“Uh-huh, his Alpha power forced everyone to bare their necks in submission.”
“I remember.”
“The next time he used it was when Theo and Norm wrecked Kieran’s room, and tried to run away. He stopped them in their tracks, and everyone felt the power in my father’s voice, except…”
“Me,” Jackson said.
“You know why? Because by that time, your Alpha power had surpassed my father’s. You are the perfect Alpha for this very unique pack, and don’t you doubt it. Now, where do we stand on the High Priestess’ demand for David?”
Feeling his mate’s love and support through their mind link, Jackson smiled. “I’m one very lucky Alpha to have a mate like you.”
“That, you are, and don’t you forget it,” Steel chortled, tickling Jackson and loving the sound of his laughter. Feeling the tension drain from his mate, Steel kissed those full, cock-sucking, red lips he loved so much, imagining the pleasure they’d be giving him.
“Babe, later,” Jackson whispered against Steel’s lips before giving them one last nip.
“Ohhh, not fair. You get me all hot and bothered and then tell me ‘later’?”
Giggling, Jackson murmured, “It’s called cock teasing.” Rising from his mate’s lap, Jackson moved over to his desk, picked up his phone, sent a text, and then said to Steel, “David gave me permission to share his story with you, Penn, and Dylon, who’ll be joining us in a minute.”
“How’s Zane doing?”
“Okay, but worried about David’s safety. One of the points he raised is why the High Priestess is resorting to a threat instead of contacting me to discuss the issue. That normally would be the first step.”
“Maybe she doesn’t know that.”
“Could be, but I don’t think so and, even if she didn’t, her lawyer certainly does. No, threatening to file a complaint against us if we don’t turn David over immediately is overly aggressive; I just can’t figure out what her motive is.”
“Money,” Steel said, shrugging his shoulders. “When you get down to it, greed is the driving force for a lot of people. It can make a good person bad if an opportunity arises when they’re weak. Remember Pablo, in Mexico? Figured he could make more money if he auctioned Colton off instead of killing him.”
“Lucky for us,” Jackson said.
“Yeah, but it gothimkilled,” Steel said. “Which shows people rarely look at what could go wrong when they’re in the grips of greed.”
“So…” Jackson mused, “if it’s money she is after, maybe I should make an offer?”
“It might work, but let’s wait till we know more.”
A rap at the door announced Dylon’s arrival. “You wanted to see me?” he asked, opening the door after knocking.
“Yeah, come in,” Jackson said. “David told me his story including what’s happening to his mother right now. While Penn is figuring out what he wants to use in his challenge, I need you to come up with a plan to rescue Mrs. Rossi, David’s mother…who I just found out is human by the way…as soon as possible. Zane is already researching the High Priestess to see who she is. According to Oracle, she’s a fake.”
“A fake?” echoed Steel, his left eyebrow raised.
“Your mother said it, so I’m assuming it’s true,” Jackson replied. “David’s mother is being held at the Convent of the Sisters of the Four Gods; he’s going to draw a floorplan for you.”
“That’ll be helpful. Does David or Zane know where she’s located in the convent?” asked Dylon.
“According to David, his mother is in his old room…collared, cuffed and chained to the wall,” Jackson replied.
“What the fuck!” exclaimed Dylon. “Another Arald, huh.”
“Not quite,” Jackson said, dialing Penn’s number. “Worse, by far.”
~/~/~/~/~
Fionn slowly woke up, bemused at first, but then remembered where he was and why he was back in the house that held so many bad memories. Pressing theheels of his hands against his eyes, he rubbed them, trying to wake up fully. Glancing down at the floor, he saw the folder with his mother’s pictures had fallen there while he slept. Scooping it up, he placed it on top of the pile of folders he was taking with him.
Getting back to work, it took another hour until, finally, he had only two drawers left to go through. If the midwife’s certificate wasn’t in either of them, he’d have to check out his father’s safe below ground. Snorting, Fionn pictured his father’s face if he’d ever found out his son had the combination…probably would have had a heart attack.Wait, can dragons get heart attacks?Shrugging, Fionn went back to work, eager to finish.
