by JL Madore
Copyright © 2019 by JL Madore
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.
JL Madore
www.jlmadore.com
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Watcher Exposed/ JL Madore -- 1st ed.
ISBN 978-1-989187-10-4
Author Note:
Welcome to book eight of the Watchers of the Gray,
Dark Angels Paranormal Series – Watcher Exposed.
This series is written to be read in order. I follow up with each of the couples as a family saga as we move through their lives, and you’ll enjoy the story more if you have context.
If you haven’t started at the beginning, Zander is your man in book one – Watcher Untethered
If you’re all set to jump into the following pages, then enjoy.
Devour the struggles and triumphs of Zander and his warrior brothers. When you’ve finished, continue the journey with the next books:
Watcher Untethered – Zander
Watcher Redeemed – Kyrian
Watcher Reborn – Danel
Watcher Divided – Phoenix
Watcher United – Seth
Watcher Compelled – Bo
Watcher Exposed – Taharqa
CHAPTER ONE
“Three Nephilim bastards, an Ice Demon, and a Dragon Shifter enter a party carrying the dismembered head of a Rugaru conspirator.” Seth held up the aforementioned head and black ichor glopped onto the grass at the back of the Queen Hotel. “Sounds like the opening line of one helluva joke.”
Taharqa rolled his eyes at the Egyptian and took possession of the decapitated head. “Stashing this in Storme’s hotel, during her grand opening gala, is a bad idea.”
Seth gave him a well-duh stare and frowned. “We’re late, Hark. Where do you suggest we stash it?”
“We dinnae stash it at all.” Brennus grabbed the wiry hair of the dead demon and took possession of the prize. They’d finally got high enough on the food chain of Red Metal Rebellion to take down the Rugaru who mattered. They needed this head for the next stage of their plan. “I’ll take the noggin to Tanek and—”
“—And leave me here all alone? You’re not going anywhere, General,” Colt said, his eyes glowing with amusement. “If I have to smile at a fancy dance, I sure as hell won’t be suffering on my own.”
“Ye’ll not be on yer own,” Brennus said, gesturing to the rest of them standing around. “We’re really fecking late, and Storme’s gonna tan our arses as it is.”
Colt Creed smiled at his new mate and waggled his brow. “And as much fun as a good ass-tanning sounds, Celt, you’re right. We need to get inside.” With a wave of his hand, the head disappeared, and the argument ended. “Someone warn Tanek that there’s a Rugaru head on the loading dock off the kitchen. I’d hate for Stetson to find it first.”
Hark could just imagine Austin’s guide dog traipsing in from his walk with a Rugaru head in his mouth. Was it only in their lives where shit like that happened?
Brennus bristled, his strong shoulders threatening to split the seams of the black jacket he wore over his kilt. “We agreed ye wouldnae use that bastard’s powers. We have no idea if it might strengthen his hold on ye agin.”
Hark agreed. Colt using the unlimited and, so far, untested powers of the Ice God, Avestaexa, unnerved him. The maniacal being who possessed the cop was currently trapped and held at bay by an incredibly powerful enchantment in his wedding ring, but things were too new to know if that battle was truly won and over.
It gave them all the heebs when Colt accessed those dark powers and did shit like that.
“First off,” Colt said, holding up a finger, “they are my powers now. My existence merged with that asshole. What is done can’t be undone. Second, I’m fine.”
Brennus shook his head, his fiery red hair flowing free in the breeze of the night. “Dinnae challenge me on this.”
The smile that lit the cop’s face was waaaay too sexual for mixed company. “How about you punish me later.” Colt’s eyes flipped to a brilliant turquoise as all kind of energy shifted in the night air. “In fact, I’ll make a list of all my transgressions, and—”
“Seriously?” Seth winced, and turning his head. “Damn, Cop, just be our surly friend when we’re on the streets, ’kay? I don’t want images of bondage and BDSM in my head.”
Wilder, one of the two dragon shifters to survive the culling of their species, chuckled. He shrugged and his blond hair brushed the lapel of his suit jacket. “I dunno, Egyptian. I think it’s hot as fuck to hear them flirt.”
Seth huffed. “That’s because you’re just as depraved. How many people are you with right now?”
Wilder snorted. “The same three as always. Don’t knock it, Egyptian. Haven’t you ever had sex and wished you had more hands?”
Hark had nothing against four in a relationship, but what did he know? Having never indulged in carnal pleasures one-on-one, he couldn’t imagine how it worked with a group.
Not physically—he knew all the combinations and possible ways bodies joined—but emotionally. The polyamorous love of four must make it tough to keep everyone on an even playing field and happy. Add in that each of the four came from different corners of the Otherworld, and it seemed complicated.
“What the fuck are you doing out here?” Zander stormed through the glass door between the parking lot entrance and the back of the hotel. His massive shoulders blocked off the entrance and filled the doorway.
Wow. Hark could count on one hand the times he’d seen Zander in a suit and tie. There was no amount of woven silk that could hide the Sumerian’s badassery, but it managed to transform him from looking the part of a brutal assassin of the Choir to a dark and dangerous businessperson.
“Get yer tardy asses inside—fuck me—okay, wash the blood off and then get your asses to the party. The wives are tipsy and they all want to dance. Phoenix is on Storme’s arm for the night, that means Kyrian, Danel, and I haven’t sat down. I expect the five of you on the dance floor by the next change of song.”
The Sumerian turned on his polished heels and disappeared back inside. The five of them followed like a line of naughty miscreants who’d just been schooled by their big, bad principal.
“That’s a fine welcome,” Seth griped, cleaning his hands in the men’s washroom. He frowned at the
mirror and worked on a splotch of ichor discoloring his jaw. “How about, ‘attaboys, thanks for taking down the Rugaru nest on the way here. You rock my socks.’”
Colt snorted. He checked himself and then Brennus over. “Think about things from his position, Egyptian. That ballroom is filled with well-dressed, rich men. They’re probably eyeing your wife and asking to dance with Thea and Austin and Ronnie and Cassi. I bet Zander, Danel, and the Greek are ready to tap out but refuse to let any men get close to your females.”
The sudden burst of brilliant green in the men’s room was no surprise. By Seth’s Mark going supernova and the homicidal scowl now marking the Dark Angel’s face, not only hadn’t he thought of that, but he didn’t like it.
Hark pitied the men at the party. “Good thing our brothers have kept the ladies’ dance cards full, right, Seth?”
Wilder grabbed the door handle and got things open before Seth ripped the fucker from the hinges. In the wake of Seth’s fury, they all chuckled. “Yeah, good thing. Now, let’s show the ladies a good time. You boys do remember how to take a night off and enjoy yourselves, don’t you?”
Zander followed the sounds of the string quartet back to the decked-out ballroom of Storme’s new hotel. His head was pounding, his feet hurt from the hard-soled, pinchy dress shoes, and his beast was raging in every direction to keep a protective watch on the wives. Why couldn’t they make it easy on him and sit at their tables, have one or two glasses of champagne, and then return to the ranch?
Yeah, right. When he suggested that as the wisest course of action, they busted a gut and scattered like priceless shiny treasures in a room of pirates and thieves.
Things had gone downhill from there.
“Where’s Thea?” he asked Kyrian as the Greek returned to the table with Layne.
The two of them surveyed the space on the quick.
Bo was dancing with Austin. Cassi and Ronnie were giggling with Ringo at the table. Storme was schmoozing with Phoenix over by the bar.
“Fuck me,” he cursed, spotting Seth’s wife twirling on the dance floor with one of Thea’s board members. The man, a thirty-something millionaire type, knew his way around the dance floor, and a beautiful woman’s body. He held her close, seductively sweeping her along to the music, making her appear even more radiant and graceful if that were possible.
As an angel of the heavens decked out in a high-slitted ball gown and heels, Thea was jaw-droppingly gorgeous. Her long, blonde hair flowed like fluttering silk behind her, the smile on her face beyond alluring.
“Thank fuck Seth’s not here,” Kyrian said.
“He is here,” Zander bit out, hustling it across the dancefloor to cut in. The colorful string of ancient Greek cursing cut off as he merged with the sea of dancers.
In a move motivated by urgent necessity and not manners, he brought the lovely couple to an abrupt halt. “Cutting in,” he said, giving the Christian Grey wannabe no option of refusal. He took possession of Thea and was about to waltz away when Mr. Moneybags clued in to the woman heist and fisted his arm.
“I’m not sure who you think you are—”
Zander raised his hand. “I’m the man saving you from her husband ripping you a new asshole. But . . . by all means, if you want to spend the rest of your life shitting into a bag, I’ll leave you to it.”
“Seth’s here?” Thea said, her eyes coming alight. “Finally. Where is he?”
“Washing himself clean of blood in the bathroom. Come, Angel, we don’t need any more killing tonight.”
Whether the guy thought his words were hyperbole or not, didn’t matter. Protect the innocent and all that.
“Thank you for the dance,” Thea said, offering the stunned human a winning smile. “Have a lovely evening.”
Zander whisked them away, leaving the hotel magnate looking affronted but breathing. “Forgive me getting handsy, Angel,” he said, pulling her firmly against his body and wrapping her in his arms. “If I can smell that guy on you, so will Seth. His beast, however, won’t cite me as an interloper to his mate. You understand?”
Thea melted into his embrace, the ease and grace of her movement so much freer than Austin’s. He didn’t think of his mate as being blind, because her lack of sight rarely affected their lives, but Austin also didn’t relax into a dance the same way Thea did. For some reason, that made him sad.
He wanted her to be able to abandon all fear and restriction when he held her in his arms. The music ended, and they slowed to stand.
“Sumerian,” Seth growled over his shoulder. “I’ve got this, thanks.”
Seth’s Mark was lit and glowing like a beacon in the night. What had he seen? Was this directed at—
“Why are you growling,” Thea said, frowning as the next song started and the Egyptian took possession of his mate.
Zander caught the eye of Mr. Moneybags from across the room. With Seth looking like he would slay anyone who got in his way, the guy understood and gave him a nod.
I didn’t do it for you, asshole.
Making his way back to their group of tables, he plunked his ass into one of the empty chairs and sighed. Austin was dancing with Kyrian, and the two of them looked like they were having great fun.
Phoenix came over with a bottle of scotch and a tray of tumblers. The other half of the Egyptian twins poured a generous round, and everyone reached forward to claim a drink.
Ringo paused with his hand over a glass, and Zander gave him a nod. It was a party, after all, and the boy’s transition to Nephilim warrior would soon be upon them.
Phoenix tapped the bottom of his glass against the table and then raised his hands to sign. To my beautiful, incredibly talented, and lethally strong wife. May she achieve all the successes in life she always dreamed of.
Zander finished translating and raised his glass. The men drank the amber down like water. Ronnie and Cassi each surprised him how smoothly they could kick it back. Layne, however, looked like Bo might need to carry her home.
The Viking seemed to come to the same realization but was enjoying his wife’s loss of inhibitions. Truth be told, drunk Layne lost the hostile edge she usually projected to the world. It was a nice change from the standoffish, Djinn royal pain in the ass she often was.
“Oh, you made it,” Cassi said, standing to greet one of her soldiers. She offered the Shedim warrior her hand, and he bowed to kiss the insignia on her family ring. “I’m glad you could join us.”
Wilder rose from his convo with Hark and greeted the Shedim general with a fist bump and a wink. Then, he moved to the woman on his arm and the ebony-haired human male who took up her other side.
He fist-bumped the male and leaned forward to press his lips to the female. “Everyone, this is Larkin, Pyper, and Jace . . . my mates.”
Pyper and Jace looked like they might’ve been expecting a reaction to Wilder’s declaration, but none came. One of the most amazing tenets in their mish-mash family was that everyone was free to love whomever they happened to love.
No judgment. No opinions.
A server came by with a tray of champagne, and they all got locked and loaded for another round. Not that half of them weren’t fully loaded already, but hey, you needed the right weapons for all situations.
Austin raised her glass, and he smiled at her unfocused coordination. This was her first night out since she stopped breastfeeding, and he applauded how determined she was to make up for lost time. “Unconventional love for the win. Who knew getting kidnapped or targeted by evil or stabbed in a street brawl could work out so well? Here’s to divine intervention.”
They all drank to that.
Storme came over and smiled at their group. She met the gazes of the females with a conspiratorial grin and nodded. “Okay, family. We are officially off the Queen Hotel clock, and done making nice. Now it’s time to let our hair down and raise some eyebrows. Austin, the next song is for you, baby. Like we practiced.”
Austin brightened, swigged back almost an entire flut
e of booze, and let off a yeehaw loud enough to reach the Choir.
Zander snorted, and Kyrian just about fell off his chair.
Jumping to her feet, his wife kicked her shoes flying, and reached for Storme’s hand. “All y’all big, tough men, get rid of your shoes if they’ll hold you back. Time to tear up the dance floor like you read about.”
In a wave of insanity, all the wives jumped from their seats, tossed shoes, and broke through the sophisticated partygoers still on the dance floor. The string quartet silenced and, a moment later, country music burst through the audio system.
“Watch and learn, warriors,” Austin said, pointing at them, tilting to catch her balance. “‘Bow Chicka Wow Wow’ is our song. You’re joining us next for ‘Fishin’ in the Dark.’”
Zander toed off his dress shoes. His heart filled to bursting watching his better half in her drunken glory. Laughing, he, his brothers-in-arms, Wilder, Larkin, and their mates followed his wife’s orders.
When the women lined up, the foot-stompin’ and hand clappin’ really got rolling in what was seriously the best line dance he’d ever had the honor of seeing.
Amazing.
His life was truly amazing.
Hark dissolved into the crowd of stunned sophisticates while his family let loose on the dance floor. He’d never seen Zander and the others so happy. Love and the knowledge that someone waited for them to come home after the end of each patrol had altered the course of their lives. Wives, friends, children—it all transformed them beyond the Dark Angel transformations and the appearance of ebony wings.
He was happy for them—honestly—but there were times it was too much to watch from the outside.
“Hey, Hark,” Ringo said, catching up to him at the bar. “You heading out? Can I tag along? I’m done, and it looks like they’re kicking off an embarrassing second wave.”
Hark nodded. He’d been on his way to drown his sorrows at the bar, but there were several stocked bars at home. Same result, different location. And there, he could drink with Tanek, the only other male of the garrison whose bed remained empty.
