Naya’s hand reflexively went to her own neck. Someone had shot her with a dart and it had wiped her short-term memory. She’d need to bring that to the elders’ attention. Magic like that needed to be regulated. Paul had obviously crafted the darts from the malicious magic Naya had inadvertently been collecting for him over the years.
“He put you inside of the chest,” Ronan said. “Didn’t he?”
“Yes,” Chelle replied. “The transformation was…” A sob lodged itself in her throat. “I can’t talk about it, Ronan.”
Rage flared through the tether that bound him to Naya and she shared in his anger. What Paul had done was irresponsible, cruel, and sadistic. If the elders’ council didn’t bring swift retribution to their chieftain, Naya would.
“He didn’t just put us in that chest. He took humans.” Chelle sniffed back a fresh round of tears and Naya’s heart broke for the female. “He turned them into monsters and set them loose. My gods, Ronan. I don’t even know how many of them are out in the world. And then”—she let out a derisive snort—“the bastard climbed right in and shut the lid. When he emerged from the chest, he’d become … I don’t even know what he was. That was yesterday and I haven’t seen him since.”
“The son of a bitch has been taken care of,” Ronan bit out. “He’s not going to hurt anyone ever again.”
“She’s one of them.” Chelle’s dark tone slithered over Naya’s skin. “Like the male who took us. She has the same scent. What are you doing with one of them, Ronan?”
“She’s not like him.” Ronan reached up and cupped Naya’s cheek. “She’s my mate, Chelle.”
“Your mate?” Chelle didn’t sound too happy and a wave of anxiety crested over Naya. “She’s no vampire, Brother.”
“No,” he said with a gentle laugh. “She’s a witch. A beautiful, powerful, fierce, and furious witch. And I love her.”
Any worry that she might have felt evaporated under Ronan’s tender words. “And what do you say, witch?” Chelle was obviously protective of her brother, and Naya admired that. “How do you feel about being tethered to a vampire?”
Her gaze locked with his and Naya replied, “He’s my mate. Our souls are bound. I love him and I dare anyone to try to come between us.”
They’d made solemn vows to each other and, in the presence of his sister, declared their love. Naya knew of no other ceremony that would bind them together more completely. They were one. Now and for always.
“Luz?” Magic was still too heavy in the air for her to come down, and though Ronan’s sister seemed to have calmed, Naya wasn’t convinced of Chelle’s stability yet. They needed to get out of here, though. And had more cargo than her cousin’s 4Runner could haul.
“Glad to know you’re not dead!” Luz’s words were laced with sarcasm as she shouted through the trapdoor opening. “You’re loca, Naya! Letting yourself be some kind of vampire snack pack down there!”
Ronan chuckled and nuzzled Naya’s throat. “You’re not funny. Listen, can you call Manny and see if he can meet us out here with a U-Haul? We need something big enough to transport a large coffin.”
“Dioses mio!” Luz’s exasperated shout brought a smile to Naya’s face. “Vampires, coffins. You’re fucking nuts, Naya! What’s next?”
“Next?” Ronan said softly. “We break a blood troth.”
One more obstacle. One more battle. And this was one fight that Naya was more than ready for. Whoever this female Siobhan was, she was going to know without a doubt to whom Ronan belonged. And Naya was more than ready to use any of the gifts at her disposal to drive her point home.
“Los Angeles?” She leaned in and planted a light kiss on his cheek. “I’ve never been. Should be an adventure.”
“Oh, love.” Ronan nipped at her ear and Naya’s body was bathed in delicious chills. “We’ll turn the town on its ear.”
“Manny will be here in a half hour!” Luz shouted through the floor. “No U-Haul places open during vampire-appropriate hours, but he’s bringing a truck that’ll work for now. And can you two please stop? You’re grossing me out with your flirty talk!”
“Whoever that female is, I like her,” Chelle said weakly from her corner of the cell. “And I have to agree. You two are utterly disgusting.”
“They’re just jealous,” Naya said to Ronan.
“Absolutely green,” he agreed.