Chapter Eleven

Arion had reacted too late. He should've disarmed the intruder as soon as he realized the man had a weapon. Instead, he'd froze from memories of the few times Akai had shot him. He was a vampire, and a bullet wouldn't kill him—unless he was shot in the head—but Akai had just used the gun as another form of torture.

"How in the fuck are you so strong?"

the muscled stranger asked frantically as Arion shoved him to the floor and disarmed him then kept him pinned down. Oh god! If Delta died, Kalen would never forgive Arion for not acting sooner.

It had been only two months since Arion had come to live with the Frost family, and although he felt welcomed, a part of him was still afraid he would be kicked out for the smallest mistake.

Letting the human get shot wasn't a small mistake. It was a colossal, epic screw-up.

Grabbing the intruder by his shirt, Arion dragged him across the room and shoved him next to Delta, who lay there shaking, his eyes wide as if he were in shock. Arion had no idea what to do. His interactions with humans were few and far between. That'd been why he simply stared at Delta earlier. He'd been fascinated with the guy.

Pounding footsteps drew close.

"Get the hell off me,"

the stranger yelled, raw panic in his voice. It was clear he didn't want to face the men who lived here, and had no idea the shitstorm he'd just created.

Gripping the son of a bitch's head, Arion was sorely tempted to snap his neck. "Who are you?"

he demanded. When the human wouldn't answer him, Arion whapped his forehead against the floor then yanked his head back again. "Who in the hell are you?"

The stranger pressed his lips together. Arion patted the guy's pockets and came away with a wallet.

"Give that back!"

He backhanded the stranger and heard a satisfying crunch, then he opened the wallet and dug out his driver's license. "Arthur Bexley."

The kitchen erupted in chaos as everyone rushed in. Kalen's expression darkened when he glared at the guy Arion had pinned down. Then his gaze swung to Delta lying on the floor. The big guy lowered to his knees next to his mate, his blue eyes filled with panic.

"It's okay, muffin. I'm gonna get you to the hospital."

He swallowed hard, and his hands shook as he gently picked up one of Delta's. "Just hang in there, okay? Please hang in there."

Kalen Frost was not one to easily show fear. Arion was used to his calm and authoritative demeanor, even in times of crisis. But seeing him tremble and on the verge of tears made Arion want to kill Arthur.

"Second m-man o-outside."

Tears welled up in Delta's green-gray eyes. Arion watched as the human weakly clutched Kalen's arm, leaving a bloody handprint behind when he lost his grip.

"Go find that second man!"

Kalen's voice thundered as he yelled over his shoulder.

Jaytee and Jax wasted no time bolting out the back door. Arion prayed they found the other guy because both men needed to pay for what they'd done.

"Call a fucking ambulance!"

Kalen shouted urgently.

"Will you allow Raidh, Elvine, and me to help?"

Casimir touched his father-in-law's shoulder.

"Damon's m-mate."

Delta coughed out the words, blood smearing the corner of his mouth. He managed a smile, revealing blood-coated teeth. "N-Nice to m-meet you."

Arion knew death when he saw it. Delta would die soon without help.

The panic in Kalen's eyes deepened at the sight of blood, clearly coming to the same conclusion as Arion. Delta was growing paler by the second, and his shaking was getting worse.

Arion was well aware that Kalen had lost his wife 150 years ago, and this had to feel like he was reliving that nightmare all over again, only this time with his mate.

He couldn't even begin to imagine the pain and anguish Kalen had to be going through right now.

"Are you planning on using dark magic to save my mate?"

Kalen's deep voice quivered, his hands clutching Delta's.

"Yes,"

Casimir answered truthfully. "Let us try to heal the damage and save your mate's life, Kalen."

Arion looked around at the solemn expressions of the others in the room. He locked eyes with Elvine and saw his mate sobbing silently with her hands covering her mouth. Wearing a shocked expression, Raidh stood nearby, tears streaming down his face.

Damon's cheeks were wet, his nostrils flared, and his jaw was clenched tight. His hardened gaze kept flicking between his dad and Delta.

With a deep sniff, Kalen nodded but kept his gaze on his mate. "They're going to help you, muffin, but I'm not leaving your side. I'll be right here with you, honey."

He gently ran his knuckles against Delta's pale cheek.

"If we don't act fast, it'll be too late,"

Raidh pleaded desperately. "Please, Kalen. We need to do this now."

Kalen moved aside, and the three fae surrounded Delta, chanting as they held their hands right above the human. Arion's mouth dropped open slightly as he watched a dark mist start to swirl around their hands, coalescing into an intricate, translucent web that seemed to connect them all together, enveloping Delta's entire body in its eerie glow.

Kalen glared murderously at the intruder Arion still had trapped under him, but even Arthur was transfixed on what the fae were doing.

"Keep him restrained, son,"

Arion's father-in-law said. "I'll deal with him in a moment."

Swallowing hard, Arion nodded. Kalen had called him "son."

Did that mean he didn't blame him for what happened?

When Kalen turned back around to watch them attempt to save his mate, Arion gripped Arthur's throat and leaned down to snarl in his ear. "If he dies, you better pray for a swift death."

Arthur blinked several times. "What are you?"

Ignoring the question, Arion glanced over his shoulder and watched as Jaytee and Jax returned with a man fighting against Jax's hold.

* * * *

Kalen could not possibly be going through this again. Seeing Delta lying on the kitchen floor, his shirt soaked in blood, caused painful memories to come flooding back.

His wife had told him she needed to go for a run, to let her wolf free. After giving her a kiss, Kalen had returned to his drawings.

For weeks he'd attempted to sketch Chelsea's beauty, but something had always been missing.

But tonight was different. The strokes were perfect, the shadowing was incredible, and he had finally captured the twinkle in his wife's pretty blue eyes, the curls in her long, chestnut hair, and her playful smile.

When he'd finally taken a break, he noticed how much time had passed since she'd left. Chelsea should have been home an hour ago, preparing dinner.

Worried, Kalen and his sons shifted into their wolf forms and went out to look for her. It had been Kalen who'd found her, with three arrows lodged in her furry body and a hunter kneeling beside her.

That night, hell had opened its gates as Kalen unleashed his fury in the most vicious way.

To this day he carried a dark mark on his soul from the way he'd brutally avenged his wife's death in that clearing.

As he buried Chelsea, Kalen made her a promise to always keep their boys safe.

That was why he'd forbidden the use of magic in their home. He cared for both sons-in-law and his daughter-in-law deeply, but all three were dark fae.

And that had worried him. One slip-up, one spell gone wrong or one flared temper, and the consequences could be catastrophic. If one of his sons was hurt or killed, Kalen's promise to Chelsea would be broken.

Despite finding it somewhat endearing when Elvine's magic short-circuited during her pregnancy, Kalen still remained cautious of it.

Any wise person would be.

Yet here he was, breaking his own rule and allowing all three of them to use their dark powers on his mate in an effort to save Delta's life.

Wiping a few stray tears away, Kalen knelt at Delta's head, praying the magic worked. They'd just bonded tonight, and the pain Kalen felt at the thought of losing his mate was a hundred times stronger than what he'd experienced with the mother of his children.

Delta lay pale and still on the kitchen floor, and Kalen was terrified his mate was already dead.

But if their bond had been severed, he would have felt it. However, with the intense pain that was ripping through Kalen's body, he wasn't certain if he would even be able to tell.

His wolf howled, desperate for Delta to open his pretty eyes.

The dark web-like mist surrounding Delta glowed a little brighter as Casimir, Raidh, and Elvine continued to chant. Was that a good or bad sign? He hesitated to ask because he didn't want to disrupt their concentration.

If Delta had been a shifter, he would have healed on his own. Although Kalen had passed some of his healing abilities on to Delta when they bonded, it wasn't enough to save his mate from an injury this fatal.

Kalen glanced at the guy Arion had pinned against the floor then at the stranger Jaytee and Jax had found outside, and his rage felt darker than the magic being performed.

But until Kalen knew Delta's fate, he wasn't moving. He'd promised his mate he would stay at his side, and that was exactly what he planned to do.

Despite his worries, Kalen found comfort in the fact that Raidh was the most powerful among the dark fae, having taught Elvine all he knew for nearly a thousand years. And Casimir was an elite warrior with formidable magic.

If Kalen had to place his mate's life in someone else's hands, it would be theirs.

At last, Delta showed signs that the magic was taking effect. Kalen let out a relieved exhale as his mate took in a deep breath.

Raidh fell backward, but Kalen caught him before he hit the floor and gently sat him upright. Arion quickly released the person he had been restraining to catch Elvine as she slumped.

Even Casimir looked drained by their efforts.

Kalen glared at the human who had shot his mate and snarled, "Don't you dare move a muscle."

In just seconds, Jaytee was by Raidh's side, gently taking his mate from Kalen's grasp. "Thank you,"

his son said gratefully.

But it was Kalen who was truly grateful.

"Did it work?"

If the magic hadn't helped heal Delta's wounds, Kalen didn't know what he would do. He couldn't bear to lose his mate. Now he finally understood how Jaytee had felt the night Raidh had died and how his son could have wished for death. Jaytee couldn't bear to live without his mate, and neither could Kalen.

"Yes."

Casimir confirmed with a weary nod. "We were able to repair all the damage caused by the bullet, and now your mate just needs to rest."

Kalen swallowed hard. "Thank you."

Raidh held out his hand, revealing the bullet sitting in his palm. Kalen took it, immensely grateful they had succeeded in saving Delta's life. He could never repay them for what they'd done.

After carefully lifting Delta into his arms, Kalen turned to Arion. "Thank you for being there for Delta and taking down his attacker."

"He got shot because he was protecting me,"

Arion cried. "He didn't even hesitate to jump in front of me when I walked into the kitchen, unaware of what was happening. I should have taken down the man as soon as I realized what was going on, but I froze."

He held Elvine tighter to him. "I'm so sorry, Kalen."

The vampire bore over a decade's worth of torture scars on his body. Kalen would be damned if he allowed Arion to shoulder any guilt over this. That responsibility rested solely on the son of a bitch who'd shot Delta. "You have nothing to apologize for, son. You didn't let my mate face this alone, and you prevented the human from causing further harm. Thank you."

"Casimir, can you keep an eye on those two?"

He gestured toward the men who had attempted to end Delta's life. "I'm going to put my mate to bed, but I'll be right back."

"Yes."

Despite looking tired, Casimir smirked. "But I can't guarantee they'll still be in one piece when you return."

"Just don't kill them. That pleasure belongs to me."

Kalen walked out and headed upstairs, cradling his mate close to his chest. Delta hadn't regained consciousness yet, but his complexion had improved, his skin was warm, and he was no longer trembling uncontrollably.

Before tucking Delta in bed, Kalen placed a gentle kiss on his forehead and simply gazed at the man in his arms. It amazed him how deeply he had come to care for this human after knowing him for only a day.

In his heart, Kalen knew he would do anything for Delta.

* * * *

Kalen watched as Arthur glanced around the room at everyone. He slid his tongue over his lips with a calculated gleam in his eyes. The bastard was trying to think of a deal he could make, but nothing he offered was going to save him.

" I'll tell you who hired me if you let me walk out that door, unharmed."

"You shot my dad's mate,"

Damon ground out. "In what delusional universe do you think you're walking away from this with your life?"

Arthur's gaze lowered to Damon's stomach as his brows furrowed. "Are you pregnant?"

The other human, Alan Marken, was seated next to Arthur in one of the kitchen chairs, staring straight ahead, scared shitless if his expression was any indication. But Kalen already knew he was terrified from the foul stench he was emitting.

Both men should be praying right now. Delta was Kalen's future. So many people wondered if there was someone out there for them, wondered where they were or if they would ever meet them.

Kalen had found him. That one person who would stay at his side no matter what, never judge him, and love him deeper than anyone else ever could.

And this piece of shit had attempted to rip away Kalen's humanity by trying to kill the one man he would sacrifice everything for.

Crossing his arms, Kalen smiled. "I have a counteroffer for you, human."

Arthur's breathing grew shallow as hope flared in his sinister eyes. "He told me to snatch, not shoot."

He cursed, looking thoroughly disgusted with himself. "Told me a few times, like I was an idiot. Guess I really am an idiot."

"I swear I didn't know what Arthur was up to!"

Alan's slight trembling grew worse. "He paid me fifty bucks to drive him here then told me to wait in the car. He just said he had to talk to someone. I swear!"

"Shut the fuck up!"

Arthur sneered at Alan.

"No! I'm about to die because you pulled me into whatever this is. You used me once again because you knew I needed the money."

Alan briefly closed his eyes then softly added, " I'm the idiot. I should have known better, but you're really good at manipulating people, and I fell for your ‘just need to talk to someone' bullshit."

All three of Kalen's sons were in the kitchen, as was Casimir. None of them interrupted the two humans. Kalen had taught them to study their enemies, and the more Arthur and Alan talked, the more they learned.

"Shut. Your. Mouth,"

Arthur warned.

"I'm interested in what he has to say."

Kalen looked Alan over as the small man drew a quivering hand through his unruly blond hair. Was he as innocent as he appeared, or was it an act? Kalen couldn't smell any deception on him.

Arthur, on the other hand, reeked of it.

With a nod, Kalen said, "Why don't you tell me what happened?"

Arthur glared at the small man with a curled lip.

Snarling, Kalen yanked Arthur up by his shirtfront, lifting the man off his feet so he could look him in the eyes. "There is nothing worse than someone who preys on those weaker than themselves. Your fate is in my hands, so if I were you, I'd stop with the intimidation tactics."

Nothing. Not even a flinch. Which was suicidal considering Kalen was six-foot-six, 325 pounds of pure muscle and Arthur was a good seven inches shorter. And although the human was muscular, every man in the room, aside from Alan, was bulkier than him.

Either Arthur had balls of steel or he was a psychopath.

Kalen was leaning toward the latter. There was no remorse in his dark eyes for what he'd done. His stare was predatory, calculating, and soulless. He blinked slowly as he met Kalen's gaze, and then a malevolent smile curled his lips.

The man had gotten a sick thrill out of shooting Delta.

With a deep growl, Kalen dragged him out the back door, down the porch steps, then ripped out his black heart.

Death was nothing less than he deserved. Kalen's wolf howled in triumph, but the man himself was still quivering with rage. He hadn't found out who hired Arthur, but the guy would never have told him. The human would have just continued to play his sick games.

Stalking back inside, he went to the sink to wash his bloody hand, ignoring Alan's horrified expression.

Kalen couldn't get the sight of Delta's frightened tears out of his mind. His mate had known he was dying, and Kalen thought for sure he was about to lose him.

With a vicious snarl, he swung his fist into the cupboard in front of him, shattering the glass front and dishware inside.

"Dad!"

Damon waddled over and grabbed Kalen's arm. There was a deep slice from the top of his middle knuckle to his wrist. Blood poured out of the wound, but Kalen didn't feel any pain.

"Shift,"

Jaytee demanded.

Casimir crossed the room and held his hand over Kalen's, murmuring a chant.

"No."

Kalen shook his head. "You exhausted yourself from saving Delta's life."

He nodded toward Alan. "Keep him here until I can deal with him."

Then he shifted into his wolf form. Alan shrieked as Kalen padded out of the kitchen and headed upstairs. He nosed the ajar door open and inhaled his mate's scent. He saw that Delta was still asleep. Moving toward the bed, Kalen collapsed onto the floor and closed his eyes.