“Really, that big of a family?” She sighed and finally rested her head on Japer’s chest. “I’ve always wanted a big family. Being the only child really sucked. I mean, Dad tried to make things good, especially on holidays, but it just wasn’t the same. Christmas is my favorite holiday, other than Halloween. I’ve always wanted to have a large family Christmas. Maybe one day. So, tell me, if we’re mates, are you going to mind if I want to stay here? The house I have was my grandmother’s. She left it to me when she died six years ago. Many things in that house remind me of Momma.”
“Your house needs a lot of work. I was ready to appear pretending to be a plumber just to get your water working,” Caleb grumbled.
Xena laughed. “And I would have let you fix it. What I wouldn’t give for a hot bath, but it the repairs will have to be done on my budget. As you know, I’m not working right now, and the only money I have coming in is from my online work, but I only get paid monthly. I love my house; it’s big and I have over six acres of land that haven’t been touched by machines. My grandma made sure the mining company couldn’t get hold of our land. As you’ve seen, there are not many homes left in this town anymore.”
“Are you going to allow us to court you right, Xena? Will you trust us?” Jasper asked.
She looked up at him, then at his brother. Both had light blue eyes, and their blond hair was a total opposite her own black-brown hair. Thy were also very tall and built like fighters. “Are you twins?” she asked.
Caleb laughed. “Yes, Jasper is about two hours older than I am. Now answer the question, sweet thing. Are you going to allow us to court you?” He tapped her nose.
“How does this mating thing go? I mean, you’re magical people, and you live long lives. Wait, how old are you?”
Jasper moaned. “Okay, here it is in a nutshell. We are 506 years old, young for our people. Once our bonds are sealed, you will slowly start to change. Already you have some hidden form of DNA you need to be our mate. It will become more prominent and enhance what gift you have, and it will also allow you to bond with us. This will enable you to live as long as we do.”
“Really? I have fae genes? Well, damn, I didn’t know that. It has to be on my dad’s side since he’s mated to your mom. As for allowing you to court me…yes. But so help me, if you are lying—”
“If they are lying, they won’t last long,” Marcus said, coming over with Annabelle, Alocer, and another man. “If you’re going to stay here, you should know what is about to happen to your little town.” Marcus sat in a chair opposite them and pulled Annabelle into his lap.
“We will be slowly cleaning up the mess the mining companies have left. This town is going to be the hub for other species from different worlds to come and go. Alocer will be training warriors that will be set up around the world to keep watch and protect the humans. My brother Lance”—he gestured to the man who had come over with them— “has brought his construction company here. Tomorrow we’ll be starting on the first of the houses and the grand station. so to speak, and meeting areas. Jasper and Caleb, if you stay, Alocer will need help training warriors and, since you have the experience, we could use your assistance.”
Annabelle leaned forward. “And I have a project I’ve started and could use some help with. It’s called Elves Hotline, for parents who need help during the holidays. I really could use someone to help coordinate the mail we get. Last year alone we had close to 2,000 letters. Mind you, some are fake, but we have magic on our side that helps us find the false ones. Oh, and yes, you would be paid.”
“This is crazy. I come over to give you a cake to welcome you, and I end up with two mates, and now you’re offering me a job? You don’t know anything about me. How could you trust me that easily?” she asked, shaking her head in disbelief.
“That’s easy—him.” Annabelle nodded behind her, and Xena gasped when she looked over, seeing Santa in person. “That is Marcus and Lance’s father, Nicolas, and believe me, he knows all. Sometimes too much,” she grumbled, and he laughed as his features changed back to the dark hair and beard she’d seen earlier. He now had the body of a weightlifter, not the fat, old Santa in popular culture.
“Wow, talk about a change.” She frowned.
“You see, you would have never come over here if I wasn’t sure of you, Xena. Magic can be a very useful tool when I want it to use it. Plus, with my grandchildren in the house, we are very protective. I knew your history as you were coming in the door.” Nicolas glanced at Alocer. “You’re going to have to send their mother back. I’m afraid she’s just too dangerous to be walking around earth. Xena is lucky to be here and alive.”
Nicolas looked down at her. “Your father saved your life that night. Guard her well, you two,” he said to Jasper and Caleb, “because I don’t think your mother is done with her. The thought of her father having any children that that aren’t hers is not making her happy.”
Jasper snarled. “I should have known. Father warned us she was too far gone.” He looked over at Alocer. “What do you want us to do?”
Chapter Three
One day ago, Xena had shivered as she watched as Jasper and Caleb disappear after giving her a kiss on the head. They had been assigned to find their mother and transfer her back to the world she had been born in long ago.
She looked over her shoulder at the bedroom she had been assigned to since no one here was about to allow her to leave their home and the protection of its magic.
Annabelle moved up to her side as her friend and sister-in-law, Sandy, moved to Xena’s other side. “It shouldn’t take them long since she won’t be expecting them. Are you ready to see where we set up our office?” Sandy asked. “It will help keep your mind off things. I hope you slept all right.”
Xena snorted. “You both know I did. I never sleep 14 hours.” She looked at Annabelle, who laughed.
“That would-be Eden’s doing. Plus, she was right, you needed the sleep after all you’d had been through,” Annabelle said.
“I still don’t understand why I just can’t go home. You really believe she’ll show up there?” Xena asked as they turned a corner, moving away from the main house.
“Yes, if what Nicolas says is true, she’ll come after you. Our kind are very possessive,” Alocer said, coming up from behind them and earning a snort from Annabelle.
“That’s an understatement. I thought Marcus and Lance were bad, but Alocer is three times worse when it comes to me. All through my pregnancies, I thought for sure I would murder him. Every corner I turned, he was there watching. Believe me, if your men have one ounce of demon in them, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“This is so unreal,” she muttered as they moved down a long hall. Pictures of ancestors hung on either side along with what appeared to be little figurines. Xena stopped and stared at one. “Is that a little gargoyle?” she asked, earning a laugh from Sandy.
“My sister collects them. You’ll see them spread throughout the house. She had to place them where the real gargoyles wouldn’t see them. They tend to get a little touchy when they see them.”
“What? They’re real too?” she asked, and both woman nodded.
“Welcome to my world. One day we were working for Marcus and Lance; the next day I’m mated to them and I find out I’m over 100 years old.” Annabelle pushed open a door waiting for Xena to step through.
“Damn, being that old would have thrown me for a loop by itself.” Xena moved into the room and found another hallway.
“There are three offices in here. Mine is the first one to the right, and Jo’s is across from mine,” Annabelle said, moving down the hall and opening doors to show Xena the rooms as they walked. “This will be your office.” She opened the door at the end of the hall, and Xena was floored.
“Damn, this place is huge,” Xena said, glancing at all the different cubes on the walls.
“Each cube represents an area of the world. Letters are sorted as soon as they come in.” Annabelle pointed to the left
side of the room. “Those there are just the ones that came in today, which are filled with lies. I’m sorry to say we don’t have time to sort through the lies.” Annabelle sighed. “I know some of the people who wrote them need help, but we just can’t read through each one to find them.”
“I’m sorry, but you have hundreds of letters here. How do you know which ones to help? Also, you’d have to have an endless supply of money to assist them. No offense, but no one has that,” Xena said, moving down the wall and looking at the letters.
She stopped at one cube and stared at a bright red envelope that seemed to be moving. “Um, Annabelle, are these supposed to do that?” Xena asked, looking back over her shoulder at her new friend and boss.
“Moving?” Annabelle asked, and she and Sandy walked to Xena’s side, frowning at the cube and the moving letter. “Well, that’s weird.”
Xena stopped her as she reached out to touch it. “Sorry, but if you haven’t seen something like this, don’t you think you should have someone else check it out? I might be cynical, but you have babies and men that depend on you. Let me.”
“Not one of you will touch it,” Alocer growled from behind them, which made the three of them jump, then glare at him.
Xena moved out of the way as he slid in front of the cubbyhole. “That is a warning. It means something is wrong with this letter. If you see a letter like this, don’t touch it. Call for us. Lance just put the spell on all incoming mail this morning.” Alocer held Annabelle’s gaze till she looked at the ground.
“Fine, but I wish you would have told me about this before. Could you have those letters sent somewhere else? We sure don’t need someone innocent opening them.” Annabelle gasped. “My God, Xena could have been hurt.”
Alocer turned his gaze to Xena, frowning. “You are not my mate, but I thank you for thinking of Annabelle. But you should never touch something you don’t understand. If something is strange to you, ask before touching it, and do not put yourself at risk.” He smiled and tilted his head to the side. “I’m afraid your males aren’t happy at all.”
“What? How do they know?” She shook her head. “That doesn’t matter; they have no say in what I do. I mean. hell, I’ve known them, what, 24 hours?”
Alocer laughed as he grabbed the envelope and moved out of the room. “You explain it to her, Annabelle, while I get rid of this letter. Oh, and I agree. We’ll have all letters with a threat on them sent to our offices. But if any get by, call us immediately,” he informed them, as signs popped up on all three walls, stating this new rule.
“Well they are through,” Xena said, shaking her head at the sign.
Annabelle nodded and pointed to a desk. “This is your spot, have a seat, Alocer is right. We need to talk.”
For the next hour, Annabelle and Sandy explained a few things about the business and what not to do. Xena was in shock when she learned some of the things they expected of her.
A soft knock on the door had them turning to see Eden pushing a cart of food into the room. “You three need to eat something. Oh, and you never drank your tea yesterday, Xena, so I brought a fresh cup. Believe me, this will help with your healing.”
Xena took the tea and smiled at the powerful woman. “I really should get back home. I have so much work to do on the house.” She sighed before taking a drink of the tea.
The berry flavor seemed to dance on her tongue, and it was so potent that it shocked her. “This stuff is good. I’ve never had any tea taste so much like actual berries. So how is this going to heal me?”
Eden placed a plate of finger sandwiches on Xena’s new desk, along with a tray of cheese and olives tray. “It will take a couple of hours, but I believe it will heal your arm so you can get rid of that cast then. But Marcus has explained why you shouldn’t leave. I really believe you should stay here till your men get back, especially since your new stepmother is not all there in the head. And don’t worry about your house. My son already has two of his contractors going through it. They’ll ask your opinion on a few things before they start fixing it up.”
“What? That isn’t necessary. Plus, it’s too much,” Xena said.
“She’s staying here, and it’s not too much. You have to understand, if you want to stay in town that we want all the houses to have certain protections,” Marcus said from behind Eden. “It seems the stepmother and Xena’s father are gone. I’m sorry, Xena, the house was burned to the ground by the time your mates got there. If what your mates believe is true, she’ll be on her way here to destroy anything from your father’s past. That’s another reason why you’ll be staying with us till your home is ready.”
“What about my house?” Xena stood.
“Not to worry, she can’t do anything to your home. While they were with you, your mates surrounded your home with magic so their mother couldn’t touch it. That will help for now. But that wouldn’t stop her from hurting you. So, you’re going to stay here until your men get back. They are tracking her, and it looks like she’s on her way here.” Marcus placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed it. “You’re safe, Xena.”
Xena frowned. “I feel as if I’m imposing. I mean, we just met, and already you want to give me a job, not to mention a safe place to stay. I really didn’t mean for this all to land on your doorstep.”
Annabelle reached over and took her hand. “Remember what I said. When dealing with different species, things change fast. Last Christmas, we were told that this place would be our new home, and look at us now. We go where we have to. always believed our fates are predestined, and that has been proven to be the case many times.” Annabelle looked up at her mate. “But it would have been nice to know I was going to be mated to such powerful men.” Annabelle fingered her choker.
Marcus cupped Annabelle’s cheek. “Later, little angel,” he said, his voice seeming to drop. A chill ran up Xena’s spine, and she squirmed in her seat as she looked at him.
He looked down at her and winked. “I’ll leave you ladies alone, but dinner is at 7:00 sharp, and I think it would be fun to have a formal dinner tonight, maybe with some dancing.”
Sandy squealed and Annabelle clapped her hands. “It’s about time!” Annabelle said, jumping up and throwing herself into Marcus’ arms. “Thank you, thank you. Now, go on. We have to find some clothes for Xena for tonight. I take it her mates will be here for dinner too?” she said before kissing his cheek and turning to Xena.
“You’re in trouble now,” Sandy laughed. “When Annabelle gets that look in her eyes, watch out.”
“Hey, I’m not that bad,” Annabelle said as Marcus moaned right before he swatted her butt.
“What did Santa say about lies, little angel?” her husband asked.
“Marcus please.” Annabelle looked over at Xena.
Her husband threw his head back and laughed. “Xena who is Master Drake?” he asked, shocking the living crap out of her. Her face heated and she was at a loss for words.
“Marcus, that was just downright rude!” Annabelle growled and slapped his chest, pushing away from him. “Come on, Xena, I want to show you a few things, since it’s obvious what kind of dinner party we’re having,” she grumbled, pulling Xena out of her seat and being careful of her arm.
“Xena, before tonight I’ll come over and take off the cast since you’ll be fully healed by then. Just make sure not to use your arm too much. I’m sure my son will inform your mates after I personally give my son a lesson in manners,” Eden said Sandy led Xena from the office.
Chapter Four
Xena stared out the window of the room she’d been assigned. She had been here for two days now. After a long talk with Sandy and Annabelle, she had needed something to relax and, baths usually did it. She still couldn’t believe Master Drake had spoken with her men.
“My men.” She shook her head and turned to see them standing there.
“We brought your outfit for tonight, but we also thought we should talk before we proceed with dinner and the entertainmen
t,” Jasper said, holding out his hand to her.
As if on their own, her feet carried her to them, and Xena placed her hand in his. “Did you find your mother?” she asked.
“No, but she’s here in town. That’s why we want you safe here. As soon as we know she’s gone from this world, we’ll go back to your home. But I believe it’s best we stay here,” Caleb said, nodding to a chair placed between two others.
She took a seat and tried to close her robe, which had popped open, exposing part of her breast and her mound.
“No, open it for us,” Jasper commanded.
Obeying their order was almost too easy. She opened it, exposing herself to them, knowing they had seen her before when they had been in wolf form in her house.
“You know we spoke to Master Drake?” Caleb asked, pushing the robe back. “Open your legs for us.”
“Yes, Marcus informed me.” She tilted her head to the side. “Why did you call him?”
“Don’t you think we should know if our woman has been claimed by another?” Jasper asked.
“But…”
Jasper put his finger to her lips.
“We know he’s not your master, that he was just checking up on you since you moved here. How long have you been going to the club?” Caleb asked.
“A year.” She smiled. “My girlfriend knew I was having a hard time with my father and your mother, so she dragged me there a few months ago, knowing I needed something to take my mind off them. Boy, was she right.” She laughed as Jasper looked at Caleb.
“You know you don’t have to do this. If you two aren’t into this kind of thing, we could just have a quiet dinner up here,” she said, earning a laugh from Jasper.
“Oh, Xena, you have much to learn, but we will teach you. For tonight you say nothing unless we ask you a question. At times, we will allow you to speak with the other women there, but unless we grant you permission to do this, you do not speak. We will feed you and take care of you tonight. There will be couples other than Annabelle and Sandy there too.” Jasper reached over and cupped her breast, running his finger over her nipple.
The Naughty Stepbrothers Page 2
