Savage, page 24
part #1 of The Healer Series
There was never any doubt Bridge would die, but how he would die was a tough decision. Of course, Kitten thought it should be immediate; rip his heart out, etc. No surprise there, and she had the backing of all the hybrids on it, too. I needed to kill him my way. Before we went to Mississippi, we stopped off at an old, rundown, closed mall. My fellow hybrids, including Kitten, were pissed, but they followed me inside without a word, watching me drag Bridge’s weak and slack body behind me.
Once inside, we stopped in the food court. The tiled floors were cracked and various types of grass and shrubbery grew up through it. All the tables and chairs left were lined against the walls. Cutting Bridge’s restraints, I sat him up and nodded to Eileen. She rolled her eyes and shook her head, but approached and pulled the ten bags of blood out of the purse she carried. Tossing them on the ground, she gave me one more you’re stupid look before taking her place beside Flynn again.
“What is this?” Bridge managed through a hoarse voice.
Kneeling down, I tore open one of the bags. “This is you and me about to have a fair fight.” His gaze darted to mine and his eyes narrowed.
“Poisoned?” he asked skeptically.
“I don’t have to poison you, Bridge. This ends today, and when I finish you, we’ll both know it was a fair fight.”
His eyes darted to the bags of blood as he reached out and took one. “And what of the others?”
“They won’t touch you,” I said loudly, ensuring my hybrids understood the deal I was making with Bridge. They were forbidden to interfere, no matter what. “If you beat me, you can walk away, but make no mistake,” I said as I leaned forward so my face was close to his. “I have no intentions of letting you walk out of here. When we are through, I will have your heart in my hand,” I promised him. “Now drink up. You’re going to need all the strength you can get.”
He took the bag as I stood, Kitten pulling at my arm. “Drink from me,” she ordered.
“No,” I snorted.
Taking my face in her hands, she forced my gaze to meet hers. “Please. It would make me feel better.”
Her whiskey eyes met mine, and even though I wanted to argue I didn’t. Bridge was already on the fifth bag so I quickly threaded my hand in her hair and pulled her to me. “It’s going to be okay,” I whispered before kissing her softly. Then, I sank my teeth into her neck, letting the energy of her blood roll through me. Drinking from her is never enough. I wanted to have her, drive myself inside of her until she moaned my name over and over, but that would have to wait. When I finished, I licked the wound and kissed her once more.
“I love you,” she said with a nod and backed away.
I couldn’t help but smirk. You want to talk about a fight? She gave me one hell of a lashing when I told her what I planned to do with Bridge. In the end, she supported my decision. It wasn’t enough to just kill him. Maybe it’s the savage inside of me, the beast that needed the fight, the adrenaline that comes with making a kill. I needed to destroy him . . . not just physically, but mentally, too. I needed to show him I am the fucking alpha, the leader, the most powerful. Circling Bridge, I watched him devour the last bag of blood and gave him a moment to let it set in. I wanted this to be a fair fight so when I killed him, there was no doubt I won fair and square.
He finally stood, and wrenched his head quickly to both sides, cracking his neck. Rolling his shoulders, he said, “Let’s get on with it.” Charging toward me, I braced myself for his impact. He slammed in to me, and we slid a hundred feet, or so, until my back smashed into a cinderblock wall, crumbling around us. When he moved to hop up, I seized his neck and flipped him on his back. My hand found a piece of broken brick and I crushed it into the side of his head. My fists were flying, pulverizing his face which healed almost instantly. This was going to be a long fight.
When he flung us forward, the momentum carrying us back into the food court, landing with me on my back and him straddling me, he began punching me in the face. I quickly twisted out of his hold, and we stood about twenty feet apart, breathless, glaring at one another. My fellow hybrids were there, I knew it, but in that moment, he and I were the only two creatures in existence.
“Did she tell you how good I felt inside of her, Daniel?” he asked with a menacing smirk on his face.
I know nothing happened. If Kitten believes it, I’m choosing to believe it, too. Maybe it’s easier that way. Maybe I’m in denial. Otherwise, if it were true, it would eat me alive from the inside out. “Yeah, well she says it didn’t happen. I guess if it did, your dick is just so small she didn’t feel it.” I smirked at him, hoping the insult would send him into blind rage.
“Daniel!” Kitten shrieked in disapproval.
“Sorry, Kitten,” I snort.
Bridge snorted and glanced toward her, and I lunged at him. He would never lay eyes on her again. Ever. We slammed through pillars, and the ceiling of the building cracked as remnants of dust fell everywhere, covering our heads and shirts and sticking to our sweat slicked skin. When we crushed through the counter of an old Chinese kiosk, a cash register fell beside me, dinging as it hit the tiled floor. I yanked it up and slammed it on Bridge’s face, denting the metal contraption and smashing his nose. We fought like this for hours, beating each other’s faces with our fists, slamming one another into anything still standing, but the time came to end it. I could’ve ended it much sooner, but I was enjoying messing with him too much. Letting him believe he had a chance, fucking with his mind.
When Kitten said, “Daniel . . . get on with it,” I had to smile. She had been worried before. Now, she realized what I was doing. She knew I could easily kill him. Bridge and I attacked each other once more, but this time, my hand plunged through his stomach, reached up under his ribs until I palmed the slick muscle that was his heart, and I squeezed.
“I told you, I had no intention of letting you walk out of here,” I said gruffly.
Our eyes locked as he struggled, and a quick wisp of regret flicked across his gaze. “You were my best friend. I’m sorry I let you down, but you let me down, too,” he wheezed.
He was right. I did. Had he come at me, and only me, maybe things would’ve ended differently. But he came after my woman, and he’d intended to hurt my child. That could never be forgiven.
“Your death earns my forgiveness,” I told him and his eyes glossed over as if he were fighting back tears. Where is the line between love and hate? Does it exist? I love Bridge. He was like a brother to me, but sometimes, no matter how much you love someone, you can’t forgive them for certain things.
“Get on with it,” he wheezed. Sinking my teeth into the flesh of his neck, I drained him as he grunted and held my shoulders firmly, not really fighting me, but not completely giving in to me either. When his body was almost empty of blood, starved for it, I ripped his heart out.
I had never seen a hybrid die before. I always wondered if we would just ash away like vampires and blood healers, but Bridge’s body seemed to dehydrate, like a raisin. His skin tightened and hollowed his body until he fell stiff, rigor mortis setting in. Silence filled the large area as we all stared at his body.
“Eew,” Eileen shuddered, breaking the silence. “I think I’d rather ash away than look like that when I die.”
Small hands grabbed my arm as Kitten pressed her forehead to my shoulder. My body heaved as I breathed heavily, staring down at my former friend and ally—what was left of him anyway. “Are you all right?”
Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath and turned to her, taking her in my arms. “I will be,” I mumbled, and she nodded in understanding.
Soft sobbing pulled me from my thoughts. Cassia was staring at Bridge, tears streaming down her face. “I am sorry, Daniel. I know he did wrong, but I loved him as a son.”
I nodded in understanding, letting her know it was okay to cry. I wouldn’t be angry with her for mourning Bridge. He was a part of our family once, and although he strayed far from home, we still feel the hurt in his death. “We’ll give him a proper burial, Cassia,” I said. And we did. Bridge was buried in Tennessee, just before the Mississippi border, in the woods between several large oaks. We all said our farewells in silence, although I think Kitten maybe stood back twenty feet, cursing his soul to hell. I couldn’t blame her for how she felt, and neither could Cassia, but Aldo kept her mouth shut and respected Cassia’s need to say goodbye and mourn.
That night, we came to Mississippi and she fell in love with the place. It’s hot as hell here, fucking humid as all get out, but she’s happy, and that makes me happy. We made love that night on the balcony, overlooking the water. It wasn’t until the sun began to rise that we parted our bodies. When we crawled in bed, naked and exhausted, she curled up to my side and sighed contentedly.
“No more lies, Daniel,” she whispered as my hand glided up and down the smooth skin of her back.
“Okay,” I agreed. I hadn’t told her of Whit’s revelation about Lucy and his part. A part of me doesn’t want to tell her, but I’m no better than everyone who has ever lied to her if I don’t come clean. “There is something I have been keeping from you, but . . .”
“But what?”
“It’s going to rip your heart out if I tell you.” I didn’t want to tell her about Whit and Lucy, but she said no more lies, and I feel like I can’t keep it from her. “Kitten,” I said softly.
“Yes?”
“Do you trust me?”
Nuzzling her head into my chest, she chuckled, “You don’t have a very good track record lately, but yes, I do.”
“Then trust me now . . . you don’t want to know. Please. It would hurt you if you knew, but it’s something that will never be able to hurt you again.” And that was the truth. Neither Sarah, nor Whit, would ever come near her again without my presence.
“Does it have something to do with you, or us?” she asked timidly.
“No,” I assured her quickly kissing the top of her head. “But it does have to do with someone . . . well more than one someone you love.”
She was quiet for a bit, but I knew she was awake; I could feel the soft wisp of her eyelashes brushing against my skin as she blinked. “Okay, Daniel,” she said softly. “I don’t want to know anymore sad things.”
“Good girl,” I said as I hugged her to me and kissed the top of her head again.
That day, we lay in bed and discussed much. Many heart wrenching things that had nothing to do with the secret I held. We talked about what lay ahead for our hybrids and for our child. There were many options for us; running, hiding, staying in one place, but we both knew for certain our child would never be safe. Neart would come for us. For our child.
Through one of our contacts, we discovered Xavier had not been killed the day the lycan burned down his hideout. He wasn’t even there. His wife was, however. Now he hunts for us, seeking blood for blood; my mate for his. Sometimes, no matter how badly you want something, things get in the way. In our case, these things wanted me, my woman, and our child, either dead, or enslaved.
There was really only one choice in the end. As she cried softly, I moved her to her back and spread her knees apart so I could seat myself between them, slipping into her with great ease. She accepted me gladly, her body relaxing as soon as I was deep inside her. Tear filled eyes met mine, and kissing her softly, I said, “I’m here, baby. Always.”
“There really is no other way, is there?” she whispered.
My forehead met hers as I stopped thrusting, fully inside of her. “No, my love. There’s not.”
She nodded, letting me know she understood. Although it was I that told her this was our only choice, safest choice, she knew I was right, no matter how much she hated it. Wrapping her arms around my neck, she pulled me to her.
“Then give me time. Let’s stay here until the baby is born and give us one week where the three of us can be normal. Please.”
How could I deny her this? I couldn’t. “One week,” I promised. Her mouth slammed to mine and we became lost in that heated dance where we take out our hurt and fear on each other.
Now, as we lay on this God forsaken hammock, and she gingerly rubs lazy circles over her tiny belly, I try to relax. Not because I should, but because she needs this. She needs this moment, these memories to pull her through what lies ahead. Every week, I make a point to remind her of what is coming. Although I want her to have these moments, I also don’t want her to get too comfortable. There is much we must do and she must remember that.
Our days have been beautiful and lacking any form of chaos. It has been nice. The two of us have grown closer, as if it were possible; discovering little things about one another; the mindless simple things like favorite colors, favorite foods, and so on. Taking her hand, I thread my fingers through hers and close my eyes. She’s right. In this moment . . . life feels really good.
The living room is silent. Four pairs of tear filled eyes stare back at Daniel and me. Cassia made us an amazing dinner, I was craving fajitas and she went all out for me. Dessert was chocolate cake, my favorite.
I’m due any day now, my belly gigantic, and Daniel and I decided it was time to tell everyone our intentions for after our child is born. Cassia looks to Nick and he nods once, letting her know it’s going to be okay. One by one, they all hug us and tell us they’ll do as we wish. Cassia hugs me tighter than she ever has before.
“You are the strongest woman I know,” she tells me. When they are gone, Daniel leads me to our bedroom and undresses me. My belly is so swollen, a large tight ball of baby. After he strips me to nothing but my panties, he removes his own clothing while I watch, biting my lip as the ache builds between my legs.
“Like what you see, Kitten?”
I nod as a grin spreads across my face. “If I wasn’t the size of a whale right now I’d jump on you like a monkey.”
He laughs. “I thought everyone took that well tonight,” he says.
Tearing my eyes from his, I nod. “I don’t think any of them were expecting it.”
He sighs and runs a hand over his face. “Well, everyone has gotten pretty comfortable here. It’s been a nice break for all of us. But . . .”
“But . . . all good things must come to an end,” I say somewhat bitterly.
He steps toward me and spins me, pressing his front to my back. His hands find my breasts and I gasp. It’s a welcomed distraction. My mind was heading straight to pity town and Daniel always knows how to detour me. “I can’t explain to you how turned on I am; seeing you swollen with my child inside of you. God, it makes me hard.” His hands drift down to my stomach and slide down the swell of my belly until they find my core, squeezing my inner thighs.
Reaching my hand behind me, I take his erection in my hand and slide it back and forth, earning a deep growl. “Kitten, I . . .” he pauses as if he’s searching for words. I know what he’s feeling. The time of reckoning is almost upon us. Any day now, we will welcome our child into the world and this time of calm and happiness will end. We’re about to make one of those life decisions that will alter us forever. One of those decisions that feels so wrong, but you know deep down it’s right because it’s the only thing you can do. Whatever the repercussions, whatever the future holds, we face it together. It’s comforting, but overwhelming . . . in a good way. If we fail, we fail together. If we hurt, we hurt together . . . and so on.
Tonight, Daniel takes his time making love to me. Pregnancy sex is a little more awkward than I thought it would be, but we make do. Daniel has been absolutely insatiable; his child inside of me triggering some kind of wild alpha pride thing. Not that I’m complaining.
As he guides himself in and out of me, his front to my back as we lay on our sides, I beg him, “Tell me everything will be okay. Tell me we’ll be all right.” I ask this of him often.
The first time I asked him, months ago, his gray gaze fixed on mine, and he swallowed hard. Then he asked, “Would you believe me if I told you that?”
I didn’t know if I would or not, but I desperately wanted to; needed to. “Make me believe it,” I challenged him. And ever since then, every time I’ve asked him to fill me with hope, promise me something he can’t, he tells me what I need to hear. Neither of us can be a hundred percent certain everything will work out, but if he tells me it will, I believe him.
Fully seated inside of me, he stops moving, his large hand cupping my chin and forcing me to look back at him over my shoulder. “Everything is going to be okay,” he promises, before kissing me softly.
Then he moves again, and I let myself get lost in us.
“I don’t think you’ve ever looked so sexy as you do right now,” she says softly from where she sits on our bed.
I laugh. “Holding a baby? This turns you on?”
“Holding our baby,” she clarifies. “And yes. It turns me on.” Her cheeks blush as Nick clears his throat uncomfortably.
I stare down at the perfect little being in my arms, her eyes closed and tiny little mouth puckering as she dreams. Hard to believe this little seven pound baby is the most powerful being in the world—or will be. I really wanted a boy, I won’t lie. I guess it’s kind of a guy thing, but when I saw her for the first time, my heart might as well have jumped out of my chest and hopped right in her tiny little hands. I’m officially owned by two women. My daughter, Abha—meaning splendor and light—has me wrapped around her finger.
“You’ve spoiled her already,” Kitten scolds. “I don’t think the child has laid her head in her bassinet since she was born between you and Nick constantly holding her.
I have to smile. Nick seems to be just as smitten with Abha as I am. I know he’d do anything for her. “Just soaking it all in while I can,” I say gruffly.
“They’re only small once,” Nick interjects from where he sits in the chair near me. He immediately winces with his words, shaking his head and giving Kitten an apologetic glance.
