“What do you mean? He didn’t hurt your father, did he?” she asked.
Leo sighed and knelt down next to her, taking her hand. “Our father has been on a downward slide now for over fifty years. After a certain time without a mate to stabilize us, our emotions go haywire. It was time for our father to start over. He will be born again, and maybe he’ll find the one he’s supposed to be with this time. We can only hope.”
“What do you mean reborn? I’m sorry, I’m lost,” Dixie said as she turned to study Leo.
“We don’t die when we are killed. We are just born in another time. When we are older, we remember our past life, where we are judged if we have done something wrong, like my father will be. He’ll have to earn his wings all over again after trying to hurt you.”
“Eae killed his father?” she squeaked as tears filled her eyes. “But he shouldn’t have done that…” Dixie cried, looking down at her hands. “I knew this wasn’t going to work.”
“Enough,” Eae’ said as he entered the room. He spun her chair around and gripped her chin, making her look up at him. “You are not the only one he’s gone after. This is not the first time our father has behaved this way.” Eae sighed and pulled her up into his arms, hugging her.
“He attacked our mother years ago and almost killed her.” He rubbed his chin on her head. “This had been coming for a while.” He looked down at her. “Never think this was your fault, because it wasn’t.” Eae kissed Dixie’s lips softly before pushing the blanket off her and scooping her up in his arms.
He didn’t say a word as he carried her out of the office and back into the main area of the club, where he dumped her right into the pool.
The water was ice-cold. Talk about a fucking wake up call! Dixie thought. She pushed her way up to the surface to see him standing there.
“Yes? You were going to say something?” Eae asked, and Dixie wasn’t stupid; she knew what that voice meant.
“Will you help me up, Master Eae?” she asked, smiling up at him. He studied her before reaching down and offering her his hand. Dixie didn’t even think about it before she was yanking said Master into the water with her.
“Oops, I’m so, so, sorry, Master,” she giggled, then burst out laughing at his expression when he surfaced.
“You are going to pay for that.” He grasped her hand and pulled her into his arms. “Are you feeling better?”
She stared at him before giving in, resting her head on his chest. “I don’t understand. Aren’t you hurting?”
Eae carried her to the stairs, where Leo held out a towel. He wrapped her up in it and sat her down at a nearby table. Eae came and sat down in the chair next to her, totally dry and in a different pair of pants, but his shirt was now gone.
He smiled and tapped her nose. “Yes, I’m hurt that it came down to this, but there was no choice. Father wouldn’t have stopped till you were dead or he went on to his next life. Do I blame you? No, and I never will. Now stop worrying about us.” He leaned back and stretched his legs out in front of him, studying her. “You have a punishment coming, but you need to feed before we do anything else. Don’t think we don’t notice the changes you’re hiding from us.” Eae sat forward again. “This will stop now. In time, you will trust us enough to tell us you are hurting, but for now—” He looked up and stiffened. “Mother, you should have gone home. What’s wrong?” Eae stood and helped his mother into the chair he had been sitting in.
“He’s not dead. Your uncle took him when you left. I tried to track them, but I lost them.” Dixie’s stepmother turned to her and smiled. “You look like your father. I’m so sorry about this mess, but I promise my sons will keep you safe. I just wish this would have ended tonight.”
“Mom, go home to your husband,” Eae said from behind Dixie. ”It’s Valentine’s Day, and you should be spending it with him. We’ll be fine, and I’ll make sure we come by soon so Dixie can see her father.” He settled his hand on her shoulder and squeezed, like he knew she was going to open her mouth.
His mother laughed. “Good luck, dear. You are going to need it with these two. They’re stubborn, but they also give those they love everything they have. Welcome to the family.” She stood, then leaned down and kissed Dixie’s cheek. “I would have never hurt you, Dixie. You mean too much to my mate. Hopefully one day we will be friends, at least.”
Dixie touched the woman’s hand. “Thank you for giving my father hope again. I thought he’d never find someone to love again. If you make him happy, then I’ll be happy. By the way, the woman behind you sons is Lilly. She was raised in our home, and she’s’ like a sister to me. You may have noticed she’s kind of protective of me.” Dixie glanced behind her, and sure enough, there was Lilly holding the shoe.
“But we are going to have to teach her how to use knives,” Dixie mumbled. “Lilly, go put the damn shoe back in the locker. I’m fine.”
Her stepmother laughed and patted her shoulder. “Now that is a true friend. We’ll see you in a couple days, dear, and please bring Lilly. Boys, you treat her right. If she’s your true mate, you only get this one time to make her yours.” And with that, she disappeared.
“I don’t think I’m ever going to get used to all this,” Dixie mumbled.
Chapter Four
Eae turned and glanced at Trey. “We’re going to take Dixie home. I think it’s time to spend some quiet time with our woman, and we have plans for her.” He looked down at Lilly and smiled. “Are you going to be okay? Do you need us to take you back to the hotel or to your home?”
“There will be no need. I will personally make sure she gets home.” Trey wrapped his arm around Lilly’s waist and pulled her back against his body. “We too have much to talk about.”
Dixie walked over to Lilly. “We can meet up at the hotel tomorrow and decide what to do from there.”
“Yes, I think we need to talk. Maybe lunch tomorrow at that place on the ocean?” Lilly said and hugged her friend. “You have mates now, and they’ve proven themselves. Give them a shot.’”
“We’ll take the car back. Both of us will meet with you tomorrow,”” Trey said, hugging the little blonde in front of him possessively.
“Trey?” Dixie bounced on her toes, smiling.
Trey laughed. “Yes, she’s mine. Why don’t you and Lilly go get your things? We’ll meet you at the entrance. I’d like to speak with these two.” Trey patted Lilly’s butt. “And make sure to bring those sexy shoes, little lady.”
Lilly laughed and grabbed Dixie’s hand after he nodded. “We’ll be right there.”
Eae waited until the women were gone, then turned to the man they had just met. “You wanted to speak with us?” he said as the three of them walked toward the entrance to the club.
“I want you to call on me if anything happens to Dixie,” Trey said. “I feel responsible her. I was assigned to mentor her, and I take that seriously. Plus, she’s grown on me, and I have a feeling we’ll be seeing each other often.”
“How long have you known about Lilly?” Leo asked.
“A couple of months, but I needed to make sure everything was in place before I could claim her. My kind are not all honorable, but the majority of us are working toward change. You know how long it’s been.”
Leo nodded, leaning against the wall, watching the bathroom door for their woman. “Yes, we know. We were there when the treaty was signed between our people. I have a feeling it’s one of the reasons our father started to slip. He was so used to hunting and fighting that he didn’t see anything else, including our mother.”
Eae nodded. “I’m afraid many of the older warriors have gone through the same predicament. It’s one of the reasons the elders are allowing them to earn their wings again, otherwise there would be no chance, they would be stuck on our realm. I’m sure I don’t have to remind you to keep a close eye on Lilly. I don’t think my uncle and father, if he is alive, will come after her, but just to be on the safe side. Her friend means the world to her.”
<
br /> “Another reason I’m glad this treaty has happened. I’m afraid a lot of my people and yours missed their mates with this war between us, and the fates are not to be messed with,” Trey grumbled, and Eae nodded. Remembering the stories, of the fates that had been told them sent a chill up his arms.
A scream came from the bathroom, and he raced into the room. He found Lilly staring at the body of his father, shaking. Dixie was nowhere to be seen.
“What happened? Where’s Dixie?” he asked her as Leo looked around and Trey engulfed her in his arms.
“Your uncle said you would know where,” Lilly cried into Trey’s chest. “I will learn how to use knives. I failed her.”
“No, Lilly, Leo and I have failed to protect her. I should have known my uncle would do this.” Eae waved his hand, sending his father’s body home.’
With a heavy heart, he looked up at his brother, then turned to Trey. “We’ll let you know as soon as we have our woman back. Keep Lilly safe, and don’t leave her side for now.”
He nodded. “We’ll be at my place after we collect their belongings at the hotel.” Trey held out a card with his address. “Find her. You don’t want to know who her mother is mated to now. It could set us back years if she finds out.”
Eae took the card and nodded right before he and Leo transported themselves to his uncle’s home. Dressed for combat, they stood before the large mansion, but it seemed Gregory had no one waiting for them.
“If he’s touched her…” Leo growled softly.
“We will have her in our arms soon, and we’ll give her the Valentine’s Day she deserves. But first we put this to end now.” Eae moved forward, and his brother followed, watching their backs.
Eae and Leo had played here as children with their cousins, and now Gregory’s home seemed to be deserted. Where were his cousins now? Were they aware of how far their father had gone?”
The front door opened, and he moved through it, knowing right where his uncle was—in the front parlor. Eae lifted his sword out of the scabbard as he and Leo rounded the corner.
Dixie was sitting in a chair near the fire. She was still dressed, but she was tied up and glaring at Gregory.
“I didn’t think you would take too long,” their uncle said as he turned to Eae and Leo. “Not to worry, there is no one else here.” He ran his finger down Dixie’s cheek. “She is a beauty, your mate.” He looked up at Eae. “Did you know her mother is mated to Naberius now? So her stepdaddy is one of our oldest enemies’.”
His uncle took out his knife, and Leo moved forward. “On no, we will have this discussion. Stay put, Leo,” Gregory said before turning his gaze turned to Eae. “You set your father free.”
“I did. I should have done it long ago, but Mother convinced me otherwise. Do you want me to send you home, Uncle?” he asked.
Gregory laughed. “No, I’m actually waiting for someone. Oh, there he is. Naberius, it’s been a long time,” Gregory said, moving behind the chair where Dixie was tied up. “Coming to your stepdaughter’s rescue? I really didn’t think you cared.”
Standing at Eae’s left side, the full demon glanced down at him. “Take my Dixie and go, Eae. I’ll deal with your uncle. You and your brother have courage, and you honor our family.” He nodded right before everything went dark.
“Where are we?” Eae spun, realizing he and his brother were now in their home. Dixie stood in the middle of the room, looking around.
“I think I’m going to have severe problems with all this travel crap,” Dixie said, trying to smile as she turned to face them.
Eae placed his sword in its scabbard and held out his arms to her. “Come here, little love. We need to hold you.”
She didn’t wait before running to him and wrapping herself around him. “I’m so sorry. I tried to talk your uncle out of this plan, but he wouldn’t listen to me. He actually used a ball gag on me,” she mumbled, glaring up at him.
Leo laughed and moved in behind her. “If that is the worst he did to you, I consider that a win in my book.”
“Me too, but I’m nervous about my stepfather—who I never knew I had, by the way.”
“That’s because we didn’t want you drawn into all the political crap that goes on,” a female voice said behind them, which really pissed Eae off. This was the second time today that someone had come up behind him without him sensing them. Seemed like he needed to start training again. He was getting week, and judging by the look on Leo’s face, his brother felt the same way.
Leo and Eae turned, keeping Dixie behind them. The stunning woman looked just like Dixie. Eae could see where Dixie got her dark eyes and hair from. “I’m sorry to intrude,” she said. “As a matter of fact, my mate is furious with me right now, and will be here to collect me soon, but I had to see my baby. I promised I would stay away to give her a good life, but it killed me. My name is Veronica.”
Chapter Five
Dixie held on to Eae’s pants and peeked around him. The woman before them couldn’t have been her mom. She was fucking beautiful.
“Thank you, but you’re just as pretty,” Veronica said as if she could read her mind. “Please, won’t you come around and speak with me? I don’t have much time.”
“Why?” Dixie asked and grabbed Eae’s hand.
“I couldn’t live here in this world. Sure, the fighting had stopped, after the treaty was signed, but there were still too many that would stop at nothing to destroy you and me,” Veronica said as she stepped forward.
“You know how your father is. He would have demanded that I stay, saying could protect us, but I knew better. I loved your daddy, Dixie. Loved him enough to give you to him and leave. It was the hardest thing I ever did. I wanted to return so many times, but I knew if I did, it would be unfair to you two. That’s when I found your stepfather.” She snorted. “If your dad was a control freak, then he’s even worse.” She nodded at Eae and Leo. “I have a feeling your men are the same.”
Dixie shrugged. “I don’t know, I just met them today—or rather, they found me. You really wanted to stay with us?”
A large notebook showed up in her hands. “This is my Dixie book. Every time I needed to see you, I would open this and just stare. Naberius made sure I got pictures of you at every birthday or school event. When it was getting closer to the time you would get your gift, I had to make sure you were prepared.” She looked up as Naberius appeared next to her, and he pulled her into his arms.
“You are not where I told you to stay.” He kissed the top of her head before turning to stare at Dixie. “Your mother has missed you. Maybe your men will bring you for a visit. You have four brothers that would love to meet you.”
“You’re the one who sent Trey to me?” she asked, and he smiled.
“Yes. We didn’t know what your gift would be, but Trey was the best all-around choice, and I knew he belonged here on Earth. I see I was right, because he also met his mate.”
Dixie couldn’t help but laugh. “Lilly will give him such a hard time, but thank you for sending him. I don’t know what I would have done without him. As for a gift, I don’t know about that. How can being forced to… well, you know. Help me?”
Her stepfather moved forward and took one of her hands. “Your gift is more than sex. Your greatest gift is to love.” He laughed and looked at Eae, then at Leo. “It’s good that you have two men. They are going to have to keep an eye on you. In our world, people who have your gift are usually surrounded by every stray pet you can imagine if allowed free rein. They also have a tendency to reach out to others that are different and protect those that are weaker. Maybe like your Lilly?”
Dixie looked down at the ground. “We protect each other.”
Veronica slid up next to her mate. “Please come for a visit?”
“We will come soon,” Eae stated. “I take it my uncle has moved on home?”
“Yes, your uncle knew he was close to acting like your father, and he didn’t want you to do what had to be done,” Naberius
said. “The old bastard knew I’d come and honored me with sending him home, but he was still a fierce warrior to the end. We will leave you now. I can feel her need. Welcome to the family, daughter.” Naberius leaned down and kissed the top of Dixie’s head. “Protect her and treat her well.” His gaze jumped to Eae’s.
“Believe me, for the next few years, she’s not going to be out of our sight,” Eae confirmed’.
“I knew it.” Veronica shook her head fondly. “But don’t worry, soon other gift will come to you, and you won’t be so unprotected. I didn’t learn to transport till I was a hundred.” She pushed her husband out of the way and hugged Dixie tight. “I missed you so much. Have a good night with your mates, and we’ll speak soon, I promise.”
“You will allow her mates to bring her,” Naberius said as they both disappeared.
At first no one said anything, and then Eae turned to Dixie. “I promised Trey and Lilly we would call them when we got here. Would you like to call?” Eae asked, holding out a phone to her.
“Thank you. I know Lilly must be scared.” Dixie took it and dialed Lilly’s number as she moved toward the couch, but before she could sit down, Leo scooped her up and placed her on his lap as he sat.
“I need to hold you,” he said, burying his face in her neck.
She patted his arm and yanked the phone away from her ear as Lilly screeched“”, “Dixie.” Dixie promised to allow Lilly to use knives and said she couldn’t wait to see her tomorrow afternoon for lunch, then Trey took the phone from her.
“So you met your stepfather?” he asked.
“Yes, and my mother. Do me a favor and try to explain to Lilly why mom did what she did. I don’t need her attacking Mom first time she sees her.”
He laughed. “Not to worry, I’ll take care of your friend. But really, how are you dealing with all of this?”
Her Stepbrothers Are Angels Page 3