Piper: Queen’s Birds of Prey: Paranormal Shape Shifter Romance (Queen's Birds of Prey)

by Kathi S. Barton

  “I was just telling your husband here that the people have been apprehended. They’ve been taken to the prison for protection. The police station here is already receiving all sorts of death threats to be passed on to them—four women and one man. I nearly had my men make sure they were women before I could let it settle in my head. Women just aren’t prone to this sort of thing. Killing children? I never would have believed it.” Piper asked him if they’d given any reason for what they’d done. “They did. Just as you were told, they wanted their deeds plastered all over the news. It’s a hard thing to wrap your mind around. I can’t thank either of you enough for what you’ve done for us. Without you, this fire might well have been an unsolved case. Not to mention all the dead would still be unidentified.”

  When Parkerson left them, she moved to the other chair. Piper didn’t know what to say to Grant. She wasn’t even sure there was anything she could say to him. Thanking him, she thought, and did that. He grinned at her when her belly growled.

  “I guess you don’t put your hands in your pockets much when you’re working.” She told him she didn’t know. “While you were still looking for the cans of lard, I put some seeds in your pockets. Not a lot, but they would have refilled themselves as you ate. I would have told you, but your mind was such a jumble out there I didn’t want to intrude.”

  Putting her hand into the pocket of the jacket she had on, she pulled it out with a handful of just what he’d told her. Seeds of all sorts of grains were there for her to have been munching on. Eating a handful of them, Piper moaned. Grant laughed.

  “Would you like some?” He told her he’d rather have a steak with all the trimmings. “Me too. I have a card that will feed us both. I’ve never used it before, but they assure me it’s good for whatever I want. I’m sure they mean to feed you as well.”

  “I’d like that.” When he stood up, she did as well. “We’re going to have to talk about some things, I think. Mostly try and find out what you’ve received from me. Also, more of the things that you gave to me. I know now that I can speak with your sisters and brothers. And this is very strange for me, but I can speak with the kids as well. Miley has been telling me your favorite things to do when you’re not working too hard.”

  “She works with us on different projects. Miley, and now the other two, work with us all the time. Tracy has set herself up with a job of delivering food for the elderly, as well as us, when we forget to eat. It happens a good deal more than I’d like to admit.” She thought of something as they made their way to the rental they’d picked up. “I was house hunting. I didn’t find anything I truly liked yet. Perhaps you can find someplace for us to stay. I’ve been staying at the castle with the others who haven’t been mated as yet. There are only the two of them left, I guess.”

  “I have a home with my mom, but it’s small. It’s magical, thanks mostly to us being fae, but it’s not nearly large enough for the three of us.” She said she understood, then asked if his mom would be living with them. “I hadn’t thought of that, but if you’d not mind, I’d like to have her close.”

  “I’d like for her to be with us too. As you know, I don’t have any parents, and the only family I have is the birds and their families.” He asked her if she wanted a family. “Someday, yes. We’re sort of waiting on Mercy to give birth, which is very soon, to see what sort of baby we might have. I think she’s more worried about it than Joel is. He’s very laid back.”

  “I’ve noticed that about him.” Grant laughed as he got behind the wheel to drive them around. “I was also told that you’re a terror driving. That you drive like the racecar driver that you once were.”

  “Abe, right?” He said it was. “Yeah, I sort of had a date with him and just drove like I usually do. When I noticed he was green and might not make it to the restaurant, I did slow down. I don’t think he truly relaxed until we were going back to his house later. The kid is super scary smart too.”

  “Duncan told me he was working on getting into a college for kids like him. I’m to understand he downplayed it at first.” Piper said he had. That his biological parents had tossed him away for that very reason. “Did I hear that they might be an issue?”

  “You might well have heard it, but we’re waiting on them to try to take him from us. Abe wants them dead. He’s that afraid of them.” Grant pulled into a small brick building’s parking lot and asked her if she trusted him. “I do. I guess that’s what being mates does, but it’s more than that. I don’t just trust you, but I feel as if doubting you would be dangerous. Not from you, but some other means. I don’t know where that came from, to be honest, but that’s what I’m feeling towards you.”

  “I have the same feelings toward you. By the way, I can shift into a bird too. I’ve not completely shifted, but while I was in the bathroom earlier, I just thought of being a phoenix, and my hands sprouted feathers. I’m glad I was in there alone. There is no telling what someone might have thought when I screamed like a little kid.” He got out and came around to her side of the car. Handing her out, he looked at her when she squeezed his hand. “I’ve fallen in love with you, Piper. I never thought it really worked like that, but I have to admit, it’s a very nice feeling.”

  “I don’t know what I feel about you yet. I like you. You make me feel safe, which is nothing I’d ever think I would need from someone. I’ve laughed more than I have in a while since you came around.” She paused, and he waited for her to speak. Grant was sure she was going to tell him that she could do better. He certainly had been thinking that for the last several hours. “I think I could get used to you hanging around. I was serious when I told you I don’t do mushy shit. It’s not who I am.”

  When she slipped into the restaurant ahead of him, Grant found himself tickled by what she’d just said to him. Because for as much as she said she wasn’t the mushy type, he was. His mom had told him how to woo a woman and what to do with one that you liked. He was going to mushy her as much as he possibly could. It felt like she’d tossed down the gauntlet, and he was there to pick it up.

  Dinner was nice. He wasn’t surprised by the amount of food she could put away. Piper didn’t comment on his appetite, either. They not only enjoyed the salad bar that was his favorite part of this place, but he also enjoyed the company. Piper was both comical as well as intelligent.

  Just as he was ready to comment on how much fun he was having, he felt an unfamiliar touch to his mind.

  Hello, Grant. It’s Duncan, in the event you don’t know. He said he didn’t and was glad he could speak to him thusly. Yes, well, you might not think that once the two of you return. As I said to you, my mother had plans for the two of you. I can tell you now, then have you tell Piper, which is what I’d prefer, so I don’t get hurt. Or you can wait until you return and I’ll tell you both at the same time.

  Since I’m new to this relationship, I’m going to let you tell us. Duncan told him he was a spoilsport. Perhaps so. But I’m enjoying myself too much for it to be messed up because you’re afraid of your birds.

  Yes, I guess there is that. By the way, you two did a good job with the fire. The people have been brought to justice, and the owners of the place aren’t going to be blamed for what happened. All good as far as I can see. With the exception of the deaths of all those people. That hurts me more than I think I could explain to you. Grant told him it hurt him as well. I would imagine. With your connection to the earth, you would have felt it worse than even I. Thank you for your help, Grant. I know it hurt both of you to be involved, but so much more has been accomplished with the two of you working together.

  I started to say it was my pleasure. And in a way, I guess it was. But it was nice to be able to use my magic to help out the humans. Duncan asked him when they’d be back. I don’t know. This is Piper’s job, not mine. I only came along to be with her. I can ask her, but I think she’s just too exhausted now to make that sort of decision.

&nb
sp; I can understand that, as well. I’ll look forward to talking to you both when you return. You will shield me, as your king, if I piss her off too much, won’t you? Duncan was laughing, so Grant didn’t see any reason to tell him he was on his own against his mate. I’ll speak to you both later. Goodnight, Grant.

  He didn’t have any idea what the man would want of him. Nor did he really care. He had a mate, and he was willing to bet she’d have no trouble whatsoever in telling him off. Paying the bill with the company card, Grant was glad that Piper decided to head back tonight. He’d let the king know in the morning that they were home.

  ~*~

  Benson waited while the phone was ringing. There was a great deal going on right now, and he’d bet his last nickel that he was going to somehow be blamed for it all. Well, not all of it, but at least the parts that would have him in— “Hello? I was wondering if it were possible to speak to Mr. Dante? Could you tell him I won’t take up much of his time? Just a moment or two, please.” The man that had answered the phone told him he could take a message and see if he’d call him back. “Good. That would be good. Just let me think a moment. I do need to speak to him. It’s...I’m not threatening you or anything, but it’s about his son, Abraham. He’s newly adopted him.”

  “May I ask your name, sir?” He told him his name was Benson Lawrence. “Would you mind hanging on for one moment, sir? Mrs. Dante is here now. She would like to speak to you.”

  He was put on hold, and Benson had to tell himself to be calm. He didn’t want to scare the woman just because he knew Retha better than they did. When the woman answered the phone, he could hear the anger in her voice.

  “My name is Benson Lawrence. I’m the biological father of Abraham. I’m not sure what his last name is right now. When Retha left my home several years ago, she was going by Bundy.” The woman didn’t say anything, and Benson took that as a good sign. “I’m not with her. This other man—I think her actual husband, Tag Bundy—is with her and coming toward your home. I’m not sure what her plans are for Abraham, but it can’t be good. She and I...it was a one night stand as far as sex was concerned. Then about a year or so later—”

  “Why are you calling here, Mr. Lawrence?” He told her that was what he was getting to. “Just cut to the chase. You assured my staff that you’re not going to cause any trouble. Yet you calling here has upset my household. Not to mention, upset me. I’m not one to fuck with.”

  “No, ma’am. I can understand that you’re not. Retha will hurt Abraham if she gets him from you. She’s done it before. She lived with me for a little while, a few months after the little boy was born. Then one day, I came home from work, and she was gone. I didn’t let it go. I probably should have, but I found someone to look for her for me. When they caught up with her, she no longer had Abraham. I thought for sure that she’d murdered him. Then I read about that place in the paper and went there. That’s where I figured out about you and your husband.” She asked him what he meant by that. “I’m thinking you’re not very trusting. But that’s a good thing nowadays. I read about the thing with the children’s home. They didn’t have a list of names to go with it, but I did some of my own searching and found that Abraham and a girl by the name of Tracy were adopted. Well, that’s not true. They were all adopted, but I was able to narrow it down to you and your husband. I’m just trying to keep him safe from her. She’s not what one might call maternal.”

  “What is it you want out of this, Mr. Lawrence? I’m not going to turn Abe over to you. If that’s what you’re thinking, then you’d better change your mind. As I told you before, I’m not one to fuck with.” He said he wasn’t in a position to raise anyone right now. “And the reason you say that? You’re not going to come here either if you’re planning something with Retha. We know she’s on her way here. We assumed that Abe’s biological father was with her.”

  “No. I.... When Abe came to live with me for a while, I did one of those DNA tests. I only had a one night thing with Retha. To be honest, Mrs. Dante, I don’t even remember much of it. I’ve never been one to indulge in liquor or the like. But that next morning, I woke with a splitting headache, my money gone, and no memory of much of anything. Retha was there. She acted like we had this long term thing going on, and I kicked her to the curb. Then about a year later, she comes around with this kid.” Benson sat down on his couch. “I don’t want anything from you. I swear. It’s a bit too late for me, anyway. She gave me AIDS, you see, and I’m not long for this world. She’s the only person that...Retha is the only person I’ve ever slept with. And I don’t think she even knows she’s sick yet.”

  “I’m so sorry, Mr. Lawrence. I truly am.” He felt his eyes fill up. More tears wouldn’t help him out, he told her, but he did want to make sure the one thing he could be proud of was safe. “I’m sending someone for you. I want you to come here to our home and see what you can help us with concerning Retha.”

  “No, ma’am, that’s all right. Like I said, I wanted to make sure that Abraham is safe, that’s all.” She told him that someone by the name of Grant was going to be there within the next hour. “You don’t know anything about me, miss. What if I’m some sort of scammer?”

  “If you are, when you arrive, you won’t have to worry about dying that horrific death. I’ll make sure you suffer much worse.” He believed her too. Telling her he’d be there, he asked if she needed his address. “No. I have it. As well as your medical records. You’ll see that we’re not a family that anyone messes with. Retha won’t know what hit her. You’ll come here, we’ll work things out, and then we’ll talk. Be ready.”

  After the line went dead, Benson laid back on the couch. He wasn’t feeling up for much of anything today. Not just feeling sick, but the doctor hadn’t given him a good prognosis. He had less than two months left.

  Benson had always thought of himself as a good person. He’d been the type of man that would get up from his seat to give it to someone else. If he had more than enough, which had been often enough, he’d share it with those that lived around him. He had friends, money in the bank, as well as a good outlook on life. Then Retha.

  The DNA test hadn’t come back until she left him again. The boy was ninety-nine percent his. That, he thought, was about as close as it could get. While the two of them had been living with him, Benson knew that Abraham was much smarter than the average kid. By the time he was three months old, he’d been showing signs of being extremely intelligent. Retha hated when Benson pointed that out to her, so he stopped. That didn’t keep him from encouraging the little boy. Then he was gone.

  A friend of his, a cop, had told him that the police had been trying to stop the selling of children on the black market. Every day he’d ask Mac if his son had come through. Then one day, he told him he’d been there. But before either of them could retrieve him from the hospital, he was gone again. Stolen, they said. That was when Benson lost all hope of finding him again. Until he read about the children’s home. But again, he was too late to find his son.

  Someone at the door woke him from his nap. Benson staggered to the door, his body getting weaker every day, and opened it. His timing could have been better, he supposed. He opened it in time to hear Mrs. Sheradon from across the hall telling the man at the door that Benson had that nasty disease. That the man should go home to his wife.

  “I’m his wife, you old goat. Get your skinny ass back in that room before I have to make an example of you. Get.” Mrs. Sheradon closed her door with a snap, and the beautiful woman that had threatened her smiled at him. “Hello, Mr. Lawrence. My name is Piper Coby. This man is my husband, Grant. You were told to expect us?”

  “Yes. I’m sorry. I just woke up.” The man picked him up when Benson started for the couch again. “I’m sorry. The doctor told me I don’t have long to live. Please, make sure you clean up well. I’d hate to have you get what I have.”

  The man, Grant, looked at his wife. When she no
dded, the most extraordinary thing happened. The man put his hand over his chest, and Benson felt...well, he felt wonderful. Like every bit of his body was given a power-up like they give you in games.

  “You’ll have to rest for a little while. In the meantime, I’m going to order us some food.” Grant told Piper he’d go get something. When he kissed the woman goodbye, Benson had a feeling he’d startled her with the kiss. Shaking his head, he wondered what was going on. Piper sat across from him. “All right. In the event you have no idea what just happened, I’ll explain. Grant cured you of everything you had recently. You’ll live a full and good life. If, and this is a huge if, you don’t fuck up. If you do, I will shift into my bird and burn you to a fucking crisp. I’m a phoenix, and I’m well within my rights to murder you where you sit.”

  He stared at her for several seconds before he nodded. Under normal circumstances, he would have laughed at her, or at the very least, called her a liar. But he was feeling good, better than he had in years, and he knew it was because of something unspoken between her and Grant. She leaned back on the chair she was sitting on.

  “You believe me.” He said he had no reason not to believe her. He, as a matter of fact, was feeling too good to doubt her. “Abe has no idea that we’re here to get you. We’ve not told him anything about you saying you’re his biological father either. And until we can figure out what kind of scam you’re running—if any, I mean—then he won’t. He’s a wonderful kid, and there isn’t any way I’m going to see him hurt again.”

  “Did Retha hurt him?” Nothing. Not even a blink of her eye. “I have a feeling he was one of the children that were raped in that home, wasn’t he? You don’t have to answer me. But I do want you to know that had I known he was there, I would have gone to get him. I tried to buy him when Retha put him up for sale a few years ago. But somehow, she slipped by me, and the police and I missed him.”