Cain turned to fully face Alston. “Are we going to tell the other supernatural leaders?”
Alston shook his head. “I think you and I are capable of running the Order without their input. Since you obviously know where the new headquarters is, begin bringing your vampires. If you gather as many as you can in one place, I’ll send fae to flash them to the location.”
That was definitelynotgoing to happen. Cain arched his shoulders back and straightened his posture to reach his full height. “It will take some time. Many are out scouting, keeping their ears to the ground to see if they can find any news on the wolves and their allies.”
Alston shot him an irritated look, his lips pulled tight across his face. “Just get them there as soon as you can.”
Cain saluted him and smirked. “Will do. Can you take us back to my car now? I think we’ve seen enough.”
The high fae grabbed Cain’s arm, and they reappeared next to the vehicle. “I expect to hear from you soon.”
“Don’t worry, you will.” Cain tipped his head to Alston and then climbed into his car. There was no point in offering the fae a ride; he could flash wherever he wanted. And Cain had no desire to be trapped in a confined space with the annoying fae any longer than necessary. Alston was gone before Cain put the car in drive. He growled at the spot where the fae had just stood. How much easier would life be if he could just flash like the accursed fae? With that ability, Cain could have already dismantled the Order completely, put the alpha of alphas on his knees before him where he belonged, created the perfect new species, which in turn would keep all other supernaturals in their place. Of course, that was a simple explanation of his complete plan, but being able to flash from location to location in order to put all of it into motion would definitely be a cherry on his kick-ass, new-world-order cake.
He turned the car around and headed in the direction they’d come, back toward the coven that held the future of his race. Not to mention tonight's dinner. Cain’s lips turned up in a sly smile. It was good to be king. But soon, he would be theonlyking.
ChapterOne
“In what world did we ever think that supernaturals could live hidden among humans forever? Okay, this world. It was this actual freaking world. But apparently we were delusional. Reality has come knocking on our door and is asking for our rose-colored glasses back.” ~Jen
“Over my dead and decaying body, Jennifer.” Decebel’s eyes glowed a dangerous amber as he stared at her from across the room. For the past hour, she’d been trying to convince him to pull his stubborn, overprotective head out of his too-fine butt and see reason. It wasn’t working. Books, shoes, and baby toys lay haphazardly about the room where she’d thrown them during her more persuasive moments. Because they were currently guests in the sprite realm stronghold, she’d refrained from breaking anything valuable.
“That can be arranged, mate,”—she growled—“though it would be a shame to let such a magnificent specimen of the male physical form decay. I’d rather preserve you in some sort of cryo-chamber for the rest of all female-kind to enjoy.” She smirked at his irritated glower. Apparently he didn’t find her nearly as amusing as she found herself. Still, Jen pressed on. “All the other women can eat their hearts out because I had you, and they did not.”
Decebel clenched his teeth, tipped up his chin, and crossed his arms in front of his impressive chest. “Too bad you wouldn’t get the chance. You’d be in the afterlife with me, mate. And I would be comforted to know that you would no longer be able to put yourself in harm’s way.”
Jen bit her tongue hard enough to draw blood. She had to remind herself that she loved the massive fur butt in front of her, and he was not the enemy. She’d like to think that she’d grown and matured in their relationship over the years, but at the moment, Jen was feeling as mature as her two-year-old daughter. In other words, she was on the verge of a full-on tantrum of epic proportions. “You do realize that your reasoning is flawed, right?” She lifted an eyebrow at him. “As long as you put yourself in danger, I’m in danger, too. Because as you just pointed out, if you die, I die.”
“There are worse things than death, mate,” he snapped. Jen didn’t miss the fact that his teeth were no longer that of a human’s. His wolf was well and truly pissed.
She whirled around, unable to look at him for fear she might resume throwing things. Despite the evidence surrounding them to the contrary, it was a habit she was trying to break. Jen took several deep breaths and considered all the things she could say to get her male to understand that she couldn’t just sit here and wait for him to come back to her. How many times had they argued over this very topic? And how long would it take him to realize that she wouldneverbe that woman? Jen couldn’t stand on the sidelines while Decebel and others in their pack put themselves in the line of fire. And no, she didn’t think it was weak for their females to stay back and guard their home or children. She would never belittle her own sex that way. And maybe she was a hypocrite, but despite the fact that she’d stayed back before and protected their home, this time she felt that her place wasn’t in that same position. In her gut, she knew she was to be on the front lines. Maybe her gut was a fool. But in this case, it was a fool she was fighting for.I’m a freaking idiot.
“Why do you always have to challenge me?” Frustration laced his voice. “You know you are everything to me. I have told you time and time again that I would burn the world to the ground if someone took you from me, and yet you expect me to just let you walk into the enemy’s lair? Not to mention, this man has already taken you and our daughter once before.” He sighed, and she heard the exhaustion in his voice.
Her heart clenched. She hated making him worry. Jen didn’t want to cause her mate stress. She didn’t like being the one to upset him, even if a good fight did often lead to some seriously hot bedroom activities. Jen blew out a breath. She doubted today would be one of those days.
“I love you, Jennifer.”His voice filled her mind.“With every fiber of my being. Every breath that I breathe is for you and Thia. I do not want to hurt you. I am not trying to make you feel weak or incapable.”
Her teeth ground together as she fought the urge to snarl. Using the intimacy of the mate bond to sway her was a low blow. It was the equivalency of wrapping her in his arms and whispering against her flesh, causing sensations that made her want to crawl in his lap and submit to him. He wasnotfighting fair.
“When it comes to keeping you safe, I will never fight fair.”
“Get out of my head, Decebel.” Her voice shook with rage, and Jennifer’s blood boiled beneath her skin. “You will not attempt to emotionally manipulate me. If I did that to you, you would be ready to flay me alive.” Suddenly, she felt his warmth at her back as his body pressed to hers. Jen hadn’t heard him move, which wasn’t a surprise. Her mate was an expert hunter, able to stalk undetected by his prey.
“I can give you many things, and in the past I have had you fight by my side, but this time I cannot give you this.” He let out a deep sigh. “Something is telling me not to let you come with me. I will not ignore it.”
She felt his lips touch the back of her head and fought her desire to lean back against him and bask in the love flowing through their bond. “And something is telling me that I am not supposed to wait here.” She shared the thoughts she’d been feeling for a week.
A moment later, the warmth left her, and this time she heard his steps as they moved away. The door to their room opened. Just before it clicked closed, he said, “You will not join this fight. I cannot and will not risk losing you. It’s non-negotiable.”
As soon as he was gone, the thread, which had been tenuously holding her anger in place, snapped with a twang. Jen reached for the nearest thing to her: a book laying on the bedside table. With a snarl, she hurled it at the wall. Of course, there was only a thud instead of a satisfying shatter. That only poured gasoline on the fire that was her fury. Her newfound maturity evaporated as if it had never been there. Jen’s wolf claws replaced her human nails. Without thinking of how childish her actions would seem later, she marched over to the drawer holding her mate’s clothes. Jen picked up a handful of garments and dumped them on the floor. She grabbed a shirt from atop the pile and proceeded to rip it to shreds. “Damn, domineering, bossy, possessive, butt-wipe male.” She snarled, tossing strips of material over her shoulder. One by one, she destroyed every piece of clothing Decebel had brought with them to the sprite realm.
“I see your mate told you to stay put as well.” Jen heard Jacque’s voice behind her. She’d been so intent on her work as a psychotic reverse-seamstress that she hadn’t even heard Jacque come in.
“That or she doesn’t like his wardrobe,” Sally added.
Jen dropped the last bit of clothes on the floor and spun around to face them. Her lips curled up at the sight of her best friends. She felt her wolf pushing inside of her, egging her on to phase and tear after her mate so she could sink her claws into his flesh the way she’d done his clothes.
Jacque held up her hands. Through a haze of fury, Jen saw the other woman’s eyes widen, causing her forehead to wrinkle. “Whoa, we are not the enemy, blondie. Rein it in.”
