by Faith Gibson
SPECTRUM
Stone Society Book 14
By Faith Gibson
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locations, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
The author acknowledges the copyrighted or trademarked status and trademark owners of the wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction.
Copyright © 2021 by Faith Gibson
Published by: Bramblerose Press LLC
Editor: Candice Royer
First edition: April 2021
Cover design: Jay Aheer, ©Simply Defined Art
Cover photography: Adobe Stock
Dedication
For Candy
Acknowledgments
I thank these fabulous women every time. It’s because they are the steadiness in the chaos. Candy, Jennifer, Kerstin, and Nikki – big, big hugs.
To my beta readers and ARC team, you all rock. I appreciate your input and your words of encouragement.
Jay Aheer of Simply Defined Art, thank you for all you do.
To my reader group, thank you for chatting with me and playing along. It’s nice to know you’re there when I need you.
To the man: Here’s to a better year. I love you.
Table of Contents
Synopsis
EZEKIEL
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Epilogue
REMY
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Epilogue
GABRIEL
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Epilogue
RAFAEL & KAYA
Chapter One
Epilogue
Coming Soon
About the Author
Other Works by Faith Gibson
Synopsis
In this first-ever Stone Society compilation, you are treated to four stories in one. Revisit characters from past books who need their stories told. We also get to see what Rafael and Kaya are getting up to in Italy.
Ezekiel’s story picks up where we last saw him, at the end of Nikolas. Zeke transitioned thirty years ago, never knowing who his mate was. When he runs into someone from his past, he finally gets that one question answered. Before Zeke can spend time with Stella he was to do the right thing – head to Montana and see his brother Cyrus, the last remaining sibling who didn’t know the truth of their family.
Remy – Thinking his mate and child are dead, Remy has been trying to move forward with his life. When his son, Rain, is rescued, part of Remy’s soul is healed. Finding out his mate’s brother is the traitor responsible for all Remy’s pain, he heads out to find the male and make him pay.
Gabriel – Once known as Vincent Alexander, Gabriel Montague had his life destroyed before he could claim his mate. Used for his DNA, Gabriel lost his humanity and was left for dead. Now he spends his life sitting in a cell in the New Atlanta Penitentiary atoning for his sins. Gabriel never expects to see the sunshine for more than a couple hours a day. He never expects to see his mate again. Gabriel’s story isn’t a happy one, because what’s a Gargoyle without their mate? Isabelle has other ideas for her brother, though.
Rafael – This is a brief glimpse into Rafael and Kaya’s life. After the explosion that put Kaya in a coma, Rafael takes his mate, their son, and beloved housekeeper to their Italian villa. Rafe is tired, but he has a mate and son who need him. Will the peaceful countryside be enough to heal Kaya and recharge Rafael? Or will he decide to hand over the Clan to Frey for good?
EZEKIEL
Chapter One
California
December 2047
Zeke was so ready to be off this gods-forsaken jet. He had felt off from the moment he boarded the craft and had taken his seat in the back after booking the flight last minute. The plane landed on time, not that it mattered to Zeke. Rarely was he on a schedule, and today was no different. He had no one waiting at the end of the walkway welcoming him home. Had no time clock he had to punch. No real responsibility other than his brother Cyrus. He was just ready to be away from all the bodies surrounding him.
After what felt like an eternity, he was following the other passengers who’d been seated in the back through the airport. The customs line was long, so Zeke mentally prepared to wait. “Ezekiel?” an older woman’s voice asked. Standing several passengers ahead of him was a familiar face. The woman came backward through the line and stopped in front of him. She was short, so he had to look down. “Are you Ezekiel Seymour?” she asked.
“Yes ma’am.” He racked his brain trying to remember who she was. She appeared to be in her fifties, was still pretty without a lot of age lines, and her eyes reminded him of someone.
“Good heavens, you haven’t changed a bit. You look like you did when we dated.”
“Dated?” He smiled all the while trying to remember her name.
She laughed. “You don’t remember me, do you? I’m Sheila Varner. I was Sheila Bentley back then. You have to remember my daughter, Stella. Where’d she go?” Sheila looked around and grabbed a younger woman by the arm. “Here she is. This is my Stella, all grown up.”
Zeke felt like he’d been punched in the gut. Stella was a younger, prettier version of her mother. His brain kicked in, and he remembered dating a woman a couple times who had a toddler. Holy fucking shit. Stella held out her hand, and against his better judgment, Zeke shook it. He thought he was going to lose his stomach.
Stella must have felt the pull because she jerked her hand away. “What the hell?” she murmured.
Zeke turned to Sheila and lied, “I’m not the man you dated; that must have been my father. I’m Ezekiel, Jr. Please, call me Zeke.” There was no way Zeke was letting something as trivial as him dating Stella’s mother thirty years ago drive her away.
Sheila laughed, cocking her head sideways as she studied him intently. “Well, that sure makes a lot more sense. You’re the spitting image of Ezekiel. I swear you could pass for twins. You even have the same scar above your eye that he did.” Sheila continued talking, asking questions about the senior Ezekiel Seymour, and Zeke answered her questions as vaguely as possible about someone who didn’t exist. The line crept closer to the check-in point, and Zeke was trying to think of some way to get Stella alone later. “So, Ezekiel, where are you coming from? We just got back from Egypt. Those pyramids were something else.”
“You were in Egypt?” he asked Sheila, only he was looking at Stella. She had silky, straight black hair with dark eyes to match. She reminded him of an Egyptian queen. “You could pass for Nefertari,” he whispered. She lowered her eyes, blushing.
“Sir, you’re holding up the line,” an airport worker chastised him. Zeke made it through customs and waited on the other side for Sheila and Stella to come through. Thankfully, Stella was first, and she walked to where he was waiting.
> “Your dad must have really been something. My mother still talks about him after all this time.”
Zeke hated lying to her. If she was his mate – and he was almost certain she was – he’d eventually have to be honest with her, but until he knew without a doubt, he was going to avoid the topic. “Where are you off to?” he asked.
“Like mother said, we just got home from Egypt. I love her, but I need to put a little distance between us, if you know what I mean.”
He sure did. “Stella, I’d love to see you again. After you get settled and jet lag has worn off, if you are interested, give me a call.” He prayed she didn’t have a boyfriend, or worse, a husband waiting on her at home.
“I think I’d like that,” she said. “What’s your phone number?”
Zeke told her his number, and she programmed it into her phone. His phone buzzed in his pocket. As he pulled it out, she said, “There, now you have mine, too. Ezekiel Seymour, why do you seem so familiar to me?”
He couldn’t tell her the truth. Not yet. He wanted to spend time together and be one hundred percent sure she was his mate. “Sometimes the fates have a funny way about them.”
She started to say something, but Sheila joined them. “Ezekiel, it was good meeting you. Please tell your father I said hello. Come on, Stella, I’m ready to be home.”
Stella held out her hand again. Was she a glutton for punishment, or was she trying to see if there really was a strange connection between them? Zeke placed his hand in hers, and her eyes widened. Instead of letting go, he brought her knuckles to his lips and kissed them. “I’ll be waiting,” he said.
“Bye, Zeke.” Stella squeezed his hand before taking off after her mother.
Since they would more than likely be going to the same baggage carousel he was, Zeke ducked into one of the restaurants and ordered a drink so he didn’t seem like a stalker. He sipped his whiskey as he thought about the first time he met Stella. He’d gone to pick Sheila up for their date. When she wasn’t ready, he waited for her in the living room. The babysitter was already there, and a little girl waddled into the room. He remembered dark eyes staring up at him as she held onto his leg to steady herself. The little girl was babbling incoherently, and he’d been mesmerized. Zeke and Sheila had barely pulled out of the driveway when he felt sick to his stomach. He still took her out to eat, but he didn’t gain his appetite back. A few days after their date, Ezekiel transitioned for the first time.
Zeke enjoyed two more glasses of whiskey before paying his tab and retrieving his luggage. On the way home, he called Jonas. His father answered the phone, frantic. “Zeke? Where are you? Is Sam okay? Did you find them? How’s Sophia?”
“Slow down, Father. Everyone’s good. I’m back in the States, but I left everyone else in Egypt. They were having a family reunion of sorts. Xenia knows the truth.”
“Huh. Listen, I’m glad you called. Your mother and I have something we’d like you to take care of.”
“Huh? All you can say is huh?” It was just like Jonas to focus on his own needs.
“The truth is out, and Samuel will take care of it. It’s out of my hands. Now, about that favor.”
“I need to ask you something first. Is it possible to mate with a small child?”
“Are you crazy? Why would you even ask that?” Jonas hissed.
“Not that way! Gods, you really think I’d do that? What I meant was could being around a child cause the transition?”
“I suppose if the fates are willing to put someone through a test of sorts it could be possible. Why are you asking?”
“I ran into someone I haven’t seen since they were really young. I met her when I dated her mother. Soon after, I went through my transition. Back then we didn’t know the cause, but since we now do, I’m thinking she is the reason. I felt the mate pull strongly in her presence just now.”
“Wait a second. How do you know the cause?” Jonas snapped.
“How we know isn’t important. The fact that you hid it from us is. If you hadn’t kept it a secret, I might be with my mate right now. All of your offspring have transitioned with the exception of Cyrus. I’m on my way to Montana to rectify the situation. Back to my original question, is it possible?”
Jonas was silent for a moment, and if Zeke hadn’t heard breathing on the other end of the line, he would’ve thought his father had hung up. Finally, Jonas responded, “It isn’t something I’ve ever heard of, Son, but I wouldn’t say it is impossible. Now, about that favor…”
Zeke listened to his father drone on and on about some experiment he was currently working on. Since Tessa and Sam were out of the country, he wanted Zeke to help him. Zeke declined, reminding his father he was going to see Cyrus. He wouldn’t put off the trip because Jonas had a wild hair up his ass. Maybe by the time he returned from Montana, Stella would be ready to see him.
He left the New San Diego airport and headed north toward his beach house. He had a feeling that one day very soon he would no longer need the soothing sound of the waves as a balm to his spirit. As much as Zeke loved the beach, he’d had enough sand to last a while being in Egypt. He was looking forward to the open skies and mountain air of Montana. Cyrus lived on four hundred acres flush with trout-filled streams, cross-fenced pastures, and wildflowers blooming in the spring and summer. Since it was December, the land wouldn’t be as beautiful unless it was covered in white. Zeke loved the brisk air and quiet of snow-laden fields. It was exhilarating and so completely different than the almost always sunny days of New Oceanside.
If things were different, Zeke would remain in California and spend time with Stella. His beast was demanding he do so. But he couldn’t in good conscience put off going to his brother. Not when Cyrus had yet to transition. With that being the case, the male had the opportunity to know his mate from the beginning, unlike Zeke who had lived his life with no clue as to who she was or when they’d met.
Better late than never.
That was true. Zeke was positive Stella was his mate, and he would have her, but not until he visited with Cyrus and told him the truth of who and what he was. Once Cyrus knew he was a half-blood, he would need to make preparations to sell the few horses he owned. Animals didn’t do well around shifters, sensing the beast within. The horses and dogs Cyrus owned were going to be riled when Zeke visited, but it couldn’t be helped.
Zeke unpacked his bags and tossed his clothes in the washing machine, then grabbed a beer from the near empty fridge. He took the bottle to one of his spare bedrooms where he kept the clothes he didn’t wear in his everyday life. Since he was headed to Montana, he grabbed the jeans and flannel shirts he’d bought specifically for visiting this particular brother. Now that Cyrus was the last of his siblings to need watching, Zeke could get rid of the various wardrobes he never wore, because who needed heavy canvas coats on the beach? Not that he needed them in Montana, either, considering he was Gargoyle. But he had to look the part wherever he went. If Zeke had his way, he’d be in board shorts, T-shirts, and flip-flops every day.
After swapping the clothes over to the dryer, Zeke finished off the six-pack while staring at his phone. He contemplated calling Stella just to see if she’d made it home okay. He knew nothing about his mate other than who her mother was. Zeke remembered where Sheila lived back when he took her out, but that didn’t mean she still lived in the same house or that Stella lived close by. Maybe just a text…
Zeke: Just seeing if you made it home okay.
Rubbing his temples as he cursed his father, Zeke mentally prepared for the talk with Cyrus. His siblings’ reactions were always a crap shoot. Some sensed there was something different about them; they just couldn’t figure out what. Others laughed their asses off until he phased and showed them pictures of the family. They always resembled either Jonas or Caroline closely enough to pass for siblings, but when he explained they were their parents, that got another laugh. Explaining how those who brought you into the world didn’t look older than their thirties was al
ways a treat. Not. None of what he had to explain was pleasant, especially why they had been given up for adoption.
Zeke wasn’t ready to get on another plane, having spent the last twenty-three hours in the air, even if it was a short three hours compared to driving eighteen.
Stella: Made it to Mom’s. I live up in New Fallbrook, so I’ll be driving back this afternoon.
Zeke: Good to know. Be careful on your drive home.
He needed to get to Cyrus sooner rather than later, and driving would give him too much time to think. Or make a detour to New Fallbrook. Flying it was. Zeke pulled out his phone and checked the flights leaving that afternoon. Several seats were available on the four-thirty departure, so he booked it. He would wait until he arrived at the airport to upgrade if first class was available. Zeke hated sitting crammed between noisy and nosy humans. He had enough of both on the trip home from Egypt. He much preferred driving where he didn’t have to talk or try to avoid odors humans didn’t realize they gave off. He loved being a half-blood most of the time, but sitting next to a man who enjoyed garlic-laden pizza while waiting on his flight or a woman who doused herself in too much perfume was hell on shifter noses.
Stella: I take it you made it home okay too?
Zeke: Yes. I live in New Oceanside, so not far from the airport at all.
Stella: Maybe we can get together soon?
Zeke: I’d love that, but I have to take a business trip up to Montana. I shouldn’t be gone more than a week, so rain check?
Stella’s reply wasn’t immediate, and Zeke prayed she didn’t think he was giving her the brush off. He stared at his phone, willing it to buzz. When she finally responded, Zeke about dropped his phone.
Stella: Sorry, one of my kids had a question about the assignment the substitute gave them. Rain check is fine.
