by Maggie Walsh
“What happened, Angel?”
Raffy pulled back, looking his mate in the eye. “You believe me?”
“Of course I believe you, my love. If you say it was more than a dream then it was more than a dream. So what happened?”
“The house began to shake like an earthquake. Then there was an explosion and they came into the house. They were all big and disfigured. They began breaking everything. They broke through walls and smashed anyone who got in their way. Then hundreds of rogues poured into the house. There were just too many of them. We couldn’t make it to the safe rooms. The big ones grabbed Aaron and Rory right from their bed as they killed Raith. Then they got to Jesse while he slept.
“They threw a sack over his head and tied him up. The big one punched him in the face, knocking him out. Then he picked him up and carried him right out the window. I don’t know where Micah was, but he wasn’t there. Then they busted in through our door. You jumped up and shifted. One of the big ones smacked you aside like you were a fly. Another one grabbed your unconscious body and slammed you down over his knee. I heard...I heard...your bones...breaking. Then I...I couldn’t hear...I couldn’t hear your heartbeat. I screamed and tried to use my powers but one of the big ones grabbed me and knocked me out.
“The rogues were fighting the others all over the house. I saw Taylor raise his arms, close his eyes, and then the bright light glowed from him. All rogues in that room were all fried, but then Taylor collapsed. The room filled with more rogues and the fighting started again. Then I saw the babies. The babies were...taken by the big ones. They’re coming, Christian. They’re coming.”
Raffy broke out in uncontrollable tears as his body shook. Christian pulled him closer and held him tight.
* * * *
Taylor walked into the kitchen to find Shelby sitting on a stool in the dark. “Hey, sweet cheeks. What are you doing up?” Taylor asked as he walked to the fridge and opened it.
“It’s three in the morning, Taylor, where else would I be?”
Taylor shut the fridge and turned. Carrying a tray of turkey, mayonnaise, lettuce, and white bread in his hands, he walked over to the center island where Shelby sat. “Sorry. I keep forgetting we have a vampire in the house now.” He placed all the items on the counter and turned. He walked to the cupboard and opened it, taking down two plates, then retrieved a knife from the drawer. He turned and walked back to the counter. “My man is hungry, so I’m just making him a little snack to hold him off until breakfast. Would you like me to make you one, too?”
“No thanks. I’m not hungry.”
“You’re looking a little gray there. Are you sure you don’t need to feed?” Taylor asked as he made sandwiches.
“I had some of the blood King Dante sent over for me. I’m fine.”
“So why do you look all gloom and doom?”
“I think I may have made a mistake and I hate admitting that.”
“I know. Sucks when you have to suck it up and admit you were wrong, but sometimes the payoff is good when you do,” Taylor said and gave him a pointed look.
“I just don’t know how to stop it, Taylor.”
“Stop what?”
“The vision of my mate with all those other men. Men who were down on their knees sucking his cock or bent over a table as my mate plowed them. I can’t seem to wipe those visions from my mind.”
“So that’s the real reason you're denying your mate. Well, I can understand that. It must have sucked big hairy monkey balls to find your mate and be so excited, but then he’s sitting there with another man's mouth around his cock, the cock that’s supposed to be made just for you, but Xander had no idea you were there, Shel. He shouldn’t be punished for things he did before he met you.”
“I know that, Taylor, and you’re right. That’s not why I can’t be with him. It’s those damn visions,” Shelby huffed in frustration and stood. He walked to the fridge and pulled out a few slices of cheese, then turned and walked back to the center island. He took his seat again and handed the cheese to Taylor.
“Thanks. I forgot the cheese.” Taylor cut the cheese in half and chuckled. “Look, I cut the cheese.”
Shelby laughed softly as he shook his head. “So juvenile.”
“Maybe, but I’m a fun one.” Taylor wiggled his eyebrows, causing Shelby to smile. Taylor continued making his sandwiches.
“I don’t want to deny my mate. I’ve always wanted my mate since my mom explained to me what mates were, and I never thought I had to wait this long to find him. He’s also the only mate I’ll ever have, and vice versa. I don’t want to condemn both of us to a life alone, but…”
“So tell him all of that. At least then he’ll have something to work with.” Shelby sighed and rubbed the back of his neck.
“I’m sorry that that’s how you found me. If I could go back in time and change it, I would, but I can’t,” Xander said.
Shelby looked over and saw his mate standing in the doorway. He turned back to Taylor and narrowed his eyes as his lips thinned and his jaw clenched. “You knew he was standing there.”
“Only since I grabbed the plates,” Taylor offered in a sweet voice. He grabbed one of the plates containing four sandwiches and walked around the island. “Have a good night, you two.” Taylor headed for the door.
“You forgot your other plate,” Shelby called after him.
Taylor stopped in the doorway next to Xander and looked back over his shoulder. “Those are for the both of you.” He winked at Shelby and walked away.
Shelby’s gaze met Xander’s briefly before he looked away, then turned to face the counter again. He grabbed a piece of a sandwich Taylor had left behind and began to nibble on it. He could hear his mate’s footsteps getting closer. From his periphery, he saw his mate slowly slide onto the stool next to him. Xander reached out and grabbed the other half of one of the sandwiches. They sat there in silence as they wiped out the plate of food before them.
Xander stood up and made his way to the cupboard, opened it, and pulled out two glasses. He then went to the fridge and poured milk into the glasses, placed the carton back in the fridge, and walked back to his seat. Xander slid one of the glasses across the counter toward Shelby. He reached out and wrapped his fingers around the glass, lifted it to his lips, and took a drink. “Thanks,” he mumbled.
“You’re welcome.” Xander took a drink of his milk, too, and placed the empty glass on the counter before him. “I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have wanted to find my mate the way you found me, but I can’t change how it happened. All I can tell you...promise you, is that I would never cheat on you. That was my single life, before I met you, but now that I have found you I will never go back to that. There is no other in the universe but you. Even though you have rejected me, I will never be with another.”
Shelby looked at his mate, stunned. His declaration was not one that Shelby had ever expected. “You’re telling me that from here on out, whether we mate or not, that you will never be with another again? That even if I reject you, you will be faithful to me?”
“Yes,” Xander said simply as he stared down into his empty cup.
“But that’s insane. You’re only a puppy compared to me. You still have hundreds of years in this life. Surely you’ll want some male companionship at some point?”
“There is no urge to have any other but my mate now.”
“Yeah, thanks. No pressure there,” Shelby huffed sarcastically.
“I’m not trying to pressure you, mate. I am just stating a fact. I know there are some paranormals that have no respect for a true mating, but usually they are ones who have been unable to find their mate or don’t wish to. You should know how the rest of our kind feels about the sanctity of a mating, and it is sacred in my eyes. In all of our eyes. There will be no other in my life until death, but my mate. You,” Xander stated and stood. He moved behind Shelby and leaned forward, then placed a soft, gentle kiss on his cheek.
Shelby was floored by Xander’s decla
ration, but he was even more dazed by his kiss. Shelby gasped from the gentle touch and the instant hard-on. Fire burned through his body like never before from just one small touch. What would happen if they actually kissed? Or, hell, had sex? Shelby heard his mate's footsteps diminishing and knew the man was leaving. He quickly spun in his seat. “Wait!”
Xander stopped just outside the doorway, but he didn’t turn around. Shelby swallowed hard and pulled in a deep breath, trying to find the courage to say what he wanted to say, but also to find the courage to do what he knew must be done. What he knew he wanted.
“Yes, it sucks that I found you at the exact moment I did, and I will try to make those thoughts go away, but I can’t promise that it will happen overnight. I have looked for over two thousand years for my mate and it would be stupid of me to walk away from him―you―because of a moment in time, a misfortunate moment. You’re right. I’m no virgin and I shouldn’t judge you, and for that, I am sorry.”
Xander slowly turned to face him and Shelby could see the hope in his eyes. “What exactly does this mean for us, mate?”
“It means...that I am not rejecting you. I am only asking that you give me some time to get past what I saw, and maybe...in that time...we could...get to know each other.”
Xander took a step back into the kitchen and stopped. “I would like that a lot. Thank you, mate. What would you say to a date? The winter festival is going on in town and I would love to bring you, show you the sights.”
Shelby gave him a genuine, shy smile. “I would like that,” he answered happily, but then his face fell.
“What is it, Shelby? Did I push too hard, too fast?” Xander asked nervously.
Shelby’s surprised gaze met his. “No...mate. You didn’t push at all. It’s just that I remembered that I can’t leave the house. It’s too dangerous.”
“Oh. Right,” Xander said defeatedly and his shoulders slumped. Suddenly, he stood tall and gave Shelby a bright smile. “Well, if we can’t go out on our date then I will bring our date into you. Can I pick you up at your door at nine this evening?”
Shelby was shocked when a giggle escaped his lips. It had been many years since he had giggled, but his mate was so damn cute standing there talking about picking him up at his door, like a proper gentleman caller. “Yes, Xander. I look forward to it.”
Xander gifted him with a beautiful smile. “I’ll pick you up at nine. Until then, sleep well, beautiful Shelby.” Xander bowed his head and turned, heading down the hall.
Shelby laughed and turned back toward the counter. Picking up his glass, he finished his milk, and then shook his head. He was going on a date like a teenager.
* * * *
“Micah, can I see you?” Aaron asked from behind him as Micah and Jesse walked down the hall away from his office.
They both stopped and turned to face him. “We’re a little exhausted from all the excitement of the babies yesterday. Can this wait a few hours?”
“Unfortunately, no.”
“Is it Noah? Are the babies really coming now?” Jesse asked with excitement.
“No. Noah is fine. He may still have a few false labor pains, but he’s okay.”
“Then I would really prefer this wait, Aaron.” Micah took Jesse’s hand and turned.
“No, Micah, it can’t wait,” Aaron stated harshly.
Micah turned back to Aaron, his eyes hard from Aaron’s tone, but once he saw the stress in Aaron’s eyes, Micah relaxed and his eyes softened. “What is it, Aaron?”
“I need you to come with me down into the cells to see the Nephilim.”
Micah’s protectiveness rushed through him from the thought of their prisoner. The giant, evil Nephilim had been held down in their cells for months as Aaron studied him and ran tests, trying to find a weakness. “What about him?” Micah asked as he held Jesse’s hand tighter and pulled him along to follow Aaron to the basement cells.
“I think I found a way to change him, but I wanted you both there when I performed the test.”
Micah stopped and stared at the doctor. “You found a way to change him? How?”
“Well, that’s what I want you to see. I’m not sure if it will work, but if it does, there may be hope that we can do it with the rest of them.”
Aaron, Micah, and Jesse made their way down to the cells. Micah was surprised to find the Angel Nephilim Demetrius there waiting for them. Demetrius was a cute little guy who appeared to be afraid of his own shadow most of the time, but the man was great at his magic and teaching Rory how to control his magic, and to tap into it. Rory had come so far in learning his craft and Micah wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t need any help much longer. While he was staying with them, helping Rory, Demetrius also helped Adam and Marcus to hone their magical skills.
Micah always remembered to move slowly and talk softly around the Angel Nephilim. He also suspected the little man had a huge crush on his mate. Demetrius always seemed to be enthralled by Jesse whenever he was around. He looked at Jesse as if he hung the moon and there was no one else in the room. Micah wasn’t worried about the crush, though. He thought it was kind of sweet, actually. He knew his mate would never stray or betray him, but he also knew the little guy would never do anything to try to take his mate from him.
“Thanks for meeting us here, Demetrius,” Aaron said as they approached.
“Of course, Aaron. I’m happy to help. Hello Prime, Heart,” Demetrius welcomed them and his eyes strayed right to Jesse as always, and that wistful look appeared.
“Hello, Demetrius. How are you doing today? Have you been working hard all day with Rory again?” Jesse asked as he gave the angel a smile.
“Yes, and I do believe that Rory will no longer be needing my assistance for much longer. He is a very good student. He’s very smart and learns quickly. At the rate he’s going, he’ll be teaching me a thing or two very soon,” Demetrius answered with a small laugh.
“That’s great, Demetrius. I don’t know what Rory would have done without you here to help him.”
“Thank you, Jesse, but we should give Zane some of the credit, too. He helped a lot until he started training at the facility. He’s so excited to be able to train as an enforcer.”
“I don’t mean to be rude or anything, but can we get going with this? I know Micah and Jesse are exhausted, and if this works, I’ll have a lot of work to do tonight before I can get to bed,” Aaron interrupted.
“Sorry, Aaron,” Jesse and Demetrius said together.
“Okay, so I have been going crazy for months doing tests on this fella’s blood and I have gotten nowhere. Then, a few weeks ago, I remembered something that was said about the Nephilim and the fae.”
“What’s that?”
“The fae race was created from the Angel Nephilim, correct?” Aaron looked at Demetrius for confirmation. Demetrius nodded.
“So I thought, what do we know about the fae? One, they cannot be killed unless you cut off their heads. Two, their magic is a part of them. It can’t be taken away permanently like a witch’s can, and three, it can be taken for short periods by mixing phoenix blood with phoenix tears.
“So I infused the phoenix mixture with this big lunkhead’s blood, and sure enough, there was a reaction. I wasn’t sure exactly what it meant, so I requested a blood sample from Demetrius to try the test on his blood as well, seeing as there really is no difference between the good angel Nephilim and the evil demon Nephilim except that the angel Nephilim came from the fallen angels and the demon Nephilim came from those same fallen angels, but after they were changed to demons. So if they could be changed to demons, then why couldn’t they be changed back?
“So after many tests―I won’t bore you with the details― Demetrius’s blood had a similar reaction to the demon Nephilim. There was one compound in Demetrius’s blood that had vanished after the test, but that compound appeared after the effects of the phoenix mixture wore off. So I got a sample from Ryland and the same thing happened. I narrowed down that compo
und and mixed it with the demon Nephilim blood, and sure as shit, his DNA changed, and it still hasn’t changed back, but what I did find is that it would only change after I infused the blood with the phoenix mixture and blocked his powers. When I mixed the phoenix mixture with the demon Nephilim’s blood to begin with, it went from this dark, murky, almost black color, to a bright red, like Demetrius’s and Ryland’s.”
“So what you’re saying is that if you give the demon Nephilim the phoenix mixture and stop his powers, his blood changes to look like the angel Nephilim, but then if you inject him with the angel Nephilim blood or fae blood, then you can change them into an angel Nephilim or a fae?” Micah asked in awe.
“Yes and no. I cannot change him into an angel Nephilim, but he would be changed to fae,” Aaron stated proudly.
“You have got to be fucking kidding me. Oh my gods, Aaron,” Jesse said.
“Will they still essentially be evil or would that change as well?” Demetrius asked.
“That I don’t know yet. That’s why I called you all here, to test my theories and to see what he will become. I think by using Demetrius’s blood to make the change, it will be like what the gods did to create the fae to begin with.”
“Well, shit. Okay, so what do we need to do?” Micah asked.
“I’m going to inject him with this syringe full of the phoenix mixture. Then I will take a blood sample from him and see if it changed to the appearance of Demetrius’s blood. Once it does, I would like to give him a blood transfusion directly from Demetrius. That is, if Demetrius agrees.” Aaron looked to Demetrius.
“Of course you can, Aaron, but will it hurt?” he asked nervously.
“Only a small prick from the needle I put in you. The worst part will be waiting until the amount I need from you goes into him.”
“Okay, Aaron.”
“Thank you, Demetrius.”
“I notice this guy looks like he’s sleeping, but you did something to him, didn’t you?” Micah asked.
“Yes. I knocked him out with a sleeping pill, a heavy-ass dose of one. I didn’t think he would be onboard with my plans.”
