Sigma

Chapter 8

Clementine left the bathroom almost stumbling over her own feet as Sam’s powerful shifter blood coursed through her body. Her fingers and toes tingled and it wasn’t from the energy her feeding provided, but from a certain male with a gifted cock.

Hot damn, Sam could ask her to fulfill whichever of his fantasies anytime.

The cellphone her master had given her beeped with the sound of a text message . She hurried over to where she’d left it on the kitchen counter. Scrolling through the small list, she recognized her master’s number.

Sam strolled into the room towel-drying his hair. She loved the way his sweatpants clung to his ass and legs.

She could ignore the text. Maybe erase it and pretend she’d never received it. Torn between her desire to remain with Sam as long as she could and her duty to her master, she clutched the phone to her chest.

Sam smiled at her and played with her wet curls. “What do you want to do tonight? I’m sure I can find a deck of cards around here somewhere.”

A century of duty toward her master won her internal battle. Her master deserved her obedience more than she deserved happiness. He’d given her freedom no other would have offered. Not during the time period she’d been made. Females had just been objects then. “I have a message. Daedalus wants to meet at–” She glanced at the text again. “Northerly Island Park.”

“Where?” Sam cocked an eyebrow at her and took her phone to read it. “That’s an odd place to meet. It’s on the lake and probably closed at this time of the night.” He shook his head and dialed a number on her phone and waited a moment before hanging up. “The bastard’s not answering.”

Clementine snagged her phone back from him. “He may have shut the ringer off. He was doing surveillance, remember?”

“Quick work, if you ask me.” Sam pursed his lips as he stared at her almost as if he was going to ask something, then he shook his head again, walking away to the door. “Well, let’s go. The park’s clear across town.”

She scanned the small apartment, sorry to leave it. She didn’t have anything to bring; not even the clothes on her back belonged to her. Twisting around, she offered Sam a small smile, then took his hand. His touch gave her strength, made her feel braver. “I wish we’d have met under different circumstances.” She rose on tiptoe, placing a small kiss on his lips. She’d have forever to wonder what if.

He blinked. “Me too.” Then he squeezed her hand. “Doesn’t mean I can’t visit, right?”

It took all her self-respect not to jump up and down in glee. She grinned, glad he’d offered without her asking. “I’d like that.”

They left the twins a note on the fridge, not wanting to wake them, and exited building. Once in the car, she swiveled in her seat to face him as he drove. “Why is Sugar still human?”

“That’s a million dollar question. If you could figure out a way to convince her to cross over, Daedalus would probably give that much and more.” Sam chuckled. “I haven’t the foggiest idea. And if she wanted me to know, she would have told me by now.”

“You never asked?” She couldn’t keep the incredulity out of her voice.

“Why should I, when everyone else we live with has?” He shrugged. “It’s her choice.”

She leaned forward and regarded the unwrinkled skin of his face. His youth made her ache. “That’s very wise for someone so young. I would have liked a choice.” The residual anger at her maker stirred deep in her gut. It would never go away.

“You were made against your will?” He touched her face in the close quarters of the vehicle. “So was I. That’s probably why I don’t pester Sugar like her sister and Daedalus. They both chose this type of life.”

“What would you have done if you had remained human?” She leaned toward him, her gaze intent on his face as the hard edges softened. What would it have been like if they’d both been human? Sam could take her to dinner, maybe they could have watched the sunset without her bursting in flames.

“Nothing spectacular, probably would have married a nice girl and had some kids by now. I never wanted to go to college. Maybe I would have picked up a trade.” He shrugged. “You?”

The ancient anger grew cold and spread over her body, chasing away the warmth Sam had given her. “I was married when they took me.” She rubbed her numb arms. “We lived on a small farm in Texas. I guess I would have had the same dream as you.”

“What happened to your husband?”

Cold became empty. “They killed him.” She’d stopped mourning him decades ago, but wished she could remember what his face looked like. Even vampire memories fade with time. “My maker was looking for pretty humans and my husband didn’t qualify.” She tried to give Sam a smile but failed. She’d killed their amicable mood.

He pulled her against his side, wrapping his arms around her tight.

She leaned into his strength and absorbed his living heat. He didn’t make small talk or try to cheer her up and she appreciated the silence. For a shifter, he sure understood a vampire’s pain.

“Where do you think Daedalus will send you?” Sam twirled her curls around his finger as he drove with the other hand.

“I don’t know. I’m just an accountant. But I’ll ask him to stay close enough for you to visit.” The words were out of her mouth before she could filter them. Oh, what an idiot she could be. He’d said he wanted to see her again, but she shouldn’t push. The more desperate she appeared, the faster he’d leave her.

He kissed the top of her head. “Good. I’d hate to have to take a plane. I’m not crazy about flying.”

Bubbles of relief rose in her chest as she smiled the kind of grin that went ear to ear. Now she understood why her master had left Pal Robi. She’d do the same for Sam.

The lake came into view and Sam parked the car in an empty lot.

A blanket of unease settled on Sam’s shoulders as he shut the engine off. Daedalus, or at least someone from the pack, should have been here to meet them. “I don’t like this. Try calling him again.”

She raised an eyebrow at him. “He texted me.”

“Indulge my paranoia. I know my alpha. Someone should be here already.”

“How could anyone fake a text?” She dialed. “There’s no answer.”

Frowning, he scanned the dark parking lot. If he wanted to trap someone, this would be a good location. The water surrounded the park on three sides, leaving only one way in and out. Easy to guard, or block, if need be. “My alpha knows more about computers and tech than I do, but I’m sure there’s a way to make a text look like it came from Daedalus’s phone.” He chewed on the inside of his mouth. “Fuck this. I’m getting you out of here until we hear from someone again.”

He geared the car into reverse and twisted to look behind them. His heart seized in his chest. “What the fuck?” He slammed on his brakes and geared it back into park. Someone blocked his way, but he could only make out a dark silhouette. Exiting the car, he faced the person, half expecting Daedalus.

Being partially right sucked. The person was a vampire, but not the one he wanted. Shit. “Mind getting out of the way, buddy?” Sam knew the ass wouldn’t budge, but he stalled as he scanned the area and assessed their fucked up situation. He’d get Clementine out of here alive if it was the last thing he ever did. Calling to his beast to awaken it, he gestured to Clementine to join him.

The lot was well lit, but the surrounding forest left plenty of places to hide for both assailants and them. He heard Clementine exit the car.

“Sam?” Her voice rose with her fear, as did her scent. She hurried to his side.

Others moved in the dark, those of the vampire persuasion, from their scents.

“Give us the female and you can leave.” The male pulled a wooden stake from his pocket. “This isn’t pack business. It’s best for you to stay out of this.”

A low growl rolled in his throat as he tracked the stake in the vampire’s hand. His beast joined his thoughts. How dare they threaten his mate? The question splashed over him like a cold wave. He glanced at Clementine with her delicate features and brown, short curls. It felt…right.

“Clementine,” the vampire blocking their way addressed her, “don’t make us hurt him. Come along.” He gestured for her to follow him.

She stared at the male, then back to him. Her fear scent surrounded them. “What guarantee can you give me, Luke?” She stayed by Sam. Her faith in his protection appeared absolute, and it touched him more than any words of affection could have.

“I’m dead no matter what he tells you,” he whispered low enough for only her ears. “Get ready to grab onto me.”

“On my honor, if you come peacefully, we will let him go.” Luke pressed a hand over his unbeating heart.

For the second time in twenty-four hours, Sam released his beast in a painful shift that exploded through his flesh in one swift shot. His borrowed clothes shredded around his larger size, fluttering to the ground.

Clementine jumped onto his back, wrapping her limbs around him as he raced into the dark and who knew what else.

The Pal Robi vampires were upon him before he cleared the light. The weight of Clementine on his back disappeared and he heard her distressed cry. He couldn’t see past the wall of vamps on him, but he snapped, bit, and clawed his way through their flesh while following the sounds of Clementine’s voice.

A gun fired.

The flesh on his thigh burned where the bullet grazed him, but the wound didn’t heal. The fuckers were using silver bullets and meant business. He howled, unable to speak and order Clementine to run.

“Sam!”

He caught a glimpse of her as her fellow vampires and co-workers chased her into the woods. Tearing the nearest vampire in half, he broke out of the melee and followed her scent. Fear made her smell sharp and easy to find. He bulldozed through bushes and over a couple of vampires before seeing Luke, the asshole who had tried making her empty promises, aim a rifle at her fleeing back.

With a roar, Sam leaped the distance and knocked the gun from the vampire’s grip. It went off by his head, the percussion ringing his ears. He grasped his skull and stumbled toward Clementine.

She appeared before him, her lips moving, but he couldn’t hear her. Shoving him aside with her vampire strength, he sensed more than heard another shot. Clementine picked up Luke’s rifle and returned fire.

His hearing was beginning to return, thanks to his fast shifter healing, but his leg still bled where it had been hit with silver. They couldn’t fight this many vampires and survive. He had to get her out of this park.

Folding his throbbing ears back, he shook his disorientation away and followed her lead back toward their car.