Lacey's Luhpynes(42)

Chapter Sixteen




Sitting on the side of the bed, Lacey kicked her feet and waited on her  guys to get there. She heard Zhubin and grinned. When the door opened  she flew into his arms and pressed her face to the side of his neck,  only to feel Ansell at her back and holding her just as tightly. "God  I've missed you two." It had only been a handful of hours, but it had  felt like a lifetime. "Take me home, please?"

"Right now," he agreed easily. She knew that Briar had already signed  off, thus why she'd been waiting patiently, sort of, for her mates to  come for her. Another squeeze from them both and then they were hustling  her out of the medical area to the nearest elevator.

Lacey waved back at the nurses. "Please let Briar know I will return her  clothes after they've been cleaned." Her clothes had made it to the  incinerator. The infection that had all but leached out of her pores,  covered her clothing in things that she wouldn't trust to a washing  machine. Therefore, they got burnt.

"Enough chatter, more walking." Ansell growled from behind her. So  damned impatient, so damned right. The ride down seemed really long. Of  course that may have had something to do with the hot and sensual looks  both men were shooting her way.

Lacey couldn't help laughing. She loved that man and loved the way that  he was forever hurrying her along. It was actually kind of fun to be  honest. To see just how far she could push Ansell before he growled and  tossed her over his shoulder. That's when things go really, really good.

As the elevator stopped her men put themselves in the doorway as it  opened. A solid wall of muscle. Mm, delicious. And they didn't move an  inch for a long, long time. Then they each took one of her hands and led  her out into the garage, keeping her close between them on the walk to  their vehicle.

If there was ever a feeling of complete and utter protection it was  right now. Having these men holding her so close between the two of  them, their eyes taking in everything. It was truly amazing, knowing  that they loved her enough to put their lives on the line for her. Then  again, it was nothing she wouldn't do.

They hustled her into the truck, Zhubin behind the wheel and Ansell  holding her close. The trip home was quick, slower than their original  race to the office, but still a bit on the speedy side. Her men just  didn't know the meaning of slowing things down. No, actually, not true.  They did know it at the most inopportune times, like when they were  making love to her and she wanted hard and fast, they always got it into  their heads to go slow and easy.                       
       
           



       

When they finally made it home Lacey waited until the garage door was  closed and in the silence of the truck admitted, "Is it bad that I want  to go to the other side of the Veil until we have this monster caught?  Especially now that we have a child to worry about?" She could take care  of herself, but anything that might harm her child scared her spitless.

"We could arrange it," Zhubin said. Neither man moved to get out of the  truck. "If you want to go over I know Mom wouldn't mind having you  there. She's been wanting a chance to spoil you since we told her about  the pregnancy. And all her mates are around these days too, time off  from their various positions, so you could get to know them as well."

"But you two would remain here wouldn't you?" She didn't like that idea,  at all. "No," she whispered finally. "After we have dealt with this  monster we will go there but not before. I refuse to be without my  mates, I refuse to have a moment of this pregnancy without you with me."  Both of them, dammit.

"Then we will do it the way we'd originally planned. One of us will work  the days while the other remains with you and we'll switch off in the  afternoons. We'll both be with you at night but the hours will be screwy  for a while. At least until this guy is caught, you are not going to be  alone at any time," Ansell told her.

"Thank you for that. I don't want to be without you and while I would  love to be able to go back to work I have a feeling that simply will not  happen. I'm sure between Briar and you guys I'm going to be sans  working for a time, aren't I?" Her tone told them that she honestly  didn't mind that so much, at all.

"No, you are off on medical leave for at least a month. Briar said that  she might adjust that to longer when she does your check-ups but for the  time being, that's the time set," Zhubin said, turning in his seat so  he was facing her more. "The captain said for you to take whatever time  you require off, whether it's the month or the entire pregnancy. He  wants you to feel comfortable and not have any issues."

"That's awfully nice of him. What happened? He typically wouldn't be so  understanding so what exactly happened that he's so willing to simply  let me take so much time off?" It had to have been her mates, she just  wondered what it was that they said to make the captain give her the  time she wanted and needed.

"It was Briar actually," he said with a chuckle. "She went in to tell  him that she was putting you on medical leave for the month and he about  had a heart attack, he was so pissed. She smacked him over the head  with the folder she had in hand and told him to quit being an ass and  shut up and listen. That if he didn't like it to fire her. Which we all  know he can't do. Byrne and Danel would pretty much tear him limb from  limb if he did and every other of the races would revolt. Besides, under  the laws in place now, doctors have the right to put anyone on leave  for any time they determine for any reason they determine. Which she so  sweetly reminded him of right after mentioning he had an appointment for  his annual coming up."

"Oh, good point. I forgot that. Oh crap, her mate is a Luhpyne." Okay,  so Lacey was kinda all over the map right now but she had a right to be.  "Well good for her for going toe to toe with him. I'm honestly  surprised that she did it but I'm glad she did."

"One is, Danel is an Ahnjel and when they are pissed off … " Ansell let  out a low whistle through his teeth. "I saw a group of them in battle  once, they are something to see, that's for sure. Luhpyne tend to be  brute strength and the fact it takes a shit load to take us out. Ahnjel  are very elegant and cold when they fight. And the wings, never knew  they were for anything than to fly but apparently they can be used to  kill as well. For such a pretty-looking race they are serious killers."

Zhubin chuckled and nodded. "She even did it with us in the room. I  don't even know if she remembered we were there to be honest."

"Seriously?" Lacey asked in utter shock. Briar was very, very nervous  around anyone from the other side of the Veil and it was completely  understandable as well. "Wow. The psychiatrist she is seeing must be  helping her more than I realized. Good for her. I just hope and pray one  day she will be able to find love with her mates like I have with the  two of you."

"Her time will come," he said quietly. "Besides, she's not too bad with  us. We understand why she's nervous around us and respect that. I just  hope she one day realizes that we are not all the same as that piece of  shit that hurt her. Just as all humans are not like Jack the Ripper or  Ted Bundy. We are all individuals and, most of us, would give our lives  to protect those who need it."                       
       
           



       

"I know, but it will take her time. From what I understand she was  attacked because of who her mates would be. That's hard to get over for  anyone." She shrugged and smiled. "That's all good though, they will  eventually sway her to their way of thinking, I know it." After all,  Zhubin and Ansell had swayed her.

"Oh, they will, we are all a determined lot when it comes to our mate,"  Ansell laughed. Giving her a hug he kissed her cheek. "Come on, enough  of this. Let's get you inside and tucked into bed. Then we have some  news to share and, hopefully, you can help us figure out what we are  missing."

"Sounds good. The bed part and the news as well. Whatever it is that we  can do to get this over and done with, the happier that I am. All that I  need and want is to be curled up between you two. I love you both and I  need to have you both holding me please."

"Hot bath and then bed. 'Cause honestly, while Briar may have been  keeping you mostly clean," Zhubin stopped there. When she looked at them  both they were making faces, their noses wrinkled up and eyes shut  tight in hard squints.