Col: His Destined Mate

by Georgette St. Clair

  Simon was talking about some of the results of his magicks, what he did with the powerful altar he had in this room, with the large screens that yielded words or images at his command. Even the other three, normally boisterous, were in awe of this wizardry, and posed no danger to the room or its contents, unlike the living room downstairs.

  In truth, Col could not fully apprehend what Simon was saying. He lacked understanding of the terminology that seemed the province of wizards.

  Miller Armstrong at least was able to prompt Simon to simplify at times, and Col knew only that Simon had looked into the person who had been inquiring about him, and it was suspicious that that person used the methods that they did to remain hidden.

  It was information that Miller would find a way to share with the friends he had in the Gardendale Police Department, without compromising the very privacy that Blake Rickert had perhaps given his life, after excruciating pain, to safeguard.

  Col stopped pacing and leaned his back against the wall, to the right of the entrance, and crossed his arms. On the other side of the doorway was Merek, silent and brooding.

  A sudden, wild image of Merek standing next to Katie Cooper forced itself into Col’s mind, and he clenched his fists.

  No. He would not allow it. In the horrible vision, Katie arched her back wantonly and brushed up against Merek. She would never do that, would she?

  But what about Aylwyn? Col hated the way he made her laugh. Hated the way Aylwyn seemed to light up when she strode into the room.

  And then there was Barric. Perhaps the most fearsome Waryeor of them all, who fought best when seized with a berserker fury that came from some place as yet unknown on Earth. Even the beast that he was had somehow fallen under Katie Cooper’s spell.

  No. He’d kill them all.

  Col would even fight a berserker-raged Barric unto death over Katie Cooper, if needs must.

  Mine.

  They were all looking at him. He had been growling. He cleared his throat.

  “Nothing,” he muttered. They returned their attention to the horrific images on the screen.

  Everyone except the Vixar, who raised an eyebrow at him.

  Col grimaced.

  This was the crux of it. The very disunity that would destroy them as a War-Pack, and he was the cause. His thinking of his Bredhren as rivals, as targets for his aggression. That had to stop, right here and right now – or he’d have to be stopped.

  It took some doing, but Rey had at last tracked down that POS tin can the fucking bitch got out of town with. He had pulled up to a large auto shop, not at all like one of the chop shops that he was familiar with in El Monstruo’s networks. They did a lot of business with that Renfaire crap right outside of town, since they had tons of signs advertising it. He walked past all the signs to where cars waiting to be worked on were parked. Past all the used cars that had FOR SALE signs on. That crappy Ford Fiesta, still with the plates that she had left with, stood out like a neon sign to him from the back of the lot.

  But there was no FOR SALE sign on it. Interesting. He got zoomed in on anyway, by an eager mechanic who looked hungry for a commission. Or just hungry for something that Rey could provide, in exchange for information.

  He was right. Two glassine envelopes of The Rage and Rey learned what he needed. The bitch didn’t have money for the repairs —he had let out a whistle when he heard what the problem was—-but she swore that she would have a deposit soon. One more glassine envelope, and he found out that even though she hadn’t left contact information, the last call she had made was just a few days ago. The dude had slipped the glassine envelope into one of the zippered pockets of his coveralls, after looking up the exact time and date in the owner’s call log.

  The mechanic’s face lit up, when he was promised more. All he had to do was he call Rey the minute the bitch was heard from again, especially if he could get information about where to locate her.

  In case the bitch had lied about getting money for the repair and skipped town instead, Rey’s next stops were the closest train and bus stations since the time of the call. Tons of signs everywhere for that Renfaire crap, but he guessed that was the big draw for this shithole of a town. It’d make sense that she’d hang out here because her car stopped working. There was no other reason to.

  His instincts were screaming that she was nearby, though, and after a few more creative persuasions, he confirmed that none of the ticket booth attendants nor security footage showed anyone matching her description leaving.

  Where to next. It was already getting dark.

  Rey’s hand throbbed and itched as he thought.

  She’d be needing a way to make money, and a place to stay. He looked again at the Renfaire ad—not hard, because they were posted every few feet, with a huge billboard right across from him besides— and smiled.

  This ad featured Ye Olde Taverne, which didn’t require admission to the Renfaire or —exqueeze me— Medieval Faire crap. It was on the grounds of the Faire, but open to everyone. It would be a good place to ask around for information. And who knows, maybe she’d even be there, working or looking for work.

  Progress.

  It wouldn’t be long now.

  Simon had called earlier. It would be another evening off for Lily, as all the boys were tending to some other emergency back at the house. Lily assumed it was something like the missing hiker, and as much as she would have wanted to see Col, it also warmed her to know that he —and the others—were using their skills for something so important.

  Simon assured her that the next night she would be starting her one-on-one dinner dates, the one with Aylwyn. But tonight, she was on her own.

  With her evening suddenly free, Lily immediately asked TraceyAnn for the additional shift, which the woman was only too happy to give her, especially as Luna was out again, with a new injury. It was nothing too serious—for Luna—but it did mean that Tracey Ann was even more grateful for additional coverage.

  She gave Lily profuse thanks, in between rants about Luna’s continual bouts of maladies and accidents, and a hefty dose of gossip about Alfonso’s mother, who was one of the scullery wenches at the Royal Court of Food. Lily had uh-huhed and oh-noed at the appropriate moments.

  Although Lily really didn’t give a flying fig about whether Alfonso’s mother was dating a vendor or someone from the Ops Team, it was preferable to being grilled about Miller, or having TraceyAnn try to wheedle out more gossipy tidbits about Simon or the boys. And while TraceyAnn vented about Luna, she would never fire the girl outright.

  But at least it kept TraceyAnn in a decent enough mood, even to the point where she insisted that Lily take an early dinner break at the Staff Caff. It wasn’t worth arguing about, and with TraceyAnn it was so much easier to acquiesce, so Lily gathered up her long linen skirts and walked over to the Staff Caff.

  It wasn’t that busy, probably owing to how early it was still for dinner, and Lily was able to see the familiar face of the Twins’ mother right away at one of the food stations. Rosa’s face immediately lit up when she saw Lily, but she was uncharacteristically hesitant, and jumpy. Her hand was shaking a bit as she ladled an extra portion of steamed vegetables for Lily.

  “Rosa, I can tell something’s the matter,” Lily said in a calm voice, as she took the plate. “I’m going to sit and eat here at the Staff Caff instead of taking the food back to the center, so if you can get away for a few minutes and chat, I’ll be back there for a bit. Or you can find me at Staff Childcare, I’m there tonight, too.”

  Instantly Rosa’s eyes shone with unshed tears. “I’ll come join you in a few. Thank you so much, Katie.”

  Someone else came up to Rosa’s station behind Lily, and the Twins’ mother looked at Lily apologetically.

  “See you soon,” Lily said, and made her way to one of the tables by the side. She had her pick of seats, so she chose one that she thought would allow her and Rosa to talk, if the mom could take the time. She settled in, watching the few employees
who were grabbing a meal break at this time. There were a few Ops and Security folks, whom she suspected had to take the rare opportunities to sit down and eat when they could get it. She figured that was why she never ran into Jordy or Rika seated at the Staff Caff. If they got food here, it would be as a grab n’ go.

  Not too long after, Rosa came over to where Lily was sitting. A big slab of strawberry cheesecake was placed in front of her empty plate, and the Staff Caff worker deposited a fresh fork and napkin next to it.

  “Rosa, you’re the best! You didn’t have to!” Lily looked up at the Twin’s mother, who was clearly anxious despite the smile on her face. She was nervously wringing her hands, and when she sat, she perched on the edge of the chair next to Lily, as if she was poised to run.

  Lily instantly reached out her hands to take the woman’s into her own, feeling them trembling.

  “Tell me what’s going on, Rosa.”

  Rosa looked down, obviously conflicted, and Lily squeezed her hands encouragingly.

  “I don’t know how to ask—so I apologize in advance.”

  Lily’s brow furrowed. “In my experience, sometimes it helps just to say it. Whatever’s bothering you. And I promise you, there won’t be any need for apologies, just for asking whatever it is.”

  The woman took a deep breath, lifting up her face to Lily’s. How very much like Clover she looked, Lily thought. Although she could see a lot of Brady’s features as well.

  “OK, well. Here goes. I’m supposed to go into the hospital tomorrow—” At Lily’s gasp, Rosa shook her head. “No, it’s just to remove my gallbladder, so barring any complications, I should be out the same day.”

  Lily nodded. The rule for the use of the Staff Childcare Center was that it could only be used if the employee was on the premises. No doubt this had to do with the care of the twins while Rosa was at the hospital. But as difficult as TraceyAnn could be, Lily couldn’t imagine that the older woman would be a stickler about that rule, given the circumstances.

  “So I’ll be recovering at home. The problem is that for a week or two, I’d have to be careful not to lift anything, and avoid any impact that could rupture the stitches.”

  Lily nodded, but she was starting to see what the dilemma was. Brady and Clover were extremely high energy. It would not be a good situation to have to care for them when recovering from surgery.

  “I had made arrangements with Luna to help out, she was supposed to pick up and drop off the twins at Staff Childcare each day she was working or on site, and stay with them at my apartment when Staff Childcare was closed.”

  “But she can’t do that now with her ankle.” Lily said. The last she heard, Luna was supposed to be on crutches for about a week at least to recover from her latest accident. She was still going to come into work, but assigned to tasks that didn’t require much moving around. And, Lily guessed that Rosa would not want the twins in a car that Luna was driving with a hurt ankle.

  “I had asked Luna, because I can’t afford to hire anyone. Especially if I can’t use Staff Childcare. And because of the situation with Clover and Brady’s father—” Rosa paused to collect herself, and Lily squeezed her hands again with compassion. “I’m already under close scrutiny by Child Protective Services, so I’m really desperate. I can’t let them go into a foster care situation.”

  She tore up, and her hands shook more.

  Lily nodded. In her past life, she had often worked with preschoolers from similar backgrounds. She knew that Rosa’s concerns were very real, especially with twins as high-spirited as Clover and Brady. And as sweet as Luna was, she already would have had her hands full with the two kids, even with two sturdy ankles. Handling them while on crutches would be impossible. It really wasn’t that much to ask of Lily, she was already at the Staff Childcare Center most of the time it was open except for—

  “A few hours each day I work for Simon directly, or at least with five members of his security team. It’s usually off-premises though. Starting tomorrow, I’m supposed to have dinner with them one each night, just to go over etiquette. Would that be a problem —if I can’t leave them at Staff Childcare— if I have Brady and Clover with me?”

  The relief that flooded Rosa’s face was palpable, as a smile spread across her face. She really was very pretty. “Oh my God, you’re actually considering it. I can’t thank you enough! Of course that would be fine, if it’s your judgment that whatever environment you were bringing to is ok for them.”

  Lily laughed. She was definitely not bringing them to Ye Olde Taverne! But at the same time, she was touched by Rosa’s trust in her.

  “You’re really good with my kids, and really caring. I know they’ve really lucked out with you.”

  Lily smiled. “In more ways than you can imagine, I feel like I’m the one that lucked out.” She thought of the car that Simon had lent her. “I’d have to install the car seats for them.”

  “Absolutely! We can do that tonight, at my apartment,” Rosa said. “That is—can you stay over tonight? I have to leave for the hospital a few hours before Staff Childcare opens.”

  That made more sense than Lily driving there before sunrise, so she agreed. It didn’t take long to make simple plans —it wouldn’t take Lily but a few minutes to throw an overnight bag together on her way back to the Center. And as soon as her shift ended, she would drive over to the apartment.

  Rosa impulsively hugged her, and ran back to her station, just in time for the dinner rush to begin in earnest.

  Lily wrapped up the slab of cheesecake. She’d bring it to TraceyAnn, who she knew would appreciate it. And maybe be cool with the twins in Staff Childcare while Lily started her one-on-one dinner dates the next night.

  Ye Olde Taverne had been packed since Rey arrived, hours ago. He had gotten himself a sweet spot by the bar, with a chatty bartender dressed as a buccaneer, complete with a stuffed parrot on his shoulder. Rey learned over the course of the evening and several of the beers on tap that no new Serving Wenches had been hired within the last week or so, but this was definitely the place to be if someone was looking to make quick connections, whatever kind they were looking for.

  Even without a costume, Rey had been hit on by several women, some wearing medieval inspired clothing, and some who didn’t need the theme as an excuse to wear something skintight, low cut, and flashing lots of thigh. Although the bottle blond bimbo wearing a too-small t-shirt inviting people to Shake Your Pirate Booty that hovered over her even smaller skirt fell somewhere in between.

  Rey also made another interesting discovery. This could also be another great place to move The Rage, which — as he found with the mechanic—was in short supply still in this area. This might be a backwoods place, but there were fifteen thousand or more attendees that passed through the gates of the Faire each day at the height of the season. Ye Olde Taverne made a killing from people passing through, as well as the staff and other folk that lived within a short radius.

  The Faire also drew a crowd for its traveling performers and specialty vendors. And the occasional tattoo artist or other body modification specialist from out of town, who might come here at night, drumming up business for the next day.

  It was ripe for someone bringing in The Rage. This piece of intel was sure to please El Monstruo. Although it had to come on a serving platter of Fuckin’ Bitch.

  Rey had been sitting here long enough for one night. He’d gotten useful info, it was time to leave before he got too smashed to drive. The last thing he needed was to get pulled over for a DUI. After leaving a decent tip—just enough to not stand out as a bad or generous tipper—he moved his ass off the stool he’d been warming for hours, shook off the pirate booty blonde in the crowds, and exited through the oaken doors.

  Later, he was going to be thankful he had parked a fair distance from the entrance. He was going to think that each step he had taken all the way to his car was worth it, when he started up the engine, looked in his rearview mirror, and did a double take.

&
nbsp; Did he drink too much? Because this was too good to be true. He squinted, leaned forward. He saw a woman wearing a long summery dress in the parking lot who —after being surrounded by so much cleavage and corsetry at Ye Olde Taverne—stood out with how modest her outfit was. He didn’t see her at the tavern, but it was crowded enough that she could have been in one of the areas that escaped his notice. Especially since Pirate Booty kept blocking his view, with her big…..hair.

  The girl opened the door to a red car that he could make out was a late model Subaru SUV. But as she got in, for a split second her face was angled upwards, just enough for the bright light overhead to illuminate it.

  And give her away.

  It was Lily. He fought the urge to fistpump in the car. He was right to have come to Ye Olde Taverne. And Bucky the Buccaneer Bartender was right that it was the place where connections were made. And fates were sealed.

  “I’ve got you now, bitch.” Rey smiled.

  As she pulled out of her space, he started to follow her.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Why did he even bother trying to sleep? Col had been tossing and turning, since retiring for the night. Oh yes, he had thought the responsible thing to do was to get a good night’s rest, what with all the late night escapades his wolf had gotten him into.

  And it seemed his wolf had another one in store, as every fiber of his being was scrabbling to get out of the otherwise perfectly comfortable bed, in his otherwise perfectly appointed room. He couldn’t stand being here a minute longer, the call of his wolf was too strong. It gave him just enough mental acuity to pull on the pair of dark jeans he had on earlier, without taking the time to remove the lanyard with staff key cards that he had threaded through his belt loop. Leaving his feet bare, he ran downstairs to where a single yank of the handle released him to the nighttime air of the backyard. He took in a deep breath, and willed the shift. A few seconds later, his wolf bolted into the woods, with no hesitation nor doubt as to its destination.