Chapter Six
Vaughn narrowed his eyes on Eric when the sorcerer popped up on the front porch, just as he was arriving home. “What the hell did you take my mate for?”
“Because she’s in danger. I came to either ward your house, or take you to mine. She needs to be kept safe until the light fae can be persuaded that she’s not a threat to their people.”
Vaughn snorted. “Tulip wouldn’t hurt anyone. I may not have trusted her right away, but after spending time with her, I know she doesn’t have an evil bone in her body. I don’t care if she is at least half dark fae.”
“I’ve already reached out to the light fae. I’m not certain how they’ll respond. If they still demand we hand her over, then I’ll contact the council,” Eric said. “I have to agree that Tulip wouldn’t harm anyone.”
Vaughn waved at his house. “Should you ward the place even if I don’t bring her home just yet? Make sure no one meaning her harm could ever get in?”
“I can do that. But there’s something you should do first.”
“What?”
“Get rid of the shifter hiding inside.”
Vaughn growled and stomped up the steps, opening the door that he knew he’d locked, and sought out the female who was fast becoming a nuisance. He found her lounging in his bed, her clothes stripped from her body. Great. Now he’d have to burn the bedding before he could bring Tulip home.
He gripped the woman by the nape and hauled her, spitting and hissing at him, out of his bed. Damn cat shifters.
“I told you I wasn’t interested,” he told her as he neared the front door. “I’m mated. Either leave me the fuck alone or find a new pack.”
He threw her out onto the porch and tossed her clothes out after her. She bolted to her feet and charged him, but Eric held up a hand and murmured something, creating a barrier. She bounced off the unseen forcefield and landed on her ass again. Eric drew wards in the air around the doorway before entering and stopping beside Vaughn.
“You’re no longer welcome here,” Eric said.
“She was never welcome here.”
The woman gathered her clothes and stormed off, apparently not caring that she was bare assed in the middle of a decent neighborhood. Vaughn turned his back on the scene and looked around his place. Even though it smelled wrong, thanks to the cat bitch who wouldn’t take no for an answer, nothing seemed out of place. While Eric warded the house, Vaughn went to pack a bag in case they needed to be away from home for more than one day. He hated that he’d finally found Tulip only to possibly lose her. He’d go down fighting, and would die to protect her, but he hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
It took Eric over an hour to ward the place. Only the alphas, and those closest to Vaughn, would be welcome. Eric showed him how to allow other people entry into his home on a case-by-case basis. And once they left, the wards would block their re-entry. It seemed like a pain in the ass if they wanted to entertain company, but if it kept Tulip and their unborn child safe, then it would be worth it.
There was a cry outside and Vaughn went to open the front door. A fae sat on his ass looking dazed from bouncing off the newly installed wards. Already they were paying off. Vaughn growled softly as he looked the man over. Red hair. Green eyes. The longer he glared at the male, the more he realized there was something familiar about him.
“Vaughn, I believe you’ve just met your father-in-law,” Eric said.
“You’re Tulip’s father?” Vaughn asked as the fae rose to his feet, brushing himself off.
“I guess that depends on whether or not her mother was named Nightshade.”
“Now that we know the wards will hold, I can return Tulip here,” Eric said. “Keep your mate’s father entertained while I retrieve her. Probably should bring Deacon too.”
Vaughn nodded and stared at the fae on his porch.
“Your people want to kill my mate,” Vaughn said with a snarl.
“Did you ever wonder why she was still alive?”
“Because I stopped them that night.”
“No. Because one of the fae who came to kill her thought she looked familiar. She said I needed to come see Tulip for myself.” He smiled a little. “Nightshade gave our daughter a light fae name? I wonder why she never told me I had a daughter.”
“She died when Tulip was young. My mate has been alone a long time. She’s over three hundred years old, and she’s been alone most of her life. But she has me now, and soon we’ll have a child.”
The fae’s features brightened. “She’s expecting?”
“Yes.”
