Chapter Ten

 

There was absolutely nothing better than having Savannah in his home, even with the looming threat of rescuing her sister hanging over their heads. Hayes couldn’t help but be happy that if they had to go through something so terrible, they were in the whole bloody mess together. He’d made a promise to his mate and he damn sure intended to keep it. In just a few short hours, when the sun set, the lions and dragons would be fighting side-by-side to bring down the bastard who dared to hurt his Queen and her family.

He could feel the tension and fear eating away at Savannah. Her eyes were glued to the large windows at the back of the house, waiting for the darkness to come. He’d tried to distract her, had even cooked the only thing he knew for certain he was good at – steak and eggs. Finally, sitting on the couch, Hayes pulled her into his arms and said the one thing he knew for certain would calm her fraying nerves, “Tell me about Makayla. I want to know everything.”

Waiting in silence, listening as his mate gathered her thoughts, Hayes felt the relief roll through her as she started to describe her baby sister. “Mack has always been the kindest, funniest, most giving one of us all.”

She chuckled, “I remember the day mom and dad said I was gonna have another little brother or sister. I had just turned sixteen and a pain in the ass. I sulked for days, complaining about having another sibling to look after, knowing that he or she would be spoiled rotten from the moment he or she popped into the world.”

“After about four months, the day came. The Royal Hall was all aflutter with the excitement of yet another heir coming into the world. I had heard Uncle Jack and Dad talking about how great it would be to have a boy. That if this child was male, the other Prides would finally stop making preparations to take over the Leonidas Pride in the event of my father’s death.”

As she turned in his arms, Hayes could see a myriad of emotions in the depths of Savannah’s beautiful eyes as she smiled and continued, her voice filled with love, “But then Makayla came into the world. No screaming or crying, just a happy little coo and a twinkle in her eyes.”

“It was love at first sight.” She began shaking her head. “Now, don’t get me wrong, I love all my sisters with all my heart, but Makayla was different…special. I knew it the moment I laid eyes on her, she was the best parts of all of us. Ya’ know what I mean?”

“I sure do,” Hayes nodded with a grin while gently massaging some of the knots out of Savannah’s shoulder.

Nodding, his mate went on, “Everyone who came to see her felt better, happier, full of life, and all from simply being in her presence. As she grew, it was obvious Mack was a true Empath, with abilities far greater than anyone had ever seen.”

“Dad said we needed to keep her powers a secret, then he was killed when she had just turned two and the responsibility of raising her fell to me. I was just barely eighteen with the duties of a queen along with the obligations of being both mother and father to my four sisters. To say I was overwhelmed is an understatement. Uncle Jack took on the role of diplomat while Leopold stepped up from First Beta to Head of Security and Defense and we had nannies, but I still tried to always be there for dinner and bedtime.”

“Time seemed to fly by, soon Mack was a teenager with immense abilities and no way to channel them. Thankfully, Sierra, a strong Beta female who had served as Household Manager for at least three generations recognized Mack’s need and took her under her wing.”

“It was kismet. Makayla took to baking like a cat to a tree. Everything she made was fantastic.” Savannah’s smile grew. “And the longer she did it, the better she got. I guess she’d been doing it about a year when I realized every time I ate one of her wonderful creations, I felt better, lighter, happier.”

Savannah beamed with excitement as she continued. “She was unknowingly baking her extraordinary power right into her sweet treats.”

“That is awesome, hun,” Hayes encouraged Savannah to go on.

“It really was, but of course, it also made it harder to keep her secret. That’s why I’ve waited until now to let her start her shop. I had to be sure she could control her abilities, but I’m afraid word got out.”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t know for sure. It’s just a feeling here,” she laid her hand over the snap of her jeans. “Like a furball in the pit of my stomach. Simon took Mack for more reasons than just to hurt me. If he’d wanted that, he would have killed her in her bed and left the body for me to find.”

Jumping up off the couch, she slammed her fists to her hips and growled, “That fucking jaguar somehow knows about her powers and wants to exploit them. It’s just further evidence of a traitor among us.”

She began pacing. “But who? Who would do this? Only the people I trust the most in the world know our family secrets.” Savannah stopped, spun around and speared Hayes with a look of defiance and betrayal. “People who have been around for at least a hundred and fifty years. Why would they betray us now?”

Standing, Hayes crossed the living room, stopping in front of his mate. “Because they think they can. They think you are vulnerable or distracted and that you will do whatever it takes to get Mack back, even if it means giving up your throne.” Reaching for her hand, he held tight, adding, “But, oh baby, do we have a surprise for them.”

Bending at the waist, he looked her in the eye and with all the conviction in his heart and soul promised, “We will get your sister back and rid the world of that fucking jaguar and everyone loyal to him, of that you rest assured.”

“Ya’ know,” his lovely mate reached up and cupped his cheek, sending the explosive electricity of their connection shooting through his body. “I have no doubt you are the man for the job.”

“What?!” Hayes roared, as a sudden knock at the door shattered their beautiful moment.

Stomping down the foyer, he slipped his finger through the hole where the knob used to be, threw the door back and glared at Wiley as the jerk snickered, “Hate to interrupt, but Rian called us all to the Great Hall and since you have the mental blocks of steel, I was sent to get you.”

“Hey, Wiley,” Savannah greeted Hayes’ friend. “We’ll be right there.”

“Yeah,” Hayes grumbled. “What she said.”

Laughing out loud, Wiley pushed past the couple and took a seat in Hayes’ favorite recliner. “Maddox and Kayne said to wait.”

Hayes growled as Savannah chuckled, “Just let us put some shoes on and we’ll be ready to go.”

Once again Hayes’ only reply was, “Yeah. What she said.” Then using the unique mental connection he shared with Wiley, the Guardsman added, “Just wait til you find your mate. Paybacks are a bitch.”