Therian Prisoner: 3 (Therian Heat) (4 page)

Guilty memories made her glance away, so she rushed through her explanation. “He didn’t touch me.” Ian looked doubtful. “I swear. When he started feeling the burn he shifted. It was brilliant. I wish I’d been able to… I mean I wish I’d thought of it first.”

“I thought you were not yet defined.” Payne glanced in the rearview mirror before he looked back at the road.

“She isn’t. Unless… Did that bastard define you?” Ian’s fingers tightened on her knee.

“It wasn’t like that. Dhane did nothing wrong.” She moved her leg away from him and, with obvious reluctance, he pulled back his arm.

“Then what was it like?” The gold flecks in his sky-blue eyes began to shimmer. “Did they use the chemical on you too?”

“It doesn’t matter.” She knew he’d read between the lines, but she wasn’t ready to detail what had happened. And when she was ready, Ian would be the last person she’d… Anger and pain welled within her and her chin quivered. She didn’t want to cry anymore. If she started crying again she wasn’t sure she could stop. Dhane. She’d concentrate on Dhane and only Dhane. “We need to contact his pack. Only they can give him what he needs.”

“A willing female wolf?” She could see Payne’s face in the rearview mirror. His smile was surprisingly gentle given the aggression so obvious in his features.

“Yes.” She switched her gaze to Ian, more comfortable with his familiar face. He looked so damn handsome, and so worried. His burnished hair could use a trim, but she’d always liked his careless style. “Do you know how to contact Nate Fitzroy?”

“I’d rather get you home before we worry about the wolf.”

She shook her head. “This can’t wait. Payne’s right, Dhane should have shifted back by now. The chemical must be affecting his wolf too.”

“I’ll call Landon. He can decide what to do with Dhane.” He dug his phone out of the center console and turned back around.

She felt the absence of his gaze like a physical ache. The need to crawl back in his lap and feel the security of his strong arms close around her was nearly overwhelming. What was she doing? Ian thought of her as an annoying little sister. If she allowed herself to forget that fundamental fact, she was asking for disappointment and pain.

Landon was Dhane’s older brother. Devon knew he’d joined the rebels, but she’d never exchanged more than casual greetings with any of the wolves. Until tonight.

Like a slow-motion replay from a brutal sporting event, she saw Dhane’s attack on the first guard. The wolf’s sharp teeth sank into the human’s flesh, blood gushed and tissue tore as Dhane violently shook his head. She shuddered and forced the memory back into the past where it belonged. They’d been defending themselves against an aggressive enemy, an enemy that had launched the first strike. Without Dhane’s brutality, they might still be locked inside that cell.

“Hey Landon, it’s Ian.” His tone was deep and even as he spoke into the phone. “Sorry to call so late but I’ve got your brother in the bed of my truck.”

“Is he all right?” Though Landon’s voice was muffled, Devon could make out what he said. “My father called a couple of hours ago, wanted to know if I’d seen him. What happened? How did he end up with you?”

“Long story. Are you at home?”

“No. I was helping Eli with a programming glitch. I’m at the sanctuary.”

“Good. Tell Kyle and Erin that we have Devon. She’s safe and unharmed.”

Devon cringed at the word. Was she unharmed or were her wounds simply not visible?

“That’s wonderful.” Landon paused. “What about Dhane?”

“Dhane needs energy, badly. He needs a she-wolf willing to feed him.”

“I can pass him energy.”

“He needs a she-wolf,” Ian stressed.

“Where did you find him? What’s this—”

“I’ll explain everything when we meet. Head north. If you leave right now we should cross paths somewhere near Ft. Collins.”

He didn’t give Landon the opportunity to argue or ask any more questions. He ended the call and returned his phone to the center console. “You okay?”

She wasn’t sure why he’d asked until she felt a tear roll down her face. Rather than reply, she wrapped her arms around herself and huddled against the seat back. With Dhane on his way to recovery she felt empty and numb. She didn’t want to talk, didn’t want to think, just wanted to absorb the fact that her ordeal was finally over.

Ian watched Devon closely, trying not to think about how good she’d felt in his arms. She was soft and warm and trusting. And a close friend’s little girl. Devon was traumatized and vulnerable, and he could not let himself forget it.

Gradually her body relaxed, her arms slipping to her waist as she swayed with the truck’s gentle motion.

“How’s the wolf?” Payne asked.

“Still pacing.” He kept his voice soft, not wanting to disturb Devon.

“Is she asleep?”

“I think so.”

Do you think she was truthful about what happened tonight? If the wolf forced her she might not want anyone to know.

I don’t know.
But the thought made Ian’s stomach clench and his blood boil.
She’s definitely hiding something, but I don’t think it has anything to do with Dhane.

There’s an easy way to find out.

Ian shook his head.
I never go where I’m not invited unless there’s a damn good reason. When she’s ready she’ll share her story. Though I doubt it will be with me
.

Don’t be so sure. I saw the way she was looking at you
.
You might insist on treating her like a sister, but she doesn’t think of you as a brother.

It doesn’t matter. She’s not for me.

That’s not for you to decide.

For a moment he thought Payne meant Erin and Kyle would decide Devon’s fate, then he saw the challenge in Payne’s eyes.
If she were the one, I would have felt the bonding pull a long time ago
.

Payne’s smile was slightly mocking.
How could you possibly know what you feel when you’ve convinced yourself that she’s forbidden? She’s a direct descendant of the Historians. It makes sense that—

Stop it! She’s little more than a child.

Payne’s laugh was audible as well as telepathic.
Are you blind?

Ian didn’t reply, but Payne’s speculation lodged deep in his mind. With a frustrated sigh he felt around on the floor of the truck.

“What are you doing?” Payne’s dark brows drew together over his nose.

“Where’s my shirt?”

“I think she’s lying on it.”

Sure enough. Ian spotted his shirt directly under her pert little ass. He shook his head and turned back around. All Therians either lost or destroyed their clothes when they shifted. No one would think anything of his bare chest. So why was it bothering him?

Was it possible he’d squelched the bonding pull, shut himself off from even the chance that he would finally find his mate? His bloodline had been connected to the Historians for nearly as long as the Historians had chronicled the lives and deeds of the Omni Primes. That was the main reason everyone expected him to mate with Erin. Had he felt no attraction to Erin because she was destined to provide him with a mate rather than be that mate?

It didn’t matter. There was no way he was going to complicate Devon’s recovery with inappropriate attention. He’d hand her over to her family as soon as possible and get on with his life. Only after this trauma was far behind her would he revisit the possibility that he could feel more than familial affection for Devon. It was the only rational choice.

Landon sent a text letting them know he was at a rest stop just off the southbound side of I-25. They arrived a few minutes later and Ian spotted Erin’s red SUV as well as Landon’s Acura. “Looks like the whole gang tagged along.” There were at least three people in the SUV and two in the car. Would Devon be thrilled by the support or overwhelmed by their concern?

“That’s a good thing, isn’t it? If you’re going to run for the hills.”

The problem with longtime friends was they knew exactly which buttons to push. Ian ignored Payne’s provocation and gently roused Devon. “Time to go, love. Your family’s here.”

She pushed away from the seat and looked out the back window, her expression muddled. “My family? Where are we?”

“Ft. Collins rest stop,” Payne told her.

She opened the door and slid to the ground. But rather than running into her mother’s arms, as Ian had expected her to do, she waited for Landon by the tailgate. Dhane was sprawled on his side, panting, yet motionless.

“What the hell happened to him?” Landon demanded as soon as he saw his brother.

Ian grabbed his shirt off the backseat and pulled it on before he opened his door.

“Dhane was captured by the same people who had me.” Devon’s tone was suspiciously calm. She didn’t look at her mother or Kyle and her movements seemed jittery. “He killed two people tonight. Has he ever killed before?”

And she’d had a ringside seat for the event. Had
she
witnessed death before? Ian moved closer to the tailgate, watching her carefully. Despite her outward composure, her façade was ready to disintegrate.

Erin stood on the other side of Landon, her gaze sharp and assessing. As usual she’d missed nothing.
Is she as calm as she looks?
Erin’s worried thought whispered in his mind.

Not even close.

Landon told us she was unharmed
.

Ian ignored the accusation that accompanied Kyle’s thought and focused on Devon. Her hands shook and her chin quivered, and still she only had eyes for Landon. “Dhane was amazing. You need to let your father know he did his pack proud.”

“Ian said he needs energy.” Landon’s anxious gaze darted toward him before he switched back to his brother. “Wolves revert to their human form when their levels are depleted. What’s really wrong with him?”

“He was injected with gods-know-what. Get blood samples if you can. He needs energy and he needs sex.” Ian cut through the ambiguities. This wasn’t helping anyone. “Lots and lots of sex.”

“I’ll take care of it.” Landon pulled down the tailgate and slid Dhane across the bed of the truck. The wolf whimpered but didn’t resist. Payne stepped forward and helped Landon load Dhane into the backseat of the car.

Ava, Kyle’s mate, stood by Erin’s SUV, obviously trying to give the family some privacy. Devon looked at her and asked, “Who is that? Why is she here?”

That was right. Devon had been gone when Carissa and Ava came on the scene. Hearing Devon’s comment, Ava started forward but Erin immediately waved her back.

“She’s my mate, Dev.” Kyle supplied the answer. “She’s just worried about you. We all are.”

Erin took a cautious step toward Devon and Devon moved closer to Ian.

“I can’t do this,” Devon whispered, her eyes wide and unblinking.

“How about if we all meet up at your mom’s house in a few minutes?” He tried to sound encouraging without playing into her obvious panic.

She turned and wrapped her arms around him, pressing her face against his chest. “Make them leave. Please. Just make them leave.”

“Devon, no one is going to hurt you.” Kyle moved closer to the truck and Devon just about climbed up Ian’s body.

Back off or she’ll bolt! She’s holding on by a thread.
Ian wrapped his arms around Devon, no longer caring what any of them thought. Panic and pain radiated off her in dizzying waves. He had no idea why she’d chosen him as her protector, but he had every intention of keeping her safe.
Payne, go with them. I’ll bring her home as soon as she calms down.

With obvious reluctance, Kyle and Erin made their way back to the SUV. Ian opened the truck door and Devon climbed in without so much as a glance at her family. Payne had left the truck running, so Ian closed the back door then climbed in behind the wheel. She stared off into the distance with unseeing eyes, obviously in shock.

“I want to go home with you.” The whispered plea stunned him. Her expression didn’t change and she didn’t look at him, but tears trailed down her cheeks.

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea. I think you need your family.”

“I can’t. I just can’t.” She finally turned her head and the utter misery in her expression broke his heart. “Please, I want to go with you.”

He gripped the steering wheel until the blood left his knuckles as he struggled through the alternatives. It didn’t matter why she’d latched on to him. She was obviously not ready to face her family. If he took her to his house in Snowmass, her family would doubtlessly come get her. Ian wasn’t sure exactly what her captors had done to her, but it was going to take more than one good cry to exorcise these demons.

The SUV idled at the far end of the parking lot, waiting for him to follow. He picked up his phone and sent Kyle a quick text telling him they’d be along in a few minutes. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath then shook his head. Payne had seen this coming. Somehow the lion had known Devon would reject her family.

Ian turned off the engine and tucked the keys under the floor mat. Hopefully Erin would forgive him. Eventually. He sent a text to Payne and asked him to come back for the truck in half an hour. He didn’t need to say more. Payne would understand. Finally, he walked around to the passenger side and opened the door. “Last chance. Are you sure this is what you want?”