Phoenix's Fate (RARE Series, #2) (3 page)

“It’s ok,” Serenity lied.  No it really was not ok.  Serenity was so screwed and she knew it.  At least before she had let her healing ability be known, she’d had more of a chance of going unnoticed.  Now the General would want the scientists to not only keep a close eye on her, but she would also be subjected to horrible experiments.  Maybe she would get lucky and it would keep her out of the mommy pool longer.  She was sure the General would want to breed her because of her abilities, but he would want to run tests on her first to see exactly what she was capable of doing.  It would give Phoenix more time to find her, if he was even looking. 

“No, it is not ok,” Rikki said angrily.  “The General knows about your healing ability now.  He obviously didn’t before, but now he does.  I am sure that’s why they came in and took your blood earlier.”

Serenity squeezed her eyes shut tightly as she cursed under her breath.  “He would have found out sooner or later,” she said after a moment.  “It is what it is.”

Rikki watched her closely as she said, “You told me that you did it for Phoenix.  Do you know Phoenix?”

Serenity looked up at her warily.  She did not know this woman.  She wasn’t sure if she should say anything to her or not.  Deciding to trust her instincts she told her, “He’s my mate.  I have never met him, but Ashley told me he was coming for me and that he is mine.”

“Oh shit,” Rikki hissed.  “You’re sure?”  Serenity swallowed hard and then nodded.  Rikki sat quietly for a minute and then she started laughing.  “Let me tell ya something, girl.  As soon as Phoenix finds out about you, he will hunt you down, he will find you, and he will blow the fuck apart anybody and anything that gets in his way.  The General made a huge mistake when he decided to take you.”

“But Phoenix doesn’t even know about me,” Serenity told her in surprise.  “Oh, I guarantee you, if he doesn’t know about you yet, he will soon,” Rikki responded with a grin.  “ And I promise you, Serenity, that I will do anything and everything that I can to keep you safe until my brother gets to you.”

“Your brother?” Serenity asked in surprise.  Rikki laughed, “He might as well be my brother.  He and Nico saved me when nobody else gave a damn.  They were there for me when I needed them.  My team is my family and Phoenix and Nico are my brothers.  I would do anything for them.  And I will do anything for you, Serenity, because you just became a part of our family and we protect what is ours.”

Serenity swallowed hard and then whispered, “Thanks.  It’s been a long time since anyone has cared about me.”

Just then Serenity felt a pushing sensation in her mind and froze.  Oh hell no.  This was not happening.  “What’s wrong,” Rikki asked, glancing around quickly. 

“Someone is trying to get into my head.  I can’t let that happen.  I won’t.  The General can go fuck himself if he thinks he is going to get to me that way,” Serenity growled.  She curled up into a little ball with her forehead on her knees, arms wrapped around her legs, and started rocking back and forth fighting to keep the presence out.  She absolutely refused to let anyone into her mind.  No one was going to take control of her.  Not ever again. 

“Wait!  It might be Angel,” Rikki said as she scrambled over beside her.  Reaching out, she grabbed Serenity’s shoulders shaking her.  Thank God most of the pain was gone already, or that would have hurt.   

“Angel?”  Serenity questioned.  She could feel the determination by the other person to break down her wall.  Damn, whoever it was, they were good.  And Serenity would know.  She had spent months trying to keep a very talented sadistic bastard from mind raping her.  This person had a lot of power.  She did not think she could hold out much longer. 

“Yes, Angel.  She is the alpha of my team.  She can slip in and out of people’s minds.  I have been waiting for her to try and connect with me, but she hasn’t.  Maybe she is connecting with you?  Although, I’m not sure how since she has never met you before.  Maybe it’s through Phoenix somehow?”

Serenity growled as pain sliced through her head.  “I’m not letting anyone in my head, Rikki.  If it’s her, she can get the hell out and find you.”

“You want to just sit here and wait for the General to come back?  You want to lay back and spread your legs for whatever scumbag he sends your way?” Rikki yelled.  “Put on some fucking big girl panties, Serenity, and see who it is.  If it isn’t Angel, then just kick them back out and slam a wall in place.  Do it, dammit.”

Serenity gritted her teeth and glared at Rikki.  If she didn’t know that Rikki was right and that this might be their ticket to freedom, she would have decked her.  She may have been all sweet and innocent in the past, but that had all changed once Malcolm had started stalking her.  She still had her weak moments, just like everyone else, but now was not one of them.  Rikki was right.  Serenity took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and yanked up her big girl panties. 

The pain in her head suddenly receded as Serenity allowed the presence into her mind.  The feeling was a soft and gentle sensation, not the fast and brutally painful way that Malcolm had always used.

Who are you
? Serenity growled at the intruder.  Show no fear.  She had learned that from Malcolm, too.  Showing her fangs, Serenity continued to growl.

Back down, pup
, a female voice demanded. 
I am here to help
.  When Serenity didn’t respond, the female let out a frustrated growl herself. 
Look, I don’t want to hurt you because that would just piss Phoenix off, but if you don’t stand down, trust me, I will make you.

Serenity froze.  She did not say a word, she just sat there waiting; but she did stop growling.  This woman knew Phoenix.  That meant she was probably Angel.  Yet life had taught Serenity not to take anything for granted.  Unfortunately, she had learned many life lessons over the past five years since the death of her parents.  Things had been difficult without her father there to guide and protect her, but Serenity was a survivor.  Hell, she had survived Malcolm.  She could get through this, too. 

Smart little wolf, aren’t you?
the voice said. 
Is Rikki with you?
  Serenity still did not respond. 
You don’t trust me, do you?  I don’t blame you.  I’m not sure how much longer I can hold our connection, so let me talk fast.  I am Angel, leader of RARE.  Rikki is a part of my team.  We busted up the General’s little party at his largest facility, but in the process, Rikki got shot saving Nico’s ass.  Then the General stole both of you.  Now, I need to know where you are because some Ashley chic told Phoenix that you are his mate and he is about to tear apart everyone and everything to get to you.  Got it?

Serenity took a deep breath, savoring the knowledge that not only did Phoenix know about her, but he was trying to find her.  He was coming for her.  There was just one problem.  She had no idea where she was.  She had just woken up not too long ago.  She wasn’t even sure how long she had been out.

Letting a small amount of her own power out, she helped Angel hold the connection between them. 
I’m not going to be much help.  I just woke up.  I have no clue where we are.

It’s been four days, Serenity.  They kept you drugged that long?
Angel asked in confusion.
Why would they keep you drugged the whole time?  Is that why I can’t reach, Rikki?  Is she drugged, too?

No, I wasn’t drugged.  I was just...out of it
, Serenity told her.  She never told anyone about her healing abilities.  One more life lesson she had learned. 

When she was a child, Serenity had used her ability to help heal her friend who had fallen out of a tree and ended up with a broken arm.  The little girl had been in so much pain.  Serenity had not known what she was doing.  All she knew was that her friend was hurt and crying and she wanted to take the pain from her.  Serenity had reached out and grasped her arm by the break.  The girl had screamed, but Serenity did not let go.  She had felt the power rise up in her and it seemed to jump from her hand to the other girl’s arm. 

Then it was as if she had absorbed all of the other girl’s pain.  She took it all in until the girl stopped crying.  Serenity had not healed the break fully that time, but she did catch the attention of the pack’s healer. 

From that moment on, anytime anyone was hurt beyond the normal every day cut or bruise, they called on Serenity to heal them.  No one seemed to care how much pain or trauma it caused her.  When her parents realized Serenity would not be able to handle much more, they had taken her and ran. 

Serenity pulled her thoughts away from the past.  There would be time later to dwell on things that she could not change, right now she needed to worry about the things she could. 
Let me talk to Rikki and see if she remembers anything.  She was in so much pain when we got here, though, that it is doubtful.

Serenity hesitated for a moment.
I want to see him
, she finally said. 
Please, I want to see my mate.  Just for a second, then I will let you go.

Angel hesitated before responding,
Of course
.  Serenity took a deep breath and then instead of Angel being in her mind, she was in Angel’s and seeing out of her eyes.  As she watched, Angel looked over at the most beautiful man Serenity had ever seen.  He was leaning up against a wall with his arms crossed over his chest and his dark, skull trimmed head bowed.  He had on a tight black tee shirt that showed off his muscular arms and stomach and she could see a tattoo peeking out from under his shirt collar.  Serenity thought tattoos were sexy as sin.  She hoped Phoenix did, too, because she had one of her own. 

As she watched, Phoenix lifted his head and looked at Angel.  His gorgeous blue eyes were filled with so much pain.  Serenity wanted to make the pain go away.  Her mate should not be hurting like this. 

Angel didn’t move, she just continued to stand there letting Serenity watch Phoenix.  Phoenix’s eyes narrowed.  “Angel, you ok?  Did you talk to Serenity?  Do you know where the General is holding them?” 

“Serenity is right here with me, Phoenix,” Angel said, still not moving.  “She wanted to see you.”  Phoenix froze, his eyes widening.  Then he slowly walked towards Angel.  When he stood right in front of her, Serenity could not resist.  She took over Angel’s mind, and raising Angel’s arm she ran her hand over the top of Phoenix’s head and down the side of his cheek.  Then she slowly traced a tattoo that ran down his arm. 

Distantly she heard growling, but she could not seem to stop herself. 
Mine
, she whispered.  She wanted to sink her fangs in his neck and claim him right there.  She wanted the world to know that he was hers.  As she opened her mouth, Angel yanked back control. 
That is enough, pup.  You really don’t want me to claim your mate, do you? 
Well, when you put it that way, hell no.  

As Angel backed away from Phoenix, Serenity became more aware of the commotion in the room.  Two men were holding another man back whom seemed to be trying to get to Angel and Phoenix, and he was pissed.  His eyes were pure wolf and he looked close to shifting. 
It’s ok,
Angel told her. 
Chase gets a little possessive sometimes.  But then, no one likes to watch their mate feel up another man and then try to claim him.

Serenity took one last look at Phoenix as he stood there in confusion. 
I will make contact after I talk to Rikki
, was all she said as she slid back out of Angel’s mind. 

A
fter Serenity broke the connection, Angel walked over to where Chase was struggling to get control of himself.  “Stop it, ass hat,” she told him.  “That was Serenity, not me.  Do you really think I would touch Phoenix like that?”  Angel reached out and put her hand on Chase’s chest to try to calm him.  She gently stroked his arm with her other hand when she felt him lean into her touch.  Chase slowly got control of his wolf and then he turned and walked as far away from Angel as he could get and still be in the room.  Uh oh, Angel thought.  This could be bad.

Chase was Angel’s mate.  Angel had known since the day they met, but she did not want a mate.  She had too many issues in her past, too many ghosts, and too many enemies to accept a mate into her life.  As much as she wanted to be the woman Chase wanted, she knew she could not.  She needed to deny him to keep him safe.

Shaking her head, she turned and went to sit down at the table.  “Well, I found out a few things.  First of all, Rikki is fine.  Serenity was fighting me the whole time, but I got impressions of her somehow healing Rikki.  She has an ability that the General is going to be very interested in studying.  Second thing, Serenity is strong as hell.  She might be tiny, but she is a firecracker.  After she finally let me in, she held the link most of the time.  It didn’t even seem to drain her.  When she asked to see Phoenix, and I let her into my mind, she took over.  That was Serenity touching you, Phoenix.  She almost had me claim you before I was able to get control back from her. I hate to admit this, but she could be stronger than I am.  I don’t think I would have gotten into her mind if she hadn’t decided to let me in.”

“Do you have any idea where they are?” Jeremiah asked.  It was obvious he was still having trouble controlling his bear.  His mate was missing and he wanted answers yesterday.  

“No,” Angel said wearily.  “Serenity didn’t know.  Seems she just woke up.  If she has been out for the whole four days, then her healing ability must take a lot out of her.  She is going to talk to Rikki to see if she remembers anything and then get back with me.”   

“She can just merge back with you at any time?” Nico wanted to know.  “Without even knowing you or having anything of yours with her?”

“What can I say?” Angel shrugged.  “The girl’s got skills.”

“Did you learn anything else from her?” Jaxson asked, hoping for some ideas as to where to look next.

“Only that Phoenix is beautiful and she loves his sexy tats,” Angel responded.