by Brenda Trim
As she walked along, she enjoyed the quiet near her cottage. Her place was on the outskirts of Jesaray house where all the activity radiated from. In the center was also the common dining hall, nursery, and the school, but she preferred to live where it was calm and peaceful.
Nodding to John, a wolf shifter who looked to be on his way to the dining hall with his family, it reminded her that she hadn’t eaten dinner yet. Ember quickened her steps anxious to hear what Hayden wanted, but acknowledged she didn’t want to miss out on the home-cooked meal.
Ember reached Jesaray and took the steps leading to the huge wrap around porch and large front door. Wiping her boots on the mat, she knocked on the door, wondering if Zeke and his new mate were home, as well. Grimacing at the thought of running into him, she prayed he wasn’t.
Her hope dashed a second later when Zeke opened the door. For the first time in months, the sight of his smiling blue eyes didn’t cause her chest to ache.
“Hey, Em. Good to see you,” Zeke murmured as he pulled her into a friendly embrace. Pack was touchy-feely and this was their way of greeting one another. Of all supernaturals, they shared physical affection without thought. It soothed their beasts and grounded them, but this was the last male she wanted to hug. Well, next to last anyway.
Returning the hug, Ember glanced over his shoulder to see who was in the house. “Who’s here?” she asked, not able to return the friendly sentiment.
Zeke broke his hold and held the door open for her to enter. Immediately, the scent of food reached her and her stomach rumbled, reminding her again that she was hungry. The air was filled with rich spices, but she detected seafood and pork.
“I hope you brought your appetite,” Zeke chuckled when he heard her stomach. “My Tia has been cooking up a storm and her gumbo is legendary.”
Hearing the pride in Zeke’s tone and seeing the way he gazed goofily at the exotic bombshell in the kitchen made Ember want to use his legs as a scratching post.
Jesaray house was comfortable and intimate and typically Ember loved the atmosphere, but it seemed too intimate today. The soft, brown leather sofas and rustic wood accents were so familiar and magnified the fact that the female waltzing around the kitchen was an interloper.
“I’m sure we will wrap up this meeting and I’ll just head to Flo’s,” Ember replied, referring to the main dining hall.
Hayden’s grandmother, Flo, had been cooking for the pack way before Ember had been born and everyone called her Grandma Flo, although there wasn’t a single gray hair on the elderly female.
“There’s no need for that,” Zeke objected.
She knew he was aware how uncomfortable she was around him and his mate and wanted to ease the situation for them all. That’s one thing she loved about Zeke and what made him a good beta. He was always playing the peacemaker.
Ignoring the comment, Ember was tempted to take a seat on the large sofa away from the crowd in the kitchen, but that would be petty. She’d have to look at Tia anyway, thanks to the open floor plan. She might as well join the other C.L.A.W.s surrounding the island. She couldn’t regret the relationship she’d had with Zeke, but it hurt more than she’d expected when she had lost him to his Fated Mate a few months back.
When Tia had first come to the Grove, Ember wanted to hunt her down and use her for a chew toy. The worst part was she didn’t even know why. Sure, she had loved Zeke, but they both knew that they could lose each other to their mates at any point in time. She wasn’t angry that he pursued Tia. Ember understood that there was an irresistible pull to your Fated Mate that few could deny. Maybe it was the fact that the female could control animals. That made her hackles rise and was enough to convince her to keep a safe distance.
“Is Hayden around?” she asked as she took a stool next to Grant.
Grant trained her for patrols and was a great soldier. Plus, she liked that he was a huge bear shifter and would block her smaller frame in a battle.
“I’m right here,” came the husky reply. Cigar in mouth, Hayden descended the wide stairs and crossed the hardwood floor to join them. “Thanks for coming on such short notice.”
“No problem, Sire,” they murmured as a group.
Zeke reached into the cabinets and grabbed bowls, holding them while Tia ladled the thick soup into them. Focusing on Hayden, Ember waited for him to explain why they were there. Her heart dropped as she realized it wasn’t likely he was going to promote her. That was a private affair and there were too many C.L.A.W.s standing around the kitchen.
Hayden’s internal animals rose to the surface in rapid succession, inciting the animal in each of them. Ember’s gut tightened and she automatically went on alert in response, as did every other shifter present.
“We have a big fucking problem,” Hayden announced then nodded his thanks to Zeke when he was handed a bowl of food.
Hayden set the soup down and began pacing. “There have been attacks on the pack. In my fucking back yard,” the Omega snarled. “More than a dozen have been left fighting for their life and five are dead. Two of them were striplings and one was a female.”
A gasp filled the room and Ember inched closer to Grant in response. The male wrapped his arm around her shoulders, needing the comfort as much as she did. Their children were their most prized possessions because there were so few. Having spent seven centuries without a mate blessing, every group within the Tehrex Realm saw a drastic decline in birth rate and the shifters were no exception.
“Who attacked us?” Ember growled without thought and quickly looked around the room.
She’d never attended a meeting with the C.L.A.W.s and had no idea what was proper etiquette, but no one seemed shocked by her outburst.
“From everything Zeke and I have gathered, we’ve been attacked by demons,” Hayden explained. “The scent of brimstone was unmistakable. Not to mention, some of the wounds are consistent with skirm attacks. I know the vampire princess killed Kadir so I have no idea who is now targeting us, or why, but I don’t like it and I will not tolerate it!” Hayden growled, his power rippling through the large room.
“Were there any blue feathers in the area by chance?” Ember asked, thinking of the feather she’d managed to yank from the demon’s wing when she was attacked.
It was in a bag under her mattress. Why she had kept it she had no idea. Instinct had driven her actions and she wasn’t ready to part with it yet.
Zeke placed a bowl of soup in front of her and gave her one of his sympathetic smiles which made her want punch him in the face. She wasn’t a scorned female who couldn’t imagine life without him. They had a thing and it ended, simple as that. She didn’t need or want pity from him.
“Not that I know of, why?” Hayden asked then stopped pacing.
“The night I was attacked the demon was a female with giant blue wings. She seemed fond of fanfare and making a statement. She didn’t give a second thought to exposing our existence to the humans. This is a move I could see her making,” Ember explained as she tried to focus on her omega and not the dozen pair of eyes staring her way.
The tension in the air nearly suffocated her. No one liked the idea of being the target of a powerful archdemon. Most shifters were happy to have the focus of the archdemons and their minions remain on the vampire royal family who had a group of the most skilled warriors in the realm surrounding them.
Before Hayden could respond to her admission, Ember’s body went on full alert. The distinctive masculine scent of Orlando reached her nose and made her turn in her seat to watch the warrior saunter into the house.
What was it about a male dressed from head to toe in black? His tight t-shirt under a leather jacket combined with tight leather pants oozed sexiness and confidence like nothing else. He moved with feline grace and his beautiful emerald eyes penetrated to her very soul. Yeah, you’re over him all right.
*****
Orlando’s gaze locked on Ember and refused to let go. He hadn’t seen her for a couple days. Her presence
punched him in the gut and practically had him panting. The more he was around her the more she affected him. Her beautiful face scrunched as if she’d tasted something she didn’t like and she pointedly looked away from him, suddenly focused on eating whatever sat in front of her.
Part of him wanted to explain why he couldn’t go on a date with her, but then he thought better of it. This was not the time or place. If he thought she was pissed now, there was no doubt she would chew him a new asshole if he mentioned anything with Hayden and the pack Lieutenants as an audience.
That didn’t stop him from admiring her pert backside as she shifted on the stool where she was sitting. Her amber eyes had glowed enticingly before she shut him out and he wanted to see it again. There was a time he would have been dying to taste her lips and explore every inch of her delectable body. And, what a body it was. She was tall with an athletic build with breasts begging for male attention.
It wasn’t a different time, he reminded himself, before he got lost in her allure. Jaidis had been killed and he was now the parent of an infant. He didn’t have time for a female or the trouble that came with relationships.
Turning to Hayden, he clasped the Omega’s forearm and greeted the group. It had been a long time since he had been back in Jesaray house. With his busy schedule, he didn’t come often. He had lived in a cabin close to the school for a long time, but Zeum had been home for the past two centuries.
He stopped coming to the pack hunts long ago, as well, but seeing fellow shifters made him miss it. His leopard became restless every full moon, forcing him to find an alternative to the hunts. Running through the forest around Zeum wasn’t the same, even with Santiago. The pack had an energy that was irreplaceable, not to mention, fun with the females after the hunt.
He couldn’t remember Ember being a part of the pack when he’d lived there. Either she was far younger than his four hundred twelve years or she’d moved from another area. It would be exciting to run next to Ember’s cougar. Maybe he would find the time to make it back for the next one.
“What can you tell me about this new demon, Orlando? I have a hunch the recent attacks on our land are connected to that piece of shit. From what Ember said she got a taste of her blood,” Hayden surmised as he picked up a crystal snifter of what looked like brandy.
Tia approached him with a smile. “Good ta see you, Orlando. I tink you will enjoy dis gumbo. Eat, eat,” the voodoo mambo ordered as she shoved a bowl of the soup into his hand.
“Good to see you, too,” he told Zeke’s mate.
Santiago had told him the female had taken on the role of caretaker for Hayden and Zeke. Orlando smiled, wondering what Hayden’s grandmother thought of him not going to the main dinning hall as often. If given the choice, Orlando would eat this food over Flo’s any day. Tia cooked foods rich with spice where Flo served what he called comfort food. Ever since Elsie joined their ranks at Zeum, he’d come to crave rich flavorful food.
“We don’t know too much about the archdemon Lucifer sent this time. She is bold and brazen for sure. And, doesn’t give a shit about exposing us. We’ve talked with Rhys and Dante and they don’t know anything about her. Rhys’s mate Illianna couldn’t recall seeing a winged demon during her century in hell and her brothers are going to do some research. Hopefully those warrior angels will have some information soon. What happened here?” Orlando asked.
There was no doubt in Orlando’s mind that Lucifer hadn’t wasted time in sending a new archdemon. The bastard was slick, no doubt. This bitch could wreak enough havoc if she exposed them and their attention would be split between the humans and skirm, putting them at a huge disadvantage.
Hayden was solemn as he told Orlando about the attacks. There was entirely too many females and striplings being harmed. This was far beyond anything they’d ever faced. Skirm couldn’t feed from supernaturals so they didn’t generally target their population.
“From this point on, we are on high alert,” Hayden informed them. “We are now doing patrols in pairs and there will be a thirty-minute overlap at shift changes. Every able-bodied male will be taking shifts. So will you, Ember.” Orlando’s gaze jerked to the female who snapped to attention and sat straight on her stool.
It was clear she was proud to be asked to assist. He, however, didn’t like it one bit and wanted to object. The thought of another female, especially this one, being hurt or killed had him resisting the urge to punch Hayden.
“We will not leave a window of vulnerability. I will let the pack know that kids are to be kept close to the center and can never be left alone. Same goes for females. Monthly hunts are postponed until this threat is eliminated,” Hayden finished.
“Zander has issued the same orders for the Dark Warriors and our patrols. Looks like none of us will be getting much sleep until this demon is caught,” Orlando mused. Ember’s gaze finally jerked his way and she glared daggers at him.
What the hell was that about, he wondered. Was she still pissed that he turned her down for dinner? They had bigger matters to deal with and he couldn’t become sidetracked.
Unfortunately, her hatred stung, telling him he would need to make this right with her or he’d never have a moment’s peace.
CHAPTER SIX
“How did you manage to survive on this planet for so long, Sire?” Lorne asked Angus as they brushed passed another group on a street in Inverness, the heart of Scotland. They had been traveling across the world trying to locate Keira, but kept coming up empty.
Shortly after Angus had felt the power of his home realm surrounding Mack’s house many months ago, he’d been hit by a sensation he’d resigned himself to never feel again. Keira’s magic was unique and was a blow to his gut. It had been that way from the moment he met her over a thousand years before.
He hadn’t hesitated to ask her to be his queen, but before they could complete their mating she had disappeared. Without thought, he’d followed the faint trace of her magical signature from Khoth to Earth and had been stranded on the planet for a thousand years. He had all but given up on finding her after endless searches that led to dead ends.
That was, until a few weeks ago, when he felt her again. It had been muted, but still knocked the breath from his body. He had wanted to leave immediately to find her, but duty made him remain until Zander and the others were safer. Now, he worried that delay had cost him the one chance at finding his love.
He couldn’t regret helping those who had become his family, but he wanted to curse Fate for toying with him. Angus knew he had to return to Khoth, but he refused to leave Earth until he found his queen. He had to find Keira. He would never be complete without her.
“Having to hide what you are. Not to mention, having your powers diminished.” Lorne continued, oblivious to Angus’ anguish.
“At first it wasna that difficult. The population wasna so dense and there were plenty of locations I could shift withoot being seen. It was lonely until I found Zander and joined his household. Since then I’ve had a family. It wasna the same as my people on Khoth, but a family I came to love. Och, the hardest for me was feeling as if a blanket surrounded my dragon,” Angus shared with Lorne, one of his best Máahes.
At first his drive to find Keira kept him going, but after two centuries of searching, without a single clue to her whereabouts, grief had debilitated him. Not only could he not find Keira, but also he didn’t have Legette or any of his Máahes. He had nothing. Leading his people had been his purpose for longer than he could remember. He tried to return to Khoth, but discovered that when the portal had snapped shut, something blocked it from reopening.
He’d tried everything to reopen it and get back to his people. Portals didn’t naturally disintegrate which told him someone or something had done this on purpose. There was magic at play, so he went to various magic practitioners, but nothing could force the portal open.
Over the next several hundred years, he became a violent destructive creature that he hoped and prayed he never saw again
. Eventually, depression and loneliness had him searching for a place to belong. He needed a new purpose and beings he could devote himself to. As king that was all he knew how to do, serve and protect others and was eternally grateful for the day he found Zander and Zeum.
“I still can’t get used to your accent and the way you speak, Sire. You sound and act so different from the king I served for so long,” Lorne admitted as he gave Angus a sideways look.
Stopping outside the car they’d rented, Angus looked over the hood and met Lorne’s deep green eyes. Chuckling, Angus said, “Aye, I lived here in Scotland for so long because that was where I originally sensed her and I eventually adopted the brogue. Now ‘tis part of me.”
“It suits you,” Lorne said as he climbed into the car. “Where are we going now?”
Angus started the car and pulled into traffic. He knew Lorne may not approve and wanted to go home, but Angus was not giving up yet. He knew the kingdom and Legette needed him, but he had been gone for over a thousand years and he trusted they could last a bit longer. Like one of Pavlov’s dogs, he’d catch a trace of Keira’s presence in this realm. It didn’t matter that it would disappear as soon as it appeared. The point was that it manifested and renewed his hope to find her.
He was certain his queen was still alive and on earth, but someone or something was blocking him from locating her. It was the only thing that explained what he was feeling. It wasn’t mere wishful thinking on his part. He had mourned her loss long ago. Even now, he held the thin thread of hope at bay despite his convictions. He recalled the pain of her loss all too well to allow for more.
“To the stone circle again. There must be a clue we missed. And, if not, then we go home. I’ve been gone long enough and I know it’s time,” Angus growled as his frustration rose.
He’d been to the stone circle and searched the surrounding area countless times, but he couldn’t shake the feeling. His Cuelebre instincts were screaming that this location mattered.