Malakai (The Stone Society Book 13)

by Faith Gibson

  When they arrived in the city, Kai had driven Josie by their house at her request. Her eyes filled with tears as Kai pulled the Jeep to a stop in front of the rubble. She could only imagine how the others felt. Josie had spent days here while the others had lost the place they’d spent months and years. At least they all had somewhere to land with so many of the Clan opening their homes.

  Josie had called her mom as soon as they got home with promises to visit soon. Being around Lani had been wonderful and bittersweet at the same time. The two mothers were completely different yet alike in their capacity to love. Josie didn’t tell her mom about the plane going down. She didn’t want to upset her, but more than that, she didn’t want to have to explain the details surrounding the ordeal. Not that she could have. In mating with Malakai, Josie had taken on a life filled with secrets. A whole new world had opened up. One filled with shifters. Friends. Family. Things Josie never knew to miss but something she couldn’t imagine living without.

  In the few days she had been gone from the city, Josie had become a new woman. Stronger. More self-assured. A woman who had the voices of the Sevens reminding her how special she was. The voice of a beast reminding her how strong she was. The voice of a Gargoyle reminding her how precious, desired, and loved she was. Josie Pierson was no longer second best.

  As she stood in the living room of her apartment, she asked, “How long do you think it’ll take to rebuild our home?”

  Kai sat on the sofa and pulled Josie down onto his lap. “A few months at least. The destruction will have to be cleared away so the remaining structure can be inspected, but Rafael has a good team in place. The original builders are still in the area, so they should be able to get it back to rights with little trouble.”

  “Are they the same ones who built the other houses? Because I was thinking, Sophia and Nik should probably be first on the list since they’re having a baby. Then Rafael and Kaya need their sanctuary for her to recover. As much as I want to have our home back, I think we should be patient since we have the apartment. Plus, we’re going to be working on the training center, and that’ll take up a lot of time.”

  “Such a good heart,” Kai muttered against her neck. “And I agree. There’s only one thing I want to change here, and that’s the bed. I want to get a king-sized one for our bedroom.” Kai toyed with the knot of Josie’s lavalava. His family had sent all the mates home with several of the garments in various colors, but Josie’s favorite would always be the one she wore in their mating ceremony.

  They spent the first few days alternating between making love, talking, sleeping, and helping Henry and Kili get settled. Josie talked to her mom a couple times, and each time the conversation turned to Josie returning to her job. It hadn’t taken long for things to go to hell at the law firm.

  A couple days after they got home, a package arrived in the mail from Samoa. One of Kai’s family had taken pictures of the ceremony and had sent copies to them along with a flash drive filled with photos of both Clans together. Josie had her favorite blown up and framed. It was the two of them kissing after the ceremony. Ariki stood off to one side, his face full of pride, while his brothers looked on with smiles. Her headpiece along with Kai’s golden leaves were displayed on a table underneath the picture. She couldn’t wait until the arrangement had its special place of prominence in their home once it was rebuilt. Josie knew if she and Kai ever had a wedding, it wouldn’t hold a candle to the mating ceremony.

  They were getting ready to meet Henry, Kili, and several other couples at Frey’s home for a barbecue when someone pounded on the door. Josie was fixing her hair in a messy updo that Kai loved, since it gave him access to her neck. A voice she hadn’t expected boomed through the apartment when Kai opened the door.

  “Josie, you—”

  Josie rolled her eyes and padded barefoot into the living room. “Presley,” she said in her best bored tone.

  “What the hell are you wearing?” Presley looked Josie over from her messy do to her bare feet.

  “A lavalava. What are you doing here?” Josie didn’t want to be petty and throw her relationship with Kai in her sister’s face. Wait, yeah, she kind of did. Kai must have read her mind because he strode over to her and kissed her soundly.

  Pressing their foreheads together, he said, “I’m going to get ready.” Kai then kissed her temple and left the room, completely ignoring Presley.

  Josie watched him walk away because she could. When she looked back at her sister, she asked, “What do you want?”

  Presley noticed the photo and stalked over for a better look “What is this?” she asked, pointing to the headpiece.

  Josie joined her to make sure Presley didn’t touch anything. “If you notice in the picture, this is my ceremonial crown, and these are Kai’s neck and leg pieces. That is his father, Ariki, and those are his brothers.”

  “His father looks important. Like a—”

  “King? That’s because he is.” Josie stepped between Presley and the photo. “We’re just on our way out, so I’ll ask one more time; why are you here?”

  Presley opened her moth then shut it. Josie almost laughed because it was rare for her sister to be at a loss for words. Kai returned, carrying Josie’s sandals. He knelt in front of her and slipped them on her feet. When he brushed his fingers across her ankles, Josie glanced down. Her breath caught at the love staring back at her. Kai’s phone pinged with a text, interrupting the moment. He stood and wedged his phone from his pocket. When he read the message, Kai laughed.

  “That was Trevor. Again. Making sure we’re bringing the keke fa’i.”

  “I guess it’s a good thing we made two of them. I can see him hiding the one so he can take it home with him.”

  “What’s a keke fa’i?” Presley asked.

  “Cake,” they responded in unison.

  Presley studied the two of them, and if Josie hadn’t witnessed the change for herself, she never would have believed it. Presley smiled, and it was genuine. “Uh, the reason I stopped by is to tell you I appreciate all your hard work. Dad and I went over all your notes, so when we hire your replacement, they’ll be able to jump right in where you left off. Anyway, have fun at your… wherever it is you’re going.” Presley walked to the door, and when she turned, she told Kai, “Welcome to the family. I’ll see you both Sunday for dinner.”

  When the door closed, Josie muttered, “Huh.” There really wasn’t anything else to say. Smiling up at Kai, she asked, “Ready?”

  “Ready, Sunshine.”

  With two banana cakes in hand, they headed out to join her other family for dinner.

  Epilogue

  June 2050

  Malakai held his breath as the announcer called out the judges’ decisions.

  “By unanimous vote, the winner of the welterweight title is, for Team Palamo, King – the Cobra – Massey!”

  The shouts from the crowd were deafening. The title bout had been fought in New Atlanta’s arena instead of an out-of-town venue, and approximately thirty of the Stone Society along with Kai’s parents and several members of his family were in the crowd, cheering on Kai’s star fighter. Kingston had been the first to sign up to train under Malakai, and less than two years later, had won their first title match. When the young man walked through the door of the training center, Malakai knew there was something special about the kid. And King had been a kid. Barely eighteen, he’d come in a broken young man from an abusive home life. Kai and Josie became his family, and after a few months of training and friendship from Kai and love and nurturing from Josie, King transformed before their eyes. Palamo Training had several excellent fighters, but King had worked his ass off, earning the title.

  After an hour of interviews and photos, the three of them headed home where their family waited with a celebration fit for a king. Yes, there were plenty of jokes made, but Kingston took them in stride. Kai and Josie hadn’t been able to get back to the island, so his parents had come to them four times. Each time, they b
rought different grandkids to get a look at the big city.

  When they arrived home, the party out by the pool was in full swing. When they walked out the French doors, everyone chanted, “Cobra, Cobra, Cobra.”

  King’s smile was brighter than Kai’s beloved sunrise. That is until the young man walked down the steps, faltering. He shook his head as he reached for something to steady him.

  Kai rushed to steady King. “Are you okay?”

  “Yeah, just got a little lightheaded.” When he straightened, King sucked in a breath. “Who is that?” he asked, staring at Henry’s sister, Samaria.

  Josie laughed, and Kai grinned at his mate. They had joked about adopting Kingston, but if Kai’s gut was correct, King was going to become part of the family for real. Samaria strode up to King and introduced herself, and just like that, there was more than a title to celebrate.

  As the two families partied and mingled as one, Kai wrapped his arms around his mate from behind, his hands splayed across her round belly. It had taken almost a year for all their homes to be rebuilt, but the Clan had become closer than ever. Rafael took Kaya, Sebastian, and Priscilla to the Italian villa to give Kaya time to heal. Nik and Sophia moved in with Julian and Katherine. Jasper and Trevor ended up staying with Frey and Abbi.

  Henry settled into his job with Julian. It didn’t take long for Julian to trust Henry with the lab. With a baby on the way, Jules was more than happy to let Henry focus on everything computer-related while Julian focused on Katherine. It took him longer to get over being bested by Hagen and the unknown hacker, but Katherine and little Carleigh helped.

  Trevor, whose journals had been found under the rubble of his and Jasper’s home, confronted Jonas about the redhead clones. Jonas denied having anything to do with the Tessa look-alikes, but he admitted to working with Craven before he cloned Tessa. The need to find Craven moved to the top of the Clan’s list.

  Several of Kai’s nieces and nephews had chosen to remain in New Atlanta after visiting, and so had those of Rafael’s family who had been thinking of moving. Josie’s relationship with her own family had improved somewhat, and they joined her parents for dinner once a month.

  Ariki and Lani made their way through the crowd. Lani smiled at Kai’s protective hold on his unborn son. “Have you chosen a name?”

  “I have.”

  Josie turned her head, frowning up at him. “You have?”

  “Yes, Sunshine. I have. Our firstborn will carry both our names. Joseph Manaia Palamo has a nice ring to it, don’t you think?”

  Josie’s face softened. “It’s perfect.”

  “Just like his mama.” Kai turned his mate in his arms and began swaying to the music. Ariki and Lani joined them. Just as Malakai had promised, he danced for Josie anytime she requested, which was often. Considering how much it turned her on to watch, Kai had no problem moving sensually to a slow song or amping it up to perform a livelier, Samoan dance. When the music changed to rumbling drumbeats, Ariki tapped Kai in the shoulder. “Showtime.”

  The crowd moved back, giving Kai and his male family members room to move. They weren’t dressed in their lavalava, but that didn’t matter. It was the movements, the chanting, and the shouts that called to the gods.

  Josie stood transfixed as she did every single time he danced for her. The fire in her eyes let him know she was turned on, and they were lit with literal flames. The Auspice of Sevens had attached itself to his mate when he attacked Drago, making her special in her own right. Malakai no longer thought of it as a curse. How could he when it saved his Sunshine’s life? Her voice called out to him in his mind.

  Do it.

  Kai winked at her silent request and called forth his element. Flames licked at his palms, and as Kai swirled his arms, the fire lit up the night. Everyone yelled and applauded the spectacle, but it only mattered that it made his mate happy. A happy Josie made for a happy Kai, and he would spend every day of their long lives making sure the fire never went out.

  A Note from The Author

  Wow. So, Malakai didn’t come out the way I originally intended, but that’s a great thing! I love when characters whisper to me, offering new directions to take the stories. And boy, did they. There’s a new threat, and we’re going to learn about them in the next book. Brynna and Travis will finally get their story. I also have a compilation planned featuring Remy, Gabriel, and Ezekiel. After that, we’ll get Lachlan and Hunter’s book. But first, join Brynna and Travis as we travel back to Norway and visit with Urijah and Banyan.

  Brynna - A Stone Society Novella

  Coming Soon

  Starting a Ryot

  The Hounds of Zeus MC Book 3

  About the Author

  Multi-genre author Faith Gibson began writing in high school, and through the years, penned many stories and poems. As her dreams continued getting crazier than the one before, she decided to keep a dream journal. Many of these nighttime escapades have led to a line, a chapter, or even a complete story.

  “Love is love, and there’s not enough love in the world.” This belief she holds strongly, and it's the prevailing theme in her works, all of which come with a happy ending.

  Faith believes her purpose in life is to entertain the masses, even if it’s one person at a time. Living just outside of Nashville, Tennessee, with the love of her life and her pit bull pup, when she’s not hard at work writing her next adventure, she can often be found playing trivia while enjoying craft beer, listening to live music, or off on an adventure of her own.

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  Newsletter

  Other Works by Faith Gibson

  The Stone Society Series

  Rafael

  Gregor

  Dante

  Frey

  Nikolas

  Jasper

  Sixx

  Sin

  Jonas – A Stone Society Novella

  Julian

  Urijah

  Dane – A Stone Society Novella

  Tamian

  Deacon

  Slade – A Stone Society Novella

  The Hounds of Zeus MC

  Waging War

  Double the Mayhem

  The Music Within Series - MM

  Deliver Me

  Release Me

  Finding Me

  Finding Us – A Music Within short story

  Tap Dancing with the Devil – Standalone MF Suspense

  The Samuel Dexter Books - MM

  The Ghost in the Mirror

  The Ghost in the Water

  The Ghost in the Desert – Prequel Short Story

  The Guardians of Truth – YA Fantasy (writing as Andi Copeland)

  Oracle

  Seeker