Against All Odds (Kaliss Book 3)

by Cree Storm

  “You know, I’ve always hated when you and Bri talked about us as if we weren’t even in the same room,” the tiniest little creature bitched.

  “Well, Arlo, if you were at home where you belong, you wouldn’t have to put yourself through the trauma,” Helio replied.

  “Arlo? Is that thing a boy or a girl?” Sabien asked.

  Jael replied, “I thought it was a girl, with its long hair, delicate facial features, curvaceous body…”

  “Do its legs remind you of a cricket, just not all bendy?” Sabien asked.

  “You two asshats know that I can hear you, right?” Arlo snapped.

  Jael cleared his throat. “Sorry. We were…”

  “Getting ready to have your asses handed to you. Helio isn’t the only one that can explode balls in this room. With a twitch of my hair I can do far worse if I choose.”

  “Arlo, I will rip your legs off and beat you with them if you threaten my mates one more time,” Helio snarled, his wings fluttering so fast, Jael could feel a breeze in the room.

  Sabien once again leaned into Jael, whispering, “Damn, that really turned me on.”

  “Oh yeah,” Jael whispered back, trying to see if there was any way he could get Helio and Sabien out of this room and onto a flat surface as fast as possible.

  Arlo’s jaw tightened. “They think I’m a fucking girl, Helio. I have a right to defend my honor.”

  “We all know you have no honor, Arlo,” a catlike creature said.

  “Fuck you too, Ringo,” Arlo snapped.

  Ringo, a large looking house cat with wings, paws like a Santorini fox and the tiniest antlers, snapped, “Bite me, Arlo. You almost got me killed.”

  “It was a little water, Ringo, and three centuries ago. Get over it already,” Arlo snapped.

  “You pushed me into the water rapids of honesty, Arlo. Mangus damn near ate me when I told him he was getting fat,” Ringo hissed.

  The other creature that reminded Jael of a fuzzy penguin with feathery arm like wings and a gargoyle like face, laughed. “Which you would have thought he wouldn’t have tried since he really is getting fat.”

  “Not funny, Kilo. I could have died,” Ringo said, with what Jael could only consider a pout.

  “But you didn’t, now all of you hush. I have more important things to do than to deal with the three of you. Gods, what the hell were you guys thinking coming here?” Helio asked, as he began to pace, his wings fluttering so fast Jael thought they might fall off.

  Jael and Sabien had given their mate space when Briar had shown up with the creatures before them now. However, his distress was too much for them to stand around and do nothing.

  Making their way to Helio, Jael took the front as Sabien came up from behind, both men holding their adorable little mate in a Helio sandwich. Helio immediately leaned into Jael’s chest whispering, “Gods, I needed this.”

  “We’re always here for you, sweet mate. Relax and know that everything is going to be fine,” Sabien whispered, as he kissed the top of Helio’s head.

  “How am I supposed to keep them safe, take care of Kondra, and help find the others? I’m one little butterfly dragon. I know I’m strong, but it isn’t like I can split myself into multiple people. What if I’m off looking for the others and something happens to these three, or if I’m here taking care of Kondra while bad things happen to my other friends. Or…”

  Jael leaned in and kissed Helio for all he was worth. Helio seemed to melt into Jael. The feeling of his mate in his arms, submitting to Jael’s ministrations was beyond wonderful. Gods, he could kiss this man for hours and never tire of it.

  Helio opened to Jael and the kiss deepened. It was the sounds of whistles and clapping that had him pulling back to see Arlo waving his hand in front of his face as the others looked on as if they were watching live porn. “And just think, he’s all mine and Sabien’s.”

  “Lucky fuck,” Arlo muttered.

  “That shit was hot as hell,” Ringo muttered.

  As Kilo waddled forward, he shifted into human form and surprisingly, he was completely dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, but no shoes. He wasn’t very tall, maybe five-five or five-six and shockingly muscular, but Jael wouldn’t put him past one sixty or so. His hair was a fascinating long turquoise color, and his eyes had Jael wanting to put Helio behind him. They were a dark abyss black. There was absolutely no color in them whatsoever. It was seriously creepy and reminded Jael of some demons he had fought a few times in his life.

  However, the look of concern Kilo gave to Helio had Jael relaxing a tad. Besides, if this man tried anything, Jael knew he and Sabien would protect their mate with their very lives.

  “Helio, we’re sorry if our presence upsets you. It was not our intention to make things difficult for you. When you and Briar disappeared, we all became very concerned. We could feel your distress and when we tried to get help from the goddess, she just told us we all had our own destinies and you and Briar must face yours, just as we would in time. Lochas was never a patient one and he has always been our protector. Yet, after he left, again we felt his distress, so the others went to try and find him as well as you and Briar. When Briar showed up telling us he had found Kondra and he… he was hurt... we couldn’t stay in safety and comfort. We had to come and help him… help you,” Kilo explained.

  Another man with long, white with brown streaked hair appeared out of thin air. He was a couple of inches below six feet and had to be around one seventy five. His upper body was fairly muscular.

  Helio gasped and pulled from Jael and Sabien, rushing to the man, taking him into a very familiar hug. “Digi! Oh Gods, I’ve missed you.”

  Jael felt his fangs drop as he began to hiss, then noticed Sabien was as well.

  Digi pulled back saying, “I think those two don’t like me touching you, Heal.”

  Helio turned, his lips pursed and brows drawn into a deep “V”. “Well, they need to get over it.”

  Helio must have seen he and Sabien were not going to calm, because he sighed and took one step away from Digi, saying, “Guys, you are my mates and I don’t stray. This is Digi. He is one of mine and Briar’s best friends.”

  “You can say that again. In Saturnalia you practically needed a magic spell to separate the three of them,” Arlo muttered.

  “And you were the one to provide it, Ar,” Digi muttered.

  Shrugging, Arlo replied, “An Amadra’s gotta do something to have fun in the happiest place above earth.”

  “Is he saying Saturnalia is like Disneyland?” Sabien whispered to Jael.

  Jael snorted and Helio shook his head, saying, “Saturnalia is a beautiful place to be, but it’s also…”

  “Boring as hell.”

  “Arlo, watch your tone,” Kilo admonished.

  Ringo shook his head, saying, “You’re just still pissed that the Goddess took your only friend back to the human realm.”

  “Ringo, that’s mean. Arlo is our friend, he’s just the prickly, annoying one,” Digi stated.

  “I resemble that,” Arlo said, with a hoity lift of his chin.

  Digi looked at Helio, saying, “Helio, you and Briar have always taken things on yourselves and you don’t have to. We want to help.”

  Helio quickly replied, “We were the first, Digi. It just seems…”

  “The first what?” Jael asked, interrupting.

  Helio turned to him and Sabien. “The first of the goddess Cali’s special creations.”

  “Who was the second?” Sabien asked.

  Helio thought a minute, then said, “It was us, then the Santorini fox, Lemux…”

  Raising his hand, Digi said, “The Harkey was next.”

  “Then the Amadra,” Arlo said with pride.

  Ringo shifted into a dark-haired man, the same height as Kilo, but about ten pounds lighter, saying, “Then she felt she needed to tweak her creations into perfection and the Skaja were born… well, not literally born, but you get the idea.”

  “If that’s
the case, then she knew she had really fucked up so the Gogabi were made,” Kilo said with a wide grin.

  “Kiss my ass, Kilo,” Ringo said with a snort.

  “I’d get hair between my teeth and it’s too much of a bitch to get out,” Kilo responded with a laugh.

  “How long have you all known each other?” Sabien asked.

  Digi tilted his head slightly, saying, “All our lives. We have spent millennia in Saturnalia together.”

  “Except when the goddess would come for us for something she might need,” Arlo stated.

  Digi nodded. “True, but she normally only called on the Santorini fox which is why we were so worried when she called on Helio and Briar. It had been too many centuries since she had called on the dragon butterflies… especially since the slaught―”

  “Digi, that’s enough,” Helio quickly said, cutting him off.

  Jael watched as Digi hugged Helio close to his side, whispering something that even with his vampire hearing he couldn’t make out. Helio nodded, kissed the man on the cheek and gave a shaky smile to Jael and Sabien.

  It was clear to see that although these men bitched at each other, they were all really close and now Jael understood why. They knew each other like true brothers would, and they fought just like families he had seen within his own coven.

  Sighing, Helio explained, “A long time ago, some of the dragon butterflies along with a few of the other special creatures of the goddess were sent to the human realm, because there was a battle between the dragons and the phoenix. They had once been allies, but because of a snake shifter…

  “Are you talking of the Shiete War?” Jael asked.

  Helio nodded. “Yes. You know of it?”

  “Of course. All Paranormals know of the war between the dragon and phoenix, but I had no idea butterfly dragons were any part of it,” Jael stated.

  “I didn’t either,” Sabien said, moving closer to him.

  Helio quickly said, “Oh, we had no part in the war itself, but we did create the magic to bring them back together… well not Briar and I. The goddess said we had another purpose. Anyway, from what was explained to us, the mage were trying to take over the paranormals since the two most powerful paranormals were at odds and not there to help them.”

  “I remember stories being told to me about this as a young child. Vampires were sent in by someone to protect the paranormals from all mage,” Sabien stated.

  Nodding, Helio said, “Yes, the butterfly dragons were to assist them, and when they were doing all they could, the Oracle foresaw the separation of the two. The imbalance would cause a rift in the paranormal world, and many would suffer and die if they were not brought back together. The dragon butterflies began to create a magic spell that would bring the dragons and phoenix together again one day, and while casting the spell the mage attacked. The other special species of the goddess fought as hard to protect the dragon butterflies, so they could complete the spell. The vampire did what they could, and when all but the vampire and butterfly dragons had fallen, the vampire vowed to protect the butterfly dragon, so they could finish the magic spell. The vampires were dying at a rapid rate protecting them, and the butterfly dragons were able to finish their spell, then they made a way for the vampire to leave and get to safety, so they could live to fight another day.”

  “You’re saying the dragon butterflies gave their lives, so that the vampire race could live?” Sabien asked, in awe.

  Nodding, Helio answered, “As the vampire gave their lives to save our kind. It is why we were created by the goddess. Our job, as her special creations, is to protect all creatures whether they be paranormal, or human.”

  Jael watched as Helio’s eyes filled with tears. “That day we lost many of our families. None of them returned to us. Discovering the Santorini fox has given Briar and I new hope that maybe… maybe not all our family is gone. Maybe they too are out there and we just don’t know it, or why none of them ever returned to us.”

  Arlo nodded, saying, “Yes, but we figure the butterfly dragons all perished and never had a chance to explain the magic spell to bring the dragon and phoenix back together.”

  “That could be why it took so long for it to happen. I’ve heard some in Crystal talking of the prophecy, and how this dragon shifter named Daytona Sutherlan and a phoenix shifter named Ethan Abruzzo were the catalysts to finally bringing the two breeds together, but it’s only been about five years since that happened,” Sabien said.

  “Everything happens in its own time, Sabien. What seems like centuries to you, are mere seconds to the gods themselves,” Ringo replied.

  “Who do we have here?” Orion asked, as he and Nelson walked into the room.

  Helio quickly introduced his friends and why they were here.

  “So you think your friends are out there being held like Kondra was?” Nelson asked.

  Nodding, Jael replied, “It seems so. We were going to take them in to see Kondra, and then try and figure out where to start looking for them.”

  Orion shook his head. “I have a better idea. Why don’t you allow us to take your friends to see Kondra and the three of you go to the suite I had Manchester prepare for you. You’ve been on the go for almost forty-eight hours and you need to rest.”

  “Or maybe… get to know each other better,” Nelson said, with a wiggle of his brows.

  “Nelson!” Helio gasped as his cheeks pinkened.

  Nelson gave Helio a wicked smile. “What? Your mates are hot. It’s about time you guys got rid of some of that tension that we can all scent when we walk into a room where you three are.”

  “What the hell are you doing looking at other men like this? You are mine!” Orion growled, bringing Nelson closer to his side.

  Nelson patted Orion’s chest. “Yes, big guy, you are my sexy as fuck mate, and in the paranormal world we may be married, but I damn sure am not buried, nor am I blind.”

  “When it comes to other men you are,” Orion said, almost looking as if he was pouting.

  Patting Orion once more, Nelson said, “How about we show Helio’s friends to Kondra’s room, and then you and I can go to our own quarters and I’ll show you just how much yours I really am.”

  Orion turned to Jael. “Go. Manchester is waiting in the lobby to show you to your suite.” Turning to the others, he said, “Let’s go, I have business to attend to.”

  “From the look of that bulge I would say it’s some seriously big business,” Arlo muttered.

  Nelson snarled, “Mine!”

  Jael watched in surprise as his Regal shivered and his eyes started to turn a deep red indicating just how much Nelson’s words affected him. Gods, he wanted that kind of bond. “Sabien, Helio, let’s get some… rest.”

  CHAPTER 10

  Sabien stood next to Jael, both staring at the California king size bed. Sabien didn’t know what Jael was thinking, but he was wondering if it was too presumptuous to think that his mates would want to jump right into a mating. Did they want to talk? Would they prefer to sleep first, and then wake up to something possibly more spontaneous? Were they even ready to make this all important step in their lives. Hell, Helio hadn’t said a word the entire way up to their suite. Huh, did it bother him that Orion and Nelson had just assumed they would share a room? Maybe they wanted to take things slow and would prefer to have separate rooms right now.

  “I’m at a loss as to what to do,” Jael admitted.

  Sabien laughed. “I would think that with as old as you are, you would know the mechanics.”

  Jael snorted, “I didn’t mean the sex aspect. I meant is this what we all want, or is it just me?”

  “Oh, I want you both more than I want my next breath. I just was thinking the same thing,” Sabien admitted.

  Jael raised a brow and pointed to his jean-covered crotch. If his bulge was any indication, the man was more than ready. Then again… “Just because you’re hard, doesn’t mean a mating is what you want, Jael. You and Helio may need more time to think about
things.”

  Jael rolled his eyes, saying, “I don’t need time, I know exactly what I want. The question is, do you want in my ass, or do you want me in yours, or maybe Helio wants to fuck one of us…”

  “Helio wants you two to stop the talking and get your damn clothes off. Time’s a wasting and I have a date with one of your cocks and both of your fangs.”

  He and Jael both turned around and Sabien damn near swallowed his tongue. Helio stood there naked, stroking his hard shaft looking simply edible.

  “So are you gonna stare at me all day, or get to stepping here? This ass isn’t going to fuck itself you know,” Helio said, as he quickly made his way to the bed and climbed on, showing off his delicate back and heavenly ass. When he lifted his knee Sabien felt the saliva building as Helio’s puckered star flashed him before disappearing when his mate lay on his back, his beautiful long magenta-colored hair fanning out over the pillow.

  Hearing a rustling sound, Sabien turned to see Jael had already kicked off his shoes, pulled off his socks, and was pulling his shirt over his shoulders. Not wanting to be left behind, Sabien quickly began to get undressed.

  By the time Sabien finished, Jael was already on the bed crawling up to Helio. Sabien gripped his hard cock in his hand and watched as Jael’s lips met Helio’s in a hot as fuck kiss. He then pulled back, kissing Helio’s neck and chest before latching onto one of Helio’s puckered stubs.

  Helio panted as he gripped Jael’s short blond hair, whispering, “Oh! Oh! Goddess, this is better than I imagined.”

  Sabien’s eyes went wide and Jael pulled off the nipple he had been assaulting, asking, “Helio, have you ever had sex before?”

  Shaking his head, Helio said, “No, but I understand the mechanics of things. I mean, you can’t sit at lunch for five seconds with Jewel and Nelson without them talking about it, and from what they say, they really, really like it.”

  A virgin? Helio was a… oh wow, that was so fucking hot and seriously scary at the same time.

  “Is this a problem?” Helio asked anxiously.

  Jael smiled at Helio, gently running his hands along Helio’s sides. “No, sweet anima. It’s just a surprise. As beautiful as you are… to be untouched is not a problem, it is a wonder and a gift.”