Beyond Bewitching (13 page)

Nothing in her posture or demeanor suggested she believed a word he said. In fact, the lack of response reminded Tanner of her clinical view of the lashing scars he’d noticed in the woods.

Clearly impatient with her silence, John strode toward her, stopping within a foot of her. She didn’t even flinch as he crowded her personal space. “Bearing our children does
not
make you a broodmare to us. It makes you our
mate
, for
life
. And another thing—why in the Goddess’s name would you think anyone in the clan would take our children from you?”

She blinked at the last statement. Her hands clenched into fists at her sides, one closing around an object in her skirt pocket—probably the linen pouch containing the lock of coal-black hair, the oval pendant, and the bloodstone. Those keepsakes were the single chink in her armor.

Following John’s lead, Tanner paced over to stand beside him. “We’ll raise our children together, Sarah, and the Fates will protect them from the illness that took your son from you. Do you doubt our pledge of loyalty to you? Your safety and happiness come before all else.”

She turned her gaze away from them, an obvious attempt to hide the lightening of her eyes. “Happiness is relative, and I don’t need protection or loyalty.”

“But you
want
them, don’t you?” Tanner reached out to grasp her hand, unable to keep from touching her, and John did the same. “Let us face Naga with you and fight your demons. Allow us to worship your body and bring you pleasure as we create a new generation of Xanthus witches and warlocks. You’re worthy of happiness, Sarah. More deserving than most.”

Every promise seemed to have no effect on her—until she closed her eyes. Then the floor disappeared from beneath their feet and the stone walls around them blurred. She let out a wail as the room rematerialized.

Tanner shook his head. Escape had been her answer again. How many more times would she try to transport herself away from them before she succeeded? Did he have the will to wait out her attempts to run away?

Taking another step closer to Sarah, John kissed her cheek. “If you really wanted to leave us behind, you’d be long gone. We couldn’t have stopped you or tagged along. Tell us why you want to stay. Let us see that part of you so we have some idea how to help you heal.”

Her eyes flew open, so full of uncertainty Tanner longed to hold and reassure her.

You can’t fix me.

Those whispers of her thoughts slipped through the door she’d closed earlier, and he finally understood her reluctance to accept them as mates. The revelation fueled his determination to see the prophecy come to fruition.

Giving her fingers a firm but gentle squeeze, Tanner pressed the palm of his other hand above her left breast. “What happened to Samuel isn’t your fault, and having more children won’t mean forgetting or replacing him. He’ll always remain in your heart. You have the capacity to love another child. Our children.”

John laid his hand over Tanner’s. “And in time, us. Just as we’ll grow to love you.”

“We’ll love and protect you and our children. That’s a promise.”

A flood of emotion rushed through the splintering door to her thoughts, setting Tanner’s mind afloat with her confusion, wariness, and a dozen other feelings. Cradling her head against his chest, he waited for the tears—healing tears—to start. One thing he’d learned from living in a household of mostly women was the cathartic benefit of a good cry, even if the process was a bit messier than kicking the hell out of a bale of straw in the stable.

John wrapped himself around Sarah’s back, encasing her between them, and within seconds, she was sniffling. Every shaky breath sent vibrations through Tanner’s body, but she didn’t weep or sob like he’d expected. Instead, she seemed to absorb the warmth from him and John. Energy flowed back and forth in waves as they huddled together, as if she was drawing strength and healing directly from them. Had they finally convinced her to trust them?

The faint humming they’d heard in the wake of her time jumps returned as quiet notes resonating off the cavern walls, and Tanner surrendered to a smile. Their connection had achieved a new level. Although he’d been tutored in recognizing his mate by the music her soul played, no one had told him the song would continue when the bond deepened. Each note carried a chord of joy.

He opened his mind to welcome her inside, hoping she’d do the same.
Do you hear that, Sarah? Your heart is singing to John’s and mine. It knows we’re your mates. It’s ready to love if you’ll let it.

Would she give her heart consent to care for another person again? The loss of her son had wounded her beyond what anyone should have to endure, and time hadn’t dulled the pain, only buried it. Could the promise of love lure her out of hiding?

She stilled, as if listening for the subtle melody.
My mother sang this lullaby to me when I was a little girl. I sang it to Samuel.

Tanner stroked her hair.
And you’ll sing it to our children.

Teach us the words, and we’ll sing it with you while you carry our sons and daughters inside you.
For all his bluntness, John had a soft spot for kids—and their mate, without a doubt.

Dampness seeped through Tanner’s shirt, and Sarah trembled in his arms. Sorrow, regret, and a tiny spark of hope filtered through their connection.
I still miss him.

The simple statement of truth seemed to break the last of her control, her shoulders shaking as she wept. Had she ever truly mourned the death of the one bright spot in her life so long ago?

Tanner tightened his hold on her, hoping his presence comforted her. Nothing he could say would ease her pain any more than the cleansing tears. Maybe if she came to terms with her past, she’d finally be able to move forward with her life, without having to hide behind Patience Wyndham’s indifference to cope.

I couldn’t save him. I tried everything my mother taught me, but it wasn’t enough.
Her heartbreak became his.

You did all you could. He knows that.
Tanner kissed the top of her head, giving her every ounce of support he could dredge up.

Bending closer, John nuzzled her hair.
You were a good mother, Sarah, and he’d want you to share that gift with other children.

Tanner half expected her withdrawal at his friend’s not-so-subtle push, but she didn’t stiffen or pull away. Her muscles relaxed where she leaned against him, sending a wave of relief through him.
We’ll help you protect our sons and daughters.

But can I have another child? The tattoo. It changed me. What if…

That hint of vulnerability touched him deeper than even his intense sexual attraction to her.
The markings name you as our mate, and the prophecy says you will bear the next generation. We have to trust in the Fates. They guided us to you.

They took Samuel from me. They abandoned me.

John’s sympathy flowed through the link with a generous helping of determination.
We’ll never abandon you, Sarah. Your time for happiness has come. As much as I wish you could’ve lived without those experiences, they brought you to us. Your past prepared you for our future.

A flash of insecurity from Sarah almost made Tanner curse her fertility cycle. She was a confident woman by nature, but the weakness brought on by her hormones had to have shattered her sense of self.

Lifting her chin, he waited for her teary-eyed gaze to lock on him. “We’ll work through this. You have don’t have to be strong by yourself anymore.”

John finger combed her hair away from her face. “We’re stronger together.”

A lone teardrop rolled from her cheek to her jaw, and Tanner wiped at it with his thumb. If she committed to them, all their powers would benefit—but he wasn’t about to give her any more reasons to doubt his and John’s sincerity. Enhancing their abilities ranked last on the list of priorities.

While producing heirs to the clan had topped their wishes when they’d first heard the prophecy, that particular gain had fallen in importance with the discovery of their mate. Her happiness and safety mattered most now. Adding their children to the population of Xanthus witches and warlocks was merely a side effect of soothing her broken soul, the healing she required far more necessary than descendants to the clan.

She sniffled again, blinking at him with her beautiful unveiled eyes. “I have to destroy Naga before I can bring another life into this dangerous place.”

Her desire to rid the world of the Black Triad sent a burst of pride through Tanner’s chest. How could a woman with such a noble cause have believed she was the embodiment of evil? She possessed the purest heart he’d ever known.

Leaning in to kiss her forehead, he gave her no chance to think she’d take on the task alone. “We. John and I will be at your side. The oath of loyalty is the real deal. Don’t ever forget that.”

John pressed his lips to her neck. “I’d gladly sacrifice my life to protect you, Sarah, and I know Tanner would too. With a bit of luck and a lot of trust on your part, that won’t happen.”

For the first time since they’d found her, she seemed to completely accept her preordained future, reluctance no longer edging into their mental union. Her body melded into theirs, with none of the previous tension holding back a part of her.

Her lips parted as if she wished to speak, but no words carried to Tanner’s ear. Instead, her mind joined with his and John’s again.
If you’re going with me, you can’t talk to me this way. He’ll know.

Tanner had no doubt about the identity of “he.” They’d have to concoct a plan to deceive Naga into thinking Sarah had brought the leader of the Triad recruits to strengthen his army or prey to feed his black soul. Tanner and John certainly couldn’t pass for possible replacements for Kazmer.

The telepathic link to John’s thoughts abruptly ended. “Now is as good a time as any to practice. We also need to come up with a strategy and a story for why we’re there. No loose ends that can bite us in the ass. We’re only going to get one shot at taking him down.”

As usual John was on the same wavelength as Tanner. “What’s our best option, Sarah?”

Though her mouth straightened to a grim line, self-assurance once again radiated from her. “I’ll take you to the catacombs as my prisoners. The Xanthus clan is an enemy of the Triad, so we have no need to pretend you’re something you’re not.”

Her simplistic approach made Tanner smile. “Smart woman. You can tell Naga the truth. We came after you for the bounty, and you captured us.”

John chuckled. “Accurate description. How soon do you want to go?”

She glanced over her shoulder toward him, her expression darkening. “I’d planned to destroy Naga with the next full moon.”

Shaking his head, Tanner hoped she was open to changing the timeline. “I don’t think we can wait that long. If those were Triad followers that busted into the motel room yesterday, he’s probably suspicious. The sooner we go, the better.”

“Tanner’s right, Sarah.” Worry lines creased John’s forehead. “We should leave no later than tomorrow morning. We’ll need to adjust our story to account for the time-tunnel incident too. I doubt anybody would believe we were your prisoners at that point.”

Her jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. “It won’t work. Why would I take you to the catacombs instead of simply killing you?”

Anticipation turned to frustration, and Tanner let out a noisy exhale. “Damn it, you’re right.”

John snorted. “Because you’re going to use us to test the cold-bloodedness of the potential new elder.”

John forced his eyes open as he inhaled the intoxicating scent of his mate. Lying next to Sarah without giving in to his body’s demands had tested his willpower through the night, but she’d needed the rest. The day promised to call on all her abilities as a witch and a false elder.

While he had great confidence in her talents, danger would threaten her existence at every turn. He and Tanner had spent several hours last night discussing a detailed plan of action with her. She hadn’t revealed a hint of fear at having to face off with Naga, her bravery making him damn proud. He couldn’t have found a more perfect woman if he’d searched the world for a thousand years.

A light caress along his inner thigh sent electricity zipping to his balls. “I need you, John.”

Sarah’s husky statement sank his good intentions. Wouldn’t making love strengthen their bond, increasing both their powers? Besides, the oath of loyalty demanded he give what she required of him. Mutual satisfaction was an extraordinary side benefit. “I’m here.”

Gathering her in his arms, he settled his mouth on hers as he rolled to his back. She immediately took control of the kiss, thrusting between his lips to duel with his tongue. Each forceful glide pulled him deeper under her spell. Something more than simple lust made his cock spring from semi-erect to rock hard at her touch. He savored her softness, her taste, and even her temper. Duty and the prophecy had nothing to do with his desire to claim her.

She straddled his waist, rubbing her damp pussy up his length. Her taut nipples dragged along his chest as she arched upward, and he let loose a raw groan to blend with her purely feminine moan. As much as he wanted to flip her over and pound inside her, she deserved to set the pace. Her life would be in the balance in a few short hours.