A Mate for the Sheriff (Shifter-Match.com Book 4) Read online

  She turned, her whole being shaking with her anger, and looked at Novak. “I’m ready to go home. Is there anything you would like to add, love?”

  He shook his head, but his grin to the coven was decidedly toothy in nature. Extremely sharp teeth, to be exact. Taking her hand with infinite care, he walked with her to the front door and let her out. He shut it, then paused and in a quick swipe left deep groove marks that could only come from a large, deadly predator. It was a warning, plain and simple. One that the witches had better heed.

  Walking along beside him, Jess could feel him calming the dire wolf down. A task, she was sure. “Well, that went differently than I’d thought it would. But you didn’t have to reveal everything, and they only ended up with the barest hint from myself, so I’d call that a win for us. You do realize, though, that we could still have problems from them even if this—what did you call it?—Grand Coven does tell them to back off. Who’s to say they still won’t come after you.”

  “The Grand Coven wouldn’t dare come after a descendant of Hecate.” She stopped by his truck and leaned against it. “They’ve always known what I was, who I was. Yes, my kind have always been feared and for the most part we’ve been hunted down, but then a null was born into the line of Hecate and that’s when they realized that there was far more to me than I should be. You see.” She ran her hand up and down his chest, pulling him closer. “The nulls that were born before me were born insane. Honest to God insane. They were born usually as twins, with the dreamwalker as their twin, and together they have brought more devastation than I care to tell you about. They’ve been absolute assholes, trust me. But when I was born with both powers, my grandmother had a vision that I was born for a reason.” She shrugged and after biting her lip she confessed to him, “She realized that there was a long-standing prophecy about me. That’s why I’m alive, not because of my family loving me like I made those bitches believe. I’m alive because my grandmother realizes if she kills me, or another witch kills me, then the magic that Hecate brought into the world will die with me. I’m reborn, or she is. I don’t know which way it was supposed to go, but you understand what I mean.”

  And that was the only reason why her family hid and protected her. It wasn’t because they loved her. It was because each and every single one of them believed in that prophecy, that Jess was the rebirth of the magic of Hecate and she had been destined to marry or mate with a power that would change everything in the world for the better. “Magic was growing sick. Humanity has been corrupting it for so long and turning it into something dark and wrong. You saw it with that warlock you picked up that first day we were together. It’s been inbred and stifled, then turned into party tricks for humanity and twisted. My birth was what my grandmother called the change of all of it. That’s why she didn’t kill me the second she realized what I was. Why she never allowed my mother to kill me and why my brothers and cousins protected me as best they could from time to time. It’s why I’ve lived as long as I have. They’ve all had a hand in helping me with the shielding spell that has kept me hidden for so long. Only the line that I come from is powerful enough to hide a null from all of witchdom, because they rule the witches and warlocks.”

  The look he gave her was one of complete shock. She knew that look because she was certain that she had worn it when her grandmother told her the truth of why she had been kept alive. Her mother certainly wore it more often than not. “I’m not entirely sure what to say to that. I’ve never believed in prophecy. To my way of thinking, people tend to bend these prophecies to serve whatever their viewpoint at that time is. But that is neither here nor there. You are here, and you’re mine, which is all that matters. Do you think we should give the Grand Coven a heads-up about the nut jobs from the magic shop or let them dig their own graves?”

  “I think we’ll just let them dig their own graves. The more they open their mouths, the angrier they will make my grandmother. I have a feeling that making sure this woman is put in her place is the best thing we can do, and the best person to do that is my grandmother. She’ll set them straight. It will piss her off and I’m afraid we won’t get a Christmas card this year, but oh well, life.” She snorted. A Christmas card. Not like she’d had one of those from her grandmother in a number of years. At least she had her grandmother’s protection. That was better than a card.

  “If you’re sure, then I’ll trust your judgment.” Cupping her face, he pressed a gentle kiss to her lips. “Let’s get you home. I think a long, hot bath is in order after the night we’ve had, don’t you?”

  “As long as you’re in the bath with me. I have a feeling that your wolf doesn’t want to be away from me any more than I want to be away from you, right?” She could practically feel his wolf just under his skin.

  “Hell no, he wants to get close and cuddle with you. Both of us are not happy with those not so thinly veiled threats the coven lobbed your way. The only reason any witch in there is still alive is the mere fact I hate doing paperwork. And killing them would have been a mountain’s worth of paperwork.” Novak gave a shudder and wrinkled up his nose. “Too horrible to think about.”

  “Yes, and you barely get your shit in on time anyway,” she teased. “Now, take us home, my dire wolf, so that we can be alone and naked snuggle.”

  “I get my work in on time. How dare you suggest otherwise.” Clicking his tongue, he pulled open the passenger door and gave her a hand to help her in. “Unlike my staff, I know better than to get on your bad side.”

  “This is true, but you see I hate to give you shit anyway because then it means more time for me to be away from you, and that just totally sucks ass hardcore.” She pulled away from him and went to get into the truck.

  She felt it before she heard it. She watched a hole form in the window of the truck, the glass cracking in a spiderweb pattern. Heat speared through her chest. She looked down as a sound echoed around them, the sound of a weapon discharging, and frowned. “Was that a gun?” she asked, feeling sick as the hold she had on her magic broke free and started to fracture. She couldn’t hold in her abilities, not as the pain spread through her body. Then the world around her went completely black and she crumpled.

  Chapter Eleven

  Storming into the ER, Novak bellowed for assistance. It was amazing how fast people could move when he was pissed off, or maybe it was just his perception. A gurney was rushed over by a nurse and an attendant. Easing Jessica down, he slipped his hand into hers and held on even when the nurse tried to get him to remain behind. He wasn’t about to leave her until it was absolutely necessary. The gods help them if they thought otherwise.

  In the bay he stayed out of their way while they cut off her shirt and got her on oxygen. An IV was inserted into her arm at one point while utter chaos ran rampant around him. Novak noticed it all, but his complete focus was on his mate and her shallow breathing and even shakier heart rate. She was losing too much blood, and the strain was starting to show.

  The nurses kept looking at him, and one of them even backed up with one of his growls. “Sir, we are going to need to take her into surgery.” He saw the paleness on the woman’s face and had to bite back another growl. “She’s strong. Jessica is one of those women that can do anything.” The woman smiled at him and nodded. “I know her. I will stay with her, I promise, but you have to let us get her into surgery. I know typically we would wait for a doctor, but they’ll just have to meet us there.”

  “If anything happens to her…” He left the rest unsaid. Slowly he let her hand slip free from his to the bedding. Novak followed them out into the hall and kept his gaze on his mate until she was behind doors through which he couldn’t follow. He planted his feet shoulder width apart, folded his arms, and settled in to wait.

  ****

  Three hours later…

  Dr. Swaitak walked out and directly to Novak. He noticed that the doctor didn’t even try to look for anyone else. “She’s in a room now recovering,” the doctor told him. The man looked
exhausted, and his hair was standing at end in several spots. “The shot was a through and through. She bled a great deal, but whoever took the shot was a shitty shot, so that’s a good thing. The only issue is what she is.”

  Novak took a step forward, eyes narrowed. “You’re a—”

  “Witch,” the doctor supplied. “Yes, and I know what she is. Anyone that comes in here with abilities will know what she is. Don’t worry, we have her as far from everyone as we can possibly get her. Jessica is well liked around here,” he told Novak. “And I think we should get you into her room before that animal of yours presents itself. Your eyes are glowing. Tomorrow you can start to search for whoever shot her, unless you’ve already contacted your deputies to start the search?”

  Oh, he’d definitely contacted people to begin searching for the culprit. Only they weren’t working under the umbrella of the sheriff’s department. Novak had some relatives in the area, and he hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d mentioned to Jessica that he’d have them there for backup during the confrontation with the coven and after to help handle fallout. None of them had expected it to happen within seconds. “I have some people looking into things.” They’d damn well better have something sooner rather than later. The last report he’d had when a third cousin had stopped by the hospital to get an update on Jess and bring Novak a change of clothing hadn’t been encouraging. But that had only been one report. Novak still hadn’t heard from the other two groups. “Take me to my mate, if you would, Doctor.”

  “Of course,” the man said, leading Novak to the west wing of the hospital. They walked past dozens of unused rooms. “This wing hasn’t been used in several months. We have three nurses on the station, however, and she’s in good hands. They are fully human, but they know Jessica and understand something is going on and won’t let you be bothered. If you need anything at all, please let them know. I’ll introduce you to them and then when their shift is over they will introduce you to the next shift. I’ll be stopping in often to check on her, but she’s good. She went through surgery well and is recovering well. When she wakes she can have a bit of cold water, but not too much. Half a glass and then buzz for soft foods and a soda so that we can get her sugar levels up. She lost a lot of blood, but we’ve replenished her.” He led Novak to the last room in the hall and opened the door. And there was Jessica, lying in a bed, with all sorts of lines and machines hooked up to her far-too-pale body.

  Giving the doctor a distracted nod, Novak barely paused to shake the man’s hand before moving into the room and to Jessica’s side. After settling into the chair he’d pulled in close, he carefully slipped his hand into hers. Lifting it slightly, he pressed his cheek to her knuckles. The scents from the various hospital cleaning agents were harsh on his nose. They made it hard for him to pick up her scent. “I’m here, little mate. I’ll be here until you’re ready to come home.”

  Jessica’s eye’s fluttered, which had him moving in just a bit closer to her. “Novak.” She whispered his name, and it was the best fucking thing he had heard in hours. “What happened?” She licked her lips, so he assumed she needed water, remembering what the doctor had said. When he put the straw near her lips, she began to sip at the ice-cold water like a woman starved.

  “Go easy on the water, sweetheart,” he cautioned. When she’d had what the doctor had deemed she could, Novak drew the straw from her lips. “Shh, you can have more later.” Setting the cup aside, he turned back to her and began to stroke her hair. He was glad she was starting to wake, even if she was incredibly groggy.

  “You were shot. No, I don’t know by who, not yet anyway. I have some family out hunting for the coward now and should hear something soon, I hope. You did well in surgery, according to the doctor. He’s got us situated in a currently unused wing of the hospital so that your abilities don’t give you away. All the nurses are and will be human.”

  “That’s good. I should have warned you if I’m hurt or sick I can’t control myself.” She leaned into his touch like a little kitten would or a pup. That made him think of their pups one day in the far future. “When I sleep I still have control, but if I’m hurt badly, I don’t. I hate that they had to feel that drain from me. Now everyone will know. God, we are going to have to move and change all of our identities again, aren’t we?”

  “Babe, we’re not going anywhere at all. You and I are staying right where we are, and if anyone has a problem with that, then they can move. I happen to like our house and am never going to give that up.” He leaned down to press a kiss to her cheek. He had to smile when she gave a happy sigh and rubbed her cheek to his nose. “This is our life, sweetheart. Fuck them if they have a problem with that.”

  “They all know now. This hospital has several doctors and nurses that are minor witches.”

  “I think the hospital staff is more worried about what I’ll do than what you’re up to, Jessica. I may or may not have been less than pleased with everyone while you were in surgery.” He didn’t know one way or the other. He’d only been focused on his mate and their bond, knowing that as long as he could feel that, she was alive.

  “I’m so sorry. I’ll try not to get shot again. It hurts,” she told him with a bit of a laugh. “I didn’t know I was shot, actually, not at first. I just felt heat, and I saw the window spiderweb. Then everything went gray around the edges.”

  Novak closed his eyes and rested his head next to hers. “Definitely no more getting shot. I can’t handle it. I was a complete wreck for nearly thirty seconds before my training kicked in and I got you here. Then I went back to being a wreck.”

  She touched his cheek gently. “I love you, Novak Porter, and one day I am going to make you make an honest woman of me.”

  “It is the twenty-first century, Jess. Perhaps you should make an honest man of me instead.” Running his fingers up and down her arm, he lifted his head to look at her. “Let me get the doc in here to see if he thinks you’re up for something more than a couple sips of water.”

  “Wait.” She stopped him with her hand on his arm. “Will you marry me, Sheriff? Although I think I’d like to take your last name instead of you taking mine. If you say yes, that is. Maybe once I’m out of here, I can buy you a ring?”

  “If you’re only asking because you’re on drugs, I’m going to be extremely upset. But to answer your question, I will gladly marry you. And, yes, I think you should take my name. As to the ring, maybe I’ll buy you one instead. I’ve never been big on jewelry of any kind, but for a wedding band I will make an exception.”

  “I asked, you buy the ring, and I get your name. I think I’m making out like a bandit here,” she teased him with that easy smile of hers that got him every time. He watched as she yawned and closed her eyes. “I’m going to just nap a little more. More water would be lovely, though.”

  “A couple more sips, no more.” Picking up the cup, he held the straw to her lips. Once she’d taken a couple more mouthfuls, he put it back to the side. A quick kiss to her lips, then he stroked a hand to her hair. “Behave while I’m gone,” he said. He stepped out and went to the nurses desk to ask them to get the doctor when they could. After one picked up the phone, Novak went back to sit with Jess and wait.

  When the doctor walked in, Novak, like the predator that he was, watched the man intently. “How long do I have to stay here?” Jessica asked.

  “You were shot, Ms. Morris. I think that a few days in the hospital won’t kill you. You’ll be able to go home in three days as long as you do everything I tell you to. You will also need to go through physical therapy because of the shot to your shoulder. So, I’m going to tell you now with the sheriff here. No sex or anything like that for at least a month, do you understand me? You were severely injured and we don’t want to aggravate the wounds.”

  Novak wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. Then he got a look at Jessica’s expression and a snicker slipped out. He quickly tried to stifle it, but it only got worse when she turned a glowering look his way. “I’
m sorry, sweetheart. The look you had when he dropped that bomb, too funny. Sorry,” he said again. He had to work hard to stop laughing and focused on the doctor to help stem that evil tide before he got into trouble.

  “That’s so not funny, Doc. I hate to tell you, but that’s one rule I won’t follow. There is no way on God’s green earth that I will let you tell me I can’t be with my mate for a month. That’s so not happening. I’ll do the three days here, but a month, seriously? You really don’t know shifters very well or their mates if you think we can go that long without each other.”

  Swaitak’s lips twitched. “No, I don’t know very much about shifters. They typically don’t wind up in hospitals. They’re just a bit too thick-headed to seek medical attention when it’s needed.”

  “I resent that remark, Doc.” Novak shook his head at the man and looked to his mate. “Shifters heal faster than other supernaturals do and much faster than humans. We rarely need medical assistance. Besides which, most packs have healers that know how to utilize specific energies to get us back in gear faster than a human doctor could.”

  “And I heal just about like a normal human because I’m a null,” she admitted. “Which sucks ass,” she told them both with a heavy sigh. “I hate it. I really do.”

  Stroking a finger down her cheek, he shot a look to the doctor. “Anything else we need to know besides the fact she’s on light duty for a while?” Novak needed to know everything to make sure that Jessica didn’t try to talk him into something by working around the situation to trick him. If he knew all the no-no’s ahead of time, then he could probably ensure she stayed on track to getting better.