Other females. Screw that.
I was pissing myself off with all of this maudlin bitching and moaning, even if it was only internal. Probably been spending a little too much time in my own head.
A rustle had my senses firing. I focused on my surroundings. The heartbeat was the first indication that I wasn't alone, followed by a familiar scent. My body relaxed minutely. I should have known he'd come looking for me.
Increasing my pace, faster than would be humanly possible, another surge of emotion flowed through the jagged pain in my center and I couldn't stop myself from going to full vamp speed and crossing the space between us in seconds, to tackle the figure who had been waiting a mile out for me. Strong arms caught me and I let the bond of my brothers ease through my wounded soul.
As we pulled apart, Braxton's energy kicked me in the face, which was not unusual. He'd always been strong; his dragon was an energy like no other I'd ever experienced. And now he was even stronger. Being council leader came with certain perks.
We all took some of the energy of our people, and in return we provided them with stable leadership and kept the prison towns running smoothly. The supernatural prison communities were in a bit of a shambles right now. Larkspur, the dragon king, had destroyed so many of the leaders in his bid for control. There were a lot of new faces on the councils across the globe, and most of us were learning the hard way.
As happy as I was to see him, I still had to ask: "What are you doing here, Brax?"
I hated the probing nature of his electric blue eyes as they drilled into me. He saw right into your soul. Mine was dark. It was angry. I was likely to destroy anyone who tried to pry there. My brother got a pass for now, but since my control was shot to shit, that was likely to end very soon.
Braxton's expression was hard, giving nothing away. "You need to get your ass home. Jess is upset."
That very short statement told me everything.
Jessa had turned her beautiful sapphire eyes on him and he had caved like a poorly constructed house. It was nice to know some things hadn't changed in my absence.
"I'm on my way home, brother. I don't need an escort. I know the way."
My feet were already moving. The fact that I was distressing my pack was enough to kick me into gear again, and this time I wouldn't screw around. I would make it back to Stratford today. A strong hand landed on my shoulder and I was relieved to see not an ounce of pity in Braxton's face. It would have been on then. I didn't deserve pity, and I sure as hell did not want it.
"I'll keep you company," was all he said.
The rest of our journey was quiet. I had no energy for talk, except to make sure that Jessa and her young were doing okay. Braxton assured me, with that damn proud smile on his face, that they were already giving his mate hell and they hadn't even been born yet. Flutters of something happy and light twinged the dead space in my chest. Followed by an empty, aching pain. There would be no young for me now. My mate was gone, and with that my chance for a child.
Some of my grief was set aside as I focused on the occasional odd pauses in Braxton's explanations. He would start to say something and then stop. I swear I heard him murmur Mischa's name more than once, but then he didn't elaborate, and I didn't want to ask any more. Jessa's twin was not a place I let my mind go very often, for a multitude of reasons, and none of them I was proud of.
Even with Braxton's speed slower than vamp, we still made good time, and by early afternoon were nearing the edge of the securities surrounding Stratford. I could feel the energy humming inside my chest. The connection we had to the Book of Guidance was now a direct link to our town. Our energy reinforced the power that protected our world and protected the humans from us. I wasn't sure I'd ever felt the witch's barrier so strong. It was an impenetrable force intertwined with the energy of the five races, and Louis' sorcerer power as well.
"It's good to be home," I found myself saying as we slowed to walk the last few yards.
Braxton nodded. I could tell he'd been uneasy leaving Jessa alone even for such a short time.
I halted him before we went any further. "What's really up, Brax?"
There was something else going on, more than the bear shifters, who were yet to make a move. Apparently it had just been whispers of a coup on the wind; Jessa's text had been embellished in a bid to get me home. Which didn't surprise me at all.
My brother wasted no more time filling me in. "Kristoff has been seen multiple times in the vicinity of our town and around Vanguard. We're working to change all of the securities and vet all the guards because he still has some loyal followers, especially amongst the magic users."
My teeth slammed together as a low growl ripped from the violent predator who made up the center of my being.
"Why the hell haven't you mentioned this to me before now? You left Jessa here. That asshole could be around just waiting to use your young as leverage."
I wasn't the only one growling now. Braxton's was even more animalistic. "Don't you think I haven't considered that? She's well protected, and you leaving has caused her great emotional distress. We let you go for as long as we could. I respect your need for space, but now you have to come back to us. The rift in our pack and our council must be sealed. It's this type of dissonance which gives Kristoff the power to slip through the cracks. We need to be strong and united against him."
"Shit!" I ran a hand through my hair, before rubbing it over my face. "Sorry. I'm really screwing things up lately."
I should have known better than to question a dragon's ability to protect his mate and young. I was lucky he hadn't attempted to rip my head off. I probably would have in his position.
Braxton gave me a knowing grin. "I'm giving you a pass because you suffered something so unimaginable. There is no way for me to even consider the possibility that there would ever be a world without my true mate in it. I don't know how you're even remotely sane. And yet I'm so grateful to have not lost you."
Somehow the intelligent bastard had read my mind. We weren't connected, so my emotions must be spilling out across my face.
"I would not wish this pain on anyone, but truthfully it's not as I expected either. There's so much I don't understand. Do we know of any supe who lost their true mate and didn't either kill themselves or go slowly insane?"
I needed to know what was going on. What was wrong with me? When Cardia had died I felt as if a part of me died also; there was an instant fissuring which started in my soul and worked its way out until the fracturing was complete. In those first days I did not know if I would survive the pain, but already time was allowing a few moments' reprieve from the hurt, and it was way too soon for that.
Braxton was doing the shrewd staring thing again and I wished he'd just hurry up and give me his thoughts. I hated being psychologically stripped bare. Supes had learned early on to stay out of my head.
My frayed temper snapped again. "What, Brax? Spit it out."
No expression change. "I have my doubts that Cardia was your true mate."
He dropped that on me and then started striding across to the barrier. It fell in an instant, allowing him inside. I was stunned for a second, anger striking hard through every cell, and as a red haze crossed my mind I went into vamped-out mode and flashed across to my brother.
My fangs were long and aching, my vision tunneled as I smashed against him. His expression told me he'd been expecting it. He didn't fight back immediately, but also wasn't surprised. My fist smashed into his jaw and I saw the feral gleam of dragon spring into his eyes.
Hell yes.
It was on now. I was going to have an outlet for my rage – better to get it out of my system before I was back in civilized society. His return hit was hard enough to crack bone. I felt my jaw jarring, teeth grinding together. I didn't have time to think about it though, laying straight back into him with another of my own crushing blows. Braxton had the dragon strength behind him, but I had my pure, blind rage.
His opinion was unwarranted. And unfair. There had been no time for anyone to get to know her. I barely fucking knew her. But that didn't allow him the right to disrespect our bond.
"You only fight me because you know I speak truth," Braxton grit out as he elbowed me sharply across the jaw.
Beyond words, I jumped to my feet and kneed him straight into his side, cracking more than one rib in the process. Arrogant shifter, thinks he knows everything. Gold was bleeding into his eyes now and I knew the dragon was hovering just beneath the surface. Bring it on. I had enough aggression that we could be fighting this out for a month.
My head snapped back as he landed a solid blow; my cheek throbbed and I was pretty sure my jaw was dislocated. Still, that didn't stop me from smashing him in the gut, and swinging around to clip him in the right side, breaking another few ribs.
Braxton was an unmatched fighter; he was not coming at me full force yet. But I had many years of training and knew how to hold my own with any supe. Eventually, though, as my anger faded out, the sharp ring of truth in his statement settled into my mind, taking root in a way that told me I would have to consider his words. Otherwise the thoughts would drive me insane.
Both of us were sprawled on the ground, breathing heavy. My body ached in about twenty different places, and even with advanced healing and blood I'd be feeling this tomorrow.