Fate [The Angel Pack 14] (Siren Publishing Menage Amour ManLove)

by Maggie Walsh

  “Are you insane? What if there are hundreds in there? They’ll find us and kill us quick,” Jazz hissed.

  “No guts, no glory,” Ryx replied with a mischievous smirk. He stood to his full six foot ten inches and drew his guns out of their holsters, pointing them out before him. He advanced on the enemy, pulling the triggers.

  Without hesitation, they all stood and followed Ryx’s lead, firing at their enemy. Nephilim scattered as they tried to get out of the way. A really large one, of about seven and a half feet and well over three hundred pounds, turned toward them and held out his hand. Blue light grew in his palm and got brighter.

  “Energy blast! Take cover!” Ryx cried out, and everyone dove behind trees and boulders.

  The blast sailed through the trees, taking a few out as it rushed past Sasha a few feet away. Sasha shoved his guns back into their holsters and called upon his magic. He stood and faced the evil one and thrust out his arms, forcing an energy wave toward them, knocking the large Nephilim off his feet.

  Ryx took advantage of the chaos and began throwing fireballs in succession toward the Nephilim, catching most of them on fire, as Nicco, Valor, and two other fae, ran toward the entrance of the cave and waited.

  The Nephilim that had only moments ago entered the cave with the plate of food now reappeared. His face twisted with rage and his eyes glowed orange. He raised his hands and a large fireball grew. Valor moved quick and jumped on the Nephilim’s back. Sasha could hear him chanting. Suddenly the fireball vanished and the Nephilim swayed, stumbled forward, and fell to his knees.

  Nicco moved forward, syringe in hand, and stabbed it into the side of the beast’s neck, pressing the plunger. Then he disseminated out, reappearing just inside the cave.

  The Nephilim lay unconscious as they all cautiously moved closer, staying on guard for any movement, or surprise attack, but nothing moved. No other Nephilim came out of the woods or the cave. “We light ’em up,” Ryx instructed, then held out his hand and a fireball appeared. He threw it down at the Nephilim at his feet and the beast was quickly engulfed, his body burning.

  Sasha, Valor, Ryx, and the other fae, walked around setting the beasts on fire, until only the one Nicco injected remained. Ryx lifted the beast in his arms like it weighed nothing. “I’ll be right back,” he said as he walked to the cave wall and touched it, then disappeared.

  They kept an eye on the burning ones as they waited for Ryx’s return. After ten minutes he appeared, coming back through the wall. “Okay, let’s see what’s inside.”

  “If Minos is in there, don’t you think he’s gone by now?” Nicco asked.

  “Definitely. The coward probably took off the moment he heard the first shot,” Ryx answered as he entered the cave. They all followed with Valor taking up the rear.

  “Then why are we going in there? I mean, if he’s already gone and we got one of the Nephilim, isn’t our job done?” One of the trainees, Owen, asked.

  “No. We need to see if anything was left behind,” Nicco answered, as they moved deeper into the cave.

  After another five minutes, a soft glow appeared and got brighter as they advanced. Cautiously, Ryx moved to a chamber opening and looked inside. He turned back to them and Sasha could see the anger in his eyes. His jaw clenched and he motioned for them to follow, then stepped into the opening.

  Sasha’s eyes went wide as he looked around at the room they just entered. Off to the left was an alcove that held a cot with a thin blanket. A crate sat next to it, with a camp light on top. To the right was another, larger alcove, with tables laden with glass beakers, tubes, and liquids of many colors. It looked like Aaron’s lab.

  But it was what sat in the far back of the cave that twisted Sasha’s gut. Over a hundred cages sat, three high, each occupied with naked and dirty men and women. All eyes were on them and those eyes were filled with fear as the occupants shook and huddled in the backs of the cramped spaces.

  A table sat to one side with a single stool and another camp light upon it, and the plate that held the deer meat. Huddled under the table was a small man, pulled tight into a ball as he shook.

  “What do we do with all of them?” Banyon asked.

  “We get them back to Aaron so he can look after their care. Then we―”

  “No!” the small voice said.

  They all turned toward the small man under the table. He still had his knees pulled up against his chest with his arms wrapped around his legs, but his head was now raised slightly, just enough for them to see his eyes.

  “We won’t hurt them, little one,” Valor said calmly and gently as he took a slow step forward.

  “B-but…th-they…m-m-may hurt you,” the small voice replied.

  “Why would you think that?” Sasha asked as he too moved closer, then knelt on one knee so that he could look directly at the man.

  “B-be-because th-they are r-r-rogues,” the man answered.

  “Shit,” Nicco hissed and spun to face the cages as he ran his fingers through his hair.

  “If they are rogues then why do they cower away from us?” Valor asked.

  “Because…they…have not…gone through…the final phase of their change…yet, but it will be happening…soon,” the man explained nervously.

  “How do you know this, little one?” Ryx asked.

  “B-be-because…I c-created…th-them,” he whispered. Shame and fear filled his eyes, and Sasha’s heart broke. He had an overwhelming need to pull the man into his arms and hold him tight. He wanted to protect him and tell him everything would be okay.

  “You created them? Who are you?” Valor asked. There was no anger or disbelief in his tone.

  “S-Samuel. Samuel Kilkenny.”

  “Shit!” Nicco yelled again, causing Samuel and some of the caged people to jump.

  “Would you stop doing that? What the hell is wrong with you?” Valor asked.

  Nicco turned around to face them and Sasha could see the deep worry in his friend’s eyes. “When we battled Brighton trying to save Dale, Viktor, and Aaron, he mentioned someone named Samuel. Samuel was the one doing all the experiments and creating all the rogues.”

  * * * *

  “But how? I don’t understand. Aurora said…” Castiel stopped, remembering everyone around them. It wasn’t that he wasn’t thrilled that his mate stood here before him—hell two mates—but he didn’t want the others to know what he had done.

  Wait, that was not entirely true. Them knowing that he chose to give up his mates so that their matings could be saved wasn’t the issue. The problem was, when they finally remembered each other, all their hearts had been broken knowing that they had forgotten their true loves. He could see the pain in their eyes and the guilt written all over their faces. He had been sure that even though Minos’s spell had been broken and they then knew who each other was to them, that Minos had still won in the end, because of the pain he had caused.

  That was exactly what he had been afraid of, and why he had Zane cast a spell over all of them, even the other unmated men, so that they would forget everything that had happened. And it worked. Once Zane cast the spell, everyone only remembered watching the fireworks show on Halloween, then somehow ending up at the club, but they had no memory of ever forgetting each other, or the mixed up matings they had. And Cass was grateful for that. He couldn’t bear to see all of them, his family, in so much pain. But now if Shay exposed the truth, would the spell be broken? Would they all then remember what happened and experience that deep pain again?

  As much as he wanted his mate…mates, especially with them standing right here in front of him when he thought he would never have one, let alone two, and both of them being the most beautiful, sexiest men he had ever seen, he couldn’t risk the pain coming back to his family.

  Cass looked in Shay’s amazing lavender eyes, pleading with Shay to not say another word. Especially if what he said was true about not being able to lie. Suddenly the room shifted, and they no longer stood in the kitchen, but were
now in Micah’s office. Cass flinched back and looked around in shock. He noticed that both his mates were doing the same, but Micah calmly sat in his chair behind his desk, pulling Jesse down on his lap. Noah appeared across the room, sitting on the couch, and Lucifer sat on the other end, with his Demi on his lap.

  “Where are we? How did we get here?” Kia asked, and Cass could hear the tremor in his voice.

  Without thinking, Cass moved closer to Kia and wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling him close, trying to help make his mate not feel so afraid. Kia gasped as his head snapped in Cass’s direction. Cass then reached out with the other arm and wrapped it around Shay’s waist, also pulling him closer. Shay gave him a beautiful smile, but said nothing.

  “You’re still in my home, Kia. This is my office,” Micah explained.

  “And I am guessing either Demi or Lucifer did this,” Jesse added.

  “Of course, I did,” Lucifer answered and looked to Cass. “I know what you are afraid of, Cass, and I want you to know that it’s okay. You don’t need to fear that. The others will never find out what you have done.”

  “But…how did you? And all of you know?” Cass asked, his distress at this knowledge apparent in his voice, even to his own ears.

  “The spell Zane cast doesn’t work on gods, or demigods, Cass,” Demi replied.

  “So that means it didn’t work on any of you? But Lucifer, you’re not a…”

  “God? No, although I must admit, I think of myself as one,” he stated arrogantly, but Cass could see the humor in his eyes, giving away his teasing.

  “Remember after the fight with Hades? Well, the gods blessed my mate with the powers of a demigod, essentially making him one,” Demi explained.

  “And you know that Micah gained demigod status by being my mate,” Jesse added.

  “But no Stormy and Bastian cause I not part angel like Jesse cause Phenex not me daddy,” Noah said.

  “Even though Noah and I are both sons to you know who, and are both demigods because of it, I also have Phen’s angel and demon blood running through me, which helped change Micah when our souls melded as one. Something Minos and Hades apparently still haven’t realized,” Jesse said happily.

  “So, the spell didn’t work on any of you? Which means you remember everything. Then…then you know what we did,” Cass said, his voice filled with guilt.

  “Yes, Cass, and none of us are upset by it. On the contrary, we are all in awe of you. You fought for our mating’s when we were unable and even faced off against me, then you selflessly gave up your own mate to save all our mating’s, then cast a spell on us so that we wouldn’t remember all the pain that was caused. You are a hero, Cass, and one that we all respect and love more for it,” Lucifer said.

  “You’re afraid because if I can’t lie, then I may spill the beans and the others will know, inadvertently remembering the pain they suffered,” Shay said as a statement, not a question.

  Cass looked in his mate’s worried eyes. “Yes. As far as I knew only Zane and I were aware of what we had done, and we both swore to keep the secret forever.”

  “And all of us here in this room agree with you, Cass. Your and Zane’s secret will never go beyond this group. We all made an agreement, as well,” Micah said.

  “As far as everyone out there wondering why we all just popped out of the kitchen and what we discussed, it is between us,” Lucifer said. “Shay and Kia are your mates, and this is your mating and not for everyone else to know everything. If they ask, we were just testing what Shay said. Maybe even called upon Aur…you know who, to help confirm it.”

  “What about the questions on why I gave up my mate?” Cass asked.

  “Tell them the truth. Just don’t tell them about the spell that was cast once everyone’s memories were returned,” Jesse replied.

  “What if someone asked me and I can’t lie?” Shay asked.

  Lucifer smiled as he shifted Demi off his lap, and the two stood. “Leave that up to my wonderful mate.”

  Demi moved closer and placed a hand on Shay’s arm, then began to mumble. Cass was amazed that Shay didn’t even flinch or try to pull away. His mate’s heart rate never even quickened and Cass could feel no fear coming from him. He just trusted that Demi wouldn’t hurt him. Once Demi was done, he released Shay’s arm.

  “What did you do?” Shay asked.

  “How did you find us?” Demi asked.

  “My visions showed me all of you. I have seen everything you have all been through for years, like watching a movie,” Shay answered.

  “What did Zane and Cass do after everyone remembered their mate back on Halloween?” Lucifer asked.

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about, I wasn’t there and I never saw that as a vision,” Shay answered, then his eyes opened wide in surprise. “How did you do that? I…I lied. But I can’t lie.”

  “You can about that one fact. I didn’t interfere with any of your abilities, but I did block that one fact and planted an answer to it inside your mind. Now if anyone asks about it, you won’t be hurting your mate by divulging that information,” Demi said with an understanding smile.

  Shay smiled back gratefully. “Thank you.”

  * * * *

  Shay was astonished with the power of the god named Demi. He had seen him in many of his visions but had never known the true depth of the man’s powers. Well, the god’s powers, because that was what Demi was, being the son of the god Hades, and Persephone, the granddaughter to Zeus himself and the goddess Demeter. Shay had some hope now that Cass wouldn’t try to keep him away in fear of the others finding out what he had done.

  He knew he was new to Castiel, but Shay felt like he knew his mate already. He had seen visions of Castiel for years and wanted to come to him right away. Who wouldn’t if they knew where their mate was? But the beautiful goddess had come to him and told him that it wasn’t his time. He had other things to take care of first, like finding Kia, and convincing him that they were mates and that they had another out there that needed them, but only when the time was right.

  Shay had found Kia, and it took him months to get his shy mate to accept that what he said was true and to trust him. Kia had given him his full faith and Shay was confident that once they arrived, Castiel would want them. But then doubt seeped in when Castiel arrived and showed them anger. Shay’s visions had never shown him that. They had only shown him Castiel’s acceptance of him and Kia and the wonderful life they would have together, full of love.

  Now that he knew why Castiel had reacted that way to him, Shay understood. Castiel truly was a wonderful man like Shay had always thought him to be. Shay watched silently as Castiel instinctively reached out to Kia to comfort him, then to him, as well. His mate’s actions once again filling Shay with hope for their future.

  Now that Demi had taken his ability to tell the truth away, for at least that one thing that caused Castiel the most stress, Shay knew they could finally begin their lives together. Shay couldn’t wait. He and Kia had spent many a night fantasizing about Castiel and how it would feel to be with him, to be loved by him, and now they were finally here.

  When the beautiful goddess had appeared to him again a month ago telling him that it was time, Shay had suddenly become nervous. He had built this up for so long inside his head and his fantasies that he was afraid that the reality of it would pale in comparison. But now, standing here with Castiel’s arm around him, and the jolts of electricity rushing through him, Shay found himself buzzing with anticipation.

  “Shall we go to my suite to get to know each other?” Castiel’s rich, slightly deep voice broke through his thoughts and a new explosion of need raced through him. Gods, Castiel’s voice was so damn sexy that Shay just wanted to hear it always.

  “That would be wonderful,” Shay answered with a smile.

  Castiel gave him a soft smile in return, then grasped his hand and Kia’s and led them from the room. This was it. This is where Shay and Kia’s life with their mate would start
. Shay felt a peace wash over him that had never been there before.

  Chapter Three

  “Are you sure, Nicco? Could this be a different Samuel?” Valor asked.

  “I have no clue. All I know is Brighton mentioned a scientist named Samuel, and here sits a man named Samuel in a room full of rogues who are about to transform, claiming he is the one who created them. So, one plus one really does equal two, man,” Nicco replied.

  “So, if this is Malachi’s and Minos’s scientist, what should we do with him? Are we supposed to kill him?” Ryx asked the last part in a whisper, but obviously the little guy heard him if the small whimper that came from him was any indication.

  “Shh, it’s okay, Samuel. No one will hurt you, I promise you that,” Sasha said calmly, trying to ease the man.

  Valor grabbed Sasha’s elbow and pulled him to the other side of the room. Ryx and Nicco followed. “You can’t make that promise, Sasha. We don’t know what the council will want to do with him,” Valor said in a whisper.

  “Yes, I can make that promise. Look at him. Does he look like someone who can defend himself against any of us? He’s terrified, Valor. Something tells me that even if he is the same Samuel that Nicco is talking about, that he’s not here by choice. Something is screaming at me that he’s here against his will.”

  “I agree. I also don’t think he would have warned us about the people in the cages if he meant us harm,” Valor pointed out.

  “I don’t think this decision is up to us anyway,” Ryx added. “This is something for the council to decide on. And whether he is the scientist that Brighton spoke of or another one, I still think the council will want to talk to him. He may be able to give us some answers.”

  “I agree. So, what do we do with all of them?” Nicco asked and looked back at the cages.

  “I’ll open a portal back to the holding cells in the training facility lockup,” Sasha replied. “We team up and move the cages through the portal, leaving them in the cages until we transport them. Once we get them there, we can transfer them into the cells there until Aaron can get to them and do some testing. I’m sure the council wants to keep an eye on them.”