Dalton, Tymber - Fire and Ice [A Triple Trouble Prequel] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) (23 page)

Jocko arrived six minutes after the phone call. Without formalities, he blustered through the front door. “There ye are. Listen, we’ve got a serious problem.”

Callie, still looking half asleep, emerged from the bedroom. At least she’d managed to get clothes on. “Coffee, Sir?”

He smiled. Even half asleep she still remembered protocol. “Kitchen, sweetheart. Bring me one, too, please.”

“Yes, Sir.” She disappeared into the kitchen.

Jocko watched her walk out of the room, then he turned to Daniel with a sly smile on his face. “Good fer ye! How’d ye finally manage to find someone to put up with ye?”

He arched an eyebrow at Jocko. “She’s my mate. Now what’s this all about?”

“Cockatrice. I don’t have all the details, but somehow, Brodey Lyall and his brothers are now mixed up with the dragons. Cockatrice tried to kidnap one of their mates, who’s now their Seer, too. And their old Seer was murdered at the Gathering.”

“You asked me about Kael.”

He nodded. “Aye. He’s the one who recommended we find ye and bring ye in.” Jocko glanced at the kitchen and lowered his voice. “It’s about the tablet.”

Daniel frowned. “What tablet?”

“Don’t bullshit me, boyo. Ye know damn well which tablet.”

Daniel scrubbed his face with his hands. “When can we get together?”

“We’re all meeting tonight at Patrick’s restaurant. Seven o’clock. We’ll figure it all out then.”

Callie returned with their coffee. Daniel took his from her and gave her a kiss. “Thank you, pet. Callie, this is Jocko Connelly, one of the Pack elders.”

She shook hands with him. “Pleased to meet you.”

He grinned. “Pleased to meet ye, too.” He slapped Daniel on the arm. “I’ll leave ye alone, then. Tonight at seven, though. Both of ye.” He let himself out.

“He’s…charming,” Callie snarked. “Let me guess, he’s from New York?” she joked.

Daniel laughed. “A good chunk of us came here via Scotland. He was born and raised there and even though he’s been here for over a hundred years, he’s never lost his brogue.”

“So what do we do until seven?”

Daniel grinned. “Oh, I have some ideas.” He took her coffee cup from her and looked down at his zipper before looking back up at her.

She grinned and dropped to her knees. She had his cock out and in her mouth before he could set the coffee mugs down on the nearby table. “Christ!” he hissed. “You are too good at that!” He grabbed her head and held on, letting her set the pace but reminding her who was in charge. She knew how to flick her tongue perfectly along his glans before swallowing him to the root and sucking firmly.

He didn’t bother trying to hold back. He let his orgasm roll out of him from his balls down his cock until he rewarded her with a mouthful of cum.

She gave him a happy little mumbling noise in return as she swallowed every drop, laving his cock with her tongue to retrieve every last drop until he finally had to pry her off him with a laugh. “Enough, pet. You’re done.”

She pouted. “I want seconds, Sir.”

He pulled her to her feet by the arm and slapped her on the ass. “Then go get naked and wait for me on the bed.”

Like a shot, she was gone.

He grabbed his coffee mug and followed her.

Yep, he could keep himself busy aaalll day.

PART III

Chapter One

Walter Medved, known as Wally to his friends and family, sat in his car across the street and three houses down the block from his target, Lenny’s address. He’d anticipated taking another week off following his trip to Yellowstone, but this was more important. He’d grown up in the old country hearing nightmarish stories of the cockatrice and what they’d done to his kin, as well as kin of other shifter races.

No way in hell he wouldn’t help out, even if it’d been someone besides Brodey calling him for the favor.

After an hour, he was reasonably sure there was no one else in the house. He grabbed his clipboard holding fake political surveys and headed for the house. The tiny front yard wasn’t exactly a jungle, but large, unkempt bushes concealed the front windows and shielded a good chunk of the front porch from view of the street and sidewalk. The house had chipped and peeling grayish paint that looked like it might have once been a shade of pale green.

He knocked, loudly, and waited. Knocking again just to be on the safe side, he waited. Receiving no response, he pulled on a pair of gloves, slipped a lock pick set out of his jacket pocket, and let himself in.

The deadbolt wasn’t locked, just the knob. He found out why upon stepping inside and closing the door behind him.

“Holy shit,” he whispered. The place looked trashed. Upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn’t a robbery because a sixty-inch plasma TV was still firmly attached to the wall, as well as all the electronics were still there.

Everywhere he looked in the small house, drawers were pulled out, closets were emptied, and stuff was dumped on the floor. The searchers had even pulled apart heating vent grates to look inside for whatever it is they were after.

He had a good suspicion what it was they were after. Fortunately, the old book was safe in the dragons’ hands. After a half hour, Wally knew he wouldn’t find anything useful. Had there been anything, whoever ransacked the house had beat him to it. He let himself out, locked the door behind him, and hurried on his way.

* * * *

Brodey got off the phone with Wally.

Lina didn’t have to use any freaky powers to read his mind. The result could clearly be seen in the frown on his face.

“Well?” she asked anyway.

He shook his head. “The place is totally trashed. Looked like someone turned it upside down, inside out, and hit frappe.”

“We have no idea if they found what they were looking for, do we?”

“We damn sure do know what they were looking for,” Zack said, slapping his palm on the book. “Unlucky for them we found it first.”

Brodey retook his seat at the table. “I have to agree. Whoever was in on this with Lenny had to know about the book.” He looked at his brothers. “I’m going to take her up to meet Lacey. Wally said he’d meet us up there for backup.”

Ain nodded. “Good idea. This is going to get messy really fast, I’m sure.”

“When do we leave?” Lina asked. “I’m up for a road trip. I think.”

Zack smiled. “You do realize you’ll have to fly to get to France, right?”

“I refuse to think about that now.” She shivered. “I’m sure we can find a doctor who will prescribe something to knock me out.”

Brodey laughed. “We have to get you over your fear of flying, kiddo.”

“Yeah, but there’s no rush, right?” She looked at Jan and Rick for backup. “Right? Please tell me we can drive up to Maine?”

Jan smiled. “Yes, we were planning on driving. But it won’t be a leisure trip. It’ll be straight through.” He looked at the others. “I suggest two vehicles. Can we leave one of our cars here?”

Ain nodded. “No problem. Hopefully, by the time you get up there, Jocko will have an answer for us on Daniel Blackestone’s location and know how to get in touch with him.”

Lina breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank you, guys. I really appreciate it.”

Chapter Two

They left the next day, taking two vehicles. Kael, Zack, and Brodey took one, following Rick, Jan, and Lina. Driving straight through, it took them nearly two days. After checking into a hotel on the grounds of the Pack compound, Lina spent the better part of a day sleeping.

The next morning at breakfast, she asked Brodey, “So when do we go see Lacey?”

“Today. I called her when I got up.” He looked at Jan and Rick. “I think it’d be best if Zack and I take her. We don’t need to overwhelm Lacey or Lina.”

Rick looked like he wanted to bristle at that, but Jan immediately nodded. “That’s fine.” He turned to Rick. “She’ll be fine.”

Rick grumbled a little under his breath, and Lina thought she spotted a wisp of smoke emerge from his nostrils, but he agreed.

They pulled up in front of an old wood and stone cottage that looked like it had been built at least fifty years earlier. A white picket fence surrounded a lush flower garden that perfectly seemed to fit the casual mood of the house. Brodey led the way to the front door while Lina followed and nervously clung to Zack’s hand.

He leaned in and muttered in her ear. “She’s not going to eat you, sweetie.”

“I know. I’m just…nervous. What if she doesn’t like me?”

Brodey turned with a snort. “Honey, if Lacey doesn’t like you, I’ll ask Jocko to run her to the doctor for testing.”

A woman Lina could only describe as grandmotherly opened the door. Shorter than herself, and no telling how old, but the bright spark in her brown eyes and straightness of her posture told Lina there were still a lot of years, as well as a lot of strength, left in her body.

“I heard that, Brodey Lyall,” the woman said, smiling. “How are you, son?”

He tipped his head to her. “Very good, Lacey.” He turned and motioned Lina and Zack forward. “This is Lina and her Watcher, Zack.”

Lacey cocked her head in an appraising way as she shook and held hands with Lina. “You are also your
flagyer’s
Seer now, aren’t you?”

Lina blushed. “Yes, ma’am. That’s what they tell me.”

Lacey laughed. “You don’t need to call me ma’am. Well, come in, come in, all of you.” She led them into her kitchen. The delicious aroma of bread baking filled the air. “I’m terribly sorry about Bertholde,” she said. “We were friends for a very long time. I shall miss her.”

“Thank you,” Lina said, struggling not to tear up. How the hell was she supposed to learn everything she had to learn? Who would teach her?

“I know I’m not a dragon,” Lacey said, “but I have met many other Seers, from wolf packs as well as other races. Always feel free to come to me for advice. Or if nothing else, a friendly ear.”

Lina nodded, hugging herself. “Thank you.”

Lacey studied her for a moment. Then she grabbed Lina by the hand and led her to the back door. “We’re going for a walk,” Lacey said. When the men stood to join them, she held up a hand. “I didn’t mean you two. Lina and I need some alone time. We’re perfectly safe here in the compound.”

Lacey donned a shawl that hung on a hook by her back door. She glanced down at Lina’s shoes. “I’m glad you’re wearing sneakers,” she said with a smile. Then she led Lina out the back door and off the porch. They made their way down a winding path through Lacey’s beautiful herb and flower garden.

“This place feels so peaceful,” Lina said.

Lacey nodded. “Thank you. I have worked very hard over the years to cultivate only that which pleases me and causes me no stress.” She glanced at Lina. “And your men are stressful to you right now. I know they mean well, but their efforts to protect you are misguided. You are feeding off their nervous energy, which in turn only serves to heighten your nervous energy.”

Lina let out a snort. “You’ve got that right.” The path seemed to be going downhill. “Where are we going?”

“My special thinking place. I want to show it to you.”

They continued on for several minutes through green woods. Lina thought she smelled salt air and heard the sound of waves. “We’re close to the ocean?”