by Lacy LeRoch
Jordi walks over to me laughing, placing a hand on my shoulder.
“Oh, I don’t doubt that for one minute, Jay. But um, we aren’t finished with show and tell… you might want to see this.”
Jordi takes hold of my shoulders firmly and spins me around fast, pulling the collar of my shirt down on my back, exposing the base of my neck.
“Oh come on, one sister is knocked up and the other is mated to a fucking Dragon,” Jay sneers.
“What… a dragon? You’ve got to be kidding me?” I laugh nervously.
God, a dragon that could explain so much. For the last few months I’ve been having the most wonderful dreams of high flying dragons, and caves built deep into the greenest mountain sides I’ve ever seen.
“Fuck this shit. I need to get my sister’s home. You take Madison, I will shift with Alison. I’ll need to travel slowly because of the babe, so have one of the healers waiting on the other side in case she needs a healing blast.”
“Don’t we get a say in this at all?” Alison growls. “I want Jordi to take me.” Alison turns to face Jordi and pleads, “Please Jordi, please take me.”
“No, little sister, the wolf cannot take you. I make the rules and you follow,” Jay growls back.
Jordi walks over to Alison and wraps his arms around her shoulders gently, pulling her into a hug. “Ally, I will be on the other side when you get there, okay? I won’t leave your side unless you ask me to.” He kisses the top of her head and laughs at Jay when he growls. “Holy shit, this is great. You can tell you’re siblings, you’re so alike,” Jordi muses laughing. His face turns serious as he drops his arms from Alison and turns to face Jay. “You can’t travel with another Watcher’s Lyian,” Jordi tells him sternly.
“And you can’t lay hands on her. I say fuck the rules. This is my baby sister, the same blood that runs through my veins, runs through hers. Come to think of it, I’m going to shift right into the center of the council’s meeting hall. So after you shift over Jordi, make sure to turn the alarms off for my entry.”
“Fuck Jay, this is going to be a bloodbath. You want to call him out, to make him expose himself to you. Damn, this is just too good to be true, I’m in.” Jordi turns to face Alison. “Little one, I will meet you on the other side. Trust me.”
“All I can say is he better be a damn good fucking fighter,” Jay says walking over to where Alison and I stand.
Jordi turns to me, placing both hands back on my shoulders, he searches my eyes and tells me, “Close your eyes, Madison. This isn’t going to be pretty, and for that I truly am sorry. Just please tell Philli that I did do everything I could to keep most the pain away.”
The room starts to spin around me, furniture contorts shifting and morphing out of shape. Black mist swirls up around my legs, tightening around my body as it grows. A kaleidoscope of shapes and blurs swirl around me, making me feel ill. Stars burst behind my eyelids and I groan in pain. I reach down with one hand and hold my stomach, and I have to swallow quickly as the bile threatens to come up. I bring my free hand up to my mouth, hoping it will help keep the queasiness away. I realize everything’s dropping away and I can’t see much through the smoke and haze. The room turns as black as the midnight sky. There’s a strange emptiness that surrounds me, and at the last minute, my thoughts turn to Alison.
“Ally,” I call out panicked as the world seems to drop away.
Chapter Ten
“Seriously Laron, the only smart thing that has come out of your mouth tonight, is asking if it was chili night or not?” McKinley laughs, placing his feet up on the great table laughing.
“Hey, I take that as an insult. I’m all kinds of smart, you know? Besides, have you even eaten the chili the chef makes? It’s the bomb, don’t you know?” Laron laughs throwing the football across the table to Owen.
“I can’t believe we’ve been sitting here for the last two hours talking about fucking chili, and where the fuck is Jordi and Jay?” I growl.
On the second pass of the football, I reach my arm out and catch it before it makes it to Owen. He protests and reaches out to take it from me, but I’m that angry and worked up that I pitch the ball at the wall. It hits with that much forces, it pops on impact.
“Dude, you seriously need to get laid or something,” Laron laughs.
“Can’t we just eat him? One bite, that’s all I need. One small bite and he will disappear,” Dragon asks.
“No Dragon, number one rule, remember? We don’t eat our friends,” I tell him and glare down at the end of the table at McKinley.
“All right, all right. Come on, let’s get back to the matter at hand.” He places his feet on the ground and straightens his back. “So can someone please tell me what we know so far?”
“Romie was saying that the blast wasn’t picked up by any of the Dragon scouts. How is that even possible?” Laron asks suddenly serious and sitting up in his seat.
McKinley looks at him dumbfounded before shaking his head in disbelief.
“What? I told you I was all kinds of smart?” Laron laughs.
“Laron, to be honest with you, I have no idea how they couldn’t sense them on our land, but it’s something we need to work out and fast,” I answer.
“You would think that if they were able to get here the first time, they will strike again,” McKinley questions rubbing his chin deep in thought.
“I don’t think this was the first time they’ve come to Devilice,” Owen chimes in.
“What makes you say that, Brother?” Rafe calls out, walking into the room. He takes his seat at the right hand of McKinley and waits to be answered.
My concern for Lucy rises, seeing the tired and rundown expression on Rafe’s face.
“Is Lucy and the babe, ok?” I ask.
“She wouldn’t wake up, and we have no idea what’s going on. They’re stable for now. I needed to be here, I need to find out more,” Rafe groans, pulling on his black curls. “It’s hard to see her lying on the bed, knowing that there isn’t a goddamn thing I can do to help either of them.”
I reach across the table and take hold of his hand squeezing it.
“We’re trying everything we can, my Brother,” I tell him. “Now Owen, as Rafe said, what makes you think this isn’t the first time they have entered our lands?” I ask trying to keep the conversation flowing away from the subject of Lucy and the baby.
“Oh, come on, surely I’m not the only one who’s been going through changes.”
“You think the changes are connected to the trespasses?” McKinley asks making his way to the head of the table and sitting down next to Owen.
Owen gasps in surprise but doesn’t comment. All eyes turn to McKinley, but he shrugs it off and continues his train of thought. “Come to think of it, there have been three matings this week. Not that I’m complaining, but what has changed the shift?”
As my eyes follow the line of conversation, I have to close my mouth quickly, when I notice McKinley discreetly reach under the table and take hold of Owen’s hand. He links their fingers together and rests them on his lap.
“I thought it was Lucy and Lacy’s return to Devilice that caused the rift?” Rafe asks smirking, noticing the same thing I did.
“Hmm… interesting, but it would seem that the twins aren’t the cause at all. What else is going on that we need to know about?” I ask the room, hopeful that Owen and McKinley take the chance to speak up about their bonding.
“Fuck me on a cracker, but Macca turn the alarms off and hold on for impact,” Jordi laughs barging into the room dragging Madison one step behind him.
“Mad…” I jump up out of my seat and get ready to run over to her.
“Holy shit, he wasn’t kidding, he really wasn’t.” She runs over, throwing herself into my arms and wraps her legs around my waist.
Both Dragon and I croon when she melts into my arms. I kiss the top of her head and let Dragon come to the surface to speak to his mate. “If he touched you, I will kill him.”
Every council member in the room jumps from the table. They stand between Jordi and me, braced and ready to stop the fight if needed.
Madison loosens her hold from my neck, drops her legs from my waist, and lowers herself to the ground at my feet. Her tiny body next to my large one is almost comical, the sight makes me want to laugh.
“Philli… Jordi didn’t hurt me. He saved me,” she tells me, taking a step toward Jordi.
“Mine,” I growl. Before I can stop myself, my hand flies out and takes hold of her arm, stopping her mid-step. Dragon growls uncontrollably at her fleeting toward Jordi.
“First off, take your hand off me. Second, I belong to me,” she snaps, slapping her hands on her hips. She glowers up at me with fire licking in her eyes. “I know I’m your mate. Jordi explained it all to me. So store your ego for just a minute.”
“We will talk about this…” Dragon growls menacingly.
“And you...” she points to me sneering, “…you need to behave. Give me back my sweet Philli.”
The room erupts in laughter as I stand there shocked to my core, that such a little woman would tell Dragon off.
Jordi holds his stomach, laughing like a hyena and yells, “Bring Sophie in here now, we have incoming and she will need medical assistance.”
“Jordi, please tell me that it won’t hurt her, the way it did me?” Madison turns to Jordi concerned.
“Hurt who?” I ask, walking over and taking hold of my mate’s hand.
She smiles at the small touch, and I’m relieved that she didn’t push me away. Her touch sends shivers up my arm. For the first time, in a very long time, I feel complete.
“My sister. Wow, that’s weird to say. But yeah, my baby sister,” Madison says looking up at me eyes shining with both fear and wonder. The aftershocks of the travel run over her body making her shiver.
“Calm yourself, ma petite,” I tell her, guiding her small body over to the seat that I had vacated when I jumped up. She looks like she’s ready to fall over as I push on her shoulders, encouraging her to sit down. When I glance up and look around the room, trying not to laugh, everyone looks shocked, mouths are openly gaping at me. “Close your mouths, you’ll let the flies in.” I chuckle.
“You’re showing your soft side, Philli,” Dragon growls.
“We are caring for ours, Dragon. Fuck what they think,” I tell him, not really caring what he’s thinking.
“Jordi, your job was to bring back Madison, not any extras,” McKinley growls, stepping up getting into Jordi’s face.
“You will understand why, when you see her,” Jordi tells him, his voice low and measured.
“What are you talking about?” McKinley asks.
“Just trust me. Fuck!” Jordi walks over to me smiling widely. “I like this one. She will suit even you. Now, please call in, Sophie.”
“I’m going to ignore that first comment. If she needs a healer and is kin to my mate, I can heal her.”
I’m confused why he would even ask for another healer. He knows that I’m the strongest on the Island, and being kin to my mate she’s under my care.
Jordi runs a hand through his hair and pulls the strands hard. “Fuck! I will need you yes, but for a totally different reason. You won’t be able to touch her.”
I narrow my eyes and stare. I’m just about to read him when I notice he tilts his head slightly in the direction of McKinley and Owen.
“Something weird is going on here,” Dragon croons in my mind.
“I’ve been saying that all day,” Madison murmurs next to me, reaching around, she puts her hand in the back pocket of my jeans.
I’m snapped out of my caveman moment from her show of ownership when I realize what she’s just said.
“Hang on, you heard that?” I ask wide-eyed.
Jordi covers his mouth covering his laughter. “Dude, did she just hear, Dragon?”
I can’t answer him, I’m too shocked that she can hear him. No one has ever heard my Dragon before. I give a brief nod.
“Okay, someone go get Sophie,” I yell into the room. Madison jumps beside me and I pull her close into my side. “I’m sorry, ma petite.”
“On it, boss,” Laron chirps, nodding once in respect as he turns and runs out of the room.
“Philli, I was wondering if…” McKinley stumbles on his words, raising a hand he gestures, to Madison.
“Ask what you need Brother, but do not touch,” I growl.
“Understood.” McKinley nods, walking over to the table, he takes a seat at the other end of the table. His movements are direct and straight to the point. He’s attempting to make it clear he respects the boundaries I’ve set.
“Good, the old fool will learn. She belongs to us,” Dragon growls.
“Would you stop this, ‘she belongs to me’ bullshit, it is getting sooo old,” Madison comments and reaches out a hand offering it to McKinley. “The name’s Madison, and I’m in control of me. Not him.” She flaps her spare hand in my direction. A low menacing growl bubbles up from deep within my body. Dragon pushes to the surface wanting to be free.
“I told you, she was perfect,” Jordi mumbles. He walks over and pumps fists with Madison making her laugh.
“Shut up, you,” I growl.
“Cut it out the both of you. Madison is Philli’s mate and will be treated with the highest respect. Now, everyone take a seat so we can talk about—”
McKinley is cut off as the sounds of sirens wail in the room. Three long bursts, then three small ones alert us that someone is trying to shift into the council’s meeting place. Jordi howls grabbing hold of his ears.
“Someone turn off that inferno of a racket. It’s just Jay like I told you,” he howls, leaning down low to the table, he does his best to cover his ears.
I telepathically call to the Dragon warriors on patrol and ask them to turn off the alarms. Romie is the first to answer my call.
“A warning would have been nice there boss. We are all surrounding the council room suited up for battle,” he says with a smirk. “And damn boss, she’s a lot more beautiful in your mind than she was on the orb.”
“Go fucking patrol the lands fucker, and get out of my head.” I feel Romie leave my mind chuckling.
Chapter Eleven
The sirens hurt my ears. I watch Jordi fold onto the table in pain and hate it. All these large men moving fast to cover me scared the living daylights out of me. And what the fuck was I thinking jumping into Philli’s arms the way I did? I am not that kind of girl. The one who has sex once and suddenly becomes clingy.
“Can someone please tell me, what the fuck is going on?” I scream over the blaring noise.
“Madison, do you curse a lot?” Philli asks with a lopsided grin.
“All the time, so you better get used to it.”
“All right fuckers. Which one of you knocked up my baby sister?” Jay screams striding into the room carrying Alison limp in his arms.
“Your, what?” One of the men calls out running in with a stunning woman with long blonde hair.
Her hair is twisted into a complex braid that wraps around her head and down her neck. I’ve never seen anything like it in my life. This must be the Sophie they were talking about.
“What did you do to her, you fucking jerk?” I scream, running to Alison. “Lay her on the table and step away right now,” I screech glaring at Jay.
Jay looks around the room with murder in his eyes. He looks every male up and down. The men look between one another, no one moves, no one speaks. Jay slowly and with great care, lays Alison down on the table. I’ve only just found out she was my little sister, I can’t lose her now. My ha
nds shake as I check for a pulse.
“You’re lucky,” I glare at Jay.
“Please, let me help,” a soft feminine voice calls from my left, startling me. “My name is Sophie and I’m a healer. Let me help your sister, please.”
Hearing Alison referred to as my sister has a mix of emotions flowing through my body. I’m not even sure if it’s true or not.
“Of course, it’s true,” Sophie tells me, as if able to read my mind.
“Sophie, get out of her head,” Philli growls, confirming my suspicions.
Philli comes up behind me, wrapping his hands around my waist. He leans down and kisses the side of my neck, pulling my back to his front.
“I meant no disrespect, my Prince. I… um…” she stumbles. Her eyes transfixed on his arms that are securely wrapped around my waist.
“Don’t fool yourself, Sophie, you wanted to read her and make sure she was indeed my mate. And if I’m not mistaken, how it happened. Don’t read her again. Do you hear me?” Philli growls. “Madison is my mate and let me make this extremely clear, Sophie. As my mate, Madison will govern alongside me. Her word will be carried out, and be law. Trust me when I say, I will punish anyone who does not follow her orders.”
A grin spreads out over my face, as I stare at the girl in front of me and wink. Sophie clenches her fists at her sides and scowls at me with contempt. She’s annoying me, doubting my role already, and I don’t like it. I’d never allow anyone from the hospital to do that to me. What makes her thinks she can try to challenge me here?
I feel bold and proud being on Philli’s arm. It feels like I’ve known him my whole life. Hearing his words just now gives me strength. My grin widens, as the perfect idea takes root in my mind. I pucker my lips and blow her a kiss. Jordi snorts seeing my power play and winks.
“Yes, my Prince, sorry my Prince,” Sophie stammers. She bows low, walks over and places her hands gently on Alison’s chest. “She will be fine, my Prince,” she says, looking over her shoulder and smiling directly at me.
