by Cree Storm
Salem turned to look at Rhys and smiled. “But looky here what I got now. So, which one of you boys should I play with first? Maybe the pretty one over there and make you watch, Jett? Or maybe I should take you first and record it, then send it to my disgraceful son. Show him how a real man takes what he wants.”
Salem turned back to Jett, standing in front of him, then bent at the waist so that his face was only inches from Jett’s. “Would you like that, boy? You seem like you would be a wildcat in bed, just like that little spitfire over there. Usually I like my boys to look more like the little tramp over there. It’s easier to throw them around, make them do what I want, but you, I can see what my Zev sees in you. You’re pretty hot for a big lug. So, tell me, pretty boy, do you prefer it on your hands and knees? Or on your back?”
Salem laughed manically in Jett’s face. “Keep looking at me like you’re gonna kill me, boy, and I may not go easy on you. I may have to go rather rough on you and teach my boy Zev that’s what happens to defiant little boys who betray their kin.”
“So!” Salem said loudly as he slapped his hands together and straightened. “Which one of you pretty boys get the pleasure of my company first?”
Salem looked back to Jett and reached out, yanking the tape off his mouth forcefully. “You look like you have something to say, cock lover.”
“Touch one hair on Rhys, and I swear, I will kill you slowly and painfully,” Jett said through gritted teeth.
“Well, you’re not in any position to be making threats like that are you, O’Bryan? Are you really outraged that I’ll be taking that little tart whether he likes it or not? Or is all this anger coming because I’ll be having him and not you? Want a little taste of his tight little ass for yourself, is that it?”
“You’re a sick, twisted piece of shit. And I’m not making any threats, only promises. You touch him and you might as well start saying your prayers to whatever unholy god you worship. I will torture you until you beg for death, then I’ll let you heal and do it again. I will flay the skin from your bones, and start cutting off body parts one by one, until you bleed out,” Jett seethed.
“Damn, I love your spirit, Jett. Wish I would have known about that sooner. Maybe I would have tried to get you to myself all those years ago. You and I would have made a great team, with all that fire in you. But then again, you are a dragon, so fire is a part of you, isn’t it?”
Salem turned away from Jett, but quickly turned back as he snapped his fingers. “Oh, and don’t be thinking about calling on your dragon, he won’t be able to help you anyway. He’ll be asleep for another few hours with the shit I pumped into your veins,” Salem stated nonchalantly, then started laughing as he turned toward Rhys.
Slowly he stalked across the space, his gaze locked on Rhys’ face. Rhys shook and trembled. Tears rolling freely down his cheeks as terror filled his eyes.
Jett began screaming, “Take me, motherfucker! Don’t fucking touch him! Come back here and take me! Let him go and you can have me! Come on, you big badass! Show me what a big man you are!”
Salem stopped in his tracks and spun around to face Jett. “Oh, I’ll get to you, don’t worry that pretty head of yours. Then when I’m done with you, I’ll cut off your cock and mail it to my son. He can keep it as a memento.”
Salem started making his way toward Rhys again. Rhys was screaming behind the tape, shaking his head frantically back and forth, his eyes wide and tears streaming out. Jett continued to yell and make threats, begging for Salem to come back to him, but Salem ignored his pleas and focused on Rhys.
Salem stopped in front of Rhys and reached out a hand, cupping his tear streaked face. “Shh, it’ll only hurt for a few minutes.”
“Angelo! Angelo! Shit, baby, what’s going on? Angelo, come back, baby!” Morgan screamed as he gently shook Angelo.
“Damn it! Somebody do something! I’ve never seen him go this deep into a vision before,” Pauly insisted as he stood by Angelo’s side, trying to help Morgan wake his mate.
Angelo’s gaze cleared and he blinked a few times. He turned his head and looked to Morgan. His eyes filled with horror.
Rhys had a really bad feeling about this. He was told that Angelo was the one who had the visions, and it appeared that whatever the man had just seen was more than horrible. When Angelo had started to cry and whimper, Rhys thought his mate Morgan was going to go out of his mind. He started hugging and kissing his mate’s cheek, trying to get him to come out of the vision. Then the man began to panic and started yelling at Angelo to snap him out of it, but nothing had worked.
Ethan knelt in front of Angelo and placed a comforting hand on his leg, his eyes were soft and full of concern. Rhys couldn’t get over how beautiful and caring the man was. Just the little time he had spent with the phoenix told Rhys what a caring soul the man was and he craved to have Ethan look at him like that. Touch him like that. But that was insane. The man was already mated, and to one of the sexiest men Rhys had ever seen. Damn, they were both lucky bastards to have each other as mates. If only he could have mates like Ethan and Day, he knew his life would be amazing.
“We need to keep them safe, Ethan,” Angelo whispered in a shaky voice that was full of fear.
“Who, Ang? What did you see?” Ethan asked gently.
Angelo swallowed thickly. “Rhys and Jett. Salem is coming for them.”
CHAPTER 4
“Son of a bitch! I’ll kill him!” Zev seethed and headed for the door.
Day, Morgan, and Finn moved fast, jumping to their feet, and crossing the room. They grabbed Zev, pulling him back in, as he struggled against their hold.
“Not now, man. We’ll get him, but not now. Your mate needs you,” Day said, and that seemed to bring Zev out of his rage.
He stopped struggling and looked to Jett. Zev calmed down slightly and they hesitantly released him, but stayed between Zev and the door.
“Not alone, babe,” Jett said in a tight voice and walked to Zev. He placed his arms on Zev’s shoulders and took his face between both hands, looking into his eyes deeply. “We’ll get him, but not alone.” Jett leaned in and kissed Zev softly. Pulling back from the kiss, Jett released Zev’s face, sliding a hand down his arm, and taking his hand. He gave his mate’s hand a squeeze then led Zev back to the group and sat him down at one of the tables. Jett stood behind him and wrapped his arms around Zev’s shoulders.
He, Morgan, and Finn joined everyone, but stayed ready in case they needed to act again. Day leaned against the bar and crossed his arms over his chest as he met Jett’s gaze. Jett nodded his thanks and Day returned the nod.
Morgan moved back to Angelo and sat beside him, placing an arm over his shoulders, then asked him in a soft voice, “What did you see, Angel?”
“It was…he…” Angelo swallowed hard.
“It’s okay, Ang. Just take a deep breath,” Ethan encouraged gently.
“I know this is hard, Angelo, but if we’re to keep them safe, we need to know what you saw,” Justice said.
Angelo took a few deep breaths, calming slightly, then told them everything he had seen in his vision. With each word Angelo spoke, Day found himself getting angrier and more anxious. His chest tightened and his jaw clenched. An overwhelming need to go hunt Salem down and kill him filled Day. The man was a threat to his brothers Jett and Zev, as well as Rhys, and Day wouldn’t allow any of them to be harmed. Both Jett and Zev had already suffered enough because of this man and he needed to be stopped.
When Angelo got to the end of his story, Day felt a haze of red rage so intense, it consumed him, but there was also fear. His heart beat faster and his stomach clenched at the thought of the beautiful pixie being hurt. If Salem touched one hair on the gorgeous man’s head, Day wouldn’t rest until he found Salem and ripped him apart. Day flinched slightly and shook his head internally, trying to clear the thoughts. What in the hell was he thinking? Of course, he was concerned about Rhys’s safety, he was family now, but he shouldn’t be this effected
by it.
Ethan’s voice broke through Day’s thoughts and guilt slammed into him. What the fucking hell was he doing? Ethan was his life. He shouldn’t be thinking like this about anyone else. Day shifted his gaze to Jett, trying to focus on something else, and saw the tension in Jett’s body. His shoulders were tight, jaw clenched, and his eyes were blazing with anger, but Day could also see that some of the color had drained from Jett’s face.
He looked down at Zev and he was strung just as tight as Jett, but his face was burning red and his body shook. He looked like he was close to snapping and freaking out. Day’s gaze instinctively shifted to Rhys to see his reaction to what they had just been told, and his heart clenched. The poor man was standing off to the side of everyone by himself. His arms were wrapped around his stomach, his head was lowered, with his long, silky black hair cascading around his face like a veil, but Day could see that he was pale. Rhys’ gaze stared at a spot on the floor and Day could see the terror in his pretty lavender eyes.
The gorgeous man was shaking and Day had an overwhelming need to go to him and wrap Rhys in his arms. He needed to reassure the man that everything was going to be okay and that he wouldn’t let Salem anywhere near him. Day would do whatever he had to do to make sure Rhys was safe.
What the fuck was going on? Why was he thinking these things? His thoughts were betraying his mate. The love of his life, and he needed to stop this. Suddenly his heart clenched with guilt and Day needed air. He had to get away from the beautiful pixie and clear his head.
Day pulled away from the bar and walked across the room. He didn’t stop when he heard his father ask where he was going. He couldn’t stop. Fresh air was the only thought in his head at the moment and he needed to get to it. Day headed out the front door and turned left. He walked to the end of the building and stopped, taking in a deep breath, then releasing it. He bent forward and rested his hands on his knees as he hung his head.
Why? Why was he thinking about the pixie like this? Why was he having these thoughts? Ethan was his mate. Ethan was the love of his life. His phoenix mate owned his heart, body, and soul. Day’s stomach churned and twisted violently. He wanted to vomit when he thought of ever hurting Ethan. They had been together for two years now, but he couldn’t remember a time when Ethan wasn’t in his heart. He had only existed before Ethan came into his life. He loved his beautiful mate more than he ever loved anything in his whole life. He would kill for Ethan. He would die for Ethan.
“Day?”
Day’s breath caught in his throat and he closed his eyes tight against the pain the guilt brought. He could hear the confusion and concern in Ethan’s voice and it killed him. He couldn’t be dishonest with Ethan. As much as his thoughts might hurt his man, he couldn’t lie to him.
A small gentle hand rested on his shoulder and Day tensed. He didn’t mean to, but he did. He loved Ethan’s touch, but right now he didn’t think he deserved it, or Ethan’s concern. He was a horrible mate. Day straightened, bringing his hands to his face and rubbing it briskly.
Ethan wasn’t pushing him for answers, he was giving Day all the time he needed, and didn’t that just fill him with another wave of guilt? His baby was the most wonderful mate in the world and he was garbage for having these thoughts about another.
Day felt Ethan’s heat on his back a moment before his felt his mate’s lithe body press against him. Ethan slid his hand from Day’s shoulder, down his bicep, and wrapped his hand around the muscle. When Ethan moved closer and hugged his arm, then kissed his bicep, Day just wanted to cry.
“It’s okay, babe. We’ll make sure they all stay safe. Everyone is trying to come up with the best plan to watch over Jett, Zev, and Rhys, and find Salem at the same time. We’ll do this, love. We’re always stronger together and we won’t let Salem get his hands on them. We’ll protect Rhys,” Ethan said softly as he peppered kisses over Day’s arm.
Something in the way Ethan said they would keep Rhys safe pulled Day out of his self-deprecation. There was something in Ethan’s voice that told Day Ethan was feeling what he was. Day turned to face his mate, looking at Ethan with confusion.
Ethan looked back at him, meeting his gaze, and Day saw the guilt within his baby’s stunning blue eyes. Ethan swallowed hard and looked down as he bit his bottom lip.
“Baby?” Day whispered.
Ethan raised his head and their gazes met, and there it was again. Guilt, but also pain. “I don’t know why, and I don’t know what it is. I don’t…”
Day wrapped his arms around Ethan, pulling him close and holding him tight. Ethan immediately wrapped his arms around Day’s waist and returned the hug. “I’m so sorry, my love. I don’t understand this, and I never, ever want to hurt you. You’re my whole world, Day, and I would die without you,” Ethan cried into his chest and Day could feel wetness soak through his shirt.
His heart was breaking from the pain he heard in Ethan’s voice. He was afraid to ask, but knew he had to. He had a feeling he knew what was causing his baby this anguish. Was Ethan feeling the same way he was?
“It’s Rhys, isn’t it?” Day asked. There was no accusation in his voice, only curiosity.
Ethan pulled back and looked up at him. His eyes were wide and filled with surprise. Day reached a hand up and gently brushed a lock of hair away from Ethan’s brow, then slide the back of his fingers down Ethan’s cheek tenderly. “You feel it, too. Don’t you?”
“You too?” Ethan whispered on a sob.
“I don’t understand this, baby. I love you with everything that I am. I would never hurt you. I would rather kill myself than ever cause you pain, baby,” Day declared as tears rolled down his cheeks.
Ethan’s eyes softened as tears dropped from his eyes. He cupped Day’s cheek with one hand and Day leaned into the touch, needing the comfort only his mate could bring him. “I know, love. I know you would never hurt me. I know you love me. It’s your love that makes life worth living. It’s because of you and your love for me that I want to live. I don’t know what I would do without you. I hope you know I would never hurt you either, my love. Just the thought is killing me,” Ethan cried.
“Oh, baby, I know that. You’re too good to ever hurt anyone. And I know you would never hurt me. I don’t understand what’s going on here, Ethan, but I have this overwhelming need to…”
“To wrap Rhys in your arms and keep him safe,” Ethan finished.
“Yes,” Day sighed on a sob.
Ethan held him tight. They stood wrapped in each other’s arms as they both cried, holding onto one another like a lifeline.
After a few minutes, Ethan broke the silence. His words causing Day to stop breathing momentarily, as his body stiffened. “Do you think Rhys may be our mate?”
Day pulled back from the embrace slightly and looked into his mate’s eyes. “But wouldn’t we scent him?”
Ethan shook his head. “No. Our dad’s only scented Avery because of the phoenix in him from Candace. Neither Finn nor Marco could smell that Twix was their mate. They only knew once Twix…” Ethan stopped abruptly and his eyes opened wide.
“What, baby? What is it?”
“Day, how did Finn and Marco find out that Twix was their mate? And how did Avery realize that our Dads were his mates?”
Day was confused. Ethan knew how. “Twix kissed Finn, and Avery kissed Justice, then Illan. That’s how the pixies find their mates. But Rhys hasn’t kissed either of us.”
“Right. Think about it, love. We can’t scent Rhys because pixies don’t get their scent until after they kiss their mate, so we can’t scent him. But both of us are feeling all the other symptoms a shifter would feel when finding their mate. The attraction. The overwhelming need to touch them, to be with them, to keep them safe. And Rhys doesn’t know that we are his mate’s because he hasn’t kissed either of us.”
“But he kisses everyone,” Day growled through clenched teeth.
Ethan chuckled. “See, your jealous just thinking of Rhys kissing other men.
So am I. The thought of any other man but you touching him makes my phoenix want to flame up and burn all those men’s asses. He has never kissed us, Day. Have you seen him kiss one person since we met him?”
The light bulb went off in Day’s head as realization hit him, and he smiled. “No. He’s been so upset with all of this going on.”
“Right. He kisses everyone because he is trying to find his mates, but the minute his mates actually show up, they are the only ones he doesn’t kiss.”
“Because of what happened with Salem, Rhys is afraid to kiss anyone. With Dain’s reaction to all of this, Rhys is probably afraid that no one believes him. Hell, they’ve already said they don’t believe him and blame him for what happened. Ethan, do you really think he’s our mate?” Day asked in wonder.
“Yes, my love, I do.”
“So, now what do we do? We need to tell Rhys, and we also need to keep him safe. We can’t let Salem get his hands on our man.”
“I agree. First, I think we need to go back inside and see what we can come up with to keep him safe. Then we need to get Rhys alone, and get him to kiss us,” Ethan replied with a smile.
CHAPTER 5
Rhys didn't remember ever being so scared and alone before. Just the thought that Jett and him were in such danger from a man he considered evil at its best had Rhys feeling his skin crawl.
"Hey Rhys, it's going to be okay. I swear to you, we won't let that sick prick anywhere near you," Angelo whispered.
Rhys turned to Angelo tearfully. "Every part of me wants to run as fast and as far as I can. Just the thought of that man with his dick anywhere near me makes me want to shower and vomit, not necessarily in that order. The thing is, Angelo, I'm tired of running. This is my home."