by Maggie Walsh
“True, he is and has. But if that’s the only reason and he’s not your mate, then I won’t be surprised if monkeys fly out of my ass and start doing the Rumba,” Aaron said dryly.
“That could seriously hurt,” Samuel said in a small voice.
Sasha and Aaron both looked down at Samuel. Sasha smiled at him. “We didn’t mean to wake you, sweetheart.”
“You didn’t. I was up, just resting. Then I smelled heavenly coffee and didn’t want to interrupt your conversation, but the picture of monkeys flying out of someone’s ass to do the Rumba was funny,” Samuel said shyly. Aaron and Sasha both burst out laughing, causing Samuel to smile and chuckle, too.
Once they calmed down, Aaron met Samuel’s gaze. “It’s a little freaky looking at you and seeing myself. Like talking to my reflection in a mirror.”
“Yeah, same here. So, are you…are you my brother?”
“I’m not sure, Samuel, but it seems to be the case. I’m a doctor, so I can always run a DNA test to make sure. But I have a feeling that’s not really necessary just from seeing you and learning about what you can do,” Aaron replied. He walked toward the desk and picked up the set of keys. He came back to the cell, but the door was already open. He flashed Sasha a smile as he shook his head, then entered the cell.
Sasha moved off the cot when Samuel sat up fully and leaned against the wall. “I’m going to go upstairs and get us all some breakfast and fresh coffee. Why don’t you two talk? I’ll be back in about half an hour.” Sasha leaned down and kissed Samuel lightly on the cheek, then straightened and left them alone.
“I never thought I would find my mate, but here he is, and he’s so nice. And really freaking big,” Samuel said and laughed softly.
“Very true. Sasha is one of the biggest men I have ever met. I think he’s even a little taller than Micah. But you’re right, he’s very nice. You got a good one there.”
“Mama and Papa always said I would get two, but…” Samuel said and shrugged.
“As a feline shifter, yes, you would. I have two. But what is confusing me is why you haven’t gone into the mating heat yet? When I met Raith it started almost immediately and only got worse the longer we waited. But you’re not showing any of the symptoms and it’s been over a week since you met Sasha.”
“I’m not sure, but I think it has something to do with all those serums Malachi and Minos had me make. They even had me inject myself so that I wouldn’t shift. I haven’t taken it in a long time, since Malachi disappeared, but I haven’t felt my animal since then either. Maybe that has something to do with it?” Samuel replied.
“Maybe. Once you feel more comfortable we can always run some tests, see what we can find,” Aaron offered.
“You would help me?” Samuel asked in surprise.
“Of course, I would. I’m pretty sure I’m your long-lost twin brother, but even if I weren’t, I can see you’re nothing like Malachi or Minos. I don’t think you want to hurt us, so I would still help you.”
“I think you’re my brother, too,” Samuel said quietly.
“So, what was my real name?”
“Shawn.”
“Shawn. Hmm. I like it.” Aaron gave Samuel a smile. “So, tell me about them.”
“Who?”
“Our family.”
Samuel gave him a sad smile and they both leaned back against the wall as Samuel started telling Aaron about their family and everything he had gone through.
* * * *
“Okay, let’s not panic,” Micah yelled out over all the voices gathered in the kitchen. Jesse watched as everyone quieted and looked to his mate.
Once everyone quieted down, Micah looked to Christian. “When was the last time you saw him and where?”
“When we were in Cass’s room. Then I left to go after Cass, and I just assumed my angel went back to bed, but when I returned he was gone. I checked the whole house and even tried to contact him using our mating link but he hasn’t answered. If he were okay he would have answered me, Micah.”
“Did anyone see him after that?” Jesse asked.
“When he left our room, he said he was going to fix this. I don’t know what exactly he meant, but that’s what he said,” Shay added.
“You’re right, I heard him say that, too, right before he left,” Jesse agreed. “So, once he walked out of Cass’s room, where did he go?”
“He probably went out to find me. If he said he was going to fix this after seeing the way I spoke to Kia, then that’s what he would have done,” Cass said.
“All right, so, he went outside and shifted and has been trying to find you. Maybe he got tired and stopped to rest and fell asleep?” Micah surmised.
“Or maybe he got hurt? Maybe he’s lying out there somewhere waiting for us to find him?” Christian said.
“Let’s not think like that, brother. Let’s keep our heads and go look for him,” Raith said as he placed a hand on Christian’s shoulder.
“What about Noah? Have you called him? Maybe Raffy went there?” Taylor asked.
“First place I called. Noah hasn’t seen or heard from him,” Christian mumbled.
“I don’t know exactly when he left, but I don’t scent him anywhere outside,” Gabriel stated as he and Crew walked in from the back door.
“It would have been about six hours ago. With a little snow coming down, and the storm from the other day, it’s possible his scent has washed away already,” Micah replied.
“So, let’s start looking,” Christian said and headed for the back door, stripping his clothes off.
“Stay here with the others and have some breakfast. We’ll let you know what’s going on once we know,” Cass said to Shay and Kia and kissed each of them.
“Okay. Are you sure we can’t help?” Shay asked.
“If Raffy makes his way home, use our mating link and let me know. That would be a big help.”
“Okay, mate. Please find your brother and bring him home,” Kia said.
“We will, sweet pea.” Cass gave them each another kiss then ran out the door to join the others.
“Okay, so how about some grub?” Taylor asked as he slapped his hands together and moved toward the fridge. Jesse jumped off the stool he had been sitting on and joined Taylor.
All the enforcers had left, leaving all the mates behind. They worked together to make breakfast and put it on the table, then ate in relative silence. Once they were done, they all chipped in to clean up.
“Where me Raffy?” Noah demanded as he stepped through a portal, surprising everyone.
“The guys are all out looking for him now, Noah,” Rory answered.
“He maybe hurt?” Noah asked in a panic, his bottom lip trembling.
Jesse ran right to his brother and hugged him, trying to calm Noah down. “We don’t know anything yet, Noah, so let’s not jump to conclusions okay?”
“He me BFF, Jesse. My only friend for long time.”
“I know, sweetie. We’ll find him,” he promised.
“Are we sure he even left the house?” Kia asked, drawing everyone’s attention.
“Christian checked every inch of the house and he wasn’t able to find him, so he must have,” Shelby answered.
“But they weren’t able to find his scent outside. And they’ve been gone for some time now. Maybe they can’t find his scent because he never left the house?” Kia asked.
“I like he plan. Let’s recheck house,” Noah said.
“Would he go into any of the safe rooms that Castiel told us about?” Shay asked.
“I don’t see why,” Jesse answered. “He left your room upset about Cass, I don’t know why he would go to a safe room.”
“If he’s not in the house or outside then is there somewhere else?” Shay and Kia asked together.
Noah looked at them in confusion. “That kinda freaky. I Noah. Who you?”
Jesse chuckled from Noah’s reaction to Shay and Kia and grabbed Noah’s hand. “Noah, this is Shay and Kia, Cass’s mates. R
emember, they were at Dante’s house warming?”
“Oh yeah, so you two cuties take Cass heart. Yay, new brothers,” Noah said excitedly, causing everyone to chuckle.
“Hi, Noah, it’s nice to see you again,” Shay and Kia said in unison.
“Shit that freaky, but funny, too. I like you. Um…and you.”
Jesse’s heart clenched when he saw Shay’s eyes fill with sadness as he gave Noah a tight smile and looked down. Noah’s eyes opened wide and Noah released his hand and ran to Shay, grabbing his hands. “Why you look sad? No look sad. We brothers now.”
“I’m sorry Kia and I are freaky,” Shay whispered.
“No, no, no. Not in bad way. I like. I no mean hurt feelings. I just not used to. It kind funny,” Noah said happily.
“That’s kind of funny, Noah,” Rory corrected.
“Yeah, pft. I say what I say, get over,” Noah stated and rolled his eyes.
Jesse laughed as he walked over to Noah and kissed his head. He was so proud of his big brother for accepting his differences and not letting others try to change him. “Good man, big brother. Just be you.”
“Exactly. I be me and you two be you and we all be great. No one like, they suck it.” Noah pushed out his chest with pride.
Kia and Shay both laughed and gave Noah bright smiles. “Okay, Noah,” they answered, and everyone smiled.
“So, what did you mean by what you said? If Raffy’s not in the house and he’s not outside?” Taylor asked.
“Raffy is a very powerful omega, right? Maybe he used his powers and went somewhere else?” Shay replied.
“But where would he go?” Shelby asked.
“I don’t know, but a journeyman can track him,” Shay said and looked to Kia with a smile.
“You can do that, Kia? You can track exactly where he went?” Rory asked.
“I haven’t done it in a while, but yes.”
“Okay, so let’s head up to your room and see where he went,” Taylor said and headed out of the kitchen. Jesse kept a hold of Noah’s hand as they all followed Taylor.
After going to Cass, Shay, and Kia’s room, Jesse and the others watched quietly as Kia did his thing and said he was following Raffy’s aura signature. They all trailed after Kia as he led them to Crew, Haven, and Laylen’s room.
“Why he come here?” Noah asked.
“Let’s find out,” Taylor said and opened the door.
“We can’t just go into their private suite, Tay,” Jesse said.
“Why the hell not? They’re not here and it’s not like we’re robbing the place. But what if they were here? Maybe we could catch some hot ménage fucking going on,” Taylor teased as he wiggled his brows.
“Really, Tay?” Jesse admonished.
“What? Oh, come on, Jesse, you know me better than anyone. Of course, I’m always thinking about sex.”
“Yeah, I do know you better than anyone and I know you are not always thinking about sex. Like right now for instance. Sex is the last thing you’re thinking about. You’re worried about your mate and you’re worried about your brothers-in-law. You’re just trying to joke to keep yourself and everyone else calm.”
“If you say so. Let’s get going.” Taylor rolled his eyes, then walked into the room.
Kia walked to the bed and looked down at the rumpled sheets. “He stood here for a moment, then turned and went over there.”
“Why was he standing here looking at the hot threesome sleeping?” Shelby asked.
“Maybe they weren’t sleeping and were doing something else,” Taylor suggested.
Shelby rolled his eyes as he huffed at Taylor. “I think they would have known Raffy was in the room playing voyeur, therefore they would have said they had seen him.”
“True. Okay, so now what?” Taylor looked to Kia.
Kia walked to the wall and held up his hand. “He went through here.”
“He walked through the wall? But how?” Shelby asked.
“Aurora did say we could all use each other’s powers if we were close enough. Laylen would have been sleeping right there. So, if he used Lay’s powers, where did he go?” Jesse asked absently.
“Only one way to find out,” Shay answered and nodded at Kia.
Kia took a deep breath and stepped forward, walking through the wall. He peeked back at them and held out his hand. “Anyone else coming? Or am I going alone?”
“No, we go, too,” Noah said and ran to Kia, grabbed his hand.
Jesse wasn’t so sure this was a good idea, but they needed to find Raffy and make sure he was safe. He looked around to all the others as they looked at one another. Jesse stepped forward and grabbed onto Kia, and everyone else joined them. Once they were all connected Kia walked them through. The darkness engulfed them but was quickly replaced by some light as they walked further.
“Oh shit,” Taylor hissed.
“Why the hell did he come here? And alone?” Jesse asked, looking around frantically.
“Where are we?” Rory asked.
“Geryon City,” Taylor answered.
“In the Underworld? But how is Noah here? He’s fae, he shouldn’t be able to enter the Underworld.”
“He came with a traveler,” Kia answered. “I can go anywhere and take anyone with me.”
“We need to go back. We shouldn’t be here without the others, it’s too dangerous,” Rory cried.
“There’s a small problem with that,” Kia said.
“What problem?” Shelby asked.
“Once I start a journey, I need to follow it until the end. I can’t go back until I reach my destination.”
“So, what, we’re all trapped in the Underworld until we find Raffy?” Rory asked in a panic.
“We be okay, Rory.” Noah wrapped an arm around Rory’s waist.
“We’ll be fine. We’re not alone. Phenex! Lucifer!” Jesse called out.
A moment later, Phenex appeared walking through a wall of the building across the street. His eyes went wide in shock from seeing them there, and he quickly ran to them. “What are you all doing here? Where is Sonny boy and the others? And how the hell did Noah get here?”
“Good question. Not that I don’t like seeing you all, just not here,” Lucifer said as he stepped out of a doorway behind them.
They explained everything up until they arrived in Geryon City. “Son of a bitch! So Raffy came here hours ago, on his own?” Phen asked. The pitch in his voice giving away his fear.
Lucifer looked to Phenex and ordered, “Phen, call the Legion. This is no place for someone as pure as Raffy. We need them to spread out and find him as fast as possible. I want every stone turned.”
“What about us?” Rory asked.
Lucifer turned to face him, his expression grim. “Unfortunately, because you came with a journeyman, none of you can leave until he finds what he seeks. On the plus side, we’re here now and the Legion is on their way. We’ll be able to keep you all safe.”
“The men are spreading out now,” Phen announced. “Duma and Nuriel are on their way. I think we need to inform your mates where you are and get them here, as well.”
“Don’t think we can do it without them, Phen? Well, thanks for the vote of confidence,” Taylor huffed.
“Not at all, Taylor. I know you can handle yourselves, but this is different. You have all traveled here with a journeyman. So, you are all just observers. Even though you are here in physical form, you are powerless.”
Jesse’s heart began to race in terror from what Phen just said. There was no way they could all be in the Underworld with no powers. If Minos or Hades found out, they would all be dead, or worse.
“What? No fucking way,” Taylor said and held up his hands, but nothing happened.
Jesse tried using his powers, as well, but nothing. “Shit. This is more serious than we originally thought.”
“Yes. If Minos finds out that you are all here and you are powerless, he can take you and you would remain powerless because Kia didn’t finish his journe
y. Minos or Hades would be able to kill you,” Lucifer explained.
“That’s what I was just thinking,” Jesse said.
“Yeah, so, I agree. I think we need our mates here now,” Rory replied.
* * * *
They ran through the snow in wolf form, stopping at a grouping of downed trees, waiting on the others. A few minutes later, Crew’s very large wolf and two others stepped through the trees, along with Haven in his mountain lion form and Laylen. Another few minutes and Liam and Xavier joined them. Xavier shifted back to his human form.
“Anything?” Christian asked.
“Nothing. Not even one track. Sorry, man,” Crew replied.
“We got nothing, too,” Lexi replied.
“Where the hell did he go?” Micah sighed as his face turned serious and his mind spun, trying to figure out where Raffy could be.
“How about your wicked tracking skills, Micah?” Xander asked.
“I already tried it. I’m not getting anything.”
“Well that’s odd, isn’t it? Why wouldn’t you get anything? Unless…” Xavier stopped and looked to Christian.
Cass moved closer to his best friend and laid a hand on his shoulder. “We won’t jump to any conclusions, buddy. Let’s focus.”
Just then Micah watched a bright light appear, telling him that someone was coming through a portal. The light grew bigger and Ryland, Valor, Colby, Storm, and Bastian stepped through. “You must come now,” Ryland said in a hurry.
Micah immediate walked to Ryland. “What is it?”
“Phen called for me. He will meet us back at the house to take you all to your mates, but we need to go now.”
“Our mates are at home. What are you talking about?” Raith asked as he stepped closer.
“No, they are not. Kia was able to follow Raffy’s footsteps and it led them into the Underworld, but that’s not all,” Ryland answered.
Micah couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Their mates were in the Underworld without them? There was no way Jesse would ever go there without him except if he was forced.
“So, are you telling me that our mates are all in the Underworld?” Gabriel growled.
“Yes, but because they traveled there with Kia―”
