Savage Heart Read online

  “Well, good job. They’ll send payment through once the clean-up crew reports it all in. We’ll send a third your way,” my father said as he gave me an approving smile. “You did well, even if it was a different style.”

  “You mean, even though I came barging in like Harley Quinn?” I quipped as I crossed my legs.

  “Wow, that’s fairly accurate,” Samson snorted.

  “You still handled yourself, and did assess the situation beforehand to make sure such an entrance was okay,” my father chuckled.

  “So, did I pass the test?” I grinned, and my father just shook his head.

  “With flying colors,” Samson said sarcastically.

  “Yes, you passed. You can join us on hunts whenever you want. You’re more than capable,” my father said, his eyes twinkling with pride, making my chest tighten.

  I couldn’t keep from grinning, even when the clean-up crew finally arrived.

  My father was proud of me.

  21

  We spent a week with my family, and I loved every minute of it. Every moment spent training with my brothers and fathers, every second of hearing stories of my mother from my fathers.

  My brothers shared stories from their childhood, even their few memories of me. Including the time I handed Lachy’s ass to him when he tried to steal his toy car back from me. Even at barely three, I’d fought him off easily.

  Apparently I was a terror when I was small, biting and scratching when they wouldn’t include me in games.

  I could hold my own even with them back then.

  Izzy took some time to spend with me, and she told me about her family. She visited them once every month or so for a week or so, and her mates would go with her.

  They were all close, and she was beyond grateful for her mates’ fathers being in the picture. They were a huge help, and having them around made her feel safer, especially after everything.

  We now sat outside on the back porch, overlooking the yard where Lionel and Lachlan were working on the playground.

  The yard was huge, but it was fenced off so that once Renee was born, she wouldn’t wander into the forest a few yards beyond the fence line.

  Renee.

  I smiled as I thought about the little girl on the way.

  She’d carry my mother’s lines too.

  I’d be an aunt.

  “So, I take it there’s been no new news about the Collector,” Izzy said as she sipped the fresh lemonade she’d made. I held my glass at the ready as I enjoyed the afternoon breeze.

  “Not yet,” I sighed.

  Even as I’d enjoyed the time with my family, I’d been worried about the Collector. Could the Council really handle him?

  “I hope they get him. He needs to be dealt with. After all he did, and to those children,” Izzy pursed her lips as she stared hard across the yard, her hand moving to rest on her stomach protectively.

  “He’ll be handled, don’t worry,” I assured her as I sipped the lemonade.

  My mates were out with some of my brothers and fathers, practicing training as well. They wanted to hone their skills against new supe partners, ones who they couldn’t predict as easily.

  “So, you guys got up to some fun stuff last night?” Izzy grinned as she winked at me, and I rolled my eyes.

  Yes, my mates had gotten eager, so we’d taken to running through woods before having a nice sexfest out there.

  “How’d you know?” I snorted.

  “You all reeked of it at breakfast. Lachy also heard you guys leave. We had our fun while you were all gone too,” Izzy chuckled, and I scrunched up my nose.

  “Don’t need to know the sex details of my brothers,” I smirked.

  “Fine,” Izzy grumbled, before a smile split across her face again. “So, Samson says you might continue hunting with them?”

  “Yeah, if they need me, but I’ll probably keep hunting with my mates too. I’ve asked dad if he can send through any hunts he thinks I can handle on my own or with my mates if he and Samson aren’t keen for them.”

  “So, what’s in the future for you and your mates?” Izzy asked.

  “Bounty hunting, lots of sex and adventures,” I stated, causing her to laugh softly.

  “What about a family?”

  “Maybe, sometimes, I think about it here and there. But it’s hard to know. There’s still so much I want to do, and children weigh you down,” I admitted.

  “Relax, when the time comes, you’ll know what you want. Just enjoy everything while you can and see where it all takes you,” Izzy said sweetly as she leaned back in her chair. “Any news on the kids at the institute?”

  “Dom has texted Tristan. Said they’re getting heaps better. Mr Oxley thinks we can come home now without any worries. He’s used his own magic to help out the most troubled ones, rewiring their brains, reminding them what it’s like to just be children.”

  “It sucks, poor things. I wonder what their lives were like with the Collector. Did they get to play? Or was it all just training like soldiers?” Izzy mused softly as she stared hard at the backyard, her brow furrowed.

  “No idea,” I murmured. It was something I wanted to ask Lucy when I returned. There were a few things I wanted to learn that she’d hopefully be able to help with.

  “I hope Lucy is coping. Must’ve been a huge change for her,” Izzy said softly.

  “Dom said she seems to be doing well too. Mr Oxley brought in another witch, some old woman Melinda recommended, Tessa. She’s started classes with the children, one-on-one teaching to suit their ages. Lucy is learning from her and assisting, and Dom handles art classes and such, along with meals,” I explained.

  It did sound like they were getting a good handle on things with the children. And I truly hoped the kids were happier now.

  And less volatile.

  “Will you be going home soon?”

  “Probably. Now that it’s safe and all. Besides, I don’t want to overstay my welcome either.”

  “Never! You’re family, you’re always welcome here,” Izzy assured me.

  “I know. But I think the boys want alone time with me properly again,” I hinted.

  I knew Tristan was looking forward to some dungeon action, and Wesley couldn’t get all aggressive while we were here.

  “Right,” Izzy snorted and shook her head. “Well, you can always come here and visit whenever you want. Once things are sorted with the Collector, we’ll come visit you too. The guys did enjoy being there last time, all lavish and nice,” she chuckled.

  “I bet. It was a huge change for me too,” I smirked. Living in the institute was definitely an upgrade, and I was still coming to terms with how I didn’t need to pay for anything. That still niggled at me a bit.

  “So, any news on your brother’s attempt to teach hunters about supes?”

  “He’s taking it slow. Starting with hunters he knows. If Thomas could be taught and converted, then it’s not that far-fetched of an idea. I hope he can at least enlighten some hunters,” I sighed. Jackson had checked in with me yesterday, and I’d updated him on what I was doing too.

  He was working with some old hunting friends of ours, who were starting to open up to the idea that there were two kinds of supes, just like people. The normal, and the criminal.

  “Be interesting to see how he goes with that.”

  “Yeah.” I had no idea what to expect by the end of it all. Maybe he’d actually be able to make a dent in things. But I wasn’t too optimistic. I knew he really hoped for the best, but we had to be realistic.

  Hunters were quite set in their ways.

  22

  I sprawled out on my bed, glad to be back home at the institute.

  I’d loved visiting my family, but it was starting to feel a bit too crowded. I liked having my own space and alone time, which I’d lacked while there.

  ‘They just wanted to be with you,’ Nate murmured from his room.

  We were all unpacking our bags and settling back in before we’d go down
to lunch with the children.

  Mr Oxley had suggested we have a meal with them, now that he was sure they were much better. He was certain we wouldn’t be potential triggers, and that their uncertainty and confusion had finally settled down. They knew right from wrong, and were no longer a risk to us.

  ‘Melinda left the warding on our hall though. Says it’ll still be going strong for a few weeks. Just to be certain,’ Wesley noted.

  I knew my mates were a bit skeptical. After all, it had only been a week really. But if Mr Oxley trusted them now, then so would I.

  ‘I’m not saying we shouldn’t believe him, but these are child soldiers,’ Damien grumbled.

  ‘Child soldiers trying to have normal lives,’ I shot back.

  A knock at my door had me groaning.

  Damien was probably coming to grumble about how we needed to be careful. Either that or Tristan was wanting to whisk me down to his dungeon for some much delayed fun.

  I smirked at the thought.

  ‘Oh, I wish, love, but I’m helping Dom set up the lunch,’ Tristan’s cool voice slipped into my mind.

  Great. But it wasn’t Damien either, considering his grumble about how he was going to enjoy some quiet time before lunch so he wasn’t the one at my door.

  I rose off the bed, marching over to the door and swinging it open, surprised to find Lucy there.

  “Hey Sav,” she gave me a small smile and wave.

  “Ah, hey,” I gave her a half smile in return.

  “Just wanted to welcome you back. Wanted to let you know the kids are coming along great, they’re acting more like children now. Also wanted to see how Izzy was doing too,” she said as she gave me a sheepish smile.

  “I’m glad they’re doing better. Why don’t you come in, there were some things I wanted to ask you anyway. And Izzy is good, she’s pregnant too, little girl,” I informed her.

  Lucy’s expression was mixed on this. She looked excited for Izzy, yet pained and worried all at once as she slipped into my room and I closed the door.

  Lucy stood awkwardly in my room, and I strode over to my bed and patted it invitingly.

  She joined me, perching on the edge as she folded her hands in her lap.

  “What’s wrong?” I questioned, arching a brow at her.

  “Nothing, guess it’s residual fear,” Lucy gave me a forced smile, but it fell. “Every time one of the female kitsunes fell pregnant, we knew it would get taken away.”

  “I’m sorry. That’s all over now, you’re safe here. The children are safe,” I assured her.

  “It’s not over until he’s really gone,” she murmured softly.

  “But Mr Oxley will keep you safe here. He’s a dragon after all. And the Collector is just a shell of his old self from what we’ve been told,” I informed her.

  “Right, a dragon. Declan spoke of a dragon he once had. Didn’t believe they even existed really until I saw the battle. So that was Mr Oxley. I did wonder if it was him, his aura is so unique,” she said softly, managing a more believable smile this time.

  “What was it like there, if you don’t mind me asking. For the kids and stuff?” I asked, making sure not to push her. I felt like she was so much more fragile now than the woman I’d first met there. All her walls had come crumbling down, revealing she was really just a scared woman trying to survive.

  “They weren’t treated like children at all. Their classes were all geared towards soldier related stuff, even as toddlers. No coloring in and standard play. I saw them drawing today, and they were so happy,” she said, her smile growing as she looked down at her hands. “They lived in close quarters, much like how it is here, so I think that’s good to help them adjust. But it was just constant training and drilling. Prepping them to become super soldiers. I do know that some of their carers were somewhat lenient, tried to let them have a little bit of fun and be kids. I rarely ever saw them, and I only saw Hannah on the odd occasion when Declan allowed it. I maybe saw Derek a handful of times since he was born,” she murmured, her face twisting in pain before she hid it away. “I was mostly for show, hanging off Declan’s arm and constantly being shown off. I played the part well, which gave me more luxuries. I adapted to the life I found myself in,” she stated.

  “But Derek and Hannah are warming up to you, aren’t they?” I checked.

  “Yeah, Hannah knows who I am, and she’s accepted me even more now. We’ve done a few things together, and she likes to sit with me at meals and talk to me. It’s nice, getting to know her. As for Derek, we’re getting somewhere. I think he’s finally understanding who I am to him. Just the other night, he climbed into my lap when I was reading to the children. I think a part of him knows who I am to him, has the child-to-parent bond somewhere. I’m glad he’s warming up to me. When I was at Declan’s, I really thought I’d never know my own son,” she sighed, her eyes glistening as she blinked back tears.

  “You had mates before you ended up there, right?”

  Her brow furrowed, and I could see her walls coming up as she smirked at me. “Yeah, I met my mates early. Travelled as a young teen, found all three mates. None of them were kitsunes, but I didn’t care,” she said with a shrug as she stood up.

  “Hey, I’m sorry for asking,” I said, noting how her whole demeanor had changed. Her barriers had slammed into place, like she’d realized just how vulnerable she’d allowed herself to become around me.

  “Don’t be. It’s life, you take the hard blows and carry on,” she stated with a harsh smile. “I lost my mates when Declan found me, and I’ve come to terms with that. Now, if you don’t mind, I need to get back to the children and make sure they’re ready for lunch. Sorry for dumping my shit on you, I shouldn’t have done that. I won’t let it happen again,” she growled as she spun away.

  Wow, talk about a 180.

  I didn’t know what to say as she strode out, and I cursed inwardly at pushing her too far. I’d try to make things right once she’d cooled off later.

  Clearly, her mates were a touchy subject. She probably only had them for a few years at most before they were taken from her. Murdered. By Declan.

  My blood boiled at that, but then sadness washed over me.

  Poor Lucy.

  If I lost my mates…

  Just the thought made my chest tighten and my throat constrict.

  It’d kill me. How she continued on was beyond me.

  She was stronger than she thought.

  I sat up, clearing my throat and pushing away my worries.

  Nothing could be done about it now.

  Best to just head down to lunch.

  Lunch was a wonderful array of fresh fruits and grilled sandwiches with some lemon and custard tarts for dessert.

  The children spoke to us, and seeing them so carefree and laughing with one another made me relax. They really had come a long way in the past week.

  The playground had been built, and I met Tessa, a middle-aged woman with a short black pixie cut and slender frame. Hell, pixie was the perfect work to describe her cherub face and bright demeanor. And the kids seemed to like her too. She was teaching them, having come from a teaching background already, and she spoke animatedly to me about how they were doing so well, learning quickly and becoming like children again.

  They had playtime outside on the playground a few times each day, and she doted on each child, telling me their strengths and how each one had improved in certain areas.

  I could feel Damien staring at her, trying to understand how someone could be so utterly excited and happy of strangers’ kids.

  I couldn’t help but smile as she spoke, her enthusiasm and excitement rubbing off.

  Lucy seemed to have relaxed, and Hannah was sitting by her with some homework, asking for help.

  Hannah was apparently very academic, and studied hard. She enjoyed all her schoolwork according to Tessa, whom they called Miss Quinn, since they were asking her questions about what today would bring after lunch.

  Lucy shot me a small
smile as she helped Hannah do some homework, and I relaxed a bit. Perhaps she felt bad for getting so defensive earlier. I’d try to catch her after lunch and see if I could clear the air with her.

  ‘Being a widow would take its toll. And raising children whose father probably raped her isn’t the easiest I’d imagine,’ Leon pointed out.

  Right, I’d completely glossed over how the two children were probably conceived. Poor Lucy.

  And yet, the way she looked at her two children, smiling over at Derek who even returned it before focusing on his conversation with one of the other children, made me think she didn’t care about that.

  She just loved them anyway, no matter who the father was. She was their mother, and that was all that mattered.

  Tristan sat next to Dom, who seemed glad to have him back. I’d noticed he’d painted his nails too, and they were damn good.

  “Nice nails,” I said softly as I leaned over Tristan on my right.

  Dom arched a brow at me as he gave me a small smile.

  “Be up for helping a girl do hers? I’ve always wanted to try it,” I asked. It wasn’t a lie, I’d never spent much time doing my nails. The few times I had, they’d chipped quickly while hunting, and I’d stopped doing it.

  Dom’s were stylish, looking rather professionally painted.

  He looked surprised by this, but his smile widened as he relaxed. “Sure.”

  Tristan’s mouth quirked up, and his adoration and love for me washed through me.

  He loved that I was okay with Dom and trying to better our relationship.

  I did feel like Dom and I had broken through quite a few of our barriers, and the only way now was up.

  I focused back on my meal, flicking my eyes to where Wes was discussing with one of the kids some Pokemon stuff. Apparently Pokemon cards were among their toys, and Wes was saying how he’d introduce him to the actual games on his DS later. This spurred a lot of interest from all the kids, and my mates and I decided to all chip in and buy them the consoles and a selection of games each.

  This resulted in a planned outing this afternoon to the game shop in town, accompanied by everyone. Even Mr Oxley volunteered to come, and Melinda begrudgingly agreed from her seat beside him. Although, I knew she was more bluffing with her gruffness considering the other little girl seemed to be fond of her and was sitting beside her and asking her questions. And Melinda did soften when the little girl spoke.