Her Stepbrothers are Saber-Tooth Tigers

by Trinity Blacio

  “How old are you?” she asked.

  He smiled. “I think we will tell you that at a different time. You have enough on your plate to deal with. Just know we are older than we look.”

  “Ha, you don’t have to tell me that,” Leta mumbled and swung her leg over the bike. “Look at my dad. He’s 60 and he doesn’t even look like he’s 40. How old is your mom?” she asked, earning a laugh from Guryon.

  “Little Red, let’s just say she’s older than George Washington, way—” Guryon said, stopped when Zena slapped his arm.

  “Really? You had to go there, didn’t you? I swear these three are a pain in my ass. You know it’s not polite to discuss a women’s age, and I don’t know what you are carrying on about. You’re older than anyone I know and that’s saying a lot,” Zena grumbled and hooked her arm through Leta’s before’ dragging her up the stairs. “Don’t worry, dear, Guryon’s kind live however long they want.” Zena looked at her son’s, Drew and Colin. “Which is good, because he’s saved all three of us so many times.”

  Zena turned her gaze on Leta. “Your father will live just as long now. He’ll be with you to watch your children and be there when you need him. We both will. I’m sorry, Leta. I tried to tell your father it was wrong, but he’s so stubborn, one of the worst, except for your man there.” She nodded to Guryon. “He’s the worst, but your father is close behind him. Please forgive me, you mean so much to your father, and I want to be a part of that circle.”

  “Right now I don’t know where my head is at, but I’m not turning you away. I won’t do that, no matter what. As for them being my mates, I’m afraid that’s a little too coincidental, isn’t’ it? I mean your son’s being my mates and my father being yours?” she asked, unlocking the front door and going inside.

  “You are so like your father. He asked the same question when I informed him who we were to you,” Drew said, scanning the room. “This is nice. I take it you like antiques?” He ran his hand over her old Amish table.

  “I love old things. I found that table two years ago. This Amish family needed some help, and the father was selling a lot of family heirlooms. I told them if they wanted to build me a new table, I’d pay him, but he informed me that he wanted the table to go to a good family. I swear it felt as if the man was looking into my soul. It was weird.”

  “He did the same to me when Tazz and I went to pick the table up with the truck. It was the strangest thing. Like he could see things coming.” Her father said coming into the room and glancing at Guryon. “Do you think he was Other?”

  “Who knows? Over the years, I’ve run into many different beings on this planet. Most are peaceful and want nothing to do with the headache of publicity. What do you want to take with us?” He turned his attention to her.

  “We’re going to be living in Detroit for a few years. I have a brother I’ve never met, and Drew and Colin have a sister they haven’t seen in a long time. I’d like for us to make it our home base for now,” he told her.

  Leta laughed. “And what makes you think I’ll be living with you? You drop this bombshell on me, telling me I have three men as my mates? I can’t do what my dad did earlier, I’m not a cat. Why are you so sure I’m your mate? Don’t you think there should be a little something between us before this happens?” she asked, going into the kitchen to get a pop from the fridge.

  As she straightened up, Guryon moved in behind her. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her back into his body. The man was huge. Her head came up to the middle of his chest. He brushed her hair away from her neck to place a kiss there. Leta had to admit the man smelled amazing.

  “Oh, you feel something, you just want to ignore it, but I’m afraid we don’t have time to give you to adjust. We must leave tomorrow morning. Now, tell me what you want to take with you.”

  “All of it,” Snow said behind him, “because if my daughter is going to live there, so are we. I have a feeling my mate would like to be around others of her kind, no?” her said stated, looking at Zena as she entered the kitchen.

  “I would love to. Let’s hope my son’s sister agrees,” Zena said, looking sad.

  “Why wouldn’t she agree?” Leta asked as she stepped out of Guryon’s arms and sat down at the table.

  Zena sat down next to her and took her hand. “There were about a thousand of us, in our pack. I was with their father for a while, but we both knew we weren’t each other’s mate. Their father met his mate—their sister’s mother. Of course it wasn’t easy, but we made do. Then others started to show up, and they stirred up trouble.” She sighed, Drew came over and rubbed her shoulders.

  “One of these strangers attacked Mom. He hurt her really bad and we didn’t want her to be alone, so we took her to Guryon, who’ we’d met a few weeks before. I knew he was going to be part of our lives, and I trusted him. So as soon as we got her settled, we went back to inform our father what had happened, but it was too late. By the time we made sure Mom was safe, and healing, three weeks had gone by.”

  Zena reached up and squeezed his hand. “There is nothing you could have done for them, Drew,” she said. “You see, the same ones that attacked me, attacked the rest of our people. We don’t know who survived, except for their sister, Maya, who barely made it. Guryon found out their sister had survived, barely. But we don’t know about the others. My son’s and Guryon buried their father and the others. It took them over a week. Hundreds were dead, and most of the women missing, but a few were...”

  “They had been raped and skinned alive,” Colin snarled. “Our stepmother among them.”

  Leta’s stomach rolled and tears filled her eyes. “I’m so, so sorry.” She took Zena’s’ hand again. “What happened to the men that did this?”

  “A few have been killed, but they scattered, forming different groups. I have no idea about their leader, but I believe their sister will know more,” Guryon stated, pulling out a chair next to her and taking a seat. “Leta, our lives are dangerous, I’m not going to lie to you. I wasn’t born; I and others like me were created to start a new race of warriors. I was the first. But something happened, and somehow I ended up here on Earth. Some pieces are still missing from my life, and I’ve been slowly gathering information, trying to make sense of everything. But I need to connect with my brother.”

  Her father squeezed her shoulder. “A lot to take in, isn’t it?”

  “Hell, seeing you change was a lot to take in. All this—it’s like one of those romance books I like reading.” Leta turned to Guryon. “Where in Detroit are we going? The place where I was going to apply for work is called Harbor Woods. My friend told me about all the work going on there. I was going to apply for a guard’s position.”

  Her father snorted. “You’d be good. You’re an excellent shot, but honey, the things coming after us are not human. Until we know what is going on, you should stay with your men.”

  “They’re not mine yet. I haven’t agreed to this.”

  ***

  Guryon nipped her shoulder. “You are ours, and you will not be doing any patrolling. These beings can appear anywhere. You won’t know they are behind you until it’s too late.” Guryon stood and glanced at Colin. “Let the boys know we’re moving the whole house. We’re going to need another truck.”

  “Don’t you think we should let these people know we’re coming? I mean, there are over 80 of my father’s men, and I’m betting you have quite a few as well,” Leta said, and he did have to admit it might be a wise decision.

  “I don’t even know if my brother knows I exist. Hell, I just learned about him a few months ago.” Guryon ran his hand through his hair.

  “Go ahead and call. I’ll go upstairs to start on my room. Do you have boxes?” she asked, and he nodded as two men came in carrying boxes that had been broken down.

  “We’ll board up this house. What is that?” Guryon asked as a small bundle of fur ran into the room and straight to Leta.

  “This is my baby, Dusty. She goes everywhere wit
h me. Is that going to be a problem?” Leta asked, lifting her dog and placing kisses on his’ head.

  “No, there should be no problem.” He scratched Dusty’s head. “Do you have a phone number for Harbor Woods?” he asked, and she smiled, nodding.

  “Up in my room. I’ll run up and get it.” She put the dog down and grabbed a few boxes, but Drew took them from her and nodded.

  “Go on, we’ll help.” They followed her up to her room. Guryon wasn’t surprised at how organized it was. He smiled at seeing the mounted collection of knives on her walls.

  “Nice collection. Bess’ gifts?” He asked, taking down one rather long and deadly knife.

  “I started to collect them when I was ten. Bess has even shown me a few moves.” Leta laughed and grabbed a piece of paper. “This is the contact information for someone called Orion Trentons, supposedly he’s head of security at the place.” She looked up at him. “From what my girlfriend said, he’s big.”

  “Everyone is big to you, Little Red,” he said and took the paper before moving to her bed and sitting down. Never one to put off anything, he dialed the number and waited.

  “Orion here.”

  “My name is Guryon, and I’ll be bringing in over 100 individuals. I understand my little brother is there. I haven’t met him and don’t even know if he knows of me, but my mates have a sister there also. Her name is Maya Sabor.”

  “What? Hold on.” He heard a click as Orion put him on hold.

  Leta looked at him. “On hold,” he said just as her father yelled up the stairs.

  “We have company!”

  Leta grabbed three knives and shoved them in her waistband, as he disconnected the phone.

  “You should—” He didn’t get another word out as he chased his mate out the door. “Little Red, hold up!” He wrapped his arm around her waist and placed her behind him as Drew behind her, covering her quiet ass. “If you do this, you listen to us,” Guryon grumbled

  She rolled her eyes but nodded. “Go on.” Leta waved her hands and growled, and Guryon knew they had their hands full with the little bundle behind him.

  Carefully moving down the stairs, he noticed three men in the living room. Guryon recognized they were warriors, like him and his men.

  “Let me guess, Orion?” he said, and one man stepped forward.

  “I am Orion. This is Akaos Featherstone and Marquis Runner.”

  Akaos moved around him, studying him. “You’re older than I am. Why don’t I know who you are?” He looked behind Guryon at Drew and Colin and snarled. “And you dare seek sanctuary with us after what you did to my woman’s family?”

  Guryon stepped in front of Drew and Colin. “Excuse me? This is not the place to argue, and you will not threaten what my mates. They did nothing to their sister. We believed everyone had been killed by the time Drew and Colin had gotten their mother settled. So do not come in here and threaten anyone.” Guryon released a little bit of his own power, sending the man back a few steps.

  Akaos’ eyes grew large. “You’re part Tetraheros! How?”

  “Guryon, I take it they aren’t dangerous?” Leta asked and moved around to his side. “Because I think Dad and the rest need to be told they are safe.” She nodded to her father, who had his hands behind his back, and Guryon knew the man was armed.

  “It’s all right, Snow. These men are from where we will be going tomorrow,” Guryon informed her father.

  “Fine, but if he threatens my son’s, I’ll put a hole in his damn head,” Snow snarled and moved around Orion as Zena came out of the kitchen.

  “Why don’t you gentlemen have a seat. I’ll get you a beer and you can work out the particulars,” Zena said just before the front door slammed open and a small woman stood there glaring.

  “Where are the assholes?” she yelled.

  “I take it that is your sister?” Guryon asked Colin when he moved to his side.

  “Yep, that’s her. She always did have a temper, but it seems to be worse than before. But that could—” he stopped talking as the woman rushed forward to attack, but Leta met her first with one of her knives out, easily sliding behind the woman.

  “You are in my fucking house. Do not make me gut you,” she snarled.

  “Little Red, please let go of your sister. It’s bad manners, I believe, to threaten family,” Guryon said. “Don’t, Akaos.” He looked over his shoulder at the man, knowing he was ready to attack. “I’d hate to have to destroy you since it’s obvious you are important to my kind.”

  Leta released the stunned woman and slid her knife back into its hiding place. As she walked around Maya, Colin pulled her into his arms. “Thank you, but don’t ever do that again. You could have been hurt.” He kissed the top of her head.

  “I can take care of myself, and I didn’t do it for you. No one threatens guests in my house, so don’t go thinking I did this because I have accepted you three, because I haven’t yet,” she grumbled. “Maya, what would you like to drink?” She asked, looking over her shoulder.

  “Water, thank you. You didn’t help them, did you?” she asked Colin.

  “Help who, Maya? Mom was attacked by the strangers and she didn’t feel safe, so Drew and I took her to stay with Guryon. By the time we got back...We were too late.”

  “Akaos,” Maya whispered as tears filled her eyes.

  “Easy, Kitten.” Akaos hugged her making it obvious she was his woman. “It looks like you have more family, and I believe our king has someone also.” Akaos turned his head to look behind him as another man stepped into the room, Guryon’s brother…

  “Well, it would seem our families have come to us,” Guryon stated, but when the man stepped aside, his breath left him. “Father.”

  “What?” Leta was there sliding her hand into his. “I thought you didn’t have any family?”

  “There was one man who spent time with me and taught me. He was the only one who was allowed to be with me.” He looked down at Leta. “The first memory I have was of him standing over my bed. But how is it possible that you are a warrior? They allowed you to come here?” Guryon asked, turning once more to stare at the father he never thought to see again.

  Leta wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. “Have them sit and talk. I can pack up the upstairs while you all get caught up. And don’t even think just because I hugged you that means I’m accepting you.”

  “I think you protest too much.” He smacked her butt and pushed her toward the stairs.

  “I’m afraid that is a woman thing,” Akaos said, earning an elbow in the gut.

  “Watch it, buster, you just got out of the doghouse,” Maya mumbled before stepping up to Colin and looking up at him. “You don’t know how long I’ve looked for anyone that survived,” Maya whispered before Colin wrapped his arms around his sister and hugged her tight.

  “And you don’t know how long we looked for you, little sister.”

  Chapter Three

  Leta hummed to the music that played on her radio as she packed the last of her clothes from her closet and tried to figure out why she felt the need to protect and comfort the three big jerks downstairs. “It just does not make any freaking sense,” she sighed.

  “Nothing makes sense when it comes to the warriors of the Cometedge. They are fierce warriors and dominate lovers, but they give you their heart to do what you will with,” Maya, Colin’s baby sister, said from the doorway. “May I come in?”

  “Sure, though I thought you would be visiting with your brothers?” Leta said, moving to her collection of knives to wrap each one before boxing it.

  “Nice collection. I have a few myself I’ve gathered over the years. We have time to catch up since you’ll be coming back to our compound. Plus, the men wanted to ‘speak.’” Maya used her fingers for quotes, emphasizing the last word.

  “Yeah, it’s the same thing at Dad’s club. ‘Us men need to talk; you women find something to do.’” Leta snorted. “If it wasn’t for the women of the club, half the things wouldn
’t get done and the men would’ be killing each other.”

  Maya sat on the bed and pulled her dust ball in her arms. “So how are you dealing with the three-men aspect?”

  “I’m not. It’s one thing to have a man say he’s yours, but three at once is a little annoying. But I have to admit there’s something there. At least my body says so. Now if I could get my brain to agree, that will be the big thing.” Leta turned, giving Maya her full attention. “Okay, I have to ask. If you are their little sister, how old are you?”

  The woman laughed. “I’m over 300 years old. I think Drew is close to 360, while Colin is a few years younger. Now, the other one, Guryon, I have no idea. If he’s older than Talhrn, which those downstairs are saying he is, then we are taking old even by my standards. My daughter is mated to Talhrn, and believe me he does not act old. They don’t age as we know it. Once one of their kind reaches their peak age, they stay at it, till they want to end their lives and go on to the next one. Well, unless they are killed, which is a very difficult thing to do, but it does happen.”

  Just the thought of someone hurting any of the three men who were supposedly her mates forced her to sit down in her computer chair. “Son of a bitch! What the hell is wrong with me? I shouldn’t feel this much for someone I’ve only know for a day.”

  “Tell me about it.” Maya snorted. “The first time I saw Akaos, he was trespassing on our property. Oh, I knew who he was, but it still pissed me off he would show up like he did, thinking he could go anywhere he wanted. Right off the bat that man had me on my knees between his legs looking up at him like he was a king or something. God, how disgusting is that?” She rolled her eyes, and Leta laughed.

  “Are they wizards? Maybe they cast a spell on us,” she said.

  “I wish. It would have been a lot easier to deal with, but nope. Those beings that created the warriors somehow formed some kind of pact, binding our two races together, connecting our souls or something like that,” Maya informed her.