Unleashed by Shadows (By Moonlight Book 10) (14 page)

“And what would that be?”

“I don’t know,” she confessed, fuming. “What good could come of you muscling your way in between a decent man and his wife and child? I know you, Cale. What do you want from them?”

He drew a long, measured breath. “Can’t it just be what’s best for them? Do I have to have some selfish agenda?”

“You usually do.”

She’d gone too far. She saw it in the flat affect that came over his features. Without a word, he brushed by her, slinging his jacket to the floor in uncharacteristic carelessness on his way to the bar. Bottles and glasses clinked and clattered, but he turned back to her empty handed.

“So what do you think I’m up to, selfish fucker that I am? What would I have to gain from my sister’s unhappiness?”

She studied him, assessing his bold offense that was just a protective defense. He’d pushed Tina in front of him like a shield. Because it wasn’t about her.

“It’s Oscar.” She watched her words impact him, seeing him square off ever so slightly, balance shifting into a combative pose. It was Oscar.

“He’s a Terriot prince. He should be with his own people.”

“So he can be raised the way you were?” Kendra scoffed. “What mother in her right mind would want that for her son? Even your own mother didn’t want that.”

“Isn’t it what you want?” His question slid dark and dangerous between them. “For my son to be raised to replace me? Or have I been grievously mistaken?”

Afraid to say anything to add to his temper, Kendra simply returned his smoldering stare.

“I see.”

“You only see what you want to see, Cale. You make everything work to suit yourself. You and your family.”

“Our family. And what’s wrong with that? If we don’t look out for ourselves, who will? St. Silas? Savoie, the Prophesied One? Or maybe all your dead relatives?” He stopped when he saw her face pale but was too irritated to apologize for that harsh truth. “There’s me, Kendra, and my brothers. We’re all that stands between our people and those who’d like to see us destroyed. We are what we are, and maybe that’s too ugly for your delicately bred sensibilities, but it keeps us safe from those who’d do us harm.”

“From James? And Martine? And Sylvia? Were you thinking of the good of your people while you were screwing her?”

Where had that come from? Her challenge rocked him, but he held to his confrontational pose. “Why are we discussing this?”

“Because Sylvia was very interested in discussing it with me. In detail.”

“Detail? There are no details. I needed her help to survive and she demanded sex as a payment.”

“So it was a business transaction. Otherwise you never would have had sex with her.”

“Sylvia’s like that spider that devours its mate. Not exactly what I was looking for in a partner.”

“What were you looking for?”

“You.” He was starting to get angry. And a bit scared.

“That perfect glass slipper. And so you had to try on all the others first to see if they had the right fit?”

“Kendra, you know very well who and what I was before we got together. I’ve never kept that from you. None of them mattered. It was sex. Not romance. Not love. Not pillow talk. Not dinner or breakfast or any other damned thing. I fucked them because they wanted to be fucked by a Terriot prince. I never pretended that it would last longer than I did. Ever.”

“That’s awful.” Her quiet tone condemned.

“I was awful. Awful and empty and lost. Because I didn’t have the one thing that would make any of it matter.”

“Your crown.”

“My queen. I didn’t have you.

“I wanted you to be mine.” Her voice broke. “Just mine.”

“I was. I am. From the first time I saw you when we were children, I’ve never dreamed of anyone but you. I’ve never desired anyone but you. I’ve never wanted to devote my life or make babies with anyone but you.”

He saw the subtle shift in her expression and then he understood. This was about children. Not sex, not love, not faithfulness. It was about him making a child with her. And he was failing her miserably. He gentled his tone.

“This city is a powder keg, Kendra. It’s gonna blow, and I don’t want you or that boy here when it happens. He needs to be able to protect himself, to be strong, fearless. Going to that touchy feely school with its manners and useless facts won’t prepare him for what he’s gonna face in the future.”

“Don’t you see?” she argued. “He’s living the life both of us dreamed of having when we were his age! And you’d tear that away from him? You’d make him a mindless warrior who believes pride is more important than truth? That tearing out your enemy’s throat can silence their right to be heard? If you want it and you can take it, it’s yours? Look what being raised that way did to you!”

Her disdain for everything that made him who he was carved deeper than any blade, but Cale answered softly. “It made me king. And will make him one, as well.”

“King? Oscar?”

There was no point now in her not knowing his plans. He laid them out in a clear, concise voice. “I have no heir. He’s the oldest second son. He needs to be ready to take my place.”

Her lips trembled. Her eyes grew moist. “Over our own children? My children?”

“We have no children, Kendra,” he shouted in frustration. “I can’t wait for if and when that happens. If I’m struck dead tomorrow, I need to know my crown is secure. For all of us. For you, Katy. For you.”

“For me,” she repeated, voice failing. “You’re not doing this for me. You don’t give a damn about what I want. If you did, you’d ask me. You’ve already made your choices, my king, but that doesn’t mean I have to like them. Or live with them.”

Hurt and fury bright in her glare, she whirled away. The slam of the bedroom door between them provoked Cale into motion. He strode to that offending barrier, blood boiling, heart racing, in time to hear the lock click.

A lock.

His hands curled, lengthening claws piercing his palms. Like a damned lock could keep him out!

Drawing back his fist, he realized his conscience could. And the memory of her anguish would. He took a step back, forcing his hands to relax and his temper to shiver out on a ragged breath.

She didn’t understand. How could he make her without telling her what he was doing and why?

The sound of the entry door opening had him turning away from immediate troubles. Rico backed inside, cocooned by the wrap of a female’s arms and legs. The curvy figure and mussed dark hair seemed familiar. They were too involved in tonsil hockey to notice him at first. Cale cleared his throat loudly before things got more embarrassing.

Rico blinked then grinned wide. “Hey. Didn’t see you.”

“Not surprising. You were kinda busy doing oral surgery.”

His brother laughed. “You remember Mia.”

He did the second he saw the sultry features of the female Colin had been mooning over. Irritation over Frederick’s poaching surprising him, Cale managed a halfway amiable smile.

“Good to see you again. I was just on my way out.” He grabbed his jacket. “Don’t wait up.”

He was already forgotten as Rico steered toward his bedroom.

Once out in the hall, Cale took a steadying breath. Kendra at least deserved a heads up on what she might be walking into.

Her phone went straight to voice mail.

“Just wanted to let you know Rico’s got company. I’m—I’m heading out.” He drew a quick breath and let his heart lead the way. “Katy, baby, just listen. I’m sorry. You were right about everything you said. My father did too much damage. I’m not the king our people deserve. But Oscar could be. He’s everything I wish I was—smart, honest, caring. If you help him, he’ll become that leader. Don’t turn your back on him just because I’m an arrogant fool.” He paused to force a tight swallow.

“I never meant to hurt you. I love you, Kendra. I wish . . . I wish things could be different. I’m doing everything I can to change them, to make things right for your children, for our people. I wish I was what you deserve. It’s not your fault, baby. I’m trying. I’m trying to give you everything you want. I’m trying to be everything you need. I don’t know what else to do.” Very quietly, again, “I don’t know what else to do.”

He’d no sooner tucked his phone away when it rang. He reached for it, hand fumbling in his hurry.

“Hi.” Silas.

“Hey.”

“Just got a call. Things are in play for tomorrow night. Meet me at the club. Be careful no one sees you. Cale? Did you hear me?”

“Yeah. I’ll be there.” And he disconnected.

He had no plan in mind when he wandered through the lobby, happening to glance into the bar area. The silhouette of another equally miserable soul drew him inside.

“Join you?”

Colin made a sloppy gesture toward the next chair and continued to nurse his beer. He waited until Cale ordered before muttering, “Ever want to murder one of your brothers?”

“Almost daily.”

A wry smile. “And you haven’t acted on it yet?” Then he sighed regretfully, remembering. “Except with Michael. To Michael, the dumb bastard.” He hoisted his glass. Cale clinked his against it. “You have better self-control than I do. What if one of us, for instance, tried to muscle in on your female?”

“I believe the last time that happened I ended up having to kill him.”

A lifted glass. “To Michael, the poor dumb bastard.” A click and swallow.

“Are you thinking about killing Frederick?”

“Thinking about it. Trying to talk myself into believing it wouldn’t be a good idea.”

“Any luck?”

“Not yet. He can have any female within a zip code, and he singles out the only one I want. Why does he have to do shit like that?”

“Because he’s a dumb bastard?” Cale suggested with a hoist of his glass. A clink and another swallow then he gestured for another round. “You think she’s worth killing over if she’d throw you aside to roll around with your dumb bastard brother?”

“Maybe. I did when I sat down in here.” He offered a crooked smile. Cale returned it. “I really liked her.”

“She’s a looker. No argument there.”

His broad shoulders finally relaxed on a heavy sigh. “Dammit, Cale, she was someone special. Killer body and great sex aside, she was funny and smart and strong, great to talk to even while we were having sex. And she smelled so good.”

Cale lifted his full glass. “To her loss.”

“Her loss.”

They drank and Cale started assessing his brother in a different light.

“Col, you sober enough to entertain some talk?”

“You don’t have to entertain me, Cale. I’ve decided not to kill him. I may change my mind later. Probably when he gives me that smug ass look tomorrow morning. He may have to die then.”

“Aside from your brother being a female stealing bastard, what do you think of New Orleans?”

He gave it some thought. “I like it here. It’s not home, but it’s got a good energy. I like the music and the food. Lots of stuff to do and see and females to chase that I’m not related to. Nothing worse than climbing in the sack to find out you’re with your first cousin.” He gave Cale a look.

“She’s our third cousin.” His reply was testy because there’d be no climbing into the sack for him tonight.

Colin put up blameless hands.

After Cale settled his raised hackles, he continued his questions. “So you wouldn’t mind staying?”

“You mean live here?”

“No, of course not. You can’t take the mountain timber out of the Terriot.”

“Damn straight.”

“But what if I were to ask you to stay behind, just for a while, to represent our people in talks with the other clans?”

“Me?” Colin straightened in his chair, suddenly cold sober. “You’re asking me?”

“You’re a political animal. Always have been. You’re a cool thinker, when someone’s not stealing your girl.” He grinned but Colin was too stunned to respond, so he continued to build his case. “You can be intimidating when you want to be and deadly when you have to be. And I trust you to do what’s best even if it’s not in your own self-interest.” He was the selfish fucker in the family, after all. “What do you say?”

“Sweet mother, Cale. I’m gonna need a clearer head to give you that answer.”

“But you’re thinking it might be yes?”

“Yes. It might be yes.” Then his brow furrowed. “But I thought that’s what you were doing here.”

Cale shook his head. “I’m here for something else, and the two things don’t mix.”

Colin didn’t question what it might be, his thoughts spinning with the potential of what he’d been handed. “I think I’m gonna turn in, but I’m not sure I’ll be able to sleep. Are you sure about this, Cale?”

“I’m sure about you.” He pushed back and stood, accepting his brother’s fierce hug and husky thanks. “Don’t thank me yet. Politics is a dog-eat-dog business.”

Colin grinned. “Good thing I have one helluva bite.”

Cale walked with him into the lobby where they went their separate ways, Colin to the elevator and a long, sleepless night, and Cale out into the brisk evening air with no destination in mind.

He rode aimlessly, steering his bike down alleys and busy streets, out along the levee, and into the smaller parishes still struggling to rebuild after Katrina. The wind burned his face as his thoughts did his conscience, until both were chafed and stinging. Finally, when the moon was high and heavy and his heart dragged low, exhaustion forced him to seek refuge for the night far away from where he longed to be and was probably still unwelcomed. He slipped inside the building by smiling and holding the door open for a pair of revelers then took an empty elevator up where he knocked and waited in uncertainty.

“Do you know what time it is?”

“No. Can I bunk here tonight? I’ll be gone in the morning.”

“Are you going to break anything?”

“No.”

Nica MacCreedy held the door open and gestured to the room on the right, dismissing Cale’s thank you with a scowl. She returned to her bedroom and the warm figure in it, still frowning.

“Who was that?” Silas mumbled, not fully awake.

She stretched out on her back to stare at the ceiling. “Your good buddy Cale.”

“Alone?”

“Not even a toothbrush.”

He stared at their closed door, perplexed. “What’s he doing here without Kendra? Something must be wrong.”