by Cree Storm
Heskel’s reply brought him back to the moment. “You said Lemox when you talked about your friend. As I have said, I have no idea how one of those creatures is at my coven. And what were you all doing there anyway?” Heskel ground out through clenched teeth as he took a step in one of the strange men’s direction.
Ezra cleared his throat. “How do you even know what the creature is, Heskel? I have never heard of it, have you?” He directed his question to the Scions in the room. His friends all shook their heads, their gazes focused on Heskel.
He shifted his gaze back to Heskel. “See, none of us have ever heard of them, so how do you know about them?”
Ezra saw the moment Heskel realized he was screwed. In the blink of an eye, Heskel’s fangs broke free as well as his claws, and he hissed as he pounced toward the little strange men.
He and the others reacted just as fast, but before anyone could really do anything, they all froze, including Heskel who now dangled above them in midair. Ezra noticed the little man with long robin’s egg blue hair and golden eyes stood focused on Heskel, his eyes boring into him.
“Are you doing that, little one?” Ezra asked, as he took a cautious step closer.
“Yup. This guy deserves to die for what he and his friends have done to my friends, and I won’t let him hurt anyone again,” Arlo sneered.
“Arlo, we need to get him into the cells in the dungeon and place spells on him that cannot be broken until Ezra can punish him,” Helio said softly, as he stepped up to the little guy he called Arlo.
“Tell me where they are and together we can take him there and do just that,” Arlo responded.
“Wait!” Heskel yelled. “You think by getting rid of me that everything will magically disappear and all will be just sunshine and roses? Well, you’re wrong, Ezra. This is just the beginning. They are coming for you and when they finally get you, they will kill your whole family. You, your mate, your child, your brother, and anyone else who stands by your side.”
“What brother?” Ezra asked.
Sabien quietly said, “I think he’s talking about me. It’s the same thing Vance said before he and his buddy, Marcos, attacked Jael and me in Vegas.”
Heskel laughed, “And it’s all true. You are brothers and it’s so sad that you aren’t going to have time to really get to know each other. Because, like I said, they are coming for you all and you will die.”
Ezra moved closer and gave Heskel an evil smirk. “Somehow I doubt that. I may not know everything that is going on, since I locked us all in here, so my men could rip your coven apart and find out what you’ve been up to, but somehow, I get the feeling that fate herself is showing her hand here and extending it to us.”
Heskel’s eyes went wide as he tried to fight the invisible force that was still holding him. “This was all a ruse?”
Ezra’s smirk grew bigger as he replied, “Yes, and you were the only one who had no idea. From the reports I have been given so far, I know you have committed many crimes against your own people, all punishable by death. I know about the second coven house and how you make your people live in squalor as you and your men live like kings, and that is only the tip of the iceberg. Once we crash through your firewalls, I’m confident we’ll retrieve a lot more.”
Heskel growled as spittle dripped from his fangs. His head snapped in Sabien’s direction and his eyes glowed red with rage. “I told them we should have killed you when you were a baby. You did this to me. This is all your fault. So how does it feel to know that you should have been the rightful heir as Re, but your sniveling little brother got the gig? Was this your plan all along to take over as Re? Get Ezra to trust you by coming after me, then when he trusts you, you’ll strike and take over all our people?”
“I won’t even dignify that with an answer, asshole. You deserve to die and then some for everything you have done to us, your coven, the people you had sworn to watch over and protect. I had no idea who Ezra was to me besides my Re until only minutes ago, if it is even true,” Sabien replied in a cold, deadly voice.
Ezra stepped closer again, his gaze boring into Heskel. “As Sabien has said, even if he is found to be my brother, it would make no difference in who is Re. Remember, Heskel, the position of Re is voted on by our people, it is not challenged and won in a fight like the other positions.”
Heskel returned the evil smile. “You have no idea who you are up against, Ezra. He is so much stronger and more powerful than you and has been working on this plan long before you were out of diapers. Your time is coming Ezra, mark my words,” he sneered.
“I’ve really had enough of him. He’s giving me a migraine,” Arlo bitched. “If no one is going to tell me where to put him, then I’ll just place him somewhere that no one can find him until you want to deal with him.” In an instant, Heskel disappeared. Once gone, Arlo brushed the palms of his hands together as if he had just finished a job well done.
“Um, Arlo, where did you send him?” Helio asked.
“I put him in a five by five cage made of titanium, with no lock and placed a spell on it. If anyone, and I mean anyone beside me, or you, Helio, tries to get him out, then they will both die instantly,” Arlo replied in a matter of fact voice.
“And where is this cage?” Jael asked.
Arlo gave him an evil smile as he replied, “In a place so cold and dark that the sun never shines. My goddess will watch over him until either me or Helio go to retrieve him.
Helio gasped. “You mean you put him in the…”
Arlo chuckled as he nodded.
“Shit,” Helio whispered.
“What is it, mate?” Sabien asked.
“I’ll fill you in later. Right now just know that Heskel won’t be found,” he replied.
Ezra cleared his voice, drawing everyone’s attention. Once all eyes were on him he said, “I think someone needs to start explaining what the hell’s been going on, but first, I want to see my mate and make sure he’s okay. So which one of you can let us out of here?” He looked between Helio, Arlo, and the other little cutie.
* * * *
Damn, he had never been so tired in his life. Helio thought as he flitted between trees, smelling the flowers. After the past few days and everything that had happened, all he wanted was a few moments of peace, alone in the atrium so he could fly and stretch out his wings.
Once they released Ezra and the Scions, they found that Orion, along with the Imperial Guards and Crimson Corp, as well as members of the coven had all fought and defeated those who were attacking. They had lost some of their men and some were in need of medical assistance, but the coven was safe once again.
While members of the coven helped the soldiers to clean up the bodies, they were all able to reunite in Ezra’s office where it would be private. It also didn’t hurt that he and Briar put up more wards, so no one could overhear them.
No one had any idea how they were found out and sent those creatures to attack, but the best theory was that it had to be a vampire and one that knew how they would respond. Someone who was very familiar with the Guards procedures as well as the structure Ezra had in place for such things. With that knowledge, they all knew they needed to keep their eyes and ears open.
Helio and Briar had introduced Jewel and Ezra to their friends and explained who and what they were, and in wonderful Ezra form, he immediately made the same pledge to their friends of all kinds, the Lemmox, Harkeys, Amadras, Skajas and Gogabi, just as he and the vampire had made to the butterfly dragons so long ago. He and Briar explained how they were all created by Kali herself just like the butterfly dragon and the Santorini fox, and were each special in their own right.
After that things moved quickly. Kondra and Lanius were both brought to Ezra’s coven and were being given the best medical care they could get. Strife, along with a battalion of guards was still at Heskel’s coven as they continued their investigation and Strife worked on breaking the codes from the USB they had found and on smashing the firewalls.
&nb
sp; That guy Etienne, who was a friend of Sabien’s, was left in charge at Heskel’s coven, but not really in a leader sort of way. He was only a plebeian, but he would be able to talk with the coven members and ease any of their worries.
Manchester had been brought to Ezra, and after a very long talk Ezra sentenced him to work ten years here at the main coven house as a manservant. In that time he could not go back to his coven, but with direct permission from Ezra he could have someone come visit him occasionally. After the ten years, Manchester would be able to return home, or stay in Ezra’s coven if he wished.
Helio had a sneaking suspicion that Ezra’s big heart was at work here again. As Re he needed to show strength to all the covens and that murder would be punished, and to lose your coven was considered a very harsh punishment to all vampire alike. Helio had a feeling Ezra thought as they did, that Manchester’s kill was justifiable, and even though the covens would see Manchester was paying for his crime, those that knew the entire story figured with some time away from his coven maybe Manchester could find some peace, knowing he had done all he could do and that justice was served even if it wasn’t the right way to go about it.
They had also found out that Ezra and Sabien were in fact brothers after doc Tango ran some tests, with Sabien being older than Ezra. Both men were in shock over the situation, but neither held any ill will toward the other and were working on finding out how they had been separated, and also trying to work on a relationship.
The fact that Ezra offered Sabien a job in Kaliss as his Chief of Police didn’t hurt and made Sabien happy and grateful.
Helio and Jael made sure to spend alone time with Sabien everyday, so he could talk about what was going on inside him over the whole thing and offering him their support and comfort. And in return, Sabien gave that back to them as well.
Helio had never been so happy in all his days as he was now with his new life. A wonderful coven where they were safe, new friends who he loved and respected, and who loved and respected him back, as well as his old friends who didn’t want to go home to Saturnalia until they found all their missing friends, and two amazing, loving mates, who showered him with their gentleness and love. Goddess he was a very lucky man.
His mates were more than he had ever dreamed they would be, and Helio would die for them. He finally understood the bond of a mating and knew his life would be over if he lost either of his mates. Tears burned the backs of his eyes and Helio quickly blinked them away. He couldn’t think like that, especially right now. He had people to see.
Ezra and Jewel had been so happy for Helio, Jael, and Sabien, that they were throwing a party for them this evening, which was one of the reasons why Helio was here, flying around and just enjoying the peace and quiet. He just needed a few minutes to himself.
Helio flew down toward the waterfall to get a look at the new Kio fish that Jewel had purchased, when he heard a voice that always sent shivers of lust and need down his spine.
“Helio, beautiful, where are you? The guests are beginning to arrive and Ezra would like us there,” Jael called out.
He smiled as he flittered around to the large tree that Jael stood by and snuck up behind his mate. Once he reached him, Helio silently shifted back to his human form and slid his hands over Jael’s eyes from behind. “Guess who?”
“Mmm, one of the sexiest mates in the world?”
“Good guess,” Sabien’s sexy voice came from behind him as large arms wrapped around him. “Seeing as you are the other sexiest mate in the world.” Sabien kissed the side of his neck causing Helio to giggle.
Jael turned to face them and wrapped his arms around them both then leaned in and stole a small kiss. “Going to the party in your birthday suit, huh? I’m not sure Sabien and I approve, mate,” Jael teased.
Helio blushed as he looked at his mate through his long lashes. “I just needed a little time by myself in the quiet. I promise, this is not how I will be arriving at the party.”
“I don’t know. I say you stay like that, and Jael and I join you and we all stay right here. You put a ward around the room so no one can disturb us and the three of us just spend the night right here making love,” Sabien crooned in his ear and kissed his neck again.
“Mmm, I like that plan, but I also don’t want to piss Jewel off. He’s worked hard on this party, and with his magic being bonkers, we may be pushing it, and find ourselves turned into one of those Kio fish he loves so much,” Jael replied.
“Yes, you do have a point. So, should we stay, or should we go?” Helio asked as his mates both pressed against him from both sides.
“Both. We hit the party for a little while, at least enough to satisfy Jewel and Ezra, then I say we sneak back here and go with my plan,” Sabien replied.
“Damn I love how your mind works, mate, just as much as I love the two of you,” Jael said.
“I love you both so much,” Helio replied.
“Good, because I love both my men more than anything else in this world and I can’t wait to see where our lives take us,” Sabien said, then shifted to stand beside him and drew him and Jael into a three way kiss that had his cock leaking and him rethinking the whole going to the party thing. Damn his life was good.
THE END
Cree Storm Other books
Twelve Labors
Hercules, Perseus, Apollo, Iphicles, Poseidon, Hephaestus, Theseus, Deimos, Hermes
MYSTIC
Ryker’s Aquamate, The Stolen Mate, The Tin Man’s Heart, The Rules For Mating, Data Input
MYSTIC CANADA
Trust In His Mate
Capulet
Damien’s Past Mates, The Magical Mating, Two For The Beta, A Trilling Moment, Butterfly Effection, His Fluttering Heart
The Mating Games
Quarterback Sack, Unnecessary Roughness, False Start, Extra Point
The Mating Games On Ice
Power Play
Kalil’s Coven
Erik’s Un Amor, His Kitten Has Claws, One In A Billion
Haven Ranch
Midnight Madness, Blue Rey, Falling Sky, The Art Of A Mate
Haven Ranch Sovereignty Island
Opposites Attract, Past, Present, Future
D.O.A.
Dragon Hearts, Dragong Souls, Dragon Spirit, Dragon Defect
Defense Troopers
Mechanical Heart, Starship Lovers
Cackle Lands
Sheltering His Mate, Confidence In A Mate
Maggie Walsh other books
Angel Pack & Beyond The Angel Pack
Betrayal
Secrets
Truth
Trust
Dante’s Mate’s (Beyond The Angel Pack)
Underneath
Viktor’s Familiar (Beyond The Angel Pack 2)
United
When World’s Collide (Beyond The Angel Pack 3)
Envy
Kindred
Wounded
Home
Lucifer Rising (Beyond The Angel Pack 4)
Power
Mating Mayhem
Masquerade
Fate
The Final Countdown (Beyond The Angel Pack 5)
Fin
SANCTUARY SERIES
Maxi’s Glass Heart, Parker's Predicament
THE CROSSROADS DEMON SERIES
Shane, Sydney, Riley
STAND ALONE
The Beast Within
DRAGON REALM SERIES
Return Of The Dragon King, Rescue Of The Dragon King
CLEARNIGHT HAVEN
The Coterie, Hanging On By A Thread
OMEGA ISLAND
Collision Course
Cirque De Carnival
Cameron’s Thorn
Eternal Flames/Eternal Flames Maddox
Burning Desire, Eternal Flames 1
Rising from the Ashes, Eternal Flames 2
Courting the Phoenix, Eternal Flames 3
How to Claim Your Dragon, Eternal Flames 4
A Higher Calling,
Eternal Flames 5
Fear of Discovery, Eternal Flames 6
Adding Fuel to the Flames, Eternal Flames Maddox 1
A Bite to Remember, Eternal Flames Maddox 2
Phoenix Rising, Eternal Flames 7
Bound To The Enemy, Eternal Flames Maddox 3
Power Of Love, Eternal Flames 8
Tiny Treasure, Eternal Flames Maddox 4
Partners In Crime, Eternal Flames 9
Sowing The Seeds Of Love, Eternal Flames Maddox 5
Under Siege, Eternal Flames 10
Edge Of Tomorrow, Eternal Flames Maddox 6
Divine Intervention, Eternal Flames Maddox 7
Christmas Present, Eternal Flames Crystal and Maddox United for Christmas
Learning To Live, Eternal Flames 11
Second Chances, Eternal Flames Maddox 8
Love Hurts 12, Eternal Flames 12
The Chosen One, Eternal Flames 13
Mating Song, Eternal Flames 14
The Pied Piper Of Maddox, Eternal Flames Maddox 9
Kaliss
New Beginnings, Becoming One
Savage Island
Savage Heart
ABOUT CREE STORM
I was born in Fort Knox, Kentucky. I’m a military brat that travelled a bit overseas and throughout many parts of the United States. I finally settled in Las Cruces, New Mexico, where I eventually got married and then divorced. I was blessed with two fantastic sons. As they grew up and became young men chasing their dreams, I felt that maybe now was the time for me to do the same. That’s when I started writing. Never in a million years did I expect to meet the most wonderful man in the world, move to Quebec, Canada, and get married. However, that is exactly what happened. JP has introduced me to things like; canoeing, snowmobiling, four wheeling, and has taken me to some of the most beautiful locations. Ones that I had only ever seen on a computer or read about in books. I may miss my mountains and my boys, but have discovered that when you work towards your dreams, the future can be one filled with happiness and love. My boys are only a plane ride away, and Skype is a glorious thing. So I say, on to my next adventure…don’t be shocked to find it in one of my books.
