Davy Harwood in Transition (The Immortal Prophecy 2)

"When he comes, he's not coming just for his mate. He's coming for Davy too."

"The truce," Gavin reminded him.

Roane faced him. His eyes were fierce. "The truce means nothing. We killed too many of her fighters. They'll rise up now. They were going to anyway. It was just a matter of time."

"But the Roane Army—"

"—is the perfect timing for their revolution. They want this land and they want the thread-holder. Now they know who she is. We'll be divided against the army and the wolves. It's perfect timing on her side."

"They'll have to fight the Roane Army then," Bastion spoke.

Roane shook his head. "No, they won't. The army doesn't want this territory. They'll search for the thread-holder. When they won't be able to find her, they'll leave. We'll be destroyed by then and the wolves will stake their claim."

"Why won't they wait it out? Let the Army destroy us and come in afterwards?" Bastion itched for another smoke. He gritted his teeth against the craving. No vampire should be dependent upon something men invented.

"They'll move soon. They know where she is now. And they won't want me to move her where they can't find her."

Gavin knew how Roane cared for Davy, but he wondered if he cared more about keeping the Immortal from his enemies. When the Roane elders hadn't listened to Roane and instead had sent a hunter after him, he knew his best friend had been shattered by the betrayal. Roane had always been loyal to his Family. He had lived and breathed by what the Family wanted. His post as the hunter and then protector of the Family had been the creed that he lived by. When they didn't listen to him and decided to try and destroy the thread-holder, Roane had taken it as a personal attack. Gavin wondered how much his best friend's ego was mixed with protecting Davy.

Then a different enemy popped into his mind and Gavin asked, "And your brother? I know you haven't forgotten about him."

Roane turned cold eyes on him. "I haven't forgotten."

Bastion remained quiet, but he was aware of their tension.

Gavin kept quiet and Lucas instructed, "We'll go back to the estate. Keep on patrol when we're there. I expect Davy's roommate will call her mate soon. I want to be there when he arrives."

Then the three turned as one and sped away. In the night sky, they blended with the ground and were only shadows among the darkness.

I woke to darkness. When I sat up, I knew someone else was in the room with me and I could hear him undressing.

"Roane?"

"Yeah?" He pulled back the covers and slipped underneath. I felt him slide in next to me and then his arms wrapped around me. He tucked me close. I relished the feel of his body against mine. It calmed me.

"Why were you angry with me before?" I yawned as I asked him.

"Because you showed yourself to the Alpha. He knows too much now."

My mouth was pressed against his shoulder as I mumbled, "I'm sorry. I was so angry."

He tightened his arms around me. "I know."

"Did I mess up?"

"A little, but we'll be fine. We can handle it."

"Did they go away? Those wolves?" I tried to keep my eyes open. I wanted to see him, but it was a struggle. They were becoming too heavy.

He kissed my forehead and smoothed my hair back. In a gentle voice, he soothed me. "You can go to sleep. The wolves are long gone by now."

I reached for his hand and entwined our fingers. "What about you? You don't need to sleep that much."

"I'll stay with you for awhile. Go to sleep, Davy. You need it." He pressed another kiss to my forehead and then my shoulder. His arms turned me and he shifted so he spooned me from behind. I felt protected and sheltered in his arms.

"G'night, Davy."

I tried to return it, but I couldn't. My mind had already ventured into dreamland.