Tierney shrugged and they all followed his father into the large house.
“Is it just me, or did she sound relieved,” Jax asked.
“No, I think you’re right,” Tierney said and Thaniel nodded, having thought the same thing.
The Queenlee led them all into the large room where Thaniel had first seen the Tomlee. Although this time, it was completely lit up with no dark shadowy areas. They watched the woman who was now shaking very slightly, go around the ornate table and sit in her seat as more and more people filed into the room.
Thaniel tensed up as old fears filled him. He didn’t like being surrounded by so many. There had to be fifty or sixty people in here, he thought as Tierney slipped her hand into his and squeezed. Through the bond he shared with his mates, he could feel love, reassurance, and Jax’s fierce protectiveness. Glancing at them, he silently thanked them, feeling much calmer.
“Where have you been, Garret?” the Queenlee asked and Thaniel’s father explained what had happened. George stood beside Thaniel, hanging on every word. “So he’s our father?” George whispered, voice shaking. Thaniel nodded, suddenly happy that he still had a brother, no matter how or why it happened.
“What is going on in here?” A loud voice boomed and all eyes turned to the doorway to see the Tomlee standing there, eyes flashing as he took in the room. Then his eyes narrowed on Garret and he visibly paled. “You!” Turning to his guards who had been standing around the outer edges of the room, he pointed. “Seize him!”
Thaniel felt his leopard leap to the surface, and his hands began to transform into claws. Low growls echoed from a few throats.
“No,” a timid voice said, and Thaniel searched around, wondering who had spoken. He was shocked to see the Queenlee standing. She was staring fearfully at the Tomlee, and a faint tremor wracked her body. “No,” she said again, then gazed imploringly at Garret. Thaniel’s father gazed around the room with a frown while the guards sidled closer to him.
Thaniel jumped when his father let out a roar. “Your Queenlee spoke, why are you not listening to her?” The guards paused and Garret looked back at the Queenlee. “What has happened to you?”
The Queenlee’s mouth opened as if she was going to speak, then closed. Tears filled her eyes and as she turned to the Tomlee a satisfied gleam filled Garner’s eyes.
It was Deseria who finally spoke up. Stepping forward, she turned and met the Tomlee’s furious gaze before taking in the whole room. “His power is a succubus. It eats the power of others, so instead of the Queenlee gaining control over him when they bonded, he gained control over her.”
Thaniel wanted to snort at the gasps of outrage that filled the room. How could they have not known? He’d only been here a few days and had known that something was wrong.
“S-seize h-him,” the Queenlee said, but there was no authority in her words. With a growl and eyes flashing, the Tomlee turned from Deseria to the Queenlee. “Sit down and shut up,” he said and there were more gasps as she did as he demanded.
“No, this is wrong!” Thaniel’s father glared at his brother, then he moved around the table to the Queenlee. It wasn’t until he lifted his hand that Thaniel saw his claws. His father swiped a claw across his other palm, drawing a line of blood.
“I am not bonding with you, do you understand?” he asked and the Queenlee, chin now quivering, nodded.
“Stop him!” the Tomlee shouted, but the guards didn’t move. “Do not do this,” the Tomlee growled. His face turned red and a vein in his temple pulsed as he shot the Queenlee a warning. “I forbid you to take his blood.” At his words, the Queenlee’s jaw clamped closed.
Thaniel wanted to groan and heard Jax in his head. “Someone needs to fry this guy’s ass. We should’ve brought Genna with us.” Thaniel would have laughed if it wasn’t so disgusting and sad.
Without pause, Thaniel’s father smeared his blood across the Queenlee’s lips and an intense sizzle filled the air. “Wow, he’s strong,” George muttered, staring in awe at their father, as he drew on his power. Not a second later, the Queenlee’s tongue came out and licked at the blood.
“No!” The Tomlee cried out as the bond between them snapped.
Eyes flashing, the Queenlee rose from her seat. She was no longer trembling and her voice was strong as she spoke. “I ordered you to seize this imposter who has called himself your Tomlee. If you cannot do as you’ve been told, you can leave and find a new clan, right now. I have put up with all your disrespect for too many years, unable to say a word. No more. I will not tolerate any more disobedience.”
Thaniel shivered as the Queenlee turned steely eyes on the guards. She challenged them to defy her, and one by one, they dropped their gaze and turned to do as they were instructed.
Seeing them coming for him, the imposter Tomlee shifted into his half-form. “I challenge you, brother,” he said, staring at Thaniel’s father. Beside him, Thaniel felt George tense up, ready to fight. Then a familiar tingle of power had him glancing past Tierney to see that Jax’s eyes had begun to glow. Even Enyowas appeared ready to shift, as were others around the room.
“Outside,” Garret snapped, ready to take the Tomlee on. Only the Queenlee shook her head as she stared with steely determination at Garner. “No. There will be no fight, you do not deserve to fight for a position that was never yours to take.” Her voice rang through the room. “To the dungeon.”
The guards closed rank around him and knowing he’d lost, Garner tried to slink away, but he was completely blocked. Thaniel watched him attack those who once obeyed him. The scent of blood filled the air, making Thaniel’s leopard scratch at his insides.
“Why? How could you do this, you love me,” Garner screamed, staring at Deseria with wild eyes.
Face pale, Deseria shook her head. “Do you remember what you told me, when I confronted you all those years ago, what you never let me forget?”
Garner frowned and Deseria continued, anger strengthening her voice. “Are you so delusional that you honestly believed that I loved you?” She was glaring daggers at him now. “I have only ever loved two people.” She swept her gaze across George, then Thaniel’s father before turning back to Garner. “And even if I didn’t, I could never love someone as cold and cruel as you.”
At the disbelief on Garner’s face she shook her head. “Why do you think I refused to bond with you? You threatened to kill my own son if I ever told anyone the truth about who his real father was,” she said in a deadly quiet voice amid the gasps of horror. Then she shook her head. “I only played along.”
They all watched the guards drag their former Tomlee from the room as he screamed obscenities at them.
Thaniel turned back to see the satisfied light in the Queenlee’s eyes. With a shiver, he wondered what kind of torture awaited his evil uncle, though he found it hard to care.
“I would have fought him,” Garret said and Thaniel could feel his father’s anger and frustration at his lost revenge.
“I know you would have, and I have no doubt you’d win, you were always the stronger twin. However, like I said, he doesn’t deserve the chance. Now, have you come to take your rightful place?” she asked, looking at Thaniel’s father.
Garret shook his head. “I didn’t come here to be Tomlee, I came to make sure my son was safe.” Thaniel’s father looked at Deseria, then over at Thaniel. Finally, his gaze settled on George who blinked in surprise.
“We need a new Tomlee. Please, I need your help here,” the Queenlee said, looking her age, and Thaniel saw his father’s startled expression. Then others in the room moved closer.
“Please!”
There was a chorus of pleas from many in the room, then Deseria put her hand on Garret’s arm. “Please, we need someone who will be fair and just, not someone who is power hungry and only cares about himself.”
Thaniel watched his father take in everyone around the room as they waited with bated breath. Finally, with a sigh, he turned to the Queenlee. “I’m not sayin
g I will, but if I did take the position, I will not bond with you. I will not be under your control.” At his words the Queenlee looked like she was going to object.
“Besides, I want to spend time with my boys.” Garret looked back at Thaniel and George, as if asking permission.
Thaniel swallowed deeply and then nodded. “I think it’s the right thing to do, they need you,” he said and beside him, George nodded. Garret stared at them a moment longer. “You won’t be losing me,” he said.
Thaniel nodded. “I know.”
With love shining in his eyes, his father turned back to the Queenlee.
“I will do it for the clan, on a trial basis. I will do my best to be fair and just, but I will never be controlled. On that note, I will never attempt to control either you or anyone else.”
Surprise lit the Queenlee’s eyes at his father’s words.
Garret swept the room with his gaze. “But, things need to change, the main one being the control of one person over another,” he said and the room filled with murmurs.
“Do you still want me?” he asked when it quieted down. After a moment, just about everyone nodded. Though Thaniel noticed a few people weren’t too happy about his father’s new edict. “If either of us find this isn’t working, I will step down. Do you accept?” Garret asked.
The Queenlee thought about his proposal for a moment, then gazed around the room at the rest of her clan. Finally, she nodded. “Yes, I accept.”
Then there was chaos as everyone thanked their new Tomlee along with Deseria. He watched his father turn to George and a moment later pull him into a hug.
Happy for his brother, Thaniel began to move away. “We should go,” he said to Tierney and Jax, suddenly feeling out of place.
“Thaniel,” his father called, stopping him.
Thaniel turned to see his father suddenly in front of him. Then he grabbed Thaniel into another hug. “Thank you, son.”
Thaniel nodded and smiled, happy inside. “You will make a good Tomlee,” he said and his dad smiled back at him.
“I hope so. I will do my best for you and George. And I know you need to get back home, but this is also your home. You are welcome here anytime, and hope I can come visit you?”
Unable to speak past the lump in his throat, Thaniel nodded.
“You are our mate’s father, you will always be welcome in our home,” Tierney said for him.
‘Thank you,’ Thaniel said and both Tierney and Jax slipped their arms around him.
Chapter Seventy
Birthdays
THANIEL LET TIERNEY AND JAX lead him down the hall to Zander’s room later that evening. “Sasha will be putting Dad back into his magical coma soon, but he wanted to see you,” Tierney said as she opened the door.
“You’re here, good,” Zander said when he saw them, and Thaniel noticed how pale he appeared.
“H-hi,” Thaniel said.
Zander gave him a little smile. “It’s good to see you, Thaniel,” Zander said, then he nodded at Jax. Thaniel watched Jax grab one of three large manilla envelopes from the bedside table before he turned to Thaniel.
“Here, sit down.” Jax guided him into the chair beside the bed. Not sure what was happening, Thaniel swallowed deeply and felt Jax move to stand behind him. Gentle, protective hands landed on his shoulders.
“What’s going on?” Thaniel asked, a tremble in his voice as he looked back at Jax then Tierney who stood solemnly beside him.
“It’s all good, love,” Tierney said as her hand stroked down his hair, her eyes on her dad. At Zander’s nod, Jax handed Thaniel the envelope with a smile on his face. A quick glance at Tierney showed the same. He turned back to Zander when the male cleared his throat.
Steady, compassionate, vivid green eyes bore into him. “Please, don’t run. I don’t have much time before they put me back to sleep,” Zander said, lips curling up just the slightest bit.
Sensing something important was happening, Thaniel bit his lower lip. “I won’t.”
Strong hands massaged his shoulders while Tierney continued to run her hand down his hair, both of them offering their comfort and love.
“Go ahead, open it. It won’t bite,” Zander said with a grin. His hands shaking, Thaniel studied the large envelope. A moment later, he opened the flap and slid the contents out onto his lap. His breath caught in his throat as he finally understood what he was seeing.
“You are a part of our family and as such, you now have your own bank account, debit and credit cards,” Zander said.
Thaniel blinked. No, this couldn’t be. It was impossible, but as Tierney pointed out his bank balance, he had to read it twice. No way! His eyes became blurry. Blinking, he peered up at Zander. “Why? I don’t understand. I didn’t do anything. I-I don’t deserve this.”
Zander watched him and Thaniel fought not to squirm. “Thaniel, you are Tierney’s and Jax’s mate, which makes you a part of the family.”
“But—” he began to object when Zander shook his head.
“I know things haven’t always been easy for you, and for that I am terribly sorry. Not many could go through what you did, and still have such a kind, pure soul. So yes, you do deserve it. And, if you’d let me, I’d be honored to call you son as well, just like I do with Sami and Jax. But either way, you are family, something we take very seriously. We don’t throw away family, we take care of family. We love family, and hold it close. And I can see that you make these two very happy,” Zander said, looking from Jax to Tierney with such warmth in his eyes, it made Thaniel blush.
“T-thank you,” Thaniel finally whispered, completely overwhelmed. He still didn’t know how he’d gotten so lucky to have been found that day.
Just then a knock sounded at the door and they all turned to see Sami, Hellfire, and Goldy enter, carrying a large slab cake.
“George called. He told me it was your birthday on the twenty-second. I’m sorry we didn’t know,” Jax said, rubbing Thaniel’s shoulders.
Shoulders tense, Thaniel ducked his head. “You couldn’t have, I didn’t tell you.” He swallowed, throat suddenly dry. “I—it’s not a time I like to think about.”
Crouching down beside him, Tierney took his hands. “We get it, love.”
Seeing the cake, he wasn’t sure that she understood how painful remembering his birthday was. But of course, Tierney knew how he felt and now she nodded.
“Yeah, we do. Remember I told you about mine and Sami’s seventh birthday?”
Thaniel nodded.
“Well, after that, we stopped celebrating birthdays, but when we realized that we had missed yours, we decided that we don’t want to miss any more birthdays. They are special and should be celebrated with the ones you love. I know your birthday is a painful reminder of the day your father left, but we want to change that. We want to make new memories with you and never want to miss the opportunity to celebrate and make it special for you,” she explained.
Thaniel saw Jax smiling down at him and through their bond, Thaniel could feel the love.
“Chloe and Goldy baked you a cake, and you get the first piece,” Sami said with an understanding smile.
Thaniel stared at his new family, stunned and overwhelmed. “Thank you, I love you all so much. Thank you for finding me, for not giving up on me.”
Tierney leaned forward and hugged him as fresh tears ran down his face, while Jax leaned over and held him as well.
A few minutes later, the Okami healer walked in and they all stood.
“Thank you,” Thaniel said again to Zander, feeling humbled and loved. He turned to leave, when Sami pulled him into a hug, followed by Goldy and Hellfire. “Love you, Thaniel,” they each told him.
***
He went to bed that night and snuggled in against Tierney and Jax, sighing when their arms wrapped around him in a cocoon of love. It still awed and amazed him, how he had lucked out to find such a wonderful new family. Closing his eyes, he slept.
Hours later Tierney and Jax nu
dged him awake. “What’s wrong?” he asked, sitting up in a panic. The house was eerily quiet.
“Shh, nothing’s wrong, love,” Tierney said, hugging him and setting him at ease.
“What’s going on?” he asked.
Jax just grinned. “C’mon, we got work to do,” he said, making Thaniel frown. He got up and they all dressed quickly and went downstairs where Goldy waited in the great room. “Sami, Hellfire, and Brimstone are outside with Isoul and Mark,” she told them with a twinkle in her eyes.
“Good, I’ll go help them,” Jax said and headed across the room.
“Where are they going?” Thaniel asked Tierney as he watched Jax hurry away.
Tierney smiled at him. “To get the stuff we stored in the barn and bring it in. Will you give Goldy and me a hand?”
Still not sure what was going on, he nodded and followed her to her dad’s office. Tierney opened the door and then led them over to a part of the wall that was a bookshelf.
Thaniel wondered what Tierney was doing when she began to chant in a strange language. Then he jumped when the wall in front of her just dissolved like magic. “What—how?”
With a grin, Tierney waved her hand. “This is our safe room, and our weapons room,” she said and Thaniel gaped. “Holy,” he whispered, stunned. They had enough weapons to arm an entire army.
Tierney grinned.
Thaniel followed Tierney and Goldy inside, but when they began to pick up boxes of wrapped gifts, his heart clenched painfully and he paused. “It’s Christmas eve?” he asked, voice a horrified whisper.
Tierney nodded, then set the gifts she was holding down. “Hey, are you all right?”
Thaniel swallowed at the gifts. “I saw the Christmas tree, but I lost track of the days and didn’t realize—” And the last time he’d seen Christmas presents, he’d been four years old. Horrified pale-blue eyes met hers. “I didn’t get you or Jax anything.”
Tierney began to move toward him when Goldy lightly touched Tierney’s arm, stopping her. Then Goldy smiled at Thaniel. “Yes, you did, look.” She set three small boxes into Thaniel’s hands, and squeezed his arm to let him know it was all right.
Dracones Boxset Books 1-5 Page 127
