Marked

  A rustle echoed, and she skidded around the corner, paint caught in her wild blond hair. The scent of wild heather, just blooming, came with her. “What?”

  He grinned and shook out his wet hair. “One of us needs to be conscious of the time. I vote you.”

  She wiped paint onto her jeans, her freckles standing out on her stunning face. “You’re the logical one. Time is logical.” She paused. “Right?”

  “Some say time is merely a theory.”

  “Let’s go with that.” She stepped out of her peasant blouse and kicked her jeans to the side. “You showered without me.”

  He dropped the towel and reached for his woman. “I erroneously thought you would’ve already showered.” Though why in the world he’d thought she’d be more organized than he was beyond him. “Weren’t you supposed to drop by the lab and remind me of the party?”

  She pursed her pretty pink lips. “I think you were supposed to pop by the new rec room and get me. We’ve been painting it all day, and the kids are gonna love it.”

  “I’m sure, Beag Gaisscioch.” His little warrior. “Guess what?”

  “What?” Her eyes lit with the hope of a good surprise.

  He loved her bizarre enjoyment of surprises, considering he couldn’t stand behind taken off guard. “We figured out how to negate the mating aspect today.”

  She clapped her hands together. “My grandma Hilde can get re-mated! Oh my.”

  The oh my was a freakin’ understatement. “Yes. God help the male vampires.” His wife’s grandmother had been mated in her early forties and would no doubt go on the prowl as soon as possible. Although Kane knew a certain badass soldier named Oscar whom he’d bet on. “Let’s not tell Hilde today.”

  Laughter bubbled up from Amber. “That’s a deal.”

  He lifted her and retraced his steps to the stone-wall shower, twisting the knob and setting his mate under the warm stream.

  She gasped and shut those stunning dark eyes, emitting a low, sexy moan of pleasure that shot straight to his cock.

  What the hell. Kane stepped into her, pressing her against the wall.

  Her eyes opened, and pleasure curved her smile. “I thought we didn’t have time.”

  “I thought we agreed time didn’t exist.” His lips captured hers, and he coaxed her into relaxing. Into submitting. The second she softened, he pressed harder, lost in the whirlwind created by his mate.

  His illogical, disorganized, emotional mate who loved so completely. He didn’t deserve her, without a doubt. But he was keeping her.

  Slowly, he released her lips and drew back to gaze at the woman who’d taught him he had a heart. “I love you.”

  Her smile rivaled any scientific discovery ever made. “I love you more.”

  “That’s impossible.” He reached for cinnamon-scented shampoo to rub through her curls. “I’m a scientist and know quantitative analysis.”

  She tilted back her head and closed her eyes. “You know it turns me on when you use such big words.”

  “You turn me on just by breathing.” He helped her rinse her hair and then washed her head to toe. By the time he was finished, she was panting and he was in pain. He lifted her, impaling her in one smooth move.

  Her eyes widened and she gasped. “Well now. We’re going to be late to the party.”

  He kissed her again, trying to find the right words. When he’d thought the virus was going to make him leave her, he’d been full of more pain than he’d thought imaginable. Now, healed, he wanted to spend each day keeping her safe and loved. She continued to amaze him. “Not once did you give up hope, did you?” he rumbled against her mouth.

  “Never.” She clasped her ankles at the small of his back, her fingers curling over his shoulders. “There’s no way you’d leave me in this life alone.”

  Such absolute faith both intrigued and humbled him. “You’re right. Wherever you are, I will be.” He didn’t lie or evade, so when he gave the words, they were a vow. “I promise, Amber.”

  Jase Kayrs stretched his jaw and rolled his dislocated shoulder back into place as he pushed open the front door to his home. Sparring with Conn had been fun. Over the top, joyous, hit after hit fun. Damn, it felt good to be strong again. He’d even commanded the oxygen to rip open and drop water onto Conn’s face. His brother was lucky he hadn’t created a snowstorm.

  Chuckling, Jase shoved inside and shut the door.

  His mate sat next to a crackling fireplace, a cup of tea in her hand, her face pale.

  “Bren?” he asked, reaching her in long strides, her vanilla scent soothing him. “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.” She swallowed and gestured toward the sofa. “Have a seat.” Her gray eyes were veiled, and her hand shook as she lifted the cup to her lips.

  He faltered and then sat, his knees brushing hers as he faced her. “Whatever it is, I’ll fix it.”

  Her smile lifted his spirits. “That’s a sweet thing to say.”

  “I’m not sweet.” Nobody in the world would accuse Jase Kayrs of being nice.

  “Sure you are.” She reached up with her free hand and ran a finger down the long scar extending from his forehead to his jaw. Her very touch seemed to heal him. Then she sighed and removed her glasses, revealing those pretty gray eyes that held such kindness. “Very sweet.”

  He took the cup from her and placed it on the table before taking both her hands in his. “What has you worried?” Though he could probably read her mind, that usually ticked her off, so he stayed out. For now.

  “Our lives have been a whirlwind.”

  “Yes.” He kept his hold gentle on her fragile hands.

  She swallowed. “We mated to save my life, and between the war and the virus going airborne, we really haven’t had time to reevaluate.”

  Panic lifted his chin. “There’s no reevaluating. Period.” His voice came out a low command, one most people would heed.

  Bren merely lifted one dark eyebrow. “While the treaty may have covered all contingencies, we have still made our own way. But we haven’t discussed everything.”

  His shoulders shot back. She’d heard about the trials to reverse the mating bond. “Oh baby, I have no idea where your mind is, but if you even think of negating my mating bond, I’ll have you on your knees to discuss it.”

  Her eyes darkened to the color of storm clouds. “Last time I was on my knees, we decided to mate.”

  “Exactly.” He’d put her there again until she agreed to stop talking about reevaluating anything. “What’s going on, Bren? You love me.”

  “Of course I love you.” She pushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. “And I’m keeping your marking.”

  “I know.” Yeah. He sounded arrogant. “Spit it out so we can get to the party.”

  She tried to remove her hands, and he tightened his hold. She sighed and looked him right in the eyes. “We never discussed this, and we haven’t planned. But I’m pregnant.”

  His mouth dropped open, and he released her hands. “Pregnant?”

  “Yes.” Her hands fluttered in the air. “It seems like you all healing has somehow brought on a baby boom. I know we haven’t discussed children, not really—”

  “Pregnant?” Joy caught him around the throat and squeezed. He leaped and picked her up, swinging her around.

  She laughed.

  He buried his head in her neck. A baby. Bren’s baby. For so long, he’d been tortured by demons, and he’d welcomed death. Then he’d been ruled by revenge until he fell for her. Finally, the virus had all but guaranteed his demise. Now he lived.

  And he was having a baby.

  Elation filled him until his chest hurt. He fell back onto the sofa, cradling everything he loved. “Well, I guess we should discuss this.”

  Her eyes sparkled as she settled against him. “You’re happy.”

  He shook his head, his lips curving. “There isn’t a word for what I am. Nothing comes close to how I feel.” He pressed his lips against hers, trying to show her h
ow precious she was to him. “Thank you, Brenna.”

  She kissed him back, love shining in her eyes when she drew away. “You had a part in this.”

  “No.” He sobered, his gaze remaining on hers. “You saved me, and you gave me this life. Only you, Bren.” He didn’t know how, but he’d spend the rest of his days showing her what she’d done and how much she meant to him. “You’re my light in a very dark world, and you always will be.”

  Chapter 34

  Zane handed his baby girl over to his mother, who sat on the sofa next to Cara. They cooed together, completely charmed by the one-year-old. A pretty white dress decorated with bows made up her outfit, while bright green sandals adorned her tiny feet. Max stood a few feet away, always near, and somehow Zane had not only become accustomed to the big lug’s presence, he’d started to take reassurance in the idea.

  A huge stack of presents sat next to a stone fireplace that almost served as the focal point in the main rec room in the largest lodge. It was close, but the stunning lake outside the floor-to-ceiling windows took center stage. Balloons danced in the air, and party streamers cascaded from wall to wall.

  He leaned against a wall and accepted a beer from his younger brother. “Thanks.”

  Sam nodded, his gaze encompassing the large gathering. “Shifters, witches, and vampires . . . oh my.”

  Zane grinned and tilted his head toward a prowling cat and a gorgeous feline shifter. “That’s Jordan and Katie Pride, the heads of the lions. They have twin girls around here somewhere.”

  Sam took a long swig of beer. “I met Jordan earlier on the shooting range. He’s a good shot.”

  “Should be.” Zane pointed over at a bunch of wolf shifters. “Terrent and Maggie Vilks, as well as a bunch of their clan. He’s one dangerous bastard.” Yeah, Zane liked Terrent. A lot.

  Sam nodded. “Yet they’re all here to celebrate our girl’s first birthday. Weird world you’ve joined.”

  “We’ve joined,” Zane returned. It hadn’t been easy splitting his time between Realm headquarters and the new demon headquarters, but since he’d made sure they were located within a mile of each other, it hadn’t been overly difficult, either. “Thanks for having my back, Sam.”

  “Of course and always.” Sam gave a half-nod to a pretty witch flirting with him from across the room. “Now, if you’ll excuse me.” He grabbed two more bottles from the bar and sauntered through the crowd.

  Zane grinned.

  “What’s so funny?” Janie asked, sidling up to him.

  “Sam’s about to get shot down by a witch.”

  Janie pursed her lips, her gaze across the room. “Not from where I’m standing. Sam may get lucky.”

  Zane turned his focus on Janie’s sky blue eyes. “What about me?”

  Her smile revealed even white teeth. “Depends if you play your cards right.”

  “Meaning?” He lowered his voice to a demon growl, knowing full well how it affected her.

  A visible shiver wound up her shoulders, and a pretty blush covered her cheeks. “You clean up Hope after she eats cake.”

  He grimaced. “We’re really not going to give her a whole cake, are we?”

  “Of course.” Delight lifted Janie’s lips.

  His life had been colorless before Janie had joined it. Like the dream world, he’d just existed without real light. Now light and love surrounded him. “Tomorrow morning our mothers are taking turns watching Hope for a week,” he said.

  Janie blinked. “Why?”

  “We’re going on a vacation.”

  “Really?” She looked around the festivities at family and friends. “Can we just take off like that?”

  He slipped an arm over her small shoulders. “We can. It’s time we had some fun without war, without ruling, without worry. Just a week.”

  Her smile warmed his heart. “Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise.” A warm, very nice, extremely private villa on an island where clothes weren’t necessary. “It’ll be our new dream world.”

  She turned and stretched up on her toes to kiss him. “Sounds lovely.”

  He kissed her back. “Do you miss the dream world?” Since they’d blown it up, they hadn’t been able to re-enter. The place, wherever it had been, no longer existed.

  “No.” She rubbed his chin. “Real life is so much better now that you’re in it.”

  Her sweetness knocked his knees out from under him each time. Every time. “I love you, Belle.”

  She sighed and snuggled into him. “I love you.”

  Yeah. Life was pretty damn perfect.

  Janie laughed, her heart full, trying to wipe frosting off her daughter’s nose. “Maybe letting her go at the cake was a bad idea.”

  Zane nodded, grimacing as he removed a frosting-covered sandal. “It was your idea.”

  Prophet Lily Donovan clapped her hands together. “No, it was wonderful. She enjoyed herself so much, and we took lovely pictures.”

  Her mate, Caleb, stood well back and away from flying frosting. “You’re all crazy.”

  Hope turned sparkling black eyes toward him and let out a giggle.

  Caleb smiled, the harshness of his features disappearing. “The girl has good taste.” Then he lowered his chin and gentled his gaze. “Forget that marking on your neck, little one. If you want to be a prophet, great. If not, tell Fate to . . . push off.”

  “Nicely put,” Zane said dryly, shaking the second sandal.

  Caleb ducked as frosting flew by his head to stick to the stone mantel. “Let’s hit the bar, Lily.” Holding out his arm, he waited until his mate slipped hers into place. Then he winked at Hope and headed off.

  Talen arrived with more towels. “You made a nice mess, sweet girl,” he cooed to Hope.

  Hope grinned, showing one new tooth. “Tayen.”

  Janie stilled, and Zane’s head jerked up.

  “What did she say?” Zane asked. He leaned toward his daughter. “Hope?”

  The girl waved chubby arms. “Tayen.”

  Janie laughed and turned toward her father. “You taught her to say your name.”

  Zane shook his head. “Her first word. Talen.”

  Talen rubbed his whiskered chin. “Well, I . . . don’t know. I’ve been saying ‘Realm’ and ‘vampire’ to her. Not my name.”

  Janie shrugged. “She is smart.”

  Cara bustled up with a wet washrag and quickly went to work on the girl’s hands. “I’ve been trying to get her to say Grandma.”

  “Tayen,” Hope said, clapping her now clean hands together.

  Talen leaned down and kissed the girl’s frosting-covered hair. “Just perfect.”

  Cara threw the rag at him and stood. “You’re buying me dinner.”

  Talen grinned and grabbed her hand. “I happen to know a wonderful buffet—just across the room.” Sweeping her up, he barely kept her legs from hitting several people as he hauled her across the room.

  Zane shook his head. “Your parents.”

  “Your in-laws.” Janie finished with Hope just as Felicity showed up to take the girl.

  “Good timing,” Zane said.

  Felicity patted Hope’s dark hair. “Your mother is no dummy.” Then she smiled at Janie. “Take a moment and have some fun. I’ve got our girl.”

  Janie grinned and stood. “There’s frosting in your hair, Felicity.”

  Zane’s mother laughed as she took her granddaughter toward the buffet.

  Janie slipped her hand in Zane’s. “We’re so fortunate to all be here.”

  Zane nodded and opened a door to the deck, nudging her outside into peace. With a wisp of sound, he lifted her and maneuvered around deck furniture to drop onto a wide chair facing the sparkling lake. The late afternoon sun glimmered on the soft waves, and a rather warm fall breeze stirred the colorful leaves surrounding them. “Ah. Quiet.”

  Janie fingered his thick hair, settling in to home. “Remember the first time we met?”

  “In a dream world. You
were so small and brave.” He ran a large-boned hand down her back. “Even then, I knew we’d end up like this.”

  “Like what?”

  “Happy.” He turned the most beautiful green eyes toward her. The virus had lightened the inner part of his iris, leaving a darker green ring around it. Very sexy, actually. “You and me.”

  Janie inhaled his rugged scent. “I always hoped we’d find and keep each other.”

  “Keep?” He kissed her, pouring so much passion and love into her she forgot where he ended and she began. She could barely breathe when he lifted his head. “We belong with each other. In each and every world. My Janie Belle.”

  Epilogue

  Six years later

  Hope Kayrs Kyllwood snapped her fingers and turned the sky a light blue. She wrinkled her nose and then changed the hue to a darker blue that made the yellow sun seem brighter. Yeah. That was better.

  A bubbling stream wound next to a grassy bank, so she added a bunch of flat rocks around.

  The forest behind her remained green and quiet, so she took a moment to sit on a rock and wait. A few pink birds hopped by her feet, and she waved at them.

  The second he entered the forest, she straightened. Her hands smoothed down her new jeans, and she hoped her new sweater fit nice. She’d received both for her birthday the day before. The blue of the sweater matched the prophesy marking on her neck.

  When he strode out of the trees, she straightened. Wow. He was a lot taller than she’d expected. Even so, she stood bravely to meet him.

  His head swiveled left and right, and he crouched low as if waiting for a strike.

  “Um, you’re safe here,” she called out.

  He glanced up at the sun, which shone off his black hair and brought out the many strands of red woven throughout.

  “The sun won’t burn you.” She clasped her hands together, wondering if she should’ve waited another year before meeting him. But seven was a lucky number, and she’d just turned seven. “I promise.”

  He frowned and stalked toward her like one of the shifter boys about to pounce on each other. When he reached her, she had to stop herself from stepping back.