Corralling Dawn [Midnighter Seductions 3] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting)

by Corinne Davies

  “How big is your shower? Then we need to feed you.”

  * * * *

  Word spread quickly that Dawn had returned. Derechos was making them something to eat when the first knock sounded at the back door and someone walked in the house. Dawn introduced them to a man named Lucas who obviously didn’t look as if he liked the way Storm was holding her on his lap or that there were two of them. Not that Derechos cared. Neither of them was leaving so it was best if her staff got used to it.

  Lucas’s skin looked like leather and was a deep brown while his mouth looked like it was in a permanent scowl. His dark eyes glanced back and forth between them but always returned to Storm, who still held Dawn in his lap. Neither he nor Storm gave a damn what the workmen thought and wanted word to get out quickly that she had protectors now.

  Dawn invited him to eat with them and halfway through the meal it was apparent that the older man simply was worried about Dawn’s well-being and safety. He told them a number of stories about how he and the other workers refused to stop doing their chores simply because Sam had ordered them to and then fired them all. Now that he had nothing to worry about with them there, Lucas filled her in on the attacks on the cattle.

  “We’ll go out and patrol tonight. Hopefully we’ll be able to stop some of those Kimil before they destroy any more of your animals. Lucas said a local rain storm preceded a couple of the attacks. That might help us figure out where they will attack next.”

  “It started raining the night I met you. Are you saying the Kimil control the weather?”

  “According to legend, they have the ability to cloak themselves with rainstorms. We weren’t entirely certain if it’s true or a coincidence. It was raining the night that Destiny was attacked but not for Hope. It could be that not all of them have the ability…We really don’t know.”

  “If you two take the ATVs then I’ll ride one of the horses.” Dawn picked at the bowl of fruit that Derechos had cut up and placed in front of her. He and most of the Midnighters hadn’t learned to cook over here but they could manage simple salads. They didn’t eat any of the meat from this world but didn’t have any problems with anything grown in soil. They’d tried some of the canned food available but decided it was too disgusting for words.

  “You are going to Midnighters where we can trust our fellow brothers to keep an eye on you,” Storm said. “I will never use you as bait to attract those creatures. If they were to attack with a large force, there is the possibility we might not be able to save you and that is a risk we’re not willing to take.”

  “I’m a grown woman and able to take care of my own lands, Storm.” She turned and looked at Derechos as if daring him to say something. “I’m not willing to let you both go out into a hostile situation without any sort of help.”

  “Miss Dawn, you haven’t seen the attacks recently. They are becoming more and more vicious and moving closer to the house. If these boys have a place they can take you to keep you safe then I’d be happier to see you there as well.”

  Derechos knew better than to jump in the middle of this argument because he completely agreed with Storm and Lucas. There was no way they would ever willingly put her in danger. “I understand your feelings but we will have some of our fellow Midnighters with us. They will watch our back as we watch theirs.”

  “Now, boys, I appreciate you wanting to help take care of Dawn’s responsibility and I think that’s a might admirable trait to have, but unless you all have some combat training of some sort then it would be best if you stayed put with her. You may have size on your side but it’s going to take a lot more then fancy dancing to beat these things off.”

  Storm’s eyebrows drew together and even Derechos could feel his temper being pricked. Did this human just imply that he and Storm wouldn’t be able to handle a few energy-starved Kimil?

  “They’re all ex-military, Lucas. Different branches but they’ve all seen combat situations in one way or another,” Dawn interjected and the older man seemed to accept her explanation. “The club is simply a way for them to have some fun and make a bit of money while they decide what to do with the rest of their lives.”

  Lucas nodded, taking Dawn’s words for truth. “All right then. I’d heard from Eddie Santiago and Bobby Redfox that you boys were a bunch of tough bastards, but I’m glad to hear Dawn back that up. If there is one thing we have lots of in this town, it’s gossip.”

  He got up from the table and shook each of their hands. “I don’t understand why you both think that Miss Dawn is the one attracting these creatures, but if going to that club will keep her safe then I’m all for it. You boys come get me when you’re ready to head out and I’ll show you where the attacks have happened.”

  “We’ll do that, thank you.” Derechos shook the man’s hand before he headed out. Turning back, he faced a very angry Atan.

  “I am not going to sit back here or at the bar like a helpless female and not defend my land.” She tried to get off of Storm’s lap but his brother wouldn’t let her. That seemed to infuriate her further.

  “You are not going anywhere near those things. We know they cannot resist the energy of an unclaimed Atan but we don’t know how they will react to a claimed one. You could be a bigger draw now and neither of us is willing to put a hair on your head in danger.”

  “It’s my decision, not yours. I’m going.”

  * * * *

  “How long do you think she can hold a grudge?” Storm scanned the base of the Pyramid Mountains looking for any groups of Kimil out hunting. They’d driven through this area many times before and never seen anything. Tonight they left the ATVs a couple miles away and came in on foot.

  “You tied her to a chair and locked her into the bedroom at Midnighters.”

  He would have done the same if he’d thought of it first. “Hope said she would untie her once we were far enough away that she couldn’t follow us.”

  “Considering she was hollering something about dead man walking before we left, I’d say it’s going to be a while.” Derechos was kneeling behind the same rock with a pair of night-vision binoculars up to his eyes. “I’ll put a good word in for you.”

  “What makes you think you’ll escape her anger?”

  “I’m going to pretend I knew nothing about it.”

  Storm grinned as he twirled an arrow through his fingers. Our Atan is too smart to fall for a lie that transparent.

  “Storm, get ready.”

  He had the arrow cocked and drawn a second later. Aiming in the same area as Derechos was watching, he spotted the creature off in the distance. He’d modified the sights on this bow so when he looked through it he could see in the distance as if it was the middle of the day. What he saw gave him pause.

  “Derechos, am I seeing this correctly?”

  Silence met his question for a few seconds before his brother spoke. “It’s much too small…”

  “As if it’s a child.” Storm released the tension on his bow. “I won’t kill a child.”

  Derechos nodded his agreement. They stayed there in complete silence and watched the small Kimil running around after a large rabbit. The jackrabbit avoided being captured and the small creature made its way back toward an outcropping of rocks, disappearing behind one of them.

  “We need to get closer.”

  They made slow progress toward the outcropping of rocks, never leaving the shadows and staying downwind so they didn’t alert the creatures to their presence. Storm worried for a time that perhaps because they’d found their Atan they might be giving off a stronger energy signature that would alert the Kimil to their presence but no creatures rushed out from the rocks bent on consuming them.

  They both wore a communication cuff and quickly tapped out messages between them as they got closer. They approached the entrance from different directions, minimizing the chance of a surprise attack.

  On three. The pulses vibrated on Storm’s inner arm, counting down, before they both entered the den. Derechos carried mi
litary-grade pepper spray and he had his arrows. All he could hope was that they had enough to get out alive.

  Chapter Eight

  “Do you think that showing mercy is the wisest choice?” Blaze paced the floor in one of the back rooms of Midnighters Bar. Dawn was sitting in Derechos’s lap, across the table from Steel. Rock and Jag were sitting on the opposite sides as Storm leaned against the wall behind them. The rest of the Midnighters currently on Earth were dancing for the screaming women out in the club. Destiny and Hope were working out in the bar with Falcon and Wolfe.

  “Is there any other choice?” Steel’s eyebrows were pulled down in concentration as if he was trying to figure out a complex math problem. “If we systematically destroy them all, are we any better than the hunters who have butchered entire species into extinction? I’m not saying that we should return them to their home world, but we have to come up with a better solution than genocide.”

  “What about a sanctuary for them?” Dawn suggested. “Like a wildlife preserve or something along those lines. You said they’re suffering from starvation, right? If they are on Lu’um but limited to where they can wander, would your world provide enough energy to help them?”

  Dawn understood why they hated the Kimil so much but these creatures weren’t the same as the ones who were attacking the people in Lu’um. When Storm and Derechos had first told her about the group or nest they’d discovered, they’d both looked physically sick at the possibility of killing the innocent creatures they’d found. She understood their concern. Though she’d planned to get them back for locking her up like a child, after seeing their faces when they returned she canned the drama.

  Rock’s smile lit up his electric-blue eyes with pride. “You’re absolutely right. It could be like a cage, albeit on a much grander scale. If the living energies of Lu’um could ease their hunger then it may calm their violent tendencies.”

  “I’d feel much better about restricting their movements than slaughtering them all.” Derechos pressed a kiss to her temple and hugged her tightly. “Thank you, Atan,” he whispered against her hair.

  She shrugged. It wasn’t like she’d come up with the answer to world peace but she was happy she could make a suggestion and help. Those creatures scared the hell out of her but so did scorpions and she wouldn’t want to see them annihilated just because.

  “What if they turn back into the Kimil that attack our villages?” Blaze hadn’t stopped pacing and even she could feel the riot of emotions and nervous energy that vibrated off the warrior. He looked angry and ready to fight.

  “I don’t think that would be possible. They’re obviously generations beyond the creatures that were originally trapped on Earth when the portal was closed. There is a genetic draw to the portal and to vibrant sources of energy. For the most part, they are animals fighting for survival in a world they were never meant to live in.”

  “How do you plan to get them over there?” Dawn asked.

  “We’ll trap them and carefully bring them across the portal. I noticed that the youngsters don’t wander too far from their mothers. We’ll be careful to trap children with their mother and that will hopefully ease the transition.” Storm lifted a rectangular box from next to him and placed it on the table in front of them. There were a number of bolt-like arrows inside of it. The tips were rounded and the shaft was thicker than a normal arrow. He lifted it up and ran his finger along the edge. A filmy substance stuck to him and when he lifted his hand away a spiderlike web was stuck to his fingers and stretched out to the shaft. “I developed these a while ago. It’s similar to the arrows I have that mold to the trees to prevent damage. These will explode on contact and wrap around the target, preventing them from escaping or harming anyone else or themselves.”

  Jag nodded. “I like it. How many do you have made?”

  “About two dozen. I can retract the web and it will re-form into the shaft, making them reusable. I originally created these to capture any Atan who might resist visiting our world.” Storm quickly turned and shot the arrow at Blaze.

  Dawn gasped in concern when the bolt struck the redheaded warrior in the chest. The man didn’t have but a split second to jump and holler before a diaphanous white web slid over his body, wrapping him up like a cocoon in a matter of seconds. Blaze disappeared inside what looked like a large grain of rice.

  Steel turned a level gaze at Storm. His steady gaze didn’t falter nor did his expression give away any hint of what he was thinking. “Did you just turn my warrior brother into a butterfly?”

  A string of muffled hollers that sounded suspiciously like swearing came from inside the cocoon. Dawn watched as the large shape rocked violently back and forth and places bulged out aggressively. “He’s not hurt in there, is he?”

  “Not at all, Atan. Blaze’s temper is a perfect test for the cocoon’s strength and durability.” Storm grinned. “I was waiting for the perfect time to test these.”

  “There is the possibility that being on Lu’um may exacerbate their behavior. Instead of calming them because they are able to absorb the energy they need, they may become hyper aware and aggressive.” Jag pulled their attention to the original problem.

  “We’ll prepare for that possibility,” Rock answered. “We’ll capture a couple of them and bring them over under tight guard and monitor their behavior. If they become more aggressive then we’ll have to think of alternate arrangements, but I’m hoping the original plan works.”

  Another muffled battle cry drew their attention to the trembling cocoon. Steele leveled an even look at Storm. “Perhaps you and Derechos should take your Atan home before I release him from this. By the sounds of him, he’ll be ready to tear someone apart when I let him out.”

  Dawn looked up at Storm. She’d heard of Blaze’s legendary temper. “Are you sure that was such a good idea?”

  Storm shrugged one shoulder before pressing a quick reassuring kiss against her temple. “I’m sure I’ll be facing retaliation from him in the future.” He looked back at Steel. “I should have shot that at you.”

  A cold, emotionless gray settled over his friend’s features. The dead calm to his tone created a shiver along Dawn’s senses. She’d never seen Steel show much in the way of emotional expressions but at the moment he looked like an ice-cold killer. “I don’t suggest you ever do that.”

  Storm obviously knew he’d pushed his friend too far with that suggestion so he nodded and stretched out his arm. Steel clasped it and instantly the icy look disappeared and a small grin pulled at the corner of his lips. “I’ll give you a head start and try to talk Blaze out of killing you.”

  Storm laughed. “I appreciate you having my back.” He showed Steel how to dissolve the fibers that held Blaze captive. It was a simple matter of plucking the right strands and the entire mass would unravel and re-form into the original shaft, leaving its captive unharmed.

  Derechos clasped arms with the other warrior. Dawn stretched out her arm, too, but Steel captured her hand and pressed a soft kiss to the back of it. Storm moved between them a second later, blocking her view. “We’ll be out at the ranch if you need us.”

  Steel nodded and let go of Dawn’s hand. “I’ll see you in Lu’um, brother.”

  * * * *

  “Will Blaze really try to hurt you?” Dawn asked as she pressed her body against Storm’s side, tracing the markings on his other arm with her fingertips.

  “I’m sure he’ll try but what was it you said? I can run faster scared than he can pissed off.”

  As she laughed, the bed dipped behind her and Derechos slipped between the sheets. “There isn’t anything to worry about. I checked all the doors and windows and they are all secured.”

  Dawn didn’t bother to bring up the fact that she’d checked all the doors and windows before coming up here. He curled up against her back and she felt safe and warm between the two of them. It felt like it had been weeks since they’d tucked her between them like this. The night after they discovered the Kimil’s
home, Storm, Rock, Jag, Thunder, and Blade had gone out and captured three of the creatures and had taken them back to Lu’um. They waited a week and it looked like having a steady supply of energy to draw on calmed them completely. After that discovery, the Midnighters had worked almost nonstop to create the sanctuary and capture all the creatures in the nest they discovered. There hadn’t been any more attacks on her animals since then and the rumors about chupacabra around town had settled down again.

  “I’ve missed this. It was nice to have some alone time with each of you but I really missed sleeping between the two of you.” While they were capturing the creatures, one of them had always stayed with her during that time to make certain that she was safe.

  “We’ve missed it, too, Atan.” Storm yawned and relaxed back against the pillows. “I’m glad it’s over for the most part. Unless we missed something or another colony turns up, we can devote all our attention to you.”

  “When your chores are done, of course.” Dawn hid her grin against the side of Storm’s chest. She loved to tease them about being the boss of them here.

  Derechos pinched her ass in retaliation and made her jump. “I thought that screaming out an orgasm not that long ago would have toned down your penchant for causing trouble.”

  “Never,” she replied as he rolled her onto her back. Storm rolled onto his side next to her as Derechos leaned over her. They both smiled down at her and took turns kissing her. She laid a hand on each of their cheeks. “How did I get so lucky to find you?”

  “We are the lucky ones.” Derechos pressed a playful kiss to the end of her nose. “You were strong enough to stand up for everything you believed in and ended up being here right where we could find you.”