Elf stepped back as the tears rolled down her cheeks. Elf was thin, she had dark circles under her eyes, and a few new scars that hadn’t been there before.
“I’ll heal, but thank you. I’m just worried about my children.” Elf looked down at the ground. “They might have been forced on me, but they are mine, and I won’t give them up.” Elf glanced up at her.
“Of course not, we’ll find all three of them, I promise, and you will stay with me until you are ready to get your own place,” Nava said.
“Young lady, I must insist, you are bleeding,” Dr. Lope said just as Elf’s legs gave way. Dr. Lope caught her easily. “You want her upstairs?” he asked, and Nava nodded. “Please, put her in my bed.”
“There is no reason to put her in your bed. The room across the way from you is perfect for Elf. There is another room attached to it for her children, and it has its own bathroom, too. I’ve had it all set. Take her there, and I’ll have some donors come up when you are ready,” Darla said, wrapping the blanket around Elf as they moved out the kitchen toward her wing at their house.
“Thank you, Darla. You don’t know what this means to me,” Nava said, reaching over and squeezing Darla’s hand.
For the next hour, Nava paced the outer bedroom while Doc Lope ran back and forth, helping the others and checking in on her friend. Right then, there were two females in there, donors Darla had said for Elf to feed. Nava growled. “She could have fed from me,” she mumbled.
“Yes, she could have, but right now, your friend does not want you to see her this way. You are all she has left, and Elf’s afraid if you see her feeding, you will think of her differently,” Darla said. “Our men should be coming back here soon. They have found the baby and the three-year-old, but it seems her daughter, the seven-year-old, was moved to another location.” Darla plopped down in the chair. “Fifty-five children under the age of ten with no parents and they call us monsters.” Darla looked up at her with tears in her eyes. “I’ve never been prouder to live where I do.”
Nava nodded and sat down next to Darla on the floor. “I know. The way that many of them have opened up their homes for these children...” Nava shook her head.
Darla nudged her. “You have a little one in your bed as we speak. Are you going to see about keeping her?”
Nava sighed. “I’d like to. There is just something about her that draws me to her.” Nava smiled, remembering the little one coming out into the hallway running into her as she glanced over at Darla. “You took in a set of twin girls. Oh, is Drake in trouble.” She smiled.
“We have plenty of room, plus they need to stay together. Now, our home will have plenty of females in it, and I won’t be outnumbered by my sons, that is if we are allowed to keep them. Theo is already working with outside forces to make sure the children can stay here with their kind. We’re lucky we have a few high-top officials that are helping us.” Darla stiffened and looked up at the door.
Saxon stood there, holding a little girl while Drake held an infant. The bedroom door flew open, and Elf stepped out. At once, the little girl in Saxon’s arms squirmed until he put her down. The child ran to Elf’s arms. “Mommy,” she cried out as Drake moved to Elf.
“We will not rest ‘til we find your other child, I promise. I already have my men searching the files and such. You and your children are safe here, Elf. This is your home for however long you need it,” Drake said, placing a kiss on Elf’s cheek and gently placing the baby in her friend’s arms.
“I can’t thank you enough, all of you. I never believed we’d be lucky to escape,” she said, whispering while staring down at her baby and daughter.
“There is no need to thank us. I have a few men bringing up a crib and a few other things you’ll need. The doctor has looked over both children already, and both are healthy. The tags placed in them have been removed. Would you mind if Nava’s grandmother removes yours? You won’t feel a thing.”
Elf looked up, and her eyes were red. “Get them out of me, please,” she hissed.
Nava moved up to her friend as her grandmother Jane appeared next to her. “I have so much to tell you, but first, meet my great, great...”
“If you say great one more time, I’m going to have that man paddle your butt... I’m Jane, her grandmother,” her grandmother said right before stepping into Elf.
Her friend shivered as Jane excited her body holding four tracking devices, but there were tears in her eyes. “Every single one of those monsters needs to be tortured,” Jane growled right before she disappeared.
“Oh, that isn’t good,” Darla said. “She’s libel to start another war.”
Drake tilted his head to the side. “Nope, the posse has her tied up, and Nava’s friend has taken control of her.” Drake turned his eyes on her. “As for you, young lady. What the hell do you think you were doing out there?” he snarled.
“Excuse me? What did I tell you earlier? Don’t growl at me,” Nava said, and by accident, with all the extra stress she had been under, let a little bit of fire escape her.
Drake jumped out of the way, but his hair took the brunt of her fire.
“I’m so sorry, really,” she said, horrified at what she had done. Even now his hair was still smoking, and the smell of burnt hair was everywhere.
“Well, I always did love it when he went bald, but it serves him right getting all mouthy with you. You were doing what you thought was best; he had no right to say a word,” Darla said, coming up to her side as Saxon stepped in behind her.
She glanced behind her and hissed. “You come near me, and your ass is going to be burning I am so pissed at you.”
“If you will excuse us. Elf, we are right across the hall if you need us, but this one and I are going to have a long chat,” Saxon said right before he once more lifted her up over his shoulder, slapping her ass hard.
“What the hell?” she shrieked and tried the get down, but he held her tight right before he appeared in another room and dropped her on the strange bed.
Chapter Twelve
Never had he been more scared or furious. The four men that had been with her were now doing patrol for the next year. To think they didn’t stop the three women just pissed him off more. Even Drake had confronted his men, and it hadn’t been pretty, but his little firebug was about to get a lesson in not to push a pissed full-on demon.
Already, he was having trouble pulling in the dark side of him as he watched Nava scoot up the bed, staring at him.
“What the hell is your problem?” she dared ask him.
“We have only known each other a few days, so I’m giving you a lot of leeway here, but if you keep giving me sass, I swear, I’ll paddle your ass ‘til it’s pink. Do you know what it was for me to watch you move toward those SOBs? They were waiting for you, and you were going to just hand yourself over without a thought to yourself or the other two women?”
Nava stood on the bed, her hair blowing as if from unseen wind. If he had been smart, he would have been backing up, but right then, his demon was in control as Nava clenched her hands tight. Smoke started to come from her, and he knew she was trying to hold back, and of course, his demon didn’t care. “Sit down and quit acting like a child,” he snapped. “We need a serious discussion here, and it’s time for you to learn a few things,” Saxon said just as his demon took control, shifting right there in front of her.
Her gaze scanned over his now seven-foot-tall frame. His skin a dark red, hard. He had a tail that could kill any man or give pleasure to a stubborn female when it was time. Nava gasped as her gaze lowered to his cock, now that he was naked in full form. “What the...” she sputtered. “Damn.” Nava shook her head and plopped down on the bed. “We’re going to have major problems here, because there is no way that thing... Nope”
If he weren’t still pissed, he would have laughed. “It will fit,” he said, moving to the side of the bed when something felt strange.
“Well, it sure isn’t going to fit with that on it!” Nava
giggled, pointing at his manhood.
No one had ever laughed at his cock. He growled and glanced down. “What the hell?” His cock was fully dressed in a tux outfit. “Storm!”
His mate fell backward, laughing so hard she had tears in her eyes as they both heard Matty and Drake yelling.
Nava lifted her head up. “It would seem she is a little pissed about her gifts being taken away. She wanted to show you appreciation for giving them back,” his little fire laughed, rolling around on the bed.
Saxon shook his head, hiding the smile on his face as he turned and tried to remove the dress coat, shirt and bow tie, but every time he removed one piece, another would replace it but in a different color. “Storm!” he growled, earning another laughing fit from his mate.
Shifting to his human form and clothing himself, Saxon stormed toward the door when he heard Nava’s statement. “You know she is hiding.” Nava got up from the bed and moved to him. “Storm, would you please remove the cute clothes from my man. I think he has been shown his error, haven’t you?” his little fire dared ask.
“My mistake was allowing you to step foot near that place. I knew it was a risk, but you just didn’t listen.” He ran his hand over his buzzed head. “The thought of them capturing you, hurting you...” He closed his eyes, trying to calm the demon once more inside when he felt Nava’s hand on his chest.
“Saxon, I’m afraid these people won’t stop. If there is going to be anything between us, you’ll have to expect this. I can’t be wrapped in bubble wrap,” she said, as he opened his eyes, seeing her shrug and go to step back, but he reached around her and pulled her into his body. She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. “Maybe that was what I was born to do. Help those that have been taken. Try and free them.”
“You were meant to be my mate, my little fire,” he grumbled and wiped the tear away from her cheek. “If it is important to you to find these places, we will do this together, but you will have to listen to me, little fire. I’ve been on many missions, and I can’t have you second-guessing me. You could be killed and so could others. I need your promise, little fire,” he pleaded with her as he reached up, cupping the side of her cheek. “You have a little girl in your bed. Do you wish her to be part of our lives?”
She tried to look away, but he held her still. “She’s like me, Saxon. I was drawn to Ana, well we both were drawn toward each other. I can’t let her go.”
Saxon sighed and placed a kiss on her forehead. “Then, you must think before you do things. If we bring a child into our lives, she must be protected, and that also means for her not to lose her new mother. Don’t you think it would devastate her to lose another parent after she has bonded with you?” Saxon said, grasping at anything to get her to understand how important she was to him and to others.
“I’ll try, that is all I can promise. I know Ana needs me as others, but seeing them hurt...” Nava turned her head and placed a kiss on his hand before smiling up at him. “So, we’re going to keep Ana?” she asked.
Saxon moaned. “It’s a little bit more complicated, little fire. We’ll have to be approved first, but if what you say is true, that she is like you, then most likely we will have no problem adopting her. Then, there is the problem that we are not mated yet,” he said, lowering his head and covering her mouth with his.
She slid her arms around him, her nails digging into his back as he slid his tongue into her mouth. She tasted of hickory and coffee as he explored every inch of her tongue before breaking the kiss. Her stomach growled, and he smiled. “I’m sorry, little fire, we didn’t get our picnic and missed lunch. Come, let’s go see if the little girl would like to join us for dinner. I hear her moving around.”
Nava laughed. “She most likely heard you and the other two yelling at Strom. I totally forgot we hadn’t eaten. Yes, let’s grab Ana. From what she has told me, she’s about six. She never knew her parents, but I’d like to make sure. If there is any chance they are alive, she needs to know them. It’s really sad. Ana said she never met her mom, that she had been born there,” Nava said, moving in the hall.
Saxon stopped and glanced down at his heart. “Nava, do you think they could have taken any of your eggs? Could Ana be your child?” he asked, growling.
Nava placed her hand on her heart, stopping to look up at him. “I don’t know, they could have.” She grabbed onto his arm. “How do we find out?”
“Drake,” Saxon said, looking up as said man came moving toward them.
“You do know this creates a bigger problem if this is true? Darla is a nervous wreck at the thought of her children out there, and I have to agree.” Drake glanced down at Nava, holding his hand out to her. Do you mind sharing your blood with me, daughter?” he asked.
“No, take what you need, always,” Nava said, as Drake brought up her wrist to his mouth, licking the skin before sinking his fangs into her.
She didn’t even flinch, watching him feed from her as Darla moved up to his side. Saxon could see the tears in her eyes as her gaze met his. “Do you know how many children they could have of ours if this is true?” she said as Drake sealed the holes in Nava’s wrist, wrapping his arm around Darla, bringing her closer to him. “If it happened, we will find out. I already have my men going through all the computers, files, and such. Let’s go see if this little girl is our granddaughter,” he grumbled.
Nava smiled. “I could so see you as a big pushover when it comes to little girls,” Nava teased, moving to her door, but when they all turned, the little redhead was standing there in the door staring at them all.
“You think I’m your daughter?” she asked, obviously smarter than a normal child her age but looking so small and alone.
Nava at once went to the child, kneeling before her. “That is what we need to find out.” Nava reached up and moved a piece of the child’s hair out of the way. “Would that be okay?”
Saxon did have to admit the child did have Nava’s nose and eyes, but who would have been the father was a question as Nava explained what would happen.
The tiny girl held out her wrist without batting an eye. “I want to know. I’ve never had a momma. Would he be my daddy?” The little girl nodded to Saxon.
“Saxon is my mate, so yes, he would be your daddy. Would that be okay?”
Saxon bowed to the little girl, earning a giggle from her. “It would be my honor to have you as my daughter, but I should warn you,” he looked up at the little girl. “Anyone who does not listen to me, I eat,” he teased.
Nava rolled her eyes. “Not to worry, Ana, he can’t eat you; it would give him a tummy ache. Plus, I have it on good authority he’s a big teddy bear.”
Ana giggled and looked up at Drake who moved up to her. He knelt next to Nava. “You know what I’ll do?” he asked.
She nodded. “I saw you feed from Momma,” Ana said, looking right at Nava.
A little squeak came from Saxon’s little fire, and he moved behind her, placing his hand on her shoulder. “You are a very brave little girl, and I’d be proud to call you my daughter,” he told Ana as Drake didn’t wait, sinking his fangs into the little girl’s wrist. It only lasted a second before he carefully closed the holes and stood. The anger radiating from him even had Ana stepping back away from him.
“Sorry, Ana. I’m not mad at you, little one. I’m mad at those who did this to you and your mother.” Drake nodded to Nava, who fell backward on her ass. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she stared at her daughter.
“My baby,” she whispered and held out her arms as the little one flew into them, hugging her tight.
“You’re really my momma,” Ana cried.
Saxon had tears in his eyes and looked up at Drake.
“I need to inform Theo and the others,” Drake said, looking at him then at Darla. “We’ll find out, I promise,” he told his mate, hugging her tight as she cried. “How many of my babies are out there?”
Chapter Thirteen
Nava watched as her man, Saxon, talked wit
h her daughter. She had a daughter and had lost six years of watching her grow. But she was determined to enjoy every second with her little girl.
“So, you see, you’ll have two sets of grandparents. Drake and Darla and my folks, which will be here next week.” Saxon’s gaze swung to hers.
“What? I’m not ready for that. What if they don’t like me?” Nava said, lowering her fork of food as the food in her stomach seemed to flip around.
“It’s the next step since I intend to make you my mate soon,” Saxon said, giving her a heated look. Her body burned, and her nipples hardened under the shirt she wore. Dampness gathered between her legs, and Nava knew her face had turned a pink color.
“Stop that,” she whispered and broke his gaze, noticing Doc Lope coming into the kitchen. Nava grabbed her glass of wine and took a sip, knowing that Saxon had asked the doctor to come to make sure everything was okay with Ana.
“Doc Lope, thank you for coming. I know you are very busy this night,” Nava said and nodded to the chair. “Please, sit and join us. We have plenty of food.”
The doctor pulled out the chair, turning it around, straddling it. “I hear Ana is your natural daughter. We have a mess down there. You are very lucky you found her. The records are scattered all over the place. What can I do for you, Saxon? You know Ana is well; I’ve already seen to her.”
Saxon sighed. “I’d like you to shift and tell us what she is? I want to make sure we know everything, so we can make sure she is exposed to her other half.”
To say Nava was surprised was an understatement. She hadn’t even thought of that. “Do you think her natural father is someone different, too?” Nava looked from Lope to her daughter, who was stuffing her face with ice cream, which she had chocolate all over her. “Oh my, you like your chocolate, don’t you,” she teased and dipped her napkin in the water, wiping away some of the big spots on her cheek.
Magic, New Mexico: Loving Phoenix (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 7
