What to Read After FSOG: The Gemstone Collection (WTRAFSOG Book 6)

by London Casey

  “Hi, Eden. Where’ve you been hiding lately? We didn’t get a chance to thank you for helping after Rahn was injured.”

  “I thought I should give you and your friend some privacy to heal. I’m sure it was traumatic for you.”

  For her? Rahn was the one who’d been attacked. He was the one someone had tried to carve up like a Sunday baked turkey. Her man had lain in a pool of blood that night. If anything, it was traumatic for Rahn. She looked at Eden sideways, not caring for the irritation, however slight or unintended, when Eden called Rahn her friend.

  Then there was Adonei. Damned lion was pacing the well-worn trail across her mind again.

  Eden ordered a tea and asked, “So where is Mr. Benson?”

  “Who? Oh, Rahn?” she asked with her best oblivious-as-a-blonde expression. “He’s off shopping for a surprise for me,” she lied. “Hey, what was that?”

  “What was what, Chrysalyn?”

  “That noise. Sounds like someone is in distress.”

  Instinct had her legs moving toward the sound. With a confused-looking Eden tagging behind her, Chrys silently sent Adonei ahead to scout.

  When the mighty lion returned, his news hit her straight in the gut.

  *It’s a female. She is under attack. Two males, both masked. Neither as strong as you, even without the infusion of my powers.*

  Chrys turned a corner into a dim alley and took in the scene before her. Just as Adonei said, two men yanked at the clothes of a kicking, screaming woman. She was completely covered from head to toe, like a Bedouin woman, but the creeps harassing her were trying to make sure she didn’t stay that way.

  Well, watching someone get raped in an alley just didn’t float her boat. Without a second thought, Chrys moved in to protect the female and walked confidently into the fray. The men looked up and she could see their leers through the scarves over their ugly faces. One of them licked his lips. Ewww. Nasty bastard.

  Eden’s hastily mumbled “I’ll go get help” made it more than clear she was on her own. Fine. Coward.

  All their attention on Chrys, they released the woman who promptly took off at a dead run. The two would-be rapists began to circle Chrys. No worries. With no weapons, her body would simply have to take these assholes down.

  Surrounded, Chrys didn’t doubt she could still beat the hell out of them, especially with Adonei’s strength. All she had to do was call.

  Or that was the plan until Mahpiya shouted a warning into her skull. Too late. Someone snuck up behind Chrys and poked her in the kidneys with a very heavy, very cold piece of steel. Hell, even with lion super-strength and speed, there was no way she could dodge a bullet this close.

  The order to shut up or else was an unfamiliar muffled hiss against her ear. And these bastards looked more than capable of following up on the “or else” part.

  “Turn around.”

  Hands up in surrender, Chrys obeyed and mentally kicked herself in the head for not being more careful.

  “What the hell?” she demanded, unable to keep the incredulity out of her voice. Eyes narrowed in disbelief, she stared at her abductor—Eden and the woman she’d just rescued. Even after swearing to be careful she’d allowed herself to be duped.

  One of the bad guys wrapped several thin, but strong, twine ropes around her wrists and tossed a simple dress-like garment over her, effectively hiding her from the world. The victim had been nothing but bait and Chrys was well and truly caught. For now.

  In the meantime, a call for Rahn was in order.

  ‘Adonei, come to me. I need your assistance.’

  *I am here, my charge.*

  ‘Please go find Rahn. Show him what’s happened. I need help.’

  *I am sorry, Chrysalyn, but I cannot.*

  ‘What?’ she almost yelled aloud. ‘What the hell do you mean? You can’t scout him out and bring him back to help me?’

  *We both promised your mate we would not leave your side for any reason.*

  ‘You’re my spirit guide, not Rahn’s. Since when do his wishes carry more weight than mine?’ she snarled along the bond as Eden’s goon squad hustled her through the empty alleyway and away from the bazaar.

  *Since you mated him,* Adonei responded frankly.

  ‘What? Oh, this is fucking ridiculous. Mah, can you go?’

  The lioness refused. But it made more sense for her to refuse a request than Adonei.

  *I cannot disobey my charge any more than I can interfere in his choices. I was asked to stay with you and gave my word. But I promise to lend you my hunter’s strength the moment your body is far enough away from the weapon trained on you.*

  *You cannot lend her strength. Only I can do that,* Adonei huffed indignantly.

  *Yet you will not do as your charge asks and go to her mate? Could you possibly get any more hypocritical than you are at this moment?*

  An argument ensued. Chrys couldn’t believe it. She was being taken who-knew-where thousands of miles from home while her two supposed bad-assed lions fought over who should do what. Obviously, mating among humans with mated spirit guides was rare, but right now, Chrys couldn’t care less about their hierarchical rules and laws.

  ‘Somebody do something, damn it,’ Chrys demanded. That stopped the argument but didn’t get her any further. So it was time to talk some sense into these boneheaded cats once and for all.

  Patience all but done, she argued the case that because they were joined, Mahpiya was as much her spirit guide as Adonei, and vice versa for Rahn. By the time the three of them got a decent plan formed between them, the sun was setting and they were well outside of the city.

  From the front seat of the vehicle, the woman who’d lured her into the alley turned, pulled off her head cover and leaned over the seat. It was then Chrys realized that none of her captors, save Eden, were Egyptian. They were all Eastern European with classic Euro features. Made perfect sense.

  Rahn had explained to her how men of his culture believed they were caretakers of the earth and their faith, which included women. No man worth his salt in this country would sit by and watch if she were in trouble. So, Eden had gotten someone else to do his dirty work.

  Eden’s arms came around her to hold her still as the woman stuck a needle into the fat vein at the side of her neck. Shit, it hurt. And she’d better not get an infection or she’d have to kick their asses twice, damn it. A slow burn spread from the injection site, erupted straight into her brain and sent her into oblivion.

  Damn it, they’d looked everywhere. Mahpiya had been feeding Chrys’ anger, and then her fear, through their bond. He at least knew the woman was all right. Then suddenly, it winked out. It was as if Chrys had disappeared off the face of the earth. He started to summon Mahpiya, but didn’t want to call her away from his mate’s side. Surely she was better off with two spirit guides rather than one.

  All of his local family had gathered at Aunt Suman’s home in anticipation of Rahn’s homecoming, only to be met with the news that his fiancée was missing.

  His aunt walked out onto the porch and put an arm around him.

  “We will find her, Rahn. I promise.”

  She meant well and Rahn appreciated it. But it did nothing to quell the deep guilt he felt at allowing the damned woman to go romping around the bazaar alone. It didn’t matter that she now had two spirit guides to keep her safe. He was ultimately responsible for her safety and happiness. Period.

  “Thanks, Aunt Suman, I appreciate that.” He knew his words were hard and angry, but he simply couldn’t help it. Damn it, he was angry. Angry at himself for letting her out of his sight. Angry that someone had managed to tail her here, someone he should have caught by now. Angry for not realizing Chyrs was even in danger. She didn’t fit the profile of the others who’d had their lives terminated at every port that damned ship stopped at. Why Chrys? Why her?

  “I think I’ll go for a walk, get into my own space so I can think a bit.”

  His aunt smiled in understanding and said, “All the fa
mily is here for you. And we are expecting a bit of help from an unexpected source.”

  “What unexpected source? Who?”

  Rahn’s eyebrows quirked in question, but she waved him off with a simple, “I’ll tell you when you return from your walk if they have not arrived by then.”

  Rahn looked up at the sky as he went. It was so beautiful here. The sky was so clear, he didn’t doubt he could see all the lights of the entire universe. But nothing compared to the sweet light in his woman’s eyes. The way she brightened when he walked into a room. The way she reached for him, accepted him, both in and out of bed. And he realized Chrys would never allow him to lock her away from life, away from the world. She was a free spirit. But could they find a way for her to be both free and safe?

  He kept walking, thinking of the sunset he’d watched alone and how Chrys would have enjoyed seeing the clouds morph from vivid reddish-orange to pinkish-purple to deep gray.

  Down the block and around the corner, Rahn sucked in a deep, startled breath as Mahpiya’s imposing presence literally roared into his head.

  ‘Mah? What the hell are you doing here? You’re supposed to be with Chrys.’

  *Adonei is watching over her. Since I am as much her spirit guide as I am yours, I must grant her request under these circumstances.*

  ‘What circumstances, Mah? What are you talking about?’

  Mahpiya told him the whole sordid tale from beginning to end, starting from the supposed bumping into Eden at the tea stand, to the woman Chrys had gone to help, to her present location and direction.

  From hopeless concern to jubilation, he could barely contain himself. Because of Mahpiya, he now had everything he needed to rescue his woman. He was so damned grateful he couldn’t even be angry at Mahpiya for leaving Chrys’ side. Besides, Rahn was no fool. If Mah was here, she had good reason to be. The lioness was not just a great hunter, she was one of the wisest entities that walked the earth.

  ‘Mah, show me what’s happening now.’

  *As you wish, my charge.*

  Immediately, Mah’s image faded from his mind and was replaced with the scene of a slumbering Chrys slouched in the backseat of a car.

  Mahpiya’s quiet voice caught and pulled him out of the vision she’d sent to him.

  *You are growling aloud, Rahn. Do not bring unnecessary attention to yourself.*

  And she was right. It wasn’t as if he was the only one out on the streets of Alexandria tonight. He couldn’t help Chrys if he was locked up in the loony bin for walking down the street talking to himself while not drunk.

  Focusing again on the images flowing into his brain, Rahn understood one thing immediately. Chrys was asleep, but not because she wanted to be.

  ‘What did they give her, Mah?’

  *These are some of the thoughts Chrysalyn sent me before she passed out.*

  Injectable sedative. Great. At least she would sleep through most of her ordeal.

  ‘Show me the signs on the road.’

  They were headed south on the main road toward Cairo. Considering the amount of time Chrys had been missing, Rahn was sure they’d almost completely covered the scant one hundred or so miles. If they hadn’t already, they would soon.

  Rahn’s heart went out to his woman as Mah explained Eden’s part in this play. And he’d bet his life that the bastard’s role was bigger than they realized. But appearing to be helpful when Rahn was injured put Eden in Chrys’ good graces, even against her better judgment. Now she was paying for it. And according to Mahpiya, his little hellion wasn’t the least bit happy about it.

  But he was still going to paddle her ass for walking into danger instead of calling for help. He’d do it with some understanding, of course, then follow up with hot sweaty make-up sex.

  *Your mate is more distraught for you than she is for herself.* Then Mah opened the gate of her memories and let them flow through the bond shared with her new charge.

  Chrys’ thoughts and feelings poured into him. They completed and filled every nook and cranny of his soul. Rahn shook his head in awe, moved by the depth of love and anger his woman carried on his behalf.

  ‘Mah, thank you for sharing my mate’s feelings with me. But we have another problem.’

  *What is that, my charge? You will go to her infused with strength and purpose, a gift from your spirit guide. Adonei will do the same for your mate. I see no problem here.*

  ‘Except the one Chrys might create. I felt the heat behind the images you showed me. I know she’s pissed off. And she’s not afraid of a damned thing, even when she should be. I just know she’ll say something stupid to those idiots holding her.’

  *There, you have a point. Adonei and I will see what we can do to keep things under control until your arrival.* The cat sighed. *I must say, you are much less of a handful than Chrysalyn. And you are a male.* This was said with disbelief and a wink.

  Rahn snorted.

  The lioness was gone.

  Rahn ate up the distance back to the house at a dead run. Simmering with anxiety, he tried to keep his anger from rising to a full boil. He would have his woman back and Eden would go down for the count. At any cost.

  Toeing off his shoes, he rushed over the threshold and headed to the living area, where he knew his Aunt Suman, her sisters and all their husbands, along with a horde of cousins waited.

  “Aunt Su…” His words trailed off.

  Talk about shock. The room was not only full of his family. Off to one side stood six dark-haired men he didn’t know personally, but could see a resemblance that spoke volumes over the sudden silence.

  Eden’s relatives. His brothers, to be exact. Last he heard, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. So if Eden was a pathological liar and psychopath, what were his brothers?

  “Aunt Suman?” Rahn asked in a near snarl, nowhere near ready to trust these strangers, not with his woman’s life.

  “They have been, shall we say, assisting me in gathering intelligence for you. On their own brother.”

  “What?!”

  She grabbed him by the ear—he’d hated that since he was a little boy—gently eased his face down to hers and whispered for his ears only. “They do not know who you work for or the details of your case, but when I ran the information past them on the possible suspect, all of them agreed that their brother, Eden Pall, fit the profile.”

  As Rahn listened carefully to his aunt’s words, his gaze remained plastered on the man he perceived was the oldest. When she finished, she took a step back and waited.

  “Why are you doing this?” Rahn asked, not bothering to keep the edge or skepticism out of his voice. He had no reason to trust these men. Not with his mate’s life.

  The eldest, a man named Adel, replied. “Because we are bound to protect life, just as your family is.”

  With a neutral expression, he silently wondered if the man knew that he, his family and his woman were all agents of one kind or another?

  “Even if it means reining in one of our own. We understand your woman is missing. Our youngest, Nasir,” who waved his hand so Rahn would know who they were speaking about, “saw Eden at the bazaar today about the time your aunt says your woman disappeared. I know what it is like to lose a mate to unfortunate circumstances. We cannot support the actions of our sibling. We wish to assist.”

  The remaining men didn’t say a word, just nodded their agreement.

  Rahn accepted their help. They were here because of his aunt. The woman was no fool. She would have checked them out six ways from Sunday. Even down to their underwear size if need be. And because he trusted his aunt, he would extend the hand of friendship to these men. Until they blinked wrong.

  He flipped open his emergency satellite phone and hit the speed dial.

  “Geri, Chrys has been taken. I have a feeling her captor might be responsible for more than just making off with her. I’ve just received intel on where she is.” He left out the part about being told this by his spirit guide. “Boss, I need a few favors.�
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  With Mahpiya’s road map imprinted firmly in his mind, a seething, determined Rahn and a small horde of equally determined males headed for Alexandria’s El Nohza airport.

  Awake, groggy and somewhat stiff, Chrys resisted the urge to stretch. The needlelike sensation shooting down her numb left butt cheek was a pretty good indication of just how long she’d been asleep.

  It was comforting to have Mahpiya back in a quiet corner of her mind and Adonei standing watch ready to wake her if needed. As they slowed to a stop, she cracked her lids open just enough to realize it was pitch black outside. She almost grinned evilly at the big wet spot that spread from just underneath her chin to soak into the fabric of the man next to her. She might not be able to fight Eden, his goons and the goonette right now, but she’d sure slobbered on him good.

  Mahpiya’s chuckle sounded behind her ear and Chrys bit her lip to keep from answering in kind. It was childishly funny, but hell, she’d take what she could get right now.

  The car slowed to a stop, then took off again. Chrys sat up with a jolt.

  What the hell? Or rather where the hell?

  Unlike the more traditional old-styled neighborhoods of Alexandria, this place was a bustling, brightly lit, tourist-filled metropolis. Street vendors pushed their carts along. Couples strolled the boulevard holding hands, some shopping, others having coffee or tea in one of the many outdoor shops. Wow, a soaring statue of Ramses III sat atop a pedestal that seemed to rise up out of nowhere and was lit from underneath by small spotlights. The walls of shops and apartments were covered with colorful paintings and mosaics.

  The foliage-lined, wide sidewalks were full of life, both old and young. But the streets? Holy shit, it was worse than driving in New York!

  Chrys almost wished she’d stayed asleep. There wasn’t a stoplight to be seen, and even when someone was crossing the six lanes of traffic, none of the drivers slowed. Only honked loudly and continued right on through what should have been crosswalks.