Fated Forgiveness [Kindred of Arkadia 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove) (19 page)

“I wish I could meet a man like that,” he said.

“Like what? What doctor?” Kent asked, taking a seat next to Sebastian.

“The Doctor,” Sebastian said.

“Is he single?” Rian asked from the next table. Rebecca giggled and shook her head.

“He’s a doctor on TV,” she explained.

“Dr. Who?” Kent asked.

“Exactly!” Rebecca, Sebastian, Ashby, Kate and Nic said at once.

Sebastian watched as Kent shook his head. He noticed that his mate shared his confused look with

Aleks, Gabriel, Caleb and Bran.

“Speaking of Saturdays, who do you call during our Doctor time and leave the phone on speaker for,

Ashby?” Rebecca asked. Gabriel’s eyebrow went up.

“What’s this,
mon ange?
” he asked. Ashby looked everywhere but at his mate.

“Angel?” Gabriel asked again. Ashby looked at his mate and sighed.

“It’s Mikhail.” Ashby said. Gabriel stared at Ashby. Ashby stared back. Finally, Gabriel blinked.

“Mikhail?” he asked.

“Yes,” was Ashby’s one word reply. Gabriel shrugged.

“He always did have odd tastes.” Ashby rolled his eyes.

“Where is Liam?” Kate asked.

“Finishing up paperwork. Even as slow as he is, I expected him to be done by now,” Kent said,

frowning.

“Maybe we should have stayed in to help him,” Sebastian offered. Kent shook his head.

“Then nothing would have gotten done.” He kissed the side of Sebastian’s neck.

“Whoo hoo, y’all are like newlyweds.” Kate whistled.

Out of nowhere a muffled song went off. It was Nine Inch Nails’ “Closer
.
” The chorus line was on

loop.

Everyone looked at Sebastian before all eyes swung around to Rian, who was staring at Sebastian with

wide eyes.

“It wasn’t me this time,” Rian said, sounding shocked. Sebastian shrugged and winked at Rebecca, who

collapsed against Kate giggling.

“Hey, Liam,” Sebastian said, answering the phone.

“Hello, kitten. Listen, can you and Kent do me a favor? Old man Gilberton has called up here again

telling us to pick up the chocolate or he was going to call the sheriff. Can you guys pick it up? I should be

there in a little bit,” Liam said, growling then cursing as Sebastian heard paperwork in the background.

“Sure, my love. Hurry, we miss you,” Sebastian said.

“Miss you both too.” Liam made kissing noises before hanging up.

“I’ll go. I don’t want you lifting anything,” Kent said. Sebastian froze in putting his phone away.

“Why can’t he lift anything?” Nic asked. Shooting an apologetic look to Sebastian, Kent hesitated to

answer.

“Because he and Liam put a crook in my back last night, if you know what I mean. They are going to

baby me today. Isn’t that right, Kent?” Sebastian asked.

“All day long.” Kent smiled, leaned in, kissed Sebastian’s cheek and whispered, “Sorry
.
”

“Love you, big guy,” Sebastian said, and popped Kent on the ass as he walked away. Kent turned and

gave him a heated look before walking out of the diner.

“Phew, is it getting hot in here, or is it just the newly mated raising the temperature?” Nic teased.

Sebastian blushed.

Ma came out carrying his chicken pot pie.

“Thanks Ma, this smells heavenly.” Sebastian dug into his lunch. Beside him Kent’s tuna on whole

wheat sat on his plate. Thinking about his mates and how lucky he was, he worked on his pot pie. He was

about halfway through with his lunch when Rebecca’s voice interrupted his thoughts.

“For heaven’s sake, just go help him. If you check the time on your phone anymore you might break

it.” Sebastian grinned at her.

“Watch our lunches for us?” He asked. She nodded and he jumped up to head out to Bobbles and

Things to help his mate so that they could hurry up and see Liam.

* * * *

Liam walked into the dinner thirty minutes later and saw Rebecca and Kate laughing.

“Hello, my ladyloves.” His eyes went to Rebecca’s stomach. She shook her head.

“I wouldn’t if I were you. Your mates aren’t here to protect you from Aleks.” Rebecca wagged a finger

at him. Liam looked around.

“Where are my hot and sexy mates?” Liam asked. Rebecca shrugged.

“They left about thirty minutes ago to pick up the chocolate from Bobbles and Things. I thought that

maybe they forgot about their lunch and headed back to the pride house,” she said.

“I bet they got sidetracked at one of the stores. Hold their food and put an order in for me for a burger.

I’ll go find them,” he said standing. Walking around after spending most of the morning in his office

sounded great. He walked out of the diner, made a right on Market Street and headed to the candy store.

When he got to Bobbles and Things, he noticed David and Daniel sitting on the curb outside of the

store.

“Hey guys, what are you doing sitting out here?” Liam asked. Daniel looked up.

“Sebastian said he would give us some of the chocolate from the pride order. Ashby introduced us to

the stuff, now we’re addicted.” David explained.

“Why don’t you just go in and get some?” Liam looked from David to Daniel. The twins shook their

heads.

“Mr. Gilberton is really mean. He said if we came into his store again he would call the sheriff. We’re

new in town and didn’t want to cause trouble,” Daniel said, and Liam nodded.

“Well let me go see what is taking so long. Hang tight.” Liam turned and walked into the colorful candy

store. He walked up to the counter where Gilberton was doing paperwork.

“Gilberton, have you seen Kent and Sebastian? They were supposed to come and pick up the chocolate

order for the pride.” Liam ground his teeth in an effort to be civil.

“You cock-loving fags have come and gone. Good thing too, I didn’t want them in my store any longer

than it took to get the chocolate, which was taking up valuable inventory space, I’ll have you know,”

Gilberton sneered. Liam took deep breaths to keep from punching the old man in the face.

“Good day, then,” Liam said, and walked back out of the store. When he got back outside he saw David

and Daniel jump up and walk over to him.

“I must have missed them. He said that they have come and gone already. Maybe they’ve gone to the

pride house already,” Liam wondered out loud. David and Daniel exchanged concerned looks.

“Liam, Sebastian never left. We arrived the same time he did and we waited right outside the door for

him to come out. He hasn’t come out yet,” David explained. Liam could feel a rising panic enter his body

like jet fuel.

“David, run back to the diner and tell Aleks exactly what you just told me. Daniel, you’re with me,”

Liam said, turning to head back up the steps into Bobbles and Things.

He swung open the door so hard he heard the glass panes crack.

“What is the meaning of this!” Gilberton demanded, coming around the counter. He saw Daniel and

hissed.

“Out of my store, you undead abomination!” he screamed.

Daniel turned to Liam, his normally green eyes glowing bright red.

“I smell blood, Liam.”

That one short sentence had Liam’s world imploding. Liam reached forward and grabbed Gilberton by

the throat and easily hefted the heavier man off the floor.

“Where. Are. My. Mates?” he asked his voice surprisingly cold and evenly toned.

“I don’t know what you are talking about!” Gilberton protested. Daniel walked past Liam and Gilberton,

following his nose.

“The smell is stronger down there,” Daniel said, pointing to a door.

“You’re coming with me,” Liam said, throwing Gilberton against the wall next to the door. With two

quick strides he was at the doorway heading downstairs. He grabbed the older man’s long, white hair and

started to drag him down the roughhewn wooden stairs. Halfway down, Liam heard something break on the

old man.

Once down the stairs, Liam froze. Crumpled in a corner, not moving, was Kent’s prone figure. Laying

next to Kent was Sebastian. Both had pools of blood fanning out from their heads. Liam threw Gilberton at

Daniel and roared out his anger. He ran over and pulled both of his mates into his lap, crying.

“Please don’t leave me! Please, my loves!” Liam yelled out, rocking their bodies.

“Liam!” Voices called out from upstairs. Liam heard footsteps on the wooden floor above.

“We’re down here!” Daniel yelled. He easily held onto the thrashing Gilberton. Seconds later Aleks,

Caleb, Bran and Gabriel came rushing down the rickety steps.

“What in the hell happened?” Aleks asked, taking Gilberton by the arm.

“That crazy bastard hit me in the back of the head,” Kent’s voice sounded pained. Liam looked down at

his mate to see Kent blinking his eyes and trying to sit up. Kent looked over, saw Sebastian’s still form in

Liam’s arms, and his hands shifted to claws.

“I had to do it! We can’t have a queer on the council, he is an abomination!” Gilberton screamed, foam

forming at the corners of his mouth. Aleks snarled down at the man.

Liam handed Sebastian over to Kent, who retracted his claws to hold their mate.

“Give him to me, Aleks,” Liam demanded. Aleks shook his head, his eyes pained.

“I can’t, Liam. He was taken alive, he has to go on trial for what he’s done, if you kill him now it will be

in cold blood and you can be tried for murder. After what we just went through yesterday, don’t waste the

chance you have been given to be with your mates,” Aleks said calmly.

“Give him to me!” Liam screamed until his throat felt raw, his eyes and hands shifting.

“Liam?” The weak voice was barely heard over Liam’s rage. Liam swung his head around to see

Sebastian watching him from Kent’s lap.

“Kitten? Are you okay?” Liam asked going to his mates and dropping to his knees.

“My head hurts, but other than that I’m fine.” Sebastian reached up and pulled Liam into his arms. Kent

reached up and held them both.

“You’re sick! You’re going to hell. Freaks, deviants!” Gilberton’s steady stream of hate was cut short

when Aleks reared back and punched him right between the eyes, effectively shutting the old man up. Liam

raised an eyebrow. Aleks shrugged.

“He’s still alive.” Aleks frowned down at the man dangling from his grasp and shook him. “I think.” He

shook Gilberton again until a moan was heard. Aleks sighed in relief.

“Aleks, let’s get Sebastian and Kent to the diner. Claybourne is out of town at a convention, so Ma will

have to look them over,” Bran said. Liam stood and scooped Sebastian up in his arms. Bran and Caleb

helped Kent to stand. Each man supported the large shifter under each arm and slowly made their way up

the stairs. Aleks dragged Gilberton behind him, followed by Daniel, who kept smacking Gilberton in the

face when Aleks’s back was turned. Once upstairs, Kent was steady on his feet, and everyone filed out of

the candy store to head to the diner where Ma, Rebecca, Kate, Ashby and Nic waited out front on the

sidewalk. Lachlan, on his cell phone, came rushing towards them from his parked car.

“Are they okay?” Lachlan asked Liam, breathless. Liam nodded and nuzzled the top of Sebastian’s head.

Kent rested his head on Liam’s shoulder. Lachlan looked to where Aleks stood, still holding Gilberton by

the back of the neck.

“Is he alive?” Lachlan asked.

Aleks nodded. “Kinda.” He shook Gilberton until he groaned, waking up. When his eyes opened, he

looked around at the crowd and hissed.

“Thank God! Yes, Ora, they managed to take him alive. Yes, I’d like to arrange the trial immediately,”

Lachlan said. Liam watched as Rebecca made her way over to Aleks. At first he thought that she was going

to her husband, but instead she leaned in and whispered something so softly to Gilberton that he couldn’t

hear what she said. She stood back and smiled sweetly at him.

Seconds later Gilberton began to thrash around trying to escape.

“Gilberton, stop resisting, you’re only making this harder on yourself,” Lachlan yelled. Bran and Caleb

stood in front of Kate, Gabriel pushed Ashby behind him, and Ma pulled Rebecca into her arms. Liam

slowly backed away with Sebastian and Kent.

“You won’t infect me! Deviants! Sinners!” Gilberton screeched.

Gilberton broke free from Aleks and lunged at Liam. Without thinking twice Liam shifted his hand and

gutted him before Gilberton could reach his mates. Liam watched, completely detached, as the older man

fell to his knees and kneeled over, blood pooling around him. The wound was so severe that even the

accelerated healing powers of a shifter couldn’t save him.

“Ora, that trial won’t be necessary after all. Gilberton broke free from Aleksander Arkadion and made

another attempt at Sebastian and Kent. Liam had no choice but to kill him. Yes, please contact the next of

kin. That would be an enormous help. Good-bye, talk to you soon.” Lachlan ended the call, looked at the

body, and sighed.

“Cleaning up dead bodies is so damn messy.” He shook his head.

“Luckily Aleks has some experience with that,” Ma said, pushing her son forward. Aleks pointed to his

chest.

“How did I get stuck with body detail again?” He demanded. Ma just pointed to where Liam stood