“Right, you stay here. I will go,” Thomas said firmly and Kiki opened his mouth to argue. “I mean it.”
Giovanni stepped forward and said, “I will watch your mate.”
Thomas looked at the vampire they had gotten to know over the last few days, he was reserved like most of the vamps he had met before, but Thomas still trusted him. He was trying to help the Drekinn get back onto the right track with how to deal with the situation.
Thomas nodded. “I will be back later tonight, should only take me a few hours to get there. I will let them know and return. Don’t do anything stupid.”
Kiki rolled his eyes and then smiled when his mate grabbed him and kissed him in front of the whole room. It was the first PDA that Thomas had initiated and Kiki was in shock.
Sure they had slept together the last few days, although falling in bed exhausted, both had been more content on holding each other and getting to know one another more. But this, this is what Kiki had been waiting for.
“I love you,” he whispered in Thomas’s ear and his mate smiled and nodded.
“As do I,” Thomas said and then he turned to Giovanni, Fretride, and Breitney. “Make sure he stays out of sight, we don’t need anyone to find one of us.”
Thomas and Kiki had not shared with them the prophesy or anything else the Drekinn was putting together. The people assumed they were trying to gain control again, but that wasn’t the case of course. They had a mission to accomplish, to help the magical community—and they were gonna damn well do it.
*****
Syd moaned from the floor and tried to lift her head. “Ow,” was all she said as she heard the laughter from her newfound friends ringing around her.
“Drink a little more, it will feel better.” Rissa laughed.
“Why me?” Syd said.
“Because you wanted to prove yourself.” Calli smirked. For the last three days she had been training with Kade and Dec, they had been hard on her. Each night she had spent time with the girls getting to know them, which meant they got her drunk and pried out every secret she had. It was embarrassing. She finally felt like she was making headway at least. The girls had begun to talk about Kiki and Thomas, letting her know what she was up against when they finally came back together.
She had her work cut out for her, too. Thomas was a hard ass, and Kiki was an unforgiving drama queen who would remind her for years of her betrayal if he ever forgave her.
So far, all they had thought of to get the men to forgive her was either to shave off her hair, give it to them in apology or strip and run through the castle grounds naked until they caught her. All of the women agreed that even if they were pissed—her mates would still be jealous of any other man looking at her.
Syd wasn’t so sure, nor was she sure about the nickname they had given her, Syd, she had always been called Sydney. However, the girls called her Syd so much, she forgot it sounded like a man's name, it was better than princeAss, like Calli still called her.
“I would if I could lift my arm.” She groaned and rolled to the side. Today had been particularly hard. Kade and Dec had shown her some defensive moves that she really wished she had known when she was growing up. She would have kicked some of those kids' asses that picked on her.
“Here, I will help, dear,” Vivi said and sat down on the floor with her. She rolled Syd over and began rubbing out the sore muscles. Contrary to what every one had said, Vivi was a sweetheart. Sure, she had seen her with Calli and the others and laughed, but when it came to dealing with her, for some reason the older wolf had taken her under her wing and helped her.
“Ma, really? You never did that for me,” Calli argued and then laughed when Vivi flipped her off.
“Cause you always bitched and moaned and then ran another ten miles. Syd here is not used to all this,” Vivi said.
“No, there is something else,” Calli said suspiciously. “Seriously, we all noticed, you have been acting weird around Syd, so out with it, what is the deal?”
“I have no idea what you are talking about,” Vivi said stubbornly and Syd wanted to kiss the woman when she smoothed over the area in between her shoulder blades that was killing her.
Rissa, Cherri, Trina, and Sabrina were in the corner singing karaoke and ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun', was seriously sounding like ‘Pearls Covered in Cum', to Syd and she thought maybe another glass of wine would help at this point.
“Brenda?” Calli called to her mother's friend who was playing bartender.
“Yeah, hon?” Brenda laughed.
“Why is Vivi being so nice to Syd?” Calli asked because she knew Brenda was the airhead of the group and unless her mother was sitting right next to her she would blurt out the truth.
“Because of her mother,” Brenda called and then twisted a towel in the air and began to dance with Shelly while Vivi groaned and shook her head.
Syd froze when she heard what Brenda said and Calli crowed loudly, “I knew it. Dish, old lady.”
Just then Kade bellowed loudly through the entire castle. “Meeting room, NOW! Thomas is here!”
All of the women froze and Syd forgot completely what was being said at the mention of her mate. Thomas was back, where was Kiki? Was he hurt? Why was Kade yelling? The thoughts ran through her head as she jumped up and ran for the room where they had their meetings. At least she had been involved in them a little.
Chapter Eleven
By the time everyone made it to the meeting room, the girls had, for the most part, sobered up by shifting back and forth a few times to get the alcohol out of their system. Syd stood in the doorway, hungrily looking at her disheveled mate as he paced back and forth. She looked around, but Kiki was not there.
“Where is Kiki?” she asked loudly.
Thomas narrowed in on her and his eyes grew cold. “Where I left him,” he said flatly and Syd knew she was in for the battle of her life.
“Come on, guys, Thomas and Kiki have discovered something we need to hear,” Kade said briskly.
“We have been waiting to see what the Prentiss is going to do with us, and we have been looking for information about what they are trying to do. It seems like we may know a bit more,” Calli said.
Thomas stood while the others sat down. Syd never took her eyes off her one mate while she longed to see the other one, it was funny how just a few days made the need for her to be with them overwhelming.
“When we left the estate and crossed the northern wall, at approximately ten miles directly north, we found a warded area. Once we were allowed in, we discovered many of the shifters across the world are being rounded up, taken to camps, and some even tortured. All for information about us or some documents they seem to be looking for,” Thomas said and then further explained about the wounded wolf and Giovanni the vampire.
The group remained silent, although he could tell Calli and the others were getting more and more pissed if the whites of their knuckles were any indication. Thomas just wanted to get this over with and back to Kiki.
“We need to find out what they are after,” Rissa said and pulled out her small handheld computer. “We are still locked out of the main frame but I can get into some of the Drekinn’s old files, but we have been through this so much, I don’t think we missed anything.”
Pilar stood, “We are missing something. I know it. Phillip and I have talked over the years about things, and we are missing something that we should know. I can’t explain it, but it was one of the reasons I started the Drekinn, to make sure we were protected. Somehow though, we missed one key to this whole thing.”
Everyone in the room nodded but sat silently. This was so much more than what anyone thought. The Prentiss was up to something big if they were hurting people to get answers.
“We need someone on the inside,” Kade said and looked around the room.
“Someone who can go in without being suspected,” Declan said and looked at Kade.
“Damn it,” Calli said under her breath.
 
; “What?” Thomas asked.
“Someone who can go in as a trusted member of the Prentiss Agency,” Kade said and looked at Syd.
Thomas felt the pit of his stomach fall out. Kiki was gonna go ape shit, no matter how hurt he was, sending Syd into the enemy’s camp without any backup would be suicide if she were caught. He had seen what they did, looking around the room at the women who were smiling and nodding to Syd. What the fuck was wrong with them?
“I will start the plan,” Rissa said and stood. “I will find the right person you need to be. It will take a few days, but we will get it ready.”
Syd nodded and looked back at Kade, trying to ignore the man who was staring a hole through her. Thomas was pissed and she knew it. “Thomas,” Kade said and he snapped his head toward his leader.
“We need to help those people, have them move into the northern wall, there is a small group of houses up there for them to use. Cherri, you and your mates go with him, to help him bring the wounded wolf back. We need to put out the word the Drekinn Pack is a safe haven for those who need it,” Kade said.
“Are you fucking crazy? Everyone could show up on our doorstep. Like that wouldn’t draw attention,” Simon, Rissa’s mate, said.
“We have to make sure we don’t then.” Kade shrugged. “We will meet back here after everyone is moved and safe again.”
Thomas waited for everyone to get up and then looked at where Syd was still sitting in the chair—looking at him, waiting. He had no clue what to say and so he nodded and began to walk out.
“I am sorry, you know,” she whispered and he paused.
“I don’t know if that is going to be enough,” Thomas said and continued to walk. He heard her get up for the table and come after him.
“Listen you overgrown baboon, I have been beating myself up for days about this. I made a mistake, so shoot me. I came here, didn’t know what the fuck was going on, and then suddenly I have not one but two mates. What was I supposed to do, lay down with my legs spread wide and say take me? No, I was cautious, and I never lied outright to you, I just omitted a few things!” she yelled and Thomas stepped back and looked at her with a shocked expression.
“See, we are totally rubbing off,” Rissa mused. Thomas looked around and saw everyone was still in the hallway waiting to see what happened apparently.
“You had plenty of time to tell us!” Thomas yelled back when his frustration got the better of him.
“When?” she screamed. “You two never let me get a word in edgewise, and when you did, I was just supposed to agree with you,” Sydney said and stomped her foot.
“I taught her that.” Cherri laughed.
“Wait for it, my move has to be coming,” Calli whispered and Thomas rolled his eyes.
“We can talk about this when Kiki and I get back,” Thomas said firmly and turned to walk away. Syd looked at Calli who frowned and cross her arms.
Thomas wasn’t sure what happened because all of a sudden he was flying through the air, ass over head and landing on the floor on his back with the breath knocked out of him. What the fuck had just happened?
“Don’t dismiss me!” Syd yelled and sat down on his stomach, knocking whatever breath he actually had left out. Thomas struggled to breathe and looked up at the small woman who was quickly pissing him off.
“I have something to say. Now, I will be coming with you to get the others and we will be speaking to Kiki about all this later. Make no mistake, I am claiming what is mine, and that is you and Kiki, don’t think you can run,” Syd warned and then leaned down and kissed him on the nose and stood. “Move your ass, we have things to do.”
Thomas laid on the floor trying to figure out what the hell had just happened. He saw Kade and the others leaning over him, laughing, and he closed his eyes.
“Dude, you were just schooled,” Simon laughed and helped him up.
When Thomas got up, his eyes narrowed and he walked to where his mate was standing. “We have a few things to clear up before we get to Kiki, so I will allow you to come with me.” He leaned down close to the small girl's face and said, “You may like this new attitude you have, but trust me when I say, I will take great pleasure in taming you in the bedroom.”
“Game on,” Syd murmured, turned around, and walked away.
“We are not missing this.” He heard his Alpha mutter and Thomas lowered his head.
*****
Kiki was getting impatient. The poor guy seemed to be fading faster since Thomas left and he was beginning to get worried. He looked around the room at the others who were also caring for him and excused himself to get some air.
As he stepped outside of the small home, he sucked in the cool fresh air. This was stressful and he had no outlet. If he were back in the compound, he would be chillin' with his girls drinking wine and whining about hair, make-up, and men. Here he was out of place. The people were nice, and polite, but he didn’t think they knew what to do with a drag queen.
Kiki admitted that when he woke up today and put on his last outfit that was clean he was going to get some strange looks. The light blue leather pants and black silk shirt were a statement. He was certain that statement didn’t include, ‘hey, I am a nurse’.
Kiki wiped his forehead and looked around. There were others milling in and out of the main building and Kiki walked over. They were preparing food for the day. Kiki nodded and smiled, then offered to carry plates for the women who were working their asses off setting up.
He was surprised all of these different kind of magical people were working together. Over the last few days, they had met wolves, cats, and witches. They explained that a few miles away was another warded area that held even more people. Kiki wanted to talk to them all, find out what they needed and what they wanted to do to help. It was obvious they wanted to help, or they would never have come here, they would have gone with others and hid. No, these were all fighters.
Giovanni sat in the corner and Kiki walked over to him, sat down without asking and propped his head on his hand and looked at the vampire.
“So, what are you really here for?” Kiki asked. He knew there was something the man was holding back. It was bugging him that this man could be playing with his friends.
“I am here to help you, and see if there is more that my people can do. We are being affected just as you are. Things are bad, and only going to get worse, there is something wrong and we are going to have to work together to fix it,” Giovanni said.
“Can I call you Gio?” Kiki asked and moved a finger around the table tracing the woodwork and not waiting for a response. “Gio, I feel like there is something you know that you aren’t telling me, let me be specific. You keep talking in riddles. I ask you a question and you say something is wrong, then I ask you a question and you say we have to work together. Now, most people would probably walk away and nod, thinking you are truly trying to get people to rally it up. Me? I am a pessimist. I don’t think you are trying to rally everyone around, I think you are trying to either find out information for someone, or you are working your own little plan. Am I close?" Kiki asked and tilted his head at the vampire.
Kiki watched as the man frowned and then shifted as if he wanted to beat the shit out of Kiki but there were too many people around for that, they would have an audience. Finally after what seemed like an eternity, Gio opened his mouth and said, “You don’t know everything—I don’t know everything. I wish like hell I did and could tell you what you need to do. I can’t be more specific because for some reason I am not able to be. I have tried, what I think and what I say are two totally different things.”
It was Kiki’s turn to frown. What the fuck was he talking about? It didn’t make sense. “Someone’s coming,” one of the women called and Kiki stood and went to the window. Maybe Thomas had gotten done quicker than he thought. But when the first person appeared in the clearing, he knew the shit was going to hit the fan.
“The Prentiss,” Kiki whispered and Gio was by his side in an instant.
There were at least thirty shifters looking around. No one had dared exit the buildings yet, although they could feel the tension in the air, everyone knew.
A tall bitch with a black leather duster-like jacket stepped forward. She had long black hair, and her skin was pale. Gio drew in a quick breath next to his and said, “Stupid Bitch, not the Prentiss.”
“Who is she?” Kiki whispered. She was thin and very pretty, but Kiki wasn’t fooled, one look at her eyes and you could see a killer. Whoever this chick was, it was not someone to be trifled with.
“No one knows her name. I call her the Black Widow, since every guy she fucks she kills,” Gio said dryly.
“Okaaay…so don’t fuck her. But should we kill her?” Kiki said slowly.
“No one has been able to. No one knows exactly what she is,” Gio said and the woman’s head snapped in their direction and she grinned. “Well shit, looks like she knows I am here.”
Kiki looked at Gio in horror as the man stepped back and squared his shoulders. “You led her here?”
“I didn’t know she was looking for me. Let me go and see what she wants,” Gio said.
Kiki felt the bubbling panic rising inside and was ready to go off on one of his rants. But that wouldn’t help, he looked at all of the people in the room, looking terrified and scared. Damn it, he had to be a grown up. How he hated that.
Gio walked to the door and Kiki cleared his throat. “Okay, listen people, everyone in the back room, lock the door, and don’t come out unless we call you.”
Gio turned. “You should go with them, Kiki.”
“Uh…sure,” Kiki said and took a step toward the back, then stopped, squared his shoulders, and turned and smiled. “Nah, I think I wanna meet the bitch.”
Gio frowned and shook his head while Kiki walked toward him and stopped. “Not a good idea.”
“Neither is fucking a woman who kills her lovers but for some reason I don’t think that stopped you,” Kiki said smartly, then opened the door and stepped out onto the small porch, and cocked his hip to one side and smiled largely. “Welcome to paradise. Please come over and we can show you around.”