Dreams of the Forgotten (16 page)

Upon seeing me, Bixx bowed his head as low as his restraints would allow. "Xenres," he greeted with reverence in his voice.
Ushna blocked my view of Bixx. "You bow to him now when you showed no deference to him earlier," Ushna spat. I ran a soothing hand down the middle of his back. For a second, he rested back against me.
"My most sincere apologies, the acolyte said this was the Xenres' tribe but I knew not what he looked like."
I found myself pushed into a corner, a wall of muscle separating me from Bixx. Growls of warning filled the room.
"Why do you search for the Xenres?" I heard Jynx ask. The door opened so hard it bounced against the wall. Something told me that Devlin and Nacht were no longer sitting idly in the observation room.
Bixx sounded alarmed. "We mean no harm…"
"And yet you attacked a member of his tribe."
"Our only thought was to remove the pretender and to protect the Prince."
"Why would we believe that is your only motive?" I knew Jynx would be able to tell if Bixx lied but there was much here that went unsaid.
I heard snuffling. "You are a Roth, are you not?"
Jynx paused so long I thought he was refusing to answer the question. "I am."
"Your relative, Cosmos, came to us to request joining the Ophidians and his request was accepted."
I tried to find a place where I could look past the warriors but there weren't any gaps unless I wanted to crawl on the floor. It was killing me that I couldn't see.
"Ushna," said Jynx, "everything he's said so far has been true."
The men in front of me began to move, but only as far as to allow me to reach my consort, and then they rearranged themselves around me protectively.
"Why are you here?" Ushna asked.
"We'd like to offer our services to the Prince. It's been a long time since we've served the royal family, our purpose vacant. When Nabil found his way to us a couple of months ago, he told us of an alpha in a small tribe in the United States who bore on his chest the sign of our creator Enki." Bixx leaned to the side to look past Ushna to me. "I've come a very long way to meet the prince of the royal line of Enkidu."
Ushna glanced back at me, his emerald eyes encircled by my golden brown catching and holding me. A wave of vertigo hit me and I clutched his shirt in both of my fists. The shape of his face elongated, his hair grew long, becoming a steel gray, and his eyes changed to a dark shade of blue. I closed my eyes and willed the dizziness to go away.
A warm callused hand cupped my face. "You're not well."
I opened my eyes and was relieved Ushna looked like himself again. "Merely tired."
"This can wait then."
I shook my head no. "I'll be fine. Just… stay close."
I blushed at my request. Sometimes it was hard when I couldn't be close to him, and right now, I needed his touch. The twins moved in my stomach but when I rested my hand above them, they calmed.
"Someone bring a chair for the Prince." Ushna helped me to sit and then stood next to me and I leaned into his thigh.
"What service would you offer me, Bixx?"
The man smiled wide, his eyes soft as he took in the connection between Ushna and me. "I'm Bixx Decimus, the Adon of the Fourth Band of the Ophidians. We are the Gateway Kenwards, guardians of the Annunaki Gates. At one time, we also served as the Royal Guard. When King Bahram Ksathra was assassinated, we took our Queen Nazira and the Prince Kedem back to the core of what was once Sumeria. The kingdom city of Uruk had become a small village up the river. There she grieved for her Twin Flame and chose to live for their son, Kedem." The sound of the chains was loud as Bixx shifted in his seat.
"Needing more contact with other Lycans, she moved to the tribe where Bahram's childhood friends resided so that Kedem could grow up with their sons. When the assassins closed in, we moved the royal family, and continued to do so until Ammar and Rebecca. We stayed too long in one location and were ambushed by The Servants. The Ophidians stayed and fought, allowing Ammar and Rebecca to escape." Bixx paused and regarded me with sad eyes.
"When we came to collect them from Ramsey, we discovered we had failed in our duty. We were told all had died. We didn't know you'd survived, otherwise we would've stayed and protected you." He gave a small sigh and shook his head.
"All we could do was retreat back to our fortress; without a purpose some of us died. Those of us who survived dedicated ourselves to the repair of the Gateways and locating the Annunaki relics. We knew we would be drawn back to the king to fulfill the prophecy and set out to make ourselves worthy of him once more. We'll not fail you again, my Prince."
Oh, lordy. "What is the Annunaki Gateway?"
"The gates are located throughout the world, built by the Gods before the creation of humanity. The God Shamash used them to move Lycans when he summoned them to a cause. We've restored and maintained them for your use."
I caught Jynx's cloudy blue gaze and he nodded.
"Why did you attack a member of my tribe?"
"He is an imposter, Xenres." Bixx seemed sincere, his concern for my wellbeing evident.
"Adon Bixx Decimus, Randy Aikman is not an imposter. He's under the protection of my house. If you truly serve me, you and those with you will say no more on the subject unless
he
gives you leave to do so. Do you hear my words?"
The Ophidian considered, his gaze snapped up to mine, and he paled considerably. "I hear… I thought…"
"I know."
Bixx wet his lips. "I hear your words, Xenres, and you have my obedience."
I gave him a tired smile and rubbed my throbbing head on Ushna's jean-clad hip.
"Corey, please release the Adon and his entourage. Have Neesie house them in the dorms. Bixx, it would please me if you and your men would join me for dinner tonight."
Ushna helped me to stand. He had an expression on his face that told me he would tuck me into bed whether I wanted to go or not. I wasn't going to argue with him.
Bixx was released from the chair and he gracefully dropped to his knees, head bowed in supplication. "Xenres, please."
I heard the need in his voice. Tentatively, I reached out and laid a hand gently on top of his head. The bald scalp was smooth to the touch as I gripped him. His breath hitched and shuddered with my acknowledgement.
"I see you," I whispered. Bixx's shoulders shook, his breath ragged with suppressed emotion.
He caught my hand as I pulled away and place a rushed kiss on my palm. The happiness in his tear-streaked face stayed with me until I closed my eyes to dream of sand and water and pillars of sparkling red stones.

The weather on the open plains of Oklahoma was interesting at times. You could wake up with a hard frost on your windshield and by the afternoon, you'd shed layers in the mild warmth. Temperatures could rise or fall twenty degrees within hours. This was one of those mild days when you didn't need a coat in the sunshine. I was a relative furnace nowadays so the coolness of the porch shade felt wonderful to me. I lazed there, as couple of guards lounged close by.

Socks was receiving some much needed exercise in the corral. Corleone sat nearby, not close enough to make me chase him off but not so far away he couldn't watch Socks with love-sick eyes. He meticulously cleaned his feathers until they shone like silver in the sunshine. The Simurgh disguised as a flock of copper birds made themselves at home on the eaves of the barn, singing a melodious tune as they hopped around each other.

It was all very relaxing but I wasn't actually paying attention. Ushna had been working with Blue Bells and started to cool her down. He sat straight and tall in the saddle, a denim jacket stretched across his shoulders, his Stetson pulled low over his eyes to shade them from the bright sun. What a fine, fine man he was. I watched him all day and never tired of the sight.

Ushna dismounted, unsaddled Blue Bells, and gave her a good rubdown. His jeans pull tight over his ass as he lifted the saddle and blanket then carried them into the barn with a long-legged cowboy stroll.

I hadn't had decent sex in what seemed like forever. Okay, maybe not that long, but for the last week or so, all Ushna would do was hold me when we went to bed. Okay, okay, okay! Maybe I slept twelve to fourteen hours a day and maybe I tired more quickly. I was always feeding my face and my stomach had grown so large that relieving myself had become quite embarrassing. I couldn't hit a bull's eye if you paid me.

The last sex I had was slow and lovely but what I wouldn't give for some hot, dirty, messy, hard sex. I'd be so glad when these children were born and I finally had my wicked, wicked way with Ushna. I had all kinds of plans to take advantage of him. I reached next to the chair and pulled the blanket over my lap. It wouldn't do to announce my desire to everyone. How I missed the advantage of blue jeans.

Lonnie Fucking-Fowler was out in the other corral with Neesie. She'd been teaching him how to ride and I took great pleasure as the man fell off the horse more than once. I had to admire him, even if it was just a little, because he was nothing if not persistent. Even after our short talk where I said I'd rip his balls off if he hurt my little sister, he gave me a grim smile then turned and tried to suck the lips off of Neesie. He did it on purpose. He knew it would make my blood boil, but I was good. I walked away. My wolf wanted to chew up all of his wingtips and again I took the high road. If I had chewed on the shoes then they'd need to be replaced. I pissed on them instead. He could get them cleaned.

I smirked as Fowler was bucked off again. It was the small things in life…
The last couple of weeks had been… different. I guess you could say Justus was one of the lucky few to find his Twin Flame. I was happy he'd have someone there for him but he was young and Randy wasn't. The dynamics worried me and I reassured myself there was plenty of time before Justus turned into a testosterone laden teenager. It didn't keep me from having "the talk" with Randy. He simply smiled, nodded his head in time with my protective rant, slapped me on the back when I finished, and then went to check on the feed delivery.
We were leaving for Bahbelle, Georgia and Tribe Enkidu in a couple of days. The warriors had already left to escort Kent and Joyce Weatherby to Elder Koller and then they'd set up security for my arrival.
Kent Weatherby was a bitter man. Even though he was terrified of us, he refused to speak. A couple of hours after his transformation he returned to his human form. Gregori thought it was a side effect of wearing the ring suppressing his true form.
The Ophidians were still with us. Bixx was visibly upset when I introduced Corey Bahar as Arms Master of the Royal Guard. There wasn't anything that would alleviate his distress. The Ophidians had to find a new place among the warriors and I didn't know yet where that would be.
Corey walked up to the porch, speaking into his earpiece. Ushna straightened and glanced to me as he touched his own receiver while waving to a cowboy to take charge of Blue Bells. Randy met up with Ushna and together they started walking toward us. Well, it seemed my afternoon of ogling my consort and thinking erotic thoughts about him would be thwarted.
Corey bent to give me assistance out of my chair. "Daniel Sullivan passed the gates a moment ago. It seems he's upset."
I, of course, snorted. The asshole had been gone twenty-five days that I was aware of and
he
was mad because the children weren't where
he
left them. I would give him something to be pissed about.
"Are the children secure?" I asked Corey. Not that I thought Daniel would snatch the children… well, on second thought, I couldn't discount the threat. I just didn't want the pups to see what would happen.
My body trembled with anticipation. Gods, I hoped Daniel would give me a reason to chew on him, literally. My predator liked the thought too and pushed forward to look out of my eyes at the car speeding down the ranch road. Ushna took my hand in his, anchoring me.
"You need to stay calm or I'll meet with Daniel by myself," he whispered in my ear.
I gave him a feral grin. "I'm calm. I'm a cool cucumber.
Frosty
."
A small smile cracked Ushna's stern face. His bicolored eyes searched mine. "I mean it."
I couldn't promise anything and as a small consolation I gave Ushna a quick, burning kiss, vestiges of the passion that had stirred in me the last couple of hours of watching him work his sexy ass off.
Tires skidding to a halt, and Daniel parked, somewhat, before he got out of the car and slammed the door in a dramatic flourish. Looking like a peacock in his Hugo Boss suit and thousand dollar shoes, he made his way to the porch where we stood.
"Where are they?" he snapped at me.
He seriously thought I would allow him to speak to me like that? "Where is who, Daniel?"
He pinned me with a frigid glare, his hands fisting at his sides. "Don't fuckin' play cat and mouse with me, you smug bastard. You'll lose. Where are my kids?"
I tilted my head and regarded him with a sober face. I knew I prodded him unnecessarily but my predator and I wanted to see Daniel squirm. "Where did you leave your kids?"
"Asshole!" Daniel took a step toward me, ignoring the movement of the guards. "You know very well where I left my kids. I want them now!"
"No!" I barked back at him. All pretenses were gone as I bared my blunt teeth at him.
"No?" He said incredulously. What? Did he think I'd give up the pups because he demanded it?
"You heard what I said. No." I said each word slowly, with emphasis. I began to tire of his belligerence.
Daniel took two threatening steps toward me. "You!" he ground out. "You cannot tell me no. Who do you think you are?"
The raised voices were drawing a crowd. Some of the Magi who'd gathered around the corral to watch the horse exercises came our way. They stood far enough away not to interfere with the warriors' movements. Three continued toward us. Jynx, Devlin, and Nacht came up beside me, while Jynx watched Daniel closely.
"I'm your alpha,
that
is who I am! I'm the guardian of those children whom you left alone without supervision or resources and not to mention without informing me. You left the territory without notification. How long have you been gone, Daniel? How long did you leave the pups to fend for themselves?"
"Not that long," he snapped at me, the lie coming easily to his lips. I stared at him until he dropped his gaze.
"You can't deceive me, Daniel. You're already in violation of the law. Do you honestly want to add insubordination and dishonesty to your alpha to the list of your infractions?"
"You can't prove anything." Daniel ran a nervous hand through his bleached hair. The red gem winked at me and I stilled. Ushna could sense the change in me and I pulled him closer.
"Yes, I can and you know it. Where have you been, Daniel?" My gaze followed the hand with the ring.
"Away on urgent business," he replied absently as he glanced around, contemplating the Magi and the loose circle of warriors.
"What business? No one knew where you were or how to contact you. What do you do for a living?" Ushna subtly moved in front of me more.
Daniel wasn't paying attention to the conversation anymore. He took a half step back. "I want to see my children now."
I made a casual hand gesture, the guards started to move as I inquired, "I haven't seen you wear that ring since the first day you arrived. Where did you get it?"
Daniel regarded the band as if he had forgotten he was wearing it. "It's nothing, a family heirloom. Stop distracting me, I want my children!"
I kept my gaze on Daniel as the warriors started to casually surround him, blocking his path back to his car. "I already told you, no. It is within my rights to take the children from your custody."
Daniel flushed a brilliant red. "You can't keep me away from them."
"Yes, I can. You put them in danger. You didn't notify me you were leaving the territory. You didn't leave a way for anyone to contact you and you've been gone at least twenty-five days. The children are only eight years old and they were home alone. You
abandoned
them. You owe your alpha an explanation."
"I don't owe you shit," he sneered and then spit on the porch, inches away from my feet. "You will give me back my children or I will take them."
I smiled at Daniel. He'd just made me a very happy man. I released
Alpha Bond
and the magic slide right off of him, exactly like it had done with Kent. Shit! Daniel noticed he was surrounded by warriors but he didn't appear concerned.
"So you want to play?" Daniel surveyed us with open contempt.
There was no word of warning. The warrior closest to Daniel was lifted in the air and flew backward several feet. Shouts erupted. I heard the slide of warrior's steel amongst the cursing and grunts of pain.
I hadn't registered what had happened as Ushna swung me around, putting himself between me and danger. My predator struggled to be free, wanting to eat Daniel, and spit out his bones.
A concussive boom shattered the afternoon air, propelling us toward the house. In a quick move, he had us over and down on the ground before we smashed into the wall. Air whooshed out of me as I landed on my back. Ushna was between me and the ground before he rolled us over, cocooning me within the circle of his body.
I clutched my stomach, struggling to get my breath back, and internally assessing if I was hurt. My knee was wrenched, my ankle seemed twisted, and my ears felt like they were bleeding.
I threaded my fingers through the soil, asking the Earth to be my eyes, to help me see. The Magi Jynx, Nacht, and Devlin were surrounding Ushna and me, holding a shield of magic around us. A half dozen warriors were on the ground either dead or dying. I rushed to reach each of them through the ground, doing my utmost to help them. Two died, the spark of their life slipped through my fingers before I was able to weave a healing chant, and a wail of grief left my lips as I left their bodies to concentrate on saving the others.
Warriors converged on the area. Orders were shouted. Gregori had run to the downed warriors, the palpable zip of magic surrounded him as he worked to heal the most injured. I seethed with fury. I'd kill Daniel with my bare hands! My rage was all consuming as I replayed the death of my men by his hand.
The children.
The explosion had brought down everyone present. Who was with the children? Fear gripped my spine as I started to struggle against Ushna's hold. "The pups, Ushna, we have to get to them!" I yelled, attempting to get free of his arms.
He quickly helped me up, pulling me carefully to my feet. I heard my name called but I didn't stop. I needed to make sure my pups were okay. I opened the screen door so forcefully it slammed against the outside of the house. People followed me as I entered, all caution thrown into the wind as I limped through the door.
"Justus! Neoma! Dawn!" I frantically searched the ground floor.
I didn't wait for an answer. I went to the stairs and climbed as fast as I could on my twisted knee. Ushna barked orders for people to spread out and search the house before he caught up to me at the top of the stairs.
A girl's shrill scream came from the children's playroom, making my heart falter. I limped down the hall, shrugging off Ushna's fingers as he tried to hold me back. My predator clawed at me to be free. I gave in only enough to allow him to see through my eyes, and felt him pressing against me, lending me strength as we rounded the corner into the room.
Sweet little Dawn sobbed in the corner, cradling a horribly broken arm. Neoma was wrapped serpentine-like around Daniel's leg, her eyes wild with fear. She tenaciously held onto Daniel's leg as he tried to shake her off. He had a firm hold of Justus's arm but the pup fought, kicking, and biting Daniel with everything he had.
"No! Won't go!" Justus yelled before he stabbed Daniel in the leg with a steak knife.
Daniel snarled and backhanded Justus. I growled from the doorway, drawing Daniel's attention to me. He snapped his teeth back at me as he lifted Justus and threw the boy. I thought my heart had stopped. Time slowed as a burst of adrenaline flooded my system.
Justus sailed through the air toward me. Daniel screamed as Neoma bit his leg, shaking her head and digging her teeth in like a little wolf. Ushna had stepped around me as Daniel grabbed Neoma by the hair and viciously kicked her, sending her flying across the room. Ushna dived after Neoma and then time snapped back to normal. Justus slammed into me, bearing us both to the floor as I wrapped my arms around him. I heard glass breaking and Ushna cursed before warriors flooded into the room.
Randy rushed into the room and roared when he saw Justus in my arms. His gaze scanned the room, alighting on the broken window. Giving a blood-curdling battle cry, Randy took a running leap out of the window.
Gregori knelt next to me. I'd lost my breath in the fall and had trouble drawing in air. He tried to take the boy and I instinctively clutched Justus tighter. I didn't trust he would be safe if I released him.
"Tristan, you have to let him go," Gregori coaxed. I released my death grip and Justus sat next to me. His blue eyes were round and his lips trembled but he didn't cry. He clutched my hand and arm as Gregori examined me. The more calm I became the easier it was to breathe. Exhaustion swamped me as the adrenaline wore off.
"Dawn and Neoma are hurt," I told Gregori.
"Nathan is taking care of Dawn. Ushna's with Neoma. Just worry about you for now," he replied as he felt along my ribs for anything broken before running his fingers over my stomach. Justus's cheek was swollen and already turning colors from the blow Daniel had given him. "Gregori, please look at Justus. Make sure he's okay, please."
The boy met my gaze and tilted his chin up with pride. "I protected them. We told him we didn't want to leave and he couldn't make us."
I struggled to sit up. With Gregori's assistance, I was maneuvered to lean against the wall. I tucked Justus into the shelter of my arm and hugged him to me, whispering words of approval and comfort in his ear.
Ushna sat on the floor as well, holding Neoma to his chest. He was dust covered with a small cut above his right eye. He seemed fine but I couldn't wait until I checked for myself.
Nathan lifted Dawn into his arms. "I'm taking her to my office. I need to set her arm." I nodded my head and promised to be down soon.
I searched the room for Daniel but he wasn't there. Two warriors stood next to the broken window, their weapons drawn. Corey stormed into the room followed by more men.
"We lost him," he said, aware of the young ears around us. "He jumped out of the window. A couple of paces from the house his scent disappeared. Randy's still searching."
"The ring," I said. "He wore one like Weatherby's." Corey cut off a curse word, shooting a sheepish glance at Justus.
"What about a blood trail," I asked. "Justus stabbed Daniel in the leg."
The corner of Corey's mouth quirked up in a half smile at his young protégé. "Did you now?" Justus nodded, his pride gone as his small body began to tremble. Corey bent down and gave Justus's shoulder a reassuring squeeze before he stepped away to issue an order, listening to the chirp of his earpiece.
"Why did you have a steak knife?" I brushed Justus's blond hair away from the bruise on his face.
"Ah…" Justus fiddled with the hem of his shirt. "I was listening?" That was said as more of a question than a statement. Justus wasn't sure he should confess that transgression.
"Oh?" I continued to rub the pup's back with soothing circles.
"I was listening when you told Dad he couldn't take us. I got scared when the warriors began to fly around. I ran to the kitchen and got the knife. Then the girls and I came here to hide."
I wasn't sure what to say. I'd have to talk to him about eavesdropping and stabbing people with knives. He didn't stab just anyone though, he stabbed his dad. He did it to defend his sisters and protecting them wasn't wrong.
"Alpha Janick?" I glanced down at the boy. "Did I do something wrong?"