Chapter Seven #2
“New topic. Since Moe and Rhys have agreed that we need to move since the bar loft doesn’t have enough space for the three of us…”
“Maybe four,” Rebecca chimed in. Abby ignored her.
“I was wondering about the house down the road behind the diner. I saw it driving in.”
“No. No way.” Aleks shook his head.
“No.” Rian shuddered.
“That may not be the best idea,” Ma said diplomatically.
“The pack member that helped me relocate said that place was haunted. It’s why I bought the Plantation house when I first moved to Arkadia despite it being so big,” Caleb said, holding Merrick.
Abby and Rebecca turned to face each other.
“No. Becca no!” Aleks started.
“A freaking haunted house in a shifter town! When can we go?” Rebecca asked, ignoring Aleks.
“Becca.” Aleks shook his head.
“I’d like to take tonight to unwind some more.” Abby shot a sidelong glance at her mates grinning when they sat up straighter. She turned back to Rebecca.
“How’s tomorrow?” Abby asked.
“Perfect! Ma, can you watch Aidhan for me?” Rebecca swiveled in her chair and gave her mother-in-law the pouty face. Ma looked at Rebecca concern on her face.
“Of course I will, but you girls be careful.”
“Becca, no. That place is dangerous,” Aleks said, sounding more agitated.
“I have a voice recorder to do EVP work. Do you still have your night vision camera that you use for tracking the little furballs you study?” Rebecca asked, still ignoring her mate.
“Yup, though I don’t know how effective it will be in daylight.
” Abby bit into her sandwich and moaned loudly.
The sweetness of the peppers blended perfectly with the sausage that held just a hint of heat.
The potatoes had soaked up every single flavor that was currently singing in harmony in her mouth.
“I know, right? Ma is the best cook ever.” Rebecca sighed happily.
“Rebecca, seriously, that place is creepy.” Aleks wrapped both arms around his mate and pulled her into his lap.
“Aleks had the shit scared out of him in that house when we were kids,” Rian said, frowning.
“Aww, my poor honey bear.” Rebecca turned and peppered his face with kisses. Abby noticed the large man didn’t turn away, but soaked up her attention.
So cute!
“We’ll be careful, I promise. Scout’s honor.” Rebecca held up her hand with her fingers split in a Spock ‘V.’ Aleks just closed his eyes and sighed.
Yup, that man knew the score, poor devil.
“Okay, who else is up for some ghost hunting?” Abby asked. The diner got quiet.
“Ashby is coming and so is Sebastian,” Rebecca announced, volunteering the two men.
“I don’t know, Rebecca,” Liam said, wrapping an arm around his mate.
Ashby had gone white as a sheet. “Me?” he squeaked.
How have they survived nearly a year of Rebecca? Then again, they didn’t have me here egging her on.
“Ashby, I think you’ll be perfect for this.” Abby nodded sagely.
“If you really think I can help.” Ashby turned to his mate who was scowling at the entire diner.
“I’ll feel better about you going after I am introduced to the young woman that is apparently mated to my child,” Gabriel said, his voice sounding hurt.
Immediately Rhys popped out of his chair like a jack-in-the-box and walked to stand before his prince.
“My prince, may I have the honor of introducing Abigail Wright, the third in my ménage mating.” Rhys gave a regal bow.
Abby stood and walked over to Rhys, taking his hand. Moe also stood and took a place behind Abby, resting his hands on her shoulders for support. The prince was terribly intimidating when he was in protective mode.
Ashby elbowed Gabriel in the ribs and stood with their son in his arms. He rushed over to hug Rhys.
“Rhys, I’m so happy for you. Fate has blessed you twice. I know I’ve only just met her but I know you’ll be happy together.” Ashby gave Abby a one-armed hug.
Abby stared at the tiny, solemn little face staring at her from Ashby’s arms. She stared at him just as solemnly, and then suddenly stuck her tongue out at him.
“Bleh!”
The baby’s eyes widened before a tinkling giggle filled the diner. Gabriel moved faster than Abby could track to stare down at his son. Both Ashby and Gabriel looked surprised.
“It’s the first time we have heard him laugh. He’s such a serious little man.” Ashby dabbed his eyes. Gabriel’s eyes were glowing an azure blue.
“He looks just like you,” Abby commented.
“Oh Ashers, he has the most contagious laugh,” Rebecca said.
Abby turned and sure enough the entire diner was grinning ear to ear.
Abby, Rhys and Moe went back to their seats before she turned to face Ashby.
“So, you’re in, right?”
Ashby took a deep breath. “There’s no such things as ghosts right?” he asked, looking over to Gabriel, who noticeably refused to comment.
“Right, Gabriel?” Ashby asked, swallowing hard.
“I’m sure nothing there will harm you, mon ange .”
Abby grinned at his response and looked over to Rebecca.
“Score!” they said together.
Abby looked at Gabriel and then Ashby, and had a thought.
“If shifter blood affects vampires, how come you’re not all addicted?” she asked.
Gabriel smiled and looked at Rhys, who nodded.
“You are correct, normally shifter blood is quite addictive to vampires. However, if Fate chooses a shifter for our mates, their blood simply tastes delicious and does not have any side effects,” Gabriel explained.
Abby looked over to Rhys and Moe and winked.
“In-ter-es-ting.” She drew out the word.
The diner door swung open and a tall, slim man walked in wearing sunglasses. He paused letting the diner get a good look at him.
A tall man who looked like Aleks walked in behind him with a beautiful red-head.
The one she assumed was related to Aleks, immediately dropped the five suitcases he had been carrying.
The slender man dramatically pulled off his sunglasses, revealing startling, honey-colored eyes, and tossed his shoulder-length rich brown hair over one shoulder.
“Arkadia, I am here! Now, where are the men?” he demanded.
“Rebecca, who are they?” Abby asked.
Rebecca grinned. “The exasperated couple behind Mr. Front and Center is Connor, Aleks’ brother and his mate Madison,” Rebecca said, pointing to the pair.
“Everyone, I would like you to meet Gideon McFarly,” Madison said, introducing the man to the room. Everyone offered their name and welcomed him to Arkadia.
“We leave to pick up Giddey and there’s three new lovely ladies here.” Connor winked at his mate before walking over to Bethany and Asling. Madison rolled her eyes and collapsed into the chair next to Rhys.
“Who are these two beauties?” Connor said, smiling.
“Little Bethany Prescott and Asling Stafford,” Aleks said in a deadpan voice.
Connor jumped back as if they had turned to snakes. “Little Bethany and Asling? My goodness, look at you two. When did you guys get back? Is everything okay?” Connor swung one leg over a chair and sat so that he could rest his arms on the back of the chair. Madison sat beside him.
Giddey stayed where he was at looking over all the men in the diner, winking at a few.
“Hey, Connor. We’re fine. Just glad to be home. Things were getting a little crazy down in Florida,” Asling explained.
“The ladies are darling, but umm, where are the men? Preferably the gay men?” Giddey asked, still standing near the door.
“Oh for goodness sakes, Giddey, you’ve been in town a whole five seconds,” Madison said, sounding exasperated.
“Oh come on Mad-a-sin, you promised hot, gay lions.” Giddey pouted.
It was too much for Abby. She started to giggle. “The men here are gorgeous. I was in town for all of thirty minutes and met my mates. Both of them.”
“Oh god, that would be amazing. Mating sex is supposed to be super hot.” Giddey looked around the room, sizing up the men.
The diner door opened behind Giddey and a sleazy looking man slinked in. Rebecca tightened the hold she had on Aidhan and wiggled out of Aleks’s lap. She took her seat and leaned over to Abby.
“That’s Salsiby, an evil lawyer, he tried to take my baby,” she whispered.
Abby felt a cold rage fill her belly. No one messed with her family. She could almost feel Rebecca’s fear. She could handle a pissed off Rebecca, a rambling Rebecca, even a caffeinated Rebecca, but what she could not stand was seeing her bravest friend afraid.
“He did, did he?” Abby stood and walked past Giddey. With no preamble she raised her fist and punched Salsiby in the face. She aimed for the tiny spot between his eyebrows. The sound of flesh hitting flesh reverberated through the diner. Salsiby dropped like a rock.
“Oh my god, I thought that was my ex. Oh my, how silly of me, when I look closer, they are nothing alike. Oops. Oh dear he’s blocking the doorway, I’ll get him.
” Abby grabbed an ankle and dragged the smaller man’s body outside and left him on the sidewalk in the January winter air.
She walked back in, brushing off her hands. “It’s cold as balls outside,” she said.
Everyone was staring at her in shock.
She tilted her head. “What?”
“Is it just me…” Rian started.
“Don’t say it,” Moe, Rhys and Aleks said in unison.
“Doesn’t she remind you of Rebecca?” Damian finished Rian’s thought.
Connor, Madison, and the entire Inner Court laughed hysterically.
Abby grinned. “We did live together for four years. Our mannerisms were bound to rub off on one another.” She flexed her hand.
Liam sighed. “He’ll go directly to the council.”
“I was in fear for my life!” Abby said dramatically. She walked back over to her table and sat down.
“Girl, I don’t know you, but I need you in my life, and I don’t say that to females often.” Giddey winked at Abby and sat down next to her at the next closest table.
“Two. There’s two of them.” Aleks had his head in his hands.
“It’s like Abby is the version of Rebecca if Rebecca had been raised a shifter,” Kate said, shaking her head.
Moe reached over and massaged her knuckles.
“That’s the same asshole that has been trying to get Rhys executed too,” Rebecca said impishly.