Page 27 of The Dark War

I had dreams about Melina before she came here. The goddess even whispered in my ear that this girl was special. Me, trying to be rational, thought it was because she was mated to my good friend, Osirus, only to find out she was indeed half-siren. Talk about a major plot twist.

Now Tulip was captured by Daphne, who was holding her hostage in a rogue witch coven holding vampires as guards, and my mate was going to just ‘scout’ the area. “Are you worried?” I looked up into his eyes. His jaw tightened, his hand reaching for my shoulder to squeeze.

“Of course not,” Torin purred in his chest. He was trying to make me feel better, but the hesitation in his voice didn’t leave. “If he needs help, I’ll be around.”

“Yeah, or make sure that Osirus cleans up his mess.” Marcus sauntered up, smacking the ass of some she-wolf. I glared at her, her eyes now darting to the dirt. She had a mate somewhere, and she was playing with this big player.

“Marcus,” I barked out, causing Evelyn to turn her head. Her wide eyes saw the man she saw as an uncle reach out to him. Marcus took her in his arms, rocking her back and forth until she slapped him in the face.

Ha, good one.

“You need to keep it in your pants.” I shook my finger. “What are you going to do when you have to tell your mate you had your willy in different she-wolves?” Marcus held back a laugh until his wide grin overtook his face.

“Willy? Is that what you call Kane’s dick?” Kane rubbed his face, groaning.

“No, I call it the Kraken,” I snipped. Marcus raised a brow, Raine roaring with laughter behind me. “Because it rises from the depths and gets things wet!” I bit my lip, trying to be serious.

Forgetting the wolves behind us, many thundered in laughter at my joke. Kane’s body flinched, slowly turning to see everyone backing away. His nasty glare even had Marcus pull back. Evelyn giggled, watching her daddy’s hair stand up again.

Feeling the rage in Kane, I put my hand in his while he put Evelyn back in his arms. The scowl on his face was going to get stuck like that if he didn’t stop. “Alpha,” I cooed, pulling him back to me. “I was trying to lighten the mood. I’m sorry.” Kane’s face instantly softened. He pulled me up in his arm while holding his daughter and me.

“I know.” He chuckled, only speaking to me. I thought some of my personality would rub off on him and be more sociable with people, but that was still not the case. Evelyn and I would be the only ones meant for him to show his soft side. His nose trailed up my neck, kissing me under my ear. “I have to show them who’s boss.” Rolling my eyes, he pinched my butt, causing me to cry out.

Kane’s body turned. “Shift!” He growled out. Dozens of wolves now shook their fur. Evelyn watched in awe, clapping her hands in delight.

“I’ll be back by nightfall.” With a kiss on Evelyn’s cheek, he shifted into Torin’s half form. They all ran into the forest that held our large pack house in nature’s protection.

“He’ll be all right.” Raine rubbed my back. She had known about the nightmares I was having. Kane had briefed almost all of our family of the worries that fell on my shoulders. As much as I didn’t want others to think I was weak, Kane made it very clear I wasn’t to do this on my own. We were a team, just as much as his family was.

“Would you like me to take Evelyn?” Evelyn’s face buried into my shoulder, her fists holding onto my now waist-long hair. My baby needed me.

“No, I think I’ll put her down for her nap,” I whispered. “You should spend some time with Dean. Isn’t he working the blood donations?” Raine bit her lip. Her fangs that could once be controlled by her wolf now always sat short in her mouth. Her transformation of taking some of Dean’s genetics was difficult for her. She had a hard time stomaching the idea of drinking blood. Luckily, it was only his she would drink.

Raine held off as long as she could before she had her first feed. Once the thirst fever hit, it hit her hard, and now she makes sure she will never become that hungry again.

“You’re right. I’ll go see if I can round up some more ‘volunteers’.” She snickered. It was part of the pack’s obligation to donate blood now, only for non-rogue vampires, of course. Taliyah and Jasper had been very thankful for that. Once they begin rebuilding the kingdom, there are plans to bring human blood through the portal. A small coven that Sebastian had arrived at months ago proved that their methods could work on a larger scale.

Sharp pain in my shoulder had me rotating it. Evelyn had just finished her dinner, and I placed her on the floor. An area of the kitchen was closed off. It was a smaller kitchen within the larger pack kitchen used by the alpha and luna. A small fridge, stove, dishwasher, and kitchen table sat. It made the pack house feel more like a human home having this small kitchen to my specifications.

I liked to come here when Kane wasn’t eating with us. It gave me time to spend with just Evelyn and not have numerous wolves interrupting our dinner. I guess I was pretty popular when Kane wasn’t scowling at everyone to leave us alone.

We kept a highchair, a small two-person table, and a small fridge filled with the few chocolate silk pies only meant for Kane. Putting some measuring cups on the floor so Evelyn could bang them together, I turned to finish washing the small number of dishes that were left. She squealed happily as I watched her from the corner of my eye. Accidentally dropping a plate, my hand went to my shoulder, and I saw sharp claw marks appear.

“Raine!” I yelled, feeling the tearing of the skin. Kane was in trouble; he had to be. Using the mind-link, I couldn’t hear anything but the static. The static felt so familiar, like I had heard it before. “Raine!” Raine came running into the room, her lips stained with blood. Dean wasn’t far behind. He gasped, pushing Raine aside and helping me sit down. Blood dripped down his lips, and I couldn’t help but shiver.

Ew, they were eating.

“I’m sorry.” I whimpered, feeling the sting. The pain wasn’t going away. He wasn’t healing. Rubbing it, Evelyn whimpered until Raine pulled her up into her arms. “I think there is something wrong with Kane!” I blurted. With concern in his eyes, Dean looked to Raine but shook her head.

“You know something?” I growled out. Giana was getting pissed, and I was too! “What is it? Are you keeping things from me?” Raine stuttered while Evelyn looked on at my state of distress. I had to calm down. I couldn’t break out in anger with her in the room.

Putting his hand on my back, Dean whispered, “Kane told us not to say anything.” I growled lowly. Dean squatted down, his knees on the floor. My eyes flashed, Giana pulling to the surface.

“I am the luna. I should know what’s going on!” I snapped.

“He’s trying to keep you safe,” Raine pleaded, her back to the wall. “He doesn’t want you to worry. You have too much on your plate right now.”

“As sweet as that is,” I said, “we promised each other we wouldn’t keep secrets. Now spit it out.” Raine’s mouth hung open, looking at Dean who was sitting with Evelyn. “I am the luna, future queen of the Cerulean Moon Kingdom. My order trumps Kane’s!” I gritted my teeth. Stomping over to Raine, I grabbed Evelyn, her body instantly relaxing as I held her head to my shoulder.

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