Liam’s Mate (The Vampire Coalition #4)(10)
Author: J.S. Scott

His lips twitched again as he stared down at her from his elevated height. “So demanding, little one? I will eventually take you to Liam, if you still want to see him. He isn’t exactly-” he hesitated before adding, “himself right now.” He placed his beefy hand on her shoulder and Regan felt an instant calming sensation. Her pulse slowed and her body relaxed as he continued. “I am known as Daric, Prince Of The Vampire Healers. I was your mate’s mentor and teacher in his youth.”

Nathan, Ethan and Rory instantly dropped to one knee and bowed their heads as they all uttered in unison, “Your Highness.”

“Oh, for God’s sake, get up.” Daric’s booming voice rose as he removed his hand from Regan’s shoulder and motioned for the brothers to rise. “I’m not into all that royalty gibberish. You are all fierce warriors and don’t need to kneel for anyone. Call me Daric.”

Regan nearly smiled. Daric actually looked embarrassed.

“With all due respect, Daric, where is my brother?” Nathan asked as he rose to his feet, Rory and Ethan rising at almost the same time. “And how in the hell did he get that strong?”

“Why are you calling Regan his mate?” Rory inquired in a confused voice.

“She’s my intended mate,” Tom squawked from his seated position on the floor, finally finding his voice.

“You..” Daric’s eyes were intense as he glared at Tom, “are leaving.” Daric flipped his hand as though he was batting away a fly and Tom disappeared.

Regan didn’t bother to ask where Tom had been sent. She really didn’t care. Even for a mage…he was disgusting.

Daric walked slowly towards the Hale brothers, his hands clasped behind his back. “To answer Nathan’s question, Liam has always been strong, but his power is usually put into his healing.”

“I’ve never seen him….like that,” Rory gulped as he tried to comprehend the fact that Liam had an enormous amount of power. “He’s my twin. I should have known.”

Daric stopped in front of the three brothers as he remarked, “There are a lot of things that you all should have known, but Liam thought it was in your best interests to remain ignorant of some of the facts of his life.” He looked at each brother as he added, “I disagree. I think being informed is the best protection for all of you.” He waved his hand in the air, “Watch and learn.”

Regan’s eyes were riveted to the images that sprang forth. It was almost like watching a big screen television suspended in the air.

Liam’s life rolled by, scene after scene, while seven pairs of eyes stayed glued to the images, with gaping expressions on all seven faces.

Daric had to explain some of the scenes as they played, but Regan knew about most of them and some, like the backlash experiences, she had actually witnessed up close and personal.

Good or bad, Liam’s secrets were being revealed.

Chapter 5

The screen disappeared as the last episode of backlash flashed away. Daric eyed Rory as he asked quietly, “Not the grand life that you imagined your twin had, is it?”

Rory shook his head, his expression wistful, “I always thought he was the lucky one. Now I realize he wasn’t.” Rory sighed as he continued, “I always imagined he went away to a grand adventure when he was gone for long periods of time when we were young. I was jealous.”

“In reality, he went away for weeks at a time for healer training. It’s not a grand adventure. It’s hell. You’ve seen some of it,” Daric replied.

“Yeah…I guess I was really the lucky one. I had a childhood. I had friends. And I had Ethan and Nathan.”

“Being a healer is a load of responsibility at a very young age and it’s a lonely life. There is nothing grand about it,” Daric remarked gravely.

“I still don’t understand why he didn’t tell us about the backlash,” Nathan muttered, obviously irritated.

“Because he feared that if you knew that he would pay with pain for killing a fallen, you wouldn’t call him when you were in trouble. He didn’t want to take the risk of losing one of his brothers,” Daric commented quietly. “He was protecting you all in his own way. He never wanted anyone to know about his pain.”

Regan squirmed, feeling guilty that she did know, but kept Liam’s secret.

“Don’t,” Daric said sternly as he gave her an understanding look. “You’re a good mate and kept Liam’s secrets as he requested. You honor him.” He crossed his arms over his massive chest. “I, however, am a prince of my people. I have no such qualms about blurting out his life story if I think it’s for his benefit.”

“Liam’s found his mate. He’ll get his soul and a partner. He won’t be lonely anymore,” Callie exclaimed in wonder. Callie and Brianna were both grinning, but Sasha’s expression was cautious and subdued.

“Liam has a soul. Mating is different for a healer. It’s a blood bond.” Regan murmured absently, knowing that Liam could never truly be her mate.

The room erupted with chatter, questions all being asked at the same time. Daric held up his hand and the room quieted, allowing him to explain the basic mating rules of the healer.

“Holy shit!” Rory exclaimed loudly as Daric finished. “So it really is a miracle that Liam and Regan found each other.”

“Liam found his mate because it was meant to be,” Daric answered with a shrug of his mammoth shoulders. “He’s the first deserving healer in a very long time. He put his people first and served long and tirelessly. He deserves his mate.” He shot Regan a stern, knowing glance as he finished.

She fidgeted nervously, her voice nearly inaudible as she admitted, “I can’t mate with him. The league of mage assassins will kill him if I do.”

“That’s bullshit. Liam needs his mate. You can’t just abandon him,” Nathan snarled. “It’s not like we can’t protect you.”

“Quiet!” Daric shouted abruptly. “Don’t judge her.” He gave Nathan a sharp glance as he waved his hand. “Watch.”

The big screen television returned, but this time the image was of the incident that Regan had gone through with the council. Daric concealed her nudity, but he didn’t tone down the violence of the attack and subsequent painful branding.

Regan turned her head, trying to block the images and stay deaf to her own tortured screams. She rubbed her hip, still feeling the burn, still smelling the burned flesh. “Please, Daric. Stop,” she choked out as she turned pleading eyes to the prince.