Ada's Protective Mate Read online

  “Penny has a great deal of magic,” Ada added. Though she hadn’t shown it, she must have acquired a liking for the immortal Penny.

  “My cousin does, yes. I will ask her to join us.”

  They all stood as the female archive vamp came into the waiting room holding a black locked box. Div took it and signed all the necessary paperwork, which Ada checked, shaking her head on a few points.

  “Outdated.” She murmured.

  “This is why we require your expertise, brownie Ada.” Div led the way out of the archives. “Are you joining us for the meeting?”

  “I will not. I must see Remi’s family; she would want me to speak to them personally.” Ada checked her watch. “Where shall we reconvene?”

  As much as he would like to stick close to his mate, not wanting her out of his sight during this time with all the shit going down, he had duties. The first of those was checking on what Nico may have found out from the research Ace was doing into Grydern.

  “Where’s the meeting being held, Div?”

  “For fairness and to stop quarrels, a High Council meeting room.” Div’s light brown brows rose a fraction, and he gave a rare smile. Div was renowned for his seriousness though occasionally a wicked sense of humor emerged. “The fairies would of course state their abode was where the meeting should be housed as, after all, they are pure magical essence. This will incite the demons who do like a good challenge. Without a doubt, this will then have the imps in an uproar.” He looked like he relished the thought, then his eyes narrowed, and his expression became studious once more. “I do expect you there, Nathaniel.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” At times Div could be far too strict on protocol. “I’ll meet you there. One day though, I’m gonna discover what it is about you and imps.”

  Div inclined his head and shifted away. Nate turned to his brownie.

  “We’ll only be half an hour. Come straight to the High Council, I’ll have a wolf waiting to show you through to the meeting room. You’ve got your phone?”

  “Yes.”

  “Good. I’ll call if there’s a change in plans.” He leaned down, snagging her around the waist and pulling her firmly against him. “Don’t pull anything, brownie. Go straight to the imp’s family, then the High Council.”

  Not giving her a chance to back chat, he covered her sharp, soft mouth with his and enjoyed kissing her silent while eliciting a few brownie sighs and groans. He planted one hand on her fine ass and pulled her hard against his pelvis, ensuring she knew they were going to start what he’d put off earlier. She met him head on.

  Wishing they could go somewhere and continue this, he felt a sharp prick in the middle of his back and loosened his hold on Ada. Half turning and swiping out at the creature who pricked him, he was stung all over, and his wallet was lifted from the back pocket of his jeans.

  “Ow, shit!” He swatted his wallet but missed, and it zipped through the air to a brownie who stuck out his tongue and took off fast.

  “Keep your hands to yourself, dog.” A brownie yelled at him in passing.

  “I’ve got to go.” Ada rolled her eyes at the antics of her kind and hurried away.

  “Yo! Stop brownie!” A dozen brownies stopped what they were doing to glare at him. “Well hell.”

  “What do you want, wolf?” One snapped irritably.

  “Well hell,” Nate grumbled. He could kiss his wallet good-bye. “Hey, Duncan!”

  A young werewolf cousin jogged over to him. “You want me to track down the brownie who stole your wallet, cuz?” Duncan looked keen. “I can beat the heck—”

  “You will respect my mate’s kind,” Nate instructed sternly, then grinned. “But if he accidentally fell in a hole, that ain’t our fault.”

  “Cool!” Duncan took off.

  Remi’s family lived just outside the imp palace grounds in a lovely two story old Tudor house. Unfortunately, none of them were home, so she wrote a note and slipped it through the letter box on the door. Ada would have liked to speak to them in person, but she did not have a clear idea of her schedule and couldn’t guarantee she could meet with them at a set time anyway, not with so much up in the air at present. She should get to the meeting and see what they were going to do about retrieving the bowl pieces.

  With that in mind, Ada hurried along the garden path toward the road. Preoccupied, she didn’t notice she wasn’t alone until something hit her on the back of her head, the force of the blow so hard she fell to her knees, and her head spun.

  She’d been mugged once in New York, but this hit was nothing like what the human mugger had given her, much more like what she’d given him back but double the force and power. She blinked, her vision blurry and head throbbing, and reached a hand to the ground to steady herself. Someone leaned over her, Ada tensing. But she didn’t have the senses or strength to stop her assailant from grabbing a fistful of her hair and using it to drag her around the side of the Albertses’ house and out the back toward the field beyond.

  Though she was still dazed and in a great deal of pain from the assault, she suspected her assailant had used a steel shovel, she was an immortal creature and was already healing. Though that was slower than she would have liked. It was enough to begin gaining awareness of what was going on around her and help Ada to prepare herself to put up a struggle when the opportunity presented itself.

  Somehow, through the blind pain and the twisted position she was in, she managed to see where she was, and who had her. A werewolf, a big one, had hold of her hair and was moving with great speed toward the forest beyond the imp palace. She had no idea what the werewolf had against her, or why he would have attacked her, but wasn’t about to let him get away with dragging her about and assaulting her. Very slowly and carefully, keeping an eye on the now running werewolf, she placed a hand around her hair near her scalp. All the while she cursed the fact that every step pulled her over rocks, sticks, and shrubs, her pant legs protecting her only so much. She tightened her hand, getting a bit of leverage and taking some of the painful pressure off. Tears were streaming down her face, but she ignored them and did what she could to block the tremendous pain.

  Then she struck, digging the heels of her boots into the soil and using the strength of her legs and upper body to pull back and throw him off guard. The werewolf would think she was incapacitated and hopefully stop. With a snarl and growl, he tore at her hair, but as Ada had been prepared and placed a hand between her scalp and his hand, she jerked her hair back. Angered, the dog struck out at her, getting her around the inside of her upper right arm. His long werewolf nails sliced like razors, tearing her flesh, tendons, muscle, and tissues. Ada cried out in agony but did not let go of her hair and kept herself stiff and immovable.

  “Bitch.” He stopped pulling and moving and instead threw her away from him, stalking toward her when she hit the ground and rolled three times before she slumped.

  She knew how easily he could tear her to shreds with those claws and werewolf strength, but she wasn’t going to let him. Ada managed to sit up and got ready to face him.

  This wasn’t a time she’d back down. “Bastard. What the hell do you think you are doing, attacking me like this?”

  She found a large rock and dragged it behind her back.

  “I’m the bastard who’ll make my old buddy Nate howl at the moon in pain and wither away to nothing.” The dog’s eyes were yellow and glowing. “He’s behind the times, they all are. They don’t see the way they should—”

  “Oh for the love of the Gods, you’re one of them.” Ada rolled her eyes, one bruised and swollen. “Save me the Revmiras speech or any ‘poor old you’ rubbish. You want power, and this is the cause you use to obtain it. Pathetic.”

  She had deliberately baited him, knowing that in his current state of anger and aggression he’d lash out at her and not take precautions, hopefully. Which would give her the opportunity to strike back and get away. She tensed in readiness when he blinked in shock a split second then he let out an ear pie
rcing howl of rage and charged her with deadly razor sharp claws outstretched.

  Jumping up just as he made to pounce on her, Ada swung the large rock she’d hidden behind her back and smacked him with enough force to throw his head back and to the side. She heard the crack of his skull from the impact and saw and felt the blood spurt out. Like in slow motion she watched him stumble back then crumble to the ground.

  She landed with a thump on her butt and only then noticed the aches, pains, and blood gushing from another wound. He must have got her before she got him with the rock. She gingerly touched her side, wincing at more pain. She was fortunate though. If he had changed into true werewolf form, she never would have stood a chance. She guessed it was pure arrogance on the dog’s behalf that saved her from that, werewolves were incredibly arrogant when it came to their strength and the belief that females were weaker.

  He just forgot she was a sneaky, calculating, thieving brownie! Gods, she was thankful for being a brownie now!

  “Here!”

  Ada jerked her head up which caused another wave of dizziness. She ignored it as best she could and struggled onto her hands and knees while looking around for another rock. There was no telling how many accomplices this Revmira had. She needed to get out of here and struggled to stand, a rock in one hand. She stumbled back as three big men appeared. Relief flooded her at recognizing them, and the adrenaline faded so quickly that she sagged to her knees.

  Blaine rushed to her, bending down and wrapping an arm around her back. “How bad?”

  “He got a few hits. I could do with a rabies shot, some stitches, and a large painkiller.”

  “He’s out cold.” A black haired demon she recognized as Ruine, a prince, rumbled quietly. “I’ll take him to the High Council. Can you carry three, Sev?”

  “Yeah.” Severo Galindo was studying every inch of Ada carefully. “She needs medical attention. We’ll have to go to the hospital. Inform Nate.”

  “Who is he?” Ada allowed Blaine to help her to her feet. “He said something about enjoying making Nate howl at the moon and wither away.”

  “Ex-sentinel Myles Byrnes. He has a hard on for wanting Nate to suffer.” Sev said with venom. “I have to pick you up, brownie, to shift us.”

  Ada nodded. “Do it. Just make it quick.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Blaine stepped aside as Sev swept her up in his arms. “Good job with Byrnes, Ada. Next time though, it’d be best to avoid confrontations.”

  She was too exhausted and in pain to correct him, but she would, just as soon as she’d cleaned up and healed. Confrontation? As if she purposely went around confronting and fighting Revmiras!

  It took less than a second to shift, and they appeared in the hospital. A moment later Nate crashed through the small hospital emergency room doors and streaked over to tear her out of Severo’s arms and sniff her. Behind him were Nico, Div, and Penny.

  “Do be careful, werewolf.” She snapped irritably. “I’ve had enough manhandling by your kind to last me the rest of the day.”

  “Sorry, lufu. Blaine, heal her.” He nudged her cheek with his nose, his heat easing some of the deeper aches and niggles she was suffering. “My poor brownie—”

  “I am not your anything. You can put me down now.”

  He ignored her and turned to his cousin. “What happened out there? How’d she get in this condition?”

  “Byrnes had her in the trees before we were called,” Blaine said quietly. “Sorry, cuz.”

  “She clobbered him good,” Severo put in, shoulders hunched and hair a mess as though he’d been dragged out of bed to come to her rescue. “Knocked him out cold with a rock.”

  “If I had been able to, I would have kicked him in the nuts, too,” Ada said wearily.

  Very soon she was in a room and on the mend. And thankfully clean and given pain killers. Blaine was a healer, apparently, and as she discovered, a very good one.

  Now knowing who it was that attacked her helped her understand why it had happened. It wasn’t a random attack. She probably hadn’t done anything to tick the werewolf off. Rather, he probably believed that killing her would adversely affect Nate. In some ways she could see it would—he wanted her, and she was under his protection. Byrnes was wrong though. Not for a moment did Ada think her demise would cause Nate much pain at all, and certainly not as much as Byrnes assumed.

  The combination of herbs and magic was used in the promotion and to hasten natural healing in creatures, and she immediately felt the results. Blaine left her to finish healing in a quiet room where Nate paced and Nico lounged in a seat beside the bed where she lay.

  “How did Blaine, Severo, and Ruine find me?” She asked Nico.

  “Remika Alberts’s sister, Clancy, was just arriving home when you were snatched by Byrnes. She reported what she saw to the High Council immediately. As Nate and I were in a meeting, they called Blaine. He tracked you via your scent.” Nico stroked a finger over her bruised cheek. “You handled Byrnes remarkably well, cara.”

  She may not have fought before, but every creature’s, and probably human’s, instinct was to fight in those circumstances. Ada was very glad she had managed to cause Byrnes some pain after what he’d done to her.

  “From now on you go nowhere without protection.” Nate snapped, stalking to the bed.

  “There is no need for you to feel responsible for what Byrnes does, Nate.”

  He glared down at her looking like he would argue, then those meadow green eyes softened. He leaned down and hugged her, fortunately without crushing or hurting her just healing bruised and battered body. He was very confusing.

  “We’ll just do things my way, honey. Your grandparents are outside demanding to be let in, so we’ll give you a few minutes alone.”

  She winced as her grandparents rushed in, both scowling at Nate and Nico then petting and fussing over her. She glared at the retreating wolf and vamp who made a hasty retreat, leaving her alone to deal with the brownies.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Chained to a wall in the old dungeons beneath the High Council chambers, Myles Byrnes hung limply by the wrists, legs dangling, body stretched.

  On the outside, Nate appeared unmoved, but inside he was saddened. Once Myles had been a friend, a comrade and trusted. To do what he’d done was deliberate and with a certain amount of malice. Because Nate refused to be disloyal and wrote the warrant for Myles arrest himself, a vendetta had begun, leading Myles to plant a bomb in the vamp car Nate was driving and then to go after his mate.

  Ada had suffered, but she’d also whipped Myles’s butt. Nate was proud of her, and furious this piece of scum whom he’d once called friend had hurt the woman he cared about, the one. Nate was falling in love with his brownie, everything but the chip on her shoulder and that touch of prejudice was admirable and amazing. Even those he could understand to a point, though he wanted to remove them, more for her sake than anything else.

  What he had for his mate overrode any feelings he may have once held for this prisoner, the leniency he may have given.

  “How did he get through Galdo security?” Nate demanded.

  “He and five other Revmiras came through the doorway and laid siege. It was well planned and orchestrated.” Chase said with disgust. “Galdo Guards are going to be spending a lot of time coming up with counter measures for the future.”

  “The other disloyals were caught?” Nico asked.

  “Yes. Unfortunately, one guard was killed and three others badly injured. It was during the fight Byrnes got away. The choice is yours, Nate.”

  Byrnes was a known Revmiras and criminal against Galdorcwide, as set down by the High Council. As such his punishment would normally be decided by them. But because the disloyal werewolf attacked one who was family to Nate, it was now his choice of execution methods as per the ancient laws. When a creature attacked a member of a family specifically, that family was given the right to choose punishment or execution methods, though within specific guidelines.

&nbs
p; “I transfer my decision rights to the High Council, knowing their choice of execution will be the most fitting.” Nate spoke loudly to ensure all the council present heard. “This werewolf does not deserve the Justice Fight of our kind.”

  It was one of the biggest insults that could be given to a werewolf. Myles growled, but Nate ignored him, striding from the dungeon closely followed by Nico and Chase. As at this time, Myles meant nothing to him but a disloyal who would meet justice by the High Council. Outside the dungeon was the King of the Werewolves, his father, King Thomas Le Garde.

  “A wise decision, Nate. Now, you will come home and bring your brownie.”

  Nico bowed elegantly, turned into mist, and was gone. Chase simply shifted away. Nate winced, knowing his father hated to be thwarted. That was one of the qualities that made him such a good ruler.

  “Can’t, Pop—”

  “No? You say no to me.” King Thomas may be an inch shorter than Nate, but somehow he always managed to loom over him. He hated the word no nearly as much as Nico did. “I have waited many centuries for you to find your mate and produce pups and you tell me no!”

  “Could be little baby brownies.” Ace popped up from nowhere.

  Nate bit back a smile at his father’s reaction, then frowned. “Shit, brownie babies.”

  “I think before you get to the stage of considering pups or brownie babies, you have to actually tell her she’s your mate,” Blaine added teasingly.

  King Thomas’s green eyes narrowed menacingly. “You haven’t told your mate? Dammit, boy, have I taught you nothing! Hurry and lay claim to the girl, brownies are sneaky, and as a lawyer, she may try arguing her way out of the claim.”

  Nate was still reeling from the pup or babies subject but snapped to attention. “She can try, and that’ll be half the fun. What genes are more prominent? Werewolf or brownie?”

  “Do you care?” Ace asked.

  It only took a second, but Nate was smiling. “Nah, I wouldn’t mind a beautiful little sharp-tongued brownie daughter.”