Rebecca Zanetti - Claimed

The man stopped and clearly fought back another grin. “What did you do?”

The girl shrugged. “I said we should play kickball instead.”

“Good choice. Let’s celebrate such a wise decision.” He threw the boy in the air and then landed him safely on his feet. “I’ll shower and we can go to town for dinner.”

The woman smiled. “I already found a coupon for Montey’s Restaurant.”

The door shut behind the man as he ushered his family inside.

Cara sighed next to her. “Wow. I guess the house has moved on.”

Emma nodded, her shoulders slowly relaxing. “The house is happy.”

Cara shut her eyes and inhaled. “So are the people in it.”

“Good.” Emma still didn’t wish to have Cara’s empathic abilities. “This isn’t our life anymore, Car. Let’s go home.” She led her sister back down the quiet path, steeled herself, and opened her mind again, wincing when fury and raw pain sliced through her like a blade. Dage, damn it. Knock it off.

Quiet reigned for a moment. Emma?

Such pain, hope, and fear in the one tiny word. Yes. I’m with Cara. Umm, in Tennessee. We’re all right.

The king materialized at her side, whisking her into his arms to drop his head to her neck. Birds scattered out of the trees, squawking in protest. His large body trembled around her and she fought to center her own breathing. “I’m okay,” she whispered softly against his hair.

He lifted his head, tears swimming in those dangerous eyes. “I thought—”

“I’m fine. I teleported.” She wrinkled her nose. “You smell like wet dog.” Worse actually.

His deep chuckle echoed around the forest.

Raw cuts and bite marks marred every exposed surface of his skin. She frowned. “What happened?”

He lost his smile. “We were attacked.” His gaze took in Cara standing quietly to the side. “Are you all right?”

She nodded. “Yes. Now I am. Emma and Moira saved my baby.”

“Ah.” Dage’s face smoothed in understanding, and he held out his hand. “Come here, sweetheart. Your mate needs to touch you.” He pulled Cara into his embrace, his entire body vibrating. “Everyone hold on.”

Emma shut her eyes and nothingness filtered around her again. Then they stood on a battlefield, bodies everywhere, the smell of burned flesh choking the air. Her eyes widened on the sight of Talen throwing huge chunks of concrete and wood into the air, digging into the demolished lab.

“Talen?” Cara called, pushing away from Dage and taking a step toward the smoldering mess.

Talen pivoted in slow motion, blood on his face, eyes a dangerous green. He leaped for her, grabbing her close and dropping to one knee. His roar filled the morning.

Tears choked Emma’s vision and she turned her face into Dage’s chest. “I was so scared.”

Without a word, Dage lifted her in his arms and strode for the forest. Blood covered his clothing, transferring deep red to hers. Emma gasped, eyes widening on the deadly battlefield the soldiers were hurriedly cleaning up. No one met her gaze. Within seconds, darkness surrounded them, coolness in a heated day.

“What—” Emma started, then gasped as Dage’s mouth devoured hers. The smoothness, the diplomacy that was so much a part of him ... was gone.

He took.

Hunger slashed through her. She craved. Now.

Shifting, he pressed her against a tree, his hands tearing the jeans and panties from her legs, ripping open his fly. He impaled her in one sharp movement.

Without pausing, he began to pound, his fangs dropping into her jugular.

Shock held her immobile for a moment. Then a warmth began to hum inside her. A tingle started in her womb and exploded through her entire body, tightening every muscle as she came. She bit into his neck, and blood shot into her month, filling her with power. Raw energy. Need.

Waves pummeled through her. More than an orgasm. An affirmation of life.

He swelled inside her and then came in great, heated gusts, filling her beyond possible. Panting, he licked the wound on her jugular and dropped his head to be cradled between her neck and shoulder.

A low sob escaped him.

She stilled, and pure instinct had her clasping his head to her skin. His giant body trembled against her. Soft murmurings without meaning welled up and she whispered them into his dripping wet hair.

He lifted his head and she gasped. His eyes were the darkest of midnight. No color. Not even a hint of light.

His fangs retracted. “I thought I’d lost you.” His jaw hardened. “I won’t go through that again.”

As she watched, a shard of silver swam to the surface in those deadly eyes. Then another. “I know. I had to go to the lab, Dage. Cara was losing the baby.”

He released her, reaching down to yank her jeans up. She bit back a wince.

“I’ve covered you with blood. I’m sorry.”

She glanced at the red marring her white sweatshirt. “At least it’s not our blood.” It needed to go in the garbage. Now.

He grabbed her hand. “We need to relocate. Somehow they found us. We’ll figure out how later.” Purposeful strides had them toward the edge of the forest way too soon.

Embarrassment caught in her throat and she tugged back. Everyone would know what had just happened.

Dage pivoted and lifted her without a word, tucking her head into his neck. Sandalwood filled her nostrils, and she relaxed. She kept her face hidden as he loped across the field until they were at the helicopter next to where Talen stood with Cara in his arms.

“Only family and our people to headquarters. Send the rest to the coastal facility,” Dage ordered.

Talen nodded. “Already done. Caleb and Jordan are included as our people, right?”

Dage paused. “Jordan yes. Caleb? Perhaps. But have him come to Colorado anyway.” He jumped inside and took a seat while Talen did the same, Cara still in his arms.

Emma looked around, trying to focus on anything but the dangerous mood that still gripped the king. Her mate. “Where’s Janie?”

The door shut, and Talen nodded at the pilot. “I sent her with Max, Lily, and a full contingent of soldiers the second we were attacked.” The chopper rose into the air. “They’ve already arrived at headquarters.”

Emma shifted in Dage’s arms. Her balance needed restoring—the king had scared the shit out of her. “The shifters?”

“Yes. They’ve arrived at headquarters as well.” Talen sat back, extending his legs before him, his livid gaze not offering any reassurance. “Why in the hell were you two in the lab?”

Cara’s hands began to tremble in her lap. “The baby ...”

Emma struggled to get off Dage’s lap and sit on the seat. He kept her in place, his muscles thick bands of unrelenting steel. Finally, she sighed and gave up the fight. “Cara was infected with the catalyst. She began to rapidly turn human again.”

Dage stiffened, gripping her harder.

Fire shot through Talen’s eyes. “Okay. Start from the beginning.”

Janie snuggled down in her pink bed clutching Mr. Mullet to her nose. She was back underground with the earth who whispered secrets to her. The earth’s heartbeat echoed softly through every rock wall along with peaceful warmth. Mama and Daddy slept in the next room, having shown up only a couple hours after Janie did. While she’d waited, the pretty prophet played Old Maid with her, and Janie even let Lily win twice.

Her eyes drifting closed, Janie let sleep come until she walked along the beach. She’d seen a picture of the ocean the day before and wanted to play alongside it. The water probably didn’t smell like blueberries, but in her dream that was okay.

Zane wandered barefoot along the sand toward her, stopping to grab a white shell on the way. “You’re dreaming about the ocean.” A deep bruise covered the right side of his face.