Chapter Five

 

Tulip gripped Vaughn’s hand tightly as they rode the elevator to the maternity ward of the hospital. A gift bag was clutched in her other hand, a present for the new baby. As they approached the waiting area, it looked like nearly half the pack had shown up for the blessed event. Gabriel was standing nearby, with a baby swathed in pink clutched in his arms.

Tulip froze in the doorway as a dozen or more wolves turned to look at her. Vaughn wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her forward. The bite on her shoulder showed clearly with the thin straps of the dress she was wearing, letting everyone know that she’d been claimed. But would it matter to them since she was dark fae?

A wolf left Gabriel’s side and approached, his stride confident and sure.

“Looks like we’re officially welcoming more than one new pack member,” the wolf said as he stopped in front of them. “I’m Connor, the second alpha.”

“I’m Tulip,” she replied softly. “We brought a gift for the baby.”

“Then you should go give it to her,” Connor said.

Tulip looked up at Vaughn, but he nudged her toward Gabriel. The other wolves let her pass and she stopped beside the new father, peering at the sweet bundle in his arms. The baby opened her eyes and blinked up at Tulip, giving her a toothless smile. Lifting her hand, Tulip swirled her finger through the air, letting her magick shower the baby with soft rose petals. The child cooed and grabbed at them.

“This is for Alora,” Tulip said.

“How did you know her name?” Gabriel asked.

“She told me.” Tulip smiled. “She’s going to make a wonderful fae queen one day. Since she’s not fully fae, her powers won’t develop until she’s much older. She’ll get to have a normal childhood.”

“I see Vaughn has claimed you,” Gabriel said. “Autumn will be pleased. Would you like to go see her? She might like having another fae around.”

“I barely know her. Are you sure she’d want to see me?” Tulip asked.

“I’m positive. She’s just down the hall. Fourth room on the right.”

Tulip handed the present to Gabriel and then went in search of Autumn’s room. She saw the pink balloon fastened to the door and knocked. There was a hesitant enter before she pushed the door open and stepped inside. The room was barely lit and she wondered if Autumn had been resting.

Autumn smiled when she saw her. “Tulip. I’m glad you came.”

“Gabriel thought you might want another fae around. Are you in any pain?”

“A little. They tried to give me something, but it isn’t working.”

Tulip approached the bed. She reached for Autumn’s hand and clasped it before pressing her magick through her fingers and into the other woman. She still wasn’t at full power, after using her magick earlier, and couldn’t heal her completely, but she started the process and took away the pain and discomfort. Color bloomed in Autumn’s cheeks and some of the tiredness eased from her eyes.

“Thank you,” Autumn said. “That feels so much better.”

“You’re welcome.” Tulip smiled. “I saw Alora. She’s adorable. I can see great things in future.”

“She’s going to be a handful, isn’t she?” Autumn asked.

“Definitely, and something of a daddy’s girl. She’ll be a wonderful leader for the light fae when the time comes, even though I know it will be hard for you to say goodbye to her. Maybe she’ll be friends with the children Vaughn and I have.”

Autumn gave her a bemused smile. “Already planning to have little ones running around?”

“According to the sorcerer, I’m already pregnant. He said all of our children will be half fae and half wolf.”

“Congratulations,” Autumn said. “I know Vaughn must be ready to burst he’s so proud.”

“More like anxious. We still don’t know if the dark fae are coming for me, and Vaughn said the light fae tried to get me last night. I don’t think he’ll rest until he knows I’m safe.”

“You should have a protection detail at Vaughn’s until everything is sorted out. I’ll see if I can call on the light fae, after I’ve had some rest, and see why they’re after you. I can’t promise they’ll answer, now that Alora is born, they’ll be far more interested in her than me.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t save your family, so the burden of ruling the light fae wouldn’t fall to your daughter. I did everything I could, but it wasn’t enough,” Tulip said.

“You did more than any other dark fae. And for that, I’m grateful. At least they knew someone cared in their final hours.”

Tulip nodded. “I should let you rest. Congratulations on your baby.”

“Thank you. Would you please send Gabriel back in here? I won’t be able to sleep until he’s here again.”

Tulip nodded and headed back to the waiting room. The wolves were gathered around the alpha and his new daughter, but Tulip managed to get his attention and pointed to Autumn’s room. Gabriel gave her a smile before pulling himself away from the pack and carrying Alora back to her mother.

Vaughn stepped to her, wrapping an arm around her waist. “You look tired again.”

“I tried to heal Autumn and give her a little more energy. I’m afraid it sapped mine and my magick is weaker now too.”

Vaughn placed his hand over her belly and nuzzled her cheek. “You need to be careful, Tulip. You’re going to need your energy for taking care of the baby. I don’t want you to overdo it. Especially not until we know you’re safe. What if you needed your magick to protect yourself?”

“I’ll be careful. Autumn said we should have a protection detail at the house, but I’m sure Gabriel would prefer to have them watch over his mate and new daughter.”

“I’ll talk to my friends and see if they’ll help take care of you when I have to return to work in a few days. Maybe we’ll know more about what’s going on by then. If anything happened to you, I don’t know what I’d do.”

“Then I guess I’ll have to be exceptionally careful.”

“Are you ready to go home, or is there somewhere else you’d like to go first?” Vaughn asked.

“Home sounds good. I should probably eat something. Pregnant fae require a lot more food than we do normally. You can show me more of those movie things, like we watched last night.”

“Let me say goodbye to the pack and I’ll return in a minute. Just wait here for me.”

Tulip leaned against the wall near the elevator and waited as Vaughn made the rounds speaking to everyone. The doors behind her dinged and she looked over her shoulder as an older couple stepped out. They had a basket of blue items for a baby boy and smiles on their faces. It was nice seeing so many people gathered to welcome new life into the world. She wondered if it was their daughter who had had a baby, or maybe even a granddaughter.

Tulip smiled as she watched Vaughn smile and laugh with his pack. She wondered if he was always like this with them, or was he happier than usual because of their mating? Her fingers touched the bite mark on her shoulder. It was warm beneath her fingertips and she could feel the magick in her trying to heal the wound. By morning, it would probably be a little red and nothing more. Being a shifter bite, she knew it would scar, but she would wear it with honor.

A hand settled on her shoulder, making her look up as her heart nearly stopped in her chest. She breathed a little easier when she saw it was the sorcerer standing behind her, and not one of the fae. She hadn’t even felt a shift in energy when he’d appeared, and it worried her that he’d been able to sneak up on her.

“We need to talk,” Eric said.

“Vaugh is just telling everyone goodbye. He said we were going home.”

“This can’t wait.”

Before she could utter a word of protest, the sorcerer clamped both hands on her, and in a flash of light, they disappeared from the hospital only to reappear in what seemed to be a log cabin. Tulip could feel the wards in place around the structure and wondered if it was the sorcerer’s home.

“I’ll message Aislinn and have her let your mate know where you are. I don’t want him to worry,” Eric said. He pulled out a phone and tapped on the screen for a minute before shoving it back into his pocket.

“What couldn’t wait?” Tulip asked.

“The light fae have put the word out among the supernatural community. You’re wanted dead or alive.”

Tulip felt herself pale and she sank onto the nearby sofa. “Why? What did I ever do to them?”

“When you came here, did you see any dark fae around?” Eric asked.

“No, it was like the palace had been abandoned. There were dead fae surrounding the palace grounds, but I was too weak to stick around and check things out. I willed my magick to bring me here, to the wolf pack. It took me to Vaughn.”

Eric nodded. “The light fae have captured or killed every dark fae they can find. You’re the last, as far as they know, with the exception of some Halflings. Which means, they want you rather badly.”

“But I tried to help their people! I was imprisoned for my efforts and left to rot.”

“It’s possible we can call a meeting with an emissary of the light fae and see if they will rescind the order. If we can make them believe you truly mean them no harm, then you would be safe. This house is the only place their magick can’t reach, and they can’t enter without my permission.”

“So, I’m a prisoner here until the matter is settled?” she asked.

“I could put up wards at Vaughn’s house, but it might take a little while to make them strong enough. I could bring your wolf here to watch over you, or I could ask someone else to stay with you. Is there anyone in the pack you trust?” he asked.

“Other than Vaughn, Gabriel, and Autumn, I don’t really know anyone. There were two wolves with Vaughn when I materialized at the bar, but they didn’t seem to be overly fond of me.”

“That was before Vaughn claimed you. You’re one of them now. I’ll contact Connor and ask who can be spared to sit with you. It would be better if Vaughn was at the house when I warded it.”

“I don’t want to be alone,” Tulip said. “Get anyone you think would protect me, if the need arose. Even if I’m not worth saving, my child is.”

Eric tipped her chin up. “You’re worth saving, Tulip. Never doubt that.”

She nodded.

“Let me make some calls. Make yourself at home.”

Eric pulled his phone from his pocket and stepped into another room. Tulip wasn’t certain she could work the remote, but she tried and managed to at least turn on the TV. She didn’t dare try to change the channel or start a movie, but at least the house wasn’t so silent. She tried to follow the show that was on, and managed to keep her thoughts from straying to Vaughn too often. Was he worried about her? Would Eric call him and tell him what was happening?

There a shift in the air and she knew she was alone. Her heart raced in her chest as she stood and paced the living room, not going anywhere near the windows or doors. She started to feel panic well inside of her just as a popping sound filled her ears and the sorcerer appeared once more, with a wolf she’d never met.

“Tulip, this is Deacon. He’s one of Vaughn’s closest friends, and he’s promised to guard you with his life. The fridge and pantry are stocked; I have cable and a bookshelf full of movies. I’ll try not to be gone too long, but it may take the rest of the day to properly ward the other house. And, if at any time, I don’t feel it’s sufficient, I’ll bring Vaughn here instead of taking you there.”

“Thank you,” Tulip said.

“Whatever happens, I’m going to do what I can to keep you safe. I’m not supposed to choose sides, but in this instance, I think the fae are wrong. If it comes down to it, I’ll call the council and ask them to intervene on your behalf.”

Tulip sank back onto the sofa as Eric vanished from sight. Deacon looked around the room before checking the windows and doors. When he was finished, he stopped in front of her. The beast inside of him was lurking in his eyes, changing their color to a brilliant gold. He knelt at her feet and took her hands in his, assessing her, but for what, she didn’t know. She didn’t think he’d harm her. The sorcerer wouldn’t have left him here if that were the case.

“So, you’re Vaughn’s destined mate,” Deacon said. “I never would have imagined he’d pair off with a fae. There’s a rather persistent shifter in our pack who has her sights on Vaughn. I always figured they’d end up together.”

“I think she broke in when Vaughn took me to his place. He wasn’t pleased.”

Deacon smiled. “I thought he was playing hard to get, but maybe he really can’t stand her. If that’s the case, she may have to move along. I know Gabriel would never ask Vaughn to leave. He’s helped the pack too many times.”

“You don’t hate me because of what I am?” Tulip asked.

“No. Vaughn wouldn’t have claimed you if you were evil. I’ve only seen the dark fae who came after Autumn, but you don’t look like them. Why is that?”

“Vaughn thinks my father was light fae. I never met him.”

Deacon nodded. “I can see that. If he’s light fae, maybe he’s still alive and will come to your aid. If you’re half-light and half dark, then maybe it will blur the lines enough the light fae won’t outright try to kill you.”

Well, wasn’t that a cheery thought. Tulip could only hope the sorcerer would be able to make them see reason. She didn’t want to be looking over her shoulder for the rest of her life. And what of her future children? If the light fae wanted to kill her, would they want to kill her baby too, and any others she might have?

She hoped Eric would come back with some answers, because she didn’t want to live in fear for the rest of her life. However long that might be.