Chapter 43
Staring into the darkness as the speeding car brought them closer to the High Priestess, Dakota began to feel nauseous.
He wasn’t sure if it was caused by his pregnancy or remembering what he read about Brenda.
But whatever it was, he couldn’t afford to succumb to it, especially since Zane was depending on him.
Leaning back against the headrest, he closed his eyes, cleared his mind, and concentrated on the role he’d play in saving David’s mom.
Glancing over, Slate saw the worry in his mate’s face. Using their mind link, he said, Hey, babe, wanna talk about what’s bothering you?
No…yes…I don’t know. What if I can’t hear her thoughts? What if I screw up so badly she kills David’s mother?
Babe, I don’t think she’ll harm Mrs. Rossi.
But you don’t know that!
You’re right, but I’d be willing to bet she won’t.
Why are you so sure?
Because Mrs. Rossi is her bargaining chip with David and harming his mother removes all the power she has over him. Remember, she thinks the law is on her side.
I can see that.
Trust me, everything will work out ‘cause you’re about to see a master negotiator at work!
Giggling at his mate’s cockiness, Dakota snuggled against Slate, and said, “I’ll be the judge of that.”
Chuckling, Slate responded, “I expect top marks. Oops, I think we’re here.”
Looking through the windshield at the foreboding structure at the end of the gravel driveway, Dakota felt the evilness of the place and a shiver ran up his spine.
Oh my god, Slate, I can’t believe sweet David grew up in a place like this.
I know. Can you find the High Priestess’ thoughts?
Just a minute. Dakota removed the block in his mind and was immediately flooded with myriad of thoughts from others. He sorted through them, discarding thought after thought until he found the High Priestess’ thread. Focusing on that, Dakota started to giggle.
What’s so funny? asked Slate, using their mind link again.
Uhmm, the High Priestess is plotting how to have you claim her.
“What?” Slate said loudly, in disbelief.
Hush, babe, her plan is to seduce you and then bite you during sex.
You got to be fuckin’ kidding me! Doesn’t she know I’m gay and mated to you?
Apparently not. Oh, she also plans to sell David and his mother to you…a package deal, I guess.
What a fucking bitch! Well, at least we know Mrs. Rossi is alive.
That’s good. Listen, babe, I wouldn’t tell her I’m your mate, at least not right away.
Why not? Because if she thinks there’s a chance, I bet she’ll spend a lot of time flirting and trying to arouse you so you make the first move. And if she does that, it’ll give Zane more time to do his thing.
Good thinking, but I don’t like the idea of her disrespecting who you are to me.
Babe, I KNOW what I mean to you so don’t worry. I just think it will help Zane. Oh, she’s sending someone to meet us.
The driver stopped in front of the convent, where a young woman stood waiting. Slate opened the door and slid out, extending his hand to Dakota to help him out and, as his mate stood, he murmured, “Showtime!” A soft snort was all Slate heard from his mate.
“Hello, Mr. Valentin, will you and your assistant follow me, please.”
My assistant? asked Steel, using their mind link.
Yes, yes, yes. Right now I’m your assistant. Just go with it, babe.
“Certainly,” Slate said, indicating Dakota should precede him, before falling in behind his mate. Surreptitiously, he reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, hit ‘send,’ then slid it back in.
~/~/~/~/~
After he’d taken his guests on a tour of his villa, Giovanni gave his servants the night off before leaving for a dinner date.
Told to make themselves at home, Logan and Kieran headed for the gorgeous library filled with fine, old, Italian books on architecture.
As they were browsing through them, Logan heard his phone ding.
Checking it, he said, “Slate and Dakota are in the convent. Are Ian and Colton ready to go?”
“They’re waiting outside for us. Gimme your phone…then let’s move.”
Handing his phone to Kieran, Logan followed his mate out into the fragrant night air to the rear of the villa where Ian and Colton sat among flowering trees, deep in discussion.
“Guys, let’s go,” Logan called out, striding over to a patch of lawn, large enough for him to shift.
After saying the words, his body morphed into a black dragon and, after Kieran, Ian and Colton had climbed aboard, it lifted into the night sky, heading for the Church of the Four Gods, close to the convent.
~/~/~/~/~
The woman who met Slate and Dakota led them down a long hallway before stopping at an ornate, mahogany door.
Knocking twice, she waited until a muffled ‘come in’ was heard.
Then, opening the door and moving aside, she waved them through.
Taking a quick peek around the vestibule, Dakota smirked as the High Priestess, sweeping past him as if he didn’t exist, extended her hand to Slate. Oh, my god, babe, this is so funny.
Not funny!
“Mr. Valentin, it is such a pleasure to meet you,” Brenda purred, taking Slate’s hand.
“Thank you for taking time out of, what I’m sure is, your very busy schedule to help sort out this mess.
I must apologize for the trouble our High Priest has caused, but he’s young and still growing into his role.
You must lead such an exciting life; I would love to hear all about it. ”
Slate’s hand was still firmly clasped by Brenda and as far as he could determine, it was going to stay there unless he was able to pull it free. “Uh, it was no problem at all.”
Babe, help me.
Taking pity on his mate, Dakota stepped forward, shoving his hand into Brenda’s. “Hi, I’m Dakota. A pleasure to meet you. Do you mind if we sit down. Mr. Valentin has had a very long day.”
Quickly withdrawing her hand, Brenda said, “Of course, follow me.”
Dakota followed her into a large, airy, sitting room and sat down on the love seat, knowing Slate would sit next to him, effectively cutting off any moves by Brenda.
Scowling briefly and, not to be outmaneuvered, Brenda placed a chair about a foot from Slate’s knees and sat down. Leaning forward, she placed her hand on his leg and gave a light squeeze.
Babe, this is just too much! Dakota said through their mind link.
Fuck her!
I think that’s what she wants, babe.
Ha ha! Keep it up, mate and I might have to…
“Is this better, Mr. Valentin? So cozy, you and me, here we are. Chit-chatting like old friends. Isn’t it grand?”
“Uhm, yes.”
“Oh, I forgot something,” Brenda cooed, rising and walking behind the love seat. Then, bending down and blowing into Slate’s ear, she ran her hand down his chest. Squeezing his bicep before backing away, she said, “I’ll be right back.”
Out of the corner of his eye, Slate saw Dakota grinning at Brenda’s antics. Don’t you dare say a word of this to my brother, my mother, my father, your brothers, our children, or anyone in the universe.
Awww, c’mon babe, this is too good a story to keep to ourselves. Oh, shit, Brenda is calling someone to take me on a tour. She wants to be alone with you.
No fucking way!
~/~/~/~/~
Landing behind the church, Logan quickly shifted after his passengers slid off.
Taking his phone from Kieran, he sent a text message to Zane at the plane, before saying, “Ian, Colton…find a place to hide in those bushes over there. I don’t know what shape David’s mother will be in, so make sure you can stabilize her quickly before we head back to the villa. ”
“You think someone might come after them?” asked Ian.
“Don’t know, so my plan is to get out of here as fast as possible,” Logan replied. “Kieran and I will use the woods lining the path to the convent as cover. I’ll let you know as soon as we see Zane and David.”
“Fine. C’mon Ian, I think I see the perfect spot for us,” said Colton.
Logan waited until his brother and Ian entered the woods, making a mental note of their position before taking hold of Kieran’s hand, saying, “C’mon, let’s go. I want to get as close as possible.”
~/~/~/~/~
Reading the message his brother sent, Zane said, “Babe, Logan gave us the all clear to bop into your old room. This time, you lead, otherwise we might end up in Brenda’s boudoir if I do it.”
Picturing the High Priestess’ face at their sudden appearance in her bedroom, David gave a short laugh. “Yeah, you’re right.” Holding Zane’s hand tightly, David thought of his room and disappeared from the plane with his mate.
Emerging from the black hole he’d been sucked into, Zane saw a very pale, still woman on a slab of wood.
Then he heard David cry, “Mama,” as his mate rushed toward her.
Shaking his head to clear it, Zane followed him and knelt next to the bed.
Lifting Mrs. Rossi’s limp wrist, he felt for her pulse and, finding it, was relieved.
“Babe, your mother is still alive, but barely. She needs Ian. I’m going to carry her so you have to hold on to me.
Check the door and see if they locked it, will you? ”
David nodded and, kissing his mother’s forehead first, went to the door and tried to turn the knob but was unable to. “It’s locked,” he whispered.
“Good. If they hear your mother, they won’t be able to get in quickly.”
“My mother won’t say anything…she’s unconscious.”
“I hope so. But if she comes to when I lift her, her injuries might make her cry out. Let me have a look at that map again, will you?”
David pulled it from his pocket, giving it to Zane. Then sitting down next to his mother, he held her hand, softly stroking it.
“According to this, that’s the wall we need to go through and it will take us to a hallway leading to a room with an outside wall. Ready?”
“Yes,” David said, firmly.
With one arm under Mrs. Rossi’s back and the other behind her knees, Zane slowly lifted her up, holding her close to his chest. Then, walking over to the wall, he said, “Babe, I know you can do this alone, but I’d rather we ghost walk together, so please grab my belt and say the words with me.”
David nodded. Tucking his fingers around his mate’s leather belt, then looking up at Zane, he said, “Okay, on the count of three, one…two…three…ghost walker.”
Raising his right foot toward the wall, Zane said, “Now,” and walked through it with his mate at his side. Making sure all was clear, they were soon at the door of the room they needed to escape from. “Try opening the door, babe.”
“What if there’s an alarm on it?” David murmured.
“There’s a security system in the convent?”
“I don’t know if it’s everywhere but the High Priestess’ rooms have one and so do some of the others.”
“Good point. Let’s ghost walk again.” This time Zane counted and, again saying ‘ghost walker’ with his mate, they passed through the door.
Looking up at the door frame from the inside and spotting a small sensor attached to it, Zane said, “You’re right, this room’s wired.
We better get moving in case they’ve planted infrared sensors here, too.
” Looking around the room, he then walked towards the wall that faced outside.
“I wonder whose room this is?” murmured David, looking at the heart shaped bed. “Wow, I didn’t know beds came in that shape!”
“Yeah they do. I think this is the room Brenda uses for her side activities.”
“Eww! You mean this is where she does…you know…”
“Yes, babe, she fucks her clients here and gives them whatever else they want, I’m guessing,” Zane said sniggering.
“My mind is having a hard time accepting this about the High Priestess.”
Snorting, Zane said, “If I were you, I would too. On the count of three…”
Stepping through the thick outer wall, Zane and his mate found themselves near the woods lining the path between the convent and the church. “Logan and Kieran should be around here,” said Zane, “so let me know if you see them.”
“Is my mother all right?”
“Still breathing but the faster we get her to…”
“There they are,” David cried, pointing to Logan emerging from the woods, ten yards away from them.
“Shush, babe. I don’t know who else is around,” Zane cautioned. Then, as Logan reached him, he added, “Bro, what’s the fastest way back to Ian. She needs attention right away.”
“This way,” Logan said, “Kieran and I made a path that cuts through the woods. Do you want me to take her?”
“No, let’s just go,” replied Zane.
“C’mon, David, we’ll lead the way,” Kieran said, grabbing David’s hand as they walked into the woods.
A few minutes later, Zane gently laid David’s mother on a blanket and then stepped back as Ian and Colton went to work. “Logan, send the signal to Slate so he knows David’s mother has been rescued and we’re safe,” Zane said.
“Already done,” replied Logan. “Did you have any problems?”
“Nope,” Zane replied, and then asked Ian what David was afraid to. “Is she going to be all right?”
Wrapping Mrs. Rossi tightly in the blanket, Ian replied, “She’s very weak and dehydrated. That’s just for starters. Logan, we have to get her back to the villa so I can treat her under better conditions.”
Logan headed to the clearing behind the church and shifted. Kieran scooted forward on his mate’s back to make room for the rest of them. After Zane climbed on, Colton passed Mrs. Rossi to him.
Holding David’s mother in his arms, Zane said, “Babe, sit behind me and hold on tight.”
“Is everyone set to go?” asked Kieran after the others had climbed aboard. Go macushla, fly as fast as you can. She’s fading fast!
Heeding his mate’s instructions, Logan quickly lifted off, making a beeline for the villa, gaining speed with every pump of his wings.
Thankful for the moonless night, he flew over villages, and homes, hoping no one would be able to see him.
In less than fifteen minutes, his dragon landed on the grass behind Giovanni’s villa.
Sliding off first, Colton helped Ian down, then took Mrs. Rossi from his brother. Clutching her to his chest, he yelled, “See you inside,” as he ran toward the villa’s back door with Ian following closely behind him.
After Logan shifted back, Zane turned to him and Kieran. “Thanks, guys, for helping us save David’s mother.”
Slapping Zane’s back, Logan said, “No problemo, bro. Let’s get inside and see how she’s doing.”
“What about Slate and Dakota?” asked David.