“Stop it, you’re hurting yourself.” The growled words were almost kind. Her animal may not be able to come, but she still had the instinct that this male was...good.

  “Help me, please,” she rasped, passing out before she could get a reassurance out of him. She sent up a prayer before she passed out that he found her daughter, darkness swallowing her like the bitch it was.

  Sometime later, she woke up in a place that appeared to be a hospital room, but she smelled fur. Wolves. What she couldn’t locate was her sweet little girl’s scent. No matter what nauseating filth Kenneth had them living in, she was always able to locate her baby’s location by her smell. The bastard knew he had only one tether to her and that was Egypt.

  “Where is my baby?” she croaked, her throat feeling as if she’d swallowed glass shards for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

  “Ah, crap. You startled me.”

  Asia looked down the bed to see if her body looked as bad as she imagined. The pretty bedspread was a lot different than what she’d expect a hospital to have. Maybe shifter’s hospitals were different. Her...Kenneth. Goddess, she hated calling him her anything. The only good thing he’d given her was Egypt, the most precious child in the entire world. “Have you seen my little girl?” she asked again.

  “Um, let me get Breezy or better yet, let me see if Kellen has any information.”

  Her head dropped back onto the softest pillow. Images of a miniature version of her running around a tree singing while sunlight streamed down through the trees. Tears slid down her cheeks as minutes turned into an hour. She didn’t know how long she’d been in the cabin tied up, broken and bleeding, but at some point, her child had been taken from her. That much she knew. Goddess, she had to be alive. She put a shaky palm over her heart, feeling the organ beating like normal. She didn’t feel empty. Surely, if her one reason for living was gone, she’d feel it?

  The next time she woke, night had fallen. Her heart hammered against her ribs, panic and confusion filling her system with dread.

  “You’re safe, Asia. My name is Kellen Styles. You’re in the clinic of the Iron Wolves.”

  She blinked her eyes into focus, noticing the huge male by the door next to a blonde with pink and purple hair. They didn’t smell like one another, but that didn’t mean they weren’t mates. She and Kenneth didn’t scent as though they were, but he ensured he claimed her often. The thought made her stomach roll. Luckily, nothing was in it to toss up.

  “Ah, I see the way you’re looking at us. I’m the alpha and Breezy here is my second’s mate. My mate is the love of my life and would have my nuts removed from my body, in the most painful way she could come up with, if I so much as looked at another female sideways, let alone touched one. Now that we got that straight, we need to ask you a few things if you’re up to it?” Kellen came closer to her bed.

  Asia shuffled to the side away from him. If the rails hadn’t been up, she’d have fallen onto the ground.

  The male stopped in mid-step. His bright blue eyes glowing. “Female, you have nothing to fear from me or my pack. One of my enforcers found you in really bad shape, and to be honest, even though you’re a shifter, cat if I’m not mistaken, you were close to death. We wouldn’t have brought you here, given you the best care A La Fey, only to kill you off.”

  His words didn’t make any sense to her. What the heck kind of care was he talking about?

  “Listen, I have some club business to take care of. You need to get stronger, and then we’ll figure out what the hell happened to you. I’m going to let you and Breezy talk, since I think my presence disturbs you, but I want to be very clear about one thing. This is my pack. My family. We are welcoming you so don’t fuck us over.”

  She didn’t say anything as he walked out the door, didn’t even dare to breathe out of fear it would draw his ire.

  “Ignore him. Well, don’t ignore him because he’s the alpha, but you know what I mean. I’m Breezy, and from the notes I’ve read, your name is Asia. Do you want to get up and go to the bathroom and take a shower? I mean, I know the whole magical ability is great, but sometimes we women just need to feel hot water running over our skin to feel clean. Right?” Breezy smiled down at Asia.

  How did she explain to this female the truth? “I can’t,” she blurted.

  Breezy shifted the arm rail down. “That’s what I’m here for. To help you. Come on. We stock the good stuff too, not the stuff humans have to use that smell like antiseptic and crap.”

  “No. I mean I can’t magic myself clean. I can’t do anything like—normal.” She wasn’t normal. Her panther had receded long ago. At one time she could do everything, but then she’d been captured, and she’d lost everything over time.

  A swift intake of breath was the only indication that she’d shocked the female, and then she was helping Asia get to her feet. Dear Goddess, it hurt taking the first step to the bathroom, but by the time she came out clean and fresh, her muscles had relaxed. She didn’t look in the mirror, afraid of what she’d see looking back at her. In the last several years, she could count on two hands how many times she’d looked at herself, really looked. Each time she’d seen a shell of the girl she’d been. Her only hope was she located Egypt before Kenneth found her or their child.

  Back in the room, she noticed the bedding had been changed. “Wow, are there magical fairies the ones who come and clean everything in a flash?”

  “I wish. So, let’s get you back in bed and order you something to eat. Lots of protein to build your strength back up.”

  Asia ate with Breezy, amazed she was able to put away as much as she did. She almost tried to reach for Egypt through their link they shared. However, Kenneth could be waiting like the vile bastard he is for her to open her mind like he always does. She fell asleep while she was trying to figure out a way to find Egypt. The fear of alerting the male she loathed with every ounce of her being plagued her and kept her on edge.

  She jolted awake, a scent she recognized filling her with hope and joy. “Egypt,” she whispered.

  “Oh, dear. I should warn you now. Jenna is here, and well... she’s the Fey Queen. She’s tiny, but she’s mighty, and she’s a little out there. But trust me, you want her on your side. And she’s got your daughter with her along with a friend of a friend. All is well.” Breezy put her hand on Asia’s arm, giving a slight squeeze.

  She wasn’t sure what she’d been expecting, but a blonde bombshell holding the hand of her child and another small female wasn’t it. However, she didn’t care if the Goddess herself arrived. She only cared that her baby was there, and she was alive. “Egypt?” she cried.

  Her daughter’s eyes watered the moment they entered her room. Asia had already gotten out of the bed, her legs wobbling but held until her child hit her chest. She fell to her knees, wrapped her arms around Egypt’s shoulders and cried. She cried for all she’d thought she’d lost. She cried for all her child had seen. And she cried because she hadn’t kept her promise to the one person she should’ve.

  “I’m so sorry, ny zanaka vavy,” she said, calling Egypt her baby girl in her native tongue. Kenneth hated it when she did because he said it was an ugly language.

  “It is good to see you and your child together again, dear. I can see you have suffered much, not only in body but mind and heart. I can fix it if you allow me to.”

  Asia turned to the female who was the Fey Queen. Her offer was tempting, but she couldn’t do it. She’d allowed herself to be drawn from her family, against their better judgement, by a male who had lied and tricked her. She’d fallen for him and his charms when he was truly evil. Yes, she’d suffered for her choices, suffered terribly. But because of her, so had her innocent child. She would never allow Jenna to fix her when it was, she, who’d allowed the evil that was Kenneth to enter her life. Not when she’d gotten something so precious. Not when she’d allowed him to be cruel to her baby, her child, all because he never wanted to be a father. So no, she would keep her memories and the scars on the inside. Yes, she could see her body was healing on the outside, but the horrors of all the things he’d done to her...those were things she deserved, and so much more.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  “I wish things could’ve been different for—” Asia didn’t finish her sentence. She and Egypt had been living comfortably without a care on Fey for so long she was beginning to wish she could turn back time. However, she wouldn’t because she had Egypt.

  Belle stopped mid stride. “You never ask for things a female your age should, you know that? You were but a child, Asia, when you became a mother yourself, far too young to have suffered as you had.”

  They all knew the atrocities she’d been through. Asia didn’t want to think, let alone, discuss them. Kenneth wasn’t a human, but a vampire who had used her blood to fuel him and allowed him to walk during the day. He had been able to cast an illusion of normalcy for a long time to the world, but he’d begun to rot away like the other vampires who fed off humans until they died.

  Belle took a deep breath, then let it out, turning to her with a hard stare. “I have to tell you something, and I need you to listen to me and trust that what I say is the truth. Kenneth wasn’t your truemate, Asia. He used his powers on you. It was why you were so sick and fragile when you were found. He kept you weak with blood loss and the fear of what he’d do to your child to control you. He knew you had a truemate out there, more than likely he took you from him. Egypt, she is the product of your mating with your truemate, not Kenneth’s child.”

  “What are you saying? I didn’t sleep around, Belle. I wasn’t some whore who didn’t know who the father of my child was,” she whispered, angry tears welling in her eyes that she dashed away. Goddess, had her friend been thinking such terrible things about her all this time?

  The sound of her child coming down the hall had her and Belle tensing.

  Belle lifted her hand, silencing Asia. A second later, she flashed the two of them back outside, several hundred feet from the house for privacy. “I need you to listen and hear what I’m telling you. I’ve been inside your mind. Both you and Egypt’s. Don’t. I can see the instant denial you are about to utter but please listen to me. You and she were broken. My dragon couldn’t settle with the pain you were both emanating. She, my dragon, is easily controlled mostly. But there’s always exceptions to the rule, like when those she considers hers are hurting. She and I cannot stand back and allow that to continue if we can help it. At first, I didn’t realize what my dragon was doing, even though she is within me. The second week you were here, she rumbled so low and guttural inside me a hurricane wouldn’t have stopped us from trying to fix you.”

  “What the hell does that have to do with what you said about my child belonging to another male? I was a... a virgin when Kenneth took me.” It hurt to remember the first time with Kenneth. He had known it was her first time, yet he didn’t give her any kind of gentleness, nothing like he’d promised when she’d runaway with him.

  “Yes, I can see that within your mind, but I don’t believe that was the true reality. He was a master, this vampire, and was obviously very good at illusions along with other talents, but he needed you to be tied to him. I believe he manipulated your mind into thinking it was he who was your mate. I don’t think he was a—functioning male, Asia. Do you understand what I’m saying?” Belle’s features were almost expressionless. Asia waiting while her friend took a calming breath.

  Asia inhaled deeply, letting out the air from her lungs just as Belle did. “I prayed so many times it had all been a dream. Every time he took me, I prayed. I—I closed my eyes and went away until he was finished. It was him, not some fairytale male. As much as I wish what you say is true, I was there. I have or had the marks to prove it.” Asia’s voice cracked as she sucked her lips into her mouth between her teeth.

  “You know I’m a dragon. I can become energy and enter others to heal what is broken, whether it’s bones or organs. In both you and Egypt’s cases, you were not only physically injured, but you were also mentally battered. That male, he was evil through and through. He was old and very powerful, and he knew what he was doing. The fissures I found in your brain were deep, and there were a lot. He cultivated the reality he wanted you to believe, not the truth. I don’t know who your mate was, but it was not that male. I’m not saying you were that word you said, and if anyone dares to call you such, I’ll burn them to a crisp. What I do know from looking through your memories, is that he implanted himself over the ones of your mate, although your mate also did some erasing for your protection. I can see a male. He’s handsome, young, and has dark hair and eyes. Nothing like that vile bastard who we shall never speak of again. I also have a confession to make.” Belle clasped her hands together.

  “Are you sure, Belle? I don’t think I could handle it if you were wrong.” Asia hated being weak.

  “I’ve been working to heal you since day one. I mainly concentrated on the physical and the fissures on your brain. Your panther wants to come out, but there is a block that needs a little more work. If you allow it, I believe I can uncover the truth, help you find your cat, and possibly your mate’s identity.”

  “He really did trick me?” Asia put two fingers over one of her temples and placed the palm of her other over her stomach.

  Belle’s words were sinking in. To think she’d been raped in mind instead of body was a horror that was only slightly less horrific to her way of thinking. However knowing that her child wasn’t created from something so terrible was actually a relief. Goddess, she didn’t know if she could deal with the loss if Belle was wrong. Or if the male who had fathered Egypt turned out to be worse than Kenneth. The vile bastard had used a thrall on her for so long. She wondered what kind of truemate would allow her to be taken by such a male, or worse, had he been working with Kenneth? The last thought sent her to the ground, the soft grass cushioning her fall. “What if he’s worse than Kenneth?”

  “A truemate would never harm his mate or allow their child to be harmed. Kenneth was a vampire with no soul. You saw the Cordells and their father. To harm a female is so against their nature, even one who is not of their blood. The same goes for shifter males. I’ve never met one who would do as that fucker. I know it was weighing on you and Egypt, and my word isn’t going to reassure you. However, I have seen glimpses of your mate during my healing. He seemed to be a male of worth. I hope you can take some solace in that.”

  “If my truemate is out there, he will want nothing to do with me or Egypt. Or maybe he was every bit as demented as the other male. We are damaged.” Asia swiped her hands under both eyes, unsure how that made things better since she had no hope of finding a mate.

  “I need you to listen very carefully to what I’m about to say. Are you listening to me?” Belle pulled her to her feet and shook her by the shoulders.

  “What can you say that will change the reality of what I just learned, Belle?”

  Belle stared down at Asia, her eyes glowing with warmth and something Asia couldn’t define.

  “People are always saying how wonderful it is to be a survivor. They spout shit about it on Earth and say how amazing so and so is. All because they didn’t die after something terrible happened to them. And yes, you and Egypt are survivors. I’m a survivor. But you know what? We survived not because we’re survivors, but because we’re damaged. Beautifully damaged. I’d rather be here with my friends and family I chose, who chose me back. Even though we’re all fucked up in our own ways, we are so much better than a bunch of stick up their asses, perfect dragons, who wouldn’t know a truth if it slapped them in the face.” Belle gave her another shake, then kissed her forehead.

  “Goddess, you are so wise. Me too. Oh, Belle, I wish...I wish I could remember.” Asia leaned forward, burying her face against Belle’s chest. With every part of her, she wished Belle was right and that she had some truemate who was a larger-than-life, knight in shining armor who gave her the most amazing gift. Egypt. She took a step away, needing space so she could put the protective shell back around herself.

  If she could gather her courage and allow Belle to dig into her mind, she might find the answers. She might also uncover a truth that could change her life for the better or destroy it.

  “Why is my mom crying?”

  Belle’s magic moved through her. The warmth welcoming as it always did even though they were no longer touching. She’d thought she would always be aware when the dragon used her powers on her, yet the sneaky dragon had clearly been doing more than just soothing her ragged edges. Although she found her anger dissipating since her child was on the receiving end as well.

  “Come, let’s go for a walk. I think we all need some fresh air.” Belle held her arms out to her sides, motioning them to come with her. She and Egypt wrapped one arm around Belle as they walked as a mini group. This was comfort. This was what a made family was like.

  In all the time they’d been on Fey, Asia had never felt Belle exerted her power of persuasion over them. She’d always allowed them to decide for themselves what and when they did things. However, the push of Belle wanting inside her mind was unmistakable and unstoppable. Asia stopped fighting.

  BELLE WALKED WITH HER girls, Asia and her and Egypt, keeping things carefree. However, there was a sense of urgency bombarding her. Asia wasn’t just a non-shifting panther female. She’d been a mate to a powerful dragon. The bastard who had taken her, had a plan. As she delved within both females, fixing what she could, she was utterly stunned at what she found.

  She’d suspected that Asia had already been pregnant with Egypt before Kenneth the porchdicksuckingvampire got ahold of her, but she had no clue just how newly pregnant she’d been. The vampire had known exactly who and what the teenager had been. Belle had tried to figure out why the teen had seemed so familiar to her, yet she’d been totally blind to the truth. Now, she needed to get the pair healed and calmed down, so she could speak with Jenna and get more protection on Fey. Fuck, she hadn’t realized how Asia was blocking her from a memory, one even she had tried to forget. No, the younger woman was never a whore. Belle never thought for a moment that Asia had been. Her trip to America wasn’t a family vacation like she’d thought. She hadn’t made a colossal mistake and betrayed her family, for which she’d been punishing herself for, accepting the last ten plus years as her due. Her family had sold her as part of a blood supply to a vampire clan. Somehow, they’d known what she was to the dragon.

 

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12