by T. Cobbin
“I’m okay. I’m just a little tied up right now.”
The squealing, wriggling body of the man in his mouth sounded like a pig heading toward a slaughter. Ick, Blue thought. I wouldn’t pee on this thing if it was on fire, and to eat it... Nope, not on your nelly.
In his head Pete was yelling at him to stop playing with the man and untie their mate.
Okay, okay, old man, he pacified the other half of him and dropped the man he held onto the floor with a thunk.
“Remember you are not to torch that in here,” Troy’s voice boomed out in warning. “In fact, don’t kill him yet. We need answers.”
Huffing, Blue firmly placed a clawed foot on top of him, making sure he dug his claws in the young man’s sides. A little glee rippled through him when he heard the man cry out in pain. Sadistic? Yeah, bloody right. This man had held a blade to Wendy’s throat. The blade in question suddenly bounced off the many tiny scales on his foot as the bloke tried to stab him.
“Joe, you fucking liar,” he screamed out. “They can’t be killed.”
Looking down in disgust, Blue flicked the hand that held the knife away with his claw, breaking a few of the man’s fingers in the process. Oops, he tittered to himself hearing the man bellow out in pain.
Stop playing and get to Wendy, Pete chastised.
Puffing a circle of smoke out through his nose in irritation, Blue swung his head over the cloakroom counter and carefully picked Wendy up, placing her gently onto one of the soft love seats that dotted the foyer.
“I hope you brushed your teeth.” Wendy chuckled.
“You must be okay if you’re laughing, little mate.”
“Only ’cause it’s you and I know I’m safe.”
“Blue?” Troy’s voice came from behind him. “Will you let me attend to Wendy, and will you release the scum under your feet so we can question him?”
Blue growled at the thought of anyone else’s hands on Wendy, but knowing he couldn’t do things like taking the tape from her mouth without hurting her, he nodded to Troy. As for the dirt speck under his paw, he squeezed it a little and then stepped back. Cole and Brock were there to pick the man up off the floor. With a punch to the back of his head, Brock knocked the man out. Blue watched the bastard drop to the floor, then turned to his mate.
“You are safe now, little mate. Pete is eager to get to you.”
“Wait,” she called out before he gave himself over to his human side.
He waited until finally Troy had peeled off all the silver tape from her arms, legs, and face. She stood up from the seat and ran over to him.
“Thank you, Blue.” She hugged tightly on his neck then kissed his snout.
“It was Pete’s plan. He knew he couldn’t talk to you to find out where you were. When he realized there might be someone with you, he knew I could talk to you.”
“It was both of you who saved me, Blue. You’re just as much a part of my life as Pete is.”
“Thank you, little mate. Maybe you can join me in the sandpit later.” Purring, he stepped back from her and gave Pete the control his other half so desperately wanted.
* * * *
Pete moaned as he pulled Wendy close to his chest. He could physically feel his heart slowing down in peace at having her safe in his arms. He saw red, swollen marks where the silver duct tape had been attached to her skin. Rubbing his hands over her skin lightly, he sent healing waves through to her and watched her skin slowly lose the marks and become her normal pink instead of the harsh, inflamed red.
A voice in the background belonging to the mad caretaker was growing louder and disturbing him. “See I told you, fucking inhuman. Why the hell are you just standing there? Oh God, you’re one too, aren’t you? How many of you things are there?”
Pete tuned the man out and concentrated on his mate. She was shivering slightly, and he could feel her fatigue through their bond.
“I have something to tell you, sugar,” he whispered in her ear. He had to be upfront and honest; he could no longer hide what he knew. When her eyes met his he felt guilty about not telling her before now. “I should have told you as soon as I knew, but I wanted to give you some time to let everything that’s happened recently sink in. But after today and all the shit we’ve been through, I’m hoping this will be the good news that will make a shitty day a little better. Plus, I want you to take it a little bit easier.”
Wendy looked at him with expectant eyes.
“You know that big family you wanted…” He trailed off and waited for her to nod. She did, and he watched as recognition slowly flickered in her eyes. A beaming smile lit up her face, and her eyes sparkled like the jewels his dragon loved.
“Really? How can you know? My period isn’t due for another week.”
He tapped the side of his nose. Ducking his head into the crook of her neck, he inhaled and sighed. “Are you happy?” he asked.
“I didn’t know what I was missing until I found you.” Wendy ran a hand down the side of his face. The loving look on her face spoke for her.
“I love you ,Wendy Mumford. Marry me?” he asked her again.
“Yes.” She laughed. “I’m already yours, numbnuts. But a wedding is something I have dreamed of since I was a little girl.”
The caretaker’s scream behind him gave him pause. He knew there was still one more thing to sort out to make things right.
“Why don’t you go upstairs and start planning with Amy and Melanie? I’m sure they’re frantic with worry.”
Wendy glanced over at the men behind them. “What about them?”
“Let us deal with them, sugar.” He placed a hand on the small of her back and walked her toward the stairs leading up. “Jaxon, watch our girls please,” Pete requested, looking toward the other dragon shifter.
Jaxon nodded and followed Wendy up the stairs. Once they were both out of eyesight, Pete turned to the filth that needed to be cleaned up.
Chapter 17
“Is she human? Why would she sleep with you? Oh God, you’re breeding?” The man’s questions just kept coming, he was digging himself a grave.
“Shut up.” Pete’s voice boomed out.
The caretaker shut up; shock, disgust, and fear written all over his face.
“Joe, is it? You killed my family, Joe—why? Because we were a little different from you? Do you know how many caretakers came and went before you, and not one of them had such disregard for life as you did. I want to rip your head off and spit down your neck then throw you into the ocean for the sharks, but I’m not going to do that.”
Joe looked around, then looked back at Pete with a frown on his face. “W-wh-what you gonna do?”
A groan from the unconscious man on the floor suddenly had all the men’s attention. Brock picked him up and had him on his knees beside the caretaker in seconds. After gaining some brains back that had been knocked out, the young man scowled at Joe. “You stupid fucking son of a bitch. Kill them, you said, have fun with the woman—”
Brock slapped him upside his head.
He turned and paled, realizing the situation they were in. “It was all his idea…” he spluttered.
“Shut the fuck up,” Troy growled behind him.
“How many others did you tell about us?” Pete asked.
Both men remained silent. Pete nodded to Brock who grabbed hold of the young man’s broken fingers.
“How many others did you tell?” Pete asked again.
The sound of a bone cracking then the scream from the young man filled the silence. The caretaker started cackling.
“You think hurting him is going to get your answers?” Joe wheezed and coughed. “That dumb fuck just likes to rape women. He don’t know shit!”
Pete turned his attention to Joe. He leaned down and placed his face a couple of inches away from the old man’s. “So I’ll ask you again. How many others?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know,.” he wheezed out.
Pete drew in a deep breath, trying hard to s
uppress the anger boiling inside him. This man had killed his family, and he was willing to let his accomplice rape then possibly murder his mate, all because they weren’t human.
“You’re nothing but skin and bone, old man. I could leave you on a deserted island with your friend here and you wouldn’t last ’til morning. I doubt he’d make it a quick death either. He would probably make it a long, slow one from the look in his eyes, don’t you think? I could make this your last day on earth, or I can leave you with him. What’s it going to be, Joe?”
Joe paled, his bravado dropped out of existence. Pete knew they would get every question answered, and his family would receive the justice they deserved.
It didn’t take the men long to get their answers and it involved no more broken bones either. Joe was quite the talker. He looked like he was more scared of his accomplice in the end than the three shifters that surrounded him.
After killing Pete’s family Joe had managed to hide on the island, and he had seen Troy and Dennenth arrive to help Pete clean up. Which meant he also saw their dragons. That explained the color of the stuffed toy dragons; Pete’s dragon was blue, Dennenth’s was red, and Troy’s was green.
Joe had waited patiently for Pete or the others to return, using the hidden basement in the lighthouse as a base. He had planned to kill them one by one. He had met Kevin—his accomplice—on his travels to Dragon’s Heart after Pete had surfaced with Wendy. He’d lost touch on what was going on in the world, being so secluded in his, and needed a little help. As far as telling anyone, he’d kept his mouth shut, not sure who would believe him.
“So you really think he didn’t tell anyone but him?” Troy motioned toward Kevin, who was lying on the floor. Brock had to knock him out again since apparently he thought he could take four of them on all at once.
“Yeah, I believe him,” Pete answered, looking at the broken man in front of him. “I actually feel a little sorry for him, which of course annoys my dragon. He just wants to roast the bastard.”
“Which bring us to what to do with them?” Cole snorted beside them. “Brock and I have a little lady waiting for us at home, so whatever you decide, make it quick.”
Pete saw a knowing glance between the two bear shifters. He shook his head. He’d always thought Brock and Cole were a mated pair, so it was a shock to learn that recently they had become a trio.
Nothing to decide. Burn, roast, ash. Come on, you know you wanna do it, Blue urged.
“I need to end this. I want to make sure Wendy is safe and no one else will go after her because of me.” He glanced up at Troy’s office window to see two faces peering down at them. He could feel how tired and worried she was. “I can’t deal with this tonight. My mate is hungry and tired, and I want to get her home. Can we stick them in the basement for now?”
Troy’s basement was in fact a dungeon of sorts. It was a huge cavern deep underground that was damp, dark, and pretty dingy. It had a couple of slots where beds had been carved out in the walls and a hole in the ground for a toilet. Troy had added it after a couple of unruly shifters had turned up at the club looking for fights.
“Yeah, sure. Jaxon is staying here tonight anyway,” Troy said.
Pete watched Brock and Cole manhandle the two humans and cart them off to the basement. Pete held out his hand and shook Troy’s. “Thanks for everything, man.”
Troy looked up at his office and nodded. “They’re worth it. Let’s get them home. I’m eager to see my son.”
* * * *
Wendy looked down at the men below. She’d just seen Brock and Cole lead the two men away. She was standing beside Amy, both of them watching through the glass. Seeing their mates head their way, she and Amy turned toward the office door to meet them.
“I’m so glad you had a good holiday.” Wendy hugged her friend.
“I can’t believe both of us are pregnant at the same time.” Amy squealed.
“That was fast. Sajan is what, six weeks old?” Wendy asked.
“Seven and a half to be exact. But I know, right? I’ll have my hands full.” She sighed with a smile on her face. “I have a good family behind me to help. I do see one big problem though. How will I explain two children to the humans—” She air quoted the word humans. “—with their ages so close together?”
“Oh yeah.” Wendy laughed. “I’m glad it’s you rather than me.” Wendy stretched and yawned. The night’s escapades were finally catching up with her. “I can’t wait to get home to bed. I’m knackered. If it wasn’t for those jerks,” she said, motioning through the office window, “I’d be curled up beside Pete right now.”
“I know what you mean,” Amy said after a huge yawn.
The office door opened and their two handsome men walked in, the alpha persona coming off both of them in waves. The men reached for their mates.
“Morning, handsome,” Wendy said into Pete’s chest when he gathered her against him.
“How about breakfast in bed?” he asked her.
Pulling back from him a little, she looked up into his sparkling eyes. “Don’t you mean breakfast then bed?”
“Wait ’til we get home.” He winked.
“Umm, how are we planning to get home being the car is somewhere in Battersea, a wreck.”
“I have a car here, don’t worry,” he said, leading her out of Troy’s office.
“Just how many cars do you own?”
“Do we own.” He laughed, then shrugged. “Quite a few.”
* * * *
A little while later, after a peaceful car ride home in which Wendy nearly fell asleep, they walked into their penthouse to smell the wonderful scent of bacon. Lifting her head, she inhaled and sent a questioning look to her mate.
“That’s the surprise. Earlier you promised to take things a little easier.”
“Umm, did I?” she questioned. “Actually, I think you said that you wanted me to take things easier, but I never agreed.”
“Well anyway, I thought a housekeeper would be nice. I had Troy give me the name of the company he hired his from, and I asked them to send someone over. I checked her background and know she is straight-up. And we can trust her with Blue, because she’s a dragon shifter too. She and her mate are in their hundreds. They’ve bought a place a few floors down, so she’ll be close by in case you need her. They just moved into the area, and Manni, that’s Deliah’s mate, will be taking a job at Dragon’s Heart.” While Pete continued to tell her a few more details about the new maid and her mate they walked into the kitchen to see a middle-aged woman pottering around it. The smell of breakfast cooking filled the air.
“Good morning.” The woman smiled at them. “Breakfast as asked, sir,” she said to Pete.
“Thank you, Deliah. I’m glad to see the concierge let you up. The food smells wonderful.”
“The young man was quite a flirt.” Deliah tittered with a blush on her face.
“Wow, you sure don’t look like you’re in your hundreds,” Wendy blurted out, amazed that a woman who was over a century old looked so spritely.
“It’s all the loving I receive.” Deliah winked at her. It was Wendy’s turn to blush now.
“Not to be rude, but we’re both exhausted, so we’ll grab some food and take it with us,” Pete said politely and started filling two plates.
“Nice to meet you, Deliah. After I’ve got some sleep we can talk and get to know each other.” Wendy waved and made her way through the penthouse to their bedroom.
With every step she took the day caught up with her. By the time she stood at the end of the bed, tears had already started falling. She heard the clink of plates before she was embraced in two loving arms belonging to her mate.
“Oh God, I’m so sorry.” She sobbed into his chest as he sat them on the edge of the bed. “I don’t know where this has all come from.”
“Oh, sugar, you’ve been so strong all day, you have to let it out sooner or later, or it will make you ill.”
Wendy sobbed against his chest, t
hinking over the last twenty-four hours. She’d woken this morning thinking about nothing but going to work and enjoying her night. But with the car crash and then the pair of nutters... Christ, it had all ended in shit.
She cried until her eyes became swollen and her weeping slowed to small hiccups. Pete lowered them down on the bed and adjusted her so she was lying a little over his chest, his legs entwined with hers and his arms firmly curled around her. Listening to his quiet breathing, she slipped into sleep.
Wendy woke, stretching an arm across the bed only to feel that Pete’s side of the bed was chilled. Sitting up and rubbing her eyes, she looked around. The room was empty. She wished she had Pete’s sense of smell so she could sense how long he’d been gone. Settling on the bond they shared, she sent feelers along it, seeking him out, pleased when she discovered him feeling comfortable and relaxed.
Climbing out of bed, she walked to the bathroom and took a quick shower then dressed in a long, satin nightgown that reached her feet and the robe that came with it. She loved these types of nightwear. It made her feel sexy, almost slinky. Walking out of the bedroom, she found her man sitting at the breakfast counter talking to Deliah.
“Morning, sugar…well, afternoon, nearly evening.” He chuckled.
Looking out of the window, she saw the sky was indeed beginning to darken. “Oh God. Work,” she said, panicking. Why had the time of day not crossed her mind until now?
“Hey,” he said, walking over to her. “I sorted it. And anyway, I do believe you and your friends are organizing a night out in a few days? Dennenth is finishing up the last week before they go off to Scotland, so I told Troy we’re taking another couple of days off so you can spend them with your friend, okay?”
“Another couple of days? Geeze, Troy must be one fantastic boss, and a glutton for punishment. We haven’t been a very reliable staff recently. Or maybe he has some staffing secrets.”
“Call it staffing secrets. He has plenty of staff on hand, so us shifters can often take off.”
“I’ll miss Sarah when she leaves. These last few weeks have been weird not seeing my friends often.”
