Malakai (The Stone Society Book 13)

by Faith Gibson

  Kai’s beast was getting anxious. It knew Josie was fine. His father and Pono were there with her. Josie had informed him as soon as they arrived. She gave Kai a play-by-play of everything she experienced, so it felt like he was with her. Almost. Now, he and the others were minutes away from the resort, and he couldn’t wait to hold his mate. Touch her. Kiss her. The jet they were on was large enough to take all the mates on to Manono, but Kai hoped to convince Josie to fly back with his father and brother. He missed his family, so the more time he got with them, the better.

  The Big Island was stunning in its lack of progress. There were resorts spread out, but for the most part, it reminded him of home. All thoughts of natural habitats fled his mind when Frey turned their rental into the parking lot. He drove around back where Karson was waiting to let them in a side door. They followed the male up two flights of steps to the third floor where the mates were waiting. The door opened, and Sophia pushed her way through to Nikolas. The two didn’t hang around. Kai assumed they were going to one of the other rooms for privacy. Abbi and Amelia were next, rushing into Frey’s arms. Willow and Mason embraced while Kai and Jasper found Josie and Trevor. Out of all the mates to get emotional, it was Trevor who cried freely. Jasper gently led his mate from the room.

  When Josie was in his arms, Kai buried his nose in her long hair and inhaled deeply. She smelled of sunshine and sunscreen. She and some of the others had taken the kids down to the pool after breakfast, and Josie was still wearing a swimsuit under a long coverup.

  He caught his dad’s eyes over her shoulder. Instead of turning Josie loose, Malakai opened one arm, inviting his father in. Pono stepped up to his other side and wrapped his arms around Kai and Josie. The beast growled, but Josie told it to hush.

  Kai’s father and brother took a step back, and Sin was there with an outstretched hand.

  “It’s good to see you again, Brother. I’m just sorry it’s under these circumstances.”

  Kai grasped Sin’s hand and shook it. “Same here. Thank you for getting here so quickly.”

  “Eh, we’re family.”

  Kai also greeted Sixx, who said, “Tell me about the house.”

  Kai laced his fingers with Josie’s. “The explosives took out the garage, kitchen, dining room, and living room. The other end where the bedrooms are is mostly intact. I’m sorry about your car.”

  “It’s just plastic and metal, and I have another one. I don’t expect you to go through with the purchase now.”

  “No. Josie and I love that place, so I want to buy it and rebuild. She has an apartment we can live in until it’s put back to rights.”

  “If you’re sure.”

  Josie nodded. “We are. I already felt at home there. It’s where we completed the bond. It means a lot to me. To us.”

  “Then it’s yours. I’ll have an insurance adjuster come take a look at the damage. “

  “You have insurance on it?” Josie asked.

  Sixx grinned. “Just because I have more money than the gods doesn’t mean I’m not practical.”

  Isabelle joined them in the seating area, a drawing in her hands.

  “Belle, what’s wrong?” Tessa asked. Isabelle handed her the paper. “Who’s this?”

  “Rebekah. Gabriel’s mate.”

  “If Connor is seeing her, that’s good, isn’t it?”

  “I’m not sure. When I mention her to Gabriel, he insists it’s better she not see what he’s become.”

  “Shouldn’t that be her choice?” Tessa handed the picture back.

  “Maybe. But that’s not important right now. What’s the plan?”

  When Nikolas and Sophia returned to the suite, Frey set Amelia down. “Little One, please go to the bedroom with Connor.” As soon as Amelia was out of earshot, Frey sat, pulling Abbi onto his lap, his big hands bracketing their unborn baby. “The plan hasn’t changed. In fact, it’s more important than before all of you are someplace safe until we figure out what’s going on.”

  “The plane malfunction wasn’t an accident, was it?” Tessa asked.

  “No, we don’t think it was, and that poses the bigger problem. Hagen Rossum isn’t capable of something of that magnitude.”

  “You think Drago is working with someone else?” Kai asked.

  “That, or someone is playing us again.”

  “Again? Who…? Are you talking about Lachlan?” Tessa jumped up from her chair, pacing the room. “I knew Rafael should have put that bastard down.”

  Ariki stepped up behind Kai, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Who is this Lachlan? I need to know what we’re up against if I’m to protect my island.”

  Frey explained who the male was and his role in helping Alistair against the Clan.

  Ariki rubbed his chin. “I’m with Tessa. The male should have had his head removed. If he’s responsible for the engine failure on the plane, then he’s aware of where the mates were headed.”

  Pono stepped next to their father. “Let him come to the island. He won’t be leaving it with his head attached.”

  “But he’s being guarded, isn’t he?” Isabelle asked. “I thought Hunter and Carter were watching him.”

  “They are, but neither of them knows what he’s doing with the computer. With Julian in the wind, we needed someone to track the Unholy.” Frey pressed his head to Abbi’s shoulder. “I need to call Remy and have him return Lachlan to his cell. We can’t take another chance.”

  Nikolas, who was sitting next to Kai holding Sophia the same way Frey held Abbi, said, “I have a few candidates in mind to help Julian, but after what happened, I don’t want to let Sophia out of my sight. I was stupid to send her away this close to her due date.”

  Sixx leaned on the arm of the sofa next to Nikolas. “Then let me help. Give me the names, and I’ll contact them.”

  “You have your hands full building the prison. Besides, your mate is pregnant too.”

  “She isn’t due until December. She, Rocky, and Simone are heavily guarded, but as soon as Sin and I get back to Cali, we will put more protection in place. Our own prison is almost finished, and it’s already holding the few Unholy we’ve captured. They don’t need the amenities humans do. Since this is a private facility, the architectural drawings don’t show the Basement, and if we happen to be utilizing that area before the building is complete and signed off on by the various inspectors, no one needs to know. Let me do this for you.”

  Kai couldn’t help but notice Sinclair was staying out of the conversation. He would’ve thought Sin, being second oldest to Rafael, would be in on these decisions. In Kai’s family, Ariki was King, and Kai’s oldest brother, Fetu, was next in line for the throne. Ariki respected Fetu’s opinion and often looked to his son for advice. The family never made important decisions without looking to either Ariki or Fetu.

  Nikolas sighed. “I would appreciate it. Frey, I don’t think we should move the mates until Lachlan is back behind bars. If he is somehow responsible, I don’t want to risk putting them on another jet.”

  “We can always use a decoy,” Tessa said. “Not that I want to put any of the Goyles at risk, but you are practically indestructible. If we get word to Lachlan we are on the decoy plane and it is sabotaged, then we know he’s responsible.”

  “There’s only one problem with that,” Frey said. “I had Remy tell him none of you survived to gauge his reaction.”

  “Then let Remy jump for joy when you’ve realized we miraculously survived.” Tessa had stopped pacing and was now pouring herself a drink. “Whiskey?” she asked, holding the bottle out.

  “Yes, and make it a triple,” Trevor said. He and Jasper had returned in the middle of the conversation.

  “Day drinking, Nerd Boy?”

  “Pot, kettle.”

  “Yes, but I’m not going to get sloshed over one drink.”

  “You are sliding down my favorites list, Red. I deserve to get sloshed.”

  Tessa poured a hefty glass of liquor and handed it over. “Don’t be that
way, Boy Wonder. You know I love you.”

  Trevor downed the contents and hissed. “Damn, that’s good. And I love you too.”

  Tessa handed out drinks to those who wanted one. When she was finished playing bartender, she leaned against the bar, one arm around her waist, the other waving her glass to the room at large. “It was just a suggestion.”

  Sinclair finally spoke up. “And a good one. Since I was the one who sent Lachlan to the East Coast, I should be on the decoy plane.”

  Ah, now his reticence made sense. Kai would probably feel responsible too. But you never truly knew someone’s motives unless you were mates and could hear their thoughts broadcasted, the way he could hear Josie’s. He had been eavesdropping on her thoughts as they sat there, and one of those had nothing to do with what was being discussed. His Sunshine wasn’t worried about their home or Lachlan. Josie was thinking about her mother. He hugged her a little tighter, but he didn’t let her know why. He should teach her how to block her thoughts, then again, he liked knowing what she was thinking.

  “Brother—” Frey started, but Sin held up his hand.

  “No. Deep down I know he would have found a way to get to us, but I still feel like he used me to do so. Let me do this. I’ll go with Bryce, if he’s willing to put himself into the same situation as before.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Pono said. “Sorry if I’m overstepping, but Bryce has already been involved in one crash. If he’s involved in another, won’t that put too much scrutiny on the male from the humans?”

  “That’s a good point. But we need a pilot. I can fly any helicopter out there, but I’ve never flown a jet,” Frey said.

  Pono tapped his chest. “Then let me do it. Bryce can take the mates on to Manono, and I’ll fly the decoy.”

  Kai was never prouder to be a Palamo than in that moment. The Stone Society was Kai’s Clan, and because of that, his brother was willing to step in and help.

  “Are you sure?” Frey asked.

  “Of course. Kai and Josie belong to both our Clans. Besides, I haven’t had an adventure in a couple centuries.” Pono grinned, and Ariki shook his head.

  “You and your adventures. You might as well say yes, Frey. Once this one gets something in his head, there’s no changing his mind.”

  Pono clapped his hands together. “Excellent. Let’s talk logistics.”

  Frey helped Abbi to her feet, then stood and went to the door. He opened it and called Bryce into the room. While Frey and the two pilots came up with their game plan, Isabelle suggested letting the kids go swimming to get them out of the bedroom. Kai was all for it so he could admire Josie in her bathing suit. He’d just have to call on all his strength not to pop a boner.

  As he and Josie settled on loungers close to the pool’s edge, he asked, “Did all of you pack bathing suits?”

  “No. Tessa ordered them online from a local store and had them delivered.”

  “I’m glad. You look sexy, Sunshine.” Josie was wearing a one piece that hugged her curves in all the right ways.

  Josie blushed, but she didn’t tell him he was wrong. Instead, she recalled silently a conversation she and Katherine had.

  “Wow. You look great, Josie.”

  “Thanks, but I’m nothing like the rest of you.” Abbi and Sophia looked stunning in their maternity suits, while Tessa, Willow, and Katherine rocked bikinis.

  “Are you kidding? I’d give anything to have your gorgeous curves. At least you look like a woman and not a boy.”

  Josie didn’t see Katherine as a boy, but it made her realize being thin might be as daunting to someone who didn’t have Josie’s build.

  “Well, I think you look amazing.”

  Kai wished he had a swimsuit so he could get in the water with his mate. And the kids. Both were good swimmers, and Isabelle took turns tossing them in the air, letting them splash down. It did his heart good seeing Connor act his age. A child that young shouldn’t have to see the things he did in his visions.

  There were human families enjoying the pool, and Amelia was chatting up all the other kids her age. Some of the adults were nervous with all the males hanging around the patio. Kai even heard one woman ask her husband if he thought one of their group could be someone famous.

  “Doubtful. They’re probably Mafia.”

  “Don’t be silly. Mafia thugs wear suits and look like gangsters. These guys are trying to be inconspicuous.”

  If they only knew Katherine had been born into a Mafia family.

  Tessa had obviously overheard the conversation because she stood and called out, “Princess Katarina, are you comfortable? Can I get you anything?”

  The human woman’s eyes widened, and Katherine grinned and waved her hand. “I am feeling rather parched. A water, if you will.”

  Josie giggled. “She’s something else.” Josie turned toward Kai and laced their fingers. “Thank you for giving me this family. And yours. I’ve only met your father and brother, but I know I’m going to love your mom too.”

  Kai brought Josie’s hand to his lips and brushed a kiss over her knuckles. “Don’t forget my other brothers and their mates. They are just as much fun as Tessa.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Oh yes. Pono’s mate will give Tessa a run for her money. We should probably keep an eye on them if they put their heads together. Sefina even gives Pono headaches. She grew up on the island, and the two of them were destined to be together. Yes, they are mates, but that isn’t something that is usually figured out until after the transition. Sefina saw Pono and our brother Ranger wrestling one day. Pono was only eight, but he was already strong, so scrapping with the older boys was nothing new. Still, Sefina saw Ranger push Pono, and she flew at him like a banshee. It took both our mothers to pull her off Ranger. Instead of being embarrassed a female tried to take his brother down on his behalf, Pono was smitten. They’ve been thick as thieves ever since.”

  “Ranger seems an odd name for a Samoan.”

  “His real name is Rangi. Since he traveled some before he was mated, he adopted the nickname. My birth name is Manaia, but when I moved to the States, I began using Malakai. It’s less likely for someone to question where I’m from.”

  Frey stepped onto the patio and strode to his mate. Abbi was sitting on the side of the pool, her feet dangling in the water. Frey bent and picked her up, carrying her bridal-style. Abbi wrapped her arms around his neck, and Frey kissed her deeply, not caring who was watching. “Let’s go, Little One. Time for supper.”

  “Okay, Daddy.” Amelia told all her new friends she’d see them later, and when Frey remained where he was looking at each of them, that was their cue to head inside. The Gargoyles surrounded the mates and children as they went as one entity back upstairs.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Rafael placed his hand on Kaya’s hair. His heart was torn. He was sad and angry at what happened to his mate, while he also rejoiced she was alive and would eventually recover. She was in a medically induced coma to allow Jonas and all the various surgeons to operate and repair the damage while giving Kaya time to heal. It wasn’t fair to Sebastian and Priscilla for him to keep them sequestered at the hospital, but now that he knew what was happening outside, he couldn’t allow them to be anywhere other than at his side.

  Caroline was keeping Priscilla company. She had gone shopping for the three of them, bringing them clothes and toiletries as well as formula, diapers, and all the various things a baby needed. Sebastian was only missing one thing and that was his momma.

  Rafael promised both his mate and son Drago Kostas would pay for stealing their time, their home, and putting Kaya in a coma.

  On top of Drago’s treachery, the mates’ plane had been sabotaged. He didn’t question whether or not Bryce was certain that was the cause of the engine failure. The male had been the Clan’s pilot for almost four decades. Rafe was thankful Julian and Bryce had designed the ejectable pod. If the plane hadn’t been equipped as such, Rafael hated to t
hink of how the outcome would have been different. Now, if he could find his wayward cousin and help get Julian’s head on straight. Frey and Nikolas had received no answer when they called their brother. Maybe it was time for Rafe to use the King card. Julian might ignore his brothers or even his mate, but he wouldn’t disobey a direct order from Rafael. Rafe didn’t want to upset Kaya by talking to Julian about what happened because he felt she could hear him. He also didn’t want to leave her side, so he opted to try sending a text.

  Rafael: Your Clan needs you. I need you. As your cousin, I’m telling you I forgive whatever transgressions you feel you have committed. As your King, I’m ordering you to contact Frey and get back to doing what you do best, and that is helping. Too many lives are at stake, and one of these is Katherine’s.

  Julian answered immediately. Yes, my King

  Rafael’s phone had been crushed in the explosion, but he’d been able to order a new one, and the technician had recovered everything from the old one. It should have been Julian who transferred everything over. Rafe didn’t trust anyone else with his private information, but he’d had no choice. Without it, he wouldn’t have been in touch with Frey. Now that he knew Kaya was going to eventually be okay, Rafael wanted updates on what his Clan was enduring and how they were faring.

  Rafael felt Priscilla and Sebastian before he heard her footsteps. The room next to Kaya’s was as comfortable as it could be considering the circumstances. Priscilla watched over Sebastian while the baby slept, but Rafael wanted his son’s waking hours.

  “There’s your papa,” Priscilla cooed.

  Rafael smiled at the older woman when he stood to greet them both. He had offered for Priscilla to go home with Caroline, just to give her the opportunity to see something besides the bland walls of the hospital, but she refused, and Rafael loved her for it.