Legion: Skin Walkers Book 20

By

Susan Bliler

Copyright © 2023 by Susan Bliler

Alpha She, Ltd

www.susanbliler.com

Contents

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Also Available by Susan Bliler

Dedication

For Twenty-One Pilots

Thanks for keeping the dark from “taking prisoners tonight!”

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to Him,

and He will make your paths straight."

— Proverbs 3:5-6

Ahwooooooooo!

Chapter 1

Legion Knight paced the towering stone wall at StoneCrow Estates.  On guard duty, his steel gray eyes didn’t miss a thing.  An owl dove from a branch in the canopy of trees surrounding the Estate and Legion’s eyes narrowed as he tracked the owl, not even blinking when it snatched up a field mouse and disappeared with its prey into the night. 

He wished he could do that, just disappear.  When he’d first come to StoneCrow, he’d been elated to finally live among other Skin Walkers.  It’d been a relief to no longer have to hide who and what he was.  Lately though, he’d grown restless, and didn’t that beat all?  Finally, after finding what he’d been searching for his whole life, it still didn’t seem to be enough, and it was disconcerting.  What if he was one of those obnoxious people who was never satisfied?  The thought ate at his gut and gave him anxiety.  All his life he’d just wanted to be happy and when he’d found StoneCrow Estates, he thought he’d found the existence he was searching for, but emptiness still plagued him.  Even surrounded by his kind he was lonely.  Hell, he was probably lonelier now than he’d been before.  Seeing his brethren paired up with their Angels had him filled with a hope that was suffocating.  The waiting and expecting had him constantly agitated.  Patience wasn’t one of his virtues.  Worse, the one female who’d caught his attention had been pining for someone else since the day he’d stepped onto the Estate.  Life was frustrating.   

Long blond hair brushed his face as the wind picked up.  Breathing deep, a grin tweaked his lips.  It was early spring, and life was finally beginning to thaw in the north.  A giddy anticipation skittered through him.  Montana winters were beautifully brutal, spring was the epitome of earthly rebirth, and Montana summers…  They couldn’t be described, only experienced.   

Before joining his brethren in Montana, Legion had lived in Chicago.  His life there had been mundane. City life hadn’t suited him, but he’d stayed.  Teaching flight lessons to would-be helicopter pilots, Legion got almost as much enjoyment from flying the bulky machines as he did from flying in animal form.  Because he was a Skin Walker, he took more risks than he probably should, but it was hard not to.  He enjoyed the adrenaline rush provided by too many close calls.  Now, as a pilot and Sentry at the Estate, the amount of adrenaline inducing incidents had more than quadrupled.  Still, Legion was left yearning. 

A mental nudge indicated one of his kind was attempting to contact him through the mist—their telepathic means of communication.  Sighing, Legion permitted the intrusion.

“Legion, come to my office after your shift.”

With a snort, Legion shook his head at Dominant Skin Walker, Monroe StoneCrow’s directive.  The man was straight and to the point, and while other Walkers found his demeanor offensive, Legion appreciated Monroe’s directness.

“Come to my office,” he muttered quietly.  His brow furrowed as he contemplated Monroe’s intent.  It couldn’t be just another flight mission because his orders always came from his commander, Remy McCabe.

Curious, Legion pulled his cell out of the side pocket of his black BDU’s and checked the time.  His guard shift was over in five minutes.  He smirked again.  Monroe StoneCrow had impeccable timing.

Sighing, Legion gave the area he’d been guarding one last go-over before he jumped off the twelve-foot-high wall and landed soundlessly on the leaf-covered ground.  He picked up on Haka approaching before the Sentry was even visible.

“Anything?” Haka asked through the mist.

“Nothing tonight, brother,” Legion answered aloud as Haka approached.

“Good,” Haka grunted giving Legion a fist-bump as his head swiveled, his eyes scanning the area.  Giving his attention back to Legion, Haka’s lips thinned into a grim line.  “Rumor is Monroe’s got a high-profile mission.”

Intrigued, Legion went fishing for info.  “Oh?  What kind of mission.”

Haka shrugged, “Don’t know.  Just know it’s a matter of great importance to the Dominant.  He’s been calling Walkers into his office all day.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.  Seems he’s trying to find the perfect candidate.”

Curiosity gnawing at him, Legion asked, “You been called in?”

“Nah,” Haka shook his head, frowning hard.  “Not yet anyway.”

“That’s fucked up!” Legion growled.  “You’re as good a Sentry as any here on the Estate.”

Grinning, Haka pulled the AR from where it was slung across his back.  He made a show of pulling back the charging handle and eyeing the chamber to ensure the weapon was safe as he answered a little too casually.  “No worries, brudda.”

Legion grinned at the ethnic term of affection that Haka preferred.

“Seems he’s got a separate mission for me.”

Brows winging up, Legion implored, “What mission?

Slowly shaking his head, Haka kept his eyes on his rifle as he released the charging handle, sending a loud click through the clearing.  “Can’t say.”

Annoyed, Legion frowned.  “Can’t or won’t?”

Haka pointed his rifle at the ground and adjusted the strap so the weapon was resting near his side.  “I trust you, Legion,” he spoke truthfully.  “I’m not withholding intel; I just don’t have any yet.  But word is that,” he stopped talking and glanced around before leaning closer and whispering.  “Monroe’s found what he’s been looking for.”

The statement was startling because Legion hadn’t heard a thing about Monroe searching for anything.  He’d been at StoneCrow a long time and while sensitive or confidential information was kept, the Walkers often talked and shared information with each other about happenings at the Estate.  Honestly, Legion was a little irked and insulted that he hadn’t heard about this before.

“What he’s been looking for?” Legion asked.  “Is it a thing or a person?”

“Don’t know,” Haka admitted.  “But he’s calling in all his Indigenous Walkers for the mission.”

That pissed Legion off.  He wasn’t a proponent of special treatment, and yeah, Indigenous Skin Walkers were the rarest and supposedly the most powerful, but Legion wasn’t a slouch.  None of them were.  In fact, Legion and York were the only two Walkers who could shift to water creatures.  Legion knew it was because they were descended from Selkies.  An honor which—in his estimation—deserved as much respect as Indigenous Walkers.

“Hey, brudda.”

Haka’s words drew Legion’s attention.

“Don’t get pissed,” Haka directed.  “Monroe is taking a team to see the BlackBird pack on the reservation.  It’s not personal.  It’s cultural.”

Legion knew he couldn’t argue with that.  Heaving a weighty sigh, he realized he’d dawdled long enough, and had made himself late for the meeting with Monroe.  It was a slight he, and every other Walker, knew offended Monroe.

“Shit!” Legion yanked out his phone and glanced at it.  “I gotta go.”

Haka smiled knowingly.  “Appointment with Monroe?”

Legion nodded sharply and turned to leave.

Behind him, Haka shouted, “Let me know what’s up!”

Legion had no intention of letting anyone know anything, especially if this mission was as significant as Haka claimed.  Secretly, Legion was growing bored with the typical missions.  Something new, something meaningful was exactly what he needed to bring him out of his funk.

Chapter 2

Brooklyn scrolled through the spread sheet of upcoming events on her computer and sighed.  A lot was going on at StoneCrow Estates and as the Events Coordinator, everything fell on her to prepare.  Eyeing the list of pending parties, she was worried about getting everything planned properly and in a timely fashion. 

Wedding for James and Prim.  Check. 

Engagement party for Chief and Alise.  Check. 

Welcome party for Monroe’s yet-to-be-named guest.  Uhhh… 

Brows furrowing in frustration, Brooklyn shook her head disparagingly.  How was she supposed to throw a welcome party for an unknown person?  Monroe wouldn’t even tell her if the person was male or female. 

Scribbling an angry note to pry Monroe for more definitive information, Brooklyn was absorbed in her thoughts when a sudden pain seized her.  Dropping her pen, she gasped and doubled-over, hands clutching her abdomen.  Her stomach had been wobbly for days and honestly, she’d been looking forward to getting through the day so she could go back to her suite to curl up on the couch with a bowl of plain rice and a steaming mug of black tea and honey.  Everything she ate lately seemed to make her stomach pains worse, so she’d been surviving on nothing but the hot tea and rice for the past three days.  She’d lost weight but was trying to ride the illness out.  Honestly, she didn’t have time for anything else.   

Glancing at her desk calendar where she’d jotted herself a cryptic memo that read, ‘Jen?’  She told herself again that if she wasn’t better by the end of the week that she’d go to the infirmary and see resident Doctor, Jenny Arkinson.  She didn’t have time to see a doctor, but truth be told, Brooklyn had been feeling off for a while.  Staring at the calendar, Brooklyn scrunched up her face as scrolled through the months mentally.

Jesus!

Leaning closer to the calendar, Brooklyn recounted.  Her math had to be off, it just had to be.  There’s no way she’d been feeling like this for…  Sitting back in her chair, she let out a dazed exhalation.

Two years?

She was the queen of pushing through and ignoring her own needs to ensure a job was done, but two years?  Slowly, she shook her head.  Mind made up, she reached for the phone and asked the operator to connect her to the infirmary. 

What she thought would be a quickly scheduled appointment with a receptionist turned into Brooklyn being transferred directly to Jenny.

“Brooklyn?  It’s Jen.  What’s going on?”

Christ!  “Uhh, hi, Jenny.  I just…”  Brooklyn swallowed hard, unsure where to start.  “I’ve just been feeling under lately and wanted to get a check-up.”

Ever the surgeon, Jenny prodded, “Under how?”

“Well,” Brooklyn licked her lips as she doodled in the margin of her desk calendar.  “I’ve just been super nauseated.  A little dizzy when I stand at times.  I have zero appetite…  Well, that’s not true, I’m starving, but everything I eat makes me ill.”

“Ill how?” Jenny demanded then cut herself off.  “Any chance you’re pregnant?”

“No!” Brooklyn bellowed a little too loudly then repeated more quietly, “No, Jenny.  No chance of that.”

“You’re sure?”

“Absolutely.”

“When can you come in?”

Brooklyn started flipping through the pages of her calendar when Jenny offered, “You said you can’t eat.  Might as well come on down on your lunch break today.”

“Uhh…” Brooklyn struggled for an excuse but when she couldn’t come up with anything sufficient, Jenny sealed the deal.

“Have you taken any medications today?”

“Just my vitamin supplements,” Brooklyn answered.

“Great.  Don’t take anything else.  I’ll see you in a few hours.”

The line went dead, and Brooklyn pursed her lips.  Typically, she was the one giving orders and instantly decided she didn’t like the other end of the stick.  Still, a checkup was long overdue, and she had to admit—if only to herself—that the constant stomach aches were starting to interfere with her work.  She’d seen Jenny a handful of times over the years that she’d been at StoneCrow but had stopped going after Jenny had demanded she be seen more often.  Brooklyn didn’t appreciate being told what to do, especially when it came to her own body.

Flattening a hand on her belly, she huffed a laugh at Jenny’s question about pregnancy.  She hadn’t dated in years.  Heat filled her cheeks.  She’d had a crush on Monroe StoneCrow for a very long time and was certain everyone on the Estate was aware of it.  It was an infatuation that would have to go unvisited considering Monroe was now happily married to Eden.  Eden had come to StoneCrow after Brooklyn and it was a sore spot for Brooklyn that Monroe had not only chosen another woman over Brooklyn, but he’d also never even given Brooklyn a chance.  It was the main reason Brooklyn buried herself in work.  Work was a great distraction from a wounded heart.  It also helped keep people from speculating.  She didn’t appreciate the whispers accusing her of jealousy.  Of course, she was jealous of Eden, but she’d never say or do anything to reveal it.  She considered herself too classy to be so petty.

Another zing of pain stole her breath and had Brooklyn frowning hard as she clutched her stomach.  She lamaze-breathed through the pain and when it subsided, she stood on shaky legs and smoothed her hands over her hair before grabbing her purse from where it hung on a coatrack near the door.  Attached to the back of her office door was a full-length mirror.  It was important to Brooklyn to always look professional, which meant dressing in nothing but professional business attire.  This morning, she’d chosen a lantern sleeve, plaid, tweed dress with black ankle boots.  Plucking at the collar, she realized just how warm the dress was.  Leaning in, she glanced at her flushed cheeks and took a minute to fan herself before shaking her head.  She was hot all the time.  It's the reason she’d started wearing dresses more often but even dresses couldn’t seem to keep her temperature from skyrocketing.

Maybe it’s a thyroid issue.

Scrutinizing her appearance, Brooklyn pinched the side of her dress and frowned as she realized she’d lost more weight.  The pounds had been falling off lately.  She’d attributed it to the fact that she’d indulged in a bit too much excess after Monroe and Eden’s wedding and had finally amended her ways.  But the amount of weight she was losing was simply too much too fast.

Striding out of her office, she started a mental checklist of all the physical differences that had been occurring lately.  Silently, she prayed it wasn’t menopause.  She didn’t have time for the symptoms that accompanied the stressful degradation of a woman’s reproductive abilities.  Her older sister had just gone through it, and they’d talked for hours on the phone about all that her sister had gone through.  Brooklyn wouldn’t wish the symptoms on anyone.  Worse, she still secretly hoped to have a child one day, and while her clock was tick-tick-ticking away, she wasn’t giving up hope.  She couldn’t.  It was the only thing she had left to look forward to.

Deciding she wasn’t even going to entertain the idea of menopause; Brooklyn put on her best face and lifted her chin in a show of confidence as she made her way down to StoneCrow’s infirmary.          

Chapter 3

Sitting behind his wide desk, Monroe demanded, “Where’s my list?”

“Here,” King shoved a paper toward him.

Looking down, Monroe read the names out loud.  “Banta, Legion, Delain, and Lok.”

“King?” Monroe smirked.

“Yeah, Crow?”  The Chief of Security, King, straightened at the CEO’s side.

“Take this list back to Dr. Arkinson.  Inform her I’ll make my selection tomorrow.”

King didn’t buy it.  “You’ve already made up your mind, haven’t you?”

When Monroe just kept looking at him, King queried, “Banta?”

“No,” Monroe’s smile was calculating.  “We’re going with Lok.”

“Lok?” King was confused.  “I thought you said he wasn’t compatible.”

“He’s not,” Monroe confirmed.

“Uhhh…”

“I’ve had enough of the good Doctor’s games.  I think it’s time we put an end to all this Walker inoculation and delaying of the affliction.  Don’t you?”

Oh shit! 

King and Monroe were the only two Walkers aware of the fact that Dr. Jenny Arkinson had been inoculating Walkers without their knowledge or permission.  Monroe had permitted it because he wasn’t opposed to the idea of “free choice” where mating was concerned, that and the fact that he too was curious as to whether the affliction could be manipulated.  The fact that Jenny had done this on her own was simply a plus for him because when the shit hit the fan, as it inevitably would, for once his hands would be clean of the deed.

“What about Brooklyn, Crow?  Has she got that kind of time?”

Monroe’s smile faded into a deep scowl. “No.  Which is exactly why Jenny will be forced to come fully clean.  I’ve gotten enough data from her tests.  Her experiment has run its course, and my patience is at an end.”

King nodded solemnly, not liking how Crow was willing to mess with Brooklyn and her ailment just to put Jenny in her place.  Honestly, it pissed him off, but he knew Monroe and he knew the Dominant Skin Walker wouldn’t risk a Walker’s Angel if it wasn’t imperative.

Taking Monroe’s directive, King was on his way out of Monroe’s office when a knock at the door halted him.  Looking over his shoulder, his brows winged up in silent question to Monroe.

“It’s just Legion,” Monroe explained.  “Let him in.”

Wholly confused, King asked, “Legion?”

Monroe’s eyes went hard.  “I’m willing to risk two seconds worth of time to get Jenny to come clean.  But during those two seconds, I’m prepping Legion.  He deserves to know what’s happening.”  Reclining back in his chair, Monroe steepled his hands over his chest.  “Besides, I can’t deal with a pissed off Walker right now.  Too many irons in the fire.  And me keeping secrets about Brooklyn is one guaranteed way to get Legion gunning for me.  He’ll be fully informed.”

King nodded approvingly and offered Monroe a relieved, “Good.  I’m glad you’re not lying to him.”  But something about the way Monroe’s eyes tightened at the corner left King feeling uneasy.  A second knock at the door snagged King’s attention and had him opening the door to greet Legion.

***

Legion knocked impatiently on Monroe’s office door.  Something was up.  His skin was covered in goosebumps and his adrenaline was pumping like he was about to go into battle.  The reaction was new and odd.  He’d been to Monroe’s office countless times but had never had a reaction like this before.

When the door finally opened, Legion wasn’t surprised to find King holding the door open.  King and Monroe were practically inseparable.  The Walkers on the Estate knew King was Monroe’s personal guard and chosen henchman.  And while King and Legion typically had little to no interaction, there was something about the look King shot Legion before he excused himself and exited Monroe’s office that had Legion’s hackles up.

Stepping into the office, Legion closed the door behind him before facing Monroe. 

“What’s up?”

Monroe’s brows winged up and made Legion chuckle.  He knew Monroe appreciated formality, but Legion didn’t have it in him right now.  He’d been dragging for weeks and needed something new.  He was hoping that’s what Monroe was about to gift him.

Lips pursing in annoyance, Monroe took up a pen and started writing something on one of the papers on his desk.  Without looking up, he bit out, “I’ve got a job for you.”

No shit!  Clearing his throat, Legion strode deeper into the room before dropping into one of the leather chairs directly in front of Monroe’s desk.  “Do tell.”

Dropping his pen, Monroe lifted his head and shifted in his seat.  “This isn’t a normal mission.”

Hope filled Legion but he kept his tone calm.  “Ok.”

“Do you know Brooklyn Ami?”

Legion felt his pulse kick up.  Hell yeah, he knew Brooklyn.  She was too beautiful to go unnoticed on the Estate, but no one had made a move on her because they all knew she’d been pining for Monroe.  “She’s the party planner, right?”

Monroe frowned and corrected, “Events Coordinator.”

Legion shrugged.

“I need you to go spend an hour with her tomorrow.  Eleven to noon.”

“What does she need help with?”

Shaking his head, Monroe stated, “Nothing.”

That had Legion’s curiosity piquing.  “She need protection?”  Just the thought of someone messing with the tiny female had Legion’s temper rising.

“No.”

Annoyed, Legion gripped the chair armrests tightly before demanding, “Just tell me what in the hell is going on!”

“I’m sending in four Walkers at one-hour intervals.”  Monroe canted his head and narrowed his eyes on Legion.  “Brooklyn’s sick.”

The information was startling.  “Sick how?”

“Sick enough that I’ve got to take action if I want her to remain on the Estate.”

“What does any of this have to do with me or the other three Skin Walkers?”

“Just go sit with her.  It’s all I’m asking.  Decide if you can take on an extended mission where you’ll be responsible for her.”

Legion’s blond brows hiked.  “Responsible?”

“Whichever one of you is up to the task will be taking Ms. Ami off Estate.  She can’t heal here.  Not the way she needs to, anyway.”

“But Jenny’s here.  We have our own infirmary.”

“I’ve divulged all I’m able to at this point.  Do you accept the assignment or not?”

Monroe’s dismissiveness was infuriating but not as infuriating as thinking about Brooklyn being sick and stuck with any other Skin Walker.  Legion was feeling off himself and because of it he knew that Brooklyn would need a certain level of attention and coddling.  The coddling part was what worried him.  It wasn’t something most Skin Walkers were versed in.  Curious, he asked, “Who else you sending?”

A light glimmered in Monroe’s eyes a second before he lifted his chin challengingly and asked, “Does it matter?”

No.  It didn’t.  Shoving up from his chair, Legion gave Monroe a hard look before he turned for the door.  Just as he reached it, he stopped.  “Before I go, I need to know something.”

Behind him, Monroe commanded, “Ask.”

Turning to face Monroe fully, Legion did as directed.  “You got feelings for Brooklyn?”

Without blinking, Monroe nodded.  “I do.  She’s an excellent employee and a good person.”

Lip ticking up, Legion snarled, “You know what the fuck I’m asking.”

“I have zero sexual interest in Ms. Ami, Legion.”  Shoving back from his desk, Monroe paced around to the front of it, before hiking up his slacks and perching on the edge of the desk.  “I know it’s something you don’t understand because you’ve yet to experience the pleasure of claiming your Angel, but it doesn’t work that way.  I am fully committed to Eden and my children.  My affinity for Ms. Ami doesn’t go beyond mutual respect.  It never has and never will.  She’s an employee who I am not willing to lose.

Angling his face to stare at the nearest wall, Legion sighed heavily.  “I can’t be part of anything shady right now.”  He turned to glare at Monroe.  “I don’t have the head space for it.”

“This isn’t shady.  This is about helping Brooklyn.  I’d handle things personally if it wouldn’t give her the wrong impression.  She’s…”

“Infatuated with you,” Legion supplied when Monroe stalled.

Lips thinning into a grim line, Monroe dipped his head in a nod.  “She was infatuated.  I have no idea how she feels now, not emotionally anyway but physically, she’s ailing, and that’s something I can fix.”

“I feel like there’s a lot you’re not telling me,” Legion admitted quietly.

“There’s always a lot I’m not telling you.”

Pissed, Legion shot Monroe a glare and debated all of two seconds before huffing, “I’ll be in her office tomorrow at eleven.”

Monroe’s tone was victorious when he crowed, “Good!  Test her scent, test your patience.  Contact me if you’re a viable option for the mission.”

It was well-known that Skin Walkers had difficulty being around injured or sick humans.  Their weakness called to the beasts within the Walkers, demanding they assert dominance by snuffing out the weaker species.  It was a difficult urge to control.  It was something Brooklyn shouldn’t have to worry about while she healed. 

Before he left Monroe’s office, Legion already knew he’d be the one taking on the assignment.  He could feel it in his bones.

Chapter 4

Brooklyn didn’t understand it.  A steady stream of Walker men had been filing through her office all morning.  They’d enter, sit on her sofa then simply sit and wait.  Some watched her carefully, others seemed to ignore her completely, but all of them inhaled sharply several times before the left.  Their explanations were all the same.  “Monroe sent me.”  It was the only information she’d been able to glean. 

At first, she’d been pissed thinking Monroe was having her micro-managed.  After the first few hours, her anger faded into worry.  She wondered if Monroe was going to have her replaced.  The thought had her feeling hollow and unappreciated.  She’d done her best to keep her crush on him from interfering with her work.  She avoided him as best she could and was always overly polite to Eden and their children.  Still, she knew everyone was aware of how she felt about Monroe.  She wondered if Eden had asked Monroe to get rid of her.  The thought had her working her tail off so that the Walker Sentries could see just how valuable she really was.   

At eleven on the dot, the Walker Sentry who’d introduced himself as Banta stood and exited her office wordlessly.  Brooklyn tracked him with her eyes and before the door could even close on him another Walker Sentry entered.

She knew Legion.  Well, she didn’t know know him.  She knew he piloted one of Monroe’s two pave-hawk helicopters.  He was a Walker Sentry, but usually piloted missions rather than partake in them.  That was all she knew about him.  Well, that and the fact that he was gorgeous.  While Monroe StoneCrow was her typical type, Legion was Monroe’s opposite.

Starting at Legion now, Brooklyn drank in his good looks.  He was a golden God.  Tall with broad shoulders that tapered to a narrowed waist before flaring at impressively muscled thighs, Legion had dove-gray eyes and shoulder-length blond hair.  Brooklyn didn’t typically like long hair on men but on Legion was handsome.  Hell, he was more than handsome. 

Brooklyn’s heart seized a moment as their eyes collided. 

Wordlessly, he approached her desk and she pointed at the sofa after tearing her eyes from his. 

“Have a seat.”  She didn’t bother trying to get answers, she’d tried all morning but after the singular canned response of, ‘Monroe sent me,’ she’d given up asking.

She could feel the Legion’s eyes on her, watching her as she worked.  The scrutiny had her finger stumbling on her keyboard.  Brows bunching in annoyance, she heaved a sigh, determined to ignore Legion’s presence.  It was easier said than done. 

Struggling to go about her day as if Legion wasn’t staring right at her, Brooklyn stood and retrieved a file from a cabinet beside her desk.  Unnerved by being watched, she felt awkward in her movements, jerky like a newborn foal.  Casually, she flicked a glance at Legion and found him staring right at her with a grin tweaking his lips like he knew he was making her uncomfortable.  Snapping her eyes away, Brooklyn reclaimed her seat and scanned her calendar, attempting to focus on upcoming events.  Catching the eraser end of her pencil between her perfect white teeth, she hummed quietly to herself to distract herself.  But when Legion inhaled deeply and stood, she looked up at him.  All the previous Walkers had spent considerably more time lounging on her sofa before they’d left.  Apparently, Legion had other things to do.

Lifting her chin as Legion approached, Brooklyn noted how much larger he was than the previous Walkers who’d passed through.  Legion wasn’t overweight, but more muscled, like a body builder.  His broad arms, legs, and chest were bulky with thickly corded muscle.  He was huge, and his height was such that she instantly grew tense as he approached.  He was definitely handsome but also fully intimidating.  His dove-grey eyes held hers.  He didn’t smile when he spoke. 

“Tell Monroe that Legion is viable and willing.”

“Viable and willing?”

Without another word or any form of explanation, Legion turned and exited her office.

“Viable and willing?” Brooklyn queried quietly to herself as her hand snaked out to grab her phone.  She stalled just as she touched the handset on her office landline, shocked to see that her hand was shaking.  Folding her dainty fingers into a tiny fist, she repeated the movement a few times before she snatched up the handset and punched the auto-dial button that would connect her directly to Monroe’s office.

Monroe picked up on the first ring.  “What?”

“Mr. StoneCrow, it’s Brooklyn Ami.  I am to inform you that Sentry Legion is viable and willing…whatever that means.”

She listened as the CEO huffed out a relieved breath.  “Good.  Come to my office immediately.”  Then he hung up.

“Come to my office immediately,” she mimicked in a mock masculine tone.  Hanging up the phone she jotted a quick reminder on her calendar before turning to grab her waistcoat.  She shoved her arms in as she walked out of her office door to wait for the elevator.

Short minutes later she was in Monroe’s office.  Sitting erect in her typical prim and proper fashion, she had her ankles crossed and tucked neatly beneath her as she waited in the reception area, staring impatiently at Monroe’s office door.  Against all her better judgment, she was nervous.  She was always nervous around Monroe, and it had nothing to do with his position of supreme authority.  Regardless of his married status, Brooklyn couldn’t quell the butterflies that flitted to life in her middle every time she was near Monroe.  It was foolish and childish, and she hated it but couldn’t seem to do anything about it. 

When his door jerked open, Monroe glared out into the waiting room before waving her in. 

Brooklyn smiled warmly at Lilly, Monroe’s assistant, before disappearing into his office.  Entering the intimidating space, Brooklyn threw her shoulders back and accepted a seat on one of the sleek leather sofas that sat facing each other in front of Monroe’s desk.  She knew the matter they were to discuss was business in nature because otherwise, he’d have sat across from her; instead, he circled his massive desk and sat, his expression going hard.

“Brooklyn, how are you feeling?”

“Fine,” she tensed, not liking his brusque tone.  In all her time employed by Monroe, he’d never begun a conversation with a query into her wellbeing.  He didn’t like chit-chat and never wasted his precious time with small talk.

“There’s a vital matter we need to discuss, but I was hoping that…,” he paused and turned his attention to the door.  “Good, he’s here.”

The door clicked open behind Brooklyn, but she didn’t turn to see who entered, instead she kept her focus on Monroe, trying to figure out why he was acting out of character.

Something brushed Brooklyn’s elbow and drew her attention.  Looking up, she was shocked to find Legion looming over her.  He didn’t even glance at her as he crossed to the opposite sofa and took a seat facing her. 

“Brooklyn, this is Legion.  Legion Knight.”

Brooklyn glanced at Legion quickly and nodded once before turning her attention back to Monroe.  Inside, one by one, the butterflies that had been flitting around dropped lifelessly to form a heavy leaden ball in the pit of her stomach.  Something was wrong.

Brooklyn watched as Monroe circled his desk and sat on the edge, hiking up one leg as he stared down at her.  “I can’t put this delicately, so I won’t.”             

Her heart rate accelerated.  Am I being fired?

“Brooklyn, you understand that Walkers have a heightened sense of smell?”

“Y-yeees,” her response was trepidatious.

  Monroe’s eyes narrowed.  “It’s much stronger than a human’s.  Stronger than you could imagine.  We pick up things that even some animals might miss.”

“Okay,” she nodded warily, glancing between Monroe and Legion, wondering where he was going.

Monroe rubbed a hand over his face, seeming weary before he focused on her again.  “Brooklyn, you’re sick.”

Confusion slammed into her.  “N-no I’m not.  I feel…fine.”  She lifted a slender hand to rub her throat.

“I don’t mean with a cold.”  Monroe flicked his glance toward Legion who kept his eyes forward.  “You’re sick.”

Brooklyn paled; her tone was one of shock when she reiterated, “No.  No, I’m not!”

“Yes, you are.”  Monroe rubbed the back of his neck, “I’ve only just become aware of it.  I scented something changing in your body’s chemistry but didn’t pay much attention.  Your assistant, Angie, grew concerned and suspected something was wrong.”  He frowned, looking haggard, “I’m sorry.  If we’d have caught it sooner, there may have been other options.”

Stunned, Brooklyn sat back in her chair.  “This isn’t funny, Mr. StoneCrow!”

“No,” he agreed, “it’s not.  Your illness is advanced, and there is no medical remedy at this stage.”

Brooklyn’s mouth fell open as she gaped at him in incredulity before anger flared to life.  “So, I’m sick and I’m going to die?  Is that what you’re trying to make me believe?”

“You are ill, and it is terminal but there is an option…”

Shoving up out of her chair, Brooklyn knew her face was red with fury. “I thought you said there were no options.  If you’re going to create such an outlandish lie Mr. StoneCrow, I suggest you get your story straight!  If you want me gone from the Estate, just fire me.  Your theatrics aren’t necessary.”  She turned to leave, but a firm hand locked around her wrist holding her in place.  Head snapping down, she glared at Legion’s fingers on her arm as she tried to jerk free.  Legion kept his eyes forward but refused to release her.

“I said there is no medical remedy,” Monroe continued undeterred. “But there are options available to Walkers.”

Brooklyn tore her gaze from Legion to frown at Monroe.  When Monroe’s expression softened, she felt her heart stop.  Monroe StoneCrow didn’t do soft.  Ever!  So, him looking at her now with such blatant pity had Brooklyn believing him.

“Please sit.” He gestured toward the chair she’d just vacated.

When Legion released his hold, Brooklyn turned on shaky legs and dropped back into her chair.

“You’ve been here with us for quite some time, but I’m not sure how much you know about us.  You understand we are drawn to our mates?”

Brooklyn continued to frown at him—her gaze going through him as she tried to process what he was saying as she nodded distractedly.

“Are you also aware that Walker’s carry no disease and cannot contract any?  We have no colds, flu, cancer, aids, STD’s, nothing like that.”

Brooklyn’s bright blue eyes focused on Monroe as she admitted quietly, “No, I was not aware.”

Monroe crossed his arms over his chest.  “When a Walker claims his mate, his…seed offers his mate the same protection.  Take Ella and Gauge for example.  Now that she’s mated to a Walker, his seed will keep her from ever contracting another illness or disease.  We’re not sure if it’s a one-time thing or if they need to continue to have intercourse for the immunity to work, but it does work.”

As he spoke, Brooklyn let the realization of his words sink in.  Fighting back panicked tears, she snapped, “What does that have to do with me?”

Monroe’s tone softened, “You’ve become a vital part of our Walker family, Brooklyn.  We don’t want to lose you.”

Lowering her head to hide the few tears that slid free, Brooklyn quickly brushed at them in annoyance.  “How could you know its terminal?”  She lifted stormy eyes to his.  “You couldn’t possibly know that.  Not from a smell!”  She shook her head.  “What does illness even smell like?”

“Like dying flowers,” Monroe supplied sadly.  “Like sweet red roses at the end of their time.”

His words rocked her and had her mouth falling open.  Was she at the end of her time?

“The stream of Walkers sent to your office was for a purpose.”

She blinked hard, pulling herself from her thoughts.  “And what purpose was that?”

“An attempt to find you a viable mate.”

Brooklyn stilled, staring at Monroe for long silent moments before her eyes slowly slid to where Legion sat next to her.  Oh no!

“Legion is a viable candidate and is willing to test your compatibility.”

She felt a heated flush steal across her cheeks as she quickly looked away from Legion.  Collecting herself as best she could, she demanded, “What exactly do you mean by test our compatibility?”

Direct as usual, Monroe got right to the point.  “Brooklyn you need to mate with him to see if he can heal you.”

Brooklyn looked from Monroe to Legion, her discomfort mounting.  “We can’t do that!  There’s no way for you to know I’m his one.  There’s no way to know this would work!”  Shooting up out of her seat, she was shaking when she raged, “Angie said there’s no way for Walkers to know who their Angels are.  It’s not pre-determined, it just happens!  She said there’s no way to know beforehand!”  Brooklyn didn’t admit that Angie was her most trusted friend or mention that she’d pressed her Skin Walker assistant on information in hopes that there was some loophole that would still give Brooklyn a chance with Monroe.    

Monroe kept his tone soft, almost placating as he explained, “That’s what we let everyone believe.”

Eyes rounding in shock, Brooklyn breathed accusatorily, “You know?  There’s a way to determine compatible mates and you haven’t told anyone?”

“That is correct.”

Now she was indignant not only on her own behalf but on behalf of all the Skin Walkers too.  

“Why would you keep it a secret?” she demanded.  “Surely, it does more harm not to tell them.”

“It’s a secret I’m trusting you with.”

Brooklyn was shaking her head before Monroe even got the full sentence out.

“This is bigger than me,” she argued.  “I can’t keep this for you.”

Monroe slowly stood.  “Unfortunately for you, you’ve got bigger problems than keeping secrets from my people.  Besides, I’ve already decided to come clean.  We’ve kept this hidden long enough.”

Brooklyn turned her head and shot Legion a dark look. 

Legion held up his hands and shook his head, telling Brooklyn, “This is the first I’m hearing of it too.”  His expression hardened as he looked at Monroe. “I had no idea this was being kept from us.” 

 Brooklyn jabbed a thumb in Legion’s direction, “So, you just expect him to claim me on the off chance that we might actually work as a couple so he can cure me; thereby, binding us together for the rest of our lives when we haven’t even been formally introduced?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Monroe scoffed.  “I introduced you a few minutes ago.”

Brooklyn again shoved up out of her chair and approached to scowl up at Monroe.  “And if it fails?  What then?  I sleep with all the other candidates you had plow through my office?”

Behind her Legion growled low and deep but she continued undeterred.  “All due respect Mr. StoneCrow, but I think I’ll get a second opinion on your diagnosis.  As for your arranged marriage, you can shove it up your…” 

She didn’t get the chance to finish.  Something cold and hard slid around her throat. She reached up and gripped it, knowing instantly the moment her fingers locked around it what it was.  A blinding light accompanied by a high-pitched whine emitted from the halo around her neck.  The halo around Monroe’s neck whined and winked once in response.  Shock registered on her face, and she opened her mouth to protest but no words escaped before she dropped.

Chapter 5

Legion caught Brooklyn before she hit the floor.  Lifting her effortlessly into the cradle of his arms, he was extra careful considering her fragile state.  She was light and with her unconscious, he felt a feral need rise within him to protect her.  Studying her, his nostrils flared.  Monroe was right.  She was very ill.  The realization had his heart racing and a sense of urgency surging forth.

From in front of his desk, Monroe offered a quiet, “I apologize, Legion.  I know this is not the way you envisioned claiming an Angel.”

Legion didn’t respond, simply shook his head sadly, but not for himself.  He could care less about his wishes and wants where the claiming of his Angel was concerned.  Funny, it was something that had been weighing on him heavily as of late, but now that he was holding his prospective Angel, all he could do was worry about her health.  His sole focus was on Brooklyn.  He needed to help her and fast.

“I’d like use of the pave hawk.  I have a location in mind...”

Monroe’s response was immediate.  “Denied.”

That had a frown claiming Legion’s features as he lifted his head to glare at Monroe.

“She’s too ill,” Monroe explained.  “She’ll need to stick close to medical should she begin to deteriorate too rapidly.”

The admission had a lump forming in Legion’s throat.  He had to force out, “That bad?”

“Yeah,” Monroe’s tone was remorseful.  “She had an appointment with Jenny.  Brooklyn is…,” he swallowed hard, “on limited time.”

Silence hung heavy between them as Legion studied Brooklyn’s face.  “She doesn’t look ill.”

“I’m aware, but use your nose, Walker.”

Even without his nose, Legion knew the situation was dire.  It had to be if Monroe was willing to out himself and the secrets he’d been keeping from the rest of the Skin Walkers.  Damn!  Legion was almost reluctant to miss the backlash that was sure to come Monroe’s way, but Brooklyn was more important, especially if she was what Monroe claimed her to be.   

“Tyce has granted use of his hangar at Apex.  They’ve built in living quarters and Stoney’s on the rooftop helipad waiting for you.”

Legion’s eyes narrowed on Monroe as confusion plagued him.

“She’ll give Brooklyn a light sedative.  That mingled with the effects of being collared will keep Brooklyn out long enough for you to get her settled at Apex.”  Standing, Monroe paced toward Legion.  He stopped a foot before the Sentry and frowned down at Brooklyn.  “I’m sending you to Apex because I don’t want her around Angie or Cindy or anyone else who might feel sorry for her and try helping her sneak from the Estate.  The two of you will be quarantined in the hangar.  No one in, no one out.  Just the two of you.  The quarters there have been stocked in preparation.  Brooklyn won’t know where you are.  I suggest you keep it that way.  It’ll prevent any ideas she may get.”

Legion felt his inner animals’ sharp claws rake down his insides.  “Quarantined?”

Monroe’s attention was still on Brooklyn. “We can’t risk her making a break for it.”  Lifting his head, he stared pointedly at Legion.  “She’s been a loyal employee and a true friend to Walkers.  We owe her this.”

And now Legion understood.  He and Brooklyn would be locked down at Apex until he could convince Brooklyn to accept him.  It was a daunting task; regardless of how he felt about her.”  It had him asking, “And if I fail?”

Monroe lifted his eyes from Brooklyn’s face then, his expression going dark.  “Then she dies.”

For the first time in his adulthood, fear skittered its way up Legion’s spine and had the fine hairs on the back of his neck rising.  He’d never failed a mission, and as important as that fact was to him, he had to admit that he’d never had an assignment like this before.  Sure, there’d been many missions where lives were on the line, but those lives were those of his fellow Sentries, Skin Walkers like him, males hardened and prepared to die for what they loved.  Never had he been solely responsible for the life of a fragile human female.  This was a tall order and an almost impossible task.  One he wasn’t sure he was equipped for.

“Monroe…” he began, but Monroe cut him off.

“I know what you’re thinking, what you’re going to say.  But Jenny’s run the blood work.”  Gaze lowering, he angled his head to stare at Brooklyn.  “She is your Angel, Legion.  We’ve run the tests.”

The admission was shocking and unbelievable.  Legion shook his head, “You know for certain?  I’m not just a candidate?”

“You’re not just a candidate.  You’re her one.  We’ve had the capabilities to pinpoint mates for some time,” Monroe interjected then corrected, “Rather, Jenny has had the capability.”  Turning, Monroe stalked back to his desk and dropped into his seat.  “I’ve been content letting her keep her secrets and play matchmaker.  I’ve let her use what she’s discovered to see where she’d take it.”  He sighed heavily, “But the sport is at its best.”  Steepling his finger in front of his face, Monroe continued, “This information doesn’t leave this room.  Do you understand?”

And now a new kind of fear engulfed Legion.  Monroe was asking him to keep what was tantamount to the greatest discovery in Skin Walker history from his own brothers and sisters.  It was infuriating and an added pressure he currently didn’t need.  “Why?” he snapped.  “Why not tell them all?”

Another explosive sigh left Monroe’s lips before he reclined back in his seat.  “And what?  Have every Walker abandoning their stations to rush the infirmary demanding they be matched?  It’d be absolute fucking chaos.”

He was right, but it still didn’t make things okay.

“Monroe?” Legion implored.

Monroe wasn’t having it.  Slowly shoving up from his chair, Monroe braced his hands on his desk and kept his chin lowered, adding effect to the glare he was shooting Legion.  “I wasn’t asking.  It’s a direct order.  The intel you now have does not leave this room.  Including yourself,” he jerked his chin toward Brooklyn, “and your Angel, only one other individual aside from Jenny knows of this.  If there’s a leak, I’ll know it was either you or Brooklyn.”  Straightening, Monroe jerked his chin toward the door.  “But you’ve got bigger problems to deal with right now.  I suggest you see to it.”  His expression softened.  “You don’t have the luxury of time, Sentry.”

And goddamn it all if Monroe wasn’t right again.  Gaze lowering to Brooklyn, Legion conceded that he didn’t have the time or energy to engage Monroe and this new discovery.  He needed to get Brooklyn to Apex, and he needed to start working on getting her to claim him immediately.  With a sharp inhale, he gave a curt nod.  “Sir.”

Monroe reclaimed his seat and took up his phone dismissively, “I’m calling Tyce to let him know you’re enroute.  Good luck, Sentry.”

Chapter 6

“Where is she?” Jenny demanded.

Her tone had Monroe lifting his head from where he was signing papers on his desk. Irked, he masked it and played dumb.  “Where’s who?”

“Brooklyn!” Jenny raged. 

Monroe had Jenny right where he wanted her, and now it was time. 

“I followed your suggestion and sent her off with Lok.  He’s been instructed to collar, claim, and bind her.”

“Lok!” Jenny shrieked.  A look of total panic claimed her features as she ripped the cell phone from her white lab coat.  “My God,” she breathed quietly, punching numbers into her cell.  “What have you done?”

Calmly setting his pen down, Monroe relaxed back in his chair, casually propping his arms on his chair’s armrests as he watched Jenny make several panicked phone calls.  The first was to her mate, Bishop.  Jenny pleaded with Bishop to find Lok and prevent him from leaving the Estate before she quickly hung up and dialed another number.  Lifting her cell to her ear, she glared at Monroe with a hissed, “My list was comprised of possible compatibility.  Mere suggestions!  You weren’t supposed to make the final decision!”

Monroe did his best to look contrite.  “Really?  I thought possible compatibility was the best we could hope for.  You said we were out of time for Brooklyn, so I pulled the trigger.”  Eyes narrowing, he watched Jenny closely as she drew in a slow breath and held it.  He had her backed into a corner, there was nowhere left for Jenny to run, no move left to play but one. 

Jenny blinked rapidly as she stared at him, and he could see her mind working.  Eyes locked on each other; Monroe’s cheek ticked once in impatience.  Jenny was in checkmate and if she refused to lay down her king now, Monroe would have no choice but to banish her from the Estate indefinitely.  It wasn’t a move he wanted to make considering how valuable Jenny and her expertise were, but she’d been withholding vital information from him.  At least, she thought she had been.  Watching her watching him, Monroe knew the second she realized that he was on to her.

“You’re always playing games,” she accused.  “You use the mated pairs.”  She was making excused now.  “You use a Walker’s Angel to get him to do your bidding.”

Not good enough.  Monroe wanted a full confession and a plea for forgiveness, as well as Jenny’s vow to never try anything like this again.  So, he waited.

Lowering her arms to her sides, Jenny’s shoulders slumped.  “How much do you know?”

Monroe remained silent.  Watching heat creep up Jenny’s throat, he prayed she understood the seriousness of the predicament she’d placed herself in.

“I was only trying to protect them,” she breathed, eyes filling with emotion.  “It was never about withholding information from you.”

“And yet you did it all the same.”

“I was going to tell you.”

“When?” he demanded.  “When you decided that I needed to know?  When you deemed me worthy of knowing?”

Jenny just blinked at him.

“Let me remind you that you work for me.”

“I’m aware of that,” she snapped and that was all it took.

Exploding out of his seat, Monroe slammed his hands on his desk and roared, “You don’t get it, do you?  If you’d have given me this information sooner, Brooklyn and Legion would already be mated.  She’d be healthy and happy!  Now, she’s in danger of dying because you chose to play God.  Funny,” he snorted with a sneer, “the same thing you accuse me of is the exact thing you’re guilty of.  Does your hypocrisy know any bounds, Jen?”

“We can still fix it,” she rushed out.  “Contact Lok, tell him there’s been a mistake.  We get Legion and Brooklyn together; I’ll monitor her and…”

Monroe shook his head as he straightened and jerked on the front of his suitcoat, regaining his composure.  “You and Bishop are being reassigned.”

Jenny paled.  “Bishop doesn’t know anything.  He wasn’t a part of this.  Leave him out of it.”

Clucking his tongue, Monroe lowered his gaze to straighten one cuff link.  “Tsk, tsk, tsk.  You and I both know that where you go, Bishop goes.”

“And where is it that we are going?”

Lowering his arms, Monroe reclaimed his seat and reached for his pen.  “Apex,” he answered without looking up.  “Gather your things, your helicopter leaves in ten.”

“But my patients,” Jenny argued.  “What about them?”

Eyes still on his task, Monroe responded dismissively, “Dr. Ames is coming here from Apex.  She’ll assume your position.”

“Monroe?” Jenny pleaded, and when he didn’t respond, she rushed his desk, stopping when her hips hit the edge.  “Monroe!”

Slowly lifting his gaze, he let his eyes shift to a full matte black.  His animals polluted his voice when he snarled.  “Your reassignment is not the end of my punishment.  Your gall cannot go unchecked.  It will not go unchecked.  You didn’t just hide your discovery from me.  You inoculated Skin Walkers without their knowledge and under the guise of medical treatment.”

Jenny paled.

Good. She needed to understand that he knew everything. 

“You’ve done lasting damage.”  Angling his head he pondered aloud, “I wonder if you’re even aware of that.  Are you?”  Without waiting for an answer, he continued, “What you’ve done is tantamount to muzzling my Skin Walkers’ inner beasts.  How do you think they’ll react when they find out what you’ve done?”  He jerked his head toward his window.  “There are individuals here who are unmated, alone, lonely because you injected them with your poison.  You’ve intentionally kept mates apart.”

“I was trying to give them time.  I wanted them to have a choice[SB1]!”  

“Why?” he snapped.  “Because you wanted one?  Do you not enjoy being bound to Bishop?”

There was a pregnant pause as remorse filled Jenny’s expression.

“You didn’t get a choice, no say in the matter, but you can’t deny that Bishop was a gift.  Can you?”

When Jenny remained silent and bowed her head, Monroe continued.  “In effect, you aided me in…what did you call it?  Playing games.”  He shrugged negligently.  “How are you different from me?  What’s the difference between me using them and you using them?”

With a gasp, Jenny’s head snapped up.  “I didn’t use them!” she insisted.

Monroe was quick to counter, “You just took away their choice.”

“I gave them a choice!” Jenny shouted then blushed and dipped her chin.

Voice eerily calm, Monroe disagreed, “You experimented on them.  Without their knowledge or consent.  Worse, there was no way at the beginning to know if your injections would do lasting damage.”

Jenny’s head sunk lower.

“You could have permanently harmed someone.  You could have permanently damaged their ability to recognize their One.  Luckily for you it didn’t take me long to catch on to what you were up to.”  Reclining back, Monroe crossed his arms over his broad chest.  “I checked, double-checked, then triple checked.  You’ll never know how lucky you were…how lucky they were.  You’ll never realize how close you came to ruining someone’s life.”

Slowly lifting her chin, Jenny’s tone was imploring, “Monroe, I’d never…”

He cut her off.  “Pack your things, Dr. Arkinson.  Transportation awaits.  Bishop has been informed of your reassignment.  He’ll be waiting.”

Heat seared her cheeks and Monroe knew it was from shame.  Good.  She should be ashamed.  She’d done irreparable damage.  It was damage he was now hustling to repair.  Knowing that Legion and Brooklyn were meant for each other meant that if Brooklyn died, Legion most likely would too.  They were losses he wasn’t willing to take.

Finally bowing her head, Jenny whispered, “How long are we to remain at Apex?”

He didn’t want her to know that he was sending her there to treat Brooklyn.  He really had no choice because while Apex’s Chief of Surgery, Pyper Ames, was an excellent Walker physician, she wasn’t Jenny, and Brooklyn needed the best right now.

“Until I say so,” he bit out contemptuously then growled, “Leave.” 

The more he thought on Jenny’s actions, the angrier he became.  He needed Jenny gone from the Estate as soon as possible and whether she realized it or not, she wanted to be far away from him right now too.  The transgression she’d made would soon come to light, and the only way to maintain his reputation and position required immediate action and severe punishment.  The punishment would have to come later though.  Brooklyn and Legion needed Jenny, and Monroe was determined to have her fix what she’d fucked up before he meted out what she had coming.

Without another word, Jenny turned and shuffled toward the door. 

Monroe could scent her emotions.  The unpleasant tang of humiliation, regret, and sorrow filled his office, and it grated on him.  Just as the door clicked closed behind Jenny, Monroe got up and crossed to open a window.  He refused to let her mournful response at her own deceit sway his resolve.  Once Brooklyn was healed, Jenny would be punished…severely.       

Chapter 7

Legion had been watching Brooklyn for some time.  Even before being summoned by Monroe and then being sent to Brooklyn’s office, Legion had known of her.  He knew she had a thing for Monroe.  Hell, they all knew she had a thing for Monroe, but Monroe was taken.  Still, her secret glances and ever watchful eyes, always focused on Monroe, had given Legion ample opportunity to watch Brooklyn without her knowledge; and watch her he had.  It had become an obsession of his. 

Now, carrying her onto the helicopter waiting atop the main Estate house, Legion felt strange.  He was proud to be the one assigned to rescuing Brooklyn, but he was also worried.  No.  Worried wasn’t a strong enough word.  He was terrified.  Failing meant her death and succeeding meant his and her lives would be permanently redefined.  It felt surreal to be climbing into the back of one of StoneCrow’s Pave Hawk helicopters, a vehicle that Legion typically piloted. 

Shooting Tito a nod where the other pilot sat in the cockpit, Legion was careful with Brooklyn as he climbed up into the back of the chopper and settled in.  It was hard to secure himself with Brooklyn unconscious in his arms, but he managed.  Looking down, he was still dazed.  In a blink, his life had changed.  He was now holding his Angel, his soon-to-be wife, his mate, and he couldn’t stop looking at her.  She was beautiful.   She was his.  And she was dying.  He blew out a pent-up breath that had nothing to do with the weight of the slight burden in his arms and everything to do with the weight of the monumental task in front of him.  He needed to get Brooklyn to abandon her fantasies of Monroe and give him a chance, and he needed to make it happen quickly. 

Fuck!  Why did nothing ever go smoothly where his life was concerned?

As the helicopter lifted off, Legion thought about himself.  He’d be a good match for Brooklyn, but he wasn’t sure she’d be so easy to convince.  He was nothing like Monroe.  Nothing.  Like.  Him.  And if Monroe was Brooklyn’s type than Legion wondered if there was even a chance for him.  Brooklyn’s delicate scent wafted up to his nose and had Legion clenching his jaw hard.  She smelled sweet, like roses, but there was the underlying scent of wet earth.  The scent coated humans and Walkers when they were near their end.  It reminded him of fall when everything died to avoid the harsh winter, seeds and blooms hibernating until spring’s soft rains and warm sun could revive them.  There’d be no reviving Brooklyn if Legion couldn’t convince her to accept him.  At first, he hadn’t believed Monroe’s words.  Honestly, he’d been pissed thinking Monroe had been screwing with him but when Monroe had remained serious, Legion knew the Dominant was speaking the truth.

“I found her, Legion.  I found your Angel.”

The words had rocked him down to his core.  For weeks…hell, for months, he’d been struggling watching other Walkers pair up.  He hadn’t realized that loneliness was what had been plaguing him until now. 

Smoothing a thumb over Brooklyn’s cheek, just below her eye, he couldn’t help but grin.  Never in his life had he been simultaneously so eager and so terrified to speak to someone in his life.  Pulling Brooklyn tighter to his chest, he reclined back and stared out the window at the world passing below.  He felt detached from everything right now except for Brooklyn.  His disassociation would only grow at Apex.  Monroe was putting Legion and Brooklyn into a quasi-quarantine.  Brooklyn would have no idea where they were, and Legion knew that was to prevent her from trying to run.  Still, it felt unfair.  Frowning hard, he wondered how in the hell he was supposed to deny her anything.  If she asked to go back to StoneCrow, he was expected to say no.  He was worried about that.  He fully understood that the seclusion was to save Brooklyn’s life but how was he supposed to deny her anything.  Lowering his chin, he looked at her again.  He was trying to be respectful while she was unconscious, but he just couldn’t stop staring. 

Fuck, she’s beautiful!

While he wasn’t sure what Brooklyn would think of him, Legion couldn’t deny that she was one hundred percent his type.  She played it off well, but Brooklyn had to know she was a bombshell.  She had the prettiest blue eyes that reminded him of mirrors.  She also had long blond hair that fell to her waist, but she always wore it up.  He liked that she wore it up or pulled back because it showed off her beautiful face.  She’d put on some weight recently, he assumed from her depression over Monroe’s marriage, but the extra pounds looked great on her.  Her face had rounded out and so had her curves.  Squeezing the hand that rested on her shoulder, he knew she’d be pissed if she woke up and caught him drooling over her.  Eyes sliding to her halo around her neck, he huffed out a quiet, “Tough shit.”  She was his now and he was going to look all he wanted. 

Static crackled over the headset Legion wore before Tito announced from the pilot’s seat, “ETA, twenty-nine minutes.”

“Is Tyce expecting us?”

Tito nodded than shot Legion a smile over his shoulder.  “He knows you’re coming.”

 Good.  Things were going to be difficult enough without having to explain everything to Tyce. 

Suddenly, Brooklyn moaned and drew Legion’s attention.  He prayed she stayed out until they were secured at Apex.  It’d be hard to hide their location from her if she woke before they landed at the second Skin Walker compound.

“Any chance you can shear down that ETA?”

Tito glanced over his shoulder then nodded.  “You go it!”

The helicopter’s speed increased and so did Legion’s heart.  How did he do this?  How did he make a woman who’d only ever seen him in passing fall in love with him?  And how in the hell did he make that happen before it was too late?            

Chapter 8

Legion stepped off the helicopter, shielding Brooklyn where she lay unconscious in his arms.  The chopper blades whirred overhead and had Legion ducking low as he jogged toward the waiting line of Skin Walkers on the heli-pad in the middle of a wheat field.  Apex was nothing like StoneCrow Estates.  Where Monroe sought out utmost seclusion and concealment for his Skin Walker compound, Tyce built his fortress smack dab in the middle of the prairie.  There were no nearby mountains to escape to, no towering pines to shield Apex from the brutal forces of nature or the enemies that would seek them out.  Honestly, Legion was a little reluctant to have Brooklyn at a place that—in his estimation—wasn’t as safe as StoneCrow.

Stopping a safe distance from the helicopter, Legion straightened to his full height and glanced around.  In every direction all he could see was prairie, except for the non-descript ranch house that stood just behind a row of people who were walking toward him.  He recognized Tyce immediately.  The Dominant Skin Walker at Apex was everything that Monroe StoneCrow wasn’t.  Lighthearted and easy going, even Tyce’s appearance was opposite that Monroe.  Striding confidentially toward Legion in form fitting jeans and an olive V-neck sweater, Tyce was flanked by his Chief of Security, Commander Conn Drago, and Conn’s second, York McDonnough.

As the helicopter lifted off behind him, Legion huddled his shoulders to shield Brooklyn.

“Legion!” Tyce crowed.  “Glad you made it.”  Tyce stopped just in front of Legion and looked down at Brooklyn.  “How’s your Angel?  Any issues during the flight?”

Legion appreciated Tyce’s concern.  “No problems during flight,” Legion responded.

“Good,” Tyce clapped him on the back as both Conn and York greeted Tyce.  “Let’s get her inside and get her looked over before we take you to your quarters.”

Balking a moment, Legion glanced around again.  There was no manned wall surrounding Tyce’s grounds, no Sentries standing at the ready should anything happen.  He hated to say anything, but for Brooklyn’s sake Legion asked, “Is it safe here?”

The question had Tyce, Conn, and York chuckling. 

It was Conn who responded, “We have our Angels here, brother.”

“And our children,” York added.  “Don’t let looks deceive you.”

“Apex is as safe as StoneCrow,” Tyce promised.  “I’d take no chances with my Briel or Fena, or any of my Walkers and their families for that matter.”  He looked down at Brooklyn again.  “Your Angel is safe here.  I swear it.”

That was all the reassurance Legion needed.  With a nod, he followed Tyce as Conn and York fell in behind him.  He appreciated the gesture of protection.

“Not sure if you’re aware,” Tyce spoke as he walked.  “But Pyper’s been sent to StoneCrow.”

That had Legion slamming to a halt.  Brow’s spearing down, he growled, “Then who’s supposed to care for Brooklyn?”

Tyce stopped walking too.  “Monroe’s sending us Jenny.”

That bit of info had Legion’s brows winging up.  “Last I heard she was in a bit of hot water.”

“She is,” Tyce clipped out.  “But Brooklyn deserves the best right now and that’s what she’s going to get.  Monroe will deal with Mrs. Arkinson’s discretions later.  For now, she’ll be at your disposal.”

Gratitude filled Legion along with relief.  “I’m glad to hear it.”  And he was.  He knew Jenny was the best at what she did, and he’d need her close by for Brooklyn’s sake.

“I’ve set up housing for you and Brooklyn in the hangar, and there’ll be Sentries stationed outside twenty-four seven.  The fridge has been stocked and before she left, Pyper filled the bathroom with medical supplies including pain meds along with instructions.  You can call out anytime.  The phone in the apartment will connect you directly to the ranch house.”  Tyce jerked his chin toward the massive white home towering in the open field.  “Monroe said you need privacy, so that’s what you’ll get, but we’re only a phone call or a few hundred yards away.”

Legion glanced at the hangar that rested in the field behind the ranch house.  “Looks small.”

“Good.” Tyce bit out.  “That’s how I intended it.  Come on.”

They by-passed the house and walked through waist-high wheat to get to the bunker.  Once inside, Legion followed Tyce, Conn, and York deeper into the hangar.  They passed a small little crop duster then entered a door along the furthest back wall.  The doors led down a set of industrial stairs that echoed loudly with each Walkers’ steps. 

At the bottom of the stairs, Tyce opened a door that led into a cavernous room that eclipsed the hangar above.  The massive space housed a helicopter like the two owned by Monroe StoneCrow, as well as a small private plane.  Looking up, Legion noted a line of glass windows overlooking the area.

Tyce pointed to a door along the furthest wall.  “The apartment is there.  The lock will be accessible by your handprint and mine.  No one else will be able to enter.”  His eyes lowered to Brooklyn.  “Or leave the apartment, for that matter.”  Striding towards the door, he asked, “I’ll add Jenny and other medical staff obviously.”  He pointed to another door a few feet down from the one he stood in front of.  “That’s an observation room.  It looks into your bedroom and is for Jenny to keep an eye on Brooklyn if you chose to not disclose to Brooklyn that Jenny’s here.  It’s entirely up to you.”

Legion frowned at the door.

Conn chuckled.  “Don’t worry, brother.”  He clapped Legion on the back.  “There’s a button in the room so you can open and close viewing access.  To Brooklyn it’ll appear to be a window to the outside world.  The HD screen will display varying weather.  She’ll never know that she’s in the basement of a bunker.  It’ll be entirely up to you to open and close the viewing capabilities to outsiders.”

Brooklyn stirred in his arms and Tyce hurriedly palmed the scanner beside the door.  “We’ll leave you here.  Get your Angel settled and let me know if you need anything.”

“Thank you,” Legion nodded his gratitude and watched Tyce and York walk away.  Conn stayed behind and watched Tyce and York walk away a moment before turning to address Legion. 

“I want you to know that I appreciate how difficult this task is going to be for you.  I also want you to know that Aries and I went through something…similar.  We were thrust together in an impossible situation.  It wasn’t how I’d ever dreamed of taking my Angel, but we were left with no choice.  What I can tell you is that from the instant I saw her, the very second that I laid eyes on her, it felt like my soul was awakened.  I know you and Brooklyn are just in the infancy of your relationship, but I’m guessing you’re already feeling what I felt.”

Legion dipped his chin and stared at Brooklyn.  He was already more possessive and protective than he’d ever been.

“It’s her, brother.”  Conn clapped him on the shoulder.  “It’s undeniable.  The hard part is convincing her.”

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Legion asked, “If I have questions, may I contact you?”

Conn smirked.  “Anytime.  Night or day.”

With that Conn walked away and left Legion in the doorway of the apartment.  Heart hammering in his chest, fear skittering up his spine, and anticipation swirling like molten lava low in his groin, Legion exhaled heavily.  This was it!

Chapter 9

When Brooklyn’s eyes opened everything was in a haze.  She noted instantly that she felt like death.  Her nose was stuffy, her throat was sore, she had a massive headache and to top it all off, she was thirsty, hungry, and needed to pee so damn bad.

Shoving blonde hair back from her face, not remembering how she’d gotten home, Brooklyn groaned as she rubbed at her temples and blinked her eyes open.  When her eyes finally focused, she stilled.  She didn’t recognize her surroundings.  Struggling to remember what happened, she recalled going to work, and then…   Her brain pounded as she forced herself fully conscious. 

I was in Monroe’s office and then…

Everything came flooding back and had Brooklyn jackknifing in the bed.  Instantly, she regretted it.  The rapid movement had her head spinning and her stomach convulsing, but she ignored both as her fingers clamped on the halo around her neck.  She tried to jerk it free, but it didn’t budge.  Lifting her second hand, she let her slender fingers inch around the item searching for some form of clasp or release.

“It doesn’t come off.”

Startled, Brooklyn’s eyes searched the room.  It was dimly lit, with only faint light from a lamp on a bed side stand.  She didn’t recognize the space.  It was a bedroom, neat and clean.  The room was large.  It housed the bed on which she now sat and the bedside table with the lamp.  The far end of the room was dimly lit, but she could just make out a partially open door that led into another darkened room with white tile on the floor.  Bathroom?  Eyes sweeping the room, they locked on another door.  This one was closed.  It had to be her way out.

Movement to her left had made her jump and she dropped her hands from the halo around her neck as a large menacing figure approached.

Legion stopped inches from the bed and held out a glass of water.  “Drink this.”

Brooklyn frowned at the glass of water then up at Legion.  “Where are we?”

“Safe,” he stated simply.

Irked, she gritted out, “Where?  Are?  We?”

“This is home, for now.”  He bent to hold the glass closer to her.  “Drink.”

Wanting him to back up, Brooklyn took the glass of water and backed herself to the headboard.   She sniffed the glass and didn’t smell anything out of the ordinary.  She wanted to throw the water in his Legion’s face, but she was so damn thirsty that she couldn’t help but lift the glass to her lips with shaky hands as she drank it down. 

Legion watched her through calculating steel-gray eyes.

Finishing the water, Brooklyn set the glass on the stand beside her, and again lifted her hand to the halo around her neck.  “I want this off.”

Legion shook his head.

“I’ll break it off,” she threatened.

“It stays.”

Brooklyn fingered the halo searching for a fracture, a release, a catch, anything, but the smooth surface had none.  She jerked on it and attempted to twist it between both hands, but nothing happened.  She frowned up at Legion.  “I need to use the bathroom.”             

He took a step back and pointed at the door to the right of the bed, the partially opened one.

Brooklyn could have crawled across the bed to avoid him, but she didn’t want him to think she was intimated, so she eased herself to the side of the bed where he stood.  She pushed with her arms and stood quickly, instantly regretting it.  The room wobbled and she clamped a hand to her belly praying she didn’t throw up.  She closed her eyes as she swayed on her feet and barely noticed the strong hands that reached out to steady her.

“Take it easy, tough guy,” there was concern in Legion’s tone.  “You’ve been out for a few days.”

Brooklyn forced her eyes open as shock registered.  “A few days!  What do you mean a few days?”

Legion’s eyes dipped to the halo around her throat.  “It’s the claiming, part of the transition.  You may feel ill for awhile.  It’ll pass.”

“Transition?” shock registered, “What do you mean transition?  Transition to what?”

He released his hold on her and stepped back.  “Don’t worry,” he sounded offended, “you’re not turning into one of us.”

“That’s not what I…” Oh God never mind!  Brooklyn watched him a moment then, satisfied that her legs would carry her, she stalked to the bathroom and disappeared inside.

She relieved herself then rummaged through the medicine cabinet until she found an unopened toothbrush and some toothpaste.  She noted an already opened toothbrush sitting in the holder on the vanity.  Brushing her teeth, she studied herself in the mirror.  She felt like hell and looked it too.  There were deep shadows under her eyes like she hadn’t slept in days, which made zero sense considering what Legion had just told her.

“You’ve been out for a few days.”  How was the even possible?

She frowned at her image and tried not to think of the multitude of tasks that had required her attention and—if Legion was to be believed—had gone ignored over the past few days.  Legion hadn’t given her a specific number, but a few days was too damn many, and her work was important.  Her work was what defined her, and she wasn’t going to play this sick game Monroe had concocted.  She refused.

In the back of her mind, a tiny voice whispered, “He said you’re sick.  Dying!  When have you known Monroe to lie?”

Forcing that voice into silence, Brooklyn rinsed her mouth and washed her face.  Retrieving a brush from the vanity drawer, she ignored how her arms shook and her knees trembled as she brushed her hair into a tight ponytail.  She was weak as hell, that couldn’t be denied, but she refused to believe it was from illness.  Choosing the lesser of two evils, she latched onto Legion’s claim of her being “out” for a few days.

Glancing down, she saw that she was still wearing the same outfit she’d been in the day she’d gone to Monroe’s office.  Unlike that day though, her navy pantsuit was wrinkled and disheveled.  Straightening her clothes as best she could, she plucked at her cheeks and chewed on her lips attempting to bring some much-needed color to her ashen pallor.  It didn’t work.  

Eyes dropping to the shiny halo that was clasped around her slender throat, Brooklyn used the mirror to try to locate an opening but found none.

Turning from the mirror in disgust, she passed a cursory glance over the shower stall.  A steamy shower sounded divine, but that would have to wait until she was back in her own suite. Her only concern right now was finding some aspirin for her pounding head, then she’d get the damn halo removed, and get back to work.

There was a little bottle of aspirin in the fully stocked medicine cabinet.  Palming three, Brooklyn used the same hand to cup water into her mouth.  Her stomach growled loudly.  She was famished and hoped that explained her weakness.

 She was drying her hands when a dizzy spell hit.  Christ, she’d only brushed her teeth, brushed her hair, and washed her face, and she was completely drained. 

“Oh God!”  Her vision became spotty, and she knew she was going to pass out.  She couldn’t pass out in the bathroom.

“Legion!”  She knew Walkers had extraordinary hearing and she prayed he’d heard her. 

Dropping slowly onto the toilette, she pinched her eyes closed to stop the room from spinning.  Leaning into the vanity, she held on with two shaky hands.

The bathroom door jerked open and then Legion was there. 

Brooklyn wanted to explain why she’d yelled for him, but her breathing was too erratic.  All she could manage was to reach out one shaky hand to fist Legion’s shirt to steady herself.

In a move that was so fast it made her stomach lurch she was up in Legion’s arms.  “Too much, too soon,” he growled.

Too busy battling to keep from retching, she didn’t argue.  As Legion carried her back to the bedroom, the nausea passed to be replaced by inexplicably intense exhaustion. 

“No,” she breathed quietly.  She didn’t want to go back out but apparently had zero say in the matter.  “No,” she protested again before sleep reclaimed her.

Chapter 10

The scent of grilled steak drew Brooklyn from her sleep.  Mouth instantly watering, her belly responded in kind with a loud growl.  Slowly, she opened her eyes only to be greeted with pain.  She was so hungry that it hurt.  Lifting a shaky hand to rub her eyes, she tried to sit up but failed.  The only thing she could manage was a disgruntled groan.

Moments later strong hands were lifting her gently into a sitting position.  Blinking up at Legion as he arranged pillows behind her so that she could sit comfortably, Brooklyn was disappointed that what she thought had been a dream was in fact true. 

Legion’s voice was deep when he informed, “Dinner will be ready in two.”

She watched him stalk away from her, and too weak to move or do anything else, she looked around.  No longer in the bedroom she’d been in before, she studied the space.  “Where…” she started, but her voice faded on a croak.  Clearing her throat, she tried again.  “Wh-where are we?”

“Home.”

That pissed her off, but she was too drained to work up a good mad.  She knew they weren’t at StoneCrow Estates because she was familiar with the grounds and the housing options.  This place wasn’t one.  It had her wondering if Monroe had banished her from the Estate.  Just the thought of that had the sharp prick of betrayal stinging her heart.

“Where are we?” she tried again and then tagged on, “I want to go home.”

Legion looked up from where he was working over a stove built into an island in the kitchen.  Wherever they were, the place was nice.  Marble countertops and island, dark wood, sangria-colored rugs, and matching curtains over the windows.  Doing a double take, she struggled to her feet and shuffled to the window.  When she peeled the curtain back, her belly dropped, and her eyes rounded.  Mouth falling open, she stared at the picturesque palm trees and ocean in the background.  Waves licked at the sandy-white beach while seagulls circled the sky.

“Where are we?” she demanded again.  Turning, she glared over her shoulder at Legion.  “Where in the hell are we?” she yelled when he just looked at her.  Instantly, she regretted the outburst.  The explosion of emotion had her temples throbbing which sent her stomach heaving. 

“Shhhit!” she hissed, leaning heavily on the windowsill.

“Sit,” Legion commanded but was already crossing the dark carpet that separated them. 

When he made to pick her up, Brooklyn jerked back.  “I’m fine,” she snapped, blatantly lying.  She wasn’t fine.  She wasn’t fine at all.  She felt ill and was starving and exhausted.  She just wanted to be back in her suite at StoneCrow.  She wanted to go home.

“Lyn,” Legion’s tone was soft and imploring.  “Please?” he begged.  “Let me help you.”

She wasn’t sure what grated on her more, the fact that she needed his help or him using a nickname for her like they were familiar.  They weren’t.

“Don’t call me that,” she snapped and straightened her spine as best she could.  Lifting her chin, she tried her best to appear poised.  She failed miserably when she took a step and her leg buckled.

Legion caught her in a flash.  His tone was mocking when he groused, “Come on, tough guy.  Let’s get you back where you belong.”

He placed her back on the couch and to Brooklyn’s relief, he left her there to get back to the stove.  Watching him work, Brooklyn was surprised to find that he was familiar with a kitchen.  He seemed too big, too menacing to waste time learning menial skills like cooking.  She watched as he lifted a lid off a small pot and stirred the contents before replacing the lid.  Then he jerked open a cupboard and pulled out two plates.  Next, he opened the oven and shoved a mitt on his hand before reaching in and pulling out a baking sheet.

Brooklyn nearly whimpered when she saw baked potatoes.  Legion opened the fridge and pulled out a can of Coke and emptied the contents into a tall ice-filled glass before he set out arranging the food on a plate.  He loaded up a tray with the plate of food, soda, utensils, and condiments.

Wordlessly, he crossed the living area, carrying the tray to her.  Apparently, bringing her the food wasn’t enough because he set the tray on the coffee table before retrieving a chair from the four-seat dining table.  He carried it to just beside the couch then took a seat before taking up the tray and using a knife and fork to cut into the most decadent steak, Brooklyn had ever smelled.  He lifted the bite toward Brooklyn’s face, but she eased back. 

“I can do that.”  She tried to lift her hand, but nothing happened.  Panic flared to life as she dropped her eyes to where her hands rested in her lap.

Legion set down the forkful of steak.  His tone too calm as he relayed, “Don’t be alarmed.  Your body has burned all its fuel and you no longer have any strength.  You will regain some strength once you eat.”

Brooklyn’s breathing grew harsh as she tried to move her arms and legs, but nothing seemed to work.  She pinned him with her terrified gaze.

“You’ve been out another two days Brooklyn.  It’s too long, and not typical of a claiming.  I think your pre-existing illness has something to do with it.  Now that you’re awake we need to get some nutrition into you and quickly in case you go back out again.”

Back out again! 

Legion gently slid one hand behind her neck and gripped her head to help ease her head back.  He lifted the glass of soda to her lips and slowly tilted it.

She was so dehydrated and hungry.  He was right.  She felt completely depleted of energy, and it was terrifying.  She’d never experienced this before. 

Drinking down the liquid, she swore she could feel the sugar instantly course through her body, warming her muscles and tingling her limbs.  Relieved to feel something, she drank down half the glass before shaking her head.  She tried to ignore the ball of fear that knotted itself in her gut. 

Helpless!  I’m completely and utterly helpless. 

If Legion tried anything, she’d be unable to even defend herself.  Slowly, she let her eyes lift to his face to study him. 

He was terrifying and too handsome.  His long hair, nearly the same color as hers, was pulled back and secured at the nape of his thick neck.  His square jaw led up to pronounced cheek bones that would have been exquisite on woman, on him they just looked menacing.  He was sporting a five o’clock shadow that wasn’t there when they’d been in Monroe’s office.  She watched his steel gray eyes concentrate on setting down the glass and taking up the tray of food.  Dark brows were draw together over his task.  Brooklyn’s eyes dipped to his large hands as they worked the silverware.  The utensils seemed dwarfed by the size of his fingers.  He reminded her of a massive golden God, Brad Pitt’s character, Achilles, in the movie Troy.  She’d never been a Brad Pitt fan just because it seemed unfair for a man to be that beautiful.  Brad Pitt had nothing on Legion.  The man beside her was a heavily muscled hulking behemoth.   Snorting inwardly at the comparison, she wondered if Legion had a weakness.  She abandoned her musings when he lifted a small bite of steak to her lips. 

Unable to do anything else, Brooklyn parted her lips and accepted the bite.  The first bite was an explosion of flavor.  Butter, garlic, and rosemary were all evident.  Chewing, she wasn’t certain if he was that good of a cook or if the steak was the best she’d ever had simply because she was starving.  Swallowing, she moaned in appreciation.  “You’re a good cook.”

Legion cut up her potato and mashed it up with butter and salt.  Blowing on it for a few moments, he finally held a bite up to her lips. It was phenomenal!  She was so damn hungry that she greedily accepted every forkful of food he held up to her mouth. 

After a while, he lifted the Coke to her lips and allowed her to drink.  She swallowed then stared at the empty plate in the kitchen, “Aren’t you going to eat?”

“Later.”

Wordlessly, she allowed him to feed her, all while she attempted to veil her embarrassment at the intimacy of the act.  She’d never been fed by anyone before. 

A few more bites and she was stuffed, her energy was sapped. Falling back against the pillows piled behind her, she shook her head when Legion held another bite of steak to her lips.

“Eat.”

“I’m done.”

Legion eyed the plate and appeared dissatisfied with her progress.  Frowning, he ordered, “You need to eat more.”

Exhaustion crept up on her and she let her head loll back against the pillow.  She didn’t mean to fall back asleep but when she closed her eyes that’s exactly what happened.

Chapter 11

Brooklyn woke to discover she’d been taken back to the bedroom.  Testing her limbs, she was delighted when her legs and arms obeyed her commands.  Good thing.  Easing off the bed to a standing position, she used the wall as a support as she made her way to the bathroom.

Short minutes later when she re-entered the room, Legion was there.  Leaning against the doorframe, long legs crossed at the ankle, his hands were shoved into the pockets of his black BDU pants.  He looked like a bodyguard in his Sentry uniform.

“You got any other clothes,” she teased.

Looking down at himself, Legion lifted his gaze.  “Why?  You don’t like my uniform?”

She shrugged as she shuffled back to the bed and sat gingerly.  “It feels like I’m in prison and you’re my guard.”

“You’re not in prison.  And I’m not your guard.”

His admission had her brows spearing down.  “If you’re not my guard, am I free to leave?”

He shoved off the door and swept his arm toward the hallway.  “You think you can make it?”

No.  Shooting him a mutinous look, she was certain he knew she wouldn’t be able to get far.  “Are we on an island?” she queried trying to distract herself and get some information at the same time.

When Legion grinned and shook his head, she kept prodding.  “California?  Mexico?”

“Where we are doesn’t matter.” 

“And what does,” she snapped angrily. 

His answer was blunt.  “You.”

That had her snorting.  “Yeah.  Me!  Just what you wanted huh?  A sick, dying invalid for a mate.” 

Legion frowned at her, a displeased growl rattling his chest.

It was the first time she’d brought up what Monroe had told her about her condition and about her and Legion’s connection.  It all sounded made up but why?  Why would Monroe deceive her in such a way?  Was this payback for crushing on him so hard?  She’d tried to control herself after Monroe had wed Eden.  Periodically, she been caught staring longingly at the Dominant, but she’d really been working on getting over him.  Eyeing Legion, she asked, “Is this Monroe punishing me?”

His response was immediate.  “No.”

The instant shut down had her brows knitting.

“He’s a dick but he’d never lie about something like this.”

Lowering her chin, she glanced up through her eyelashes.  “You trust him?”

“Fully.”

Falling silent a moment, she fidgeted with the comforter on the bed. When a wave of exhaustion hit her, she reclined on the bed, turning on her side to face Legion while tucking a pillow between her knees and then grabbing another to hug tightly to her chest.  Without looking at Legion, she apologized.  “I’m sorry about this.  All of it.  I’m sorry you were dragged into it.”

Crossing to a place on the wall that was closer Brooklyn, Legion leaned back into it, his eyes on her.  “I’m not.”

Brooklyn’s head snapped up.  “You can’t believe this.  You can’t believe that he knows you and I are…a match?”

“He wouldn’t make this up.” Legion’s eyes narrowed on her. 

“How do you know?”

“Because you’re valuable to him.  To the Estate.”

Brooklyn rolled her eyes.

“You don’t believe me?”

Shooting Legion a look, Brooklyn couldn’t hold his gaze and ducked her head.

“You’re aware of who and what we are, and you protect that.  You work your ass off for the Estate and the Walkers there.  If anything happened to you, he’d be in a bind to replace you.”

“I’m just an event planner,” she scoffed.

“You’re more than that.  You’re part of our community.  You’re a part of our fucked up little family, and Monroe takes that seriously.  He takes loyalty seriously.  As do we all.”

She huffed a humorless sound.

Shoving off the wall, Legion crossed to the bed to tower over her.  “I take it seriously.”

Brooklyn refused to meet his gaze as she repeated her apology.  “I’m sorry about all of this.”

“Stop apologizing to me,” he growled.  “It’s my responsibility to care for you. You’re my mate…”

Deserting the pillows, Brooklyn rolled away from him and shoved up off the opposite side of the bed while protesting, “Stop!” 

The move was too fast and made her light-headed and she swooned.  In a flash, Legion was around the bed and reaching out to steady her.  Brooklyn jerked away from him and dropped back onto the bed. 

“Don’t touch me!”  Blinking out of her dizziness, she looked up to find Legion giving her a dark look.  She regretted being so curt with him and she hated being the recipient of his ire even more, but it had to be this way.  “I’m not doing this with you,” she explained.  “I appreciate you playing along but no.  Just…no!”

“This isn’t a game,” Legion snarled.  “And I’m not playing at anything.” 

“Legion,” she whispered.  “I can’t argue this with you.  I don’t have the energy.  You need to take me home.”  Lifting a delicate hand, she rubbed at her throat.  “Something’s wrong.  I shouldn’t be this weak.”  She looked at him and asked, “Should I?”

Cold gray eyes locked on hers and he shook his head once.  “You should be ill, but not like this.”

She let her head roll to the side, her face turned from his.  “Perhaps Monroe’s calculations were wrong.  Maybe I’m dying already.”

A large hand gently gripped her jaw as he brought her eyes back to his.  “You’re not going to die.”

“Take me home,” she pleaded.

Legion’s eyes dropped to her lips, “Not until my mission is complete.”

Brooklyn felt anger rip through her and knew her face flushed significantly.  Angry blue eyes found his and she jerked her chin out of his hold.  “Mission?”  She let her eyes slide down his frame condescendingly.  “Well, what are you waiting for?   You’re not going to get a better opportunity than this?  Fuck me and get it over with so you can check it off your list!  Mission accomplished!  Clearly, I can’t stop you.”

Legion’s eyes flashed dangerously. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.”

“Hey, a job is a job, right?”

Legion’s jaw worked as he calmly backed up a step.

“What’s wrong?  Afraid you won’t be able to perform?  Why don’t you shift and let one of your animals do the job?  I might prefer it.”  She was wounded and saying anything she could to hurt Legion the way he’d just hurt her.  Satisfaction filled her when Legion’s expression morphed into one of fury.  Good!

“Come on,” she goaded looking back at the bed before laying back down.  “How do you want me?”  She shimmied to the middle of the bed and spread her arms and legs.  “Like this or do we let your animal choose?”

With a deep rumble, Legion stalked toward the door.  “Don’t!”

“Don’t what?” she asked icily stopping him in his tracks as she struggled to a sitting position.  “Don’t help you finish your little mission?  Don’t give you what Monroe wants me to give you?  You may not be interested in me but ask your animals.  They’ve no conscience.  It should be over quickly.”  

At the foot of the bed, Legion snarled.  Fast as a lightning strike, his hand shot out and gripped Brooklyn’s ankle.  He jerked her toward him so fast that she fell back onto the bed.  In an instant, he was over her, pinning her with his weight, nose touching hers as he growled menacingly through gnashed teeth.

Brooklyn’s heart was hammering in her chest, and she had to clamp her teeth together to keep from crying out in fear.  She was terrified, but she’d never show it.

Legon’s head dipped, his nose tracing her jawline as he growled, “I scent your fear.”

She turned her head away, “Fuck you!”

He growled again, a deep rumble in his chest and she felt the vibrations in her own.  He reached up and gripped her jaw, forcing her face back to his until their eyes collided.  “I am not an animal.”

She clenched her teeth, angry tears flooding her eyes.  “And I am not a mission!”

Legion stilled, his eyes roving her features before he pulled back, easing his weight off her. 

Once he was off her, Brooklyn didn’t move.  Staring up at the ceiling, she listened to him climb from the bed, the mattress dipping with his weight.  Then there was silence.  It stretched on for long moments.  She took great pride in her independence.  She’d been taking care of herself her entire life.  Her father, an abusive alcoholic had neglected her all her life.  She’d learned to fend for herself at an early age, and when he’d died of cirrhosis when she was seventeen, she’d been more relieved than sad.  Guilt over that still ate at her daily.  Still, she’d worked her way through community college, and everything she owned she had earned herself.  Now, lying motionless on the bed relying on an absolute stranger, she realized just how alone in the world she really was.  She blinked and the tears fell.  She heard movement and then Legion was kneeling beside the bed. She could feel him staring at her, so she rolled away from him.

“Did I hurt you?  I didn’t mean to.  I’d never…”

“No,” she whispered fighting for control, but losing.  “I want to go home.”

He growled.

“Stop doing that,” she bellowed as she continued to cry.  “You don’t have any reason to be mad at me.”

“I’m not.”

“Then why are you growling at me?”

“I’m not growling at you, I’m just…growling.”

“Well, it’s scary and I’m already scared, so knock it off!”

Out of nowhere, his hand reached out and rubbed her arm.  “I know you’re scared, Brooklyn.  Hell, I’m scared too.  But we shouldn’t be.  You’re going to be alright.  We just need to…”

“No,” she sobbed, “I’m not sleeping with you just so I can live.  It’s wrong and it’s…it’s…slutty.”

She was surprised when she heard the deep rumble of his laughter.  It caused her to laugh too.  The whole situation was absurd and throwing a moral dilemma into it was laugh worthy.

Legion must have sat on the bed behind her because it dipped, and she rolled back into the firm strength of his thigh. 

“No one is going to think you’re a slut.”

Her smile faded and she sobered.  “I would.”  Turning her head, she looked up at him.  “Besides, it’s not fair to you.  You still have a chance at finding your true mate, Legion. You can’t waste your halo on me, you deserve to find real happiness.” 

She watched his eyes darken.

“Brooklyn,” he reached up and gently wiped tears off her cheek.  “You’re surprising.”

“Surprising?”

He cocked his head as he stared down at her, “No, that’s not the right word.”  His eyes roved her features.  “Refreshing.”  His brows knitted, “You’re very refreshing.”

She swallowed hard, not liking the way he was looking at her.  “You make me sound like a soda.”

His eyes locked on her lips, “Let’s see if you’re as sweet.”  Bending over her, he caged her in with his arms and lowered his lips to hers. 

His mouth was warm and gentle, but shocked by his actions, Brooklyn gasped.  She shouldn’t have.  It left her vulnerable to his assault.  The more deeply Legion kissed her, the more pliant her mouth became until she was kissing him back.  She hadn’t kissed a man in a very long time and the way he had her caged in, the way he’d gone slowly, made her feel almost cherished.  The feeling spurred her on, and feeling brave, she slowly relaxed.  Lips parting slightly, she eased her tongue forward to lick Legion’s lips.  He quickly captured her tongue, drawing it into his mouth with a growl of approval.

Chapter 12

Legion knew he was moving too quickly. He knew Brooklyn wasn’t ready.  And while he hadn’t been prepared to believe Monroe’s claim that Jenny had found a way to pinpoint a specific Skin Walker’s Angel, he wanted to know the truth.  Now, he couldn’t deny what his body was telling him, what his inner beasts were telling him, and what his heart was telling him.  Brooklyn was his!

With a muffled protest, Brooklyn broke the kiss and turned her head away from him with a blush.  “We shouldn’t have done that?”

“Why?” he asked.  “We’re adults.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

He knew what she meant, so instead of pressing the issue, he crawled away from her and rose from the bed.  As he made his way toward the door, he directed, “Get some rest, princess.” 

Behind him, Brooklyn hissed, “Don’t call me that!  I’m not a princess.”

Humor lit his eyes and filled his tone when he turned and asked, “No?”

“No!” she raged.  “Princesses are spoiled and entitled.  They’re soft and naïve.  And I’m none of those things.”

“No,” he agreed.  “No, you’re not.”  Tilting his head to the side, he asked, “So, what shall I call you then?”

“Brooklyn.”

With a smirk, Legion slowly shook his head.  “Nah.  Everyone calls you that.”

Brows furrowing, Brooklyn retorted, “Because it’s my name.”

“Yeah, but I’m not everyone.”

At that, Brooklyn fell silent. 

“I deserve special treatment, just like you deserve an endearment.”

Rolling her eyes, Brooklyn huffed, “That’s stupid.”

He shrugged.  “To you maybe, but I’m not gonna be holed up here with you for God knows how long and call you Brooklyn.  It’s too formal.”

She groused, “Well, we’ve only just met, and Brooklyn’s my name so...,”

“I know, but…”  His words fizzled as he checked himself before speaking.  How did he tell Brooklyn they were on limited time without sending her into a full-blown panic?

“But what?”

With a forced grin, Legion replied as honestly as he could.  “You feel big to me.”

“Thanks!” Brooklyn snorted and rolled her eyes.

“I’m not talking about size.  I’m not even talking about what you look like.  I’m talking about how you feel to me.”

He liked it when she fell silent, drawing her bottom lip into her mouth as a becoming blush darkened her cheeks.

“You feel like my responsibility.”

When Brooklyn opened her mouth to protest, he held up a hand. 

“What I mean is, I feel protective of you.  Very protective.”

“My very own big bad wolf.”

“Yeah, little lamb,” he chuckled.  “Something like that.” 

“Speaking of being holed up here,” she waved at the window, desperately needing to change the subject.  Another breathtaking ocean beach scene was visible.  “I know that’s not real.”  Growing serious, she pleaded, “Tell me where we are.  For real.”

Legion glanced at the scene on the screen.  It would fool ninety percent of people, but not her.  Angling his face back toward her, he asked, “How’d you know?”

She shrugged up one slim shoulder.  “I’ve been to the beach.  My best friend lives there.  The scent of salty air clings to everything and the moisture instantly kinks my hair.”  She reached up and lifted a strand of hair off her shoulder.  “Still straight.”

Watching her a moment, Legion finally sighed and walked to the window.  Lifting a panel beneath the windowsill, he pressed a button and the serene scene pixilated then disappeared.  In its place was a glass window that looked out onto an area that was painted gray and looked like an industrial warehouse of some sort. 

Tilting her head, Brooklyn asked, “Are we under the barn?”

Legion smirked.  “You’re too smart for your own good.”

Brooklyn beamed at him.

“But no,” he continued.  “We are no longer at StoneCrow.”

That had Brooklyn’s brow furrowing as she eyed the window.  “If Monroe is so worried about my health, why send me away?”

The hint of pain in her voice had his hackles rising.  She was hurt that Monroe had sent her away and it pissed him off.  “You know StoneCrow too well,” he answered.  “We couldn’t have you trying to run away.  We’re safe,” he offered.  “That’s all that matters.” 

Satisfied that she’d accepted his explanation, he motioned toward the bed.  “Now get some rest while I make you some lunch.  We’ve got company coming soon.”

Her face scrunched in confusion.  “Lunch?”

Expression turning serious, Legion planted his hands on his hips.  “Yeah.  Lunch.  You’ve been out since dinner last night.”

“Jesus!” Brooklyn breathed lifting a hand to rub at her temple.

“Like I said, rest.”

“Who’s coming?” she asked.

“Jenny.”

“Jenny’s here but we’re not at StoneCrow?”

“Correct.”

Legion watched Brooklyn contemplate silently as she reclined back against the headboard.  Crossing her arms primly over her chest she lifted her chin and smirked at him.  “We’re at Apex, aren’t we?”

Damn, she was smart!  With a grin and a slight nod, Legion admitted, “Yeah, we’re at Apex.  But don’t get any ideas.”  He pointed out the window.  “We’re in Tyce’s hangar, and there are Sentries posted outside.  Plus, there are sensors on everything and cameras everywhere.”

Brooklyn’s voice softened, her bravado fading.  “Why tell me?  Why admit where we are?”

He shrugged his massive shoulders.  “I’m not hiding anything from you.  Not now, not ever.”

“You’re not worried about Monroe finding out?”

Stalking to the bed, Legion bent low, putting his face right in Brooklyn’s.  “I’ll say this once.  I give zero shits what Monroe StoneCrow thinks about what I say or do, especially where you’re concerned.  He’s the Dominant at StoneCrow and commands many, but he doesn’t control me, Lyn, and he never will.”  Straightening, he continued, “He may be Dominant, but so am I when it comes to what’s mine.”

“B-but I’m not yours.”

Legion’s response was brusque.  “No.”  Then more quietly, “Not yet!”

Chapter 13

Brooklyn sat erect on the bed while Jenny scanned her with a handheld device.

“Your numbers aren’t good,” Jenny admitted quietly, a frown furrowing her delicate black brows.  Her long dark hair was swept up into the messiest of buns and her white med jacket was buttoned wrong like she’d been in a hurry or distracted.

Swallowing hard, Brooklyn looked past Jenny to where Legion stood in the doorway.  He shot her what she assumed was supposed to be a reassuring smile, but it didn’t reflect in his eyes.

Straightening, Jenny snagged her stethoscope from where it lay on the bed.  “Have you and Legion…you know?”

Brooklyn ripped her gaze away from Legion with a hard blush.  “Have we what?”

Jenny looked over her shoulder at Legion who shook his head.

“Look,” Jenny heaved an exasperated sigh.  “I understand the highly sensitive nature of this, but time is of the essence, Brooklyn.”

Head ducked, Brooklyn refused to meet Jenny’s gaze but offered a lame, “I’m wearing his halo.”

Legion was the one to respond.  “There’s more to a claiming than just wearing my halo.”  He was silent a moment before explaining, “We have to consummate.”

Head jerking up, Brooklyn bellowed, “I’m not sleeping with you!  I just met you!” 

“Relax,” Legion growled, “I’ll not take until you’re not willing to give.”

“Christ!” Jenny breathed.  “We don’t have time for this!”  Her gaze turned imploring.  “Please, Brooklyn!  Please, we have to try.  We…”

“We?” Brooklyn scoffed as she cut Jenny off.  “We don’t have to do anything.”

“You’re right,” Jenny conceded.  “I didn’t mean it like it sounded.  What I meant was…”

“I’m not an idiot,” Brooklyn snapped.  “I know what you meant.  And I know what you and Monroe want Legion and I to do.”  She blushed hard again and shot Legion a glare.  “Can Jenny and I have a minute alone?”

Jenny turned and eyed Legion, “Uhhh…”

Legion’s eyes narrowed as he studied Brooklyn.  It took a moment, but Legion uncrossed his arms and huffed, “I’ll be in the living room if either of you need me.”

“Thank you,” Jenny muttered.

Brooklyn stayed silent because she was pissed.  She was mad that everyone kept trying to force Legion on her.  She was mad that she had no say.  She was mad that she felt ill.  All she wanted was a hot bath, a warm bowl of tomato soup with a grilled cheese and a Coke, and a long nap.  Apparently, her impending death took precedence.

Jenny watched Legion exit the room and closed the door behind him before turning back to Brooklyn.  “Look, you only need to sleep with him once for me to determine if it’s going to help or not.”

Brooklyn shook her head.  “Do you know how selfish that is?”

“It’s not selfish,” Jenny countered, frowning hard. 

Brooklyn tried again, “Do you know how slutty that is?”

“We’re talking about your life, Brooklyn.  Your life or your death!  And Legion is fully prepared to aid you in whatever it is you need.”

“How do you know that?  Has anyone even asked him?”

“No one needs to ask him.  You’re his!  That means he’d do anything for you, Brooklyn.  Anything!  Literally.”

“Angie said there was no way to pinpoint a Skin Walker’s Angel.  I find it hard to believe that now that I need a mate, poof!  A method just shows up.  It’s highly suspect.  Plus, I don’t want to mess Legion’s life up just trying to save my own.”

“You wouldn’t,” Jenny vowed.  “I swear to you that this is real.  Legion is your one, Brooklyn.  You have to trust me.”

“And how am I supposed to do that when Legion regards you with such suspicion?”

Jenny jerked back, her mouth falling open.

“I’m not blind, Jenny.  He doesn’t trust you.  And, no offense, but if he doesn’t, how can I?”

Closing her mouth, Jenny fell silent a moment before admitting quietly, “I screwed up.”  When Brooklyn didn’t respond, Jenny offered more.  “I hid my findings from Monroe, from everyone.”

“Why would you do that?  If it’s supposed to help, why not share it.”

“I wanted to give people a choice.  I didn’t want to force anyone into a mating over test results.  I wanted it to happen organically.  I needed to know if it could happen naturally.  I needed to know if it would happen!  I wanted to see if Walkers could sense their one, but more importantly, I needed to know what happened when a Walker dated and then encountered his true mate.”

“Heartbreak,” Brooklyn gritted out.  “That’s what happens.  The non-mate, the date, the faux-Angel gets dropped like a bad habit.”

“But I didn’t know that for sure.  We had to test it.”

“There was no we, only you.  And you played God with them…with us!”

Jenny nodded sadly.  “I guess you could say that, but it was never my intention.”

“Legion’s right then.”  Brooklyn lifted her chin and shot Jenny a dark look.  “You can’t be trusted.”

“Brooklyn,” Jenny started but Brooklyn cut her off.

“Can you just go.  I need some time to think.”

Jenny tried again, leaning forward to grip Brooklyn’s ankle, “Brooklyn, please I’m just…”

“Leave!” Brooklyn shouted, feeling a hint of guilt before she tacked on more quietly, “Please.”

Before another word was said, Legion stepped into the room and walked up to Jenny, towering over her.  “Time to go, Jen.”

A pang of some foreign emotion at Legion’s protective stance hit Brooklyn hard.  It faded quickly thought at Jenny’s sad expression.  Jenny looked so remorseful that Brooklyn had to look away.  But that was Jenny’s own fault.  A doctor’s first job was to do no harm, yet Jenny had done plenty.

“Alright,” Jenny whispered as she straightened.  Turning to face Legion, she squared her shoulders.  “If anything happens, please contact me immediately.  I’m on-call for Brooklyn twenty-four-seven.  She’s my only patient, so…”  She let the words die off as she turned to force a smile at Brooklyn over her shoulder.  “I’ll be back tomorrow to check on you.  Hopefully things between you and Legion will have changed by then.”

Brooklyn knew what Jenny was hinting at, and it had her anger returning quickly.  Even now, in the face of Brooklyn’s dour judgment, Jenny was still pushing.

Jenny exited, followed by Legion, who stalled long enough to shoot Brooklyn a wink that had her feeling supported in a way she’d never been. 

Once alone, Brooklyn wondered at Jenny’s words and her insistence.  Lifting a hand to her temple, Brooklyn pinched her eyes closed.  Everything was so confusing and so rushed.  Every damn decision she made felt too critical and it was so draining that it had her brain pounding.  She didn’t feel well at all, and now she had the added worry that Jenny’s insistence meant something was seriously wrong.  She huffed a humorless sound.  She was dying.  What was more serious than that?

***

Legion followed Jenny out of the mock apartment and into the hangar. 

Once outside, Jenny heaved another weighty sigh then stopped and turned to face him.  “You’re loathing of me is nearly palpable, Sentry.  So, let’s have it.”

Good.  He was glad Jenny wasn’t under any false pretense that she was wanted near Brooklyn.

“I want you aware that we’d take our chances with Dr. Ames if Brooklyn wasn’t in such peril.”

Jenny swallowed hard and nodded.

“I want you to know that I’m aware you’re the reason my Angel is in the condition she’s in.”

Dipping her chin like a child who’d been admonished, Jenny nodded again.

“I want you to know that while Monroe deems banishing you and Bishop to Apex a fitting punishment, I don’t.”

Lifting her head, Jenny rushed out, “Bishop knew nothing about any of this.  He’s innocent.”

“As is Brooklyn,” Legion sneered then took a menacing step closer.  “But that didn’t matter to you, did it?”  When Jenny didn’t respond, Legion pressed, “You kept her from me.  Hid her from me and me from her.  And in doing so, you put her life at risk.”

“I didn’t know she was sick!”

“It doesn’t matter!” Legion roared, hands balling into tight fists.

One second, he was trying to control his temper and the next, his body was crashing into the concrete wall just beside the front door of his and Brooklyn’s apartment.

Jenny screamed, “Bishop, no!”  

But it was too late.  Legion needed an outlet for his pent-up rage and stomach curdling fear he’d been trying to hide from Brooklyn since they’d arrived.  Bishop would do.

Hammering his fists into Bishop while Jenny’s mate returned his rage was downright therapeutic. Wow!  Legion hadn’t realized how much pent-up anger and anxiety he’d needed to expel. 

“Bishop!  Please!  Stop!”

The delicate sound of muffled pounding and a very faint, “Legion?” had Legion slowing his blows.  On the other side of the door, Brooklyn sounded panicked and that riled up Legion like nothing else could.  He threw one last hard punch that connected with Bishop’s jaw then shoved him hard.  Pointing a finger in Bishop’s face, he snarled, “The next time you blind-side me, there’ll be no getting me off of you.”

Bishop, who had blood running down from his nose, swiped at it with the back of his hand and snarled, “Brooklyn being sick isn’t Jenny’s fault.”

Legion was quick to counter, “She didn’t cause it, but she sure as hell contributed to it!”  

“And she’s here to make up for that.”

Slowly shaking his head, Legion’s lip curled up in disgust.  “She’s here because Monroe sent her away.  He wants her to witness her dirty work firsthand.”

“Please!” Jenny insinuated herself between the two behemoths.  Bishop was quick to wrap an arm possessively around her shoulders.  “Let’s worry about Brooklyn right now. Everything else can wait.  It must!  Her health is more important than anything else right now.  It’s more important than any of us and our feeling regarding each other.”

Legion’s icy gaze dipped to Jenny for just a moment before he turned away and stormed to the apartment door, using the palm reader to gain access.

Outside, Bishop turned Jenny to face him, his eyes scanning her from head to toe.  “You alright?”

She shook her head, her lower lip trembling as she leaned her forehead into her mate’s chest as she breathed, “I fucked up.”

Arms going around her, Bishop pulled her into his strong embrace.  “We all mess up, baby.”

“Not like this,” she cried.  “Not like this.”

Chapter 14

Legion stepped back into the apartment and couldn’t hide the blood dripping from a cut on his lip.  Brooklyn was right there standing rod straight in the sitting room, eyes wide. 

“Wh-what happened?  Are you okay?”

She rushed to the kitchen island and quickly snagged the box of Kleenex resting there before hurrying back to him to dab at his chin with a fistful of tissues.

“I’m fine.”  He jerked away from her and instantly regretted it.  She looked wounded by his dismissal but how did he explain that one bloody lip didn’t mean shit to him?  It was her he was worried about, not himself.

Lowering her arms, Brooklyn slowly walked back to the island and set the box of tissues down, sad eyes scanning him for more injuries.  “What were you fighting over?”

Without hesitation, he answered, “You.”  And son of a bitch, that was the wrong thing to say too.  Brooklyn’s mouth fell open as her expression morphed into one of pure distress.  Eyes filling with tears, she choked out, “You fought someone over me?”

“It was Bishop.”

“Don’t do that,” she snapped.  “Don’t go making enemies or ending friendships over me, Legion.  I won’t be around long enough to make it worth it.  And, I have enough on my plate right now without the added weight of ruining your life too.”

“You’re not ruining my life.  He got what he deserved!”

“Why?” she yelled.  “Because Jenny messed up and he’s protecting her?  That’s what mates do right?”

“You can’t defend Bishop for defending Jenny when all I’m doing is the same for you.”

“But I don’t want you to!  Don’t you get that?  I don’t want you bleeding over me or punching anyone or getting punched!”  She jammed her finger toward the door.  “The difference between them and us is that they’re mates!  They’re together!  He has every right…”

Her words died off when Legion snarled.  In a move so fast that he blurred, he was on her.  One second, she was arguing her case and the next, he had her up on the kitchen island, his big body pressed between her legs and one hand collaring the back of her neck.  Face so close, that his nose brushed hers, he growled, “I have every right!”

When she opened her mouth to disagree, Legion took advantage and covered her mouth with his.  The taste of him hit her first and then there was his blood.  Her knee-jerk reaction was to recoil from the kiss, her second reaction was fear.  She’d never ingested anyone’s blood before, but there was something about Legion’s that had her swallowing down any argument she had and lifting her arms.  Wrapping herself around him, and going against all rational thought, she kissed him back!  His blood was addicting, and it was doing something funny to her.  Unable to stop herself, Brooklyn gently sucked on Legion’s tongue, drawing more of his blood into her mouth and swallowing it down.  Reveling in his unique spicy taste, she moaned into the kiss, body melting into Legion’s before he suddenly broke the kiss and jerked back.

“Ffffuck!” he breathed, lifting a hand and swiping at his mouth.  “Did I bleed on you?”  His eyes were intent on Brooklyn’s mouth. 

Shocked and embarrassed by the abrupt end to their kiss, Brooklyn pressed the back on one hand into her lips and muttered, “N-no.”

The response wasn’t sufficient.  Legion’s hand shot up and gripped Brooklyn’s, pulling hers down so he could look at her lips. 

“I can’t scent lies over the smell of your illness.  You have to tell me, Lyn.  Did you ingest my blood?”

With a hard shake of her head, she repeated, “No”, but her eyes were on Legion’s hand, gripping hers.  She tried to pull her hand away from him.  “You’re hurting me.”

Eyes slicing down, Legion instantly released her.  “I’m…,” he swallowed hard.  “I’m sorry. I’d never…” 

“It’s not you,” Brooklyn cut him off, cradling her hand to her chest as she rubbed it gingerly.  “It’s me,” she sighed with a frown.  “Everything hurts.”

“What?” Legion’s eyes flew up and down Brooklyn’s thin frame.  “Since when?  Why didn’t you say anything?” 

Brooklyn’s frowned deepened as she watched him.  “Since today.  It just started out of nowhere.”

Legion’s gaze jerked toward the door.  “Did you tell Jenny?”

Heaving a sigh, Brooklyn pushed him away and hopped off the island with his help.  Slowly, she padded to the couch before lowering herself onto it and reclining back.

Following her, Legion demanded, “Did you tell Jenny?”   

“Why?  So she can take more blood and do more tests?  I’m tired of being poked and prodded and its only just begun.  Besides,” she threw an arm over her eyes.  “I’m tired.  I don’t want to talk about anything to anyone.”

Jaw ticking as he stared down at Brooklyn, Legion debated on racing out of the room to bring Jenny back.  He had zero problems eating crow where Brooklyn was concerned but Brooklyn’s next words stopped him.

“Can you just let me rest?”

It was the first time she’d asked him for anything that he could actually give to her.  Worse, the pleading in her voice had him wanting to let her rest instead of being re-examined by a doctor.

Without responding, he bent and lifted her into his arms to carry her down the hall to her room.

“I can walk.”

He shrugged with her slight weight in his arms.  “I can fly.”

A snort of laughter left Brooklyn before she admitted sadly, “I don’t like hurting people.”

Unsure how to respond, Legion didn’t.

“I hurt Jenny,” Brooklyn confessed, eyes pinched closed.

“She hurt you first,” Legion countered on a growl.

“I don’t care about me,” Brooklyn huffed.

“I do!”

Another soft snort left Brooklyn before she fell silent.  By the time he reached the room, she was asleep in his arms and that was worrisome.  She was getting weaker faster. 

Ffffffffuck!

Settling Brooklyn on the bed, Legion hovered over her, his eyes touching on each of her delicate features as he reached out through the Skin Walkers’ telepathic means of communication, referred to as the mist. 

“Jen, we need to talk about Brooklyn.”

Legion knew Brooklyn would be irate once she woke and realized he’d relayed her new symptom to Jenny but tough shit.  He’d take Brooklyn’s ire over her death any day.

Chapter 15

Brooklyn had to bite back a scream as Jenny finally released her elbow and pulled the syringe from her arm.  Unsure what exactly was happening, Brooklyn was too relieved at waking to find Jenny waiting on her to say anything to Legion.  She knew he’d tell Jenny any and everything that had to do with her illness.  This time she was grateful for it because she’d been scared at the changes in her body.  Still, lying on her bed, she watched Jenny frown and shake her head as she stared at the vial of Brooklyn’s blood.  Brooklyn already knew that Jenny didn’t have any answers.  She’d run a gamut of tests and then came back for more blood.  That didn’t bode well.

“You shouldn’t be in pain,” Jenny confessed.  “I mean I know you’re sick and there’s a certain amount of body ache and fatigue that will accompany your illness, but…”

Brows spearing down, Brooklyn prodded, “But what?”

Planting her hands on her hips, Jenny sighed, “But your body is straining to fight the illness while simultaneously mimicking mating symptoms.  Symptoms you shouldn’t be experiencing because you haven’t been bound to Legion yet.”

“Bound?” Brooklyn stalled a moment before rolling her eyes and heaving a weighty sigh.  Focused on the ceiling she bit out, “Fucked you mean.”

Jenny was quick to admonish, “It’s not just sex, Brooklyn.  It’s a significant event that marks you and Legion permanently.”

“Well, like I’ve already said a million times, I’m not doing it!”

“You don’t need to,” Jenny snapped uncharacteristically then took a moment to compose herself.  Leaning down, she went eye to eye with Brooklyn.  “It’s already begun, Lyn.”

Brooklyn shot up, resting her weight on her elbows as she stared at Jenny in shock.  Shaking her head she demanded, “How?  I haven’t…we haven’t…”

“I don’t know how,” Jenny cut in.  “But it’s happening.  I’ve never seen this before.”

“Then maybe you’re wrong.”

“I wish I were.”

“And if I don’t want it to happen?  Then what?”

Brooklyn watched as Jenny’s face flushed red.  The doctor curled her hands into fists and clenched her teeth so hard that the muscle in her jaw bulged.  Clearly, Jenny was pissed, but too bad.  Brooklyn was mad now too.

“You don’t want to save your own life?  Is that it?”

Brooklyn felt attacked.  Sitting up fully, she swung her legs off the bed.  “Why can’t you all just let me die in peace?”

“Is that what you want?” Jenny snapped.  “Because if so, you’re wasting my time.  I’m in the business of saving life, Brooklyn, not helping end them!”

“I didn’t ask you to come here,” Brooklyn snarled.  “Hell, I didn’t ask to be here!  In fact,” her voice slowly rose.  “I was kidnapped and brought here against my will.”  Jamming a finger toward the door, she continued, “I’m still here against my will!”

“And what of Legion?” Jenny parried.  “He’s just meant to die too simply because you don’t want to fight?”

“What?” Brooklyn was aghast.  “No!  That only applies to an actual mated pair!  A Walker dies only if his actual Angel perishes, and that’s not me! I’m not his, Jenny!  My decisions have zero to do with Legion!”

“It has everything to do with Legion,” Jenny growled.  “Did you not hear what I just told you?  It’s already started.  The two of you are binding together in a way that not only makes you his but makes him yours!  It means that if you die, he dies, Brooklyn.  It’s how it works with all mated Walkers.

Brooklyn was shaking her head hard.  “No!  You’re wrong.  You can’t know that.  You just said you don’t know what’s happening.  You’re trying to force me into something.  We’re not mated, Jenny!  We can’t be!  I didn’t agree to this!”  Crying now, she pleaded, “I don’t!  Want!  This!”  At Jenny’s glare, Brooklyn sobbed, “If it doesn’t work, Jenny…”

Jenny’s angry façade broke as realization dawned.  “You…you’re worried about Legion!”

When Brooklyn looked away, Jenny cursed low.  “Shhhhit!”

“I’ve been at StoneCrow long enough to know what happens when a mate dies.”  She sniffed and continued speaking in a voice thick with emotion.  “He and I being thrown together only hurts him, Jenny.  If it doesn’t work and I don’t make it then what?  He dies as an added bonus of having a sick Angel and a forced mating?”  She shook her head hard, “No!  I refuse to hurt him like that.  I’m not dying and taking someone out with me.”  Eyes going hard, her tone turned accusatory, “And I don’t know why you all are so eager to let him sacrifice himself.

“It’s not a sacrifice if it works, Brooklyn.”

“And what if it doesn’t!” Brooklyn yelled.  “Fffffuck!”  Burying both hands in her hair, she turned and paced away from Jenny.  “Everyone’s so damn eager to take that chance except for me and I don’t understand it!”

“Because you don’t understand how much we value you.”

The admission had Brooklyn dropping her hands and turning her head to stare at Jenny over her shoulder.

“You’re one of us now, Brooklyn.”  Jenny’s tone softened.  “We don’t want to lose you.”

Silence hung between the two women for several tense moments before Brooklyn sighed, “You all need to save that energy for Legion, an actual Skin Walker.  He’s one of you.  He’s the one who needs saving now.  My check has been written.”

“We can stop this, Brooklyn.”  Faltering, Jenny amended, “We might be able to.”

That little alteration was all Brooklyn needed to hear to convince herself she was doing the right thing.  If everyone else was blind to what was best for Legion, she’d be vigilant.  “Can I have some time to think on all this?”

Jenny nodded and made for the door, stopping just as she grabbed the handle.  “Don’t take too long, sister.  Time isn’t a commodity we possess.”

The reminder hurt and had Brooklyn pinching her eyes shut as Jenny exited.    

***

As soon as Jenny exited Brooklyn’s room, Legion shoved off the wall he’d been leaning on and planted himself in front of her. 

“Well?”

“She’s fine,” Jenny clipped out.

“Fine?” Legion frowned.  “You mean aside from the dying part.”

“Yeah,” Jenny snarked.  “Except for that.”

When she strode past Legion with her med kit, he followed.  “I need more than that, Jenny.  What in the hell is going on?”

“Mating symptoms are beginning to surface but her illness is progressing.  It’s a lot on her system.  Humans are fragile, weak.  It’s a burden she can’t afford right now.”

Legion slammed to a halt.  “Mating symptoms?”  When Jenny kept walking, he hurried after her.  “How can that be?  We haven’t done anything!”

“Then I suggest you fix that!”

Annoyed at Jenny’s attitude, Legion rushed to plant himself in front of her, stopping her in her tracks.  “What’s your problem?” he snapped.

“You’re wasting time,” she accused, planting her hands on her hips.  “Time she doesn’t have, Legion!”

“And what am I supposed to do?  Force myself on her?”

Jenny felt her cheeks flush at the memory of how her Walker had claimed her.  She’d hid her affliction from Bishop.  She’d lied and avoided him, even going so far as to create serum to help her resist the affliction.  For six longs months she’d tortured them both, and in the end, he’d done just as Legion had suggested.  Heat creeping up her neck, Jenny cleared her throat.  “No,” she shook her head.  “No forcing, just…”  Just what?  Honestly, what did she expect Legion to do?  If Brooklyn didn’t want to be claimed what could be done?  There was zero time for courting, zero time to allow them the necessary adjustment period.  Face scrunched up in concentration, an idea struck.

“Maybe…”

“Maybe what?”

When Jenny stalled, Legion demanded, “Is there another way?”

“Yes.  Maybe.  I think.  Just one.”  Reluctantly, Jenny lifted her eyes to his and offered, “Blood-bonding.”

Brows spearing down, Legion asked, “Blood-bonding?”

“An exchange of blood between the two of you.”

“Like a transfusion?”

“No, it doesn’t need to be that complicated.  I mean it can be, but we can do it easier.”

Frustrated, Legion lifted both hands to fist his hair.  “Throw me a fucking bone here, Jen!  What is it exactly I need to do to save her?”

Stalling a moment, Jenny blinked rapidly as if lost in thought.  “I don’t know if it’ll work fully because I’ve never seen it done, but rumor has it that Monroe’s parents mated through blood-bonding.”  Lifting her gaze, she locked eyes with him.  “As you can imagine, they are off limits for any sort of testing or experimentation.  But I’ve heard that it works.  You and Brooklyn would be the first case at StoneCrow.”

“Rumors!  Fucking great,” he huffed but asked, “So how do I do it?”

“It’s laughably straightforward.  You drink her blood, and she drinks yours.”

“That’s it?”

Jenny shrugged, “I think so.”

Legion was pacing now as he muttered to himself, “You think?” then more loudly, “How much blood are we talking?  Like a finger prick or…”

“That’s the part I’m unsure of.”

“Can you call Monroe?” Legion asked hopefully.  “For the sake of Brooklyn’s life, he’d surely contact Elias, right?”

Shaking her head, Jenny’s brows speared down.  “I don’t think Monroe and Elias have that type of relationship.”

“Well tough shit!” Legion raged.  “He’s making that call!”

“I’ll ask him.”

“No!  Don’t ask, Jen.  Tell him we need this done!”

“Okay,” she nodded.

Turning to face the door to the apartment, he snarked, “I’ll work on getting Brooklyn, who’s refused to let me touch her up to this point, to drink my blood and allow me to drink hers.”  He huffed a humorless sound and turned a defeated gaze on Jenny.  “Suggestions?”

Jenny shrugged her shoulders up to her ears and held up her hands while shaking her head with a quiet, “Ask nicely?”

“Ask nicely,” Legion huffed and then said it again more firmly as he sucked in a breath and threw his shoulders back.  “Ask nicely.”

Chapter 16

Alone, Brooklyn crossed the quiet apartment to the fridge before jerking the door open.  Frowning at the contents, she reached in and selected a bottle of red wine from the four bottles that had already been stocked in the fridge when she and Legion had arrived.  Kicking the fridge door closed with a socked foot, she made her way to the kitchen counter and rifled around until she found a corkscrew.  Several twists and a little grunt later the cork was free, and she was pulling a delicate wine glass from the cupboard before she slammed the glass down a little too harshly on the counter.  The glass shattered, and it was the straw that broke camel’s back. 

“Fuuuuuuuuuuck!” she raged as tears blurred her vision.  Crimson seeped from the palm chucked the clear stem of the glass against the wall.  Snatching the bottle of wine, she dropped to her knees and sobbed a moment before fisting the neck of the wine bottle and lifting it to her lips.  Choking, she sputtered and coughed, as wine spilled down her chin.  She didn’t give a shit.  Dropping onto her ass, she shifted and pressed her back into the cupboards, as she held the entire bottle of wine to her lips and swallowed as much as she could.  With another sputter, she lowered the bottle, pressing the back of one hand to her lips as she struggled to swallow around the lump in her throat, hot tears pouring down her cheeks. 

How did I get here?

Just a few short days ago, she’d been blissfully ignorant of her condition.  Hell, she’d even been contemplating taking a mini-vacation to tropical location where she’d planned on getting tan while sipping on daquiris. But now…  With a defeated sigh, she ran her thumb over the mouth of the wine bottle, not caring that she was getting blood everywhere. 

Now, I need to face the music.

She’d been busy trying to save Legion from this nightmare.  At least, that’s what she’d been telling herself.  Truth was, she’d been using defending Legion as a distraction and an excuse to not face reality. 

I’m dying.

Lifting her chin, she glared at the wall and lifted the bottle of wine to her lips to down more of its contents.  So many emotions roiled within her, but none were as fierce as regret.  She’d wasted literal years pining for Monroe.  Stupidly, she’d held out hope that things wouldn’t work out between him and Eden, even though she knew that wasn’t how Skin Walker matings worked.  She’d wasted precious time and precious opportunities.  Even now, she was insulting Legion by not giving him proper consideration.

“Poor Legion,” she muttered.  Honestly, she almost felt worse for him than she did for herself.  He’d been patient and considerate with her, and as shocking as the news of their supposed mate-status was to her, it had to have been harder on him.  He’d finally found his one and he was going to lose her.  It was the catalyst behind her digging in her heels.  She didn’t want Legion or anyone suffering because of her.  Letting her head loll to the side, she absently picked at the wine label.

What did I do so bad in life to deserve this?

A pang of guilt bit hard at the realization that she’d hoped Monroe and Eden’s mating would have failed.  It had been selfish of her.  Not only because Monroe and Eden were raising a tribe of children together, but also because if she truly cared about Monroe, she’d be content to see him happy…right?

Lifting the bottle, she took another drink.  The wine was making her limbs warm and her blood feel thick.  It was also allowing her tears to come easier, which pissed her off.  Dipping her chin, she glared at the mostly empty bottle of wine before getting to her knees and chucking it as hard as she could against the farthest wall screaming, “Stop feeling sorry for your fucking self, you stupid bitch!”

Dropping onto her ass, she fisted her hands hard, clenched her jaw and screamed through her gnashed teeth until her scream broke on a sob.  She hated this, all of it!  She hated being sick, she hated being forced, she hated borrowed time, she hated Monroe not being the one.  Probably the worst part out of all of it was that Legion was phenomenal.  And not just looking.  If they’d had time, she would have dated him.  He was a solid, stand up guy and here she was torturing them both but how could she not.  He didn’t deserve this any more than she did.  For a minute, the crazy thought of just ending it all now before any real connection with Legion occurred flitted through her mind.  She could spare him at least.  She could do one noble thing before she died. 

Before I die… 

It felt otherworldly to be having the internal dialogue she was.  She’d never been afraid of death, she still wasn’t, but it was odd to be face-to-face with it so soon.  There was so much she still wanted to do, to be.  She wanted to travel, fall in love, have kids one day.  But now, none of it would happen.  Eyeing the apartment, she contemplated for the millionth time an escape attempt.  She wanted to run away, and not just from this place.  She wanted to run away from everything.  She wanted to disappear and die in peace.  But an attempt was exactly what it would be.  No one left a Skin Walker compound unnoticed.  No one! 

Annoyed, exhausted, afraid, and alone, she just cried.  Every time she thought about her situation she got mad.  She knew the rage was to mask her ever-present fear, so she embraced it.  Even now, she swiped angrily at her tears and muttered a quiet, “Fuck you!”  It wasn’t directed at anyone, just at life in general.  More loudly, she yelled, “Fuck you!”

Two seconds later, she startled hard when the door to the apartment exploded inward.  Legion stormed the small space, eyes fierce, body tense.  He was prepared for battle!

When his eyes landed on her, they softened as he rushed to her.

“Lyn!  What happened?  Is someone here?”  Squatting, he gripped her still bleeding hand and pulled it toward him for inspection.  “Who hurt you?” he snarled, his blacked-out eyes scanning the empty apartment.

“No one,” she breathed, “I just…”  Eyes going to the mess she’d made of the apartment, she felt bad.  “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t!” he snarled, lifting her hand to his mouth without hesitation and licking the blood from her palm.

“Legion!  Stop!” she tried to pull her hand back, but he wouldn’t permit it.  In shock, she could only watch as he laved her wound with his tongue.  As it seemed to a lot lately, a calm came over her in his presence.  Maybe it was the fact that he was built like a Mack truck, maybe it was the way he looked at her and took care of her; whatever the reason, she found solace in Legion’s presence.  She felt safe when he was near. 

When the blood was cleaned from her hand, Legion kept his mouth on her.  The result was a molten feeling unfurling low in Brooklyn’s belly.  With a gasp, she jerked hard on her hand, forcing Legion to release her.                    

Needing a distraction, she blurted out the first thing that came to mind.  “I’ve wasted my life.”  Instantly, she cringed.

Legion’s head slowly lifted as he licked the last of her from his lips.  “How so?” 

Shit!  She didn’t want to discuss this with Legion.  She didn’t want to discuss it with anyone.  Brooklyn tore her eyes from his mouth to stare, unseeing, at the wall before her. 

“I gave up on friends, love, happiness, a family of my own, all for what?  So, I could be good at my job!”  She shook her head.  “If I died tomorrow there wouldn’t even be anyone at my funeral.”  She paled and began to shake, “I-I’m insignificant and,” she sounded aghast, “forgettable.”  She gave a hysterical laugh before her eyes darted to the broken wine bottle and burgundy contents that stained the floor.  Her words were a near whisper, “That stain is gonna last longer than the memory of me.”  She started laughing, hard. 

***

Legion was fighting the instincts that shot to the fore the instant he tasted Brooklyn’s blood.  The instant the coppery taste of her hit his tongue, electricity ripped through his veins.  Gods, the taste of her was indescribable.  Definitely addictive.  But he couldn’t dwell on that right now because the shit she was saying was dragging his head back down to Earth.  She was bashing herself in the worst possible way and she was laughing about it, all while the heightened scent of her tears bloomed.  Brooklyn was having a break down.

“I-I don’t even like wine,” she stammered through her laughter. 

Unable to stop himself, he dropped onto his ass and reached over to pull Brooklyn onto his lap.  She tensed and tried to fight him, but tough shit.  He wasn’t just going to sit and listen to her bullshit.  “What do you like?” he asked once she stopped fighting and settled on his lap.

Without looking at him, she answered.  “I prefer beer, but I was told it wasn’t lady-like, so I gave it up.”

Legion forced himself to relax, fighting to ignore the power that was coursing through him from simply tasting her blood.  Focusing on Brooklyn, he pulled her into his chest.  “What else?  What else do you like, little lamb?”

“I…I like walking in the rain and getting my hair plastered to my head, my clothes drenched.  I like long bubble baths and Italian food.  I like to make a huge bowl of buttery popcorn and watch sci-fi movies.  I like dogs, and cats, and all animals.”

He ran his hand absently up and down her back and listened, and when she stalled, he prodded, “What else?”

“I…  I like summer in Montana, but I like winters better.  I like romance novels and baking.”

“Mmm,” he nodded, rubbing his chin against the top of her head. 

She pulled back to look up at him.  “I sound like everyone else, don’t I?  I mean, who doesn’t like all those things?” 

Tears pooled in her eyes again and he knew she was thinking herself unremarkable, so he rushed out, “I don’t.”  He hurried to stop her tears.  “I don’t like winters here, and I don’t like the rain.” 

She blinked back her tears, so he continued to keep them from returning.  “Cats drive me nuts and the last time I had a bubble bath, I was a child.” 

The last remark earned him a laugh from her, so he stuck with that route.  “As for my last romance novel…”

She laughed again.

“But I do like sci-fi movies and large bowls of buttery popcorn.  You got me there.”

Brooklyn nuzzled her head against his chest.  “What else?” she asked.

It was his turn?  Ok.  He’d play along to keep her from falling apart. 

“Well, let’s see.”  He adjusted so he was leaning back against the wall before pulling her tighter into him.  “I like guy things, I suppose.  Shooting things.  Fighting.”  He squeezed her tight, “Sexy women.”

She snorted.  “I am definitely not sexy.”

“Oh yes you are.  You’re the sexiest little thing I’ve ever seen.  All prim and proper with your tight little bun and straight spine.  Little Miss Formality.  Watching you unwind a little has been one of the most enjoyable experiences of my life.”

“Unwind?” she scoffed.  “More like fall apart.”

He shrugged against her.  “To-may-to, to-mah-to.”

“Hardly.”  She sighed and her shoulders slumped.  “I’m not cutting loose, Legion.  I’m dying.”

The reminder had him tensing.  They were on borrowed time.  She was on borrowed time and the knowledge had him feeling a sense of helplessness that he’d never experienced before.  The emotion was so damn uncomfortable that he’d do just about anything to annihilate it.  He was desperate.  “What do you need from me, Brooklyn?  How can I help you with all of this?”     

“I just need…help!”

“We’re all trying to help you. I can help you, Lyn.”

“No,” she shook her head, “you can’t.  Even if you could, you wouldn’t.  Nobody wants to help me.” 

Her words wounded him with their self-disdain.

She looked up, her tear-stained face imploring.  “Look what I did to you!  You’re stuck here babysitting me.  Forced into attempting mating you don’t want and…,” she swiped angrily at the tears that slipped free.  “I just…I wish…”

“Wish what?”

“I wish I wasn’t such a burden to everyone.  I wish I…”

He gently brushed hair off her cheek.  “Brooklyn, tell me what you want.  What do you need from me?”

“I need help.”

“Help with what?  Tell me and it’ll be done.”  He had to bite back a groan at the look of hope that flared to life in her eyes.

“Y-you’d do that?  You’d help me?”

Help her?  He’d lasso the fucking moon and spend eternity trying to drag it down to Earth if it meant he didn’t have to see the heartache in her haunted eyes.  “I will,” he vowed.

Shifting on his lap, she reached up and cupped his face excitedly. 

Legion’s body suddenly tensed.  It was the first time she’d voluntarily touched him and goddamn it felt right.  Her small hands felt soft and warm on his face.

“You’ll help me?  Do you promise?  No questions asked?”

No questions asked?  Hell, what was he getting himself in to?  Foolishly, he nodded and was rewarded with a beaming grin that stole his breath.  What in the hell was she doing to him?  To him?  Legion fucking Knight!  He was a Skin Walker Sentry extraordinaire, incomparable helicopter pilot, one of the most ruthless, coldest, unfeeling Skin Walkers, and that was it?  All it took was him seeking the approval or appreciation from this woman to make him buckle?   She was making him have fucking feelings!  It was something he never thought he’d welcome, but for Brooklyn, he’d do anything.

Filled with warring emotions, he was simultaneously afraid to ask Brooklyn what she wanted and excited to able to gift her something.  “So,” he sighed, “what is it you need?” 

Chapter 17

Standing atop the roof of Apex’s main house, Legion breathed in deeply.  The brisque Montana air filled his lungs and calmed his senses.  It had him feeling guilty for enjoying fresh air while Brooklyn was locked up below.

Spine tingling, goosebumps lifted along his skin as awareness had him bristling.  Someone had joined him.

“You okay?”

He recognized Conn’s voice and instantly eased.  Without turning around, Legion kept his eyes on the miles of wheat filled prairie that stretched as far as the eye could see.  The scenery was vastly different from where StoneCrow Estates was nestled deep in the mountainside.  “I’m good.”

With a snort, Conn stepped up beside him and stared at the view.  “I’m a Walker too, brother.  I can scent the lie.”

Legion’s face split in a grin.  He’d been spending so much time alone with Brooklyn that he’d practically forgotten about Walker senses.  Sobering after a moment, the grin slipped from his face as he reluctantly admitted, “She’s a tough nut to crack.”

Beside him Conn chuckled.  “Yeah.  Been there.”

Shooting Conn a side-long glance, Legion’s eyes narrowed on his fellow Skin Walker.  “Aries gave you a hard time?”

Shaking his head with a rueful smile, Conn huffed, “A hard time?  She damn near killed us both.”

For some odd reason, the information had Legion feeling a little relief.  “She asked me for something, and I don’t know if I should give it to her or not.”  Lowering his head he mumbled, “I’m starting to wonder if maybe she’s right about us.  My instincts with her are all over the fucking place.  What if Jenny’s wrong.  What if I’m not hers and we’re out here wasting all this time?  She might not be mine.”

“Bullshit!” Conn barked.  “You and I both know Crow wouldn’t fuck around with this.  He wouldn’t make that mistake.  He doesn’t make mistakes.  You’re what Brooklyn needs.”

Heaving a weighty sigh, Legion shrugged.  “How do I get her to see that?”

“And there’s the crux of it,” Conn responded.  “How indeed?”

Turning to face Conn, Legion huffed a laugh.  “No offense, but this is a shit pep-talk if that’s what it’s meant to be.”

Conn barked a laugh.  “Yeah, sorry.”  He looked repentant.  “I guess I’m not really trying to pep-talk you as much as I am just trying to let you know that I’m here.”  He cocked a brow and gestured at Legion.  “And I’ve been there.  So, if you need someone to vent to…”

Legion’s humor faded.  “Thanks.  I appreciate it.”

Sobering, Conn asked, “What did she ask you for?”

Frowning hard, Legion didn’t immediately respond.  Lowering his head, he finally answered, “Something I don’t know if I could or should give her.  I’m worried about her, and I know I don’t want her to die.  We’re running out of time, but if it’s her last ask…”

“None of us want her to die, brother.”  Eyes going hard, Conn bit out, “You know, Shane, Bragg, and Lok are all unmated.  Maybe we reassign one of them to Brooklyn.”

Jerking his head up, Legion’s brows speared down.  His tone was fierce as he snarled, “Don’t even fucking think it.”

Nodding knowingly, Conn smiled.  “Ok, so she is yours.  Let’s check at least that one off the list.”

“I don’t want her fucked with.  Doesn’t mean she’s mine.  Hell, she was obsessed with Monroe, she probably still is.”   

“Have you considered why she was attracted to Monroe?”

That had Legion’s jaw clenching, his hands balling into fists.  He’d known about Brooklyn’s infatuation with Monroe.  It had always bugged the shit out of him.

“Just listen,” Conn continued.  “What’s the difference between you and Monroe?”

“Everything!”

“No.  Break it down.  What’s the first major difference?”

With a snort, Legion answered.  “He’s an asshole Dominant who thinks he’s God.”

“Exactly!”

Brows spearing down, Legion frowned at Conn.

“She’s attracted to him because he’s dominant.  And you’ve been here going at her pace.  Letting her make the decisions and be in control.  You think Monroe would go this slowly with Eden?”  Conn answered for himself.  “Fuck no!  He’d make Eden do what he wanted and convince her that it was her own idea.” 

Realization slammed into Legion like a Mack truck.  “Fffffuck!  You’re right!  I’ve been out here pussyfooting around and trying to be gentle.”

“When you need to take the fucking reigns.”

“Take the fucking reigns,” Legion repeated, staring through Conn.  Re-focusing, he demanded, “I need a favor.”

With a grin of approval, Conn’s response was immediate.  “Done.”

Sobering, Legion admitted reluctantly, “You don’t know what it is yet.”

Conn shrugged. “I want to help.”

“I’m going against Monroe’s dictates.  There will be consequences.”

Conn grinned.  “Consequences shmonsequences.  If I can help you save Brooklyn, I will.  We all will.”

Brows winging up, Legion asked hopefully, “Even Tyce?”

Conn’s grin broadened to an outright smile.  “Hell, Tyce likes pissing Monroe off more than just about anything.” 

Chapter 18

Brooklyn stood watching Legion work.  Half her face was hidden behind the heavy metal door of the bunker as she peeked out just enough to be able to see him.  It was beautiful out, the warm lick of sunshine revitalizing her as the fresh air had her feeling a million times better than she had when she was at Apex.  Gut clenching hard, she admired the glint of Legion’s blond hair as the sun shone down on him.  Gaze roaming over the shirtless behemoth as he worked on his helicopter, Brooklyn admired his glistening chest, bulging biceps.  There were streaks of dark grease on Legion’s jaw, up both forearms, and slashed across one of his hips.  Mesmerized, Brooklyn watched as his muscles flexed with his work, his six-pack abs bunching as he grunted to tighten something beneath the helicopter. 

God, he’s perfect! 

Ashamed of ogling Legion so wantonly without his knowledge, Brooklyn took one last look, licking her lips as she imagined Legion’s strong body pressed up against hers.  Christ, he made her all hot and wet and breathless.  Biting her lower lip, Brooklyn was staring intently at the smudge of grease on Legion’s hip when she heard him call her name.

“Brooklyn!”

Gaze snapping up, her eyes collided with his.  The second their eyes met Brooklyn felt her face explode into flames.  She’d been caught staring.

Face contorting into one of concern, Legion asked, “Everything okay?”

“Yea…yes,” she stammered, “Just seeing if you needed anything,” she lied.

“No,” he frowned, eyes narrowing on her.  “I’m good.  You sure you’re alright?”

“Yeah,” she tossed up a wave and backed into the bunker before closing the heavy door and then pressing her back into it as she rolled her eyes at herself.  Idiot!

Shoving off the door, she stepped deeper into the bunker Legion had brought her to.  He’d called it Conn’s secret bunker and that had given her hope that neither Monroe nor Tyce would find them.  When she’d asked Legion to help her escape Apex, she honestly thought he’d say no.  He hadn’t.  Instead, he’d listened calmly as she’d explained that she wanted to leave Apex but not to go back to StoneCrow.  She wanted to go some place secluded, some place Monroe wouldn’t find them, someplace that she could die in peace.  And he’d agreed!  The fact that he hadn’t fought her, that Legion hadn’t tried talking her into staying and allowing Jenny to keep trying to save her had meant so much.  Even now, she felt a kinship with Legion that she hadn’t before.  It felt like she finally had an ally and that fact endeared her to him more than anything else could have.  After she’d placed her request, Legion had left her alone in the hangar apartment at Apex for hours, and when he’d returned he’d told her to pack quickly.  Excitement had ripped through her as he’d hurriedly led her out of the apartment and then out of the bunker.  Hand-in-hand, they’d raced to a waiting helicopter.  Legion said he’d created a diversion and that everyone would be pre-occupied.  She didn’t have time to ask for specifics, she simply trusted him.  Once inside the helicopter, Brooklyn saw that it was packed with boxes of miscellaneous goods and food.  She knew Legion was a pilot back at StoneCrow Estates, so she was confident he’d get her wherever they were going safely.  Legion had buckled her in and donned a pair of headphones before handing her a pair that she hastily put on.  She’d watched in giddy awe as he’d flipped a dozen switches and started the helicopter.  Seconds later they were airborne.  When she’d asked about the cameras and sensors, Legion said they were offline.  It was a good enough explanation for her. Hell, it had to be because they’d officially run from both Monroe and Tyce.

Now, striding through the bunker, she didn’t even mind the muggy wet-earth smell.  Nope, she was happy to be alone with her own thoughts, her own time-line, her own medical care, and with Legion.

Eyeing the bunker, she debated making dinner or taking a nap.  While dinner would be a good ‘thank you’ gift for Legion, the adrenaline of their escape was wearing off quickly and had her starting to feel sluggish, so she opted for exploration instead.  Once they’d landed, they’d unpacked the helicopter and it had been a fight to get Legion to let her help.  As soon as everything was inside, Legion said he needed to remove tracking devices from the helicopter and disappeared outside while she’d stayed in and unpacked their provisions.

The bunker was long and narrow, resembling the inside of a few train cars placed end-to-end.  The front door opened into a small kitchenette with stove, fridge, and cupboards.  To the right of the door, a small table with two chairs sat against one wall, while the adjacent wall boasted shelves upon shelves of provisions.  Food mostly, but there also appeared to be clothing and first aid supplies as well.  To the left of the door, the kitchen ended and a wall with a single door bifurcated the bunker.  Legion had said it housed the bedroom and a bathroom.

With time to finally inspect, Brooklyn crossed to the door and pushed it open to reveal a large bed that sat against one wall.  Further inside the room, the bunker was divided by another wall with another single door leading to what she assumed was the bathroom.  The walls of the bunker were plain, but the structure was clearly built for necessity, not comfort.

Crossing to the bed, she sat on it and bounced up and down.  Comfy and clean!  Two seconds later she was curled up on the bed on her side and it was a mistake.  She went out instantly.

***

Damn, it felt good to be alone with Brooklyn.  No Sentries guarding the door, no Jenny poking and prodding Brooklyn’s tired body, no Monroe calling every two seconds to check on Legion’s progress.  It was nice.  Now, he understood Brooklyn’s need for it.  He was worried though about having her so far away from medical assistance.  If anything happened, they’d be screwed, even with the pave-hawk helicopter Tyce had loaned them.  The vehicle was fast and while Conn’s bunker was in Montana, there was no way of knowing if Jenny would remain at Apex or return to StoneCrow. It worried him.  So much so that he opted to reach out.

“Jenny?”

At this distance contacting any Skin Walker through the mist was a stretch but he preferred it to calling.  Yeah, Tyce and Conn knew where he’d taken Brooklyn, but Jenny and Monroe didn’t, and he wanted to keep it that way.

Even through the mist, Legion could feel Jenny’s ire the instant she connected with him. 

“Where in the hell are you?”

“Safe,” he replied.  “I’m contacting you to ask you to remain at Apex in case we need you.”

Her hysterical voice was laced with incredulity, “In case you need me?  Brooklyn needs me now!  Bring her back!”

He wanted to. He wanted Brooklyn back at Apex with Jenny and the best care available, but more than that, he wanted Brooklyn to feel heard and to have her needs met.

“I can’t.  Not right now, but please, just stay there.  Just in case.”

“This is fucking ridiculous, Legion.  You’re putting her in harm’s way!

“Am I?” he asked, truly unsure.  “I’m trying to give her what she needs, Jenny.  She wanted this!”

“I beg you,” Jenny pleaded, “bring her back.”

“I will,” he vowed.  “Just give us a day or two.  She needs a break.  She deserves one.”

“We don’t have time for this!  Why don’t you understand that?  We are out of time, Legion!”

“I’m giving her this, Jenny.  Accept it and be ready when we need you.”

With guilt plaguing him, he severed the connection.  He regretted contacting Jenny because now he was uncertain of his own actions.  Part of him wanted to return Brooklyn to Apex while the other half of him needed to give Brooklyn the peace she’d begged him for.

Pissed at himself and his warring emotions, he slammed the metal panel shut on the engine compartment.  He’d made a show of taking “tracking devices” off the helicopter but it was just a show for Brooklyn.  He wasn’t self-centered enough to drop off the face of the Earth with her.  Tyce and Conn both knew exactly where he’d taken Brooklyn.

Stalking to Conn’s private bunker, Legion felt the guilt riling up all the acid in his stomach.  This decision hadn’t felt like a mistake when Brooklyn had beamed up at him with a breathy, “thank you”, but now he was second-guessing himself.

Inside, the bunker all was quiet.  He found Brooklyn curled up on the bed and he hurried to her.  A finger under her nose ensured she was breathing evenly.  He used a hand on her forehead to check her temperature and he realized that he wasn’t even sure what signs he was supposed to be watching for.  He didn’t know anything medical beyond first aid and tirage.  It was a helpless feeling, but Jenny had pounded into his head how much rest Brooklyn needed so he stalked back out to the main room and snagged fresh clothes out of his duffle bag before re-entering the room, eyeing Brooklyn, then disappearing into the bathroom for a quick shower.  It had been a big day, so, he’d let her rest.

Chapter 19

Five hours after his shower when Brooklyn still hadn’t woken, Legion was pacing the bunker. 

“I don’t know,” he told Jenny through the mist.  “She was sleeping when I got inside so I’m not sure exactly how long she’s been out, but it’s for sure been over five hours.”

“Goddamn it, this is what I was worried about.  Wake her up!”

Enraged at himself and his impulsive decision to take Brooklyn from Apex, Legion hurriedly crossed to Brooklyn’s side and knelt to gently shake her shoulder.

“Brooklyn?”

At first, nothing happened, so he shook her with a little more vigor.  “Brooklyn!”

“Mmmm,” she moaned and rolled onto her back. 

“What’s happening?” Jenny demanded.  “Did she wake up?  Where are you?”

Annoyed, Legion severed the connection with Jenny as Brooklyn blinked up at him groggily.  Silently, he watched as she eyed the room and got her bearings.

Worry drew his brows down.  “You look like hell.”

Brooklyn pursed her lips as her brows shot up.  “Sir, you seduce me with your flattery.”

Legion’s expression darkened.  “I’m serious, Lyn.”

She heaved a great sigh.  “There’s not much I can do about my looks right now.”  Shoving to a sitting position, she swayed and it had Legion reaching out to steady her.  “Gonna puke!”

In a flash he reached for the garbage and held it up to her.  Delicate hands gripped it as Brooklyn dry heaved into the sack-lined bin.

Unsure what to do, Legion helped hold the garbage with one hand while the other rubbed Brooklyn’s back.  She wasn’t puking anything up and that had him worried.  “Maybe you need to eat.  Something in your belly might help.  You hungry?”

“I’m…not…,” she stammered between gut convulsions.

Come to think of it, he wasn’t hungry either.  Correction, he was hungry, but it had absolutely nothing to do with food.  Was this the affliction?  His mind was racing.  He’d tasted Brooklyn’s blood, but she hadn’t ingested his.  Or had she?  Trying to think back on their time together was hard because Brooklyn needed his focus right now.

“What do you need?” he asked worriedly.  “Water?  Aspirin?  Jenny?”

Shoving the trash can away, Brooklyn fell back onto the bed, using one arm to cover her eyes.  “No.”

“Are you hungry?” he urged.  “Do you want something to eat?”

“I should be,” she admitted, “but the idea of eating makes me queasy.”

Him too.  It’s how the affliction worked.  Hope and fear warred within him in equal measure. 

“Hang on,” he shot to his feet and raced out of the room, re-connecting to Jenny as he rushed away.

“Jen, did you contact Monroe about the blood-bonding?”

“Asshole, where are you?  Is Brooklyn okay?  Did she wake up?”

“Answer me,” he raged.  “Did you contact Monroe?”

“Yes,” she hissed.  “Which I could have relayed to you if you hadn’t kidnapped Brooklyn and run from us! 

He didn’t have time for all that.  “What did he say?”

Jenny stalled a moment.  “He said that where true mates are concerned, the blood exchange can be minimal.  Drops even.  But it incites an affliction unlike others.  Included with your body rejecting food and water until Brooklyn is fully claimed, collared, and bound, you’ll crave and require each other’s blood for sustenance.  You’ll need to feed from one another.”

Legion was already pulling a glass from the cabinet and snatching a bottle of cranberry juice from the fridge.  He filled up the glass as he asked, “How much blood to sustain us once the initial exchange of blood is made?  A little, a lot?”

“Well, I’d have an answer for that if you would have stayed here, wouldn’t I?  Wait!  Did you do it?  Have you blood-bound Brooklyn?”

He didn’t even bother with a knife, just partially shifted to let his incisors elongate before he was tearing at the flesh of his wrist.  The wound he made was wicked but bled sufficiently for him to hold his wrist over the glass and add his blood to the cocktail.

In his head, Jenny was rapid-fire shooting questions at him while he concentrated on his task and simultaneously thought back to his first kiss with Brooklyn.  His lip had been bleeding because he’d fought with Bishop, and when he’d asked Brooklyn if she’d ingested his blood, she’d said ‘no’, but he hadn’t been able to scent whether it was the truth or not because the smell of her illness overwhelmed everything.  Now though, hope was ripping through him with the ferocity of a freight train.  If Brooklyn had ingested his blood that meant that when he’d ingested hers when she’d cut her hand on the broken wine bottle, they’d begun the blood-bonding process.  He’d found out shortly.

“I’ll be in touch!”

“Goddamn it, Legi…”

He severed the tie with Jenny and rushed back into the bedroom.  Brooklyn was sitting up, cradling her head in her hands and moaning, “I don’t feel good.”

“Here!” he hurried to her side and held out the glass.

Brooklyn lifted her head and looked at the glass with sad eyes, “I’m not thirsty, Legion.”

“I know, but please.  Just try.”

When she just kept frowning at the glass he begged, “Please, Lyn.  Just try.  For me.”

Lifting her tired blue-gaze to his, she huffed then reached for the glass, demanding, “Garbage.”

He grabbed the garbage can and held it close in case things went south.  Heart beating hard, he watched her lift the glass to her lips and take a tentative sip before making a face.

“Tastes funny.”  But she took another sip and then a healthy drink.  Pulling the glass away, she sucked her lips in before releasing them and frowned.  “This is…really good!”

Glass going back to Brooklyn’s lips, Legion watched in glorious triumph as she downed the rest of the blood-laced juice.

“Is there more?”

Fuck yeah!  “Just a minute!”  He snagged the glass from her and raced back out to the kitchen to repeat the process.  Elation was filling him.  Finally, fucking finally, he was able to do something, to give her something that she not only wanted, but that actually helped.

He repeated the process until he’d successfully gotten Brooklyn to down three and a half glasses of blood-tainted juice.  The results were instantaneous.  The color was back in her cheeks, her baby-blue eyes were practically electric, and she jumped up off the bed with such vigor that Legion almost forgot she was sick.  Almost.

“I feel amazing!” Brooklyn breathed in awe.  “Either that’s some magical juice or getting away from Apex and Jenny was the right thing to do.”

Guilt bit hard at her words, but he was reluctant to admit what was actually happening.  Her drinking his blood the first time had been an accident while him drinking hers had been intentional.  But he didn’t know how she’d react to finding out that he’d just knowingly served her ounces of his blood. 

“I was going to make you dinner earlier as a thank you but I was too tired.  I’d like to do that now.  You want to eat?”

She was staring up at him hopefully and truth be told, he had zero appetite for food, but the look on her face had him nodding, “I’d really like that.”

Watching her ass as she sashayed passed him and made her way to the kitchen, Legion felt his gut clench.  He wanted.  By the fucking Gods, he wanted.

Chapter 20

“Maybe I did something wrong,” Brooklyn pondered as she used a cooking spoon to poke at the macaroni and cheese in the saucepan on the stove.  “Honestly, I’m not a very experienced cook.”  Shooting him a repentant look, she apologized again, “Sorry.”

Disappointed in himself, Legion shook his head.  He’d taken a seat at the fancy place setting Brooklyn had prepared for him at the table and had been physically unable to keep down a single bite of the dinner she’d just spent and hour making. 

“It’s not your cooking, Lyn.  It’s me.”

“Well, it can’t be you,” she frowned hard.  She hadn’t been able to swallow a single bite of the food either.

Scanning the room, her dainty nostrils flared.  “Maybe there’s a gas leak.  Maybe we’re both sick.”

He huffed a laugh at that.  “Woman, I’m a Skin Walker.  If there were a gas leak, I’d know.”

Brows furrowing, she fussed, “Well,” reaching into the garbage can beside the stove, she fished out the empty mac n’ cheese box and eyed it closely, “maybe the food is old.  It could be bad.”

But Legion knew it wasn’t the food and it wasn’t a gas leak.  Dipping his head in contrition he knew what was happening.  It was the affliction.  The Skin Walker affliction was an occurrence between couples where Walker males would forego eating, drinking, and even sleeping due to their inner beasts’ pre-occupation with mating.  Like an elk or deer in rut, the males became so consumed with passing on their seed, and mating their one, that everything else became background noise.  The affliction affected females too but typically not as fiercely as it did the males.

“Jesus!” Brooklyn’s exclamation drew his attention back to her as she sank back into her chair, her shoulders sagging.  “I’m exhausted.  I think I overdid it.”

Concern marred his brow as his nostrils flared.  She still smelled thickly of illness but now it was tainted with the faintest hint of him.  The illness was more powerful though.  Remembering Jenny’s words had his gut clenching with fear.  Jenny said that the mating symptoms coupled with Brooklyn’s illness were taking a heavy toll on her system.  He was worried that he’d accelerated things by feeding Brooklyn his blood.  Fuck! 

Feeling guilty as hell, Legion wanted to explain what was happening to Brooklyn, but he also didn’t want her thinking he’d tricked her into a mating bond.  When he’d ingested her blood, he’d had every intention of finding a way to get her to drink his too, not realizing she already had.  It had saved him a step and the technicality of bearing the full burden of deceiving her, but the intent had been there.  Come hell or high water, he had planned on blood-bonding her, and it had happened, just not the way he’d imagined. 

Wanting relief from the guilt and needing to give Brooklyn something he asked, “You remember the day Bishop and I got into a fight?”

When her cheeks flamed, he knew she remembered their kiss.

“You tasted my blood, didn’t you?”

Frowning at him, she blinked rapidly, and he could see her mind trying to make the connection. 

“The day you broke the wine bottle, I tasted yours.”

Eyes slicing to his, she stilled.  “So.”

“We’ve kissed twice now, Lyn.  We’ve shared saliva and we’ve exchanged blood.”

“No,” she breathed quietly as she shook her head.  Lifting a hand, she traced her lips with delicate fingers.  “We didn’t share blood!  It was just a taste.”

“It was enough.”  He omitted any mention of the blood he’d intentionally put into her juice.  Baby steps.

“Enough for what?” she demanded.

Eyes dipping down, Legion watched as her hand shook.  Something was off.  The air suddenly felt strange and there was a heavy feeling in his chest like he was about to have a panic attack.  Was it her?  Eyes narrowing suspiciously, he bit out, “You okay?”

“No!” she shrieked dropping her hand and demanding, “Enough for what?”

He didn’t answer though because he was studying her, trying to figure out why chills were blasting up his arms and spine.   Fear hit him hard.

“Brooklyn?”

“Enough for what?” she yelled, her face transitioning from the angry red it had just been to an ashen white.  When she shot to her feet, Legion was already moving.  Whether it was the blood sharing, the affliction, or just the fact that he was slowly imprinting every single facet of her into his heart, Legion could sense the distress in Brooklyn’s body as clearly as an alarm blaring.  And thank fuck!  The second she was erect, her eyes rolled back and then she was falling but he was there.  Heart hammering with a fear he’d never experienced, Legion lifted Brooklyn and rushed her to the bedroom while simultaneously reaching out to Conn.

“Brother, it’s Legion. I need Jenny now!”

Chapter 21

Brooklyn didn’t remember getting drunk but the hangover that greeted her as soon as she woke told her otherwise.  Mouth dry, head pounding, gut roiling with nausea, she struggled to recall the epic party that put her in her current state.

“Lyn?”

Legion’s soft voice had her blinking her eyes open.  It took a minute to get her bearings and to remember where she was, and when she did, it only confused her. 

“Wh-what happened?” she croaked.

A female voice responded.  “Too much, too fast, with no medical oversight.”

Blinking the blur from her eyes, Brooklyn searched the room.  Legion was seated on the bed beside her while Jenny stood at the foot of the bed.  Physically Brooklyn felt like hell, and in a flash, her emotions went from zero to a thousand as betrayal slammed into her.  Eyes cutting to Legion she accused, “You called her?”

Swallowing hard, Legion tried to explain, “Your health is rapidly declining, Lyn, and I…”

“Don’t!” she cut him off.  Eyes slicing to Jenny, she bit out between gnashed teeth, “Don’t suppose it matters that I don’t want you here.”

Direct, Jenny didn’t even blink.  “No.”

Tearing her angry gaze from Jenny, Brooklyn fought against the pain and weakness assailing her and forced herself to a sitting position.  “I n-need water.”

“Bring her the juice,” Jenny directed as Legion rose from the bed, earning her a hard glare from Brooklyn.

“I don’t want juice.”

Jenny held Brooklyn’s gaze.  “We’re no longer catering to wants, Brooklyn.  It’s what you need.”

Legion had halted halfway to the door and leaned over the bed to cut off Brooklyn’s view of Jenny with his back as he growled, “Stop pissing off my mate, she doesn’t have the energy for that shit right now.”

Too tired to correct the mate remark, Brooklyn had to admit it felt good to have him on her side.

“Fine,” Jenny bit out.  “Please bring the juice while I go over some things with my patient.”

“And don’t do that shit either,” Legion snarled.  “She isn’t a patient.  She’s a person.  An important one.  And if you can’t treat her with the respect she deserves, you can get the fuck out now.”

A growl sounded from outside the bedroom and Brooklyn’s eyes went to the door.  Great!  Bishop was here too.  The last thing she needed was Legion and Bishop going at each other again so she swallowed her pride and offered an olive branch to break the glaring match between Legion and Jenny. 

“I’ll have juice.”  She forced out, “Please.”

Legion straightened and strode for the door.

Alone with Jenny, Brooklyn was about to ask her how she’d known where they were.  She’d instantly blamed Legion but that wasn’t fair.  Maybe they’d been tracked down.  She didn’t get to pose the question though because Jenny crossed to the side of the bed and dropped onto it.

“I don’t want to argue with you, Brooklyn.”  Jenny heaved a weighty sigh, “It’s exhausting, and I know a lot of it’s on me because I’ve been super irritable.”

Brooklyn knew that Jenny had been banished to Apex for her transgressions at StoneCrow Estates.  There was also the added pressure on Jenny of having her mate exiled with her, as well as bearing the guilt that Brooklyn had heaped on her when she’d told Jenny that she couldn’t be trusted.

“You don’t have to do this with me,” Brooklyn offered sincerely.  “Dr. Ames is capable.”

Apex had its own Chief Medical Director, Dr. Pyper Ames.

“Yes,” Jenny nodded, “she is.  But I need to be in this with you.  Afterall, I’m to blame.”

Brooklyn snorted.  “You’re hardly to blame, Jenny.  You didn’t give me cancer.”  In fact, thinking on it with a clear head, Brooklyn realized how much they had in common.  This whole time Brooklyn had been fighting against being forced into a mating of convenience while Jenny had hid her findings so that mates could find and accept each other organically.  Brooklyn knew that if Jenny had shared her intel with Monroe, he’d have a list of mated pairs that he could and would use to his advantage.  He’d force things.  He’d use his Walkers’ Angels against them to get what he wanted.  Monroe had always been conniving like that.  Before, Brooklyn had admired that in him, seeing it as power, but now things were different.  Now that she was on the receiving end, she realized how arrogant and brutal Monroe could be.  Brooklyn was no longer attracted to Monroe in the slightest.  Funny.  When had that happened?

“I’m to blame in a lot of ways,” Jenny countered.  “I was so preoccupied with my work that I didn’t do my job.  I’m Chief of Medical at StoneCrow and I should have implemented mandatory monthly health check-ups for all residents.  I could have caught this sooner.  I should have.”

“You’re not God, Jenny.”

“I know, but…”

When the Doctor’s eyes filled with tears, Brooklyn felt a pang of guilt.  She’d been treating Jenny like shit ever since they’d both been sent to Apex.  It wasn’t fair and Brooklyn was starting to see just how petulant she’d been behaving.

“I’m sorry, Jen.”

Blinking back her tears, Jenny barked a laugh and sniffed, lifting the back of one hand to swipe at her nose.  “What in the hell are you sorry for?  You…”  Her words trailed off as she shot to her feet.  Facing the door, she instantly turned serious.

The door was shoved open and both Legion and Bishop tried to enter at the same time, their massive shoulders clogging the frame as the got jammed in the doorway.

“The fuck!” Legion roared and shouldered passed Bishop, shooting him a dark look.

It would have been comical to Brooklyn if she wasn’t suddenly so worried.

“Stay here!” Legion barked then pointed at Jenny, “You,” his finger then jammed toward Brooklyn, “protect her, got it?”

Protect her?  From what?

Bishop glared at Legion then glanced at Jenny.  “Stay inside.  Someone’s here.”

“Who,” Jenny demanded.  “What’s happening?”

Legion answered as he hurried from the room, “Not sure yet.  Just stay inside.  No matter what.”

Brooklyn tensed.  What was happening?  What could have three badass Skin Walkers riled up the way they were?

“Megalya?” Jenny asked Bishop.

Bishop shot Jenny a fierce look.  “Don’t know yet.”  He jerked his head toward Brooklyn, “Get her up and ready to make a break for it.  I love you.”  Then he was gone. 

Brooklyn didn’t wait for direction; she was already up out of the bed.  The movement was too quick and had her swaying, but she steadied herself on the bed until Jenny reached her side then knelt in front of Brooklyn to help get her feet into her shoes.

“Hurry,” Jenny whispered.

Brooklyn worked quickly, ears straining to pick up any sounds other than the rapid hammering of her heart.

Chapter 22

Once her shoes were on, Brooklyn took a step toward the bedroom door, but Jenny caught her elbows and stopped her.  Looking at Jenny, fear skittered up Brooklyn’s spine at the intense look on the other woman’s face. 

“Stay close!” Jenny directed.  “If I shift, don’t be afraid.  I’ll protect you.  Stay by my side.”

Brooklyn nodded numbly before Jenny gripped her hand and drug her from the room. 

In the living area of the bunker, everything was silent.  The heavy metal door was closed as they reached it, but Jenny pulled Brooklyn behind her as Jenny placed her body behind the door and cracked it open a mere fraction to peek out.

Brooklyn thought her heart was going to explode from how hard it was beating.  She was terrified, and surprisingly, it wasn’t fear for herself.  She was worried about Legion and Bishop.  They were out there facing the threat alone and most likely unarmed.

“Are there guns in here?” she whispered.

“Shhhhh!” Jenny admonished.

A loud roar filled the air and had goosebumps rising all along Brooklyn’s skin.  Not sure how, but she knew the sound came from Legion.  Not Legion Legion but one of his animals.  The sound did something to her.  Instantly her fear dissolved, and she was pissed off.  Someone or something was out there fucking with her…her…

Another roar answered and then it sounded like war erupted.

“Son of a bitch!” Jenny bellowed and jerked the door open.  “Legion! Stop!”

Jenny raced out the door and ignoring Legions order to remain inside, Brooklyn followed Jenny out into the night.

***

There was zero chance of Legion holding himself back from the battle that presented itself.  His inner beasts were already riled as fuck because Conn had not only brought Jenny with him to the bunker but he’d brought Bishop and York too.  It was too many males in too close proximity to his ailing and still un-mated Angel.  His inner beasts were itching for battle to stake their claim.  It didn’t matter one ounce that Conn, York, and Bishop were all mated.  They were males and in the vicinity of Brooklyn who wore Legion’s halo but not his mate mark.  So, when Haka stepped from the tree-line, a massive mountain lion exploded from Legion as he charged his fellow un-mated Skin Walker brother.

With a quickly hissed, “Shhhit!” Haka shifted and then the fight was on.

Legion was pissed that he’d had to call Jenny.  He was pissed that Brooklyn was sick.  He was pissed that Monroe had found them.  And he was pissed that the Dominant had brought un-mated Walker males with him.  Monroe should have known better.  Nah, fuck that.  Monroe did know better.  This shit was intentional.

Tearing into Haka, Legion couldn’t talk himself down.  Not even when King joined the melee to help Haka.  It wasn’t until Conn, Bishop, and RedKnife were pulling him off Haka’s bleeding lion that Legion begrudgingly shifted back to his human skin.

Haka shifted back to his skin too and yelled, “What the fuck, man!  We came to help!”

But he didn’t want their help. He wanted to be alone with Brooklyn.  He wanted to mate her and heal her and have her forever.  And if that wasn’t going to happen then he wanted to die alone with her here in peace.

“Gentlemen,” Monroe admonished as he stepped from the dark night.  “Stand down.”

Haka shook out of King’s hands as King tried to help him to his feet.  Swiping at a bloody lip, Haka shot Legion a dark look as he struggled to his feet.

“Ms. Ami,” Monroe drawled.

It had Legion turning to face the bunker door where Jenny stood protectively in front of Brooklyn who was staring at Legion with so much fear in her eyes that his animals were instantly riled up again.

“You…” she started then tried again, “You okay?”  She made to pass Jenny to get to him, but Jenny’s arm shot out and held her back.

Pissed, Legion’s eyes sliced to Jenny, but Jenny was glaring at Monroe. “What are you doing here?”

Attention going to Monroe, Legion kept it there as he strode across the clearing to get to Brooklyn.  As soon as he got close, Jenny dropped the arm holding Brooklyn back, and Brooklyn launched herself into Legion’s arms.  And fucking-A it felt right.

“We were disappointed to find out Tyce had lost the guests I’d sent him.”

Legion glared at Monroe over his shoulder.  “We’re fine.  You can leave.”

“Not just yet,” Monroe’s eyes went hard on Legion before sliding to Brooklyn and softening. “Ms. Ami,” he dipped his chin by way of greeting.  “There’s been a revelation.”

Legion’s stomach dropped.  Revelation?  What the fuck did that mean?  Fear ripped through him.  The only thing he could think of was that somehow Monroe had discovered that there’d been a mistake and Brooklyn wasn’t his.  But fuck that because she was!  He wasn’t giving her up, not now, not ever.

Lifting an arm, Monroe motioned toward the three Walker Sentries he’d brought with him.  Instantly, King, Haka, and RedKnife melted into the forest and returned short minutes later carrying equipment.

Jenny was the first to speak, “Is that…”

Monroe cut off Jenny’s question with a simple, “Yes.”

Legion didn’t know what was happening.  He didn’t recognize the equipment that King, Haka, and RedKnife carried toward them.  Stepping around an astounded Jenny, an enraged Legion, and a trembling Brooklyn, the guys carried the equipment into the bunker.

“Will this work?” Jenny asked hopefully.

Monroe didn’t respond, just nodded once, his eerie blue eyes glinting in the night like shining diamonds.  “But Dr. Drake has made some adjustments.”

“Drake?” Jenny asked.

“He’s taken over medical at StoneCrow.”

“What’s happening?” Brooklyn breathed, clutching onto Legion like he was a lifeline.

“Dunno,” he answered frowning between Jenny and Monroe.  “But I’m gonna fucking find out.”

Chapter 23

 One hour and one lengthy explanation later, and Brooklyn was lying on the bed in the bunker bedroom with Legion seated in a chair beside her.  There were wires and machines and tubes and needles.  An IV had been inserted into her arm and a second had been inserted into Legion’s forearm, high up where it bent.

“This is stupid!” Brooklyn groused to hide her anxiety.  Truth was, she was worried.  Monroe had explained to them how the machine worked.  The explanation was highly esoteric filled with language she barely understood.  Words like platelets, blood cells, plasma, erythrocytes, granulocytes, had been offered, and while Brooklyn didn’t understand the science, she got the gist of it.  The new Chief of Medical at StoneCrow, Dr. Drake, had found a way to isolate the part of a Skin Walker’s blood that bonded two people together.  It meant that, with the help of the machine Monroe had brought, Brooklyn could get a transfusion of Legion’s blood and it would only transfer the part of Walker blood that would heal her and not bind her to Legion.  She was getting the choice she’d always wanted.

“We know you’re afraid, Brooklyn,” Monroe commented.  “Trust the process.”

That had her body tensing.  She didn’t like his dismissive tone and wished that when Legion had roared that none of the males were welcome in the bunker with them that Monroe would have stayed out too.

“Leave her alone,” Legion growled, instantly at her defense.

“We’re saving her, Legion.”  Monroe snapped, “Be grateful.”

“Don’t talk to him like that!” Brooklyn raged, looking for any excuse to yank the IV from her arm and make a break for it.  “Why didn’t we try this in the first place?” she shot an accusatory glance at Jenny.  “It’s so simple.”

Monroe was the one to respond.  “It isn’t simple.  And it took a great deal of time and effort.  It’s unprecedented.”

She knew she sounded ungrateful but her anger was just a mask for her fear.  She was worried about losing her connection to Legion.   “If it’s unprecedented then we don’t really know if it will work.  Right?”  She was grasping at straws, and she knew it, but panic was assailing her.  Jenny said it’d solve everything.  It would heal Brooklyn and not bind her to Legion, so it was a win-win for Brooklyn.  But it didn’t feel that way.  Shockingly, she didn’t want the transfusion to work.  She wanted to have to feed from Legion and him from her.  She was growing into the bond they’d been forming and now it was being ripped away to appease her!    She wanted Legion.  She wanted him to be hers.  She wanted to keep him and to be able to stay with him, but how could she say that after stalling for so long and making Monroe and Jenny work so hard?  Hell, this poor Dr. Drake had probably burned the midnight oil for her and her she was not wanting any part of the plan.  She couldn’t even look at Legion right now because she was afraid he’d see what she was thinking.  Worse, she didn’t want to see the look of disappointment on his face.  She was being ripped from him just like he was being ripped from her, but this was supposed to cure her so she knew he wouldn’t protest.

A strong hand grabbed hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze.  It had tears stinging the back of her eyes. 

“It’s okay, Lyn.  I’m here.”  Legion’s reassurance and strong presence had a lump forming in her throat.  

 Monroe spoke her name softly, “Brooklyn.”

She looked up at him.

“Have faith in us,” he offered.  “We’re good at getting things right.”

Brooklyn snorted a watery sounding laugh and then sniffed back tears as they flooded her eyes.  If the Skin Walkers were so good at getting things right, Jenny and Bishop wouldn’t have been exiled.  Jenny would have shared her findings.  Walkers and their potential mates would be aware of Jenny’s discovery.  Monroe would have been able to keep Jenny in line.  And Brooklyn and Legion wouldn’t have had to run from Apex just to find peace.

“A lot of things, right,” Monroe amended as Brooklyn looked up at him.

The machine between her and Legion beeped and then whirred to life, making Brooklyn’s belly drop.  Fuck, she hated this!

***

Legion was grateful that both Jenny and Monroe remained silent as Brooklyn’s emotions heightened to the point that they were stifling.  Her fear, trepidation, and anxiety were amped up so high that the scent of her ever-present illness was buried.  It had everyone tense and on edge.  While the procedure he and Brooklyn were undergoing wasn’t routine, it was an answer.  It’d simplify things and buy he and Brooklyn time.  It was going to give Brooklyn the time to choose him instead of having him forced on her, which is why he didn’t understand her unease.  Humans were confusing, but he struggled to see things from her point of view.

“When this is complete,” Monroe announced, “Ms. Ami, I’d like for you and Legion to return to StoneCrow.”

The scent of Brooklyn’s anger flared as she asked, “Jenny and Bishop too?”

Jenny didn’t look up from her ministrations. 

“You and Legion,” Monroe answered flatly.

“It’ll probably be a failure,” Brooklyn responded attempting to hide her hope.  “Let’s not put the cart before the horse.”

Legion saw the flash of ire in Monroe’s eyes an instant before it was doused.  He’d been ready to defend Brooklyn again but didn’t have to when Monroe’s expression morphed into one of sadness.  Legion was grateful for the look on Monroe’s face.  He knew he wouldn’t be able to tolerate Monroe’s smugness and was glad for its absence in the current situation.  In highly uncharacteristic fashion, Monroe crossed to kneel beside the bed, staring at Brooklyn.  “We’re all just trying our best here, Brooklyn."

"Are we?” she snapped.

Appreciating Monroe’s effort at diplomacy, Legion simultaneously wanted to tell him to get the fuck away from Brooklyn.  Instead, he addressed his Angel.  “Brooklyn, I asked for this help.  I contacted Jenny.  I did this!  I’m holding onto you as tightly as I know how.”  He pleaded, “I don’t want to lose you.  Help me!  Fight for me, the way I’m fighting for you.”

Tears flooded her eyes, and she lowered her head.  “Do you people understand the insurmountable pressure that’s been placed on me during the most stressful and confusing time of my life?”  Lifting her head, she glared at Monroe.  “Does anyone else care what happens to Legion?”  She was mad now on Legion’s behalf because before he’d been a lamb Monroe and Jenny had been ready to throw to slaughter.  They hadn’t seemed to care about him mating her regardless of the fact that she could still die, which meant he would too.  Now, they were just ripping Brooklyn away from him like they hadn’t already told Legion that she was his Angel.

“We all do,” Monroe growled.  “It’s why we’re fighting so hard to keep you alive.  It’d be nice if you’d stop resisting.”

Legion didn’t like the guilty look that flashed across Brooklyn’s face as she glanced at him.

“Well, I’ve been fighting hard to keep him alive!  It’d be nice if I had some help.”

Her admission had all heads jerking in her direction.  As the machine between them cycled his blood into her and her blood into him, Legion felt rocked.  Is that what all this stalling was about?  Did she really think she was saving him by refusing to mate with him?   

Chapter 24

Everything was out of Brooklyn’s control, and it pissed her off.  Her death was supposed to be about her but somehow these Walkers had insinuated themselves into her life and had taken control like they had some right to.  They were acting like they were her, her…family! 

Family? 

Holy shit! 

When had that happened?  Chest constricting with emotion, she looked over at Legion who was staring at her dazed.  In fact, Jenny and Monroe were staring at her too. 

What had she said that was so shocking?  That she didn’t want Legion to die? She’d been saying that from the beginning, hadn’t she?  Were they just now hearing her?

Monroe asked, “You didn’t want to try mating with Legion because you were worried that either it wouldn’t work and he wasn’t yours, or that it would work and you would cement yourself as his Angel only to die of your illness and take him with you?”

Tearing her eyes from Legion, she shook her head and huffed without looking at anyone, “Obviously.”

For long minutes, the room was silent except for the machine.

“My God?” Jenny breathed.  “All on top of being so sick.”

“Brooklyn…” both Legion and Monroe said at the same time before Legion loosed a feral sounding growl and snarled, “Back the fuck off!”

With a roll of his eyes, Monroe shoved to his feet and backed away.  “My job here is done.”  He addressed Legion, “I expect you both back at StoneCrow once she’s claimed, collared, and bound.”  He waved at the machine, and shot Jenny a look, “I suppose this is just a formality now, but finish it and test her.  I’d like to know if it actually works.”  Dipping his head in a nod, he addressed Legion, “Congratulations, Sentry.”  Then he looked at Brooklyn.  “Welcome to the family.”  He shot her a quick grin then strode from the room.

Congratulations?  Welcome to the family?  Confused, Brooklyn looked at Legion.

He was looking at her but spoke to Jenny, “How much longer, Doc?”

Jenny was already turning off the machines and pulling the IVs from their arms.  “That’s enough for now.  We’ll do it again in another three days.”  Stuffing the tubes into red plastic bags, Jenny tucked all the wires up into compartments on the machines.  She took several samples from Brooklyn as she directed, “Get her fed.  You should both be able to eat now.  She’ll need rest and then you…”  Jenny fell silent and looked at Legion before turning to glance pointedly at Brooklyn.  “Bishop and I will be back in three days.”  Turning, she addressed Brooklyn.  “If you feel ill or anything feels off, have Legion contact me immediately.”

Brooklyn nodded woodenly, feeling like something unspoken was hanging in the room.

“Immediately!” Jenny reiterated and then wheeled the medical equipment to a corner of the room before shooting Legion a reassuring smile and exiting.

As soon as they were alone, Brooklyn looked down at the bandage, Jenny had placed on her arm.  “I’ll need rest and then what?”

Legion stood and stretched, his shirt lifting to flash perfect abs.  “Your admission that you’ve been protecting me this entire time shocked them.  Me too.  But I get it.  I know what a phenomenal person you are.  They’re both reading more into it.”

Brooklyn eyed Legion suspiciously.

“Get cleaned up,” he ordered, lifting the chair he’d been sitting in and placing it against the wall.  “I’ll start dinner.”

Then he was gone too, and Brooklyn was left alone in the bedroom.  She felt a little light-headed, but in a good way.  Her arms and legs felt stronger than they had in a long time.  She felt more like herself in a way that she hadn’t ever realized she’d lost until it was suddenly back.  She felt good.

Taking advantage of her current state, she rifled through the dresser where Legion had tucked the clothes she’d brought with her from Apex.  She found a plain white button-up blouse, a pair of jeans, white ankle socks, and a sexy set of red lacy underwear.  She felt good and wanted to look and smell good too.  She’d take a quick shower before Legion finished dinner.

Striding to the bathroom, Brooklyn stalled a moment to digest the strange feeling in her chest.  She didn’t know how long it would take for any adverse effects to take over or for Jenny to realize that Legion didn’t belong to Brooklyn, but she was sure it should have been instantaneous.  Now, that little niggling feeling her chest pulsed with a growing power.  Was she getting sick?  Were side effects already starting?  Worry knitted her brow and then vanished when realization dawned.  It wasn’t a negative affect at all.  It was hope!

Was this happening?  Would the transfusion work?  Brooklyn was terrified to dream but she couldn’t stop that little seed of hope from steadily growing inside of her with each breath she took and with each minute that passed.  She felt like she was getting stronger and stronger meant there was energy for all kinds of things.  Including fighting for her and Legion, just like he’d begged her to do.  Maybe that was the gift she gave him.  Instead of trying to save him while simultaneously hurting him, maybe she switched sides and fought hard for them.  Maybe, just maybe, she went all in.  She had the strength now, thanks to him.   

***

Knee bouncing beneath the table, muscles flexing in his jaw, Legion had one hand fisted around his spoon while the other was curled into a shaking fist on the table.  He was oblivious to his bodies need for sustenance.  He could give two shits about sating his hunger for food.  That hunger was nonexistent.  It was his hunger for Brooklyn that was riding him now.  Hell, he couldn’t even stop peeking up at her.  He should have never agreed to the blood transfusion.  Perhaps it had worked on her end, but it hadn’t on his.  Or maybe it had.  Maybe he was so honed in on her now because of her admission.  The whole time she’d been fighting for her life and fighting for his too.  Instead of taking the easy out and letting him claim her, she’d raged against it because she’d been worried about him.  That meant she felt something for him.  This whole time he’d been thinking he hadn’t been good enough for her to claim, that she’d still been hung up on Monroe.  But knowing she cared about what happened to him changed everything.  Before, he’d been willing to give her the choice of accepting him or not.  Oddly, that was whole point of the transfusion too. But now, he was determined to make her his.  His inner beasts knew it too and they were obsessed.  Everything about her called to him.  The satiny waves of her hair, the soft rosy flush on her cheeks, that damn plump bottom lip she’d been nibbling on since she’d stepped from the bedroom smelling fresh and clean and illness free.  Everything!  He desired every single part of her, but it was the scent of her that was slowly undoing him.  Even the aroma of the succulent stew couldn’t compete with the heady scent of her sweet pussy.  His tongue peeked out and he swore he could taste her on the air.  Incisors elongated, dick hard, a snarl ripped its way up his throat.  He was helpless to stop it.  Instead, his eyes jerked to Brooklyn’s face for the thousandth time to see if she noticed. 

Notice she did.  Her hands had been fisted on the table on either side of her bowl.  She hadn’t touched her food either.  She’d been sitting there avoiding looking at him, but when that animalistic sound ripped from him, she pulled her hands off the table and pinched her eyes tightly shut.  She’d been donning a constant flush ever since she’d stepped out of the bedroom. The rosy blush was a constant reminder that his blood was in her now.  The constant scarlet in her cheeks was like a tormenting red flag, waving at him.  It was almost as if her blood knew it had a new home and was taunting him to take it.  Maybe he was wrong.  He didn’t know whether the color was from the transfusion or not and he was almost too afraid to hope that it had worked.  Now though, a deeper crimson flooded high on her cheeks as she finally, slowly blinked up at him.  The second their eyes locked, he felt his whole body tense.  Being trapped in her gaze felt so goddamn fascinating, so intimate.  His whole universe was centered around her, and when she gave him her full attention, the way she was now, he felt like the luckiest, most lethal, most powerful creature on the face of the fucking earth.  There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do for this woman.  No feat too great, no ask too grand.  He’d go to fucking war for her.  But right now, it wasn’t any enemy he wanted to get his hands on.  It was her.  Only her. 

Across the table, Brooklyn stared at him with an uncertainty that was astonishing.  How?  How could this woman not know the power she held over him?  Couldn’t she feel it?  Couldn’t she see it?  His eyes dipped to her untouched food.  He told himself the food would be the test.  If she were able to keep it down that meant the transfusion had worked but she hadn’t even attempted a single bite.  Granted, he hadn’t either but that was because he wanted desperately to sink his teeth into her.

Another growl rattled it’s way up the back of his throat.  When Brooklyn heard it, she let her head fall back as if the sound were washing over her.  The display exposed the satiny column of her throat in a show of submission that had his body tensing and his eyes narrowing on the vein throbbing low on the side of her neck.  The display alone would have been his undoing if Brooklyn hadn’t breathed his name with more need than he’d ever heard in his life.

“Legion, I…”

One second the table was between them and the next it was gone. 

Chapter 25

The table hit the wall and dishes shattered, soup splattering everywhere.  Before the table even hit the ground and settled face down, he had her up and in his arms.  He couldn’t pull her close enough to him, he couldn’t touch her enough, scent her enough.  His mouth was on her neck, teeth nipping, tongue licking.  Fuck!  She tasted so damn good!  Struggling to keep his claws from elongating, he tore at her clothes, desperate to be skin to skin.  

Brooklyn buried her fingers in his hair and fisted hard, forcing him closer as if she couldn’t get enough of him either, like she needed him.  He’d slaughter her need, but first… 

He tore open the front of her button-up blouse leaving the delicate material hanging at her elbows.  Her bra came off next and Legion couldn’t stop.  They’d suffered enough between them.  Now, there’d be absolutely nothing separating them.  He needed her fully naked, fully open, fully ready.  His shaking hands released her to open the front of her jeans.  Brooklyn assisted by lifting her hips a fraction.  That one small effort on her part had his heart clenching hard with the realization that she wanted this too.  She wanted him!  Shoving the denim down her thighs, his thumbs snagged the lace of her panties and removed them at the same time.  When she was completely naked, his mouth claimed hers as he carried her to the bedroom.  Gods, she was small, and soft, and perfect!  

When they hit the bed, Brooklyn’s hands tugged his hair, pulling him in close, but he knew what she needed.  Strong hands forced her legs apart and then his face was buried between her thighs.  Brooklyn cried out when instead of easing into it, he plunged his soaking tongue inside of her.  He was ravenous now, had fought it too long.  She bucked against his face and cried out again, a desperate sound wrenching from her as he alternated between driving his tongue into her and laving the sweet nectar that slipped free.  Curling his tongue out and licking up to flatten it over her clit where applied pressure, he had Brooklyn screaming and writhing in the most delicious way.  Damn she was close.  He could feel it as her channel shuddered around his tongue and just knowing how close she was had his balls drawing up tight as he ate her pussy in the middle of the bed on hands and knees like some wild beast.  He was.  Now that he had a taste of her, nothing would stop him.  He tongue fucked her until she screamed his name, her tiny fists tightening in his hair as she creamed on his lips as a scream ripped from her and her body convulsed.  Legion continued to lick at her, drawing out the aftershocks of her orgasm and lapping up each drop of her release, and yet it still wasn’t enough, for either of them apparently because she breathed, “More!  I need you inside me.”  She would need more.  The affliction wasn’t easy on a female, and a female who’d fought it as long as Brooklyn had wouldn’t be easily sated under the best of circumstances.  They’d let it ride too long; they’d let it eat away at them until they couldn’t deny it any further.

Legion ripped open the front of his jeans, unsheathing his throbbing cock, but that’s as far he got because Brooklyn was clambering to a sitting position then shoving him down onto the bed as she threw a leg over him and climbed on top.  Her long blond tresses were free and framing her sex-flushed face.  Shirt gone, her breasts jiggled with her movements, her taut pink nipples hard as she sucked her in bottom lip.  In that instant, Legion took a mental picture as his cock throbbed, threatening to explode before he’d even had the pleasure of piercing her.

With a wicked grin, Brooklyn straddled him as she lowered herself onto him.  There was no gentle inch by inch, no she drove down, stabbing him fully inside of her in one luscious thrust that had him clenching his jaw hard.  The muscles in his neck strained as he hissed. 

When she started moving, he couldn’t help but take over.  His strong hands gripped her ass and lifted her slightly before he settle her back on him and then used his strong arms to rock her back and forth on his dick.  Head tossing back, Brooklyn moaned the most glorious sound.  Fuck, she was bliss.  Being inside her was a thousand times better than any of his imaginings had been and he reveled in it.  He was supposed to be gentle, but for the life of him he couldn’t remember why.  Hell, he was having difficulty understanding why he’d fought this in the first place. 

The illness.  It came back to him as he was trying to clear the cloudy haze the scent of her stirred in his brain.  Nostrils flaring, all he scented was her wet pussy and her need.  There wasn’t the faintest hint of her sickness.  It spurred him on. 

Reaching up, he pulled her down so her breasts were pressed into his chest and then he rolled them until he was on top. 

“Brooklyn,” he breathed and then growled, “Mine!”

Angling her head, she exposed her neck and responded, “Yes, baby!  Yours!”

Hooking one of her legs, he drove impossibly deeper into her.  The thought of impregnating her, flashed through his head and had his dick going iron hard as it pulsed within  her.  He wanted her, he wanted a child with her.  He wanted this with her every day!  And if she were his, he wouldn’t have to be satisfied with one offspring.  He could impregnate her over and over.  The thought had his balls swelling and his hips pistoning faster as if his inner beasts wanted the act done before man could stop him, but the human side of him was lost in her.  Ours!  That sounded right, felt right.  He bucked into her, dick sliding in and out of her tight wet pussy as she clung to him, their bodies slick with sweat as she cried out those sexy fucking noises that only egged him on. 

“Legion, Legion!” she chanted as he fucked her hard, her breasts bouncing with each hard thrust of his hips.  Suddenly, Brooklyn’s body hunched forward, her words fading as her teeth locked into his shoulder.  Her body seized and gripped him so tight that it, coupled with her bite, had him throwing back his head to roar as he exploded inside her, his seed shooting deep into her womb in pulsing jets that were drawn from him long after they shouldn’t have been.  Her affliction called to something in him and he filled her until his seed was spilling out and coating her inner thighs and goddamn if the sight didn’t make him suddenly hard again. 

“Ffffffuck!” he groaned.  He wasn’t done, but he didn’t know if Brooklyn could take any more.  He dragged his eyes to her face and she was grinning. That damn bottom lip went back between her teeth and just because he finally could, he leaned forward and sucked it free, pulling it between his lips before sliding his tongue into her mouth.  Brooklyn ground her hips into his and thank the fucking Gods because he had to have her again.  This wasn’t desire now.  Want had nothing to do with it, this was visceral need.

“I fucking love you,” he declared as he rose up over her and started working into her channel again.  Even coated in his see, her sleek hot channel was still so tight that he was nervous he’d come too early this time.  He didn’t think he’d ever get enough of her…ever!  His teeth found her shoulder and as she’d done to him earlier, he marked her as his, teeth sinking in until the coppery tang of her blood exploded on his tongue while she exploded in his arms, her legs wrapping around his hips to hold him tightly inside of her, triggering his own second release.

That’s how they continued through the night.  Legion took her over and over until Brooklyn collapsed unconscious in his arms, fully sated and the scent of her affliction finally dwindling and allowing her to rest.  He hugged her up tight, unable to separate from her before he tucked her chin into his chest and fell into an exhausted sleep with her nestled on top of him, his hard cock still buried inside of her.  Her!  His mate, his Angel!

Chapter 26

   Brooklyn towel dried her hair and couldn’t stop the grin that marked her lips.  Being with Legion hadn’t been what she’d expected.  No, it’d been so much more.  She expected him to be a skilled lover, but what they’d done, what he’d done…  Worship.  He had pure and simply worshiped her body and it had been so reverent.  She’d never felt so cherished or been humbled by sex with a man before, but that’s how she’d felt with Legion.  Hell, she’d almost cried, and had only been able to stifle it because she didn’t want Legion to think it was her first time.  Still, it’d felt like something huge had happened between them and her hands stilled in their task.  Even teeth drawing her bottom lip between them, she wondered if something had happened.  Taking stock of her body, she tried to gauge whether she felt any different physically.  She wasn’t sure how the mating was supposed to cure her but other than the unbelievable happiness coursing through her, she felt no different.  Brows furrowing, she wondered if she was expecting too much.  Maybe Jenny and Monroe were wrong.  Swallowing hard, she wondered if she should formulate an out for Legion, just in case things didn’t change with her.  If her illness remained, he'd feel like he’d failed, and she’d feel guilty.   

“I know you’re my Angel.”  Legion’s deep baritone broke her concentration and had her eyes snapping to the reflection of him in the mirror where he was leaned shirtless against the doorframe, smirking at her.  “You know you’re my Angel.  Stop fighting it, Lyn.”

He was right.  She felt it.  Some part of her knew on a primal level that when she was in his arms, she was home.  Yet, she was hesitant to bind Legion to her because there was so much excess expectation of what it meant for them.

Wanting to be as open with him as she could, she quietly admitted.  “I’m too afraid to hope.”

“That you’re mine?” he asked with a frown, uncrossing his arms and closing the space between them to pull her into his arms.

“That I’m better.” she admitted. “We’re mated now and if I’m still ill then…”

A strong finger caught her jaw and lifted her face to his.  Staring down at her intently, he vowed, “You’re better, baby.  There’s no scent of illness on you.”  He grinned wickedly, “But if you’d like, I supposed I could find a minute to inspect every inch of you.”

Heat crept up her face as molten lava unfurled low in her belly.  “We haven’t left that bed for two days.  You’re not helping.”

At the smile he gave her, her heart constricted, and she blurted out, “I love you.”

Her admission had his smile fading.  “I love you, Brooklyn.”

Elation hit her hard, but Legion didn’t stop there.

“Brooklyn Ami, I claim you as my mate.  I claim you as my friend, my lover, the mother of my unborn children, my wife, my Angel.”

She gasped, recognizing the Skin Walker wedding vows from the multiple weddings she’d organized at StoneCrow Estates.

“I will be your strength in times of weakness, your want in times of need, your joy in times of sorrow.  I will sacrifice my health, my triumph, my hopes, and my desires to put your needs ahead of my own.  I promise to cherish and respect you, to care for you, and protect your life and lives of our children with my very own.  I vow to comfort and encourage you, to guard and keep you, and to love you until my time on this earth ends,” he continued, his voice low and hoarse like he was trying to retain control.  It had anticipation licking up her spine.

“Loving what I know of you and trusting what I do not yet know.  I eagerly anticipate the chance to grow together,” he continued as he slowly pulled off the towel that had been wrapped around her.  “In times of joy and in times of sorrow.  In times of failure and in times of triumph.”  He pushed his boxers down and stepped out of them.

Brooklyn felt her cheeks flush with wanting.  Eyes dipping of their own volition, she swallowed hard as she studied Legion’s hard body.

“I promise to cherish and respect you.”

His words drew her eyes back to his.

“I vow to care for you, and to protect you with my own life.”

Brooklyn fought to keep her eyes on his, she knew what was coming and she had never been more excited or happy. 

Bending, he scooped her up, the towel falling from her hands as he carried her back to the bedroom before placing her on the bed.  Legion came over her until she was caged in by his big body as he continued his vow.  “I promise to love and cherish you through whatever life may bring us.  Entreat me not to leave you, or to return from following after you, for where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay.  My people will be your people, and your life will be my life.  And where you die, I will die and there I will be buried.  May the grandfathers do with me and more if anything but death parts me from you.”

Settling between her thighs, his cock probed for entrance and she was wet and ready, but before he entered her, he pulled back and frowned at the tears on her cheeks.

“I’m happy,” she breathed shakily.

“And I’m in love.”  He kissed her hard, honored with the gift the Gods had granted him.  Brooklyn felt the same.

Also Available by Susan Bliler

Skin Walker Series

King (Skin Walkers Book 1)

RedKnife (Skin Walkers Book 2)

Bishop (Skin Walkers Book 3)

Mason (Skin Walkers Book 4)

Conn (Skin Walkers Book 5)

Leto (Skin Walkers Book 6)

Monroe (Skin Walkers Book 7)

Gauge (Skin Walkers Book 8)

York (Skin Walkers Book 9)

Remy (Skin Walkers Book 10)

Taken (Skin Walkers Book 11)

Angel Lost (Skin Walkers Book 12)

Baymac (Skin Walkers Book 13)

Bellis (Skin Walkers Book 14)

Tyce (Skin Walkers Book 15)

Marko (Skin Walkers Book 16)

Recker (Skin Walkers Book 17)

James (Skin Walkers Book 18)

Chief (Skin Walkers Book 19)

Legion (Skin Walkers Book 20)

[SB1]From here down Friday at 1pm (Pony’s plan)