by Joyee Flynn
“Anything for you, baby.” Digger chuckled. “I think it would be fun. Our warriors have been so stressed and busy that they haven’t had any free time. And it would help the vampires who are still scared of the fae warriors.” He winced and turned to my friends and I. “You guys are huge after all, and when you talk, it’s like you have your own level of baritone. Some of the new vamps who have been moved here are already skittish.”
“We have a plan then.” Barnabas rubbed his hands together in glee. “I’m so calling Rory to help plan it.”
Everyone excitedly came up with ideas while we finished the movie. But once it was over, it was like we’d all had some internal switch flipped and were exhausted. It had been a long, trying day, and I realized I wanted nothing more than to go to bed.
I fell asleep that night with Tyler sprawled on top of me and Mav snuggled up against my side. It had been centuries since I’d had a man in bed with me overnight. And I knew I drifted off with a big smile on my face.
* * * *
“I’m going to get fat if you guys keep feeding me like this,” I groaned the next morning. I ate about three plates of what they called pancakes. My gods, were they good!
“Then we need to work out,” Tyler said brightly. I raised an eyebrow at him and he laughed. “Not that kind of workout. My wolf could use a run.”
“That’s a wonderful idea,” Mav replied with an approving nod. “How far is the warrior compound from here?”
“Twenty miles give or take.” I never clocked it, but it was about fifteen minutes down the road, so I thought that was accurate.
“Listen up,” Mav said as he stood, his voice carrying over the massive dining room. “For those of you interested, warriors or just those who would like to check out the warrior compound, we’re meeting out front in a half an hour. We’re going to run the twenty miles there and back, but I’m sure we can find people to drive if that’s not within everyone’s normal workout.
“It’s time you saw where you’ll be training, warriors, and meet some of your fellow brothers. The quicker you all get up to speed, the better protected this community will be. There’s already been one attack since you’ve been here. Let’s be prepared for the next one.”
“In other words,” Queen Magdalena said with a smile. “All the warriors are required to be outside in thirty minutes. I will be there as well.”
“I’ll gladly drive you,” Digger offered. I chuckled as many of my friends did and the Queen smirked.
“Child, I could run three times that daily and barely break a sweat,” she countered with a raised eyebrow. “I bet I can do it in better time than anyone here can. Not all of us are the best at fighting like our warriors are, but we train our people early on that when you can’t fight, you run.”
“Oh geeze, you’re going to make me start working out, aren’t you?” Barnabas playfully whined.
“You swim and are getting back into a routine,” she answered with a smile. “Not everyone is built to run and you can teleport. So no, as long as you can flee to safety if the time comes, being a runner is not necessary. You’ve had a lot dumped on you at a young age, so you handle things as you see fit.” She gave him a nod of approval.
“I’ll call and have some warriors drive over so that everyone is protected while most of you are gone,” Miles added as he pulled out his phone.
“Thank you, Miles. I never have to worry about my grandson’s safety with you and Digger around.” I smiled. I knew what the Queen was doing. She was showing everyone there that she had complete faith in the people of this house. That was why she was in charge. She knew how to handle every situation.
“Ask if there are any issues with me being in wolf form,” Tyler whispered under his breath. I nodded and stood.
“My mate will be joining us in his shifted form. Since there are wolves in the community we’ve joined, it’s best you get used to seeing them now.”
“But they know who we are, right? They won’t bite us?” one fae asked hesitantly.
“I’m completely sentient when I shift. Unless anyone threatens my mates, I won’t bite.” Tyler joked. I shook my head at his antics, loving his playful side. “But don’t be surprised if I circle around you guys a few times. I have yet to see any being faster than shifters, and I’m stronger than most wolves.”
“Alright, we’ll see those who are going outside in thirty minutes,” Mav said quickly when a few fae warriors looked as if they were going to challenge what Tyler had stated.
“Are you really that fast?” I asked as we started cleaning up breakfast. We knew that Barnabas had hired extra staff, but it was the way of the fae that everyone pitched in, no matter their rank or status.
“You’ll just have to wait and see, my mate,” Tyler answered with a wink. He sauntered off, putting a little extra sway in his hips that had me biting back a groan. I swear my mates were going to turn me into a sex machine if they weren’t careful. My lack of experience and centuries of not having sex had caught up to me. Now it was all I could think about sometimes.
It didn’t hurt that they were both gorgeous and into hot sex, suggesting it often since we’d met. I glanced at the Queen as I trailed after my mate, returning the bright smile she gave me.
“Happy looks good on you, Asterio,” she said quietly as I walked by her. “It looks very good on you.”
It made me realize that I wanted it to look good on her, too. I wanted the woman who was our leader and who I thought of as a mother to be happy. Maybe she could find her other mate here? Or if nothing else, I liked Tyler’s idea that she go see Ayden. Now if I could just get her to agree to it?
Yeah, that would be easy.
Chapter 11
Maverick
I smiled as I heard the excited talk through the group and felt it in the air. This was one of my better ideas lately. Everyone lined up as Tyler hid behind Asterio and pulled off his shorts before shifting. He was fine with nudity, but we’d talked to him about curbing it until people got to know the wolves better. He understood and didn’t make issue of it. He just asked that we remind him because it wasn’t something he ever really thought about.
I wanted to laugh at how Asterio was carrying a little bag for Tyler as we started out. But our mate would need clothes and shoes on the other end, so it made sense. We started out at a light jog for paranormals, probably at the speed of ten miles per hour. Tyler, on the other hand, let his wolf run full out for a while. His tongue was hanging out when he circled back to the front of the group where I was.
“You needed this, didn’t you, cub?” He nodded his head and bumped into my thigh. I got it. Time to pick up the pace. Asterio was at my side and he started laughing.
“Impatient much?”
“I think our mate just always does everything all the way. I can’t see Tyler half-assing anything.”
“A good quality to have,” Asterio said fondly and glanced at me. “One you have as well, my mate.”
“Is it bad that I want to race your mate and see who is truly faster?” the Queen said as she fell in step with us. “He is a beautiful wolf. I always thought it would be amazing to have another form like that.”
“He has an unfair advantage though,” Baylor complained. “He’s running on four legs when we’re on two.” Tyler had done another circle around us at that point and I knew he’d heard what the fae had said when our mate growled.
“Tyler!” I exclaimed when our mate shifted back to his human form, naked for all to see.
“Oh, just give me my clothes. I’m so putting this guy in his place,” Tyler grumbled. Asterio handed over his bag as everyone slowed down to give him a moment. “Call someone at the warrior compound to wait at the front door and call the race.”
I rolled my eyes but did as he asked. I knew Zane’s number, of course, since he was mated to Caleb’s brothers, and he laughed at my request. He said he’d be waiting and would call back with the winner.
“Okay, who’s up for a race?” Tyler tau
nted when he was dressed and in his running shoes.
“I’m in.” Asterio chuckled. The Queen, Baylor, myself, and a few other warriors agreed as well.
“I’ve seen the show.” Digger snickered. “I’ll lead the rest of the group.”
“I haven’t,” Miles replied with a smile. “I’m in.”
“Ready, set, go!” Tyler shouted and we took off. Holy shit, was he fast! I was running at full speed and he easily pulled ahead.
“Seeing is believing,” Miles panted as he kept up with me. The Queen, on the other hand, was already out in front of us. Her warriors were trying their best to keep up with her, but she was giving them a run for their money.
A few minutes later my phone beeped. “Seriously?” I grumbled as I checked it. It was Zane letting me know Tyler was at the warrior compound already. “He ran over fifteen miles in a few minutes? How is that possible?”
“Damn, that’s impressive.” Miles shook his head and we gave each other a nod. We picked up the pace, pushing harder than I ever had in training. We refused to be the last ones.
But we still were. In our defense, the fae warriors had much longer legs than we did. But the Queen? Yeah, she was short so it really killed our logic.
“You guys are finally here,” Tyler drawled as he leaned against the doorframe, Zane standing next to him, laughing his head off. “I thought we were going to have to send out a search party.”
“Bite. Me,” I gasped as I finally slowed down.
“No, it’s you who likes to bite me, my mate,” he purred. “Weights next?”
“You can lift as much as we can?” Miles asked, eyeing over my nicely toned, but not bulky mate. “How?”
“We’re not being full of ourselves when we say we’re faster and stronger than vamps. And I was a warrior, too, Miles. That’s what a pack enforcer is. Well, in a normal pack. Our job is to protect our people just as it is yours. But even the smallest wolf, like Ayden, can outrun you guys any day.”
“I believe it,” Queen Magdalena panted with a smile. “Very impressive, Tyler. I like your confidence. It does not cross into arrogance or ego. You simply know your limits and what you are capable of.”
“Thanks. And I heard you say I was a pretty wolf, too. So thanks for that as well,” Tyler replied with a slight blush. “I think you’re pretty, too, your highness, and I’m not even into women.”
“Well, good to know my looks can turn a gay man’s head.” She chuckled as we went inside. The more time I spent with her, the more I liked her. She really was very easy to be around and spend time with, like Caleb. Just because they were royalty didn’t mean they had to be pompous. They were people, too.
We all congregated in the weight room, Zane introducing us to the warriors that were there. Tyler sauntered over to the bench press area and lay down.
“Cub, that’s a thousand pounds on there,” Asterio warned.
“I know. I’m going light since I’ve not worked with weights in over a year,” he replied. Okay then! Wow! That was impressive for a seasoned warrior.
“I’ve seen Ayden hold up the side of a truck while Brian changed a tire.” Zane chuckled, shaking his head. “Sure, he was tired and sore afterwards, but he could do it.”
I watched in awe, my mouth hanging open the whole time, as Tyler did twenty reps without even breaking a sweat. “Cub, that was hot.”
“Glad you think so,” he purred. “Your turn.” I nodded and lay down once he moved off the bench. I was able to do it, but with the workload Caleb had given me, I hadn’t been training like I should have.
Asterio went next and then all of his friends. They all had no problem. And round and round they went, all except the Queen and Miles. In the end, Tyler won, being the only person able to do two thousand pounds at ten reps.
By then the rest of the group had caught up to us and we had quite a crowd in the weight room. When it was clear that Tyler was the champ, he stood on the bench and let out a triumphant howl.
“What’s my prize?” he asked with a bright smile.
“We’ll figure something out,” I answered, shooting Asterio a look. I’d actually been planning something for Tyler already and had asked Barnabas to help me. It just wasn’t ready yet.
“Okay, then tour the place, hold the meeting for those going to Greece, and then some more Planet Earth?” Wow, was my mate wound up after a workout!
“Sounds good, cub.” Asterio chuckled. Zane actually gave us the tour, showing us the other training rooms and some of the new warriors. He showed the Queen and some of the fae warriors the schedule and introduced them to Isaac Dragos, who did the scheduling.
“The weight rooms and a few of the sparring gyms are always open on a first-come first-serve basis,” Isaac explained as he took over this part of the tour. We have other rooms that can be held for training, so once you guys get organized, just let me know what you’ll need when and we’ll get it set up. I know Stefan Marius has been asked to start teaching shooting glasses since he’s our resident firearms expert.”
“I don’t understand why we need that?” Baylor asked, glancing at the Queen, who nodded for him to go ahead. “Most of us can shoot fire or put up protective barriers.”
“I’ve been told that, and while that’s impressive, I would think it’s draining,” Isaac answered. The fae warriors mostly nodded. “All it takes is pulling the trigger to kill a demon with a gun. If you’re injured or too drained to use your gifts, it could save your lives.”
“That makes sense,” Baylor agreed. “I hope you understand that I wasn’t questioning your methods. I just didn’t understand.”
“We’re all about training here and working as a team,” Isaac replied. “Ask away. I think there will be lots the fae can teach us, and hopefully we can do the same for you.”
“A commendable way to look at the situation,” the Queen said approvingly. We finished the tour and headed back outside… And into the wolves. Literally. There were six angry wolves snarling in the drive.
“We didn’t know what to do,” one of the warriors, Clove I think was his name, said nervously. “We’ve tried catching them but they’re too fast. We’re at a standoff.”
“Fuck this shit,” Tyler snarled and sprinted past the warriors to face the wolves. “Shift back, you chicken shit.”
The men did, all looking at Tyler with hate. “You’re the chicken shit! You hide our people among the vampires. We were coming for Ayden but then I smelled your scent here and decided to settle the score with you first.”
“Fuck you, Paul. You won’t find him. His mate took him back to his family’s home until you were caught.” Tyler sneered at the man before glancing at the others. “Did he tell you that our Elders put an arrest or kill order on him? Why are you following him?”
“Don’t listen to his lies,” Paul shot back. Oh, I was so going to spank our mate later. All the shit I’d seen in his head and he’d told me, I didn’t know his old Alpha was rogue.
“You are the one who’s lying,” Queen Magdalena yelled as she stepped forward.
“Nurse, this doesn’t concern you,” Tyler said over his shoulder, shooting Asterio a look that said it all. He was in fear of her safety. Our mate understood, and the fae warriors surrounded the Queen.
“I can protect myself,” she quibbled. Wow, she was stubborn. I liked that about her. She was definitely not some timid royal.
“How do we know you’re telling the truth, Tyler? You ran,” one wolf said, his anger slipping away. “I came back to the pack, half of us were missing, and Paul told us you’d gone rogue and taken them.”
“And you believed him, Fletcher? Does that sound like something I’d do? Ayden’s mate came to help his brothers with full knowledge of our Elders. They gave those of us who wanted it sanctuary while the Elders investigated Paul. He’s not even Alpha anymore.” Tyler stood his ground, and I thought he was getting somewhere until Paul shifted.
“No!” I shouted as I raced forward.
“G
et Paul while I’m distracted,” Tyler said in my head. I’d almost forgotten we could speak that way since he hadn’t been using it. “I can’t beat him.”
Asterio gasped and I knew he’d heard it, too. Paul bit Tyler hard on the shoulder, narrowly missing his neck. He threw his old Alpha off of him and Paul landed hard. The one Tyler had called Fletcher shifted and joined in the fight. Then the rest followed suit, some helping Tyler, some Paul.
“Enough of this,” the Queen shouted and pushed past her warriors. “Tyler is one of us now, and I will not stand here while he gets hurt.” She threw her arms in the air and suddenly all the wolves were frozen except my mate. He moved away from the others, limping badly and then flopping down onto the ground right in front of her.
The air shimmered around him as he shifted back. “Thank you. I didn’t want you to get hurt.”
“Young man, I am almost impossible to kill,” she replied gently. “I do not want you hurt either. Think what that would do to Asterio.”
“Sorry,” he whispered. I dove to his side, pushing his hair out of his face. “I’ll heal in a bit. He just bit me a few times.”
“Um, what would you like me to do with these wolves?” Queen Magdalena asked.
“Paul and Ben are wanted by our Elders,” Tyler answered tiredly as I pulled off my shirt and wrapped it around his waist. “I don’t know about the rest. You’d have to ask Elena Marius or Darcy. They’re the ones that have been in touch with our Elders.”
“If you could hold them, we can knock them out and get them in lockup,” Clove suggested.
“Oh, I can make them unconscious quite easily.” She snickered and did so. Then she released them from whatever hold she’d had on them. After that it was a flurry of movement that I didn’t pay any attention to until Asterio knelt down on the other side of Tyler.
“While I appreciate your warning about protecting the Queen, I would have preferred you not throw yourself into the mix like that,” he chastised gently.
