4. Chapter Four

Chapter Four

Micah

“ L ove,” I rumble. “Eyes up here.” Her skin flushes, and her gaze darts away.

“Sorry.”

“Fuck, I’m going to call them.” I slip my phone out of my pocket. “Henry here won’t last much longer with limited air supply.”

“Right.” She crosses her arms and glares at Henry.

I press Ryker’s name, and he answers after the first ring. “I am going to give you a location. Call Bash. I need you both here now.”

“Do I get to ask a question?”

“You just did,” I say dryly.

“Fucker. You want me to leave my lovely mate and daughter without a reason?” He’s all talk because I hear him leaving the house.

“I met my mate,” I tell him. “The rest I will tell you when you get here.”

The silence lasts one minute. “I will call Bash.”

“Get here fast,” I stress.

“Got it.” He hangs up, and I send him my location.

“How long will it take him?” Daisy asks.

“Roughly five to ten minutes.”

“That fast?”

“You know how we move?” I ask.

“I know you move quickly,” she says.

“We move so fast, our bodies blur. The older you are, the faster you move. We call it walking through the shadows.” I reinforce my power on Henry when his eyes start to come alive again.

“I don’t spend time with any vampires.”

“Good. I will teach you everything you need to know,” I say, eager to start her lessons.

“Turner is going to get suspicious when they don’t come back.” She shifts from one foot to the other again.

“He knows where you are?” I watch her legs. The first time she made the same move, I thought she was nervous or restless, but now I don’t think so.

“He sent us out here. They planned to kill me or, at the very least, torture me.” She moves again.

“We have a lot to talk about, love,” I say. I take in her scent, looking deeper. Is she in pain?

“Yes, we do.” I open my mouth to ask about her legs when I feel Ryker and Bash close.

“Hurry up, assholes,” I call out. “You are getting slow in your old age.”

“Let's not talk about age,” Bash says as he glides to a stop beside me, and Daisy jumps.

“Is this a new game you play?” Ryker steps beside Bash. “Find the coyote?”

“Fuck off,” I spit. “This is my mate, Daisy. You will be nice.”

“Why wouldn’t I be?” Ryker asks. “Maybe she can make you less of an ass.” I calm down when I see the relief in his eyes. My oldest friend has been worried about me.

“Good news. You don’t have to kill me now,” I tease.

“Kill you?” Daisy asks, her eyes narrowing.

“I’ll explain later, love.” I nod towards Ryker. “This is Ryker and Bash.”

“Hi,” she says softly. They both nod respectfully.

“I need to use your dungeon. One of you will have to carry two.”

“Are we leaving the dead ones?” Bash asks.

“Yes, for now.”

“Why don’t we take the car?” Daisy asks.

“It will take too long. We can blur faster.” I see her shift again. I need to get her alone. “Take your pick,” I offer, grinning at Ryker and Bash.

Ryker glares at me. “Is this one special?” He motions to Henry.

“He is the second in charge.”

“I’ll take him. Bash, get the other two,” he says.

“Great,” Bash mutters, moving to them. “Release your influence so I can take control of them.” It’s a relief to sever my connection.

“This one now,” Ryker says. I do, and he replaces my hand on his neck with his, turning him so his chest is at Henry’s back. “I expect an explanation. I’m sick of everyone else getting to use my dungeon except me.”

I roll my shoulders. I hate to admit it, but using so much power at once was starting to drain me. I’m going to have to recharge. Bash throws one coyote over each shoulder and blurs.

“Holy shit,” Daisy whispers, staring at the space Bash used to be.

“We’ll meet you there,” Ryker says before he disappears.

“I knew you moved fast but it’s different witnessing it,” she says.

“I’m sure.” I walk over to her. “Are you ready?”

“You are going to carry me?” she asks, her hands fidgeting.

“I am.” She drops her head. I use my knuckle to lift her chin. “What's wrong?”

“It makes me nervous,” she admits.

“I’m not going to lie—it won’t be pleasant. It’s not natural for shifters to move that fast. Usually, it will cause nausea. The effects should be minimal if you tuck close and don’t open your eyes.” I glide my hand from her chin down her neck and press on her pulse. “You can distract yourself by imagining how it’s going to feel when I fuck you.” Her eyes widen, and her scent gets stronger. “The faster we get this done, the sooner that can happen.” Ryker gets a little cranky when we leave assholes in his club. Plus, Daisy will be more at ease if we get her answers quickly.

“Okay.” She swallows hard. I don’t give her a chance to change her mind. She squeaks as I lift her.

“Wrap your legs around me,” I instruct and hold in a groan when she does. I may be the one who is distracted. “Arms around my neck. Tuck your head and close your eyes.” I have to close mine for a moment as she follows every direction, and I am surrounded by her. “No matter what, do not panic, and don’t open your eyes.”

“Should I say yes, Daddy, now?” she sasses.

“Not if you don’t want me to fuck you with two dead men beside us,” I warn.

“I’ll pass,” she mumbles.

“Hold tight, pet,” I say. One of my hands cups her gorgeous ass, and the other wraps around her waist.

I love being a vampire. I take one step and then we are floating through the air. The sensation is freeing. No one can touch me as I fly. When I pass, humans may feel a brush of air, but their eyes see nothing. Shifters may see a shadow with their enhanced senses. It feels like I am flying through time, invisible to everyone around me.

My arm is pressed against the knife in the back of Daisy’s jeans. As much as I want to take her home and lose myself inside her, besides displeasing Ryker, I need to know about her pack. She isn’t safe, and it pisses me off. A pack should be a family and the safest place you could be. I worry she isn’t going to want to stay with me, too worried about her Alpha. I can’t have that. I want her close, preferably in my bed. Getting her answers quickly, will get me closer to my goal.

I have heard all the things that are said about coyotes. The shifters I know aren’t shy about talking shit about the species. Ryker killed a coyote for hurting his mate, yet he didn’t question my claim of Daisy. All I care about is that she is my mate. She is beautiful, and I see the fire behind her eyes. She loves her brother and has lived in hell, hoping to find him.

I will find him for her, and she will never feel unsafe again. I glide to a stop behind Ryker’s club.

“We’re here.” I loosen my arm, but she doesn’t move. “Daisy?” Fuck. I squeeze the back of her neck. “Are you okay?”

She lazily lifts her head, her hands cupping my shoulders. “That was fucking amazing,” she says, smiling wide. I move both hands to cup her ass, and my hands burn with the need to fondle.

I blink. “You liked it?”

“Loved it.” She squeezes her hands. “Can we do it again?”

“You aren’t feeling sick?”

“Not at all.”

“Holy fuck,” I say. She really is meant to be a vampire’s mate. My mate. “I’m glad you enjoyed it, pet.”

“So cool. You must love being a vampire.” She swings her legs back and forth, fully trusting me to hold her.

“I do,” I agree. “You will, too.” She frowns, and I don’t like it.

“Will I be a coyote-vampire?”

“You will be both.”

“Good. I would hate to lose my coyote.”

“You will be an original.” I can’t wait to see.

“I will be powerful, like you?”

“No, but you will have great power,” I smirk when her face falls. “You like my power?”

“You don’t understand,” she whispers. “I haven’t felt strong for a long time,” she admits and jumps out of my arms.

“Hey,” I call, grabbing her hand. “You will be a force. No one will be able to fuck with you again, and if you can’t handle them, I will.”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have said anything.” She avoids my eyes. I have a feeling she’s had to be strong and not show weakness.

“You can say whatever the fuck you want,” I say harshly, and her eyes snap up. “There will be no judgment between us.”

“Sorry to interrupt,” Bash says. I glare at him as he stands in the doorway. “The coyotes are getting restless, and Ryker is complaining about the noise. You know he hates that.”

“I know,” I grit out. He never shuts up about it.

“What are we torturing them to find out?” Bash asks casually. Daisy looks between us and then down at our joined hands.

“You can trust them,” I offer. “Everyone I introduce you to, you can trust.”

“Henry may know where my brother is,” she says softly, speaking to Bash but keeping her eyes on our hands. “I haven’t seen Liam for nine years. Our pack leader told me he sold him.”

“Jesus,” Bash says, rubbing his head. “Do you want to question them?”

She frowns, shaking her head. “I can’t do anything to them. Turner will kill me.”

“Love,” I say, gaining her attention. “You can do whatever the fuck you want. You aren’t going back to the house. Those men will not live to go home.” Her eyes become contemplative.

“I called the bear. He’s taking care of the car and bodies,” Bash says.

Quinn owns an investigation firm, but he used to work with me. We spent twelve years killing out-of-control shifters, vampires, and humans. He cut off our relationship until recently when he needed help protecting his mate.

“I’m ready,” Daisy says, tugging on my hand.

Bash leads the way into the building and down the stairs. The music from the club fades the farther we go. Daisy’s hand feels right in mine. I don’t question the universe's choice of mate, knowing she is meant to be mine. I don’t know much about her, but I don’t need to. We will learn everything in time. Typically, anyone would be leery of a vampire as old as I am, shifter or not. I haven’t sensed any hesitance or fear.

She has taken my word, believing my friends are trustworthy. The bond working through our bodies assures us.

We enter the dim room and find Ryker leaning against the wall. He is fiddling with one of the knives he keeps strapped to his chest, watching the three coyotes with disdain.

“Micah, make them shut up,” he says through gritted teeth. The two pack members are whining. Henry is quiet, his eyes bouncing around the room until Daisy stops at the bottom of the stairs.

“He’s going to kill you,” Henry threatens, his eyes locking on her. My hand is around his throat in seconds, my fangs showing.

“Daisy is under my protection now. Do you think Turner is capable of killing me? That’s what he will have to do to get to her,” I snarl.

“Is she really your mate?” he chokes.

“Yes,” I hiss.

He laughs. “You think your people are going to accept a coyote?” He pushes into my hand. “Do you know the things she’s done? She is our best pickpocket,” he says gleefully.

I tilt my head, squeezing my hand. “My people are in this room.” I look over my shoulder. “Ryker, the king of vampires, will you vow to protect my mate?”

“Of course,” Ryker says easily.

“Bash, you?” I ask harshly.

“I will,” he answers.

I look back. “They are my family. Daisy is now, too. I’ll stand beside her while she steals if she needs to.”

“You're lying,” he spits.

“I don’t lie,” I deny. “Henry, I am a very old vampire who just found his mate. Do you think I would deny the gift the universe gave me because she is a certain species?”

“I won’t tell you anything,” he says, the fear becoming real as he finds the truth in my words.

“So, you have something to tell?” I try to probe a bit into his mind, but I encounter resistance. He is stronger than his packmates.

“Fuck you; you can’t make me say anything.” He shakes his head shortly.

“You don’t have to answer my questions,” I inform him. I release his neck and step back. “Daisy will be asking the questions.” I tuck Daisy’s hair behind her ear. “Ready, love?” She studies my face and then reaches into her pocket. I am shocked to see my watch in her palm as she holds it out to me.

“Sorry, I like shiny things. I’ll try to stop,” she says, smiling slightly.

“Me, too, pet,” I laugh. “I love shiny things.”

Fuck, I didn’t think my cock could get any harder.