Chapter Twenty-One

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Colt tried to shrug off Florence’s words. “Maybe, but I didn’t know them. They were strangers who were on the wrong side of the eternal battle, by my reckoning. I’m sorry I’ll never have a chance to know them, but I don’t think we’d have gotten along.”

That startled a laugh out of Florence as she shook her head. “No, I suppose you’re right on that score, Colt. Thank you for your kind words. I know the family, and especially Father, did bad things, but they were still my family. I might be relieved some of them are gone, but I always held a secret hope that Father would wake up one day and realize he’d chosen the wrong path.” She shook her head slowly. “I’m just sorry he never got that chance, but I have to be realistic. He wasn’t going to change. I’m glad to know you, Colt. Glad that my sister got to choose a life of adventure with her handsome lion. Glad you came of their joy and are following in their footsteps.” She reached out to him but then pulled back.

Colt couldn’t let her gesture go unanswered. He completed her aborted hug, and it felt, just for the tiniest fraction of a moment, like he was hugging his mother again. They even smelled similar.

“If you stay on the right path,” Colt promised her, “we will keep in touch. I’d like for you to be part of my family.”

“I’d like that too,” Florence replied as Granny Tucker stood.

“Time for us to go, dearie,” Granny said to Florence. Then, she looked up at Colt. “I’m glad to see you living up to your nickname, young man.”

Colt was a bit nonplussed. How did she know about that? And was she implying that he’d been the “peacemaker” here?

He supposed the old witch was partially right. He’d made peace with at least a small part of the Rollins family in Florence. And he was well on his way to a full-out ceasefire with the Kinkaids. Granny just winked at him as she turned away, pausing briefly to thank the Alpha before whisking Florence away, back the way she’d come.

Colt watched them go. Granny Tucker crossed the battlefield and went straight to the small knot of mages she had brought with her. They surrounded her and were introduced briefly to Florence, and then, the whole little gaggle of them walked away, back toward the other side of the property. Florence looked back once and waved. Colt waved back, surprised by his own reluctance to see her go. Though he knew she’d be safe enough with that powerful witch. If anyone could hide Florence from her own family, it would be Granny Tucker.

“I hope she’ll be all right,” Faith said quietly, standing by his side. “She really helped us.”

“I think it’ll all work out,” Colt replied.

Sam came over to talk to them. “Gavin is ready when you are,” he reported. “Just go out the way you came in. He’s waiting on the road.”

Colt extended his hand to the Alpha. “Thanks for everything,” he said as they shook hands.

Sam nodded. “Debrief tomorrow morning at the apartment building. I think your lady needs at least overnight to regain her strength.” Sam turned his attention to Faith, who stood quietly, leaning against Colt’s side. “Rest easy now, ma’am. And thank you again for your good work here today. We’ll talk it all over tomorrow.”

“Yes, thank you, Alpha,” Faith said, stifling a yawn that made Colt want to pick her up in his arms and hug her close. Instead, they parted from the Alpha and walked slowly out of the woods and to the road where, as promised, Gavin waited with the truck.

They didn’t speak much on the ride home. Faith rested her head on Colt’s shoulder, dozing lightly. Rather than speak and keep her awake, the men kept their conversation to a minimum and let her catch what rest she could.

When they finally arrived at the apartment building, Gavin parked the truck in its accustomed spot under the building, and Colt just picked Faith up in his arms and carried her to the elevator and right up to the apartment. She didn’t wake, even when he put her down on her bed. He’d wake her later, if she didn’t wake up on her own, to clean up and get out of those battle-stained clothes before she went to sleep for the night. First, he’d arrange for some food, because he wanted to try to get her to eat something before sleep. It would help her regain her energy faster.

Colt walked across the corridor door to knock on Gavin’s apartment door. The other man answered quickly, though he looked as tired as Colt felt.

“Sorry to bother you again. I just wanted to get the number of that place you’ve been ordering food from for us. Faith is still asleep, and I don’t want to wake her until I have some dinner here for her,” Colt explained.

Gavin stepped back from the door and invited Colt in with the gesture. Both apartment doors were open, and the building was secure in any case, so Colt felt confident that Faith would be safe. He’d hear anyone that came down the hall in time to stop them from entering the apartment.

“I’ve got one the menus right here. Sorry. I should’ve given this to you the first day,” Gavin said, snagging the paper menu off a table and handing it over to Colt.

“No problem. We’ve all been a little busy with other things.” Colt began walking back toward the apartment door but stopped on the threshold of Gavin’s place. “I really have to thank you for everything, if I haven’t done so already. You and your Clan have been a tremendous help in this situation. I honestly don’t think we could’ve accomplished anything on our own.”

“Perhaps you weren’t meant to,” Gavin suggested, a canny twinkle in his eye. “And don’t think I didn’t notice the power surge you fed to the Slayer. You found your magic, my friend. I suspect the hand of the Goddess was on all of our endeavors.”

Colt thought about that for a moment. Stranger things had happened. In fact, he’d seen stranger things happen. Recently too. Everything that had occurred since the moment he and his brothers had arrived on Long Island had been extraordinary. That all three of them should find their mates in such short order seemed incredible, but not if he counted the intervention of the Mother of All. It was said She could do anything She wanted, and that She worked in mysterious ways, known only to Herself. Colt was pretty sure he’d seen that at work in recent days for himself.

“I think you’re right about that, Gavin. Just like I think She had a hand in bringing me here to interact not only with the Kincaid Clan, but also with the Rollins family. Me being here, at this particular time, seems like fate, if you ask me.” Colt shook his head. “I’m just glad it all worked out.”

“And I’m glad your nickname is Peacemaker. You’ve certainly lived up to it the last few days. I don’t think anyone else could have turned one of the Rollins mages to our side.” Gavin’s eyes sparked with interest. “I’m not sure if you could see it from your vantage point, but your auntie was throwing some incredibly powerful protective magic. She didn’t look too sure of herself to me, which means she probably hadn’t been allowed to train those things under her father’s regime, but that’s probably where her real talent lies. I’d say hers was a protective magic, not an offensive one, but Granny Tucker will sort her out.” Gavin smiled confidently. “I really don’t think she would’ve come over to our side to help, if not for your presence, Colt. You saved her, and us as well. Her power was instrumental in holding back the sheer numbers of demons during the battle.”

“To be honest, I was so preoccupied with helping Faith, I didn’t realize,” Colt admitted.

“I thought so,” Gavin said. “Was it your aunt who showed you how to feed power to Faith?”

“She did. I didn’t know that sort of thing was even possible, but Florence coached me a bit and when it happened it felt…really right and kind of easy,” Colt told Gavin, feeling the same oddly pleased dismay he’d felt when it had happened.

“Amazing,” Gavin marveled, shaking his head a couple of times. “You’re a natural working with Faith. Like you were made for each other.”

Gavin’s eyes lit with curiosity, but there was no way Colt was going to discuss the fact that Faith was his mate with Gavin before he talked it over with Faith. If Faith accepted him, nosey old Gavin would find out soon enough.

“What time are we meeting tomorrow?” Colt asked to change the subject.

“Eight,” Gavin said succinctly. “In the conference room at the end of the hall. The door will be open as soon as people start to arrive, and breakfast will be catered, so don’t bother eating before.”

“Thanks again,” Colt said, leaving Gavin’s apartment and heading across the hall. “See you in the morning,” he called back as he went back into the apartment he’d been assigned with Faith and closed and locked the door behind himself.

Faith woke slowly, smelling savory scents wafting through the air that demanded her attention even as her stomach growled. She was hungry, and there was delicious food somewhere nearby, her stomach insisted. This was no time to be sleeping!

Coming fully awake the second time her stomach gurgled, Faith sat upright, realizing she was still in the clothes she’d been wearing—minus her shoes—when she’d fought those demons.

“Oh, ick,” she protested, feeling gross in the dirty, battle-stained outfit.

She stood and went into the bathroom, shedding her clothes and throwing some of them right into the trash bin. She would never wear that particular shirt again. It was stained and ripped beyond repair. And the memories associated with it now weren’t good ones.

Naked, she ignored the continued grumbling of her stomach and turned on the shower, hopping in the moment the water was a comfortable temperature. She scrubbed and scrubbed until she felt clean again, then got out of the shower and wrapped one of the big bath sheets around herself and another towel around her hair.

When she walked back into the bedroom, Colt was leaning in the doorway that led to the rest of the suite. Boy, was he a sight for sore eyes.

“How are you feeling?” His gaze narrowed in concern.

Her stomach growled before she could answer. She chuckled, trying to hide her own embarrassment.

“Hungry. Obviously.” She rolled her eyes at the continued protestations of her midsection.

“Well, I’ve got a solution to that problem. I ordered dinner. Come out when you’re ready. The food just got here and is still piping hot.”

Was that it? Was he just going to leave her like that? After the day they’d had?

Feeling a little bereft, she walked farther into the bedroom, heading for her clothes. Colt was next to her before she even realized he had moved. Then, he took her into his arms and hugged her close.

“You were amazing today, Faith.” He kissed her cheek then pulled back to look deep into her eyes. “And I think we made a hell of a team.”

She grinned back at him. “You can say that again.”

“If I do what I want to do, we’ll never get to the food, so I’m just going to back away slowly and pretend I’m not thinking what I definitely am thinking seeing you in that towel.” His eyes flashed fire at her, and that sexy grin made her tummy flip, but not in hunger this time. Oh, no. It was a different kind of hunger altogether.

But she knew he was right. First things first. She had to feed the growling beast in her empty midsection before they could get to anything more interesting. It was just good to know that he wanted to. She hugged herself as he left the room, then turned back to her small assortment of clothing to choose a new outfit. Something comfortable, she decided.

Loungewear. Definitely loungewear.

She wasn’t going anywhere but the other rooms in the apartment tonight, and hopefully no farther than the dining room, and then the bedroom. Preferably in the company of that sexy hot man who had just left her hanging.