Breaking Free (18 page)

“But Robert can help you find it?”

Preston groaned. “Yeah. It’s not going to be pretty. We’re both going to be in your head, but it’s the only way.”

Devlin gave Jamie a smile. “You don’t know how much of a relief it is to know I can’t be used as a puppet anymore. He’s trapped in his own hell, and I want to help him, but I don’t know what to do.”

“I know people who
may
be able to help. Let me stress the
may
. It depends on how much damage has been done.” Preston took a breath and turned to Jamie. “So, you forbid him to go to his father, and the connection snapped?”

She winced. “I didn’t know what else to do. I panicked.” Her gaze swung back to
Devlin. “I really didn’t do it on purpose.”

Devlin stepped in front of her and took her face in his hands. “You did nothing wrong. You took away something that would have only caused pain. Nothing good could have come from him having access like that. It’s fine, and so are we.”

“Good. I don’t want to lose you.” A slight smile played on her lips but she still felt guilty. Everything he said and felt led her to believe him, but she was having a hard time accepting it.

Jamie turned to Preston. “I can’t begin to tell you how much I appreciate your help.”

“I know, now stop. You’re my friend, and Devlin is too. So let’s chalk it up to helping a friend out.”

Her response died on her tongue. She didn’t know how to answer
, so she nodded. He wasn’t great at taking compliments or thanks.

“Stop it
. Jamie. I won’t leave you hanging. You know that.”

“Preston, anything you need, you’ve got it,” Devlin told him.

“Same to you. Now, I’m going to take off. I’ll bring Robert in the morning, at a reasonable hour, and we can figure out how to deal with this. You two… enjoy each other.” He dipped his head and slipped through the door before either Jamie or Devlin could respond.

“He really does see you as a friend.” Devlin half-laughed. “I almost feel bad for giving him the black eye.”

She grinned. “Whatever he said, he was wrong. You’re all I want.”

“Don’t worry.
I’m not jealous… now.”

“Come here, Dev. I need you. We were interrupted earlier.
”

“Tell me what you want, Jamie. I’ll give it
to you.”

“You have. Just need you.”

Devlin grabbed the hem of her dress and pulled it over her head. Her fingers deftly opened his pants and slid them down his hips and thighs before letting them fall to the floor as she yanked his shirt off.

She pressed against him, and his fingertips traced up her curves.

“Love the way you feel,” he murmured.

She felt his love, his need, his desire all bubbling up, wrapping around her.

“This is all I need, Dev. You, me, connected. That’s it.”

“I’ll show you conne
cted,” he groaned as he brought her to the rug. She wrapped her legs around him, pulling him tighter as he slid into her. “Mmm, that’s better.”

Her fingers threaded into his hair as she meshed her mouth over his, her tongue
twining with his, enjoying his spicy taste of magic. She met each thrust with her own, never breaking the kiss.

The pleasure built quickly, and they found their peak together. He rolled to his back, bringing her on top of him. “I’m never going to have enough of my little wolf.”

She grinned down at him, “And I’ll never stop needing my Dream-man.”

Devlin woke rested, better than he
had felt in ages. Jamie was wrapped around him, her head over his heart that only beat for her. He wanted to forget the world, the Dales, and everything else and lose himself in the woman who had brought him back to life and given him freedom he couldn’t remember.

“I love you,” he whispered against her hair.

He felt her lips quirk against his skin. “Love you too.”

His heart swelled, but he hardly believed.
“When did you know?”

“Too soon.” Her head came up, pale blue eyes locking on his. “Didn’t want to scare you away.”

“Funny, after everything I’ve been through, that might be the only thing that would. I’m glad you talked some sense into me,” he murmured.

The fear trickled back in. The fight wasn’t over. Hell, it hadn’t even started. And they were going to take the fight to
the Dales. Something he would never do if so many lives weren’t at stake. Lives he wouldn’t trade for the world.

One question was on his mind.
Will I be able to fight when it comes down to it?
He honestly wasn’t sure. As much as he wanted to say yes, he truly wasn’t certain.

Preston wouldn’t be egging him on. It would be real, and it would be bloody. No matter what happened, someone would be hurt, which was the last thing he wanted.

“I won’t let them hurt you, Devlin. No matter what.”

He saw the truth shining back at him. She would risk everything for him. Devlin was scared. Jamie knew from a distance, but he’d seen firsthand what
DeMarco and Malachi were capable of.

“If only running were an option,” he sighed. “How long before
Preston and Robert get here?”

She reached fo
r her phone, and a moment later she sighed. “An hour. Let’s eat.”

* * * *

The dark was coming for her. Shadows were coming straight from the walls. Fallon ran harder, pulling her shields around her as she went.

“Oh, Fallon, darling
girl, why are you running from Papa?”

Her heart slammed against her chest. She knew what this was. They couldn’t get to Devlin, so now they were trying to get to her.

Wake up!
she screamed in her head, but it did nothing. She envisioned the forest, a beautiful sunlit forest, and ran for the lake, where she knew the sun was shining.

The shadows sped up, trying to close in, but she shifted to a hawk and flew high into the sky, away from the branches that tr
ied to wind toward her. Away from the touch of any shadows.

She flew higher, and higher, until she could feel the rays of the sun as she flew over water.

“Fallon, wake up,” Brody called, but she couldn’t. She kept flying, circling over the water, away from any of the trees. She saw shadows churning in the water.

“Wake up. NOW!”

She sat up straight, her eyes flying open. “Brody?” she panted.

He nodded
from where he sat beside her, his hands on her shoulders. “What happened?”

“Think my father tried to get to me when he couldn’t get to Dev. He couldn’t catch me. I ran, and when that wasn’t working, I flew. The shadows. I think… I think they changed him. I don’t think he’s a druid anymore.”

“That’s not good, is it?”

She shook her head.
“His magic is gone, but the dream stuff isn’t exactly magic. He’s going to be worse now. What do I do?”

“We find out how Jamie blocked him from Devlin and do the same to you.”

Fallon nodded. “As much as I hate abandoning him, I don’t think I can help him. I don’t know how.”

“Hey,
Sugar, we can talk to Victoria. If he’s a Shadowstalker, she can help.”

Nodding, she uttered
, “I hope so. I hate the idea that he’s alive… or whatever he is, and I can’t do anything to help.”

“We’ll figure it out. One thing at a time. For now…” he took a quick kiss and then stared into her eyes, “
you cannot go to your father’s dreams.”

She felt the compulsion working through her and relaxed slightly. The nagging feeling pulling at her dissolved, leaving her free.

“Goddess, I love you, Brody. Thank you.”

“
Did it really work that well?” he asked.

She nodded. “Think he was trying to pull me back. I was fighting, but it’s gone now.”

“Perfect. Hey, Robert called a bit ago. Before I could wake you. He says they are heading over to Jamie’s to see what they can do with Devlin. Maybe we should head over there.”

“How the hell did I get so lucky?” Fallon wrapped her hand around the back of his neck and pulled him in for a deep kiss.
When she pulled back, she professed, “Brody, you are everything and more that I could ever want or need. I’m not letting you go.”

She meant that too. They both knew he would beg her not
to go if he thought he had a chance at winning the argument. He knew her well enough to offer her all the support she needed, instead of holding her back.

“Only because you are the most incredible woman in the world. I trust you.
I wouldn’t ask you to turn your back on family you just found out you still have.” His mouth closed and he gave her a tight smile.

“I won’t risk any more than I have to,” she promised. “I know what you’re thinking. But, Brody, I won’t be
safe until this is over. Our baby won’t be safe. It’s that simple. I have to fight, because they’ll keep coming if I don’t.”

“I know. I’ll be with you, we’ll stop them.”

“You are perfect. I couldn’t ask for more.”

“Ditto. Now let’s go. Sooner it’s over, the sooner we can get back to our honeymoon.”

“Can hardly wait.”

He stood, pulling her to her feet with a smile. “Neither can I. And when this is all said and done, I have an idea. We can discuss it on the way.”

* * * *

Jamie paced through the living room. Devlin sat at the table, casting some enchantment on a pair of earrings for Fallon. After she called to fill them in on her dream, he started weaving the spells.

Everyone would be there soon, any time really. Jamie had the distinct impression that whatever Declan could do in the dreamworld was much worse than it sounded. That didn’t leave her feeling any better.

Fallon hadn’t given many details. She was withholding some key piece of information. Jamie knew it, but Devlin didn’t. Not yet.

“What’s going on, Precious?” Devlin asked, without looking up.

She let out a breath and took a seat across from him. “I halfway wish I had Jess’ gift. On the other hand, she usually only sees enough to be trouble.”

Devlin glanced up, his smile bright. “You have the better gift. You get real insight into people. You have a way of knowing what someone needs to hear.”

“Not always,” she admitted. “Though, sometimes it helps me figure out when to keep my mouth shut.”

“What do you mean?”

“When you know what someone’s feeling, but they aren’t ready to admit it yet, or maybe haven’t even realized it. Sometimes, it’s better to keep those thoughts to myself.
”

“Like when you figured out what you feel for me, before I realized it?” He smiled, his eyes sparkling. “See, your gift provides insight on how to deal with people. I rarely know what to do, or say. I don’t even know when to keep my mouth shut about certain things.”

“It’s not always easy,” she admitted. “There have been times I wanted to scream at someone to admit what they felt. I’ve learned that’s not the answer.” She sighed and sat back in her seat. “No. You weren’t one of them.”

“Because you already learned?” There was humor in his expression, in his words, but she felt his doubt.

“No. We moved fast. The whole mate thing still boggles my mind. Then I start wondering if the emotion is real. I know it is, I can feel it.” Her head dropped back as she stared at the ceiling. “I sort of think mating plants a seed of love in the right person, and most of the time it grows into something beautiful. I’ve seen a few cases where it turned into something sick and ugly.”

His smile fell as he leaned forward. “Stephen?”

“I never told Jess I was his mate. No one, in fact. His love was there, but it was twisted and wrong. It’s why I tried to leave. Why I wanted to run.”

There was a knock on the door. His eyes didn’t leave hers. “Are you okay?” he whispered.

She nodded. “I am.” She scooted the chair back and went to the door, opening it wide.

Fallon stared back at her with a cocked brow, but she was pale, and her hands trembled. Brody looked worried, but he wasn’t sitting on Fallon, forcing her to stay home. The man was smart. Fallon would go anyway.

Jamie grabbed her wrist and hauled her inside. Brody was next, followed by Preston who looked ashen, and then Robert.

“She tell you the whole story?” Preston asked.

Jamie shook her head. “I assume it’s bad though.”

He turned to Devlin. “Was your father a
Shadowstalker the last time you saw him?”

“No,” Devlin
whispered. The pain on his face didn’t begin to reflect his agony that tore through her.

“Sorry man, there was no
easy way to tell you. I can’t determine when it happened. I was sort of hoping you knew.”

“I’m guessing they finally broke him enough it was the only way to continue to use him.”

Jamie moved around the table and sat down next to him, taking his hand. She pushed her love at him, and tried to infuse it with calm, but he was wound so tight it was affecting her.

He looked to her and offered a smile of gratitude. “Victoria doesn’t drink from
Others?”

“She does not. There has been one exception in the last hundred years, and
that was only to draw the silver from Jess’ blood when she was shot.”

Devlin pushed his fingers through his hair. “Then there’s hope for him.”

Preston nodded. “There are other Shadowstalkers who have managed to stop drinking Other blood. If it’s too hard to have him here, he can go there, until he gets a handle on his situation. I understand they can be quite dangerous the first few months.”

“
Shadowstalkers are always dangerous. Some are more controlled than others,” Fallon answered. “I hope he’s one who can be trusted.”

“Fallon,” Devlin’s voice was quiet, “anything is possible, but he’s broken, shattered, and I’m not sure he’s sane enough to be pulled out of the shambles left of his mind.”

“Yeah, I figured that, but I’m not ready to give up all hope yet. I may have to, but not yet.”

“No one is giving up hope,” Brody replied. “Come on, let’s see what we can figure out. We’re supposed to meet over at In 2 Deep in an hour. Slater is getting everyone together to go early. The more sunlight we have, the better off we’ll be.”

Fallon nodded. “Very true.”