by Maggie Walsh
Taylor just stood there unmoving as he gave Francis a bored look. “Ocean, box,” Taylor said simply and Francis vanished.
Everyone quickly came closer and waited. A few minutes later, Francis reappeared, soaking wet and sputtering for air. He looked to Taylor and his eyes filled with rage. “How can a useless mutt have that kind of power?” he demanded.
“As Sage said, your ignorance will be your downfall,” Micah said and stepped forward.
“And who are you?” Francis sneered.
“I am Alpha Prime Micah Angel,” Micah announced. Sage had to hold in the laugh as Francis’s eyes went wide in disbelief, then changed to fear.
Micah held out his hand to the side and Jesse stepped forward, clasping his hand. “This is my mate, Jesse Angel, the Heart. And all these people, as well as Sage, are a part of the new paranormal council, and my pack. You, Genesis, will pay for your crimes against our people, but first I would love to see your face when your ignorance is proven.”
Francis took a step back and began to chant under his breath. Jesse held up his hand and flicked his wrist. Francis immediately quieted. He looked at Jesse in horror. “How?”
“Because you are so full of yourself that you stupidly denied the fact that the Heart is real and he is the most powerful being on this rock, Francis. Oh yeah, and he’s my uncle,” Sage declared happily.
“Well, I wouldn’t go that far,” Lucifer interjected.
Francis’s gaze shifted to Lucifer. “And who are you?”
“Who, me?” Lucifer pointed to himself as he gave Francis a surprised look. “I’m no Heart, but I can hold my own. Don’t mind me, just go on with what you were doing. I was bored and needed a little entertainment. My cable is out and I can’t watch The Bachelorette. Which really sucks because I was dying to find out who she gave the rose to.”
A few snickers could be heard, but mostly everyone kept their composure. Francis looked at Lucifer like he was insane and didn’t understand why the man was even there. “Anywho, Francine. Now that the comic relief portion or tonight’s events is over, let’s get back to you being an asshole.” Taylor chuckled.
Francis looked around to everyone standing there and gave that evil grin that Sage hated so much. But just as quickly as the grin came it was gone and Francis looked confused. His lips started to move, and his confusion only grew.
“He’s trying to use the vanishing spell,” Rory announced.
“Oh shit. I forgot to tell you, Francis. Your powers don’t actually work anymore. Taylor here, you know, the one you keep calling a whore, is the guardian of the Heart and he can siphon anyone’s powers. Which he did with yours, while Lucifer was distracting you,” Sage said. “Oh and the little bit that you actually had left, that Taylor took, he placed them in Zane. You know Zane right? The Zane. The Moiria guardian.”
Francis’s eyes went wide and Sage took joy in watching the man slowly put the pieces together and realize his plan was done. “You…I…I will make you pay for this,” Francis seethed.
“That’s where you’re wrong again, Francis. You have no power. Nothing. Zero. You are essentially a human. It’s over. You lost.”
“I think that’s my cue,” Lucifer said and walked closer. Francis’s eyes went wide in terror and he took a step back, tripping over his own feet and landing on his ass. As Lucifer approached, Francis began to scramble backward, trying to get away. Lucifer stopped and gave Francis an evil smirk. “Go ahead and run. I love when they run. I’ll even give you a head start. Go on,” Lucifer encouraged.
Francis scrambled to his feet and took off away from Lucifer, running down the road. “Fluffy!” Lucifer called in a singsong voice and suddenly the deadly hellhound appeared next to Lucifer. Lucifer ran his hand down the massive hound’s head tenderly. “Fetch.”
Fluffy took off at top speed and pounced on Francis, crashing him to the ground. Francis looked over his shoulder and turned as pale as a ghost when he saw what lay on him. Fluffy lowered his snout and opened his jaws, grabbing Francis around the throat. Francis screamed out a torturous sound, then it stopped. Fluffy lifted his head and looked to Lucifer, Francis dangling from his mouth.
“Such a good boy, Fluffy. For always being so good, that treat is yours. You may take it home and play with it for as long as you like before you eat it,” Lucifer praised. Fluffy let out a happy sound around Francis’s body and disappeared.
“So that was fun. I need to hang out with you people more often,” Lucifer said as he turned his attention back to the group and smiled.
“So now what?” Tempest asked.
“Now we expand our facility and start training soldiers as well as Enforcers, Betas, and Alphas. A new war has begun. We need to destroy all of the scourges, sachem, and that damn Rapture,” Micah announced.
Chapter 12
Their family was gathered in the backyard of the pack house, as some swam and others played football. Sage sat on a lounge chair as he watched the activities and laughed as Slade used a spell to steal the ball from Crew’s hands, and throw it across the field, landing perfectly in Maddy’s hands. Then Maddy turned and rushed the line, getting a touchdown.
“This look is good on you,” his grandmother’s soft voice came from beside him.
Sage’s head snapped in her direction and his eyes got wide. “Grandma, you’re awake! Are you okay?”
Sage sat up and moved his legs, placing his feet on the ground. Lillian sat beside him and took his hand in hers as she gave him a loving smile. “Yes, my sweet boy. I’m fine. Aaron said that I am okay and have no lasting effects from that beast,” she said and Sage could see the shiver of revulsion course through her.
“Good,” Sage said with a relieved sigh. “It killed me when we returned and they told me what had happened to you.”
“That definitely wasn’t my favorite experience in life and I never want it to happen again.”
“Did Micah tell you about the ward tattoo that will keep anything from possessing you ever again?” Sage asked in concern.
Lillian patted his hand and smiled. “Yes, my dear. I am eighty-three years old and I never once thought about getting a tattoo, but now I got my first.” Lillian chuckled.
Sage’s brows rose. “You got it already?”
“Yes. That handsome young man mated to your brother came to me this morning and did it himself. He was very kind and gentle. It didn’t hurt a bit,” Lillian explained as she reached up to the collar of her shirt and pulled it down enough to reveal her new tattoo, right above her heart.
Sage gasped as tears filled his eyes. There over her heart in beautiful script was his mother’s name and Anthony, and it read, Always in my heart. “Oh, Grandma. It’s so beautiful. But that’s not the protection ward.”
“Oh, I got that, too, but somewhere I can’t show you.” She smiled and gave him a wink. “I had that nice warrior, Ryx, stamp that one on my ass, so that if any other of those creepy bastards tries to get inside my body again, they can kiss my ass.”
Sage burst out laughing and wrapped his arms around Lillian and hugged her tight. “Gods, I missed you, Grandma.”
“I missed you, too, Anthony. Or I should say, Sage now, right?” she asked as she returned the hug.
Sage released her and pulled back, but took her hand. “If it’s okay with you I would really like to stick with Sage now.”
“Of course, my dearest,” she said, then raised her free hand and cupped Sage’s cheek tenderly. “I don’t care what name you wish to go by now, as long as it makes you happy, then it’s fine by me. I don’t care what name you want to be as long as I have you back in my life again. That’s all that matters.”
“I love you, Grandma, and I’m sorry if my leaving caused you any worry or stress. I just needed to make sure you were safe.”
“I know that, Sage, and it’s okay. Can you forgive me for all those horrible things I said to you? You know I don’t feel like that, right?”
Sage gave her a smile. “Yes, Grandma. I know now that it wasn’t
you. There is nothing to apologize for and nothing to feel guilty about.”
“Good, because I need you to know that I love you no matter who or what you are, Sage. I don’t care if you are gay, or can shift into a wolf, or cast spells. And I don’t care if you want to go onstage and strip your clothes. As long as you are happy with who you are and know what a wonderful man you are. I am so proud of you and happy for you. You have a wonderful mate, and an amazing family that loves you and will do anything for you. Your mother would be proud of you and happy for you as well,” Lillian said lovingly, with tears in her eyes.
Tears began to stream down Sage’s cheek. “She would?”
“Oh yes, my sweet boy. If she were here right now she would say those exact words to you that I just did. She loved you more than anything and would be so happy to see how your life worked out, and proud of the man you have become.”
“Thank you, Grandma. I love you,” Sage cried as he threw his arms around her and hugged her tight.
“Lil, it’s good to see you up and around again,” Slade said as he approached.
Sage and Lillian pulled back and each wiped the tears from the other’s face, then laughed. Lillian turned to face Slade. “Thank you, Slade. It’s good to be out of that bed and among this family again. I have grown to love each of them as my own, even though so many of them are so much older than me.” She laughed.
Slade gave Sage a questioning look and Sage nodded. He turned to Lillian, his face serious. “Grandma, there is something I need to tell you.”
“You can tell me anything, sweetheart. What is it? Is something wrong?” she asked in concern.
“No, it’s nothing like that.”
Slade sat across from them in another lounge and reached out to take one of Sage’s hands, giving him an encouraging squeeze. Sage took a deep breath and looked back at Lillian. “As you know, I have been living with Evan for over two years now. But now that Raphael is there and they have graciously welcomed Jamie and the others to go live with them, it’s a little crowded over there. Micah has insisted on helping by expand the house again so that everyone will fit and not be on top of one another, but that will take a month or so.”
“So are you and Slade going to live here, or with Dante? I mean I know you’re a part of his coven, so that would only make sense,” Lillian said to Slade.
“No, Lil. We won’t be living here or with Dante. I love being a part of his coven. I have felt blessed with his acceptance of me, but one of the reasons I loved it so much is that I didn’t have to live there all the time. I could come and go as I pleased. And in my position with the coven I was gone most of the time. One of the reasons is that Dante is the leader, and alpha type, and of course Micah is an alpha, but I am also an alpha type. I think we may clash too much if we live under the same roof.”
“And Slade is used to traveling around, not being in one place,” Sage added.
“So are you telling me that you’re leaving?” Lillian asked quietly as tears came to her eyes.
“No, Grandma. We’re not leaving. We just can’t live with alpha Raphael, or King Dante, or Alpha Micah. And Slade still wants to be able to do his job for the coven and pack, but he’s ready to set down some roots, too. Have you seen that large Tudor house up on Main Street, about a block from the town square?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that house became vacant back in February. The previous tenant found their mate with one of the fae that came over and they went to go live over in the development that surrounds King Ryland’s palace on the old pack house lands.”
“So you two are moving in there?” she asked.
“Yes, Lil. But we wanted to know if you would like to come live with us?” Slade asked.
Lillian’s eyes filled with tears again as a big smile crossed her lips. “Oh, you two are so wonderful. I would love to get to know you again, Sage, and to get to know my new grandson-in-law, but you two are newly mated. What would you want an old coot like me hanging around for?”
“Because you are our family,” Slade said with conviction.
“Oh, Slade, that is so nice of you, but are you sure?”
“Yes, Grandma. But that’s not all. That house is so big. Too big for the two of us, or even the three of us. Anyway, as you know, Micah owns everything in this town, but my father…wow, that’s still strange to say that.” Sage laughed.
“What he’s trying to say, Lil, is that my mates and I bought the house from Micah and have given it to Sage and Slade as a mating present,” Raith announced as he, Aaron, and Rory joined them, along with Maddy, Josh, and Milo.
“That is one wonderful mating gift,” Lillian replied.
“We wanted to buy one for Maddy, Josh, and Milo, too, when they mated, but they were happy being at Evan’s, but now things have changed,” Raith added as he pulled up a chair and sat. Aaron sat next to him and Rory sat on Raith’s lap.
“Oh?”
“With me being gone a lot at the training facility, it was great having Milo and Josh with Evan and the others because then I didn’t have to worry about them so much. Evan lives about fifteen miles outside of town, and Josh and Milo’s businesses are in town. Sometimes, especially with snow, it’s hard to get there,” Maddy began.
“And now that Evan and Raphael have taken in six new boys along with Tucker, Syn, and Shane still being there, the place will be really crowded,” Josh added.
“Even though Uncle Micah is expanding it again, that’s still a lot of people. And Sage and I were talking. He, Josh, and I have already lived together, as well as Milo, and we’re used to each other.”
“So we talked with Raith and the house is definitely big enough to split into two units, but we want to keep it more family friendly like here. We want to get to know each other now as brothers. We have missed out on so much growing up without each other, so Raith, Aaron, and Rory have graciously bought the house for all of us, and are going to do the renovations to what we want. We will each have our own suites like they have here, but the main part of the house will still be for everyone. And there is a cute apartment over the garage, which we are having fixed up for Oliver,” Sage explained.
“And there is plenty of room to make you your own suite, Lil,” Slade said.
“So thanks to our three dads here, the house belongs to all five of us. And all of us being together made a lot of sense actually, with all the new developments in our lives,” Maddy added.
“That is such a wonderful idea. I am so happy for all of you. But what new developments do you mean?” Lil asked.
“I have asked Slade, Sage, Maddy, and Zane to head up our new division to hunt down the skinwalkers,” Micah said. He and Jesse had joined them while the others were explaining about the house. “Sage will be starting training immediately and the four of them will be working with some of our top trainers to get battle ready. Zane and Slade are already there, and Maddy is almost through with enforcer training. The first recruits of soldiers will be starting in the fall so we need these three and Zane ready to lead them by then.”
“Maddy and I have some wicked powers on our own, but together they work a hundred times better. So there will be times we need to go out on missions at the same time. As well as Slade. Josh and Milo would be there holding down the fort. And with Oliver…it means there is always someone around. Well, unless they are at the tattoo shop or garage. But those are both in walking distance of the house, so they could be home in the blink of an eye. And town is right there, so you could go there anytime you wanted. Go out to eat, catch a movie, whatever,” Sage reasoned.
“It sounds like you all have thought about this a lot,” Lillian said.
“Yes, we have,” Slade answered. “And there will be times where I may have to go out on a mission alone and I would feel better knowing that Sage had others around. People who love him.”
“And you’re all sure you want me there?” Lillian asked hesitantly.
“Yes!” They all answered together.
Lillian looked at each of them with a smile and then turned her gaze to Sage. “How can I turn down such a marvelous offer?”
Sage’s eyes opened wide. “Really?”
“Really. I had one grandson and now I have six.” Sage grabbed Lillian around the shoulders and hugged her again as Lillian laughed at his reaction.
The ground shook violently and Sage released Lillian and everyone jumped, looking to see what had happened.
“Sorry, everyone. I’m new to these powers and still not too sure how to control them,” Evan said as he raised his hands.
* * * *
Taylor sat on the picnic table, with his feet on the bench, as he leaned back on his hands and watched the activities. He chuckled and shook his head as he watched Evan slam his hands down on the ground in frustration and the ground shook like an earthquake. The cutie then turned red with embarrassment and held up his hands to show everyone he did an oops.
Raphael walked to his mate and pulled him close, giving him a kiss before pulling back and telling him something. Evan smiled and nodded, then rubbed his hands together really fast and quickly opened them, facing out. A ripple of energy raced through the backyard and anyone in its path was blown back onto their asses.
Taylor laughed out loud as he watched them all get back on their feet. Then everyone started showing off their powers. Bailey multiplied into twenty and surrounded Lexi, who was still holding the football, and all the Baileys attacked at once.
“Now that’s what I call a puppy pile,” Lucifer said from beside him and Taylor just smirked, Lucifer’s sudden arrival not even making him flinch. “So what are they doing?”
“It appears everyone got their powers recently, so they are showing them off and helping each other learn how to use them,” Taylor explained without taking his eyes off the show.
“Ooh, so what do we got?” Lucifer asked and rubbed his hands together.
“Well, it looks like Haven is about to attack Laylen. This may be interesting.”
They both watched as Haven drew in a deep breath and then blew it out toward Laylen. Laylen fought against the gale force wind for a moment, but it eventually got too strong and flung him backward, sending him tumbling across the lawn.
