“Shit, I can’t believe I forgot to tell you about Fionn who’s a dragon. Logan and Kieran rescued him from his father who was trying to kill him to get his hoard, but as far as I know, that’s not a problem anymore. He’s only seventeen…in dragon years…so Cody and Dylon agreed to be his guardians.”
“It seems like your pack does a lot of rescues.”
“Uh-huh, at least lately, that is. Anyway, this is my first vacation since my family was killed. Jackson filed a complaint against my uncle with the High Council and I’m doing research to help prove what happened. My uncle and his pack are forbidden from hurting any of us while our complaint is pending so Jackson agreed to let me go to Scotland. Holy Shit Balls! Isn’t it lucky I came? Otherwise I don’t know how we’d have ever met.”
David grasped Zane’s hand and felt the energy that bound them as one. He wasn’t sure what it meant, but after hearing about all the rescues Zane’s brothers hadpulled off, he figured out why the Fates gave him to Zane and the Blackwood Pack. Finally, after all these months, he could see a glimmer of hope that he’d be able to carry out his mission against the High Priestess.
That aside—even though his life depended on its success—the most important question was whether he wanted Zane as his mate; that decision would be binding for the rest of his life—a very long, long life—and the more he thought about Zane, the more he was convinced he wanted to proceed, but with caution. So, David took the next small step and asked, “Do you mind if we go upstairs so I can meet your brothers?”
“Ah, sure, but I should warn you, they can be a little much.”
Grinning, David said, “No worries, mate, I have you to protect me.”
“I will, David,” Zane said seriously, “I’ll protect you with my life.”
His mate’s declaration took David’s breath away. No one had ever felt that way about him before, even though his mother had always told him how special he was. But the way he was treated while growing up in that god-forsaken place had removed all vestiges of his self-worth. Now, for whatever reason, Zane was acting as if David was the most important person in his life.
His mother’s voice echoed in his mind.Sweetie, believe me, when you meet your Fated Mate, he will love you just the way you are. Now, hush, let’s dry your tears and then I’ll go get some gelato for you.Thinking back to that long-ago conversation, he remembered telling his mother she was wrong, that nobody would love him.But could itbe?Was my mother right?Would my mate love and protect me?
David kept his eyes on Zane’s face, waiting, wondering if his mate was pretending to feel that way, or if it was how he truly felt. For the first time in his life, he wished he could read minds instead of disappearing.Fuck, it would make mating so much easier especially since the Fates make claiming a forever thing. If I could read Zane’s mind and know that he really means what he’s saying.
He was suspicious of anyone who promised they’d protect him—it was one of those hard lessons he learned growing up. Looking back, the only one who’d come through was Morgan.But Morgan trusts the Blackwood Pack!So, should I, also?Thinking about it, David concluded he would move slowly, taking tiny steps, keeping his wits about him just in case the Blackwood Pack couldn’t be trusted.
“Well,” asked Zane, jolting David out of his meditations, “are you ready to meet the pack?”
“Ready,” David replied. “I’ll stick close to you, okay?”
“Absolutely,” Zane said, rising and pulling his mate up with him. “Do you want to tell your boss where you’re going?”
David smiled at his mate’s thoughtfulness. “No, that’s okay, I’ll probably see him there, anyway.”
“Great! C’mon, I can’t wait to introduce you to everyone.” Zane held onto David’s hand and placed his other on the small of his mate’s back, keeping David near him as they left the break room.
~/~/~/~/~
Knocking softly on the door, the young priestess waited until she was invited in. She was used to waiting and used the time to recite her entreaties to the four gods, hoping soon her prayers would be answered and she would advance to the next level on her way to finding holiness. She’d just started on her fifth prayer when she finally received permission to enter.
Head bowed, her robes draped around her, the priestess checked to make sure nothing on her person was out of order or the punishment would be swift and harsh, as she had learned before. Relieved that all was right, she quietly turned the doorknob and pushed open the heavy wooden door. After she entered the High Priestess’s sitting room, she shut the door behind her slowly and quietly—something she could do perfectly as her latest evaluation stated—then waited to be called forth to deliver the message she bore. This time she only had time to complete three of her appeals to the four gods before she was summoned. Gliding soundlessly over the floor—another task mastered—she stopped in front of the High Priestess, then knelt with a bowed head, and waited for permission to speak.
So engrossed was she in her supplications, she nearly missed the High Priestess’s order to speak. Gathering her thoughts, the priestess began, “I am sorry for the interruption High Priestess, but I was told this message could not wait.”
“What message carries so much importance that I should be disturbed during my afternoon reflections?”
“The message is about David Rossi, High Priestess. It appears he has found his Fated Mate.”
Fear, then anger surged through the body of Brenda, the High Priestess, as the meaning of the message sank in.How dare he? Does he really think I will tolerate this?She stood quickly, pushing aside the kneeling priestess in her rush to get to her desk. Picking up her phone, she glanced back at the girl trying to right herself and resume her position. “Leave me! Now!” Brenda ordered, impatient as she watched the girl rise and scurry from the room. Then she savagely tapped numbers on the screen, waiting for him to pick up.
“Hello, Brenda, nice to hear from…”
“Cut the crap! We have a problem!”
~/~/~/~/~
Pushing open the private dining room door, Zane heard the raucous voices of his brothers, their mates and his friends. Smiling at the sound, he looked at his mate, tightening his grip on David’s hand. “I know it sounds like a zoo in here, but trust me, it’ll quiet down once they start to eat.”
Giggling at the picture in his mind of monkeys in a zoo, David said, “They won’t look at me as something to eat, will they?”
Growling, Zane said, “They better not! I’m the only one who gets to eat you!”
