Throne of Oak (Maggie's Grove) (11 page)

“He wanted someone from here, a supernatural who’d grown up in a town like this. There’s no other place quite like it in the United States. Dad—Mr. Rhodes, he’s got this new scientist, see, and they’ve been performing experiments.” Blake grimaced. “This place is like one-stop shopping for those assholes. So they took some abandoned buildings, fixed them up under the guise of some kind of manufacturing plant, and moved their Northeastern operations into it. Including the prisoners they already had.”

“He wants to learn how to kill us better.” Dragos exchanged a glance with Noah, who nodded. This would go out to all the packs, and thus to all the supernaturals.

It was confirmed. The Van Helsings
were
kidnapping them for experiments. Damn it.

“I think so, but some of the stuff they said I didn’t get.”

Dragos nodded. They’d have to get their hands on that research, find out what the Van Helsings had come up with. “Can you tell us where they’re holding Iva, and if they have anyone else?”

The boy swallowed again and nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, they’ve taken some people from the town and the forest, and they’ve got more from other places. They’ve got Iva on the edge of town, away from the mountain and the forest. They didn’t want anyone they captured to be able to use any way of communicating with you.”

“They thought any psychic communication would stop at the edge of town?” Greer frowned.

That wasn’t entirely true. Mates, like Dragos and Mina, would be able to communicate no matter where they were in the world. But a weakened dryad—even a ruling one—might not be able to alert the forest.

“They keep them in metal cages and burn away any brush or weed that approaches the compound. Animals are shot on sight, and the night-time guards wear night vision goggles and have monitors on them that signal if their hearts stop beating for any reason. Mr. Carpenter also has bombs rigged to blow if it looks like the defenses have been breached. They’re totally ready to torch the place if it looks like your guys have gotten out. Or in.”

“They have Iva in a cage?” Ash muttered something under his breath. “Mina’s going to go ballistic.”

“We need to figure out how to get to her without setting off the defenses.” For once, Greer looked as fierce as Ash, his fists clenched at his sides. “We’ll have to set up to deal with any supernaturals that are wounded as well.”

“Does he have magical protections?” Noah’s voice remained even, but Dragos could smell the anger coming off the alpha.

Eddy was tensing up in response to Noah’s emotions, causing Trajan to take a step toward his mate. “Ease up, alpha.”

Noah stared at Trajan, but his brother wasn’t backing down. No matter the cost, Eddy would be protected.

Noah nodded. He understood the need to protect a mate. The scent of anger faded, and Eddy relaxed.

Blake didn’t seem to have noticed the little byplay between the shifters. He bit his lip, a small frown furrowing his brow. “I’m not sure how I’d know, honestly. We hunt...” He looked up at the people surrounding him and paled. “
They
hunt witches. Dad—I mean, Mr. Rhodes, he says that they have no souls.”

Ash rolled his eyes. “Think we should introduce Blake to Selena?”

“Well, I wouldn’t introduce him to Kate.” Eddy shivered hard.

“Eddy.” He couldn’t let his Renfield run down the woman. She was on the city council—a respected member of town.

No matter how much Dragos agreed with him.

“No, Dragos.” Eddy stood and faced him, the expression on his face full of fierce determination. Eddy was not going to be denied his say. “She’s bad news, and you know it.”

He held up his hands in surrender. “Okay, Eddy.”

“I mean it. I don’t want her anywhere near me, or you.”

Dragos agreed wholeheartedly. The way he was reacting around Kate was all wrong. He was beginning to suspect the witch had cast some sort of spell over him. “I hear you, Eddy.”

Trajan put his hands on Eddy’s shoulders, startling the Renfield. “Shall I kill her for you,
dragule
?”

Eddy’s smile was strained, his eyes almost as wild as Blake’s. “No?”

Noah coughed, obviously hiding a laugh. “Are you sure about that or not?”

Eddy shrugged. “No.”

“All righty then. As long as you’re sure you’re not sure.”

Eddy rolled his eyes. “You guys have been hanging around Parker way too much.” He turned back to Blake. “Can you show us on a map, maybe, where they’re holding Iva?”

Blake nodded warily. “I think so.”

“How many others do they have captive?”

A good question, and one Dragos should have thought of. “More than you might think. There was a man for a while, one who could turn into a wolf, but—” Blake stared at Noah. “He was yours, wasn’t he?”

Noah nodded. “He had a wife and two kids.”

Blake grimaced. “I’m sorry.”

“So am I.”

Blake rubbed his face wearily. “I’ll show you where they are, but you might want someone to hack into their computers first to get the data they’ve collected. I’m pretty sure they’ll have protections on that too, but if you can figure out a way around them you’ll have everything they do.”

“And then some. Dragos, if they’ve got more than the research data on those computers we’re golden. We could have lists of other pockets of Van Helsings—just for starters.” Noah’s enthusiasm was understandable, but Maggie’s Grove was supposed to be a place of safety. The last thing Dragos wanted was to bring
more
Van Helsing attention their way.

“Lore’s been investigating our lost people as an internal missing persons problem, not Van Helsing attacks.”

He stared at Noah. “How do you know?”

Noah shrugged. “I’ve been running interference for you, taking some of the meetings you couldn’t handle. Lore’s one of mine, so it made sense for him to bring the problem to me.”

Dragos winced. It was just one more thing he’d missed while dealing with his beast’s need for Mina. Still, he’d be having a long talk with the human about what constituted his need-to-know.

“Knock it off. You’ve been dealing with a lot of stuff recently, and none of us realized how close the Van Helsings had gotten. Hell, they got to one of
my
enforcers.”

Noah had a point. Still, someone should have told him. “I’m the mayor. I’m supposed to know about these things happening in my town.”

Noah snorted. “No, you’re not. That’s what the sheriff is
for
. You’re supposed to run the town. Besides, if it had gotten much worse Lore was under orders to bring it to you. Last I spoke to him he was just starting to toy with the idea that it might be a serial killer, and we were discussing how to deal with it.”

“Damn it. I should have known.” He didn’t like the thought that Noah had kept him in the dark over something so important.

“I made a call as Alpha to take some of the strain off you.”

Dragos sighed. In any other circumstance he would have
thanked
the Alpha. “I don’t want a war, Noah.” Dragos held up his hands to stall Noah’s immediate protest. “We deal with this set of Van Helsings, yes. But I don’t want Maggie’s Grove to become a battleground.”

Noah nodded. “Understood. I don’t like it, but...understood.”

“Good.” Noah might be alpha, but Dragos still ruled Maggie’s Grove, and damn it he wouldn’t use that to his advantage.

Noah bowed. “Yes, Mayor.”

Dragos turned back to Blake, but before he could say anything Trajan stepped forward, his arm protectively wrapped around Eddy’s waist. “We still have to deal with Laurentiu and Vasile, Dragos.”

“What
is
Father up to, Trajan?” It was time he found out, began planning for whatever his father was going to throw at him.

“He’s going to issue a formal challenge to you. He’s sent Vasile to scout out the area—see what, if any, weaknesses you may have. He’ll exploit them if he can.”

“Why?” Dragos couldn’t understand why his father insisted on harassing him. He was no longer a part of the clutch. He had nothing to do with them. Yet his father continued to send hunters after him.

“I’m not sure.” Trajan glanced at Eddy. “If I did, I would tell you. I swear.”

He was inclined to believe Trajan, if only because Eddy remained relaxed in the dragon’s embrace. Still, it didn’t hurt to be cautious. “Vasile spoke with Mina, told us to guard ourselves against you.”

Trajan snorted. “Of course he would. You know how deep in Father’s pocket our brother is.”

“Do I?” Dragos allowed his skepticism to show. “Up until a few days ago I thought all three of you were my enemy.”

Trajan pulled Eddy close, ignoring the man’s indignant squawk. His meaning was clear. “Not anymore.”

Chapter Eight

“Remember, Mina. Three times. You’ve have a round of sex and vampire noms, and that counts as one time no matter how many times he chomps on you.”

Amara nodded at Parker’s words. “He’s marked you once, and since then you’ve been threatened. The urge to place the second mark will be nearly overwhelming. Until he puts the third, he’s going to be insanely overprotective.”

Mina’s brows rose. Like Parker wasn’t still insanely overprotective of Amara, even knowing how powerful she was.

Parker, standing behind Amara, nodded discreetly. No, it wouldn’t get any better, but Dragos’s urges might be easier to handle if their bond was no longer under threat.

“Thank you.” They’d been giving her the run-down on how a vampire claimed his mate. It took three times. Three deep bites, each one during a different round of sex, and the bond was complete. The vampire would be mated to his chosen one.

Tonight she’d receive the second mark. She could feel Dragos’s desire thrumming through her, tightening her belly with want. She could almost feel him caressing her skin the closer he got to the Throne.

She wondered if Parker would give Dragos the same courtesy. Did her vampire lover know how dryads claimed
their
mates? She hoped not. She wanted to surprise him, wanted to see him react when she offered herself to him.

“Are you all right?”

Mina rolled her eyes and looked up. As if thinking his name had conjured him, there was Dragos, floating over her bed of leaves. His arms were crossed over his chest as his gaze roamed over her.
My very own overprotective vampire.
The Throne hadn’t even bothered to alert her to his presence.

She turned to her friends. She could tell him she was okay until she was blue in the face, but he’d believe it faster if they told him. “Parker? Amara? Am I all right?”

“She’s fine, Dragos.” Amara waved a cheery hello. “The forest did a good job cleaning up the remains, and the headache she got for leaving the Throne seems to be all gone.”

Parker nodded. “She’s been resting.”

“Good.” She’d been right. Her vampire immediately relaxed, even smiled. Dragos landed and held out his hand to Parker. “Thank you for watching my
sotiei
.”

“You’d do the same.” Parker picked Amara up in his arms and started to float. “We’ll be on our way, then.”

Amara wrapped her arms around Parker’s neck. Apparently she didn’t have the same problem with her feet leaving the ground that Mina did. “Have a good night!”

“I plan on it.”

Mina needed some information, and to show him something important, before he took her again. She’d been thinking about it all evening, how she wanted to give him a gift she’d given few others. It was important that Dragos love all of her home, not just the Throne. “How did the conversation with Blake turn out?”

“He’s going to help us figure out where Iva is being held.”

Mina blew out a breath, almost dizzy with relief.
Finally.
They’d have Iva home, and Mina’s family would be whole again. “That’s probably the best news I’ve gotten all day.”

“Then I’m glad I was the one to deliver it.” Dragos settled down on her leafy bed and curled up next to her. “Hi.”

“Hi.” She stroked his cheek, her heart thumping as he leaned into her touch. “Noah’s enforcer?”

“Confirmed dead.” Dragos stared at her, his gray eyes flecked with red. “We need to shut them down.”

“You’ll have the aid of my people and all the resources of the forest.” She could promise that, even if she herself couldn’t go far from the Throne. Today had proven she could leave in an emergency, but she’d nearly collapsed from the pain before she’d gotten back. “Greer and Ash will lead them.”

“Speaking of those two, they should be back shortly.” Dragos sighed. “I wish there was somewhere more private we could go.” She opened her mouth to respond, but he stopped her. “I know that I can’t take you to my home—not yet. I just wish I didn’t have to worry about an audience when I want to make love to you.”

She nodded and stood. “Then maybe I should take you to
my
home.”

He tilted his head, his expression confused. “This is your home.”

“No. This is only a small part of it.” She took hold of his hand and pulled him... All right, he
allowed
her to pull him to his feet. If Dragos truly wanted to remain somewhere, the best she could do was strain her back as she tried to move him. “This is the biggest secret the forest holds, one that not even Parker knows. Amara is aware of it, but I’ve never invited her inside. Very few dryads aside from Ash, Iva, Greer and myself have been where I take you now.”

“Mina?” He followed along in her wake as she went to the base of her tree. “What’s going on?”

She touched the back of her throne. “Trust me.”

She tapped out a pattern that every ruling dryad was taught at an early age, the one the witches of old had placed there for just such a purpose.

She heard Dragos gasp as the throne slid silently back, revealing a dark, winding staircase. “I had no idea that was even here.”

Mina led the way, waiting until Dragos was below the earth before shutting the entryway. “The witches knew the ruling dryads couldn’t leave the Throne. We can’t live in the town like the rest of them, even Amara. We have to remain here, near the seat of our power.” She made her way down the stairs, the witch-light giving a soft glow to gray-brown stone. The small balls of pale yellowish-white would die out behind her as they descended. “So, long ago, Oak made a deal with the coven of white witches, knowing that they’d make us a home that wouldn’t damage the Throne itself, or disturb the soil. Our trees need deep roots, but we needed a place to lay our heads that wasn’t exposed to the elements.” She was so excited to be showing him the Throne’s secret place she could barely keep from bouncing.

“And this was the solution? An underground lair?”

“Yes, exactly. Between the dryads and the witches, a solution was thought of that gave us what we needed. Everyone was told that they were consecrating the Throne, placing the protections around it that exist to this day, and they did. But while they were here, the homes of Oak, Ash, Birch and Yew were built into the ground secretly, with their help.”

“The earth elementals must have been in on it.” Dragos ran his fingers down the smooth, polished stone. “The workmanship is incredible.”

“They knew, yes, and they helped, but they swore an oath not to tell. None have. Those who work in the forest, like Rock, are aware that it’s here because of their nature, but none have intruded on us.”

The staircase ended in a huge circular room. Etched into the polished granite floor was a tree of life, done in green enamel. “This was the original throne room. When it was decided to turn the palace into private residences, the Oak at the time chose to keep this as sort of our foyer.” And she loved it—loved the tree of life etched into the stone, loved the sense of peace it gave her.

Four doors, each with a tree plaque attached, led the way to their individual homes. Mina made her way to the door with the oak on it.

“How do you get your mail?”

Mina laughed. He would wonder that. “In olden days the witch doctor would deliver it. These days, we have post office boxes, and the postmaster bends the rules for us a bit if we order something that can’t be delivered to a P.O. box. He allows us to use the actual post office address as our own.” She opened the door. Down here, they needed no keys. The doors provided privacy. If her door was open, the others were welcome to enter. If her door was closed, she wished to be alone.

Her door had been closed far more often than open lately—something she planned to remedy.

“Wow.” Dragos stepped into her living room, staring around like a child as the witch-lights lit it up.

“Each ruler has taken the place and added their own touches.” She was proud of her home, beyond proud to finally be able to show it to her mate. She stepped into the living room, loving the mix of old and new. “The whole home was designed by the first Oak, but over the years we’ve all done at least a little something. This was originally the palace of Oak, but the second Oak decided that each ruler should have their own private residence. This was the original entryway, with the kitchen being the waiting room.”

“It’s huge.” He ran his hands on the cool, polished stone, smiling as the witch-light brightened in response. “I like that you have living plants down here.”

She stroked the leaf of one of her ficuses. “The witch-light is fake sunlight, allowing us to grow them underground.”

“And remain healthy if you’re forced to stay in your homes for long periods of time.” He nodded. “I approve, although I have to admit, I’m also confused.”

“How so?”

He held up his hand. “Why aren’t I smoking?”

“Ah. That.” She shrugged. “It’s magic.”

“Don’t fuck with it?”

“Exactly.” She laughed. “Do you think they didn’t take into account that the mayor of Maggie’s Grove or one of his vampires would visit one day? Protections for vampires were built in when this was still a palace. You’re as safe here as you are in your own home.”

He appeared to think about that for a moment before nodding. “Good to know, as I plan on being here quite a lot.” He peeked into her kitchen. The stone countertops were pale, the cabinets dark. His brows rose at the sight of stainless steel appliances. “You have electricity?”

She chuckled. “And internet. That was one of my contributions, along with updating some of the furnishings and the thick gray carpet.” The polished stone walls were gorgeous, but dear Goddess did they echo. The carpet cut down on that considerably, and was much warmer under her toes. “My predecessor put in the electricity and phone lines.”

He was beginning to frown. “How did you get all of this down here without the town knowing? Without
me
knowing?”

She shrugged. “It’s magic, Dragos, remember?”

“Selena?”

She shook her head. “Selena didn’t know us when we did this. Glinda, Amara’s adoptive mother, helped, as did a few others we trusted on the advice of our parents.” She gestured toward the living room—one of her favorite places to hang out with Iva, Greer and Ash. “I even have a Wii.”

He smiled as he took in the reproduction Victorian arm chairs she’d had painted a glossy black and upholstered in warm gray velvet. They were a nice complement to her paisley gray sofa with the high arms and black lacquer feet. She’d gone more modern on the coffee table, choosing a large velvet ottoman done in teal. The end tables were black, with silver lamps and teal lampshades.

The fireplace was her pride and joy, however. Put in by the fifth Oak, the fireplace surround was huge, an ornately sculpted marble masterpiece done by an earth elemental at the turn of the nineteenth century. He’d carved the symbols of Oak, Ash, Birch and Yew in four squares above the actual fireplace, and carved the stone pillars to look like tree trunks, the branches holding up the mantel. And on that mantel sat an antique bow—the bow of the first Oak, Margaret—to acknowledge Maggie’s Grove, to work with Dragos to build a new, better future for all the supernaturals who came seeking sanctuary and home. Margaret was long gone, but her bow survived, passed down from the Kings and Queens who descended from her line, a symbol of that first, great Queen and all she’d striven to achieve.

“How many bedrooms do you have?”

She’d been expecting that question. His hunger, his need, was beating against her senses. “Three, as well as a private office where I conduct my business. As the Oak of Maggie’s Grove, I have a lot of correspondence to respond to, as well as dealing with the rest of the dryads and helping to keep the forest safe from Van Helsings and poachers.” She began to walk toward her bedroom. The tour of the rest of her home could wait. Her lover was hungry—for blood and sex. “We help in search and rescue missions. Plus we all own The Greenhouse, utilizing it to try and preserve endangered plant species so they can be reintroduced into the wild.”

“I like your home, my
sotiei
.”

“Thank you.” She’d hoped he would, but it was so different from what most people expected. She loved the grays and blues, the soft tones soothing to her senses. She led him down the hallway where her bedrooms and office were, opening the door at the end. “This is the master bedroom.”

He whistled. “It’s beautiful.” His arms wrapped around her from behind and he nuzzled her neck through the fall of her hair. “Especially the bed.”

Mina cleared her throat. The black king-size sleigh bed would fit her tall mate perfectly, and the pale silvery bedding would bring out his eyes.

And the lack of windows meant her vampiric lover would be able to rest easily, without fear of the sun.

“I look forward to sleeping with you there, my Mina.” His breath tickled her neck, sending a shiver of awareness down her spine. “And doing other things with you.”

“Ah...” She was gently pushed forward, walked toward the bed. She nearly lost her footing when he nibbled her neck, right at the spot he’d bitten her last. “Like Scrabble?”

She felt more than heard his laugh. “I was thinking more along the lines of naked Twister.”

“Sometimes it’s nice to have things spelled out for you.”

Dragos picked her up and placed her carefully down on top of the comforter. “And sometimes it’s nice to just let your body win the game.”

“Good point.” Her shoes were taken off and dropped carelessly alongside the bed. “Do I get a kiss first?”

Those brilliant silver eyes were roaming over her, as if she were already naked beneath him. Dragos crawled onto the bed until he was covering her from head to toe, his forehead pressed against hers, his thighs cradling her own. He thrust his hips against her, letting her feel his hardness beneath his slacks. “I can deny you nothing, my
sotiei
.”

Dragos took her mouth in a kiss so sweet she might never want chocolate again.

All right, that was a lie. She might—especially if it was melted all over his sculpted chest.

He was tugging on her pants, removing her clothes while pressing nibbling little kisses to her skin, tasting each inch of flesh as it was slowly revealed. When her pants came off he kissed the tip of each of her toes, making her wriggle them in protest. She wasn’t sure she wanted him to know how ticklish her feet were.