walker saga 06 - dronish (22 page)

“Where’s your home, Colt?” I found the energy to shift my chin up and to the right to meet his gaze. I wondered when they’d be leaving us. I didn’t want Lucy far away.

“Right next door,” he said, flashing me all those flawless white teeth.

Lucy and I exchanged delighted grins. That was perfect.

The pair had to leave us at the start of Brace’s spectacular home. Their residence was a slightly smaller but still opulent double-story home to the left of Brace’s. We made plans to have breakfast in the town in the morning. For a brief moment as we chatted in front of our houses, our lives felt so normal, as if this was how we would live if the destruction of this star-system weren’t imminent.

Brace stepped into my side. “Come on, Red, I’m failing as a mate at the moment. I’m not looking after you.”

I knew he wanted to sweep me into his arms again, so to make it easier on him I snuggled closer. Gave him a sense of supporting me. Plus there was nowhere in any of the worlds I’d rather be. Cerberus took that moment to jump off my shoulder. He lumbered off to frolic in the garden, having shifted back to horse-size.

“Do you think Josian is okay?” I asked Brace. My father had not been far from my thoughts. I was stressed and missing him like crazy.

He dropped a kiss onto the top of my head, his scent and warmth surrounding me. “Josian is one of the strongest Walkers I know. If he didn’t let his laluna beat him through all of these years, I doubt he has now.”

Slivers of hope threaded the dark thoughts in my mind. As we made it onto the front porch, I lingered for a few moments, just enjoying the familiar scent of the flowers.

Brace must have had similar thoughts. “I really loved that date we had on First World. Even though I didn’t remember our melding, it was still one of the best nights of my very long life.”

I sighed. “It was one of the best nights I’ve had too, despite how heartbreaking it was to know you couldn’t remember us.”

Brace’s eyes darkened, unspoken thoughts crossing the depths. “I wanted to kiss you all night. It took every ounce of my strength to hold back.”

Desire tingled its way from the tip of my head down to my toes, and suddenly I wasn’t that tired. “I hope that strength of will isn’t working at the moment, because you have exactly eight seconds to kiss me or shit will be getting real.”

Brace and I hadn’t been properly together since the melding bond had been broken, and right then the need was slamming into me with the force of a freight train. He must have read that desire blazing through my eyes, or my thoughts were giving it away, because he groaned and placed both hands under my arms.

Bringing us up to the same height, he slammed his lips into mine. It was firm, uncontrolled, and full of passion. My back hit the front door and for a few endless moments I was floating in ecstasy. My Walker could kiss like no one else, full lips moving, tongues dancing, tastes and scents flooding every sense.

Brace shifted his hands. One went under my butt to support my weight and the other tangled into my masses of curls.

Somehow he managed to open the door behind us. Considering both hands were busy, he had to have used energy.

I wrenched my lips from his, my breath huffing in and out. “Bedroom now.”  

“Your wish, my command.” His serious chocolate eyes stared into mine. They were soft and shimmery in the dim light.

“Ahem.”

The clearing of a throat had my boiling blood go immediately to freezing. I bit my lip before burying my head into Brace’s chest.

“It’s your mother, isn’t it?” In my impassioned state I’d forgotten about Lasandra and Caty.

I’d had no time to ask Brace if his mother and sister were living with him. I knew that this had been Lasandra’s house, so there was every chance she still lived here.

Brace chuckled. “I’ll protect you.” He dropped me to my feet.

I was forced to turn and meet the icy eyes of my mate’s beautiful mother. She had her slender arms crossed over her chest as she stared me down. Of course, her gaze softened on her son.

“I’m sorry to intrude on your privacy, Brace, but I need to speak with you … alone.”

Tension filtered through Brace’s body and mind. He was upset that his mother was treating me so coldly, but I understood. He was her only son. She loved him more than life, and right then she didn’t know or trust me. I got it.

“Anything you need to say to me, Mom, can be said in front of Abby. She’s my melded mate. Even if I could keep anything from her, I don’t want to. We’re equal partners.”

Lasandra’s words cracked back at him like a whip. “She should have thought of that before breaking your heart and a sacred bond. If trust is so important between you two, why did she break yours so thoroughly?”

Ouch. I was way too tired to deal with this tonight. Angry mothers-in-law were really far down my list of priorities.

I reached up and gently rubbed my hand across Brace’s lower back. “It’s okay, I’m pretty exhausted. I’ll just let you two chat.”

His lips possessed mine again. It was not a show of dominance or an ‘eff you’ to his mother. I could feel that he simply needed to kiss me.

“Same room?” I asked.

He nodded and with one last soft kiss on the lips I turned to leave. “Goodnight, it was nice seeing you again.” I was polite to Lasandra. I knew and accepted that I deserved some of her ire.

“Good night.” Her reply was stiff, but still she replied.

Cerberus followed me into Brace’s room. He explored for a minute before finally curling up in the corner. He was asleep in an instant. My faithful puppy.

I stripped off my clothes and, too tired for a shower, just washed my face and brushed my teeth in the bathroom. I slipped on one of Brace’s shirts. It fell to mid-thigh and was soft and cozy.

Unconsciously I tuned into my mate for a brief moment. Brace had most of his thoughts open to me, but I didn’t pry any further. If it was important, he’d tell me later.

Crawling across the soft sheets, I closed my eyes and tried not to think about the fact that Josian was missing. Not to mention that the next day we were going to Earth, and war was about to erupt on First World.

Instead I called on Brace to help and, with a whisper of his energy and warmth surrounding me, I drifted off to my first peaceful sleep since the bond had been broken. The thought which calmed me the most was knowing that very soon Brace would be in this bed with me. I was no longer alone.

This realization gave me the sweetest dreams ever, something to get me through the coming dark days, because I had no doubt things were going to get worse before they got better.

Brace

Lasandra relaxed the second Abigail disappeared from sight. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Brace, drawing her precious son closer.

Brace pulled back.

“She’s not going anywhere.” His low tone was harsher than he’d normally use with Lasandra.

He loved his mother but would not tolerate her mistreatment of Abigail. Despite the fact his mate had been calm and polite, he’d seen the hurt in her jewel eyes. No one hurt Red on his watch.

“I don’t want to talk about your mate.” Lasandra’s full lips curled as she said the last word. “I need your help. I’ve been trying to figure out what happened to Que. I know the evil bastard didn’t die. I can still feel him.”

Brace straightened. He’d always had doubts that the Seventine could have actually destroyed his father, but as the months had moved past and Que failed to return, he’d started to accept this as truth. Now his mother had just reinstated all his original doubts with a single sentence. His parents had been mated, but it had never been a true Walker match. They’d not had the proper bond, although connections had existed between them.

“So what do you think happened to Que? Is he out there just biding his time until the convergence?”

Lasandra pushed back her blond hair. “There’s this chamber in his monstrosity of a house. He spoke of it, but never took me there. I know we’ll find our answers there, answers to so many things.”

Brace felt the hot ebb of anger flickering at the ends of his veins. “The experiment labs?”

For many years Que had talked about this room and the different creations he’d been trying to achieve. The evils he’d been prepared to unleash if anyone disobeyed him. But Brace had also never seen it. He’d had his men searching the glass monstrosity, but so far they’d turned up nothing.

Lasandra paled out. Even her lips barely held color. “Yes, and I think I’ve figured out how to get in there.”

Brace examined her. She looked determined, and he would take the time to see if her knowledge had uncovered what his men could not.

“Give me an hour. I want to check on Abbs and clean up a bit.” He needed to shower off the grime from the ash-filled dark mountain.

And, more importantly, he needed a few uninterrupted moments with his girl.

His mother nodded, going on her toes to kiss his cheek. “I’ll meet you in front of the horror house in an hour.”

She left using the side door. Brace had offered her this place when she’d returned, but Lasandra had declined, deciding she wanted a new start. Which had been a good thing, since this house was the very place he wanted to make a home with Abigail. She’d told him how much she loved it, and above all else Brace needed her to be happy.

That was also part of the reason he’d
strongly
suggested Colton move into the dwelling beside theirs. Abigail and Lucy would be happiest living close to each other.

He exhaled forcefully as he used his energy to secure the perimeter of the house. Everything was going to shit right then. The Seventine had just one more to free, Josian was missing, and his poor beautiful mate had the weight of every world on her shoulders. Brace was determined to take some of that weight. Hell, he’d take it all if she’d let him, but her independence and sense of responsibility was strong.

He strode through the house, his long-legged stride eating up the distance between them and, as always, his heart rate increased at the thought of touching her again. Nothing else in his long life moved his emotions like Abigail. They had spent far too many nights apart, and he was over it; from now on, there was no more space between them. Brace was pretty sure he’d kill the next entity to keep them apart.

The room was dark when he entered, just the slightest spill of light from the bathroom. Without thought, he crossed the room, moving until he stood right at the edge of the bed. Abigail’s frame looked small; she lay unmoving, her exhaustion knocking her out cold.

Brace couldn’t stop himself from dropping to his knees and examining every detail of her beautiful face. His mate was without any doubt absolutely heart-stopping stunning. He wasn’t the only one to think so, but he also saw so much deeper than her perfect exterior. The fire and determination with which she threw herself into everything, the protectiveness and honor with which she made each choice. Even the difficult ones.

He had to touch her.

Sometimes he felt as if he’d go insane if he couldn’t feel her soft skin, taste her full sensual lips. It was torture of the highest order. He’d been tortured by Que, but distancing himself from Red was pain beyond any he’d known.

He lightly stroked her cheek, and even in the deep of sleep she mumbled and shifted toward him. When Abigail had confessed about their broken melding bond, Brace had felt an actual gash carve through his heart. It was a wound he wasn’t sure would ever be fully erased, one of those injuries which healed but always left some scar tissue behind.

Abigail shifted closer again, her features tightening as if, even in sleep, she was afraid or worried. Brace fought the urge to gather her into his arms. She needed rest, and he would not wake her because of his selfish need. Her mass of curls cut a fiery path across the light sheets, and as her shifting caused the blanket to lower Brace realized that she was wearing one of his shirts.

He groaned. Did women realize what it did to men when they wore their clothes? It was like she was wearing his name on her chest. The sight brought out his caveman – as Abigail would say. He knew then he was going to lose the battle. He had to hold her; he needed to feel her close; he had to wipe clear those fine lines of tension that were feathering her brow. He wasn’t meeting his mother for an hour and he wanted that time with this woman who had not only stolen his heart but also his soul.

He could not exist without her, and he wouldn’t want to.

Brace shucked off all of his clothes except for the tight boxer briefs and, doing his best not to disturb her, he eased in and gathered her close. She stirred but didn’t wake. He considered that a success. She felt so delicate in his arms. He was constantly surprised at the strength she wielded because to him she was as fragile as a beautiful flower. She moved closer, her body craving the healing of their bond.

“Brace.”

Abigail said his name so softly, as if she didn’t want to disturb the moment.

Brace buried his face into her neck, her silky and fragrant curls caressing him.

“I’m sorry, baby; I didn’t mean to wake you.”

She laughed. The sound was like a shot of adrenalin to his body, and the same overwhelming desire he always felt around her exploded to painful levels. He forced himself to focus. Now was not the time. He was a man who prided himself on his control, even if one redhead seemed to be crumbling the foundation.

Abigail flipped over so they were face to face, and Brace was again grateful for his exceptional eyesight. He could see every facet of her stunning, emerald eyes. They were so wide and clear, and he could read the emotions pouring from her. He knew he was turning into a weak-ass Walker, but there was something about staring into those jewel-like depths, something which knocked him right on his ass.

“I’ve missed you so much.” Her voice broke a little. “Every night since I severed our bond I’ve dreamed of being with you like this, of lying in your arms, and touching your skin.”

To reiterate her point, she lifted both hands and pressed them against Brace’s bare chest. Another sob choked from her. “Some nights I thought the pain would kill me … sometimes, I wanted it to.”

Brace had no idea how to control the flood of emotions he was experiencing right then. Her pain was killing him. He wanted to punch someone or throw a few energy balls, but mostly he would have done anything to erase the agony from her face. She was sobbing inside; he could feel her anguish.

He gently fisted two handfuls of her hair. They needed a moment to heal, a moment to bond. With that thought in mind, he slammed his lips against hers, pressing into her softness, but forcing himself to hold back his full strength.

Then as the intoxicating taste of her filled his senses and she returned the kiss with abandon, he had to fight himself not to pull her harder into him.

It always felt, no matter how close they were, it was not close enough. Her moan cut straight through to him. His body was hard and ready, every muscle rigid, and his control all but gone. The usual reaction he had to his mate.

“I need you, Brace.” Her tone was begging and breath came in gasps as she lifted her lips from his.

Brace tried to force his body to calm a little. He did not want to hurt her in his need. “Red, please. No more begging. I swear to the mother of all …” He paused. “Do you know how much I love you? I love you more than I ever thought was possible; you destroy and rebuild me every day.”

Her eyes softened, shimmering at him. His heart clenched at the sight.

“I love you too, Brace, so much. But right now if you don’t kiss me again, I’m going to be pissed off.”

He grinned. Her fire was as big a turn-on as her begging.

“Your wish, my command.”

He touched his lips to hers again, softer this time, gently moving as their tongues tangled together in a dance as old as time itself. As the ever-present passion between them grew, the urgency increased. Brace freed one of his hands from her hair and fisted the shirt she wore.

He spoke between kisses. “You should always wear my clothes, like every day. But right now, this has to go.”

She arched so he could strip her bare, his eyes feasting on the long expanses of skin on display. Abigail had a body which kept him up at night; perfect features and legs which went on for miles. It was standard for Walkers to be beautiful, but Brace couldn’t actually imagine there were any more perfect than his Red.

Brace was already shirtless, but Abigail wasted no time ripping the boxers from him. She leaned back on her elbows, running her eyes over his body.

“You keep looking at me like that and this will be over before it’s even started.” His voice was low and husky, his need riding every word.

She licked her lips, clearly trying to kill him. Her gaze focused on his wide shoulders. “Did your muscles get bigger? I swear every time I get you naked, there are more muscles.”

He grinned; it made him happy that she liked his body. He’d always worked hard in training, his muscles honed over hundreds of years. And the extra size she was seeing was the power boost from being Princeps. His strength was so much greater than before. Brace knew this strength was essential to him. His power was his weapon to keep her safe, protect her from any that would mean her harm.

Words were forgotten then as he reached for her again. There were no more pauses as they took the time to touch and taste, kissing along long limbs, relearning all the facets of each other. Their bodies had been apart for too many nights, and now, as the blood raced through them, it was as if some of the fissures within healed. As they moved closer and more in sync, there were less secrets, less hurt, and less pain. They were healing each other through the simple act of loving.

Afterwards they lay together in a tangle of overheated limbs. Brace held her tightly, unwilling to allow any space between them.

“I have to go meet Mom.” He finally broke the silence. He was half tempted to cancel, needing to stay with his girl for a little longer. “She said there was something that Que was hiding in his house, a room which might hold some answers.”

Abigail shifted her head to meet his gaze.

They lay less than an inch apart.

“She hates me, doesn’t she?”

Brace lifted his right hand and traced a path down her cheek, before gently cupping her chin in his large hand. “No, right now she’s fighting against the change, against everything she’s lost. You know, I never even knew she was missing. I thought she was searching for Caty. I had no idea that Que had stolen her away and dropped her into the same world.”

Guilt ripped through him. He’d thought his mother had abandoned him. He hadn’t been mad with her, knowing she was searching for Caty, figuring she’d somehow cut her energy off. He should have looked for her too, had enough faith that his mother would have told him if she was planning on disappearing. Damn Que, filling his head with lies.

Abigail clued into his thoughts again. “Lasandra thinks I’m going to steal you away from her?” She was astute, as always.

Brace feathered a kiss across her lips. “Mom’s always been protective of her children. When Walkers mate, it’s everything ... our whole world. She knows now that she’s no longer the most important woman in my life. She doesn’t like the competition.”

Abigail shifted as if she were uncomfortable. “I would never take you away from her.” Her gentle heart shone through.

“It’s a done deal, Red, I’m yours. From the moment you touched my soul, the moment we dreamed of each other, I was a goner. There’s no hope for anything else, and I’ve never been happier. Mom’s just going to have to learn how to fit into these new dynamics.”

As he finished speaking, he pulled himself from the bed, and gathered his mate into his arms. He strode with determination into the next room and, using his energy, turned on the many shower heads that littered the ceiling of the large square stall. Powerful jets of water shot around. He made sure it was the perfect temperature, before easing them inside. Abigail had her legs wrapped tightly around his body, pressing her curves into him.