by Erin R Flynn
He nodded. “And that safe place is normally The Resort, but your event is there, and you don’t want them going there if there’s a problem.”
“No.”
He gave me a sad smile. “I’m glad that no matter what I’ve done wrong and how many times we’ve messed up and hurt you, your instinct is still to come here for protection.”
I shrugged, fidgeting with my dress. “You’re still the scariest fucker around, Victor. Can I have the charm bring them here if there’s an emergency?”
“Yes, as long as I have one that would bring me to you as well because if they’re in trouble, you will be too,” he said after a moment.
“Fair enough,” I agreed, making it for him and handing it over. “Thanks.” I popped back to his apartment to check on Hunt, guessing he was there getting ready. Sure enough, he was just finishing up. I hurried to change his collar and then went down to the lobby to find the first group had arrived.
Most would send word when they were ready and before their scheduled time, as they’d learned long ago that I was a “first come first serve” kind of woman, so those who didn’t pull shit or show up fashionably late got the best accommodations. But Brax was also there and looking very handsome. I hadn’t expected him until later and was about to say that, but a few more elders and their entourages arrived.
“Good morning, love,” I greeted him, staring at his lips and making it clear how he should act.
“You look amazing, Soraya,” he murmured, leaning down and giving me a polite but lingering kiss. “Will you wear that for me on our next date? I now have this vision of you and I snuggling by a fireplace reading together.”
“Sounds like another wonderful date with you as long as you add some treats.”
“Always,” he chuckled, giving me another kiss. I saw heat flash in his eyes, and I realized he might not be acting for the guests and really want that.
Did angels do Netflix and chill days?
Hunt arrived just in time, standing behind me a bit like good security or saying he wasn’t anyone of note really. The elders I introduced Brax to were ones I wasn’t close with, and it was hard not to laugh as they gave curious looks to the massive angel, trying to figure out who and what he was.
I caught sight of one of the most troublesome elders at the same time a hand moved to my ass. I glanced up at Brax and saw in his eyes he understood something was going on.
“It slipped,” he lied.
“And now it’s just comfortable there?” I teased him.
“Do you really blame any man for wanting to touch such a fantastic ass?”
“Fine, but I get to give gropes whenever I want too.”
“Please do,” he purred, sounding more like the lion shifter stopping in front of us.
“Hello, James,” I greeted, swallowing a flinch when I saw who was in his party. “Theo, lovely to see you. I didn’t know you were coming.”
“I go where my elders tell me to,” he said, dipping his head, giving me a look of sadness. “You look stunning as ever, Elder.”
“Thank you. I hope Dominic and your mate to be are well.”
“They are, thank you.”
I nodded, focusing on James. “Brax, this is James, my second love and the shifter I told you about who found his lioness right after I accepted his proposal to mate.”
“I was your first love,” he corrected.
I frowned. “No, you weren’t. You know that. I told you about the vampire.”
He tried to argue that, but both Brax and Hunt said he wasn’t. He seemed to let it go then. “I’m more than that to you.”
I ignored that and focused on Brax. “His mate died a few years ago. She was lovely, and it was tragic.”
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Brax said, dipping his head.
I said the next part for Theo mostly so he understood how deep he was in it and warning him about James. “About two weeks after the funeral, James showed up and told me he was ready to renew our engagement and pick up where we left off since I’d been waiting for him this whole time.”
Hunt let out something between a snort and a cough, trying to cover it as a cough at least. James gave him a look like he wanted to flatten the wolf, but then his eyes flashed shock.
“Theo, you remember Hunt.” I turned and stroked Hunt’s neck. “James, this is my pet, Remy Hunt.” I smirked at them both. “The funny thing about taking a shifter to my bed who’s not Alpha is their loyalties don’t have to split. He suggested I put on the collar as now even his Alpha and elders can’t order him to do anything or pressure him to use me in some way as I own him.” I glanced at Hunt. “Regret the choice?”
He snorted. “No. Keep it on forever.”
I swallowed my shock when I saw in his aura that he meant it.
“And this one? Who is this guy?” James demanded, nodding to Brax, not caring that more and more elders and people had arrived and were waiting to greet me. “He’s not one of us. He’s not human.”
“Show him, love,” I purred. He gave me a funny look, and I sighed. “I’ll let you leave your hand on my ass for the rest of greetings.”
“Sit on my lap at breakfast?”
“I can suffer through that,” I teased.
He winked at me and showed his wings, several people gasping. “No, I’m not human, but I’d like to believe I’m a supe, or do angels not count?”
“I’d count you,” I promised him. “Plus, the wings are just so hot I’d agree with you.”
“How did you meet an angel?” James seethed.
Brax snorted. “She’s always saving the world. You’re shocked she met an angel?” He rolled his eyes when James and Theo gave him a look that said they were. “My siblings and I asked for her help to restore balance and fix the veil.” He gave me a heated glance. “And I stole a kiss so I could track her, absolutely enthralled with her and her beauty, and we’ve been spending time since then.
“I know it’s an elder event and something none of us have ever come to, but it’s an excuse to spend time with her, so I was thrilled when she said she needed a date.” He shrugged his wide shoulders as he hid his wings again. “Plus, even angels have heard of the shenanigans that go on at the elder tribunals, and I wasn’t going to miss it when Soraya’s involved.”
“And my promise that I don’t wear all that much?” I smirked when Hunt snorted.
“He’s seen?” Brax asked, nodding to him.
“Yeah, and I’m still hard,” Hunt admitted.
“You said I could sleep over if I’m your date, right?” Brax murmured, leaning in. “I’ll let you snuggle under my wing and lie on my soft feathers.”
“As long as I’m naked?” I teased him, getting a bit breathy when he nodded. His aura flashed so much desire I didn’t think he was messing around with me. “Well, I guess I can trust an angel to tuck me in after we’ll be drinking.”
“I’m an angel, not a saint,” he warned, giving me a soft kiss. “But I don’t expect to get sex just because we go to an event or I spend the night. You’re worth doing things right with.”
James let out a growl and stormed off, furious for several reasons but mostly to learn I was taking Brax seriously unlike any other man I was involved with. I hadn’t even tried to be with someone for real in a few centuries. Theo gave me a hurt look before following after his elder.
Yeah, I felt so bad for him. He’d ended things with me because he’d met his mate.
Hunt moved to block Theo, shocking both of us. “Don’t give her that look like you’re the injured party here. Your cheetah wouldn’t have been looking for a mate if you’d treated Soraya like someone you could mate.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he demanded, his shoulders going stiff.
Hunt shook his head. “You’re Alpha. You know exactly what that means.” He gave a disgusted noise when Theo didn’t reply. “My wolf wants Soraya too. They’ve met. He’s protected her, and she’s called on him. She acknowledges him, and they’ve bo
nded. Your cat acts like just because someone isn’t a shifter they won’t get it. It’s not a hard concept. You just have to respect them enough to show them your animal too.”
Theo glanced at me over his shoulder. “You hated him. You can’t tell me we ended and you’re with him now.”
“I offered to be her pet before that even,” Hunt chuckled. “She left your place that night you said goodbye and came to mine. I honestly thank you, man. You were so sweet and innocent and wanting her, and all you did was make her see she needed someone with a bit of darkness to give her what she needed and know how to truly put her first.” He leaned in and spoke so quietly I barely even heard him. “She’s so pretty when she sleeps.
“She’s perfect when she curls up in her bed, snuggling back against me, and making love to her in her shower when she’s still sleepy is my favorite way to wake up. That or getting to taste her before coffee. I don’t know if falling asleep with our naked bodies pressed together or how I get to wake her up is better, but thanks for being too stupid to hang onto her.”
“You’re being mean,” I chastised, my tone clear it was enough.
He nodded and backed off. “Yeah, but even if his elder told him to come, he made the choice to do it to protect his pack. He made the choice even if it hurt you. He deserves a lot of mean.”
“Your pet isn’t wrong,” Brax agreed. “He acted as an Alpha and a father. Understandable, but he can also accept the slap of truth instead of acting like the victim and who you tossed aside.”
“They’re right,” Theo muttered. “Excuse me.” He hurried after his party, and no one stopped him this time.
“Fine, but leave him be,” I told them both quietly. “He’s only getting dragged into this because of me and my past. Let him get through it and without any more crap from me or you guys. I’d prefer him not become one of the people who wished they’d never touched me.” I snorted when they both gave me disbelieving looks. “There’s a long list of those who feel that way because of the shit I brought into their life. Leave Theo alone.”
“Fair enough,” Hunt agreed, getting back into his spot.
I greeted the next several elders quickly to not hold anyone up, and the few I knew well gave me looks like they were going to ask me about Brax later and in detail. Another half an hour of that and we actually got everyone in before we were scheduled for the first pick up, so we were starting off pretty fast.
“Breakfast?” Brax asked, leaning in for a hug before moving away.
“One thing first.” I headed outside, much to their confusion, and after security blocked the traffic for me, I went into the middle of the street and knelt down at the seared seal for the spell that would throw up the barrier. I checked it again and pumped energy into it, watching the glittery looking barrier form and then climb into the air until it connected at the top and formed the dome.
“We have things here, Elder,” an elf promised me who we hired for security fairly often. I nodded, thanked him and his teams for their help, and headed back inside.
“That is truly a sight to behold,” Brax muttered, staring out at the barrier. “And not just because the dress pulled up.”
“Who knew an angel could be so dirty?”
He raised an eyebrow at me. “I believe you started it by inviting me to watch you have lots of sex.”
Fair enough.
Tanesha was in the lobby, so I gave her the emergency charm, explaining what I’d realized and the change.
“Yeah, that’s smart,” she agreed. “I was going to suggest the land in Peru, but that’s not exactly safe right now either and drawing a lot of attention as your magic fixes and regrows the land.”
“No easy answer,” I sighed, saying goodbye and thanking her again before bringing the three of us to The Resort. I checked in with the team receiving people and was glad to hear there were no problems, everyone’s aura excited or surprised at the lavish gifts and accommodations.
Good. If they were thrown off their game, they were less likely to start trouble.
We headed to breakfast, and I was glad we had planned for the trucks and everything to be ready much earlier and to feed our people in case the elders weren’t arriving yet. But they had, so it was as close to perfect as we’d ever gotten. Plus, the weather was a nice change from Chicago at sixty for the morning, but it would get up to eighty later.
I headed right to the coffee truck and ordered what I wanted before the fun donut truck everyone seemed to enjoy or at least be amused with. Hunt got us a bunch of breakfast tacos, and we headed inside.
“I believe you promised to be on my lap,” Brax reminded me when I went to sit. I nodded, and he sat first, pulling me onto his lap before we moved closer to the table.
I glanced at him over my shoulder. “This isn’t an act, is it?”
He didn’t answer right away, which I liked because it meant he took me and my questions seriously. “A bit of extra for the audience and what I think is needed, but no, not at all. I’ve watched you the past few weeks, and you are an amazing woman who fills my thoughts too much.” He frowned as he took in my reaction. “Is it just me?”
“No, but I didn’t give it much thought because an enchanter and an angel sounds like the start of a joke.”
He shrugged, holding a donut up for me to bite instead of continuing the conversation, which let me know we had the attention of others.
“So far so good,” Helen said as she sat down with food, looking relieved. “When court starts, we will bring an array of sweets to the tables, and midmorning we are bringing in something called ‘amazebowls,’ which are smoothie bowls, so really they’re sorbet with fresh fruit and toppings. They’re popular and tasty, so it will be a nice reprieve.”
“Good, perfect as always, thank you.”
Jerome and Keegan plopped down soon, both looking well rested and ready for anything. Keegan was a bit more excited, taking it all in and trying not to act like a goof, but it was his first tribunal, so it was understandable this was a bit much.
Hunt looked about the same but with a wariness of good security.
“So the trial is elders and their seconds only,” I told Brax and Hunt. “We’ll have staff in and out, and Hui Yin is running the questioning, as it can’t be done by the same group accusing and hosting the tribunal. They’re using my truth telling potion, but we’re hands off that part. The hawks we have in protective custody will testify, but this truly is a straightforward one that I’m not worried about.”
“Colin was too new to get much support or make that good of friends where other elders would risk their standing to fight for him,” Jerome explained. “It’s different if the line is fuzzy or rides a different country’s law, but this was blatant and something all groups would denounce.” He gave me a worried look. “I think we need to plan for court being over early. I don’t think it will take three days when it’s so clear-cut and people are excited for the party and all the awesome we started with.”
I gave a slow nod. “Worse case we take them for an afternoon at the island. Some tropical fun can always be a good addition.” I made one of my corporate cards appear and handed it to Hunt. “You saw the island and the fun we had. That’s what you’re preparing for. Talk to the front desk at the apartment, and they can find someone to take you around.”
“Elders love new and something they haven’t tried before, as they’re old and they’ve tried a lot,” Helen told him. “Talk to maybe one of the stars we have staying there, and they can help you figure out the new and coolest drinks. Buy whatever booze, and we can get the rest later if the plan changes. It’s not like we won’t use the booze later if we don’t need it now.”
“Got it,” he agreed, looking a bit nervous at having a card of that value and without a limit. It made me feel better giving it to him when that was his reaction.
That and Brax’s hand massaging my naked inner thigh while we ate. I wasn’t sure there was a woman alive who wouldn’t have enjoyed that from the sexy ange
l.
4
There were seven female elders in the group of forty. Five of us had been elders for a while, at least a few hundred years. One was fairly new, and another wasn’t brand new but hadn’t made it to the last tribunal and I didn’t know her well.
Four of us got along well and spoke regularly. We were standing together after breakfast and as people found their seats. I bit back a smile as the other three women walked by us, giving us a range of looks. Finally the new one broke off from the group and came over to us.
“How could you wear that?” she asked us, standing there in a pristine suit and looking like the poster girl for a professional photo shoot.
I raised an eyebrow at her. “Darling, I could stand here naked and still act professional. I could be doing a strip tease and still be the most powerful elder here. A man’s reaction to what you wear is just that—his reaction. That’s not on me. I control myself just fine when they’re all in tuxes tonight, and I love a man in a tux.”
“Plus, if they’re stupid enough to get distracted by a nice pair of legs and form fitting whatever, that’s them being stupid,” Cameron added, dressed similar to me. “Men will act inappropriately no matter what you wear, so wear what you want and be strong enough to slap them around if they misbehave. There is no reason I can’t be a powerful elder and look fucking good doing it.”
“Amen, sister,” I chuckled, toasting her with my coffee. I wanted to groan when I felt the tingle up my spine. Right then was so not the time for a call. I made my phone appear in Helen’s hand so she knew, and sure enough, she popped into the room a second later. “I know. Tell Hui Yin of the change and you’ll have to give the greeting and list the charges in my stead.”
“I’ll handle it, Elder,” she promised.
“Is this the supposed shifter killings you keep ruling as humans?” Cameron asked, sighing when I nodded. “Hurry back. You know how people get if one of us has to step out.”
“I know,” I grumbled, popping over to the address on the dispatch text and finding the same group waiting for me. “Mr. Mayor, good morning. Forgive my bluntness, but I was in the middle of something.”