“Okay, okay, okay,” Cy snickered, holding his hands up in mock surrender. “So, Nessy and I were having a few drinks, enjoying the band, and dancing, and Aamon came walking like he owned the joint and challenged me right there in front of not only the MacAllen Dragons, but the Stone brothers, and about twenty of the Sampson Wolves.”
“You had to go through with it.”
“I was about to, but Bonnie came out and said there would be no fighting. Then she told Aamon that he could not challenge a man for his Fated Mate. She went on to tell him that he had twenty-four hours to get out of Valentine. She added that he wasalsopersona non gratain all Sampson Pack Territory and the Thorntree Cherokee Reservation.”
“Good for her.”
“Yeah, well, Aamon sassed back and said he didn’t know where anything, but Valentine and Holly Bush even were. So, Bonnie pulled a map out of her back pocket and showed him as she explained that between the Sampson Pack, the Thorntree Res and the Thorntree Timberwolf Pack Lands, and the MacAllen and Stone Dragon, he could not settle in Valentine, Burning Hearts, Bitter End, Talking Rock, Holly Bush, or Mule Shoe– and that was six-hundred-and fifty square miles and most of the Chihuahuan Desert.”
“Damn, I can see why she wants to bring Supernatural people back. That’s a lot of land and not enough people.”
“Yes, it is.”
“So, what did Aamon say to that?”
“He left with his tail between his legs, and everybody thought it was over.”
“But you didn’t.”
“I did not,” Cy tried to keep the snarl from his voice but failed. “Men like Aamon don’t walk away.”
“And you were right?”
“Yep.” No longer able to stay still, Cyrus pushed off the boulder and started to pace. “I took Nessy home. We talked and went to bed. She kept telling me everything would be okay, and I agreed with her so she wouldn’t worry, but I couldn’t shake the eerie feeling of being watched.”
“Let me guess.” Luke snorted. “You didn’t stay in bed all night.”
“No, I did not,” he confirmed, still pacing. “The minute I stepped out on the patio, I knew he was there.” Inhaling through his nose and slowly exhaling, Cyrus rolled his shoulders to relieve the tension as he walked back and forth in front of theBlack Bear Shifter. “I saw his shadow against the tree line. The bastard was already partially Shifted. He took off at a full sprint, but before I could even get off the deck, the backyard was filled with Sampson Wolves. Junior, their Enforcer and a Jeff Davis County Sheriff, stepped in front of Aamon and stopped with nothing more than his voice.”
“Damn.”
“Yep. But Aamon didn’t stay still. He pulled something out of his pocket and threw it at Junior. The tall, broad Wolf fell to the ground, and that was when all hell broke loose, but Blackwood was untouchable, except for…”
“Except for your Dragon Fire.”
“Yeah,” Cy replied, remembering how guilty he felt. “Dom and I acted on instinct and impulse…”
“And the need to protect your Mate, don’t forget that.”
“Oh, man, never.” Stopping, Cyrus turned toward the Black Bear. “I didn’t even get a chance to take a breath before Nessy was at my side. She hugged me like she’d never let go and kept telling me not to worry, that I did what I had to do.”
“But…”
“But something didn’t feel right.”
“With Vanessa?”
“No, with me and…” Running his hand through his hair, not sure how to say what needed to be said, he forced out a frustrated breath and blurted out, “…and with the way he was able to drop Junior and get past twelve Wolf Guards, but never got close to me and didn’t even scream when Dom’s Dragon Fire just… just… just engulfed him.”
“Well, maybe I can give you some answers.”
“Really?”
“Oh, yeah.” Luke nodded. “I could fill a month of Sundays with all the shit I know about the Blackwoods.”
“Go for it.”
“Let’s just focus on the night you thought Aamon was dead and what I think is happening here.” He pointed upward and waved his finger around.
