Second Chances (Eternal Flames Maddox Book 8)

by Maggie Walsh

  “How did you…I mean…” Tobias stopped and swallowed as his gaze continued to roam around the room.

  “Because I could see that stunning smile of yours disappear and the look of sheer terror fill your eyes. But I promise you everything will be okay, mate, and the three of us will make this our home, not just the king’s palace.”

  Destrain moved closer and stood before him, then lifted his hands and held Tobias’s face between them as their gazes met. His heart began to beat faster when he saw all the love and happiness in Destrain’s eyes. “What Clove is saying is true, love. That palace was cold and like a mausoleum. Once Clove was done with it, our home became the most inviting place in all of Shadowfox, and so will this one once you both put your loving touches to it,” Destrain said, then kissed him tenderly.

  “If that’s the case then I don’t understand the way this looks. I mean, that part over there with the big couch and all looks so comfy, and all I want to do is curl up with my mates and watch a movie. And that section there by the door, with the chaise lounge, looks like a great place to read and enjoy a book. And that bed. Well, that bed looks like it can hold ten large men. It looks very inviting, but won’t we get lost in there? I’m afraid I might even when in my human form. But then…um…yeah, the rest of it is kind of…”

  “Cold. Yes, I know,” Destrain said and looked around as he released Tobias’s face.

  “I’m guessing Destrain used the formal royal designer for this when the pixies first came here, but the things you pointed out, I know that was our Dezzy,” Clove said with a chuckle.

  “Well, I didn’t want to break the poor woman’s heart, sweetness, but I also couldn’t live in that cold, unfeeling atmosphere, so I have slowly been changing this to try and get as close as I can to the room we shared back in Shadowfox,” Destrain confessed.

  Clove moved, pulling Tobias with him, and wrapped an arm around Destrain’s waist as well, bringing them in for a three-way hug. “I know you did, love. I can see that. But now that Toby and I are here, we’ll whip this place and the whole palace into a warm, loving home again, where all our family, friends, and pixies will feel welcome.”

  “But…” Tobias said, then stopped himself. He didn’t know the first thing about redecorating. He knew he didn’t have the best taste in the world. Shit, most people would call him eclectic when they walked into his little apartment over the Hardware store. It’s what he was used to. What he grew up with. The way his mother was.

  “But what, Toby?” Clove asked.

  “I don’t know how good I’ll be at it, and I don’t have anything even remotely near th…this.”

  Destrain wrapped Tobias in his arms again and kissed his cheek. “And you don’t have to. Mates aren’t about what material things they each bring to a mating, just what they bring in their hearts. And I know for a fact that you, my mate, have a big, beautiful heart.”

  Tobias’s heart melted from Destrain’s words and he leaned into his mate’s arms, soaking in all the warmth and comfort, “Can I ask one thing?” Tobias asked.

  “Of course, you can ask me anything,” Destrain replied.

  “What’s with all the TVs? Are you that bored that you sit around all day and just watch Maddox? Because if that’s the case, then Clover and I need to distract you with that big bed over there,” Tobias said in a teasing voice.

  Destrain threw his head back and laughed, the sound bringing Tobias more joy. Clove also chuckled from behind him and nipped his neck. “We’ll be making very good use of that bed, Toby, trust me.”

  A shiver raced through his body and suddenly images of him with his mates, all sweaty and naked, rolling around in that bed as they fucked, appeared in his mind, and his cock began to grow. He was so distracted with his fantasy, he almost missed Destrain talking.

  “I actually spend very little time in here, but those monitors help me if there is trouble in Maddox. Most of the time I have them blocked, like this,” he said, waving his hand, then a curtain came down from the ceiling and covered the whole wall. “And there are times I just want to stare out over the mountains and our town and take in all its beauty. It gives me a sense of peace at times."

  “I can understand that. I’m just glad I didn’t find out my kingly mate was a peeping Tom,” Tobias teased and rubbed his cheek against Destrain’s strong chest.

  A loud ruckus came from outside the door and the three of them looked at one another, then the door. There was a large crash, then they heard guards yelling, but couldn’t make out what they were saying.

  Destrain pulled back from their embrace. “Both of you stay here and I’ll check what’s going on. If it’s a threat, Clove, make a portal and the two of you get to the council building right away, and call for reinforcements,” Destrain ordered, then mumbled something as he moved away, and a long sword suddenly appeared in his hands.

  Just as he got to within ten feet of the door, it burst open and a few guards tumbled into the room, landing in a heap on the floor.

  A small creature scurried out from under the pile before the large warriors squashed it, and Tobias’s eyes went wide.

  “What the hell?” Destrain said as he watched the dark brown ferret scamper across the room.

  Clove began to laugh and wrapped his arms around Tobias tighter as he asked, “Friend of yours?”

  Tobias nervously bit his lip. “You could say that. It’s my mother,” he announced with a shrug.

  The ferret stopped halfway to him, then a bright light grew around it and in seconds it disappeared, and his mother stood there, naked, glaring at him.

  “Tobias Quincy Walker! You have a lot of explaining to do, young man,” she said as she placed one hand on her hip and gesticulated at him with the forefinger of other hand.

  Tobias groaned as he closed his eyes in embarrassment.

  “Oh, don’t give me that. Start talking.”

  Tobias looked up, but not directly at his mother. “Mom, for mercy’s sake, you’re standing here with all these people, and you’re completely naked. I can’t talk to you like this. Please put some clothes on,” Tobias grumbled.

  “Well I would, but my bags are in the car,” she said, then turned toward one of the guards who had all now righted themselves and were standing by the door glaring at her. “You, tall, sexy, and oh so yummy. Be a dear and run down to my car and grab my bags, would ya? Apparently, my son, who is a shifter, has suddenly grown modest of nudity.”

  The large guard looked to Destrain, who just nodded, then the poor guard turned and hurried from the room.

  “Damn, what do you put in the water around here? All these men are so…big, if you know what I mean.” she said in a flirtatious tone, directed at the guards.

  Tobias had to bite his lip to stop from laughing at the pure panic he saw in each of their faces. But apparently Clove didn’t have the same dilemma and burst out laughing.

  Tobias looked to Destrain for help and found his other mate was turning red, struggling to keep in his laughter. Well, that was just great. Neither of them was going to be of any help.

  “Dezzy, is there something we can put on her until her bags get here? I don’t know exactly how large this place is, but I’m willing to bet it takes that guy like a year to find her car,” Tobias huffed as he crossed his arms over his chest.

  “Of course, sweetness. Anything for my mate,” Destrain answered, then waved his hand and Tobias was relieved to see his mother dressed in a very fashionable light brown pantsuit. But he knew what was coming and he cringed inside.

  “Well, that’s a handy trick, but a brown pantsuit? Really? What do I look like, a ninety-year-old politician? Eek, I think this thing is giving me hives, Tobias.” She scratched at her chest and made a face of disgust as she looked down her body. “And don’t think I didn’t hear him say mate. You have some explaining to do, young man.”

  “Mom. What exactly are you doing here?” Tobias asked.

  She lifted her head and glared at him, giving him the special l
ook, all mothers seem to have. The one where once they pulled it out of their arsenal, every child swallowed hard as fear ran through them and they wondered what they had done wrong. What did they do, give classes in that look at the hospital when women gave birth? Once the baby was out and they took it away, what did the nurses do? First chase any males from the room and then pronounce, “Hey honey, we know you’re tired from just pushing out your baby, but now we can let you in on the mother's look.” Then they would show the mother how to perfect it. Tobias rolled his eyes internally from the picture he imagined of the whole thing.

  “You’re not even listening to me, Tobias.”

  He heard his mother huff in annoyance and blinked his eyes a few times, coming out of his thoughts and focusing on her. “What did you say?”

  “Exactly. See, I told you he wasn’t paying attention. I said, why did that fierce looking man over there just call you mate, and that handsome devil there is pawing at you? What in the blue blazes is going on around here, young man? I want answers and I want them now. And it better be the truth. Are these two non-respecters of matings the reason why I haven’t heard from my boy in a week? You know our deal, Tobias. You are to call me every day or your little butt is coming home. Are they forcing you to stay here? Did they fill your head with drugs, or pretty words so that you’d stay and totally disregard your poor old mother?”

  Damn, she was really pouring on the guilt trip with this one, Tobias thought and really wanted to roll his eyes again, but he knew if he did, she would slap him silly.

  “Answer me, Tobias. What the heck are you doing here? Who are these people? And why…Oh, my clothes,” she stopped midsentence as the big guy walked back in carrying her bag. “Not that these clothes aren’t fine and all, but I am not Nancy Reagan. Is there somewhere I can go change so we can get to the bottom of why you have lost your damn mind and have disrespected your mother?”

  “Mom,” Tobias said in a frustrated whine.

  “Oh, don’t Mom me in that tone of voice. Talk to me like that again and I’ll whip your butt so hard, you’ll be able to shove a semi up there.”

  Tobias stood frozen there, his body filling with horror. He could feel the blush coming back to his cheeks as he saw the guards still standing by the door, most of them covering their mouths, trying not to let out the laughter he could see written all over their faces. The others were doing better with just smirks of enjoyment as they watched the whole fiasco. Then Tobias’s gaze shifted to Destrain and the look of horror on his face had Tobias wanting to hide. But it was wonderful Clove who was able to speak up for all of them and answer his mom.

  “Right through that door, lovely lady. Go take care of what you need, and we’ll be right out here waiting for you. Are you hungry? Would you like something to drink?”

  “Finally, someone with some manners, but don’t try to suck up to me, young man. I still need to decide if you get to live, or if I’ll have to rip off your shlong with rusty pliers for trying to corrupt my boy. Now you, tall, dark, and oh so yummy, let me have my bag so we can get this show on the road,” she said, turning to face the guard who now stood behind her.

  He held out her bag and Tobias’s mother grabbed it, then hurried across the room and through the door Clove had pointed out. Once the door closed, Clove burst out laughing along with some of the guards. Tobias just wanted a sinkhole to appear and swallow him up. He groaned as he turned and went over to the large bed, then fell face first into its plush softness.

  “You can all go back to your duties now. I think we’ll be okay,” he heard Destrain say.

  “Are you sure, Destrain?” someone asked in an amused voice. Tobias could actually hear the glee in the man's voice. “You know, she did manage to get past all of the king’s guards and threatened the king's consort with bodily harm. A pair of pliers, if I heard correctly.” That’s when the guard lost it and finally started laughing.

  “Yeah, yeah, very amusing, Asshat. Now get the hell out of here, Aracas and take Pelt with you before she climbs him like a tree. With all that flirting she did with him, I think she broke him. He hasn’t said one word. Oh, and have the cook send up a tray,” Destrain replied.

  Tobias heard the shuffling of feet, then the door close. Next, the bed beside him on either side dipped and he knew his mates had joined him.

  CHAPTER 9

  “Everything is going to be okay, Toby, I promise.” Clove tried to console his mate and hold in his laughter at the same time.

  Damn, he loved the fierce woman who had stormed into their lives. She was a breath of fresh air in this cold palace, and he knew she would make for hours of entertainment. Not that he thought she was a clown, far from it. He was thrilled with how much she loved her son and didn’t care who was around when she declared it. Yes, okay, her methods might be a little…eccentric, over the top, unconventional, but all he could see with every motion and every word, was how much she worried about and loved her son. His little ferret mate was very lucky to have someone like that in his corner.

  Toby lifted up, then spun around so he was sitting between them. “It’s not that. I know my mom will love you both once she gets to know you. I also know that even though she’s going to grumble and protest for a while, that she’s happy that I’ve found my mate—— mates. The fact that I have two, and you are both so strong and powerful, will thrill her even more. It’s…well, my mom is…”

  “Someone who loves and cares about you very much,” Destrain said softly as he wrapped an arm over Toby’s shoulder.

  Toby looked to Destrain with wide eyes. “Oh, I know that. Trust me, I know, but what I meant was―”

  “There, now that’s better,” Tobias’s mom announced as she stepped out of the bathroom.

  A small whimper of distress came from Tobias as he dropped his head and closed his eyes, but Clove wanted so badly to just burst out laughing, although he didn’t want to hurt his new mother-in-law’s feelings. It wasn’t that he thought she looked funny, he just loved her individuality and respected her for embracing who she was and living proud.

  The drab pantsuit was gone and replaced with a leopard print, skin-tight top that clung to every one of her curves. She wasn’t overweight, but she also wasn’t a thin model. Clove thought she had the perfect body for a female. Healthy and strong, and more representative of most women than the TV and magazines said women should look like.

  It wasn’t that Clove didn’t like the clothes Destrain had magicked up for her, but he could tell his sweet mate didn’t have too much experience with women and had no idea what they liked. He went with the more conservative outfit, which going by what the woman was wearing, was the complete opposite of her personal style.

  The leopard print top kind of clashed with the electric blue leggings and zebra print heeled boots, but she wore it all well, holding herself with pride and dignity, and Clove had to respect that. She owned her look and made no apologies for it.

  Her shoulder length, wavy brown hair was pulled away from her face at the sides and held back with two hot pink clips. She wore a ton of bracelets on both wrists that jingled as she moved, and a few bauble necklaces hung around her neck. One was turquoise, and another was silver with a charm of a ferret hanging from it. Attached to her shirt on the left side of her chest, just over her ample breast, was a rainbow pin that said ‘PFLAG MOM’. Clove had no idea what that meant, but she wore it proud.

  “So, now, tell me why the fuck you two are both pawing at my boy and why you kept him away from his mother for a week,” she demanded as she walked closer.

  Destrain stood up and faced the woman respectfully as a king would and as Clove expected of him, but again, all he wanted to do was laugh. Why did he find this whole thing so amusing? Meeting the in-laws was not a laughing matter and should be taken seriously, but he just thought the whole thing so…comical.

  There stood this fierce, colorful woman giving Destrain the stink eye, and his kingly mate faced her, with his chest puffed out and chin held high p
roudly, regally, and he could see she couldn’t give a damn.

  “Madam, I am King Destrain Shadowfox, of the pixie realm and this is my mate, Clove Shadowfox. And Tobias―”

  “Oh, a king, you say? Then you should know better, young man,” she chastised, not backing down from her ire for one second.

  Clove bit his tongue so hard he could taste blood. The whole thing was so surreal. Beside him, he felt Tobias’s body shake and he looked at his mate in concern, but was pleasantly surprised when he saw that Tobias was also fighting to hold in his laughter.

  Tobias took a deep breath and cleared his throat as he controlled himself, then stood and went to Destrain’s side, placing a hand on his arm.

  “Mama, this is, as he said Destrain Shadowfox, my mate, and the other gorgeous hunk is Clove Shadowfox, my other mate. Dezzy, Clover, this is Dolly Walker, my mother. And I’m sorry I missed our nightly calls for a week, Mom, but Clover, Dezzy, and I just found each other, and we were…well. We…um...”

  “Were off doing the hokey pokey and the horizontal mambo? Mazel tov, sweetie,” she said happily and ran to Tobias, grabbed his face between her hands, and gave him a big wet kiss. When she pulled back, Toby’s lips were now red from her bright lipstick. She kept hold of his face and squeezed, pushing his cheeks together and making his lips mash up. “Do that to me again, and I will smack you so hard, your grandchildren will feel it. Now, give your mama a hug.”

  Tobias was pulled away from Destrain and wrapped in his mother’s arms. He immediately returned the hug and Clove could see the big smile on his face. After a minute, mother and son pulled away, and Dolly faced him.