Bound By Darkness Part 20

"Silly question, Larem. That dog has been watching the door for the past half hour." The vet looked at Chance over the top of his gla.s.ses. "I hate to say it, but it's time we start looking for a home for him."

Larem's stomach plummeted. He'd known the moment would come when Chance would move on and that it was a good thing. The big fellow deserved a whole lot of happiness in his life. That didn't mean it would be easy to let him go.

"Have you had anyone interested?"

"One couple looked at him but then decided he was too big for their yard." Dr. Isaac reached over to pet Chance's head. "I know you'll miss him, but some lucky person is going to offer him a home. We'll make sure it's an extra good one."

"That's what we've been working toward." Which was true, but that didn't mean Larem was happy about it. "Come on, boy, let's get going before the rain starts."

Outside, he let Chance choose their route. They'd spent so much time exploring together that the dog knew the streets around the clinic as well as Larem did. He even seemed to sense that it was important to cruise by a certain coffee shop on each trip. Sometimes Larem stopped to buy a cup of tea or coffee; sometimes he didn't, but every time, the two males paused to look inside just in case Sasha happened to be there.

So far, they'd had no luck, but that could change. Larem needed to know how she was doing. Their last encounter had left too many things unspoken between them. After they'd found release in each other's arms, she'd calmly walked away without looking back.

And fool that he was, he'd let her go.

In the days since, he'd kept telling himself it had been the right thing to do, even with his soul screaming out that he was making the mistake of a lifetime. He'd already let one possible mate slip away. But that hadn't hurt nearly as badly as watching Sasha disappear down the hall and out of his life.

Later that night, after Hunter left and Lonzo turned in for the night, Larem had stood out on the patio and stared up at the stars, recalling each sensation as he'd taken Sasha up against that wall. Had he been too rough with her? He'd wanted to leave his mark on her soul, not on her creamy, soft skin.

He'd never experienced anything as sweet as the welcoming heat of her body when he'd come deep inside her while Sasha's own climax washed over them both. It was then that he realized they'd been so caught up in the moment that they hadn't used protection.

The thought hadn't been far from his mind ever since. Perhaps she was taking that pill humans used, but Sasha hadn't mentioned it. Even if that was the case, would it even be effective with his alien DNA?

So, yes, he needed to see her, needed to know. If he didn't run into her soon, he'd have to seek her out. For days his dreams had been filled with images of her, her belly round and ripe with their child-and mostly they'd been good dreams. Would she think him crazy for feeling that way? Would she cherish the child even if she rejected the father?

Too many questions with no answers.

Chance pulled at the leash, his tail a blur, yanking Larem back into the present. He whined in excitement and looked back at Larem with a big doggy grin. There was only one explanation: the dog had spotted Sasha.

Evidently she'd just been heading into the coffee shop, but right now she stood frozen in the doorway. Larem signaled Chance to stop and sit. The dog did as ordered but clearly wasn't happy about it. Larem understood his feelings on the subject, but he didn't want to crowd Sasha.

Instead, the two males stayed right where they were and prayed their female would come to them.

Okay, at least the dog was happy to see her. Maybe Larem was, too, but right now it was hard to interpret his stoic expression.

"Excuse me."

Sasha jumped at the sound of the voice coming from behind and then realized she was blocking the doorway. "Sorry."

After pasting a bright smile on her face, she crossed the few feet to where Larem and Chance were standing. After all, she'd walked all the way to this particular coffee shop on the off chance she'd accidentally run into Larem. She had a decision to make and needed to see him before she made up her mind.

Perhaps a walk around the block with Larem and Chance was exactly what she needed to clear her head and let her think things through. Still procrastinating, she leaned down to let Chance give her a big lick before dealing with the other half of the pair. She found it interesting how everyone else pa.s.sing by gave the two such a wide berth, as if sensing they were every bit as dangerous as they looked.

It was hard not to get lost in the intensity of Larem's gaze when their eyes finally met. Sometimes she wondered if his Kalith DNA gave him the ability to see far more about a person than she could. For sure, he seemed to look straight into the heart of her. Fearing what he might see there, she turned her attention back to Chance.

"Well, I see you and your buddy here are still wearing out the sidewalks."

"We have enjoyed our walks." The light in his eyes dimmed a bit.

She asked, "Mind some company? D.J. and Cullen managed to recoup an impressive amount of the money Kincade had stolen, and I've been holed up in my office dealing with it. Today I think I've earned some time out here in the suns.h.i.+ne before I go there."

"That is good news, but weren't you going to get some coffee?" He gave her the ghost of a smile. "We can wait for you."

"If you're sure." Before she'd gone two steps, Chance blocked her way. "It's okay, boy, I'll be right back."

When the dog wouldn't move, Larem held out the leash. "Why don't I get it for you. Do you want the same as last time?"

He remembered? Smiling, she nodded but then had second thoughts. "Better make it decaf this time."

"Afraid you won't be able to sleep?"

Once again she nodded. Better to let him a.s.sume that was the reason. She reached for her wallet.

He waved her off. "My treat."

While she waited for him to get through the line, she tugged Chance over to a low concrete wall nearby where she could sit down and pet him. She hugged the dog close, taking comfort in his solid warmth. G.o.d, what was she going to do? She thought she could stay away from Larem; Lord knows she'd tried. But even without the latest complication, the temptation to seek him out, to make sure he was all right, had been unbearable.

The door of the shop opened again. He was back, carrying two coffees and a bottled water. Larem handed her the coffees and then pulled a shallow bowl out of his jacket pocket and filled it for Chance. She liked that about him, that he cared so much about his furry friend.

After the dog slurped his fill of water, the three of them moved on down the sidewalk. For the first couple of blocks, they concentrated on sipping their coffee and avoiding conversation.

The forced peace couldn't last. Nothing had changed. She was who she was-a woman with her future all planned out. There was so much she could accomplish here in Seattle given the time and opportunity. Ever since David's death, she'd hated everything connected to the Others and their secret reign of terror. It still made her sick to think about how many good men like her first love had burned out their lives trying to stanch the flow of crazies across the barrier.

With that idea never far from her thoughts, she'd worked long and hard with her goals in mind: to improve conditions for the Paladins, to make their lives better, to find a way to stop the mental deterioration that ended their lives far too soon. And yet, here she was with her heart aching for a man who should be her enemy.

Sasha had watched Larem talking to the barista inside the coffee shop with his usual quiet dignity. The woman had handed him his change with a smile that was a few degrees too warm to make Sasha happy, not that she could blame her. He was certainly handsome enough, but there was so much more to him than that.

The other problem was that Larem was a man without real ties to this world. Yes, he had friends, but it was obvious that he missed his home. Given the opportunity, she suspected he'd bolt back across the barrier. What had held him here this long? He'd yet to share his story with her.

Which left them where?

Now, walking along beside Larem, she was acutely aware of his every movement. It was as if something inside her was hardwired to respond to him differently than she had to any other man she'd ever met. He moved with a warrior's grace and wore the same easy self-a.s.surance that Paladins did, as if he were the toughest thing on the block, ready and able to handle whatever life threw at him.

She hoped that was true. She really did.

Larem smiled at her. "You're thinking awfully hard about something, Sasha. Is everything all right? Devlin's not driving you crazy, is he?"

"No, Devlin and I've actually made real progress on a few things this week. I don't know where he got such a reputation for being uncooperative." She grinned. "Of course, it probably helps that I'm the one with the checkbook."

"That might be part of it, but maybe not. Devlin swears he's always dealing with idiots and fools. I suspect you confuse him since you don't often fit in either of those categories."

"Thanks." She shot him a sideways look. "I think."

The corners of his eyes crinkled, confirming he was teasing her. d.a.m.n it, why did he have to be so perfect in so many ways? She'd really been hoping that seeing him again would prove to her that the heat they'd generated had been a fluke, or if not, at least that that's all it had been. Unfortunately, the attraction she felt for him was more than hormones.

So that settled one question but left so many others unanswered. As long as she was walking beside him, she'd never get her head on straight.

She stopped at the next corner. "Well, I'd better leave you here. All that work on my desk won't finish itself."

Rather than risk looking at Larem-fearing he'd see the confusion written in her expression-she knelt down to take her leave of Chance. "You take care, big fella. Next time maybe we'll go to a park and play fetch."

The big dog's tail instantly drooped, and he whined before licking her hand. Darn it, did she have to like the dog as much as she did his owner?

"There won't be a next time."

She tore her attention from Chance back up to his grim-looking companion, her pulse doing a fifty-yard sprint. "Why? What's going on? Where are you going?"

Please not back to Kalithia. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

"I'm not going anywhere, but Chance doesn't belong to me. He's from the shelter where I volunteer. Now that his injuries are healed, the vet has listed him for adoption. It's only a matter of time before Chance finds a new home."

There was no mistaking the pain in Larem's voice. She put her hand on his sleeve. "Can't you adopt him?"

"I would if I could, but I don't have my own place. I live with Lonzo, and the apartment is barely big enough for the two of us. Now that Chance's leg is getting stronger, he needs a big yard and a family."

The dog deserved a little happiness in his life, but what about Larem? It was clear he had developed a strong attachment to the dog. So had she, for that matter.

"Listen, I just moved into Laurel's condo, and I'm rattling around in all that s.p.a.ce. Maybe I could keep Chance for you until you have a place of your own. I know it's not a perfect solution, but at least you'd still be able to see him whenever you wanted to."

And her, too. Though that could be a problem. Some secrets have a way of revealing themselves. She'd have to tell Larem the truth and soon, but not out here on the street.

Larem studied her for several seconds. "Are you sure? Adopting a dog is a big commitment, and my situation is unstable. Besides, I thought your stay here was only temporary."

"Not if I can help it. Besides, Chance would really be yours." She hesitated. "And I'll have to check with Laurel to make sure it's all right."

From the way Larem was looking at Chance, he was definitely wavering. "Let's do this. You check with Laurel and think about it overnight. I'll ask Dr. Isaac to take Chance off the list for the next couple of days. If you're still interested, call me and we'll make the necessary arrangements."

He still didn't look entirely happy, but she knew she really didn't need the extra time at all. If Laurel was okay with Chance moving in, this time tomorrow she'd have someone to share her new home with.

She patted Chance one more time. "Well, I've got calls to make and work to do. I hope to see you tomorrow. Both of you, that is."

"We'll look forward to it."

Larem nodded good-bye and tugged Chance's leash, pulling the dog in the opposite direction. Sasha allowed herself to watch Larem as he and Chance made their way back toward the shelter. When Larem stopped abruptly, she quickly turned away, not wanting to be caught staring.

Okay, it was time to get her head back in the game. She really did have more work waiting at the office. Later she'd think about all the implications of seeing Larem and Chance again tomorrow. At least, it had felt good to get out for a while.

Except she was suddenly being crowded. She inched forward, trying to put some room between her and whoever was hovering just over her shoulder. She was already standing on the edge of the sidewalk when someone jostled her, almost causing her to lose her balance. Before she could say something, everything went to h.e.l.l.

One minute she was waiting for the light to change, her thoughts churning as she tried to make sense of her life, and the next she was flying forward to the tune of squealing tires and honking horns. The pavement came up hard and fast as she instinctively wrapped her arms around her abdomen, leaving her head unprotected. The last thing she remembered was a dog barking and a pair of strong arms muscling her up off the ground.

Larem ignored the crush of people gathering around. Thanks to Chance, they were keeping a respectful distance. Larem cradled Sasha against his chest before setting her down. Yeah, a couple of helpful individuals mumbled something about not moving her, but did they really think he'd leave her sprawled out in the street, giving somebody a second try at killing her?

If he hadn't given in to looking back at her one last time, he would've missed the whole thing. She'd been waiting for the light to change when a man in a dark sweats.h.i.+rt with the hood cinched down over his face had given her a shove out into traffic before taking off down the street at a dead run.

Chance had led the charge back down the block, barking and clearing the path for Larem. He didn't need to tell the dog to stay close while he dropped the leash to deal with Sasha's injuries. Chance gave him room to work and glared at anyone who got too close. Larem left it up to others to call the authorities. He had more important things to do.

He ran his hands up and down Sasha's arms, chanting softly under his breath. For once he was able to focus his gift, pulling in the healing warmth of the early afternoon sun and blending it with the magic of his ancestors. He found bruises and sc.r.a.pes but no broken bones. Using the lightest of touches, he threaded his fingers through her hair, searching for the cause of her continued unconsciousness.

She jerked in pain when he came into contact with a large lump on the back of her head. His hand came away slick with blood. He paused to slow the bleeding and reverse the swelling, taking comfort that some of the tension eased in her facial expression. Next, he pa.s.sed his palm over her chest and on toward her stomach. No bleeding. Her ribs weren't fractured but badly bruised. He sent another surge of energy to soothe them.

As he concentrated, hurrying to do what he could before the medics arrived and took over, he continued to pour everything he had into healing the damage. The sirens were growing louder. Knowing he had seconds left at best, he made one more pa.s.s over her, paying special attention for possible internal injuries.

And found something. His blood ran cold and his skin flushed hot. He checked one last time and then surrendered her care to the medics after pulling Chance back out of the way. At least the dog sensed that the uniformed man and woman were there to help his Sasha.

As the EMTs ran through their protocols, they kept up a steady stream of questions. A police officer had joined the party, jotting down the information Larem provided before moving on to take witness statements.

"Sir, we're going to transport her to the trauma center now. Is there anyone who should be notified?"

Larem, still reeling, nodded. "She has no family locally. Her father lives in St. Louis. I don't have his number with me, but I'll see that he and her personal physician are contacted."

That last was a stretch of the truth, but would give Laurel a chance to intervene if necessary.

"Does she have any allergies that you know of?"

There were so many things about her he didn't know, and that was one of them. "I have no idea, but there is one thing the doctors should know."

The EMT paused, waiting for Larem to finish.

"She's pregnant."

Chapter 16.

Sasha's head felt as if someone were using it for bongos. Where was she? She focused her energy on listening for any clues she could pick out over the banging inside her skull.

Judging by the sounds and smells, she was at the hospital, most likely in the emergency room. It made sense considering her last coherent memory was fighting a losing battle against a very big car. Well, it had looked pretty darn big coming straight at her, but she'd been in no real position to judge for sure. How had it happened?

Yeah, she'd been a bit distracted over her encounter with Larem and Chance, but she knew for a fact she hadn't stepped out in front of that car.

As she tried to clear her mind, other worries rose up to demand attention-one in particular. Her eyes finally opened enough that she could look around to see who could answer her questions.

A familiar figure hovered at the edge of her vision, just inside the curtain that surrounded her bed in the chaotic world of the emergency room. She was hoping for a doctor or even a nurse, anyone other than the man standing there.

"Larem?" she whispered, trying not to jar her head.

He moved closer to the bed and enfolded her hand in his. As soon as their hands connected, the bongos faded to a more bearable level. She sighed in relief, briefly accepting the comfort of his touch.