A Roaring Fire

by Kim Faulks

She demanded complete trust…but Goddess this woman took it to the next level. I leaned over and kept my voice low. “A little heads up next time you decide to meet your maker, okay?”

  “Zadoc isn’t my maker and he isn’t yours. To me he was no different, so why should he be different for you?”

  I turned my head catching sight of my brother. His eyes were focused on the half-filled plate in front of him. Odessa was right. He needed to be treated no better and no worse than before he was taken.

  We’d been tip-toeing around him, keeping our affection at a distance in case he cracked, we were forcing him to be guarded, to be scared. He needed his family now more than ever and where were we? On the other side of the goddamn table.

  I watched him pick up his fork and push food around on his plate as the room was filled with the roar of chatter. The muscles of his throat worked. His eyes were quick, dancing from one side to the other as people reached across, stabbing slices of meat and grasping bowls.

  “I’m not really hungry myself,” I muttered. Zadoc lifted his gaze meeting mine. “Feel like patrolling the grounds with me, brother?”

  His nod was quick. I shoved my chair backwards and stood. “We’ve got this round, Marcus, you stay and eat.”

  From the corner of my eye, I caught Marcus’s nod. I made for the plywood door and grasped the rope handle. Darkness had descended, leaving the blur of gray snow behind.

  Heavy footsteps crunched through the snow behind me. I made for the trees and found the sunken hollows between the roots.

  We walked in silence, climbing higher and higher to the cave we used as a meat locker.

  “It’s snowing harder this year.”

  His words were faint. I slowed my pace, dropping back to match his stride. “It’s for the kids. I figured they deserved a little fun.”

  “Thought as much.” He growled. “Odessa looks good. She looks happy.”

  “Found out Abrial and Rowen were her sisters. Abrial was happy about it, Rowen not so much.”

  “Sisters, wow,” he mumbled, and his words were stolen by the wind. “I guess I missed a lot.”

  “You’re here now, and that’s all that matters. It’s good to have you home, brother. it’s real good.”

  I caught his nod as we climbed higher and cut through the trees. The longer we were out here, the more relaxed he became. “I saw her you know…Odessa. Saw her when I was over there in that cell.”

  I stopped and turned as his words took me back to the moment I found Odessa dying. I held her lifeless body as she passed between this world and the demon world to find my brother for me.

  “She kept me going, when I was ready to give up. She kept me going and saved my life.”

  I sucked in the icy air and turned. “But you didn’t give up. You made it, you’re here and that's all that matters.”

  He raised his head and even though those obsidian eyes stayed the same, there was a flicker of the old Zadoc inside—and that gave me hope.

  I scanned the ridgeline, inhaling nothing more than the rich scent of spruce and the smell of rotting carcasses in the distance. “How about we head back down and see if we can steal some of that gin Marcus keeps hidden in his room?”

  Zadoc’s deep chuckle warmed me better than any fire could. The descent was faster. We slipped and slid against the snow.

  The ruckus grew louder as we coasted to the bottom of the mountain.

  “Jesus.” I winced and chuckled, until the thunderous crash echoed.

  Zadoc was running, pumping massive legs and charging through the makeshift plywood door.

  The thin wood splintered falling into pieces. I charged in after him as one of the new males stumbled away from the fallen tree.

  He knocked into another shifter and sent them crashing into Joslyn.

  She stumbled, her eyes wide. She windmilled her arms, desperate to keep her balance, and lost.

  Zadoc charged, but it was too late.

  Her cry pierced the air, stealing every sound as she hit the ground with a sickening thud.

  6

  Gone was the brother.

  Gone was the man.

  Now only the beast remained.

  Dark, haunting eyes blazed. Pink skin hardened and black spikes rammed through. Blood welled from the wounds and ran down his arms as my brother shouldered his way to stand over the mortal woman.

  His growl was frightening, and my Dragon echoed in kind. Zadoc’s spine bowed under his shirt. Corded muscles rippled and rolled, bowing out as he grew in size.

  “Zadoc. No,” Joslyn commanded.

  Her tiny hand shot out, caressing the beast as a sickening tear filled the room. Mangled midnight wings ripped free and carved the air.

  One slapped the ground beside him, twisted and bent. The bones were shattered and malformed.

  “Jesus Christ, what is that?” came from somewhere inside the room.

  I whipped my head toward the sound and held every set of eyes as I took a step. “That’s my fucking brother.”

  The monster raised his head and released a haunting cry that severed the room as his body stretched and grew. Windows shuddered. Plates crashed to the floor.

  Between his monstrous thighs, Joslyn crawled forward.

  The beast turned his head and pierced me with an infernal gaze. Black skin stretched over bone. Thin lips curled revealing razored white teeth.

  Zadoc, the man was fearsome.

  But as a Dragon, he truly was the Wretched.

  Movement spun the beast to where the wolves stood with their backs against the wall. He swept the floor, carving it with taloned wings as Joslyn pushed to her knees.

  “Get back. Everyone get the hell back!” Marcus screamed and took a step toward Zadoc.

  The Dragon growled and dropped his head. Muscles trembled, coiling like a serpent ready to strike.

  Brother to foe.

  In this moment, my Aries brother had no kin. Wolves scurried out of the way, knocking into the table and scattering chairs.

  The fireball engulfed the room and smothered the tree. The inferno was instant.

  Determination blazed in her eyes as Joslyn heaved herself to stand. She clutched her belly. Pain savaged her face. “I’m fine. Zadoc, look at me.”

  The Dragon swung his head from Dragon to wolf, bottomless eyes wild with rage.

  “Look at me.” Her nails dug into his thigh as she held on.

  He towered above her, mangled, manic.

  Obeying nothing but the urge to protect what was his.

  “Zadoc. Look at me,” the tiny human commanded.

  Still she held no power as the Dragon whipped his head and took a step closer toward the panicked wolves.

  “Wretched!” She screamed and stumbled into his path. “Look. At. Me!”

  The Christmas tree turned to ash. The presents shriveled as paper burned away, and the gifts inside followed.

  The bitter scent of plastic filled the room as the Dragon lowered his head.

  He sucked in the air and scattered her hair. She was dwarfed by both his size and his rage, and yet the Dragon did as she commanded.

  “That’s it,” she coaxed and splayed open her arms. “Look at me. I’m fine. The baby’s fine. We’re all fine. It was an accident. These people won’t ever hurt me. They’re our family.”

  The Dragon’s gaze dropped to her belly. A whine slipped free.

  “Our baby is fine. Look.” She flattened her shirt over her bump. Even from here I could see the movement as the little one kicked and rolled, stretching her skin.

  Our baby?

  I swallowed my shock. He’d claimed her young as his. No wonder the male was shattered.

  The fire crackled and hissed. Dried wood snapped as the flames reached out, licking the air. Terrified cries echoed as children stared at what was left of the ruined tree.

  The whine turned into a whimper. The Dragon raised his head to stare at the blaze.

  Alpha strode from the house. The front door slammed against the wal
l with a bang. Seconds passed until he raced inside towing a giant extinguisher.

  The room erupted as Ace tore outside. Men and women carried buckets filled with water from the kitchen, and heaved it on the burning mess and the hiss of drenched flames filled the room. Still the fire raged, fighting for every branch as it spluttered and howled. Ace limped back inside, towing another extinguisher. He bore down on the handle, white foam spewed from the nozzle and sprayed the tree.

  One after another, they sprayed and splashed until water lapped their feet and the room was a sodden mess. Zadoc shuffled backwards, smashing into the table, barging into wolves. Joslyn shook her head, her eyes glistening with tears.

  “It’s okay,” she whispered and reached for him.

  But there was no consoling the children, and there was no consoling the beast. Weeping echoed. Tears outmatched ounces of water thrown in desperation. Shelly sat alone in a blackened mess of a puddle and stared at what was left of the presents and the tree.

  We had the food on the table, but we had nothing else.

  “It’s okay,” I knelt beside her. “We can fix this.”

  But I knew in my heart Christmas was done. We had no more money. I raised my head and looked up to the makeshift door, and on Christmas Eve, the stores were now all closed.

  I stood, my mind racing, desperately trying to fix this somehow. Our first Christmas, our one and only chance to give them something they only ever looked at from afar.

  Her touch was gentle. Fingers slid across my back until the heat of her palm melted through to my skin. I didn’t have to turn my head, my body reacted in her presence. My heart pounded, skin flushed. Something moved in the center of my chest—call it my heart, my soul, but it was something bigger, something deeper—still she couldn’t help me now. I stared at the tree, my voice thick and strange. “I failed.”

  “Never. Take a look around you. Look at what you’ve done. Your family is here…all your family. How can you fail with love?”

  I turned to her and pulled her close. The smell of dirt and pine mingled with something sweet. She consumed me. I stared at Zadoc, at how Joslyn was doing the same, touching, whispering, consoling.

  These women. They made us weak. But they also made us strong.

  Gunny stood with her team, her jacket discarded, her sleeves rolled. Sweat glistened as she gripped the bucket and stared at the mess. She turned her head to Alpha who was staring at her, and gave a sharp nod.

  Alpha dropped the spent extinguisher, reached for his pocket, and pulled out his phone before heading for the front door.

  Spurs dragged across marble as Zadoc shuffled into the corner. Bones snapped with a brutal sound, and a whimper of pain followed. I glanced at the doorway—my brother needed no more stares—and waited for the former Marine to return.

  7

  Bastian and North headed for the garage, Marcus in tow. He lingered, placing his hand on my shoulder and leaned in. “We’re going in to see what we can find. It won’t be the same, but we’ll do our best.”

  Of all the brothers, I never expected him. I nodded, keeping my voice low. “Thank you, this means a lot.”

  The dip of his head said it all, and then he turned, striding for the garage, and disappeared.

  I turned to my wolf and muttered, “Let’s get this cleaned up, and see what we can salvage, huh?”

  Her smile was radiant, as she turned to Abrial. “Buckets, rags, let’s get to work.”

  I made for the plywood door and grasped the handle, shoving it open as far as I could. The other men helped as we heaved the burned carcass of the tree outside, and strode back inside.

  I swept and tossed the ruins aside, stopping to stare at the scorched stairs and ruined balustrade while I waited for my brothers to return.

  “You tried your best, brother.” Michael wiped the sweat from his brow and held my gaze.

  I glanced to the slumped shoulders and darkened gazes of those inside the room. “I just wanted something for them.”

  “You gave them something.” His heavy hand landed on my shoulder. “You gave us something. But Zadoc…man, what do we do? How do we fix him?”

  I turned to where the man sat in a chair with his head in his hands. Fix him? I had no idea where to start. Joslyn touched his shoulders and spoke with the others. Goulding hovered never too far away. He glanced at Zadoc, and I could see the recognition in his eyes.

  A wolf was one thing.

  A Dragon another.

  But Zadoc wasn’t either of those things now.

  Run, his tortured gaze screamed at his sister. Run and never come back.

  I wanted her to leave, I wanted her to be safe.

  I knew in my heart if she did, Zadoc would leave, and this time he’d never return.

  An engine growled, seconds later a car door slammed. I headed for the garage and shoved open the door.

  Marcus climbed out of the driver’s seat, out of the backseat North followed carrying a small bag. I could smell the sweetness from the handful of treats from here. “The gas station was the only thing open. It was the best we could do.”

  I followed them back inside, watching as they dumped the contents onto the table. The mood was quiet with silent tears. A low groan tore through the room as they pulled the lounge close, while another wolf stoked the fire.

  Zadoc hadn’t moved from the corner, his head down, staring at the floor. Each step felt like forever as I neared. “Come sit with us brother.”

  Still he never looked up.

  “Lift your head, take a look. No one blames you, Zadoc. You acted honorably and protected your mate. Any one of us would’ve acted the same way.”

  His voice whispered of dangerous, dark things. “But you didn’t, did you? I tried, Victor. I really tried. I can’t do this. I can’t stand here and pretend I’m okay.”

  He raised his head and that dark, terrifying dank cell stared back.

  “None of us are okay, Zadoc. Take a look around you. Ours wasn’t the only cell out there.” Joslyn said.

  He flinched at her words and raised his head.

  “We love you, Zadoc. I love you. I want to be with you, forget about everything else—just for this moment, can you do that? Can you do that for me?”

  Dark, haunted eyes met hers, and for a second there was nothing until he finally nodded.

  “That’s my man,” she whispered, clutched her belly and lowered her head.

  Her chaste kiss deepened. Zadoc’s big calloused hand reached for her face. He was so gentle, so gentle with her.

  “Hot chocolate?”

  I glanced up to Irwin who grasped two steaming mugs in his hand. He held one out toward me, and for the life of me, I couldn’t say no.

  “Hot chocolate?” He handed Joslyn the other as Zadoc shook his head.

  The crackle of the fire called. I left them, taking a seat in the corner of the lounge and Odessa snuggled in beside me.

  Blankets were piled on the floor, and the space filled fast. Little ones yawned, bleary-eyed from crying and dropped their heads against soft, warm laps.

  We stared at the fire in silence and drank from steaming mugs, listening to the faint ticking of the clock.

  Until finally the soft chime hit midnight…

  8

  Christmas Day

  The front door opened. I craned my head, catching sight of Alpha as he stepped inside. The faint sparkle of a light cut through the open door.

  Movement behind me drew my focus; my thoughts were slow to return.

  I turned my head as Gunny, Ace, and Irwin rose with blank stares.

  My stomach tightened. My pulse picked up pace.

  Sweet chocolate turned bitter in my mouth.

  I eased Odessa’s hand from my lap and rose as the three former Marines headed for the doorway.

  “What is it?” Odessa murmured.

  Heavy words echoed through my chest. “I don't know. Stay here.”

  I moved around the lounge and slid my mug onto the table. Marcus
turned his head, and glanced over his shoulder.

  His gaze met mine, recognition fused. No words were needed. He patted Abrial on the shoulder and rose in one fluid movement rounding the others. I jerked my head toward the doorway to where Alpha waited.

  We headed for the former Marine and shuddered under the icy wind. Lights burned brighter…headlights coming our way. “Who is it?”

  “Father Christmas,” came a soft growl behind me as Gunny moved close. “Ho-freaking-ho.”

  The growl of a truck battled the thick snowdrift. Tires skidded, the truck slid and downshifted gears. I stepped out onto the ledge as another set of lights shone behind the truck. This vehicle was smaller, an SUV of some kind.

  A nudge of my shoulder made me take another step. Murmurs echoed behind me, growing in crescendo until they matched the roar of the engines. The medium rig cut through the white, turning in a slow circle in front of us to stop with its rear facing the house.

  The black Range Rover pulled up behind the truck. Gray exhaust fumes rolled over the sleek hood. Through the windshield, I caught a glimpse of the stranger’s face. Alpha and Ace headed for the cabin of the truck, Gunny made for the four-wheel drive.

  She wrenched open the driver’s door. Low voices couldn’t reach my ears. I took in his features as he stepped from the cab. He was familiar somehow—hard jaw, soft but determined eyes.

  He slipped on the slick, but Gunny was fast, catching his arm, keeping him steady as he stepped free and closed the car door behind him. I glanced to his feet, black leather shoes shone. No shifter would be caught dead in shoes like that.

  The driver of the truck climbed down. Others followed, piling out of the cabin, three…no four of them. I inhaled the bite of the cold and caught the faint scent of wolf.

  Alpha stepped close. Chest hit, hard hands slapped. The greeting continued as Ace hobbled closer. I stared at their heavy boots and strong builds, wolves driving trucks…

  These weren’t just any wolves, and this stranger…wasn’t just any human.

  Marcus sidled against me as I stepped close. Gunny turned, catching the concern in my gaze…but it wasn’t matched in hers.