Amber frowned and stared into his eyes. Anger and jealousy surged through him. “Lux, look at me. Really look at me. I love you, Lux, only you, Liam, and Otis. No other man interests me. I was embarrassed because well ... I was picturing your cock and thinking no man was bigger. He kind of saw that.” She ducked her head as he laughed and set her down on the ground.

  “Oh baby, you are too much. So, you think I have a big cock?” He rubbed it against her and captured her mouth. His tongue pushed into her mouth, dueling with hers, while his hand squeezed her breasts, teasing her.

  “Um, excuse me, but I have to use the bathroom.” Cassy poked her head in.

  Amber laughed as Lux growled. “I can’t wait until tonight in our own bed.” He pushed her into the living room.

  Liam, Otis, and the three Council members talked while Sara picked at the buffet table. Amber rubbed her stomach, remembering she hadn’t eaten yet and headed straight for the table.

  “Hi. My name is Amber. Mind if I pick at the food with you. I’m starving.” Amber got a plate and started piling on the food.

  Sara glanced at her husband, who nodded. “Hi, I’m Sara. I’m afraid I’m always hungry lately,” she laughed.

  Amber laughed too. “I’m afraid you’re not the only one. You just can’t tell yet.”

  She laughed as Liam came up to her and put another piece of ham on her plate. She rolled her eyes and Sara laughed.

  Mr. Black walked over to her with two other gentlemen. One wrapped his arm around Sara. “Amber this is Daniel, Sara’s mate. They are from our European division. And this man next to him is Clayton, he is from our Southern division.”

  Amber smiled and reached out to shake his hand, but Lux pulled her back into his arms. She smiled and rolled her eyes again, sending Sara into giggles.

  Clayton smiled and nodded to Lux. “I take it there is a reason your mate was trying to probe our minds?” he asked.

  She fidgeted in Lux’s arms and glanced down at the ground. Damn.

  Lux’s arms tightened around her, and he scraped his teeth across her neck. “We were asked by Black to help him. It seems you have traitors in the Council. So far, Amber has spotted four, but one is gone and won’t be back.” Lux confronted the other man.

  Amber sighed. “Lux, enough, for Pete’s sake! I’m not going to fuck him. Give it a rest, will you. Jeez.” She ducked under his arms, balancing her plate and walking over to the couch, plopping down on it. She stabbed the piece of ham and took a bite, glancing up. Everyone stared at her.

  “What? Don’t give me that look. I mean. Come on. You look at women all the time. So what if I look at a man? But no man holds my heart in his hands as you three do, and never will, Lux. You know this.” She sighed and put her plate on the table, suddenly not hungry anymore. “Others are coming. I can feel them, Liam!” She grabbed her stomach and ran towards the bathroom.

  “Son of a bitch. I knew this was a bad idea.” Lux yelled.

  “Stay. We’ll go. Just keep them out of here.” Liam yelled, shutting the bedroom door.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Lux turned and snarled at Black. “I told you this wasn’t a good idea. Damn it.”

  Clayton frowned and stepped in front of him. “What’s going on?”

  I’m fine, Lux. Please, you’re the only ones I want. Don’t let this hinder you. I love you. Amber was crying, and he could see her tears.

  He sighed and turned to the elevator. “Every time she’s close to something evil, it affects her. Her father, the snake people, that’s how we found out she could read others from a distance. It seems more of your Council men are coming and one of them is bad enough to make her sick. The only one who did that before was her father, and he won’t be bothering us anymore.”

  Black stepped in front of him. “What do you know about his disappearance?”

  Lux glared at him. “He didn’t disappear. She took him for what he did to Amber.”

  Black laughed. “There is no woman powerful enough to take him. Who are you protecting?”

  Lux laughed and then the balcony doors blew open again. Mr. Black glanced at the doors, and then back at Lux.

  “Amber is Mother Nature’s daughter, and she is protecting her. Be careful, Black.

  She watches her now, as we all do,” Lux said.

  The elevator’s doors opened, and five other Council members stepped into the

  room. Lux knew instantly which one had made his mate sick. His hair was slicked back, and he was wearing a two thousand dollar suit. His aura was black as night, death. Clayton moved next to him and nodded, as did Daniel and Blackwell. All five members stopped in front of them frowning.

  Lux, he’s got her and we can’t stop him! Liam yelled! Lux shifted ready to attack, but he didn’t get the chance. A bright green light entered the room and hovered in front of the man. He hissed and screamed as his body snapped in half, disappearing from the room.

  The green light shifted, turning into a beautiful woman. She nodded to Lux and glanced at the others in the room.

  This room is clean from filth. Lux, your mate will be fine, but there are many others still out there who will attack. I’ve helped where I could, taking the worst from your world. That is all I’m allowed to do. The rest is up to you. She nodded to everyone in the room. Choose rightly. We will be watching.

  Lux stood there as she shifted, once more going straight through his body. He threw his head back and roared as heat surged through him. One minute he was on fire and the next, nothing. He shook his head and gazed around the room.

  Mr. Black and the others stood there, just gazing at him.

  “Now, do you believe me?”

  The doors to the bedroom opened and Mila helped Amber out of the room. Liam stood next to her, holding her up.

  He rushed to her side and cupped her cheek. “Are you okay?” She smiled and

  nodded to him.

  “Just a little weak, but I’ll be fine. So, what did she give you?” Amber squeaked all excited. Mila laughed and Liam shook his head.

  Mr. Black walked up to them and stared at them. “She gave you something?”

  “Oops, sorry.” Amber ducked her head and tried to pull out of their arms, but Liam held her tight.

  “Oh, no, you don’t. If you want to sit down, I’ll carry you.” Liam nodded to Mila, who stepped back as Liam picked Amber up in his arms and carried her to the couch. “While you’re sitting there, eat your food. We leave here in an hour,” Liam ordered, as Otis came and sat next to her.

  “Well, what did she give you?” Mr. Black asked again, as the other members crowded around him and waited.

  Lux sighed and shifted into a bear, than back again. Mr. Black’s gaze grew large and he stepped back. “You can shift to other animals?”

  Lux nodded and walked over to his mate, sitting on the arm of the couch, stuffing a piece of turkey into her mouth. “I’d like this kept here in this room. As you’ve heard, she’s watching, and she has given me these powers for a reason, so choose wisely if you tell someone.”

  They all nodded, as Clayton studied him and then turned his attention to his mate.

  “So, the two Council members downstairs are traitors?” he asked.

  “Yes. One of them is connected to the snake people just as my father was,” replied Amber. “I don’t know how, but they are getting ready for war. They have started attacking humans and transforming them.”

  Lux glared down at her. “You never told us that?”

  She stuck her tongue out at him. “I read it from that ...” she shivered. “Man.” She glanced up at Mr. Black. “They’re going to attack your offices in New York tonight, Mr. Black. I don’t know if they will attack the others, but I know for sure on the New York one, at midnight.”

  Mr. Black glanced at his watch and snapped his phone open, shouting into it. The others followed suit.

  “Lux, I want to go home. I don’t feel safe here anymore.” She shook as Jack and Belinda nodded.

  “I feel it too. We need to leave now,” Mila whispered.

  Lux stood and gathered her into his arms. “Liam, Otis, let’s go. We move now, but out the balcony everyone. We’re up high, but we can make the jump. Liam, have Ralph meet us down the street. We’ll stick to the woods for now until were sure.”

  Lux turned to Amber. “I’m sorry we’re going to have to leave everything.”

  She smiled, shifting to her beast. “That’s okay. You’re going to have to open a store just for me.” Amber laughed, flinging open the doors ready to jump, but he grabbed her.

  “So help me, I’m going to tan your ass when we get on that plane. You wait for us!” He snapped, shifting as everyone else did as well. He jumped first with Liam and scanned the area. Move it, Otis. They’re coming up on the sides now. If we’re going to make it, we have to go now.

  He glanced up to see Amber, Mila, Ben, Cassy, Jack, and Belinda jump. Otis followed them down. Where are the Council members? Lux questioned.

  Clayton, Dennis and Sara are coming up behind us, but the others went to get the women out and will meet us at the airport.

  Lux ran beside Amber, who nipped at the snow, grinning like a fool. You do know there are people after us?

  Yep, but they won’t get us. They are kind of busy right now. She turned her gaze on him and laughed.

  Mila and Ben laughed, slowing the pace. The guards surrounded them on all sides. They knew something was happening and it was really starting to piss him off.

  “What the hell did you do?” He growled, and nipped at her.

  She yelped and glared at him. “I just put them in bubbles, like I did with Cassy that night. Jeez. It will wear off soon.” They stopped and waited in the woods as two limos pulled up and flashed their lights.

  Lux nodded to Liam and they pushed Amber towards the limos as everyone followed them. She crawled in and went to the opposite end of the limo, glancing out the window.

  He sighed and picked her up, putting her in his lap. “How could you use that much energy?”

  She shrugged. “I just borrowed a little from you, Liam, and Otis. Not enough to harm anyone.”

  “You did what?” Liam asked, sitting across from her. “What if we needed that energy for an attack, Amber? Why didn’t you just ask?” Liam snarled.

  She turned her gaze on him. “I’ve asked to help before, and you ignored me. I can do things, but you still ignore me. I did this to buy Mr. Black some time to get his wife out. Excuse me for caring,” Amber snapped.

  “Damn it, Amber! What if they traced the power source back to you?” Liam reached over and shook her. “You’re not the only one with powers, as you’ve seen.” He nodded to Clayton and Dennis.

  Lux flinched as he felt her shut the doors to their connection. She leaned her head against the window and stared out, not saying anything.

  “Amber, don’t shut us out. How are we supposed to help you, if you close the doors?” Lux adjusted her on his lap and turned her to look into his gaze. “Please,

  Amber.”

  She laid her head down on his chest and closed her eyes, opening the door once more. He sucked in his breath. Her hurt, pain, and rejection hit them hard.

  He kissed her forehead. “Amber, just because we don’t want you to put yourself in danger, doesn’t mean we are rejecting you. You’ve helped us more than you know. We now know who to watch. You know how many lives you saved tonight by informing the Council about the attacks?”

  Lifting her head, she stared into his gaze. “I just hate standing on the sidelines, Lux, when I know I can help you. Every time there is a threat to you, it’s like someone is drilling a hole in my heart. When the three of you left yesterday to take care of those people, don’t you think I was scared, worrying about you? If it hadn’t been for Helena distracting me, I would have gone nuts.” She grabbed his shirt and hung tight. “I can’t lose you three, so if I do this little thing to give us more time, it’s just my way to protect what’s important to me.”

  Lux stared at Liam, and he shook his head. “Come here, Amber.” Liam reached over and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry I yelled. I guess we’re all going to have to get used to this, but please ask us before you do anything. We can help. If we’re going to survive, we have to do this together?” He kissed her lips and she nodded.

  Lux glanced at Ralph. “Did we get the first plane out?”

  Ralph smiled. “Actually, we got two planes out. Teddy moves quickly. He called and will be meeting us at the airport with the last of his clan. I’ve also called in my clan. With all of us ready, we should be set for an attack, but notice I said should be. They’ve been planning this for years. God knows how many men they have or, for that matter, how many spies we have in our own clans.” He looked at Amber and sighed. “I hate to say it, but she is going to be the key to our success here.”

  Lux growled. “I don’t want her in the middle of this Ralph, damn it. She’s been through enough and she carries our babies.”

  She thought of the child that was gone. I’m sorry, Lux, I couldn’t save him. Her soft whisper caressed him and he glanced at her. Fresh tears slipped down her face. “I’ll protect them, I promise.”

  “May I make a suggestion?” Clayton asked, from the other side of the limo.

  Lux studied the man. He was powerful. Amber was right about that.

  “Any help would be appreciated.”

  Clayton smiled. “There are a number of us who are psychic in the clans. What if we could form a connection—a separate one just for us—that way we could relay information back and forth. Also, Amber wouldn’t have to be there in the room. She could channel through us, so no one would know. Of course you three would also be monitoring this, but this way she would be protected, and we would have the element of surprise on our side.”

  Lux sat back and stared at Amber. It meant a lot of emotional work for her. He glanced at Liam and Otis. They both frowned.

  I can do this, Lux, Liam, Otis, with your help. She held his gaze. We could do it as a team.

  He smiled and shook his head. Liam, Otis, what do you think?

  “I don’t mind, as long as it doesn’t harm the children. As soon as we see it is affecting her we stop.” Liam smiled and kissed her head. “As a team.”

  Otis nodded. “Agreed. It might even keep her out of trouble.” He smirked, as she kicked him. “Hey, I was just kidding.”

  Lux laughed and turned to Clayton. “I take it you already have a connection to most of the psychics in the clans since that is your area of specialty?”

  He nodded and glanced at Amber. “Yes, I have a connection with Amber from the mind probe earlier, but I don’t want to use that. It would trace everything right back to her. I want to make the connection through you, that way you’ll be able to buffer whatever we have to deal with, and it won’t drain her as much.”

  The limo pulled to a stop at the private field and Lux stepped out, scanning the grounds. “Let’s go. It’s all clear and it looks like Teddy is already here.” He pulled Amber out of the limo and wrapped his arm around her. Liam took her other side, and Otis protected their back. Ben and Jack stepped out of the limo behind them, helping the women out and followed them to the jet. The Council’s jet was next to Ralph’s and was ready to go. He glanced at Clayton, who walked next to him.

  “You coming with us or are you going to New York?” He nodded to the Council plane.

  Clayton laughed. “Dennis and I will be coming with you. Black wants us with you since we already have a connection. Plus, Sara will be safer with so many, and Dennis is worried about her and the baby. I think having Amber near her will help with some of the stress. Don’t worry, Lux. I won’t create too much havoc with your mate.” He teased, as he slapped him on the back and he stepped onto the stairs leading to the plane.

  He growled and glared at him. “There will be no contact with our mate. If you have a question or a problem, I expect you to deal with me.”

  “Lux, he was joking.” She patted his chest and pushed him into the plane. “You need to stop with the jealousy thing. You can read all my thoughts, so you know I have no interest in any man except for the three I have.” She reached up and kissed his chin, and then made her way into the plane.

  Amber helped everyone get into their seats, smiling and laughing with them. His heart expanded as he felt the grace and warmth she extended to everyone around her.

  Never had he ever seen anyone so beautiful.

  I’m reading your thoughts and you’re embarrassing me here. Now quit standing there, blocking the door, and come sit by me. I need some cuddle time with you. She laughed and glanced back at him, patting the seat next to her. Liam already sat on her other side, while Otis helped the other guests.

  He smiled and made his way to his mate, sitting in his seat. “Cuddle time, hmm.” He pulled her closer to his body, and slipped his hand into her sweater, squeezing her breast.

  “Lux, I would like Mila and Ben to stay with us at the new house, if it’s okay with you guys? I had three more bedrooms added to the house and one of the guest bedrooms is already set up. It would give me and Mom time to work on my training.” She looked down into her lap. “Plus, I need her right now. I don’t know how to explain it, but I want to ...”

  Lux stopped her words with a kiss. “Hush, they can stay, and I know what you’re seeking. You just bonded with both of them. It’s only normal to want to build on that. You haven’t had a real mother and father, and you need this. We all understand.” He stroked her nipple just to touch her, to know she was his and real.

  * * *

  Amber stretched and patted the space beside her. She wasn’t on the plane anymore. Her eyes popped open and she scanned her surroundings. Laughing, she hugged her pillow. She was home, in their new home. Glancing at the clock on the nightstand, she frowned. It was nine the next morning.