“According to my boss, there was an incident at the High Council prison last night…a number of inmates escaped but not before shooting most of the guards and some other prisoners.”
“Sonofabitch,” Heath spat out. “Who escaped and why do you need more enforcers?” Then, with fear twisting his gut, he asked, “Was it Rudy?”
Nodding slowly, Reeve said, “Rudy, along with Bruno, Hans, and Seth…and about fifty others are gone and the High Council has no idea where they are.”
“Well, I fucking know…they’re on their way here to kill my mate!”
“Khan too,” Reeve growled.
“Why did they wait so long before telling you?”
“According to my boss, they didn’t want the word to get out for fear of causing a panic.”
“Bullshit! Do they really believe if you knew you’d tell the fucking world?”
“Of course not, but…”
“But what?”
“Frank Royd is missing and the High Council believes Rudy took him hostage to use as a trade for whatever it is they want. So until they hear from Rudy, the powers to be at the High Council are keeping a tight lid on the entire affair.”
“Holy fucking shit!” Heath muttered, slumping back in his chair. “How fucking stupid! Rudy just signed his death warrant…there’s no place on this earth he can go that’ll be safe.”
“Even if he somehow was able to kill Tristan and Kahn in order to claim Alpha status, the High Council would never let him live,” Reeve said.
“I’ll kill that sonofabitch before he can get close to my mate!” growled Heath, as he leaped to his feet. “I gotta go and warn Tristan.”
“Wait,” Reeve said. “We need more enforcers to protect our mates and this pack. The ones the Council is sending won’t be here for a couple of days which doesn’t help us now…especially since Rudy has a head start.”
“I fucking know that! But knowing that isn’t helping us right now. As far as I know, there isn’t a 1-800 number to call to get instant enforcers.”
“No, but Jackson has an army of well-trained and lethal enforcers. I saw them in action, and trust me, the High Council enforcer training program could learn a thing or two from them,” Reeve said.
“So what? I doubt he’s gonna give you any of his men when he finds out Rudy has escaped.”
“Not give,” Reeve corrected. “The High Council has given me permission to tell Jackson what happened to the father of one of his pack members and then I’m gonna propose we join forces to find Dylon’s father…and protect our respective packs from whatever Rudy has up his sleeve.”
“Do you think he’ll agree?” asked Heath, hope blooming inside of him.
“Only one way to find out,” Reeve said, grimly, picking up his phone.
~/~/~/~/~
After his spirit woke him, Kieran wiggled out of Logan’s arms and quietly slid out of bed. Gathering up his clothes from where they’d been tossed by his mate who’d removed them the night before, he dressed quickly and then picked up a small box he’d set aside on his night table. Taking one last look at his mate, he slipped out of the room. Hurrying down the hallway, he asked his spirit to reassure the Nessies he was on his way.
Reaching the nursery, he pushed the door open and nearly tripped over five excited Nessies who’d been eagerly awaiting his arrival. Bending down, Kieran held out an arm, crooning, “Come to Uncle Ki.” He grinned as Tobias flew up and landed on his shoulder while Christos slithered up his left arm, wrapping himself around it. After fluttering his wings several times, Georgios flew to Kieran’s other shoulder while Lukas ended up on his head. Looking down at Julius, he petted his head before scooping him up.
Rising, Kieran carefully walked over to the big, padded cushion on the floor and slowly lowered himself. “Off you go guys, so Uncle Ki can show you what he made for you.” Giggling softly as the Nessies glided and slithered down, he waited until they were lined up in front of him before opening the box. “Now, I know each of you is eager to get your present but you have to wait your turn.”
Reaching in, Kieran lifted the first item out, holding it aloft so the Nessies could see it. “Can you guess who it’s for?” He was enthralled when four of the Nessiesturned their heads and looked at Julius. “That’s right,” he squealed. “You are all so smart.”
Scooping up Julius, Kieran murmured, “I made it with my favorite shade of pink and Q suggested adding the hearts since you are all about love, my precious Nessie. Here, let me help you put it on.” Slipping what looked like a tiny tube sock over the sea serpent’s head, Kieran slid it down Julius’ body, carefully pulling his wings and feet through their respective openings before smoothing it down the rest of the Nessie’s body. Then he placed Julius back on the padded cushion. “Perfecto!” Kieran exclaimed. “Your first sweater to keep you warm on cold nights. Now, who’s next?”
After dressing each Nessie, Kieran grinned as they showed off their new clothes—Christos wore a yellow sweater covered with rainbows and unicorns, Georgios’ aquamarine sweater featured mermen and mermaids, the purple one Tobias wore was filled with the sun, moon and stars, and Lukas’ silver one glowed with his light from within. “Wait until Daddy Nessie and Papa Nessie see you,” he said, giggling. “You all look so very handsome.”
The chorus of hisses that responded to his praise filled Kieran with joy. Knowing his time with the Nessies was limited, he joined them on the cushion, curling around them. But the Nessies weren’t ready to go back to sleep. As he soon discovered, he’d become their jungle gym. Slithering up his legs until reaching his belly, they’d then slide down his baby bump, landing in a heap on the cushion below. Laughing at their antics, he let them play until he noticed their sleepy eyes.
Picking them up, one by one, he filled each with love before setting them down next to him, where they promptly fell fast asleep. Kieran couldn’t take his eyesoff of them, marveling at how beautiful they were. But he also knew that many others would be repelled by them. His spirit had warned him how quickly hatred, fueled by ignorance, was spreading and it was a viral kind of hatred that was hard to fight. But Kieran vowed he would not fail these special creatures. Laying his head next to the sleeping Nessies, he inhaled their scent of the sea.
