The Journal Keeper (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (16 page)

“Rianne. It’s not just you. I will have guards around as well. We all need to be careful until we know what the shooter wants,” Dorin said softly, still trying to soothe her.

“Well, if you really want to keep me safe, send me home. That way I’m completely out of the shooter’s way,” Rianne suggested.

Before Dorin could so much as form an answer, Nikolas gave an angry roar and yanked her from the chair, shaking her violently.

“You will not leave us,” Nikolas bellowed, completely ignoring Rianne’s startled response.

“Nikolas, let her go,” Dorin ordered, standing to diffuse the situation.

Nikolas growled at him when Dorin placed a hand on his arm, a clear warning to back off. Dorin ignored the warning and continued to try to calm the angry polar down.

“Do you know what would happen if we took you back? Every moment you’ve spent here is longer than the ones that have passed in your world. A day here could equal months, or even years, in the human realm. If we took you back to keep you safe and returned to find the shooter, by the time we returned, you could be dead and keeping you safe would have meant nothing,” Nikolas snarled.

Dorin knew it was the wrong thing to say as he watched Rianne’s eyes go impossibly wide with the realization that everything she knew could be gone if she returned to the human realm. Nikolas caught her when her legs buckled beneath her, and from the look on his face, he knew he’d made a grave mistake.

“Rianne.
Capora
, I’m sorry,” Nikolas murmured, burying his face in her soft hair.

“My family,” Rianne croaked as tears began to stream down her face.

“I know,
capora
. I’m so sorry,” Nikolas breathed, his eyes closing at the sight of her pain.

Dorin wondered if they would ever catch a break with their mate or if they were destined to screw up time and again. It seemed they could never win with her. There was always something between the three of them.

“Rianne, why don’t you finish eating? We can discuss this tomorrow,” Dorin suggested, hoping Nikolas would let the subject drop.

Rianne nodded against Nikolas’s chest before moving mechanically back to her seat. Dorin resumed his seat beside her while Nikolas remained standing. It was obvious he no longer planned on finishing his meal. Dorin could understand as his appetite had fled as well, but he resolved himself to eating with Rianne.

The silence in the room was unbearable, but Dorin could think of nothing to say that would help. Instead, he continued eating until both he and Rianne were finished.

“Come here,
danalya
,” Dorin requested, opening his arms.

Wordlessly, she moved into his lap, her head tucked beneath his chin as he held her.

“Why don’t we call for Carme to help you get ready for bed? I’m sure you’re exhausted,” Dorin offered.

“Yes, please,” Rianne whispered into his chest.

“Of course,
danalya
,” Dorin sighed, kissing her forehead.

He didn’t look up as Nikolas walked over to pull the string that would send for Carme, instead focusing on the woman in his arms. He knew she was upset about the loss of her family, but he also couldn’t deny a part of him was glad she finally understood that returning to her home wasn’t as easy as she’d thought.

He was rocking her gently in his arms when Carme came in, solemnly indicating for him to release Rianne.

“Nikolas and I will be back soon,
danalya
,” Dorin promised, kissing her temple as he lifted her to her feet.

Rianne nodded, but said nothing as Carme took over getting her ready for bed. Dorin and Nikolas went into their respective rooms to get ready for bed as well. Dorin knew he and Nikolas were of the same mind as he stripped out of his trousers. The three of them needed to be together that night after the difficulties of the day. Dorin had little doubt that he would wake up at least once with a nightmare and being able to reach out for Rianne would go a long way in easing his mind. Besides, she needed to get used to having them in her bed.

Dorin returned to Rianne’s room after stripping to his drawers, uncaring if Carme was finished assisting her out of her gown or not. He walked through the door to find Rianne sitting while Carme brushed out her hair, the fox humming softly as she went about her work. Neither one of them looked up when Dorin walked into the room, and he took a moment to enjoy the simplicity of watching his mate being groomed.

The door opposite him opened, and Nikolas came out, his eyes instantly seeking their mate as well. Dorin couldn’t help the sly smirk that crept across his face as Nikolas became just as enraptured as he had been watching Carme brush Rianne’s hair.

The act of grooming was usually reserved for mates, but until the mating ceremony was completed, neither Dorin nor Nikolas would be allowed to help their mate prepare for bed. He wasn’t sure how Nikolas felt watching the two women, but Dorin’s entire being ached at the idea of taking the brush from Carme and completing the nightly ritual himself.

Carme finished brushing Rianne’s hair and turned to look between Dorin and Nikolas. Seeming to be satisfied with what she saw, she nodded once before leaving the room. As soon as the door closed behind her, Dorin moved to stand behind Rianne, settling his hands on her shoulders.

“Come to bed,
danalya
. I know you’re probably exhausted,” Dorin said softly.

Rianne nodded, looking as though she was about to fall asleep in her chair. Without another word, Dorin lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed where Nikolas stood waiting, the sheets pulled back. Placing Rianne in the middle of the bed, Dorin crawled in after her, instantly drawing her body into the curve of his. Nikolas moved to settle on her other side, his arm thrown loosely about her waist.

“Sleep,
capora
. The morning will come soon enough,” Nikolas murmured, kissing her softly.

Dorin smiled contently when she shifted closer to Nikolas, drawing the three of them together. Her head found a place on Nikolas’s shoulder while her legs tangled with Dorin’s, connecting the two of them as she would for the rest of their lives. As the strain of the day left his body, Dorin forgot to think about the shooter, the Guard, his father. All of it fell away at the feel of finally falling asleep next to his mate.

Rianne wasn’t sure what to think about the fact that she might not be able to return home to her time. Staring out the window at the busy baileys below, her mind wandered to all the things she would miss if she ended up unable to return home. Chocolate, for one. All her novels, especially the ones hidden in the back of her closet. She would miss Lynda and her tales of her latest conquest. She would even miss the stray cat that would sit outside her window and yowl at all hours of the night.

As for her job, the idea of never returning to Cull Industries hurt, but nothing more so than letting down Dr. Cull. The man had reminded her so much of her grandfather, taking her under his wing when she began learning the trade. Despite the fact that women were rare in their line of work, he had ignored her gender and seen only her abilities as a translator, encouraging her when others would have given up on her.

A knock on the door interrupted her thoughts, and she turned to find Carme poking her head inside.

“The prince and Sir Nikolas asked me to check on you. They wondered if you might join them for dinner,” Carme said, remaining outside the door.

“Tell them I’ll be along shortly,” Rianne murmured, turning back to the window.

“Of course,” Carme said, bowing out of the room.

Rianne gave a heavy sigh as she leaned her head against the cool windowpane. She had woken up that morning wrapped in Nikolas’s and Dorin’s arms. The heat their bodies generated had kept her snuggly warm throughout the night, and she had been reluctant to leave the haven she’d found in them. That fact that it was the best night’s sleep she’d ever had only solidified her belief that it would be near impossible to leave the two of them if she could make it back to her world.

She had been working on that problem, or at least until Nikolas told her it might be impossible for her to return to her time. Now it seemed as though all her planning would be for naught. She would never return home.

She knew Nikolas and Dorin would come looking for her themselves if she didn’t go down to dinner soon. She wondered, as she stood and walked over to her armoire, how long it would take her to become accustomed to all their way of doing things. When she’d first arrived, their references to mealtimes had confused her. Now she thought nothing of lunch being dinner and dinner being supper. While it made her feel like she was back in the Southern states, she had struggled to remember to make the change mentally. Now, she thought, bending down to retrieve her slippers from underneath the armoire, it was no problem to know that when the maid said dinner was ready, she referred to the noonday meal. Her fear was that she would soon become so accustomed to life in Laurasia that her human side would slowly fade until there was nothing of her left.

A tear dropped onto her slipper at the exact same time the faint sound of a car backfiring echoed outside. The strange noise was followed instantly by the sound of glass breaking, then the sound of wood splintering as the door above her exploded.

Rianne screamed and fell to the ground, covering her head as wood splinters and glass rained down on her. Less than a second later, the door to her room crashed open, and Nikolas and Dorin rushed into the room. Dorin moved to her side while Nikolas raced to the window, surveying the area.

“Guards! Find him!” Nikolas shouted, drawing the attention of the men stationed beneath her window.

“Rianne?
Danalya
, are you all right?” Dorin asked, his hands lifting her gently.

Rianne couldn’t find her voice and simply stared up at him as he pulled her into a seated position. Her fingers dug into his arms, her nails piercing the skin as she looked from the window to the armoire and back.

“Rianne? Talk to me,
danalya
,” Dorin urged, shaking her gently.

She opened her mouth to assure him she was all right, but a sound like a dying cow came out instead. Her body began to shake as great, heaving sobs escaped her uncontrollably. Dorin drew her farther into his arms, shushing her gently as he rocked her back and forth.

“Shh, Rianne. You’re all right. You’re safe,” Dorin murmured, running his fingers through her hair in an effort to calm her.

Nikolas stormed across the room, shouting for someone out in the hallway, but Rianne was too shaken to hear what he said. She tried to focus on Dorin’s soft words, blocking out everything but the soothing sound of his voice.

“I’m all right,” Rianne eventually whispered.

“Take her to the study and lock the door until I come for you,” Nikolas ordered, standing over Dorin’s shoulder.

“Wh–what are you going to do?” Rianne asked, looking up at him fearfully.

“Find the bastard and kill him.” Nikolas growled, turning from the room.

“Be careful,” Dorin said as the polar left.

Nikolas simply nodded once before he disappeared down the hallway. Dorin sighed and stood, reaching down to lift Rianne into his arms despite her protests.

“Hush. Let me take care of you,” Dorin insisted gently.

Rianne gave up trying to argue with him, placing her head on his shoulder as he carried her toward his father’s study. As they walked down the hallway, they were accompanied by two of Dorin’s personal Guard. Both were members of Nikolas’s regiment, meaning they were the best of the best. Knowing that Nikolas would only entrust their safety with his best men, Rianne knew no one would be coming near her and Dorin until Nikolas said so.

“Will he be all right?” Rianne asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

“Nikolas? Of course he will. He’s the best warrior in all of Wolvden. He’ll find whoever did this,” Dorin assured her as they walked into Silal’s study.

The wolves closed the door behind them and Dorin pulled out a key, turning the lock and barricading them inside. He set Rianne on her feet, allowing her to walk over and sink into the familiar chair in front of the fireplace. Despite the fire that crackled in the hearth, it did nothing to banish the chill that seemed to have invaded her bones. She wrapped her arms around herself, rubbing furiously in an attempt to infuse heat into her body.

“Here,” Dorin murmured, placing a blanket around her shoulders.

“Thanks,” Rianne mumbled, pulling it tighter around her.

With a heavy sigh, Dorin lifted her from the chair, taking her place before settling her on his lap. His fingers tenderly combed through her hair as he guided it to rest on his shoulder. She gasped at the warmth of his embrace, turning so she could burrow farther into his chest. Her fingers slipped beneath his shirt, and she moaned softly as his body heat began to warm them.

“Gods, you’re freezing,” Dorin grunted, holding her closer.

“I was so scared,” Rianne admitted, staring blankly at the wall across from them.

His fingers paused briefly before he resumed the soothing gesture.

“We were, too. Nikolas and I were discussing protective measures with Father when we heard the shot. When we heard your scream…I swear I’ve never run so fast in my life. Gods, we thought we would be too late,” Dorin groaned into her hair.

“I want to go home, Dorin,” Rianne whispered, her fingers clenching against his chest.

“I know you do,
danalya
, but you must see why you cannot. Nikolas and I won’t be able to protect you,” Dorin argued with her gently.

“But you said I wasn’t the one they’re attacking,” Rianne said, pulling away from him to look into his face.

“I didn’t think you were the target until today. Rianne, I was out walking with Nikolas and my father around the castle. If the shooter had wanted to hit me, he would have had ample opportunities. Instead, he chose to shoot at you. And the day we went riding, he never once shot at me. Both shots were aimed at you. It didn’t hit me until today. Rianne, you’re the one they’re after. Even if you return home, I doubt they will leave you be. You must stay here where Nikolas and I can protect you,” Dorin insisted.