Skin Walkers Conn (26 page)

Aries
smiled and her eye closed as she whispered, “Thank you.” 
The tips of her fingers brushed Conn’s
hand
and he grabbed them and held on
. 

He hovered over her until her breathing grew steady and her shoulders slumped.
  He watched her sleep until there was a light tapping at the door.  He considered ignoring it, but discarded the idea just as quickly when he realized that Aries could need medications.

Unlocking the door, he quietly pulled it open and York poked his head in.  “Boss, Dr.
Arkinson
says Aries needs pain meds.”
 

Conn nodded once
, “No one else enters.”
He
walked back to Aries’ side
and
didn’t take his eyes from
her as
Dr.
Arkinson
entered. 

The Doctor didn’t wait for Conn to inquire into Aries’ health
before she began rattling off the long list of injuries she’s sustained
.  “She
fractured her left femur,
and severely bruised the other
thigh
on the steering wheel.  Her wrist is sprained and her head
went through the glass of
the driver’s side door.  Luckily
,
there was no serious damage
to her brain
.  She’s got one hell of a concussion and she’s going to probably be more sore tomorrow than she’s ever been in her life, but she’s alive and she’ll heal fully.”

“Who cut her hair?”  The words came out as more of a growl than Conn had initially intended but when he remembered her devastation over it, he couldn’t control his own anger.

Jenny cleared her throat, “As I said, her head struck the window.  She needed
numerous
stitches so a patch of hair had to be removed.  It’ll grow back Commander.  A small price to pay for what could have been
a tragedy.”

His eyes snapped to hers, “Where is Remy?”

The Doctor paled visibly.  “After the wreck he contacted Monroe.  We flew Aries here on one of our…”

“Where is Remy?”

“If h
e hadn’t contacted us, she could have died
.  The nearest hospital is
nearly an hour aw…”

“Where is Remy?”

Jenny huffed in exasperation and inserted a shot of something into Aries’ IV.  “You don’t actually think he stuck around do you?”

“So he was here?”

“He flew in with Aries.  He didn’t want to leave her.
  He’s gone now.
”

If the admission was supposed to garner Remy any respect, it failed miserably.  Conn stalked toward the door and pulled it open to frown at York, “Any word from the men?”

“They searched Remy’s cabin. 
It’s where he and Aries were holed up.
  They’re trying to follow Remy’s scent from there.”

“Tell Shane to stay
there
in case Remy returns
.  I want James here.  Remy was on the premises and fled before we arrived.  Go now and trace his scent.  Instruct James to report to me when he arrives.”

“Yes Sir.”  York shifted in the hall.  In b
ear form he’d scent Remy more strongly and had a better chance at finding him more quickly.

Conn returned to Aries’ side and ignored Dr.
Arkinson
as she planted her hands on her hips and frowned up at him.  “Killing Remy will solve nothing.”

His eyes flashed to hers and he spoke through clenched teeth, “Keep your voice down or
get the fuck out!
”

Jenny’s mouth fell open and she gaped at Conn before snapping her mouth shut to hiss quietly, “She is
my
patient!”

Conn pinned her with steady eyes, “And she is
my
angel.  Do what you have to do to make her comfortable
then
leave
!”

Jenny’s lips pursed and her face flushed before she dropped her eyes to Aries. 
“
She’ll sleep
comfortably now and you should let her
.
”  The Doctor turned and exited the room
, visibly shaking with anger
.

Pulling the lone chair from where it sat across the room, Conn carried it and set it next to Aries’ bed.  He sat down and sighed wearily.  It had been a long past few days.  After he’d claimed Aries and gifted her with his halo he’d awakened feeling rejuvenated
.
  He smiled a
t
the memory of taking her and
snor
ted when he instantly hardened.

He studied her face but had to drop his eyes when his erection became too painfu
l.  He took several deep breath
s and then remembered the panic he’d felt when he’d awakened to discover that Aries had been taken.  At the time
,
he thought it was the worst feeling in the world until Monroe
contacted him through the mist
to tell him about the accident. 
“There’s been an accident.  Aries is hurt.  Get to
StoneCrow
now!”
  Even the memory of Monroe’s words sent
a
chill
down his spine.  He hadn’t realized how much she’d meant to him until he’d almost lost her. 
Licking
his lips
, he
stood
and
approach
ed
her
sleeping form
.  Bending he brushed his lips over hers.  “Aries,” he whispered her name, “what have you done to me?  I…”

“We’ve got him boss!”
  York’s snarl
ed words came through the mist
loud and clear.

Conn hesitated with his lips still brushing Aries’.  He didn’t want to leave her, but he’d never forgive himself if he didn’t exact revenge on her behalf.
 
“Hold him.  I’m coming!”

Chapter
25

Conn couldn’t have timed it better if he’d planned it himself. 
In mountain lion form he crossed the small creek that ran through
StoneCrow
at the back of the
main
estate house in one graceful leap.  His claws buried in the earth as he both pulled with his fro
nt legs and pushed with his back
legs to propel himself forward at a break-neck pace.
             

He shifted as Remy and York’s mingled scents hit him and
he
rose from a crouched
form
to circle one of the numerous cabins that dotted the landscape of
StoneCrow
Estates
behind the main estate house
. 

York held a
handgun
leveled at Remy’s face.  Just as Conn rounded the corner of the cabin, James dropped to flank
his right
side
,
shifting
from eagle form before he landed
at his Commander’s side
. 

Conn pulled back a lip to flash sharp canines at Monroe who was swiftly approaching from the opposite direction with King and Bishop. 

“Don’t do this Conn!”  Monroe’s shout drew Remy’s attention before his head turned and his eyes locked on Conn.

“It was an accident!” There was no fear in
Remy’s
tone
,
only resigned acceptance
.

Conn growled in response as
he quickened his pace. 

York stepped back, but kept h
is pistol aimed at Remy.

When Conn strode angrily past
th
e
pistol wielding Walker, both Yo
r
k
and
James planted themselves a few feet from Conn facing Monroe, King, and Bishop.
  The
two
mercenary Walkers hunched and prepared to defend their Commander
and prevent Monroe or his men from interfering.
 

Wordlessly Conn approached and smiled wickedly when Remy staggered his feet
preparing for the battle
. 

Remy
’s lips thinned into a grim line before he opened his mouth to speak but didn’t get the chance. 
Conn launched himself
at Remy.  Grunting loudly, Remy stumbled back
as the two larger Walkers crashed to the ground.  Remy twisted and
lifted his gaze in time to see Conn’s fist flying
straight at his face
. 
The
punch landed solidly on
Remy’s
cheek
and shock was evident i
n his expression
.

Conn growled ferociously
, he pulled his arm back and hammered it down repeatedly until Remy’s face was a bloody mess.  His arm slowed when he realized
that Remy wasn’t fighting back.  He knew he should stop, should let Remy go, but the memory of Aries’ broken body lying battered and bruised in the infirmary was too much
and only re-ignited his anger
. 

He pummeled the Walker until strong arms gripped him and had to rip him off the nearly unconscious
Remy
.

“Easy boss,” York and James struggled to keep hold of their Commander.

“Enough!” Monroe barked from somewhere over Conn’s shoulder.  Then he began again more calmly, “Enough Commander.”

Allowing his sharp canines to retract as he eased out of his partial shift, Conn
jerked out of the hold his men had on him before he
spun and stomped angrily toward Monroe
only
stop
ping
when
their faces were inches apart.  “If you ever try
to
take her from me again
, I’ll fucking kill you!”
  Conn’s eyes flashed to both Bishop and King, “
You
and
all
your men!”

Monroe had tensed as did both King and Bishop who still stood on either side of the CEO.  With the threat out there, Monroe relaxed knowing Conn wasn’t going to attack
outright
.  The CEO cleared his throat, “I don’t have to take her again.  My sole purpose was to force your
claiming.”  His eyes dipped to where Conn’s halo should have been.  “It has been done.  She is yours
, which means there’s no longer need of my…persuasion
.”  Monroe turned to leave but Conn’s crushing grip on his bicep prevented
the action
. 

“What
?” The word escaped Conn as a harsh snarl.

King growled and stepped forw
ard, which brought York and James
up to flank their Commander. 

Monroe held up a hand to still his
Chief of Security
as his eyes dipped to Conn’s hand on his arm then he looked up to coolly meet Conn’s penetrating gaze.  “My only concern in this life is the preservation of our kind.  That means
the production of Walker
children, which f
irst requires the binding of a
Walker
to his angel.
  Congratulations Conn, you’ve claimed your mate.
”

“It’s only temporary,” Conn growled his response.  “She asked for my halo to alleviate the effects of the affliction.”

A smile touched Monroe’s lips and his eyes twinkled mischievously.  “
Is that so Commander
?
 
Take you
r
halo back then.”

The challenge hung in the air.  Conn wanted to snarl that he had every intention of doing so, but knew his fellow Walkers would scent the lie.  He didn’t want his halo removed from Aries
, not now…not ever. 
The revelation rocked him.  He’d never enjoyed anything more in his life than claiming her, but never dreamed it would be the key to his undoing.  He wanted her, and not just to aid in his affliction, but he genuinely wanted to keep her, to bind her to him, to make her his.

His eyes dropped to Remy as
the beaten Walker
tried to get to his feet.  “You live only because Aries begged me to spare your worthless life.”  He took a threatening step closer, “But
come near her again and I’ll gladly suffer her disappointment at my broken promise.”  He turned then and stormed back to the infirmary with York and James fast on his heels.

Before they reached the main estate house Conn was barking orders.  “Shane on his way back?”

“Yeah boss.”

“Good.  York, contact
Tyce
.  Tell him you three are returning to base.  Make preparations.  When I return, Aries is coming with me.”