by Nini Church
Powerful good.
Staggering as she pushed to her feet, she refused to give in to the intensifying pain or Mamam's will.
The brick wall of Jericho’s office oddly expanded inwards, bulging into the room. A loud crack split the air, snapping the bulging wall back into flat linear form.
There stood Metatron Mykos Evergreen.
“Daddy?” In her head Jericho's words echoed and she winced – Daddy? Never mentioned that one did you, myn lykyng?
“My treasure.” Golden eyes took in the group of males in stasis. No doubt Annabelle’s doing. Hidden in shadows, Bear grunted a soft greeting making Met smile, his white teeth gleaming and golden flecks dancing in his eyes.
“My girl, I see you’re still protecting your protectors. Come, your Papa needs a hug.” He held out massive arms roped with muscle, palms open towards Abe. Heavily engraved golden cuffs on both wrists glowed softly. For now.
Giaa grabbed Abe’s hand, her fingers closing like a vise.
Abe yanked hard, but Mamam kept her grip. Fuzzy energy ran down her arm, flowing out through her palm – Mamam was draining her energy to easily spirit her away. Weary now, Abe turned cloudy emerald eyes on her father.
Instantly, Met sensed there was something different about his daughter, but he held his questions in check and smiled gently at her. When his attention landed on his ex, flames shot through his golden orbs. “Release her, Gee, of your own free will.”
In a high screech, Giaa shouted, “Don’t speak to me, you prick.”
Met’s smile got wider. He hated so little in this universe, but for her.
Abe groaned loudly. Her parents could go on endlessly. She simply went with her instincts and balled her fist – with her thumb tucked outside as Rad had shown her – clenching her arm muscles tight to swing out, hitting the bottom of Mamam's chin hard before driving upwards.
“Atta girl!” Met cheered, crossing well defined arms against his massive chest and towering over the room.
It was hard to tell how tall Met was as he seemed to change size, growing smaller, then larger. He wore black jeans with an open white silk shirt – sleeves rolled back to reveal heavily etched golden cuffs gracing both wrists. All beauty and perfection with his long shaggy golden hair trailing down his broad back and bronzed skin glowing. His white shirt, gossamer thin, revealed roping muscle across all parts of his amazing body.
All God – all male – and beyond fantastically handsome.
In the flesh for now.
Giaa’s head flew back, teeth painfully crunching together as blood splattered and she went down with a loud oof.
Abe landed right on top, Mamam's fingers now locked around her wrist. Quickly, Abe straddled Mamam – who was stunned. “You want to know what I felt, Mamam? I recognized it, but you sure didn’t.” She stifled a grin.
Giaa with a mouthful of broken teeth and blood covering her face, stared blankly – her daughter had always taken her punishments well and never talked back – never mind fighting back. Something was very different about Annabelle. She had some kind of new strength or perhaps a stronger willpower about her. It was then Giaa truly saw Annabelle as she was right now and most certainly was no longer a small child unable to protect herself.
It saddened Giaa that the child who needed her was long gone and what sat atop her was a spitting mad full grown female – her daughter – who had thumbed her nose and dared to call upon the son of a bitch Giaa hated most in the universe.
She glared into Mamam’s shocked eyes, watching her mother’s wounds heal rapidly. Way faster than Abe – her swollen hand was throbbing and screaming with pain like a banshee. “It’s love, Mamam. I’ve found my mate, I love him and I’m never leaving him. Ever.”
Shoulders now stiff and hard, Met let his daughter’s words roll off him.
Love?
Mate?
How the fuck did that happen without him knowing?
Best secret in the universe.
Except there weren’t supposed to be any secrets he didn’t know about.
Met refocused, pulling the bulk of himself into the present time and dimension – it was so fucking linear, so confining it grated against the very nature of his being.
He watched, noting Abe had Giaa well in hand and automatically flicked his golden orbs to those held in stasis – all powerful Jinn warriors. Met spied one with a rude t-shirt on – Blow me, I’m Scottish. He wanted to laugh – not something any male of worth would be caught dead in really – no matter which dimension.
He moved on, accepting Zulu as tribal – taking in his long black hair woven with shells and beads, knowing each were earned and an honor to wear.
When his attention landed on Caleb – Met’s golden brows rose slightly. Well now, this warrior was the next Calipus Ex of all fucking things. In one hand he clutched some kind of electronic sheet which made Met curious. Eagerly, he always wanted to learn what was new in this dimension.
Then, he flicked his eyes over Reno, frozen in place like the others, and standing shoulder to shoulder with his daughter’s mate. Met scented her on the big warrior. He was a little surprised when realizing the big Jinn wore the mantle of King. Invisibly – as if he didn't wield his power openly which thereby denied the full extent of his Kingship. Odd that as Kings were meant to rule.
A King was a King was a King.
It pleased Met nonetheless as the Jinn had to be royal born, First Order and First Blood to be King – a fine combo if Met didn’t say so himself. The invisible King shit, a curiosity of sorts, he’d take the time discover what the fuck that was about.
Golden orbs swirling with immense power, Metatron eyed Jericho closely, scanning him from head to toe. A good size for a boy a couple of centuries old – maybe more – but old enough and experienced enough to keep his daughter safe. That’s what Met cared about in the end.
A quick glance to Abe and Giaa, talking quietly, told they were working things out. Annabelle had said she mated, the deed obviously done.
Infinity rimmed his golden orbs as he nailed Jericho – noting the big Jinn’s eyes were changing from intense blue to purple. Met recognized it as a sign of immense power. Abe sure could pick 'em.
Still, it severely pissed him off no one – including Abe or her intended mate – took the time to mention to him what was about to happen.
Ask for his blessings and all that shit.
Yeah, he would've liked that.
He throttled back his temper, curiosity overtaking him.
A wave of his hand, golden cuff glowing, dissolved stasis.
The invisible King, only a blur in motion, made directly for his daughter so fast Met almost didn’t see it. The male’s first thought for Annabelle. Niiccce.
Jericho hauled Abe into his arms. “Are you hurt? I saw what she did to you.”
Abe curled her hand around the back of his neck and planted a big wet one on him; a kiss he made plain he’d pursue later. “It’s love, Mamam. I feel it all around me, but you never felt it once. I guess you can’t know what you don’t know. I love him. I love Jericho. And maybe he loves me and just doesn’t know it yet.”
Jericho grinned. “From the first moment I held you in my arms, my world flipped and I didn’t know what was happening. That was you - you did that. You’re mine. Forever. No one will ever take you away from me.”
With Abe safe in his arms, Jericho stepped away from Giaa and menacingly glared at her. “You got that, you evil bitch. I’m formally demanding you withdraw your claim of kidnapping from the Council of Nine. You also threatened to kill me and my mate. That’s called treason in my world. So be warned – stay the fuck away from us or you’ll answer to me.”
Furious, Met glared at Giaa. "Kidnapping? Death threats? You dare to threaten my daughter? Have you gone completely fucking mad? If this is true, I’ll tear you limb from limb. No one threatens my children and gets away with it – not even their mother.”
Jericho opened his mouth to add his two cents when A
be giggled and a bright smile lit up her face as she brushed a finger over his lips. “No more worries. Mamam and I have come to terms.”
Incredulously, Jericho blurted, “Without me?”
“Or me,” Met cut in, one handsome blonde brow quirked at his daughter.
“I was very careful, Daddio, I still own the bank.”
Metatron threw back his head and laughed. It shook the walls.
“You’re in a fine mood,” Giaa grouched, standing pristine in her old world garb, no wounds, no traces of blood and eyes drilling into Metatron. “Love is fleeting, daughter; in time your male will move on to seek another just as your father did.”
“As my mate, you never put out. Went on for centuries. A male can only take so much.”
Jericho opened his mouth and snapped it closed. Way too much information and also a clear indication whatever rift ran between Giaa and her ex was real fucking personal and deep.
In an ugly way Giaa pouted. “You’re always so difficult.”
“Nah, it’s the exact opposite you cold bitch.”
Jericho rolled his eyes. Where they going to share every last sordid detail?
“Daddio? Mamam? Ugh! Can you two do this another time?” It embarrassed Abe that her parents so easily shared their nastiest secrets with whoever was present. Not that it was a shock to her – they’d been that way forever – but they weren’t giving her new mate the best impression of what the future might hold for family relations.
Met grinned widely. Annabelle always hated it when he fought with her mother. “My girl, come give me a hug.”
Abe pushed at Jericho’s chest with her sore hand – knuckles, bones and fingers afire and aching. She didn’t heal quickly like Mamam.
Jericho swung her legs down to the floor and held her steady. “Shit Abe, you can’t walk around here with no shoes!”
Both her parents openly sniggered and snorted.
Jericho swung Abe back into his arms and strode to her father. “So, it’s a lifelong flaw?”
A slight smile tweaked the corners of her lips up and with utter confidence Giaa said, “Met, he’s clueless.”
Smile still in place Met nodded agreement, watching the big Jinn pick his way across the destroyed room. Giaa’s doing, no doubt. “Indeed. But for how long.”
Jericho handed over his mate to her father – handed her to a fucking God! Shit there was lots Abe hadn’t filled him in on and he wondered why she hadn’t taken the time to bring him up to speed about her family and their issues. He winced – maybe it was already obvious why.
“Well met.” Metatron tilted his head to Jericho and enfolded his daughter, holding her close in his big arms, peering down into her sooty face. He touched the tip of her somewhat blackened nose making Abe smile. “You’re more beautiful than I’ve ever seen you daughter.”
“She is.” Giaa agreed quickly, smiling now. “Something’s different and there’s a glow about her.”
Abe grinned at Mamam as a few giggles of happiness slipped out. “I’m surrounded by love. After all those barren years, so many, many years, to find love is a blessing.” She turned to her father, who was healing her hand as he towered over her, asking, “So, can you two stay for dinner? I’ll cook. I’m famished.”
Jericho’s genuine immediate smile lit up his face. “Myn lykyng, you’re always famished.”
Metatron chuckled. She’d always been the light of his life. Annabelle was the light against her brother’s darkness. “Child, I must be gone. I’ll take a rain check.”
Abe smiled up at him. “Okay, but I’ll hold you to it.” She buried her face in his chest, long straight wheat blonde strands a pillow against her cheek, arms wrapping him in a bear hug. “I love you, old man.”
A wide white smile creased his handsome face, all bronzed skin and golden eyes a glitter. “I’m not that old. Still got some juice in me.”
He kissed the top of her head as he set her back into her mate’s arms. “Son. We will have a talk. I don’t make appointments, but when I make the time, you make it too. Got me?” When Jericho nodded, Met added, “Take good care of her.”
Instantly, Metatron was beside Giaa firmly gripping her arm as they both dissolved.
Bear grunted, shifting his massive bulk out of the shadows.
Abe needed him safe. “Bear to me.”
Sir Randy sauntered into the middle of the wrecked room, blood shot eyes surveying the carnage as he sat heavily. He would not take one more step.
They’d have to carry him out.
CHAPTER 20
Jericho watched his warriors line up in front of him and Abe. He held her tightly in his arms and wasn't letting go.
One by one each warrior got down on their left knee, fisting their right hands over their hearts, eyes drilling with commitment. In unison, they said three times, "All hail our Queen."
Jericho whispered in her ear, knowing she hadn't a clue what to do.
"Rise," Abe softly commanded. "Thank you all for what you’ve done for me. I will never forget. I consider each of you as part of my family and that's the way I want to be treated – as family. No more, no less."
Solemnly they agreed, one or two aware that it was never gonna fucking happen until they looked at their King. His hard blue eyes dancing with amusement revealed – if that's what Abe wanted – it was gonna happen.
Abe's stomach growled loudly then gurgled and her cheeks went pink. "See? I'm already sharing with my family."
Conn let out a ripping bark and Reno's shoulders chugged up and down. Zulu looked like he didn't get it, but that was okay.
Rad smiled and chuckled, shaking his head at her, the tense atmosphere broken and he was grateful for that. Hell, he was grateful and honored to have a female like Abe as his Queen.
“I’m hungry.” Abe nuzzled into Jericho’s chest, stomach still growling loudly, as he carried her out of his trashed office.
“I know. We all hear it.”
Abe giggled. “There’s stuff in the freezer that we can heat up fast.”
Jericho laughed heading for the kitchen. Zulu and Caleb straggled behind as Reno and Conn struggled to close the off kilter office door. Both agreed loudly it was impossible.
Reno with a – “Fuck it.”
Serious, Conn nodded. “Gonna have tae rebuild the whole fecking door frame.”
Reno snorted. "The whole fucking office -"
Pissed as hell, Conn stormed away, thundering down the hallway.
In the kitchen, Abe demanded to be put down. “Sunshine, I’m never gonna wear shoes. I love them, but I don’t like to wear them.”
Jericho snickered – even her parents confirmed that. This was a battle he couldn’t win and he knew it. Gently, he settled her feet on the stone floor and was rewarded with a slip of a smile as Abe scooted onto a stool at the island.
Zulu huffed beside Rad who was digging in the freezer, pulling out whatever he laid his hands on.
Upon entering the kitchen, Conn tore off his t-shirt and threw it in the garbage pail, letting the lid loudly snap shut.
Sir Randy growled in Reno’s arms, but resettled himself on short fat legs, claws splayed to grip the stone floor so he didn’t slide sideways.
Abe eyed the basset hound. “Rad, please pull out something for SR.”
A groveling howl rumbled out of SR, looking pathetic as ever.
Hollywood smile in place, Reno shifted into the seat beside Abe, his big body dwarfing hers.
"You're so transparent." Abe eyed the activity as the other males pitched in to put a fast meal together.
"Me? Never, ever. No way." Reno’s white smile got wider. "Not my place to be asking my Queen about how her Daddy is a God. You know? Gotta be somebody else who takes on that one and I ain't mentioning any names here. No, not me, I'm not gonna wonder any more how something that big didn't ever come up."
Reno winced – hoping Abe would rush in and explain as most females were want to do. Nada. "But seriously I'm all ears Lu-cccy, if you w
ant to do some 'splaining. But for me? I'm okay if I never get any answers, but I’m not so sure about the others.”
Abe couldn’t begin to explain her family – that was why she never told Jericho. How does one describe an evil bitch like Mamam or the beauty and grace of Daddio – the epic Metatron Evergreen.
SR took the opportunity to release a noxious smell and Abe groaned. “He needs training.”
Conn scrunched his brows together as Zulu took a fresh look at the ugly mutt before quickly realizing he didn’t need to reassess his original opinion of the nasty, smelly critter.
Roid in hand, Caleb took photos of SR, who preened and posed. Jericho hunched down and crushed the dog to him, petting him while ignoring the rank odor.
"He appears to be very happy here, ruling the roost and getting his way all the time. I'll help train him and you Jericho."
Reno leaned in eying Abe with awe and wonder, wearing the biggest smirk ever. "You can? Train dogs? And Jericho?"
Abe giggled as the others joined in.
Matty sauntered in, fresh from another shopping trip. No doubt, Fifi was upstairs dropping her load of packages as Elron parked the car, lingering in the garage – mostly likely weary from spending most of his day with both females.
In her hand, Matty clutched several plastic bags and one bright pink mini shopping bag with black polka dots.
“You didn’t!” Abe’s emerald eyes glowed as she scurried for Matty’s outstretched hand. “Matty, you’re the best. Thanks.”
Matty laughed at Zulu’s frown. “It’s LaSenza. A girl store.”
To a male, they eyed the bags, big bodies shifting uneasily not believing a word Matty said no matter what she said.
The microwave dinged for the final time, breaking into the rising tension as every male converged on the machine over the kitchen sink. Plates slapped together as cutlery clanged and steaming contents filled platters. The kitchen swarmed with a mixture of smells of beef stew, cabbage rolls and chicken potpies. A heady mix.
“Guess we’re feasting.” Matty’s big brown eyes roamed the platters of food covering the kitchen island. “Abe, you in on this?”