“We should probably go downstairs,” he said. “We can’t keep hiding up here.”
“I suppose,” she said. “But I do want to put all this behind us.”
He pulled the shower curtain aside and stepped out, then handed her a towel. “You finish getting dressed. I’ll be waiting for you downstairs.”
“You promise?”
“I swear.” Now and forever, he would always keep all his promises to her.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Just as he said he would, Darius was waiting by the foot of the stairs. His damp, silvery hair looked like it had been carelessly combed back with fingers, and he was dressed in his usual shirt and jeans. The look he gave her as she came down made the butterflies in her stomach flutter.
She still couldn’t believe he was here. And that he was her True Mate and he loved her. It seemed like a dream, and she was afraid she would wake up. He reached out a hand to her and as their fingers touched, she felt that familiar buzz of electricity between them.
“I think we have company,” he said, cocking his head toward the kitchen.
She heard voices. Familiar voices. “We should go and see what’s going on.”
The kitchen was abuzz with activity when they walked in, and she was taken aback as she wasn’t expecting so many people there.
“What’s going on here?” Her gaze ping-ponged across the room at all the new faces. "Papa?"
Her father’s head turned to her and his face lit up when their eyes met. “Adrianna!” He dashed toward her and cupped her face. “Baby, I thought—” He stopped and looked down, staring at her and Darius’s linked hands. “Care to explain what’s going on?”
“Papa,” she said, pulling Darius closer. “This is Darius Corvinus. My True Mate.”
“Your—”
“Adrianna!” Frankie exclaimed and practically leapt across the room. “True Mates? You’re sure?”
She nodded. “Yes, Mama.” She pressed a hand to her stomach. “I’m going to have his pup.” When her father let out a strangled cry, she shot him a warning look. “Papa …”
Grant let out an indignant harrumph. “I know, I know. As I’ve been reminded a long time ago, these aren’t the dark ages.” He massaged the bridge of his nose. “I just … it seems like yesterday I was waiting for you and your brother to be born.” He took a deep, long breath before turning to Darius. “So, you’re Darius Corvinus. My daughter's mate.”
Darius bowed his head. “Alpha. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“My mate has told me all about you,” Grant began. “She told me that you worked for Anatoli.”
“I am his—was,” he corrected, “his nephew.”
“She also told me that you saved my daughter. Numerous times.” He held out his hand. “I’m grateful, thank you.”
Darius seemed stunned, but shook the hand Grant offered. “I would do anything for her, Alpha. She is my mate. I love her and the child that grows in her, and I will protect both of them with my life.”
Grant flashed Adrianna a pensive smile. “I have no doubt.”
“Papa …” She embraced her father. “I’m glad you’re here. But,” she looked around. “What are you all doing here?” She counted a total of seven people that hadn’t been here earlier. Her father, three members of the Lycan Security Team, Uncle Dante, and to her surprise, Cross Jonasson, the powerful warlock-Lycan hybrid. Anatoli’s right-hand man, the older, burly Lycan who had proclaimed Darius as the new leader of The Family, was there too, talking to Frankie.
“We had come to help. I’m still technically part of the New Jersey clan.” Uncle Dante scratched his head. “Though, it looks like you didn’t need our help, huh?”
Frankie chuckled. “Didn't you think we could handle things? Are you underestimating the women of our family?”
“I learned long ago never to make that mistake,” he quipped.
“Adrianna,” Cross began. His blue-green eyes bore right into her and she couldn’t help but feel like she was pinned to the spot. “Your mother has relayed to me what happened with the mage that attacked you.” He turned to Darius. “I’m sorry for your loss. That magic the mage used on your family is an abomination.”
Darius squeezed her hand tight. “My mate has avenged them.”
"Did the mage mention anything important?" Cross asked. "Did he say why he wanted to take you and not just kill you?”
Adrianna shivered. “He said that he wanted my blood.”
Those blue-green eyes turned stormy. “Then my initial theory was incorrect. They don’t want to stop you from ascending to Alpha. They just want you.”
“But what do they want with Adrianna?” Frankie asked.
“They want both of them. Adrianna and Lucas. Specifically, their blood.”
“What?” Grant asked, incredulous.
“Do you know how a mage is made?” Cross asked, but it was obviously rhetorical. “Through blood magic. Mages are former witches and warlocks who break the laws of nature by killing and using blood to increase their power. And Adrianna and Lucas, as the firstborn children of two powerful Alphas, have potent blood. I believe they mean to use it for some ritual or spell.”
“What kind of spell?” Adrianna asked. Her knees felt weak at the thought. That mage really was going to literally drain her dry.
“I don’t know, my father and I are still gathering information.” His jaw tightened. “But we will find out soon enough.”
“That means we have to be more vigilant,” Grant said. “Lucas and Adrianna must be protected at all costs.”
“I will have to tell my father about these new developments,” Cross said. “This is new information, and we can use it to find out what the mages are really planning.”
“We have to find out what they’re planning and stop them,” Adrianna said. “I refuse to be a target.”
“I will be by your side,” Darius said. “And I will not let anything happen to you.”
“I know
