Captiva Capitulation (25 page)

Due to his rising agitation, Sixten almost shifted, but caught himself. “What do you mean; you didn’t talk to the prince?” He felt a muscle tick in his jaw, heard his phone crack. “You were
there
. Very well, Qudir, take me off the roster for a few days.” He glanced at Kash, and he nodded in agreement. “Kash, too. No, there are allowances for our absences, just ask Maestru. Our mate is pregnant, and she’s been through yet another harrowing ordeal. We are fortunate the hunters didn’t hurt our precious child. Yes, yes, thank you. Keep me posted of any new developments. Good night.”

“I’m glad I don’t rely on Qudir to command my security,” Bane said.

“You answer to your Alpha,” Kash explained. “Our hierarchy is never ending, layers upon layers. For a vampire, skipping any sort of protocol, even something seemingly nonessential, will garner nothing less than final death.”

“Qudir was helping us locate an unclaimed mixed blood that disappeared from the university,” Rock said. “Your commander still has no word on her. However, while I was waiting for Kash to mate Blythe, my sources contacted me, had zeroed in on her location in
Italy
.”

“In Italy?” Kash echoed.

“Oh, yeah,” Rock continued, “Isla is the newest resident on Marchii Gianni’s estate, even though he's supposedly dead.”

“We have to get that poor girl out of there,” Kash said. “Did your sources, your spies, see the Marchii up and alive?”

“No,” Rock said, “but there are other Dynasty Vampyrs on property. She’ll have her pick of hell until we get her out. And I’m thinking that filing
another
grievance with your Dynasty is a waste of fucking time. Bringing Isla home will be handled the old fashioned way.”

“Then I suggest you say no more to Qudir or anyone else in our faction. Don’t discuss it inside the joint faction facility either. Move within your Pack, talk within your Pack, but let your plans go no further.”

“You suspect a spy,” Bane summed him up. “Each faction has spies on the other, what’s new?”

“No,” Sixten replied honestly. “I suspect
Poison
has spies on all of us. Where does it start? Where does it end? I don’t know.”

Dru joined them. “Blythe is definitely pregnant.”

“Sixten, going back to your earlier discussion with Kash, how do you know the child’s yours?” Bane asked.

“I know she’s your family,” Sixten snapped, “but is this really your business? She’s pregnant. You’re going to be an uncle. End of.”

“She’s waiting for you three,” Dru continued sternly, “I strongly suggest you put on your smiley faces before you go in there. And Sixten, the reason Bane is asking about the baby’s biological father is plausible, considering Blythe could be carrying a monarch’s child.”

“I don’t have the same sense of smell that you pure bloods do, but I would have scented his mark inside of her when we brought her home. And as I just explained to Kash, the Marchii did not…,” he stopped, gripping the side of Bane’s desk to compose himself, “ejaculate inside Blythe, okay? However, my shifter tried to impregnate her the night Bane and Rock arrived with word of Gianni.”

“You can sense
that
?” Dru asked, dumbfounded.

“Oh, I certainly can.”

“Jayce knew it was happening before, during, and after with Tatum.” Rock said confidently, “Didn’t need your confirmation on it, Doc.”

Dru’s eyes widened. “Do you know who your father really is, Sixten?”

“This is not the conversation we should be having,” he barked.

Dru kept his voice even. “By my experiences in the immortal medical field, leaders of certain species and their descendants usually know when they’re procreating their lineage - the next generation, if you will. I find it curious that you understood what your shifter was doing. Makes sense if you’re from a royal Habaline bloodline, though.”

Talking about his biological father was a no-go, so he moved things right along. Even if he had to embarrass himself to do it, since no bloody vampire monarchy was coming after his child. “Evidently, barbs come out” - he gestured toward his fly - “when shifters impregnate, holding the female in place while the seed takes root. I’m sure you’ve heard of this, Doctor. Only once in
my
entire life have they made themselves known, now Blythe is pregnant.” Glittering lights hit the bookshelves and he knew his irises had kicked up to shifter levels. “Again. End of.”

“Okay,” Dru answered, pacified. “As far as her care goes, I have absolutely no experience with shifter babies, which is one of the reasons I asked about your lineage. For us to know she’s pregnant in barely…” He held his hands out, palms up.

“Days,” Rock answered. “If Six impregnated her the night I scented Blythe as mine.”

Dru took a seat. “Many immortal pregnancies we sense long before the female misses her menses. Still, you’re right, Rock. This pregnancy mirrors Tatum and the Alpha baby she carries. Think about it, Sixten’s child is powerful enough to make its presence known in
days,
the same as Jayce’s.”

“If you’re saying Blythe’s carrying Rosemary’s baby, think again,” Sixten ground out. “It’s
just a baby
, one I already love to distraction!”

“No one’s saying that.” Kash clapped him on the shoulder. “You always say power is power, seems as though you gave that sweet baby a good jolt of yours. By the way, I already love it, too.”

Rock moved next to him, clapping his opposite shoulder. “Did you shift when you were small?”

“What?”

“I’m wondering how we’re going to keep a little shifter in its crib at night,” Rock said with a laugh. “Sounds like the first
real
challenge of my life.”

“Sixten, our baby’s going to shift?” Blythe stammered as she walked in.

“Maybe not, but I imagine so,” Sixten answered her, gliding quickly, enveloping her in his arms. He hoped she did not hear any other part of the conversation. “Rave had to teach me, so I don’t think we’ll have a little escapee on our hands until the teenage years, okay?” He moved his lips against hers, reveling in their softness. “Then, it’s to be expected.”

“Teenage years?” she cupped her forehead, appearing suddenly woozy.

“How much blood did you take?” He turned to Kash.

“Negligible,” Kash replied, curling his arm around her back.

“Rock, you turned her immortal, right?” Dru asked. “I sensed the change in her. She sure does smell differently.”

“Absolutely, I did.” Rock took her from Sixten and Kash, giving Blythe a deep kiss before congratulating her.

“Her blood volume…the anemia stemming from her relationship with the Dynasty Vampyr, you think it’s all good, Dru? Since she’s immortal now?” Sixten wanted her home. Currently, he was barely holding on to his sanity. Though he fought with it daily, he was having a hard time of it since…it couldn’t be since he found out Blythe was pregnant. They had always discussed having children together. They
desired
children. No, something was
off
. He’d started fighting with his shifter after he walked into this room…right where Blythe was standing.

"I'll draw her blood tomorrow," Dru answered.

“Six,” Blythe whispered, “I sense your shifter rising.”

“You sense my shifter?” He did, too.

“You’re going inky…and your eyes.” Those stunning cognac eyes of hers watered. “You’re not happy about the baby.”

“Yes. Ecstatic.” Sixten gripped her shoulders, meaning to kiss her…but something made him recoil near the door.

“You’re not,” she sobbed, turning into Rock’s chest.

“Blythe, you’re wrong.” Something was agitating him - something major.             “What’s this, Bane?” Sixten asked and pointed to the overhang leading into Bane’s office.

“Renee and her goofy superstitions…Blythe is upset,” the Beta said hotly. “I insist you make amends. Now.”

“That’s not goofy.”

“It’s a damn horseshoe my paranoid mate put over my door.” Bane walked by Blythe, kissing the top of her head, and then stood next to Sixten. “Have you finally lost it? Settle your shifter down, man. You don’t go around upsetting females, especially pregnant ones.”

“The Irish werewolves started this,” Sixten continued dazedly. He hated when this happened, when his mind swirled and he couldn’t keep up with his own mental meanderings. Now he had more witnesses to his insanity than he cared for. Undoubtedly, madness would overtake him soon, just as it had Rave. When that happened, who would kill him? Thrusting his hands through his hair, he figured that maybe Maestru could manage it. Then Sixten froze, gasping aloud.

His baby.

His innocent child would indeed follow his path.

“Female werewolves continued many timewasting traditions,” Bane went on evenly, nodding at the horseshoe. “Renee’s grandmother is a pure blood. Believe me when I say, my mate gets her eccentricities honestly. About
your
wife…”

Sixten got to the point. “For luck, the humans used these horseshoes over their doors, right?”

“I suppose so.”

“But not the werewolves, they used them for an altogether different purpose.” Sixten looked between Bane and Rock. “Tell me what you know.”

“I
know
that my mate is upset, with child, and exhausted.” Rock said quietly, though Sixten could feel the heat in his words. The werewolf’s hands stroked Blythe from the top of her head to the rise of her bottom, and Sixten could smell the adrenalin leaving her body with each pass. “She needs food, a bath, a bed, and to feel cherished.” Rock then turned to Dru. “Blood, does she need to feed?”

“Wouldn’t hurt,” Dru replied. “I have to get someone trustworthy in on this.”

“Moja láska,” Sixten whispered and Blythe looked right at him. “Trust me.” She always did, knew him better than anyone. When she nodded, he walked to her and kissed her full on the lips. “You know that I love you and our precious baby.”

“You’re right.” Wiping her eyes, she agreed, “I do know this.”

“Good,” he breathed, placing an affectionate kiss on her temple. “One of us needs to take you home. You need rest, angel.”

Kash stepped around her, pressing his thumbs under her chin to gain access to her veins. “I’ll mist you, help settle you in, and then leave you with Rock. Are you okay with that, Bride?”

She cupped Kash’s jaw. “Give me a minute. I’m too woozy, and Bane’s sofa looks inviting.”

Dru said, “How many times has she been misted today?”

“Many,” Kash replied.

“I don’t like that,” said the doctor. “We cut Tatum’s misting out unless emergency dictates. You’re risking the baby every time you dissolve them.”

“Damn it,” Sixten snarled. “No more risks.” He stared at his two co-mates; both were shaking their heads in agreement.

After gently leading her to the sofa, Kash removed his weapons from his long coat and covered her. Sixten watched as Rock kissed her forehead, and without her knowledge, he put her to sleep. With great relief, Sixten turned to Bane. “Tell me, Beta. Where are your tribal books, in particular, those listing your
iron
Talismans?”

“I don’t believe in those,” Bane said with a dismissive hand.

“Yet you werewolves practice magic, some of it Druid. Moments ago, you accused me of losing it and you stand before me a rambling conundrum. Certainly, you can select your folklore, Beta, but not magic. Magic selects
you
. Never does it bind with a creature who doesn’t believe in its power.” His hands came down on Bane’s desk. “I ask you once again for your tribal books.”

Bane sighed. “Your kind isn’t permitted near those books.”

“My kind?” Sixten patted his chest, right over his Habaline heart. “
My kind
is slowly taking over the world you live in.
My kind
surpasses any other intelligent life in this realm.
My kind
can stomp you underneath ancient boots at any given second, and I’m not referring to the deranged mix-bloods reeking terror across the islands…the cities.” He dropped his voice to a whisper, “I am talking about the pure bloods in hiding, silently waiting for the right moment to strike. Therefore, you might reconsider listening to one of
my kind
when offered lifesaving advice.” Sixten pointed to the doorway, staring entreatingly at the singular horseshoe sparking his shifter. “So bring me your Alpha, if you choose to follow protocol in this, Beta. I will ask him myself, playing the dutiful ambassador representing my Habaline race. Although we both know, Habalines deserve no emissary. Be forewarned, though, whatever either of you say, I won’t stop until I see those books.” Sixten rubbed his temples with his fingertips, willing away his escalating psychosis. He had to get that horseshoe out of Bane’s house. “In this, biding time makes losers of us all, and I
never
lose. As for you, maybe you want to think about saving your Pack and the corresponding world more casualties. As for me, I now have a family to protect.”

Rock kissed the top of her head. “He’s honored. You are his family and he wanted you here, inside his home and under his protection, from the beginning. If it makes you feel any better, this isn’t their main bedroom suite. And you know Renee isn’t here. If she were, she would be shoveling tofu and various shades of grass in your mouth.” He mock shuddered.

“That’s a far cry from what I had for breakfast.” Or was this lunch? To her side, empty dishes piled a tray nestled on the nightstand. All delivered by The Blue Pelican. An hour or so ago, Rock had fed her every delicious morsel by hand, insisting on it, ending with whiskey-glazed banana pudding and a half-gallon of chocolate milk. Though she felt somewhat lazy and definitely stuffed, she wasn’t bloated. Felt as though her bundle of joy absorbed everything the minute she swallowed it.

Fidgeting, she couldn’t relax while watching the news. Her thoughts were as scattered as her hormones. Concentrating her best, she listened in as the anchor droned on. Depressing was an understatement. Crime had picked up considerably around southwest Florida, though no one
mortal
contributed the increase to anything remotely supernatural. Why would they? Didn’t mean
she
was oblivious. Humans weren’t stirring up this kind of ruckus. Nightly, women were disappearing. “What are we going to do?” she grumbled, placing her hand protectively against her stomach. What kind of world was this for an innocent child to live in? “Besides a few stragglers and those naughty Lovci, I thought most of the rogue shifters were under your Pack’s thumb or dead. It’s worse than I imagined.”