In the daylight, Beth scanned the place she now called home. While some things looked the same as on Earth, there were other things Beth didn’t recognize that would need explaining later. Beth followed the sound of her mens’ voices and laughed when she saw Lancelot serving them breakfast. “What’s this? Where you afraid I’d poison you or something if I cooked?” Beth teased.
“Now you know better than that,” Lucas snarled and scooped her up in a bear hug. “Morning pretty. We knew Lancelot was a good friend and we know for certain he will not betray you. He is here to stay. Now sit and eat. We have plans,” Lucas said, pushing her towards the breakfast barstool where Lancelot put a plate of hot food in front of her.
“I’m sorry about Avril. I know you considered him a friend, but I am here if you ever want to talk. I’ve been told you love to cook. So maybe you’d like to work with me since it’s only me in the kitchen?” he asked, and she smiled.
“Thank you.” Beth patted his arm. “All of you, and I’m going to take you up on that cooking. You can teach me that recipe for your breakfast casserole and I’ll make you a peanut butter cheesecake to satisfy any sweet tooth,” Beth stated.
“Deal, when you are ready, come find me. Now eat,” he said placing a glass of juice next to her coffee cup.
He didn’t have to ask her twice. Taking a bite of the casserole and moaning, she said, “Damn, this is good.” She took a drink of her coffee and looked around the table at her men. “So spill. Where are we going? I thought we were here for good.”
“We are, but trust us, we don’t want to ignore this. We are all going and it will be quick. No one will know we’re coming until we are there and once there, a shield will be put on the place while we are there. No one will be able to call out or go anywhere until we leave and even then I’ll know if our visit is reported to our enemy,” Lucas said, taking a drink of his coffee. It was one of the things Lucas had started drinking for the first time from her very own cup when they had met.
“How are you going to get us all there and back? I mean Edward can do somethings, but this too?” she asked stuffing her mouth.
“I have no problem with this. Why would I even advertise my gifts? Just because you don’t see me doing things, doesn’t mean I can’t do them, Little Witch,” Edward said, leaning over and kissing her cheek.
“Really? Well, that’s good to know.” For the next 15 minutes Lucas and her men spoke of adding more houses around to bring more people over slowly as they waited for her to finish her meal. Oh, she had caught them all watching her and waiting. They were like a bunch of kids waiting for the surprise.
“Okay, I’m done. Now where are we going?” She took a sip of her coffee and each of them smiled, winking at Lancelot.
“We’ll be back in about an hour.” Lucas stood and stretched. “The area is clear. Are we ready?”
Edward put his hand on Dred and Rock disappearing from the room. “Come, My Heart,” Lucas said, holding out his arm.
Beth smiled up at him as she stepped into Lucas’ arms. “I’m ready for my surprise even though you didn’t have to do this. I would have been happy just spending some alone time with all of you.”
“And we will do that, but this can’t wait,” Lucas held her tight. One minute they were in their new home and the next they were in some kind of old school house. Dred, Edward and Rock were talking with a man when they appeared. “Everything is locked down.”
The man Edward had been talking too smiled at her and bowed his head. “If you’ll follow me, please. It’s early. Most of the children are eating breakfast as we speak,” the man said. Beth got the feeling he was one of those snobs the way he moved and kissed Edward’s ass, but she followed him out into the hallway.
Lucas and Edward both walked beside her while Dred took the front and Rock took the rear as they followed the man. “Children?” she asked.
“Since the castle is not safe right now, I had the children brought here to this safe house. Many have volunteered to help with the children until they can be brought back, but now that we have a safe place, there is no sense in us waiting.”
They stepped into the small cafeteria where over 100 children talked and ate. Tears filled her eyes at the thought of them all alone, their families gone. “God, Edward I want to take them all and this is more than just the 35 from the sheet,” she whispered and moved away from the men.
She knew her heart would lead her to the right child, the one or two who were meant for them to love. Not to replace the children she’d lost, but to help fill the gap in their hearts. Even in their current state of homelessness, the children were talking and some were laughing. Beth moved up and down the rows till she noticed off to the left a boy sitting by himself in the corner of the room, picking at his food.
He had dark red hair and a bandage across his cheek. Slowly moving up next to him, Beth slid down the wall and joined him on the floor, crossing her legs. “Is the food bad? I can try and cook you something, if you would like?” she asked waiting.
The boy was about four or five years old. “You would cook for me?” he asked looking up at her. He had dark green eyes and Beth knew right then and there he was the one she wanted. “Of course I’d cook for you. My name is Beth Vanderson. Why are you sitting here all alone?”
“Would you cook for my sister? They won’t let me see her. Could you tell them to let me see her? I promised my Dad I’d take care of her.” Tears filled the boy’s eyes. “I’m all she has left.”
“Well then, why don’t we go see if we can find her?” Beth stood and held out her hand, waiting to see if the child would trust her.
With a clank the child dropped his tray of food and jumped up. “My name is Teddy. Do you really think we can find her?” the boy asked, placing his smaller hand into hers, but he stepped back when Lucas and Edward moved forward.
“Don’t be frightened. You see the four of them are my husbands and if anyone can find your sister, it would be them.” She leaned down and pretended to whisper in his ear. “You see Lucas and Edward claim to be Kings and have all these men kind of afraid of them.”
“Really?” Teddy looked at them like he wasn’t sure what to believe until Lucas knelt down in front of him and smiled.
“So our wife told you our secret. She never could keep one. You want to see your little sister?” Lucas asked and Teddy nodded, squeezing her hand tighter.
“Well then let’s see if we can find her. What’s her name?” Lucas asked, slowly standing, trying not to scare the boy with his height.
“Betsy. I told them I had to take care of her, but they took her away.” His little voice cracked as did Beth’s heart as she watched the child try and hold back the tears.
* * *
It didn’t take as long as they had thought. The look on Beth’s face as she tried to assure the child attached to her hand had said it all. Teddy and his sister Betsy were now part of their family. Edward glanced over at Samuel. “Do you have his sister somewhere?”
“Yes, she was hurt, but is healed now. Sir, you do realize their family comes from the Zerons. Surely there are other children here that are far more suited for you and your family.” The man pointed to the other children around them, ignoring the hiss from their wife. Before he could say anything, their Little Witch let loose a little of her power, sending Samuel back on his ass. The room quieted down and all the children were now watching them.
“No matter what their position in life, these are children, period. Teddy and his sister will be coming with us and if I even hear about any child being treated differently because they do not have a station in life at this minute, I will personally see to it that you are knocked down to the lowest station possible for your kind. Now, take us to Betsy,” Beth ordered, surprising everyone.
Edward’s cock hardened, the way she protected the small children had him wanting to take her to the nearest room and claim her again.
“Bravo sister! It’s about time some of these old idiots be put in t
heir place,” Claire shouted from across the room and punched the air making all the children smile.
He moaned and looked at Lucas. “You had them meet us here?” Edward shook his head as Beth hugged Claire, but refused to release Teddy’s hand. Claire knelt down next to the boy.
“You are a very lucky little boy. You and your sister will be safe now. I’m going to be your Aunt Claire and those three mugs behind me are your uncles now.”
“Claire, we haven’t informed the boy yet,” Dred said pulling Claire back. “Why don’t you and your men wait for us in the hallway?”
She shook her head. “No, we’re going to take a child with us.” She glanced back at the three men who nodded. “If you five can do this, so can we. Plus look at them Dred, How can I turn away from them? Maybe I can save them from the monsters out there.” Claire glanced away from them all, looking at the children
Dred wrapped his arms around his sister, hugging her. “You, my sister, are amazing, nothing like our parents. Love you.” Dred kissed the top of her head, but Edward had seen the way she had flinched and so had her brother. “Go while we find Betsy.”
“Teddy, let’s go get your sister. Then we’ll have a nice talk,” Beth said, but Teddy frowned and pulled on her arm.
“You really want to take my sister and me? You want to adopt us both?” he asked looking up at her.
“Yes, Teddy. I would love for you and your sister to come to our new home. It’s safe and I need someone to go exploring with. You see?” She looked around and bent down to whisper in his ear. “I haven’t even been outside where we live now and I know for sure there are some neat things to explore. I know I’ll never take your Mommy’s place and my husbands can never take your father’s place, but we would love for you to become part of our family. Would that be okay with you?” Beth asked waiting.
He looked all around him and whispered. “I would have four daddies?”
Edward hid the smile and knelt next to Beth. “Yes, there will be one of us with you at all times. You will never be without a parent again.”
The small boy turned and wrapped his arms around Beth’s neck, crawling into her lap. “Daddy said we’d have a new family. Thank you for finding us.”
Taking a deep breath, Edward helped Beth stand and turned to Samuel. “Move it, and Samuel you don’t have to worry about being placed at the bottom of the ladder. You’ll be dead if any of these children are ever hurt, but not to worry Trisha will be here in the morning to take your place. You will report to my father. Let him decide where to put you. Now move!” Edward snapped.
The man in question jumped and ran out of the room. “He really is King, isn’t he?” Edward heard Teddy ask Beth.
“Yes I am, but not to worry. To you I’m just going to be your father. Is that okay?” Edward turned and looked at the boy as they followed the man out of the room.
Teddy nodded. “Are they your pets?” Teddy pointed to Zero, Deception and Masters.
All three of them snorted, but kept moving ahead of them, watching. “No Teddy, there are what we call Guardians. They protect us. Zero is on the left.” Edward pointed to the female. “She is mated to the one in the middle called Deception and that one is called Masters.” Edward pointed. “Lucas, Beth and I each have one.”
The boy frowned and glanced behind them. “Will I have one or my sister? Why don’t they have one?” The smart boy pointed to Dred and Rock.
“With Guardians, we don’t pick them, they pick us. Maybe one day you will have one, but not to worry, all three of them would protect you if needed. Tell me how is it you know so much?” Beth asked picking up his thoughts. Lucas glanced at the boy and nodded.
The boy grinned. “Mommy and Daddy always said I was their little genius, but they didn’t want others to know. They told me I would be taken away if others knew how smart I was.” Teddy looked at him. “You won’t let them take me?”
“No one is going to take you anywhere.” Edward walked ahead of Beth and Teddy into the room where Samuel had gone. A small nursery with over 20 cribs filled the room. A woman came over to them holding a small bundle. She was wrapped up in a blanket, but her eyes were wide open. They were the same color as Teddy’s. As soon as Teddy saw his sister and she saw him, he held out his hand and the little girl reached for him, putting her hand into his.
“Both children are more special than their parents realized. Some are born with more gifts and it is obvious these two are well advanced. They are very lucky we have found them,” Lucas sent to him as he took the small girl into his arms.
“She is beautiful and it seems Betsy will be just like her brother,” Edward said, winking at the boy who grinned. “Come, it’s time to go home.” Edward tuned and walked out the door with the little girl.
“Dred, did you get their belongings?” Edward asked as soon as they stepped into the hallway.
“Yes, Lucas has sent them to the house. He’s with Claire’s mates now,” Dred stated and rolled his eyes when his sister came to his side, glaring at him. In her arms was another little boy about Teddy’s age.
“Yes, and I don’t appreciate having to be scanned like that. I’m your damn sister,” she said, trying not to upset the child she was holding. “But I will forgive you all since I know what Avril’s betrayal did to all of you.”
She reached over and squeezed Beth’s arm. “This is Ricky. He’ll be living with us now. We’re going back with you Beth.”
“What? Really?” Beth glanced at him and he nodded. “We’ve arranged for Claire and her husbands to join us. They know once they come with us, they will not be able to come back until Konrad is found. We will slowly make this place ours, Little Witch. I’m sorry we can’t live here, but when Konrad is caught, we will bring you back whenever you want to.” Edward shifted the baby and Beth smiled.
“Do you want me to take her? And Edward I know what has to be done.” Beth looked at Claire. “You don’t have to do this, Claire. You’ll be cut off from everyone. We don’t know when things will change.”
Never had he been more proud, putting Claire and her family first. Edward leaned over and kissed the side of her cheek. “You are a true Queen, my love,” he said.
“That she is and we are sure. Plus, your men will have someone else to bounce things off of. A fresh pair of eyes always helps and right now you five need us. It’s hard to find friends who aren’t jealous or envious, if you know what I mean.” She looked at him quickly, then back to Beth.
“Oh yeah, I know what you mean. Then I’m glad you’re coming. We can go exploring our new home together.” Beth said as Lucas came around the corner with Claire’s husbands.
“There will be no exploring unless one of us is with you. Now, are we ready?” Edward nodded.
“Let’s get everyone settled. Then we can start planning.” Lucas glanced at Claire and nodded to her.
Chapter Fourteen
The baby girl cooed and seemed to laugh as Teddy talked to his baby sister. Beth glanced around the room and smiled again. Lucas had gone beyond outfitting Betsy’s bedroom. The room was pink and had everything that a baby would need. She had even loved the giant teddy bear in the corner of the room. After bathing and feeding Betsy, Beth watched Teddy sit next to the crib just talking away to her as if comforting her while she fell asleep.
As soon as her eyes closed, Teddy glanced back at her and grinned. “She’s asleep now,” he whispered coming to Beth’s side.
“Are you ready to see your room now?” Beth asked, holding her hand out to her little man, Teddy.
He smiled. “Can we eat first? I’m hungry now.”
She laughed and scooped him up in her arms. “Of course. I know for a fact Lancelot keeps snacks in the fridge that we can eat.” Beth turned to see Dred there leaning against the wall.
“So, did you get the little one all settled in?” Dred asked moving away from the wall and leaning over to kiss her cheek.
“Betsy was tired, but was afraid to sleep in that place. But now
she knows we’re safe and will sleep well,” Teddy informed them.
“How do you know she was afraid to sleep? She doesn’t talk yet, Teddy,” Dred asked walking with them into the kitchen.
Teddy glanced around the kitchen seeing Lancelot, Lucas and Edward sitting at the table and seemed to relax in her arms. “When we touch, we can talk to each other. Betsy and I both know you were meant to be our parents, but we still miss our other ones. My sister and I are not the only ones who are special. There are others out there. They are searching for us. Like they are searching for you,” Teddy’s stare was that of a very intense older man.
“Who is searching for you Teddy? And why do they want you?” She kissed the top of his head. He was so serious it was scaring her.
“My father used to read me a story every night till I knew the story myself. But can we eat before I tell you the story?” the little boy peaked out and Beth smiled.
“Of course. Lancelot, what do we have to snack on for a smart little boy with a tale to tell us?” Beth asked and tickled Teddy’s tummy making him giggle as she moved the table.
Lucas reached down and grabbed a booster chair, placing it on one of the chairs. “Here we go. A chair for a future King.” Lucas bowed to Teddy who giggled.
“I’m not going to be King,” he giggled. “I’m going to be a clan leader of the North Sector on this planet,” Teddy said proudly patting his chest. “I want to stay close to my new Mommy and Betsy will to. I can’t see who she’ll be mated to, but she’ll be close.”
Edward glanced at her, then at Teddy. “You get glimpses of the future, don’t you?” Edward asked.
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