Breaking Free (7 page)

“
That doesn’t always work.”

He opened his mouth to argue.

She cut him off, “I get it. I’ve been there. Not to the extent you went through, but I was in a situation that could have broken me. I’m still standing, I’m still me, and I didn’t let the asshole win.”

“What do you mean?”

“If I had run, I would be dead right now.” She continued chopping the vegetables. “I didn’t choose to be a wolf. I would have died at the hands of my ex if my sister hadn’t shot him. I woke up, shifting into wolf for the first time as my sister lay in a puddle of her own blood from that monster. I changed her. God, I was scared to death I was going to lose her. In the end, she saved me, and I saved her.”

“You didn’t want to be a wolf?” His question was soft, thoughtful.

She snorted and lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “I’m alive. I wouldn’t go back to being human. Did I ever intend on becoming something other than an empath? No. But I don’t regret what I am.”

“I would only become a monster if someone changed me.”

“That’s not true. You’re already Other, Dev. You’re a druid, a Dreamwalker, and my mate.”

His mouth popped open, a flash of anger in his emerald eyes.

She held up her hand but didn’t stop talking. “Don’t put words in my mouth. I’ve already said you aren’t a monster. What I am saying is you aren’t quite human and there is nothing wrong what that. I’m saying you are my mate, no denying that, and I don’t want to. From the second I felt your conflicted emotions in my dream, a connection sparked between us. One I don’t want to lose.”

Jamie
looked back down at the cutting board and started slicing steak into strips. As she collected her thoughts, she poured a bit of oil in the skillet.

Her voice was soft when she
finally asked, “Do you think I’m a monster?”

He let out a sigh. Then she felt his hand on her cheek as he pulled her gaze to his. “No. That wasn’t even what I meant.” He caressed her
face with his thumb and took a slow breath. “See, the Dales would force me to feed off victims. Force me to tear them apart with teeth and claws. They already made me ward their pawns. It’s bad enough knowing I took away their will, that I made jewelry which opened them up to their powers.”

Intrigued, she asked,
“You ward jewelry?”

He nodded. “I hear my sister’s wards are better, stronger, and because they are tattooed into the skin, unbreakable.”

“Some jewelry can be more easily hidden. So I guess it depends on how you look at it.”

“I’m not Fallon.”

“Would you stop? It would be awfully damned awkward if you were Fallon. I’m not mated to her, but you. Okay?”

“
I can’t stand the idea of you hurt because I’m a part of your life, Jamie.”

Arguing seemed futile. He had certain ideas firmly pla
nted in his head. She wanted to shake him, scream at him, something to get it through his thick skull that she loved him. She knew he felt it too, courtesy of their mate bond and her gift, but he wasn’t ready for the truth, so she turned away.

Then h
er phone played Alex Clare’s “Too Close” and her eyes slid shut. She took a deep breath and forced a smile, trying to pull all of what she was feeling out of her voice.

“Hey, Preston. What’s up?”

“I can’t find you. I tried to track you,” he admitted.

Shit, shit, shit… is that what
the necklace does? Take me off the radar to help keep me safe? Fucking hell.

She took a slow breath. Her eyes lasered in on Devlin who watched intently.

“Why were you looking for me?”

“Jess is worried about you. I’m worried. Hell, Slater’s worried. He felt something, and then it blipped out. Why do I get the idea you’re hiding something?”

Perfect. Slater felt the mate bond, which meant Jess knew too. At least it was unlikely they knew which wolf had a new mate.

“Preston, please
. Let me have some space. I’ve been thinking too hard about my past, and I need to decompress. I went somewhere quiet so I can be alone.”

“You? Alone?” he huffed. “That’s unlikely. You never like being alone. You like people, and being around them.”

“And maybe I’m lonely, and being in a room full of happy, smiling people is depressing right now. Maybe I’m tired of feeling like I’m never going to find my one and only. Maybe reality caught up with me, and I need to be alone so I can let go of what might not happen.”

If Devlin left, she really wouldn’t
be able to let go. She wiped at her eyes, turning away to stare out the window.

“What can I do?” Preston asked
softly.

She slammed her hand into the wall.
“Nothing. This has nothing to do with you. Shit, maybe I need to change your ring tone to ‘You’re So Vain,’ ‘cause you are seriously acting the part.”

His laugh was tight. “I do love you, Jamie. I might not
be in love with you, but what I feel is real. Now I feel like an ass.”

“
Damn it, Preston. We’ve been over this.”

“I don’t want you alone. You looked so crushed when you came out of the woods. I know you talked to someone. I could feel a presence lingering near you.
He was a druid. There were traces of magic. I felt it, damn it. I know what I sensed. What bothers me is the only ones who can block like that are dark, Jamie. So forgive me for fucking worrying.”

She dropped her head back, closing her eyes.
“Forgiven. I’m sorry.” She turned, and slid down the wall. “I’m fine, Preston, but I’m in no mood to talk. Go, enjoy your night. I’m sorry I worried you.”

“
I wish I knew how to be what you need. I hate seeing you upset.” Preston let out a sigh before the phone went dead. She let it fall to the floor as she put her face in her hands and fought back the tears.

Doubt and pain laced Devlin’s gentle question. “What is the mage to you?”

“A friend. He was a lover.” She took a slow breath. “It wasn’t true love. It was sweeter, gentler, missing the passion when we weren’t between the sheets. That’s all over. He only feels guilty because I’m tired of being alone, but I seem destined to be.”

“We’ll figure this out,” he
promised as he sat before her, handing her a plate with stir-fry. He must have taken over cooking duty. “I don’t want to leave you, Precious. Truly, I don’t.” She could see the pain in his eyes. He still thought it was the only way. “I’ll wait, see what your friends have to say, but they may call you crazy before sending me away.”

“I won’t let them send you away, Dev. I’m a fighter, and I plan to keep you. So they can suck it, because I’m not letting you go.”

One corner of his mouth lifted. “I like the sound of that,” he admitted.

She smiled back.
“Good, and I mean it. I’ll be right back.” She placed a kiss on his forehead before setting her plate on the coffee table and making her way to the bathroom.

* * * *

Devlin sighed, moving his plate next to hers, and then grabbing a couple of beers from the fridge. Jamie’s logic was sound and he was starting to agree. He didn’t want to let her go, and knowing she would only follow made staying the best choice.

He hoped Jamie was right, and Edenton would stand behind
them, at least for her sake.

She came out a few minutes later
. Her face lit up when she found him on the couch. The tension seemed to roll away as she made her way across the room and dropped into the seat next to him.

“Think you’ll be hungry for me after dinner?” she purred.

His cock sprang to attention and he nodded eagerly. No woman had that kind of power over him. He was nowhere near a virgin, but it had been a long time since sex was something he’d truly enjoyed.

It was always fleeting, a release, something that left him feeling filthy, and even depraved
at times. Even when it started as good, it was empty and hollow in the end.

With Jamie, that all changed. He wanted to pleasure her, bring her to new heights, and make her forget every man she’d ever been with. His experience was lacking, but she was so responsive and expressive he thought he might have a chance
at being the man and lover she deserved. If he could talk himself out of running before the Dales arrived.

She speared a piece of the steak and closed her mouth over the fork. Devlin groaned low in his
throat. He took only vegetables, hating the taste of flesh. Yet, she made it look sensual in a way that made him want to steal a bite.

Her eyes dropped to his plate and her head
tilted to the side. “Oh, are you a vegetarian?” There was no judgment in her words, merely curiosity.

Still, h
e felt the heat in his cheeks and dipped his head in a nod. “It’s okay. I don’t mind you eating meat, or even when I eat things cooked with meat.”

She licked her lips as she glanced toward the kitchen. “I could make you a salad.”

He shook his head. “No. I have a hard time eating meat. The texture, or maybe the healer in me.” He half-laughed. “It’s silly. It’s all in my head. I get that.”

“I’ll keep it in mind. Believe it or not, once upon a time
, I was a vegetarian.” She lifted a shoulder in a shrug. “That sort of changed after I became what I am.”

“For the record, Jamie, I don’t
believe you’re a monster. I know real ones.”

Her smile brightened and she dug in, hurrying to finish. It wasn’t long before she plucked his empty plate from his hands and strode to the kitchen.

Upon her return, she surprised him by pulling her dress over her head while she closed the distance. He stared up at her with wide eyes. So beautiful. Her tanned skin glowed and her eyes danced with desire. Licking her full lips, she dropped to her knees between his legs.

“My turn to taste you
.” She licked her lips in anticipation, and tugged at his pants and boxers. He shifted his hips, letting her pull them down. His erection bounced free.

Her velvet tongue slid over his crown as her eyes locked on his. A growl of approval sent a shiver straight up his spine as his mouth fell open on a gasp.

He started to protest, but her lips closed over him, sucking his shaft into the heat of her mouth. His words died on his tongue as he gripped the cushions.

Sensation flowed through his entire body, setting his blood on fire
. Jamie sent him soaring, on the verge of release, but kept him there until he nearly lost his mind.

“Need you,
Precious. Now, need you now,” he panted.

Her hand wrapped around his base as she
slid her lips off with a moan. “You have me, but now I want this.” Her mouth closed over his straining length and she pulled him back into its erotic depths. Everything fell away as pleasure so intense blotted out coherent thought. Lights danced through his vision as his hips jerked, and he jetted hot seed into her mouth.

Growling her delight, she sucked, licked and
savored every drop. He sank onto the couch, thoroughly spent.

“Should’ve let me,” he told her, but his words were slurred.

Jamie gave him a dazzling smile as she climbed into his lap. “Don’t tell me that no one has ever given you a proper blow job before?”

He shook his head, licking his lips. “
Nothing like that. But isn’t it supposed to be my job to please you?”

Her expression fell, her brow wrinkling. “Not all the time, Dev. Sometimes I’m going to want to
watch you come, and I won’t give a damn what I get out of it.”

Devlin wound his arms around her, and stood on shaky legs. He carried her back to the bed. “I want to make love to you. I need you.” He shifted his hips
, already growing hard. She undulated against him.

“I’ll always be ready and willing for you, Dev.”

A
persistent buzzing woke Fallon from exhausted sleep. She was content to stay in Brody’s embrace, trapped by the sleeping bag. It was barely light out.

Her phone wasn’t stopping.
With a heavy sigh, she managed to slip out of the bag and into the cool air. She found her phone in Brody’s pocket.

She rubbed her hands over her face before bringing up her text messages.
Twelve texts from Jamie, all the same.

H
ate to do this. You know I wouldn’t if it wasn’t an emergency. Someone needs a tattoo ASAP. Please call.

Fallon stared at the screen. Brody’s big hands closed over her shoulders as he leaned into her. His warmth
chased away the chill. She leaned back, melting against him.

“I feel your concern. What is it?” he asked softly.

“Jamie needs me back in town. She would never call me back from our honeymoon without a really damned good reason.”

“She was acting weird yesterday.” He took in a slow breath and squeezed her. “We can always sneak away
again later.” With a kiss to her head, he stood to find his scattered clothes.

He was right, and she couldn’t let Jamie down. No matter how tempting it was to stay out in the forest without a link to the real world. Except she had one in her hand. The damned phone she
had meant to toss in the truck and leave there.

She heaved a sigh as she pulled her dress on without a single garment underneath and climbed into the truck.

Brody was beside her in an instant. “You know, it’s not a big deal. All I need is you. Only you, Fallon.”

And our
child.
She gave him a smile as he fired up the truck. “Ditto, baby.”

“When we’re done, we can always
come back out here. Whatever she needs shouldn’t take long.” He gave her a wicked grin and started back to town.

She dialed Jamie’s number as she looked back at their little
campsite.

The phone clicked
on and Jamie sounded frantic. “Fallon. I’m so sorry. I hope you aren’t upset.”

“You wouldn’t make me come home if it wasn’t important. Now, what
’s going on?”

Jamie’s laugh was tight. “We’ll explain at the shop. I need you to meet
us there. When you can, of course.”

“I’m stopping for a shower first,” Fallon warned. “I’ll be there in an hour.”

“That works. I’ll see you then.” The phone went dead and Fallon shook her head.

Brody interrupted her thoughts with a question.
“What do you think is going on?”

“No clue,”
she answered simply.

“Jamie has been sort of distant lately
. Do you think she met someone?”

“She mentioned a
Dreamwalker. Maybe he showed himself.” Fallon took a deep breath and let out a heavy sigh. “That could either be very good, or very bad. I’m leaning toward bad. Jamie doesn’t have the greatest track record.”

“How long ago did Jamie become a wolf?” Brody asked with a raised brow.

“It’s not that. And I’m not counting Preston. She tends to pick assholes whose version of love is warped and twisted. She can feel the emotion from others, but I’m not sure she can always decipher if it’s healthy or not. At least, not until it’s too late.”

“Would you say her track record is as bad as yours?”

Fallon shook her head. “Other than the asshole who nearly killed her, no.” Fidgeting with the hem of her dress she turned away. “The thing is, most Dreamwalkers are bad news. They get off on causing nightmares, stealing secrets, spying. Shit, most of them are fucked in the head.”

“Any of them good?” Brody asked.

“Yeah. One used to visit me. He always knew how to cheer me up.”

Brody chuckled. “Anyone I should be jealous of?”

“Oh no. It was sort of brotherly. I guess we had a link. I don’t know. They don’t always control who they find in the dream world, and when they stumble upon someone, they sometimes forge a connection. He could always find me after the first time. Except, the last time I saw him was like twenty years ago. He just disappeared without a word.”

* * * *

Jamie chewed her lip as she stared down at Devlin. He had promised he would try. There was some relief, though not enough to wipe out her worry. She sensed his doubt and wasn’t sure if it was about him, her, them, or something else. Knowing how someone felt didn’t always give her much of a clue as to what they would do.

She took a deep breath and gently shook him. “Devlin, I need you to get up.”

His eyes drifted open and travelled up her body. A lazy smile played across his lips. Not only had they made love half the night, but he continued to explore her in their shared dreams.

His gaze made it to her face and his smile dissipated. “What is it,
Precious?”

“Worried you’ll leave,” she admitted.

“If I do, it won’t be because I want to.”

“Yeah, yeah. I heard that already. Look, your sister is going to be at Inktastic in an hour. We should get ready.”

He hesitated a moment. “A tattoo?”

“Don’t like ink?”

He shrugged. “Never really considered one before.”

“Do you like mine?”

One corner of his mouth lifted as he nodded. He reached out to trace the roses decorating her ribs beneath her breast. “Love it.”

“You could choose something small, something hidden,
not obvious.” She stood, pulling him toward the bathroom. “Please, let Fallon cast her wards. I have no doubt yours work wonders, but you know what she went through. She can prevent that from happening.”

“Does she have a ward to make me deaf and blind to what they
will do to…” his eyes closed as he dropped his head and sucked in air.

“To who?” she asked
, soft but firm.

“Doesn’t matter.”

She had a feeling it did, but she let it slide. Instead, she licked her lips as she devoured him with her gaze. “I can’t wait to get you wet.”

“You said an hour,” he answered with wide eyes.

Her smile was downright wicked. “I can be fast.”

* * * *

Devlin had no choice but to let Jamie drive. He’d left his car hidden in the woods across the lake. She parked outside the shop and hopped out of her Mini-Cooper.

Jamie
took his arm with a shy smile and started for the door. She froze when she stepped inside and looked up.

The mage sat at the table. His eyes held pain as he looked from Jamie, to him, and back again. “You lied.”

“Not exactly,” she answered in a whisper.

He stood and walked toward her.
“Who is this?” the mage bit out.

Jamie looked up at Devlin with wide eyes. “Devlin, meet Preston.”

Fallon walked out from the back with an arched brow. Then she saw him, and froze. “Dev?”

“You know him?” Preston snapped
, his eyes blazing back to Fallon. “He’s part of the fucking Dales, and you know him?”

Fallon blinked slowly as she turned her head to find Jamie on Devlin’s arm. He
r head snapped back to Devlin. “The Dales? The fucking Dales? That’s why you were stalking my dreams?”

He felt the charge in the air as
Fallon’s long legs ate up the distance between them.

Jamie stepped in front of
Devlin, taking a fighting stance. A growl rumbled from deep within her chest. She snarled, “Give him a chance to explain. It’s a bit more complicated.”

Someone came in the front door, his deep voice
blasted, “What the hell is going on in here?”

Devlin glanced back to find his sister’s mate. Brody’s mouth fell open. “You look
just like Fallon.”

Fallon stopped short and really took Dev
lin in. “Who exactly are you?”

Devlin opened his mouth but nothing came out.

“Your brother,” Jamie snapped, not bound by the bloodoath. “But he can’t tell you because of your father.”

Fallon shook her head violently. “I don’t have a brother. My father’s dead.”

“You don’t know the whole story, Fallon,” Devlin offered simply.

Fallon argued,
“You can’t be. Mom would have told me.”

“No. She took your memories of me,
and of Dad. She didn’t want you looking for us once you had the ability to.”

“Liar,” she
answered coldly, and moved forward in a blur.

Brody
intercepted Fallon, picking her up off the floor before she could go through Jamie to get to Devlin.

“He’s telling the truth, Fallon
,” Brody said firmly

Her chest heaved, her hands clenched into fists. “I don’t have a brother.”

Devlin shook his head. “I couldn’t tell you. Even in your dreams. I couldn’t break the bloodoath our father cast.”

Brody murmured
, “This is who you were talking about in the truck.”

She nodded, confusion replacing the anger. “What the hell is going on?”

Preston’s icy glare blazed. “Fallon, you can’t seriously be ready to trust this asshole. He’s one of the fucking Dales! Do you know what he does for them? The same damned thing they wanted you to do, Fallon. And he does it.”

Jamie snarled, “Give him a chance to explain. You don’t know the whole story.”

Devlin curled his hands over her shoulders, drawing her back against his chest. “I can’t blame them for thinking the worst of me. After everything, I can’t expect them to believe a word of what I have to say.”

Brody spoke up,
“Try us.” His tone was gentle as he tenderly rubbed Fallon’s arm.

She relaxed even further, her head dipped in a nod. “Yeah, start explaining.”

Devlin looked around the room. Preston stood with his arms crossed over his chest and malice in his stance.

At least
Brody was ready to listen. Fallon seemed to be as well.

“Can we not do
this out here?” Devlin hoped.

“Come on back,” Fallon turned, pulling away from Brody as she led them all into her room. She hopped up on the counter. Brody handed her a coffee and leaned next to her. Jamie and Devlin followed, taking the opposite wall. Preston stood next to the door.

Another man, with long raven hair, and tattooed dark skin stepped into the room with a curious glint to his onyx eyes. His brow arched. “And this is?”

“Devlin O’Shea,” Jamie answered, her voice firm. “Fallon’s brother. Listen to him, without jumping down his throat.”

“Explains the hair and eyes.” He shrugged. “I’m Tomahawk, or Tom.”

Devlin dipped his head in greeting, unsure of what to do. He was surrounded by people who could easily tear him apart if he said one wrong thing. A
nd all of his story was wrong.

He
faced his sister, pleading with his eyes. “I had hoped we could do this with less of an audience.”

“Too bad,” Preston stated. “Until you tell me something I can accept, I’m not leaving, in case I need to haul your ass in to the Silver Council.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Jamie growled.

Devlin took a deep breath, “Calm down, Jamie. He’s just doing his job.”

Jamie spun on Devlin, her eyes flashing bronze. “He’s not taking you to another prison. I will tear him apart before that happens.”

“What the hell is going on between you two?” Preston asked in
a dangerous whisper, stalking toward her.

She
whipped around, facing Preston, daring him with a look to take one step further. “He’s my mate.”

Preston’s mouth fell open as he stumbled back. “You mated one of the fucking Dales? And you don’t think that shit’s bad news?”

Jamie took two steps and shoved Preston hard. He landed against the wall. Her words left her lips in a growl. “You need to shut your mouth and listen to him for a minute. It’s not what you think. Besides, who joins the Dales willingly in the first damned place?”

Fallon’s voice cut through the room. “Preston, get that stupid rejected look off your face. Let
Devlin speak. Jamie’s got a point. You’d have to be a sadistic fuck to join the Dales on a whim.”

“Why the hell are you taking his side?” Preston snapped.

She fiddled with her hem, her voice softer. “He was always brotherly when he visited my dreams.” Her gaze swung back to Devlin.

Jamie turned to watch.

When Devlin couldn’t find the words, Fallon’s eyes narrowed. “That’s your cue to start explaining because I really need to understand what the hell is going on.”

“Yeah, yeah, talk,” Preston conceded as he leaned back against the
door jam, crossing his arms over his chest.