Page 21

In the end, to keep the smell of shifters out of the car, Daniel, Rhys, Gabriel, Kurt, and Lauri drove back in one SUV.

Aleks, Duncan, Emmett, Gavin, and Benedict stayed in their SUV, and Finn, Connor, and Madison took Connor’s truck home.

Finn volunteered to drive so that Connor could stretch out next to his mate in the back.

Five minutes outside of Arkadia, Gabriel’s car broke away and headed toward the coven house.

By the time they reached the clinic Madison had shifted back and was gloriously naked, awake and looking around. Connor was not amused at the way that Finn kept laughing at him when he growled every time Finn went to turn around. Madison laughed and snuggled into Connor’s jacket.

The truck door opened and Doc Claybourne stood there with a white hospital blanket for Madison. His face was pinched with worry. Connor handed off his mate to her brother and followed them into the clinic. He watched as Doc gently eased his sister down on the bed.

“Okay, let me see,” he demanded.

Sighing, she removed Connor’s jacket under the blanket and rolled onto her stomach and let her brother pull the sheet down to expose her back.

Connor stood beside the bed and traced his fingers down the puckered, pink lines.

To still have this much visible damage after a shift, it was evident her wounds should have been fatal.

With a trembling hand, Doc carefully pushed on the skin on either side of the furrows. Connor looked over and saw that Felix wore an identical sick expression on his face.

Connor was about to say something to Felix about how ill Doc looked when the small redhead forced his mate to lie down on the bed opposite of Madison.

“I’m so sorry, Maddox,” Madison whispered. It was only then that Connor made the connection. Madison, Madelyne, and Maddox were triplets. He had felt her pain and as a doctor he knew that it had been life threatening. He had to sit in Arkadia, completely helpless, and endure it.

Connor looked over to where Doc lay on the bed, one hand covering his eyes as tears dripped down his face. Felix stood on the other side of the bed with a death grip on Doc’s other hand.

“I thought I had lost you,” Doc said brokenly.

Connor swallowed hard around the lump in his throat. He brought the blanket up and tucked it in around Madison.

“I’m harder to kill than that,” she joked.

Doc looked over to stare at Connor.

“Vampire blood?” he asked.

Connor nodded. “Daniel donated a few drops. Psycho drugged her so she couldn’t shift and heal,” he explained.

“Just when I think I have a handle on paranormal medicine.” Doc shook his head.

“I feel so stupid,” Madison whispered.

Connor, Doc, and Felix stared at Madison.

“Don’t say that, baby. He had this planned down to the minute. He killed three Sentinels at the perimeter to get in and to create an escape route. He shot Ricochet to create a diversion. Like Daniel said, he’s a sick bastard, but, he’s smart.” Connor rubbed Madison’s back in small round circles.

“I had a general idea of what he looked like, knew he was a smaller guy, I should have never turned my back on him. He just looked so small and helpless.” She buried her face in her pillow.

Connor pulled her out of her pillow. “That is how he kills, sweetheart. He wouldn’t be successful, if it didn’t work.”

Suddenly she sat up and gripped the sheet to her chest.

“Where are my clothes?” she asked.

Connor blinked, surprised. “You shifted, remember? They were shredded.”

“Damn it! I loved that outfit. I hate that bastard!” she yelled.

Recognizing the need for anger, he nodded. “Yeah, fuck that asshole!”

“I had to special order that blouse from the designer himself! He doesn’t normally produce shirts with my bust size. Motherfucker!” she screamed.

“I’m here for you, sweetie!” a voice called out, and Rian swept through the glass double doors with Emmett in tow.

“I hope you don’t mind but I raided your suitcases. I thought you might need a change of clothes. Honey, I am scandalized and inspired by your lingerie collection.” Rian dropped a bag on the bed and pulled Madison into an embrace.

Connor’s ears perked up. “Lingerie collection?” he asked. They ignored him.

“Come on, honey, let’s get you in the shower.

I always want to wash after a shift. It feels so much more luxurious that way.

I even brought your shower gel and makeup bag.

I cannot wait to play with your makeup. It’s all quality stuff.

” Rian helped Madison off the bed. Felix came around and made sure her sheet stayed wrapped around her body.

“The showers here actually aren’t bad,” Felix chimed in as they started to lead her from the room. Connor went to follow, but Rian shook his head. “Sorry, girl time.” The three disappeared into an adjoining room.

Puzzled, Connor turned to Emmett who only shrugged.

“But aren’t they?” he asked Doc.

“I wouldn’t worry about it, Connor,” Doc said, looking more composed.

Nearly an hour later, Madison emerged looking more like herself than the trembling, pale woman she had been earlier. Connor was worried that her old fire hadn’t returned then chastised himself. Her emotions weren’t as easily changed as her clothes.

“I feel a thousand percent better. Thank you, both, so much.” Madison leaned over and kissed both Felix and Rian.

“Hey, I broke into Connor’s house to get your stuff, don’t I get a kiss?” Emmett pouted.

Laughing, Madison kissed Emmett on the cheek.

Connor narrowed his eyes at his brother.

“What do you mean you broke into my house?”

“Door was locked, had to pick the lock.” Emmett shrugged.

“Come on, Ma will want to look you over to make sure you are okay.” Connor wrapped his arm around her waist.

The group walked to the diner. When they walked in, all talking stopped. Connor could feel Madison tense up.

“It’s about freakin’ time! Oh good, Rian is with you. Madison, do you have a pie preference for Thanksgiving? Rian, Damian said to check your damn phone, something about a certain napkin being out of stock.” Rebecca waved her clipboard around.

Madison relaxed against Connor.

Trust Rebecca to keep things upbeat.

“I loved Connor’s chocolate pie. I couldn’t wait to get it in my mouth,” Madison said, without missing a beat.

Connor was staring at his mate and ran into a table.

“Watch it, Connor, I think you may need that later.” Rian laughed.

Connor breathed out his mouth as he tried to walk normally to their table. Damn if this wasn’t embarrassing. Madison was trying her hardest not to laugh and wasn’t being successful. He grabbed her ass before she sat down and she squeaked.

“There she is. Madison, are you okay?” Ma came over to the table and hugged Connor. Just breathing in her perfume suddenly made everything better.

“I’ll be fine now that I’m back with Connor in Arkadia. I’m starving though,” Madison admitted.

“Me, too, Ma,” Connor added.

“I have beef stew or chicken and dumplings. I knew that you would want something warm and comforting,” Ma offered.

“Stew.” Connor smiled up at his Ma.

“Chicken and dumplings for me. Sounds heavenly.” Madison rubbed her stomach.

“I’m glad you’re okay, baby girl.” Ma hugged Madison before returning behind the counter to dish out their dinner.

“What do you mean they are out of bronze? I spoke to them yesterday and there were no issues. No, pumpkin orange will not do. Call them back and tell them they are not offloading their surplus Halloween shit on us. I ordered bronze, they confirmed bronze, and I will have bronze on my Thanksgiving Day tables!” Rian yelled, before taking a deep breath.

“Sorry, babes, not your fault. I’ll call them back tomorrow. Yeah, yeah lurves you, too.” Rian hung up his phone and turned to them.

“Unfreaking real. You just can’t get good service anymore. They are so getting crossed off the list.” Rian crossed his arms in a huff.

Madison looked at Connor. “The list?” she asked, turning back to look at Rian, who brightened.

“Yes, the list. My master list of event-planning vendors. They were my go-to company for linens. Not anymore. They’ll be sorry when I update my blog,” Rian explained.

The rest of dinner went by, and Connor could tell that everyone was keeping conversations light. He was grateful. When he caught Madison yawning for the third time, he decided that it was time to go.

“Everyone, thank you,” Connor said as they walked out.

“Anytime, bro.”

The drive home was quiet as Madison kept dozing off and on.

When he pulled into the driveway, she was snoring lightly and purring in her sleep.

Thinking these were possibly the cutest sounds he had ever heard in his life, he hated to move her, but with the truck turned off, it would be getting cold quick.

He got out of the truck and closed his door.

He checked and sure enough his front door was unlocked.

Cursing Emmett, he went back to the truck and opened the passenger-side door.

He unbuckled his mate and pulled her into his arms. His bear rumbled his approval.

This is where she belonged. He kicked the door shut and walked into the house.

He reached out and quickly dead-bolted the front door before walking upstairs.

Madison began to wake up as he lay her on the bed. He was in the bathroom when he heard her call out his name.

“Connor?” Madison was sitting upright in bed, a scared look in her eyes. Connor would rip off his own arm to wipe the fear from her mind, to rid her of the memories that she had with her brush with evil.

“I’m here, wildcat. Let’s get you in your jammies,” he said, smiling. The fear left her features and her mouth twitched.

“I’m a grown woman from New York, we don’t have jammies. We have jim jams,” she clarified. Connor bowed deeply, flourishing his hand in a grandiose manner.

“My apologies, my lady. Of course, you could always sleep naked.” He stood up straight and wagged his eyebrows.