Liam’s Mate (The Vampire Coalition #4)(11)
Author: J.S. Scott

The images immediately disappeared, but six sets of eyes watched her.

“Where was Regan’s protection during that episode?” Daric asked sarcastically as he turned his gaze to Nathan. He sighed loudly as he shook his head. “You are a brave warrior, Nathan, but your temper and rush to judge can sometimes cloud your common sense. Had you planned better the other night and not rushed in to eradicate the mass of fallen while being led by anger, Liam probably wouldn’t have needed to kill. You’re smart, but rash when it comes to killing the fallen.”

“But-” Sasha rushed to defend her mate.

“No, Sasha. He’s right,” Nathan said grimly. “My hatred of the fallen consumes me at times. I need to get control of it. I can dust the bastards without being stupid. I should have planned better. I should never let my anger and resentment consume me to the point where I put any of my brothers at risk. It won’t happen again.”

Daric’s mouth turned up slightly in an approving smile. “Well said, warrior. You have reason for your hatred, but let common sense be your guide and you will get the best revenge.”

“I’m so sorry, Regan. Sorry we weren’t there for you. If I had known, we all would have protected you. I understand you were just trying to protect Liam and I’m sorry we couldn’t keep you from suffering.” Nathan spoke quietly. “Will you mate with him?”

“I don’t know,” Regan answered honestly. “I love him. I want to. But I’m afraid of the council’s revenge. I couldn’t live with myself if anything happened to Liam.”

“Why didn’t the league of assassins come after me when I mated with Sasha?” Nathan asked curiously.

“I don’t know.”

“I do,” Daric answered. “Regan is a possible weapon against the mage. They need to keep her in the mage circle. For her, the council is willing to risk the wrath of the vampire by sending in the league of assassins.”

“What do you mean?” Regan answered with a perplexed expression.

“If you had looked very closely at your mating mark before it was defiled, you would have noticed a very tiny sword being carried in the claws of the dragon. That sword is a sign of a protector, a very rare mating mark for a vampire. It means if the mating is ever completed, the female mate will become a protector of the vampire, able to protect the vampire against harm from her people. You, my dear Regan, will always have the power to protect yourself or any of your vampire kin against the mage.” Daric finished and laid his hands on Regan’s shoulders in a gesture of comfort.

“How?” Regan questioned, shocked by Daric’s incredible revelation.

“You will be able to spell the jewelry you make with a spell of protection after your mating. Mating will release your power as a protector.”

“Oh, God. I can protect Liam. And Nathan. And…everybody,” she sputtered wildly, hardly daring to believe it was true.

“Yes. You can truly make your choice without any other influence,” Daric smiled down at her like he was speaking to a treasured child.

“I choose Liam,” she exclaimed excitedly. “I’m just not sure he will want to choose me,” she muttered in a more restrained tone. “He still has the option of rejecting me.”

Daric’s eyebrows rose almost to his hairline as he said wryly, “I don’t think that will be a problem. He’s in such a desperate state right now because he cares too much. However, it might be hard to convince him, but now that you’ve made your choice, I hope that you can. He’s past the point of no return, Regan. You need to reach him or he will not survive.”

Regan’s heart stuttered and she could feel the palpitations begin as her gaze shot to Daric’s sad eyes, “What do you mean when you say he won’t survive?” she asked breathlessly.

“If he can’t reject you, which I already know he can’t, and if you don’t mate within the next few days, he will die. Liam needs to either mate or reject. He can’t reject you because he wants you. On the other hand, he thinks he has done you unforgivable harm and doesn’t want you to take him as a mate out of pity. It will take some convincing.”

Regan felt fear wrap its icy hands around her heart, but she shoved it away. Failure was not an option. “I don’t know all of the details for the mating,” she gave Daric a pleading look.

“And I will be glad to explain,” he told her patiently. “In private,” he added, giving everyone else in the room a get-lost-now look that no one would dare to ignore.

Regan hugged everyone quickly, giving her sister Sasha a extra squeeze. “Don’t let him go until he does the deed,” Sasha whispered urgently in her ear before she and Nathan transported away, followed by Ethan and Brianna.

“Tell him I’m sorry. Tell him…I love him. Please don’t let him die,” Rory said in a low, graveled voice filled with remorse as he hugged her tightly.

Regan pulled back and looked into the face that looked so much like Liam’s as she answered, “I will. But he knows, Rory. And he loves you. More than you know.” In a stronger voice she added, “You can tell him yourself later. That stubborn vampire is going to be mine. Lord help him.”

Rory gave her a ghost of a smile as Callie wrapped her arms around him and they faded away.

Regan took a deep breath and turned to Daric. His face was solemn as he looked down at her and put his hand lightly on her hip. Slightly confused by his action, she started to pull away as she felt a mild burning sensation under his fingers. “You’re fixing my mark.” Understanding dawned and her face lit up as he pulled his hand away.

“It’s already fixed,” Daric corrected her arrogantly.

“Thank you, Daric. Thank you. I hated the brand. I missed Liam’s mark so much.” In her excitement, Regan jumped up and threw her arms around his thick neck in gratitude, and planted a loud, smacking kiss to his cheek.

He patted her back gently and Regan could have sworn she saw a slight blush as she pulled away from him. The big guy wasn’t such a hard ass after all. “You care about Liam.”

Daric shrugged. “I wouldn’t be getting involved if I didn’t care about the outcome. I don’t want him to f**k this up. No vampire healer has gotten this opportunity in the last thousand years.”

“You’re not mated?”

“No.”

Regan sensed that there was more that Daric could add, but she didn’t push. “So, tell me what I need to know.”