Shane: Dragon’s Savior – Ménage Erotic Fantasy (Dragon's Savior Book 4) (15 page)

He just laughed and asked her to take a selfie with him and one of the larger ones. “That way when they tell me I’m insane, which I might just be, I’ll have this picture. Come on now, you know you want to be famous as well.”

“Not really.” When she drew a knife and swiped it through the air, he felt strangely detached for a moment. Then warmth slowly saturated his chest, and his shirt felt damp. When he looked down, blood was flowing from his neck and he wanted to reach up to stop it. But he was unable to as his hands were tied behind his back. “You’re going to rot in hell, Robert. Last of the Heralds. My son, the little one that you cherished so much? He’s not yours. I thought you’d like to tell that to your long dead grand-whatever when you see him in hell.”

Robert felt himself fall to his knees. There would be no saving him, he knew this. Nor would they care to. He knew as surely as he was falling to the ground that he’d been a horrific person. But to be honest, he wasn’t sure if he might have been much different had he been given the chance. His life, he thought with a smile, had been fucking fantastic. And he’d been able to see a real dragon. Wait until he told someone about that.

~~~

“We have eleven in custody and two more that we’re trying to gather up. When the dragons landed, they scattered like dust bunnies.” Shane nodded, his attention on Lelani and the woman that had been arrested for the murder of Robert. But Allen Lance, a friend and a wolf that worked at the police station, seemed to understand. “She more than likely won’t survive the trial. I just found out that she has cancer.”

“And her son? What will happen to him?” Allen said that there was a grandmother, and they were trying to contact her now. “Let me know what you find out. If she can’t or doesn’t want him, I’ll talk to my wife. Perhaps we can arrange something.”

Allen nodded and looked where Shane was looking. “She’s strong. I know you more than likely know that, but what she did here today, that’s more than I’ve ever thought of having a witch do.”

“She said that she didn’t want anyone hurt but those that deserved it. When Silco landed on those two men, I thought for sure that she was going to be upset. But they killed their wives this morning in anticipation of seeing them burn at the stake.” Shane looked at his longtime friend. “Doesn’t love mean anything to humans anymore?”

“I can’t answer that, Shane. I surely can’t. Two months ago I came upon a house that had four little ones in it and not a bit of food. The eldest told me that it had been a week since he’d had anything in his belly as his momma had her welfare cut off.” Shane asked if she tried to get it returned to her. “Can’t. She and her kids are suffering in ways you cannot believe. The husband took what little money there was. The electric had been shut off, and they were in dire need of transportation. I helped her out a little, but that’s taking from my own kids’ mouths too.”

“Send her around to the antique store tomorrow. I’ll make sure that Jed is aware of her situation and what they need.” Allen thanked him. “And I’m serious about that little boy of Robert’s. There is no reason for him to be put in the system if we can help it.”

When all the men there were arrested, and the women freed that had been brought in, the police were going to do a door to door search of the homes. No one was sure what they would find, but nothing so far had been ordinary, so they didn’t expect this to be either. Shane gathered Lelani in his arms when they were told they could go.

“She said that he’d made arrangements before he left this morning for her to come out here tonight. Robert told her that they were going to have a nice dinner and then stay at a hotel. Lynne found out today that he’d lost his job and there wasn’t enough money to buy food for them. And the mortgage was behind for the last four months.” Shane held her tighter in his arms as she continued. “Lynne said she only came out here to confront him about the job and to ask him what they were going to do. Then she heard him say he had plans to kill her. I guess that was what took her over the edge.”

“Allen said that she didn’t come armed, so that’ll work in her favor. He also said that she never mentioned the dragons. Did you do that?” She turned in his arms then and laid her head on his chest. Keion was taking care of the building with Silco so that no one would come out here again thinking to take up where the men had left off. “Lelani, I have a favor to ask of you. And Keion, but you first. There is a chance that Robert’s little boy will be put in the system after today.”

“We’ll take him. We’ll end the violence in his family by raising him up to be a good solid man.” She looked up at him. “Is that the favor? To bring him to our home?”

“Yes. But I’ve been thinking we should spread around some of our wealth. The three of us, we have more than enough, and should we need more, there is our portion of the things that were put aside for our families to use. I want to help some families out that might otherwise go to bed hungry tonight.” She told him she’d do whatever he wanted. “Good. I’d like to start by opening up a business. I’m not sure what it would be, but something that we can hire a few people and get them trained. Allen said there is a woman whose husband left her with their children without means of support, and they’re hungry.”

She pulled away from him and moved to the car. When she stopped and looked at him, he asked her what she was doing. Lelani grinned at him and opened the door to her truck that his dad had brought over for them.

“We have to buy food. And find some shelter for them too. Do you know if they have coats for winter? I would bet not. And furniture too. Do you suppose that there is anything open this...? What are you doing now?” He just shook his head and moved to the passenger side of her truck. Roger leapt in the back end and laid down. He’d have to be dropped off at the house, but his dad decided to come along.

“I’ve been thinking that we need to get us a few things in town too. Did you know that there are televisions as big as me? Durn near had me a fit when Simeon told me about it. And then he pulled one up on his phone for me to see. I could use one of them.” Shane asked his dad what he’d watch on it. “Never you mind about that. I can find me something to look at on it. And I’m gonna be watching me some things with them girls of mine too. Never too old to start watching things with them. And with Christmas coming up in only four months, I’m thinking I need to get me a start on things there too.”

“You can order them online and have them delivered to your house, too.” Shane was glad he was looking at his dad when Lelani said that to him, or he might not have had the best laugh he’d had in a month. “Not to mention, you can even have someone come out and put whatever it is you buy together.”

“I suppose the next thing you’ll be telling me is that they’ll even wrap it all up with a pretty bow too.” When Lelani nodded, it was all Shane could do not to have her pull over so he could stand up. Sitting down and laughing this hard hurt. “Now I done heard it all. Yes, sir, I heard about it all.”

Chapter 9

Lelani wasn’t sure what to do with a kid. She’d been one so long ago that it was just a blur for her. Even being around the babies, who wouldn’t know to judge her just yet if she messed up, was enough to send her to the outdoors. What was she going to do with a seven-year-old little boy in the house?

His mother was dead. No one had told him as yet, but she’d committed suicide in her hospital room late yesterday afternoon. The note that she’d left had told whoever read it that she was finished with life; there didn’t seem to be much reason to live out the last of her days in a prison cell. Then she wished her son well. Then at the end she explained how she had lied to Robert about his son, and wished now that she’d not been so cruel.

The house was empty but for the four of them. Roger was in the kitchen preparing lunch and the three of them were pacing the front hall. She supposed that it was her pacing, and Shane and Keion were moving out of her way.

“I’m glad that you asked the rest of your family to give us some time to talk to him first.” Shane said if it was overwhelming for her, he had no idea what it would be for a kid. “No kidding. You’re all so big too. If I were short, I’d run screaming when you guys were around.”

They expected him in an hour. Sooner if traffic would cooperate. It was too soon for her, and not soon enough for Mark Herald to arrive. The kid had had a hell of a two weeks since his mom had killed his dad. And even though he didn’t know it, he’d also been rejected by a grandmother, and his mom had left him alone in the world.

The car pulled up ten minutes early. Her heart had been beating pretty fast up until then, but now it felt as if it were going to bounce its way right out of her chest. Keion came to stand on her other side and Shane went to open the door. This was it, he was coming to live with them.

For the week after he was taken into foster care, her and Shane or Keion would go and visit him every day. She wasn’t sure what to think at first. Mark’s grandma had told them that her daughter was a murderer and she didn’t want a thing to do with a murderer’s son. Fucking bitch. Lelani didn’t want to get too attached to him—though at first visit she fell in love with the little guy—in the event that he wasn’t going to be staying with them. Had Lelani had her way, the grandma would have joined her son-in-law and daughter in the morgue.

Going out on the deck when the car came to a stop, she waited for the door to open before she moved down to the driveway. With each step she took closer to the car, the more terrified she became. What the hell were they thinking?

You got this.
Lelani looked around for the source of the voice that seemed to float over the wind, and saw no one. The words, she’d heard them before, and it took her a moment to remember where. Taking a stumbling step and only just catching herself, she remembered who had said that to her time and time again.

“Hello.” Shaking off the memories, she went down on her knees to be eye level with Mark. He still looked sad, his little face thinner than it had been before. “They said that if you didn’t like me or want me, I could go back to the big house.”

“Do you want to go back there?” He looked at Mrs. Peirce, then at her. “You can if you want. But if you decide to stay, then that’s a done deal. We’re all ready for you to come and be with us, but if you’ve changed your mind, now would be the time to do it.”

“I’m afraid.” Lelani told him she understood that, she was too. “But you’re a big person. Not a kid like me. I don’t want you to hate me too.”

“Are you talking about your grandmother?” He nodded and wiped at the tears, and told her he was sorry. “Don’t be sorry. You need to cry, then go for it. Once, when I was about your age, a woman told me that you cry to wash out the bad things. If you just keep them in, like bad thoughts, then they’ll fester and boil over into the good things in your life. Do you want that to happen?”

“No. But what if you think that, ‘cause my mom killed my dad, I might be too much for you too?” She told him it wasn’t going to happen. “Mom, she said that Dad had been a bad man. I don’t understand that. He wasn’t always nice to Mom, but he was okay with me. He never took me places like he said he would, but he was really busy supporting us.”

They had already decided not to bad mouth either his mom or his dad. Someday, when he was ready and wanted to know, they’d tell him what had happened. Keion had started saving the newspapers too, in the event he wanted to know what they had to say about his parents someday.

“Shane has gotten you a fishing pole, and your new grandda will take you fishing whenever you want to go when it’s warmer. You have two cousins already here, and more on the way too sometime, I bet.” He looked over at Jacob when she did. “He is so excited to have you hanging out with him. Jacob is a good man and will never hurt you.”

Mark turned back to her, his face almost as readable as an open book. He was both terrified and excited. While he wanted to believe that they’d never turn him out, there were other things as well, things that she’d told him that he had to deal with when he was alone.

She wanted him to know about all of the things he might see here. And there were plenty. But she also told him that it had to be a secret, because there were people living with them that needed to feel safe around him. Safe so that bad people didn’t come and hurt them too. She took one of the brownies with her once, just to prove to him what sort of magical things his secrets were keeping safe.

“You remember what I told you? About the dragons and faeries?” He looked at Mrs. Peirce again when she patted him on the back and left without saying a word. “I sent her on her way. I’m thinking you’re ready to stay.”

“Yes. I am. You said I could meet a faerie. But I had to keep it a secret.” She nodded and put out her hand. When a little brownie landed in her hand, Mark took a small step back. But he never took his eyes off the little man. “What’s his name?”

“I’m Peck. This is my lovely mate. She’ll be helping in the household.” Peck and his mate bowed low and stood up. “You’d be Master Mark, correct? If you want, and I have permission from the king of dragons and the faerie queen, I can be your friend. We can anyway, but this way, we can live together the rest of our days.” As they stood there, talking, the little woman faerie flew off to the house.

“You mean that you’d live with me in the house? That would be really cool. Do you think we can hang out together all the time?” Peck said he had no reason to think that they couldn’t. “I don’t have much. The house where I was living with the foster care, they said that I’d have to give up my things. I didn’t have much anyways. We were kinda poor.”

As the two of them moved into the house, Lelani stood up and watched them. Peck knew the lay of the house and which room was going to be Mark’s, so she had no doubt that was where they were headed now. As the door shut behind them, she could hear Mark telling Peck what had been going on
his entire life
. All seven years of it.

“I think we’ve just been out done by a speck.” She told Shane his name was Peck. “Same thing. We’re not as cool anymore.”

“I don’t think we were ever cool.” They all three laughed as they made their way into the house. Jacob joined them when Roger was just handing them tall glasses of tea. “Dad, you should have seen him. Every emotion you could imagine running over his face until Peck showed up.”

“He mention fishing? I been scouting out the best places for him and me to go.” Lelani told Jacob that Mark didn’t care for fishing. The look on his face was so heartbreaking that she told him she was teasing. “Not nice. And here I thought you and me was going to be the best of buds now. You shouldn’t scare an old man like that. Dern near sent me on a twizzle swizzle.”

She wasn’t sure what that meant, but she would never tease him like that again. And later, after Mark and Peck had looked over the entire house, they joined them in the kitchen. All in all, she thought it went very well. But when dinner time rolled around, Peck came to find her.

“I think the young master is afraid of the dark, miss.” She started to stand up to go to him when Keion said he’d go. “Very good, sir. He’s not wanting to be upset in front of the missus, if you know what I mean.”

When Keion returned half an hour later with Mark in tow, all he said was that things were fine now. She was sure they were, but after dinner decided to go by his room when she went up later that night. Opening the door quietly, she was surprised to find two of the smaller dragons in the room with him, as well as one of the faeries. Blue, the faerie, said she was there to keep the dragons from harm. The dragons were sitting in the windows, one on each side of the bed.

“We’ve come to ward off the bad men.” She asked them what bad men. “Don’t know, my lady. But Keion said that the young master was fearful of them, and we should keep an eye out for them. I’m thinking it might have been about his father.”

Carefully so as not to wake Mark, she touched her fingers to his head to see who might have scared him. When she sat on the edge of the bed after finding the information, she turned to the dragons.

“His father would sometimes fight with his mom late at night, and he’d tell her about what his family did to the witches of their time. I’m hoping they thought him asleep and never dreamed that he was hearing every horrid detail.” Peck came to sit on the pillow by Mark’s head as she continued. “He’s afraid that some of the men who would gather witches would come and find him and burn him at the stake by mistake.”

“Oh, the poor lad. To think that someone could be so careless with their words.” Lelani agreed. “Mistress, are you going to remove those memories from him? He might sleep better if you were to do that.”

She had actually thought about it, to save him from suffering needlessly. But it wouldn’t be right. On a great many levels.

“No. I can’t do that. If I do, it’s messing with the timeline of his life. While I know very little about his future, I can tell you that his memories that he makes now, here with us, are going to soon push the bad ones away about his father and mother.” Peck thought that a good thing then. “Yes. I have to agree. Whatever is there, it will mold him into the man that he’ll become. A great man.”

As she left the room, she thanked the tiny dragons for their help, and both said it was their pleasure to help the tiny human. She wondered if either of them realized that he outweighed them by thirty pounds or more, and he was only going to get bigger. As she left the room in favor of her own, she was smiling. Things might just be all right.

~~~

The castle was, but for a few things, finished. They still needed to cut the trees for the front gate and to fill it with the things that had been stored away. Shane put his hand on the wall that was closest to the fireplace and felt the warmth of it. It was warm, not just from the fire that now blazed in the large open fireplace, but there was love there. He could feel it in every part of the place now.

“Do you suppose we should start bringing up the bigger pieces in the morning?” He looked at Asher when he asked and realized that his brother was king of this place. “What?”

“We’re not going to have to call you anything like kingie, are we? And I hope to Christ you don’t think you’re going to rule from a big chair, either.” Asher flushed a deep red. “You were thinking that, weren’t you?”

“No. No, it’s not that, but.... Well, come with me. And before you make any kind of comment on this, know that Dad got them for Essie and me. I’m taking away his Internet access too, as of now.” As they entered the large room that they’d figured out was the throne room, Shane had to put his hand over his mouth and hold the laughter ready to spill out. He looked at his dad as he made his way to them, and could see that he was quite proud of himself.

“They were just gonna burn it in the wood pile.” Shane wanted to ask why someone didn’t let them. “But I gave the man ten dollars and asked him to bring them out here. Don’t you think they’re something?”

“They’re something, all right.” The chairs—he supposed one could call them that—were matching and had a place to sit your bottom. But other than that, their relationship with a “chair” ended there. “You only paid ten dollars for these?”

As his dad went on about how he’d gotten such a wonderful deal on them, he walked closer. They did not improve on closer inspection. In actuality, he was hard pressed to understand why someone would have built them in the first place.

The arms of them were made of what looked to him like moose antlers. Big ones too, that would fit a small child in them if they wanted to sit there. The points of the antlers stood over the seat of the chair about two feet, and they were polished to a high gleam that hurt the eyes when the sun flickered over them. When he touched his fingers to it, he realized at once they were made of plastic and not from a real moose. Christ.

The back of the seat was covered in fake zebra fur. He knew it was fake because the stripes were perfectly lined up with one another, and even went so far as to look like someone had taken a marker to them to straighten out a few places where the fur had worn thin. Running his hand over the material, he thought he’d never sit in these suckers; the fur felt like a thousand pins sticking straight up. And upon inspecting his fingers, he realized that if someone did sit in them, they’d be covered in tiny little black and white spikes of the
fur
all the time.