Unleashed by Shadows (By Moonlight Book 10) (33 page)

Cale chuckled softly. “Thanks for the advice. Wouldn’t want to be an inconvenience, being a guest and all. Just getting some air. Wasn’t planning to jump.”

“There’s air down here.”

Cale’s teeth flashed white. “I like the feel of it against me. Makes me think of home, looking down over the lake. But it’s starting to get a little cold.”

“If you’re ready to come in, I’ll give you a hand.”

Cale put his out and Max gripped it firmly, bracing him for the hop down. He swayed, alarming Max by how shaky and weak he was as he sank all the way to the tiled surface on wobbly legs. There he sat, knees tightly drawn up, back to the wall. Max joined him, keeping a companionable distance.

“Got something on your mind?”

Again, the raspy laugh. “Sure you’re not asking if I’m in my right one?”

“Are you?”

“No. Not even close.” He gave Max a sidelong glance then stared toward the far door leading inside. “I woke up in the bed I’m sharing with my queen to find it covered by the bits and pieces of her family that I helped murder. They were still alive, still screaming. How could she sleep through all that screaming?” He took a jerky breath and admitted softly, “Maybe I was thinking about jumping when I came out here. I don’t remember now.”

“Are you sure you weren’t dreaming?”

A tremulous laugh. “I dream about them all the damn time. This wasn’t that.” He fell silent for a moment before confiding, “I think they followed me back from the other side.”

Now Max felt chilled to the bone.  “Other side of what?”

“Death. Where my brothers are waiting. Where all my sins are waiting to be answered for. So many of them.” A quick glance his way. “Was it the girl? Did she bring me back? She shouldn’t have.” Silence. A resigned, “You don’t believe me, do you?”

“That there are places and things beyond what we can see, hear, and feel? I know there are. I’ve moved through them. I’ve had them reach out to me. You’re not crazy, Cale.”

Cale studied him then whispered, “I kinda wish I was.”

Max patted his shoulder. “Let’s go inside. I’ll pour us something stronger than this chill.” He got up and waited. Finally, Cale reached up to let Max help him to his feet.

With Cale settled on one of the sofas, Max went to his room, returning with the jacket to his sweat pants, tossing it to his shivering guest. “Put that on. It’s clean and it’s warm.”

While Max poured two fingers of very strong drink, Cale stripped out of his stained pullover and into the cozy fleece. He took the glass with a murmur of thanks and sipped gingerly while Max cued up the gas fireplace.

“Do you think Rueben can be trusted with this situation?”

Cale regarded him in surprise. “You’re asking me?”

“You know the players. You put all the pieces together.  I’m asking you. Unless you don’t have an opinion.”

Cale straightened, the light coming back into his eyes. “I always have an opinion.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Kendra followed the sound of voices out into the main living space to find Cee Cee, Max, Giles, and Cale sharing coffee and conversation at the breakfast bar over pecan French toast delivered from the River Road kitchen. Brigit sat spooning up a yogurt parfait in the living room, away from the scent of caffeine that bothered her recently sensitive system. She smiled, nodding toward her cousin’s mate.

She came up behind where he sat on a bar stool. Her lips grazed his ear with a soft stroke. He stopped mid-sentence to circle around, claiming her mouth with his. Kendra lapped up the sweet taste of powdered sugar, syrup, and devotion, not caring that anyone else was in the room, before leaning back to look her fill. He seemed better, not great, but better.

“Hey, mama. Want some?” He gestured to his barely touched plate.

She nipped at his lower lip, whispering, “If I can’t have everything I want, I’ll join Bree in the healthy section.”

He pulled her in between his thighs, hands warm on her waist, gaze hot. “We can finish this whenever you want.” He kissed her quick and whispered, “And have seconds.”

“And where will we be having them, my king?”

He smiled slightly at her cautious tone, supposing he more than deserved it. “We’ll be staying out at Savoie’s until I beat this thing. That’s my only focus now. I’m going to need your help. As far as the other stuff, I’m done. That okay with you?”

Her hands stroked along his shoulders. “Very okay.”  Then she spoke softly into his ear. “I’m so proud of you. You’re the best man I know.” She heard his breath catch, but couldn’t tell if he believed her. She straightened. “I’ll let you get back to your calorie fest.”

When she joined Brigit, her cousin lifted a knowing brow. “Things look better this morning?”

“Don’t act so smug.”

As she shared Brigit’s breakfast, Kendra’s attention remained on her mate. Something had happened. Something or someone had changed Cale’s focus, in a good way, and she wanted to know who to thank as much as she needed to know why.

The important thing was Cale stepping off his dangerous collision course. It was her job to keep him away. Away from Silas and his secrets. Away from the menacing Casper Lee. Away from everything that would keep him from healing in body and mind.

She’d need reinforcements.

*

Turow met them on the shaded porch.

“What happened to you?” Kendra gasped, alarmed by the sight of a swollen jaw and bruised throat that had appeared overnight. “Where’s our guest?”

“Locked up where she belongs. I had a rather painful reality check. You were right not to trust her. Nothing to worry about.” He eyed his brother. “How ‘bout you? You look a bit ragged.”

“I’m fine. Need a change of clothes then we’ll talk.” Cale brushed by him to enter the house, moving haltingly toward the stairs. Turow’s troubled gaze followed.

“He’s not fine, is he?” Turow ventured.

“No.” Kendra took a deep composing breath. Time to act like a queen instead of a helpless mate. “Call your brothers. Have them check out of the hotel. It’s not safe for us in this city anymore. Bring them here. I’d prefer they not be followed. Tell them it’s time for them to rally around their king.”

*

Wretched sounds of sickness came from the upstairs bathroom. Kendra waited until they quieted, followed by a flush, before tapping and opening the door. Cale sat on the tiled floor, leaning back against the tub, his drawn features sweat dappled, his breaths shallow. He watched her shut the toilet lid and wet one of the guest hand towels before sitting down. She said nothing as she gently bathed his face and hands. His gaze never left her. “Better?” she asked at last.

Instead of answering her question, he softly warned, “It’s gonna get a lot worse.”

“I know.”

“Susanna said I might not survive it.”

Kendra smiled. “You will. I’ll help you.”

He crooked a smile, saying wryly, “You know that do you?”

“Yes, I do.” There was no doubt at all in her voice.

He sighed heavily and laid his head against her thigh. Her fingers threaded lightly through his hair. “I’m tired, Katy. And I hurt so bad.”

That he’d admit that to her broke her heart. And made her that much stronger. “I know. We’ll get through this.”

“I couldn’t do it without you.”

A quiet laugh. “Yes, you could. You’re the toughest man I know. You were forged in pain. You’ll rise above this, my king.”

A snort. “Says you here in my throne room.”

She bent to kiss his brow. “I love you, Cale.”

“I don’t know why you should.” He sounded amazed.

“That’s part of why I do.” She cupped his elbows and stood, urging him to his feet. “Let’s take a short rest. I need to have my arms around you. After you brush your teeth.”

For the two next hours, he slept soundly in her embrace, rocked upon her quiet breaths, surrounded by the protection of her love.

*

The Terriots arrived, bags in hand. Kip and Rico quickly grabbed Turow up, embarrassing him thoroughly with hugs and demands to know the origin of his bruises. Bar fight? Defending the honor of the meek and defenseless? Turow squirmed uncomfortably and said nothing. Colin’s attention was on Cale. Only he and Turow had witnessed their king’s rapid decline.

“So,” Rico began, voice echoing in the high ceilinged foyer, “what does this place offer in the way of entertainment?”

“Peace and quiet,” Cale began with a smile. “And an Xbox.”

A despairing moan. “Nothing easy on the eye?”

Thinking of Cee Cee and Brigit and his own mate, Cale laughed. “Only things that will kill you, brother.”

He grinned. “That could be fun.”

“So why do you need us here?” Kip asked. “Not just to boost your score in COD, I take it.”

Cale hadn’t meant to drop it on them so abruptly, but a better time would never come. He reached out for the support of Kendra’s hand and just said it plain.

“I’m stepping down as head of the family. Wes will see to things at home and Colin, here.” He felt Kendra’s finger crush about his, but didn’t look her way to gauge her surprise. His attention was on his disbelieving brothers.

“This is a joke, right?” Rico laughed uneasily. His scowling glance cut to Colin then back to Cale. “For how long?”

“For good.”

“What?” Kip gasped. “You can’t do that.”

Cale smiled. “I think I can, and I just did.”

Colin placed a firm hand on his arm. “You don’t mean that. Give yourself some time.”

“I don’t need more time to fuck things up worse than I already have. I brought this plague to our people. I let the chance to stop it slip by me. I allowed the suffering they feel now, through my vanity and pride. I’m no leader. You shouldn’t be here to hold me up. I should be carrying you. Our enemies, hell, even our friends don’t respect me. Why should they when I can’t respect myself? You trusted me, and I failed you all. I’m sorry I dragged you into this mess. It’s time to go home where we belong so I can step out of the way.”

Silence. Then Rico began to clap.

“Nice speech. All bullshit, but good delivery.”

Colin was less complimentary. “Don’t insult us. We knew exactly what we were getting when we stood beside you. None of us are going to sneak away from that decision now.”

Turow summed it up with a terse, “You are our king. We follow you.” He took a respectful knee. The other three did the same in unified support.

The immense weight of their trust both crushed and elevated. Cale didn’t know how to react, what to say in the face of such humbling faith. Though he still believed it misplaced, he turned to a teary-eyed Kendra. “Sorry, my queen. Looks like there’s no early retirement for us.”

She lifted his hand to place a light kiss upon his knuckles, vowing, “I bow before their wisdom. And proudly stand beside you.”

Cale took a tortuous breath. Turning back to his brothers, he growled, “You look ridiculous. Get up.” Before he started bawling like a kid presented with every wish come true.

“You’d better go ask Giles if there’s room at the inn for our family,” Kendra urged gently, seeing Cale needed some time to deal with his shiny eyes.

“I expect turn down service,” Rico added.

“I’ll see if there’s space in the garage,” Cale countered, leaving them in the foyer to head back toward Max’s right hand’s Spartan quarters.

Kendra wasted no time.  She turned quickly to her new brothers. “If you want him fit to lead, stick by him. He goes nowhere alone.” When Rico started to interject something smart ass, she added, “If he goes to the bathroom, you hand him a towel after he washes his hands.”

Because he couldn’t help himself, Rico drawled, “Are we supposed to take turns sleeping on the other side of him, too?”

Her eyes narrowed. “If I ask you to, yes.”

His blinked at her ferocity. “Okay.”

“Keep him busy and distracted. Wear him out so maybe he can sleep, and don’t you leave him alone if he does. Get him to eat something, and clean him up if he throws it up on you. I can’t do this by myself. I need you.” She took a shaky breath, strength faltering. “Because he’s not going to survive if we don’t help him.”

Colin took a step forward, pulling her gently into his arms. “We’ve got your back.”

The pretty young housemaid Jasmine appeared, interrupting their tender moment by offering to show the four strapping guests to their rooms. As she led the way upstairs, Rico turned from ogling her swinging hips to Kendra with an enthusiastic fist pump and a mouthed, “Yes!”

She leaned back against Cale’s chest as he came to put his arms around her. A chuckle rumbled through him.

“Do our hosts know what they’re in for having so many of us in one place?”

“They’ll behave.”

Cale snorted at that unlikelihood yet sighed. “It’s good to have family close by.”

*

By the next night, he wondered why the hell he’d ever thought so.

He couldn’t take a step without tripping over one of them.

After an emotional meeting between his brothers and their new sister, Oscar was ecstatic to find out they were all staying under the same roof. He and Kip handed Cale’s ass to him in Call of Duty late into the evening until finally, he found himself catnapping on the sofa in self-defense. He was bumping into Colin going from bedroom to bathroom all night until he wondered if the big idiot was sleeping outside his door. Then Rico goaded him into sparring on the dew-slicked grass before he’d had his first morning cup of coffee. And beat the hell out of him even after graciously pulled most of his punches.

As they collapsed on the porch steps mopping sweat from their faces with their shirts, Cale asked, “Are you pissed about Colin? Is that why you’re so eager to smack me around?”

“That you’d pick him over me?” Rico slid a quick glance at him. “Why wouldn’t you, seeing as how I’m an irresponsible hothead who can’t be trusted to keep his mouth shut.”

Cale laughed. “I hadn’t even thought of that.”

Rico turned toward him to demand, “Then why?”

“Col’s all about the details. He loves all that nitpicky, boring diplomacy that’d drive you crazy in the first ten minutes. He’s got the patience to sit back and listen for hours, days if need be, while everybody talks on and on before he’d make a decision in our best interest. Can you honestly say that’s something you’d want to do?”