Retribution (50 page)

Chapter 34

Guthrie blinked his eyes open to purple velvet and scowled, wondering where the hell he was and how he’d gotten there. Glancing around, he realized he was in the underground chamber of Lynette’s tent, lying on her squishy bed.

He cursed and sat up, trying to find his shorts and cloak. “Shit. I fell asleep. How did I fall asleep?”

“It’s a comfortable bed,” Lynette explained. “And you were exhausted.”

Guthrie looked over, finding Lynette sitting at her bar with Token. “What the fuck is he doing here?”

Lynette lifted her glass and shook the ice. “Having a drink.”

“What time is it?”

“About seven in the morning.”

“Shit!” Guthrie found his shorts and yanked them on, mentally calling for Silestra. She was outside, ready and waiting for him to retrieve her.

“Why are you freaking out?” Lynette asked, rising from her stool.

“I’m supposed to be on duty, Lyn. And I don’t want to be in here when you get busted for having all this shit.”

Lynette rolled her eyes then looked at Token. “Told you he was a stickler for rules.” Turning back to Guthrie, she summoned his cloak and threw it at him. “Agro stayed in his tent all night. The place was like a ghost town until five minutes ago.”

Guthrie pulled on his cloak, making sure everything he’d left in his pockets remained there. “What happened five minutes ago?”

“The soldiers who’ve been spying on the Conn/Kavanagh businesses slinked into camp.”

“Why didn’t you wake me up?”

“What are you going to do, Guthrie? Save them? The poor bastards were dead the moment they got the job.”

“Watch your mouth,” Guthrie hissed, throwing a turbulent glance at Token, who laughed as he took a sip from his tumbler.

“Told you he was paranoid,” Lynette sniffed.

Guthrie stormed forward and grabbed Lynette’s throat, bringing her nose to nose with him. “Sounds like you’ve been telling Token too much about me.”

Token held up a hand, motioning for Guthrie to wait as he drained his drink. Then he set the glass on the bar and stood. “That’s not necessary, man. I’ll leave.”

“Sit down,” Guthrie demanded, pointing at him.

“Okay,” Token agreed, reclaiming his seat, “but how about you chill the fuck out, let go of the lady, and let her explain herself. I don’t know what’s going on between you two, but she hasn’t said anything to me to warrant this kind of reaction. As for her mansion,” he added, motioning to the two-story, hole in the ground, “she’s just trying to find something of value in this piece-of-shit world.”

“No,” Lynette corrected, defiantly staring at Guthrie. “I’m starting a new trend.”

Token curiously looked over, and Guthrie furrowed his eyebrows. “What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about the other witches who now have comfortable quarters, about thirty of them, more than a dozen tents, all decked out in pretty possessions saved from the purges.”

“Shit, Lynette,” Token exclaimed. “Are you trying to start a rebellion?”

Guthrie narrowed his eyes on her, silently warning her to keep her mouth shut, but she wasn’t swayed by the fingers tightening around her throat. “What if I were starting a rebellion, Toke? What would you say?”

Several tense and silent seconds passed as Token flipped his stunned gaze between Guthrie and Lynette, trying to figure out his answer. Then he cleared his throat and reached across the bar. “What would I say,” he mumbled, pouring another drink. Then he turned and held up the glass. “Well, Lyn, I’d apologize to Guthrie, because you just fucked me.”

Guthrie couldn’t withhold his smirk. “Join the club.”

“She’s devious,” Token added.

Lynette scowled. “What the hell? How did I fuck you, Token?”

“Oh you handed it to my ass good, lady Lyn, shoving me right in the middle of something I want no part of. Now I’m damned if I do and damned if I don’t.”

Guthrie raised his eyebrows as he motioned to the hand wrapped around Lynette’s throat. “Now you see why.”

Token nodded and downed his drink. “Now I see why, my friend. Choke the crazy bitch if you want. I’m going to claim I blacked out while I was here. Didn’t see anything, didn’t hear anything, and I don’t remember shit.”

“What a couple of pussies,” Lynette scolded. “Why am I the only one here with any balls? This could be our only chance to…”

Guthrie squeezed, cutting her off as he leaned close. “Bite – your fucking – tongue.”

She filled her lungs, preparing to reply. Then all three of them looked up as Agro’s voice boomed through the camp. “Guthrie!”

Guthrie flashed Lynette a warning glance. Then he headed for the stairs, halting by the bar to stare down Token. “Are you going to keep your mouth shut about this?”

Token gave him a blank look. “About what?”

“Good,” Guthrie approved. “Lynette’s digging her own grave. I suggest you stay out of it.”

“I’m leaving,” Token assured, rising from his chair. “Let me walk you out and wish you good luck with the boss.”

They climbed the stairs and exited the tent, and Lynette rushed after them, stopping outside the entrance with her hands on her hips. She probably would have yelled at them, but Agro was in view, holding up two dead soldiers by their collars.

He shook them as he threw his fit. “These spies are fucking useless, Guthrie. Where have you been? Bring me more soldiers. I want those shops burned!”

Chapter 35

Someone nudged Quin’s mind Monday morning, pulling him from dreamland, and he opened his eyes to the dim room. He was groggy, but alert enough to realize his dad was trying to mind search him.

‘
Quinlan.
’

Quin rubbed his face as he responded. ‘
Yeah?
’

‘
It's time for the guard change. Will you be coming out here or should they come to you?
’

‘
Tell them to meet me on the porch.
’

Quin sealed his mind and looked at his sleeping angel, wondering if he could manage to get out of bed without waking her. They'd only been asleep for three hours, and she’d probably refuse to get more rest if she woke up now.

He gave it a shot, wrapping her in supportive magic before releasing her body. Then he slowly hovered a few inches away. She stayed tucked in an invisible cocoon, sleeping soundly, so he floated out of bed, watching her as he went. He was in the doorway, and she hadn't even twitched, so he turned and flew down the hall, summoning on a pair of shorts along the way.

Layla's eyes popped open as terror clutched her gut, holding her muscles and lungs captive. Where was Quin? She was alone. Why was she alone?

The grogginess of sleep cleared, and she realized she was hovering in magic that wasn't her own, but his. She could tell it was his by the way it made her feel – safe and loved – and by the way it smelled – earthy and perfect.
 

Her fear ebbed as she concentrated on making sense of things, but she could only come up with troubling reasons for his absence, and her panic spiked. Then she remembered he’d talked about concealing the guards from home, and she relaxed. Of course he wouldn't wake her for the task if he thought she’d sleep through it.

Still, it was unsettling not having him next to her, and her mind tried to rile her by jumping to scary conclusions. But rather than react to her quickening heart like a panicked mother, she decided to wait another minute... or at least thirty seconds.

She hated looking at the empty bed beside her, so she closed her eyes and counted, trying to slow her heart rate and keep her head calm. When she got to twenty-four, her anxiety eased, leaving her confused but content. Then her perplexity disappeared when she felt his body heat on her skin. He was back. The world was right.

She let him think he'd succeeded, holding still while his arms and torso replaced his magic. Then she opened her eyes and kissed his chest. “Nice try.”

He laughed as he tightened his hug. “My tricky angel. Why didn't you let me know you were awake?”

“Why were you trying to pull one over on me?”

“Because we've only had three hours of sleep and you need the rest. Were you frightened?”

“Yes. I was terrified.”

He squeezed tighter. “I'm sorry, love. You didn't look scared when I got back.”

“It helped to be wrapped in your magic, and I assumed everything was fine, but I was about to come find you anyway.”

“Did my magic waver?”

“What do you mean?”

“Did it jar you awake?”

“No. I don't know why I woke up, but I'm sure it had everything to do with your disappearing act.”

“I should have known better, Layla. I'm sorry. It won't happen again.”

She pulled away from his chest and smiled at him. “You don't have to do that, you know? I'm not scolding you. You have every right to leave the room I'm in.”

“I meant I won't try to sneak away while you're sleeping. Apparently it won't work anyway.”

“Oh. Yeah, I could go my entire life without waking up to an empty bed for reasons unknown. I'm okay with you never doing that again. Just carry me with you next time. I'm more likely to stay asleep that way.”

“Okay, love. I promise.”

“I'll take that promise.” She wiggled up his body and began kissing his face. “Are you going to make me go right back to sleep?” Then her hands slid to his jaw as her mouth trailed to his ear. “Or will you let me stay up so I can take advantage of you?”

Her voice was a seductive whisper, her lips brushing his earlobe and spreading tingles down his neck, and his body tightened as he rolled onto his back, pulling her with him. “I don't think you can call it taking advantage of me when I'm so willing and ready. But feel free to try to prove me wrong by finding something I'm not eager to do with you or for you, because that sounds like fun.”

“You make it so easy,” she mumbled, moving her lips to his throat.

Wrapping one hand in her hair, he slid the other to her bare butt, squeezing and pressing her against him. “Make what easy?”

“Everything, anything.” She slid her kisses to his chest, drifting her tongue across his heart, and her hips wiggled as she tried to feel more of him. “You make it easy for me to love you like I really want to.”

“Your love is amazing, Layla. I'm a lucky man.” He took a deep breath. Then he gently forced her to stop kissing his torso and pulled her up his body.

Her forehead and nose wrinkled as she puckered. “Then why are you stopping me?”

He grinned as he played with her pout. “I want to look at your face.”

“Oh. Then I guess I'll let it slide this time.”

“Is that right?”

“Yes, but I may not be so forgiving the next time you pull my mouth from your chest.”

“I'll keep that in mind. So are we talking punishment? Or will I just be verbally reprimanded?”

She smirked as she ran a fingernail across the curves of his shoulder. “I think you like both of those possibilities more than you should.”

He brushed her hair from her face and kissed her nose. “Do you know what today is?”

“Monday.”

“Yes, but it’s more than that. Tonight will be a week from the time we bonded.”

She smiled as she took his cheek. “I know.”

“I realize a week isn't that long,” he added, “but in our situation, it could be the most amazing week we'll ever live.”

“A week has given us more than most people get in a lifetime,” she agreed. “But I don't need you to acknowledge it every time a week goes by. I know how you feel.”

He placed his hand over hers, keeping her palm on his cheek. “I know the time we spend together can't be measured, but a lot has changed in the past week, and I want you to know how grateful I am that it has.”

She bowed her head, anxiously looking at him through her lashes. “Was it miserable before we bonded?”

“No,” he answered, tilting her chin back up. “Why would you think that?”

“You said you wanted me to know how grateful you are things have changed in the past week.”

“I am. I love where we are, but I also loved the journey we took to get here. Every second of it.”

“Come on, Quin. You can tell me. Those ten days drove you crazy.”

“They did, but I don't regret them. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change the fact that I waited.”

“Why? Now that you know we were always meant to be, why would you wait? We could have bonded over a week sooner.”

“You weren't ready.”

“So? I would have been the moment we bonded.”

“That just sounds disrespectful, Layla. I can't imagine how awful I would have felt doing that. Nothing would have upset me more than to feel like I'd taken advantage of you, and if we would have bonded during a situation like that, I would have regretted it for the rest of my life.”
 

“Oh,” she mumbled. “I don’t like the sound of that at all.”

He smiled as he ran a thumb across her lips. “You were so innocent, Layla. I’d never been with anyone like you. I didn’t know how to be with you, and I was a wreck every time I considered our physical relationship. My body screamed your name when I looked at you, but every beat of my heart reaffirmed how vital my patience was. It was an amazing feeling, one I'd never experienced before, and yes, sometimes it hurt like hell, but compromising my future with you would have hurt much worse. I’ll admit now that I was in a state of constant physical discomfort, and when my arousal spiked, my unease spiked, which was often, but all of it was a result of how much I care about you. Without you, none of it would have existed, so by fulfilling my thirst early, I could have risked losing both it and my water, which would have left me with nothing.”