Dark Protectors: Provoked Part 31

Her stomach ached when she thought about her Uncle Jase. She'd heard about the video from her father, and his face had been shadowed with pain as he'd prepared her for the worst. Uncle Jase might be gone for good.

For now, she needed to clear her head.

Swinging her legs over the bed, she yanked on sweats. Hustling into the bathroom, she brushed her teeth and washed her face.

Energy still sizzled through her veins from trying to trick Kalin. She definitely needed to go for a run.

The smell of pancakes tempted her as she headed for the door. Poking her head in the kitchen, she found a slice of peace at the sight of her father flipping chocolate chip pancakes. He wore black combat clothes and flak boots with a pink ap.r.o.n tied around his waist.

"Sit and eat," he said, turning around.

He was still the biggest man she'd ever seen. Broad across the shoulders, he had fierce features and hands bigger than dinner plates. She adored him for the hero he was. He'd saved her from monsters when she was four years old and had given her a safe home since. The world had instantly become safer the second Talen became her father.

She slid into a chair at the large table and reached for a plate. "Why are you cooking?"

"I miss your mother." He tossed the ap.r.o.n to the sink, sat, and pa.s.sed the syrup, his golden eyes dark. "She always makes pancakes on Sunday."

"Today is Tuesday."

"I don't care. I want it to be Sunday-and I want them to come home." A dark frown settled over his broad face.

"Mom and Garrett will be home next week." Janie took a big bite and closed her eyes as the chocolate warmed her throat. Her dad always put in twice the amount of chips than her mother did. "These are awesome."

"I'm a good cook-almost as good as my mate." Talen took a bite.

Janie chuckled. "Some of the shifters think you sound possessive and archaic every time you call Mom your mate.' "

He swallowed his food, his eyes thoughtful. "I guess I was so happy to find her, and so proud to make her my mate, I say it to make myself happy." He grinned. "And to remind her every chance I get that she's mine."

Okay, that was possessive and sweet. Would Janie ever find somebody who loved her that much? Would Zane ever love her? "You're one of a kind, Dad."

"Thanks, sweetheart." Then Talen frowned, studying Janie's face. "What happened to your lip?"

She coughed and wiped her mouth on a napkin. "I bit myself when I was training yesterday." The lie heated something in her stomach, probably guilt. But her father couldn't know she'd just kissed a Kurjan in her dream. Talk about explosions.

Concern wrinkled his prominent brow. "You should put some ice on it after breakfast."

"Okay." Then Janie sat back and studied her dad. "You didn't sleep last night again."

He sighed, tossing his napkin on his half-eaten pancakes. "I kept seeing that video with Jase."

Janie nodded, pain catching her heart. "I haven't had a vision regarding him, but I'm still hopeful the video was a trick."

Talen rubbed both hands through his hair. "I hope so, too. We usually rely on Kane for logic, but he's definitely off his game, so I'm just not sure."

Janie shrugged. "Kane's confused about everything right now-give him a break."

"What's there to be confused about?" Talen growled. "He met his mate, the mark appeared on his hand, and now he needs to follow his path. Why does he have to think everything to death?"

"Because he's Kane," Janie said gently. "He blames himself for failing to find Jase, and he doesn't trust his feelings about Amber. He's fighting himself and his feelings."

"I don't see why."

"He's not you. Give the guy a break-you're his older brother. Be on his side." Janie shook her head. Uncle Kane and her dad couldn't be more different, but they needed each other now more than ever. "I haven't had a vision dealing with Jase in the future for some time, and Kane could be right. If Jase really wants to die, he'll figure out a way. Kane is going to need you." Heat filled her head as she said the words . . . if Jase truly died, her heart would break. She'd adored her uncle from day one.

Talen smiled, the dark circles under his eyes standing out. "What are you up to, Janet Isabella?"

Sometimes she forgot her father was a genius, too. "Nothing. Geez."

He lifted an eyebrow and gave his stern look. The worry marks under his eyes detracted slightly from the menace. "Are you dating another shifter?"

For goodness' sake. Like she had time to date between manipulating Zane and Kalin as she tried to end the war. "No. I'm not dating anybody right now, Dad. But I promise, you'll be the first one I tell when I find someone to date. Not." She snorted.

Talen huffed out a strong breath. "You're too young to date."

Three hundred years old would be too young for her to date so long as her dad was concerned. She shook her head. "Stop worrying about me and go help Kane. He needs it."

Talen smiled. "When did you get so smart?"

"I've always been smart." She forced a smile, biting back a wince as her damaged lip protested.

"Good. Smart girls get to do the dishes."

CHAPTER 29.

Kane finished his run on the treadmill, sweat pouring down his back. He'd tossed his shirt across the room about an hour into the run. Two hours later, and still his mind remained muddled.

He'd left Amber sleeping peacefully in his bed, looking like an angel. A s.e.xy-as-h.e.l.l angel. He'd mated her. The moment had cemented itself securely in his soul. h.e.l.l, the woman was in his heart.

What was he going to do with her?

Heavy boots clomped down the hall, and Talen stepped inside the gym.

He sniffed the air and straightened, gaze serious on Kane. "You mated her."

Kane jumped off the treadmill. "Yes."

"Why?"

Irritation p.r.i.c.ked the back of Kane's neck. "Excuse me?"

Talen settled his stance. "Why did you mate her?"

"What the f.u.c.k is that supposed to mean?" While Kane didn't need to resort to violence, he had no problem employing it.

A smirk lifted Talen's lips. "I believe I used one-syllable words. Being such a genius, surely you can answer the very simple question of why you mated Amber Freebird."

Kane lunged. Against all rational thought, he tackled his brother, sending them both sprawling across the mats.

They landed with a sonic boom.

Talen tossed him off and jumped to his feet.

Kane anch.o.r.ed himself with his shoulders and leapt to stand. If he knew his brother, Talen would be swinging all-out soon.

Instead, golden eyes narrowed in sympathy. "Listen, we really don't have time for you to have some sort of emotional upheaval. If my kicking the c.r.a.p out of you will help, I'm happy to oblige. But if not, what the h.e.l.l's going on?"

"I'd kick the c.r.a.p out of you." Truth be told, they were evenly matched. While Talen fought with heat, Kane countered with cold. It'd be a good battle.

"Uh-huh." Talen scratched his ma.s.sive head. "Let's look at this logically so you understand the situation. I'm sure you told yourself you needed to mate Amber to gain her abilities, and so she could gain yours."

Kane frowned. "Exactly."

"And, now that the mating is a done deal, deep down you feel unsettled."

"Exactly." Thank G.o.d somebody understood. Kane studied his brother with a new understanding.

Talen shook his head. "She's not yours, Kane."

Fire bubbled up his throat. "I mated her. She wears my mark. Of course she's mine."

"You dips.h.i.t." Talen flashed a rare smile. "The woman isn't yours until she says she's yours. And that woman-she isn't going to say the words until you give her everything. Tell her you love her."

"Love doesn't exist." His voice sounded weak even to his ears.

"Why? Because you can't see it? Can't measure love under a microscope?"

"Yes."

Talen drew in a deep breath. "You're my brother and I'd die for you. In a second and without giving a thought. You know that, right?"

"Yes." Man, was Talen going to kill him?

"How do you know that?"

Kane's frown hurt his head. "I just do."

"Loyalty, brotherhood, and love. Three things you're absolutely sure about, and you can't see or examine any of them." Talen cracked his neck, keeping his gaze on Kane. "Yet you believe."

Kane blew out a breath. There was definite logic in the statement. "Okay. I'll think about it."

"Now that's a f.u.c.king shock."

Kane gave his brother a look. They had more important things to deal with than his newfound emotional distress. "I'm going to need your help with Dage."

Talen sighed, anger filling his eyes. "Jase is not dead."

"If he wants to be dead, he's dead." Kane wouldn't truly believe the horrific fact until he saw Jase's body. "We both saw him go for the sharp rock. Frankly, it's amazing Jase lasted this long being tortured by demons."

"He's tough." Talen stepped back, as if fleeing the truth.

"n.o.body's that tough." Kane hated the words as they left his mouth, but he needed at least one of his brothers prepared. "It makes absolutely no sense for the demons to let that video loose-they want us to know it's almost over."

"They didn't let the video loose-we intercepted the transmission." Rage and denial flashed hard and bright across Talen's face.

"You don't believe that any more than I do."

Talen's huge hands clenched into fists. "I have to believe he's alive and we'll get to him in time."

"Fair enough. But if we find out otherwise, I'll need your help with Dage." The king would blame himself, and Kane would need more than logic to help him. The Realm couldn't afford for its leader to spiral down into guilt and depression.

"You've got it." Talen's sigh held both sorrow and determination. "We should have a location on Hilde Freebird soon."

"When we go after her, I'm not sure about bringing Amber." Kane braced himself for Talen's displeasure.

"I wouldn't bring her, either." Talen scratched his chin.

Kane started. "But we need her."

"She's your mate. You want her to stay here and stay safe, that's your call," Talen said mildly. "You should already know that."

Logically, he did know that fact. "I'm confused."

Talen clapped him on the back. Hard. "Welcome to the f.u.c.king club."

Amber stretched her neck to check out the intricate marking on her lower back, her b.u.t.t to the mirror. She'd dragged the full-length antique out of the bathroom and into the bedroom after taking a quick shower. "I have a tramp stamp," she muttered. Though, the raised K in the middle of a Celtic knot did look kind of cool.

The brand still burned.

She slid her fingers along the fine lines, wincing as the tender skin protested. Yep. He'd marked her but good.

What in the world had she been thinking to allow such a thing? Sure, with the virus, she didn't have to be tied to Kane forever. But maybe the virus was deadly. Being tied to Kane had to be better than being dead, right?

She smiled. He wouldn't like that line of thinking. Not that she cared what he thought.

Except she did.

She cared what he thought a lot. Her heart had been more involved than even her body in the marking. What if he couldn't love? Could she love him enough for them both?

Probably not. Besides. She deserved love, d.a.m.n it. She deserved to be the most important person in the world to somebody. To a man. To the man who held her heart.

She shook her damp hair.