The King's Mate [Paranormal Protection Unit 6] (Siren Publishing Classic)
Paranormal Protection Unit 6
The King’s Mate
She is a vet, just a vet. No one would ever mean her harm. Or so Christine Shaw thought. Until one fateful night when someone—no, something—tried to grab her. Having her bacon saved by sexy-as-sin man candy definitely doesn't hurt. But really, who would want her?
Hardened, sometimes harsh Tryggr Jackson learned through brutal lessons that life isn't fair. But on rare occasions it is very giving and generous. Finding his bond-mate was as much a shock to him as anyone else he knew. But can the tiny bit of woman handle all that is pent up within him?
Chrissy sees there is more to her man than he knows. She must prove to him that he is what is needed to save a throne and to protect all he's ever known.
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal, Shape-shifter
Length: 57,981 words
THE KING’S MATE
Paranormal Protection Unit 6
Honor James
EROTIC ROMANCE
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
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A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK
IMPRINT: Erotic Romance
THE KING’S MATE
Copyright © 2013 by Honor James
E-book ISBN: 978-1-62242-434-4
First E-book Publication: March 2013
Cover design by Viola Estrella
All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.
All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.
PUBLISHER
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com
Letter to Readers
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DEDICATION
I dedicate this book to the women that I’ve met as a Siren author, and other Siren authors who have been amazing to me. Thank you for being my sounding board, for listening to me ramble, and for being there for me when I needed you.
I would also like to dedicate this book to my readers, to the fans. To my Dear Ones, I love you all and I’m so very happy to have you in my life. The kind e-mails and messages have been amazing for me and help me want to continue on and write as much as possible if only for you.
THE KING’S MATE
Paranormal Protection Unit 6
HONOR JAMES
Copyright © 2013
Chapter One
The night was still, the moon nearly nonexistent with only the barest of slivers in the sky. Not even a breeze was moving to disturb the leaves and brush around them as they waited, silent and tense.
Waiting was always the hardest part of anything. Hundreds upon hundreds of thoughts endlessly tumbling through the mind, situations, considerations, worries, and concerns all vying for attention at the forefront. All of it boiling down into a mired pot of darkness ready to suck in the unwary.
Shifting in small increments to ease the cramping in his thigh, he let out a soundless sigh. Rubbing at the muscle deeply in controlled movements, his mind decided that since there was nothing to do but wait it was time for a trip down memory lane.
A moonless night, a faint breeze bringing in the scents of night-blooming flowers from the gardens beyond the open windows. A roaring fire in the hearth and the soft murmurs of the staff finishing their duties before retiring to their beds were the only sounds in the home. One of the hunting dogs lay asleep on a rug, his paws twitching and the occasional snuffled woof coming from him. He had to be chasing something even in his dreams.
Finishing the last of the honeyed mead in his cup, he got up, the dog rousing long enough to assess the situation before returning to sleep. Shaking his head, he carried the cup with him toward the kitchens. He would ensure the staff was done and those that needed to head out had an escort before finding his own bed. He never did get to the kitchens though.
The scent of blood was strong, practically choking him with how heavy it hung in the air. Letting the Cat closer to the surface, he breathed in slowly, taking note of every detail that the air could afford to him.
Six distinct scents permeated the air around him and not one single sound. Repressing the growl threatening to break free, he set the cup aside and moved stealthily up the hall toward the kitchens. Pressing lightly on the door, he flinched as the scent of blood and death hit his nose more fully.
Listening intently, he eased the door open only when he was as positive as he could be that no one was in the rooms. Alive, that was. Which was exactly what he saw. Three cooks, two maids, and one of the guards all lay in pools of their own blood, staring blindly at nothing. All had been eviscerated, shredded by large and vicious claws, none spared in the seemingly mindless slaughter.
That jarred him and had him spinning to race for the stairs leading to the second floor and then up to the third. More blood in the air. Gods no! Straight to the master suite he ran and skidded to a halt in the open door. His parents lay brutalized in their bed, a look of sheer terror forever frozen on his mother’s face. No!
Whipping around at a small, nearly inaudible sound so faint he didn’t know how he heard it over the thundering pace of his own heart, “Bethany,” he whispered softly in horror and fear.
His sister, ten years his junior, stood before the crazed Changers, their leader with his large hand around her throat. She was sobbing uncontrollably and trying desperately to break free of his grip. Not y
et in puberty, she was as frail and weak as a human.
“She’s a pretty little bit, isn’t she?” the leader spoke with a menacing and mocking growl.
“Let her go. She is an innocent in all of this,” he said, amazed that his voice sounded as strong and commanding as it did. He didn’t know what “this” was yet, but if he could get them talking maybe he could find out.
Chuckling darkly, the leader ran a bloody finger down his captive’s cheek. “She is very innocent, but not for long, Prince,” he promised, much too sure of himself.
“What do you want?” He’d get it for them, anything to protect Bethany.
“For you to watch, screaming, and then for you to die,” he was told in a calm, too calm, tone.
Before he could take his next breath, a Mage appeared out of nowhere and threw him down with a wave of his hand. Pinned to the floor in the next instant by fiery spears, he bit back a scream of pure agony. One through each of his shoulders, one through each of his thighs, and one more piercing through his left hand, leaving only his right free to reach furtively toward his sister as she now stood, eyes glazed over. Too much trauma all at once, her mind had finally shut down to protect her as best it could, too late.
What happened next would forever be seared into his brain. The Changers all made a circle around their leader, eight in total, and his sister. The leader tore her dress from her just-blooming body, leaving her standing naked.
Her wrists were taken in hand by one of the Changers while the leader bent her at her waist. Opening his pants, he looked right toward where Tryg was pinned and grinned even more evilly, if that were possible. His baby sister’s scream was the last sound he heard, their leader’s evil grin the last he saw as a red haze slid over his eyes. The Jaguar was madder than ever before in his life.
Struggling hard to break free, he snarled and hissed, the Cat wanting to shred and maim. But when they threw her down at their feet, their twisted laughter ringing hollowly in his ears, something inside just snapped. Tearing his hand free of the spear, he was uncaring of the damage it caused. And one by one he ripped the spears from his flesh, the skin of his hands burning off from the heat only the pits of Hell could compete with.
Amazingly the Mage did nothing, but when he got to his feet he knew why. He wasn’t there. He’d come to do his part and departed, likely before they’d begun their vile deeds.
Letting the Cat free finally, he headed right into the midst and began to tear, shred, bite, and do any and all damage it chose to. Finally when there were no Changers left standing or in one piece did he push the Cat back down and return to his human form.
Tossing the parts of the Changers aside, he uncovered his sister and stared down at her. Was she still alive? Dropping to his knees amongst the gore, he very gently touched her cheek and had to catch her small hands as she tried to claw his eyes. “Bethany, Bethany, it’s me, your brother,” he said loudly so she’d hear him. It took some time, but soon the madness cleared into crystal clarity which quickly went to sorrow.
Pulling her into his arms, he held her to him and rocked her gently. “I have you, Bethany. I’ll always have you, sweet little angel,” he whispered quietly. He held her until she fell into an exhausted sleep from all her crying and then carried her to her room. Cleaning her up, he tucked her into the bedding and went in search of the guards that should have been protecting their King, the King of the Cats.
Some were still alive, others not. Those alive all were gravely injured and looking for death, not happening. Finding one small lad who had hidden and was safe, he sent him to find the King of the Dragons and let them know of the attack upon the house. “Be swift and be honest. We need his help desperately as well as healers, as many as he can find and gather. Tell him the King of the Cats is dead, as is his Queen. Many of the Royal Guard are dead with more ready to follow on their coattails. Be swift, little one, and tarry for no one. Go!”
* * * *
The King of the Dragons had come and rendered aid that night, and to that very day he still served him. He’d given a pledge in his own blood, the blood of his sister, and the blood of those that had dared to harm her that night that would stand until he no longer walked the earth.
Bethany had recovered as well as was possible in that time. She even still lived to that very day, secluded and well protected away from all prying eyes and men. Once a year they got together to celebrate surviving the massacre of their home and spoke often over the phone and even Skyped once in a blue moon.
Tryggr knew she’d never fully truly recover, that she would forever be broken in some fundamental way. But he had helped her to heal and then, when she had gone through puberty and her Cat had revealed herself, he had taught her how to kill without mercy and without guilt. She was nearly as skilled as he was in that regard, so he didn’t truly worry too much for her safety anymore, but he did prefer some of the guards being there though, and while she might not admit it, so, too, did she.
A small movement caught his eye, bringing him back to the present, and he smiled. “Target is approaching,” he said sub-vocally into their comms to his Team. “Heads up, everyone, it’s time to dance with the Devil.” He smiled slightly. Maybe tonight would be the night someone got lucky and killed him. Doubtful, but one never knew.
Chapter Two
Christine Shaw knew a good thing when she saw it, and in this moment that good thing was the building before her. She all but rubbed her hands together when she looked at the large open entryway that would serve as her waiting room, the small rooms that could be adjusted so that she could have a kennel for cats, and one for dogs as well. This was what she had worked her whole life for, her own practice.
Moving from room to room, she took measurements and jotted them down on her pad. This was truly what she was looking forward to. This was what she wanted, because this was what she had been working her entire life toward.
Chrissy had begun as a run-of-the-mill student, barely making Cs and Bs in school and having no true life direction. That all changed, however, when she was forced to volunteer at a local animal hospital instead of going to juvie. Who would have known that the “punishment” would have turned out to be such a blessing for her? In that punishment she had found her life’s calling.
She had “the touch” according to the veterinarian that had begun to train her. She had always had a light touch with animals, but now, now that she was able to put that to work, she knew that this had been what she wanted to do. It took her nine long years of hard work, double jobs as well as school, but finally she was doing it. She was putting her life’s dream into reality, and it all began with this one little shop on a quiet strip in an equally quiet neighborhood.
All but dancing a jig when she realized that the building had come prewired for sound systems and a PA system, she did just that. Holding the clipboard close to her breast, she did a little dance of happiness and joy because she had done it! She was finally going to make her life’s dream come true!
Humming along as she did and realizing that she was going to have a great deal of patients already lined up as soon as she opened her door, she could only smile. It helped a lot that the man that she had worked for since she was sixteen was closing his practice doors. She would have bought his practice, but to be honest she simply didn’t have that much cash. This was going to be hard enough. She had to take a loan out on her house as well as taking out a business loan in order to afford this small place, but it was hers, all hers! This was what was necessary, and she knew it.
After she had measured every single inch of the space and drew out exactly what she wanted the builders to do, she carefully locked up the doors and walked out into the night air. Turning her face up to the skies, she smiled and breathed in happily. “Finally, life is turning out as it should,” she whispered to the moon.
Looking back at her new office, she smiled happily. Ah yes, life was finally turning out as it should!
* * * *
Three months later
Wiping her brow with the back of her sleeve, Chrissy looked to her lab assistant and smiled. “Thanks, Mindy, you have been a true champ.” Chrissy truly loved Mindy. She was such a sweet young woman who had gone through hell and back again and was still there. “Are you sure that I can’t talk you into staying with me, Mindy?”
“I wish that I could.” Mindy spoke very, very softly as she stroked the fur of the large German shepherd that they had just performed surgery on. “He’s a beautiful beast, isn’t he?” she murmured, hoping and praying that Chrissy would change the subject.
“He really is at that.” Leaning her hip to the side of the table, Chrissy watched Mindy. “So what excuse did he use this time?” she asked and pointed to the black eyes that Mindy was sporting, eyes she’d tried to say were “from walking into a door,” something Chrissy never bought.
“Drinking again,” Mindy murmured. “Thank you for keeping my money for me so that he doesn’t blow it. As soon as I have enough, I’m leaving him.” She had been saving for the three months that she had been working for Chrissy. She had told her fiancé that she was an unpaid intern, and Chrissy, God love her, had kept to the same lie, seeing immediately what a monster that Tommy Burkard was.
“It’s no worries at all, doll. I keep it in a spare account that is earmarked for building damages only, so anytime that you want to look and see how much you have saved, all you have to do is look there.” Shaking her head, Chrissy added, “You have to get away from him, honey. He’s so bad for you. Come and live with me, Mindy. I have more than enough room as you well know.” Chrissy had been left a five-bedroom, five-bathroom house when her adoptive parents died. Too bad that it was mortgaged to the hilt to pay for her dream clinic, but that was fine. She would deal. She always did.