Col: His Destined Mate

by Georgette St. Clair

  It would have helped if he knew what it meant at that time, of course. It wasn’t until after that it was interpreted for him.

  It wasn’t until after he and Miller reached the site of the alarm. And indeed, there was motion that had activated it.

  Holy Guacamole, there was motion.

  The lids of the five stone sarcophagi lay smashed on the ground, beside where they had been pushed off with tremendous strength.

  Five enormous males, larger than any he had ever seen live, and possibly even on screen — without some CGI enhancement, or help of the steroid variety, and most definitely without a gram of carbs— were in various stages of sitting or standing in their respective sarcophagi, recovering from that tremendous output of energy after however many centuries they had been unconscious.

  They were dressed in thick leather armor and furs, and had looked at Simon first with distrust, rousing themselves into a readiness to fight.

  Miller had instantly readied his gun, blocking Simon with his body. The five men had started growling at him, a medley of strange languages unlike anything except….the pattern of syllables that Simon had been trained to say, since the time he could speak. That had been ingrained in his memory, even after his parents were gone. Simon slipped under Miller’s arm before the older man could hold him back, and quickly began the cadences from his childhood.

  His incantation cut through the babble of the five large men, until their voices trailed off into a stunned silence.

  Later, when Tybalt, Merek, Barric, Aylwyn and Col, had learned enough to communicate with him, he learned what he had said: My Lords, you have arisen. I live to serve you.

  It was an ancient language, in fact the formal dialect of the Royal Court, that nobles and those that served them used. It was understood by all five, although, as he also was told much later, they came from five different tribes, and spoke their own dialects.

  But they spoke the language of warriors, and for that he was grateful that Miller helped guide them into the present day.

  Which was Simon’s job. Because it wasn’t like he was left a fucking instruction manual, after his parents’ death. No “How to Care for People Who Could Use You to Pick Their Teeth When Their Mission is to Fight”, with the appendix on What the Mission Is, and How to Help Them. There wasn’t even an app on how to teach grown men to use a modern toilet. Yeah, that first week was fun.

  His favorite part was finding out that the sarcophagus lids that had been destroyed contained some sort of inscriptions on the inside, probably meant for the Waryeors’ eyes. Before they did the Hulk Smash! bit and shattered the megaton stone covers into the worst jigsaw puzzle ever.

  Oh, and Simon remembered. The smashed Sarcophagi lids, which probably held The Answer Keys to Everything? That wasn’t the only mystery. When the Waryeors were able to make themselves understood in the underground chambers, they had an urgent question.

  Where were the other two sarcophagi that were supposed to be with them?

  Simon still didn’t have an answer for that, either.

  He was tapping the locket inside his shirt, as he always did when he was stressed out. His pity party did uncover one thing he was good at.

  Suckage.

  “So this Simon Chevalier is the owner of the Faire, and these creatures are his bodyguards?” Cadmus used his Waterman pen as a pointer on the printout that Jordy had brought to him. He was well pleased with her. This time. She was sitting in front of him in the kitchen of the house he had rented, eating one of her disgustingly sweet pastries that almost offended in its artificiality.

  Today’s t-shirt had a picture of a cartoon witch named Wendy, and he remembered how Resting Witch Face had greeted her by name.

  Still, her annoying idiosyncrasies were worth putting up with, if she continued to bring him rich intel such as this. She was almost vibrating at his praise. That, or the high blood sugar that she was no doubt experiencing with each bite of the thing she called a Pop Tart.

  “Yes, although he has them as additional security for the Faire at times. See the staff lanyards some of them have on? At least one of them have been at the Faire each day since this was taken.”

  “Interesting.” Cadmus contemplated the implications of that. Was only the one that was captured a man-wolf? Or could it really be that all five were? It seemed doubtful that the owner was a magical creature, but not entirely impossible. And wasn’t there another person he saw with them that day, nestled in between two of the males as if she were a prize?

  “There was a woman with them at the food area,” Cadmus said, holding the printouts close, studying the visages. “She was average sized, at least in comparison with these creatures. Brown hair, in her twenties, nothing particularly special about her appearance, although the creatures and the owner seemed to find her attractive.”

  “That could be a lot of people at the Faire,” Jordy was thinking out loud. “Did you recall if she was wearing a staff lanyard?”

  “Possibly.” Cadmus tried to remember. “It did look as if she had something obnoxiously neon yellow around her neck, but I can’t be sure.”

  “If there was, it sounds like my former roommate, who’s a new employee.” Jordy thought of the two driver’s licenses that she had uncovered. A former roommate with secrets. That would probably be a good place to start. If nothing else, she’d want to look into it, just for shits and giggles. “I’ll look into it, and if it’s not her, I’ll see what else I can find out.”

  “Good, good.” Cadmus almost rubbed his hands together with glee, but instead he held the photo that showed Col’s face the clearest close to his face. And thought to himself.

  Soon.

  Chapter Thirty-Nine

  Rika had come by Staff Childcare earlier, pulling Lily out to speak without TraceyAnn “accidentally” overhearing. Rosa was improving, but she’d need to be there for at least a few more days, and it was safer if the twins stayed away for the time being.

  It meant that Clover and Brady would be staying at the house indefinitely. Surprisingly, even Simon had insisted on it. Over the past few days, while he wasn’t exactly volunteering to babysit, he was comfortable around the two to even suggest baking cookies for them.

  Lily was gratified to see that Simon was loosening up, or at least there was a marked difference in his formerly shy and awkward demeanor. Even now, he was hanging out with Tybalt in the massive living room, which was a large indoor playground for the twins and the boys. Barric and Merek in particular had gone through the most dramatic turnarounds with Brady and Clover. Lily never would have guessed that they would turn out to be the ones to enjoy romping around with the preschoolers, but they seemed to genuinely have fun.

  Although maybe their playing hide and seek right now in this huge mansion wasn’t necessarily the best of ideas. Her imagination ran rampant with the thoughts of where a five year old might easily find him or herself wedged.

  Lily forced herself to relax. It was helping take the kids’ minds off of wondering where their mother was, especially since the high pitched shrieks of laughter let Lily know that Barric and Merek kept easily finding them.

  And when it wasn’t noisy, she worried as well. The quiet told her that the game had ended. And the two were— upstairs? She was about to get to her feet to go look for them, when she heard the thundering of feet on the stairs coming down. Barric and Merek emerged into the living room, each with one of the twins in a massive arm. Brady and Clover were holding pictures.

  The two giant men knelt in front of Lily, depositing the twins so they could present the pictures to her, as Aylwyn entered through the door from the backyard.

  “The two younglings have drawn wonderful portraits,” Barric said, with mirth distorting his voice.

  “Exceptional likenesses,” Merek agreed, on the verge of laughter.

  Lily took the pictures. Each had a crayon drawing of a large dog-like animal. The one that Brady had done was dark black, with heavy swirls of crayon for fur. It had sharp t
eeth and looked menacing. The one that Clover drew was brown, although when Lily tilted the sheet of paper she could see swirls of white crayon. The animal was obviously meant to have brown and white markings, although it too had sharp, pointed teeth and huge paws.

  “These are great!” Lily exclaimed. She was impressed at the level of detail, and wondered where the twins had seen animals like these.

  Brady pointed to the black crayon drawing. “That doggie’s Mewwic.”

  Clover instantly chimed in about the brown and white crayon drawing. “That doggie’s Bawwic.”

  Aylwyn’s laughter sounded behind Lily, but she thought it was adorable. “I’m sure that Barric and Merek are happy that you named your doggies after them.”

  “No!” Brady protested. “That doggie’s Mewwic.”

  Clover had to repeat hers as well. “That doggie’s Bawwic.”

  Lily heard a snort, and it was Barric’s barely suppressed laughter. Merek was not even bothering, as a peal of laughter burst out, and then all three of the large guys were in hysterics. The two kids added their gleeful chortles.

  Well, okay, then. Lily didn’t know what the joke was, but if the guys thought it was funny that two five year olds drew them as dogs, then far be it for her to rain on their parade.

  She glanced over, to make a face and shrug at the two other sane people in the room who weren’t laughing. Except Simon and Tybalt had the weirdest expressions on their faces.

  Like they’d gladly tar and feather Barric and Merek – but for what?

  “My bad,” Barric said, using an expression that obviously Aylwyn taught him. Merek repeated it as well, finding it funny.

  Col had come back in time to hear the latest that had happened in the house while he was on patrol. Katie Cooper was upstairs, putting the two children to bed with their nighttime rituals. The Waryeors, Simon and Miller were talking freely for the moment.

  He had pieced together that in playing a game that involved hunting for the children who deliberately hid themselves, Barric and Merek had shifted in order to use their senses better. They saw no harm in doing so, for it added to great hilarity for themselves, and for the children.

  And that was the problem, was it not? Barric and Merek saw no harm in showing their wolf forms, they had barely understood the need to cover up their human forms whilst in the house.

  “It’ll be ok, if the kids talk about it people will take it as their imaginations being active. And over time the kids will forget, especially if I double down on getting them movies with talking animals and special effects.” Miller had already outlined a plan of action. Col had much admiration for the man. If he were a Shiftwere, he would likely be a Vixar of his own War-Pack.

  “And what of Katie?” Simon asked. He was looking at Merek and Barric. “You two need to be careful that she doesn’t see you.”

  “Whyfore?” Barric shrugged, a slight defensive tone in his voice. He tipped his head towards Col. “She is soon to know, if she does not already.”

  “What?” Simon swung his eyes between the two Waryeors.

  “Katie may be his Destine.” Merek said. He had somehow found himself a beer from the winter box and was gulping it down. Aylwyn emerged behind him, an opened beer in each hand, the drops of water clearly pearling on the glass, proof of its cold, crisp state. He handed one to Col, but Barric snatched it away with one large paw. The blond Waryeor shrugged apologetically, but Miller entered the room with beers for everyone else before a fight could erupt.

  “Katie might be your Destine?” Simon was now openly goggling at Col, and pushing his glasses up.

  “She does not yet know of my—of our natures.” Col admitted. Perhaps the beer was indeed a good idea. He took a swig, mostly to let the chilled liquid settle him.

  “If Katie is a Destine, then she must be mate-bonded, and without much more delay.” Tybalt’s voice had the calm that Col was missing.

  “Well, I’m happy to volunteer if Col isn’t up to it,” Aylwyn was quick to say, with a laugh.

  “I’m happy to make your fur into a cape, if it were not so mangy and flea- ridden,” Col snarled.

  “And I,” Barric growled. Or perhaps the growl was coming from Col.

  “I’m joking, dude.” Aylwyn laughed, looking at Col. “Anyone can see you’ve got it bad.”

  “I was not making a jape,” Barric muttered.

  Only a sharp look from the Vixar kept Col from leaping at Barric, to rip out his throat.

  “I want Col to keep telling his story,” Brady’s voice was plaintive. But at least it was coming from a boy with teeth already brushed clean, wearing a fresh pair of pajamas, and in between his sheets clutching a stuffed monkey.

  His sister was likewise in her bed, holding the toy penguin close to her chest.

  In between them was Lily, seated on the very same ottoman that Col had occupied. She had already changed into a cotton t-shirt dress that stopped a few inches above her knees. She didn’t mind wearing the medieval clothes while working at the Faire, but she found that she missed having her legs bare.

  “I want to hear more about the Dess -TEEN,” Clover said.

  “I’m sure when Col has some time, he’ll come back and tell more of his story,” Lily said to Brady. To Clover, she added, “And then I can hear more about the Destine too.”

  “But you can tell us about it, since Col isn’t here now,” the little girl reasoned.

  “Well, I can try,” Lily paused to think of what to say. “I imagine that the Destine is like the perfect girl for the boy warrior in Col’s story.”

  “I bet she’s beautiful.” Clover breathed.

  “I’m sure that the boy warrior thinks she is the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen.” Lily said. You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, Katie Cooper. There was a little leap in her belly at the memory of his voice, that first night they made love.

  And to Brady, she continued. “The Destine also helps silence the self-doubt in the boy warrior, all the fear and worry that he isn’t good enough, or that he isn’t what his father is trying to shape him to be. And do you know why?”

  “Why?” the little boy’s eyes were wide, as he clutched the soft monkey even more fiercely.

  “Because he can see in her eyes the mighty warrior he truly is. When he’s with her, he believes that anything is possible. Because when they’re together, everything is. And she reminds him, that life is to be savored and enjoyed, that there’s a reason to do all the things that you’re supposed to do, as long as you are with someone who makes you so incredibly happy.”

  “That’s a good story, Katie.” Clover yawned and Lily lifted her blanket to tuck her and the penguin in. She turned to Brady, whose eyes were already closed. She did the same with his blanket, softly brushing back his hair.

  He was so peaceful, a little boy asleep. She wondered what Col had looked like, as a boy warrior. At nights like this, in perfect repose, recovering from harsh days of brutal training to become the man that he was, dreaming of that day he would meet his Destine.

  And then the realization swept through her, seizing her heart with a fierce grip. She wished with all her might, that she could be that Destine for him.

  Chapter Forty

  Col had been listening outside the children’s door. He had come up to find Katie, and could not help but listen when he heard her words about the Destine. She, who had never heard of Destines until the night of his story, had intuited correctly what they were. In the guise of a children’s bedtime story, she had eloquently woven words that reached out to him, ensnaring him with their truth as if they formed a fine meshed net.

  In her presence, his father’s voice, the one that had ever pushed him, goaded him onwards, was completely silenced. And it was true. With her, he felt anything was possible.

  Mayhap it was his longing for her that clouded his senses, but it had sounded to his ears that she was desirous of being his Destine.

  At that moment, as if she knew of his presence, she tu
rned, and their eyes locked. A smile was on her face, delight at seeing him filling the jambs of the children’s door. No words were necessary, as she moved swiftly towards him.

  They would join together again under the stars.

  Her fingers were interlaced with Col’s, and even that small contact thrilled her in a way that she had never believed possible. His thumb stroked her palm gently, a caress that she could feel inside her hidden depths. They walked in an easy pace, on a different path tonight than one they had taken before.

  Lily felt safe beside his large form, and was able to take in the magic of their nighttime walk in the cool, crisp air. The comforting sounds of the crickets and nighttime birds, the crunch of their steps on the twigs and dried leaves of the path, all lulled her into an easy pace beside him. When she brushed against him at one point, she smelled his unique scent, which she could only describe as manly, powerful, and hinting of the depths of the woods that they ventured further into.

  They broke into a small meadow, where the flickering of the fireflies added to the charm of the blanket of grass and wildflowers.

  “It’s beautiful.” Lily’s voice was hushed. Col pulled her into him, and she nuzzled against the cotton stretched across his hard, muscular chest. He had one arm around her, and the other moving up towards the back of her head.

  Her body tilted towards his, feeling the strength of his massive body pressed up on hers.

  She tilted her face back, inviting his kiss, and as he started to lean his handsome head in—

  He cursed. Loudly.

  What the—?

  Col pulled apart from her quickly in one smooth movement, and positioned himself at an angle in front of her. He was an immovable wall, blocking her.

  “Col, what—” Lily’s voice was sharp with indignation, and she instantly scrambled around him.