Tears streaked from her eyes as she recalled his hate and how he had levelled it at her all this time. Alainen was a true fanatic and hateful. The scar she had given him fuelled his envy, and over the many years, he had constantly hunted her and their child out. Their child was safe, having been born with the ability to shift, unlike Lanie, who’d been locked into Lamia’s form.
That one thing saved their daughter and kept her hidden from Alainen because Lanie had no doubt he’d kill her. Once she’d reached adulthood, Lanie had bidden her to go into the world and make her own way. She had warned Callidora to stay away from Alainen, and Callidora had obeyed. Of course, Callidora had been exposed to Alainen’s level of hatred as they fled him multiple times.
The safest they’d ever been was in America. It had been a little-known continent, and so vast Lanie had spent three thousand years there safely before Alainen tracked her down. There, he’d nearly succeeded in taking her head. Lanie had only once attempted to find love, and she’d believed Alainen’s empty promises.
Lanie couldn’t determine whether Alainen’s behaviour was typical or a reflection of her absorbing Anger. But one thing that didn’t make sense was his level of hatred. Alainen’s hatred was beyond anything anyone had seen or experienced. Why? It had been shocking when she’d first been confronted with it, and it had grown steadily worse. Alainen was out of control.
A car pulled up outside, and she sensed Dale as he let himself in.
‘In my bedroom,’ Lanie mind spoke to Dale, and he headed towards her.
“What happened? I can feel your distress from miles away,” Dale announced as he entered her room and kicked the door shut.
Dale strode over to the bed and gathered Lanie up in his arms. Lanie tucked her head under his chin and curled into him.
“Alainen sent one of his little minions after me today. He confronted me in the office,” Lanie responded.
“That doesn’t mean he knows for sure you’re you,” Dale replied. “Your shifter is totally different from you. He’s probably taking a punt in the dark.”
Despite his words, Lanie felt the worry coming from him.
“I might need to kill him now,” she replied.
“Then you do so. We aren’t going to lose you, and you are not running alone now. What you and Alainen did was wrong. God’s Warriors weren’t allowed to mate. But you did, and you fell in love. Callidora sprung from that, and she’s beautiful. But why Alainen is so focused on you confounds all of us. There’s more to his hatred than we understand,” Dale said as he rocked her.
“I want to go home.”
“Then come on,” Dale replied, calling for Mary as he stood and, still carrying her, passed through the mirror.
Chapter Three.
McIntyre
His teeth ground together as the confident man parked and entered the house. McIntyre swapped cameras and followed Dale Cummings as he marched through Lanie’s home like he owned it. When Dale entered the bedroom, McIntyre nearly threw his mug at the screen.
“Take over for me,” he said to the guard accompanying him. Roy nodded and moved his chair to watch the mansion.
McIntyre walked out and headed for the small yard staff used. He tilted his head back, dragged in a deep breath, and blew it out.
Why Dale Cummings had affected him so badly was anyone’s guess. Hell, McIntyre had only known Lanie less than a week. She wasn’t anyone to him.
Except she was. And he couldn’t deny that. Ranson would bust his ass if he knew what McIntyre was thinking. He had to get his emotions under control. Whether she realised it or not, Lanie Cross needed his help.
Lanie/Lamia
After spending the night at the castle and returning to tell Ranson she was staying at home for the weekend, Lanie relaxed as she watched her family.
Emmaline was complaining about Vladimir and Amari and how spoiled she was, not just by her father but by all the shifters.
Jase held Amari in his arms as he whispered things in his goddaughter’s ear while he kept a sharp eye on Willow.
Other Legendary Shifters were dotted about, Lanie noted as she turned to see who was present, but her eyes noticed Willow’s bump. It rippled alarmingly, and Willow winced.
Lanie moved closer as Willow placed a hand on her stomach, and her face took on a faraway look.
“Are you okay?”
“I’ve got back pain,” Willow muttered. Jase’s sensitive hearing caught her words, and Amari was handed back to her mother.