Chapter 3

 

“Brother, are you alright?”

Nicky twitched at the sound of James’ voice and shook his head to clear it.

“Aye, I’m fine.”

James watched as Nicky heaved another shovelful of dirt into the wheelbarrow.

“How’s dad?”

“Good. He hasn’t woken up yet but his pulse is steady and he’s breathing fine. Mama is about to clean the blood off of him.”

James hesitated. “Mama believes Leta healed him.”

“She did.” Nicky replied.

“Nicky, Leta is too young. It isn’t – “

“She did, baby brother. While you were with dad, we questioned her about what happened. Kaden cut his arm with Evan’s dagger and told Leta to heal him. She did. It took only a few seconds for her to heal him.”

James grunted with surprise. “If that’s the case, then she’s more powerful than I.”

Nick nodded solemnly. “Aye, she is.”

***

 

Tristan opened his eyes. Avery was bent over him, wiping his upper body dry with a soft towel, and he stared silently at her for a moment. He took a deep breath and reached up to touch her hair, a little dismayed at how weak he felt. At the touch of his hand, she twitched and stared up at him.

“Hello, girl.” He rasped.

She began to cry. “Hello, my lord.”

“Don’t cry, my love.”

She cried harder and he watched with bewilderment as she tossed the towel to the floor and pressed her head against his chest. He stroked her hair, threading the long red strands through his fingers as she sobbed brokenly.

“Don’t cry.” He repeated. “I’m fine. You saved me.”

She sat up and shook her head before wiping the tears from her face. “I did not, Tristan.”

“What do you mean?” He gave her a puzzled look.

“I did not save you. Leta did.” She whispered.

“That’s not possible.”

She gave a jagged laugh. “You’re sitting here, are you not? You’re breathing, talking – that is because of Leta.”

“She’s a healer.” He said with a soft wonderment.

“Aye.” She replied solemnly. “Sophia just left. She said that Kaden cut himself with a knife and asked Leta to heal him. She healed him in only a second or two. They believe that her fear and adrenaline brought out her healing ability.”

“The gods be damned.” He breathed.

Avery slipped off the bed and poured a glass of water from the ceramic jug by the bed. She handed it to him and he sipped at it before resting back against the pillows.

“How do you feel?” She asked as she climbed up beside him.

“Tired and weak.” He admitted.

She curled her body against his, stroking his chest softly, as warmth tingled through him. He sighed contently and kissed the top of her head.

“You almost died, Tristan.” She whispered.

“I believe I did die.” He admitted quietly.

She sat up and stared wide-eyed at him. “What do you mean?”

“The arrow was meant for my heart and it did not miss its mark.” He said solemnly. “I could hear my heart beating in my ears and then it just…stopped. I don’t remember anything after that.”

She shook her head. Her face was completely devoid of colour and it made her red hair even brighter against her skin. “No, that is impossible. We – we cannot bring back the dead, only heal the living.”

She was trembling violently now and he gave her an alarmed look before tugging at her. “Lie against me, girl.”

She did as he asked and he rubbed her back soothingly as she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist. They lay in comfortable silence for awhile. Avery’s gift was doing its work, he already felt stronger and more alert, and he squeezed her hip.

“How do you feel, Avery?”

“Fine. Leta did all the hard work, remember?” There was an edge of hysteria to her voice and Tristan frowned before tilting her head up so he could look at her face.

“Avery, are you alright?”

“Aye. Why would I not be? My husband died and my child brought him back to life. Just another normal day, is it not?”

“I could be mistaken. Perhaps I was only close to dying.”

“Perhaps. Or perhaps Leta is more powerful than we could ever have imagined.”

He could hear the panic in her voice, and he cupped her face and kissed her firmly on the mouth. She kissed him hard in return, her tongue snaking into his mouth to rub against his as she ran her fingers through the hair on his chest. Despite his worry for her, he could feel his body responding to her touch, and he groaned softly and gathered her closer, one hand reaching down to cup her breast through her shirt.

She pulled back and gave him a look of regret. “I’m sorry, my lord. I should not have done that. You need rest.”

He rubbed his thumb along her lower lip and she moaned a little. “Please, my lord. This is not a good idea.”

“Say my name.” He murmured as he cupped the back of her neck and pulled her towards him.

“Tristan.” She whispered.

His gaze dropped to her mouth and he smiled when her lips parted. “You know what I need most, girl. Give it to me.”

“Aye, Tristan.” She replied softly.

She slid off the bed and he watched as she pulled her clothes off. When she was naked she moved back towards the bed and he shook his head.

“No, let me look at you for a moment.”

He stared at her, his eyes lingering first on her hardened nipples and then the red curls between her legs. When he lifted his gaze to her face, her cheeks were flushed and he was secretly delighted that he could still make her blush.

“You’re so beautiful, Avery.”

She smiled. “Thank you, my love.”

She pulled back the covers, he was naked under them, and stared admiringly at his hard cock before she straddled him. He moaned when her core brushed against his erection and she smiled again.

She bent her head and licked his throat before trailing wet kisses down to his chest. She sucked on one flat nipple, making him groan loudly, before he cupped her breasts. He rubbed his thumbs over her nipples and then pulled lightly on them.

She gasped and arched her back, her hands tightening on his shoulders, as she rubbed herself against him.

“Avery, please.” He muttered hoarsely.

She smiled at him and grasped his cock. She stroked it firmly until his hips were rising helplessly and then rose up on her knees and guided him to her warmth. She rubbed the head of his cock against her clit and they both moaned.

“Does it feel good, girl?”

“So good.” She moaned again.

He put his hands on her hips and pulled her forward until he was at her entrance. He pushed and slipped into her. Her pussy gripped him firmly and he groaned loudly as he sheathed himself entirely inside of her.

“Tristan.” She moaned when he didn’t move.

“Aye, my love?”

She didn’t reply. Instead, she braced her hands on her shoulders and rode him slowly. She rotated her hips, her pussy tightening eagerly around him, and he gave another loud groan.

“Gods, girl.” He muttered.

She grinned and moved faster, squeezing and releasing him with rhythmic movements as she moved up and down. He grasped her hips and helped her to move, pumping his hips against hers as she reached down and caressed her clit with the tips of her fingers.

She was panting now, her face flushed and her eyes closed with pleasure, and he pulled her closer so that he could take one hard nipple into his mouth. At the feel of his warm tongue and lips, she shuddered madly and arched her back. She climaxed around him and he shouted with pleasure, his pelvis rising up as warmth surged through him and he joined her in climaxing.

He collapsed against the bed, panting loudly and she smiled down at him. “Do you feel better, my lord?”

“Aye, much better.” He winked at her and she laughed before sliding off of him and pulling the sheet and quilt around them both.

“I love you, Tristan.” She murmured as she wrapped her warm body around his.

“I love you too, girl.”

***

 

Meridan was on him the moment the carriage returned to their campsite. Max flinched and held Violet a little closer when Meridan nearly leaped from the carriage. His eyes glowing and hair sprouting on his face and hands, he grabbed the man by his shirt and shook him roughly.

“You fool! What in the gods name were you thinking?”

The man gave him a look of contempt. “You would be wise to release me, Meridan. Unless you want an arrow in your chest as well?”

“You’re a fool, Ryker!” Meridan shouted. “You know we need Nicholas!”

Ryker’s hand shot up and he drove it into the bridge of Meridan’s nose. It broke with a sickening crack and Meridan howled with pain as blood gushed down his face.

Ryker stepped back, straightening his shirt and dusting off his pants, as Pavina crouched beside Meridan and patted his back helplessly before staring with fear and loathing at Ryker.

“The Lycan’s adopted father would have convinced him not to go. You know that, Meridan. I believe the Lycan will be more inclined to help us find his birth father now that his adopted one is dead.”

“Bullshit.” Max said quietly. Ryker turned his gaze to her, his eyes darkening with anger and something else she refused to identify.

“You shot that arrow at him because you were angry that Meridan would not allow you to come with us.”

Ryker stalked past the moaning Meridan and stood in front of Max. He reached out and stroked her short hair gently before smiling at Violet. The toddler shrunk back, hiding her face in her mother’s throat as Ryker leaned closer.

“Clever girl.” He whispered as his thumb stroked her temple lightly.

He straightened and looked at the carriage. “Where is the Lycan? Did he need time to bury the man he believed to be his father?”

“He’s not dead.” Pavina snapped at him. “You missed.”

Ryker blinked in surprise. “I never miss. My arrow found its mark.”

Max gave him a cold smile. “Not this time, Ryker.”

“That’s impossible.” Ryker stared at her in disbelief. He stepped back and glanced at Meridan and Pavina before looking around the campsite. He eyed the large pack of Lycans, some in human form and some in wolf form, staring back at him before snorting angrily and storming to his tent. He disappeared inside of it and Max released her breath in a quiet rush.

Violet stared at her for a moment before whispering, “Bad man, mama.”

“Shh, Violet. It’s alright.” Max kissed Violet’s soft cheek as a teenage girl, her long blonde hair braided and her pale skin flushed with the cold, approached them. She pulled Violet from the carrier on her mother’s back and hugged the toddler closely.

“I’ll take Violet to my tent and give her something to eat.” The young girl said softly as Violet threw her arms around her neck.

“Thank you, Nina.” Max smiled gratefully at her. “I’ll join you in a moment.”

As Nina disappeared into the tent with Violet, Max knelt next to Meridan. “Sit up, Meridan.”

Pavina helped him sit up and Max wiped the blood from his face with the edge of her shirt. “How does it feel?”

Meridan turned his head and spit blood on to the ground. “How do you think it feels? It hurts.”

“Will it heal on its own?”

He shrugged. “I don’t know. I’m an old Lycan. My healing powers are not what they used to be.”

He touched his nose gingerly. It was canted to the left and Max examined it carefully before giving him a sympathetic look. “This is going to hurt as well. Hold still.”

He nodded and Pavina took his hand and held it tightly as Max reached out and gripped his nose with her fingers.

“On the count of three, alright?” She said.

He nodded.

“Good. One – “

She twisted her fingers sharply to the right and Meridan made a short howl of pain as his nose straightened.

“Gods be damned, Max!” He snarled at her as he cupped his aching nose.

“Sorry, my friend.” She squeezed his shoulder before standing and walking to Nina’s tent.

* * *

 

“Hello, Nicky.”

Nicholas looked up as Tristan sat down next to him. He stared at the frozen lake in front of them as Nicky gave him a worried look.

“You should be resting, dad.”

Tristan shook his head. “I’m good. In fact, thanks to Leta and your mother, I feel about ten years younger.” He stretched, the bones in his back cracking, and smiled at Nicky.

“How are you feeling?”

Nicky shrugged. “Fine. Did mama tell you who they were?”

“Aye, she did.”

Nicky stared moodily at the lake for a few minutes. “You are my father. Nothing they said today will ever change that.”

Tristan placed his hand on the back of Nicky’s neck and squeezed firmly. “Aye, and you are my son. I love you, Nicky, as does your mama.”

“I know. I love you too.” Nicky ran his hand through his short blonde hair.

“Will you go with them?”

“No. I have no wish to meet the man who abandoned me as a pup.”

“Your mama said that he did not know about you until three moons ago.” Tristan pointed out gently.

Nicholas stared at him. “Do you want me to go? Is that what you’re saying?”

Tristan shook his head. “You are an adult, Nicky. It is not up to me to tell you what you should do.” He hesitated and then squeezed Nicky’s neck again. “But I believe there has always been a part of you that wondered about your real father.”

Nicholas gave him an angry look. “I have been perfectly happy with you and mama. You are my family, and I am grateful for everything you have done for me. I know that you did not have to take me as a baby, and if you think that I don’t thank the gods every day that you – “

“Stop, Nicky.” Tristan said quietly.

Nicky, breathing heavily, stared at the lake again as his father spoke. “I do not mean to say that you are unhappy with us. I know you are not. But it is not a betrayal to us to be curious about your birth father. It is natural and to be expected.”

“I can’t go.” Nicky said stubbornly. “You were attacked in our home. I need to stay and protect you, protect our family.”

“What do you think the odds are that the arrow came from the people who are working for your father?” Tristan asked.

“High.” Nicky picked up a rock and threw it angrily. It bounced across the frozen lake and he turned to Tristan, his eyes glowing with a fierce yellow light. “I will kill the man who tried to take you from us.”

When Tristan didn’t reply, the light faded from Nicky’s eyes and he stared at the ground. “Sorry, dad.”

“Nicky – “

“It is another reason I should not go with them. If my birth father’s men would try and kill you, the man who raised me when he did not have to, they cannot be trusted.”

“We do not know for sure it was them.” Tristan pointed out. “You’re right not to trust them though. You will have to be careful and keep your guard up always.”

Nicky frowned at him. “You act as though I will go with them. I already told you I would not.”

Tristan sighed. “Will you take my advice, Nicky? I know you are no longer a child but I would give you counsel if you would take it.”

“Of course.”

“If what these Lycans are saying is true, if the leeches have bitten your father with the purpose of creating some kind of hybrid, then he will most likely die as the other Lycans before him have. If you do not go, if you do not try and meet him before he dies, I believe you will regret it. My father has been dead many years but not a day goes by that I do not miss him. I was close to my father, as close as you and I are, and I thank the gods that I had as many years with him that I did.”

He squeezed Nicky’s neck until the Lycan turned toward him. “You are my son and I am your father. Nothing will change that – not even meeting your birth father. But I believe it would serve you well to meet the Lycan who gave you life.”

He took a deep breath and smiled at his son. “Maya says they are returning tomorrow. It does not give you much time to make your decision but know that whatever you decide, I will stand behind you. Alright?”

“Aye.” Nicky said softly.

Tristan stood. “Come, it will be dark soon and you have been out here long enough. Your mama is worried about you. Come back with me and ease her worry.”

He held out his hand and Nicholas took it, allowing Tristan to haul him to his feet. He hesitated and then embraced Tristan. Tristan returned his embrace and kissed him roughly on the forehead.

“I love you, dad.”

“I love you too, Nicky.”