by Jo Penn
Chapter Five
They’d woken twenty minutes ago after a four-hour nap, both obviously needing it. Mason showered and changed, Drax just splashing water over his face and frowning when Mason held out some sort of white stuff in a tub container.
He rolled his eyes when his mate informed him that he needed to moisturize but did it anyway. He got that Mason was looking after him even if the wizard was testy about it.
Downstairs, they headed straight to the private kitchen. There was another kitchen with a cafeteria in the large mansion for members of the coven. This one was just for the Armstrong family and a few higher-up witches and wizards and guests.
The kitchen was big, well equipped, and full of creatures. Xavier looked more relaxed and was cooking. There was already an assortment of bagels stuffed with meats and some vegetable stuff Drax would tolerate, a cake, muffins, and something smelled damn good, maybe a casserole of some sort.
Drake was seated at a very long, wide bench in the middle of the room on a high stool stuffing his big feline mouth with a plate full of food. His and Xavier’s human mate, the angelic, beautiful little human with a penance for causing harmless and harmful mischief, was beside the crown prince and laughing at whatever Sebastian was chattering about. Laurie was watching Xavier intently as the vampire was cooking.
Mason grabbed two plates off a side table and handed one to Drax.
“Thank you, Xavier, this all looks and smells fantastic.” Mason hugged his cousins and ambled over to the bench to select a few items. “How long have you all been up?”
“An hour and a half.” Drake said. “Xavier wanted to cook, and I’m happy to eat.”
“You’re always happy to eat.” Keeley flashed a dreamy smile. “Cooking is so complicated.”
“Best you let our mate cook, our light. Our kitchen has only just been refitted.” Drake grinned and demolished another bagel stuffed with meat. He’d picked off a few anchovies.
“I thought felines liked anchovies.” Laurie pulled up a seat beside Mason.
“Some, others despise them.” Sebastian pulled some off his bagel. “Which begs the question, why are there anchovies on bagels meant for two feline shifters who don’t eat anchovies?”
“Because Mason and Laurie like anchovies. Perhaps if you stop choosing the bagels with the anchovies this would not be a problem, Sebastian.” Xavier arched a brow. “I am guessing you would like the vine tomato and red wine beef casserole, Drax.”
Drax grinned. “Smells damn good, Xavier.”
“There is warm bread in the basket there. Casserole bowls on the side table.” Xavier waved a hand elegantly. “Look what has wandered in.”
A big orange-and-black tiger ambled into the kitchen via the back door, sniffing the air. The tiger gave a large yawn, batted his head against first Drake’s and then Sebastian’s legs before padding over to Mason and sitting down, head tilted to the side.
Drax grabbed his casserole bowl—what the hell was the difference between a normal oversized bowl and a casserole bowl?! Huh, who cared, as long as it got him some of the fucking fantastic-smelling casserole and warm bread, which he burned his finger on when he grabbed some and dropped them onto a plate.
Mason leaned across on his stool and scratched the feline behind his ears. “Hey, Baron, where’ve you been lately?”
The tiger gave a purr and rubbed himself over Mason’s leg.
Drax growled. “Stop leaving your scent all over my mate, Baron.”
Drake and Sebastian just laughed as Baron gave a big toothy grin, batted Mason’s thigh with his big fat striped head, and trotted out of the room.
“Where’s he going?” Seb asked.
“Baron has clothes in his bedroom. He knows the coven members are a little less happy about creatures walking about naked than shifters.” Mason bit into his bagel and practically purred. After he swallowed, he smiled at his cousin. “I have missed your cooking, Xavier. You spend far too much time at the compound and Durand coven these days.”
“I will share my time more, and stock up your freezer. You, Laurie, and Grandmother always forget to eat when I am not constantly checking on you all.”
“I’ll be keeping him fed from now on.” Drax groaned in pleasure. “But I think you should stock up the freezer every few days, Xavier. This is fu—sorry, amazing. We should get a real chef for the pack, not that two-bit, grease-frying mongrel we’ve got now. The bears keep having intestine problems from the food and refuse to eat at home anymore, something about the cook trying to kill them slowly with each mouthful.” Drax rolled his eyes, the shifters smirking. “Bears and their weak stomachs.”
Mason dropped his bagel, eyes excited. “A chef! That’s what I can get your pack! Xavier! Do you know anyone? Maybe two chefs? Yes, the Starters pack is—”
“Your pack also.” Drax nipped at Mason’s ear, making the wizard jump and flush. “Not ‘my’ pack, ours. Remember that. And yeah, Uri will be eternally grateful, as would all the others who use the open food hall every day.”
Mason nodded enthusiastically. “Great, great, I’ll start searching immediately.”
From nowhere, an iPad appeared in Mason’s hand. Drax snatched it and moved it out of the way.
“Eat. We’ve got a lot of work ahead of us this afternoon.”
“I do know a few chefs. A bear in particular who is quite talented and does not truly belong to a sleuth. Most of his were slaughtered by Renegades. He is young but a talented chef.” Xavier was musing, eyes on the wall behind them. “Yes, I have had trouble finding him a suitable, safe place that would appreciate him. He is such a quiet bear and requires freedom to shift often. I am foolish. I should have thought of the Starters pack. They have the Croggen triplets and a half dozen other bears. There were a few more bears I noticed last time I was there.”
Drake had risen and rested a hand on the back of his mate’s neck. “You need more rest, my star. A bit at a time, and I’m assigning you two more assistants. Before Keeley pounces and ties you to our bed.”
Baron walked back in, grabbed a plate, and oversized bowl. He quickly filled both, his mix of orange and black hair pulled back and dark green eyes showing he wasn’t pleased to choose between the seat beside Drax or the one on the other side of Laurie.
Drax did something he thought he’d never do. He got up, took his plates, waved a hand at his seat, and moved beside Laurie, who blinked at him, a little surprised, a little alarmed. Which just had Drax’s eyes narrowing.
“Okay, what shit have you been up to this time, pup?”
Laurie lasted a second before blurting, “It wasn’t my fault! Luka and Marco made me do it!”
Baron sat down beside Mason and sniffed, even stroked a hand over Mason’s hair before he got down to eating. He did shoot Drax a lazy, somewhat affectionate smile.
“Ugh, you three are worse than any of the other young cubs to come from the coven, pack, and pride.” Sebastian held up a hand. “Don’t want to hear it. If you’ve caused any shit, you have to tell Emile.”
Laurie gulped and returned to eating. “All Marco’s fault.”
“Yeah, I’d believe that if Luka and you weren’t also involved.” Drax grinned. “Hey, we should just let Visij and Emile deal with all their pranks from now on.”
Everyone laughed. The fae second, Vis, was a real hard-ass and Emile was such a strict, pedantic creature that the three young friends would end up constantly on some punishment or other.
Everyone ate, talked about nothing much, a few Alliance issues, and were interrupted half an hour later by two of Mason’s assistants, Jack and Lawson, which Drax only knew to nod at. He was able to match one of the scents he’d sniffed in Mason’s, and now Drax’s, suite, which saved him time hunting down the creature. Drax didn’t like surprises and would be spending a lot of time analyzing every single coven member.
He would also be putting an end to having assistants just wandering into his and Mason’s private space.
“Sorry to inter
rupt.” Jack grimaced, giving a little bow to everyone at the bench. “We have a number of creatures here to see Enforcer Drax.”
“And we were wondering what to use for Enforcer Drax’s official name when addressing and on paperwork.” Lawson was busy typing on his tablet one-handed, face pinched and serious.
“Enforcer Drax is fine,” Drax said.
“Actually, you are my mate and will be addressed during official requirements as Lord Drax Charmers.” Mason quirked a brow.
Ugh, Lord? Fine, whatever.
“Sure, mate, whatever is the official coven title.” Drax shrugged. Like he gave a shit about titles.
“Thank you.” Lawson hurried to the door. “I will update all the templates and have them ready for your official documentations and announcements, Mason.”
“Thank you, Law. And my schedule?”
“Cleared today and tomorrow to integrate the new guards and security matters and any other details that require your attention.”
“Good. Thanks.”
Lawson quickly left, leaving Jack. “The security detail and guards?”
“Put them in the conference room beside mine and Drax’s office, thanks, Jack. Provide refreshments and the usual documentation on the coven rules and maps. I should not be long.”
Drax knew it was going to be a long afternoon, but he was looking forward to setting up his security and having his own guards in the coven. The sooner done, the sooner the coven was wrapped up tight and safe.
As he was reaching for an apricot and carrot muffin—he loved apricots—a loud explosion splintered the air. Everyone reacted quickly. Baron grabbed Mason and tossed him to the floor beneath him, Drax doing the same with Laurie, and Drake got Xavier and Keeley down along with Sebastian.
“What was that?” Drake growled. “Stay down. Drax, you, and Baron are with me. Don’t give me that look, Xavier. Protect our mate, your cousin, and yourself. Sebastian, you stay and protect them.”
“I go wherever Drax goes, as per the ruling.” Mason stood and dusted himself off. “Plus, this is my coven. It is my duty to see to trouble.”
Drax didn’t argue. He growled long and lethal. Seb held up a hand.
“Mason’s right. But if he’s in danger, get him back inside fast. He’s powerful. He can deal with threats.”
Snarling, he glared at Mason. “You stay right beside me. If I put you behind me, you stay there. If I say get in the mansion, you do it.”
“Fine. Let’s get outside. Xavier, you may have to keep the coven inside and calm. Grandma will be in her office. Sebastian, protect Keeley and Laurie,” Mason ordered.
They split up. Drax was right behind Drake, Mason behind him and Baron protecting from behind. They sniffed the air and cautiously opened the door. Smoke and fire filled their noses. Security stormed into the kitchen. Drax immediately ordered them into two groups, one going outside to scout, the rest locking down the mansion and protecting the coven from the inside.
Outside, they quickly looked around and stuck to the side of the building as they made their way to where the smoke and fire came from.
“The garages,” Mason whispered.
They headed in that direction, Drake and Drax splitting up to scout, Baron remaining with Mason and continuing straight ahead. Drax made it to the burning vehicle first. He’d scouted his side and found no one around except a few coven members who were being escorted inside. Coven security were milling about, eyes wide and using magic.
“Isn’t that your truck?” Drake asked, hands on hips, frowning at the burning vehicle.
“Yes.” Drax circled the vehicle, careful to look for signs on the ground and area around his smoldering, nearly new SUV. He’d had it specially ordered. It was faster, more comfortable, and it had a lot of secret compartments for all the things he needed when on the hunt, or just on a fishing trip with buddies.
The waste of it just pissed Drax off. Wolves were fairly environmentally friendly. They re-used, renovated, rejuvenated. His last four-wheel drive had lasted thirty years before the engine gave up and couldn’t be repaired. Most wolves were like that, only a few younger ones not as like-minded.
“Magic, but not a signature I recognize.” Mason was crouched between Drake and Baron studying something on the ground.
“Explosives also. Looks like the type Sebastian uses.” Drake held up a little device. “Even has his initials scraped into the metal.”
Sniffing the air, Drax could just make out the faint trace of explosives and Drake was right. They were the type Seb always used. The tiger had a few particular ones he stuck to though experimented with others occasionally. But Drax was a suspicious son of a bitch, and just because Seb’s name was etched into the metal on an explosive that blew up his near-new truck didn’t mean they were actually his friend’s. Nope. Most soldiers knew of Seb’s style, and if someone had overheard and spread a bit of gossip unintentionally, anyone, including Renegades, could be imitating Sebastian’s work. Either to throw Drax off their scent, or to place suspicion on the Sanchez pride and cause a rift.
Drax growled. Yeah, that made the most sense, especially with the tension between the different paranormal groups in Milson Valley at present due to Drax and Mason’s…tiff. Yeah, he was going with tiff. He liked how his mate said that when addressing the coven earlier, made it sound a lot less serious than what had actually happened between them. Drax just wanted to move past that now and get on with claiming and mating his wizard.
Which he couldn’t damn well do when some dickhead was blowing things up! That just pissed him off.
“So what do we have? W&W magic and explosives. A strange mix. And on a wolf Enforcer’s truck,” Baron said quietly, brow furrowed.
A definite sign Baron was making connections, figuring things out, just as Drax had.
“Who in the coven wouldn’t want me here, mate?”
Mason quirked a brow. “What are you thinking? That one of my coven destroyed your car? We don’t keep explosives. We blow things up with magic. Yes, there is magic here, powerful, tainted, not familiar.”
“You didn’t answer the question, Mason,” Drake spoke with quiet firmness. “Who would target Drax? Who doesn’t want him here?”
“Me?” Mason sighed, running a hand over his head and standing, hand on hip as he looked around. Drax smirked, not at all bothered. “This doesn’t make sense. My people only use magic to heal, ward off evil, for a little personal fun gain, and to fight Renegades. This is evil intent. I can feel it in the magic. Twisted, unrecognizable…” Mason paled. “Oh moons, the creature who has been tampering with your equipment, Drax, causing all those incidents and accidents—you are in danger.”
Drax frowned. “What? No—what was that?”
Mason had muttered something and snapped his fingers at Drax. “A protection spell.”
His mate had put a protection spell on him? Huh, that sort of showed Mason cared still. Drax would take what he could get and work from there.
Baron was sniffing around and came to stand beside Mason. “I think Mason is right, Drax. But one helluva shitstorm is about to start. These have been made to look like Sanchez pride explosives.” He held up a casing. “Says so right here, specifically, Sebastian’s.”
“Yeah, but I can see we have all come to the same conclusion.” Drake was scowling fiercely. “Someone is using the”—the tiger gave a sardonic grin—“disagreement between Drax and Mason with the resulting valley divide to cause a bigger chasm. By making it look like pride explosives blew up a wolf’s truck on coven ground, bad magic, and pointing the finger at Seb, who is Baron’s brother, Mason’s best friend, and Drax, who is his friend, it’s a good ploy but ain’t gonna work. The work is sloppy. Rushed.”
“Exactly.” Baron nodded.
“Yep. Would the explosives have come from the pride? Someone able to steal them?” Drax doubted it but had to ask.
“No one could have taken the explosives without authorization, and stealing them is impossible. Sebastian k
eeps a tight eye on them, and I’m real strict with security and anything deadly at the compound,” Baron said sharply. “I can’t see anyone getting them.”
“Ok.” Drax nodded, he thought as much. Drax turned to Mason, who was studying something on the ground. “Mate, anyway to trace the magic signature?”
“The signature is unrecognizable to me as it is twisted and no longer what the magical creature once held. When a witch or wizard taints their magic with evil acts, their magic becomes evil and twisted, never as before. Think of it as a scent gone bad, feral, except with magic it holds no part of who it once belonged to. While shifters may have been able to scent the witch’s or wizard’s turn to evil as our scent changes, the creature will cover themselves with potions to hide what has happened. Which means they could very well be a member of my coven.” Mason eyed the big mansion warily. “It is not safe for you here, Drax. You should return to your pack.”
“Nope, not going to happen. We don’t separate again.” Drax was firm. “Now, we need to figure out how we flush the prick out.”
“Ah, another point.” Mason rubbed his foot in some dirt. “Fae magic.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” Drake growled. “Okay, we could have an interspecies shit fight on our hands if we don’t handle this correctly. First, we have witnesses, so this needs to be done properly. We all know Sebastian had nothing to do with the explosives. We don’t know if a fae is involved, nor if a witch or wizard from the Armstrong coven. So in the meantime, we process the scene here, get evidence, and are careful.”
Drake got a call and stepped away. Drax, Mason, and Baron moved around the burning vehicle. It was still smoldering but had pretty much burned itself out.
“I’ve just been told not to touch anything. Independent investigators have been called in. We need to rope off the area, and a witch is coming to cover it in magic so no one can access without the right authorization.” Drake strode back. “Direct ruling from High Councilman Rolf Dickenson, who was still at the compound. Some of our creatures here informed the compound, Urian, Misha, and Cas.”
