Last Chance (DarkWorld: SkinWalker Book 3) (7 page)

“Will they want us on board, considering?” Seems the alpha bloodline issue had struck a chord with Dad too.

“Of course, Corin. Don’t even think that the alphas will sideline you on this.” His tone was sharp, as if it annoyed him that Dad had even asked the question.

Dad just nodded and Justin left his seat and walked farther down the line to stop and talk with another alpha family. I scanned the people in the room and for a moment, I was relieved to see that few eyes were on me or any of the other half-bloods with relationship issues.

Until my gaze fell on Michael Waring. He was staring straight at me, caring little if I noticed his attention. The look he gave me didn’t disguise his dislike. The Warings were one family I’d never want to contend with. If you wanted to see entitlement in action, you only had to look at the Waring alphas. They were cougars from Washington and seemed to think their location meant they got to tell everyone else what to do. Most alpha families paid them little attention, and the reality was they had more enemies than friends.

Now Michael, whose father was the reigning alpha of his clan, stared at me with a potent hatred in his eyes. Michael, whose advances I’d deflected just before I’d fled to Chicago. It didn’t make sense though. Why hold a grudge against a half-breed with the new ruling now coming into effect. But a niggling thought still remained. I was one of the most powerful alphas in the US. If we had to step back into the Dark Ages and fight amongst the alphas for the right to rule, I’d pretty much wipe the floor with Michael’s ass. Was that it, then? He hated me for rejecting him?

I sighed, wanting to rub my forehead to ease the ache behind my eyes. But that would be a show of weakness, and alphas were not weak.

I just wanted this to be over so I could go get Mom.

The gavel knocked again and the room subsided into silence. During the discussion, the council members had remained at the table, had not mixed with the alphas at all. Smart move since so many of the alphas were so unhappy.

“Now that we have the ruling on record, we can adjourn the meeting. You will all receive copies for the addition via email within the next day. And of course, we welcome any discussion regarding the new ruling. Meeting adjourned.”

The moment the gavel hit the block a final time, the room erupted into discussion. The council members filed out in a hurry, and it was easy to see why. They weren’t the most popular people around. A large number of alpha families gathered around us, and a few of them patted me on the back or the shoulder, murmuring words of support and encouragement.

We stayed until the first alphas began to leave, an Odel family rule of old. We were officially the highest-ranking family, and even in Justin’s home, Dad acted as the host. Not that Justin minded, either. He’d been an honorary member of our family since we’d joined his in marriage.

***

As soon as Grams and I got back to the apartment, she rushed into her room and grabbed her bag. She glanced over her shoulder as she headed for the door. “I really have to go. I’m not sure if I’ll get back before you return, so be careful, Kai. I mean it. Don’t go taking any unnecessary chances.”

“Yes, Grams.” I agreed, knowing as I spoke that I merely said the words to satisfy her. Whatever happened when I went to Wrythiin, it would happen as needed. I had no plans to avoid anything the Wraiths may have in store for me.

The apartment was silent after she left, just the soft tick-tock of the hall clock to break the deathly pall. I was bone tired and needed some sleep, but the insistent vibration of my mobile told me I had at least one message waiting to be attended to.

A glance at the list of texts confirmed a message from Lily and one from Logan. It was well into the early hours of the morning when we’d returned from Justin’s, but I responded to both messages, hoping both senders were asleep and would receive them in the morning, thus relieving me from any further disturbances.

No such luck.

The phone buzzed and I was forced to answer. “Hey, Lily. Why are you still awake?” I asked, keeping my voice light.

“Where the hell have you been?” came the strident question.

“Sorry, it’s been a freaking long day.”

“I was worried,” Lily replied, an accusing note to her words.

“I’m sorry. I got home late, then saw Tara, then had to head off to a Walker Council meeting that still makes my stomach turn.”

“Walker Council?” Lily asked. “What do they want?”

I sighed and sank into the couch. “Nothing much. They just want to make sure half-breed alphas who don’t partner with another full-blooded Walker lose their alpha-hood.”

“What? But, Kai, what about Logan?”

“Hey. It’s not as bad as it sounds. It looks like the alpha families won’t be taking the council’s shenanigans lying down.”

“So someone is going to do something about it, then?” she asked hopefully. She seemed as upset about this as I was.

“I certainly hope so. And by the way, Lily, this has nothing to do with Logan, okay?”

“What do you mean? If what they say stands, then you won’t be allowed to be with him.” Her voice was strident and almost panicky, as if the thought that anything happening to Logan and me would devastate her.

“Lily,” I said, keeping my voice low and even. “I’m young and so is Logan. We both have a lot of life left before us. This isn’t the time in either of our lives to be making long-term life choices.”

“But…”

“But nothing, Lily.” I fell silent for a moment, and it seemed she had nothing to add. I hoped she wasn’t pouting. “Look. I have to get some rest. I’m falling asleep on my feet.”

“When do you leave?”

“As soon as I wake up.”

“Well, I’m coming with you, so don’t leave without me.”

“Look, Lily—”

“Don’t
look Lily
me. I’m not letting you leave me behind this time, okay. Anjelo is in Wrythiin too. I have stakes in this too, you know, so you can’t cut me out. You don’t have the right.” No matter how I looked at it, I couldn’t negate her words.

I sighed in silence. Lily had me cornered with her argument. Besides, how could I refuse her the right to save the boy she loved? “Okay. I’ll text you when I get up.”

“Thanks, Kai. I promise I won’t let you down. I’ll be useful too.”

“I know you will. Now let me sleep and we’ll talk in a few hours. You get some rest, too. No telling how long it will be before we rest again.”

***

My sleep broke a few hours later, and I knew that was all the rest I was going to get. I wriggled in the bed, my eyes squeezed shut, reluctant to open them. Already my heart was thudding in anticipation of the mission.

I stiffened as warm lips traced a heated trail down my neck. Logan’s hair brushed softly against my cheek, and I smiled, inhaling the musky, piquant scent of him. It had been a different kind of hell during the funeral, unable to touch him or let him touch me. I’d have said to hell with propriety and manners, but Logan was all about the rules.

Now, though, it seemed he was prepared to break a few rules with me. The strap of my racer back tee slipped off my shoulder, and he kissed my collarbone, sinking his teeth into the sensitive skin, sending shivers of desire along my body, all the way to the pit of my stomach.

I cleared my throat and tilted my head down to look at him. “Just what is it you think you are doing?” Although I tried to be cool, even bossy, my voice came out husky and filled with desire.

“What does it look like?” he asked as he raised his head to look at me, his black eyes filled with fire. My collarbone felt bereft of his warmth, and the look in his eyes destroyed any facade of resistance I might have raised.

“What it looks like is breaking and entering,” I said, my breath coming in short, sharp bursts.

He moved closer, skin sizzling against skin. “Oh no, I entered the property on good authority that the owner was in need of saving.”

“Oh really? Saving from what?” I raised an eyebrow, but it went unseen as Logan returned to burn kisses along my neck, all the way back to my collarbone, and then farther. I wasn’t about to complain.

“Saving from need,” he whispered, his voice hoarse. “You see, need is all-consuming, and she has to be saved or else it will mean the death of her.” The other strap of my tee slid off my shoulder, the fabric skimming sensitive skin, heightening the ripples of desire that engulfed me.

“You sure this need isn’t really an Incubus?”

Logan snorted and his breath puffed against my ribs. He’d certainly made progress. I was now down to just one article of clothing.

Logan groaned and pulled me closer, sliding his body up mine, sending sparks of lightning across my skin, firing my senses. The feel of his lithe, muscled body against the length of mine did unmentionable things to my insides. His mouth descended on mine, his tongue driving me to seek more of him.

And in that moment, time stood still. I wasn’t thinking about heading off into unknown danger. All I could think of was the man who held me so tenderly in his arms.

For now, the moment was all ours.

***

I woke with a start and blinked drowsily. Something had pulled me from a deep, dreamless sleep. I accessed my panther sight, the dark slowly melting away until I saw Logan struggling in the bed beside me. I’d been so fast asleep I’d forgotten he was even there. And I didn’t have time to feel bad either. He thrashed about, tossing his head this way and that. The muscles in his neck were strained, tight with whatever stress his dream created in his mind. He mumbled something, but many of the words were smudged. I managed to make out a few words, and it sounded like he’d said, “Where is she?” and “What happened to her?”

A light sheen of sweat bathed Logan’s body, and he was so hot to touch that I hissed when I put my hand on him to still his frantic thrashing. I ignored the burn and gripped his muscled shoulder, shaking him hard. Who knew what he’d do, but I was prepared.

He slid out of his nightmare slowly, blinking at me as I bent over him. He dragged a hand over his slick face and groaned, dropping his head back against the pillow.

“You okay?” I asked as I hovered.

He gazed at me, his eyes dark and troubled. Then they cleared as he gave me smile. “I’m fine. Just a bad dream.” He was trying to reassure me, and I didn’t want to push him.

Selfishly, I was aware I didn’t have the time to spend convincing him to confide in me. I just had to hope we had enough between us that he could eventually be comfortable enough to bare his soul.

***

I walked out of the shower to the enticing aroma of fresh coffee. Dressing quickly, I headed for the kitchen to see Lily sitting at the marble counter, sipping at her mug and blowing carefully on the steaming surface. Logan stood on the other side of the counter, a mug in his hand. He’d dressed and looked pretty decent considering we’d gotten about two hours of shut-eye. Handing me a mug, he smiled as I approached, and I slipped into the seat beside Lily.

She looked at me, then quickly glanced at Logan and then back at me. I hid a smile. Lily was a little uncomfortable being alone with us.

“You’re early. Wanted to make sure I don’t leave without you?” I asked with a teasing smile.

Her eyes narrowed, unamused. “Something like that,” she snapped, clearly grumpy because of the hour of the day.

“You tell Storm where you’re headed?”

Lily nodded. I was being motherly, but I didn’t have a choice. I had to be sure she’d checked off everything that was necessary.

“Did he have any objections?”

She snorted. “Of course he did. He seems to think he’s my father or something.” She rolled her eyes, then returned to blowing on her coffee.

“Lily, he is your guardian, you know. It’s what you agreed to. And it shows that he cares.”

“I know.” She sighed and set the mug on the counter. “I’m just not used to someone being so overprotective.” She rolled her arms, elbows out, as if she were struggling under a blanket weighing her down. I knew how she felt. It was exactly the way I’d felt in Tukats before I decided to hit the road. How could I fault her?

Silence shifted between the three of us until Logan cleared his throat. “You girls need to be extra careful in Wrythiin.” He seemed to blurt out the statement as if he hadn’t intended to say anything in the first place but had been unable to control himself.

“Any particular reason?” I sipped and wondered what he knew. “Omega know something we should?” Logan’s eyelids dropped the tiniest bit of an inch, and in that movement I knew the answer was yes. “So what does Omega have on the Wrythiin situation?”

“It’s not very specific. We’ve tried to gain information, but it’s pretty difficult considering we don’t have a Wraith working for Omega, so a deep cover agent isn’t a possibility.” He paused again, then drained his mug. “Our knowledge of the political and social situation in Wrythiin is solely from back when the Wraiths were originally banished from the Earth. Since their banishment, they’ve been careful to ensure as little interaction with Omega or Sentinel and even the High Council of Protectors.”

“Well, if they weren’t allowed to come to our world, how was anyone supposed to keep an eye on them?” Lily asked.