Chapter 26

Chapter

Twenty-Six

Bye-bye Berserker Blues: When Finding Love Means Dodging Battle Axes

From A Beginner's Guide to Berserker Bliss

Author Unknown

M oaning, I blinked open my eyes. My head swam and ached, my temples throbbing. Confusion sprouted as I took stock of my surroundings. A room. Spacious but sparse. The only pieces of furniture were a bed and an uncushioned chair.

I eased up, and chains rattled. Chains? I frowned as my gaze followed the link of metal to a cuff secured to my left wrist. Shock jolted me, unleashing memories that crashed into my thoughts like mini-wrecking balls. Being set up and locked in a secret passage. Escaping and running into Sorcha, who had taken control of my body. Fighting. Pain.

Callen.

My heart raced as I looked myself over. Oh my goodness! I was me again. Elizabeth. No more pale skin and freckles. No wedding ring on my finger. My dad's coin ring hung from my neck.

Joy and regret clashed, but they couldn't override my confusion. Shouldn't I be dead? Callen had been worked into a rage. Yes? Had Sorcha calmed him? Or had I?

I must have. Why else would I be alive? A miracle! Except, he couldn't have known where the calm had come from. From his viewpoint, I'd attempted to murder his fated. The surest way to provoke a berserker to deliver your end.

I yanked at the chain, but it held steady.

"You can't free yourself. The metal is rasensteel, which is reinforced to hold a sentinel lost in rage."

Callen's rich baritone hit my ears, and I threw my gaze across the room. He stood in the open doorway, so beautiful he made my eyes water. In an off-white cable-knit sweater and slacks, he appeared warm and relaxed. But his icy blue eyes told a different story. Had he taken the gelu root?

He strode into the room. Thora ran in behind him just before a guard shut the door, sealing us inside. She made a beeline for me, jumping onto the bed as if she knew who I was despite my new face. Overcome with gratitude, I scooped her into my arms, burying my face in her soft fur. A familiar tickle erupted in my nose, and I sneezed. Then I sneezed again. And again.

No, no, no. I'd missed the precious canine too much and longed to cuddle. If I maintained contact, however, I would break out in welts and stop breathing.

"I love you, baby girl, but I can't hold you right now," I rasped, releasing her on the floor. She perched at my feet. Good enough for now.

Callen eased into the chair with the grace of a man assured of his power. "I will ask you questions, and you'll answer truthfully. Do you understand?"

"Yes," I said with a tremor in my voice. He didn't know me, butI knew him and comprehended his ruthlessness with those who weren't Isobel Bruce.

"You snuck into my home and tried to murder my wife. Why?"

I swiped my tongue over my lips. "I didn't." Azure rings appeared and crackled in hisirises, but I continued anyway. "Isobel switched places with me, then Sorcha, who was Mackenzie, who switched places with Isobel before switching places with me." What a tangle! "Give me a chance to prove it." There were memories only I knew.

He worked his jaw, but there was no ring twisting, dang it. The bottom dropped out of my stomach when he stood, picked up the chair, and carried it closer to me. As he sat, his legs caged mine. My breath hitched, his incredible scent enveloping me, reminding me of sweeter moments we'd shared.

"Prove it then," he offered coldly.

Okay. "At your office, I sat on your lap, and we spoke about–"

"I found the bug under my desk. Next."

Come on! Seriously? "In the privacy of our bedroom–"

"I found the bug in the light fixture. Next."

Sweet goodness. Sorcha really had planned for everything. "Nothing I say is going to convince you of the truth, is it?"

"No. So let's try this again." He shoved the words past clenched teeth. "And do not lie to me. You won't like what happens."

Trepidation blistered my nape, but I didn't back down. "I'm your wife. The one you vowed to love and protect. The woman you marked. But I'm not Isobel. I'm Elizabeth Darcy, exactly as I tried to tell you. An American special ed teacher. Innocent of all wrongdoing. Well, most wrongdoing. I'm also extremely disappointed in you. How can you not see the truth?"

His knees squeezed mine. "The answer is so obvious I shouldn't have to state it. Since you're pretending not to understand, I'll explain. Tavish sent you on a suicide mission. Convince me of a soul switch, so I kill you as well as my wife. What else would ensure my eternal misery?"

Argh! Like Sorcha, Callen had an answer for everything. "There's a way to settle this. Kiss me," I grated. "I doubt Sorcha can fake being me. Or rather, fake being me while I faked being Isobel. Whatever. Just kiss me. If you dare."

A muscle ticked beneath his eye. "Kiss you, so I betray my wife and dishonor my vows, becoming someone I despise?"

He'd told me something similar when he denied having a mistress. I'd gotten my first glimpse of berserker honor that day. Yes, I admired him for it. No, I wouldn't back down. "Kissing me isn't a betrayal of her, you stubborn man, but kissing her will be a betrayal of me."

He scowled with anger so sharp I felt the cut soul deep.

Let's try this a new way. "Why didn't you kill me in or even out of a rage already? I thought you didn't converse with wolves and their minions."

The muscle beneath his eye ticked harder. "Exceptions are sometimes made."

"Yes, but why make this one?" My pulse leapt. Sorcha had accused me of not seeing the big picture. Was I possibly …

I almost didn't dare think it, but new hope swelled in my chest anyway. Was I, Elizabeth Darcy, Callen Bruce's fated all along? He'd sensed the bond with Isobel, yes, feeling as if he floated on a sea of calm, but maybe he'd only felt that way because I would one day take her place. What if the mate bond ignited for me ?

Blood raced through my veins, and my fingers stroked the spot on my hand he'd sliced with a blade. Only, the mark was on Isobel's body, which Sorcha currently possessed. Proving myself would be more difficult than I'd realized. But no matter.

I squared my shoulders in determination. Oh, he may be a berserker with unfathomable strength and wild rage, but he hadn't seen a Darcy woman determined to win her man.

"I bet I'm alive because part of you suspects something is off," I purred, letting my love for him flow through me unchecked. "If she's your fated, let her prove it. Let yourself go full berserk around her. See what happens. See if she soothes you or if you need me."

His eyes slitted, his top and bottom lashes nearly interweaving "You still hope I'll kill her."

"If she's who you say she is, that shouldn't be a worry for either of you."

He gripped the arms of the chair, his knuckles bleaching of color,and slid his gaze over me. His irises heated. Boiled. Suddenly I couldn't breathe.

Then he growled, "You were all but plucked from the fantasies of my beast."

Aches erupted throughout my body. "You desire me." Badly. Theknowledge went straight to my head. Instantly drunk on the most delicious power, I grinned.

"Desire won't stop me from killing you once I've used you to draw out Tavish," he vowed softly.

The old adage was right. Truth really did make you free because his words bothered me not a bit. My grin widened. "You're not going to kill or use me. I bet Sorcha-masquerading-in-Isobel's-body has begged you to kill me, but here you sit, flirting with me instead."

"Why wouldn't she want you dead? You tried to kill her."

"You can't harm me, husband. I'm your firebrand." And he was my dream guy.

"Enough!" he boomed, standing. The chair skidded behind him,crashing into the wall. Wood shards shot in every direction. He was panting, his hands fisted.

To my astonishment, fear remained at bay. But anger didn't. Inarrowed my eyes. "Is the temper tantrum really necessary? Or can you act like a civilized adult for a few more moments and finish this interrogation?"

"I suggest you stop talking." He flicked the tip of his tongue against an incisor. "For the time being, you are safe." He leaned forward and removed my shackle with a yank. "You will stay here until I decide how to handle you."

The heat of his fingers roused goose bumps. I rubbed my wrist. "I'mstill mad at you," I grumbled.

His nostrils flared. "I don't care." He reached into his back pocket, then extended a cell phone in my direction.

My phone! I'd never been so happy to see a cracked screen. With a low whimper, I snatched the device to my chest.

"Your interactions with Tavish are interesting," he stated.

"I'm sure they are, since Isobel and Sorcha were involved." Eyeing him with suspicion, I asked, "Why are you being so nice to a suspected assassin?" Oh, wait. That one had an easy answer. "You're going to listen to my conversations. "

He dropped his chin, his gaze pinning me in place. "Until I learn why you affect me so intensely—" a waggle of his jaw "—why you bear a hint of my mark, you'll stay in here."

Jolt. I carried a hint of his mark? The rightness of that settled in my soul.

With a huff, he stalked from the room, snapping, "Thora, you come with me."

She gave chase. "Traitor," I called with affection, even though her departure was for the best. Also, I knew they would both be back.

The door closed. A metal lock engaged. Feeling lighter than I'd been in weeks, I dialed my mother. I didn't care if Callen recorded every word.

"Hello, baby! Finally you call your mother!"

Oh, the sound of her precious voice! Happy and upbeat. "Hey, Momma," I croaked, my throat already clogging. Relief and affection crashed into me. "I've missed you so much."

"No, no. Why are you upset? Did Tavish break your heart already?I knew he was your Mr. Wickham. I tried to warn you. You can't say I didn't. Why, I suspected he lacked moral fiber the first time I saw his photo. Didn't I, Joshua? It's all in the eyes. But don't you worry, Elizabeth. I've found someone else for you. A true catch!"

A genuine laugh burst from me. "I love you."

"Yes, well." Emotion thickened her voice. "Don't think you're going to distract me. When are you coming home so I can introduce you to the love of your life?"

"I'm not sure. But I'm not dating a guy you've picked out for me. I've found someone special, and it's not Tavish."

"Who?" she said with a humph.

"His name is Callen. He's very handsome. And a business owner. Super strong. He's definitely my Mr. Darcy. He has far too much pride, and I've had too much prejudice. But we're working on things."

She twittered with delight.

Servants entered, one after the other, each carting valuables. From plush pillows and soft blankets to covered dishes. Oh, yeah. Callen was hot for me.

"Tell me everything," Mom demanded.

We chatted about Callen's better qualities as I ate a crusty cheese sandwich. I didn'tmention the immortal berserker thing, soul switching or the fact that he currently had two wives, and I was stuck in his prison.

After our call ended, I heaved a sigh and plopped onto a bed, already missing her. Servants arrived, bearing clothing, toiletries, and furnishings. No one glanced my way as they arranged the room. I watched at ease.

They divided the space into a bedroom, a sitting area, and a kitchenette. They even unlocked a door to a private bathroom.

My phone vibrated, and I glanced down. A message from a fellow teacher, asking if I was okay. I checked my other messages, curious to learn what Tavish and Isobel/Sorcha had discussed. As I read, I stiffened.

There was a staged exchange between them, all to make me look like a woman in love with the wolf, willing to do anything he desired.

She'd told my boss, "I quit." He'd accepted my resignation after sending a bunch of unanswered emails asking if I needed time, help or a second chance.

She'd even catfished multiple guys in my address book, making me look like an unstable woman desperate for affection. My ex, August, requested nudes, and she'd promised to send. Not that she'd delivered. Still. The utter embarrassment of it all.

Sorcha and Tavish had done their best to stack the evidence against me. A sure way to garner my death even if their main objective failed. But they'd made a grave mistake, underestimating my husband's need for me. But I wouldn't do the same. Not anymore.

Callen would be back, and I could hardly wait.