Chapter 36
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” Jackson swore, after reading the email. Dialing Penn’s number first, he then forwarded it, hoping his lawyer would tell him the demand was all bullshit.
“Hi Jackson, what’s up?” asked Penn.
“I forwarded an email I received from a lawyer over in Italy who represents the High Priestess of the Convent of the Sisters of the Four Gods. She is demanding we return David right away since he is their spiritual leader.”
“Who’s David?”
“Zane’s Fated Mate.”
“Fated Mate trumps everything. On what basis…just a minute. Let me take a look.” Quickly reading the demand, he then opened his legal search window and entered the title of the statue cited in the email.
Scanning it, Penn cursed to himself. “The law she is citing is very old, but valid. Without doing more research, I’d have to say she is within her legal rights to demand the return of David. ”
“Even if he has been claimed by his Fated Mate?”
“I’m afraid so. The law states that there isn’t any cause that will prevent a spiritual leader from being returned and for now, that would include a Fated Mate.”
“How can that be? As far as I knew, a Fated Mate trumps everything.”
“In modern times, yes. But this law was written a very long time ago and has never been revised concerning Fated Mates, as many of the other old laws have.”
“How do we fight this?”
“I can file a lawsuit challenging the legality of the law because it doesn’t address the rights of a Fated Mate, then ask for an injunction against returning David while the case is pending.”
“Will the judge grant it?”
“I can’t promise but I’m pretty confident we’ll get the injunction. The rights of the Fated Mates are codified in law so we don’t have to fight that battle.”
“Then do it.”
“I will after I look up case law citing this statute. Who knows, I might get lucky and find the courts have already ruled favorably on it.”
“What happens if you find out they uphold the law and the rights of the Fated Mate are excluded?”
“Let’s cross that bridge if we come to it. Have you informed Zane and David about the demand yet?”
“No. I just opened it and called you first. I’m sending it to Logan next and then I’ll speak to my brother and his mate.”
“Do that. I may have to speak with them before I file our challenge.”
“Okay. Let me know what you find. Thanks.”
“No thanks needed. Talk to you later,” Penn said, then ended the call.
After forwarding the email to Logan, Jackson sent a message to Dylon. Swiveling his chair, he leaned back, staring at the tree tops and the deep blue sky as he thought about the possibility of Penn losing and what Zane would do about it.
~/~/~/~/~
David entered their bedroom, stopping short when he saw what was on their bed. “Love, I think someone made a mistake.”
Staring at the delectably cute ass of his mate as they walked into their bedroom, Zane almost bumped into his mate. Looking over David’s shoulder, Zane chuckled at the number of boxes and shopping bags piled on their bed. “Ki must have been shopping again and didn’t know we moved in.”
“He bought all of this?” asked David.
“Yeah, probably stuff for their pup,” Zane said. Then, turning his head, he called, “Hey Ki, what do you want me to do with your loot?”
“Just a minute,” Kieran yelled from his bedroom. “I’ll be right there.”
“C’mon, babe, let’s gather it up,” Zane said, guiding his mate over to the bed. “Jeez, that man can shop.”
Hustling into the room, Kieran grinned at David.
“I hope everything is the right size. I kind of guessed, well not really guessed because there was a guy shopping who was your exact size so I asked him if he would help me and he was so nice about it, even finding some stuff that I missed, if you can believe that, well, I would have if I had more time, because everyone else wanted to get back, but they agreed to help me once they found out I was shopping for you. Have you looked at anything yet? Do you like it? It was really fun because Theo, Norm, and Fionn kept offering their opinion about everything. If you don’t like something, it can be returned ‘cause I kept all my receipts.”
Blinking his eyes several times, David was stunned when he finally understood what Kieran said.
He bought me clothes? Why? Oh, this is terrible!
I don’t have enough money to pay him back.
What will he think? Maybe I can return everything because he has the receipts.
I hope he won’t be offended if I do that.
David glanced at his mate, seeking his help.
Zane was smiling at the mountain of stuff on their bed, mentally pleased Kieran had done it, especially after helping his mate pack up his clothes at Morgan’s.
It had broken his heart to see his meager possessions—a few old shirts that someone had mended, a couple pairs of worn and faded blue jeans and the two black hoodies his mate had bought to hide his marks.
Zane had already decided a shopping trip was in their near future, but it appeared Kieran had beaten him to it.
Not that he minded because shopping wasn’t something he enjoyed—at least in person—but online shopping was a whole different matter.
Then, noticing the dismay on David’s face, Zane’s smile faded, wondering what was causing it. Hoping their mind link was working, Zane asked, Babe, what’s the problem? You don’t have to keep anything you don’t like.
Startled, his eyes rounded at Zane’s voice in his head, unsure what to do next.
Then he heard his mate telling him just to say what he wanted to but do it in his mind.
I can’t pay Kieran back. I have some money saved but I’m sure it won’t be enough.
Do you think he would be offended if I return everything?
Babe, you know as Fated Mates whatever is mine is also yours, right? And that includes my bank accounts. I…we have more than enough money to cover all this.
Shaking his head, David said out loud, “Zane, that’s money you earned. I can’t use it.”
Glancing between the two of them, Kieran suddenly realized the problem.
“All this,” Kieran said, waving his arm, “are my gifts to you, David. I don’t want you to pay me back.
It’s the ‘Welcome to the Blackwood Pack’ shopping trip we all got when we joined the pack.
Actually, I didn’t get you nearly enough but, as I said, the guys were eager to get back because they wanted to watch the new Aquaman movie after spending the day with the Loch Ness Monster.
Theo has a real thing for the star, or so I’m told.
You don’t have to worry about money anymore because you’re a Fated Mate and besides, as a member of the Blackwood Pack, you now will have a monthly allowance to spend any way you want.
” Turning to Logan, who had joined them, he added, “Right, macushla?”
“Monthly allowance?” David echoed.
Looking at Logan, Zane asked, sarcastically, “Is that right, bro?”
Damn, I should have sorted this out with Cody when he was here but too late for that now. “That’s right, bro,” said Logan, “according to Cody. I’ll explain it to you later,” he said, quickly changing the subject. “I see you went shopping, babe. Show me what you bought.”
Grinning, Kieran began opening up the shopping bags and boxes as he explained. “Well, David has these gorgeous, light, sky blue eyes so everything I bought will compliment them and his fair complexion.”
Zane tugged David close to him and whispered, “Remember, anything you don’t like can be returned. I promise you, Ki won’t be offended.”
Nodding, David’s eyes grew bigger as each piece of clothing was revealed. Never in his entire life had he seen such gorgeous outfits. Reaching down, he couldn’t help but rub one of the soft t-shirts between his fingers.
Logan loved seeing Kieran’s pleasure as he presented each purchase to David.
Keeping his eyes on his mate’s face, Logan’s hand slipped into his pocket, pulling out his phone after it dinged.
Glancing down, he saw his brother had sent an email marked ‘urgent’.
Reluctantly, he moved away as he opened it, read it, and then said, “Guys, excuse me but I have to call Jackson.”
“Go ahead, macushla,” replied Kieran, “we still have lots to unwrap.”
Leaving the bedroom, Logan quickly walked into his and shut the door. The last thing he wanted Zane to hear was the demand for David’s return. Dialing his brother, Logan lowered himself onto the bed, waiting for his brother to answer.
“Hey, Logan?” asked Jackson.
“Yeah, it’s me. What the fuck is this all about?”
“The High Priestess is demanding David and will file a complaint with the High Council if I don’t hand him over immediately.”
“So, what are you planning to do about it…you know Zane isn’t going to allow that?”
“Penn’s already on it and by the end of the day will be filing a challenge to the legality of the law.”
Logan read the email again, furious at bullshit laws that have never been updated. “On what basis?”
“The law doesn’t include any provisions for the rights of the Fated Mate. According to Penn, these rights are codified in law and therefore must be followed.”
“What gets me,” exclaimed Logan, “is why now? Why did she let David stay here in Scotland for all that time before he met Zane if it was so damned important for him to be back with her?”
“I don’t know, but I need to talk to David and Zane as soon as possible. Call me when you have it arranged.”
“Give me fifteen minutes.”
“That’ll be fine. Bye,” Jackson said.
Logan ended the call. Then, thinking about what Oracle said about the High Priestess and her shenanigans, he snickered. Rising, he headed to his mate—he’d need Kieran to help him keep Zane calm so they could figure a way out of this.
~/~/~/~/~
Fionn was still smiling as he walked into his bedroom after the day he’d spent on the water with his friends and Captain Brian, whom he thanked profusely for his help in saving him from his father.
Kieran was right. Getting out did do a lot to lift his spirits and put everything in perspective.
Sitting at his desk, he checked his emails hoping one would be from Penn with some good news.
Scrolling down, he deleted a bunch of junk before finally finding the one he hoped would be there. Reading it, he was confused.
The message had nothing to do about the relatives who were trying to gain custody, but instead, Penn wanted the original certificate of his birth given to his parents by the midwife.
What does Penn need that for? I don’t even know what it looks like, or where it would be.
Doing a quick search on the internet, he finally found a sample image of what Penn wanted.
So now I know what I’m looking for. Fionn thought of only two places where it might be—his father’s study in Scotland or the one in France.
Deciding to tackle the nearest one first, Fionn sent a quick reply to Penn before shutting down his computer.
Then calling for the portal, Fionn stepped in and vanished from his room.
~/~/~/~/~
Logan sat quietly while Zane read the email, waiting for the explosion from his brother. Deciding it’d be best to leave David with Kieran for the moment, he first wanted to tell Zane what Jackson said before bringing his mate into the discussion. What he was not expecting was the reaction he got.
Sliding Logan’s phone over to him, Zane said, “I don’t see how this law applies to David.”
“What do you mean?”
“You heard Oracle. The Convent of the Sisters of the Four Gods is bogus. Put in place as a cover for the kidnapping of David. I’m pretty sure that law only applies to any religious organization that is legally founded and recognized by the High Council or whoever certifies it.”
Mulling over Zane’s point, Logan said, “I agree, but what if there is no mechanism for the formal recognizing of a religious group. Where does that leave us?”
“We have Oracle. Her word is accepted by the High Council as the truth. And then, what about the messenger the gods sent to all of the paranormal governing bodies…that will certainly give credence to what we claim.”
“Actually,” Logan countered, “it supports the High Priestess’ claim that David is their spiritual leader.”
“I can see that, but what about kidnapping David when he was five? Certainly, that’s not a legal action to take.”
“No, it’s not, but I’m sure she has all kinds of justifications as to why it was necessary.”
“But his mother would contradict them,” argued Zane.
“Sure, if she wasn’t the High Priestess’ prisoner. But since she is, his mother could be pressured to sign anything…including that she willingly turned over her son to the High Priestess…if she felt it would keep David safe,” Logan said.
“Damn! There has to be something we can use. I know she’s done other illegal stuff, I mean, she wanted David to steal for her.”
“Did he?”
“No, he never did.”
“Well, let’s do some digging to find out who this High Priestess is and what she’s been up to and, for that, we need time. If Penn files the challenge, it’ll let you poke around and also give Dylon some time to come up with a plan to rescue David’s mother.”
“Agreed,” said Zane. “But something’s bothering me about the timing.
This all seems too coincidental to me…David finds his Fated Mate, Michael tries to grab him, we claim each other and, in the process, we both end up with powers.
Is that why she wants David back? Because she thinks he now has more powers that she can use for evil purposes? ”
“That’s as good a guess as any,” Logan said.
Zane went on. “There are other things bothering me, like who killed Michael and why. From what David said, Michael was in partnership with the High Priestess. If that’s true, she’d benefit from his death; all the ill-gotten gains David was supposed to steal for them wouldn’t have to be split.”
“It appears you have a lot of research to do,” Logan said smiling. “It’s almost time to call Jackson. Go get your mate and Kieran. I want him here to provide support for David.”
“Fuckingbedammed, just when he was finally feeling safe, this bitch comes out of the woodwork.”
“He is safe, Zane. We’ll all protect David because that’s what a pack does.”
“Yeah, I know, but…I’m still worried about my mate,” Zane said.