Matlock kneeled down on one knee before them, his brothers following his lead. “It would be an honor to be her protector. She is beautiful, and if our future queen needs for anything, it would be our honor to help.” The warrior scanned Lissa’s body with a heated gaze and it took everything in Nikola not to destroy him.
He lifted Lissa up, and sat her down on the chair, as he stood towering over the three men. Adonis, Castor and Pierre materialized next to them. Adonis was in half beast form, as was Pierre, both of them snapping at the men on their knees.
“As you see Matlock, there will be no touching of our mate. The only ones who will ever give her pleasure, satisfy her needs, and dominate this lovely Lilly will only be us. Do you still want the honor?”
Lissa jumped up, out of her seat, and ran towards the doors. “Nikola something is wrong!” She tried to open the large doors, but they wouldn’t budge.
“Stand back Lissa, now.” She slowly moved back, her new warriors surrounding her, as Nikola opened the door to mass confusion. Down below them, in the grand-entrance, people cried, and glanced up at them, as they made their way to the railing.
Queen Isabel stood on the other side of the room, her mate by her side, her personal guard around her. She nodded to him, and then glanced out at the people below. “Our world is once more changing, and with this change a new powerful ruler will guide you. You all know him and his family. He has proven himself to us time and time again. His companions and he have been chosen from the unknown, already you can feel their power.” Murmurs filled the large palace, a very small cold hand slipped into his.
He looked down at a very nervous and beautiful Lissa. Her dark red hair now flowed down in ringlets around her face, a lovely short green dress covered her shapely body, and five inch high fuck-me pumps were on her feet.
“Beautiful, but you do know that now that I’ve seen you in those shoes, I will expect you in them all the time?” He leaned down and kissed her cheek. “Especially, when I’m making love to you.”
She snorted, but kept her gaze below. “They want to come in.” Lissa said loud, enough so others below heard her.
Nikola laughed. “By all means invite your friends in. I’m sure Queen Isabel would welcome the company right now.”
Windows and doors slowly opened, the sun filtered inside the palace, while very slowly flowering plants, tree vines, and other assorted plants covered some of the walls and floors. His people whispered, as they watched a large rose bush grow around Queen Isabel and her husband.
Bending down, Queen Isabel smelled the purple rose flowers around her and smiled up at Lissa. “I thank you, and please thank your friends.” Isabel once again drew the attention of the heads of the family that were in attendance, over five hundred of them.
Waving her hand around her, she smiled. “As you see, your next queen will only be an asset to your new King.”
Chapter Five
Jaycee gripped the bed sheet under her and glared at Remi. “If there was a way, I swear I’d make you shit these little hellions out!” She panted, sweat ran down her face, her back rippled with muscle cramps, and it felt as if her pussy was being ripped in half.
“The first thing we do is build a hospital, and find a damn doctor with pain meds!” She yelled at Dane, who now smiled and wiped her forehead, as the pain slowly eased back.
“Stupid ass men!” Lissa yelled, appearing in the room, and pushed Mark out of the way. “Move, if you would have listened to what I said earlier, she wouldn’t be in such pain.” Lissa cracked the window open, and Jaycee smiled, falling back onto the bed.
“Damn Lissa, what the hell, the pain…” Jaycee stopped mid-sentence when one of the members of the council peeked his head inside her room.
“Get his ass out of here now! Remi, I’m warning you now, they come near my children I’ll rip their fucking heads off.” Jaycee snarled, as the man slammed the bedroom door shut, and disappeared.
The bed dipped and Remi slipped in behind her, pulling her back against him. “Relax, Jaycee. I promise I’ll keep them away from the babies. As soon as you have the babies, I’ll take them to the Northern cabin; it’s finished and supplied. It should be big enough for the four of them, till the others are brought over and more houses are built.”
Lissa moved away from the window. It was the first time Jaycee had seen her all dressed up. “Wow, don’t you look good all dressed up? Now I know you didn’t go and put on those killers for my childrens’ birth.” She teased seeing how distressed Lissa was.
Lissa smiled and shook her head. “No, we were introduced today to Nikola’s people. Why don’t I take the council members to the cabin? That way they’ll be out of everyone’s way?”
Holding out her hand. Jaycee shook her head. “No, we still have time. Adonis and Pierre can take them.” Sure enough, both men flashed into the room, their gazes landed on Lissa, but she ignored them, and carefully sat next to Jaycee.
Her brothers-in-law moved out of the room, but not before they both leaned down and kissed Lissa on the cheek. “He didn’t know, Lissa.” Adonis said, moving out of the room to do her bidding.
“Okay spill it! What happened?” Shelly sat at the foot of the bed, Marsha took up a seat next to Lissa, while Suzanne and Cecil stood against the wall. The other men waited below in the living room, while only a sheet covered Jaycee’s hot body.
“Jaycee, this should wait. You’re about to give birth to our children.” Remi whined behind her.
“I’m not whining. I’m just worried.” He nibbled her neck and started to rub down her neck.
“Umm, that feels good, and Remi, us women must stick together now. If one is in pain, so is the other.” Jaycee once again focused on Lissa. “Spill it.”
With a deep sigh, Lissa smiled and squeezed her hand. “It’s not much. Everything was going along fine, until two of Nikola past sluts showed up, hanging all over him.” Lissa smiled real big, and turned to stare at her.
“Did you know plants can get jealous too?” She giggled and shook her head. “Well, I guess the other females will know not to touch what is mine now.”
Jaycee glanced up at Suzanne who was trying to hold back her laugh. “Okay show me.”
Leaning back against Remi’s broad chest, Jaycee closed her eyes and watched the scene play out. Sure enough, two tall brunettes got the worst attack of poison ivy she had ever seen. They were covered from head to toe with the rash as soon as they touched Nikola, but what shocked Jaycee was Nikola’s reaction to it all. He had actually yelled at Lissa.
Strong, warm hands rubbed up and down her arms. “Easy Jaycee, this isn’t our business.” Remi whispered in her ear, knowing she was upset, but before she could say anything, another contraction took over. The pressure was there, and a slight pain in her back, but the plants singing only eased, and caressed her for the next five minutes.
As soon as she could calmly speak, Jaycee glanced at Lissa. “Why would…, no, I don’t understand how he could disgrace you in front of his people.” That is when it hit her, he had done the same thing that her men had done to her. Jaycee glanced up at Dane and Mark snarling.
“Did you say anything to Nikola, because I warn you now, if you had anything to do with him acting like a total ass, like the two of you did when we first met, I’ll make sure I have plenty of flies around?”
Dane leaned over Marsha inches from her face. “You can make all the threats you want, but we both know there will be no turning me or Mark into toads. As for Nikola, no Jaycee, we didn’t talk to him.” He kissed her nose and stood staring at Lissa.
“Mark and I did the same thing to Jaycee I’m afraid, embarrassing her in front of others. All I can say Lissa is he is new to all of this. First he finds his mate, his world is falling apart, his father and brother are gone and now he’s thrown into being a King. I know I would be a wreck, hell most of us are right now, and we just try not to show you. You have enough burdens placed on your shoulders, as do the other females in this room.
We don’t want to add to them.”
Lissa stood and moved back to the window. “I know that Dane, and I could forgive him for that, but to send me here and not come?” She glanced down at her and smiled. “But enough of me. You have three little ones coming. Now, do you want me to get those cute Christmas outfits Eva sent you for the babies?”
“Don’t change the subject, but yes, that would be perfect. We can take their first pictures with the Christmas outfits.” She turned to Marsha. “We do have a camera, right?”
Suzanne laughed. “Sweetie, Lisa can get us a camera. Do you want the births video-taped too?”
“Yes,” Remi said behind her and she groaned.
“Do you think you could ask me first? I mean, I’m the one that’s going to have her thing split open and showing for the world here.” She sank her nails into Remi’s arms as the next contraction came.
“Momma, you better do something, this one is different.” Jaycee squeaked out as everyone got off the bed and Marsha pulled off the sheet as she lifted her legs up.
“Damn Jaycee, the head is already here. I need blankets, sterile scissors, warm water…” was all she heard, the rest became jumbled as Jaycee concentrated on the pushing. Her son screamed in her head, afraid.
“Hania, mommy’s here. Soon you’ll be in my arms little one,” she called to him. Remi’s voice also added to hers. “Come to us.”
“His head is out. One more push, Jaycee, and we have our first child.” Marsha looked up at her and nodded.
With one push their son, Hania LeBlathe was born, weighing seven pounds four ounces on December eighth, at 11:45 am. Jaycee watched as Cecil took the baby and started cleaning him, while another contraction rippled through her.
“We have another head Jaycee. Come on, don’t give out now. You have two more babes to deliver here.” Marsha patted her knee and all Jaycee wanted was to kick her in the damn face. All these smiling faces surrounded her, and she was miserable even with the damn pain gone.
Marsha laughed. “Honey, don’t you think I felt the same way. Now push, I have the…Well, aren’t you a surprise.” Marsha held up her child. “You have another boy!”
Dane let out a cheer, “Edric welcome!” At 12:10, Edric LeBlathe was born, weighing five pounds, four ounces and screaming his head off.
“Yep, he has your set of lungs.” Jaycee grumbled, but grinned, as Lissa took this child and started cleaning him.
“He’s beautiful.” Lissa wiped the blood and fluids from his face and hair. “Welcome little Edric, may this world treat you well.”
Mark fell down into the chair in front of the bed filming everything. “One more baby, you’re doing really good.”
Jaycee would have snapped at him, but she could tell filming the births had taken its toll on him too.
Mark’s hand shook, as he held the cam recorder, sweat ran down his face, and she could have sworn he was a shade lighter than normal. Jaycee glanced at Marsha, “What’s wrong? Why isn’t anything happening?”
“Come to Momma, Marcia. It’s time for me to hold you.” Jaycee pleaded with the last child as Marsha reached between her legs and started to push down on her stomach.
“She’s being stubborn. Remi talk to your daughter. Get her moving. The longer she waits, the harder it will be on her, and Jaycee is starting to bleed.” Marsha’s voice was filled with worry.
“I’m fine Momma, just a little tired.” She rested back on Remi’s chest until the last little one finally started to come out. Even the plants couldn’t stop the rip of pain that went through her. “What the…Remi!” She screamed and pushed.
Marsha glanced behind her at Suzanne. “Take the baby from Lissa, I need her. Lissa, I need you to…” She didn’t say anymore. Lissa was gone in a second, but Jaycee didn’t care, the pain took her breath away.
“I see the head Jaycee, push and you’re done. Remi, as soon as the baby is here, I want you to lower her down on the bed. I have a doctor coming. She’s hemorrhaging, and I need help to stop the bleeding.”
The door opened and the room warmed. “Gaia?” She whispered. “I’m so tired.”
Gaia moved to her side and brushed her hair back. “One more push little one, and then you can rest.” She looked down at Marsha. “There will be no need for a doctor.” Gaia snapped her head up and listened to something that wasn’t there.
“Come back now!” Gaia moved towards the window and caught Lissa, who would have fallen if she hadn’t.
In a rush, her daughter Marcia LeBlathe was born at five pounds, two ounces at 2:00 pm, but Jaycee kept her gaze on Lissa who was bleeding. Blood dripped down her arms, her dress ripped down the back, and her face was swollen from some one’s fist.
“Nikola!” Gaia called and at once he was there. He snarled filled when he scooped up Lissa and disappeared from the room. Jaycee heard Adonis and Pierre’s howl and knew they had been told of her beating.
“Her babies?” Jaycee whispered, the room grew quiet, even her little bundles seemed to wait.
“They’re fine, but she is hurt badly. They marked her back and she will be scared.” Gaia gazed over at Dominic. “They are demanding the king’s presence, those that attacked her refuse to believe you are alive and they want proof of it.”
Marsha laid Jaycee’s small daughter into her arms after Remi scooted her back and moved next to Dominic. He placed his hand on shoulder. “Shall we go?”
“No, it could be a trap.” Jaycee glanced back and forth at Dominic and Remi just as Adonis and Pierre appeared in the room.
“Nikola has thirty of his men waiting. Are you coming?” Adonis snapped.
“Adonis, how is Lissa?” Jaycee asked feeding her little one.
“She’ll live.”
Jaycee cringed at the anger in his voice. “Adonis, she went to get help for me and the babies. You can’t be angry at her for that?”
Adonis turned and faced her, his eyes a blood red. “They were waiting for her Jaycee, that means we have someone here that is supplying them information. Who would have known you needed a doctor, except the people in this room? And didn’t Gaia inform us that this world wouldn’t allow those that would harm us here?”
Jaycee and everyone turned to Gaia. “That is true, but if the person is already here, or…” Gaia frowned. Goddess Empusa appeared in the room. “Those that we brought over wouldn’t be affected with this.” Empusa nodded turned to Dominic. “The four I saved and the four council men would be the ones to confront. We can’t tell you anything, I don’t see anything on this world because it is still forming, and we have no control over it. The higher powers have taken it from us.”
Remi snarled. “Then until we know for sure these eight will be separated and questioned. I’m sorry Suzanne and Jaycee, but your friends must be checked out before we bring them into our homes.”
Suzanne nodded. “As it should be, but my friend wouldn’t betray us Remi, she loves Lissa.”
Pierre snarled. “If we are going, let’s do it, I want to get back to Lissa.” He moved to the side of the bed and leaned down kissing her cheek. “They are beautiful Jaycee, all three of them, and we’ll visit soon.”
Jaycee grabbed his arm and squeezed it. “Pierre, don’t be mad at her, she’s going to need you. This beating is going to remind her, bring the demons back. Don’t punish her, when she’ll be punishing herself enough, even though there is nothing for her to be punished for.”
Pierre sighed and nodded. “I was afraid of that. Nikola has told us that Lissa has pulled back into herself. She won’t speak to any of them right now. We need to get back.”
“Then let’s go, she went to save my wife and my children. They’ll die for this, I promise,” Remi snapped.
Chapter Six
Nikola gently ran the soft sponge over her back, as the blood colored the bath water. The four claw marks down the center of her back were now healed. He wanted to throttle her for leaving the safety of their world, but he couldn’t.
“Lissa, yo
u’re safe, baby. Please talk to us. Yell at me for giving you hell earlier, but talk to us.” In an instant the water was clean once more. “I owe you an apology Lissa, and I can’t give you a proper one if you’re not talking to me. I was told, no correction, I was ordered to inform you that Queen Isabel would like to have lunch with you next week. She knows that you and the other women want to have a nice Christmas party and she thought it might be a wonderful time to introduce you to our people. To open the door, allowing what will take place.”
Very slowly Lissa sat up in the tub and gazed around the room. “I’ll talk to Jaycee, but won’t it be risky opening the door since we know some of your people are helping the other side? They could slip in here.”
He shook his head. “They are already here, at least one of them is. How else would they know that you would show up looking for the doctor? No, I believe if we open the door it would be better. Plus, I don’t really think many will leave their home. I’m afraid even the Goddess and her sister won’t be able to keep it from ‘our’ people soon.” He lifted her swollen hand and kissed it. “Do you know who betrayed you?”
Tears filled her eyes, and she drew her knees up to her chest, nodding. “But it can’t be, Nikola, she wouldn’t do this. She just found her mate. What they did to her, to all of us…It can’t be Della.”
“Come here Lissa.” He picked her up and sat her on his lap. “We’ll find out who it is. You’re very lucky you’re alive. They were only playing with you.”
She rested her head on his chest. “Are we going to live here or at the palace?”
Castor leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Nikola has agreed, we’ll fix this place up and live here. We’ll use the palace for guests, special occasions, and meetings, but we also want our privacy. We will be required to stay there occasionally, but our main home will be here.”
Running in Fear: New Beginnings Jubilee Page 4
