4

Angelo and the stable hands had had a few long nights. They had just delivered the third and final foal of the spring. He worked to muck out the stalls and move the mother and her new foal into a fresh stall. He’d give them a few days before taking the young foals into the pasture to test their legs. He was shouting orders to the stable hands when he heard Impavido kicking at his stall and getting restless, and almost simultaneously, he picked up the acrid smell of smoke.

Angelo dropped the pitchfork and ran to the other end of the stables where he had left Lorenzo playing. The section of the stables used to store the bales of hay and feed was smoldering, and ready to burst into flames. Angelo called for help, the other stable hands rushed in to move the animals away from the danger, just as the hay bursts into flames, the fire spreading quickly. Angelo screamed for Lorenzo who had been playing on the hay bales, but the child was nowhere to be seen.

***

Kate was inside with Lorenzo who had returned from playing in the stables. His little boots were muddy, as were his hands and face. "Lorenzo, did you leave any mud outside?"

The normally talkative child nodded his head yes. Kate laughed, picking him up, so he wouldn’t track mud through the house, and carried him to the tub. She and Theresa were stripping him down and placing him in the tub when Kate felt the fear from the horses.

"Theresa, something’s going on in the stables. Can you finish this?"

“Of course, my lady."

Kate kissed Lorenzo on the forehead and rushed out, running to the stables. She could see the smoke starting to rise.

Angelo called out telepathically to Shade. They needed help getting the animals away from the fire, and he couldn’t find Lorenzo!

***

Marcello and Shade had finished the drills held inside the gym with the new recruits. They had picked up a lot of new warriors this spring, and they had been rebuilding their ranks since the battle with Max. Heading outside onto the field, they had split the warriors into three groups, each one concentrating on a specific weapon. Walking toward Marcello's group first, he picked up the smell of smoke. He turned in the direction of the house and saw the smoke rolling from the stables. His heart pounded as he heard the horses, panicked in their stalls. Angelo screamed inside his head that Lorenzo was in there!

Shade called out to Marcello and the other warriors and they teleported instantly to the stables, the hay bales along the back wall completely engulfed. Where is Lorenzo? Angelo was barking orders, as Shade shouldered past stable hands and warriors leading the panicked horses out of the stables, as they screamed in fright.

Shade called out to his son. "Lorenzo! Come to Daddy!”

Shade couldn’t see him anywhere and was about to run into the flames, when he heard bel.

Kate ran into the stables amid the chaos of screaming horses, as the warriors worked furiously to open the stalls and let them run free. She saw Shade as he ripped at the bales of hay, calling for Lorenzo. He thinks Lorenzo is trapped here!

“Shade, no!" Kate ran to him, grabbed at his shoulders and pulled him back from the flames. "He’s safe! He’s in the house." She could feel the heat of the flames on her face as she pulled at him.

He felt her trying to pull him free, the flames scorching his arms and the smoke filling his lungs. Suddenly, her words hit him full force. Lorenzo was in the house! Turning, he saw her fear for him, and he picked her up and ran with her outside the stables.

"Stay here. Don’t move!”

He headed back inside the stables, and Impavido was coming at him full speed. "Whoa boy, whoa!”

The horse bolted past him and Shade grabbed his mane and swung onto the horse, mounting him as he fled from the fire. The horse was panicked and wasn’t responding to his efforts to calm him. The frantic actions of the other horses didn’t help. Impavido was heading straight for the fence line. Gripping his mane, Shade leaned over the horse’s massive head as they took the fence together. He leaned into his ear, while using his thighs to grip the horse and tried to slow him down.

"Come on boy, it’s okay. We got this. Calm down.”

He gradually got the panicked horse under control, but he could see the other horses ready to jump the fence, following behind the stallion. Telepathically, he let Angelo know the animals were out, but they needed to control the horses in the field before they bolted. Shade could hear the warriors. Some were grabbing fire extinguishers, putting out the flames and others rushed to the field to help corral the panicked horses. Telepathically, he called to Kate, “I need help bel, talk to them! The horses are going to jump, help me control them.”

Kate responded and called for help in controlling the horses, as Aegis, Night Stalker and Warrior surrounded the herd and started to corral them into the pasture. As Bravado ran past Kate, she grabbed the horse’s mane, and jumped on, using it to guide him. She rode among the horses, calming them, as she led them away from the fence and out into the center of the field, away from the stables. She glanced over her shoulder to see Shade on Impavido. He jumped the fence and led the massive horse in her direction.

"Shade, what happened? How did the fire get started?"

Shade looked on in amazement as the horses all responded to her, calming immediately, and following her out into the field, grazing, as if nothing had just happened. Riding up to her, Impavido and Bravado rubbed noses, leaning into each other, providing comfort to each other.

"I don’t know yet, mi amore. Are you all right? Cazzo, this happened so fast. Let’s go see how bad the mess is, make sure everyone is okay, and see what damage was done to the stables."

Leaning over, he lifted her from her horse, taking her in his arms and sitting her in front of him.

"Tell me you are both fine because I never want to feel that damn fear again. I thought Lorenzo was inside the stables. Angelo said he could not find Lorenzo. Was he inside the stables earlier?"

"Yes, he goes to the stables almost every day. He loves the horses, and he loves being around Angelo. He’d just come back inside, covered in mud as usual. I was getting ready to give him a bath when I felt the horses’ fear. Thank God he wasn’t in there when the fire started."

Shade shook his head. "I can’t imagine how this started."

As they rode to the stables, Angelo came out and they inspected the damage. Although the fire seemed fierce at the time, little damage was done to the stables. The hay had allowed the flames to grow to such intensity so quickly. The rapid response from the stable hands helped to prevent the fire from spreading.

Shade shouted out orders, as the stable hands rounded up the horses and inspected each one, making sure they were all accounted for, and there were no injuries. Angelo assured him they were all fine, and the stable hands started to lead the animals back into their respective stalls once they calmed down. Angelo and the other stable hands would clean up the mess from the fire and attend to the horses.

Angelo told him he had no idea how or why the fire started, and they couldn’t see any evidence of sabotage in the mess left behind, leaving them all a bit baffled. Angelo said he’d seen Lorenzo playing near the hay bales and hadn’t seen him leave the stables, so he assumed he was still inside.

Looking at Kate, Shade requested her assistance. "Maybe he saw something. Can you ask Aegis if she escorted him back to the house? I want to know if he saw anything unusual."

Kate dismounted Bravado and knelt down, calling Aegis to her. The she-wolf walked forward as Kate leaned in and placed her head against the wolf. "Aegis, were you with Lorenzo? Did you bring him home?"

Kate looked up at Shade. "She says she was lying outside the stables. She didn’t go in because the horses don't like it. She said Lorenzo came out of the stables quickly and ran back to the house, and she followed him there. Once he was inside, she returned to the woods. Do you think Lorenzo knows something about the fire?"

"I don’t know, mi amore. Angelo does not smoke in the stables, and none of the stable hands do either. It is one of my rules. It is dangerous to smoke here for this reason. But we are going to find out."

With the warriors helping to clean up, and things under control, Shade and Kate walked back to the house, his mind rolling. Shade was wondering if Lorenzo could have seen someone in the area that might offer a clue.

"I don’t want to scare him, but we need to find out what he knows. It is possible he may have seen someone around the stables, and that is what sent him back to the house. I can’t come up with a reasonable answer as to how this happened.”

As they entered the house, Theresa greeted them with a freshly bathed Lorenzo in tow. "Is everything all right, my lady? We could see the smoke from here."

Kate grabbed up Lorenzo and hugged him tight. He smelled like soap and sunshine, and she buried her face in his hair. "Everything is fine, Theresa. No real damage. Angelo responded quickly, and the horses are safe."

Turning to Lorenzo, she inquired, "Lorenzo, there was a fire in the stables where the horses live. Did you see anything?"

Lorenzo tucked his chin and shook his head no. Kate looked up at Shade. Lorenzo was a non-stop talker, and his sudden quietness was uncharacteristic. "Lorenzo, it’s all right to tell me if you know something."

Lorenzo flashed a look at his father, and then asked, "Can I play with Warrior?"

Shade shook his head. "No, not at the moment. I want to know a few things. Can you help me? Daddy needs to figure out what happened. Come here."

Holding out his arms to his son, Lorenzo hesitated briefly and Shade’s heart broke. Looking at bel, he knew she could feel his pain.

Lorenzo looked at Kate before going to his father's arm. He laid his chin on his shoulder. "I didn't do anything, Daddy."

Shade gently rubbed his back. He knew something had scared the child, he seemed off his game. "No one said you did, Lorenzo. But I want to know if you saw anything when you were at the stables. Did you see a stranger there? Mommy said you were playing in the stables, so I know you were inside with the horses. You are not in trouble, Lorenzo, but if you saw anything that can help Daddy figure this out, it would be a big help.”

Lorenzo shook his head. "No strangers. I would go to Angelo if I saw a stranger. No strangers, Daddy. I was just playin'. I didn't do bad things."

Smiling, Shade kissed his cheek. "Of course, you would go to Angelo. That is the smart thing to do. You are a smart and brave warrior."

Feeling the boy cling to his neck and snuggle into him, Shade closed his eyes. He still had no idea what happened in the stables. "Are you tired, Lorenzo? Do you need a nap? Or hungry? Because if you are, Nita will feed you. You want Mommy to tuck you in, or Daddy?"

Lorenzo clung to his father. "Both. I want both."

Looking at Kate, Shade grinned. "You heard him, both."

Kate smiled at him, but this wasn’t her normal Lorenzo. Something had spooked him in the stables, and he wasn’t talking about it. She rubbed his back. "Of course, my beautiful boy, we’ll both tuck you in, and Theresa will send Nita in to feed you, and sing to you."

Lorenzo held out his chubby hand to her. "You feed me, Mommy."

Kate looked at Shade, and they exchanged a glance. "Of course, Lorenzo. Let's go upstairs to your room, the three of us, okay? You know you’re safe here, right?"

Lorenzo nodded but didn’t release the death grip he had around his father's neck.

Shade saw her glance and knew Kate was feeling the same thing he was. Something was very wrong here. But he could think of no reason for Lorenzo to lie. "Come along then, little warrior, time for you to feed and get some sleep. Daddy has work to do before the night is over."

Walking upstairs into his room, Kate sat in the huge rocker. As Lorenzo released his grip, Shade slid him into Kate’s arms and Lorenzo immediately curled up on her shoulder, nuzzling into her neck and began to feed. He was way too damn quiet, and that bothered Shade. He took a seat on the sleep sofa and watched as the woman he loved gave nourishment to his son. It was something to behold.

Lorenzo's blue eyes looked at him once in a while as he fed. His small hand fisted around the crimson of his mother’s hair, his other hand lying gently on her breast. Cazzo, he loved them more than his own life.

It didn’t take Lorenzo long to feed, he was still small, and it took little for him to fulfill his need for her blood. His eyelids fluttered open and closed as he struggled to stay awake. Her blood having the complete opposite effect on the child as it did on him. He watched as she rocked him slowly, holding him in her arms, her eyes never leaving him.

Kate could feel how her blood calmed him, soothed him. She could feel her child relax in her arms, as whatever troubled him, left his mind. She gently rocked in the chair, rubbing her hand up and down his back. She could feel him unlatch, as his body relaxed, and she stood and placed him in his 'big boy' bed. He reached up to her with both arms and she leaned over and kissed him. He hugged her and gave her a wet kiss on the cheek.

“I love my beautiful boy. Nothing will ever change that. You understand, don't you, Lorenzo?”

He nodded. His eyes were heavy with sleep. Kate handed him his ragged teddy bear and he clasped the toy tight, holding the tattered bear under his chin. With his free hand, he reached up for his father.

Leaning down, Shade kissed him softly on his chubby cheeks. Lorenzo gripped his father’s long curls and kissed him back.

"Sleep little warrior, tomorrow is another day to conquer. Ti amo, per sempre."

As Shade took Kate’s hand, they walked to the door. She turned out the light, closing the door, as they left the room. Shade turned to her. "We need to talk."

Kate nodded and led him to their bedroom where she closed the door. “Lover, he was frightened by something. But I'm sure he's telling the truth when he says no strangers. Besides, you know Aegis and the others would never allow a stranger to wander onto the part of our property we have marked as private. But something is bothering him."

"I feel the same way. Maybe he is just frightened because he felt our fear. He had to hear the horses, the screaming, and the chaos. He is not immune to it, and his senses are more intense than a mortal child. There is something else we need to talk about as well."

“What’s that?"

"Feeding. The bambino is going to zap your energy soon. You will have to deny Lorenzo as you do me. Nita will have to be his source completely. I can’t allow you to get weak. He drains you enough as it is, keeping up with him all day. I see how you look at him, I know it will hurt to deny him, but you have to. We will get through it, I promise you. And if he needs comfort, I can feed him. I do not want you to be upset with me. I’m just making sure you are not overdoing it, si?"

Raising this child had presented so many challenges for her, and sharing the feeding with Nita and Theresa, so she could provide for her mate was only one of them. If he were a mortal child, he would have been weaned from breast feeding or bottle feeding by now. Lorenzo advanced much quicker than mortal children in his physical and mental development, in every area except the feeding. That was something he’d need from her, and his wet feeder, until he was almost an adult. It was her one means to cling to his childhood, but she knew Shade was right. The life inside her now would demand everything, and she’d once again have to give up Shade feeding from her, as well as the rare times her son sought her out for comfort.

"I know you’re right, Shade. He usually goes to Nita. He loves her, and she’s so good with him. But he was afraid tonight. It was the comfort more than the feeding he sought. But I’ll talk to him."

Taking her in his arms, he could feel the pain in her heart. "I understand. I am not dismissing what you did, bel. He needs his madre for many things. I just need to remind you of what is to come, so you can prepare your heart before it happens. He will not like it. He will push you to your limits to give in to him. You need to stay strong for the bambino to survive, si?"

Taking her hand, he led her to their bed where she climbed atop the mattress. He stroked her cheek, staring into those incredible amber eyes. "I should run back to the stables really quick to make sure everything is okay before sunrise, but I want you to feed first."

Kate lay on her back, looking up into those blue eyes. She brushed his hair back from his face as she smiled at him. "Lover, it’s early in this pregnancy yet. You would have me in this bed until the baby comes. I’m fine, really. I’ll wait for daybreak, when you can join me here."

Leaning on his elbows, he shook his head. "Are you throwing me out of your bed, woman?" Slapping her thigh lightly, he chuckled and climbed from the bed. "You know I love you, and I worry when you are carrying our bambino. That is never going to stop.”

She laughed softly. "I'll never throw you out of our bed. And please feel free to bring me here anytime. Just be sure you plan to stay when you do."

He chuckled. "I do have warriors and horses to attend to. What are you going to do besides pine away for your savage lover?"

Pulling his t-shirt over his head, he snapped it over her ass as she rolled over and growled. "Do not start growling now, I have been unceremoniously thrown from your bed and told to come back later, so now, you must suffer, my queen."

Laughing, he walked to the armoire and pulled a clean white t-shirt over his head. Standing tall with his arms across his chest, he stared at her.

Kate lifted her face from the pillow, looking back at him through her tousled red hair. "Warriors? You have warriors to take care of? I remember a time, when warriors would not have been a distraction. I must be losing my touch. But get back to your warriors, and I'll be here when you get home."

"Nothing distracts me from you. You have not lost your touch. You inflame my heart more now than ever before. Tell me you still love me.”

Kate watched him move about the bedroom, tossing the one shirt aside as he pulled on another. His body as beautiful and toned as the first day she saw him. “I love you even more, if that’s possible. You fill my heart. And I’ll always be here. Go back to the stables. I’ll call the contractors about the pools. I'll see you at sunrise, right here, next to me."

Walking to her, he kissed her passionately. He loved her so damn much. "Deal."

Walking out the door and down the hall, he opened the door to Lorenzo's room and peeped in. His soft regulated breathing told him he was asleep. Walking to the bed, he saw him clutching his bear. Pulling a soft blanket over him, Shade kissed his cheek and headed to the stables. Nothing was ever simple in his life and it sure as hell never would be, but there was one thing he knew without doubt. He was loved.