Lords of the Were (16 page)

“Like I got run over by a truck.” He moved one hand to scratch at his chest, looking down in surprise when his hand came away wet with blood. “Holy shit. What happened?”

“How much do you remember?” Betina asked quietly, still at the other side of the bed.

Rafe’s eyes clouded in thought, then widened in alarm. “That human!

And the vampire! Did you kill them?”

“Vampire?” Betina was clearly shocked by the revelation.

Tim’s arms tightened around Allie before he spoke.

“The bloodletter is no threat to us. His name is Dante. The mage was using him to keep us occupied while he went after Allie. Dante even helped me save her, though it wounded him badly. The mage was injured, but ran when faced with Dante and me fighting together against him.”

“You said the mage’s name was Vabian?” Betina asked quietly.

Tim nodded and Allie felt the motion against her hair, comforting even as they discussed such serious matters. How she loved this strong, difficult man!

“Dante and I talked just before the cavalry arrived. He told me the man’s name and how he came to be here. He also apologized. He had no idea Vabian was using him and he was royally pissed. I’d say Vabian’s days are numbered with both the were and a pissed off vampire after him.” Tim’s voice was pitched low and deadly near Allie’s ear though all in the room heard him.

“He can’t die too soon for me.” Rafe’s eyes had a hardness Allie had never seen in them. In that moment she saw the same deadly determination in the more carefree twin’s eyes that she was used to seeing in his brother’s.

“Venifucus slime,” Tim cursed.

“Venifucus? What’s that mean?” Grim faces met Allie’s question.

Betina sighed heavily. “They are an ancient society. They are the main threat to our existence. The Venifucus are dedicated to what I would call pure evil. They want power above all and we, as priestesses of the Lady, stand in their way.”

“It was their agents who murdered your mother and her mates,” Tim said quietly.

“They’re part of the reason I never go anywhere alone, Allesandra.” Betina’s voice was soft, as if she hated what she had to say. “They’ve tried to kill me more than a few times over the years.”

“So you’ve always had bodyguards?”

“Me?” Betina laughed. “Heavens no. In the old days I could stand up to just about anything and I was quicker than anything they sent after me. Only during my training did I require help, as you do now, and as I get older and not quite so quick-footed, I find it comforting to have friends available should I need help. I’m not as spry as I used to be.”

Rafe reached out a hand to the older woman. “You’re just as powerful as ever, Lady Betina, and you always will be.” Allie realized Rafe’s kind words were probably more accurate than he knew. If she could believe what she’d seen, Betina was fey, and therefore, probably immortal.

A short while later, Allie helped Rafe clean up a bit more and settled him into a nice, freshly made bed for recuperative sleep. Still very weak, he had a lot of serious bruises and cuts to heal, though he was out of danger for now. Betina said all he needed now was rest and the were’s natural healing abilities would have him good as new within a few days.

When Allie went back into the living room to see what Tim was up to, she found a war council of sorts already in session. The alphas from each of the local tribes and clans were present, including her uncles, gathered around Tim and Betina, planning strategies to track and take out Patrick Vabian.

Her Uncle Tom spotted her in the doorway and came over to tug her into a fierce hug.

“I’m so glad you’re all right,” he whispered into her ear as he hugged her.

She could tell from the tightness of his arms and the slight trembling in his voice he was probably remembering how he’d lost his brothers and sister-in-law to a similar attack.

“I’m all right, Tio,” Allie kissed Tom’s cheek as he let her go, only to be patted on the back by Ryan, her aunt Jilly’s mate. Both men wore serious expressions filled with relief as she smiled up at them, squeezing their hands in reassurance.

After a moment more with them, Allie quietly took her seat at Tim’s side, glad when he pulled her close against him with one strong arm

around her waist. He bent down and absently kissed the top of her head even as he listened to what one of the alpha were cats was saying. They were discussing the vampire, she realized, and Tim’s tensions were rising. She could feel it in the arm tightening just slightly around her waist.

“How do we know he didn’t come here to prey on our kind?” the were cat’s voice rang with anger and suspicion. “I’ve heard stories about how bloodletters get high from were blood. I don’t want to see any of my clan victimized by a rogue vampire in our territory.” Tim cleared his throat. “Dante is not to be harmed. I gave him safe passage—and my bike—so if you see him on it, don’t worry. He put himself at great risk to save Allie and Rafe. Me too, for that matter. His wounds were terrible.” Tim’s eyes clouded with memory. “I gave him my blood so he could at least get away.” Shocked silence met Tim’s bold statement. “It’s true. Were blood is more potent to his kind than human blood, but he wasn’t high. He was barely able to walk upright from the pain of his injuries, and he proved himself a man of honor. He only took what he needed from me so he would be able to get away safely.”

“He drank your blood? Could you be under his spell?” Hank, the alpha were eagle, was clearly suspicious.

Betina cleared her throat. “Vampires are able to bedazzle their prey, but were are not very susceptible to their brand of magic. Alphas least of all. I’d say Tim knew exactly what he was doing and while I’m not fond of bloodletters, I’d have to say all I’ve heard of this Dante leads me to lend him the benefit of the doubt in this case at least.”

“Dante said he came here to seek justice over a death our ancestors sanctioned. A firewitch named Erik that was like a brother to him. He died at were hands in October of 1871.”

“Those were dark days. Dark days indeed.” Betina shook her head.

Allie thought through her history. “That was the month and year of the Great Chicago Fire.”

“Indeed,” Betina’s eyes held terrible memories, “and the fight with Erik was responsible for the fire. The prime alphas of that time—Gillen and Roy—cougars they were, sentenced the young mage to death. They mistakenly thought he was responsible for the rape and murder of one of their clan, but it was later proven to be someone else. If the bloodletter seeks justice for Erik’s death, he has just cause. Gillen and Roy killed that boy, and as he tried to defend himself with his one true magic—

fire—he started an inferno that burned more than half of Chicago.” Betina looked around the room, her gaze steady as she deliberately made eye contact with each alpha present to drive home the seriousness of her words. “Your ancestors made an unforgivable mistake. The world lost an innocent young mage that day, not to mention the human and property losses, and they gravely offended an ancient and powerful bloodletter.” Silence reigned as her words sank in.

“I’ve seen the man fight.” Allie’s words poured into the tense room.

“He stepped in when he could have just as easily sat back and let us all be killed. I think he realized his mistake and did what he could to rectify it. I’m with Betty. I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt.” There was some grumbling but quite a few faces held grudging acceptance with two priestesses now speaking out in favor of the vampire. “Our real problem, as I see it, is the Venifucus.”

Allie’s innocent words started a firestorm as the gathered were reacted with various forms of alarm and anger.

“Venifucus! I thought they were all dead!” Her Uncle Tom’s dismay could be heard across the large room

“They are not gone.” Betina bowed her head as the room calmed, waiting to hear what she would say. “The mage Vabian is undoubtedly one of their number. Else he couldn’t have targeted Allie so astutely.”

“He must be found and dealt with,” Tim’s voice was strong and firm,

“but I don’t want any of you going solo. This guy took on Rafe and me together and we didn’t do too well. If not for Dante’s help and Allie shielding Rafe, one or more of us could have died. I don’t want to lose any of you, or any of your families, to this bastard.” Tim reached forward to the coffee table and unrolled what looked to Allie like a large topographical map of the area. “If we do this, we do it in packs. We track him and tackle him in force, but be wary, he knows what we are and he knows our weaknesses. He slashed Rafe with a silver knife within the first few moments of contact. His gun was loaded with silver bullets. I’m sure he has other tricks up his sleeve to make up for the fact that we’re more resistant to his magic than most.”

“Resistant, yes, but not bulletproof,” Betina warned. “He will use magic against you where and when he can, as diversion if nothing else.

Be wary.”

Tim scooted forward on the sofa as all the others gathered around the map and they began dividing up territory. They would track Vabian’s every step as far as they could, keeping in touch by cell phone and radio, appointing a liaison and a backup within each group, assigning them a particular hunting range.

The military precision with which Tim and his subordinates strategized impressed Allie. They quickly formulated a plan of attack that would make a general proud. Knowing she could contribute little to this phase of the planning, Allie excused herself to go sit with Rafe. She lay down on top of the cover, within touching distance, but far enough away not to disturb her healing mate.

Within moments, she was fast asleep.

Allie woke to warmth and the bristly feeling of male whiskers against her bare skin. Being naked was the first thing she noticed. Then she became aware of the soft heat being generated by rough male hands moving over her thighs.

“Mmm, Allie, you’re so good to wake up to.” Rafe’s voice floated gently over her senses, warming her from the inside out.

“How are you feeling?” She leaned up on her elbows to look over his damaged body. His wounds were already fading, only a long pink line showing now where yesterday he’d been cut, bleeding, and near death.

“I’m good, but I’d be even better if you’d bring that pretty pussy over here and sit on my lap.”

The fire in his eyes dared her.

“Rafe, you almost died yesterday.”

“All the more reason to fuck today.”

“Rafe!” She squealed when he lifted her by the waist and settled her astride him. “Stop that. You’ll hurt yourself!” He rubbed his hips—and the long hardness between—against her folds. She couldn’t deny the wetness flowing from her at his bold move, but he’d been so near death. It didn’t seem possible he was well enough in just one night to be up for the kind of mischief his daring expression warranted.

“Rafe, you’ve got to take it easy.” She pushed at his shoulders and he let her move back a little, but not much. Just far enough so he could

push the fingers of one hand into her slit, teasing and tugging on her clit, raising her temperature and her appetites to an almost unbearable height. His other hand teased one nipple, while his mouth moved in to kiss the other with little nibbling bites interspersed with lapping licks.

“Rafael! I’m not kidding around.” She tried to grab his head, sinking her fingers into his lush hair, but he was undeterred.

“I need you, Allie,” he whispered against her breast, his voice tortured and so deeply masculine she felt herself growing wetter by the moment.

“Rafe, I don’t want to hurt you.” She was pleading with him now as his fingers invaded her core, sliding through the evidence of her arousal.

He moved back then, looking into her eyes. “The only thing that could hurt me is if you turn away from me. Allie, I need you. I’m a desperate man.”

“You’re an injured man,” she corrected him. “You almost died just yesterday.”

“Correction on two points. First, I’m not a man. I’m a were wolf. And second, I was injured yesterday. Today I’m fine. That’s where we were wolves have it over regular men. We heal fast and without much scarring.” He tugged her hand up to his chest, following the faint line of the knife slash that had nearly killed him. Indeed it was nearly healed.

“Come on, Allie, give me some of that sweet pussy. You know you want to.”

She laughed at the comical look on his face, leaning down to kiss him even as he shifted, removing his fingers and bringing her core right up against the tip of his hard cock. She gave in and slid down on him as his tongue speared into her mouth. She moaned as she took him fully, seating herself on his cock as her breasts pressed into his hard chest.

Suddenly, Tim was behind her, too close. He was freaking her out.

Did he want to—?

“Shh, Allie,” Rafe soothed her as he broke the kiss. “It’ll be okay. I promise.”

“We need to do this now, Allie. I’m sorry. We can’t give you any more time.” Tim’s voice was a rough whisper against her ear. “We need to join with you fully.”

She’d known this was coming, but still, it frightened her. These men were as close to her as anyone ever had been, or ever would be. She wanted them in her life for all time and wanted to be all things to them as well. Fear was the only thing holding her back, but it wasn’t fear of them. It was more a fear of the unknown.

She breathed deeply, gathering her courage. She had to face this fear and get past it—one way or the other. She knew they would stop if there was any question of hurting her. It all came down to trust, she realized, and she had that for them. That and a deep, abiding love.

“It’s okay,” she whispered. “I trust you.” Tim sighed heavily as he moved even closer. She felt something cool and wet slide into her anus and then a sense of slippery fullness.

“It’s just lubricant, sweetheart. It’ll make this easier for you.” She felt Rafe’s hands spreading her for his brother as he held her against his chest. His lips sought hers and he kissed her deeply while Tim positioned his hard cock at the entrance that had never been breached by a cock before. She felt the pressure of him, the relentless pressing as he sought entrance.