Shadow Mated (Ouachita Mountain Shifter Book 5) (12 page)

“She killed to save the clan,” Thames shot out.

“Yes. To save us all… while bringing danger to herself.”

“But…” Eagan reasoned. “If she hadn’t, we wouldn’t have gotten Bailey out of Felix’s sights. And the rest of the clan for that matter. She helped us eliminate a danger. Helped us secure our family. No foul in that. Nothing dark in that.”

Gash agreed, and so did the others if their nodding was any indication.

Adira cocked her head. “There was another way. She gave in before I could tell her. But it matters not. She channeled dark magic to cast a spell, and took a life to do it.” Her lip trembled when she spoke the next words. “She
will
go dark before the equinox.”

Tears streaked Mirena’s cheeks. “We must lock her away or she will endanger us all. She won’t be herself. She won’t realize what she’s doing.”

“Lock her away?” Bailey said, aghast. “Surely that isn’t necessary. We can talk to her. It will be all right.”

“You don’t understand,” Adira pleaded. “She made us promise we’d keep her from hurting anyone else. She would be distraught if she caused any of you harm after she defended you so fiercely. She would never come back from it.”

Bailey snapped her mouth shut on whatever argument she’d been preparing.

“Come back from it,” Thames murmured, his expression thunderous. “So this isn’t all. This isn’t the end. She can still fight it. And if she can still fight it, she can still win.”

Mirena dashed her tears away. “There might be a chance. If we can find her anchor.”

“I’ll find it,” he said, no hesitation.

“It’s not so easy,” Adira cautioned.

“I’ll find it. I won’t stop until I do.”

Mirena eyed him. “You mean it.”

Thames nodded.

“We’ll all help,” Magic pledged.

Gash agreed, “We owe her a life.”

The rest of the clan nodded their promise.

Mirena’s gaze went around the circle, touching on each person. “I dare you.”

Adira stared sadly at Nastia where she lay in Theron’s arms. “We need a place to keep her. Somewhere safe where we can spell her to remain inside.”

Thames stepped toward his brother, arms outstretched. “Give her to me. I’ll take care of her. I’ll keep her in my cave. She’ll be safe.”

Theron frowned. “Thames, no. I don’t think that’s—”

“I said, give her to me. She saved me, so she’s mine. That’s how it works.”

Theron stared at Thames, his jaw ticking wildly.

“Brother, I will bleed you if I have to, but that female is
mine
.”

“Goddamn it, Thames. I know. I
know
. I just don’t want you fucking this up.”

Adira’s wide-eyed gaze followed the two men.

“I won’t,” Thames spoke quietly.

Whatever was happening between the two brothers was over Gash’s head. Some bear thing. But he knew what it meant when a man called a woman
mine
.

Reluctantly, Theron passed Nastia to his brother. Thames turned to stalk into the forest, but Adira stopped him.

“Wait. Where are you taking her?”

“My cave. It’s safe. I secured it when I took possession.”

Gash caught Theron rolling his eyes. Apparently they weren’t sharing the cave after all.

“At least let me come with you so I can spell it.”

Thames eyed her and then bent his head to stare at Nastia before answering. “Yeah, okay. Let’s go.”

Mirena gasped, staring up at the sky where it was clearing to reveal the almost-full moon. The rain had stopped. The wind had stalled. And arching over the sky in the opposite direction of the moon, was a pale multi-colored rainbow. So faint Gash could barely see it.

“What is it?” Layna asked, pulling the t-shirt Ryan had shucked over her head.

“A night rainbow. A moonbow. Adira, do you see it?”

Gash watched the Sorcera as she squinted upward. “I see it, sister. I see it.”

But somehow, he had the feeling she wasn’t telling the truth.

Adira and Thames disappeared into the forest with Nastia. Renner and Owyn gathered the fallen panther. Doc examined wounds, ordering people to go directly to her office or home, depending on the severity. Theron and Mason ran the property to ensure all the human cats were gone, while Layna and Ryan went to relieve Clara from her desk duty at the lodge. Boy were they going to get an earful too. The tiny human hadn’t been happy about her role in this showdown. She was feisty and she wanted to be in the fray.

Magic strolled over, careful not to get too close to Bailey. Confucius say: smart man stay far away from pregnant mate, lest ye lose hand, eye, tongue, and any other appendage available.

“It’s over,” he said, relief written in the way his shoulders sagged. “You’re free.”

Gash nodded, swallowing hard. He needed to say the words clogging his throat but it was damn tough. “Thank you. For fighting for me. And Bailey. And...”
The young
. He couldn’t say it. Not without tears choking his voice. So he let it fade.

A lazy smile quirked Magic’s mouth. “It ain’t no thing. We defend our own.”

“I owe you a life.”

“You don’t owe me shit. And… congratulations, man. You’re going to be a daddy.”

Gash breathed deep, still not able to scent the young. But soon. He’d pick it up soon. Maybe when he got his mate home and in bed.

“Congrats, Bai,” Magic added.

She murmured a thank-you and he jogged off toward the lodge.

Silently, Gash and Bailey walked back to their cabin. A huge weight had been lifted. And even though Ouachita would no doubt face more obstacles while helping the witches, tonight they had come together in the most miraculous way. This was what family was all about. Fighting alongside each other even if their demons weren’t yours.

Gash would never forget what Ouachita had done for him, and he’d be first in line to help any one of them, no questions asked.

They were
his
.

Chapter Thirteen

Weeks later, Bailey huddled in the kitchen over her cell phone, staring at the screen as it flashed an alert.
1 New Message
. A happy smile curved her lips and she slid her thumb around the screen to open it up.

Since the battle with the Alley Cats, things had settled around the Ouachitas. The bears and Gash shared security duties, and they were making a home with the cats. Thames’s chapel had been erected, and not surprisingly, the guests liked to visit it as much as he did. Theron’s piano was moved into the lobby, and he played it sometimes when he thought no one was around. He wasn’t very good, but Bailey still liked to hear it. To her, it seemed like a symbol of survival and growth. Listening to him hit wrong notes always made a smile appear on her face.

Adira and Mirena stayed in the lodge, learning the ways of the shifters and helping wherever they could. Magic hadn’t given them jobs yet, but Bailey figured that was coming soon. Maybe after they survived the autumnal equinox. Then they’d officially belong to the Ouachita clan. If they wanted to, that is.

The one dark spot on the horizon was Nastia. Her condition hadn’t worsened as Adira had suggested. Which actually left everyone more on edge. It was like waiting for a dreaded blade to fall. Even Nastia had been sure the darkness would take her by now. So she sat, locked in Thames’s cave, waiting for it while the sisters and Mason researched ways to find her anchor.

But Bailey knew the clan would find a way to free her. Together, they could conquer any foe. Even dark magic. Somehow, she knew it deep in her heart.

Peering at her screen, she read the message.

I love you
.
Are u tired of it yet? Be honest.

Gash had kept his promise to tell her whenever he wanted to. Which was often. And every single time it gave her flutters in her chest that she knew wouldn’t fade with the passing of years.

I love you back. Not even close to tired of it.

I know bc I’m watching u smile.

She grinned up at the security camera and blew it a kiss.

There
, she typed.
A kiss for my mate.

“Bai,” Eagan called from the front station. “You get the dessert in the ovens yet?”

“Working on it,” she hollered back.

“Sometime today would be nice,” he grumbled.

“Heard that.”

“Meant for you to.”

She checked her phone again, but still no reply from Gash.

Just as she was tucking it back into her pocket, he pushed through the kitchen door, leaving it swinging on its hinges. He stalked to her, ignoring Eagan’s protests.

“Aw, come on. Give me a break, will you two? I need the damn desserts going, or our guests will be eating leftover cheesecake, and there goes my reputation right out the window like a fluttering fucking slip of paper.”

“Suck it, E,” Gash shot back. “I know how you and Clara have misused the kitchen.”

Eagan’s gaze narrowed. “You know nothing. I’m smart enough to cover the cameras.”

Gash gave him a blank stare. “Exactly. So I’m aware of just
how many times
you’ve misused it.”

Eagan crossed his arms, staring Gash down while Bailey strangled back a giggle.

“Fine, damn it. Fine,” Eagan said, walking away. “Five minutes, Bai. If those cakes aren’t in the oven in five minutes…”

“Don’t finish that sentence,” Gash warned, but she could see the playful gleam in his eye. Her tough man liked having brothers to play with. Ones he trusted and could be at ease with.

Bailey let her happiness out in a bubbling laugh, and Gash swept her into his big arms, pushing his face against her neck and inhaling deep before meeting her gaze again.

“What are you doing coming in here and getting me in trouble.”

His lips tilted up in that small way of his, but it was his eyes that let her know he was smiling deep and wide on the inside.

“You’re not in trouble.”

“Yeah, Eagan’s all talk.”

“Heard that,” Eagan called back from the front.

“Meant for you to.”

He grumbled out a reply about irresponsible newly-mates, and Gash pulled her toward the storage closet.

When they were shut in, he said, “I’m here because you sent me a kiss through the camera.”

“Oh.”

“But see, I can’t kiss you back through the camera.”

“Ah.”

“So, I had to come and give it to you in person.”

Bailey nodded. “Yes, that makes perfect sense.”

Gash ran his thumb gently along her full bottom lip. “This mouth… it needs kissed frequently. So when you send me a pouty little thing through the camera… what am I to do with that? Huh, mate?”

Bailey pretended to think about it. “Lemme see… march down the hall, barge in here like a bull, give my boss the what-for, and kiss me breathless?”

His eyes went all fiery, the way they do when she’s done something that has his cat reacting. “Exactly.”

His mouth came down on her smile, pulling her in with the ferocity of his kiss. Bailey melted against him with a moan, letting her softness mold against his solid chest. She was so damn happy.

This time, her mama was wrong. She didn’t need to be anyone but herself to find a male of worth that wanted her. And all she’d had to do to keep him, was love him. Which came so easy, it was almost second nature. No, it was
instinctual
. She was made to love Gash, and she’d spend the rest of her life making sure he knew it.

Gash ended the kiss with a growl as he nipped her lip with his teeth. Bailey grinned up at him.

“How’s the little tiger?” he whispered, his sexy gaze turning soft and private.

Her hand went to her belly to cradle a baby bump that didn’t quite exist yet. “Good. Still wiggling like an itty bitty worm.”

“I scent him strong now.”

Bailey nodded. “It might be a she, you know.”

“Right,” he murmured. “What should we call him until we know?”

“Little tiger is just fine, I think. But then… he could be a lion or a jag. Or both, like you.”

“Mmm,” Gash mused. “Maybe we should call him bubble.”

“Bubble?”

“Yeah, ‘cause he’s going to be living in a fucking bubble until he’s a teen. Not taking any chances with my young.”

Bailey laughed. “You’re still calling him a him.”

“So are you.”

She frowned. “Ooh, you’re right.”

“Five minutes is up,” Eagan called through the door. “Getchur ass back to work.”

Bailey laughed, pressing her forehead to Gash’s while his hands roamed her ass. “I love you,” she whispered.

“I love you, Bailey.” His voice was rough. “So much those words aren’t enough. I can’t believe this is my life.
My
life.”

His little confessions always melted her heart to a puddle. “Believe it,” she whispered.

“And I love you too, little bubble,” he gruffed, letting his hand slide down to tenderly cradle her belly.

Bailey kissed her man’s cheek, letting another happy sound bubble up from her throat.

Sometimes the road to happiness is a bumpy bitch, but it’s worth it when you finally reach your destination. Bailey wasn’t afraid of the bumps anymore. Grab a four-wheeler and ride that thing whoopin’ and hollerin’ to the end. The good stuff happened along the way, all mixed in with the bad stuff. There was never one without the other.

Or as Doc might say, in her wise tone,
the road to happiness is always under construction
.

Namaste.

***

The phone in Gash’s office rang just as he was leaving to meet the guys in the kitchen for a beer. It was ringing straight from the caller since nobody was manning the front desk.

He stood by the door, letting it ring twice more to see if anyone else picked up. No luck.

Sighing, he lifted the receiver to his ear and tried to sound professional. “Lake Haven Lodge, Gash speaking.”

“Good. Just the person I was looking for.” Rigor’s voice echoed across the line like he was calling from a metal box. “What the hell did you do to your brother, man? He can’t shift. None of the cats can. I mean, what the hell kind of shit did you get into up there, Gash?”

“I told you I’d take him out of commission. I did. We’re done. Why are you calling here?”

“I… I just… wanted to tell you, I’m dealing with Aaron Redman myself.”

“Good.”

“And you and me… we’re even.”

“Yeah.”

“And… I don’t want to ever see you around here again. Got it?”

“Got it. And, you know, same goes for you. Come around the Ouachitas and you’ll suffer like the Alley Cats do. Understand?”

“Completely,” Rigor rumbled out.

Gash felt another measure of relief pile onto his shoulders. Fear was sometimes the best defense. Rigor being afraid of Ouachita was just another benefit of taking Felix out of play.

“And Rigor…”

“Yeah?”

“Remember what I said about changing your life for the better. If ever you had a chance, it’s now.”

The line was silent for a beat.

“Yeah,” Rigor murmured. “I’ll keep that in mind. Have a nice life, Gash.”

And then the call disconnected.

Gash set the phone back in the cradle and stared at it. The conversation with Rigor felt like another nail in the coffin of his old life. He was well and truly done with the shadow clan, with the human mob, with the Junkyard Dogs and the Alley Cats. It was goodbye to the part of his life that led him here, to the place he
belonged
.

Turning, he strolled down the hall to the kitchen. Some straggler guests were still having dinner in the dining room and as he passed, he gave them a friendly salute. Pushing through to the kitchen, he saw the party had started without him.

Renner, Eagan, Magic, and Owyn leaned against the counter, each nursing a half full bottle of brew while Ryan and Mason bounced pennies off the counter trying to make them land in a red cup.

“Hey, Gash,” Renner drawled. “Thought maybe you’d gotten lost looking for the kitchen and found it in Bailey’s mouth. Underneath her tongue maybe?”

The others snickered, but really, it was bad as far as jokes go. A smile tweaked Gash’s lips as he reached in the cooler for a beer. Renner, damn lightweight.

“Naw, Bailey’s at yoga. I can’t go there.”

“Aw, yes,” Owyn nodded. “The sacred weekly yoga meeting.”

“I know it. Know it well.” Magic swigged from his bottle. “‘There shall be no sex right now,’” he said in an authoritative mocking tone, wagging his finger the entire time. “‘I need to meet the girls for yoga.’”

“Damn,” Eagan muttered. “You get that too?”

Ryan raised one hand high while eyeing his next penny shot. “Me too. ‘Yoga this, yoga that. Yoga is good for the body and mind. You should try it sometime.’ Big
hell no
to that. I’ll stick with lifting weights.”

Gash chuckled, remembering his own yoga experience. Except he didn’t regret a goddamn minute of it. Later, Bailey had even showed him that ass-in-the-air move. It was called the dolphin or some shit. And yes, he’d totally taken advantage of her experience holding the form, and fucked her like that.

Yoga had his total and complete support. Yoga for president. Yoga for life.

“Dude. Yoga is awesome,” Mason said, tossing Gash a pointed stare.

Gash tipped his bottle in agreement. “Respect the yoga.”

“Oh, yeah,” Magic said, eyeing Mason. “I forgot you do that shit too.”

“Damn straight,” he murmured, lining up another shot.

The guys exchanged a glance, silently agreeing to mock Mason to the ends of the earth. With a nod, they gathered around him, forming a circle, palms upward, middle finger and thumb making a ring.

“Ohmmmmm,” they hummed in unison, unable to keep it up for long before they burst into raucous laughter.

Mason nodded, a wry smile on his face. “Aw, yeah. Laugh it up boys. But the yoga gods shine on me. I’ve seen the light and I’ll never stop yoga-ing the hell out of life. Nama-fucking-ste.”

This just made them laugh harder, Ryan spewing beer out his nose.

Gash settled, taking another gulp of his drink. “He ain’t wrong though.”

Eagan squinted through tears. “Huh? What are you talking about? You into yoga too?”

“Say it ain’t so,” Owyn murmured, sobering.

Gash raised a daring eyebrow. “You ever watched ‘em?”

All the guys went quiet, their laughter drying up like a puddle in the Sahara. Mason chuckled, abandoning the pennies game altogether.

“You mean… like… watch the girls while they do yoga?” Magic asked.

Gash grinned slowly.

“No. No, I haven’t.” Magic frowned, turning to Eagan. “Have you?”