Underneath

by Maggie Walsh

  Micah patted his shoulder. “It will happen, Chris, just keep being the wonderful, patient mate you are. He’s getting close to letting you in completely. I can see it.”

  “I know, but I don’t know how much more my balls can take,” he said in frustration. Micah laughed and walked away. “Yeah, keep laughing, you lucky bastard, but when my balls fall off I’m Gorilla-Gluing them to your desk so you have to look at them every day.” Micah just laughed harder and disappeared up the stairs.

  Chapter 4

  “Angel!” Christian called out as he entered Raffy’s room.

  Raffy came out of the bathroom, looking at Christian with a worried expression. “Christian, what is it? What’s wrong?”

  Christian moved to his side and pulled Raffy against him in a tight hug. “I have to go, angel. Micah is calling. They have a lead on where Aaron and Viktor are. Please stay here in the house with the other mates,” he said in a tight voice.

  Raffy pulled back and looked at Christian. “It will be dangerous, won’t it?”

  “Probably. I don’t know all the details yet, but I need to get to Micah’s office. All I do know is that demons are involved,” Christian explained.

  Raffy’s eyes opened wide as they filled with tears. “Please be careful, Christian. Depending on what level demon you’re dealing with, they can be very deadly. It won’t make a difference that you’re a wolf,” he said in a panic.

  “I promise I’ll do everything in my power to come home to you, angel. Please promise me you’ll stay inside the house where it’s safe.”

  “Yes, Christian. I promise.”

  “Good,” Christian said, and hugged him again. He pulled away and kissed Raffy lightly. “I really have to go now.” Raffy nodded at him and Christian turned and left.

  Raffy walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge. He started to bite his bottom lip. He was scared for Christian and the others. Demons could be some of the deadliest creatures ever created. If they came across a level one demon, they would all be killed. “Mother fate, please protect them. Bring Christian and everyone home safe,” he said to the empty room. His door slowly opened, drawing his attention.

  Noah stuck his head in. “I come in?”

  Raffy smiled at his friend. “Yes, please, Noah, come in. I could use the company right now,” he answered, and patted the bed next to him for Noah to join him.

  Noah came across the room and sat beside him. Noah grabbed his hand and gave it a squeeze. “You scared?”

  “Yes, I’m scared. Are you?” Raffy asked, and squeezed Noah’s hand in return.

  Noah nodded his head. “They go demons. Demons not good. Remember from Master,” Noah said with a tremor in his voice.

  Raffy nodded. “I remember the two demons Master had, too. They were level ten demons and used for their muscle and ability to walk through walls. I hope that is all they have to deal with.” Noah nodded in agreement.

  The two sat there for more than a half hour just holding each other’s hands as they were each lost in their own thoughts. Noah finally broke the silence. “You mate very nice. He sexy, too,” Noah said, and gave a shy giggle.

  Raffy turned his head to look at Noah in astonishment. He started to giggle, too. “Yes, he is. Nice and sexy.”

  “You share with him?” Noah asked.

  “Share what, Noah?” Raffy asked in confusion.

  “Everything. What happened. You heart and body?” Noah asked.

  “Not everything, and no I haven’t had sex with him yet. I want to, but I’m too scared. What if I give myself to him and then tell him everything about me and what happened and he doesn’t want me anymore? Then what? And he hates omegas,” Raffy said sadly.

  Noah smiled at him and laid his head on Raffy’s shoulder. “He you mate. He always want you. But he love Raffy. I can see it. He is good mate. He love Raffy no mat what,” Noah said with confidence and hugged Raffy’s arm.

  “I hope you’re right, Noah. Because I really, really want him,” Raffy said and tilted his head to rest on top of Noah’s.

  * * * *

  “They’ve been gone for almost two hours. I wonder what’s happening,” Jesse said as he paced the kitchen.

  “I’m sure they’re okay, Jesse,” Ryland said. He was sitting at the table by the window looking out over the backyard.

  “Do you think they found Aaron yet?” Rory asked in a scared voice as tears formed in his eyes.

  Jesse walked over and sat beside him. He wrapped an arm around Rory’s shoulders and pulled him against his side. “I’m not sure, Rory. But I do know they are doing everything they can to bring him home to you.”

  Rory laid his head on Jesse’s shoulder and took comfort in his arms as he tried to let Jesse’s words ease his worry.

  Noah jumped up from his chair at the bar. “I need go. They need help,” he said in a panic.

  Ryland stood and went to Noah. “No, Noah. You need to stay here where it is safe. Your mates need to know that you are safe so that they may concentrate on what they need to do,” he explained gently, and laid his hand on Noah’s shoulder.

  Noah looked at his king for a moment and then shook his head. “No. I feel. I see. Mates need help.”

  “Toem notra simtaka thram, Noah. Toem notra simtaka hindal,” the king said.

  Noah understood his king was worried about him, but his mates needed him. But then the king’s words repeated in his head. You must stay safe, Noah. You must stay here. Noah sighed and pulled away from his king. He turned and started to pace. Suddenly he stopped short and turned his head toward Raffy, his eyes full of fear and panic.

  “What is it, Noah? What do you know?” Raffy asked in a panic. Everyone turned to look at him.

  Noah grabbed Raffy’s arms in a tight grip as he shook. “Christoph.”

  Raffy’s eyes opened wide in terror. “They’re with Christoph?” Noah nodded. “What do we do, Noah? We need to help them.”

  “No, you both need to stay here and stay safe. Your mates will not be happy if I let you leave,” Ryland said in a commanding voice.

  Noah looked at his king in defiance, then looked back to Raffy. “Mates need. I help,” he said in a pleading voice.

  “But Christoph?” Raffy asked.

  “Dante make him week. I finish him,” Noah said with conviction. Raffy stared into Noah’s eyes for a minute and then nodded.

  “Wait a minute. How do you know all this, Noah? And how can you help?” Jesse asked.

  Noah held his head up high and smiled. “I fae. My powers.”

  “You may be able to see what’s happening, Noah, and you may be a fae, but you cannot defeat that heathen. His powers are stronger than yours,” Ryland said.

  Noah smiled and looked at Raffy. “Not Raffy’s. Raffy help? Raffy give?”

  Raffy nodded at him and took his hands. He looked deeply into Noah’s eyes. “Make him suffer before you destroy him.” Noah smiled at his friend and nodded. Raffy closed his eyes and thought of Noah’s mates. “Think of your mates,” he instructed. Noah closed his eyes and thought of his mates. Suddenly he was gone. Raffy’s eyes blinked open and met the king’s gaze.

  “How did you do that, young one?” he asked in awe.

  Raffy shrugged. “I’m an omega. I can make others’ powers stronger. I just took Noah’s powers into me, cycled them around my own, and sent them back into him. He went where his heart led him. To his mates” Raffy said matter-of-factly.

  “Wow,” Rory said in awe. “This new world is so cool. I hope I have cool powers when I find my familiar.”

  Raffy looked at him. “You will. If your powers are with a familiar, then that means they are strong. I hope you find it soon.”

  They all sat quietly for a while, just lost in their own thoughts. Ryland cleared his throat and turned to Raffy. “How do you know all of this, young wolf?” Ryland asked in genuine curiosity.

  “I am an omega. We are supposed to help a pack grow stronger to defend itself against anything that threate
ns them. Once I found out I was an omega, I studied everything I could about them,” he answered, and then shrugged again.

  “You sure studied a lot,” the king said in amusement.

  “What else was I supposed to do for all those years I was basically alone? I read a lot,” he said.

  The men all suddenly appeared in the kitchen. They all looked battered and bruised. Jesse ran to Micah and threw his arms around his shoulders and jumped up, wrapping his legs around Micah’s waist. Micah caught him and held him tight, burying his face in Jesse’s neck. Gabriel had Taylor in his arms and Taylor looked very tired as he lay limply in his mate’s arms. Raith was carrying a bloodied and battered Aaron and Rory ran to them, throwing his arms around the both of them. Bastian and Storm each had an arm around Noah. Dare stood between his two mates with an arm around each of them as Viktor helped him handle Dante. He stood on Dante’s other side with an arm wrapped around his waist. Lexi and Crew held onto each other, and Nicco helped Xander to a chair. Xavier and Cass helped two of the vampires to chairs as well. Christian walked immediately to Raffy, scooped him up into his arms, and held him tight.

  Raffy wrapped his arms around Christian’s shoulders and held on as his feet dangled in mid-air. He was so happy his mate was home. He had a few cuts and bruises but otherwise looked okay. He would heal with one shift.

  “What happened? Where is Phenex?” Ryland asked nervously as he looked around.

  Micah pulled back from Jesse but didn’t release him. “He took off after one of the demons. His Legion Warriors were able to take out the other one, but one got away.”

  “I need to start helping everyone heal,” Aaron said from Raith’s arms.

  “No way, Doc. We can all shift and heal, and the others just need some blood to help. You need to take care of you right now,” Xander said.

  “He’s right, Aaron. You need to heal yourself first and let your mates comfort you. You’ve been through a lot,” Viktor said, and gave Aaron a smile.

  Aaron smiled back at him. “Thanks, Viktor. For everything. If it weren’t for you, I’m afraid…” he shuddered at the thought as tears formed in his eyes.

  Raith looked between them in concern and curiosity. “What do you mean?”

  “Every time Brighton came in to check on my progress with the tests he had me doing, Viktor would draw his attention and take the brunt of his brutality so he wouldn’t unleash it on me,” he explained as the tears ran down his face. “If it weren’t for Viktor, I would probably be dead or at least raped by Christoph and those demons. I can’t thank you enough, Viktor. But I’m so sorry for the things they did to you,” he said, and turned his face to cry into Raith’s chest.

  Raith held Aaron tighter and looked to Viktor. “Thank you for keeping my mate safe, brother. I will forever be in your debt,” Raith said. His voice filled with emotion as he fought to hold in his tears.

  Viktor waved it off like it was nothing. “You don’t owe me anything, brother. We’re family, that’s what we do,” he said nonchalantly.

  Suddenly Viktor’s arms were full of a crying Rory. Rory grabbed onto the big vampire and hugged him tight. “Thank you so such for helping Aaron,” he said on a sob. Viktor looked stunned at the embrace and his eyes shot to Raith’s in fear. Raith just smiled at him. Viktor relaxed and pat Rory on the back gently. Rory released his hold on Viktor, but grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him down. Viktor leaned forward, and Rory kissed him on the cheek quickly and released him. Rory blushed, sped away from him, and went back to his mates. Viktor stood there in shocked silence for a moment before he steeled himself and stood straight.

  “I don’t know about the rest of you but I’m very glad Noah showed up when he did,” Dante said, and turned to look at the little fae man. “Perfect timing, too, Noah. I had that bastard, but it took everything out of me. I don’t understand how he got so strong. He is a made vampire, he shouldn’t be that strong. I should have been able to take him without even breaking a sweat.”

  “I see. Raffy help,” Noah said proudly. Raffy slid down Christian’s body and placed his feet on the floor. Noah smiled at him.

  Christian looked down at Raffy. “You helped, sweetheart? How?” he asked. Raffy twisted his fingers together nervously as he looked down at the floor. Christin put a finger under his chin and raised his face. “Angel?”

  “I don’t want you to know, Christian,” he whispered.

  “What?” Christian asked in surprise, his voice giving away his hurt at Raffy’s words.

  “If I tell you, then you’ll hate me,” Raffy said sadly, and looked down again.

  Christian reached down, grabbed Raffy’s legs, and picked him up. Raffy left out a surprised squeak as he wrapped his legs around Christian’s waist and his arms around his neck. “I could never hate you, mate. No matter what, I will never hate you,” Christian promised, and kissed him tenderly. He ran his tongue over Raffy’s plump bottom lip and gave it a little nip. Raffy opened to him, and Christian slid his tongue into Raffy’s warm, wet mouth. He kissed him tenderly for a few moments and then reluctantly broke the kiss.

  “Raffy use omega power and send me to you,” Noah explained proudly again.

  Raffy’s heart sank. He lowered his head and buried his face in Christian’s chest. “Is that what’s wrong, angel? Do you think because you used your powers that I would hate you?” Christian asked. Raffy shook his head against Christian’s chest. “Then what, sweetheart?”

  “I’m an omega. You don’t like omegas,” Raffy said on a sob.

  Christian’s heart broke at the pain in Raffy’s voice. “Oh, angel. I hated the omega from my birth pack, but I don’t hate you. She was an evil bitch. You are far from it. You picked the perfect name for yourself because you are like the archangel Raphael. He is the angel of healing and goodness, and that is who you are. You are just goodness, sweetheart,” Christian said, and held Raffy tight. “How about once we finish here we go up to your room and talk? I’ll tell you all about why I don’t like that omega and then maybe you’ll see that I don’t feel the same about you. How does that sound?” Raffy nodded his head against Christian’s shoulder.

  “So what happened with Christoph?” Jesse asked.

  “He and Dante had some kind of wicked mind battle going and Dante destroyed him,” Crew said like a child describing a battle in a video game.

  “So he’s dead?” Jesse asked.

  “Yes, he’s gone. But it was Noah that defeated him, not me,” Dante said, and smiled at Noah.

  “You make him weak. I just make him go,” Noah said, shrugging his shoulders.

  “Dante sent him careening across the room and he hit that wall like every bone in his body broke,” Crew said excitedly. “Then Dante collapsed and when we were paying attention to him, suddenly the evil dude stood up and came at Dante again, but Noah stopped him. Man, did you see his face when Noah said ‘This for Raffy’ and his,” Crew was cut off when Lexi covered his mouth.

  “Let their mates explain what happened.” Lexi gave him a pointed look.

  Raffy looked at Noah. “You killed him? He’s really gone?”

  Noah nodded and smiled at Raffy. “He no hurt no one no more.”

  Raffy smiled at his friend. “Thank you, Noah. Thank you,” he said on a sob, and buried his face in Christian’s chest again as his body shook with emotion.

  Everyone remained quiet for a few minutes, but Dale broke the silence when he noticed Dante starting to slump. “Dante, you look like you need to feed. Let’s get you home so I can feed you,” Dale said as he sat next to Dante and cuddled to his side.

  “I’m okay for now, bello, but thank you.” Dante kissed his cheek and rubbed their noses together.

  “No, mate, Dale is right, you need to feed so you can heal. I just need to talk to Ryland for a quick moment and then we can get you home and I’ll feed you,” Dare said. Dante and Dale looked at him in surprise. Then Dale turned to Aaron and raised a brow in question.

  “Yes, Dale,
it’s okay for Dante to feed from Dare. It’s true, dragon’s blood is deadly to vampires, but the tests I did show that Dante is immune to Dare’s blood.” Dale sighed in relief and looked back at Dare.

  “I’ll be quick, mates, I promise. I just need to warn Ryland of something Phenex said.”

  “You mean about Lomiel?” Dante asked. They heard Ryland gasp from across the room and everyone turned their attention to him.

  Ryland stared at Dare in shock. “He spoke of Lomiel in front of everyone?” he asked in a panic. Dare nodded tightly.

  “Yeah, he told us how you cheated on him, your mate, with Dare, and stole his son from him,” Micah said in a hard cold voice.

  Jesse gasped. “You cheated on your mate? I thought that wasn’t possible.” He looked toward Dare. “And you came between mates? How could you? I thought all paranormals held their mates in high regard. And you stole his son? I thought you told us you hid your son. You didn’t say anything about taking away a child from his father,” Jesse said in anger.

  Ryland looked at Jesse with great pain in his eyes. “Yes, Phenex is my mate, but I did not cheat on him with Dare or anyone else. And as for our son, I hid him away to keep him safe. Phenex is the leader of The Legion Warriors. You do not realize how many enemies he has. And they would love to get their hands on his son and use him against Phenex. I did what I thought was right. I did what I believed, and still believe, I had to do,” Ryland explained as he stared at Jesse. “I know I didn’t do anything wrong and I don’t have to explain my actions to any of you,” Ryland said in a rush, and turned. He left the kitchen.

  “Well that was interesting,” Xander said.

  “I should go after him and apologize for bringing it up in front of others,” Dare said as he stood.

  “No, Dare. Let him be for a while. Let’s get Dante home and take care of him, and then you can come back and talk with Ryland,” Dale said, and stood up, too.

  Dare looked at him and smiled. “Yes, mate. Your wish is my command,” Dare said, and looked at Dante. “Do you think you still have enough energy to zap us out of here? Or should I fly us there?”