10
“Good, he’s here. We’re starving and Matt over there was threatening to eat whatever he found,” a man slightly larger than Ajax said, as they stepped in with boxes.
Hildy was still tripping off the building. She could have sworn she’d seen trees before from the diner. But the closer they got to the location, that sat a good hundred yards or so from the street, she saw the building. Red bricked and old, it looked like the first floor was an old gym with four more stories above it from the outside. How had she not seen such a large building from across the street?
When they stepped in, the smell of sweat, leather and men confirmed that to be the case. The gym took up the entire first floor of the building. Hildy loved it instantly. Trying not to stumble with the box as she took everything in, she took her time navigating the new terrain of the path into the main area of the place.
“Hey, let me take that from you,” another large guy said, liberating the box from her. “Jax, I hope there’s more out in the car. This ain’t enough to feed Lucien, let alone all of us.”
“Yeah, more boxes out in the car. Miss Connie made sure to include all the fixings too,” Ajax added, putting his box down on a long table set up in the center of the room. Turning to find Hildy, he said, “Hildy, you can put your coat and things in there, then come back and rest. That’s the locker room. The guys will help me get all the food inside.”
Nodding, she went to put away her coat and hat. The atmosphere was alive and… welcoming. She took in all the equipment, mats and pictures on the walls. This was a man’s gym, no doubt about it, but it was more as well. She looked up to see the high ceilings. On closer inspection, most of the second floor had been gutted to make room for the ceiling. There were rooms around the perimeter of the second floor, sort of like a mezzanine area. Shocked at seeing fighting gear and training areas up there hanging in suspension as well, Hildy fell harder for the place. This space was high enough for her to train in flight, amazing. Before reaching the entrance to the locker room, she spotted a man in an office in the mezzanine area. He worked at a laptop, engrossed in what he did. Zoning in to see details, he looked a lot like Jax, only a little older and dangerously handsome.
Right, she’d managed to agree to spend Christmas with four of the hottest guys she’d ever encountered. The things she got herself into.
A tad over an hour later…
Died and gone to heaven was too cliché to use for what she experienced. The food was beyond anything she’d ever had before. Every bite took Hildy to another level of pleasure. It bordered on orgasmic. The one good thing about spending her dinner with what had to be the largest assembly of alpha males she’d ever witnessed was that Hildy could eat in peace. They’d occupied their time eating, making only the necessary comments like “pass the butter” and “are you going to eat that turkey leg?” as they ate. Yep, a little piece of heaven was right here.
Her belly was full and she still hadn’t had a chance to get a piece of that sweet potato pie. When Hildy eyed Ajax and the one they called Matt chomping down on bites eaten directly out of pie tins, she saw red.
Ajax elbowed Matt and said aloud for everyone to hear, “See, I told you. Look at her. She’s pissed off. There’s something about these pies that she doesn’t want anyone to have before her.”
“It’s not the pie, it’s you, Jax,” one of his brothers said.
“He’s right you know. Ajax, you’re an antagonistic, ill-mannered jerk. You aren’t happy unless you’re doing something to irk me,” she said, not caring that everyone watched the exchange.
All eyes were on her, waiting to see what she did next. The air felt right for a good fight. What she’d thought would be four men had turned into eight—each of them a fighter and family to Ajax in some way. They were either brothers or a few of his cousins—the gryphons, like the two she’d first met when they arrived.
They might be on his side if she engaged him in a fight, but she knew they wouldn’t do anything to her. Despite all the male energy in here, Hildy felt safe and welcome. Almost like it was home. Ajax had given her space to do her own thing, staying out of her way until now. The others were extremely nice to her, like they meant it.
But she had to admit it to herself, this was way better than she’d imagined it would be. Instead of the normal discomfort that rode her all the time when she had to be around others, here, peace hummed in everything and everywhere. Yes, it was like what she imagined home would feel like.
Never mind, this was just for today, then she’d be back to her normal life.
Matt spoke up, mouth still full with pie, “Quit talking and grab your own pie if you want some. It’s over there in that box marked desserts. Sweetheart, one thing you’ll quickly learn about us is that we don’t scrimp when it comes to food. There’s always enough for everyone. Now quit seething and start eating.” He punctuated it with a devilish smile that would make any woman humbly submit.
This sucked. She couldn’t get a rise out of Ajax, or Jax as everyone seemed to call him, and Matt was some sort of Hildy whisperer. As soon as Matt had spoken, calm enveloped her, casting a new light on her aggression. It was misplaced and she needed to let it go.
At the diner, he’d mentioned knowing what she was. Now was a good time to find a way to get Ajax alone. She itched to find out what he thought. Maybe it might answer some of the many questions that always dogged her. His blunt statement had been another reason she’d agreed to this. That had been the mystery hanging over her since they’d left the diner.
Another look over to where he sat and she knew it would be awhile. He sat off from the others with the man from the office. She’d been introduced to him when the meal started. He was Lucien Drake, Ajax’s oldest brother. And there was something odd and intriguing about him. The way he moved, looked at everyone and everything, it was too calculated. In his eyes, she saw a depth that seemed to go on forever. Either the guy was extremely serious or on something. Nah, she could smell and sense when someone was on drugs of any kind. Every man in here was as clean as fresh spring water.
Deciding to take Matt up on his suggestion, she made her way over to the dessert box. Just like men to leave everything in boxes, allowing everyone to go for what they knew. But the lack of formality was what she’d needed. If Hildy had come into a fully set table with seating arrangements, meal courses and other such nonsense, she would have been out of here fast enough to make them believe she’d been a ghost.
She rummaged through, opening pies and cakes, until she found a blessed sweet potato pie. Grabbing a fork and finding a place next to a practice ring, Hildy sat on the matted floor and dug in. The now familiar taste of cinnamon and a hint of nutmeg greeted her, followed by the creamiest sweet potato flavor. She took another bite, savoring it to taste and experience the pie. Swallowing, she had to admit a new truth to herself.
Hildy Newton did not like sweet potato pie.
“Well, I see you finally got your little hands on a sweet potato pie,” Ajax said, as he approached.
“Yeah, I did. Thank you. I appreciate you inviting me and making sure I had this pie.”
“It’s the least I could do, for all the trouble you went through. What’s up though? Something wrong with your pie?” Hildy burst out laughing loud and free. He stood, looking down at her, as she continued to laugh until it was out and down to a chuckle. “Care to share?”
“Yep, I can’t imagine what came over me. I fought you, went to jail, and walked five miles to get to food and the chance at having some sweet potato pie.” She looked up into the most brilliant hazel eyes ever to see keen interest at her every word. “I got the pie, thanks to you. And… I don’t like it. I mean, I don’t like the taste of sweet potato. I know that for certain now.”
Laughter boomed as he let out a whoop. “You! All right, let me get this straight. You walloped the hell out of me for a pie you’d never had before. Then went through all that other stuff, just to find out you don’t like the taste of it?�
��
“Yes, I know it sounds cuckoo, but it’s more of the sweet potato than anything else. I’ve had the fried and baked versions. I could take them or leave them, but when the spice and sugar was added, I know I don’t like that version of sweet potato at all. I don’t like sweetened sweet potato. So, dear Ajax, my quest for sweet potato pie comes to a tragic end. I never want another piece.” Hildy reached up to get him to help her stand on the mat as she said, “So much so, that I’m going back over to that dessert box and find that cherry cobbler I spotted. Got to get this taste out of my mouth.” He helped her stand. As she did, he took off to the dessert box, beating her there. “Hey, what are you doing now?”
“Looking for the cherry cobbler, of course.”
“Aww, that’s so kind of you, helping me find it.”
“Who said I was helping you find it. I want it, looking for myself.”
“You wouldn’t!” she said, not believing he was doing this to her again. “You ass-faced bastard, that was my idea to have cherry cobbler.”
“You snooze you lose.”
Hildy watched as he opened the container with the cobbler and took two of his fingers to scoop out a huge amount of the gooey delicious dessert. He plopped the mass into his mouth and chewed, making annoying faces of pleasure. When he’d licked his fingers clean, and saw her standing there watching with the best attempt at mental daggers she could conjure, he said, “Want some?”
“That’s… eww—you nasty! Ugh!” And she marched off to find a bathroom where she could kick something in peace.
11
Ajax… The Lair, Common Area, Christmas Evening
“I like her,” Matt said, keeping his voice low. “She’s more than capable of keeping you in line.”
“So does that mean you won’t try to sabotage my chances with her?” Ajax asked, joking with his best friend and gryphon partner. “I told you, she’s a pure soul. I think she’s going to become a Siren. You know, like Mom.”
Ajax knew Matt had a way with people. It was a gryphon gift to calm and regulate the emotions, minds, and bodies of others. There’d never been an opportunity for Ajax to see his effect on a woman’s affections, and now wasn’t going to be that time. Matt was his brother in many ways, but when it came to Hildy, all bets were off. There was no telling what that gryphon could do, especially when he put his mind to it. Yes indeed, it would be a shame for him to have to kill Matt on Christmas Day if he tried anything with Hildy.
Raising his hands in innocence, Matt said, “You got it all wrong, Jax. I said I like her, not that I wanted to mate with her. She’s all yours. Not sure I could handle that sharp tongue of hers all the time anyway.”
“What? Now she’s not good enough for you, gryphon?”
“All right, settle down you two,” Greg said, using his authoritative big brother voice. “What you should be concentrating on is the effect the Lair has on her.” Greg looked toward the ladies’ locker room and then over to Ajax. “Does she seem normal and healthy to you?”
“Yeah. She’s her usual self. As best, I can tell. Do you want me to come right out and ask how she’s doing when she returns?”
Lucien spoke up, “No, that won’t be necessary. We’ll keep a watch on her. She seems like she has lots of questions. Her essence is loose for a Harpy of her age as if she’s unformed in a lot of areas. Again, I don’t believe she is anything but what Jax says she is. Hildy is a Harpy, I’m sure of that, based on observing her today. That means she’s part of our family, from our dimension. Whose exact linage is what I want to find out. If she checks out and is alone, not matter what happens between her and Jax, she’ll have a home here with us.”
“And what if she’s been brainwashed by the humans she’s been around?” Nolan asked.
“Let’s take it one revelation at a time.”
Ajax caught himself holding his breath. For the first time, he found himself actually contemplating leaving his brothers and the Lair to protect Hildy, if they didn’t accept her. It was times like this when he wished his joining with his dragon was complete. Right now, he was stuck in a crazy limbo between dragon and guardian-in-training.
Ajax was only able to go on tasks on the surface and train with Matt. He would be able to travel through the portal to the sector the Dragofin Clan protected once he and his dragon were fully joined. Just a little over four more months and the deed would be down. Lucien’s voice drifted back in as a question was directed toward him.
“Jax, did you hear me? Did Hildy say anything about a family when you invited her here, like what they might be doing today?”
Ajax had completely overlooked that. He’d been so hell bent on getting her here, the thought to find out about her family and plans hadn’t come up.
“No, I might have railroaded her into coming here. Saw her over at Miss Connie’s and jumped on the opportunity.”
“Can’t blame you, judging by the intense chemistry going on between you two,” Greg said. “But, her being here signals the start of something. What exactly? I don’t know. There are too many things happening, not to ignore her presence as well. When she gets back, if she’s open to it, I say we find out more about her. Hildy might unwittingly know why there’s an uptick in portal assaults.”
“I want to know more about what she does here on the surface. If she’s a paid assassin, I want to know.”
“An assassin? Jax, you brought a paid Harpy killer into the Lair?” his brother named Blaise asked.
“Hold your horses, guys, let's wait until Hildy has had a chance to answer that for herself. If she is an assassin out to do us harm, I think Luc would have picked up on it by now. Right, Luc?” Matt asked.
“I haven’t spent much time around her yet. But before she leaves, I’ll know what she’s about and up to.”
Ajax didn’t like the sound of Lucien’s subtext. “Luc, don’t. She’s like us, not some everyday run-of-the-mill nosey human probing into matters that don’t concern them. Hildy’s here at my invitation. If for no other reason, please treat her as a guest for my sake. She’s got one foot out of here as it is.”
“All right, for your sake,” Lucien said. “Remember, we need to find out more about her. And Jax,” Lucien leaned in capturing Ajax’s undivided attention, “I want to know if she’s registered with the Intergalactic Council. They should have a record of her and her family.”
“Why does that matter?”
Greg spoke up, “It matters because if she’s not listed, then that means someone or group might be trying to infiltrate the Clan like I suspect Julia was sent to do.”
“Enough with the talk about Julia. She’s a confused kid. With some help, she’ll be fine. For the last time, Hildy is nothing like Julia. What I’ve seen from her so far has no malice intent to it.”
Nolan said, “You mean to tell me, you don’t suspect something afoot? The facts are adding up. The fact that every time we turn around, we’re getting called back to portal patrol, the fact that Julia almost killed you and since that didn’t work, a new woman with an iffy past is here in the Lair, having Christmas dinner with us, don't you find that off?”
“Nolan, I thought you said you believed me. Man, you can be some timey.”
“Enough!” Lucien said, silencing the room. “She’ll be back soon. Jax, I agree with the others about her murky background. First thing, I want you to find out if she’s listed with the council. In the meantime, we’ll continue to receive her as your guest. Unless she does anything to change my mind, I have no reason to suspect her of anything. But, I still want her vetted.”
That’s the best Ajax could hope for. He’d want the same thing, given all the events there were happening. “We’ll have to send notice now; there’s no way all this is a coincidence. I believe she’s here for a reason, and that reason is to benefit me and all of us.”
“I hope so. So, are we going to talk about the elephant in the room? The prophecy?” Matt asked.
Blaise piped in, “Which part—us getting mat
es or the battle of our lives? I’m hoping I can have the mates without the cataclysmic battle to follow. Greg… Lucien? It seems like you’ve been waiting to tell us about another assignment. I think the battle has already started. It’s hard to ignore how frequently we’re being called back or the amount of activity. Come on guys, am I right?”
Leave it to Blaise to cut to the heart of the matter.
“Yes, I did receive word that we’re being called back up for duty at the portal very soon, but I don’t believe it’s because of some archaic prophecy coming to pass.”
“You don’t? Then how do you explain Jax meeting Hildy? She’s the first woman any of us has been able to touch since the other known females were taken back to their respective home dimensions,” Nolan said.
“Yeah, the surface still isn’t ready for women who are as strong as females from the other galaxies are.” One of the twins, Kyran, said.
“You don’t know that. Quit spouting hearsay. I was here when the witch trials happened. It wasn’t just our females. It was a plague of the mind that spread across this young nation. Humans lived in more fear than they do now. No one was safe.”
“And the answer was to kill those who didn’t think or act like them?” Kyran, the twin who’d spoken before, asked.
“That is their way. They are immensely suspicious of what they don’t understand. Now you see why I’m tasking Ajax will following up with the Council on Hildy’s background. If she’s been raised as a human, she could hold the same ideology.”
“Which is?” Greg asked.
“Shoot first and then ask questions,” Nolan answered for him.
“I’ve already sent word to be on alert to the other clans in the neighboring regions. If I must, I’ll call the others back here—after the holidays have passed. There’s no way this will happen, not if I’m here. I need all of you to beef up your security. And… I need you to do a cleansing ritual as soon as possible. I know I promised you we’d take the holidays off, but we still need to be on alert. Let me know once you’ve completed your cleansing process by the mid part of January.”
Ajax's Harpy Holiday: Dragofin Mated: Book 1 (A Dragon-Gyphon Shifter Curvy Paranormal-Fantasy-Scifi Romance Series) (Dragonfin Clan Mated) Page 6
