Rowena's Revenge (Broadus Supernatural Society) (13 page)

I need them more than I would ever admit before. I can feel
my leopard’s heart breaking in the thought of never being with her mates again,
and she uses every last ounce of her strength to issue one last, bone
chattering hiss and I can feel it vibrate all the way through
Cearbhall
as well. My head lolls to the side as he moans
again, laying his full weight down on top of me just as the familiar earthy
scent sweeps over me.

Cearbhall’s
grip on my throat
loosens when I hear an ear piercing howl, and as my vision starts to fade in
and out I see him fly into the tree line and disappear with a laugh and a
smile. Then I’m surrounded by wolves; I can smell them, but I can’t see who is
who as my vision still struggles to focus. I hear Penton’s voice first and feel
his warmth as he sweeps me up, his apricot scent filling me with reassurance
and comforting my leopard as she mews and hisses in pain.

My skin is vibrating with what feels like a billion bee
stings, causing me to shake in Penton’s arms. He’s trying to calm me, but I
don’t comprehend the words. All that is flowing through my mind is the pain and
Cearbhall’s
warning.
“The only way for me to die
is if someone he loves kills him.”
It can’t be true; I can’t lose Penton
right after finding him again. Not after his brother and
Cearbhall
tore me away the first time.

“No!” I manage to scream, gripping my hand into his jacket
and pulling my face to his with every last ounce of strength in my body. I have
to bite back the scream of pain that is radiating from every cell in my body as
his loving and concerned stare washes over me. “No,” I say again, and it comes
out in a squeak as tears fill my eyes and he snuggles my face beneath his chin,
holding me there as his hand pets my hair.

I can’t stop the shaking, even though I want to and a cold
sweat breaks out over my skin. The sickening moans that are slipping through my
lips seem to be coming from someone else, but as each one ends I know it’s me
when I have to gasp for breath. I hear Penton telling whomever that he needs
warm blankets, and I can feel us going up the stairs. Hysteric crying comes
from a room that we pass and I know it’s the little girls, and I want more than
anything to let them know I’ll be okay; at least I think I’ll be okay and I reach
out toward the sound, my leopard hissing at the pain in the effort as my arm
falls limp onto Penton’s shoulder.

“Stay still now, Kitten,” he whispers, and then I’m bathed
in sunlight, the bright beams surrounding me as if they are a hug from a loved
one and the shakes start to diminish.

Penton tells Blaine to strip naked and lay out the blankets
that have been brought up behind us. I hear B’s boots hit the wall after he
kicks them off, followed by his belt buckle hitting the floor before his earthy
scent surrounds me. I can’t help the meager purr that rolls through me when I
feel him slip his hands under my back and legs, but it quickly turns to a hiss
and a muffled scream as the pain rears its nasty head when I’m shifted from one
set of arms to another.

“Lay down in the sunlight and hold her close,” Penton says
as I hear him shedding his clothes and my vision finally clears enough so that
I can see his face over Blaine’s shoulder. His handsome features are marred
with concern, fueled by anger, and as Blaine drops to his knees our eyes meet.
“You’ll be alright, Kitten; just let Blaine settle you down into the blankets.
The sun will help you.”

I nod slightly, all of my muscles still stiff with pain that
radiates a hundred fold as Blaine slowly, trying to do it gently, lays me down
on my side on a thick comforter already warmed by the sun. As his arms leave
me, I sigh as a relief fills my limbs, alleviating some of the pain and I can
breathe easier, the pressure almost disappearing altogether as the warm beams
sink into my skin.

The anger from the situation, and concern and desperation
for me to feel better is rolling through Blaine like a boulder, coming off of
him in waves that crash into me, making me dizzy. Closing my eyes to stop my
head from spinning, I place my hand on his chest as he
lays
beside me. His heart slams against his ribs and mine speeds up to match its
pace, my leopard finally starting to feel content. His skin vibrates as a low,
possessive growl rumbles through him and his hand cups my cheek, causing me to
look at him and I’m pierced by the burning look in his hazel eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper as my throat screams in protest. His
thumb sweeps over my cheek softly as I try to give him a smile and he pulls me
in, pressing his lips tenderly to mine. It’s a strange kiss from Blaine,
because his are always demanding, possessive, and lusty; but this one is sweet
and tender as his lips move over mine, causing me to sigh and lean into his
touch.

“No need to be sorry, Kitten,” Penton’s whisper and warm
breath touches my ear just as I feel him settle behind me, wrapping his arm
around my bare waist and sneaking his hand up to rest between my breasts; his
teeth grazing my earlobe. “It is our fault for not protecting our mate.”

“No,” I start to
protest,
turning
my head to look over my shoulder, but Blaine’s hold tightens on my cheek,
keeping me resting on the pillow. His nose runs along mine as my hands roam
over his chest, tracing the pattern of his tattoos without having to look. I
have him memorized, and I can do it in my sleep. Another growl rumbles through
him as his lips hover over mine, teasing me into submission, making me angle my
head back onto Penton’s shoulder.

“Sleep now,” he says, kissing my neck lightly and sending
waves of desire over my skin that sink into my core, making a low whimper die
in my throat. “No, no, Kitten.” He smiles, pulling me back to my side and
tucking my leg over his hip to entangle us.

“Rest.
Know that we are sorry for
not getting to you sooner,” Penton whispers with a deep sorrow in his voice,
bringing tears to my eyes again. “I am sorry.” He has nothing to be sorry for;
I should’ve listened to the warning issued by the manifestation of my sister
only seconds before
Cearbhall
appeared, but, as
always, I had to do things my way.

I could have gotten
Sindy
and her
girls killed! Why didn’t I think about that when Siofra came to me and warned
me? Why don’t I think,
ever
?

As Penton spoons into my backside, his face in my hair
warming me with every expelled breath as Blaine hugs me to his front, his lips
pressed against my forehead, I can’t help but sink into a soreness edged
slumber. It’s not without a fight, though, my brain wanting me to stay awake so
it can kick me in the ass with my stupid decisions that could have cost innocent
lives. I am so fucking stupid sometimes.

As my eyelids become heavy, I stare at the dusting of facial
hair on Blaine’s chin, doubts of whether bonding with him was the right
decision or not. What if
Cearbhall
wins one of these
times he gets to us? How will that affect B?

Feeling Penton shift slightly behind me, I let the Warlock’s
words rumble through my head again. Penton has to die for
Cearbhall
to die. But he can’t; he just can’t. He’s mine and he’s Blaine’s, it can’t be
the only way.

And if someone he loves has to be the one to kill him, then
who would that be? It sure as hell won’t be me.

~~~~~

Blaine

December 29, 2016

Rowena just hasn’t been the same since that morning in
Buffalo. Something is… I don’t fucking know, but something seems like it is
missing within her. She’s quiet and reserved, sitting in the back seat alone as
Penton rides shotgun in the
Landrover
beside me.
Whenever either of us says anything to her she answers in one word responses,
never taking her eyes from the side window averting mine in the rearview
mirror.

It pisses me off and worries me at the same time. What the
hell did that bastard do and say to her to break her down like this? Even my
wolf can sense the change in her leopard, seeking her out, but she just slinks
away into the recesses of Row’s mind, hissing at me if I mentally get too
close. My wolf hates it and has been on edge for the last two days, and it
doesn’t look like my tension is going to ease anytime soon with this shitty
weather we are driving through.

The snow has turned into a blizzard, sweeping across the
highway we are on in white waves and making it almost impossible to see. I slow
to about 45 miles per hour as an 18 wheeler three cars in front of us starts to
swerve back and forth, its tires sliding on the fresh snow and slick pavement
beneath. As I apply the brakes, the back end of the
Landrover
fishtails and my wolf growls in nervousness. Row’s soft whimper meets my ears
and my eyes shoot to the rearview mirror.

Her eyes are closed tightly. Her head is thrown back against
the headrest as her nails are digging into the leather of the seat. Her pain
flows through my chest and tightens around my heart, making another growl rip
through me.
“Row!?!
Row?!?”
I
yell, struggling to keep my attention on the road as my eyes are locked on the
mirror, my wolf wanting to leap into the backseat to make sure she is okay.
“Penton, get back there!”

He doesn’t hesitate, and in less than a second he’s over the
seat and cradling Row in his arms as she moans in pain, seeming to struggle
against something I can’t see. I can feel her pain double then ease as Penton
strokes her hair, cooing soothing words into her ear. I feel the sweat on her
skin, even though we aren’t touching, and my panting breath matches hers. This
is what it’s like to share your life with another; you share everything.

“What is wrong?” I grind out; my wolf still on edge as I
spot a billboard for a hotel stating it is ten miles ahead. That’ll be a good
place for the night; we’ve been on the road since last night and we could all
use a warm bed and shower.

“Just a nightmare,” Penton says, sharing a glance with me in
the mirror before turning his attention back to Rowena, brushing her white hair
off of her sweaty forehead and kissing her briefly.

I’m not gonna lie; I feel the jolt of desire that runs
through Row when Penton’s lips touch her forehead, causing me to adjust myself
in my seat to stop my cock from being constricted to the point of pain as it
surges to life, throbbing in need of my mate. I also feel the hesitation that
she uses to tamp down the lust she has for him, and I just shake my head. When
will she stop being so God damn stubborn?

“I’m gonna stop at a hotel up ahead. We’ll sleep there for
the night,” I say, and Penton nods, still holding her in his arms as if she is
a baby and whispering in her ear as she lays her head on his shoulder.

What happened to you, Kitten?
I wonder, turning my
attention back to the road and trying to focus on the road in the fading
daylight.
Whatever it was, I’ll make that bastard pay. I’ll rip out his
heart and let you burn it.

With that, my wolf issues an agreeing growl and I know a
nasty little grin perks up the side of my mouth. I can be a devious bastard when
I need to be and when it comes to my mate, anyone who harms her can be sure
they’ll see the evil, blood thirsty Berserker that I can be.

~~~~~

Rowena

“He said you’ll have to die,” are the only words I can think
to say as Penton holds me, sitting here in the backseat while Blaine maneuvers
us through the blizzard to a hotel. I’m still shaking from the flashback I just
went through. I could feel
Cearbhall’s
hand around my
throat, squeezing, and his fingers inside of me, thrusting hard without care.
Another uncontrollable wave of trembles rolls through me and Penton’s arms
tighten around me, pulling me up onto his lap and holding me to his chest.

“It’s all lies,” he murmurs, kissing my forehead and rocking
me slightly, as if I am a scared child, but I’m not gonna lie, the motion is
soothing. “
Cearbhall
has no idea what the future
holds for you or I; he only sees what he wants to see.”

“But what if he’s right?” I whisper, tucking my nose under
his chin to be closer to him, letting his scent wrap around me like a security
blanket. A sudden spark of lust flares within me and my leopard purrs as I run
my nose along his jaw line, rubbing my scent on him and marking him as mine. I
feel his body stiffen beneath me when I dart my tongue out and lick his Adam’s
apple, dragging my tongue up and over the corner of his jaw and onto his
earlobe, nipping lightly at the soft skin, and his hands shoot to my hips,
shifting me to straddle him.

“I won’t let anyone hurt you, or Blaine, or myself. We have
each other, finally, and the three of us are going to be safe once we reach
Broadus, and then Kade can deal with
Cearbhall
if the
bastard dares to follow us that far.” His hands move up from my hips, over my
back, and into my hair, pulling my face to his. He keeps his hold in my hair to
tease me with a kiss that just won’t happen and I let go of the stranglehold
I’ve held over my feelings for him, letting the waves of desire, lust, and
longing crash into him. His eyes flutter shut for only a second before snapping
open with a glowing stare, and he pulls my face to his, crushing our lips
together.

His mouth moves over mine hungrily, and a low groan type of
growl rolls through him before he pulls my lips away. I’m out of breath,
panting wildly, my body wanting nothing but him right here right now, but he
keeps his hand in my hair, holding me still as he looks me in the eye. The
burning within them, wanting and needing me, scares me just a bit as I notice
his features have changed and his skin has a slight green hue to it.