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“What do you mean?” Brandy asked.
“It’s Chella’s number showing up, but it wasn’t Chella on the line.” Parker pulled his phone from his ear and blinked at the screen. “Chella doesn’t say things like, ‘If you want to stay, I’ll take the boy.’ What does that even mean?”
Reardon let out a roar that made Brandy jump. Parker’s phone flew out of his hand as did the hose.
“Flidae!” Reardon yelled. “Flidae, hear me! You don’t harm that boy.”
Fear washed over Brandy like a tidal wave. “Flidae has Dylan?” Suddenly she couldn’t get any oxygen into her lungs. “Reardon? Does she?”
He set the fire extinguisher down and grabbed Brandy’s hand. “Not for long she doesn’t.” He stopped in front of Parker. “Take us to Chella’s.”
“Wait,” Parker said. “Someone tell me what’s going on. Who is Flidae?”
“Tell you on the way.” Reardon prodded Parker into a jog and didn’t stop until they were in front of Parker’s truck. “Brandy, call Meredith. Tell her to stay inside the house. Tell her we’ll explain when we get back.”
Brandy followed his instructions while he gathered the sanctuary’s wolves around him. Holding his hands out to them, he appeared to be talking to them.
“What were you doing?” she asked when he climbed into the back seat of the truck next to her.
“Asking them to protect Meredith. Trust me, nothing is getting inside your house. Nothing.”
“What about us?” Parker asked. “What are we driving into? Do we need protection? Does Chella? Is Chella okay?”
“Flidae wants to punish me,” Reardon said, notes of shame and guilt lacing his words. “I’m certain she will accept an exchange for Dylan and Chella.”
Brandy scooted closer to Reardon, but he stopped her. “No. What I was about to do obviously angered Flidae. Again.” He rubbed his forehead. “You’d do well to stay away from me.”
“I can’t.” The two words spilled out of her mouth without her even having to think. “Soul mate, remember? We’ll figure this out together, Reardon. Together we’re stronger.”
He blinked those green-gold eyes at her. They went from cold and hardened to something warm and loving.
“Aye. Together.”
Chapter Sixteen
Reardon silently cursed himself. Once again, he’d been selfish, thinking only of what he wanted. Why hadn’t he learned his lesson? He’d turned his men becausehewanted to win against Spain’s enemies.Hewanted the spoils that went along with victory.Hehadn’t cared what it cost him.
And now he’d done it again. He wanted Brandy. Gods, he wanted her more than he’d ever wanted anything in his life, but Flidae had made it clear he couldn’t have what he wanted. Yet, he’d tried to get it anyway. The moment his elongated canines had neared Brandy’s lovely neck, the goddess had issued her warning. Though his ability to turn another into a werewolf was supposed to be used in the case of finding one’s soul mate, clearly Flidae didn’t think Reardon was deserving of such a partner. Why tell him about turning a soul mate then?
Just to toy with me.
You’re not staying here, wolf. The goddess’s voice thundered in his head to the point of being painful. He brought his hands up to his temples and rubbed the ache.
“Reardon?” Brandy’s hand stroked his forearm and she scooted closer, her body pressing against his side.
He turned to look at her.So beautiful.So not going to be his. He may have agreed that together they were stronger, but being together put her—and apparently her son—in danger. Flidae was not above using the boy to make sure Reardon suffered appropriately for his crime of turning his men.
He kept making bad choices. Choices that affected the ones he cared about most.
“So do I just drive up to Chella’s?” Parker asked from the driver’s seat, his gaze meeting Reardon’s in the truck’s rearview mirror. “Is this Flidae goddess waiting for us? Has she hurt Chella and Dylan?”
Brandy made an anguished noise, no doubt fearful for her boy.
“She wants me.” Reardon put his hand over Brandy’s as it tensed on his arm. The notion that her boy was in danger made her crazy. He felt the same way. Dylan had come to mean a great deal to him. He’d bonded with the boy while in wolf form and that bond could never be broken.
I can break it.Flidae taunted him.
You don’t lay a hand on the boy. I’m coming. You can have me and do as you see fit. Do nothing to Dylan or Chella.
