Bailey Bradford - Southwestern Shifters 07 - Revolution (15 page)

Mem’s insistence that they, along with the North American AA and their friends, have breakfast in the dining room away from the other shifters made Jameson feel almost snobbish. In light of the discussion they were about to have, privacy was important.

“Maybe we should have a bedroom breakfast,” Jameson said to Luuk while they were waiting for the others to join them. “Just in case anyone here isn’t on our side, and with our sharp hearing…”

In short order, Jameson and Luuk were walking back to their room. Jaq and several other young women and men were bringing a table and chairs behind them.
“What is this, a convoy?” someone hollered from the entrance to the hallway. Jameson grinned and looked back over his shoulder at the same time Luuk did. They waved at Gabe and Mika.
“Yeah, kinda,” Jameson told him, “So don’t hold it up by lagging behind.”
“Lagging behind?” There was enough ire in Gabe’s voice to make Jameson laugh as he and Luuk opened the bedroom door. After some rearranging, there was a decent breakfast area for them and their guests. Gabe cocked on hip and leaned against Mika. “Well, la-ti-da, baby, you may need to bump up your status if it’d get us a herd of cute young things waiting on us hand and foot. But I’d want ’em to be legal.”
“You don’t want any cute young things at all,” Mika growled, narrowing his eyes at Gabe as Gabe smirked. “You like grumpy and rough.”
“Well, duh.” Gabe rolled his eyes just as a knock sounded on the door. “I’ll get it!”
Marcus, Nathan, Todd and Adam were followed in by Jaq and the other younger shifters carrying platters of food. Jameson’s stomach growled, and his wasn’t the only one. He’d bet everyone in the room—well, the mated pairs—had been up to some very vigorous activities last night.
“And this morning,”
Luuk thought.
“Or have you forgotten?”
He cupped Jameson’s ass and squeezed.
Jameson had to clench his teeth against a whine, because his ass was sore, there was no two ways about it. It’d been a long time since he and Luuk had been able to love on each other so much. Since before Jameson had been turned.
Luuk flinched as if he’d been pinched and Jameson immediately sought to reassure him, opening his mind up to share the joy he was feeling. There were no recriminations for his mate. Luuk didn’t look wholly relieved, but he did kiss Jameson and pull out his chair. Jameson sat as did the others.
Adam took the seat beside Jameson’s and promptly elbowed him. “Well, don’t you look smug this morning? And you’re moving kind of gingerly, aren’t you?”
“Fuck you,” Jameson said, snorting out a laugh as Adam flipped him off. “You’ve got the hickey on your neck, not me.”
Adam’s eyes went wide and he slapped a hand over the little purple mark. “What? No, it’s—”
“He burnt himself with the curling iron,” Gabe tossed from across the table. “And that had to be a hell of a curling iron, considering how fast he heals.”
Todd made a choking sound and turned reddish purple, so Jameson laid off on the teasing for now. Gabe did too, showing Jameson that he wasn’t just a smartass willing to run roughshod over someone for a joke.
“Have you thought about your options?” Marcus asked once the shifters serving the food had left.
Luuk glanced at Jameson then nodded. “Yes, we have. Jameson and I both think I’ve done enough hiding. Instead of taking in a whole troop of shifters, if we could just have perhaps a dozen accompany us, I’d prefer to go directly to Luther’s pack.” Marcus started to speak but Luuk held up a finger. “Please, let me finish. If you’d care to have your other guards surrounding the city or staged at places nearby where they could get to Jameson and keep him safe, should it not go well, that would be appreciated.”
That was the part of the plan Jameson had argued with Luuk over. He’d finally quit, because it was stressing Luuk out, but Jameson knew that if Luuk fell—if he died—he’d stay there and fight to the death too. There was no way he wanted to go on without the one person he loved more than anything else.
Marcus looked at Jameson as did everyone else. Adam was the one Jameson couldn’t look away from, and Adam, despite the years apart, knew him well. He gave the slightest twitch of the lips. Adam wasn’t happy with his decision, but he’d make sure Jameson got what he needed, even if that meant death. Not that Adam would hurt him, but he wouldn’t drag Jameson out of a fight he was going to lose, if Luuk were gone. Jameson suspected Adam wouldn’t want to hang around if Todd died, either.
“We’ll take care of Jameson should your death occur, but I think we’d all rather you simply live, and kill Luther.” Marcus held his fork above a pile of scrambled eggs. “Are you going to be able to do what needs to be done, Luuk? I’m not saying you’re weak, but Luther is your brother. I don’t think I could…”
Nathan patted Marcus’ shoulder. “But Aidan isn’t like Luther, honey. Totally different situation.”
Luuk nodded as he took a bite of food. He chewed and swallowed, took a drink of juice before answering. The look in his eyes made Jameson ache for him. There wasn’t regret there, but anger, and the promise of death. “Luther isn’t my brother. He’s a traitor who has killed scores of innocent shifters, and who has tried, for three years now, to kill me and Jameson. He’s a twisted fuck who wants Maarten so bad he can’t see straight. That’s the only reason Maarten is still alive. Luther can’t bear to kill him, and he’s not strong enough to force Maarten to submit to him. He’s holding out some ridiculous hope that Maarten will look at him and fall head over heels.”
“They aren’t mates, are they?” Mika asked when no one else spoke up. “Could that even happen between brothers?”
“Half-brothers,” Luuk pointed out, “and, God, who knows? Maybe if Fate was feeling particularly bastardish the day she was picking out mates. As far as I know, in the records we have that go back centuries, no such thing has occurred.”
“So it really is a twisted fascination Luther has with Maarten, not an uncontrollable urge as mates have,” Nathan said. “Well…ick.”
Gabe gulped down his mouthful of food and nodded. “Although when Marcus and Aidan hugged and were naked, it was pretty hot.”
Marcus scowled and Gabe snickered. “What? It’s the truth. It’s like…instant boner, seeing y’all hug. Even Mika—ooph.” Gabe turned and gave Mika an incredulous look. “You just…you just elbowed me! You
ass
!”
Mika actually looked a little frightened, as if he’d acted on instinct…a flawed instinct. “I, uh. Um. Was…moving. I was just trying to—”
“Shut me up before I told Marcus you sprung wood watching him and Aidan hug,” Gabe finished. Mika turned the same shade of purple Todd had been and closed his eyes as he tipped his head down.
Marcus looked rather like he was preening, Jameson thought, as the North American AA winked at Mika. “Can’t blame you for enjoying the show. We are pretty hot, although I am the sexier one of the two.”
Gabe rolled his eyes so hard Jameson could almost hear the tendons and whatever held his eyeballs in groaning under the strain. “Riiiiiiiiiiiiiight. Anyway. Leave my mate alone— I’ve humiliated him enough for elbowing me. Accidentally. My. Ass.”
“Anyway.” Nathan pushed his plate back and looked at Luuk and Jameson. “When do y’all want to do this? Luuk, are you ready, and please don’t get all macho-butt-hurt. I have to ask, and you’ve got eyes. You know you’re very thin and I’m only concerned about your health. Jameson, too, really.”
“I would never put my mate at risk.”
“Again,”
he added silently to Jameson.
“I am so sorry I didn’t realise the depth of Luther’s hatred.”
To Nathan, he said, “I am stronger than I have been in the ways that matter. Three years of survival skills Luther lacks, anger, the need to protect my mate, my people—I am more prepared than Luther. I want to leave as soon as possible. Jamie deserves more than this life on the run, and my people deserve a life lived without constant fear and threat of death.”
Jameson tried not to tense up or let his fear show in any way, internally or emotionally, or on the outside. Luuk needed his complete faith, and that was exactly what Jameson was going to give him. “Yes,” Jameson agreed, “we’d like to head out tomorrow.”

Their lovemaking that night was tender—not the fierce scramble and need that so often overtook them, but a slow, sensual buildup that Luuk almost couldn’t bear. His chest ached with the strength of his emotions, his love for Jamie as he laid kisses over every inch of bare skin on Jamie’s chest. Jamie shivered for him and made throaty sounds that tightened the coiled desire in his groin.

Luuk felt hot with need, as if his blood were on the verge of boiling, sweat breaking out over his skin despite the cool temperature in the room. He dug his toes into the mattress, resisting the strident urge clamouring in him to roll Jamie over and take him.

Luuk suckled one nipple, already swollen and red from his attentions. He closed his eyes and sank into everything Jamie was, to everything they were together. Luuk’s eyes stung behind his lids, and he kept touching Jamie, stroking his arms, his sides, his hips— anywhere he could reach. When Jamie caught his hand and pulled it up before placing soft, wet kisses on his palm, Luuk’s exhalation was more of a sob of gratitude than the raspy breath he’d expected.

Jamie rolled them then and slid down until his chest was pressed to Luuk’s. He cupped Luuk’s cheek and Luuk slitted his eyes open just in time to see Jamie lowering his sweet lips to Luuk’s. Luuk closed his eyes again and moaned as Jamie’s tongue slicked over his.

Now it was Luuk who shivered, his core pulsing as Jamie fitted himself between Luuk’s thighs. The hot prod of his cock to Luuk’s hole delivered the perfect amount of pressure, bringing a burn and stretch along with pleasure.

“Yes,” Luuk tried to say into Jamie’s demanding mouth. He hadn’t intended to bottom, but suddenly he needed it more than his next breath. He needed to feel Jamie move in him, and knew Jamie needed it as well, to show his own strength and ability to lead should Luuk need it of him. What they were doing was so much more than just having sex, and so much deeper than anything Luuk had experienced before.

Jamie didn’t let up on the kiss as Luuk wrapped his legs around Jamie’s hips, nor did Jamie cease the pressure to his hole. Luuk gasped and arched as Jamie’s cock pushed into his clenching inner walls. Jolts of pleasure raced alongside Jamie’s shaft as it sank into Luuk. When the crown brushed over his gland, Luuk’s cock pulsed, the tip growing wet. Jamie lowered himself until Luuk’s dick was pinned between their bellies. He began a slow, grinding thrust as he held Luuk’s head still for an even more voracious kiss.

Luuk couldn’t seem to get his hands to work then, or most of his muscles, only clenching his fists on Jamie’s biceps. It seemed he was more sensation than man, more sensitive nerves than flesh. Every stroke Jamie drove into him, every push of cock and tongue, melted Luuk, shorted out his ability to think.

But there was no need for thinking anyway, not when Jamie was loving him so perfectly. Luuk let it take him. He gave himself in a way he never had before, on a level he never had before. Tomorrow might bring his death, but tonight Jamie was every reason he had for living.

Arousal rose and fell in waves, intensifying with each new swell until Luuk as constantly shaking, unable to hold still. Each thrust from Jamie brought hot spears of ecstasy from Luuk’s ass throughout his groin. It spread from there until his entire body was singing with it, and only then did Jamie begin to take him harder, faster, grunts and the slap of their bodies together ringing out in the room.

Luuk unfisted his hands and held Jamie at the shoulders, curling his fingers into the muscled flesh there. Jamie bit his lips, his cheek and jaw, then found the spot he marked on the occasions he topped. As soon as Jamie scraped his teeth over the skin there, Luuk’s brain set off a multitude of fireworks in his skull and his body drew tight.

Jamie bit, and Luuk arched his neck as hard as he could, shouting as cum spurted from his cock. Jamie marked him, teeth, nails, cock, coating Luuk’s inner walls with his semen. Luuk held on to Jamie, held him until Jamie stopped trembling and lay down on him.

“Alex has been monitoring Luther’s movements—what there are of them, anyway,” Marcus said, sneering as he looked down at a paper in his hands. “Either he’s dumber than I thought, or incredibly vain to the point of being…as dumb as I thought.” He snorted and looked at Luuk from the front seat. “Most of his guards are out looking for you. He’s got seven that Alex has spotted in the past week, and often Luther goes out without anyone. Does he truly just assume everyone is going to keep tolerating his murderous regime?”

Luuk almost wrinkled his nose at that description. It made Luther sound like more than he was. Then again, the man had unseated Luuk and caused the deaths of hundreds of good shifters. “We shouldn’t underestimate him. Obviously he was able to persuade others to follow him.”

“By lying,” Nathan scoffed. “Shifters are no different from humans. They can be misled and buy into pretty lies. You were in the States a while, er, courting Jamie. Luther took advantage of your absence and manipulated enough people that he was able to pull his cowardly bullshit. Then those who had supported him saw what a douche he was, and that he’d have those adamantly opposed to him killed, and hey, no one likes to admit they made the wrong choice, you know. Better to stand by the huge mistake they’d made… Dumbasses.”

Luuk arched a brow at Marcus since Nathan had hunkered down in his seat to glare out of the window. Marcus shrugged, obviously agreeing with his mate’s assessment of things. Luuk wasn’t so quick to condemn everyone who had turned on him, though he should be. He
had
been gone for over two months, and so entranced with his mate, he’d not been the attentive AA he should have been. Sometimes he thought he deserved what had happened…but Jamie didn’t.

“Alex is still watching Luther?” Jamie asked.
“Yeah,” Marcus grunted. “He’s strolling through downtown Amsterdam like he owns the place. Alex will let me know where Luther is every half hour. Alex is damned good at his job.”
Jamie canted his head at Luuk. “Who will be the captain of your guard?”
“Mem,” Luuk answered, not joking at all. “If I can talk her into it. She knows how to make everyone do as she says, and she’s loyal.”
“What about Maarten?” That, from Adam in the back seat.
Luuk twisted around to look at him. “Would he make a suitable captain, do you think?”
Adam sucked on his bottom lip for a few seconds then released it. “I don’t know. He’s not as dumb as everyone makes him out to be. He’s loyal to you.” Then Adam beamed at him and leant forward. “Oh! You should let Mem and Maarten fight for it! I’d bet on Mem, though.”
“Me too,” Todd added. “And not ’cause Maarten wouldn’t want to hit a woman. That Mem is one tough person, period, regardless of what parts she has.”
“We’re approaching Zuidoost,” Nathan said, pointing to a sign. “We’ll be in Amsterdam soon.”
Marcus fired off a series of texts and soon there were other vehicles following them. Luuk figured they had to be standing out like a vile blight on a porn star’s ass, but there was nothing for it. Marcus would have his guards disperse to various spots in and around the town.
“This will be over soon.”
Jamie’s thought was clear, strong, his faith unwavering.
“Today, the European pack gets its true Alpha Anax back.”
“I won’t take that for granted, not my packs nor my position.”
Luuk squeezed Jamie’s hand gently and smiled slightly.
“I did and I know it. I wasn’t cruel, but I wasn’t the leader our people need. They’d not have turned to someone and mistaken cruelty for strength if I had been.”
“Keegan, if you will pull over, please. I want you to join the other guards in the car behind us.” Marcus waited until Keegan parked the SUV then they got out and exchanged seats, with Marcus in the driver’s spot. “That man has to learn not to argue with me.” He glared in the rearview.
“He just wants to keep his AA safe,” Nathan pointed out. “Of course, he can’t do that if you rip his head off.”
“I won’t rip his head off.” Marcus put the vehicle in gear. “Much.”
Nathan snorted again and craned around until he was all but hanging over the seat. “Alex just texted again. Luther is acting as if he’s unaware of anything we’re doing, sticking to his routine. He’s having lunch at the same place, and afterwards should return to his headquarters.”
Luuk merely nodded, steeling himself when his nerves began to flutter. He wasn’t scared—he was anticipating the coming confrontation, if not Luther’s death. There would be no sparing him. Such a thing couldn’t be allowed. Too many would see it as weakness on Luuk’s part, including Luther himself. Luuk spotted the park and he leant forward to cup Marcus’ shoulder. “Let us out here. You and Nathan can park and join us. It’s only a couple of blocks to Luther’s.”
Marcus pulled into the parking area and squinted as he looked directly ahead of them. “Luther will be coming from that way, but since his place is also that way, he shouldn’t catch sight nor scent of you, even with a strong wind.”
“He shouldn’t.” Luuk got out and waited for Jamie, Adam and Todd to join him. He held up a hand to wave at Marcus, signifying they’d be waiting there. Then he studied Adam and Todd. “You realise this will end in someone’s death. Hopefully not mine.”
“It won’t be yours,” Jamie said immediately.
“Yeah, I get that,” Adam said at the same time, while Todd blanched but nodded. “We might be new to this, but we kind of got the whole trial by fire introduction to y’all’s world here.”
“For what it’s worth, I’m with Jameson. You’ll pull through this just fine.”
Todd’s quiet assurance was both a blessing and a curse. Luuk was grateful for it, but it added more weight to his shoulders.
But he could bear it. Luuk stood straighter and felt his wolf rise in him, strong, fierce, and determined. He closed his eyes and inhaled the scents of the city, scents once familiar to him but now odd after years on the run.
“It’s beautiful here,” Jamie murmured. He and Adam had a quiet conversation as Luuk soaked in what would soon be his home area again. When he heard the approach of Marcus and Nathan, caught their scents, he opened his eyes and a peace settled over him.
“Is Luther home?” he asked, knowing the answer. It was time.
“He is.”
Marcus gave the answer Luuk needed. He tipped his head in thanks and took Jamie’s hand before turning to head towards Luther’s—
his
—home.
“Should we alert Maarten to us being here?” Jamie asked.
“Not yet. If the phones are being monitored…” Luuk didn’t finish that statement. Jamie knew what he meant. “Once we are in the same room with Luther, if you can, let him know. If not, then perhaps we will surprise him with a visit.” Luuk rather liked that idea.
They were silent for the rest of the walk. Luuk had lived in a large, sprawling home, set in town but on a large parcel of land. It had been in his family for generations, and he’d loved that about it. He hoped Luther hadn’t destroyed anything there, not the portraits of each AA dating back centuries, and not any of the family heirlooms or the records kept so meticulously by every medicine man they’d ever had.
The closer they came to the house, the more of Marcus’ power he could feel coming from the North American AA. It was stirring Luuk’s wolf up, almost as if Marcus was feeding him some of that power somehow.
Or maybe that was just what it felt like to have so many people have faith in him.
They stopped at the start of the fence at the canal mansion. Luuk’s heart pounded and he checked the security cameras that he’d had installed. “Stay behind me. The cameras are still up and running. Luther isn’t a complete fool.”
No, Luther was benefitting from Luuk’s thorough security company. There wasn’t a place on the property that couldn’t be seen. The fence was monitored in all places.
“You could put on Todd’s hat,” Adam suggested. “Wear my hoodie. Might give you some cover, and it isn’t like he knows the rest of us. I think.”
“No.” Luuk ran a hand down his chest and stood straighter. “No hiding. Let him see me coming.”
“Excellent choice,” Marcus said quietly.
The praise from a man as powerful as Marcus only served to reinforce Luuk’s confidence. He looked at Jamie. “It will give him more time to prepare.” It would make the whole encounter riskier for everyone involved.
Jamie looked at Adam, who shrugged, and Todd, who did the same, though he moved closer to Adam. Nathan grinned and gave Jamie a thumbs-up. “I’m all for the direct approach. Let him see he hasn’t cowed us. Let him see that we’re strong.”
They were, individually, perhaps, and as a group, for a certainty. Luuk moved towards the one camera he knew would be spinning in the security command room. And he smiled. His wolf was ready to take his alpha position back.