Vice (Fireborn Wolves Book 1) (19 page)

K
yle stared
at the spoon in front of his lips and shook his head. Some part of him understood he was acting like a child, but he didn’t care. His body may have healed over the last weeks, but his heart was irreparably broken.

“Milo,” he called, patting the bed beside him. The mastiff crawled onto the mattress and snuggled in close, resting his head on Kyle’s chest and whining softly. “You miss her too, huh boy?”

“Not this again,” Gerty said, plunging the spoon back in the bowl of enchanted oatmeal she’d made for her patient. “It’s time for you to move on.”

“But how could she just
leave
like that?”

“It was for the best, Kyle. She’s a werewolf princess with a price on her head. You’re a human entrepreneur. She understood there was no future for the two of you. You should be thankful she was brave enough to do the right thing and end it when she did.” Gerty rolled her eyes.

“We could have worked things out if she’d given us a chance.”

“How would it work out? Her people need her. She had to go home. Your business needs you. You need to stay here. What type of relationship would be possible under those conditions? Besides, she knew you would never be safe so long as Alex is still out there.”

“That’s why she left, isn’t it? To keep me safe. Just like she took that bullet for me.”

“I’m fairly sure that bullet was meant for her, but yes, I’m sure your safety had much to do with her wise decision to leave. Now come. You must eat. You’re wasting away.”

He shook his head. “I’m tired. Why don’t you take the rest of the day off?” He curled on his side away from her and closed his eyes.

Gerty made a disapproving grunt and left the room in a huff. Several minutes later, footsteps entered the room again. “I told you I’m not hungry.”

“Move over,” Nate said. “My back is still killing me.”

Although Milo protested, Kyle managed to scoot the mastiff over and make room for Nate’s considerable girth. “You feeling better?”

“Yeah. Practically good as new. Can’t you tell?” Nate held up his right arm, still in a cast, and flopped back on the pillow.

“How ’bout you?”

“Gerty says the scars on my face won’t ever go away.” Kyle pointed to a bite mark that ran from his left cheekbone to his jaw and continued under his chin. He didn’t remember the moment the bite happened or precisely when he’d passed out from either pain or blood loss, but after weeks of magical treatments, the shiny silver scars had proved there to stay.

A rumble of laughter bubbled from Nate’s chest. “Don’t worry, kid. You’re still prettier than me.”

“She left me, Nate.”

His brother sighed deeply. “I heard. I had to threaten Gerty with breaking her wand but she told me. Obviously, she feels this is the best way to protect you. I mean, the chick took a bullet for you. Why? I will never understand. Personally, I’d find that level of commitment suffocating. Not you. You seemed to enjoy monogamy. Bleck.”

Kyle turned to stare at his brother’s amphibious head. “Of course I enjoyed it. I had real intimacy, Nate, for the first time in my life. She loved me for me, not for what I had, not for who I was, for me. I’ll never find that again.”

“Most people never find that at all,” Nate said toward the ceiling. There was a long stretch of silence. “What do you plan to do now with all your free time?”

Kyle furrowed his brow. “Free time? You mean while I recover?”

“No, I mean now that you can’t work at Hunt Club. The board is asking for your resignation. You effectively quit your job before this all went down, and the general consensus is that Hunt Club can get along without you.”

“They can?” Kyle knew damn well that he’d been an integral part of leading the company and not just because he had a pretty face. But what was Nate up to?

“Yes. And actually, I was thinking that, since you are not exactly useful to us anymore, maybe you should take some time off at full pay and go to New Hampshire to manage the cabin Dad left us and the property with Gerty’s trees.”

“Yeah? You think I should?”

“And maybe, while you’re at it, you should stop at this address.” He pulled a piece of sparkly blue paper from his pocket and handed it to Kyle. “I had to pay a pretty penny to the nurse at Tinkerbell Memorial Hospital for that one.”

“Tinkerbell Memorial?”

“Hell if I know the real name of the place. I’m just glad to be somewhere they don’t sprinkle rose pollen on everything. I was still hopped up on fairy dust when Gerty brought us home. Anyhow, that address was expensive, so it would be great if you, you know, checked it out.”

“Whose address is this?”

“Who do you think?” The corners of Nate’s wide mouth spread almost to his ears.

“I can’t just show up on her doorstep. She left me. What if she doesn’t want to see me?”

“You know what the problem with you is? You’ve always been the pretty one. You’ve never had a girl tell you no, so you don’t understand that sometimes you gotta, you know, sell the goods. Chicks tell me no all the time. But I get more fox than a chicken coop because I’m persistent.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“I’m saying, you go after her, shit-for-brains. And considering she’s a werewolf, I wouldn’t do it gently. Be the alpha. Take her back.” Nate crossed his arms over his chest and closed his eyes.

Kyle turned the sparkly paper between his fingers, then bound from the bed and started shoving clothes into a duffle bag. In less than twenty minutes, he was heading out the door.

“Don’t you dare leave this dog here. I’m not taking care of it,” Nate said, pointing at Milo.

“Milo, come.” Kyle slapped his thigh. The mastiff bound from the bed, tail wagging, and jogged after him. Man and dog slipped into the world like fallen sycamore seeds spinning on the wind, searching for a welcoming place to lay down roots.

“
Y
ou’re going
to look like a snow queen,” Becca said.

Laina’s human friend and assistant finished zipping the tight waist of her fur-lined dress. The first snow of the year had blanketed Rivergate Manor in a thick layer of white that morning, hiding every imperfection in the garden that would serve as her aisle and altar. She supposed Becca was right; the white fur cuffs and hem of her dress, along with the diamond tiara that held her veil, fit the winter wonderland royalty motif. But even Becca had no idea that the chill in the air leeched straight through Laina’s skin, all the way to her heart.

“Thank you for doing this,” Laina said.

“Are you kidding? I wouldn’t miss it for the world. Since I found out you were a wolf, I’ve been dying to see this place. I’m so happy for you. All the time you were gone, I prayed they’d catch that asshole and you’d be able to come home. I never thought you’d find a husband too.”

Laina gave Becca a small smile and nodded toward the door. “It’s time.”

Her human friend led the way to Rivergate’s courtyard, the snow-covered garden overflowing with flowers brought out minutes before. They’d only last for the ceremony in this chill, but they were beautiful. Over Becca’s shoulder, Laina saw Cameron in the traditional belted wool robe of her people. His was deep blue, Rivergate pack’s signature color, the insignia of three parallel lines on the back to match his tattoo. She knew the ancient garb was probably scratchy and uncomfortable, but it was necessary for the ceremony. Both her dress and his tunic had one detachable sleeve that would be removed so that once they were married, the
Preotka
, or priestess, could carve Cameron’s Rivergate tattoo under her phoenix tattoo and vice versa, forever uniting their packs through marriage. Children of their union would be able to choose which of the original packs to belong to upon their first shift.

The music started and Becca strode down the short aisle, an icy breeze stirring up her hair. Laina picked up the pillow holding two enormous fangs, one from the original ancestor of Fireborn pack, the other from the original ancestor of the Rivergate pack. Resting it on her upturned palms, she carried it to the altar and set it down beside Preotka Artemis, who was dressed in her crimson ceremonial robes.

When the music stopped, Artemis raised her hands. “Welcome wolves to the binding of Cameron James of Rivergate lineage and Laina Flynn of Fireborn pack. It is my honor to—”

The door at the back of the gardens slammed shut and a large man with a very large dog stood at the top of the aisle. “Stop this, Laina,” Kyle demanded, staring her right in the eye. “You will not marry him.”

Inside her head, Laina’s wolf whimpered, not out of fear but out of the desire to submit to Kyle’s demands, to go back to that place where she felt warm and safe in his arms. “What are you doing here, Kyle?” She meant to sound firm but the words came out like wisps of smoke.

“I’m here for you. You can’t marry this guy.” He stepped forward, Milo heeling perfectly at his side without a lead.

“Why?”

“Because you love me. You’re mine. You promised yourself to me.”

“You’re human,” Laina said. “It will never work.”

“How is he here?” Artemis asked softly, referring to Rivergate’s enchantment.

“I don’t know,” Laina whispered.

Kyle held out his hand, only a few feet between them now. “Come with me. I know this isn’t what you want.”

Her eyes burned and she blinked repeatedly. “I can’t, Kyle. It isn’t… allowed.” Her eyes darted around the room. She expected Cameron to say something, but instead he was looking quite dreamily at Kyle.

Kyle held out his arms and turned in a circle, the light catching on the scar on his face. Alex had put that there. It was a scar he’d earned defending her, a brutal-looking memento of the sacrifice he’d made for her.

“I am Kyle Kingsley. My mother was part shifter but I am human. I fought Alex Ravien Bloodright with my own two human hands and lived to tell the tale.”

There was a collective gasp from the crowd.

“If anyone challenges my right to marry this woman—should it be her will to have me—please stand and allow me the opportunity to change your mind.” He spread his arms wider, his head cocked at an angle that clearly said,
I dare you.

No one stood. There were a few muffled whispers, but no one dared challenge the imposing presence among them. Laina’s heart galloped faster in her chest. Her wolf panted excitedly in her head. Her eyes fell on Silas.

“Ah, the brother alpha,” Kyle said. “I remember saving your furry ass as well. Why are you looking at him, Laina? You’re as much alpha on the inside as he’ll ever be and you know it.”

Silence. A dozen grim faces stared at him with death in their eyes. A growl came from deep within the crowd.”

Silas’s lips pursed. “You don’t understand how it is, Kyle.”

“I understand that you’d be dead and most if not all of the people in this room would be bowing down to Alex if it weren’t for Laina and me. You can’t deny that.”

“I don’t,” Silas said through his teeth. The murmurs among the crowd grew louder.

Cameron shook his head and stepped down from the marital platform.

“What are you doing?” Laina asked.

“Helping you,” Cameron said. “I’m your friend. I won’t let you fall on your sword. If you’re going to sacrifice yourself for the pack, I won’t be the means. I couldn’t live with myself.” He strolled calmly down the aisle and disappeared through the glass doors.

Preotka Artemis sighed. “There is no law against binding a wolf and shifter, however dormant. He brings himself willingly to your door. The goddess will allow you to open it if you choose.”

Laina looked again to Silas.

Her alpha brother scratched the back of his head and scanned the staring faces of the crowd. After a long moment, Laina saw something come over him, a resolve, a softening of the shoulders. When he looked at her again, it wasn’t as her alpha; it was as her brother. “Kyle’s right. You’ve always found a way to do what you wanted to do. Your pack needs a brave and daring leader, a princess who knows her mind, not a mindless robot. As your alpha, I order you to choose for yourself, follow your heart, and do the thing that will bring you happiness.” Silas gave her a warm genuine smile. “He’s worthy of you.”

Kyle’s gaze turned back to Laina. “Not a single objection.” He took another step toward her and held out his hand.

“It isn’t safe for you to be with me.”

“It isn’t safe for anyone if I’m not with you,” he whispered.

At war with herself, she thought about being strong, about protecting him, about doing the right thing for her pack, and none of it mattered. None of it mattered if she couldn’t have Kyle.

Slowly, she slipped her fingers into his. And he promptly yanked her off her feet and threw her over his shoulder to the loud murmurs of the crowd. “Nice meeting you all. Hope to see you again real soon.” Kyle saluted as he carried her from the gardens, Laina bouncing on his shoulder.

Panting, Milo looked up at her from Kyle’s side. She didn’t protest. Kyle could have carried her back to Sable Creek for all she cared. Instead, she watched the marble floor morph into the velvety blue of the north parlor. Kyle shut the door behind them and set her down on a chaise in front of a crackling fireplace. He sat down next to her, crossing his legs at the ankle and staring into the flames.

He said nothing, but as the silence raged on, Laina thought she knew what he was waiting for. “I’m sorry I left you. I wanted to keep you safe and to give you room to do your work. I didn’t want to ruin your life,” Laina said.

“Oh, Laina, you didn’t ruin me. You saved me. I was a puppet. Do you think I enjoyed being traipsed out on the company’s whim with some beautiful stranger hell-bent on advancing her career at my expense? No. I was numb, not happy.”

“But, what now? I can’t leave here. Alex is still out there. I’m responsible for my pack.”

Kyle leaned on his elbows. “As it turns out, I’ve been let go from my position at Hunt Club.”

“What?”

“Nate reassigned me as groundskeeper of our Red Grove property.”

As if to back his favorite human up, Milo moved between them, nudging Laina’s hand with his sloppy wet nose.

“You’re moving here? Permanently?”

Kyle nodded. “I’ll be living in our father’s cabin where Gerty and Arthur’s trees are for the time being, but I am free to live wherever I want as long as I can maintain the grounds. I have a feeling, given the circumstances, that I could convince Gerty to provide us with a protection spell anywhere we wanted if I asked.”

There was no stopping the tears now. Laina let them flow down her face with abandon.

“Are you crying because you don’t like the idea?” Kyle asked hoarsely.

She shook her head. “No. I’m crying because I have everything, everything I ever wanted.”

He took her face in his hands and kissed her, as if there wasn’t a 160-pound mastiff watching, as if Alex was already dead, as if the entire world had melted away and left only them in a cocoon of their happiness. Love may not be enough to change the world, but maybe, at least for today, it was enough to change their circumstances.