brave
male, Cyn, sending his people away to protect them and standing on
his own against Diaz. It’s killing him that he couldn’t save you.
Why didn’t you listen to him when he wanted you to go with them two
weeks ago?”
Emotion tightened her chest. “He sent them
away on the excuse of finding a new place to live. I refused to go
because moving across the country meant taking me further from you.
He didn’t dare tell the real reason, knowing Diaz had already
monitored his thoughts. Only my mother knew the truth and she
refused to leave his side.”
“Your mom is still apologizing to me over
calling you those names. She was pretty upset.”
Cindy leaned back in the chair. “I keep
telling her I forgave her. I’ve never seen her cry like that.”
Etienne leaned against on the porch railing,
his long legs stretched out before him. He was tough and yet
tender. She couldn’t have asked for a better mate. For however long
she had. Cindy tried not to think about it.
“The rogue wolves Diaz commanded? Were you
and Matt able to save them?”
A flicker of emotion on his face. “Had to be
destroyed. Their minds were totally gone. Liony used them as his
personal bodyguards to keep an eye on your father and help with
smuggling the drugs.”
Sorrow stabbed her. The wolves had a family
once. Such a destruction of life. “Why couldn’t we have found out
what the Diaz brothers were earlier, Etienne?”
“Cortex demons are tough to detect. They’re
very good at disguising themselves as humans, until they sink into
your mind and then it’s too late.”
Yet Etienne and her father had resisted. They
were both strong-willed and fiercely protective males. The wealthy
Miami attorney and the Cajun had that in common.
He gave a wry grin, picking up her thoughts.
“Yeah, we are more alike than I realized.”
“And your family has money, too.”
Those broad shoulders lifted in a modest
shrug. “Haven’t done too bad since I’ve helped Pa expand the
fishing business. Could use your help. Would you take over managing
the office? You did so well with your father’s law firm.”
Pleasure filled her at the compliment. “I’d
love to. For as long as I can manage. I don’t know how much time I
have left.”
His jaw tightened. “I told you, I don’t
believe in no-win scenarios.”
He pulled her into his arms. Her lover. Now
her mate for life. Fully healed from the tussle with the demons,
Etienne insisted on not wasting time to make her his own. The
mating ceremony had taken place earlier, her parents and brother
Matthew in attendance. Etienne had slipped a gold circle on her
finger and whispered he would always cherish her, protect her, love
her.
For as long as she’d live.
Etienne cradled her close, burying his lips
against her hair. “I believe in you. Damnit Cyn, fight this.”
“I want to.” She rested against him,
absorbing his quiet strength. “But if it’s meant that I don’t have
much time, I want to spend it all with you.”
He held her for a long moment, and she felt
his shoulders shaking. As if all the emotion in this calm,
controlled wolf were pouring out. Cindy raised her head, smiled at
him.
“It’s getting cool. Want some hot tea?”
He nodded. She glanced at the jug of sweet,
iced tea and pointed a finger. The water began to bubble and boil.
Etienne arched a brow.
“The healing ability came with the Orb’s
powers. My powers are pure kinetic energy. All in these, sweetie.”
Cindy waggled her fingers.
He traced a line along her lips, making her
shiver. “I can think of a few interesting things to with your new
powers.”
“I wish… I could use them to give us more
time together.”
His smile faded. A shudder wracked his big
body as he hugged her. “Warm me up, chere . I’m so cold at
the thought of losing you,” he whispered.
The screen door banged open and a discreet
cough pulled them apart. Raphael stood on the porch.
“You know, finding your mate is supposed to
be a
male, Cyn, sending his people away to protect them and standing on
his own against Diaz. It’s killing him that he couldn’t save you.
Why didn’t you listen to him when he wanted you to go with them two
weeks ago?”
Emotion tightened her chest. “He sent them
away on the excuse of finding a new place to live. I refused to go
because moving across the country meant taking me further from you.
He didn’t dare tell the real reason, knowing Diaz had already
monitored his thoughts. Only my mother knew the truth and she
refused to leave his side.”
“Your mom is still apologizing to me over
calling you those names. She was pretty upset.”
Cindy leaned back in the chair. “I keep
telling her I forgave her. I’ve never seen her cry like that.”
Etienne leaned against on the porch railing,
his long legs stretched out before him. He was tough and yet
tender. She couldn’t have asked for a better mate. For however long
she had. Cindy tried not to think about it.
“The rogue wolves Diaz commanded? Were you
and Matt able to save them?”
A flicker of emotion on his face. “Had to be
destroyed. Their minds were totally gone. Liony used them as his
personal bodyguards to keep an eye on your father and help with
smuggling the drugs.”
Sorrow stabbed her. The wolves had a family
once. Such a destruction of life. “Why couldn’t we have found out
what the Diaz brothers were earlier, Etienne?”
“Cortex demons are tough to detect. They’re
very good at disguising themselves as humans, until they sink into
your mind and then it’s too late.”
Yet Etienne and her father had resisted. They
were both strong-willed and fiercely protective males. The wealthy
Miami attorney and the Cajun had that in common.
He gave a wry grin, picking up her thoughts.
“Yeah, we are more alike than I realized.”
“And your family has money, too.”
Those broad shoulders lifted in a modest
shrug. “Haven’t done too bad since I’ve helped Pa expand the
fishing business. Could use your help. Would you take over managing
the office? You did so well with your father’s law firm.”
Pleasure filled her at the compliment. “I’d
love to. For as long as I can manage. I don’t know how much time I
have left.”
His jaw tightened. “I told you, I don’t
believe in no-win scenarios.”
He pulled her into his arms. Her lover. Now
her mate for life. Fully healed from the tussle with the demons,
Etienne insisted on not wasting time to make her his own. The
mating ceremony had taken place earlier, her parents and brother
Matthew in attendance. Etienne had slipped a gold circle on her
finger and whispered he would always cherish her, protect her, love
her.
For as long as she’d live.
Etienne cradled her close, burying his lips
against her hair. “I believe in you. Damnit Cyn, fight this.”
“I want to.” She rested against him,
absorbing his quiet strength. “But if it’s meant that I don’t have
much time, I want to spend it all with you.”
He held her for a long moment, and she felt
his shoulders shaking. As if all the emotion in this calm,
controlled wolf were pouring out. Cindy raised her head, smiled at
him.
“It’s getting cool. Want some hot tea?”
He nodded. She glanced at the jug of sweet,
iced tea and pointed a finger. The water began to bubble and boil.
Etienne arched a brow.
“The healing ability came with the Orb’s
powers. My powers are pure kinetic energy. All in these, sweetie.”
Cindy waggled her fingers.
He traced a line along her lips, making her
shiver. “I can think of a few interesting things to with your new
powers.”
“I wish… I could use them to give us more
time together.”
His smile faded. A shudder wracked his big
body as he hugged her. “Warm me up, chere . I’m so cold at
the thought of losing you,” he whispered.
The screen door banged open and a discreet
cough pulled them apart. Raphael stood on the porch.
“You know, finding your mate is supposed to
be a
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