“Thank you,” she nodded to Dylan, who was showing Maxim the model. “That will keep him busy in a good way while we figure this out.” Willow turned to frown at her mom. “And why didn’t you tell me about them?”
“It wasn’t my story to tell,” her mom stated, and moved away from her.
“What the hell?” she stepped forward to reach for her mom, but Alton held onto her.
“Let it go. I’m sure she’ll explain in time.” Alton whispered and kissed the top of her head.
Chapter Seven
She had never been more hurt than when her mother turned away from her. Willow closed the door to the pain inside her, smiling at her son as he chatted away to Maxim as they made their way to the hotel. Tamara moved up next to her and bumped her hip.
“You’re not fooling me,” she whispered. “And we’ll be talking later,” she said.
Willow stopped and glanced down at her sister. “There is nothing to say, but I do have something to show you.” She grabbed onto her hand and dragged her to a small shop, one of her favorites, knowing that Marissa would be there. “This place is my favorite shop, half of her things are from the swamp people who don’t get out into the city.” Willow detoured around a corner, which had Alton growling.
“We need to get to the hotel,” he said behind her.
“Then go, we’ll be right behind you after I show her this place,” Willow told him and stepped into the shop, smelling the evergreen candles burning.
“Oh, my God!” Tamara moved around the shop, touching and staring at the handmade things. “Look at this?” Tamara held up a quilt. “I want to get this for the babies. There are three of them. Two blue and a pink one.”
“We don’t know what I’m having yet, but damn they’re beautiful.” Tamara moved up and ran her hand over the blankets.
“They’ll be my gift to my niece and nephews. Wrap them up, Marisa,” Willow moved to the back of the store after handing the blankets to the lady. She knew what to get next for Maxim.
“What do you have there?” Alton came up to her and stared down at the shirt.
“I thought Maxim would like this, but this one is for you.” She moved over to the other rack and pulled out a pair of black boots, gator. “Mind you, they don’t kill the animals, but when they come across dead ones or ones hurt real bad, they use everything. This was a rare gator and I knew they would be perfect.”
Alton picked up the boots and looked them over. “They are nice,” he took off his shoe and slipped the boot on. “Perfect, usually it takes a while to find a great pair of boots.” Alton smiled up at her, while taking off the boot. “I do have to say this store is a treasure trove, but we really have to get going.”
Willow sighed and glanced at Tamara who had her arms full. “Damn, you’re quick,” Willow laughed as Lars shook his head and took some of the things she had out of her arms, moving up to the cash register. “I have to take some things back for Gage’s parents, not to mention a few of my friends.” Tamara followed Lars to the cashier. “We have to come back here before we leave. I didn’t go through half the store.” She nodded to the stairs and Lars laughed.
“Yes, baby, I’ll make sure we come back.” Lars paid the bill and winked at his grandfather. “I have a feeling we will be making yearly visits here.”
“I have a feeling this will be one of our favorite places, as well,” Alton laughed, reaching in his pocket for his wallet, but Willow wasn’t having it.
She pushed him out of the way. “Put it on my card, Marsha.” Willow glanced over at Alton who was frowning.
“I would have paid for that,” he grumbled.
“Then it wouldn’t have been a gift,” she said and went to grab the bag, but Maxim took it from her, placing a kiss on her cheek.
“Thank you, Little Kitty. Let’s get going. Hedrick, Ana and your folks have moved to the hotel already.” He wrapped his arm around her, while Alton once more stepped out of the door before they did, checking their surroundings.
“Oh, Marsha...” Maxim tugged on her hair and whispered in her ear.
“She is human. You can’t explain what is going on, but I’ll make sure Alton comes back and suggest that she goes on a vacation for a week,” Maxim told her.
“Thank you and don’t forget to tell your Grams I can’t wait to see the quilt she’s making for me,” Willow said even though she wanted to say something to her friend. Willow stepped outside and Alton smiled down at her.
“Not to worry, I’ll pay a visit to her tonight and make sure she and her family leave the area for a few weeks.” He reassured her as he took her hand into his, squeezing it as they moved closer to the hotel.
Half-way to the hotel, Willow stopped moving and rubbed her chest, a very heavy sensation was pressing down on her, making it hard to breath all of a sudden. She grabbed onto Maxim’s arm, steadying herself.
“What’s wrong?” Alton and Maxim turned to her, brining Dylan next to her. “Lars, take Tamara to the hotel now,” Alton ordered as he grabbed onto her and transported them all to the hotel lobby.
But something was seriously still wrong, her legs shook and Willow couldn’t stand and it was getting harder to breath. “Take. Care. Dylan.”She got out, scared she wouldn’t be around to see her son grow up.
“Willow!” her mom screamed as she slowly looked up to see her father and mother come running to her. She tried to call her mom, but nothing was working as Alton lowered her to the ground.
“Check for a spider bite,” her father ordered as they started to strip her down right there in the lobby. “Lars, take Tamara up to the penthouse and both of you strip, destroy the clothes now!” her father ordered, but Willow couldn’t understand, she didn’t feel anything bite her, but she also knew she couldn’t feel anything now as her men stripped her down there in the lobby.
Tears slipped down her cheeks and Maxim wiped them as they fell. “No one can see you. Your father and mother have a shield around us. Shit, there on her leg,” Maxim said as she tried to look down but couldn’t.
“The spider is dead, but it got her leg good. What do we do?” Alton snarled.
“Move out of the way,” Agares appeared next to them, shocking everyone. “Do you really believe I’d allow someone to destroy my family?” He grumbled, looking down at her legs. “Hold on Willow, this will hurt and for that I’m sorry,” he told her.
Her father reached down and put his hand on his father’s shoulder. “You won’t ask for anything?”
“Your daughter will die if I don’t do this, and no,” Agares said, as extreme heat entered her leg. It was so hot Willow thought for sure she was burning. Her screams were silent as the heat rose up her leg, thigh, and through her body. She closed her eyes trying to think of anything positive, but nothing.
***
“She’s passed out from the pain, but the poison is gone. She’ll sleep for the next few hours.”Agares stood, as a blanket was now wrapped around her body. Agares turned to his son. “I will not ask anything from my grandchildren,” the man sighed and watched as Maxim lifted their woman up into his arms.
“I know you don’t believe me, but I’m tired. I want family around. I’d like to help with the threat coming. I’ve started to dispatch others to help in certain areas. I won’t be around much, but I’d like to be part of this family,” he asked his son, which had never happened before from the look on Baal’s face. “But first, I have someone to take care of.” Agares turned his gaze on Willow. “Benitta has gone too far, it’s time to bring her home. I will take as many of her children as possible, but the little ones, like the one that bit her, will be hard to find. They scatter, so just keep your eyes open.” Her grandfather looked down at Dylan who was holding onto his leg, staring.
“Your mommy will be fine, little warrior,” he told Dylan, ruffling his hair before disappearing.
“Let’s take this upstairs,” Baal stated.
Alton lifted Dylan in his arms. He clutched the model in his arms, but his gaz
e never left his mom. “Is she really going to be okay?”
He looked over to his grandmother and she held out her hands to him. Alton took the model from him as Dylan went into her arms. “She’ll be fine. Your great, grandfather healed her. Right now she is resting, while her body is healing.”
“A spider bit her,” Dylan whispered and shook at the same time.
“When we get upstairs, we are going to give you a nice hot bath. If I’m not mistaken, I even put your boats in the bathroom for you.” Laurann placed a kiss on his head and looked back at Baal. “Do you believe he’s going to do what he said?”
“Yes, one thing is for sure. My father never says what he does not mean. He will find Benitta and she won’t escape his anger. I should have known I wouldn’t be able to keep the news of the others coming.”
The elevator opened and they moved into the penthouse, turning to the left the apartment that had been assigned to them when Lars stepped out of their apartment, keeping the door partly ajar.
“There were two spiders in our clothes, but they were dead. I don’t know why they didn’t bite, but I don’t like that we didn’t even know they were there. Where did they come from? We went into two stores. One of them has to be loaded with them.”
“Or both?” Alton stated.
“Well, I guess it’s time I visit both stores then. Stay here, I’ll be back.” Baal disappeared.
“Bring Tamara over, give us an hour to check ourselves over. It’s time to sit down and decide what we are going to do.” Alton told his son, who nodded.
“Let’s get these two settled and check ourselves over.” Alton opened the door to the penthouse and watched as Maxim carried Willow inside, but he frowned when she whimpered and jerked.
“She should be out cold,” Alton said, following Maxim into the bedroom as he laid his mate on the bed. Her arm fell out of the blanket and he growled, seeing the bruise, which looked like fingerprints on her. “What the hell?” Alton lifted her arm and it was cold.
“Move aside, Tamara has Dylan in the tub,” Laurann crawled onto the bed, checking her daughter’s body. “She’s not here in her body. Her spirit has gone someplace else.” Her mom looked up and Alto could see the fear in her eyes. “She’s fighting something.”
Her father appeared at the end of the bed. “That shop you went to; it wasn’t Marsha that waited on you. The store was empty when I got there, but it was loaded with Benitta’s babies, which are now dead. I also went to that first store, only a few were there watching. Needless to say the Chillaid’s are furious and will be here shortly.
“Benitta is the one that waited on you at the shop. Maxim, lay on the bed next to my granddaughter. You have fae in you and you’ll be able to travel where Willow is and bring her back.” Queen Aibell ordered, standing next to Baal. “Your father is still tracking Benitta, seems she knew to take off once one of her children bit Willow. But he did capture the man who fathered the latest bunch of these things. I believe you know him, Maxim?”
Maxim nodded and got onto the bed next to Willow, pulling her into his arms. “Let’s do this, she has a new bruise forming on her face,” he snarled, right before taking a deep breath and closing his eyes.
It would be up to him to protect his mate’s bodies while they fought those that have trapped Willow even though it was hard. All he wanted to do was join them in their battle, but someone had to stay here and take care of things.
Baal’s mother whispered some words and at once he could tell Maxim had joined Willow, as his body was lax and his breathing shallow.
“Now it is up to Maxim to bring her back. I don’t know how she slipped into that world...” Aibell gasped. “If Benitta went there?” Her eyes got big. “Agares!” she yelled and he appeared at her side.
“What is it?” He asked looking for the threat.
“She’s not in this realm. someone has shown her how to move back and forth.” Aibell said. “And if that is the case, she could be anywhere.”
Alton stepped forward. “Then I should join Maxim!”
Agares shook his head. “No, if she is there, Benitta hasn’t had time to organize. Trust Maxim to bring her back, but it seems I’ll be going on a trip.” He looked towards his son. “I know I told you you wouldn’t have to go back, but you are the only one I trust to make sure no one gets out. We don’t need any others coming here right now. Take Laurann if you want. Stay at the house at least till I get back.”
Baal frowned and looked down at his daughter, shaking his head. “No, I’m sorry I don’t trust you that far to take Laurann down. If you need someone to track Benitta in the other realm, I’ll do it, but I won’t leave my family.”
“You know how time is when walking between worlds, you could come back years from now.” Agares stated and looked towards the north. “We might not need…” Agares turned toward the door and moved out of the bedroom.
“Stay with them, I’ll take care of this and let you know what is happening,” Baal told him and squeezed his shoulder before leaving the room. “I’m trusting you to take care of my daughter and grandson.” Baal held out his hand. “Come Laurann, I refuse to let you out of my sight.” He said.
Her mother snorted. “You’re just afraid I’ll give you a run around again.” Laurann took his hand, but looked back at Willow. “Will she be okay?”
“Trust her men to protect her as I do.” Baal said his eyes, now a dark red, were focused on him.
“With my life,” Alton nodded his head and watched the two move out of the room.
Alone in the room, Alton sat down on the bed not seeing any new marks on Willow’s body, but there were a few on Maxim’s arm, that had him hoping he had found her. “Come back to me you two,” he whispered and bent placing a kiss on Willow’s head, squeezing Maxim’s arm.
***
One minute Willow was screaming in pain and the next she was in a world she had no idea even existed. All she knew was she was not alone. Many of her so-called brothers were there waiting for her, it would seem. They seemed to know that she was coming which really sucked. But there was one good thing about that, it seemed her gifts were here in this place as she clothed herself, her two metal swords in her hands as she eyed her so-called brothers.
Not one, but two, deformed men leaped forward. One had three eyes and seemed to still have the brittle hair of a spider up his hands, while the other had skinny arms, thin where one hand was like a claw. Yea, Willow battled the two things, her brothers, while three others watched, but she had a sense others were close by watching.
“Sure would be nice if you’d come to my rescue now,” she muttered, trying to get hold of Maxim or Alton, but nothing. There was no connection to anyone, even her mom, which was like a gaping hole in her heart.
“Son of a bitch,” she growled as one of the deformed ones sliced her arm.
“So the princess does bleed. Tell me, how did you get the protection of dear old Grandfather? We’ll see how good he is at finding people, or do you think he’ll allow them to die as gator bait?” the one man spit out, asking his partner as he lunged with his sword like weapon, but she twirled around, hitting him across the chest with one swipe.
“Call me lucky, asshole,” she raised her sword and cut through the skin and muscles of his neck. His scream was like that of someone scratching a chalkboard as he fell to the ground, screaming.
“Shut up already,” she growled and swung her sword, cutting the other side of his neck, while dancing away from the other one. Two more who decided to jump in.
“Need some help?” came a deep growl, as Maxim swung his sword in front of her. As he moved up next to her, making mincemeat of the reminder of the men that were there, but not before one of them managed to tackle him.
Willow went to help him, when she felt it. Someone was watching them. “You live now, but I will be back,” said the woman’s voice a shrill, but Willow knew who it was. She stepped towards the voice, but Maxim wrapped his arm around her stopping her.
&nb
sp; “No, you are going back,” Maxim growled, right before Willow felt the world slip away from her again.
“What the hell,” Willow growled, and sat up, looking around. She was back in her body. “Damn it, Maxim, we should have gone after her.” She growled, looking down at her mate, as his wolf eyes meet hers.
“No, there will be no more dangerous missions,” he growled, and she would have said something, but Alton lifted her up into his arms, holding her tight.
“Maxim is right. You need to be here at our side, not running around in a different world.” Alton kissed the top of her head and leaned back. “How the hell did you get there?” he asked as someone knocked on their door.
Maxim lifted the blanket and wrapped her up, before going to the door.
“I knew you could do it,” her father said, coming into the room. “Now, tell us what you know?” he asked, coming over and placing a kiss on her head, squeezing her shoulder.
“How about I get dressed first and meet you out in the living room. It’s uncomfortable sitting here in a blanket.” She grabbed onto her father’s arm. “Is someone missing?” she frowned, climbing out of the bed with the blanket tucked neatly around her.
Her father looked confused. “What are you talking about?” he asked.
“Before Maxim showed up, one of the others said something about grandfather finding someone.” Willow stared down and realized she didn’t need the blanket, once more her men had taken care of her. “Thank you.” She put the blanket down and went to step forward, but swayed a little bit.
“Easy, Little Kitty.” Alton lifted her up into his arms and moved out into the living area of the room where about 40 people, men and women, had gathered.
“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.”
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