VampireMine (18 page)

“I don’t deserve you.” The words came right out, uncensored.

“I didn’t think you did either but I’m starting to warm up
to the idea.” She shook her head when he tried to respond. “No more words.
Let’s just be for a while.”

She lifted to the tips of her toes and he bent his head.
Their lips met, soft and sweet. He cradled her to him and she slid her hands
around his neck. Once again she was right. Nothing had ever been better. Their
mating was like a key sliding into a lock. Doors opened, the world changed.
Everything faded away but the woman in his arms, her skin warm and slippery
from the water. Her mouth opened and he swept his tongue over her lower lip,
asking for more.

“
I’ll give you more, don’t worry,”
she whispered in
his mind. “
Once we settle accounts we’ll have all the time in the world.
”

He couldn’t prevent the fears that raced through his head.
If something happened to her he wouldn’t be able to survive the loss. If she
was aware of what he was thinking she didn’t let on, deepening the kiss.

And that was a good thing.

He didn’t want her to see him trying to imagine a world
without her in it.

Diskant Black had seen a lot of serious shit in his life,
from battles to blood feuds. As an Omega—with the ability to sense other beasts
and control most shifters—not much surprised him. Then his mate had come along,
flipped him on his head and pretty much caused the world to start spinning in
the opposite fucking direction. Like dominos, things had tumbled and fallen one
by one. He’d thought he’d finally gotten things worked out when Sadie’d showed
up with her friend in tow.

Trey and Nathan. Mated to fucking vampires.

He raked his fingers through his hair, glaring at the phone.

Craig Newlander had agreed to help, but as always the
bastard was asking questions. It was the truce Diskant had made with the head
of the Villati—a group of humans who researched and chronicled information on
all things supernatural. Each and every time he’d had to reach out to Craig,
Diskant’s skin had crawled. He didn’t like the man, not one fucking bit.

Heaviness weighed on his shoulders.

Nathan would want to know what was going on, and he’d given
his word to give the male a say in things. Diskant wasn’t sure how Nathan would
take the news. In a few hours he’d have to depart with Leigh. Craig had played
phone tag with the enclave but eventually the fucker had come through. The
enclave said they could protect Leigh. Craig even indicated they were curious
about the woman when they’d learned of her circumstances. Of course Diskant had
kept her ability a secret, saying only that she’d been changed against her will
and needed a safe place from others like her.

His eyes closed, the images that Sadie’d shown him flashing
through his head.

Fear. Horror. Devastation. Loss.

Leigh had suffered in ways he didn’t want to ponder too
heavily. He only wished he could convey it to Nathan in a way that wouldn’t
destroy the man. The Beta was unstable enough. Much more and he’d lose control
over his wolf. If and when that happened, Nathan would likely destroy any
chance he had with his female.

Opening his lids, Diskant reclined in his chair.

The office usually calmed him. It was a quiet place where he
could think things through. Now the space seemed almost constrictive, the walls
closing in on him while he waited for the pack to arrive. He had no idea how
they’d react to Sadie. After what had happened with Mary they’d probably get
the fuck out of town. Without the numbers he needed to form a proper guard, he
couldn’t give his mate or child safety.

That didn’t work for him. At all.

Take Pinkie to Alaska. Wish everyone your best and get
the fuck out.

“Nothing’s going to happen to me, you know.”

He turned toward his female’s voice, smiling when he saw her
form in the doorway. She still managed to get under his skin. Rounding and
pregnant with his child, she was even more radiant. He blonde hair had grown
slightly, the pink strands a lighter shade since she’d stopped worrying about
the color as often. Her enormous midnight-blue eyes took him in, seeing
everything.

“Come here.” He spun the chair around and sat up, making
room for her on his lap. “Let me hold you, baby.”

“If anyone gets too riled, I’ll calm them down,” she told
him, resting her weight against his chest, tucking her head to her chin. “The
world is changing. The pack’s going to have to accept that. In order to survive
you have to adapt.”

Ava meant well. Due to the fact she raided his mind whenever
she felt like it she knew everything about the pack. But she hadn’t been born a
shifter. She might see the pack and be a part of them but in a way she’d never
fully understand them.

“That’ll be easier said than done. There’s a chance they’re
going to leave, Pinkie. If they do you’re going to have to accept we can’t stay
here. It’s not safe. We’ll have to go.”

“I don’t want to move to Alaska,” she grumbled and he felt
the anger stirring inside her. “I like it here. This is home.”

“You can finally meet my family.” Optimism was a right good
thing, especially if it could soothe his female’s violate temper. “They can’t
wait to see you.”

“If they want to see me they can come here,” she countered.
Even cuddled up in an innocent-looking ball the woman was all fire. “I didn’t
threaten a woman today only to back down when the fire gets hot.”

He caught the catch in her voice. She was still upset.

Goddamn it.

He held her close, trying to alleviate her guilt. Although
Ava was a formidable woman, she wasn’t without compassion. She’d felt horrible
about what she’d done to Leigh. When she’d faced the woman she’d pretended to
be calm. Diskant knew she hadn’t been. He’d sensed how upset she was the instant
she left the bedroom, rushing from Leigh and Sadie. He’d reacted, going in
search of her. When he’d found her in the kitchen she’d been shaking like a
leaf and wringing her hands.

“You probably saved her life.” He’d already told her that
but it bore repeating. “She couldn’t have left here alone. She wouldn’t have
made it very far.” Skimming his fingers over her arm, he consoled, “And then
there’s Nathan. Imagine what it would have done to him if his mate had
vanished. At least now they have a chance.”

“Maybe you’re right.” His gaze went to her hand. She stroked
her growing belly, talking quietly. “I just wish I didn’t have to do it. You
know, I thought carrying this baby would be the hardest thing I’d have to do
this year.” She snorted, shaking her blonde head. “I guess I was wrong.”

“Ava mine,” he whispered, resting his hand over hers. Taking
her fury was one thing. He couldn’t stand her sadness. “Don’t make me bend your
sexy little ass over this desk and take off my belt. I don’t like it when you
throw pity parties.”

“As I recall, you were throwing the party. Not me. I was an
unexpected guest.”

Minx.

Lifting his hand from her stomach, he cupped her face. He
drew her chin upward until their eyes locked. She was so tiny—so fucking
fragile. He studied her, his gaze drinking her in. She was the most beautiful
creature he’d ever seen.

And she was his.

He knew he’d been given a gift beyond measure. That’s what
made their current predicament so goddamn shitty. He couldn’t let her go to
Alaska without him but he didn’t want her to stay either.

Those expressive blue eyes flashed in a silent warning. “I’m
not going anywhere.”

There she went, reading his mind again.

“
Will you never do what you’re told?
” he asked her
telepathically, without realizing he’d done so. By now it was second nature. “
Do
you always have to be so damn obstinate?
”

“Obstinate my ass.” Despite the rebuke her voice tendered,
her brows unfurling. “You know how I am. You might as well give up the idea of
keeping me barefoot and pregnant.”

A cough drew Diskant and Ava’s attention to the door.

Nathan stood just inside the frame, studying them. Ava sat a
little straighter, allowing Diskant to assist her. A pang of remorse slithered
through Diskant, working its way through his gut. Seeing them together—close
and intimate—had to break something inside Nathan. It wasn’t fair but when it
came to mating, things rarely were.

“Come in.” Diskant motioned to the chair situated on the
other side of the desk.

Nathan’s eyes darted to Ava. Hatred tainted the Beta’s
glare.

Diskant had to tamp down his inclination to put the man in
his place, reminding himself that Nathan had been through hell. In any other
situation he’d have taken anyone who showed Ava disrespect to the ground and
offered their balls to her on a stick.

“
Easy, big boy,
” Ava thought to him, patting his arm.
“
I’m not offended
.”

“You’ll have to leave with Cade tonight,” Diskant informed
Nathan as the Beta took a seat. “But instead of heading to North Carolina
you’ll be meeting someone in Virginia.” With a little shift, Diskant managed to
ease his arm from Ava and retrieve a piece of paper. He tossed it toward Nathan
and said, “That’s the number for your contact. Don’t call it until you’re well
out of town. We don’t need to take a chance anyone will be able to track you.”

Nathan reached for the paper. “Do we leave before or after
the pack arrives?”

“Actually, I need you to get everything together and go as
soon as possible.” As soon as the sun set the pack would gather. It was best if
Leigh had gone by then as an added precaution. The wolves might be eager for
blood and two vampires would raise their hackles more than one. “You need to
tell Cade to suit up.”

Nathan’s hazel eyes drifted to Ava again, only this time
they were pained. “Tell me. I know you can hear her thoughts. What’s going on
in her head? I need to know what to do.”

“Let Cade take the lead,” Ava answered softly, the sympathy
in her voice melting Diskant’s heart. “He’s human and she’ll gravitate toward
that. She needs time to move on with her life. She’s been through a lot but
she’s stronger than she thinks. Give her space and she’ll come to you.”

“What about the human she mentioned?” There was misery in
Nathan’s question, as well as a desperate need to hear something positive. “She
loves him.”

“She does, but that doesn’t change anything. He’s human.
She’s not. She’s accepted she can’t go back. She just has to find a way to move
forward.”

Diskant’s wolf reached out to the Beta, attempting to ease
the man’s beast. At first Nathan fought it. Then he relaxed. The surrender
bothered Diskant more than he wanted to admit. Like this, Nathan wasn’t much
good to anyone. He was already looking for ways to ease his anguish. Not good
when a person relied on the animal inside of them for protection, needing survival
instincts to stay alive.

“
Give him time
.” Ava’s thought penetrated his mind. “
He
thought Leigh would come back and they’d finish what they’d started. He needs
time to sort through everything. He’s still in shock.
”

“I’ll tell Cade.” Nathan looked and seemed calmer as he rose
from his seat. “What do you want us to drive?”

“Take the van out back,” Diskant replied, opening one of the
drawers on the desk. He found what he was looking for and tossed the keys over.
“It’ll draw less attention.”

Nathan left without another word but Diskant knew the male’s
thoughts. Ava had entered the man’s mind, taking the information she wanted.
She relayed everything to Diskant, letting him ease into Nathan’s head as well.
The Beta was upset and terrified he’d fuck things up but with Diskant’s
assistance he’d finally put a handle on things.

“The issue’s going to be Cade,” Ava whispered, speaking
softly so no one else would hear. She did that sometimes, talking aloud when
she didn’t have to. Diskant figured it stemmed from years of doing so. “He’s
got a lot going on in that head of his.”

“Like the woman you told me about?” From what Ava had said
she’d told him the human member of the pack thought about a female from time to
time. “What was her name again?”

“Destiny,” Ava responded absentmindedly.

He tried to relax but it wasn’t possible.

The woman who’d snared Cade’s attention wasn’t just a woman.

She was a fucking conjurer.

Diskant had asked Cade to accompany the witch to New Orleans
as a favor to Craig Newlander. She’d had guards but needed extra help to travel
to the enclave that wanted to protect her. Considering most supernatural
creatures wanted her dead, only human protection would do. That was why Diskant
had sent Cade—the king of all assholes—to do the job. He’d never thought
anything more would come of it.

Add another fucking problem to the list.

Having two vampires in the pack would be tough but it was
possible. None of them would accept a conjurer. If vampires were considered
dangerous then conjurers—with the ability to manipulate so many different
things—were a fucking catastrophe.

“You won’t have to worry about that for a while.” Ava’s
energy washed over him, her mind warm as she dove into his head, pulling him
away from darkness. “As soon as you give Caden the information he needs he’s
going to go. I’m not sure if he’ll ever be back. Even he doesn’t know for
certain. He’s confused and can’t focus on the future.”

“I guess we’ll deal with it when we have to.” God knew he
wasn’t up for anything else. They had enough shit to clean up. Again Diskant
remembered how fortunate he was to have Ava as a mate. She brought so much to
the pack. They had no idea how lucky they were. “Is there anything else I need
to know?”

“There is one thing.” She turned in his lap so she could see
him. Placing his hand on her stomach, she gazed into his eyes. Love shone in
the shimmering blue orbs—love directed right at him. “I heard the baby today.”

He stopped breathing, becoming completely still.

The world suddenly seemed too big and dangerous.

Ava had been hoping this might happen. She’d started
eavesdropping on pregnant women as soon she found out she was expecting. After
the first trimester—and especially into the second—she’d found she could detect
an unborn baby’s thoughts. A fetus’s impressions were muddled and unclear, more
like feelings than words. But she’d found them. She’d hoped like hell she could
do the same with the child growing under her heart but she hadn’t been certain.

Forcing his shoulders to relax, he asked anxiously, “What
did you hear?”

“It wasn’t so much what I heard, it’s what I felt.”

He waited, his heart thudding in his chest.

What had she felt? Was something wrong?

“Nothing’s wrong. At least not in the way you think.” She
leaned close, feathering her lips over his. Then—just when he thought he’d have
to strangle the rest from her—she said, “It’s a girl.”