Skin Walkers: Monroe (20 page)

Chapter 20

Eden and Monroe
, hand-in-hand, had just ascended the front steps of StoneCrow Manor when Monroe suddenly tensed.

Eden’s worried gaze shot to him, “What?  What is it?”  Her eyes shot to the doors, “Is it the children?”  She tried to pull her hand free
to rush inside. 

Suddenly the Sentries surrounded
them; firearms were jerked free as noses lifted to scent the air.

“There’s an unfamiliar
Walker on-site.”  Monroe turned to King, “James and Shane have the Walker in my office.”  Confusion marred his brow, “James wants me to…bring
Eden
?”

Her heart stopped. 
One of the parents?  No!  Absolutely not!  She would not do this.  Her jaw clenched and her hands curled into tight fists as she turned on Monroe, “No one is touching my kids!”

Seemingly ignoring her Monroe ordered, “
King, take a team and secure my office.  I want James on his way down with a fucking explanation why he feels it’s permissible to bring unfamiliars onto the grounds and why in the hell he thinks I’d freely take my angel into danger.  GO NOW!” 

King and a line of men rushed the
manor and when Monroe grabbed Eden’s hand to follow, she balked. 

“Did you hear me?”

“I heard you, angel.  Come.  We’ll protect our children
together!”

They took the stairs. 
When they reached the second floor landing, Eden could feel her heart thudding in her chest.  James approached as Monroe lifted his nose in the air and scented the hallway.

“It’s not what you t
hink sir, it’s…” 

Monroe held up
a hand, cutting off James’ words.  He turned to Eden and smiled tenderly one hand reaching down to cup her face as if the threat was suddenly gone.  “This Walker isn’t here for the children, angel.  Relax.”

She wanted to demand answers, but forced herself to trust him, to t
rust that he wouldn’t let her be blindsided.  Silently, she allowed her mate to lead her to the third floor and down the corridor to his office with James silently following behind. 

The door to his office opened
and she and Monroe stopped as several of the Sentries filed out.  The tension from earlier gone as they holstered their weapons and filed down the hall and back to their suites, mates, or other duties.

Sucking in a long breath, she steeled herself for what was to come.  She was the
Domina now and the Walkers would expect her to be strong.  They were watching her and she wanted to be what they needed, what they expected, but not for their sake or even her own.  She wanted to be the mate that Monroe deserved. 

Taking
a step toward the office before Monroe had the chance, Eden looked back and was surprised by the pride beaming in the sapphire depths of his eyes.

The
y entered Monroe’s office and the sea of Sentries that surrounded his desk parted.  Eden’s heart slammed to a halt. 

Standing in tattered and torn clothing was a dark skinned girl of about eight years.  Her hands
desperately clutched a dirty, worn, teddy bear as round, fear-filled, eyes saucered when they landed on Monroe.  The girl’s gaze slid to Eden and the babe took an involuntary step toward the lone woman in the room.

“We found her in the hills with this note,” James thrust a crumpled piece of paper toward Monroe.

I don’t know what it is,

b
ut it’s not of God.

It is no longer my burden.

Monroe whispered the note as he read it and Eden’s heart clenched painfully even as a rage more bright and fierce then anything she’d ever experienced flared to life.

The little girl still watched Eden.  She was holding herself back. 
Eden could see it in the taut lines of the girl’s rigid frame.  She wanted to go to Eden but it was evident that she was afraid. 
Of what?
  Eden wondered when the words in the letter and the trepidation on the little girl’s face clicked. 
Rejection!

The male Walkers
, unsure what else to do, watched as Eden took a knee.  She could feel their eyes on her, judging her.  “Who are you?” Her voice was soft and low.

“M-my name is
JoJo.”  Tear filled eyes implored Eden as the girl took another cautious step toward her, “W-who are you?”  There was a catch at the end of the question, the tone of her voice pitched high with barely concealed hope.

Eden smiled, “Don’t you know?  Can’t you feel it?”

The little girl blinked rapidly, hanging on the next words.

Tears flooded Eden’s eyes and she opened her arms wide.  Emotion clogged her throat and made it hard to get the
next words out loud enough to be heard.  “I’m your mother.”

The little girl dropped her bear and raced to Eden. 
Lunging into her embrace, JoJo wrapped her frail arms tightly around Eden’s neck and held on for dear life as she cried for all she was worth.

Stroking the girl’s back, Eden shifted to a sitting position,
and pulled the girl onto her lap to rock, and soothe her.  “It’s okay baby. I’ve got you.  You’re gonna be okay.  You’re safe now, and I’ll never let you go. I swear it.” 

“She said no one would want me,”
JoJo cried, tears spilling freely down her cherub-like cheeks. 

“I want you,” Eden pulled back and brushed long black curls back from the girl’s tear stained face.  “I’ve been waiting for you
,” she beamed with motherly pride.  “I
love
you!”

The little girl smiled and nodded
. Eden crushed her in another hug.  Smiling, her eyes darted up.  The respect, admiration, and approval she saw in the eyes of the Sentries in the room was humbling.  They approved of their Domina, and it was overwhelmingly gratifying.  She could do this.  She
would
do this.  She would be the Skin Walker Domina, the abandoned Walker children’s mother, and Monroe StoneCrow’s mate.  She’d finally found her place and nothing felt more right.

The door opened and when all the Sentries turned to frown at the intruder, Eden tensed with
JoJo still in her arms.  She recognized Legion’s voice when he spoke.

“
Ms. Keys accepted your terms, Monroe.  It is done.”

Closing her eyes, Eden squeezed
JoJo just a little tighter.

***

After finally getting an emotionally drained JoJo tucked into bed with Peyton, Eden rolled her shoulders and lifted a weary hand to rub the tense bundle of nerves at the back of her neck.  It had been one hell of a day! 

She stepped out into the sitting room to find Monroe sitting in a wing back chair waiting on her.

“You didn’t have to wait up.”  While she was sincere, it didn’t stop the warmth that bloomed in her heart at the fact that he had.

Standing, he walked to her with his typical fluid grace that never ceased to excite her.

“I’d wait for you forever, angel.”  Strong arms enveloped her.  “Plus, I had a meeting with the board.  We need to find out why Walker children are being abandoned in these mountains.”

Eden’s eyes rounded.  “
JoJo’s a Walker too?”

He nodded.

“Oh my God!  Do you think she knows she’s special?”

Monroe shrugged, “We’ll find out soon enough.  In the
meantime, we need to figure out what we’re going to do if they keep flowing in.  We’re going to need some procedures in place so the Sentries don’t terrify them and can bring them in without much of a fight.”  His lips tweaked.  “Apparently, our little JoJo took James and Shane on one hell of a chase. 

We’ll also need to find surrogates or other
Walkers here on the estate willing to take them in.  You won’t be expected to raise them all, angel.”

Her expression darkened.  “I
will
take care of the children that are abandoned and end up here at the estate Monroe!  They don’t need to be left in limbo while another woman decides if she wants to commit.”

The anger in her
eyes had him fighting a smile as approval seized him.  He hoped she’d feel that way and she hadn’t let him down.  How had he ever found her?

“As a matter of fact, tomorrow I’ll get with…”  She cocked her head, “Who’s all on this board and what do they do?”

“Apparently, some of the Walkers feel that my decisions aren’t always the right ones.  It was decided that there should exist a Walker board of directors.  I allowed it.”

“Allowed it?”  She smiled, “That sounds a little autocratic.”

“It is,” he admitted, “but I’m the Dominant.  I can’t lose control over my Walkers but I like to let them feel as though they have some semblance of power where this community is concerned.  The existence of the board appeases them.”

“You’re terrible,” she outright laughed.  “Plus, you didn’t answer me.  Who’s on this board?”

“It’s comprised of myself, King, Conn, Legion, and Stoney.”

“
Stoney?  She’s the nurse from the infirmary right?”

“Yes, she was the only woman willing to claim a seat.  We require at least one female Walker hold a position on the board.”

Perfect brows knitted.  “I thought Aries would…”

“She would have,” he interrupted, “but mated couples aren’t allowed on the board.  It’d be too easy to sway a vote.  They think
it’s better this way.”

“Think?” she challenged.

His arms tightened, “Make no mistake, angel, at the end of the day, my vote is the only one that counts.”

“Fine,” her lips thinned in mock disapproval.  “I’ll get with
Stoney and we’ll come up with a protocol for when, and if, any more Walker children are found.”

His smile was gentle, “I’ll set up a meeting at your convenience, angel.”

She smiled and it turned into a yawn, “Sorry, I’m tired.”

She was up and in his arms before she could even protest.
  Not that she would have.  Tonight she needed to bask in the safety of his embrace, the strength of his will, and the passion that he reserved for her and her alone.  Her eyes filled with tears as she stared up at him.  He would never have this with another woman and it was so powerfully heady that she couldn’t contain her emotions.  One tear slipped free and Monroe came to an abrupt halt halfway through his office.

His eyes locked on hers.  “What is it?”

Her throat thickened, “I’m afraid.”

“Of what?
  Tell me so I can eliminate the source, my Domina.”

His response didn’t help.  It was spoken with such fierce allegiance
that it became difficult to breathe.

“I’m afraid this is all a dream.”  She lifted a hand to cup his cheek.  “I can’t believe I
ever did anything to deserve you or the children.”  Her brow wrinkled as her eyes narrowed with suspicion, “Can any of this actually be happening?  I’m terrified I’ll wake and it’ll all have been a dream and I’ll be alone again.”  She hugged him then, hard and tight.  “Don’t let me wake up, Monroe.  Don’t lose me.”  She shuddered with raw emotion as more tears slipped free.

Monroe held her for long minutes and she didn’t even know they’d made it to their room until he sat
her on the bed and forced her legs apart to kneel between them.  With him kneeling on the floor, they were nearly eye level when Monroe collard her throat gently and forced her eyes to meet his. 

“Stop.”

She sniffed once and blinked rapidly to hold back more tears.

He dipped his head and took several breaths before lifting his gaze to hers. 
“I have claimed you as my angel.  In doing so, and by Skin Walker law I vow to defend you as my blood.”  He studied her face before speaking again, “I, Monroe Grant StoneCrow, take you, Eden StCloud, to be my friend, my lover, the mother of my children, my wife, my mate…my angel. I will be your strength in times of weakness, your want in times of need, your joy in times of sorrow.  I will sacrifice my health, my triumph, my hopes, my needs, and my desires to put yours ahead of my own. I promise to cherish and respect you, to care for you, and to protect your life and the lives of our children with my very own. I vow to comfort and encourage you, to guard and keep you, and to love you until my life on this earth ends.”

If she’d held any part of her
self back from him, the floodgates were now wide open.  She was his completely and willingly.  She wanted all that he promised, and to be all that he needed in return.  She slid from the bed and knelt against him to twine her arms around his neck as she sealed her lips over his own.  She kissed him long and hard and finally broke the kiss to breathe against his lips.  “I love you Monroe.  I-I don’t know the words but whatever they are I mean them and more.”

He smiled as he pulled back to brush
a hand across her cheek, swiping at her tears.  “They would be vows to accept my people as your own.  To love what you know of me and trust what you do not yet know.  You would vow to follow me, to go where I go, to stay where I stay, and to accept my life as your life.  You’d end by saying, ‘May the Grandfathers do with me and more, if anything but death parts me from you.’”