“Wow, we’re having a party and no one invited me? Now that is just rude,” she said and smiled.
Laughter broke out as her grandfather came over and looked her over. “I’m sorry I didn’t capture her like I planned.”
Willow glanced up at Alton, who shrugged. “Just as father can’t predict what the spider lady will do, you are not to blame for this. Put me down over there, Alton,” Willow pointed to the couch near where Tamara and Dylan sat. She needed to hug her baby.
Alton sat down on the couch with her in his lap and she shook her head at him as she held out her arms. Dylan climbed onto her lap, hugging her tight. “I was so scared,” he whispered, burying his face in her neck.
“I know, sweetie, and I’m sorry.” She closed her eyes, inhaling the fresh scent of his favorite bubble bath. “Grandfather, while I was out one of my...” she waved her hand and leaned back against Alton. “He said he wondered if you were a good tracker, if you’d find someone before they became gator bait. Do you know who it is?”she asked, rubbing her cheek on Dylan’s little head.
Her grandfather moved to kneel in front of her, frowning. “I don’t know anyone...” He stood and faced his son. “What happened at the store that they visited?”
“Marsha? Since it’s obvious it wasn’t her, did you find her? Is her family okay?” Willow sat up, not liking where this was going. She had grown up with Marsha, went to school with her, knew her family personally.
Her father shook his head. “She wasn’t around the shop. The back showed signs of a struggle, which is different from Benitta’s character, so her sons had to have done this. As for her family, her grandmother is fine, but she’s really worried about her daughter.”
Willow put Dylan down next to Tamara. “Will you watch Dylan for me? I should be back by tonight.” She went to stand up, but Alton had wrapped his arms around her and held on.
“What do you think you’re doing?” he asked, leaning over and nipping her shoulder.
“I’m going to get my friend. It’s obvious they hid Marsha somewhere in the swamp,” Willow smiled, glancing over her shoulder. “Little do my brothers know, but Marsha and I used to play in the swamp. It was my playground. Ask mom. She had a hell of a time keeping track of us when we went playing.”
Laurann laughed. “That is true and it would have been worse, if I didn’t have a connection with her. If anyone can find Marsha, it’s my daughter. Not only does she know the area, she knows Marsha’s scent so she can track her,” Laurann told everyone in the room.
“No!” Maxim and Alton said at the same time.
She took a deep breath and tried to pry Alton’s arms away from her, but he held on, which didn’t mean shit as far as she was concerned. She concentrated and started to shift, but something went wrong and Willow was thrown back into her human body.
“No,” Alton growled and stood, placing her over his shoulder. “Excuse me while we deal with our woman,” he growled and slapped her ass hard when she tried to get up. “Hold still,” he ordered, as Maxim slammed the bedroom doors behind them.
Alton sat down on the bed and turned her so she was facing him. He was furious.
Chapter Eight
To say he was angry would be an understatement, and he made sure his Little Kitty saw the displeasure in his expression. He was not playing anymore games with her and it seemed either was their other partner, Maxim, as he sat down next to them.
He felt her flinch and try to scoot back away from him, but he held onto her hips. “What do you think you are doing? You were just poisoned, fought your brothers in another world or wherever, and now you want to take off for another dangerous venture?” his voice held a little whip to it. “Not to mention you have a son out there that needs his mother, not a warrior running off every time something comes up!”
“Excuse me?” Willow straightened her back and her eyes seemed to come alive. “Let me go, now!” she snapped.
Alton shook his head. “You might be pissed at me, but we are furious at you. We will work this out now,” he told her.
Claws replaced her nails, the eyes of her cat stared back at him, but he wouldn’t back down. “You are used to taking off, with your mother taking care of Dylan. It stops now. You have a little boy out there that needs you, us and we need you,” he paused. “Safe, in our arms, not out there in danger.”
He could see the weariness flash across her face just as she turned and looked towards the door. “I always put Dylan first and for you to accuse me of not doing so is wrong. I had a job and needed to do it. Dylan was always there with me,” she looked back at him with tears in his eyes. “Where do you think I was when I disappeared, down time. I always came back, even while protecting Tamara at your home, I came back here to be with my family, my son. So don’t even tell me I didn’t put him first. As is the case with millions of mom’s out there, we have to work, and don’t say I didn’t, because you would be wrong.” She looked down at her hands.
“Not only did I need to work; it was driven into me. After I had Dylan, I needed to bury myself in my job, away from men in general. But this is different. I’m not doing this because I want danger. I’m doing this because she’d do it for me. I was going to see if my grandfather or you would come with me. I wasn’t going to go alone.”
Maxim snorted. “I don’t know if I like the idea of you going off with him either, even though he seems to be trying.” Maxim reached over and grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her head to the side, exposing her neck to him. He leaned over and bit down on the tendon, growling, marking her.
“Maxim,” she whispered at the same time surrendering her body to him. Maxim pulled her over to him, and hugged her tight. “We just found you; it’s only been two days. We will not be separated,” Maxim told her, his gaze meeting Alton’s.
“Hmmm, I have an idea,” Willow said, edging back, looking at Alton and then at Maxim. “Since we know she’s not here, why don’t we all go into the bayou? We can stay at one of the inns along there. Dylan hasn’t been there in a while and I’d love to show you the beauty of it,” She asked. “Plus, it would take some of the danger away from the city.”
“But we’re safe here. We could go back to the house,” Alton stood and started to pace. “I still don’t like what you did, volunteering to go without even considering us.” He stopped and looked at the door. “The bayou would keep the danger out to the town and with the extra help we have now.” Alton glanced down at Willow. “You will not take off without us, but yes, I think it would be wise to take this out of town. Do you know how many of your brothers went with her by any chance?” Alton asked opening the door, knowing Willow’s mom was there at the door, ready to burst in, but Baal held her back.
“Yes?” he asked.
“You had no right to say anything to my daughter,” she snarled, and Alton had no doubt Laurann would have done more than yell if Baal hadn’t been there.
“I had every right. If we are going to be a family, your daughter needs to stop rushing off into danger. Her son needs her and so do we. I’m sorry that my words hurt her, but don’t you believe her actions have hurt her son too?” he said, and knew he’d stepped over the line when Baal growled.
“No!” Willow stepped in front of him holding up her hands. “This is between the three of us, my father and mom.” She turned and gave Alton a look that he knew things were going to get heated.
Alton reached out, wrapping his arm around Willow. At once she stiffened, but stepped back to his side. “I’m sorry I hurt you.” He ran his finger down her cheek. “The thought of you in danger sets the warrior off and with his anger and mine. It’s been a long time since someone has sent me off.”
Lars snorted. “What my grandfather is saying is that everyone usually listened to him or faced his wrath and, believe me, there are some stories out there.”
“Thank you, I think, Lars.” He snorted and glanced at Willow’s mom. “We are willing to live here if your daughter wants to, but we will have o
ur own place and have to deal with each other as you and your mate will have to. Sure, there are going to be bumps in the road, but right now all that matters to me is that your daughter is safe, protected. I’ve lost one woman already. I can’t lose her too,” Alton said.
Willow sighed. “You just had to say that, and here I was all ready to sink my claws into you.” Willow grumbled, wrapping her arms around him and squeezing. “I don’t mean any disrespect to your other, but I’m not her. She was delicate, from what I noticed and needed to be protected. I’m not that.”
Maxim laughed. “That you are not, but it still doesn’t mean we aren’t going to protect you. Baal, can you tell how many of your sons are around? Or her children? Willow does have a good idea.”
All conversation behind them stopped, and it was the first time Alton realized they had been shouting their personal business in front of strangers, something he didn’t like at all. He leaned down and placed a kiss on top of Willow’s head. “Do you have a place in mind we can all stay at?” he asked, and she looked up at him, smiling.
“It’s Marsha’s family’s Bed and Breakfast. It’s huge. It has a number of rooms and even a conference room we can use.” She was so beautiful, the energy shining through her gaze was amazing.
“You think we need a conference room? What if they have guests there and are full?” Alton asked.
She frowned and tilted her head to the side. “No, she has one guest, but he’s a regular and won’t bother anyone. Matter of fact, mom knows him really well,” she looked down at the ground, but not before he caught the smile on her face.
He stepped back, taking Willow with him, when the growl started. “Who is this man?”
“Shit,” Laurann turned and ran her hands up his chest and around his neck. “He’s an old friend, yes at one time we dated, but it didn’t last long. We knew it wouldn’t last long and it didn’t. He’s a good friend, that is all.” Laurann patted Baal’s chest. “Relax big guy, he’s nothing.”
“We’ll see,” They both disappeared from the room, earning a laugh from Agares who moved up to them. “Your guests are going home now. We’ll speak with them tomorrow evening. Can you can tell us about this new threat coming our way?” Willow’s grandfather asked. “Are you going to look for your friend?”
She stiffened under his arm. “This is one of the reasons why we’re going to the bayou.” Willow looked up at him, then at Maxim.
“We’ll search for her, but she will be with one of us at all times. Go get Dylan. We’ll head there now. Lars, you stay here with Tamara until we’re sure everything is okay,” Alton told his grandson.
“I’ll wait here, for a few hours, for your grandmother, Willow. She is warning her people and others about the threat of Benitta.” Agares stated.
“Question? If you can’t go to her world, and I know my other-brothers can’t, why would she be able to? She’s, well, you know…and so are her babies, right?” Willow asked as she held her arms out for Dylan and he came to her, carrying his model.
Alton lifted the boy up before she could. “We’ll set the model up once we get set up,” Alton whispered into the boy’s ear, who smiled wide, nodding.
But his attention was on his grandfather who was now frowning and pacing. “I hadn’t even considered this. She definitely has the one gene, which is weird since it usually only happens through birth, unless she had a hidden gene from her family. I need to speak with your brother, Bane. He’s coming right?” Agares asked.
“Yes, he’ll meet us at this new place. He’s running late. Storm ran into some of our brothers,” Tamara said, moving towards them. “Gage will be meeting you at the hotel.” She rolled her eyes, earning a smack on her ass from his grandson. “Hey, I can’t help it. I mean come on. You think Willow and your grandfather would allow me to show up when there is danger? Please, do you remember at your dad’s house?” she reminded Lars and he grunted, placing his hand on her belly.
“We’re both going to be over-protective with you carrying our babies. It’s no reason to get annoyed.” His granddaughter smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“You know what really sounds good while we wait is some of that homemade ice cream they have downstairs. I know I heard someone say they had double chocolate brownie.”
Alton laughed and wrapped his arm around Willow. “The cravings start,” he said, leaving Lars to deal with the ice cream craving and going to the place that Willow had shown him in her mind. Maxim stepped in front of them, scanning the area, when the front screen door banged open.
“You pompous ass! I told you it was over, you just had to start your shit!” Laurann yelled, but winked at Willow.
“What did dad do now?” Willow asked, even though Alton was a little scared of the thought. This man was still a very dangerous man and no one to fool around with.
Baal’s gaze shifted to Alton’s. “You have nothing to worry about, you are my son, but that thing had the gull to inform how cute my mate looked in a certain dress! Needless to say that dress is now burned and the man’s memory of such a thing gone.”
Willow’s mom spun around and glared at him as a bucket of water dumped over his head. “Have some cold water, asshole. You need to cool down, plus you erased more than just the thought of the dress.”
“That man does not need to keep thinking of…” Baal stopped his words as his gaze moved to Dylan’s. “You know what! You cool off!” he countered as magical hands picked her up and dumped her into the pool off to the side of the old homestead.
“I do believe my parents equal each other out,” Willow laughed and Dylan giggled in his arms.
“Grandma is so going to be mad.” Dylan whispered and wiggled to get down.
“Stay close, little warrior, till we have scouted the area,” Alton told him setting him down.
Willow held out her hand to Dylan. “Come, let’s go say hi to everyone and get a room.”
***
She loved sitting out here on the back porch of the old Inn. Willow smiled remembering the water fight she and Marsha had as a teenager. Both of them had stripped out of their clothes not caring who was around as they ran and jumped into the river. One thing about being ‘other,’ was that they didn’t have to worry about the animals coming after them for a quick meal.
“You keep burying that knife in my porch, young lady, I will expect you to replace the board,” Marsha’s grandmother said, coming out onto the deck and handing her a glass of her famous ice tea. “I know you wanted to go with your man and grandfather, but they are right. You need to be here with your son. You are targeted, not them. Plus, you know damn well my granddaughter would be furious if you got hurt trying to find her. Now tell me about your men and why you’re angry at the one?”
Willow snorted, getting up and tucking her knife in its hidden place, moving to sit on the rocker next to Grandma Ida. “Not so much as mad anymore, just worried.” She bent and placed a kiss on her cheek before sitting next to her.
“Alton’s son is furious his father is mated to me, again blood line. Plus, Alton comes from a very prestigious line of bloodsuckers. You could say he is one of the true blue bloods. Arranged marriage, duty type of man. Then you have me.” Willow took a drink of the iced tea and sighed.
“God, you make the best tea. I could never get the right flavor when I tried to make it,” she said and flinched when Ida reached over and slapped her arm.
“Go on and quit hemming and hawing around. Spit it out, girl. You know I could put a nice little...”
“No! Please, that would be just another thing against me,” Willow grumbled. “I just have this feeling Alton is going to try and change me to be like his wife. I can’t be her, Ida. Like now it’s killing me sitting here when all I want to do is go out there and help with the search.”
“It’s more than that, am I wrong?” Ida leaned over and covered her hand with hers, squeezing it. “You’re afraid he won’t want the real you, aren’t you?”
She shrugged. �
��So many have run when they see the real me. Marsha, she’s gentle and a soft voice, well except when she’s mad. I’m loud, love to dance naked at night under the stars, to play with the animals of the bayou and just be alive. The thought of parties, and dealing with all those stuffed shirts has even my cat shivering. My luck, I’d end up gutting one of the old things if they said something wrong,” she blew out her breath and heard a snort behind her.
“How long have you been listening?” Willow knew Maxim’s scent. He placed his hand on her shoulder and placed a kiss on the side of her head. “Long enough to know you should be talking to us.” Maxim moved around the swing and knelt before her. “I’m not the one to speak for Alton, but I don’t want you to change, and if you want to dance naked under the stars, I have no problem with that as long as no one else is around but us. As for playing with the animals out there in the bayou,” he shrugged. “We don’t want you hurt Willow, you’ve been through so much. Is it wrong for us to want to give you the world or our small part of it?” Maxim pulled her up. “Your son would like to show you what we’ve done with his model. I’ve also made some sandwiches. Miss Ida, if you would care to join us? Seems my daughter is hungry so Lars and I were assigned to make lunch.”
“Really?” Ida stood. “There might be some hope for your men after all. Well this one at least. My judgment is still out on the other one. Anyone who gives you doubts about yourself will have to do a lot to sway my opinion of him, but for your sake, I won’t turn him into a frog yet. We have plenty of frog legs in jars for my spells right now so I don’t need any to stock up,” Ida stated without batting an eye as she moved into the house.
“She’s kidding, right?” Maxim asked next to her as he held the door open.
“Nope,” Willow stood on her tippy toes and placed a kiss on Maxim’s chin. “But don’t worry, you are my mate and she knows it would hurt me, so you’re safe at least from being dinner or part of her spell.” Willow stepped inside.
The Forgotten One: Book Three of the Surrender Series Page 10