Warlock: A Fae's Vengeance: A Shawn Moore Novel 03

by D. R. Rosier

  “Maybe you can help plan then. The way I see it, we need to kill Elissa, save Korrina, and then hopefully get the rest of the fae to back off. I did manage to kill about forty of them, with demons, so she paid dearly for destroying our home. I’m not sure how many fae are around though.”

  Malina waved her had uncertainly, “You made a dent in the numbers, but not a big one. The fae only have about forty people in the city for their clubs, most of them stay out in the countryside, so it’s hard to get an accurate count. But I’d say you got at least ten percent of them.”

  I sighed, four hundred was a lot of them, but I supposed the other races had those numbers too, just not among their warriors.

  Karen melted back into me and turned her head, I gave her a soft kiss.

  When it broke she said, “They’re masters at staying hidden, and are powerful with nature magic. They don’t fight very often, so there’s no real known or proven way to fight them, or even to find them. I wish I could help, and I can by providing mages to fight, but other than that,” she shrugged helplessly.

  I sighed, “Well, maybe Dion and Katie will have an idea? We’re meeting them in a few hours anyway.”

  Karen said softly, “Sorry you came here for nothing. We have people looking of course, and if we find Elissa I’ll call you immediately.”

  I shook my head, “Far from for nothing, I missed you a lot too.”

  I brought her up to speed on the mate thing, Sharon, and how she’d ended up joining us, and asked them all to strangle me if I even considered adding anyone else. I was only partially joking about that last thing, seven was approaching too many. Outside of the pregnancy pacts, I wouldn’t be sleeping with any other women, no matter how much I wanted to. Though seven was a lot, six with bodies, I wouldn’t consider giving up any of them, unless they wanted to leave of course.

  I didn’t think that would happen though, the only two who really could leave were Karen, and of course, Korrina. I didn’t think Karen would leave me, we were deeply in love, and she was determined to live with me, even if she got stuck at work sometimes. We’d even talked about how many more kids we wanted in the future. Korrina I wasn’t sure about, I had no real claim on her accept for our friendship.

  The other five women were pretty much stuck with me. Malina and Lilliana were mine by pact, although it might be more accurate to say I was Malina’s by pact. Sharon and Susan were mine by mating bond, and Krystal was my sword.

  I heard her chuckle in the back of my mind, and she said a little sultrily, “I’d stay even if I wasn’t. A sword I mean.”

  This definitely hadn’t been a wasted trip, it was good to see Karen, and the cat shifters got to get some relief with some mages, and construction workers.

  Chapter 21

  Karen wondered when she’d turned into such a shameless slut. The idea of her fellow councilors catching her bent over like that and taking it roughly from behind, while being the center and focus of four other women had turned her on a lot. Although now that her mind was no longer clouded by lust, she was glad that they hadn’t been caught.

  She’d like to blame the pregnancy as she’d sort of been doing, but she’d started to believe that it was just her fire mage personality finally free to express itself. She’d suppressed that part of herself ruthlessly in her pursuit of power in the mage community. She wasn’t just a slut that had a need to have sex with just anyone. It was just her husband she was a slut for, she’d had to have him, it was as simple as that.

  She loved the way he looked at her, the obvious desire in his eyes. She always felt so beautiful and sexy when she was pinned beneath his intense gaze. She also loved the way he held her right now and sighed in contentment and stole a kiss. She’d really needed that. She wasn’t shocked by the story of Sharon, or how both of the twins became his mates. She wasn’t even jealous, but she was curious about something, and just blurted out the question.

  “Are you two going to start a family too?”

  Everyone looked startled, and she giggled.

  She expanded on it, “Well, I know Malina, Lilliana, and Krystal can’t get pregnant, not sure about Korrina, but you two can, can’t you?”

  Susan nodded slowly, “I hadn’t really thought about it. But yes, with the mate bond we now share, it is possible. Even probable since we haven’t used protection.”

  Malina cleared her throat meaningfully, “Actually, I could get pregnant, but I’m not interested in creating another Nephilim. I have nothing against Korrina any longer, but it’s not an easy life.”

  Sharon blushed, “I haven’t thought about it either. My initial thought is… I’m not opposed to the idea. Why do you ask?”

  She wasn’t really sure, “I was just curious, and of course that would give our daughter and any kids that follow a bunch of half siblings. And… our mate would enjoy a very large family, and I’d have someone to share the experience with. I wonder if they’d be cat shifter or warlock though.”

  Lilliana answered, “Random chance. They can’t be both. I bet Shawn could ensure which one it was though.”

  Shawn frowned and shook his head, “That works fine for my hidden heirs. Karen and I talked and decided to take a more natural approach to our family, and I think I’d feel the same way about any other children I had with Sharon or Susan. Let nature take its course.”

  Sharon smiled almost shyly, “So you would want children with us?”

  He replied, “If you two do, then yes. Karen is right, I do want a large family.”

  Susan grinned, “It’s hard for shifter females to get pregnant, even mated ones.”

  Sharon turned to her sister and said, “We’ll just have to keep trying, as often as possible.”

  She almost laughed at the look on Shawn’s face, he looked like he wanted to try and knock them up right now. Still no jealousy, she sighed, and didn’t care. It was weird, but she was also grateful. She hoped that would never change. Shawn was the man she wanted, the only man for her, and she’d known there would be others since day one. That he’d magically mated with the two shifter twins didn’t change that. She also was kind of excited, after all, they were both gorgeous, and she got to play with them too.

  “Should we go get lunch? Then we can head over to the holiday inn?”

  They all agreed, so she gave her husband one more kiss, and then reluctantly slid off of his lap.

  Sharon was shocked. Karen’s innocent question had thrown her entire world for a loop.

  She’d never really been interested in having children before, and she realized it had stemmed from the fear that if she gave Darren a cat shifter it would be… problematical.

  But when Sharon had suggested she should have a child with Shawn, her whole being had yearned for it so much it had scared her. She’d managed to play it off well enough, and in a teasing manner, with her sister, but her mind was still spinning with the idea.

  She also knew Shawn was confused about why she loved going down on him so much. It was because when she looked up with hunger in her eyes, he looked down at her with the expected lust, there was also caring, concern, and gratefulness for the oral pleasure in his eyes.

  When she’d blown any other man, usually a shifter, and then only Darren when they’d mated, they’d only held lust in their eyes, and perhaps a bit of contempt as well. They’d also usually grabbed her by the hair and fucked her face because they couldn’t control themselves. It had been degrading, and worse she’d gotten used to it, expected it, and accepted it as her fate simply because she was a cat shifter.

  He had no idea what a gift it was, that she could be a wanton slut for her man, and not be looked down on or judged for her appetites. More than that, he still saw her as an equal, and a partner. It also didn’t hurt, that he seemed as eager to go down on her as she was to go down on him. He was very good at it too.

  He also had incredibly control. Shawn had just let her do what she wanted, let her pleasure him at her own pace in the way she wanted, and it was such a dam
ned turn on to both submit to him in such an intimate and obvious way, yet still be left in complete control. She almost blushed, as she remembered herself cumming when he’d sprayed down her throat. It hadn’t been a huge orgasm, but the fact she’d cum at all from sucking him off was so damned hot.

  She dreamed that one day soon he’d also look down at her in love, because she was falling for him hard and fast, and it had only been a day since she’d seduced him.

  Last, but certainly not least, she loved his scent. His lust mixed in with all the other emotions, and he had a straightforward and confident sincerity that just… smelled wonderful. That scent was magnified when she had him in her mouth, and she admitted it made her a bit wild.

  They all chatted about nothing very important over lunch, but she shared some significant looks with her sister. She’d always been close to her twin, and she knew Susan felt the same way as she did. If either of them had a say in the matter, they’d be pregnant very soon, and would never leave their mate. It was weird too, without the jealousy the bond felt richer, and she enjoyed the new even closer connection she had with her sister, as well as with their shared mate.

  Chapter 22

  We’d talked long after lunch, and then headed out to the holiday in, after I’d collected six very satisfied cat shifters from around the building. Luckily, they were fairly easy to find with my inherent ability to detect magic, shifters felt very different from mages. Karen and I split up at that point, and she went in a separate car with Jerrold and several other guards.

  I wished the fae were that easy to sense.

  As soon as I entered the room and sat down, Katie pushed a stack of paper across the table. I scanned it over quickly, smiled since it was pretty much the same treaty I’d signed with Darren, and added my signature to it next to hers.

  Katie said, “I was glad to hear everyone made it out of the house, my girls are okay?”

  “They’re fine, and right outside.”

  Katie nodded in relief, “Thank you.”

  Dion cleared his throat, “What can we do about them. Defending isn’t going to win us the war or capitulation. On the other hand, driving out into the forest near Crystal lake isn’t going to help either, we could walk past a hundred of them and never see them.”

  I shrugged, I’d had an idea but I wasn’t sure if they’d go for it.

  “Demons. I can send about five ahead of us as advanced scouts and spotters. The only catch is you’d have to take direction from me when we flush them out a few at a time.”

  Only five because I’d need to put protections on Lilliana, Susan, and Sharon as well as myself. Even then they’d be limited to three protection spells each. Physical harm, general magic, and elemental fire. Malina and Karen could handle their own magic.

  Dion didn’t like the idea of putting his vampires under my command, or I assumed so based on his reluctant expression.

  I added, “Unless someone has a better idea?”

  Karen’s phone rang, and she looked down at it.

  “It’s Elissa.”

  Dion frowned thoughtfully, “Answer it and put it on speaker.”

  Karen agreed, and did just that.

  “What do you want?” Karen asked rather angrily.

  Elissa sounded haughty, “Do not insult me mage, unless you want to join your husband’s fate. I will make this simple. Shawn must meet me and face me alone. No matter who ends up standing at the end, the war will be over. If you do not accept my generous offer to save your pitiful lives, know that if he doesn’t agree I will destroy Korrina, and start a campaign to destroy you all. Two hours, in the large meadow by Katie’s mansion.”

  Elissa hung up, and everyone started talking at once. After a few moments everyone stopped talking.

  Dion said, “It’s obviously a trap, she can’t be trusted.”

  Karen agreed, “We should all go, if she springs a trap we’ll have the strength to retaliate.”

  I shook my head, “She said alone.”

  Katie snorted, “Don’t be stupid Shawn. Besides, she said to face her alone, she didn’t say to come alone. Just that we couldn’t face her with you. It implied a duel, but she didn’t say that, which means it won’t be that at all. She just said face her, and whoever is left standing. That leaves a lot to interpretation.”

  Dion grunted in agreement, “I agree, we all must go and stand behind you. We won’t interfere unless she cheats.”

  Karen looked mutinous at that suggestion.

  I patted her hand, “It’ll be fine honey.”

  She suppressed a smile and glared.

  Katie cleared her throat, “That seems to be the best solution. But only if he’s willing to take the risk.”

  Dion grudgingly agreed, “Will you?” he asked me bluntly.

  “Well, she seems to have it out for me. I don’t believe Malina or Lilliana would allow me to face her without standing at my side however. Most likely Susan and Sharon as well, but I’ll talk to them on the way.”

  Karen glared, “What about me, you’re crazy if you think I’ll stand to the side.”

  I nodded, and then asked, “What about our daughter? Or the mages? You’ll fight at my side, and be welcome, if she does something treacherous, which is almost guaranteed. But if there’s a chance to stop full scale war for the mages then you have to let me take the risk.”

  Katie asked, “Do you really think you could take her one on one?”

  I shrugged, “I’d like to think so, but I’ll have Krystal’s support, and she’ll make mincemeat out of the bitch if it comes to that. I’ll also have those five demons along in spirit form, just in case she cheats. Which we all know she will.”

  Karen snarled, “Then why even bother going through with the farce.”

  I smiled, “Because she’s doing it to get within striking range of me, but it will also put me in striking range of her. That solves a lot of our issues. It’s a lot more efficient than randomly skulking through the woods following demons. Either way this will end today.”

  Karen sighed, “If you get yourself killed, I’ll kick your ass. No, I’ll get Malina to do it.”

  I shuddered at the thought, because that was more than a nonsensical threat.

  Dion said, “Good, we have a plan, but two hours isn’t much time to prepare. We meet at Katie’s in ninety minutes?”

  Everyone agreed, even Karen if rather reluctantly. I couldn’t blame her, she was worried about me. Truthfully, so was I.

  Krystal purred in my mind, “Don’t worry master, I’ll protect you. It will be fun.”

  I smiled, half reassured, and half disturbed… I had the strangest feeling that she was up to something, though I couldn’t imagine what. She’d sounded way too excited about my upcoming risky meeting.

  Chapter 23

  It was around an hour’s drive, and we’d argued almost the whole way there. It had been hard, but I eventually convinced them they could all stand behind me by a few feet and still react to treachery. I hoped that would satisfy Elissa, because I refused to order Lilliana or Malina to stay away, I’d promised them both I wouldn’t do that, and I had no right to order the twins to do anything. They were my mates, not part of a pact.

  Vampire, mages, and shifters trickled in slowly over the next fifteen minutes. At the end there were over sixty vampires, fifty-two mages, and a little over seventy shifters, none of them wolves. I hoped my confidence was well placed, that when Elissa inevitably betrayed her implied word, the five demons and Krystal, plus my protections, would let me live long enough for my mates and the rest of the supernaturals present to respond.

  I was pretty sure. Mostly in Krystal’s ability to protect me.

  She sighed in pleasure, “I love you master, do you trust me?”

  I smiled, couldn’t help it, and thought, “Yes Krystal, I do.”

  She seemed to hesitate, and then said in a sexy but worried voice, “Master, I am no longer bound to you, but serve you out of love. I haven’t been since we killed the angel.
I’ve also… held some things back. I need you to trust me, and if I ask you to do something you don’t understand, do it anyway, please? I’ll explain everything afterwards.”

  I frowned, “Why didn’t you tell me sooner?”

  She sighed, “I was afraid Malina would try and force you to give me up. So I wouldn’t have any opportunity to betray you. I love you master, and would never betray you. I didn’t tell you simply because she can read your mind.”

  Malina glared at the ring on my finger, and then looked up at me, “She’s right, the sword kind of freaked me out at first. She has the power of an angel now after all, if she truly fought you for control she could squash you like a bug now without effort. However, I think you should trust her.”

  I tilted my head, “I agree, but why do you, trust her I mean?”

  Malina explained, “I can’t read her mind, or rather, the part that she’s hiding from us in the sword, but I can read the presence in the back of your head. She’d rather face oblivion than see you harmed.”

  If Krystal was capable of it, the sword would have turned red with a blush.

  I nodded, and got to work casting the protections on Lilliana, Susan, and Sharon. Then I summoned five demons with a temporary and improvised circle. They had no mass as spirits, so they were literally hiding under my shirt, as another layer of protection and counter attack if, or when, Elissa broke the implied deal.

  Still, I had no illusions that Elissa planned to let Korrina live, even if I did sacrifice myself. Really, it came down to who planned the better double cross. Sad, but true.

  When the time came we headed to the field, with everyone behind me. I wasn’t all that surprised, when Karen joined the other four and was practically stepping on my heels as we walked out into the glade. The vampires, shifters, and mages were only about twenty feet behind us.