His eyes never left her, the shake of her body; the soft sobs escaping her lips. Swallowing hard, the wolf knew that this was the moment.

He was either her mate in truth or he had to leave her, and let her find another who could be all she needed.

I couldnat stop the tears. Maybe that was a good thing; maybe I needed to let it out, like Blaz had said.

OaShea had licked my face, tried to get me to stop, but he couldnat understand that this was why I hadnat wanted to let loose, to let the grief overtake me. That I was afraid of the pain, and would rather have my body broken and bleeding than my heart.

Distantly, I knew that perhaps this was more than just the grief and the pain, this was a type of shock, the things Iad seen I couldnat un-see a G.o.ds, why did it have to be Berget? Iad sworn an oath to Faris that I would kill the Child Empress. An oath that I couldnat break, Iad sworn it on the blood of the lost and I suspected that if I didnat fulfill the oath, something very bad would happen.

OaShea let out a low, pain-filled groan. I rolled over, expecting to see him, the wolf him, flat out on the floor.

Not the man him. The OaShea Iad first known, crouched, his knees bent, his dark hair hanging long, brus.h.i.+ng his broad shoulders. He tipped his head up, his pale, silvery golden eyes the same as the wolfas, no longer the deep dark eyes head been born with. He didnat quite have a beard, but it was close.

We stared at each other, shock rippling through me.

Liam. I didnat realize Iad said his name until his arms were around me, pinning me to his chest.

aIam here. Iam here.a I sobbed into his shoulder, clung to him and didnat care how needy I might seem. For once, I couldnat be the strong one. For once, I had someone to hold me.

aHow? I donat understand a .a He pulled back a little, his one hand stroking the side of my face, tucking my hair behind my ears. aI donat know. You needed me. I think that was enough.a aI needed you long before now.a aBut you never said it. I think a I needed to know that I wasnat just another one of your wards, someone who needed youa"I needed to know that you needed me too. My wolf needed you to want him as an equal, not a dependent.a I leaned my forehead against his, let my hands trace his body, up over his shoulders, his neck and the sides of his face. I could hardly believe this was real, that this moment wasnat a dream, that I would wake from and be left staring at a wolf, and not a man sleeping beside me.

With my eyes closed, I was more than a little afraid to open them again, to see that my fears had been brought to life.

aLiam, donat do that again, donat disappear,a I whispered, reveling in the way his hands stroked my back, slid down to my waist and then worked their way up to my shoulders. G.o.ds, I had missed him.

aOnly if you donat call me OaShea anymore. Just Liam from now on.a He gave me a soft grin, and I hiccupped back another sob, fighting of the building emotions in my chest.

His lips found mine, and at first it was a soft kiss, a sweet, gently soothing kiss. His lips pressed against mine, moved to my cheek, kissed away the last vestiges of my tears. But that wasnat what I wanted or needed. I needed him to be with me, really with me, to claim me for what I was to him.

My tongue darted out, dipped into his mouth, and I pressed myself against him. A low rumble rolled out of him and he kissed me back, wild and fiercer than I remembered. But right. This was right.

A moment of understanding hit me. Wead been waiting for each other all along, waiting for this moment of rightness. That was why head not been able to let Bergetas case go. Why I couldnat just kill him even when there had been moments I could have, why Iad tried to help him when his eyes had been opened to the supernatural. Why even the mere thought of losing him completely had made me more than a little bit crazy. Why Iad chosen him over Berget. And would choose him over Berget again if I had to. With Liam, there was no choice, he would always come first.

He tore at my clothes, ripping them off me, t-s.h.i.+rt tearing like tissue paper. I helped him, s.h.i.+mmying out of my jeans, feeling my panties rip as he jerked them off my hips. His lips made a trail of fire from my mouth to my neck, lower to my aching b.r.e.a.s.t.s, lower yet to the juncture of my thighs. I arched into him, reaching up to grab the bed frame as he mouthed me. Not just pleasure, that was too mild a word. Between us, there was a connection, a bond of understanding that had nothing to do with forcing a bond on each other as Faris would do. Or even what had happened with Blaz.

Liam was with me because he wanted to be, and I was with him because there was no one else who understood me and loved me the way he did.

Another rumble slipped out of him, the vibration snaking through my core and tipping me over the edge of pleasure.

I couldnat stop the noises I made; didnat care who heard them.

Until the door opened.

aRylee, are you all right?a Pamelaas voice ended in a squeak, and then Liam was flung off me and slammed into the wall.

as.h.i.+t, Pamela. Stop!a I yelped, grabbing the sheets and wrapping them around me.

aHe was hurting you a I heard you scream. Whereas OaShea, heas supposed to be protecting you?a She had her hands up, ready to thump Liam again.

I glanced over my shoulder, expecting to see a very p.i.s.sed off werewolf. Nope. He was laughing. Bent over at the waist, laughing so hard his shoulders shook.

aPlease tell me you donat want kids.a He managed to spit out.

Apparently I made a face, because Pamela shot a glare at me. aWho is this?a And then her eyes widened and she took a good look at him, his dark hair and pale gold eyes.

aIs this OaShea?a She stumbled back, her face going bright red right up to her hair line.

aLiam, meet Pamela; Pamela, meet Liam. Now get out.a I shoved her out the door, locking it behind her.

There was a distant pattering of feet, no doubt to run off and tell everyone what shead seen. Good grief, how much had she seen?

Liamas arms came up around from behind me, his body fitting against mine. aWell, I suppose it could have been worse.a aYeah, how so?a aCould have been Milly walking in on us. She would have asked to stay and join in.a He nipped my shoulder and I spun to stare at him, shocked he would make light of what had happened with Milly. Laughing, he scooped me up and then tosseda"yes tosseda"me onto the bed. aI do believe we were interrupted, and just as I was getting to the good part.a I lay there on the bed, staring up at him, grat.i.tude and love flowing over me. I had him back, and this time there would be no letting go of him. This time, there would be no separating us, not for anything. Or anyone.

He slid on top of me, his hands and lips, tongue and teeth re-learning my every curve. I groaned, unable to stop touching him. I grabbed his a.s.s and pulled him into me, gasping at the thickness of him as we rocked together.

aRylee, this isnat a race,a he murmured into my ear.

aI donat feel you slowing down.a He chuckled, and then kissed me, as I slid my legs around his hips, locking my ankles together, riding the sweet rhythm that pulsed between us. More than the physical connection, there was something more, something I hadnat ever had. An understanding, a completion of my heart and where it belonged. With him, with Liam.

aRylee,a he whispered my name, nothing else, just my name and the tears started up again. I couldnat stop them, no more than I could earlier, but this time, it wasnat the pain of loss, but the bittersweet knowledge that the rest of my life would be like this. Stolen moments of love, laughter and life fitting in the tight spots between the death, pain and loss. This was my future, not prophecies, not fate. Liam, this moment and all that it represented was everything I never knew I even wanted, and yet now I had.

Within all the darkness of my life, I had found the brilliant spot of light that pushed away the shadows. Even if just for a moment of two.

He kissed my tears away. aLet it out, youave got to let it out. That much Iave learned. Holding it in will only make you crazy.a So I cried and we made love, spending the night in each otheras arms. Not speaking much, except to speak words of love, just living. Breathing.

Healing.

I woke up in the early hours, well before dawn, before any light crept in through the big window. A nightmare, intense and lingering stealing any rest I had managed. Berget, Berget haunted my mind, an abscess of pain that at some point would need to be purged. Anxiety hummed along my synapses, and a sheen of sweat coated my lower back. I rolled to my side, sheets sliding down over my bare hip, baring my overheated skin to the cool air.

Liam slept flat on his belly, face turned to the side, dark hair unruly and curling over his cheek. I brushed it back, and he mumbled in his sleep, words that made no sense, and yet my heart thumped harder in recognition. Without waking, he reached for me as he rolled to his side, and pulled me into his arms, facing him. I pressed my cheek against his chest, listened to his heartbeat steady and strong. His arms tightened around me, so that there was no s.p.a.ce between us; our bodies flush against one another. Peace, pure and soothing, flowed from him into me, calming the anxiety and pus.h.i.+ng back the nightmare that had followed me into the waking world.

aGo back to sleep, Rylee.a He mumbled into my hair, his breath s.h.i.+fting the strands around my ear.

I curled in tighter to him, sliding an arm across his hip, feeling the scar where the Guardian had clawed him, where Alex had infected him. Safe in his arms, I closed my eyes, and let my fears go. In that moment, with him I knew that we were both where we finally belonged.

With a sigh, I lifted my face to his without opening my eyes and kissed him softly.

aYou are the best thing in my life.a He kissed me back, murmuring against my lips.

aLove, go to sleep. Because I have no doubt that tomorrow, something will crawl up and into your life that you or I will have to kill.a I chuckled against his skin. aYou know me too well.a aThat I do. That I do.a

CHAPTER 23.

LIAM WATCHED HER sleep, traced the scars on her body with his fingers in the early morning light. Shead brought him back from the wildness that the wolf had kept him tied with.

He let out a sigh, a smile tipping up the edges of his lips. Everything seemed simple now, an illusion for sure, if he knew Ryleeas life at all. They were together, as it should have been for a h.e.l.l of a lot longer than it was, and between the two of them, they would take care of things. Of their pack. Again, his lips quirked upward.

Their pack. Laughing softly to himself, he stood and searched around the room. There were no clothes that would fit him, so he settled for a towel, wrapping it around his waist. His nudity wasnat really an issue, though he suspected that the others in the house might not appreciate him strutting through in the buff.

His memories as a wolf were strange, disjointed. More about scents than anything else. Liam stepped out of the room, stepped over Alex sleeping by the door.

Much as he knew it was the werewolfas fault he now carried the virus, he couldnat really be angry at him. Alex was important to Rylee, and even Liam could admit that he liked the werewolfas antics, saw the joy he brought into their lives like nothing else could. He crouched down, scrubbed the back of Alexas ears.

aHey, want to go for a run later?a Alex blinked sleepily up at him. aYuppy doody, Boss.a Liam stood and strode down the hallway, freezing when he caught the scent of a witch. His head knew it was probably little Pamela, but the wolf in him wasnat so sure. Moving very slowly, he worked toward the scent, tried to calm himself as he went. He would have to be careful around the young witch, making sure he didnat lash out, that the wolf didnat try to take control again. With his back against the wall, he slid down the hallway, the scent of witch intensifying.

There was more than one.

He wanted to s.h.i.+ft, slide back into the wolf form. Fear grabbed at him. If he did, would he be able to s.h.i.+ft back? He thought about Rylee, lying in bed, needing him. Not because of what he could do for her, but just needing him, for whom he was.

He dropped the towel and s.h.i.+fted into the wolf, the change taking him quickly and with ease. This time was different, though; he, Liam, was still in charge. The wolf was his now, not the other way around.

Creeping forward, his nose far more sensitive in this form, he picked up scent he would know anywhere.

Milly.

He fought the urge to go running toward the witch, tackle her to the ground and tear her throat out. If she was here, then she needed something, she was here to take something from them.

Trotting, he made his way the library door and peered in. Milly had her back to the doorway and she was reaching up, her hands lingering on the different books on the shelves.

How the h.e.l.l was he going to stop her? A soft snuffle of a childas tears brought his head around. Pamela was tied up in a spell, her arms and legs splayed out against the wall.

He couldnat do this on his own. Spinning, he ran back to Rylee.

I was dreaming that Liam was back, that he had held me all night while I cried out the tears Iad been saving up. That his touch and heart had healed the worst of the wounds I had. I stretched in the bed, reaching out to find an empty spot, still warm where head lain.

Sitting up, I scrubbed my hands through my hair. The door creaked open and Alex crab-stepped into the room.

aRylee better?a His eyes were full of uncertainty and maybe even a little bit of fear. I smiled at him.

aYes, Iam better.a aBoss good too?a He lifted his eyebrows.

I knew he didnat mean a aYes, the Boss is good too.a Very, very good.

The door pushed open and Liam, wolf Liam, stepped in the room, s.h.i.+fting with a spooky ease back to human.

aMilly is here. She has Pamela spelled in the library.a af.u.c.king h.e.l.l.a One full day, just one freaking day was all I wanted.

I didnat have any weapons, and I hadnat bothered to pick through Jackas extensive collection. I jerked on a s.h.i.+rt and my pants.

aAlex, go get Doran. Quickly!a Alex saluted and ran out of the room. Liam s.h.i.+fted back to wolf form. At least I knew he could s.h.i.+ft back and forth now.

I ran out of the bedroom, down the hallway and skidded to a stop just inside the door.

Milly was bent over several of the tomes that Jack had hidden from me. In particular, the black demon book, and the violet skinned blood of the lost.

aWhat the f.u.c.k do you think youare doing?a Her head jerked up. aI needed the information in these. I need to borrow them.a I couldnat stop my mouth from dropping open. aAre you bat s.h.i.+t crazy? This isnat a f.u.c.king library and we arenat friends anymore.a I moved sideways, touched Pamela and the spell on her disintegrated, dropping her to the floor.

aIam sorry,a the kid said. aI thought I could take her on my own.a Milly snorted. aTraining will always win out.a I walked over to her, ignoring the look of fear on her face. Yeah, I would kill her one day, but even I wasnat cold enough to kill a woman who was with child. s.h.i.+t, it would have been easier if I were that cold.

aYou canat have those books. End of story.a I yanked the Black one out of her hands and shoved the Violet one, pus.h.i.+ng it off the table. If she wanted it bad enough, shead have to turn her back on me.

She tipped her chin up and tried to look down her nose at me. aI chained your wolf once, I could do it again.a Liam let out a snarl that filled the room with a menace even Milly couldnat miss.

aYou think reminding him of that is a good idea?a I stared at her, wondering how shead gotten in here without anyone noticing. aYouave been watching Faris jump the Veil, havenat you?a She didnat answer me, just spun flicked her hand and the violet covered book shot to her hand. I lunged toward her. aMilly!a She ignored me, and jumped through a slice of the Veil to the G.o.ds only knew where. It didnat matter, not really. Her time would come soon enough.

Doran and Alex showed up about thirty seconds too late.

aSheas ducked out already?a Doran walked across the room and picked up the black bound book. aWas this what she was after?a I nodded, dread filling me. aShe got the violet covered one.a Liam s.h.i.+fted, moving to stand behind me, naked but seemingly unashamed.

Doran grinned at us, eyes sparkling. aWell, well, well. What have we here? Rylee, I can see why you were so loyal.a Liam leaned down and kissed my neck, right where the st.i.tches were ready to come out, but his eyes stayed on Doran.

The Daywalker laughed and lifted his hands. aNo need to mark your territory, Guardian. I know who she belongs with. Itas Faris youare going to have to watch, not me.a A growl slipped out of Liam. aFaris is not going to survive our next encounter.a Doran snorted and waved at him. aListen, you go and shave that crazy beard and get a shower in while I chat with Rylee.a I shook my head. aNo, wait here; Iall get you some clothes, Liam. Try not to kill each other.a I left the men there, trotted down the hallway and worked my way through the mansion to the other side where Jackas quarters were. I knocked softly on his door.

aGo the f.u.c.k away.a aJack, I need some clothes.a There was a m.u.f.fled thump and then the door swung open. Jack glared at me. aClothes? What the f.u.c.k do you need my clothes for?a aLiam.a His tri-colored blue eyes widened, and for the first time, I saw him shocked. He grabbed a set of sweat pants and an over sized t-s.h.i.+rt. I took them and ran back to the library, leaving a cursing Jack behind.

Doran and Liam sat across from each other. Liam had the brown book of prophecies in front of him, and Doran had the red. I handed Liam the clothes and he slipped them on. We spent the next three hours reading through the books, making an attempt to find what Milly had wanted. I took the black book, and read through the demon prophecies.

as.h.i.+t, Iam going to have nightmares tonight.a I pushed the book at Jack. Pamela was sticking close, as was Alex, who seemed to have decided that Liam was the freaking catas pajamas. Alex had his head on Liamas knee, eyes flicking up every once in a while to see if Liam was paying him any attention.

It took me a while, but I finally figured it out. Liam was the first werewolf that had accepted Alex for what he was. Alex finally had a pack member just like him. f.u.c.k, it made me love Liam even more at how easily head forgiven Alex for turning him. Then again, it hadnat been just Alexas saliva that had caused the problems.

aIf you donat quit making googly eyes at him, Iam going to puke,a Doran said, but he was smiling, his eyes laughing.

aYou shut up over there or Iall s.h.i.+p you back to Berget.a The room went very still and I let took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. aLet it go, I can freaking well crack a joke about my psycho sister if I want to.a Doran just shook his head. aDonat joke about that. I am eternally in your debt, which is a long time for someone like me. She carries not only her own memories, but the abilities and powers of both her adoptive parents. Which is part of the problem. She cannot handle all those memories and all that power. She is not to be trifled with.a Jack leaned back, contemplative. aWhat about pied? We could f.u.c.king pie her, instead of trifle.a Doranas jaw dropped, and I laughed at his expression. aThatas an awful pun, Jack. I like it.a That night, after making sure Pamela and Alex were settled, I made my way up to the rooftop to spend some time with Eve. Iad not been kind to her and I needed to make amends.

She eyed me warily and I waved her over. aIam better. Iam sorry for the way I treated you, for pus.h.i.+ng you so hard when you were hurt.a aYou didnat push me, Rylee. I want to help. I just donat know my own limits yet. When I have a chance, Iad like to train with Eagle again. I think I could still learn much from him.a aOf course. I think that would be great.a I reached up and touched her wings. aThank you, Eve. You are the best Harpy Iave ever known.a aWhat happened to you?a She ducked her head so she could look me right in the eye. aSomething changed.a Liam stepped out of the doorway and Eve saw him before I could answer. With a screech, she ran a hopping, wing flapping run over to him, dancing around him. aYouare back! I knew you were strong enough. I just knew it! Anyone who can fall off a Harpy and survive is tough enough to survive anything.a He made his way over to my side as Eve launched into the air, circling around several times before soaring higher, using the thermals to lift her out of sight and behind the clouds, screeching her excitement into the wind.

aI didnat think Iad made that much of an impression on your crew,a he said, moving up to stand beside me.

aYouare a part of our family. Theyave missed you. Or maybe just missed the fact that you can get away with yelling at me when they canat.a He laughed softly. aNot a family. Itas more than that. A pack.a He slipped an arm around my waist.

aHmm. A pack.a I wasnat going to argue with him, not over something like this. I was pretty sure there was going to be a lot to argue about in the future. Sure, things were good now, but we were both too pig-headedly stubborn to back down, even from each other.

aWhat now?a Liam moved so that he was behind me, his lips against my ear. aWhatas the next step?a G.o.ds, if only I knew the answer to that, Iad be a Reader like Jack or Giselle.

Milly was pregnant, had stolen the violet booka"a book Jack hadnat wanted even me to read.

Faris was as twisted and untrustworthy as any vampire Iad ever known, and he was back on the s.h.i.+t list where he belonged. Where I should have left him from the first moment Iad met him.

Berget a that was where things got confusing. She was still my sister, but I realized now that she was gone outside of my grasp for good. The Child Empress had tried to kill Pamela, had set that f.u.c.king Dr. Daniels and her Beast on me, whether or not she meant to. How did I reconcile that with the child I had known? I didnat. Couldnat.