by Mikayla Lane
“That’s fine. I’d rather the boys be together, and I think Tiernan is happier near Tristan,” Jodi agreed with a small smile. “So we should probably talk about things.”
David’s heart sank at her words. He’d hoped that after everything they’d been through recently that Jodi would at least give them another chance.
“What should we talk about?” David asked, guarding his heart against whatever was on her mind. Her heavy sigh did nothing to ease his worry.
“I think we should do what’s best for Tiernan,” Jodi whispered, rubbing her hand over his stomach.
“What do you think is best for our son?” David’s muscles clenched at her caress, and he tried desperately to control the rush of desire that ran through him.
David was shocked when Jodi sat up and straddled his hips. Her hands drifted to his sides, and she kept her gaze on his chest as she wiggled her hips to settle herself. His hands gripped the covers on either side of him and tried to stifle his groan at her movements.
“I’m not as angry as I was. I don’t know why but one minute it was there and the next it was this dull ache inside of me. There’s still so much pain and rage, but it’s more manageable now than it was before and I can see things more clearly,” Jodi whispered still not looking at David’s eyes.
“Baby,” David choked out and pulled her down to his chest in a crushing hug. “I’m so sorry for everything that’s happened. I love you. I’ve never stopped and never will.”
Jodi squeezed him back and sniffed away the tears that welled in her eyes before she sat back up and finally looked in his eyes. David could see a dozen emotions cross her face before she nodded her head.
“I know that. I feel the same way. Which is why I want you to make love to me. Make me your wife again,” Jodi whispered, her tone holding a pleading quality to it.
It took David only a moment to realize what she’d said, and he quickly rolled Jodi over, keeping his full weight off of her so he wouldn’t crush her.
“Do you know what you’re saying?” David had to be sure she really meant what she said. He refused to take advantage of her vulnerabilities.
Jodi looked up at him with love shining in her eyes and nodded her head.
“I know what I’m doing. Do you still want me?” Jodi asked nervously.
David didn’t even bother to reply. Instead, he crushed his lips to hers and took her mouth in a blazing kiss meant to make up for the years they’d lost. He tried his best to quell the desire raging through him but knew it was a battle he’d willingly lose as Jodi wrapped her legs around his waist.
The heat and passion increased between them to the point David felt like they were on fire. He knew Jodi felt the same when she broke the kiss to pull off her shirt and bra. He sucked in his breath when he saw her fuller breasts and leaned his head down to take a nipple into his mouth.
The mewling sounds and breathless pants Jodi was making drove him wild as David tried to maintain his control long enough to make sure she was ready for him. Her next words threw his good intentions out the window.
“I can’t wait any longer. I’ve waited long enough already,” Jodi whispered, her voice pleading with him to take her.
She pushed him back and sat up, pulling the hem of his shirt up until she yanked it off his head. Jodi reached for his belt buckle as David started sliding her pants and underwear down her legs. He moved away to take off his boots and groaned when Jodi pressed against his bare back.
“Baby, if you don’t stop touching me, I’ll never get these boots off,” David growled as her nearness overwhelmed his senses.
He shivered when Jodi started raining kisses across his shoulders and back as he struggled to undo the laces on his boots. The moment the last one hit the floor, David turned and lunged across the bed at her, laying her flat back on the bed.
“You’re not playing fair,” David growled against her neck before he blazed a trail from her ear to her breasts with his tongue.
He reveled in the feel of Jodi writhing and moaning in his arms before she pinched his side and flipped him over. She looked down at him with a twinkle in her dark eyes.
“All’s fair in love and war. I like the love part best,” Jodi whispered as she kissed her way down his chest before taking him deep in her mouth.
David was in heaven and hell at the same time. Her mouth had always been able to bring him to a heightened sexual state, but his control was already almost gone, and he didn’t want the night to go this way.
He quickly slid away from her before he embarrassed himself and sat there for a moment trying to regain what little sense he could. Jodi was having none of that and moved into his lap, rotating her hips against him.
“I’m tired of waiting, baby. I’ve waited long enough,” Jodi whispered.
“We have forever now, there’s no rush,” David ground out as she slipped him inside of her heat.
“Then our forever can start when we’re done,” Jodi whispered before she began moving against him.
Hours later, David lay breathless beside his wife as she cuddled against his side, a leg thrown over his as if to keep him there. He kissed the top of her head and hugged her to him, smiling when she groaned in her sleep.
“I love you, baby,” David whispered.
“Forever, my love,” Jodi replied in her sleepy voice.
“Forever.” David couldn’t keep the smile off his face knowing the last time he was this happy had been in her arms like he was now.
Chapter Twenty-One
Tristan watched the couple from the light realm with a smile on his face as Tiernan looked on from the shadows of the dark. The warriors grinned at one another and nodded then left the couple before things got too embarrassing for the Warriors. Moments later they began walking a mountain top in Alaska.
“Thank you. For taking away some of her pain and rage, and dulling the rest,” Tiernan said as he looked over the edge of the mountain.
“They deserve happiness, but I was also wanting the favor returned,” Tristan replied, soaking up the energy of the Talunaha beneath their feet.
Tiernan sighed heavily and nodded his head as he clasped his hands behind his back.
“The balance is being destroyed on worlds that should be safe from the conflict occurring here. The interference is detrimental to our mission. Something must be done before a course is set that we cannot unfollow,” Tiernan warned.
Tristan nodded his head in understanding. Both warriors knew what was at stake and the scope of the evil rapidly spreading because of stupid mistakes and misplaced loyalty.
“It is why we are here. Inside is my brother Mikal, he is the Sotier of Terra and can help stop my father’s machinations before it destroys the balance,” Tristan offered, already knowing his friend would do anything to help him.
“I know. It is why your mother is also inside. I thought if anyone should know the truth of her children, it is her. Especially if it saves the man she loves from destroying himself,” Tiernan replied with a small smile.
Tristan sucked in a breath as he sent out his energy and felt his mother’s throbbing deep in the mountain beneath them.
“It is a risk.” Tristan was stunned at how far his friend was willing to go to help him.
“It is love. There is nothing greater or more pure. Your father is a great man who took on way too much, and things got out of his control. There is no malice in that, only tragic consequences if he cannot be stopped,” Tiernan said with a shrug. “Let’s go talk to your family about saving him from himself.”
Tristan blinked away his tears of gratitude and disappeared within the mountain. Tiernan quickly followed, and moments later they were standing at the foot of the dark pyramid.
Tristan reached down and awakened his mother with a touch and helped her to stand as Tricia stared wide-eyed at the megalith in front of her.
“Where are we?” Tricia whispered in awe.
Tiernan laid a hand on her forehead and shot bursts of energy into
her brain, imparting the information to Tricia and her Prime beast to make things go faster.
“Holy shit,” Tricia muttered as her mind absorbed the truth of the place and her adopted children. “They can help Grai. Does Grai even know about this place?”
“It’s why we’re here,” Tristan agreed with a nod. “Mikal, Chris, and Declan are on the way. Dad doesn’t know anything about this place and can’t at this point. Not until we know he can be trusted.”
Tricia nodded her head sadly and studied the outside of the pyramid while they waited for the others to arrive. She turned with a smile when she felt the breeze that blew by her.
“Mikal,” Tricia said as she hugged the tall Wind Walker that solidified in front of her.
“Mom, I’m glad you’re here,” Mikal replied, hugging her back.
“Mom!” Chris and Declan shouted as they came in and pushed Mikal out of the way so they could hug her too.
“Baby bro!” Chris said as he hugged the winged warrior.
“Who are you?” Declan asked of Tiernan.
“Tiernan is the Dark Warrior and more importantly, my friend. He’s here to help save Father,” Tristan admitted.
The brothers sized up the strange warrior beside their brother and finally nodded their heads. If Tristan was vouching for him, then they knew Tiernan must be trustworthy.
“What’s going on and what do we need to do?” Declan asked, crossing his arms over his chest.
“We need to stop Father from destroying the beast worlds and taking Terra with them,” Tristan admitted with a sad shake of his head.
“Does this have to do with the Sundashi flower?” Mikal asked.
“Yes,” Tristan admitted. “He set in motion a plan to get some of the flowers from the Tri-Worlds. Needless to say, things have gotten out of control, and if he doesn’t stop, Alderic will hunt him, and Father is no match for the Guardian of the Rituals of Tongerno.”
“What the fuck? How does Dad even know about the Tri-Worlds? Does he know about the Talunaha’s and portals?” Chris was shocked at the news.
Tristan nodded his head sadly while Tiernan decided to cut to the chase and save his friend some heartache.
“He knows enough to endanger all of the beast worlds and destroy Terra. The machinations he’s a set into motion must be stopped and quickly,” Tiernan warned, uncaring that the Dranovians glared at him.
“Wait,” Tricia interrupted, holding her hand up. “There’s no way you’re going to convince me that your father is willingly destroying anyone or anything. The safety of our people and even the humans have always been his priority, he’d never do anything to harm us. If there are other beast worlds, he wouldn’t do anything to hurt them either, he’d consider them his people as well.”
“It wasn’t intentional. Dad was doing what he thought was right but in the wrong way. He had too much going on, and things were delegated that shouldn’t have been. No matter the cause, the effect is now rippling through the beast worlds,” Tristan explained.
“How? Does Alderic know? I don’t understand what’s going on?” Chris snapped, not liking any of this.
Tristan ran his hand through his hair in frustration, hating the feeling of betrayal washing over him as he tried to tell his family as little as possible about their Father’s plans.
“Alderic has no idea that Grai is behind the problems he’s been having on his worlds. If the Sotier’s of the beast worlds knew, they would have come through the portal and killed Dad by now, wrongfully thinking they were taking out the head of the serpent.” Tiernan watched the family to determine what efforts his people would have to use to help where the siblings couldn’t be trusted.
“What serpent? What is Dad doing?” Declan demanded, getting tired of the evasive answers.
“He put someone in charge of finding the Sundashi Flowers, and they delegated it to others who’ve formed a criminal organization that has been terrorizing all of the beast worlds for the last decade. The Triad. Alderic got rid of two of the leaders, but the last has evaded him,” Tristan huffed out a frustrated breath when he spoke the last.
“Wait, you’re saying Dad’s been trying to get the flower on other worlds and ended up creating a gang of thugs that Alderic is looking for?” Mikal was incredulous that his Father could let anything get that much out of control.
“No way! Dad’s a control freak! He’d never let something like that happen! Besides, who the hell would he trust with something like that?” Chris demanded.
“What’s so special about this flower?” Tricia interjected, still trying to understand.
“It can cure the brain wasting disease that currently afflicts Grai and his brothers. It’s the same thing that killed their father and is hereditary due to the Relian DNA. He seeks to save his family, including his children,” Tiernan explained as he glared at Tristan for not telling his family that important detail.
“What?” Tricia looked to Tristan to see if the Dark Warrior was telling the truth. Tears popped unwillingly in her eyes when Tristan only nodded his head.
“He’s trying to save Grace too. She was born with the same defect. I’m the only one unaffected by it. Koda’s child will also be born with it. The flower is the only way to save them from the ravages of the disease,” Tristan admitted, refusing to look at his mother.
“Then give them the damn flower! It’s just a plant so what’s the deal? Get a bunch from Alderic, and we’ll call it done,” Chris argued, not sure why all this secrecy was necessary.
“We can’t,” Tristan argued. “Each beast world has its own version of the flower that resonates with the world they are on. The flowers from the Tri-Worlds may or may not work on this one, and there is no guarantee that it’ll be permanent. Their flowers might only extend the time it takes for the beast death, not cure it. We have to find the flowers here.”
Chris and Declan cursed while Mikal looked heartbroken and angry. He pulled Tricia to his side and hugged her in support.
“We’ll fix this, Mom,” Mikal promised before looking at the two warriors.
“What do we need to do?” Mikal asked Tristan.
“You need to divide the family. Half of you search for the flower here, and the rest of you need to speak with Alderic about getting some Macc’s. Multi-atmospheric combat craft. You need to take to space and help the other Sotier’s tackle the Triad members making their way to Terra,” Tristan explained.
“Those bastards are coming here? Why can’t Koda and the Valendran ships take them out?” Chris didn’t have a problem taking the fight to space, but he wasn’t sure how to keep everyone from finding out what they were doing.
“Like the Dark Prime, the Triad has figured out ways to disrupt the beast in the brain. They are converting the beast species at an alarming rate due to drugs and other methods they’ve discovered. Only the Dranovians can help those worth saving and destroy those who are not,” Tiernan said, surprised at the determination he could feel in the energy of Tristan’s brothers.
“So we need to find the flower and take a crash course in space flight and combat. I’m in,” Declan stated, willing to do anything to save his father and his family.
“In,” Chris growled.
“You needn’t even ask me,” Mikal said with a nod.
“You better damn well include me,” Tricia huffed out, a little overwhelmed by the testosterone around her.
*****
Grai paced his office in Dillon, waiting for the call that he dreaded more than anything. He snatched up his comm the moment it buzzed.
“Why the hell did it take you so long to call me?” he growled in irritation.
“Do you have any damn idea how fucking hard it is to get away or even get a secure signal? What the hell has your panties in a wad? I’ve sent the damn reports regularly, so you know what’s going on,” the deep male voice snapped back.
“There have been significant developments that we have to discuss!” Grai barked out before he forced himself to calm down.<
br />
“What’s going on?” the man was getting worried now.
“You have to stop the operations anywhere near the Tri-Worlds and pull back from all beast worlds immediately,” Grai warned, his energy broadcasting his fear even through the distance.
“What are you talking about? You know how important this is and I can’t just pull these people out!” the man argued.
“Who the hell is running it? Because they’ve gone off the fucking script! I got a shit storm brewing here and Tristan warning me that we’re doing something seriously wrong!” Grai snapped as he paced his office.
There was a long pause on the other end, and Grai was beginning to wonder if they’d lost connection when he heard a heavy sigh and cursing.
“What have you done?” Grai growled.
“I allowed a few trusted people to handle the missions on those worlds and they’ve gone dark recently,” came the frustrated reply.
“Trusted people? Who the hell can you trust besides me? Damn it to fucking hell! You need to snatch hold of whoever you trusted and stop whatever they’re doing! How soon can you get there?” Grai demanded, furious that something this important was handed off to underlings.
“It’s complicated, Grai and you know that. I can’t go anywhere right now without endangering my mate and child. You know they can’t be left here, and she’s too far along to go on a ship,” the man argued, hoping Grai would understand.
“Fuck!” Grai snarled as he continued to pace the room. “We have to do something, or my son is going to, and that’s something else you need to know. The Dark Warrior has emerged and has been reunited with Tristan.”
Grai could hear the string of curses through the comm and knew that the man was thinking of the consequences of the new information.
“It may be time to end this charade, Grai. It worked, and you got your alliance. Now it’s time to let it go. If what you’re saying is true, then we are in imminent danger, and if it were just me, I’d face whatever is being thrown at me. But my mate, child and adopted son didn’t sign up for this and must be given safety. It’s time for me to come home. You owe me that,” the man argued as his fear for his family engulfed him.