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Tristan sensed something off. He slowly opened his eyes, searching the room then taking stock of the bed he was sprawled over. He had a mouth-watering body lying across his chest.
That’s right ... he was in the human world, not on Treoir.
He relaxed, content to listen as Mac’s chest rose and fell with gentle breaths.
His hands would not stay away from her. He stroked her back, moving the sheet to her waist. That’s all it took to be hard again. He wanted more of last night. Resting hadn’t been on the agenda, even after a second round of steaming sex in the shower.
Her fault. She’d wanted to shower again.
She stirred and lifted her head, looking only at him.
He waited for her to flinch at seeing his eyes again.
Not Mac. She smiled and said, “Tell me something special about your powers that no one else can do.”
He thought on it, comparing different abilities. “I’m not sure if this is unique to Beladors, but I’ve never heard of any other preternatural group that can link with each other.”
“What do you mean?”
“This is another thing that’s hard to explain, but we reach out and join our power to another Belador. Once we do, we have more power as a team.”
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
“Unless someone in the link is killed,” Tristan clarified.
“Why? What happens then?”
“Everyone linked dies.” And that was only one reason he hadn’t experimented much with linking. He’d done it a couple of times and survived, but the Alterants had not, as a rule, been groomed to fight as a team.
“That sucks.” Mac jumped from one topic to the next. “Can you see at night?”
“Better than night vision.”
“Oh, that’s going to make sex on the beach fun during summer. We can go anywhere after dark.”
If only his life were that simple. He couldn’t stay with her. He wanted to turn his back on everyone and everything to stay right here. Life didn’t work that way.
He started thinking of what he needed to do to make sure she was safe once he left. His chest hurt just thinking about letting go of her.
Stroking her hair, he smiled at her happy expression. “Are you ever unhappy?”
Her face fell.
Way to ruin her good mood, asshole. “What’d I say?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong, so stop trying to take the blame.”
Did he do that? He’d been blamed for so much over the years it came naturally to assume he was at fault. “Okay, if I didn’t do it then what made you sad?”
“I’ve had my moments of being unhappy. I was miserable growing up in the lap of luxury, or at least everyone thinks I lived in luxury. My father and brother are ... they’re difficult. I’ve struggled since striking out on my own, but I’ve been happy even when making ends meet has been tough. I will admit you made me sad when you left, but I thought you’d played me for a fool then you were done with me.”
“Baby, you’re nobody’s fool. I’m sorry about what happened.”
“Yes, but you spent five years in hell thinking I’d turned you over to the demon police.”
Demon police. More Mac talk. He lifted her hair, twisting it around his fingers. “That’s in the past. Now we need to figure out how to make sure you’re safe before I leave.”
She shot up, shoving her hands hard on his chest. “You’re leaving? Again?”
Tristan pushed up on his elbows. “I have to go back to another realm. My foster sister is here and so is another Alterant. We aren’t supposed to leave Macha’s realm.”
“Then what are the three of you doing here? I mean, I’m thrilled you’re back, but I’m so confused.”
He was, frankly, amazed at how well she’d handled everything, and owed her any explanation he could give her. “Macha doesn’t want us to leave her realm and, as you’ve seen, there are groups hunting us. She doesn’t know that I can teleport. I’m the only one of our group who can, so I’ve been bringing each Alterant home to the human world for a visit during the holidays, then taking them back two days later.”
“Where is this realm?”
Tristan scratched a day’s growth of beard. “That’s going to be tough to explain. It’s Treoir Island, home of Treoir Castle, and all of that is hidden in a mist above the Irish Sea. But, no, you couldn’t see it if you flew over the Irish Sea.”
“When will you be back?”
“I don’t know. We’re waiting on a decision from a Tribunal made up of three gods and goddesses.” Yep, this sounded bizarre even to his ears. “There’s no guarantee that they’ll approve our petition to be a recognized race. If not ...” He shrugged.
She cocked her jaw, thinking hard on something then she snapped her fingers. “We should tell Kossman. If he knew about you, surely he’d want to protect Alterants.”
Kossman again.
“No.” Tristan set her to the side of him. “The less humans know about us, the better for both sides.” He paused and debated on asking something. No way to ask and not sound like an ass, but old suspicions died hard when you’d been through all that he had. He had to know. “You said last night that you needed to hand a supernatural being to Kossman to gain the position Sethos is also after. Is that why you want me to stay?”
She stood and grabbed the sheet, wrapping it around her. “How can you ask me that?”
He cringed internally beneath her stern gaze, but the past still had a hold on him and probably always would. Allowing feelings to influence where to place his trust had come with a painful price in the past. He’d been sold to a witch because he’d been born a freak. That’s where he’d met Petrina. The day that witch attacked Petrina, he’d shifted into a beast and killed the bitch.
Over the years, he’d tossed out all kinds of stories about being in multiple foster homes, but the truth was, his mother hadn’t wanted a monster. Until he’d met Mac, every woman Tristan had been around had tried to screw him over, except for Petrina.
Dammit, he was a blunt asshole, but that personality flaw had saved him a lot of trouble in the past. Still, he should’ve thought twice before being so crass with Mac.
He shoved up off the bed and stood in front of her. “I just want that out on the table so I know.”
“Here’s your answer. If you have to ask, then what I say wouldn’t matter. I don’t know what other women have done to you in the past, but I’m not judging you by the men in my past so don’t judge me by those women. I don’t need you as a trophy.”
Good goddess, he’d managed to piss her off royally. “Mac.”
She backed up a step, tugging the sheet with her. “You know what? You’re leaving anyhow, so go back to your realm. If I see you again, I do. If I don’t, well, I’ll know I was too much effort.”
“Mac.”
She lifted a hand to silence him and stepped back. “I spent five years learning how to accept being left behind. I know you didn’t do it on purpose, but it was still ... painful. I’m glad you’re safe and I’m glad I know what you are, but you’re leaving again and you still don’t trust me. Let’s not make this any more difficult than it is.”
I really am some kind of dickhead to screw this up. He started to apologize and Bernie’s voice reached him telepathically.
Tristan, are you there?
Tristan lifted a hand to ask Mac to give him a moment, then he replied to Bernie. I’m here. What’s up?
I only have sixty seconds so don’t interrupt. Sethos has Petrina and me. He says he’ll trade us for a woman named Elaine Mackenzie and if you don’t bring her within an hour, he’ll give Petrina to the Medb, then take me to some Kossman dude and tell him that Elaine is trying to sell us to a higher bidder. This Sethos is whacked.
Where are you?
Sethos has us bound and has Petrina levitated over a pit full of blades. One can cut her body in half. Bernie finally spouted out directions then warned Tristan, You know this is a trap, but I can’t save your sister without your help.
Tell Sethos I’m coming and if either of you is harmed, I’ll make him beg for death.
I’ll tell him, but he’s–
Bernie’s voice disappeared.
Tristan tried to reach out to Bernie, then Petrina, and hit a barrier. Sethos had them warded against telepathy.
Mac had quieted and watched him with trepidation. “What’s going on?”
“Bernie’s my friend who got away last night when your two men grabbed me. He just called me telepathically to tell me Sethos has found him and my sister, Petrina. Sethos is offering a trade. You for them. I’m taking you to Kossman, and he better keep you safe while I’m gone.”
“No. I’m going with you.”
“To be sacrificed?”
“Can you call them again, telepathically?”
Tristan shook his head. “Sethos must have a ward blocking our communication.”
She rolled her eyes and muttered, “Wards. Telepathy. Unicorns will be next.”
Tristan wanted to chuckle at her, but worry chewed at his gut. “I have to go, Mac. I only have an hour to reach them.”
“Can we teleport?”
“I’m going to borrow Otto’s van. He’s a silent partner who keeps this place for me. I need to conserve my energy. Teleporting isn’t a natural gift, and it drains me every time. I can’t go into this low on power.”
“Then we’d better get showered and dressed. Call your friend Otto. Who is he, or is this a what is he question?”
“He’s a troll.”
She looked appalled. “I thought they were bad.”
“Some are and some aren’t. Just like humans aren’t all good or bad.”
“Oh.” She grabbed two fists of hair and shook her head and muttered, “I’m going to need a program to keep up with the players.”
Tristan lifted the hotel phone and told Otto what was up then announced, “The van will be out front in two minutes.”
She grumbled, “Showering is out. Me and you naked takes way more than two minutes.”
Tristan pulled her to him and kissed her as long as he could, finally breaking away to say, “I’m sorry for being a jackass.” He watched her for any sign that he’d pushed her too far. “Are we good?”
Her eyes glistened at his final two words, then her lips eased into a smile that grew into a grin. “Yes. Lucky for you that you’re a superhero in bed.”
How could a man not be crazy over this woman? “Damn straight.” He kissed her again then took a leap and gave her one more hit of truth. “I don’t want to leave you.”
“That’s the first right thing you’ve said since waking up, which wipes away that whole stupid comment about me handing you over to Kossman.”
It was going to take a bit to change his mindset, but for Mac he was willing to accept that she was exactly what she seemed to be.
A sweet, honest woman.
Ignoring the come-get-me look in her eyes, which should earn him a freaking award, Tristan ordered, “Get dressed. I’m going to have Otto drop you off on the way.”
“You can’t do that.”
“Why?”
“Because I have an idea.” She sashayed off, picking up clothes as she went. “But it’s not for free. You’re going to help me get a Christmas tree home.”
Christmas tree? She was certifiable. “You’re still not going, Mac.”
“You are so sexy when you get all badass,” she called from the bathroom.
This woman will be the death of me.
