Warrior's Hope (Dark Protectors #16)(77)
“He was not a nice male,” Vero said slowly. “In fact, he was a real jerk. He hit, he kicked, and it was almost a relief when he died.” Vero’s face lost all expression, making him appear even more dangerous. “Until I went to live with Uncle Terre, who was just as bad.” He shook his head. “You know, the only father I’ve never seen hit his son was Dayne, Drake’s father. He was proud of him and looked forward to Drake taking over the Kurjan nation someday.”
“It’s too bad Drake turned into such a jackass,” Paxton replied.
Vero cleared his throat. “It’s like that everywhere, correct?”
“No.” Pax forced blood to his broken hand. “Even though my fake father liked to hit, the warriors in both the demon and vampire nations don’t beat their children.” He wiped at a wound on his elbow. “Neither do the shifters. You and I didn’t have the best of examples.”
Vero exhaled. “I would like to find a better way.”
That was exactly what Pax had hoped to hear, but one thing at a time. “You’re a decent guy, Vero. I can feel it whether you like it or not. Tell me you’re not going to let Drake force Hope to mate him. You wouldn’t let him rape her, would you?” He was as blunt as he could be, trying to make an impact. It was possible to force a mating bond, and the act would be brutal.
Vero stepped back. “No, I don’t want to see Hope hurt, but Drake is the leader of the Kurjan nation.” His voice was low and hoarse with a thread of pain.
“He shouldn’t be,” Paxton said. “Anybody who thinks that’s a way to form an alliance or a family has no business leading. You know that.”
Vero studied him. “My entire life I wished for a brother. I tried to turn Drake into one, but his ambition and his alliance with Ulric prohibited that.”
“I wanted a brother too,” Paxton admitted as his spleen finally mended itself. “I’ve seen some of the Realm kids with their siblings. Not a lot of them have brothers or sisters because it’s so hard for immortals to procreate. But the ones who do, it looks like...” He trailed off.
“A safety net,” Vero supplied. “Someone who always has your back.”
Pax had spent eons wanting that kind of support. He’d had a taste of it working with Hope’s team the other day. Being Kurjan guaranteed he’d never work with them again. “Exactly. Hope and her cousins are like that as well,” Paxton said. “I don’t think I have long to live, but I’m happy I have a brother, even for a short time.” He wished he had more time left to get to know Vero. He had a younger brother. A surprising sense of responsibility and duty settled on his shoulders, but he cast it away, knowing it was too late. Still, maybe he could set Vero on the right path. “I’m going to save Hope, and you can help. Be the hero here, Vero. Let me out.”
“I can’t.” Vero looked over his shoulder and down the tunnel. “Even if I wanted to, there are guards at every station. You wouldn’t make it five feet, and then I’d end up in there.”
It was a good point. Vero couldn’t help Hope if he was imprisoned. “Then go free her. Get her to a vehicle and then step back.” Pax’s girl was a speed demon, and she knew how to drive. He just had to give her a chance.
“She’s guarded as well,” Vero murmured just as his watch dinged. He read the face and then concentrated once more on Pax. “I must go. If nothing else, I’m glad we found a chance to meet and speak with each other.”
“We can do more than talk,” Paxton said, squaring his shoulders. “We could fix all of this. We could create safety for everybody.”
Vero’s eyes glimmered and then went blank. “You don’t know the Kurjan nation, my friend. Besides, do you really think Hope belongs with you?”
“No,” Paxton said honestly. “It was a dream that kept me going for a long time, but now that I know the truth, hell no. She belongs with some strong warrior in the Realm, hopefully a purebred demon, not a mongrel hybrid like me.” There was no doubt evil lived in his veins, so apparently Paelotin had been right. Who knew?
Vero looked down the hallway. “I need to go. I do want to check on Hope and make sure she’s all right.”
“You need to do more than that, brother,” Paxton said quietly.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Hope walked down the stairs to Drake’s study, her head held high, her heart beating too fast, and her dress way too heavy for her frame. Drake had sent it along with four women to help her get ready. It was an elaborate white ball gown strewn with too many diamonds to count. The skirt was floor length with a small train, the shape A-line, and the bodice corset style. It was perfect for a princess and disastrous for a woman ready to fight her way out of a Kurjan compound.
The guards left her at the door with a stern warning to wait for the king and a rough reminder that guards were everywhere.
She stood there for a moment and then saw the dragon-skin book still perched haphazardly on the table. Hurrying toward it, she snatched it up and looked around wildly. Her neckline was surprisingly revealing, with the bodice split down the middle, and her neck and shoulders were bare. Taking a deep breath, she yanked up the folds of her skirt and shoved the book up the back of one thigh, securing it in the side of her flimsy panties. When she let the material drop back down, the skirt was heavy enough to hold the tome to her thigh.