by Brenda Trim
“I have to admit I’m impressed. Brownie points for my mate on knowing how to build a house,” she teased as she shook her head. “Will wonders never cease? One day you can add onto our cabin for us.”
“Orlando, you’re home. Welcome back,” came a feminine voice a second later.
Ember turned her head and noticed the vampire queen rushing down the massive staircase. Seeing the female’s reaction hinted at the intimate level of the living arrangements in the Dark Warrior compound.
She wondered just how close everyone’s rooms were to each other. In Jesaray house they were right next to each other, with the exception, of Hayden who occupied one whole wing. It helped that the walls in Jesaray house were reinforced for maximum privacy, but she preferred having private space. It was why she moved out of her family’s house and into her cottage.
It was one thing to live close to others and share meals in the main dining hall, but another to live in the same house with your sleeping quarters right next to someone. She wondered if Orlando always slept naked. He did when he was in her bed, but that could be because they were always having sex.
She didn’t like the thought of Santiago bursting into Orlando’s room while they were going at to grab him for a mission. That was the type of intimacy she imagined these warriors shared and it had her wondering how her mate was going to handle it when things changed.
Orlando let go of her hand and embraced Elsie, which had Ember gritting her teeth. You’re not jealous. He’s yours and will never want another female, she mentally chided, but couldn’t stop the jealousy over the queen holding her mate so tightly. And why was he still hugging her? It wasn’t like it had been that long since he’d seen her.
Shoving her reaction away, Ember blamed it on the fact that the queen had been standoffish to her from the beginning. They didn’t get along and would never be best friends, but Ember didn’t care. You couldn’t win them all, she conceded.
“Where’s Brantley?” he asked after they broke apart. Ember calmed slightly when he was stepped back at her side.
“He’s in the kitchen with Cailyn. You guys are just in time. We’re making dinner,” Elsie said then led them down the hall.
“Fantastic, I’m famished. We haven’t had a lot of time for food,” Orlando said with a wink in Ember’s direction.
Ember socked his arm as she blushed to her roots. Elsie turned around and waggled her eyebrows with a small laugh to Orlando.
He turned to Ember and muttered, “Speaking of being too busy, there’s a rule around Zeum. Never walk into the kitchen without knocking first. Elsie and Zander like to do more than cook in there,” he shared. The mirth in his voice was infectious and had Ember smiling along with him.
“Really? I never would’ve guessed,” Ember replied, unable to imagine the snotty-nosed queen being so uninhibited. She imagined her demanding Zander to shower before having sex.
“Apparently, Elsie is the twisted kinky one in the family. We all thought it was Kyran, but his whips and ball-gags have nothing on our queen in the kitchen,” Orlando joked.
“You’re so full of it, O. I am not the kinky one in this house, and, if I was, you’d be the last to know,” Elsie retorted as she pushed through a door that said Elsie’s Throne Room. Now that seemed fitting, Ember thought, as she followed Orlando into the kitchen.
Once inside the massive room, she tried to contain her awe. Much like the rest of the house it was large and held the finest appliances and marble countertops. Where she felt the other areas of the house were formal and removed, this room invited her in and made her wish she knew how to cook better. She’d not felt welcome in the home until walking into the kitchen. It was full of people, including Brantley, who began squirming and reaching for them as soon as they walked in.
Rushing to his side, Orlando picked up the baby and lifted him into the air. “Hey, buddy. I missed you,” her mate cooed as he cuddled the infant close.
Ember joined them and laid her hand on Orlando’s hip, needing the contact to soothe her cougar and calm her jealousy. Brantley reached for her and Ember took him from Orlando’s arms.
“You always show up for the food,” Nate observed as he came through a side door with several pots and pans in hand.
“That’s because my timing is impeccable,” Orlando retorted as he reached over and snagged a carrot from a pile of vegetables on a chopping block.
“No, my sister is just always cooking,” Cailyn added from her position with Jace.
Ember recalled the night she’d met the healer when Brantley’s mother had died. The healer was a quiet male and Cailyn was a lucky female. The predator beneath was proficient and she had no doubt Jace was one of the best among the Dark Warriors. She didn’t need to fight beside the male to know that. It was evident in everything he did, including his healing.
“That’s true,” Elsie agreed. “Looks like you guys have had a great celebration,” Elsie commented with a smile to Orlando. Ember barely held her snarl back. Their intimacy was none of Elsie’s business.
“It’s been the best,” Orlando shared as he wrapped his arms around her from behind. She preened with his attention and loved it. She didn’t realize it, but this had been missing in her life. Having a partner at her side, sharing life, and supporting her.
“I wished it could have lasted longer,” Orlando finished. Ember had to agree with her mate. Forever would suit her just fine.
“I’d be willing to move into that cave with you and Brantley,” she teased with a shake to her hips.
A growl left his throat as he grabbed her hips and stilled her movements. Leaning over he nipped her earlobe and whispered, “I’m going to spank your ass when I get you alone.”
“Promises, promises,” she replied as her insides danced. She’d take any spanking her mate wanted to dish out. He was playful in bed and didn’t mind her taking the lead when she felt the urge.
“So, what did we miss?” Orlando asked Jace as he turned his attention to the warrior.
Ember listened as Jace filled them in on the latest from the demons. It appeared that the new archdemons were content to attack the humans in smaller settings. Thankfully, they hadn’t attacked another large event like the candlelight vigil.
Ember knew Hayden wanted to come out to the humans, and she supported him, but couldn’t deny that Orlando had made some good points as to why they shouldn’t. She’d seen the cruelty humans instigated against animals everyday and had no doubt as a shifter her species would be treated the worst.
“Brantley’s diaper needs to be changed,” she interrupted, unsure if she should ask Nate to show her to Orlando’s room. She had no idea where anything was in the house and didn’t see a diaper bag nearby.
“Sorry, Em. Didn’t mean to get caught up in work. Let’s go change him. I can show you to our room,” Orlando replied easily.
*****
“Stop looking at my ass,” Ember said over her shoulder as they ascended the stairs to his suite.
His stomach knotted the closer they got to his room. It was now their room and he wondered what she would think of it. He’d never taken a female back to his suite, unwilling to share that space with anyone other than his Fated Mate. None of them ever believed they’d be blessed a mate after the seven-hundred-year mating curse, but Zander was the one who never gave up and set the example. Each of the Dark Warriors had followed suit, and now, he couldn’t be more grateful.
This was a privilege reserved for his other half and he was eager to share it with Ember.
“Then stop shaking it in my face. Don’t think I missed that extra swing, Wildcat,” he teased as he ran after her. Brantley squealed, sensing the game and clapped in Ember’s arms while she took off down the hall.
“I wasn’t swinging anything,” she denied with a snort. “Come on, Brant, we need to get away from daddy,” she murmured, bringing their son into the fun.
Her words warmed his soul. No one had called him daddy yet. He’d been taking care of Br
antley and considered the baby his, but no one had used that term. Hearing it felt right. He was this child’s father. Happy in a way he didn’t fully understand, he chased his mate. Catching up to her, he grabbed her around the waist and brought them both to his chest. After placing a brief kiss to her lips, he met Brantley’s gaze.
“Don’t even think about going against the male dominance. We’re Team OB,” he said kissing the top of the baby’s head.
“More like BO because he stinks,” Ember replied with a laugh as she pinched her nose.
Smiling, Orlando led them into his room. “Should we let mommy in the club with us?” he asked as he took him from Ember. Leading them through the living room to the bedroom, he watched as Ember soaked in her surroundings.
“I never would have pictured you as the modern type,” she said a minute later.
He took in the room from her perspective. He’d never thought about his style, but he supposed the black leather and glass tables were more modern, especially in comparison to her rustic décor.
“I like the clean look of things, but we can change anything you want,” he offered.
Her head snapped up at that. “I like the furniture in my house. I hope that’s not a problem,” she replied.
“Not at all. We can keep anything you want. Like I said, I like the clean look, but the females have told me I will need to baby-proof soon,” he admitted as he laid Brantley on the changing table.
“You haven’t packed yet,” Ember remarked. Orlando’s head titled her way and he noticed her turning in circles.
“No. Packed for what? We can’t take a trip right now with the demons on the loose,” he hedged.
She’d stopped circling and faced him. As she pushed her glasses up her nose, he marveled at her beauty. Her amber eyes were alight with joy and she had the biggest smile on her face. She was the sexiest female he’d ever seen.
And, she was his.
Brantley squeaked, reminding Orlando of his task. He broke eye contact and went back to changing his son’s diaper.
“Packed to move in with me, silly.”
Her statement was teasing and light, but his gut tightened and his heart raced. They hadn’t had a conversation about living arrangements before they’d mated. It had honestly never entered his mind.
“I assumed we were going to live here. All the mates live here,” he explained as dread filled his stomach.
Fire flashed in her amber eyes then turned black with anger. “In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not like all the other mates. We don’t belong here. We belong at the Grove, protecting the others,” she snapped.
Brantley began crying and Orlando finished fastening the diaper then picked him up. “Em, I’m a Dark Warrior. I need to be here,” he tried to explain, but his heart and head were spinning out of control as sweat broke across his back.
“I know you’re a Dark Warrior, but that doesn’t mean you have to live here. I belong with the pack Orlando. I don’t fit in with the females here. Hell, Elsie can’t stand me and the feeling is mutual. Plus, my family is on pack land. That’s where we need to be,” she explained to him.
Her words stung. How could she spew such venom towards Elsie? He had sensed there was no love lost between them, but he didn’t realize how intense the animosity was between them. He wondered if it was one-sided on Ember’s part.
“I think you’re over-exaggerating about Elsie. She’s really great once you get to know her. Plus, I can’t leave. My family is here. I need to be here for them. You’ve seen how battles come up unexpectedly,” he implored, wanting her to understand.
“How can you defend her?” Ember shouted as she flailed her arms wildly. “I’m supposed to be your family now, Orlando. Does that not matter to you?”
“Of course it matters. But can’t you see it from my perspective?” he implored, wanting to resolve this before it exploded in his face.
“No, Orlando. I won’t live here and you won’t leave, so now what do we do?”
“You haven’t given it a try here,” he accused. His mind was whirling and his anger rising at her stubbornness.
This was not how a mating was supposed to be. Each one of the couples at Zeum had dealt with one fucked up situation or another and managed to work through it. He and Ember were supposed to work through their bullshit and come out stronger afterwards. That was the purpose of the mating bond. Nothing should come between them. Ever.
“And, you haven’t given the Grove a try. I won’t live here,” she flat-out refused. His breath left him on a whoosh while pain engulfed his heart and he nearly dropped Brantley.
His eyebrows drew together and his eyes narrowed. He couldn’t leave his colleagues in a lurch at such a dangerous time. Duty forbade it. “My leaving is impossible, Ember. This is bigger than you and me. I have an obligation to the Goddess. Innocents will die if I shirk that responsibility.”
“Well, it looks like we’re at an impasse. I should have known things were going too good for us. The Goddess warned me I had struggles ahead. Seems we will be the first mated couple to live apart. You know where to find me if you need me,” she gritted then walked over to Brantley and kissed his cheek. “Love you, Brant. Mommy will see you soon,” she stated before she turned and walked out the door.
What the fuck was happening? How could she be saying this? Orlando stood in the middle of his room, unable to utter one word to stop her while his heart shattered into a million pieces.
And she’d been the one to mend the damn thing.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Good luck. Let us know if we can help with anything else,” Pema said as Angus embraced her. He was ecstatic that the piece of fabric they’d found in the cave was successful in the witches locating Keira.
“You and your sisters have done more than enough. You’ve given me hope and that is something I haven’t had for a thousand years. I know my Keira is alive. I will find her,” he promised.
“Of course we will,” Lorne agreed. “Are you certain it’s safe to shift and take off in the middle of a city like this? Figures I’d get naked when the only females around to appreciate my prowess are mated.”
“We might be mated, but we aren’t dead,” Isis teased playfully and earned a growl from her mate. “You’re good to go, we’ve got you covered until you reach a higher altitude and then the night will protect you,” she informed them as she wrapped her arms around Braeden’s waist, calming his possessive nature.
“You’re welcome in Khoth anytime,” Angus offered as he shucked his clothing and allowed his dragon to take over.
Before the change overtook him completely, he heard Suvi, the youngest of the triplets, say, “Damn, did you know the majordomo was so ripped? I knew he was good-looking, but I’ve never seen him out of a suit and had no idea he was built like that.”
“I’m right here, mate,” Caine growled, nearly causing Angus to lose the shift with his amusement.
Mated males were highly territorial and didn’t like other males ogling their mates, much less, their females admiring others, especially naked.
Suvi placed her palm over Caine’s heart and rubbed circles. “No one compares to you, baby. You rock my world. I just had no idea Angus was so muscular.” Mollified, Caine pressed a kiss to Suvi’s lips.
“Hello, dragon shifter, Suvi. He’s a brick house, for Goddess sake,” Pema added with a roll of her eyes. “We want to be there when you get hitched to Keira,” Pema insisted.
The female’s mate stood behind her holding their newborn baby. The infant looked even smaller in her father’s large hands, but fatherhood suited the male, Angus mused.
The witches hadn’t lived at Zeum, but they’d become part of the new family he loved. He was beyond grateful that he’d gotten over his isolation and found these supernaturals. They had enriched his life and he could never pay them back for what they’d given him and continued giving him. The monster he’d become in those early days was frightening and he hated to wonder what state this world
would have been in if not for Zander and the others.
He hated to admit that he was the reason for the myth surrounding dragons that ran rampant on earth. He’d terrorized villages, hunted humans and accepted sacrifices offered to him. He wasn’t proud of his actions, but he hadn’t been in his right mind.
Having always lived the life of an aristocrat where his every move had been scrutinized and corrected, it wasn’t difficult under the circumstances to shed his civility shortly after he crossed to earth.
After his grief ebbed and his mind settled, he realized how lonely he was. He may not have known how to find Keira, but in his heart, he’d known she existed somewhere and she would never love the male he had become. He had no inkling how to survive in these foreign lands so finding Zander and the Dark Warriors had given him a new purpose in life.
Returning to Khoth without his new friends was difficult, but his people needed him. His kind was suffering. Without him there to perform the Civappu, dragonette birthrate had dropped to dangerous levels. If he didn’t return his kind would become extinct. They needed new Tuya identified to mate with and it was his duty to conduct the ceremony.
He had one last task before returning to his homeland and that was to find Keira. As his shift completed, he shook out his wings. The thought of taking flight to find Keira was invigorating and his blood raced through his system.
Lorne shifted, as well, and the two of them took up the entire space in the Rowan Sister’s backyard. Braeden, Isis’s mate, approached them with two duffle bags that he secured to their backs.
On Khoth they had harnesses that magically adjusted with their shifting, but Lorne and Nate hadn’t brought any of their weapons or the straps, so Braeden had to tie the bags to them. They would need the money and clothing inside when they arrived at their destination. A naked male wandering the streets would garner as much attention as a dragon.
“Don’t forget to wear the amulets we made you. It’s the only way to shield your presence,” Pema reminded them.