She fell from the man’s arms and began to freefall.
Gardelle locked onto her visually and flew in her direction, his arms outstretched. Something massive slammed into him, knocking him off target. He tumbled with the mass and then gained his balance only to realize the object was Zalse.
The man pulled a dagger from his waist and tried to stab Gardelle. With the swipe of his arm, Gardelle knocked the dagger free from Zalse’s hand. It fell away, spiraling downwards towards the ground.
So was Lisa.
Gardelle tried to break free from the battle with Zalse but the vulture slashed out with a taloned hand, sinking them deep into Gardelle’s side. He felt no pain. His only worry was his mate. When the realization came over him that she’d have struck the earth already, Gardelle lost his ability to think like a rational man.
He attacked Zalse head on, punching the man in the face repeatedly. When the vulture shifter fell backwards, out of Gardelle’s grasp, Gardelle went at him again, artfully flapping his wings to support his position and balance. Wrapping his hands around Zalse’s throat, Gardelle permitted the fury he felt to consume him. He let it course through his veins as if it were his life’s blood. As if his hate was all that was keeping him going.
In many ways, it was.
It was all he had left.
He’d spent so long denying who Lisa was to him. When he finally saw her for who she was to him and acted on the feelings he had for her, she was ripped from the world.
Gardelle squeezed Zalse’s neck harder before letting his own talons free from the tips of his fingers. They sliced cleanly through the enemy’s tender and vulnerable throat. With another roar, Gardelle thrust the man away, watching as the vulture fell limply towards the ground at a rapid rate of speed.
Zalse hit the ground with a sickening thud and Gardelle retracted his talons.
Gardelle spun in midair and closed his eyes tight, unable to look down and see his woman broken and gone. He’d failed her. He’d allowed harm to befall her. Sorrow filled him, and he began to pull his wings into himself, knowing he’d plummet to the ground as well. He also knew he was at a height that meant he’d not survive the impact.
“Dad, stop hugging me and go help my husband!”
Gardelle’s eyes snapped open and he looked down to see Lisa being held lovingly in Brimlah’s arms. The vulture shifter’s wings were out fully as he touched down, keeping Lisa in his arms.
Lisa wiggled to get down. “Dad, Zalse cut him! Help Gardelle!”
“Daughter, Zalse is no longer a threat to Gardelle or anyone,” said her father.
Gardelle flew in their direction.
Lisa looked up at him and relief shone on her beautiful face. Gardelle also noticed the huge, fat tears that were dripping down her cheeks. She broke free from her father’s hold, landed upright even in the heels and put her arms up to Gardelle.
He snatched her from the ground and lifted her high into the air, hugging her to him tenderly. It took him a moment to realize he was trembling. So was she.
She touched the spot Zalse had clawed him. “You’re bleeding!”
“I’m fine,” said Gardelle, flying far from the fighting. He landed with her and then kept hugging her tightly.
She pushed on his chest. “You’re not fine.”
He cupped her face. “You’re safe and you’re mine. That means I am fine.”
“Gardy?”
He showered her face in kisses. “I love you.”
She moved into his embrace once more. “I love you, too. But we’re still having a long talk about the whole ‘mine’ thing.”
Nodding, he kissed her again and this time she kissed him back. His body reacted and in seconds his cock was hard and wanting.
Lisa smiled against his lips as she pressed her body to his. “Told ya that you’re hung like a horse.”
Chuckling, Gardelle kissed her once more.
“Uh, do we let the former bad guy kill Gardelle or not?” asked Rossi, sounding very close. “I’m confused. I know we’re not supposed to attack Brimlah, but does that mean we let him attack one of us?”
Gardelle broke the kiss with Lisa and found Rossi, Rhios, and Allan on Brimlah’s back, pinning the man to the ground. “What are you doing?”
Allan glanced down at Brimlah. “He might have overheard his daughter talking about the size of your manhood.”
Inaudible threats came from the bottom of the pile of men.
Gardelle didn’t need to hear them fully to know Brimlah was pissed. He kissed Lisa’s forehead and then stepped in the direction of the pile up. “Free him.”
Rossi stared up at Gardelle. “Bad idea. He’s strong.”
“And the cat is out of the sack about what you’ve done with his daughter,” said Aeson from the sidelines.
Lisa bent near her father. “Dad, stop. We have a lot to talk about and this isn’t helping matters any.”
Gardelle noticed Alok and Rydel easing up slowly in Lisa’s direction. Alok gave Rydel a tiny shove only to have Rydel shake his head and back up. When he realized the twins were fighting over who was going to talk to Lisa, Gardelle laughed.
Lisa stared at him. “This is not funny, Gardy.”
“From where I am standing it is. After all, two feared eagle warriors are currently afraid to approach you.”
Lisa turned slightly and stood fully. She then stared down at her father on the bottom of the pile of men. “Am I their sister?”
“Yes,” said Allan, answering for Brimlah. “The longer the herbal mix is out of your system the more you begin to smell of the eagles. It’s easy for us to scent you are related to them.”
Rossi took a big breath in and smiled. “Can’t wait until her scent changes when she’s pregnant. That should keep family dinners fun.”
“We have to dine with the vulture?” asked Aeson, looking less than pleased. “I will but know I won’t be pleased.”
Lisa sighed. “You’re all very good-looking but very weird men.”
Keonae grinned. “Thanks. We’ve got some big time clean up to do here.”
Alok and Rydel neared slowly. “Our men will see to this and keep the humans within the establishment from wandering out.”
Rossi got off Brimlah. “Anyone tell the twins that their sister was in a sex club with Gardelle?”
Lazar had to leap on Brimlah to keep him pinned down. “Rossi.”
Rossi shrugged. “What?”
Alok and Rydel locked onto Gardelle and anger lit in their eyes.
Lisa pointed at them. “Do it. I dare you.”
They glanced between one another.
Alok let out a long breath. “She even sounds like mother did when she’d scold us.”
Rydel teared up. “Yes. She does.”
Gardelle put his arm around his mate. “Let her father stand.”
Alok snarled. “He’s not her father!”
Gardelle kept hold of Lisa. “He is the only father she has ever known, and he loves her greatly. She loves him too. If you want a future with her, accept that fact now. I will not have my wife upset over her father and her brothers fighting.”
Lisa leaned against him. “Thanks. This doesn’t make me yours though. Got it.”
He winked. “If you say so.”
She offered a semi-stern look that was adorable. “I want to see Sabrina.”
Lazar stood slowly. “She wishes to see you too. Shelby had another prediction before we left to find Gardelle.”
Lisa looked at Gardelle. “Shelby?”
“My daughter,” said Rhios.
“And my mate,” added Aeson.
“What did she see?” asked Gardelle, worried for his mate.
Lazar cleared his throat. “It might be best for us to discuss this in private.”
“Oh just say it,” said Lisa.
“She seems to think you’ll be blessed with twin girls before the year is out,” said Lazar hesitantly.
Brimlah shouted more and bucked Rossi and Allan
off him. He stood and pointed at Gardelle.
“Dad.” Lisa put her hands on her hips.
Brimlah’s breathing was hard but he stayed in place.
“Brother, I can’t believe I’m about to suggest this, but we should stand with Brimlah to kill Gardelle,” said Alok.
Rydel’s nostrils flared. “We cannot kill him, brother. He’s mated to our sister and evidently the father of the children she now carries. But we can maim him.”
“I’ll help,” said Brimlah.
Gardelle laughed.
Rossi grinned. “How is married life going for you, Gardy?”
“Asshole.”
* * *
THE END
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