Interspecies Public Relations Officer [Milson Valley 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove)

by Jo Penn

  Luka, meanwhile, had taken great strides since yesterday in the mateship department and Cas couldn’t wait for his gorgeous, dramatic mate to fully settle into their relationship for he knew once he did, Luka would be the heart of them. He’d already shown that with caring how Cas talked to Tudor, making sure Tudor had clothes, and taking care of him today. At the same time, he was a touch sensitive and Cas would have to be careful with his wolf.

  “It’s getting late, Cas. We should do a quick walk around of Minstral before it gets dark.” Vis advised.

  “You’re right. Ready, mates? If either of you prefer, I can leave you here and collect you after I have been to Minstral.”

  “I’d like to walk around Minstral.” Tudor closed the magazine. “Can you come, too, Luka? You’ve been to the place and can show us around quicker.”

  Luka shrugged. “Sure.”

  Pleased, Cas led his mates, brother and Vis outside.

  “If you run into any trouble, just holler, brother. I’ll be scouting around not far from there with pack.” Drax held his brother by the back of the neck and sniffed. “Don’t forget to call Ma tonight.”

  “Sure, yeah, won’t forget.”

  Marco, Laurie, and their guards joined them along with the few fae that came to the pack lands earlier. Vis opened a portal and they stepped through.

  Cas drew Luka close and hugged his wolf. “I apologize. I should have considered your need to shift and run with the pack.”

  “It’s cool. I should have said, just got distracted. But yeah, thanks for the run.”

  “Next time, I will show you how fast a fae can run. You will be surprised, my mate.”

  “Yeah? You want to go on a run with me? I’m pretty fast.”

  “I think I can keep up, gorgeous. After all, I followed you all the way to the Armstrong coven that first day without you even noticing me.” Cas grinned at Luka’s flush of embarrassment and kissed his mate lightly on the lips. “Show us around our home, amore.”

  * * * *

  Our home. Luka liked the way Caspar was looking at him. It was more than lust and liking, much more. Sure, he had friends that loved him. He had Marco and Laurie who were as close as brothers, and he had his family, Uri included, as well as the Croggen triplets, and probably the Sanchez royals. But this? What was between him and Caspar? Yeah, that was something special, just for them.

  And Tudor, too. Both of them had gotten Luka, neither rolled their eyes over his need to shift and run, and they were happy to see him when he got back. That was pretty cool, and better than his Ma fussing and his Dad scolding for making his Ma worry.

  “Tudor, what do you think of Minstral?” Luka’s head came up. He heard the snap of a twig in the forest, a foot fall. “Someone else is here.”

  “He’s here.” Tudor’s voice was eerie. “He’s coming.”

  Caspar reached over and grabbed Tudor, pulling him close. Luka turned in a circle, his eyes going wolf, ear on alert. Out of the late afternoon shadows, he could see shapes moving, creeping silently from around the back of the house toward them at the front and in among the trees.

  It was the creepiest thing Luka had ever seen.

  The fae, Vis, Marco, and Laurie ran over.

  “Vis! We have company,” Caspar snarled.

  Luka was sniffing the air. “We have a lot of company.”

  “Too many.” Marco’s claws were out. “We’re outnumbered.”

  “Then let’s get the hell out of here!” Laurie exclaimed.

  The vampire that had stalked across from the house hissed at them, coming closer.

  “We don’t have a choice. We need to get in the car and go. There’s about thirty coming from the trees,” Vis snarled.

  “Make that fifty, and we’ve got twenty more on this side.” Luka pointed over his shoulder. “We’re surrounded. We have to stand our ground and fight.”

  Caspar looked ready to explode. “No, I will not have you and Tudor hurt.”

  “I can hide and use my fix magic to slow them down,” Tudor said firmly.

  Caspar and Luka both growled at that. “No, you will stay behind me and safe.”

  “Trust me, I know how to keep out of the way and hidden. We need to work together.” Tudor was calm, pale, but resolved. “Can you trust in me, Cas? Luka?”

  “Oh, hells. Fine. But if you get a scratch, I’ll have Caspar wrap you up in protective magic from now on,” Luka grumbled, claws out, not liking this. “That goes for you, too, big fae warrior. You’re down in magic, are you going to be okay?”

  “Honestly, my magic is low. I will use what I can and then fight with my swords.” Cas kissed both Luka and Tudor. “We stay safe. I will open a portal and have my guild come here. That will be the last of my magic.”

  “I can share with you, Cas.” Vis was strategizing in his head, Luka could see it.

  “No, I need you at top strength. We’re going to need you to protect and fight. Laurie—”

  “I’m going to get in the car and run the bastards over.”

  Luka and Marco grinned as the fae and Tudor blinked at Laurie, startled. Yeah, Laurie was accident prone and got nervous sometimes, but he could fight and was smart. He also didn’t back down.

  “Good plan.” Cas nodded. “Marco?”

  Marco grinned lazily, flexing his long tiger claws. “I’ve got my weapons. Luka, let’s call for a little back up.”

  “Fine, make your phone call, I’ll open the portal.” Caspar waved a hand, a shimmering circle appeared and he stuck his head through. “Weapons! Now. Move it, I can’t hold this portal open for long.”

  Luka and Marco striped off their shirts as fae rushed out to join them, along with Steven and the witch assigned to Laurie and Marco. Marco gave a nod.

  “Cover your ears, everyone, we’re calling to pack and pride,” Marco announced. “Go.”

  Luka and Marco lifted their heads back and howled and roared, the noise carrying for miles. Vampires close by covered their ears, some gave a cry, and others dropped to one knee. Dogs and cats could pack a wallop of a call.

  The vampires no longer crept forward after this. They descended like locust.

  Luka kept an eye out, saw Tudor vanish, and a vampire screamed bloody murder. Ah, so that was the shithead after his mate. Well, Luka was going to enjoy seeing the creature torn to shreds.

  Laurie was in an SUV and squealed tires as he plowed into vampires, making them jump out of the way or get run over and thrown around like dolls. Luka and Marco were in the thick of it and he could see the surprise on vampire’s faces when they ended up stuck to the ground or fixed to each other, unable to move. He watched Caspar also, fighting with a big deadly looking sword, bashing heads together, punching his way through vampires.

  But the creatures kept on coming. Luka had more than a few scratches and decided a bit of distraction was in order to help until the cavalry arrived. He glanced around, moving away from fae and friends and released pheromones, hoping to confuse and distract the vampires.

  A pack of wolves, over thirty of them, tore through the forest along with a few wizards and tigers, plus a female lion. Luka fell back toward his group, making sure Marco was good. He was, casually slicing a vamp’s head off cleanly, Caspar was a bit damaged but still fighting, so was Vis and the other fae. Damn, they could fight!

  Drax had arrived with pack. Baron was quickly in the thick of things, making sure Marco was okay. Mason and a few of his coven members had showed up also. Luka looked around for Tudor but Drax, Mason, and Baron caught his attention. Looked like Drax didn’t like Mason in among the fighting and when Baron got involved, tempers rose quickly. With so much fighting going on, he didn’t have time to stand and watch the fireworks, or lightening, as Mason delivered a single bolt to break up the fight and Luka went quickly back to looking around. What he didn’t see was Tudor and the old vampire.

  Panicked, fear nearly choking him, Luka ran to Caspar. “Tudor! Where’s Tudor? I can’t smell him with all the blood and scents
here. And where’s the vampire?”

  “He was just there. I kept an eye on him. Damn.” Caspar swore, looking around. “Tudor!”

  “He’s mine!” The delusion old vampire appeared directly behind Caspar, razor sharp talons up and lethal.

  Caspar didn’t have a chance of preparing. Luka yelled and dove toward the vampire to protect his mate. A big cream wolf knocked Luka out of the way and took the vampire down, tearing out the creature’s throat with one snap of its huge teeth and with a claw, ripped the vampire’s head right off.

  Caspar had been sliced, but it was minimal damage. Luka looked around frantically for Tudor. He was never going to let his mate fight again! And not with hidden magic. Luka couldn’t even sense him now, let alone see him!

  Laurie pulled up beside Luka, very nearly running him over. “Here! I’ve got Tudor! He’s completely drained. I spotted him across the field when his magic must have drained away and he collapsed.”

  Luka hugged his wizard friend. Without Laurie squashing and hitting vampires they would have had a bigger fight on their hands until the pack arrived. He crawled in the back seat and quickly checked Tudor over for injuries. He was scratched up in a few places, breathing and unconscious, but there didn’t seem to be anything major wrong. Luka could breathe again.

  Caspar’s big hand reached around Luka from the doorway and touched Tudor’s head.

  “Drained completely?”

  “Oh yeah, I could see vampires being fixed together, to trees, and even the ground. Tudor was dropping them and I ran them over.” Laurie was jittering all over the place, excited. “When he became visible and dropped, I just grabbed him and kept trying to run vamps over.”

  “Well done, cousin.” Mason patted Laurie’s back.

  “Damn, Mason, you’re all cut up!” Laurie went into fretting mode. “We don’t heal as well as shifters and vamps. We need to get you back to the coven and have Merry heal you.”

  “Relax, I’m good for another five minutes. Anyone else injured?”

  “I’m just going to sit here awhile.” Luka made himself comfortable on the backseat, moving Tudor’s head into his lap.

  * * * *

  Cas watched his mates a moment, touched both, needing the contact, then strode across the battlefield checking his fae and others who had come to assist. He was amazed, astounded, and grateful. He inclined his head to the big cream colored wolf who was licking his canines.

  “Drax?”

  Drax shifted but it wasn’t to man, it was half man, half wolf. He lifted his head and sniffed the air, seemed satisfied after a few moments and shifted completely to man.

  “There are no more. The old vampire’s blood is polluted, like an evil toxin. Disgusting.” Drax grimaced, and one of his shifter pack tossed him a water bottle.

  “Thank you for the quick assistance.”

  “We protect our own. A cleanup crew will be here shortly. They will…” He frowned as clothes appeared on his body care of Vine. “Right…thanks?”

  Vine blushed and hurried away.

  “Fae are not as relaxed about nudity as shifters.” Cas smiled tiredly.

  “Did I see him making the other car move without anyone driving it?” Baron Sanchez asked curiously.

  “You did. Vine’s magic works well with mechanical objects.” Cas looked around. “We have a few injured that require rest. The remainder can stay and help with identifying vampires for reporting to their council and the cleanup.”

  “Not necessary, but if you want.” Drax shrugged, sniffing the air again.

  The water bottle was tossed aside. The big wolf, who, as Cas had been surprised to discover, had the rare three forms, strode across to a small group of wizards and witches. Drax grabbed Mason and without effort put the powerful wizard on the ground and tore off his shirt.

  “Shit! Mason is injured.” Baron raced over, and Cas ambled after, curious.

  “I’m fine. It is just a scratch.” Mason pushed at Drax’s hand and stopped, holding his own up in surrender when he was growled at furiously. “I’m okay, Drax.”

  “That smells bad.” Baron crouched on the other side. “Here, I’ll clean him off—”

  “Touch him and I’ll tear your throat out,” Drax snarled.

  “Look, we can fight later, right now we—Drax?” Baron looked stunned. “Your eyes are feral. You need to take a deep breath or I will have to be all Alpha on your ass.”

  Cas stepped close to Baron and nudged the tiger back. “It is wise, is it not, to not touch or go near a shifter’s mate?” Every eye turned, mouths falling open. Cas frowned. “You were not aware they are mates? I see Drax has not claimed Mason fully, but the mate threads are there.”

  He sighed when all eyes bugged out at him.

  “We don’t see mate threads, must be some magical Fae thing. We go by scent which changes after mating and the claiming mark. What the fuck, Mason? You’re my best friend! Why didn’t you tell me?” Baron hissed.

  “Mine! He’s mine.” Drax was cleaning up the long, deep gash along Mason’s side with the shirt he’d torn off and the bottled water Mason had been holding. “You’re losing too much blood, mate, what the fuck were you doing just standing around talking for?”

  Mason winced. “Stop poking it. I’ve blocked the pain but—oh damn, block came off.”

  Mason’s eyes rolled back in his head and sweat beaded on his forehead and chest. Drax growled, low and mean. His hands pressed into the wound but it was so long and deep blood basically poured out.

  How had Mason been standing?

  “Okay, Drax, I can see he’s yours, but Mason is injured, you know wizards don’t heal as quickly and he could bleed out before we get him back to the Coven.” Baron was quiet and calm, but firm. “You have to let us bandage him up and transport him in one of the fae’s vehicles. If it helps, Laurie can help you bandage and lift Mason, and I’ll drive.”

  “Drax!” Cas snapped in a fae alpha voice, drawing Drax’s attention immediately to him. The wolf looked close to tearing someone apart so he didn’t waste time. “Mason needs to be healed immediately and none of us are strong enough to do that here. Laurie will help bandage. Once done, one of my fae will open a portal directly to Mason’s coven. Now, Drax, your mate is bleeding out.”

  Drax snarled but nodded. Laurie quickly helped bandage using supplies from one of the SUV’s and Tamsin, a fae, opened a portal. Drax lifted Mason carefully in his arms and stepped through the portal.

  Cas winced hearing Delia’s cry of alarm when seeing Mason carried through.

  “Any fae that can open a portal do so now and go back through, make sure our house is secure. Another surprise attack may be waiting for us there. Shifters, Drax said the entire battle field requires cleaning up and all the vampires identified for reporting to their council with evidence. Make sure to call your Alpha and inform him what is happening. Baron, can we provide you and your tigers a lift anywhere?”

  “Thank you, no. We stay with the wolves and clean up this mess. Thank you for stepping in with Drax.” Baron sighed. “Good alpha voice. Drax may have gone for your throat though. He’s not like other wolves.”

  “No, and that is what I was counting on. He needed to be snapped out of it and get his mate healed.”

  “Yeah, that’s a shocker. Can you really see mate threads?”

  Cas nodded. “Yes. Once mates have found one another a thread reaches out between them. Once claimed or bonded that thread is secure and binding.”

  “But Drax and Mason’s wasn’t?”

  “No, but it has been there a long time, years. It was well formed and old, but not decades. I have seen a lot of mate threads and would estimate this one to be five years old. It was frayed as though it had been injured but very secure.” Cas refrained from saying that particular thread was secure on one side, not the other. The other it was frayed.

  But Baron was perceptive, and persistent, Cas found as he secured the last of his fae and ensured they went home, except Vine who ref
used to leave his side and sat in the SUV with Luka and Tudor. That was fine, as Cas wanted his brother safe.

  “Dammit, tell me. Which side was frayed?” Baron got in Cas’s face. A feline hovered close, ready to intervene.

  “It is between mates, shifter.”

  “One of those mates is my best friend. Felines can be like baby leeches, we stay real close.”

  “Who is your friend?” Cas sighed.

  “Mason. Drax is also but he’s closer to my brother Sebastian and Uri, though he tends to be a bit of a lone wolf at times.”

  “Fine. I need to get my mates and brother home and rest. The thread is frayed on Mason’s side. If it unravels further, the damage is done and he is free of the mateship. Goddess help them for once this occurs it is irreversible and both mates wither.”

  Baron paled and rushed away.

  Wonderful, now he had caused shit, just what he wanted when moving locations. Then again, Drax and done that all by himself by showing he was Mason’s mate in front of others.

  It was time to take his mates home and rest. Cas was exhausted to his very bones.

  Chapter Eight

  Sitting at the kitchen table watching Laurie make waffles was a novel experience for Tudor. In his old coven, members weren’t allowed in the kitchen unless they were on duty to clean or cook. There was no lingering and eating there, and definitely no joking around and tussling, which the tiger and wizard were currently doing.

  Laurie was zapping Marco with little bolts of electricity which only had the effect of making the tiger’s light brown hair stand on end briefly.

  Beside Tudor, Luka was texting madly on his smartphone. After kissing Tudor good morning, despite it being midday when everyone got up, Luka had plonked down at the table and had been texting ever since. The wolf had asked Tudor if he liked Halloween and when Tudor just shrugged and said he guessed it was okay, the man had gone cross eyed, gave a little whine, and then became glued to his phone.