Bad Mouth

chapter Twenty-seven


When Kade turned back to Val, all color had left her face. He pulled her against him, pressing his lips to her temple. She shook and he tried to rub the tremors out of her, smoothing his hands along her spine. He wished he could protect her from all this ugliness, but she needed to know what was happening.

“Kade?” She couldn’t hide her anxiety. He tipped her face up.

“My father has destroyed my estate in Glacier. There’s nothing left. I don’t give a rat’s ass about the subjugates or the Legions they became, but he killed all those in my private service.” Rage vibrated through him. “He knows I can’t feed from…He knows.”

Val’s arms squeezed tighter around him. “I’m so sorry. Why would he do that? And what are you going to do?”

“I don’t know why, but I suspect he learned I killed some of his Enforcers. I have no choice but to challenge him.” F*ck, he’d take any other way, but there wasn’t one. Challenging his father in a fight to the death would be the toughest fight of his life, a fight he doubted he could win.

Val tensed in his arms. “No,” she rasped. He never wanted her to be afraid, but damned if the fear in her eyes didn’t warm him to his center. It told him she cared about him.

“I have no option. He’s thrown the first punch. If I do nothing, I lose everything, my heritage, my status, my life. I cannot let the Dominorum remain in the hands of those psychos.”

“Why you?”

“Because it’s my responsibility, my duty, Val. They’re my parents, and the Dominorum is mine to take. The problem is I’m too young to take it.”

“How will you get around that?”

Good question. “Damned if I know. It’ll come to me, but I don’t have time to wait around for an answer. I have to get to the Ancients before they know the strike is coming.” He tugged her toward the door, grabbing her bag on the way. “Come on. I’ve got to get you home.”

“No way. I am not sitting home alone while you ride away to your death.” She had that stubborn look on her face, but that didn’t make any difference. He was never going to lead her into a dangerous situation again, no matter how slight.

“I won’t put you in harm’s way. You’re defenseless against the Ancients. I can’t take them out if I’m worried about your safety, Val.”

She looked as though she would argue, but then her eyes clouded with tears, and she sagged against him. He looped her bag over his shoulder, lifted her into his arms, and took her downstairs. She never looked up, only kept her face against his throat. A tenderness he’d never known overcame him, tightening his throat. He wanted to hold her like this the rest of his life.

He surprised her by settling her into the passenger’s seat. She gaped when he slid into the driver’s side.

He laughed. “What? You didn’t think I knew how to drive?”

“I just—where’s your driver?”

“Somehow his application got rescinded. Hmm, I wonder how that happened.” He sent her a crooked grin. She smiled even though her eyes were still teary. He made short work of the trip, weaving in and out of traffic with precision, then pulled to the curb in front of the Towers and glanced over at Val. Her fingers had bitten into the seat, and her back was ramrod straight. He laughed so hard, he nearly choked. She glared at him.

“I’m sorry, baby. I’m a great driver. I promise. You know I wouldn’t let anything happen to you.”

“But you’d scare the heck out of me. Who needs the Ancients? I thought we were roadkill.”

He kissed her hand, a wide grin on his face again. “God, I love you.” He was still laughing as he loped around the car to open her door for her. He grabbed the bag off the floor and swept her up into his arms. She was a bitty thing, her weight easy on him. She stayed unnaturally quiet on the trip up to his penthouse, but he couldn’t see her face. She had it tucked against his chest, and her pale hair fanned across it.

He started for the bedroom, but she pulled on his shirt. “Sofa,” she said. Her voice was muffled. He did as she asked, settling her into the cushy corner. After a trip into the hallway, he returned with some velvety blankets and a pillow, and then he brought her a glass of ice water.

“Hungry?” he asked. She shook her head. He crouched and lifted her hair from her face. She’d been crying. Hard. He stroked the tear tracks down her cheeks. “Please don’t cry. You’re killing me.”

“S-sorry. I hate to cry. I d-don’t want you to d-die.”

He sank onto the cushion next to her and hugged her tightly against him. “Thanks for the vote of confidence, you faithless bitch.”

She laughed until hiccups took over. When she looked up at him, his heart stopped and started and stopped and started, utterly as confused as his mind. Even with her slightly puffy eyes, every cell in his body responded to her. She was his tiny little fae lover, and it blew his mind that she wanted him, that she cared for him.

“If you abandon me again, I’ll castrate you with my own hands.”

He grinned. “You promise?” Her expression sobered, and he did his best to reassure her. “I’ll come back, Val. If I have to walk naked through hell to get to you, I’ll come back.”

His cell rang again. She rolled her eyes and curled up in the sofa’s corner. “More bad news, of course,” she grumbled.

He answered, and it wasn’t great news, but he wouldn’t exactly call it bad news either. Ian had flashed to the Ancients’ mansion to keep an eye on them so Kade had advance warning if his parents gathered military force. So far, there’d been no sign of such activity, which meant he’d be clear to challenge his father alone. However, Graham had shown up and was welcomed into the mansion. An hour later, there’d been no sign of the man’s departure.

Kade hung up and then debated whether he should share this news. Val cared about the guy, and it would upset her. She snuck a sidelong look at him and bit her lip. Damn, he wanted to lick and nip right there, too. He shook his head. She’d want to know what was going on. Well, hell.

“Ian saw Graham go into the mansion. It’s been an hour, and he hasn’t left yet.” He took her hand. “I’m sorry, baby. It doesn’t look good for him.”

She nodded. “He made his choice.”

“You’re taking this better than I thought you would.”

“He nearly got us killed, Kade. My heart’s not broken over him.” She twisted the edge of a blanket in her hand. “Maybe a little bruised. I don’t understand why he’s working for them. He had a thing for the Domina, but it’s still confusing. The last night I saw him, he was at the VLO late working in the dark. I never thought to ask what he was doing.”

“Maybe nothing relevant.”

“I don’t think so, but I guess we won’t know until we get him.”

Kade leaned over her, pressing her back into the sofa. “Damn, you’re sexy.” He caught her mouth with his, taking what he could before he had to leave. When he sat back, her fingertips went to her lips.

“You’re so good at that,” she said.

“Gotta keep practicing, though. Be ready when I get back.” His attempt at levity did nothing to lift her spirits.

“Just come back.”

He wished he could annihilate her worries, but it was difficult when he knew the odds were against him. He’d have his team there in case the Enforcers showed up, but he’d have to challenge each of his parents to take the throne from them. Even with none of the Enforcers at the mansion, taking on two of the Ancients could end him no matter how badly he wanted to live for Val. He couldn’t share his dread with her. He kissed her once more, and then headed out to meet his makers, literally. And likely his untimely death.