Bear's Strength

by J. L. Madore

  I offer her what I hope is a respectful smile, though it is a challenge. “Not during our mating alignment, no. Even if you don’t respect our feelings on being the chosen quint, the Fae Council placed priority on readying Calli to transform and open the gate to StoneHaven. That means we need privacy to continue in—how did you put it before you threw me out—our tawdry behavior.”

  My soul crystal warms against my sternum. I don’t know what it means, but it feels to me that it senses the rightness of my commitment to Calli and our mating bonds.

  “Come now,” I gesture toward the living room again. “Let us finish our business. Our mates will be home in a few hours and I, for one, am looking forward to having the house to ourselves. I’m sure you remember how it was when you and Father first mated. It’s an exciting time.”

  Hawk

  I’m still mulling over Jaxx’s ‘trust the boundaries’ comment when the second team arrives. The SUV eases off the road and pulls in behind ours. Heart-to-heart time is over.

  “Okay, let’s see what they found out. Shall we?”

  My phone rings and I check the caller ID. And just like that, my concentration is blown. “Jaxx, you go ahead, I have to take this.”

  The jaguar strides off to chat with team two about what they learned at the storage unit and I pull up my big-boy pants and answer my phone. “Jayne. What do you need?”

  “Where are you? I sent a courier with the monthly reports to Northwood Hall but was told you weren’t the one who signed for them.”

  “Who did?”

  “Maggie Stanton.”

  “Fine. That’s Jaxx’s mother. I trust she won’t do anything duplicitous with the monthlies. I’ll review them when I return. Is there anything else?”

  She sighs on the other end of the line and I can picture the disapproving frown that goes along with it. “Whether or not your mother-in-law assumed our paperwork is not the point. We co-run a corporation, darling. I need to know where you are in case something urgent happens. I checked the travel logs and—”

  Of course, she did. “You needn’t keep tabs on me, Jayne. Things I do outside of the FCO aren’t your concern.”

  “So, your trip to Oregon this morning is personal?”

  “Brant has a sleuth matter to attend to in his home territory. We are a package deal now, the five of us.”

  “Isn’t his sleuth’s business buffalo ranching?”

  “Among other things, yes.”

  There’s a long pause and then she sighs. “Hawk, listen to me, I don’t like where our relationship has gone. You’re mated now. I accept that. It wasn’t something either of us chose, but we are a spectacular team. Don’t throw away years of trust and partnership simply because the universe screwed you over.”

  I blink at the night sky and check my mirrors. Two weeks ago, I would have agreed with her. A lot can happen in two weeks. A lot has happened.

  “Our estrangement isn’t because of my mating, it’s because you orchestrated a clusterfuck ambush on Calli. You deliberately misled her and blatantly overstepped to retain a hold on me you never truly possessed.”

  “How was I to guess she’d devolve into a lunatic?”

  I revisit the scene of me tackling Jayne behind the couch as fireballs blazed past my head. It will likely be funny one day but today isn’t that day. If I had it to do over again, I wouldn’t have saved Jayne. I would’ve let her fry or at least get singed. “You underestimated her and were intentionally cruel. Plain, and simple.”

  “And I apologized. What more would you have me do?”

  It pisses me off that she thinks a few words can erase the damage done. It pisses me off more that I used those exact words after I broke Calli’s barriers down to save Jaxx.

  Words are not enough. I shall forever endeavor to make amends for that. “Nothing. There’s nothing to be done except for your job. Is there anything else?”

  “Only that Hunter asked about your return earlier. I believe he has Operations matters he wants to discuss with you and he, like many, are finding it unsettling that the man at the helm of this corporation hasn’t been at the helm for weeks.”

  I end the call and roll my eyes. “If only there were three of me, maybe I could be everywhere I need to be at once.”

  CHAPTER SIX

  Brant

  Lukas and I maneuver the angled sections of the bad guy’s rooftop, search the areas around the house we can safely access without tipping anyone off to our presence, and return to our starting position to compare notes.

  Taking a knee to keep out of sight, I point a thumb behind me. “On the south side of the mansion, there’s a pool house. Windows dark, door locked. By the size of it, there couldn’t be more than one bedroom. Definitely not big enough to house fourteen gifted kids. On the east, against the perimeter wall, there’s a garden shed about the size of a normal one-car garage.”

  Lukas dips his chin. “The north gives us a four-car garage similar to the one at the place we’re staying. Could be a loft apartment above there. I didn’t see any guards, but we don’t know anything about their captors. Maybe they’ve washed or programmed these kids so thoroughly they’re not worried about escape.”

  Damn, I hate thinking about them being mentally manipulated like that. “Can Hawk’s man Fiske undo the memory wash he performed? Is there a chance these kids can go home and everything be like it was?”

  Lukas shrugs. “Not my department. By my experience, though, there’s never any ‘going back’ when something as disruptive as this happens. Even if Fiske can undo what was done, the trauma will leave an echo.”

  “I guess it’s too soon to worry about that. First, we’ve got to find the kids and secure them.”

  “True enough. We’ll start our search in the garage and then move into the main house. There’s a service entrance at the back I can work my magic on to gain access. Good to go?”

  “Always. I’ve got your six.”

  We move out and make our way down to the garage. It’s a slow progression because we’re taking every precaution not to be discovered by perimeter guards cloaked for invisibility. I’m accustomed to being more of a rush in and split heads FCO Enforcer rather than a covert FCO Investigations Officer but I follow Lukas’s lead and we stay hidden.

  The garage is a dead end.

  The loft above the cars is used as a workout center and does not indicate that anyone stays up there.

  We’re back outside and accessing the staff entrance to the laundry room when a set of car headlights sweep the lawn. We backflat against the building and I hope there is enough shadow to conceal a man of my size.

  The hum of the garage door sends a wave of warm and tinglies crawling over my skin. If they’d arrived five minutes earlier, Lukas and I would’ve been inside searching for the access point to the loft.

  I ease a foot or two away from the entrance to make sure I’m good and hidden.

  The thunk of two doors precedes the distant convo of two men. By the sounds of things, they are worker bees sent out for supplies. The garage door hums again and descends as our two runners carry their purchases around the front and into the house.

  Lukas times the opening of the staff door with the beep-ba-beep-beep of the front door chime and we’re in.

  From here on, it’s hand signals and listening. It takes us another fifteen minutes to sweep the house, learn there are five men inside, and sounds of pre-pubescent laughter coming from the third floor.

  I text our findings to Hawk and his response comes back immediately. Sending team two in to secure the house. Position yourselves to secure the kids.

  Finally, we agree. My thinking exactly. I show Lukas the screen of my phone and we’re on the move again.

  Lukas stops in the stairwell ahead of me and signals for me to hold position. The third floor is lit like Times Square on New Year’s. There’s no chance of us getting an inch up the hall without being in full view.

  Lukas checks his watch and leans against the wall.
<
br />   I get it. We’ll wait until all hell breaks loose downstairs and then make a rush. The only problem with that is we don’t know what we’re facing until shit hits.

  Are there cloaked guards? Are there guards in with the kids? If there is a guard in with the teens, we’ll be forcing a hostage situation. How many kids are up here? With more questions than answers, we sit tight and bide our time.

  Calli

  Kotah’s mom is a conniving bitch. I’d never say that to him but I can think it—and I do. While he and his sister are busy chatting with Raven and taking notes on duties and schedules and who they can depend on for what within the palace hierarchy, Malayna takes advantage of every opportunity to ingratiate herself into what’s to come.

  He’ll need her for this. The Fae Council will expect her to be included in that. According to her take on things, there are too many moving parts for her to be considered dispensable. If Kotah and Keyla are to have any chance at success, they need to sweep the idea of going it alone out of their heads and accept her humble offer to help them.

  “I have a question,” I say, interrupting her current tangent of self-promo. “What happens when the Northwood term is up? Who’s next on the ruling roster?”

  “The Highborn Elves of Lorea,” Raven answers.

  “And how long will Kotah and Keyla be expected to continue their duties after the elves are in power?”

  “There is a six-week transition period when the duties are taken over. Three weeks before the elves take power where they have access to you and Nakotah to discuss duties, and then another three weeks after they’re sworn in where you two shadow them and offer guidance when required.”

  “And that’s it? Then it’s their show?”

  Raven nods. “Of course. Each Prime is encouraged to run his time of service how he and his chosen leaders see fit. We have found this timeframe more than adequate for the transition of power in the past.”

  “Perfect, so then, since Kotah and Keyla are a week into meetings with you and already have such a thorough working knowledge of palace life, there shouldn’t be any problem with them seizing the reins of Kotah’s rule when the time comes that he’s called to step up.”

  Raven bites her bottom lip and I catch the furtive glance she casts towards her queen. “That is correct.”

  “Excellent.”

  “What are you playing at, Calliope?” Malayna says, her glare sending ocular daggers to impale me.

  “Only that if each Fae Prime is encouraged to take his rule in his own direction, Kotah deserves the same opportunity. He’s incredibly insightful and compassionate. I think he’ll raise the bar of an integrated fae existence to new levels once we open the gates to StoneHaven. It’s an exciting time. Maybe that’s even part of the reason he was chosen as one of the Guardians of the Phoenix. Maybe his destiny reaches beyond what any past Prime has been asked to do.”

  I reach forward for my raspberry cooler and regret it. I’d almost gotten accustomed to the vibrator and having Kotah’s mother here certainly dampens all moods of pleasure, but the shift in position does me no favors.

  By the smirk on Kotah’s face, he’s read my dilemma. “Here, let me.” He hands me my drink and chuckles. “Do you need anything else, Chigua?”

  Just your cock hammering inside me while I come apart at the seams. I take two deep gulps. “No. I’m good.”

  Raven is gracious enough to restart the discussion and everyone ignores the haughty indignance pluming off Kotah’s mother. Grow the hell up, queenie. You’re not all that.

  Way to go, girlfriend. Sock it to the bitch.

  I startle and search the faces of the others. Did they not hear her? Riley? Riley, can you hear me?

  I don’t realize I’ve shifted to the edge of my chair until Kotah puts a hand on my thigh. “Calli? Are you well?”

  I blink and meet the concerned gaze of Keyla. “You went white as a sheet there.”

  The Prima makes a tsking sound and frowns. “You’ll soon find drama and histrionics don’t get you far in the fae court. Even if my son is too hormone-struck to see through you, others will.”

  I laugh. “Then how have you gotten anything done?”

  “Enough,” Kotah says, standing. “I think we’ve had enough for one day. I’m sorry you both traveled all this way for so little progress. Raven, perhaps next time you’ll stick to our agreed plans, or if you need an in-person visit, you should come alone.”

  By the looks of Raven and Keyla, they strongly agree.

  It’s Keyla who speaks, though. “Mother, perhaps you and I could step outside and enjoy some evening air while Kotah and Raven finish up. It’s a lovely evening and there is a gazebo beyond the waterfall of the pool. Calli, could you take notes for me?”

  I accept her notepad and settle back into my seat. “Of course. Enjoy your walk.”

  Hawk

  “Jaxx and I will load into the backseat for the incursion,” I say. Jaxx arches a brow and I shrug. “It’s more important for the security team to exit the vehicle quickly and get inside the house. We’ll await the all-clear.”

  He nods and climbs inside. “I didn’t realize you knew how to take the backseat for anythin’, avian.”

  I chuckle and climb in to take the seat beside him. Maybe I haven’t given Jaxx enough credit. He’s actually a funny guy.

  “Have I got a greenlight, sir?” Griggs, the team leader of team two asks, meeting my gaze in the rear-view mirror.

  “We’re a go,” I say, gripping the seatback of the middle row with one hand and the holy-shit handle with the other.

  The female, Hannah, raises the detonator for the explosives placed on the gate. “Bango in three, two, one.”

  The gates blow inward with a bang and a wall of smoke. Griggs drops his foot on the gas and we ram past the debris and head toward the main house.

  There’s nothing stealth about our entry. The moment the explosion goes off, floodlights activate along the perimeter walls and we’ve likely drawn the attention of everyone inside the house. Hopefully, that includes fourteen exceptional teens.

  The truck jolts to a halt at the front door and the team explodes out of the vehicle. Three rush the front door, and the other two split and circle the building in opposite directions.

  “Well, that was exciting,” Jaxx says, releasing his hold. “As EMS, I never get to be part of the action. This is fun.”

  We exit the truck and I draw my Sig. Scanning sightlines while moving to the back of the truck, I ensure nobody has a direct line of sight to either of us. “I’ve got a full med-kit back here for you, should you need it.”

  Jaxx joins me and while he’s looking through the offerings, I monitor the sightlines and watch his back. He may be a gifted paramedic, but he has no tactical instinct.

  I make a mental note to add that to the daily training sessions. Thus far, we’ve been so focused on bringing Calli up to speed, we haven’t gotten familiar with the skills and attributes of the guardians.

  That was an oversight that needs to be rectified.

  We can all fight, I have no doubts about that. Our wildling sides and aggression levels weigh in heavily on that front. What we need to do is hone tactical awareness.

  Bang. Bang.

  Two shots go off inside and Jaxx stiffens and grabs the kit. “That can’t be good.”

  I gesture for him to round the truck so we’re standing with the vehicle between us and any hostile force exiting the house on a run. “Take this. Do you remember how to shoot?”

  All FCO officers, no matter what their position, are taught basic offense and defense before being allowed to work in the field.

  Jaxx sets the medical bag on the ground between his feet and accepts the gun. “Remember? Silly, Hawk. Did you forget I’m from Texas?”

  “Not everyone in Texas is raised with a gun in his hand.”

  “Everyone I know was. In my circles, gun control means buying one when you really want two.”

  A clamor at the front of the ho
use has Brant tackling a runner down three stone steps. Jaxx and I are coming around the hood of the truck when a teenaged girl does a flying dive off the top step and wraps herself around our bear.

  “Shit. Is that one of the kids we’re saving?”

  “Looks like it.”

  Brant realizes that as well because he’s fighting with his opponent while making no attempt to dislodge the banshee starfish beating on him from behind.

  I fire a warning shot into the night sky and it’s enough to get the girl’s attention. Brant takes advantage of her distraction and shucks her off into a hedge.

  The guy he’s fighting breaks free and flees down the driveway like he’s been shot out of a rocket. Brant takes chase and I fall in behind him as backup.

  “Jaxx, you’ve got the girl.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Kotah

  Once Keyla escorts Mother outside, the toxicity levels in the air drop way down. It never ceases to amaze me how one tiny woman can contaminate and monopolize every situation. If there was an Olympics for personal and political manipulation, my mother would clean up the medals.

  “I’m so sorry,” Raven says, offering us both a sincere apology. “I had every intention of joining you in a video chat. Somehow your mother found out we had a meeting scheduled and here we are.”

  I wave her concern away. “Not for one minute, did I think any of this is your fault.”

  I get up to stretch my legs and stroll over to the glass patio doors. Mother and my sister are headed out toward the gazebo. Good. A little distance will do all of us some good.

  How Keyla can stand to spend time alone with her I shall never truly understand. It speaks to my sister’s character that she has the strength to deal with her without devolving into manipulation herself.

  “I’m well aware of my mother’s tricks. I don’t hold you responsible for her sudden appearance in our lives. She doesn’t appreciate losing her hold on me. It’s only going to get worse as my position solidifies.”

  Raven nods and offers Calli an appraising smile. “That bit about the elves and the time of transition was brilliant. Well played. It’s not every day that someone hits a home run against the Prima.”