you. You expect me to just stand back while you enter that fucking house with a bunch of bloodsuckers. My instincts are screaming at me to protect you. But if I refuse to let you go, I lose you anyway, because you’ll leave me even if you survive tomorrow. Who the fuck knows what they’ll do? One of those bastards might want to breed you. I keep thinking it’s better you’re alive, even if you fucking hate me, than ever risk you dying. Then I think of life without you forever. I’m in fucking hell, Emma.”
“I’m so sorry.” She stroked his skin. “But I have to do this, Red.”
He snarled and buried his face in her throat. His wet hair was cold, but she didn’t care. He adjusted his body again, pinning her tighter against him by using both his arms and his weight. She wished the blankets weren’t between them.
“I don’t plan to die.”
He opened his mouth, and his teeth gripped her throat in warning. She felt fangs and stilled. He wouldn’t kill her, but she knew a bite would hurt.
He eased his grip and closed his mouth against her skin.
“You can’t promise that,” he finally said. “My father never meant to die either. He was an excellent fighter. I could give you a list of people I’ve lost in my life. Tough bastards, all of them killed. You’re so fucking human. Fragile.”
She stroked his back again. “They want me alive, Red.”
“You don’t know that for certain. We assume. For all we know, the council already killed Malachi and now they want you to show up there to wrap up any loose ends. That means you.”
She hated to admit he could be right and silently let that horrible situation play out in her head. “Velder wants to send the council a message. He doesn’t plan to kill those Vampires unless he has to. Only Eduardo is a guaranteed death.”
“They’re assassins for the council. Dying might be part of their job if it means taking out a target.”
Again, she couldn’t argue with him. It made sense. “I love you, Red. So much. I’d do anything for you…but I have to try to save my grandpa.”
“I fucking know that.” He lifted and rolled off her, sprawling on the bed beside her. He couldn’t go far on the queen-size mattress.
She wiggled the covers out of the way and turned, snuggling up to him. He lifted his arm to let her get comfortable. She rested her head on his chest, listening to his rapidly beating heart. “Let’s focus on what could go right instead. I go in there, Grandpa is rescued, and we’re both fine. I’ll introduce you to him and tell him we plan to be together for the rest of our lives.”
He tightened
his arm around her and pulled her closer. “Right. Then he’ll go for my throat and try to kill me.”
“He’s not going to do that.”
“You’re his nest, Emma. I’d fucking kill to keep you. He will too.”
“He’ll want me happy.”
“Then he shouldn’t have left that damn message.”
She winced at hearing him snarl, the vibrations that ran though his body when he did it. She caressed his stomach and ran her fingers lower. “No clothes? I’m shocked.”
He gripped her wrist with his free hand and jerked her hand away from his cock. “No sex. You touch me like that and I’ll fuck you. Then you’ll be fucked tomorrow.”
She frowned. “Why?”
He snarled again. “You should know why. No way are you prepared to go against Vampires.”
Emma thought about it. “Scents. Never mind. I can shower you off if we just touch but the smell of sex tends to stay longer, especially if we don’t use a condom. Got it. It would kill the surprise if they figure out I’ve been with a VampLycan.”
He seemed to calm a little. “Yes. Mandy packed you clothes that were just washed and wore gloves to prevent her scent from getting on them. The bag is one she just purchased. She hadn’t used it yet. It smells like plastic and the manufacturing company it came from. Remember to rub your shoes on the grass.”
“I’m going to be okay, Red. I’m tough and smart.”
“You’re also frightened.”
“Of course, I am. Who wouldn’t be? I’m not a moron. Fear is a great thing. It keeps you sharp and a bit paranoid. I’ll need both of those when I go inside the house.”
He hugged her a little tighter. “I’ll die if you do, Emma. You’re my mate, even though you haven’t let me claim you yet. How in the hell am I supposed to let you go when the time comes? How am I not supposed to lose my fucking mind and go in after you? That’s why I’ve been quiet, and what you call sulking. I’m trying to keep a lid on this shit. Even now, my instincts are riding my ass to mate you. It would make you stronger, having my blood inside you. But it would also betray the plan, since they’d know you’ve been mated. They’ve been in the house you lived in for a little while now. They will have learned your scent well, since they don’t know what you look like.”