Chapter 11 Kojo #2
“Get the queen to Wintermoon.” Zaki is already moving toward the parking lot exit, her bare feet churning through the drifts, her ridge fully extended and gleaming with the residual energy of combat.
“Zaki!” I take a step after her before I realize what I am doing.
She is the last piece of my clan, my culture, everything I thought the fire took from me, and she is running into the snow and I just got her back, and my body refuses to let that happen.
I start forward, leaving my position at my mate’s side, and my Bouda erupts with fury.
Protect the queen, Alemayehu. Listen to your sister and protect our queen.
Do not be selfish. Zaki gave you an order.
She is pursuing the enemy commander. That is what the women of our clan do.
They hunt. They command. They lead. You GUARD.
That is your role and you will not abandon it. You are not losing your sister again.
“Stop underestimating her.” Kade’s voice cuts through, unexpectedly gentle. “You know what the women of your clan are capable of.”
Kade is correct, my Bouda says, and the admission comes out grudging and sour. He does not like agreeing with the vampire, does not like her. But the truth is the truth. Our women are some of the finest warriors in shifter lore. She will catch that man. And she will do what needs to be done.
I watch my sister’s silhouette shrink into the blizzard until the snow swallows her completely, and then I turn back to my mate.
My Bouda is right, and Kade is right, and Zaki herself told me where I belong.
I return to my position and my ridge goes flat, the spikes softening as I take my place at my mate’s side where I am meant to be.
Kade grabs my mate’s arm. “We need to move. Leave Aiden, Andrew will get him.”
She snatches her arm back so fast Kade blinks in surprise. “What the fuck do you mean, leave him? He’s not dead.”
“He’s paralyzed, not deceased. He’ll be fine in an hour.” Kade sighs and pinches the bridge of her nose in annoyance, like she is explaining something obvious to a child.
My ridge goes rigid again. More tires on snow, approaching from the west this time, and my body slides in front of my mate before the sound fully registers. I plant my stance and my claws extend, ready to fight whoever comes next. I am done losing people tonight.
“Don’t make me fucking teleport you, Kojo.” Kade steps forward, one finger raised in warning.
I ignore her. The headlights cut through the blizzard and a truck slides sideways into the parking lot, tires grinding through the snow, fishtailing hard before correcting and skidding to a stop directly in front of us.
The stereo inside is pumping bass so heavy it vibrates the side mirrors, some kind of deep, repetitive human music that I recognize from Thirst Trap.
Andrew played it constantly while we stayed there.
What is that noise? my Bouda complains, recoiling from the sound. That is not music. That is a headache with a rhythm. Where is the melody? Where is the storytelling? Our people sang around fires and told stories through sound. This is just bass and ego and manufactured noise.
I agree. The music is terrible.
Andrew kills the engine and the bass stops abruptly.
He climbs out of the driver’s seat, his sharp features frozen in his late twenties, wearing that permanent look of mild irritation that I have never seen him direct at anyone except Kade, and is around the front of the truck and on his knees in the snow beside Aiden’s frozen body before the driver’s door swings shut.
Andrew slides his arms under Aiden and lifts him against his chest. Aiden’s head lolls against his shoulder, eyes still locked open, his body completely limp in the vampire’s arms.
“My sweet pea.” Andrew adjusts him, tucking his head into the crook of his neck with a gentleness that seems at odds with his nature, then looks up at me with genuine horror. “Did you have to use your cackle on him like this?”
“It was not me.” I nod toward the parking lot exit where my sister disappeared. “That was Zaki.”
He huffs and rises with Aiden still cradled in his arms. I allow myself a small smirk, and my mate lifts a finger to her lips, her eyes narrowing as she pieces the situation together.
How he holds Aiden, the pet name, the fury at seeing him hurt.
She glances at Kade, then back at Andrew, and I can see the connections forming behind her eyes.
Kade glares at her son. “I see why he gets fucking weird around you.”
Andrew ignores his mother completely and carries Aiden toward the truck, murmuring something against his temple. My mate watches them and looks at me, one eyebrow raised in silent question, and I shrug. It is not my story to tell.
“Come on.” Kade moves toward the driver’s side. “We’ve got to get out of here.”
“Nuh uh.” Andrew stops at the passenger door, Aiden still clutched to his chest protectively. “I’m not driving while my hubby is in this condition.”
Kade circles the truck and yanks the driver’s door open with enough force to rock the vehicle. “Shut the fuck up, please. I’m ready to get home and get to my wife.” She drops into the seat and adjusts the mirrors with annoyed movements.
My mate tilts her head, studying the exchange with new understanding. “Oh, you’re gay too?”
Kade freezes mid-adjustment and turns to stare at her in pure disbelief. “Do I fucking look straight to you?”
My mate closes her mouth and looks away, and I catch the heat rising in her cheeks, a flush of embarrassment that warms her scent.
“Kendra, get in the front.” Kade waves her forward impatiently. “I know you don’t want to sit in the backseat with Aiden and my son who’s acting like fucking Pepe Le Pew.”
I walk my mate to the passenger side and open the door for her, offering my hand to help her up into the cab.
She takes it, and the contact sends heat rushing through my palm into hers.
I hold the door while she climbs into the seat, then close it carefully, making sure her coat clears the frame before it latches.
My Bouda observes this with approval. Service. This is what we do. This is who we are.
I circle to the rear passenger door and climb in, folding my frame into the confined space.
Andrew is already positioned in the far seat with Aiden arranged across his lap, his mate’s head resting against his shoulder.
He gently wipes the melting snow from Aiden’s frozen face and leans down, pressing his lips to his cheek with affection.
“Don’t worry, baby. I’m not going to do anything that makes you uncomfortable.” He pulls back and smiles down at Aiden’s paralyzed face. “I know you can hear me in there.”
The scent coming off Aiden is pure horror. I know that smell intimately. He is fully conscious behind those frozen eyes, can feel every touch and hear every word, and cannot do a thing about it, trapped in his own body while Andrew’s affection washes over him.
“He knows he loves me.” Andrew adjusts Aiden’s collar, smoothing the fabric. “He’s just fighting the mate bond.”
Kade catches my eyes in the rearview mirror. She looks done. Completely, thoroughly done with all of it. She runs a hand over her face, from her forehead to her chin, and exhales through her nose in a long-suffering sigh.
“This is going to be a long ass ride.”
She puts the truck in drive and speeds out of the parking lot, the tires carving fresh tracks through the snow as the motel’s flickering neon sign shrinks behind us and the blizzard closes in around the vehicle.