Page 49 of Rurik
Charlotte’s cheeks pinkened. She laughed nervously. “Uh… Not as fun as it sounds, I can tell you that. But the women hunters are prettybadass.”
“That sounds fun.” Rurik chuckled. “I’ll be keeping you away from all of that danger from now on,” Rurik told herimperiously.
“Excuse me? I just escaped two overly controlling brothers. I’m not going to wind up with an overly controlling lover.” Charlotte snorted at Rurik’s shockedexpression.
“I suspect Grigori and Mikhail will be the same way, especially if they have daughters.” Madelyn touched her stomach and gave Grigori a knowingsmile.
Grigori quirked a brow. “You’re only having sons. Daughters would give me gray hairs a thousand years tooearly.”
“Stock up on hair dye,” Madelyn said, grinning. “I’ve been dreaming about a girl. I think that’s asign.”
“Fine, have a daughter and watch me age, woman. See if I care,” Grigori replied, hiding a smirk as he reached for hiswine.
For the rest of the meal, Rurik held Charlotte’s hand beneath the table. He could see how it could be…the rest of their lives, full of family, laughter, and love. He was in love with Charlotte, and it made him afraid and excited all atonce.
“Well, I think we should leave the new mates alone,” Madelyn said. “I recall being unable to focus on much else when we first bonded. In fact, we still have trouble focusing, and it’s been fourmonths.”
“We should let them be alone,” Mikhail agreed, nodding to Charlotte. “You’re all right for a mortal, even if your brothersareMacQueens.” He reached for Piper’s hand, and they joined Grigori and Madelyn. They soon made their farewells at the door, and the two were finally aloneagain.
Rurik kissed her cheek and gave her waist a little squeeze. “See, you survived my brothers afterall.”
“They are pretty scary.” She ducked her head sheepishly as she admittedthis.
“Yes, but they understand what it means to be mated. It doesn’t matter that you come from the MacQueen bloodline—all that matters is that you’re one of usnow.”
“Am I?” She wrinkled her nose. “I’m not a thunderbird like Madelyn, and I didn’t become a dragon like Piper. I’m just me…Charlotte. There’s nothing special about me. I’mnot—”
Rurik spun her to face him. “How can you say that? Youarespecial. You’re everything to me. You’re a precious gift.” He hugged her fiercely, holding her close, suddenly afraid she would vanish if he let go. When she curled her arms around his neck, he relaxed alittle.
“Do you trust me, little one?” heasked.
He felt her nod against hischest.
“Good. Now why don’t we go to your hotel room and find that vial. The sooner it is in our hands, the more comfortable my brothers will feel. Then we will come back here, and I’ll feed you a sinful dessert and make love to you by the fire, though not necessarily in thatorder.”
Charlotte’s shy smile made him feel like a god. “That soundswonderful.”
“Then grab your coat.” He kissed her again before they headed for thedoor.
They rode his motorcycle to the hotel and walked into the lobby. Workers were putting up new glass in the front windows of the hotel. It was an awful reminder of how close he had been to losing her, and he hadn’t even known then that she was hismate.
“I had a wonderful time today,” Charlotte said as they got into theelevator.
“Me too.” It’d been years since he’d done something for pleasure besides bed a woman, but today had been different. He had visited his past and had done so with his mate, and it hadn’t been as painful as he’d expected. He’d enjoyed sharing the past with her and looked forward to sharing afuture.
When they reached Charlotte’s room, she caught him, curling her arms around his neck and kissing him deeply, then opened her hotel room door like it was an invitation. His chest was oddly tight, and her kiss had left him dizzy and excited in a way he’d never felt before. Damn, mating wasexactlylike everything he’d dreamed it would be—andmore.
Charlotte flicked on the lights in the room. A sudden flash of movement was his only warning. Rurik grabbed Charlotte and shoved her to the ground, covering her with his body. Thephft!of a silencer cut through the chaos, and his ears picked it up between the shouted commands. He groaned as a wave of nausea hithim.
“Charlotte—run—” he gasped, rolling off her as he clutched his neck. He pulled out a dart as he leaned against the wall by the door. His vision spun, and he saw Charlotte getting to her knees, heard her calling his name as two men dressed in black grabbed her, dragging her away from him. Whatever was in the dart packed a hell of a punch, and the dart had a pure irontip.
“Run…” he said breathlessly before he slumped to the floor and knew nomore.
* * *
Charlotte screamedand lunged for her mate but two men pulled her away from Rurik. He collapsed, a red dart falling from his fingertips to thefloor.
“Secure him!” a man shouted. The voice was familiar,but…
