“Speaking of!” Lucien said, hitting his own temple with the heel of his hand as he glared at Brandt.
“Oh, yeah. Shit,” Brandt said, walking over and placing his hand on Lucien’s shoulder. He gripped Lucien’s shoulder firmly, while staring into his one good eye.
Lucien knew what Brandt wanted — he wanted a pledge of loyalty, and he was waiting for Lucien to give it unasked. “It’s going to give you complete access to what’s going on in my head,” Lucien said.
“If I was that kind of Alpha. I might get an inference here and there, but I really don’t give a damn about what came before. It’s just so that we all remain connected.”
Lucien briefly eyed the group of males, and Emmalyn and Everly.
“They can only read you if you let them,” Brandt said.
Lucien nodded. “It’s not that I don’t want the connection, it’s just that it’s been a long, long time since I was connected to anything.”
“And now you’re connected to our Hellen.”
Lucien smiled. “Hell…” He released a deep breath and nodded. “I vow my loyalty. I vow to stand with you and each one of the clan,” he hesitated and looked over toward Kaid and Maverik, “or clans,” then his gaze landed on Havoc, “even Havoc. I will give my life to protect any and all that matter to ourclan. And I will kill any who try to harm my Hell, or get between me and my Hell.”
Brandt chuckled and shook his head, then he looked directly into Lucien’s eye again. Lucien looked back, giving him access to everything he was and had ever been. When the pain started, Brandt winced and ground his teeth together as he tried to maintain control. Lucien clamped his jaws together tightly, but refused to look away. Then suddenly, he heard Brandt’s voice in his mind.
“That’s it, you’re one of us. Welcome home,” Brandt thought to him, though Lucien could hear the strain, even in his head voice.
“It’s bad in here,” Lucien said.
Brandt nodded. “But it’s not anymore. You got us.”
Lucien gave more of a huff than a sigh, and lifted his own hand to clamp down on Brandt’s shoulder.
Then another voice slammed into his head. “Can we go NOW?” Havoc shouted in his mind.
“Yes, asshole,” Lucien thought back to him.
Havoc grinned and started for his truck.
“Barron, you and Kiernan stay in touch with Bane and Daniel and Ronan. I expect no trouble at all. They don’t even know us. Keep yourselves open in case Hellen reaches out to any of us as well. We’ll stay in touch, too. And heads up, if Bailey shows up looking for Remi before we get back.”
“We’ll see her at my place if she does. We’ll take care of her,” Kiernan said.
Remi released a little growl.
Shaun smirked at him.
“Is there going to be an issue between the two of you?” Brandt demanded.
“Nope. Not from me. I haven’t done a damn thing I shouldn’t,” Shaun said
“Remi?” Brandt asked.
“No! I’m fine,” Remi snapped.
Lucien had already walked away, leaving whatever issue lay between Remi and Shaun to Brandt. He made it to Havoc’s truck and slammed the passenger side door as he got in. He leaned across the middle of the truck to yell through the open driver’s side window. “Y’all follow us. We’ll park a few miles away and hike in on foot. They’ll notice even one vehicle, much less several if we drive in too close.”
“Just keep updating so we know where we’re going,” Brandt said.
“Hey! Let me get in the back,” Maverik said, jogging toward Havoc’s huge four-door F250.
“Same,” Kaid said, following Maverik.
“Come on, rest of y’all can ride with me,” Bam said, walking toward Everly’s SUV. He stopped to kiss Everly and glare at Emmalyn. “You will not give your Momma a bunch of shit over this. You will go home with Barron and your Momma and you will deal with your reality instead of thinking you’re invincible.”
