“Laugh it up now, fae boy,” Jen tossed back. “I have a feeling one day when you have a kid they’re going to be hellions, zapping everyone in the ass with their magic.”
Fane held up a hand, and the room quieted. “As you said, Maxim, we have been blessed but also challenged when it comes to our young.”
“Speaking of challenges.” Jen tugged on Decebel’s shirt. “We’ve got to get our crumb catcher in bed. And believe me, it’s a miracle every single night that she makes it there without me or her pulling our hair out.”
Jacque chuckled. “Paying for your raising.”
“I sure as hell would have been a better kid if I would have known I was going to eventually have aliteralmini-me,” Jen muttered.
“Hell!” Thia yelled and clapped her hand to the doll head.
Maxim watched in fascination. This pack was so different from his own. It made him wonder what he was doing wrong as an alpha. The love and comradery here was so evident he could practically feel it like a tangible thing on his skin. His own pack always felt out of sync.
“We will meet at the veil entrance tomorrow evening according to the Area 51 time zone,” Fane said as Decebel, Jen, and their daughter headed out of the office.
“We’ll see you then,” Decebel assured the alpha.
“Maxim. We have a spare room you’re welcome to, or if you want to sleep in your wolf form outside, we would understand.”
It didn’t surprise him that the alpha female would recognize that it would take a lot of trust for his wolf to willingly stay in a compound with other dominant males and not feel trapped. But his wolf actually felt amicable toward Fane and his pack. His beast also felt the trust and love among them.
Almost everyone had cleared out when Maxim finally spoke. “A room would be much appreciated.”
* * *
Alice drifted in darkness,her body leaden and unresponsive. Only the healers’ lights tethered her spirit, keeping her from sliding into death’s embrace. Then, like the first glow of dawn, she felt him—her true mate’s presence kindling through their bond.
“Alice? Can you hear me?” His voice was hesitant but hopeful. It was already so familiar.“I’m Maxim, your true mate. You need not fear me.”
“I’m here,”she called back, relief flooding her. The blackness seemed to recede slightly as their connection strengthened.
“You’re alive. Thank the Great Luna.” Maxim’s profound joy and gratitude enveloped her.“At last, I’ve found you. I didn’t know if you’d be able to respond to me.”
Despite everything, Alice wanted to smile. Because she couldn’t feel her body, she had no clue if she actually was. “They said you’d come.”She didn’t tell Maxim that she had doubted it. She’d believed the relationship she’d been building with Cain—not just a vampire, but king of all vampires—would’ve kept him away. Alice couldn’t imagine why he’d evenwanther. She was tainted goods.
Maxim was quiet a moment, and Alice wondered if he could hear her thoughts. She hadn’t tried to block him the way she had Cain. She really didn’t want to, it felt intimate and special in a way her tie to Cain hadn’t been. Though for the moment, she just wished some things could remain private until she was ready to talk about them … or until forever.
“You have been so strong, surviving this nightmare.”Pride and affection suffused his mental voice.
Embarrassment heated Alice’s cheeks, even in this strange metaphysical space.“If you knew everything, you might not be so impressed.”Why the hell had she said that?Shut up you moron, she chastised herself.
“Are you talking about the bond between you and Cain?”His tone remained kind and open.“You owe me no justifications, Alice. I only want to understand.”
Swallowing hard, Alice forced herself to continue.“I made foolish choices out of grief. I let myself be deceived. I was just so tired of being alone. Of being rejected.”Her thoughts shied from voicing Cain’s name or the twisted intimacy they had shared. Maxim would be disgusted by her weakness.
“I could never be disgusted by you, mate.”His deep voice was full of compassion. “You were vulnerable, and that creature took advantage. The blame lies with him alone.”
Despite his reassurance, shame still flooded her.“My ignorance could have cost Lizzy, the new hybrid, her life. And it did cost me my own.”
“Perhaps,”Maxim conceded gently. “But the past cannot be undone. All we can do is move forward and make what amends we can.” His steady calm soothed her tumultuous emotions.
Releasing a trembling breath, she realized he was right. But that didn’t mean later on she wouldn’t have to deal with all the hurricane of feelings going on inside of her. But for now, she needed to get free.
“We have to end this threat. Together.”
A fierce joy flowed from Maxim at her words. “Together, nothing will stop us,”he vowed. “But there will be time to talk of battles later. For now, simply rest and gather your strength. Let the healers continue to help you until I can get to you.”
His warm presence enveloped her like a comforting blanket, bolstering her flagging energy. She sank into it gratefully.
