Becoming ONe (Kaliss Book 2)

by Cree Storm

  Shaking his head, Orion said, “I got the position because Nicu forfeited. That is not an honorable win.”

  “Honorable? You talk about an honorable win? Nicu used magic, Orion. He used magic to fuck you up, so he could kill you in front of your own coven. How the hell is what he did honorable? You were never meant to come out of that fight alive, and yet you did… barely. You earned the position as Regal, and the only one who doesn’t see that is you,” Nelson said, his voice filled with the passion he felt.

  “I won by forfeit, Nelson! Forfeit! Every time someone looks at me, that word will scream in my mind. You are supposed to see the other man lying on the mat, down for the count, not running out of the damn place, or just disappearing into the wind. When that happens with our enemy, it means they can strengthen and return and kill every man, woman, and child in our coven. I didn’t earn Regal… I was handed it.”

  Nelson could hear the pain and anguish in Orion’s voice. It was unbelievable to him. “This isn’t how the coven feels, it’s how you feel, and there is nothing I, or anyone else can say, to make you see the truth. So I ask you, what can we do? How can we fix this?”

  Shaking his head, Orion whispered, “I don’t know.”

  Nelson took Orion’s hand once more and turned him, so their eyes met. Nelson cupped his mate’s scarred cheek. “We’ll handle it like we do everything else, Sexy. We’ll figure it out together. Until then, you take that position and you do this coven proud.”

  Nodding, Orion said, “I will do my best.”

  Orion and Nelson made their way to the leader’s tent. Jewel was laughing at something one of the Scion’s was saying as Ezra rubbed his baby bump. The second Ezra saw them, he stood, gently setting Jewel on his feet. They nodded and made their way to Orion and Nelson. “Let’s go to the police station. There’s someone I’d like you to meet.”

  As they walked to the station, Orion said, “Jael said to tell you he was going to be about ten minutes late.”

  “Oh? Did he say why?” Ezra asked with a smirk.

  Nelson smiled. “It seems he had a pest issue he had to take care of first.”

  Jewel laughed. “We know, he called and explained.”

  “Then why did he tell me to tell you if he was going to call?” Orion asked in confusion.

  “I think he wanted us to tell the why part, Sexy,” Nelson said with a smile.

  Jewel laughed even harder. “Oh, he gave us the blow by blow of it, all right.”

  “There was no blowing. No time,” Nelson giggled.

  It didn’t take them long to get to the station. Walking in, Nelson was surprised to see Kragen, Strix, and Jorin sitting with a large, nice looking, dark haired man. He looked familiar, but Nelson couldn’t quite place him.

  Everyone stood, except for the stranger. Ezra gave a stern look to the guy, however, it was Orion who admonished the man’s disrespect in a lethal tone, “Do you not stand when your Re walks in the room?”

  Shaking his head, the guy replied, “Not really, no.”

  Orion snarled and took a step towards the guy, but Ezra stopped him. “Stand down, Orion. If Mr. Maxwell is no longer interested in being part of our coven, then we can just go.”

  Ezra turned as did the others. Everyone started out of the station, when the guy shouted, “Wait!”

  Ezra didn’t turn around, but Nelson did, along with Orion and the other men. The guy looked genuinely shocked. “I apologize for my rude behavior, but I thought I was brought in here because of a trumped-up charge by my… never mind. I am sorry for my rudeness, Re, and I do wish to come to this coven.”

  Ezra turned back around, asking, “My coven is one that prides itself on honesty, loyalty, family, and honor. Mr. Maxwell, if you cannot be all of those things than we have nothing more to discuss. However, if you are willing to be the man I describe, then we shall continue.”

  Nodding, Mr. Maxwell said, “It will be a nice change and yes, I am willing to be those things.”

  Ezra went around the desk and sat as Jewel took his place next to his mate. Nelson sat next to Jewel and Orion stood behind him. Ezra steepled his fingers as he pinned the man with his gaze. “I had planned on speaking to you in the morning, but I find myself too curious to wait. Why did you try for the position as Dire in my coven and not within your own? There were two open position in the Heskel coven.”

  Mr. Maxwell didn’t say anything at first, but when he did, it was with a question. “Am I permitted to be honest, or am I expected to kiss ass?”

  Ezra raised a brow, answering, “I told you that this coven is about four things, and honesty is one of them.”

  “I wouldn’t piss on Heskel if he was on fire, so I don’t think it’s a good plan to make me one of the guys responsible for his safety. The man has a God complex. He’s egotistical, and he takes from his coven more than he gives. So, no, I don’t want to be a part of his army. However, I heard that you were the polar opposite. I heard you run your coven with pride and for your people,” the man stated.

  “Why did you lose on purpose if you wanted to be in my Dire?” Ezra asked.

  Nelson watched as the man turned away, not saying anything. He thought the guy wasn’t going to answer, and then he turned back to Ezra. “I was told that if I won and accepted the position, that one of the few friends I have would die. I cannot allow that to happen.”

  “You were threatened? By who?” Ezra asked angrily.

  Mr. Maxwell gave a short laugh. “You wouldn’t believe me if I told you. And it wasn’t me who was threatened, it was one of my friends.”

  “Try me,” Ezra replied.

  “Heskel and his henchmen.”

  Ezra gave the man a neutral look. “Mr. Maxwell…”

  “Can you please call me Sabien?”

  Ezra gave a small nod. “Sabien, are you telling me that one of my Scion is… not fit to be the leader of one of my covens?”

  “Heskel isn’t fit to be leader of the lollipop guild,” Sabien answered snidely.

  “Who is this friend who was threatened?” Nelson asked.

  “Strife. He and another of my friends came up with me to watch the competition,” Sabien explained.

  Nelson could hear something in the man’s voice.

  “I hear it too, Nelson. He isn’t lying, but he isn’t telling us everything either,” Nelson’s fox said.

  “I agree.”

  “Ask him about his friends. Are they still here? Did they leave? Are they okay?” His fox asked in rapid succession.

  Nelson smiled. “I can’t ask if you keep talking.”

  Looking at Sabien, Nelson asked, “Your friends… are they okay?”

  Sabien turned away muttering, “I can’t find one of them. Strife and I have been looking, but he’s nowhere to be found.”

  “What does your friend look like, Mr. Maxwell?” Jewel asked.

  Ezra looked at Kagen. The Dire walked forward and took out his phone, then turned the screen to Sabien and asked, “Is this one of your friends?”

  Sabien stood, his chair flying behind him, almost hitting Jael as he raced in the door. “Son of a bitch, I’ll fucking kill him!” Sabien yelled.

  Nelson stood. “Is that the man you say you can’t find?”

  Nodding, Sabien replied, “Yes.”

  “I’m sorry for your loss, Sabien Maxwell, but may I ask you something?” Nelson requested.

  Sabien never took his eyes off the picture as he nodded. Nelson asked, “Why would Heskel want you to stay put in his coven to the point he would kill your friends?”

  Sabien looked at Nelson and then Ezra. “Heskel has kept me close ever since I can remember. As a child I tried escaping from his coven and was caught and brought back each and every time. The law says that when a Summoning Ceremony is held, all members must be given the opportunity to take the challenge for position. He kept me from that challenge every time. However, this last time, Strife put my name in the mix. He did it without Heskel finding out.”

  “How
did he do that?” Ezra asked.

  “Strife is good with computers. I mean really good,” Sabien answered.

  Nelson smiled. “He hacked us, didn’t he?”

  Sabien didn’t answer but he didn’t have to.

  “You say Heskel isn’t fit to be leader. What makes you say this? From what we are told, you don’t have the best of reputations in your own coven. Do you have proof of your accusations?” Jewel asked.

  Sabien reached down and straightened his seat before sitting. His face tightened in anger as he replied, “Every coven member pays into the coven a portion of their earnings.”

  Ezra gave a nod. “Five percent.”

  Shaking his head, Sabien stated, “Heskel makes us pay him twenty percent every month, and if you don’t give what he thinks is enough, he will starve the member to the brink before feeding him again. He forces members to steal from the human blood banks, so he doesn’t have to purchase from the coven’s supplies. Heskel refuses male to male relationships and if you are caught in one, he will beat you to within an inch of your life.” Looking at Jewel, Sabien asked, “Do I need to continue?”

  Nelson looked at Ezra. “I smell no lies coming from him, Ezra.”

  Nodding, Ezra said, “That is one of my concerns, Nelson. If what Sabien says is true, then a man I have known for hundreds of years is worse than a tyrant—he is a traitor to his people.”

  Orion looked at Sabien. “There is much more we need to discuss. However, much of it is going to have to wait until everyone leaves Kaliss.”

  “Ezra, if Heskel is harming his people for his own gain, we can’t in good faith send him back to them,” Jewel stated.

  Sighing, Ezra replied, “I can’t remove him from his position on just the word of one man. I need proof.”

  “Proof? Hell, I can tell you about all the cells are that Heskel keeps the people he is starving,” Sabien replied.

  “What about your friend, Strife? Will he talk to us?” Nelson asked.

  Sighing, Sabien said, “I don’t know. Fear is a powerful deterrent.”

  “What if I was to offer him a place in my coven as well?” Ezra asked.

  Sabien laughed. “Strife is no fighter, Re.”

  “Maybe not, but Nelson is so busy, he needs some help in the office. Besides, were you not just telling me that you needed a good computer guy?” Ezra said, then turned to Nelson and directed his question to him.

  Nelson nodded. “Uh… yeah.”

  “When everyone leaves, I want to talk to Strife. However, what I am going to do is simple. Orion, I want you, Jael, and a few other of the Imperial Army to go to Heskel’s coven the second the Ceremony is over. I want you all to take our private jet and get to that coven. I will make a mandatory one week gathering of the Scion. I’ll use the Nicu thing as a reason and keep them here under lock and key. There will be no calls in or out for one week. Find me proof of everything going on in that coven, Orion. I mean everything,” Ezra stated through clenched teeth.

  “I don’t like you being alone with Heskel if what this man says is true. Which I believe it is,” Orion stated.

  Ezra stood, his eyes glowing redder than Nelson had ever seen before. His breathing was rapid and heavy. Saying in a deep gravelly voice unlike he had ever heard before, Ezra announced, “I. Am. The. Re.”

  Orion gently replied, “That is why I don’t want you alone with a man who might be trying to take you out as the Re. You must have a guard. We would be lost without our Re and Scion, Ezra. And your mate and unborn child would be devastated beyond compare.”

  Jewel stood and moved to stand in front of his mate, placing a gentle hand on his chest. “Ezzy, listen to Orion. It isn’t safe.”

  Ezra looked at his mate, his eyes dimming until they were back to his normal deep sky-blue. “I will have Theron and Keir by my side at all times. You, my love, will not play your foolish games this time. I want Cassidy with you every step you make.”

  “I will not have another in the bathroom when I pee,” Jewel stated firmly.

  “Fine, he can stand outside your door. I will also have him choose six other guards,” Ezra stated.

  Jewel opened his mouth to say something, but Ezra stopped him, saying, “There will be no argument, love. You and our child will be kept safe.”

  Jewel nodded his agreement. “Okay, Ezzy, but you forgot that my brother already has four guards of his own on me now.”

  Ezra smirked. “No, I didn’t.”

  “I should go with them,” Sabien said.

  Ezra looked at Sabien. “Why?”

  “I know that coven like the back of my hand, Re. I can help Orion and the others,” Sabien stated.

  Orion said, “He isn’t wrong, Ezra.”

  Nodding, Ezra replied, “Sabien, I am starting a police department here. When you return, prepare to start interviewing so you can help choose your men. You will be my Chief of Police.”

  Sabien smirked. “That’s if I live.”

  “You better, because in order to survive this mess, I believe we will be needing you,” Ezra answered.

  CHAPTER 15

  The sun had just started to go down as Orion finished drying himself off. Nelson smiled as he stood at the bathroom door watching his mate. “You have no idea how sexy you truly are, do you?”

  Orion felt his cock harden at his mate’s soft words and laughed. “You play a dangerous game, Starlight.”

  Nelson sauntered to Orion, saying, “I do not play games or exaggerate. You are sexy, and I love you.”

  Orion grabbed Nelson by the hand and pulled him close. Leaning down, Orion placed his lips on his mate’s plump, soft ones, then pulled back just enough to whisper, “I wish we could finish this now, Starlight, but Ezra and the others are waiting.”

  “I’m going with you, you know?” Nelson said as he stepped away and walked out of the bathroom.

  Orion followed, naked and hard. “No, you are not.”

  “I have to go. How are you going to feed if I’m not there?” Nelson asked.

  “I’ll feed as I used to… from a blood bag,” Orion answered.

  Shaking his head, Nelson replied, “I’m going. I already spoke with Ezra. He’s assigned me to go over the paperwork.”

  “Nelson, we have no idea what kind of situation we will be walking into at Heskel’s coven. I don’t want you there,” Orion stated firmly as he put his pants on.

  Nelson walked to the bedroom door and pulled it open. “That’s too bad, because I’m going. I’ll meet you in Ezra’s office. Sabien’s friend is supposed to be there in five minutes.”

  Orion shoved his feet into his boots, and grabbed a shirt, putting it on as he rushed after his mate. “Sometimes, you are too stubborn for your own good.”

  “And sometimes you are too bullheaded. However, in this case you are outnumbered,” Nelson stated, taking the steps down as fast as he could.

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean? It is you and me here. How am I outnumbered? I’m bigger you know? I could lock you in our room until the plane takes off.”

  Nelson peeked back with a smile. “You might be bigger, but your Cuddle bunny is a hell of a lot stronger and he says we’re going too.”

  Orion had learned a long time ago that when his mate made up his mind, that was it. There was no going back and changing his mind. He walked into Ezra’s office and stopped. A strange man sat in the chair next to Sabien. It wasn’t that he was taller than Orion expected or a little paunchier, it was the man’s unique hair style that gave him pause. He had short white hair with black triangles on the sides and Orion could smell the man’s fear from across the room.

  “Is it just me or is that guy about to piss himself?” Nelson asked.

  “I was wondering the same thing,” Orion muttered, making his way into Ezra’s office with Nelson.

  Ezra smiled at them, as did Jewel. Ezra asked, “Are you ready for the big day?”

  Orion looked at Ezra in confusion and then realized what he meant. “I forgot all a
bout the Ranking Ceremony. Sorry.”

  “Orion, Nelson, I would like you to meet Strife. He was just explaining how easy it was to hack into our coven files,” Ezra said in a calm tone that surprised Orion.

  “Well that isn’t good, now is it?” Orion asked.

  Shaking his head, Ezra replied, “No, it isn’t.”

  “I didn’t read nothing in the files. All I did was find the entries to the Ceremony and add Sabe’s name. I swear,” Strife said anxiously.

  “Strife, do you have any idea why someone would want your friend Radeem killed? I have been thinking about this man’s death and the way he was executed, and I can’t believe it was just to give Nicu a face. He was chosen for a reason,” Orion asked.

  Shaking his head, Strife said, “Not one I can think of. Radeem was a baker for another coven. We met when his Scion came to our coven to meet with Heskel. Sabien and I introduced ourselves and we became fast friends. I still can’t believe he’s gone.”

  “Actually, that’s not entirely true,” Sabien muttered.

  Strife turned to Sabien in confusion. “What are you talking about? I didn’t lie.”

  “Not knowingly you didn’t,” Sabien replied then turned to Ezra. “Radeem Napal was helping me get some information about my past. He called me the day he was murdered. Rad told me he had stumbled onto something and he was going to check it out.”

  “Stumbled on what?” Orion asked.

  Shaking his head Sabien replied, “I don’t know. I told him not to do anything without me. The dumb fuck went ahead anyway, and Strife and I have been searching for him ever since I got finished with my set and he didn’t show.”

  “You’re telling me that Rad was a PI guy?” Strife asked in awe.

  “He wasn’t a PI, Strife, but he was our friend and because of me, he’s dead,” Sabien said, hanging his head.

  “But he was so good at baking,” Strife muttered. “He made those small dairy free cakes I like so much, and his tarts were amazing. Oh! And do you remember the dairy free spinach quiche he would make for me? Now who is going to do that, Sabe? I don’t know how to bake, and you can’t even boil hot water.” Strife started sniffling.