Chapter 22

Chapter

Twenty-Two

B efore they landed in London, Jed was able to knot and tie her a second time, ensuring that when they landed, she was sated and exhausted. At his request, the Savoy had arranged for a limo to take them from the private airstrip to the VIP entrance of the hotel. Wrapping a naked, sleeping Kat in a cashmere blanket, he carried her from the plane to the car and then into their hotel room where he placed her in bed. Once he'd tipped the bellboy and ensured the room was completely safe, he engaged the night latch and took his place at her side.

A listair Howard, Alpha of London, felt urine trickling down his leg and was ashamed. He was about to die, and the fear had made him lose control of his bladder.

"I guess when a wolf gets too long in the tooth, he needs to start wearing diapers again," the thug who called himself a Hunter sniggered.

"My pack will pay a tidy ransom for my return," Alistair said, cringing as he heard the fear in his own voice.

"That won't be necessary. The Master will have what he wants from you. Maybe he'll even give you some backbone. If he chooses you to serve him, we'll be able to destroy your kind from within your own ranks. Perhaps then, we'll be rid of you."

K at woke up snuggled in her lover's—her mate's—embrace. He was warm and his muscular body next to hers felt comfortable and familiar. Jed seemed to sleep either on his back with her curled up tight against him, or on his side, spooning her, his cock nestled in the cleft of her ass.

"I take it we landed safely and you got us to the hotel," she said, smiling.

"You are correct."

"Do I want to know how you did that? I'm pretty sure I would have woken up if you'd gotten me dressed."

"Baker Street gets these amazing cashmere blankets to use for aftercare. When we got the jet, he found out where they got them and made sure we kept some on board, just in case. So, I wrapped you in one of those and brought you here. I'd already arranged for a car and for us to use the VIP entrance. When is Mariah's opening?"

"At the end of the week."

Kat slid out of his embrace, sitting up on the edge of the bed and wincing.

"I probably shouldn't have let you talk me into knotting you on the plane, especially the second time," he said.

She stood up and headed to the bath. "I can be very persuasive when I try," she teased.

"I have news for you, mate. My father was joking about my mother leading him around by his dick. Nothing could be further from the truth. If you try it, you'll feel the sting of my hand on your luscious backside."

Standing inside the bath she looked over her shoulder at her ass. "You think I have a luscious ass? I've always thought there was a bit too much of it."

"You thought wrong," he growled. "Doubt my opinion and you won't like how I convince you that I'm right."

"I told you I don't like impact play."

He laughed. "When I'm disciplining you, it's anything but play. If you don't like being spanked, I suggest you learn to behave."

They spent that day and the next doing touristy things—visiting the Tower, riding the Eye, eating fish and chips—while checking out stories and tips about unexplained and bizarre murders. At one point, Kat called Skylar in New Orleans.

"You're happy?" she asked.

Kat grinned. "Delirious. I don't know why I thought this whole being mate to an alpha was a bad thing."

Skylar laughed. "I know exactly what you mean. But I do think the alphas we know are different. The ones we've known most of our lives are the ones who were born to the packs that banded together to defeat DeMoncada. At first I thought they weren't as tough as men like my father or Marco. Then I realized in some ways, they're much stronger. They know what they want, and they don't care what tradition tells them they have to do."

"I agree. Damian thought Jed should leave me home."

"No," laughed Jed, "he thought I should order you to stay home. I reminded him that's never worked all that well with my mother. I doubt it would work any better with you."

"I'm so glad you've figured that out. Sky, I sent you the file of some of the strange killings we've found. I'm hoping you can spot a pattern," said Kat.

"I'll look at it on the plane tomorrow on my way there and then we can put our heads together. Piper will be with us, and Micah and Abriana are planning to come as well."

"We're meeting with Simon Howard, the London alpha's son and heir apparent, in a few minutes for an early dinner. Didn't he and Abriana have a thing at one time?"

"Very casual on both sides—basically friends with benefits. Apparently, he knows Micah rather well. I think he attended the wedding."

"Oh. that's right! The really dishy blond with the great butt and sexy accent," Kat recalled. Jed growled and Kat laughed. "Not nearly as good as yours, sweetheart."

Kat ended the call and went to Jed, who was sitting in the chair at the small writing desk. He pulled her into his lap.

"I just can't see how those murders are connected, but they have to be," said Jed.

"I agree. If anyone can figure out the pattern, it's Sky. Where are we meeting Howard?"

"Downstairs at the Savoy Grill. You ready?"

"I don't think Chef Ramsey approves of patrons dining in sweatpants and their mate's T-shirt, so all I need to do is change into that little black dress we bought yesterday and then I'll be good to go."

Kat headed into the bath and returned in a simple black sheath dress. Turning her back to Jed, she said, "Can you zip me?"

Jed stood close, nuzzling her neck as he slowly slid the zipper up. "This is so much more fun when it goes in the other direction," he rumbled at her.

"I know. We can always skip dessert."

"Better yet, we can say we're going to, come upstairs and fuck like bunnies and then have room service deliver a whole tray of sweets."

She turned around, winding her arms around his neck. "I do like the way you think."

He chuckled and escorted her down to the restaurant. When they checked in with the ma?tre d', they were told that Sir Simon had arrived early and was waiting for them at an exclusive private table. The ma?tre d' was right—the location was in a corner, the surrounding tables were empty and the elegant Brit was nursing a drink with what looked to be a half-eaten plate of appetizers on the table before him.

"Katarina," he said in his silky English accent. "You look stunning. And you must be Josiah Steele," he said, turning to Jed. "Forgive me for starting without you. I was famished. Josiah, I know your family by reputation, but I don't think we've met."

Howard extended his hand and Jed shook it.

"It's Jed. We wanted to let your pack know we were here in your city," started Jed.

"I know at least Kat was expected to attend the charity exhibition of the latest works done by Oliver Halsey's daughter. I hear they are her best work to date. I also know that you were recently bonded—congratulations on that. You've done some of the traditional tourist things, but you've also made some interesting stops and even more curious contacts. So why don't you tell me why you're really here?" The tall blond glanced at her and then looked Jed directly in the eye. "We won't be disturbed, I paid for the surrounding tables to remain empty."

"Your father had us followed?" asked Jed.

"Heavens no. I'm not sure he's even aware you're in London. And it isn't so much that I had you followed as watched. It's become apparent that you think some of our recent unsolved murders might be linked."

"Why would you think that?" asked Kat.

"In the interest of putting all our cards on the table, let me tell you that I believe that as well. I just can't figure out a rhyme or reason," said Simon.

"Neither could we. I sent them to Skylar Gautier—Nichols, I mean. She's a detective in New Orleans."

Simon sat forward. "Didn't she solve some grisly serial killer case?"

Jed nodded. "She figured out the pattern of the killings. We're hoping she can do the same with these."

"Why are you interested?"

"Because we believe the same entity that was behind the killings in New Orleans has made its way here," said Jed.

"But you're from Sonoma." Kat and Jed exchanged glances. "Whatever it is, tell me, please. What you might not know is that all but one of the victims was a member of my pack. And the one who wasn't worked for us and knew of our existence."

Jed stood and helped Kat to stand. "I think this is a discussion best taken upstairs."

Simon insisted on paying the bill and they went upstairs to the sitting room of their hotel suite.

Once inside, they gathered in the sitting area.

"You're going to think this is crazy," said Jed, "because if someone were to tell me what I'm about to tell you, that's what I'd think."

"I'm listening," said Simon slowly.

"I'd been offered a job at Luna de Lobo," said Kat. "I stopped in New Orleans to see Skylar and attend the soft opening of Loup de Mer. While I was there," she hesitated and looked at Jed who picked up her hand and nodded, "I was attacked by some kind of evil entity… for lack of a better term."

Simon shook his head. "Surely you don't believe this."

"I told you it sounds crazy," said Jed. "It possessed Kat and tried to get her to do its bidding. Skylar and Travis had been able to force it to flee from the serial killer's body earlier, and then no one knew it had gotten Kat. Trust me, if I hadn't seen the damn thing as it left her body, I wouldn't believe it either."

"Go on," said Simon.

"From what we can tell, I was an unsatisfactory host," said Kat with a wan smile.

"Kat's saying that it couldn't control her so when it had a chance, it jumped to the body of a Hunter who was trying to kill Kat."

"Damn those bastards. They were quiet for so long. I think most of us believed they were just boogeymen our parents trotted out to frighten us."

"I'm afraid not. We were able to track the Darkness and the Hunters to England and then lost them."

"I'm so sorry you were subjected to that. Do we know..."

"We?" questioned Jed.

"Yes. My city, my pack. So most definitely we. There are things about this city—old things— that no one wants to admit exist, but they do. It's an ancient country with a bloody and violent history. It's only in the last millennia we've been civilized at all. Any idea why it came here?"

"We think looking for more Hunters. You probably know my uncle, Lincoln Steele. He's been at the forefront of keeping the Hunters weakened. He believes the most organized and strongest faction is here in England—in or around London."

Simon nodded. "That would make sense. We have excellent global access, and too much shoreline to effectively patrol. Smuggling has always been a way of life here and the country is riddled with hidden rooms, tunnels, and bunkers. Many places to hide. What is your plan?"

"Keep my mate safe and destroy it," said Jed.

"How will you do that?" asked Simon.

"That's the problem—we don't have the faintest idea."

R eady to read Simon and Mariah's story? Click here to read Touch of Fire.

She's an artist forging her own path. He's an alpha determined to claim her heart. Can they work together to extinguish a rising darkness before it destroys everything they hold dear?

Abriana Grainger is a fiercely independent American sculptor in London, crafting masterpieces from twisted iron with her trusty blowtorch. Dedicated to her art and her freedom, she has no interest in the concept of fated mates—until fate intervenes in a way she never imagined.

Simon Howard, the newly crowned Alpha of London, knows Abriana is his destined partner. When she resists their undeniable connection, he takes a bold step, whisking her away from a gala showcasing her work. But their personal clash is quickly overshadowed by a malevolent force seeking a new host within his pack.

As the Darkness possesses one of their own, using secrets known only to shifters to sow chaos and destruction, Abriana and Simon must set aside their differences to confront this ancient evil. Time is running out, and only together can they hope to protect their world from impending doom.

Will their fiery bond be enough to overcome the shadows, or will darkness tear them apart forever?

Touch of Fire is the electrifying third installment in the Fated Legacy paranormal romance series. If you revel in strong-willed heroines, commanding alphas, and a blend of passion and suspense, you'll be enthralled by Delta James's captivating tale.