The Twisted Links

Chapter 34

CHAPTER 34

Cub Creek Territory...

Lee was impatient to leave Cub Creek knowing that Calvin was somewhere nearby. His sister's wolf, Rayna, begged and pleaded to find her mate so they could spend time together. Lee ignored her. His wolf, Reynor, hesitantly added his support to his sister not wanting her to be sad anymore. Lee rolled his eyes and didn't want to entertain the idea. He was afraid of being around his sister's mate because of the attraction he felt through her. He was NOT gay but damn it was hard to not think about Calvin in a way that... Lee put an immediate stop to his thoughts.

"I know that I'm a prisoner and all but I can't think of what I've done to you personally that would warrant such a ferocious glare." David Rameeta's condescending tone cut through Lee's distraction. "Is it perhaps a woman that is causing such distress?"

"Shut up!" Lee barked.

Rameeta winked at him, "If you're having problems your mate then I have a way for you to get rid of said problems by breaking the mating bond."

Lee looked sharply at the man who smirked knowing that he hit a nerve.

"That's right." He smiled, "I know how to break the bond between mates."

"How?"

Rogue Lands...

The occupants in the room were Dameon placed a call through to Luke Osborn, a cat shifter and one of his Betas, who was currently on the road to meet Asya and Shula in Oakville halfway on their return journey. Dameon's other Beta, Braxton, Princess Hadassah and her mate Zana, and Eesha waited patiently for Dameon to explain the circumstances for this call.

"Well how are we going to make this work?" Dameon asked his new queen.

Eesha recounted briefly her history and the recent employment of the collars.

"We're not going to be able to save everyone. Many have no desire to be exposed or subjected to change. Others do not take this crisis as a serious threat and feel that they can ignore it. So it won't be enough to tell them that they have a place of refuge. I would suggest that we show them in a different way." Eesha paused in thought. "I brought someone with me that can control Spirit Walkers. It's the only element of dark magic that she possesses. She is the descendant of the witch that now stands by the exiled prince's side her name is Trish."

Dameon immediately became guarded, "I did not fully see the witch that we fought near my brother's pack but if she's the same bitch my friends have been telling me then she is nothing but bad news and I will not risk my alliances by associating with her. I and my half-brother lost many men fighting at Prince Grim's hideout near the Desert Rose Pack."

"She is exactly that person and her crimes are indeed numerous. However, she is a valuable asset and can show that not even the Rogue King himself or a vampire royal," she said nodding towards Zana, "can take down an Enkanto alone. I also have friends that have recently come to Rogue Lands that are witnesses to the crimes brought against our kind. We will reach out to as many as we can so they will seek safety. If they believe not our words then perhaps they will see our actions."

Dameon looked at his friends gaging their reactions to his Choice's words.

Braxton cleared his throat, "I don't know much about vampires but the mentality of rogues are not much different from what I've observed. They're generally mistrusting and tend to deal with they can see and feel with diehard practicality. A demonstration might work and having a testimonial wouldn't hurt."

Dameon nodded towards his Beta.

"Luke?" Dameon said expecting his second Beta to weigh in.

"I've talked briefly with Shula." Luke's voice came through the speaker of his hands-free set. "She mentioned that Trish helped kill the Necromancer that was working with Prince Grim. While her motives are still questionable, I think that Tracy and the others will take that under consideration. However, it is my suggestion, that since our new queen is unknown to us that perhaps she should be in charge of ensuring this witch stays on track."

Dameon looked over at Hadassah and Zana. "We think that's a good idea. You will still have to attend the Vampire Quarter Centennial Ball to gain support." Hadassah answered for both of them.

Keeping her face blank, Eesha nodded. "I agree."

Dameon huffed in displeasure over the prospect of been wrapped up in another monkey ass tux tighter than a pile of beef in a burrito. "Alright fine then." he pointed at Eesha, "As my 'wife' you better not bury me in a fucking suit."

Eesha stared at him blankly, "I'll bury you in a dress then." She deadpanned before asking, "Anymore questions?"

"Just one." Dameon said, "Do you like doggy style?"

He yelped in shock and stared at the knife protruding from his shoulder. Eesha pulled out another knife. "Anymore 'stupid' questions?"

Pulling the first knife out with a grunt, Dameon glared, "Not at the moment."

Holding the blade in throwing position, Eesha raised a brow, "You sure?"

Dameon smirked.

"I like her!" Hadassah said with a gleeful smile.

Oakville...

The rental car pulled into the parking lot of a rental store that they had agreed to meet at. The girls would leave the rental here and ride back with Luke.

Arriving first, the cat shifter took a deep breath to calm his nerves. It had been such a long time since he had felt this anxious. He felt like a kid anticipating his first kiss.

The Dark Fairy princess meant so much to him. Despite her years, she was so innocent and kind. He enjoyed talking with her and the cute little blushes when he teased her. He didn't know the exact details but he figured that whatever happened with her mate or Other Half, as the Sprites called them, wasn't good.

He had lost his mate a long time ago and he missed having someone to connect with. The meaningless flings that he occasionally dallied with couldn't compare to the simple joy of being with Shula even if it was just as a friend. He hoped that eventually she would start to see him as something more than a friend.

Exiting his vehicle, he walked up to the car as the doors opened and the girls stepped out. Asya stretched and groaned, "So tired." She moaned as she walked to Luke's crew cab truck and claimed the entire back seat. Shula looked just as tired and Luke wrapped his arms around her.

"How are you doing Buttercup?" he asked.

"I can raise dead people." She said dryly. "Kind of disconcerting when you think about it. I really need to talk to my dad. How are you?"

"I burnt my tongue with the coffee I bought." He replied and they both chuckled.

Throwing an arm over her shoulders and holding her close, Luke led them to the passenger side. Opening the door, he placed his hands around her waist and easily lifted onto the seat. Shula frowned. "I will never understand why people buy vehicles that you need an elevator to get into."

"It's cool." Luke said defending his truck.

"It's terrible for the environment." She shot back.

"Less talkie and more drivie." Asya called. "Flirt later. I want a bath and sleep so move it."

Shula's cheek heated up and it took everything Luke had to shut the door and not give into the urge to kiss that pink blush to a dark red. He was falling and falling hard. 

"Buckle up, Buttercup."

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You have probably noticed that it is not my usual day to post. But I noticed that my first book, "The Protector," has reach 200K reads. While that's not as much as other authors, I am proud that I was able to get that many. So in honor of reaching 200k reads I am releasing 2 episodes early!