Undying Hope (32 page)

“My men are already assembled and awaiting my instructions.” The usual velvety baritone chords of Quinn’s voice were now cold and brutal.

He was no longer the man she was in love with, but the same warrior who’d frightened Mason in the mall, the same one that banished Kyros from the diner. As much as she didn’t want to do this, she also needed to trust Quinn. He would never do anything to put her life in danger, and her life was forever connected to his.

“He knows other meirlocks. I don’t know their names, but I know there is more than just Mason,” Haven said.

“Aye. I know who they are,” Quinn said.

Wolf said it would take two Undying to kill Quinn if they could sneak up on him. While she knew she didn’t have to keep reminding Quinn of the other meirlocks, she did it anyway. Quinn could have more information than she had, but she needed to tell him everything she could.

She squeezed her eyes shut and buried her face against Quinn’s side. “I don’t want to be trapped with Mason or Kyros. You have to live through this.”

“The end of the world will come before I allow either of them to touch you.”

The tremble of the ground and the fiery glow of Quinn’s eyes said he’d bring about the end if needed.

* * * *

“At least your mother was intelligent enough to wait until after you were born before she fornicated with other men,” Marcus Killian snarled when Haven walked into the grand foyer of the mansion. The large turn-of-the-century building had been headquarters for the last forty-five years when Marcus took over the organization at his father’s death.

Haven flinched at his words. His eyes flicked over her. Outwardly, she was every inch the Killian he’d raised her to be, but it didn’t make her any less afraid of her grandfather. Marcus only lifted one silver-white brow at her. “Mason has been worried sick over your whereabouts only to find you’ve been cavorting with playboys.”

“You will apologize,” Quinn said with a low warning rumble. “I frankly couldn’t care less if you are an old human. You will respect my mate.”

Marcus chuckled. “You will not threaten me in my own home. Many thanks for bringing my granddaughter home. You may go.”

“Perhaps I should introduce myself. I am Quinn Donovan. I am the Cadeyrn of the Undying People.” His eyes flared with a holy golden fire. “You have insulted my mate after you used your position in my organization to bring about the abuse of a lifebond. I suggest you hold your tongue and think hard before you open your mouth again.”

“Why of course,” Marcus said in mock apologetic tones. “You are the very man who disappeared on us over two-thousand years ago.”

“Grandfather,” Haven interjected in a respectful tone. “Mr. Donovan is exactly who he says he is. I’ve…shared his thoughts. He speaks the truth.”

“You expect me to believe an adulteress?” Marcus demanded.

Haven flinched again. “I cannot commit any such thing when I was never Mason’s wife.”

“Haven, dear heart, I may be old, but do not think me the fool. You can choose whomever you wish to warm your bed, but the men will only accept Mason as their leader, and they will only accept a legitimate heir in the future. Mason is your only choice.”

Haven refused to cry in front of her grandfather. He was being hateful on purpose, trying to get her to react—trying to get Quinn to react. She couldn’t let the situation devolve. Her back straightened and her chin lifted. “I acknowledge Quinn Donovan as the same Cadeyrn who founded the Black Rose. He is the rightful leader.”

“This is why there is a line of succession,” Marcus explained loudly for all the men lining the foyer to hear. “We cannot have leadership change each time a woman gets fickle about her bed partner.”

“My mother was faithful to my father,” Haven said coolly. “I do understand you couldn’t keep my grandmother faithful to you, but do not pass on your failing to me or my father. Your own coldness is what drove her away from you. Quinn is my mate. Accept him or don’t, but if he does not control the Black Rose, I will allow it and Mason to fall.”

“Mason,” Marcus murmured, taking a step forward, using a cane for support. “He understands the need the world has to keep this organization powerful and operational. He will bring it back to heel. Those who’ve faltered of late will respond to his power.”

* * * *

Donovan subtly put a hand on Haven’s shoulder and pulled her in close to him as Mason entered the room. He had the look of a man who’d just shagged the king’s wife. His bow was florid. “My lord, Cadeyrn. How lovely to see you again. Hand over my lifebond.”

“My judgment on you is already passed,” Donovan said in a calm, deadly tone. “You should explain to Marcus exactly what it means when an Undying lifebond rejects her mate.”

“There is that pesky compulsion thing I’ve already explained to him,” Mason said. “The real Cadeyrn, Kyros, has assured Mr. Killian that he will make his granddaughter safe from you.”

Then Donovan knew the piece he’d been missing. In an instant, he had a complete picture of his surroundings. He knew where every being of magic stood. He knew which ones were human. He knew where every possible weapon lay and exactly where and how to position his body to keep Haven away from the pending altercation. “Care to test the real power of the Cadeyrn?”

Worry clouded on Mason’s face. “She must be tested for a compulsion by the Cadeyrn.”

“Already done,” Donovan countered. “And I found none. She is
my
lifebond, meirlock. You dare touch her. You will find death.”

“Kyros!” Mason’s voice boomed out in the marble foyer.

There was a flash of red and black streaked lightning as the portal split open. Out walked two men. Kyros held the same sheer massive size and physical power Donovan had, and the other—

“Memphis,” Haven’s voice rang out in fear. “No!” Her little body backed in tight against Donovan. “He can’t be.”

“Shh.” He moved his hand feather light down the length of her hair. “Call for him, love. Memphis will come for his Reannon.”

“Memphis,” she said again, only this time it was whispered in disbelief.

Another portal sparked open with shots of silver and purple lightning that flashed directly in front of Haven and Donovan. Memphis was the first to step out followed by Wolf and Riordan. Ean Maverick came next and the rest of the Cadens.

“Maverick,” Donovan said. “Make sure no one can leave this room until I am ready to let them.”

Maverick poised himself in a stance that looked like he was praying. Then one fist slid against his other open palm. He brought the fist up and then slammed it down into the marble floor. The shockwave vibrated the massive hall. The marble stretched and groaned before it grew up from the floor like stalagmites on a cave floor to block the doors and windows.

“Brogan,” Donovan said in a calm tone. “My mate is frightened. I believe your dragon takes great delight in making lifebonds safe. Indulge him.”

Brogan waited until the rock formations were in place. He glanced at Haven. His mouth turned up in a shy smile even as his eyes went reptilian. “Stand back, my lady,” he said in a soft timber. “The dragon is not pleased.”

* * * *

Haven made a small sound and fully moved herself behind Quinn. Brogan moved forward. His head cocked to the side as he assessed the Memphis look-a-like and Kyros. “You frightened our Reannon,” he said. “Yet you do not run. Curious.” His body shimmered, and in the next instant where the man stood was now a dragon, his wings stretched out the full expanse of the twenty-foot foyer. A mighty roar shook the building down to its foundation. Every being of non-Undying descent scurried to the blocked doors and huddled there in the protective alcoves forming around them, including Marcus. Maverick knelt on the floor with his hands pressed against the cool marble, whispering to the stone.

Haven ducked her head against Quinn’s back. Wolf and Riordan moved as one to flank their brother, effectively boxing her in a circle of their protective power. She realized Quinn was playing with Grandfather. Showing the old man who was in charge. They were giving a systematic and blatant show of power.

“You think these games will frighten me,” Kyros taunted.

“No,” Quinn said in a weary tone. “I expect the games are far from over. Brogan. Guard my mate.” Quinn pulled his shirt up over his head and handed it back to Haven before he stepped forward. Brogan’s dragon shimmered, and his formed changed until he was once again in human form, and then automatically took his place in the defensive position in front of Haven. She peeked around Brogan to see what Quinn was going to do.

Quinn put out his hand. Memphis lifted his. A rope of lightning whipped out across the room to coil around one of the many swords on the wall. The lightning snapped back, tossing the long-bladed weapon at Quinn. Haven whimpered and tried to rush forward but Wolf looped his arm around her. “No, little sister.”

Quinn caught the sword. He worked his shoulders and swung the long blade a few times. A low growl rumbled from him, filling the room with his ire. “Is this not what you wanted? To challenge for the true status of Cadeyrn?”

The blood-red fire glow of an insane
treòir
took over Kyros’s eyes. “This isn’t over. You converted her.” Then he hissed, “Lazarus!”

The Memphis look-a-like put out his palm. Tornado force winds whipped out in a vortex to form the portal. Kyros and Mason jumped through, and then Lazarus followed, the portal snapping shut behind them.

“Memphis! Brody!” Donovan’s voice shook the walls. “I want Mason back here. Alive. Now.”

“Lazarus?” Memphis demanded in a hopeful tone.

“Will be protected,” Donovan said. “Bring me the Earth meirlock only. Do not risk yourself against more power. We deal with Mason, and then we will hunt Kyros and his clan.”

“Aye,” Memphis gritted through his teeth. “Brody.”

Brody joined Memphis where Lazarus’s portal had closed. He shut his eyes and tilted his face. His body moved in the soft rhythmic sway of the power flow. His nose worked, and his head cocked this way and that before his eyes opened again. His gaze locked on Memphis. The portal ripped open, and Brody dove through. A few seconds later, he came back, falling backward with Mason kicking and screaming to get out of Brody’s deadly embrace. Memphis ground his teeth together as he worked to close the portal, either Storm Warrior able to overpower the other. “Damn it, Donovan. Help me!”

Quinn slashed his hand through the portal, and the gaping hole to another place vaporized. In the next second, the air of the foyer ionized with an electrical charge. The essence of Donovan’s
treòir
infused the charge, making it stronger, sealing off the room from any disturbance. Haven finally, blissfully felt safe.

Quinn handed the sword to Memphis. He turned to where Brody held Mason pinned to the ground. “Let him up.”

Brody let Mason go. He staggered up to his feet. “Kyros! Lazarus!” he bellowed.

Brody moved over to where Haven stood in the center of a bubbling cauldron of pissed off and angry power. Oddly, it was the safest she’d ever felt in the entirety of her life. Mason stood quivering in terror several feet away from Donovan. He bellowed for his friends again and again, but no portals opened this time.

Donovan let out a disgusted sigh. “Maverick, settle the room. Brody, bring me Marcus. Wolf hold Mason here.”

The unnatural stalagmites melted back into the floor as if they’d never been there. Brody helped the aged man with surprising gentleness cross the expanse of the room. Wolf stood beside Quinn with all his power aimed and vibrating around Mason.

Haven had no idea what she was supposed to be doing. Riordan stood beside her. “Mason has been sentenced to death,” he explained in a low murmur. “Killing an Undying is not an easy or pleasant task, but must be done.”

“I—I don’t understand,” Marcus said.

“Haven.” Quinn’s voice drowned out all others. “Come here.”

She hesitated for a moment before she slowly walked across the foyer, the heels of her boots unnaturally loud as she went. “Y-yes?”

“I know what you know,” he said in the soft and easy timber she so loved about his voice. “What this man did to you…” He didn’t finish. “It is against Undying law for any male to touch a lifebond other than his own.”

She was able to easily understand the law because of her connection to Quinn. The law wasn’t something arbitrarily put into place because of some patriarchal nonsense. It was there to protect the woman from being used, to protect her from being abused, and to keep the men from senselessly fighting over a woman who didn’t want them. Mason willfully broke the law to gain power. He’d damaged her in the process. She was Quinn’s mate. Even if he wasn’t the Cadeyrn, his duty was to end Mason’s life. She swallowed hard. Mason had known the consequences before he’d set about trying to make her his wife. He’d known the law and he’d broken it. “I understand now.”

“I merit out the sentences I pass,” Quinn said in a low tone. “You are not required to be here for his execution.”

“Our connection,” she whispered. “I’d be here, anyway.”

“The pendant you wear will help give you the protection you need. Wolf will be able to show you what to do.”

She let out a soft breath of relief. On impulse, she reached out and touched her fingers to Mason’s cheek. She snatched her hand back as if she’d been burned. In that one touch, she knew. Mason would have killed her and Quinn, and all the people he protected would have died along with her.

Quinn’s arms were around her in the next heartbeat. She let out a sob and stood rigidly in his arms. She didn’t want Mason or Grandfather to see her cry. Every frightening and awesome thing she just witnessed spun wildly in her mind.

“Quinn.” His name gritted out between her teeth. She would not look weak in front of her people.

“Breathe, baby, breathe.”
His deep baritone resonated through her whole body from the mind-to-mind contact. Her body shuddered, and then she felt calm. Quinn’s composure saturated every part of her. She took a moment to dab under her eyes in the safety of Quinn’s arms. “I would like to be here when you address my grandfather, but I…” She drew in a deep breath. Knowing Quinn was going to put down an evil being and watching it were two different things. “While you address Mason, I believe it is in our best interest if I see if several items I had to leave behind are still there.”