Royals

by S. Dalambakis

  There is a brief knock on the door before it opens. The doctor walks in with a couple of uniformed police officers.

  “Sorry to interrupt, but the police are here to question Callyn.”

  “We’ll be back when you’re done. You got this sweetheart,” Zeke says before he kisses my forehead.

  “Holler if you need us, Callie bear.” Graydon leans down and kisses my forehead as well.

  “Be strong, angel,” Max says right before he kisses my cheek.

  “Just a little bit longer, baby.” Lucian bends down and kisses my other cheek. I watch as they all file out of my room. I square my shoulders as best as I can. I look to the police preparing myself for what is to come.

  I take a deep breath. You can do Callyn.

  You got this.

  Chapter 30

  The Boys- Lucian

  We all reluctantly leave Callyns room. She needs to do this. It’s the first step to her healing. We all walk quietly back to the waiting room. Our parents look up. My grandma is the first to speak up.

  “How is she?”

  “Bruised, broken, scared, but she’s hanging in there best she can.”

  “We saw the cops go back, I take that as a good sign and she’s finally going to stop that monster?”

  I nod my head. “Yeah, but I’m scarred Grammy.” She gets up and comes over to me. She pulls me off to the side.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “I just-I just.” I don’t how to explain it.

  “You love her, don’t you?” she questions.

  Did I love her? I think I might be fallen in love with her.

  “I love her like I do the guys, as my friends. But I think I might be Grammy. I might be fallen in love with her.”

  “Love is scary Lucian.” I shake my head.

  “That’s not why I’m scared.” I glance up to the others. My eyes finding each of my friends. “What if she doesn’t want any of us like we do her? What if she can’t cope with being a mate to four guys? She is my destined, my one. What if she doesn’t feel the same because she is human? What if I’m not enough or she doesn’t want me as one of her mates? I hate not being able to tell her. Keeping secrets isn’t going to help any of this or anyone.”

  “Oh, Luke. You are enough. Do you hear me?” I nod. “Good. Now, I think this is a conversation you need to have with your friends. You guys need to come up with a solution. Whatever that may be. But you don’t push her into anything. Ultimately this must be Callyn’s decision. I will talk to your grandfather. The Council has stalled long enough. That girl in there could have lost her life. I will not stand by and let that happen.

  And I think you may be wrong about Callyn not wanting you. I believe she wants all of you just as much as you want her. She may not end up a shifter, but I believe she feels the effects like you do. Just not to the same degree. I think it’s about time you boys tell her who she is to you. I’ll deal with your grandfather.”

  I nod my understanding. Grammy gives me a quick hug and goes back over to her seat. I look around and catch my friend’s eyes. I let out a breath. They all walk over to me.

  “You okay?” Max asks.

  “Yes and no. But…but I think it’s time we talk. My grandmother thinks it’s time to tell. Callyn that she is our mate. She said she will help deal with Council. She is not happy about the way things have turned out. She is not happy with the Council. But we do need to talk about how each of us feel about Callyn and the possibility that she may want one or none of us. She is human, and we don’t know how well she will take this news.”

  This conversation should have already happened, but we were listening to the Council. I think it’s about time that we stopped.

  Graydon

  No way in hell will I not give a fighting chance to be Callyn. Did it cross my mind that she may not want any of us? No. But I must hold out hope that she does. I know that a relationship with four guys is unconventional to a human, but as shifters we understand. The question is, can we help Callyn understand? I know how I feel about her. How deep my emotions for her run. I think the guys need to confess theirs as well. Looks like I’m going to get the ball rolling.

  “I’m falling in love with her. I want her. I think she wants me, all of us,” I state boldly. I was waiting for the yelling to start but it didn’t. No one said anything. I look around meeting each of their eyes. Zeke was the first to break the silence.

  “I agree with Graydon, with all of it.”

  “Me too,” states Max.

  “I do as well.”

  “I figured as much. Well, where the hell do we go from here?”

  “I don’t know, but now really isn’t the time. We can talk later when Callyn is resting. We also have to decide when we want to tell her,” Lucian says.

  I say we tell her as soon as we go back to her room, but logically, we should wait until she is feeling better. I just don’t know how much longer we can wait.

  ∞∞∞

  Another hour and a half goes by before we see the police leave. Our parents left about an hour ago, making us promise to tell them the second something changes. Also, that we aren’t supposed to stay here all night and we are expected to come home. Like I’m going to listen. Callyn literally doesn’t have anyone right now. I can’t leave her here by herself. After, everyone’s confessions, I doubt they will leave either.

  We watch the police stop and talk to her doctor for a moment before turning and walking out the door. Callie’s doctor walks over to us.

  “Callyn has asked for you guys to return to her room when you can. Visiting hours are done at ten,” he says sternly, before turning and walking away.

  We all get up and start walking back to her room. I pause outside her door. I turn and look at the guys. “We can’t say anything to Callie yet. We don’t even know what we are doing. Let alone, what she just went through. We have to give her time to heal. Agreed?” I say barely above a whisper.

  I look each of them in the eyes and they all nod their heads in agreement. I turn back and knock on Callyn’s door.

  “Callie bear, it’s us.”

  “Come on in.”

  We all file in and take up post around her room. I look at her face and her eyes are red and puffy. She’s been crying again. I clear my throat. I hate this.

  “How are you holding up?” I ask.

  “Best as can be expected, I guess.”

  “I hate to ask Callie bear, but what did the police say.”

  I see her eyes well up with fresh tears, and I feel like an ass for asking, but I need to know. She lets out a deep breath.

  “They are going to go and arrest him. I told them about my aunt. They said that they will try to locate and find her. If they can’t before I’m released, I’m going to have to go to a group home. I don’t want to, but I don’t have a choice.”

  Callyn breaks down and starts crying. Me and Lucian sit on one side of her bed. Zeke and Max on the other. All of us put a hand on her leg.

  “When are they going to release you?” Lucian questions.

  “The day after tomorrow. What if my father’s not there when they go arrest him? He has to know that the cops would be called.”

  We glance quickly at each other. Chances are that he is passed out drunk in his room. We didn’t think about him trying to skip town. Someone should have stayed to make sure, but we didn’t know if Callyn would tell the police. I send a quick message to my dad to see if someone can go to Callyn’s and make sure everything goes well, when the cops arrest her father. I send the address. A few seconds later, he lets me know that Lucians grandmother already had it taken care of. Elder Harris is going to Callyn’s to watch things. We were so worried about her that nothing else mattered. It still doesn’t. Callie comes first. Always.

  Zeke

  An hour later, there is a knock on Callyn door. Lucian’s grandfather pokes his head in. “I need to speak with you boys for a moment.” We file out of the room and into the hallway. “I figured it out,” he
says without missing a beat.

  “Figured out what grandfather?”

  “Callyn.”

  We all stand there waiting for him to say something. Instead, he reaches into the front pocket of his robes and pulls out a necklace. Letting the chain unravel, we see a pendant on the end. All of us move closer to take a look. It is a round silver pendant with a star in the middle. In the center of the star is a diamond. There is a black circle around the star. The symbol for air is at the top with an aquamarine diamond at the tip. Earth is at the bottom with an emerald. Fire is to the left with a ruby, and water is to the right with a sapphire. Lucian inhales deeply.

  “Is that what I think that is?” he questions.

  “Yes.”

  Lucian quickly meets all our eyes. “This is the symbol of the Alpha Queen. It was mentioned she wore a necklace made of silver. On that necklace hung this symbol. It was said to be passed down to the next reigning queen. The last Alpha Queen never had an heir.”

  “That we know of. Remember, we don’t know what happened the night she met her end. I do need to ask Callyn how she came about this though. I just need her to confirm my suspicions.”

  We nod, curious as to where he is going with this. We shuffle back into Callyn’s room. Her eyes going wide, when she spots Elder Harris. He moves and takes a seat on the edge of her bed.

  “How are you doing, sweetie?”

  “The best that can be expected.”

  “I came across something in your room. I’m sorry, first for going through your belongings, but I was curious to see if there was a clue to help us unravel the mystery of you. I saw the jewelry box hidden in the back of your closet. When I opened it, I found this.” He shows her the necklace.

  Callyn frowns. “That’s my mother’s necklace. She gave that to me before she died. Why? What’s so special about it?”

  “Before I tell you, did she saw anything else about this necklace.” She nods her head.

  “Yes. She said to never show anyone. When the time came I was to pass it down to my first-born daughter. She said has been passed down for generations and it’s a very special and valuable heirloom.”

  “Do you know what this symbol is?”

  “No.”

  “I do.” Callyn lifts her head.

  “It’s the symbol of the Alpha Queen.”

  “Alpha Queen?”

  “Yes, Callyn what I’m about to tell you will come as a shock. But I need you to listen carefully. Then I will let the boys take over. There are things that are still unclear to even us, bare that in mind. This necklace is said to have been worn by the Alpha Queens. Handed down to their heirs when it was their time to rule. The last known queen to have worn this was around two centuries ago. Her and her mates were defeated in a great war. Everyone thought that she bore no children. Thinking that when she perished, so did her line.

  Now, I’m not so sure. This necklace may just prove that you, Callyn Silvers, is a descendant of the Alpha Queen. The true ruler of all shifter kind. These boys, all four of them, are your true destined mates. Making you all the first true alpha pairing in two centuries. Which also means, you all have a lot of responsibilities, and work ahead of you. The only way you are going to get through this, is together.”

  Maximus

  Holy. Shit.

  Could Elder Harris have dropped a bigger bombshell? Callyn being in possession of the Alpha Queen’s necklace practically cemented what everyone thought. Thinking and knowing are two different things. Holy shit. I’m a mate of the Alpha Queen. I’m basically royalty.

  “Shifters are real?” Callyn questions.

  “Yes. The boys are shifters. Practically everyone in this town is,” Elder Harris answers.

  “Okay. But I’m not a shifter. I mean I don’t have any other form beside this one.” She gestures over her body, and what a body it is.

  “That I don’t know have an answer too. It could be your line is now to diluted with human DNA, and you can’t shift. Another possibility could be, once you claim your mates it might awaken a dormant shifter gene. Only time will tell if you will be able to shift at all.”

  “If I could shift, what would I be and mates?”

  “The Alpha Queen’s line, the heir anyways, always shifted into a phoenix. Your mates are in this room. All four of these boys are yours.”

  “Aren’t phoenix’s like a myth? Mine. They are mine?” she gestures to all of us before a small smile appears across her lips.

  “To humans yes. But not to shifters. And yes, yours.”

  Callyn may shift into a fucking phoenix. I don’t know a person alive that has seen a phoenix shifter. It makes since then, if it’s just royal blood that shifts into that mythical bird. Oh, man. I hope Callyn gets to shift. To see her spread her wings and fly. I bet nothing would look better.

  “You know this sounds crazy, right? Shifters aren’t real.”

  Elder Harris looks over his shoulder to Lucian. “Lucian, since your shifted form is smaller than the others, would you please do me the favor and shift for Callyn?”

  He just nods. Lucian steps to the side, giving Callyn a full view. In a matter of seconds, the spot where Lucian was just occupying, now stood a red hair fox. He moves to the side of Callyn’s bed before jumping up. He has his head lowered, tail tucked between his legs. A sign of submission. The shock on my face must match that of Callyns, but for very different reasons. Hers from seeing a human turn into an animal. Mine because Lucian is submitting.

  I look to the guys and see that they are just as shocked as I am. Lucian just submitted, to his queen, his mate. I look back to Callie. She lifts her hand tentatively. I can see her shaking from here. Slowly, she moves her hand toward Lucian. He lowers his belly to the bed and crawls slowly, meeting her palm with his nose, before giving it a quick lick.

  Callie giggles. “Can I touch you?” she asks him.

  Lucian answers by crawling a little closer, nudging her hand with his snout. She places her hand on his head between his ears, before cautiously running her finger over his fur. In the quiet of the room, you hear a purr. What the hell Lucian. You’re purring now too.

  “Oh, your fur is so soft.” Before I can blink, Callyn picks him up and starts to snuggle with him. “Oh my god, you’re just the cutest thing.” Rubbing her face on the top of his head, and the side of his muzzle.

  The purring gets louder. Lucky, fucking bastard.

  Chapter 31

  Callyn

  Listening to Elder Harris speak of shifters, being queen, and having four mates was a bit much. Anyone listening would think he belongs in a looney bin. I didn’t really believe him. I was just going along with it. Then I had to go and question him. He asks Lucian to shift. Then I thought I belong in a looney bin. One minute, Lucian was standing there, handsome as ever. Then the next, there was fox in the spot he was just standing.

  The fox has the same red hair color as Lucian. When he jumps up on my bed, I almost scream. I look at him and the fox had the same color eyes. This was Lucian. Holy shit. Shifters are real. If shifters are real, then there is a possibility that everything else that was just said was real too. I don’t know if I can handle this. I want to touch him, but I am scared. So, I ask. He lets me. He is just as soft as his fur looks. I couldn’t help myself. I pick him and snuggle him.

  Oh god. This is going to be embarrassing later. Right now, he is curled up in my lap, purring, as I thread my fingers through his fur. I take a deep breath. I have a feeling that there is more. I want to know, but I also want to know what the other boys shift into, and I can’t wait to see. I need to satisfy my curiosity first.

  “What do the rest of you shift into?” I ask looking around the room.

  “I’m a wolf,” answers Zeke.

  “Me as well,” states Max. I look over to Graydon, meeting his eyes.

  “I’m a bear.” I couldn’t help it, I bust out laughing.

  It takes me a minute to get control of myself. “So, you’re telling me that I’ve been call
ing you my grumpy bear, and you quite literally are my grumpy bear.” I start laughing again. The rest of the room joining in. It was a few moments before everyone quiets down.

  “The guys had a good laugh about that, later that day.”

  I look back to Lucian’s grandfather. “I sense that there is more.”

  “Unfortunately, yes. Before I continue, I would like to ask a question.” I nod my head, for him to go ahead. “Have you ever worn the necklace?”

  “No. I was little when my mother gave it to me. She told me to keep it hidden and never show anyone. She said you never know who you can trust. So, I did as she asked. I never once took the necklace out of the jewelry box.”

  “Would you mind putting it on? I would like to see if anything happens.”

  “Okay.” I say attentively.

  Elder Harris hands me the necklace. I slip it over my head. At first, I didn’t feel anything. But then the pendant starts to feel warm. A tingling sensation starts to spread over my body going outward from where the pendant laid at my chest. I gasp in surprise. It was weird, but I start to feel better. My back didn’t hurt as bad. I look over to Graydon.

  “Check my back.”

  “Why?”

  “Please, just check it.”

  Graydon shrugs his shoulders, gets up and closed the few feet that separate us. I lean forward slightly, making sure not to press on Lucian, who was still curled up on my lap in fox form. I hear Graydon, take a sharp breath in.

  “It’s healing right before my eyes. The bruising is fading. The blisters shrinking.” He takes a couple of steps back, before the others walk over and look.

  “Well shit, how?” whispers out Max.

  “The necklace started to get warm and I felt tingly all over. I don’t know. I just started to feel better. Everything hurt less. But I don’t understand,” I say looking to Elder Harris.

  “Magic, sweet girl. Magic.”