Punt: A British Bad Boy Football Romance (20 page)

T
hough he was
an upper-echelon member of the Legion, and therefore at least in part responsible for their practices, Monsignor Samuel Sunderland couldn’t help the shiver that slid down his spine as he stood awaiting his trial. Yes, several demons had escaped from the Louisiana facility under his purview. Yes, his own nephew had defected, taking with him an important piece of collateral and intimate information about the facility’s grounds and security measures. Yes, the facility had been attacked several days later by the very group of werewolves that Samuel had targeted for acquisition. Yes, yes, yes.

Still, the summons to this room, to a trial, had taken him by surprise. He was one step away from being a Legion Elder, one step from unlimited, unquestioned power and latitude to reign over all the Legion’s forces. Trials were not often conducted for Monsignors. The Elders must truly be displeased to call attention to such a failure within their ranks.

Instead of pondering the likely outcome of his hearing, Samuel tried to pinpoint exactly what it was about this room that was so terrifying. He knelt at the far end of the cavernous meeting chamber, his allies and enemies seated in wooden pews to each side and the council at their high table directly across from him.

Perhaps it was the near-complete darkness. The Elders each had a small candelabra at hand, illuminating their notes and making discussion between them possible. Other than the high table, though, there was nothing to alleviate the darkness but a handful of wall sconces containing just a candle apiece.

It wasn’t just the dim lighting, of course. One did not get to be Monsignor Samuel Sunderland’s age and rank within the Legion by being afraid of the dark.

He winced as he adjusted his stance, his knees creaking as he tried to find a more comfortable spot. The whole room was bare stone, floor to ceiling. The stone was wet, the dampness soaking upward from his knees and increasing his discomfort.

Although Samuel couldn’t see any gaps in the rough cave wall, the chill draft that swirled through the room and made the candles flicker meant that this room led to others. The Legion had put their stronghold in a vast series of underground caves for several reasons, and the complex and confusing honeycomb layout was one of those.

From sleeping chambers to offices, meeting rooms to the massive dining hall, almost every room had multiple entrances and exits, some hidden from view. You could never be truly alone here, never be certain that your words weren’t overheard by others. Most Legion members carried a candle around, holding it aloft as they scanned the perimeter of each chamber. If the candle flickered, air flowed there, and the chances of being eavesdropped on were exponentially greater.

The worst thing about the air flow through out the place was the sound it made. The barest noise, almost inaudible, but always present. The air hissed and keened, sounding at times like the sea, and at other times like a faraway expression of immeasurable grief.

That sound, Samuel decided, was probably the reason that the Elder’s chamber was so frightening. That, and the severe punishments that were meted out to those who found themselves kneeling in his position.

Movement caught his eye, drawing him away from his inner monologue. Samuel kept his expression blank as he scanned the high table, trying to parse the expression of each Elder seated at the high table. He knew where most of them stood on the issue, with the exception of perhaps Steinn and Varagas.

The short, owlish Elder Varagas rose from his chair in a slow motion, glaring at the assembled crowd of brown-robed Monsignors and black-robed Elders. Samuel couldn’t discern whether the vote had gone against Varagas’s wishes, or whether this was Varagas’s normal hateful expression. Raising a sheet of paper before himself, the Elder cleared his throat before announcing the decision.

“It is agreed upon by the Council of Elders, by a margin of eight to five, that the addressee shall be given leniency in this matter. The addressee will have another sixty days in which to fulfill his specific mission, after which time the Council will reconvene to assess the addressee’s progress.”

Monsignor Samuel Sunderland let out a silent breath of relief. He put the emotion in check at once, schooling his expression to blankness. It wouldn’t do for anyone to realize how nervous he’d been about the repercussions of his recent setback with the demons. Normally addressees of this Council were seen to sweat, shake, or cry out at receiving their verdicts; Samuel didn’t know what his reaction would have been had the vote gone against him. Had the Council demanded his removal from office, or even possibly his death… well, it would have been a reaction worth remembering, at least.

Samuel gave eerie chamber one last look before rising and turning to join the line of Legion Monsignors and Elders filing out the single rough-hewn stone doorway. Everyone was anxious to leave this place, he thought. The room reeked of morbid fear. Still, everyone kept their expressions shuttered and their voices hushed until they were outside the chamber.

The moment he stepped out of the chamber, a young red-haired Novitiate fell into step next to Samuel. The boy was lucky that the Elders no longer associated redheads with evil, Samuel thought with a rueful smile. Less than thirty years ago the Novitiate would have been spurned by the Legion’s governing force.

The Elders’ resistance to change was one reason that Samuel needed to step up to the Council. In this age of technology, the Legion was falling further and further behind. Samuel was certain that this last mission, trapping a number of specimens for the Legion’s huge research facility, was the key to his ascendance to the Council. Well, that, and the death of a current Council member.

No issue there. Samuel had several plans in place to remove several of the older members, Elders more likely to resist the changes he planned.

“There is news, Monsignor,” the young man said. Samuel frowned, noting the boy’s stiff posture and somber tone. Not good news, then.

“You’ve found Novitiate James?” Samuel asked, banishing any hope from his voice. He mustn’t be impatient. His wayward nephew would be found soon enough, and then things could be set right with the Council. At the moment they were simply upset about the loss of the twin witches at the same time as Novitiate James. Until James, the witches, and some of the wolf demons were recovered, he’d just keep his head down.

“No, Monsignor,” the Novitiate said.

“I believe I said that i didn’t want to be bothered with any petty issues today,” Samuel commented, knowing well that his words amounted to a threat.

“This is— excuse me, Monsignor, but you’re going to need to come see it yourself. There is—” the Novitiate faltered.

They came to a stop near a large group of Novitiates, all hovering around the large set of double doors that marked the back exit of the Legion’s Mississippi compound.

“Shouldn’t you all be at mass right now?” he asked the young men milling around the hallway. They all looked to the young Novitiate standing closest to the door, a fair-haired man in his twenties.

“Open the door,” the Novitiate ordered, authority in his tone. Samuel repressed a smile. So the man knew how to give an order. Clearly this Novitiate was going places within the Legion’s political structure.

One of the young men rushed to obey, swinging open the thick wooden door to reveal the early evening sky. A hooded figure stood outside, waiting to speak with Samuel.

“Show yourself,” Samuel commanded, narrowing his gaze.

The figure reached a pale hand up to the hood of the robe, then pushed the cowl back.

“You’re not who I was expecting,” Samuel said, searching the familiar face of his visitor.

“You have something of mine,” the visitor replied.

“Yes, we’ve kept our end of the bargain. Come in,” he said, stepping back from the door with a sweeping gesture.

Today was turning out to be interesting, indeed.

M
addie eyed Tessa
, uncertain how to interpret the bubbly blonde’s intent. She’d come over to seek comfort from her brother, but since Jace wasn’t home Maddie had stayed to talk to his mate instead.

“So basically, you need a pack of your own to run?” Maddie asked, trying to keep the boredom from her voice. “Do you really think you can do what Kat does already? You’ve only been here a month.”

Tessa blushed and shrugged. Her blonde ringlets lay wild around her shoulders, making her green eyes stand out. She stretched, her petite frame and tiny waist making Maddie envious. Maddie was definitely thin, but being almost six feet tall meant that she’d never wear a size two like Tessa did. Fragility wasn’t part of Maddie’s dubious charms.

“I’m just saying that Kat and I are redundant. Before I got here she had way too much administrative work to do for the pack. But with two of us, we’re so bored that we pick fights with each other for amusement. It’s not healthy,” Tessa sighed.

“Well, what are you planning to do?” Maddie asked, yawning. In truth, she couldn’t care less what Tessa had planned, but she figured it was polite to ask.

“I’m not sure yet,” Tessa replied, her tone light. “Jace and I have talked about possibly expanding his skills into a business outside the pack. No solid plans yet, though.”

“That’s a lot of money to invest in something that doesn’t really serve the pack,” Maddie said. “Have you talked to Shaw about this yet? He would probably want a say in whatever interactions you and Jace have with humans.”

“No, we haven’t talked to anyone. I trust you’ll be discreet,” Tessa said, her voice going flat with annoyance.

Before Maddie could reply her cell phone rang, blaring her favorite obnoxious hip-hop jam. Holding up a finger to Tessa, Maddie flipped it open.

“What?” Maddie snapped into the phone.

“Where is my leather jacket?” Jasper’s voice came across the line. He didn’t sound very happy. Probably because Maddie had in fact hidden said jacket under the bed for safe keeping… her own keeping, not his.

Sighing, Maddie got up and went out the front door into the yard. As she got outside she saw Jace pull up on his motorcycle. Maddie flapped a hand in greeting and returned to her phone conversation.

“I have no idea,” she replied, using the saccharine tone that she knew pissed Jasper off.

Jace headed inside to greet Tessa, and Maddie walked to the far edge of the yard for privacy.

“Damn it, Maddie. I’ve had that jacket for ten years. It’s traveled the world with me, and I’m not about to leave it here for you to ruin,” Jasper argued.

“If I had it, which I don’t, I wouldn’t ruin it. It’s a very nice jacket, Jas,” Maddie answered, keeping her voice flirty. She knew that voice drove Jasper up the wall, so perhaps it might get him off the phone faster.

“I didn’t figure you for the type to keep souvenirs, Madd,” he said. “You trying to say you’re gonna miss me?”

“Goodbye, Jasper,” Maddie hissed, ending the call.

Stalking back toward the house, Maddie caught the tail end of Jace and Tessa’s conversation.

“We talked about this. I’m just not ready to tell anyone, Jay.” Tessa’s voice drifted through the open front door of their cute grey bungalow.

“She’s my sister,” Jace replied..

“I just—” Tessa shut up when Maddie came back through the front door into the sunny kitchen.

“Tell me what?” Maddie asked, plucking an apple from the fruit bowl adorning the center of the kitchen’s large granite-topped island. Moving around the counter, Maddie slid onto a barstool next to her brother.

“Um,” Tessa said. The petite blonde ran a hand anxiously through her ringlets and shifted in her seat, uncomfortable. She looked to her tall, dark, and handsome mate for guidance. Jace crossed his arms and leaned back against the counter, frowning.

“Just tell her, Tess,” he chided, looking at his mate with obvious affection. Maddie was half surprised they weren’t rubbing all over each other like cats in heat, as was their usual behavior.

“I… was hoping you’d be in our bridal procession?” Tessa asked, dropping her eyes. Maddie caught Jace’s there-and-gone expression of surprise.

“I already agreed to stand in the wedding,” Maddie said, giving Tessa a searching glance. “You ordered the dress and everything, remember?”

“Oh, yes,” Tessa said, flustered. “I guess I meant to ask if Jasper was still going to walk with you in the procession.”

Maddie’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. Tessa was a terrible liar. How the Ascendant had managed to fool Jace when she’d first arrived, Maddie had no idea.

“Yes, he will.” Not the exact truth, but close enough. So far Jasper had refused because until moments before he’d mated Maddie, Jasper had been a contender to mate Tessa. Long story short, Maddie had offered herself in Tessa’s place, and Jasper had taken her offer without hesitation.

Unfortunately, that made things between the two mated pairs more than a little awkward.

“He hasn’t said it in so many words, but he’ll do it,” Maddie added. If she had to pull out every trick in the damned book, she would. No way was her supposed mate going to make her walk alone in this thing. Shifters were judgy enough without a whiff of scandal to stoke the fires.

“Oh. Well, that’s good,” Tessa mumbled, looking to Jace for help to keep the conversation going.

“Tessa’s dress arrived today,” her mate noted.

“Oh! Yes, do you want to see it?” Tessa asked, looking excited. Maddie had to repress a dramatic eye roll at the other woman’s pleasure. Weddings were a weird human tradition, a huge waste of time and money as far as Maddie could see.

“Sure,” Maddie said with a shrug.

Tessa grinned and half-skipped down the hallway toward the bedroom.

Maddie gave Jace a look, which he returned with a frown.

“Be nice,” he warned.

“I didn’t say anything!” Maddie protested, raising her hands.

“No, but you’re thinking it. I can read your face, Madd. So can Tessa,” he replied.

“I can’t believe she talked you into doing a human wedding,” Maddie muttered, crossing her arms.

“She didn’t talk me into anything. I wanted her to have the wedding she’d imagined. Just because she’s joined our pack doesn’t mean she has to give that up. Besides, we’ve already done the Shifter ritual. This is just icing on the cake,” he said, waving a hand.

“Okay!” Tessa’s voice came from the hallway. “I’m coming out!”

She stepped into the living room, swathed in a frothy satin number. The dress was a beautiful ivory color, two narrow shoulder straps drawing the eye down to a deep vee of cleavage before broadening into a full skirt. Delicately draped layers of silk clung just so to her chest and hips to emphasize her petite figure, dropping gracefully to Tessa’s feet. She turned, revealing a creamy expanse of skin from her nape to the small of her back. The dress was tailored to perfection, and Tessa was beautiful in it. She turned and gave Jace and Maddie a brilliant smile, jubilant.

Maddie’s jaw dropped. She tried to form a compliment, but she lacked the words for how amazing Tessa looked. Instead, she blurted the completely wrong thing.

“Holy shit. How much did that dress cost?” Maddie marveled.

Tessa’s face reddened, her smile wavering.

“I— I bought this myself!” Tessa said, her joy draining away.

“Maddie!” Jace growled, vexed.

“I didn’t mean— you look amazing, Tessa. Really!” Maddie insisted, trying to cover her gaffe.

Tessa bit her lip, smoothing a hand over her dress as she looked down at herself.

“You think?” Tessa whispered. Maddie could have kicked herself for ruining Tessa’s moment.

“I really do. It’s the perfect dress for you,” Maddie soothed, giving Jace a glance. He relaxed a little, but he still didn’t look thrilled.

“Oh. Well thank you,” Tessa said, giving Maddie a weak smile. “I’m just going to go change.”

She headed back down the hall.

“What is wrong with you?” Jace hissed, nudging Maddie with a hard elbow.

“I don’t know. I didn’t mean to say that,” Maddie sighed, rubbing a hand over her face. All the sudden, she felt completely exhausted.

“Jesus, Madd. I hope you’re nicer to your own mate than you are to mine,” he said, shooting her a dark look.

Maddie didn’t reply, not wanting to open that topic for discussion.

Tessa reappeared, pulling a barstool up across the table from Maddie and Jace. Settling down, Tessa cleared her throat and drummed her fingers against the granite counter top.

“Well, it’s a beautiful dress. Just make sure you don’t gain or lose an ounce,” Maddie said, trying to make a joke. “Otherwise we’ll have to sew you into it for the ceremony.”

Tessa’s weak smile collapsed, and she buried her face in her hands. Jace jumped up and slid an arm around his mate as soft sob wracked her small frame.

“What did I say? I was just kidding!” Maddie said, baffled.

“Please just tell her, Tess,” Jace said, running a hand over the female’s curls. Tessa’s tear stained face appeared, making Maddie feel even worse.

“You can’t tell anyone,” Tessa sniffled, looking distraught.

“What, did you two decipher the Enigma machine or something?” Maddie asked, unimpressed by their secret-keeping.

Jace’s face darkened and a muscle ticked in his jaw.

“No, it’s okay. Um. I’m with child,” Tessa said, hugging her stomach as if to prevent Maddie from seeing… well, nothing really.

“You’re WHAT?” Maddie screeched, choking on a bit of apple. Jace reached over and thwacked Maddie soundly on the back several times, harder than necessary. Glaring at him, Maddie wiped at her watery eyes.

“Well, it’s just—” Tessa started.

“You’ve barely been mated for a month!” Maddie cried.

“We’re pretty sure it happened the first time we—”

“Whoa! Too much information. Gods!” Maddie said, cutting Jace off. “Seriously, I don’t need to hear that.”

“Be nice, Madd,” Jace growled, his voice thick with warning.

“Well what are you going to do?” Maddie asked, at a total loss. If she were in Tessa’s place, she wouldn’t be able to handle something like this. Especially not with Jasper.

“What do you mean?” Tessa asked, confused.

“With the baby,” Maddie said, her mind whirling.

Tessa went completely silent and still.

“Jace,” Tessa said, not taking her eyes off Maddie. “I want her out. Right now!”

“I don’t understand,” Jace said, looking between them.

“I just meant—” Maddie started.

“She is saying that I could just abort our baby,” Tessa said, her voice rising to a shout.

“Tessa, I think you’re overreacting. That’s not what I meant at all,” Maddie said, crossing her arms. “Jace, talk to her.”

Jace rose to his feet, his tension apparent in his stance. He looked down at the floor for a long moment, as if trying to contain himself.

“No,” he mumbled, not looking up.

“I didn’t mean that she should do anything. She’s taking it the wrong way,” Maddie said.

“I want you out,” Jace said. He looked up, spearing Maddie with his tawny gaze. Pushing away from the counter, he grabbed Maddie by the arm and yanked her off the barstool like a child.

Snatching her arm back, Maddie growled.

“What is your problem?” she asked, intentionally cutting her gaze to Tessa as she spoke.

“You! You are my problem, my only problem!” Jace shouted, his face growing red. “Every other damned thing in my life is perfect, and then you come around and shit on everything!”

“I didn’t mean—”

“No. You’re done. You’re done talking, you’re done being a bitch to my mate. This baby is the most incredible thing in my life, and you’re just casually discussing… I can’t even say it!” he bellowed.

“I didn’t realize I was talking to Planned Parenthood, over here. This isn’t a pro-life rally, we’re talking about your current situation,” Maddie said, rolling her eyes. She hadn’t meant that they should do anything extreme, her words had been nothing more than a knee-jerk reaction.

“I’m not— don’t change the subject! You will never speak to Tessa with such disrespect again, and you will never talk about our child like that. Until you figure that out, I don’t want to see your face!” Jace hissed, grabbing her arm again and dragging her outside.

“But—”

“Not another word, Madd. I mean it. Now get off my property or I’ll call Jasper to come get you,” he said, slamming the door in Maddie’s face.

Maddie let out an indignant growl, furious. Turning, she climbed on her bike and started it up. She pulled out onto the path that the Den opened for her, not really thinking of any specific destination. Her brother and his mate had clearly lost their minds. At least Tessa had an excuse, Maddie thought. She’d heard somewhere that being pregnant turned your brain to mush.

Jace was just being an ass, as usual. He didn’t even like children, as far as Maddie knew. Besides, she hadn’t meant that they should get rid of the thing, just that there was a lot to consider.

Clenching her handlebars tightly, she headed home.