“I will do my best. I promise that none of my teams will go in with the intent to kill, only to detain. I’ll be back as soon as I can with an update.”
“Thank you, old friend,” Boston replied for all of us as Seattle simply nodded. My eldest brother was staring off at nothing while rubbing his chest. That wasn’t good. I’d never seen him check out like that.
When we were alone, Seattle finally glanced at Boston. “You should fill them in on how the PP makes decisions. Chicago, come sit with me. I know you need a hug. Aurelo’s going to be okay.”
We didn’t even hesitate, knowing our brother wasn’t the biggest hugger, and I thought I was holding it all together pretty well. Seattle held me tightly as we sat on the cot, Boston prattling on about what the PP would do with the information and their process on sentencing. I’d been waiting for it, so I didn’t flinch when my brother pressed his lips to my ear.
“The cameras are very sensitive and pick up most sounds,” he breathed. “I’m so damn proud of you, baby brother. I know Aurelo was at the front of your mind when you made up our parents’ cabin, but it will help Julus too. So thank you. I need him safe.”
“I know the feeling.” And I did. My heart might be the muscle in my chest but it beat for Aurelo now and truly resided with him. Just then my phone vibrated, and I pulled it out of my pocket, careful to make sure the display wasn’t facing any of the cameras Try had alerted us to.
Received word from Aurelo. Are we storming the castle to come get you? I will send as many men as it takes. –Daniel
Seattle took my phone and quickly typed out so I could see—
no, that would alert the traitors that more are onto the plot and they might warn the bastards.
I nodded for him to hit
send
and then took it back. Adding something of my own.
But it warms my heart you would. Expect carnal thanks. We’ll keep you in the loop. –Your dearest Chicago.
It took only moments to get the reply message.
You better stay alive because I have need for you that involves nothing with computers. My thoughts are with all of you
.
I really kinda liked that man.
We sat there for hours, eating when they brought us dinner because we knew we had to keep up our strength. Seattle was still slightly out of it until our burner phone brought us news from Director Woodrow that Julus arrived safely and filled him in. He offered any aid at his disposal as well and I couldn’t help but smile at the allies we’d made.
We’d fucking need them if we were going to survive what was to come.
It seemed Julus had the second burner phone of the two we’d gotten for emergencies, but no one thought to program the number to the other one in it. Whoops!
“We did that intentionally in case some of us were captured and no one could track between the phones to us,” Boston informed me. “That’s why we made you guys memorize the numbers.”
Right, I’d forgotten that. But apparently we’d not done the same for Aurelo and Julus which was why it was the two directors contacting us. We gave
them
the numbers.
It was almost two in the morning when we heard the main door to the jail open. I’d been napping so I sat up slowly, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, but Boston and Seattle were on their feet ready for anything.
“I read through what your sexy brother slipped me,” Try informed us as he came to the cell door and punched in the code. As one, we all looked to the closest camera. “Don’t worry. They’ve been disabled. All the guards are with me and we’re going to take over the PP. It’s the only way for them not to alert the humans.”
“What made you believe us?” Seattle asked as he hurried us out the door.
“Besides the fact I could tell you were lying about extra copies being made and the PP
couldn’t
?” Try snorted. “Things have been really weird around here for months. We’ve all felt it. We just didn’t know
what
was going on. But we found communications from the PP to the humans brokering a deal on our servers. They turn us all over, help group us up and take out strong leadership, and in return, they survive and live out their lives with their families.”
“Right, like the humans won’t simply make them the last victims,” I drawled.
“Right? So much better to sell out your own people in a stupid way than warn us and fight together,” Try bitched. He hurried us along the hall and up the stairs to the guard’s back exit.
“We can help,” Boston argued.
“You’ve done enough. Some of your family isn’t trained to fight and my people have worked together in teams for years. I don’t want to disrupt that or add to the confusion. Get to safety and warn as many as you can.”
“The owls have that under control,” Seattle assured him. “We had a backup plan. They should be flying all over the world to other flocks so the proof can be dispersed to all paranormals.”
“Good. Good. Now get gone.” He handed Seattle and Boston the keys to the Hummers that had been confiscated from us.
“When you survive, because you better survive and fulfill your promise to me,” Milwaukee hedged, moving closer to the elf instead of out the door, “you should bring as many guards who are on our side as you can and head to the Minnesota/Wisconsin border right off the great lakes.”
“I should, huh?” Try snagged Milwaukee around the waist and dragged him against the elf’s massive body. “Will you wait for me? How will I contact you?”
“Of course I will wait, you big oaf! I’m inviting you to our escape and stronghold.” He quickly rattled off our burner cell number, repeating it until Try memorized it. “Don’t get dead. I’ve waited all my life to feel this for someone and we’ve only kissed.”
“I feel the same. I promise to come to you as soon as I can,” Try whispered against his lips. They shared a brief kiss and then he pushed Milwaukee out the door to join us, quickly closing it as if before he could change his mind.
“I don’t even know how you guys can stand to ever be apart from Julus or Aurelo,” Milwaukee muttered, staring at the door as if wanting back
in
the PP. “I barely know him and I’m so scared for him.”
Boston wrapped his arm around our brother while hurrying us to the Hummers. “We’ve fought alongside Try for many years, kiddo. I swear that man is bulletproof. I’m not worried about him. He’s a badass elf who knows every weapon there is and when to duck. He’ll come find us and give you everything he promised.”
“Ewww, the guy promised to bang Milwaukee,” Phoenix growled.
“Shut it!” the rest of us chastised him.
“I hope he does,” Milwaukee giggled as we jumped into the Hummers. “I mean, did you see him? He’s
hawt
and he liked little geeks!”
“That’s great, but let’s focus. We’re still wanted men and it’s a long drive to the stronghold,” Seattle grumbled, snapping us back to reality. Then he held out his hand to me, and I didn’t have to ask what he wanted. He quickly made a call as we peeled out. “Julus, thank gods you’re okay.”
I knew he meant physically because I didn’t think any of us would ever be
okay
ever again.
1
“Hadley, the PP was in on the plot,” Director Woodrow informed me. I felt my eyes practically bug out of my head at the news. “I know. I wish my suspicions hadn’t been correct, but they were, and now I’m glad I pressed for the malamutes to leave copies with us. I’ve talked with Director Fabian, and we have a place with their coven since we need to relocate and they have the perfect set-up.”
I had to swallow twice to clear the lump in my throat before I could speak. “What do you need me to do, Director?”
“Fly.” I nodded as he handed me a USB drive. “I’m tasking you with the Prince of the felines. Their elder is also their King and they haven’t ever been led by someone who wasn’t of the royal family. They’ll fall into chaos if something happens to him.”
I didn’t think my eyes could get any wider than at the implication. “Someone’s taking over the PP?”
“They sold us out and were setting us up like slaughter animals instead of doing what they promised for their people. I don’t know the details, but yeah, someone will take the traitors out.”
I realized I truly didn’t feel bad about that.
They brought it on themselves.
“Good. What about things here? Where do I go after?” Then I had another thought. “Is Chicago okay?”
He filled me in on the abbreviated plan, assuring me someone would pack my belongings and bring them. “Stay with the Prince and escort him along with his court to the new location. Do
not
divulge where they’re going until we know for sure all of them are on our side. The Prince will be, he hates his father. But the rest? We don’t know enough to take that chance. Once we’re at the stronghold, Director Fabian assures me it’s basically a fortress.
“And apparently Chicago is going to figure out how to hack missile guidance systems. But if the location is found out, the humans could start intercepting refugees on the way. We need him and his brothers. Director Fabian assured me they’re being detained but with whatever’s going on, they’ll get out first.”
Well thank fuck for that. I’d been hoping for another taste of that sweet little shifter. Plus, I just liked the guy and his brothers. I didn’t want any of them hurt. “I understand, Director. I won’t fail.”
“I know, which is why I’m sending you.” I gave him a solemn nod and hurried to my room so I could undress before shifting.
Hey, I was wearing my favorite jeans and sneakers. I wanted those packed up and brought to my new home. Then I let the change flow over me, grabbed the plastic wrapped USB drive in my talon, and flew out the window.
There were perks to flying over driving. I could fly faster than natural owls being a shifter—twice as fast if I pushed it, capping out at over a hundred twenty miles per hour, so that made my travel time less than if I were driving.
However, that was exhausting.
However, I didn’t have to deal with traffic on any freeway.
However, I couldn’t bring much… Like clothes.
So, as everything in life, there were perks and drawbacks to both sides. It just wasn’t an option to drive with eyes and ears on us. As a snowy owl—yes, snow
y
no matter who called us snow owls—we could blend in with other animals and were harder to track.
But that didn’t make flying all the way to Louisiana any easier, and with the importance of my mission, I was scared to take many breaks or for too long. I did my best to try and take in the scenery as it raced by, but mostly it was blurry and just depressed me. There was a very good, very
dangerous
, reason I had to fly so fast. Gods, I was ready to take a three day nap when I recognized the outlying of New Orleans.
Director Woodrow had shown me a map of Prince Folkvar’s compound so I could easily pick out his balcony. Rude? Yes, but now wasn’t the time to jump through the normal hoops and risk the answer being,
he’s in a meeting
.
When I landed on the ledge of his private terrace, I realized that was
exactly
what he was
in
.
“
Yes
, my Prince!” the gorgeous woman his cock was meeting in exclaimed. “Being with you is always so wondrous. The gifts the gods bestowed upon you are infinite.”
I wanted to roll my eyes at the dialogue. I saw every detail as an owl, though, and realized it was quite the performance on her part. When the Prince went to kiss her quiet, she pushed up her tits as an offering.
“Please, my Prince. I know how you love to feast on them and bring us both pleasure.”
The man growled and attacked them. It wasn’t seeing him take care of breasts that had me shivering—it was the growl.
I studied the Prince from behind, getting lost in the movements of his strong body. The muscles in his marble-hard back moved fluidly and drew attention to his athletic body. Swimmer-like, lean shoulders showed every flex and release of the power under his skin. I caught glimpses of his elegant neck as his longer blond hair with orange lowlights shifted with his exertion.
Not orange with blond highlights. No, that would be too common for a man this gorgeous. He was mostly blond with very natural orange lowlights that made his hair almost seem like fire as the light danced off it.
I moved lower, checking out his trim hips, strong legs, but still lean, sleek thighs. Damn, he had a well-formed body.
I wanted him. I wanted him
bad
.
Unfortunately it seemed he was very straight. Yeah, his cock was deep in pussy.
Screamed
straight, didn’t it?
He was such a contrast to his room that, if I hadn’t seen a map of the compound, I wouldn’t ever have guessed it to be his. The colors were bland, no life in them. But the Prince? Passionate, full of color and life. It practically resonated from him along with his power.
His thrusts started becoming erratic, and the woman bellowed out porn-worthy cries as she faked her orgasm. That or there was something wrong with her because I didn’t think that was how women really sounded when they climaxed.