Expecting The Unexpected (Nakaka Book 3)

by Cree Storm

  Throg licked his suddenly dried lips, “But... What if I break her? I’ve never held a little baby girl before, Salvator. They are so fragile... weak...”

  Spencer laughed, “My warrior, I suggest you never say those words out loud in the human realm. Those weak and fragile women will kick your ass. A baby is a baby, whether it is a boy or a girl, they are defenseless and need tender care. You helped raise Hron and his brothers, didn’t you?”

  Nodding, Throg answered, “Yes. I changed many diapers, although it has been hundreds of years, I’m sure it hasn’t changed that much.”

  “I’m sure it hasn’t, and changing a little girl isn’t all that different from changing a boy. They just have different parts, and a girl can’t shoot you with a piss stream quite like a boy can,” Spencer said with a smile, then lay back down on Throg’s chest.

  Throg laughed, “Hron was the worst with that. That boy had great aim too.”

  Spencer laughed along with Throg, saying, “I so can’t see Hron as a baby. He’s so intimidating as a Caliph.”

  “He was born to lead. He’s good at it,” Throg said.

  “I agree. He took us in when he didn’t have to. He could have just left us at the water’s edge on the other side of the river,” Spencer whispered.

  Throg tightened his arm around Spencer. “He would never have done that. He doesn’t live in the web of darkness like Chantal.”

  “Oh, my gods! I’m so stupid!” Spencer snapped, as he sat straight up, and threw his legs to the side of the bed.

  “What? Salvator, come back to this bed.” Throg insisted.

  Shaking his head, Spencer said, “I can’t. I need to get to the office.”

  “Why?” Throg asked, as he stood up and began dressing.

  “Because I’m stupid,” Spencer said, tossing on his t-shirt and grabbing his socks and shoes. “I’ve been searching out the damn hate groups using their e-mail and social media. I never thought to look in...” He shoved his feet in his shoes, as Throg did the same with his boots. “...the damn dark web.”

  “The what?” Throg asked, as he followed Spencer out of his room and to the elevator.

  Spencer pressed the down button, saying, “The dark web. It’s where people go that don’t want you to know shit.”

  Throg must have looked confused as hell, because, damn it, he was. Spencer took mercy on him saying, “Think of it like a... like a hidden room.”

  “Like the dumbwaiter. It’s there, but not seen,” Throg said, giving Spencer a pointed look.

  Snorting, Spencer said, “Heard about that did you? And yes, like that. Most people use what we call the surface web. It’s where you can google shit, that kind of thing. Then you have the deep web. That’s a place that is protected, and not just anyone can go there. Humans use it for online banking and stuff. But then you have the dark web. That’s further underground, and usually only the shady shit goes on there. You can find a lot of computer nerds there, and people that fight against censorship, but you will also find a lot of drug traders working from there, and even white slavery shit... you know what I mean?”

  Nodding, Throg said, “Yeah, I do, but what does this have to do with the hate groups we’re looking for?”

  “Everything. They aren’t going to go through e-mails, and I’ve been thinking about those recipes and shit that Tumm has all over his social media and e-mails, and the more I think about it, the more I think it’s just a way to either tag someone to go to the dark web for some reason, or it’s a ruse to stall for time for anyone that might be snooping into him, or... and this is a big ‘or’ mind you, but he could be as innocent as those stupid recipes make him look.”

  “I highly doubt that,” Throg said, as they stepped out of the elevator, and started towards Hron’s office.

  “Me too,” Spencer said, as he opened the door.

  Hron looked up, and his eyes widened, “Throg, what are you doing here? Nestling begins in less than two minutes.”

  Throg was surprised, because he didn’t feel the tightness you usually did at this time, and his movements weren’t stiff and almost robotic. “I didn’t think about Nestling... I don’t feel...”

  A burning pain shot through Throg’s body, and he dropped to his knees. “What the fuck?”

  “Throg! Throg!” Spencer shouted hysterically.

  Throg wanted to answer his Viata. He wanted to tell him he would be fine, but at that very moment there were no words coming out of his mouth... they couldn’t get past the screams of pain.

  CHAPTER 14

  Terror. That was the only word Spencer could describe for how he felt. His gargoyle was in agony and he didn’t know what was happening, or what to do.

  “Calm yourself, Spencer. He’s shedding for his rebirth,” Hron said, kneeling next to Spencer.

  “What do I do?” Spencer asked anxiously, desperately needing to help his mate.

  Hron handed him a cool cloth, “Just wipe his brow and talk to him. It doesn’t take long, but it is damn-well painful. I won’t lie, it can also be deadly.”

  Spencer gasped when Throg shifted into stone, then to the leathery skin, and then to a softer skin. His hairless head started growing long, black hair and then went back to bald. Throg’s wings extended, then retracted as well. It was like his body couldn’t figure out what form to take.

  “I don’t understand. Rebirth? Shedding?” Spencer asked as he leaned in, and started whispering words of love, and need for Throg to be okay. The thought, that his mate could die right here and right now just after they worked out their issues, scared the shit out of him.

  Hron took the cloth from Spencer, and handed him another, “You must understand, Spencer. We are Nakaka... gargoyle if you will. We turn to stone during the day, and that will not be what we do if we bond. Just as shifters must keep their mate’s safe we must keep our Viata safe. If we are in stone form, how can we do that? The answer is, we can’t. The gods thought of this, and that is why when we bond, we shed. It makes us no longer weak during the time of the sun. It’s what the people that attacked us so long ago didn’t know, and it’s what helped save more lives than otherwise would have been.”

  The screams from Throg had stopped, and Spencer wiped his brow, as once again Throg’s bronze-colored skin softened, black hair grew long, and his claws turned to nails. He was muscular, and his height, although not close to seven feet as he was in Nakaka form, he was still a good six five. He looked like a native American through and through, and, fuck a duck, he was hot.

  Throg opened his eyes, and Spencer couldn’t help, but give a sigh of relief, when his mate’s gorgeous silver eyes were once again looking at him. “What happened.”

  “You are reborn, Throg. Congratulations,” Hron said, with a smile as he stood.

  Throg sat up, grunting. Spencer couldn’t stop from wrapping his arms around Throg’s neck, whispering, “You scared the shit out of me, you asshole. You should have told me about that shedding shit. I swear to the gods, I’m going to put cayenne in your underwear one of these days, if you keep pissing me off.”

  The slight laughter had Spencer tightening his hold.

  “As exciting as that may have been, may I ask what you two have come here for in the first place?” Hron asked.

  Spencer pulled back and turned to Hron. “You’re a real dick sometimes, Hron, has Petree ever told you that? Because if he hasn’t, it’s just because he’s nice.”

  “I know Petree likes my dick, but no, I can’t say he’s ever called me one,” Hron said, with a smirk.

  “Again, it’s because he’s too sweet a guy. I’m not. Can you just give us a minute. My mate just went through hell, and you told me it was something that could have killed him. My sloth is not happy right now, and needs some reassurance that he’s okay,” Spencer said grumpily.

  Throg groaned as he stood, “I’m fine, Salvator.”

  Spencer shook his head, “You are not fine, you’re a Weeble wobble, but damn it, you are going to fall down. We need to
sit.”

  “A what wobble?” Throg asked.

  Rolling his eyes, Spencer led Throg to one of the long-back chairs and sat him down. “It’s a kids toy from back in the day, and isn’t important. Now don’t move from there, until I tell you it’s okay.”

  Hron snorted, “Already cock-whipped.”

  Spencer turned to Hron, “Oh, puh-lease, like you don’t do whatever Petree tells you to. We’ve all seen it Hron.”

  “Never said I wasn’t,” Hron answered with a shrug, “I just can’t believe the big, bad Throg would allow his Viata to rule over him.”

  Spencer turned on his computer, “I’m not ruling over him asshat. I’m taking care of him. Big difference.”

  The second Spencer was able to log in, he started tapping rapidly on the keys. He had to go deeper than he had ever gone before, and he had to damn well be careful. One wrong move and he could be found, and if that happened it could ruin everything. Tipping off the bad guys was never a good thing.

  “Spencer, what’s going on?” Hron asked.

  Spencer dug until he saw something that caught his interest. Sortie. What the hell? Carefully, Spencer peeked into the chat room, but no one was there, and the history had been erased. He knew this had to be the hate group Hron and Throg had talked about, but until someone was on there, Spencer couldn’t see who it might be.

  Moving around a bit more, Spencer came across a group and stopped. Sortie meant an attack made by troops, and this one was named Foray. That meant an attack to obtain something... Could it be...? Spencer clicked to peek, and was surprised to see a conversation had gone on less than an hour ago, but this group had forgotten to delete it.

  Amen: When do they arrive?

  Amos: Zeus says they’re scheduled to leave in the morning.

  Amen: What’s the plan?

  Amos: I don’t have one just yet. Things are kind of tight right now and my fathers are all over me. I need men if you want me to take them out.

  Zeus: Negative. No one is to do anything. It’s too soon and unless we want Hron and the others knowing who we are, we must wait.

  Amos: I thought you couldn’t make it this evening.

  Zeus: Things have changed. I needed to inform you of the child. It seems our Throg has gotten one of the shifters knocked up. Ares tried to take the shifter out, but Throg and his men got in the way.

  Amen: Damn it! First Hron finds his Viata, and now a chickpea? This isn’t good, Zeus. It’s bringing too much hope to the Nakaka. We must take Hron and the others out, and we need to do it now.

  Zeus: Not now, Amen.

  Amen: But it’s the perfect time, Zeus. We’ll have some of the biggest players in the same room at the same time. We bring in our men and...

  Zeus: I said no! We won’t have the debacle play out like what happened with Chantal. We have to make all of this look like the humans slaughtered the ancients, or our plans to take over and take out that stupid law will be for nothing.

  Amen: We can’t allow an opportunity like this to be passed by.

  Amos: The Caliph here has this place on lockdown right now, because of their arrival. It wouldn’t be feasible.

  Poseidon: Amen is right, Zeus. We could take out a few and make it look like the humans did it.

  Zeus: Amos, what can we do to bypass the lockdown? If we’re going to take even one of them out, we have to do it carefully.

  Amos: My room. If you have some of your men come there, I can get them in. It won’t be easy, but it can be done. The guards’ positions haven’t changed since the last time you were here.

  Amen: What about your knowledge, Amos?

  Amos: I used the system safe you provided, Amen. Unless they get my thumb, they won’t get into my system, and even if they get that far, everything is encrypted as you told me to do.

  Zeus: They better not get in, Amos, or your days in this world are over. I will not have stupidity destroy all we have worked towards. It has taken centuries to get this far. We almost lost it once. I won’t have us coming that close again.

  Hades: Be ready for us, Amos. I say we take out Hron’s guards.

  Zeus: Not Throg, or Hron, they are mine.

  Amos: Sern said they are sending Koto, Torro, and Vis for sure. He didn’t know who else at the time of the message.

  Zeus: We take out Torro and Vis. This will take out two of Groth’s best men. I’m just sorry he isn’t sending Sern. I think he expects him to stay back and watch over his Viata.

  Amen: What of the chickpea?

  Zeus: I’ll take care of that on my end soon enough. This time it will be by blade and not a stupid light. Oh, and Amos, you might have your computer secure, but do not let them get that drive. I don’t care if you have to eat the fucking thing, do not let it out of your sight for a moment.

  Zeus has left the chat.

  Amen has left the chat.

  Poseidon has left the chat.

  Hades has left the chat.

  Amos has left the chat.

  Spencer gasped, placing a hand over his still flat stomach. “You were right, Throg. That light falling was definitely not an accident.”

  “You found something?” Throg asked, as he slowly stood and made his way to Spencer.

  Spencer stiffened when he felt Throg standing behind him. “You should be resting, Throg.”

  “I’m fine, Spencer. Show me what you found,” Throg insisted.

  “What’s going on?” Hron asked.

  Throg leaned down closer to Spencer, and damned if his dick didn’t twitch at the man’s nearness. Throg must have scented Spencer’s need, because he whispered, “Stop that, or Hron is going to see far more than he counted on this morning.”

  “No, Hron isn’t. Both of you get yourselves under control, and tell me what the fuck is going on,” Hron hissed out.

  Spencer pointed to the screen. “Throg made a comment and it reminded me that I had missed something. I really should have thought about it long before now, Hron, I’m sorry. With the baby and my mate issues... I know it isn’t an excuse, but...”

  “Spencer, we all know you’ve been dealing with a lot. Just explain what you have found,” Hron said, and by the way he spoke, Spencer knew Hron was telling the truth, and really did understand.

  “It’s called the dark web. It’s...”

  “Before my Viata goes all geek on us, I’ll explain it. It’s like the dumbwaiter. A room within a room, but this room is deep below the basement. It’s a place the scum of the earth will go to in order to privately do things,” Throg stated.

  Spencer snorted, “Not everyone that uses the dark web are scum, Throg. Most, but not all. Some are just geeks and hackers that need a challenge, and want to converse with others like them. They talk about what’s going on within the web and stuff, but yeah, a lot of unsavory characters use it, and it made me think of the bad guys we’re looking for.”

  “And you found something?” Hron said, leaning down to read what Spencer had found.

  Nodding, Spencer replied, “Yeah, I did, and it’s not good, Hron.”

  Hron and Throg both growled as they read, Throg snarling, “I want these fuckers found, Hron. I want them found and dead.”

  “Calm yourself, Throg. We will find them and they will pay for their treason,” Hron said, then looked at Spencer, “How the hell did you find this? Is there anything else on that web thingy?”

  Spencer shrugged, “I don’t know. I was just kind of looking for now. It’s going to take more than a few minutes if you want me to try and find more. I saw the Sortie is on there as well, Hron, but they had deleted their history. I might be able to retrieve it, but it’s going to take time.”

  “But, how did you go straight to these guys. I mean, it’s definitely who we’re looking for, but how... how did you know it was them?” Hron said, in amazement.

  Throg stood tall and puffed out his chest. “Because, he is my Viata. My very smart Viata.”

  Spencer laughed, “Thank you, mate.”

  Spencer loo
ked at Hron. “I saw the Sortie name and knew what it meant, and when I saw Foray... well, it’s just too similar. These guys may think they’re smart, but honestly, they should have thought of something else. Anyway, I peeked in and got lucky.”

  “No, Throg is right. It wasn’t luck, Spencer, you are just that damn smart. Great job,” Hron said, then turned to Throg, “We need Groth here and Sern. I want to know exactly who he spoke with about our trip to Brais.”

  “Uh, Hron, about your trip,” Spencer said hesitantly. He hated what he was about to say, and honestly, it scared the shit out of him, but he knew what he was going to tell Hron was right.

  “What about it?” Hron asked. “We can’t change it, Spencer, or the Foray or Sortie, or whoever the hell is trying to decimate us, will know we’re on to them.”

  “It’s not that,” Spencer said, sparing a small glance at Throg, and was thankful he was currently on the phone, talking to one of the men Hron had said he wanted to see. “It’s... I have to go with you to Brais.”

  “No,” Hron said sternly.

  Spencer stood up, facing the man, “I have to, Hron. I need to get on Tumm’s computer.”

  “How do you know it’s Tumm?” Hron asked, curiously.

  Rolling his eyes, Spencer said, “I know who at least two of those men are in that chat. One is Aum and one is Tumm.”

  “Again, how do you know that?” Hron asked.

  “Because Aum and Amen are the same word but in two different dialects. And besides, the fact that Amos was a prophet according to the bible, and goes with Amen... he talks about you going there and how his fathers are on him... it doesn’t take a genius to know it’s Tumm. Oh, and if I read it right, we’re onto something with that bracelet,” Spencer said.

  Hron shook his head, “Maybe you’re right, I think you are. However, that doesn’t change the fact that you are the first Viata to be expecting a chickpea, Spencer. I can’t allow you to put yourself in danger.”

  Spencer felt his anger rising, but knew that wouldn’t work with Hron. Logic was the only way to go when it came to the Caliph. “Hron, you read that chat. This Zeus guy sounds like he’s in this clutch house, and we have no idea who the hell he is. He plans on killing my baby and from the sound of it soon. With you, Throg, and so many other guards gone, doesn’t that put me in greater danger to stay here right now? Besides, we need what’s on that computer, Hron, and I’m the only one that can get the information.”