Blood Revenge

Chapter 16

West left that afternoon. I was anervous wreck. I'd taken up pacing the garden pathway as a newhobby. When it started to get dark, Anders decided I'd had enough.I was making my turn to head back toward the fountain when I felt hishand catch mine. I hadn't even heard him approaching, that's howout of sorts I was. "May I join you?" he asked, lacing ourfingers together.

"Do I have a choice?" I askedlightly, trying to smile past my worry.

"It doesn't seem so," heretorted, flashing me an Anders grin. He looked down at the ruttedground beneath my feet and sighed. "How long do you plan on pacingup this same lane? At least choose a change of scenery. The dirt willthank you."

"Stupid dirt should bestronger," I pouted, more seriously than I'd intended.

"We're not talking about dirtanymore, are we, Ana?" he asked pulling me toward the fountain andforcing me to sit on the edge.

My free hand shook noticeably."Why didn't I see it before?" I asked, trying to calm myselfenough to rest my head on his shoulder.

It didn't last long. My headshot up as well as my body as I tugged my hand free of his. I startedpacing in short circles in front of him. One... two... three... four...five steps... turn... one... two... three... four... five... turn..."You're acting as you did just before Stephee was born," hepointed out.

"I'm sorry," I sighedpulling myself to a stop. I was standing right in front of him.

He stared up at me with hisloving green eyes. "Come here, darling." He held out his hands,palms up. I slipped my trembling hands into his and he pulled mecloser. I stood between his legs and his hands went to my hips andslid slowly up under my shirt to touch the bare skin of my back. "Ah,there's that troublesome responsibility." He smirked with hiseyes closed as I felt the familiar warmth of his magic touch me as hesearched my aura. "But at least Stefan's is the only spiritpossessed around here."

I shuddered when he moved hispalms and the warmth faded. "You're always so warm," I sighed,knowing he'd spun some magic to calm me down. I wanted to be angry,but suddenly, I didn't care enough to protest.

"Let's go inside, luv,there's a bloody awful chill in the air," he said.

"Bastard," I said, a gleefulsmile pouring over my lips as he stood.

"Oh, you'll thank me in themorning, woman. Now let's go... up, up, up," he swung me into hisarms so he could carry me to our bed. His calming spells always leftme fuzzy and weak kneed.

"I know where you sleep," Ithreatened, my head lolling to rest against the curve of his neck.

"And I'll be sure to do itwith one eye open so as not to lose anything important," hechuckled. "When you wake in the morning, well rested, I promise wewill have the conversation I magicked you out of tonight."

"Yes, sir!" I tried to saluteand smacked him in the face accidentally. "Oops." I snorted.

"You're so charming, littlewarrior." He smiled, wiggling his nose to shake off my flounderinghand.

"It's why you married me,"I pointed out.

"That and the fact you roped mein and then told me I was not allowed to leave with certainappendages," he laughed.

"That too," I agreedgiggling. I was so going to kill him for putting me in such a goodmood.

The spell's affects sent myinner walls crashing down and Reif streamed gently into my head.Stasia? Is everythingalright? Your mind is as open as a fresh wound.His voice caressed through me like fine silk.

"Magic!" I giggled, my brainforgetting how to speak to Reif's.

When my response was notinstantaneous, he panicked. Iam coming to you, Stasia.I could feel his worry as he rushed to find me. We could always findeach other.

"Reif!" I squealed excitedlywhen I saw him and forgot Anders was carrying me. I bucked towardhim, nearly causing Anders to drop me.

Reif rushed with his amazingspeed and caught me before I reached the ground. His grip was clumsyas I struggled for purchase, climbing him like he was a tree."Stasia, what is going... Oof!"

With my arms around his neck andmy legs around his waist, my eyes were level with his. Our faces wereinches apart. "Oh, hello." I giggled and laid a short kiss on hislips.

When our lips parted, he frowned,cocked his head and his lilac eyes flicked to Anders who stood behindme chuckling. "What happened?"

"She was panicking. Iintervened," Anders explained. "I was going to put her to bed.Did you want to help?"

Reif's eyes strayed back tomine and he smiled sympathetically. I nuzzled my face into his necksighing audibly. "You smell like home."

"It seems I have littlechoice," Reif whispered. I could hear the endearing smile as hehugged me closer. He began to walk and I settled into his arms. Istarted drifting in and out, catching bits of their conversation."Why is it that Stefan can always touch her heart so deeply?"Reif asked solemnly.

Anders sighed. "He was herfirst love. Nothing can change that. It takes a lot to fully forgetonce you've loved someone."

"Does it not bother you?"Reif wondered.

"I amonly human. I know I hold her heart, but sometimes I think she'llnever lose the tenderness she holds for him." I felt his handcaress my thigh.

"You share your lives," Reifsaid. "When you went missing, I thought you'd been killed by thepull of sorrow she felt. I think if she'd lost you, I would nothave been able to bring her back."

"Honestly, she's the onlything that kept me going. Her and the little ones," Anders saidwistfully.

"Stephanie can hardly be calledlittle anymore," Reif said warily.

"I suppose she isall grown up," Anders agreed. "So much like her mother, that one.Where doesthe time go?"

"Try living for 700 years,"Reif sighed. "Time flies by much faster."

"Why don't you ever find awoman and settle down?" Anders asked.

Reif grunted. "I have all Ineed right here."

Apparently, we'd reached ourroom because all movement ceased. I wanted to look up, but I couldn'tlift my head. "Just lie her down, I'll make sure she's takencare of," Anders said.

"Stasia," Reif whispered."You must detach from my neck, SalonulSange." His voicewas so tender.

I grasped him tighter. "Staywith me," I requested.

I felt his head turn towardAnders who said, "Whatever the little warrior wants. We've sharedbefore."

Reif's "Hmm" of agreementrumbled through me. He carried me to the bed and gently unraveled mylegs from around him. I slumped onto the soft mattress and I feltsomeone remove my boots and weapons as I tried to curl up in thefetal position.

Someone climbed onto the bed withme and when I heard him say, "Ana, you're wound tighter thanValkyrie's ringlets, loosen up, luv," I knew it was Anders. Ireluctantly let my muscles loosen and snuggled up close to him,resting my heavy head on his solid chest. Reif soon joined us,enveloping my smaller frame with his. My back was warm against hischest and I sighed with relief. I was exactly where I needed to be.Safe, between my husband and my bond mate. It worked wonders on mysanity as the worries of the last few months melted away for just alittle while. Reif's breath on my neck and Anders' heartbeatthumping strongly beneath me soon lulled me into a deep, sound sleep.