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

by Kathi S. Barton

  They spoke for another hour or so. Then they went to the Bloom house to look around. Benson couldn’t believe he was going to be living here and doing something he loved so much—taking care of children. He was also going to see Abe grow up. Not that he wanted to be his father—he thought Duncan was doing a better job of that than even Benson’s own parents had, and he had always thought they were great parents. No, Abe was in the perfect spot now, and he’d not do anything to mess that up for him.

  The house was much nicer than he thought it might have been. Even from the outside, he thought the house was big. Going inside only made it seem like he was getting the better end of any deal they were making with him. Benson even thought the furniture was something he might well have picked out for his own home. He was sitting in one of the oversized chairs, enjoying the view out back when Molly, Grant’s mom, joined him.

  “I’ve heard a great deal about you from Piper and Grant. They said they were going to talk to you about having the children they rescue come here to be put back together. They didn’t say that, but it’s my understanding that you’ll be doing a lot of medical work with them. Is that right?” He told her he hoped so. “I’d like to help you here. Move in with you and work from here. My son, he’s going to take the other castle that belongs to Duncan, and I’d just be in the way. They said I wouldn’t be, but I’m thinking that with them being newly together, I will be. I’m not saying we have to sleep together, but I’d love to live here because of the work you’re doing, and you and I…. Well, I’m hoping we can get to know each other.”

  “I’d like that. I’ve heard a great deal about you as well. All of it glowing reports. Abe and his sister, they love you to pieces.” Her face pinked up, and he smiled. “I’d be honored if you were to live here with me. I think, between the two of us, we’d be good for the children too.”

  “I thought so as well.” She leaned back on the couch as if asking him to live here had exhausted her. “You have magic. Did they tell you that? Not as much as the others do, but you have some. Fae is a little of it. I’m not sure of the rest. I’m assuming Grant is the one that kept you from dying.”

  “He did. Do you know what I can do as a little fae?” She said that for the most part, he’d have to trial and error his magic. “I can understand that. Piper told me that sometimes magic mixes in a way that is different for each person. One thing I have discovered, quite by accident, is that I can change my clothes. I thought that to be the best. I’ve lost a great deal of weight of late, and I’ve not had much in the way of clothing that fits me.”

  “You more than likely have things that will make it easier to be around for a long time. Talents you didn’t have before, such as cooking, and things you might have had a handle on, but nothing you were proficient at.” He smiled at her. “I’m going to tell my son that you’re all right with me staying here. I needed a place I could be in without my son. We’ve been together for such a long time that I’m fearful of missing him terribly. He’s a good boy, my son, but he’s got himself a mate now.”

  “Perhaps they’ll have you grandchildren soon.” She had such a hopeful look on her face that he hoped even if Piper and Grant didn’t want children, they’d at least have one for this woman. “I’ve been wanting to ask but wasn’t sure who it would be that I could ask without causing trouble. Are Retha and her husband still on their way here? I hate that they cause so much trouble for everyone.”

  “They’re both dead.” He didn’t know if he wanted to ask what had happened, and Molly seemed to understand that. “They were in the area for about three hours, I guess, when Mercy and Piper came upon them. It was quick, much quicker than I think they deserved, but they’re no longer a problem. I think, for the time being, we should just leave it at that.”

  “All right. Thank you for letting me know. Now I have enough information that I won’t be making a fool of myself by asking.” He thought about the two people and shivered. Whatever reasons the two women had to kill them, he was glad it was finished. Benson didn’t know why, but he had a feeling it was about Abe, or something close to it. “I’ve been thinking about just keeping to one of the bedrooms down here. There are three of them. Which would you like? I can move into another one if you wish the one I’ve picked. I took the one facing the side and back yards.”

  “How very nice of you. No, I’d like the one nearer the kitchen if you’d not mind. That will leave the one between us for you to use as an office should you need to.” He said he’d not thought of that. “The family, they’re going to outfit the basement with medical supplies for you. If you don’t want every little gadget around, I’d try to get them a list.”

  “Yes. I’ve noticed they don’t do things halfway. I think I’m going to enjoy living here with you. You’re kind-hearted, and you don’t seem to want much more than I do. A roof over our heads and a full belly.” She said that was her in a nutshell and a garden in the summer. “Fresh things to eat sound wonderful. I’ve never had an opportunity to have even a plant where I was before. I think I’m also going to enjoy the outdoors if we’re not too busy all the time.”

  The others joined them as he and Molly were out looking at the herb garden in the back. It was in need of a good weeding, as well as some of the things that would need to be transplanted. Piper said they had a lot of seeds they could plant that would help them. Benson was as excited as he’d ever been.

  “I wanted to thank you for taking this on with us.” He told Grant that it was his pleasure. “You might not think so if I have to wake you in the middle of the night too often. But we are going to make a difference here. And with your help, we might even be able to save a few children that would otherwise be dead. Thank you.”

  Benson shook hands with the older man. He knew, even though he looked like they were the same age, that Grant was thousands of years older than him. As they parted ways, he saw Molly ask to speak to Grant. He supposed they were going to talk about her moving in here to help. The two of them were old enough to make decisions on their own, he supposed, but he was happy she cleared it with her son before he found out on his own.

  Benson went to find his room again. He was going to make that list before, as Molly said, he ended up with more equipment than he had room for.

  ~*~

  The castle was much larger than Duncan’s. Piper did wonder why Duncan and Jude had not moved into it instead of the other one, but she remembered that Duncan would want to be closer to his mom. She could understand that better than most. She missed Dante more the longer they were around here.

  “How do you open it? I mean, is there a special word or phrase you use?” She told Grant she hadn’t any idea but did touch her hand to the stoned off area where the drawbridge would be. “Do you feel the earth around us? I do. It’s like everything is waiting for you to open up the magic the castle has. I’m not sure why that is how I feel, but it’s there. A pause in their lives until we arrived.”

  “I can feel it here. The warmth of the stones. These stones would have been carved from the mountain behind it. Then brought here by the slaves that would have been doing most of the heavy work.” She stood up and looked at where stone met stone against the mountain. Also, where the six turrets were. “I wonder why six? I mean, usually, a turret would have been built with a staircase in it, with windows. At least that is what I’ve discovered with Duncan’s. Do you think we’ll have six flights of stairs leading to the same part of the castle?”

  “The middle ones are there for storage. It came in quite handy when we had stuff to sort and store. My name is Baker. I guess you could say I come with the house. The master of the house, he figured I was useful and spelled me to the stone here.” Piper asked him what he was. “Troll. A runt too, but I’m a troll. My family kicked me to the side of the sea there and hoped I’d drown. The mistress of the castle, she found me, shook me out, and had me stay with her while the king of this place was away. He wasn’t a g
ood man, my lady. Cruelty was how he got what he wanted in everything.”

  “I’ve heard.” He asked her if she was truly one of the birds. “I am—the phoenix. My mate here is fae. So you can see, we together have a good deal of magic. I’ll free you from this place should you wish. I’d not have anyone here against their will, Baker.”

  “You’d do that too, wouldn’t you?” She told him it would be her pleasure to do that for him. “I should like to be freed so I can have a roam when I wish. I canna go no further than the walls of the keep now. But I’d be proud to work for you too.”

  “Thank you so much.” She turned and looked at the castle. “I don’t suppose you know how I’m supposed to cross over the threshold, do you? I could swim the waterway here, but I’d rather not. I don’t know what’s in that, but it needs to be cleaned up.”

  “You’ve only to drop a bit of your blood on the stone there.” She asked him if he was sure. “Aye, I am, my lady. The mate too. Lord Grant will need to be welcome here as well, so that will be all it takes. But you’ll need to move back. From what I’ve been told about the magic there, it works quickly.”

  She hadn’t any idea what that might mean but cut open her palm and dropped a few drops of blood on the stone. When she was finished, Grant did the same. Backing away from the stones when the noises coming from the castle started, they all three stood there watching and waiting to see what would happen. Baker had been right. It did happen fast.

  The large stone doorway laid down to rest on the stones they’d bled onto. It was a loud sound that hurt her ears more than she thought it might. As soon as she was across the stone drawbridge, she put her still bloodied hand on the wall of the castle, as did Grant. Grant pulled her away from it as soon as things started to move. And move they did.

  The opening of the castle looked like the castle was just waking up from a long nap. The yawning hole there was larger than she’d ever seen on a castle, but it soon moved to be the same size as the stone they’d crossed to get in. Stepping back more, they all watched as not only did the windows open in the solid stone walls, but things inside the castle began to move around. From where they stood, they could see the walls stretching and moving. A stone table appeared in a room, along with a stone bench on either side. Then just as they appeared to be complete, they changed again into couches, as well as tables with lamps on them.

  “Should we go in?” Baker said as soon as the castle was finished, they’d be able to enter. Not a moment before. “You mean if we tried to go in too early, the castle wouldn’t allow it? That seems very magical. I’m assuming this is from the former queen?”

  “It is. She might well have given it some magic I’m not privy to, but this, she told me, would make the home something you’d be able to raise children in. I’m not sure what that meant. Some of the people out yonder, they’re raising them on a good deal less.”

  “Why don’t we go and take care of the people while the castle finishes? Baker, if you’d like to come with us, I’d appreciate it. Just in the event they try and give us some trouble, you can be there as a witness to the facts.” Baker told Grant he should expect trouble. “You know who these people are?”

  “No, my lord. I could only see them from the turrets there. I could see them fighting among themselves and with the others. Nasty group of people if you were to ask me. The worst part is, they kill some of the creatures around here and leave what they don’t want to rot. To me, that’s a waste.” They were headed toward the field that, if she remembered correctly from flying above it long ago, used to be filled with homes. Small cottages that had been for the people outside the keep. She asked Baker about it. “The homes, they were broken down by some people like these. Might well have happened to the castle had anyone been able to get into it. But they would come along, pick up the stones that made the houses and take them off. Or like these here, they’d just pile them up for their own uses. You be careful of them, my lady. They’re a lot that has been getting things on their own for a while now.”

  They were in tents and makeshift houses. Tarps of every imaginable color on the roofs of some of the places were being held down by the same stones she was asking about. Most of them had outside fire pits, the smell coming off whatever they were cooking, making her gag a little. She ate worms as a bird, and that didn’t smell nearly as bad as whatever was there. Instead of approaching them as herself, she shifted to her bird and landed on the shoulder of Grant. If he needed manpower, she thought as her bird, she’d be better help.

  “Good. I nearly suggested that you come as your bird, but thought you’d want them to know who is in charge. I’m assuming this way, you’re safer as well.” She told him she was a good deal safer since she could still be ten times his size. “Good to know too. I’m thinking once they see you in that form, we’ll not have any more trouble with them.”

  The first man they came upon came out with a gun in his hand. Piper didn’t like that—the gun or the man. The two little children behind him looked as dirty as the water around the castle. They were skinny and smelled like they’d not had a bath in recent days. The man asked them what they wanted.

  “You’re trespassing. I know you were forewarned that someone was coming to live in the castle soon and that you had to be on your way. So this is me, as the owner of the castle and the lands around it, asking you once again to pack up and leave.” The man just snorted. “Was that another language? I can tell you to leave in several if you were to tell me what one you speak.”

  “Huh?” The man looked as confused as anyone she’d ever seen before. Grant repeated his offer. “What the hell are you talking about? I’m speaking what I always speak.”

  “Oh. So you speak stupid. Okay. I think I can make that work too. You gotta leave right now.” The man, if it was possible, looked more confused than before. “Leave here now, and I won’t have to have you arrested.”

  “This here is my place.” Grant told him it wasn’t. “It is. See? I have my home here all set up. I even got family here that I’m taking care of.”

  “You don’t seem to be doing such a good job of either if you ask me.” The man said he’d not. “No, so you didn’t. All right, Mr. Curtain. I’m going to give you an hour to be packed up and on your way. If not, I’m going to move you along faster by having you burnt out. It’s up to you.”

  Grant moved through the next few people on the land. He met with the same lack of hospitality, the same claims, as well as people meeting him outside of whatever they were living in with a gun pointed at him. Piper thought warning them that they had to move had each of them gathering up a weapon of some sort and having their reasons all lined up for why they weren’t leaving. Like they’d been given a script to read over.

  They were headed back to Mr. Curtain after they’d hit all the squatters. His name, as well as the other names, had been given to Grant by her. A quick search of his mind had not only the adult’s name but those of the children as well. Piper even knew how long it had been since the children with two of the families had eaten. It had been a couple of days.

  “Mr. Curtain, you don’t seem to have taken me seriously. You were told what would happen if you didn’t have your things packed up and weren’t ready to leave. You’re starting to get me in a shitty mood. You don’t want that.” Mr. Curtain actually pulled his kids in front of him. “Are you going to use your children as a shield, thinking I won’t burn you out? That’s a very stupid mistake on your part, I’m afraid. You see, I’ve warned you. After you were warned the other day. This is your final time. Leave, or I will have you burnt out. I can’t believe you’d use your children as a way for you to not get harmed. Just so you know, that won’t stop us.”

  “You think anyone is going to serve you with you burning out a man and his kids? Nah, you’re the one that is going to be fucked up in all this. My kids and me, we live here. There ain’t shit that you can do about it. Now, you get on back to wh
ere you came from and leave us alone. We got ourselves a nice place here, and we’re going to be living here long after you just start pushing up flowers.” Grant asked him if he was threatening him. “No. I know that’s against the law. I’m telling you right out, you either leave us alone, all of us, or we’re going to hurt you and yours.”

  The man seemed quite satisfied with his rules against Grant. When Grant laughed, asking her to have a look-see, she hopped down off his shoulder and let her larger bird take her. She stood over Grant by several feet—the man and his children more so. Piper was happy to see Baker ask the kiddies to come on over to him, and they did. It was just the man standing there when Grant asked him once more if he was willing, on his own, to get packed up and go.

  “You don’t understand what I’m telling you. You don’t have any rights to tell me where I want to live or not. And don’t think I’m not going to tell the cops that you took my kids from me.” Grant told him he could if he lived. “You’re thinking you can kill me, boy? I want you to know I’m not nearly as stupid as you think I am. I got me this here gun, and what do you have? Nothing, I’ll tell you, nothing at all.”

  “I have her.” Grant pointed to her, and the man just glanced in her direction. “Doesn’t even her size make you think she might well be able to hurt you without much in the way of effort? Your kids are afraid of her.”

  “Kids are stupid. You can have those two. They ain’t worth the trouble anyway. They’re forever hungry and wanting something from me. Take’em. I got no use for them. Hell, it’ll be nicer here without them.” Grant only nodded. “You gonna go away now?”