HeroRising (27 page)

He pressed his palm against the ache below his throat and
shook his head. “It’s not fair to you. This guilt won’t leave me be.” He
dropped onto the bed and dug his fingers into his hair. “My bonding day should
be the happiest day of my life and I’m allowing my guilt to ruin it. We’re
bonded, but I’m still fucked in the head.”

Ari sat beside him. “Did you honestly think that becoming
bonded would erase a lifetime of neuroses?”

He nodded.

“Has bonding been known to do that?”

He began to nod again then paused. “Actually, I do not
know.”

“Oh my God,” she sighed and wrapped her arms around his
shoulders. “Emotional damage is permanent. I don’t care if you are from another
planet. Once you’ve been dented, you are never the same, no matter how you much
work goes into the repair.”

Her optimism drew a smile, a weak smile, but still a smile.
He pulled her across his lap and kissed her lips. “You are a treasure, Ariel.”

“I know. And I love you. Even though you’re fucked in the
head, I still love you. I made a promise to stand by you, Bale. And I will.
Never doubt that.”

“Never. You are the best part of me.”

She wiggled her backside against his cock and grinned. “Not
exactly. But I don’t mind being second best.”

“Woman, you’ve drained me dry once. You cannot be ready to
do it again.”

“Yes, I can.” She straddled his lap, grinding her slick
pussy along his rapidly hardening length and touched the center of his chest.
“I want to be as close to you physically as we are here. Our forever starts
now, and I don’t want to waste a second of it.”

As refreshing as a summer rain, her love washed away the
dust of his guilt. “If you wish.”

“I wish,” she whispered then claimed his mouth in a slow,
deep, toe-curling kiss.

As he flipped her onto her back, he caught sight of the
clock sitting on the night stand. Twelve hours, thirty-six minutes until
DeWinter came for his answer. Twelve hours, thirty-six minutes he had control
over how he spent. His mate was right. Forever started now.

He lowered his head and pressed kisses to the faint
finger-shaped bruises around her breast left by his claiming. He would have
felt bad about that too except he sensed her pride at bearing his possession,
just as he bore the scratch of her nails on his arms. Before his time was up,
he wanted to be adorned with more of her markings. When he walked into that
jail, he would wear her marks like badges of honor. If his luck held out, he’d
be back in her arms before they healed.

Luck. The Gods were probably tired of bestowing favors upon
him. But he did have hope and Ari’s love. That was enough.

It had to be.

Bale sat on the couch and watched Ari whirl around the
kitchen. The yellow-and-orange floral print of her skirt created a kaleidoscope
as she twirled from cabinet to cabinet, arranging trays of snacks. He didn’t
need to be nervous about the upcoming meeting with DeWinter for she was anxious
enough for both of them. Try as he might to project a calm front, she wasn’t
having any of it.

She lifted a silver bag and a red box up into the air. “Do
you think he’ll like some tea? Or does he prefer coffee?”

“I don’t know.”

“But what do you think?”

“I haven’t a clue. In our brief meetings we’ve never
discussed his preference of beverages.”

She tossed the bag of coffee at his head, which he caught
without a flinch. “Don’t be an ass. I’m hoping that if we are nice to him,
he’ll be nice in return and not take you to jail. Help a girl out.”

Her logic made him smile. “He’s a very driven man. I don’t
think the best coffee in the world will sway him.”

“Well I have to try something.” She adjusted a plate of
cookies to catch the light to her liking. “I’ll make both. And have the whisky
ready. Maybe he likes a little Irish in his coffee. Oh, hey. Can you bring me
back that bag?”

He tossed the bag from hand to hand as he sauntered to her
side. “You are cute when you worry.”

“And I’m annoyed when you’re calm on the outside and boiling
on the inside.” She stood on tiptoe to kiss his chin. “I can feel you,
remember.”

“That is why I am striving for indifference. We both cannot
be on edge. It does neither of us any good.” He pulled her arms to encircle his
neck and drew her in for a hug. “If these are to be my last moments of freedom,
I’d rather spend them kissing you than having you run around making food for my
soon-to-be jailer.”

She sighed and ran her fingers through his hair, scraping
her nails in light strokes against his scalp. “This sucks. I understand why
you’re doing this, but I don’t want you to go away.”

“I’ll be with you. Always. Just because you won’t be able to
see me, does not mean I won’t be here. Feeling you. Experiencing your day with
you.”

“I’ll do my best to not have any fun,” she teased but her
smile wavered.

“I appreciate the sentiment, but please have fun. Live, Ari.
Make us a home for me to come back to.”

A tear slipped down her cheek. “Fuck, Bale. I love it when
you say cheesy things like that.”

She jumped and wrapped her legs around his waist and met his
mouth in a desperate kiss. His fingers dug into her flanks as he set her on the
counter and held her still to grind his growing erection against the soft pad
of her belly while she drank from his mouth as if she were dying of thirst.

Their last few couplings had been colored with the same
sense of urgency, manifesting in clawing, reaching hands and deep, biting
kisses. More than one bite mark marred his neck and chest, and if he timed it
right, he might score one more.

The carefully arranged tray of vegetables was about to be
sent to the floor with a sweep of his arm when a sharp rap on the door stopped
him mid-swing.

“Break it up, you two and get dressed. You’ve been at it all
day,” Amaryllis shouted from the other side.

“
Jesu
,” he groaned and struggled to catch his breath.

“How does she know what we’ve been doing?”

“She’s Skandavian. She and Lucian can sense us.”

“Oh my God!” She slapped at his arm. “Why didn’t you remind
me? I would have made an effort to control my reactions.”

“Precisely why I didn’t.” He winked and crossed to open the
front door, revealing a beaming Lucian and Amaryllis. “Should I be put out that
you are interrupting us or thankful that you granted us this much alone time?”

“Yes,” Amaryllis answered before throwing her arms around
his neck. The bottle of champagne in her hands
thunked
him in the back
of the head. “I knew it. I knew you two were a match. Congratulations.”

“Thank you, your highness.”

“And Ari.” Amaryllis swept across the room to engulf Ari in
a big hug. “Welcome to the family. My word,
lebshone
, your joining was
powerful. Lucian and I haven’t fucked like that since our own bonding. He came
so hard I would be shocked if he didn’t impregnate me.”

Ari’s jaw dropped. “Wow. TMI, Amaryllis. T. M. I.”

“Oh please. If we are to reside under the same roof, you’ll
have to get used to sensing what is going on behind closed doors. We know
everything.”

“Fantastic.”

“Bale.” Lucian gestured at his head with a grin tugging at
his lips. “I like your new look. It’s different.”

“Good different?”

“Yes, good different.” He held out his hand.
“Congratulations.”

After Bale clasped his forearm they bowed toward each other
in a
Llanos
warrior’s greeting. Before he could let go, Lucian dragged
him into an embrace and landed three solid slaps to his back.

“Well deserved, my brother.” His eyes shimmered as he drew
away. “Well deserved.”

The lump in Bale’s throat prevented him from answering, not
that he had the right words to say if he wanted to. He nodded his acceptance
and tapped the center of his chest. Lucian’s watery smile told him the message
was received as intended.

“When is Captain DeWinter due to arrive?” Amaryllis asked.

He raised a surprised brow then chuckled to himself. Of
course the Kilsgaards knew everything that went on within their domain. “Any
moment. Jax is to escort him here when he arrives.”

“Then we arrived in the nick of time.” She flounced to an
armchair and settled herself on the seat as if it were a throne.

“Your highness, with all due respect, my appointment with
DeWinter has nothing to do with you.”

“Nonsense. Balellanos, you are family. If there is any
threat to our family, we will face it together. Always. Do not make me have Ari
take the strap to you again to remind you.”

“Princess—”

“Bale.” Lucian placed a hand on his shoulder. “We are not
here to interfere but to lend our support. Both to you and Ari. Amaryllis will
keep quiet. I promise.” He said the last to his wife with a silent warning in
his smile.

“I will do my best,” she said without an ounce of
conviction.

“May the Gods take me,” Bale muttered and wiped his hand
down his face.

He glanced over at Ari and the breath whooshed from his
lungs, and suddenly he was thankful for the others’ presence for that meant Ari
would not be on her own when DeWinter arrested him. His woman was brave, but
even the strongest of souls benefited from the love of a friend.

With only a glance, Ari raced to his side and hugged him
around the waist. For several long seconds he basked in her warmth and the
scent of her skin. When the heavy knock pounded on the door, the entire room
tensed.

He smoothed his hand down Ari’s back and crushed the silky strands
of her hair in his palm one last time. “I’ll answer that.”

Captain DeWinter stood at the entry, looking more rested
then the last time they had met. His cheeks were freshly shaven and his black
slacks bore a crisp pleat down the legs. Anticipation had replaced the
exhaustion from the night before and the man looked ready to move mountains.
The determination in his firmly set jaw was a good indication that the captain
was going to press the Smithwick issue and not allow him to surrender.

“Captain,” Bale greeted.

DeWinter began to nod in response then his gaze flew to
Bale’s hair. Deep lines carved his brow and his mouth opened and shut without
sound until he shook his head and muttered what Bale thought sounded like,
“Damn Swedes.”

“Please, enter.” Bale stood to the side and swept his arm
over the threshold.

“Thanks.” DeWinter entered the apartment and drew up short
when he saw the contingent stationed in the living room. He tossed Bale a
surprised look over his shoulder. “Did I need to bring backup?”

“My family feels as if they have a vested interest in our
upcoming discussion. And I agree. Mostly.”

“I see.” DeWinter smirked and greeted Lucian and Amaryllis
before addressing Ari. “Ms. Rayner. Nice to see you again.”

Ari crossed her arms over her chest and sent him a scowl
fierce enough to gut a man.

“I see the sentiment is one-sided. Understandably.” He
turned back to Bale. “So. Is the Claymore going to help clean up the city, or
do I take you in?”

Bale held out his hands. The soft intake of Ari’s breath
almost made him pull back and agree to anything to remain with her, but he
stayed the course. “I will not commit any more crimes.”

DeWinter bit back a snarl. “You can do more good on the
street than behind bars.”

“I made a promise to my mate. I will not break my vow.”

“And while you’re tied up in bureaucratic bullshit, what
happens to your girl? What about all the girls Smithwick hurts?”

“Unfortunate casualties in a war I didn’t start and I alone
cannot end. I’m sorry, Captain, but it will have to be up to the police to
finish their job.”

“Well isn’t that great that you’ve gained some moral ground
now of all times. Fuck,” he spat then ran his hand through his hair, his arms
shaking with restrained anger. He reached behind his back and withdrew a set of
handcuffs from his pocket. “I’ve told you the case has been tabled. The police
won’t put an end to this asshole. The city needs help.”

Over the captain’s shoulder, Bale met Ari’s unwavering gaze.
The silent message was clear. Whatever he decided, she would support him one
hundred percent. DeWinter’s passion was admirable, inspiring even, but the more
he put himself in harm’s way, the more he endangered Ari. Fiona Kilsgaard was
the perfect cautionary tale as to what happened when caught in Smithwick’s
crosshairs.

“Captain,” Lucian interrupted. “I’d wish to propose a
trade.”

“A trade?” Bale and DeWinter asked at the same time.

“The Claymore for the Chameleon.”

“I’m sorry. What?” DeWinter shook his head as if to clear
his mind while Bale stared at his general as if he’d gone daft. What was Lucian
plotting?

“The Claymore wants to make a fresh start and you want to
capture a criminal. The Chameleon owes you a favor for the assistance you
provided last year. Allow me to contact the Chameleon. I am certain he will
agree to serve in Bale’s place in return for giving him the opportunity to have
a new beginning.”

Bale shook his head while the general spoke. “No. I cannot
ask…the Chameleon to take my place. This situation is of my own making.”

Lucian smiled. “Bale, the Chameleon owes you a boon as well,
remember?”

After Fiona had been rescued from Smithwick’s lair, news of
her relationship with Dhavin, acting as the Chameleon, had spread across their
small town like a plague. To keep her safe the masked hero ended their affair
in a very public demonstration witnessed by many of Cedar’s citizens, including
all of the Kilsgaard clan. But Bale posing as the superhero in order to fake
break up with a girl in no way equaled the danger Dhavin or Lucian faced going
after Smithwick. They had mates as well depending on them. It wasn’t fair to
ask them to take the risk.

“Lucian. No.”

The general waved his protest away. “Do not fret. There will
be some stipulations on his assistance.”

“Really?” DeWinter propped his hands on his hips. “And you
know what those will be already?”

Lucian matched his stance. “Yes, because he is an honorable
man. As am I, and I hope as are you. The Chameleon’s role will lie solely in
surveillance. He will pinpoint the location of Smithwick’s whereabouts and create
a list of associates if possible, but he will not confront Smithwick or any of
his men directly. That is police business and will stay that way. If Bale
decides the Claymore can participate without breaking his vow, then I am
certain his assistance will be appreciated.”

“Wow.” DeWinter issued a dry chuckle that grew as he pulled
at his hair. “Wow. Sounds as if I should be taking orders from you too.”

“The general has had much experience issuing orders,”
Amaryllis chimed in, slipping her arm around her husband’s waist.

Lucian patted her hand with a proud smile. “This is your
operation, Captain. The Chameleon will only act as an informant. The decision
to proceed is entirely upon you.”

DeWinter looked to each person in the room, settling last on
Bale. “My beef with you has never been personal. I only want to get this scum
off the street, not make your life miserable. I will gladly take the
Chameleon’s assistance. And yours.”

“What about the Claymore? You can’t go after Smithwick until
you’ve captured him.”

“If I provide proof that the Claymore has disappeared, or
perhaps is spotted in another state, I can request to close the case and be
assigned a new one. Do you think that’s possible?”

“Perhaps. I have an idea. Wait here one minute.”

Bale raced to his apartment. The layout was exactly the same
as Ari’s unit, and that was where the similarities ended. For a year he hadn’t
done more than update the contents of the refrigerator. The décor had remained
the same generic furnishings that existed before he had moved in. Not like Ari
who had added her own touches with fluffy throw pillows in bright colors,
scented candles and knickknacks that graced every available surface. As he
entered the cold, impersonal unit, he knew it was going to be for the last
time. Ari was home now, and wherever she laid her head, so did he.

In mere seconds his essentials were packed in a bag and he
was back with his family in less time than it took to exhale.

“Why did I know that when you said one minute, you meant
that literally?” DeWinter remarked.

He dropped his bag near the front door and strode toward the
captain with his sword and jacket in hand. “Will these suffice as enough
evidence of the Claymore’s disappearance?”