Amber leaned up and kissed his lips. “Just don’t give up on me, Lux. I can take anything you want to do, just don’t turn to anyone else, please,” she begged, knowing he could read her uncertainty.

  He released her hands and hugged her. “Amber, we will never seek anyone else. We don’t need anyone else, just you. Always. All you have to do is look inside us and see that.” He lifted her chin, and gazed into her face.

  “Thank you for believing in me, Lux, and not giving up.” She laid her head on his chest, hugging him tight.

  He stepped back and cupped her cheek. “Take your bath, sweetheart. We have a busy night ahead of us.” Lux turned and closed the door, as she turned on the water. “Damn, forgot the headphones.” She turned to see Otis peek in and hand her the headphones. She smiled. “This joining thing is sweet.” She laughed as Otis nipped at her neck, as he held her.

  “Your favorite bubble bath is on the counter.” He kissed her nose and left. She slipped on the headphones and grabbed the bubble bath. “Yep, I’m going to like this.” She stepped into the warm water pouring the rose scented soap into the tub.

  Amber lay in the water for an hour, washing her body and hair, and singing her songs, when Lux stepped into the room and smiled at her.

  “Dinner’s here, baby. You’re going to shrivel up if you stay in there any longer.” He held out a large bath towel, and she stepped out of the tub. He wrapped the towel around her, taking the headphones off her head and drying her hair.

  “Mila, Ben, Jack, Belinda, and Cassy are all here now. So far Teddy has half the pack’s women and children already in one plane. They’ll take off first from here in a few hours. Our plane will be leaving an hour after theirs.” He turned and took her dress from Liam, who stood in the doorway smiling at her.

  She smiled back. “Are you going to be taking care of me like this from now on?”

  Lux slid the dress over her body and kissed her nose. “Yes, we are. We’re very good at taking care of what’s ours.” His voice deepened and sent a shiver down her spine.

  He wrapped his arm around her and escorted her out into the front room. A buffet had been set up, and she watched while Belinda and Jack piled food onto their plates. She stopped and gazed at the elevator door. Her hand went to her throat.

  Lux stepped in front of her as Liam and Otis stood beside her. “Jack, Ben, take the women to our room, now,” Lux ordered as Jack and Ben pushed Mila, Cassy, and Belinda into the room.

  “I don’t want to see him, Lux.” She turned and ran into the room, straight into Mila’s arms. Otis closed the bedroom door as the elevator opened.

  Chapter Twelve

  Lux sat on the sofa and watched as Mr. Black and Guy stepped into their room, followed by his guards. Liam and Otis stood by the bedroom door, guarding it, along with two other guards.

  “Mr. Black, what can I do for you?” He ignored her father, trying to control their new power. He wouldn’t let them know what they had done.

  Guy stepped forward, but Mr. Black halted him. His gaze never left Lux’s. “I believe we have had a misunderstanding here. I was hoping we could sit down and see if we can work out this problem.”

  Lux nodded to Guy. “As long as that man is beside you, there will be no talks. He is no longer part of our family and never will be again. Next time I see him, I’ll kill him, so I suggest you send him back downstairs and keep him away from me. If you want to talk after he’s gone, fine, but I won’t expose my mate to him anymore.”

  Lux heard Amber’s cry from the bedroom and jumped off the couch, snarling. “He has two minutes to get out.” He glared at Otis who was supposed to be shielding Amber from their thoughts.

  Guy’s beast broke loose, and stepped forward, but Black didn’t allow it. Power surged in the room as Black forced Guy’s beast back into his body. “Leave now. You will not step foot in here again. You’ve done enough damage as it is,” he ordered, shoving Guy into the elevator. “My guard’s downstairs will escort you to your room. You will stay there until further notice,” he ordered as the elevator door closed.

  Otis stepped up to Lux and lowered his head. “I’m sorry, Lux. I was paying attention to Guy when his thoughts pushed through my block.”

  Lux nodded. “We all make mistakes, Otis. Go see how she’s doing. We’ll handle this.” He pulled Otis into his embrace, kissed his lips hard, and released him. Mr. Black sat in the chair opposite and studied him.

  “You going to tell me what that was about? How was it possible for Guy to hurt Amber when she wasn’t even in the room, and why have you threatened her father? You know the penalty for this.”

  Lux smiled and sat down on the couch. “What I tell you stays here. You have people on the Council that are planning a war, and Guy is right in the middle of it with them.” He stopped as the door to the bedroom opened and Amber strolled out, ignoring Otis and Liam.

  He shook his head and pulled her into his arms. “You were supposed to stay in the room, Amber.” He nipped her neck. “If you’re threatened, so am I.” she said with a little nervousness to her. Her eyes were swollen and red from her crying, but Amber wasn’t about to back down.

  She turned her gaze to Mr. Black.

  “No, Amber!” He grabbed her, but it was too late. She sent Mr. Black the images of what she had seen in Guy’s mind.

  Mr. Black fell back in the chair and then jumped up in beast form. Lux shoved her behind him as Liam and Otis came beside him to protect her. “She doesn’t know how to use her powers. Please forgive us. She was trying to protect me.” Lux growled waiting to see what the other man would do.

  Mr. Black smiled and righted the chair, sitting back down in it. The beast was gone as he stared at the three of them. “We have big problems and I have no idea who to trust now. If I destroy Guy, the others helping him or controlling him will go deep, and we won’t know when they are going to strike.” He waved his hand.

  “Sit, Lux. I’m not going to attack. It was a jolt, that’s for sure, but she did it to protect you.” He smiled. “I’m afraid my wife would do the same, even though I’ve tanned her ass a number of times for putting herself in danger. I guess it’s a woman thing. Who knows?” He grinned at Amber as Lux sat down and pulled her into his arms.

  Lux nodded. “You have two that I know of here you can trust. Amber, can you show him who they are without such force?” He rubbed her back, as she nodded.

  Black sighed. “The other two with me?” He asked, frowning.

  Amber shrugged. “They hid their thoughts, but the one man ... Jerkins, I believe his name was. The one with the tattoo on his hand?”

  Black nodded for her to go on.

  “He has some involvement with the snake people and he was also involved in ...” Fresh tears slipped down her face.

  Lux pulled her back and wiped the tears. “He was there when my brother was killed. It seems Guy told him where he would be. When this is over, Black, Guy is mine.”

  He stood and paced the room. “So, more or less, I can only trust three of the Council members that I’ve brought. That leaves eight others I have no idea about at home. There has to be a way for me to find out ...” He stopped and glanced at Amber.

  “No! She is not going near any of your Council. I won’t risk her life, or that of our children.” Lux stood and growled.

  “Could she do it from another room? The other eight are arriving here tonight to meet with these freaks. It took them longer to get here since they are flying in from all around the world. Lux, if I can at least know who I can trust, we can monitor the rest of them.”

  Amber’s small hand wrapped around his wrist. “Lux, it’s the least I can do. We need to know who will be coming after us. You could have them come up here, and I can be in the bedroom. Liam or Otis can be in the room with me.”

  Lux glanced into her eyes. “Amber, you know what’s going to happen if one of them is evil. Look at what happened tonight.”

  She gazed down at the floor. “That’s because I saw something else from him.” She turned to go into the bedroom, but he grabbed her and pulled her into his arms. He lifted her chin and studied her. “You’re blocking something from us, why?” She trembled and her lip quivered.

  “It’s from the time I was sixteen.” She released the image and crumbled in his arms. “He watched them rape me, Lux, and did nothing.” Amber cried. “I had no father or mother.”

  Mila came into the room, followed by everyone else. She kneeled next to her and pulled her face towards her. “You are my daughter, and Ben is your father. If it makes you feel any better, there is a ritual we can do to make it real. It won’t change who you are, or effect you, or the babies. All it will do is connect us, as a parent feel connected to his child. It will also break your connection to your father. Right now, you have a blood bond with your father ...”

  Mila turned to look at Lux. “He could use that against her, Lux. This ritual will erase it, but give Ben and I parental attachment. It will also help protect her somewhat.”

  “Damn, I forgot about the blood bond, and he’s been doing research on it too. He wanted to know why some couples couldn’t bond with their children.” Mr. Black growled. “And I just gave him the tool.”

  Lux glanced at Amber. “This is up to you, Amber. Liam, Otis, and I will protect you the best we can, but if this will protect you further, I think you should consider it.”

  He kissed her cheek. “Mila is already your mother in your heart and Ben is also there.”

  Amber wrapped her arms around Mila. “I would be proud to call you ‘Mom’.” She

  laughed. “Well, I already do.”

  She got up and walked to Ben. “Are you sure? You already have such a big family I don’t want to add more problems to it.” She lowered her head.

  Ben glanced at him, and Lux saw the love there on his face. She was so vulnerable right now. He smiled and pulled her into his arms. “You don’t need to ask, daughter. Ever since Teddy found you in the woods, you’ve been part of our family. You have done all of us proud, and I’m sure the rest of the family will agree.”

  Mila turned to him. “I’m going to do the ritual now, Lux. I don’t like the fact he’s playing with things he knows nothing about. Also, when we do the ritual, the three of you are going to feel it. In a way, you will also be our family. It won’t take away from your parents. We’ll just be able to enhance to mother nature’s way of letting her children know they’re our children.”

  She turned and frowned at Mr. Black. “I’m afraid Guy’s going to know the instant it’s done. So be prepared, and have him watched. Even though he won’t be able to do anything, he’s going to be desperate.”

  Black nodded. “Hold on, let me call one of the Council members that we know I can trust and have him watch Guy. When this is done, take her into the next room. I can feel three of the eight here in the hotel now. I’ll have them come up to meet me here. Is that okay?” He glanced at Lux and Liam.

  Lux looked over at Liam, and he nodded. “I’ll be in the room with her and Otis.

  We won’t let anyone hurt her.” Liam growled.

  “Mila, do it now, please,” Amber begged.

  * * *

  Ben pulled Amber to the center of the room and held her hand as Mila took her other hand. She glanced up at Lux, and he winked at her, making her smile.

  “Mother Nature, here our plea. Let this daughter of the heart join our family and take her out of his way of harm. We pledge our faith, love, and hearts to her and to you. Guide us and protect us from the evil that surrounds this child, a gift from you only. As all children should be cherished, this one has known nothing but pain. Let her see the light and be happy for once in the life you have given her,” Mila sang.

  The balcony door blew open, wind surrounded them, and embraced them. Amber’s blood chilled, and she would have fallen if Ben hadn’t wrapped his arm around her. As soon as her blood chilled, though, it warmed. Wolves in the distance cried, cats screamed, and birds awoke, singing to them.

  She jerked her head up, glancing out at the balcony door. Her father’s scream of denial and promise of retribution shook the room. Amber whipped her head towards

  Lux. “Helena and Sam, Lux.”

  Mr. Black ran for the elevator. “They’re busting the door down now. We’ll get them. But we can’t bring them here, just in case. Until this is over, they will be protected and guarded. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He pushed the button and descended to Guy’s room.

  “It will be okay, Amber. They’ll protect her.” Ben hugged her. “Can you feel the connection to your brothers? Teddy is cussing up a storm right now. He was on a ladder trying to get something down for an older couple when we did this. Needless to say, he fell flat on his ass.” Ben laughed with Mila.

  Cassy busted out laughing. “Good, maybe he’ll know a little pain in the ass for once.” She grinned and came up to Amber, hugging her. “We better get in the bedroom before the others get here.” She tried to pull her into the room, but Amber wanted to talk to her mates alone.

  “Go on Cassy, take Mom and Dad. I want to talk to my mates for a minute.” Cassy nodded as Ben escorted Cassy, Jack, and Belinda back into the bedroom. Mila smiled up at her. “She’s given you something, hasn’t she?” Mila asked, a twinkle in her eye.

  Amber laughed and nodded. “I need to talk to them about it.” Mila patted her arm and walked into the bedroom, as her mates surrounded her touching her.

  “Okay, what did you get and from whom?” Otis asked, eyeing her.

  Amber giggled as they frowned at her. “Mother Nature of course, but she didn’t only give me the gift. You three now have it too. Look inside and see.” She stepped back and watched.

  Lux gazed at her, then looked down at himself, black fur rippled over his skin, but it wasn’t a wolf that formed. His gaze shot to her. “A bear?”

  She glanced at Liam who started to shift into a panther. “A cat.” Amber laughed and nodded, and then glanced at Otis.

  Feathers replaced skin, and he transformed into an eagle. All three of them gazed at her and shifted back.

  “We can all shift into the four animals now, when the need arises.” She frowned and glanced down at the floor.

  Lux stepped up to her. “What?”

  A single tear slipped down her cheek. “She told me the ground will shake and to be prepared. That there will be tough times ahead, but in the end, we will survive. She warned me that many will die over the next ten years, and when this is over, things will be different for our kind. Guy is no longer with us either.”

  “What do you mean Guy is no longer with us?” Liam wrapped his arm around her and lifted her chin.

  “She took him. That was the scream we heard. He will suffer much until she is done with him. He won’t be hurting me anymore.”

  The elevator dinged, announcing someone’s arrival. Lux pushed her through the bedroom door. “We’ll talk about this later. Keep our gift a secret, Amber. We might need it later,” Lux said, as Liam and Otis closed the door behind them.

  Liam grabbed her and placed her in the chair. “I’m going to be right with you, Amber. Concentrate on me. Otis will be there too, watching, just in case something happens. We’ll see what you see.” He kneeled on one side of her while Otis kneeled on the other. Each of them held one of her hands.

  Amber closed her eyes and blocked everyone out of her mind as she concentrated on the other room. She could see Mr. Black, Lux, and three others and one woman, Sara. She was expecting a child too. She smiled and nodded. She was fine. Amber turned to the men in the room. Sara’s husband was a strong psychic and recognized her immediately. Liam squeezed her hand but she shook her head and relaxed as he allowed her access. She grinned and thanked him.

  Liam growled next to her, but she concentrated on the next male, which caused her to suck in her breath.

  Go to the next. We have all we need to know. Liam pushed her away from that one, and she moved to the next man. His mind was blocked from her until she heard. You risk death for this intrusion, little one, but come see what you must. He opened his mind and she gasped. He was clean, but powerful, almost as powerful as Lux. He laughed. We are equal in some areas, but you are right, your man is a powerful one and I’m glad he’s on our side.

  Amber shook her head and glanced down at Liam and Otis, who snarled and stood up. “I swear, I don’t know if it’s worse having a man look at you, or flirt with you in your mind,” he snapped.

  She laughed and tugged on his hand. “Liam, you know I’m yours and only yours.”

  He turned his gaze on her and grinned. “Yep, sure do, and if you ever think a man is cute, like you just did, I’m going to show you how much you are ours. Didn’t you hear

  Lux’s growl.” He laughed. “You’re in so much trouble.”

  “Hey, I can look as long as I don’t touch. You guys look. Don’t think I didn’t catch Lux staring at Sara out there,” she snarled.

  Mila laughed behind her. “She has a point, Liam.”

  “Mr. Black has sent the one man downstairs to wait for the other five. He wants us to come out,” Liam said, but Amber was already walking out of the bedroom.

  “Damn it, Amber, wait for us,” Liam snapped behind her.

  “Well, get moving, slow poke.” She yelled over her shoulder and ran straight into Lux’s wide chest. He wrapped his arms around her.

  And I wasn’t looking at her as a man looks at a female. I was seeing how far along she was.

  “Like I believe that. Now, move, so I can meet our guests.” She smacked his chest, but he didn’t budge.

  The guy who talked to her in her mind coughed, and her face heated. “Damn it

  Lux, you’re embarrassing me.”

  He growled and picked her up, moving into the bathroom with her. “Why would you be embarrassed? It doesn’t matter what any male thinks, just us,” he snapped, pushing her up against the bathroom wall and slamming the door.