by Delta James
“Gods, I hope not. Did she really once hoist you off the ground by a fishing hook?”
“She did.”
“That had to hurt,” quipped Alex.
“Not nearly as much as her backside after I got down and put her over my knee.” The smile in Yutu’s voice was easy to hear. “May you be as blessed in your choice of mate as I have been in mine.”
“Yutu, let everyone know they need to be vigilant. Koto sent two goons to get Flynn. He can’t back off; his clutch would kill him.”
“What will you do?”
“Once I am sure Flynn is safely through the change, I will leave her with our people while I deal with Koto.”
“We’ll see you when you arrive. Simon happened to be here in the village and is on the plane. Your mate will be in good hands.” Simon was the clan’s doctor as had been his father before him.
“Good. I’m going to take care of these two bodies.”
“Do you think this may be the start of a war between our clan and Koto’s clutch?”
“I’m hopeful that I can keep that from happening...”
“We will fight with you, my Chieftain.”
“I know you would, but I think if I send pictures of the dead bodies along with how this came about to the Komodo ruling tribunal, I can box him in. I challenged him to single combat, and he refused. I’m hopeful that the Komodos as a whole, and perhaps even his clutch will force him to clean up his brother’s mess on his own.”
“Regardless of their decision, they will not win. We will destroy them if we have to. I’ll see you when you get here. Just try to stay out of Simon’s way.”
“What do you mean by that?”
“You forget, I had to watch Lena make the transition. I would rather face a thousand Komodos on my own than do that again. Simon had to threaten to shoot me with a tranquilizer dart before I’d let him do what he needed to help her,” Yutu said laughing.
“I’ll try, but I’m not promising anything. I’m afraid my emotions run hot where Flynn is concerned.”
“If they didn’t, she wouldn’t be your mate.”
“True enough. I’ll see you soon. And thanks for getting Josh and his family out of harm’s way.”
“It was easy enough to do. Allie is being the perfect model of a mate and the two girls seem to be enjoying themselves. I will not be surprised if the older one does not choose to embrace her Kodiak heritage,” remarked Yutu.
“Me either. But don’t say anything to Allie. She’d have a conniption fit and Josh needs to focus on healing.”
“I would never have said anything, but it was Allie who made the remark to me.”
“Huh. Who’d have thought?” Alex said before disconnecting.
Once again, Alex lowered Flynn to the ground, gratified to see the loss of blood had stopped. He made a pillow for her head out of his jacket and then used his phone to take pictures of the two dead men before wrapping each in old canvas and rope he found in the warehouse. If Simon said that Flynn was stable enough, he’d have the plane take them out over deep water and toss them into the sea. If she wasn’t, he’d wait until they got to the village and bury them.
Hearing the seaplane land on the water, he ran to the ocean-side door to the warehouse and opened it. Simon rushed in, medical bag in hand, and hurried to where Alex pointed, while Alex helped the pilot load the bodies into the back. Once that was done, he joined the doctor who was attending Flynn.
“They weren’t kidding around when they shot her,” Simon said.
“I know. How is she? What are her chances?”
“I think I’d be lying if I said they were even as good as fifty/fifty. She had to be pretty weak when you got your blood into her. Let me take a look at your arm,” he said reaching for Alex’s arm.
“My arm is fine. See to my mate.”
“Once I get her back to the compound, I can give her supportive care, but her body is either going to accept the gift or not. I will tell you this, it has already stopped the damage and begun to repair it. For what it’s worth, if you hadn’t done what you did, she would be dead. There’s no doubt in my mind about that. The rest,” he said, indicating Flynn’s trembling body, “is up to her.”
Alex lifted Flynn in his strong arms and accompanied Simon back to the plane. They strapped her onto a makeshift gurney as the plane taxied along the surface of the water before gracefully lifting off. They made a wide swing over deep water and when neither radar or scanning the area with binoculars revealed anything, Simon and Alex heaved the bodies over the side. Thirty minutes later they landed and floated up to the seaplane’s dock where several members of the clan waited with a proper litter to take Flynn to Alex’s family lodge.
“She’ll be all right there?” he asked Simon.
“Not much that I can do to help her except through IV immune suppressants, vitamins, fluids, and the like. I thought both of you would be more comfortable up at your place. I can take her to the clinic if you like...”
“No, you’re right. She’ll be more comfortable in our bed, and hers is the only comfort that counts.”
Simon laid his hand on Alex’s forearm. “I will say this again; she would be dead if you hadn’t given her your blood. That gunshot should have killed her. The fact that it didn’t is testament to her strength. And she made it through the plane ride with very little change in her vitals. Your mate is strong and wants to live. Have faith in her.”
Alex accompanied them to the lodge where he was intercepted by his two nieces.
“Why don’t you stay down here for a few minutes while we get Flynn all set up? I’ll let you know when you can come up,” said Simon.
Alex nodded.
“Uncle Alex, is that your mate?” asked Cassie.
“Is she going to be all right?” asked Lesley.
Alex smiled. He adored his brother’s children. “Yes, and yes. As soon as the doctor says it’s all right, I’ll take you up to meet her and you can help me look after her. Would you like that?”
Both little girls nodded and then giving their uncle a hug ran back outside to join the other children of the village.
“I forget how much they love it up here,” said Allie before taking his hand in hers and squeezing it reassuringly.
“She’ll be fine,” said Josh, joining them. “She’s tough. She has no choice if she’s to be mated to you.”
“Does she know you’re planning to make her your mate?” asked Allie, trying to keep her tone neutral.
“Allie, don’t start. Alex has enough on his mind.”
“Let her get it out of her system, Josh. I have told Flynn she is my mate and I turned her without asking her.”
“As she was on the brink of death, I’m willing to give you a pass on that one,” teased Allie.
Alex leaned down and kissed her cheek, “How very generous of you,” he replied, smiling. “I know you don’t always understand or agree with our ways, but I’m going to ask that you refrain from encouraging Flynn to do anything stupid. The stakes are too high right now.”
“So, you’re all right if I support dangerous behavior after you defeat Koto?” she quipped.
Alex chuckled. “Sure, as long as you’re fine with me ordering my brother to beat your ass. Are you so sure I’ll win?”
“There are two things I’ve always known about you, Alex. The first is I’ve never known anyone who could best you if it was important.”
“And the second?” he asked genuinely interested.
“That you’re a chauvinistic, arrogant sonofabitch.”
“Allie,” growled Josh at his wife.
Alex laughed. “Don’t fuss at her when she’s right, baby brother. And you were right earlier when you said Flynn would have to be tough to be mated to me.” With that, he turned and trotted up the stairs.
“You aren’t really annoyed at me, are you?” he heard Allie ask Josh.
“No, I think it helped.”
It was then he heard something he’d never thought h
e would, the sharp thwack as Josh’s hand connected with his mate’s backside... and her responding giggle. Out of sight, he leaned against the wall and took a deep breath. If Flynn was awake, he didn’t want her to see any weakness in him.
Chapter Eleven
The next week was absolute torture. Watching Flynn’s body going through a transition it was too weak to actually survive was the worst thing he’d ever been through. There was nothing he could do to help her. Simon reassured him over and over that each day Flynn didn’t die, her chances improved.
The day after he had brought Flynn to the compound, he worked with Yutu to craft a message to be delivered to the Komodo’s ruling tribunal. Yutu, the clan’s consigliere, for lack of a better term, carried the message himself and was due back today.
“Alex?” said Allie sticking her head in their room. “Yutu is back. Why don’t you go downstairs and talk to him and take a break? I know, I know, you don’t need a break. But you do. Lena knew he was coming and is downstairs making something to eat. Grab a shower and go down and join them. I’ll stay here with Flynn and tell her all the rotten things she and I can do when she’s well.”
He smiled. He had always liked Allie, but until now he had doubted that his brother was the dominant partner in their relationship. He had no such concerns now and had come to respect their partnership. Allie had been an inordinate amount of help and he was grateful.
“Thanks, Allie. I can’t thank you enough...”
“Then don’t even bother to try. That’s what families are for. Now shoo!”
Alex stood under the pulsing shower and let its hot water do what it could for the knotted muscles in his neck, shoulders, and back. Once he was clean, he dressed in jeans and a flannel shirt, not bothering with socks or shoes, and padded down the staircase.
“Yutu,” he said, extending his hand.
“Alex...”
“Before you two get started, why don’t you sit down and eat.”
Alex kept himself from growling, but only barely.
“Lena is right,” said Yutu. “And I bring good news; Koto is on his own.”
Alex nodded as they all sat down. Josh’s children joined them and so they kept the conversation light-hearted and sent them to help Lena in the kitchen when their lunch had been consumed.
“What did they say?” asked Alex.
“I got the distinct impression that the Kotos have never been overly popular with their governing body. They were more than a bit dismayed at what had taken place and wanted me to assure you that none of it had been sanctioned. They gave me their pledge that they would not interfere, except...”
“And they were doing so well. I will not allow them to give David Koto a slap on the wrist and call it a day.”
“They don’t expect you to. Your reputation preceded my visit. Apparently, you saved the life of one of their member’s sons in a firefight. They were quick to point out, had they known, they would have stopped Henry from going hunting. It seems they felt what happened was predictable. They want no part of a war between the Komodos and the Kodiaks. They asked if you would be willing to restrict your vengeance to David Koto himself and let the clutch live. They don’t believe the others had anything to do with it and the men Koto used were mercenaries and outcasts from their society.”
“In other words, they went belly up and threw Koto under the bus,” said Josh.
Yutu nodded. “They did indeed. I told them I thought you would agree to their terms and if not, I would let them know within twenty-four hours of my returning home.”
“If I agree...”
“I need do nothing and the matter is concluded as far as they are concerned.”
“Then your work on this matter is finished,” said Alex. “Once Flynn is out of danger, I will issue Koto a formal challenge. If he refuses, I will head to Seattle and hunt him down. I mean to rip that lizard’s lungs out.”
“There’s a visual image I can’t unsee,” said Lena, returning. “If you are done, I’d like to take my mate home. It is the season, my mate had been gone for three days, and my sister is keeping our children until tomorrow morning.”
The quiet, low growl from Yutu’s throat was filled with lust and Alex waved him off.
“Thank you, Yutu, for all your help. Now, go see to your mate. I do believe she plans to have her way with you.”
“It is I who will have my way with my naughty mate for being so bold in front of our clan leader.”
Before she could do anything about it, Yutu had hoisted Lena over his shoulder and headed out of the Kingston lodge.
All alone, Josh looked at his brother. “If you’d rather, I can take care of Koto for you.”
“No, Flynn is my mate.”
“That makes her my family too. After all, Henry shooting me is what started this whole thing.”
“You stay out of it. You can serve me best by continuing to heal and remaining up here to ensure Flynn and your family’s safety.”
“What about Flynn’s brother?”
“I called him at a time he and I had pre-arranged.”
“Then I’m surprised he isn’t here.”
“I persuaded him that it was better for Flynn and to our mutual advantage if he stayed put.”
“I’m surprised he was willing to listen. Does he know about Flynn?”
“That she’s been shot and is healing, yes. The rest of it, no. I want to talk to Flynn before we tell him.”
“I don’t envy you that conversation... with either of them.”
“I will leave it up to Flynn as to how much she tells him about our kind.”
“You aren’t worried about him?”
Alex shook his head. “No. He’s an honorable guy and loves his little sister. As long as I can keep her safe and happy, I don’t think he’ll much care.”
“Good enough.”
“I want to get back up to Flynn. I know that the compound is the most secure location for her to be in. But Josh, when I take on Koto, I need to know you’ll keep her safe, regardless of what happens.”
Josh looked his brother dead in the eye. “If she is your mate, she is my family. You’re not the only Kingston that will do whatever it takes to keep his family from harm.”
Alex nodded as he headed up the stairs. He entered the room to find Allie reading to Flynn.
“She seemed upset when you first left, but once I started reading to her, she settled. I think she seems better from when I last saw her,” she said.
“I agree.”
“What did Yutu have to say?”
“Other than he planned to make up for lost time with his mate?”
Allie snorted.
“As we thought, the Komodo tribunal knew nothing about what was going on and wanted no part of a war with us. They assured Yutu that Koto acted alone and have basically sanctioned my killing him.”
Allie sighed. “There was a time I would have decried that kind of violence for any reason, but now that Koto has tried to kill people I care about, I want you to wipe his presence from this earth.”
“That’s my plan. Now, why don’t you and Josh take the girls and go do something fun. The salmon are running and there are several fish ladders. They might enjoy seeing them jumping up out of the water.”
“Would you mind if they came in to say good night to Flynn before they go to bed tonight?”
“I think that would be nice. Now, go spend some time with your family.”
Allie stood on her tiptoes and brushed her lips against his cheek. “You and Flynn are my family too.”
She squeezed his forearm reassuringly before leaving the room.
* * *
Flynn had felt the searing pain moments before crumbling to the ground, blackness overtaking her. She recalled seeing Alex’s stricken face; he’d looked frightened. She couldn’t imagine anything that could scare him. There had been pain and then peace as it felt as though her spirit relinquished its connection with her body. Then the feel of being pressed back down
into the earth and hearing a long, mournful cry. As it receded, darkness and calm overtook her again.
Curiously, on some level, Flynn knew she was dreaming. Two distinct dreams seemed to run in an endless loop, both involving being spanked and fucked by Alex. The first was a dream she was all too familiar with... the memory of their first time together in Seattle. But the second was no memory... was it a fantasy? Something she hoped would happen? A harbinger of the future?
She could feel Alex’s anger with her and could hear his angry tone, although the words were indistinct. She was naked. Flynn wondered why in all of her dreams with Alex she was always naked.
They were in her houseboat in Seattle—someplace Alex had never been. His fist tangled in her long hair and he dragged her from the door into the main lounge, sitting down on the sofa and tossing her over his hard, muscular thighs with the telltale outline of his bulging cock.
He brought his hand down on her ass with a resounding crack as it made impact. Alex spanked her with the same strength and tempo she had experienced more than once in real life. His hand covered the entire expanse of her rump in a systematic way, never landing a blow in the same spot twice, but somehow overlapping and compounding the heat and pain. She kicked her legs, trying to squirm away from him, but never seemed to get anywhere.
Over and over he swatted her backside with even more sting. As in real life, he didn’t stop until she abandoned any kind of stoic response and began to wail and beg him to stop.
Once she reached the point where she didn’t think she could take any more, he stood, unceremoniously dumping her on the floor, before fisting her hair again. He hauled her to her feet and then forced her over the end of the couch, pinning her in place while he stepped behind her. She heard his zipper being drawn down as he spread her legs, guiding his cock to tease her swollen labia before surging forward, completely engulfing himself in her warmth.
“Naughty mates get their bottoms spanked and their pussies fucked,” he said as he pumped in and out, his groin making harsh contact with her punished ass.
