Legacy (Blackwater Pack, #3)

by Hannah McBride

“Yes, you. Or is that beneath the prince?” I snapped archly. If he said I was the princess, that made him the prince. Judging by the way he glowered, my barb landed exactly where it was aimed. Behind him, Alexei outright laughed. “Oh, I like this one,”

Katy’s eyes narrowed, but she didn’t say anything back at Vick. Her features smoothed out, her expression going arctic in what Rhodes had dubbed her ‘Ice Princess’ face when we were kids.

“No one said anything about a war,” Chis interjected nervously. Rhodes’s brow furrowed as he threw him an incredulous look. “Someone blew up the Summit. Killed dozens of Alphas. Considering Norwood was long gone before the bomb went off, it’s pretty clear they either did it or knew it was coming. They’ve started invading packs in the surrounding areas. Do you need a formal declaration in writing?”

“That’s what airplanes are for,” I clipped out, turning and looking at Rhodes. He was already on his phone. He covered the mouthpiece and told me, “I stopped the plane. Find out where Skye is, and we’ll go get her.” We’ll go get her. My friends looked at me with determination and hope. They would follow me into the devil’s house to bring her back because they loved her, too.

“Yeah, but I didn’t know that when I met you. All I saw was a gorgeous girl with crazy green eyes and a ‘fuck the world’ attitude. It was sexy as hell.”

“Remy’s pretty damn fine. That smile and all those muscles, plus that good guy next door charm rolled into an alpha? If I swung that way, I might give you a run for your money.” “Oh, God. Just please stop talking,”

closer. “I didn’t give you these things so you could deny a woman her mate for any reason. You know how special the bond is between mates. We don’t ever cut that tie. What you did was cruel.” “So, her shifting and possibly taking down an entire plane of people would have been better?” he demanded hotly, leaning over her. She scoffed and eyed him with barely veiled contempt. “You’re telling me that all it would take is one wolf to take you all down?”

“You got to talk to her today?” Larkin demanded, her worry vanishing as she spun to glare at Katy. “We agreed to share phone time with her no matter when she called. Equal bestie time, remember?” “Technically she called Remy,” Katy quickly clarified. “I was just a means to an end since she wasn’t here to slap Remy in person. Basically I was her extended arm and hand.” Ryder snorted. “What’d you do?” “Something stupid,” I sighed, rolling my eyes. “Sounds about right,”

“I get that you may not want me near him, but have we hit the point of our relationship where you’re ordering me what I can and can’t do?” His eyes closed briefly. When they opened, he seemed slightly calmer. “Skye, I’m not trying to tell you what to do. But I can’t be there to protect you right now.”

don’t ever put me in a position of having to choose between you and our pack, Skye. It’s you. Every damn time. It will always be you, babe.”

“Well, at least I have you around to keep me straight.” “Not just me,” she added with a cheerful grin. “Rhodes, Dane, Ryder, and even Larkin will help out. And we’re nothing compared to your girlfriend. We’re just pinch hitters until the A Team gets back.”

“Because you are my daughter. These men will fight for me, and I will fight for you. My war is theirs. And your war is mine, little wolf. Never forget that.”

“I’m more worried I might kill them before we land.” Nikolai tipped his head back and laughed, the sound warm and inviting. “You are most assuredly my daughter.” I didn’t hate that, either.

“Natasha said that out of everyone she knows, you deserve happiness the most,” I replied. “Out of everyone I know? My mom deserves that, too. Maybe what was broken can be fixed, maybe it can’t. But isn’t it worth taking the time to find out?

“Did you know and not tell me?” His jaw dropped open. “I was dealing with a lot of shit, Lu. Bombings and traitors and finding out I had a sister.” “You should have told me,” she insisted. “Especially when you found out Skye was a Dashkov.” He leaned down until their noses were centimeters apart. “And I told you I had other stuff going on.” They stared at each other for a minute before,

“Did you know that I could start snapping your bones with a single thought? I could break a rib so it pierces your lung or your heart. Maybe crack open that thick skull of yours. Or demolish every tooth in your foul mouth until you’re choking on your own blood.”

“So, you admit we’re family?” Dimitri asked, nudging my foot with his. I glared at my sort-of brother. “I admit Nikolai and Natasha are my family.” Tate snorted beside me and Lulu started laughing. “I’m the one who saved you, little sister,” he retorted. “Kidnapped,” I corrected curtly. “You kidnapped me.” His mouth dropped open. “You’re seriously deluded.” “Well, they fight like siblings,” Nikolai muttered, shaking his head.

need to make sure it is safe, printsessa.” “I promise you the bigger threat will be me if you don’t get out of my way,”

“I just... I don’t want to do something that will embarrass you tonight.” His eyebrows lifted so high it might have been comical if I wasn’t drowning in my own worry. “Come again?” “Already did. Multiple times,” I cracked weakly, awkwardly punching his shoulder lightly. His eyes narrowed, bypassing my attempt at humor. “Skye, you could never embarrass me.”

It took a second, but the memory started playing in my head like a movie. No, more like a highlight reel.

“Nik, I don’t want to come between you and your mate.” “Wife,” Natasha jumped in quickly. “I’m his wife. Not his mate.” Nikolai’s eyes closed, and I had the sense he was holding in a laugh. “We’re not... It isn’t...”

“He’s still my son.” Mom’s eyes darted between them, her brows knitting together. “Of course he is,” Natasha replied, laying a hand on his arm. “But I’m not. Yours, that is. I would never... I’m making a mess of this, aren’t I?” A dimple appeared in Nikolai’s cheek. “You certainly aren’t helping things, love. But keep talking. Maybe you’ll bare all the sordid details of our marriage.” Natasha’s eyes narrowed for a heartbeat. “Sordid my ass. I want a divorce.”

“Perhaps we can schedule our divorce talk at a later date?” “I’m being honest.” Natasha waved a hand at Mom. “I can’t compete with that. She’s gorgeous. For fuck’s sake, Nik, I’m ready to kick your ass for not going back for her before now.”

appreciate you inviting me here as Nik’s wife, but I’m not his mate. Our marriage is in name only. He’s my dearest friend, but that’s all.”

“You guys don’t have to worry about it.” “You know who you’re talking to, right?” Katy folded her arms across her chest. “You’re our best friend. By definition, your business is our business.”

“You’re uncle is here, right?” Her brown eyes gleamed with sudden interest. “I say we tie him up and let your Mom and aunt go all apeshit on his ass. Literally.” “You and Nikolai need to curb your homicidal tendencies,” I muttered, still smiling. “Linden may still be valuable.” “Maybe as a piñata,”

“Yeah, can you retire from the whole being kidnapped thing? It’s really stressful on the rest of us,” Katy chimed in. I rolled my eyes. “Sure. I’ll make sure to stop being kidnapped. For you.” “Thanks, girl,”

“The question isn’t whether or not I’m comfortable putting my pack in your hands, but if I’m comfortable placing my daughter’s life in them.” Remy’s arm dropped to his sides and he edged forward, not backing down. “That’s not your call, though, is it? It’s Skye’s.” Nikolai’s lips twisted into a dark smile. “I don’t know if you’re worthy of my daughter.” I sucked in a sharp breath, more than ready to tell him off, but Remy simply shook his head and chuckled. “I can assure you that I’m not,” he said evenly. “But she’s mine and I’m hers, so you’ll have to deal with it.”

“This also means more packs may come to join you.” “To leech off their crazy bonding ability?” Katy demanded hotly. “To find stability and leadership, and yes, possibly their mate,”

“I could do that,” Lulu offered. “I mean, I could literally keep him alive for years while everyone he hurt took turns carving him up like a Halloween pumpkin. We could even have Linden-carving contests.” My jaw dropped, but Dimitri started to laugh. “You’re seriously twisted,

“Babe, this is more about me than you. Damien’s pushing. He thinks I’m too young for this.” “And are you?” Nikolai spoke up curiously. Remy smirked and glanced over his shoulder. “Want to stop the cars and find out?” “Perhaps another day,”

“Shit, I’m sorry!” I tried pulling away, remembering his injured side. “It’s fine,” he assured me, not letting go. His hand fisted around my hair, tugging my head back so he could kiss me. “Your side,” I gasped into his mouth. “It’s already healing. Shut up and let me kiss you,” he simply grumbled, his lips coaxing my mouth open so his tongue could slide against mine.

“I’m the farthest thing from a princess.” He laughed as he walked towards the waiting car. “On that, we can agree.” Someone opened the passenger door and he settled me into the seat, stepping back and staring at me with unflinching intensity. “You are no princess, Skye Markham.” He leaned into the car and kissed my forehead. “You are my queen.”

“You’ve got a lot of decisions to make, Alpha.” I exhaled hard. “You guys shouldn’t have let me sleep in.” Rhodes snorted and stood up. “Take it up with your mate. She threatened all of us with bodily harm if we woke you up.”

“It will only serve to make our packs stronger with our union,” Damien said, rolling his shoulders back. “Surely you can see that.” “I can see that if anything happens to my true mate that I’ll rip your heart out the first chance I get,” she replied, almost happily. “She gets the bloodthirsty side from me,” Nikolai added apologetically, shrugging helplessly. “Her eyes she gets from her mother.”

me just standing here and making his brains liquefy is also off the table?” Ryder stared at her. “You can do that?”

“Yeah. Don’t piss off the tiny magic wielder.”

Lulu tried to catch up and pass him, but he held her back. “Could you, for once, act like your life matters?” he snapped, irritated. “Could you, for once, leave me alone?” she snarled back, jerking her arm out of his hold. She stomped away from him. Remy and I exchanged a look as Dimitri growled in her wake.