Chapter 26
Maybe Silvertail Ridge could be her home again. Savon finally felt like she belonged somewhere, instead of simply drifting. And yeah, a chunk of that had to do with Nate.
She smiled as his hand splayed across her stomach, pulling her closer.
He nuzzled her neck. “Morning, lover.”
She turned her head, capturing his gaze. “Could get used to this.”
“What?” he murmured.
She rolled to face him, wrapping a leg around his hip. “Waking up with you. So how does this work? You staying here? Or your home?”
“Nothing I need is at my house. Your whole livelihood is here. You’re set up to paint.” He placed a kiss on her nose. “Honestly, as long as I’m with you, I couldn’t give a damn where we are, but you still have things to find here.”
“That I do.” She drew a slow breath and released it. “There’s really nothing you want from your house?”
“Nothing I can’t easily move. Besides, we could build our own home, something uniquely ours at any time.”
“And how do you feel about becoming Alpha?”
He rolled to his back and pushed his fingers though his hair. “Used to be afraid of it. Didn’t want to become my father. But Bran is right. I can lead without becoming that asshole.”
“Why would you ever think you would be anything like him?”
He shrugged.
“You’re not. So, don’t. Besides, you know what love is. I don’t believe he ever did.”
“Oh, I do love you. You were always mine, Savon.” He moved over her, dropping his lips to hers. She wound her arms around his neck, loving his body against hers, his taste on her tongue. Exactly where she never thought she’d find herself, but it was home, it was love, he was hers again.
Nate slid into her, filling her body and soul.
She flipped him over and rose above him. His hands caressed up her thighs, sides, up to cup her breasts. The firm pressure of his squeezing hands sent sensation straight to her clit as she rode harder.
His palms slid back down, gripping her hips as his worked faster, driving her crazy. Her hands landed on his chest as she rocked over him, letting him fill her over and over again.
He came, and she followed. She leaned down, sliding her fingers into his hair as she kissed him breathless.
He rolled to his feet, carrying her with him to the bathroom. “I want to play today. We can go to our willow, swim in the lake. I just want to enjoy you.”
“And what about Nikolai? Or Clay? Or Canagan?”
“We’ll bring our phones. If anyone sees anything, we’ll know.”
“Will we?”
Nate set her on the counter. “Don’t tell me you want to stay cooped up in your house.”
“No. Just wondering what everyone’s going to think if we are playing as you put it.”
He grinned. “Don’t give a damn. I finally have you after years of not having you. We can finally just be.”
She hopped off the counter and dodged past him to turn on the shower.
As soon as the water started, he pulled her hips back. “Slow down, Sav.”
She glanced back, pressing her ass against his length. “Why?”
His hand slipped between her thighs, sliding through her heat. “I like taking my time with you.”
* * * *
Pain, that was all there was. Sure, the Paineater gave him his sight back, but something was missing and Nikolai wasn’t sure what.
“Awake now?” Meridian asked, her blue eyes glowing, though she stood well away from him.
“Yes, and I can see again. Thank you.” He managed a polite tone, though he considered reaching for her magic. She did heal him, and he owed her a modicum of respect.
Canagan, on the other hand, could have found him another healer. One who wouldn’t exact a price.
He glanced through the room and locked gazes with Canagan, who stood in the corner wearing a blank expression. Far enough away he couldn’t tap her magic.
“We’ll be leaving, and you’ll go after your prey. Kill her, bend her to her will, break her. I don’t care, but I want whatever wards she’s put in place taken down. That’s where we’ll find the pendant.”
“Now why didn’t you say that before?” Nikolai whispered harshly.
She lifted a shoulder. “Would you have really gone to her home without her? You seem to think you’ll have her in the end.”
Unfortunately, he didn’t. Not after she tried to kill him, not once but twice. The first time it was easy to think it was an accident. The second time, she pushed until his eyeballs burst and pushed magic through him.
No, she chose her course. It was time to get her there. He’d send her to hell for refusing the love he offered.
“Where is she?”
Canagan shook her head. “That I don’t know. She disappeared sometime yesterday. I haven’t sensed her or Nate.”
Smiling, he stood and looked down at himself. Someone had changed his clothes. “I’ll be back after I find her.”
“Careful. She’s more powerful than I believed,” Canagan warned.
“Don’t worry about me.” No, they needed to worry about themselves. As soon as he had what he needed, he would destroy these two so they couldn’t take the pendant for themselves. He assured the leader of the Dark Templar he’d bring the pendant to her. Their branch of the Council had always been secretive, working in shadows, but even more so since the Dark Templar had officially been disbanded.
His eyes narrowed as he spotted his shoes and shoved his feet into them. As soon as they were tied, he walked through the door, out of the house, and climbed into his Land Rover.
Nikolai found a turn-off near Savon’s home and parked the Land Rover. Dazzling wards flared to life when he attempted to step onto her property. A crushing sensation pushed down on him as he dropped to his knees and struggling to get his breath back.
As his vision cleared, he leaned against a tree and called on his gypsy senses. He’d bound Savon with a tracking spell when he first seduced her.
Interesting, she wasn’t at the house, but nearby. Hopefully, she’d ventured beyond her property.
Then he sensed her and crept through the forest, heading deeper until he came to a blurry spot in the landscape that was surrounded by her magic.
He noticed the difference in her essence. Her Dreamwalker had claimed her. Nikolai’s heart constricted and he slid to his knees.
It was truly over. Now he just needed to wait until she reappeared beyond her wards.
* * * *
Nate was right. They needed some time alone, away from everyone and everything in a place they had called theirs. Savon lay beside him, her head on his shoulder as he napped peacefully.
The world had changed, yet their love never faded. Being in his arms was everything she needed.
A shiver ran down her spine. Nikolai was there, somewhere nearby. A dark blotch in the woods.
Savon sat up and considered her options. Nate would get in the way and likely take the brunt of the attack. She had no ability with healing, at all. She wasn’t sure of the extent of Frannie’s powers, but she did erase third degree burns. It stood to reason she could fix whatever Nikolai managed to do.
Just in case, she sent a quick text to Tremaine. Follow the trail behind my house, down to the lake.
She placed a hand on Nate’s cheek and whispered a spell to keep him asleep for ten minutes. She hoped like hell that was all she needed. Either way, Tremaine would be there soon.
After yanking her clothes on, she stepped out from under the tree.
“Where’s your mutt?” Nikolai hissed.
“You’ll never find him,” she answered.
The dark shadow grew, sweeping out to reform Nikolai before her. His dark eyes bored into her. “Where is he? I’d love to destroy him before I kill you.”
“I’ll never tell.”
“Foolish woman. Nathan Taggert can never love you like I do.”
“Do you? Is that why you’re here?” She shook her head. “You attacked me, Nic. Since when do you have more say in my life than I do?”
His expression softened, but reds flared around him as he moved closer, pleading with his eyes. He was a good damned actor, but emotions betrayed his actions and words. “I was going to tell you everything, in a time and place you would have understood. You know nothing. I never wanted to hurt you.”
“You lied to me, Nic. And you really think your Blood Dawn is going to be better than this world?”
“We won’t have to hide what we are anymore.”
“If anyone lives.”
“I will. You would have.” He reached for her.
She threw her arm up and slammed a wall of force into him.
He stumbled back, rubbing at his bloodied nose.
“I don’t want to kill you, Savon, but you’ve left me no choice.” He translocated past her shield, caught her by the throat, and walked her into the water while she clawed at his hands.
He laughed. “You’re no match for me.”
Her leg shot out, catching him square in the nuts. He dropped her, and she dove underwater, swimming away from him as she called every creature and spirit to her. He screamed in frustration but kept coming. His magic wrapped around her like tendrils, pulling her closer.
Fisting her hair, Nikolai pushed her deeper into the water.
Pondweed brushed across her feet and she closed her eyes, reaching for it mentally, pushing magic at it. The stalks thickened, reaching for Nikolai. It wrapped around his arms and legs, pulling him farther down while she managed to break free of his hold. She kicked for the surface.
He caught her ankle, pulling her back against him. He wound his arms around her and magic washed over her. Tiny bubbles left his mouth with the screamed spell.
The pondweed grew faster and she splayed her hands out, commanding the plants to wind tighter until they cut past skin and the leaves burrowed into his body.
Her lungs started to burn as his grip tightened even as the light died in his eyes. Water filled her lungs as darkness set in.