Chapter 36
Pulling a large, green diamond from his pocket and holding it out to Reif, he smiled and said, “Here, it’s yours.”
“But it belonged to your mother,” Reif protested, rejecting the offer.
“Yes, it did, but she’d want me to give it to you and Brian to help you guys.
Not so long ago, Jackson helped me…someone he’d never met…
and saved my hoard, so this is my opportunity to pay it forward.
” Sliding the diamond down the table to the sea dragon, Fionn continued, “Take it, and if you ever get a chance to help someone in need, do it.”
Picking up the glowing gem, Reif held it up for all to see.
“I…I…” he stuttered, choking up with emotion, “you have no idea what this means to my people. Finally…we’ll be free to live our lives without the sword of Damocles hanging over our heads…
maybe other sea dragons will also be able to find their Fated Mates. ”
“Fionn, I canna thank ye enough for freeing Reif and giving our babies a chance for a guid life,” Brian said.
“Wait, what babies?” David asked, eyeballing Reif and Brian.
“Ahh, Nessie, did you change your mind about telling?” asked Reif.
“Ay, is that all right?” Brian asked.
“Yup, but I still would like to keep it a secret from anyone outside this room, agreed?” asked Reif, looking at all of them as they nodded their assent.
Brian took over, “Reif’s sea dragon is pregnant with five eggs. In aboot three months, his beast will lay them and three months after that, our five little sea dragons will be born.”
Jumping up, David ran over to his friend, hugging him. “Congratulations! Zane and I will babysit anytime you need us!”
“What?” Zane said, staring at David.
“Five babies? Oh, pooh bear, isn’t that amazing?” cried Theo, grinning at Norm.
“Yeah, it makes our triplets seem easy.” Colton laughed.
“Speak for yourself.” Ian said, swatting his mate on the arm.
“Ki, are you planning a baby shower?” asked Zane.
“What a wonderful idea!” Kieran clapped his hands. “I can picture it now!”
“Babe,” Logan cut in, “let’s get rid of the assholes first, okay?” Turning to Reif, he asked, “How do you get in touch with your contact once you’ve stolen the stuff?”
“I don’t. He always seems to know when I’ve been successful and he just appears.”
“Hmmm…I was going to suggest you just hand it over but that might tip them off that we’re wise to their scam,” Logan said.
“I was thinking the same thing,” said Zane. “Since Reif’s contact believes the green diamond is in Loch Ness, why doesn’t Brian just plant it there for Reif to find? That way, if they’re following Reif it’ll look like he found it based on his research.”
“Did you tell your contact it was in the Loch?” asked Slate.
“Yes. He knows I’ve been searching for it in the loch for the last week,” Reif said.
“Can your contact swim underwater?” asked Logan.
“No. Well, not that I know of.”
“Then I agree with Zane,” said Logan. “Brian can plant it, but before you bring it up to the surface, I want you to arrange to meet your contact here so there are witnesses to you handing over the green diamond. Once you’ve set a time for the meeting, then go and retrieve the diamond.”
“You mean you don’t trust the man?” Reif asked with a sardonic smile, knowing what Logan was going to say.
“You got that right…and neither should you. He may be in on the scam, so we can’t take a chance.”
“Fuck!” Reif said. “I didn’t think about that. But, you know, I don’t think he is, because he hasn’t acted any differently than he has before.”
“Either that or he’s a very good actor,” snorted Fionn.
“How soon do you think he’ll be contacting you?” asked Logan.
“I have to return to my cottage for that to happen,” Reif replied.
“Ay, I will come with ye,” Brian said.
“No you won’t. I don’t want you anywhere near the man, Nessie. He isn’t a nice person.”
“Ye canna meet him yersel’. Remember, yer sea dragon carries our babies. As yer mate, ‘tis my duty to protect ye,” Brian said, forcefully, not about to budge on this point.
“Nessie, if you’re there, he won’t come. Remember, he doesn’t know I have a mate so he’ll wait until you leave.”
“Yer not meetin’ him by yoursel’,” Brian reiterated.
“You’re worrying about nothing. He’s not going to harm me,” Reif said.
Stepping into the argument, Logan said, “Brian, Reif’s right. If his contact always appears when Reif’s alone, he won’t change now just because Reif has a mate…especially if he doesn’t know about it. And remember, Reif hasn’t given them the diamond yet, so I think he’ll be safe.”
“Maybe. But what happens if yer wrong?” asked Brian.
“I have an idea that might work for everyone,” Dakota said. “I can read Reif’s thoughts and, if he has even the slightest concern, Zane can pop in and take care of the threat.”
“That might work,” said Ian. “If the contact behaves differently, Reif’s mind will react, alerting Dakota to it.”
“Ay, but how long would it take afore Zane gets there?” Brian asked.
“Just seconds,” replied Zane.
“Nessie, how about it? Will you agree to Dakota’s plan?” Reif asked.
Thinking it over, Brian grudgingly admitted his mate was right, but that didn’t mean he was happy about it. “Ay, I do,” he said, reluctantly.
“Good. Now all we have to figure out is where in the loch Brian is going to plant the green diamond,” Logan said.
“Nessie? Any ideas?” asked Reif.
“Ay. Remember the underwater cave ye found near the southeast shore?”
“Uh-huh, but I didn’t go inside it,” Reif said.
“Nae a problem. I will put it in a stout metal box just inside the opening.”
Nodding, Reif handed the green diamond to Nessie. “Be safe.”
“Ye too.”
“Great,” said Logan. “I texted Jackson and he’s going to ask Penn to draw up an agreement for your contact to sign saying that in exchange for receiving the green diamond, you and your people will be free from any more demands made upon them.
As soon as Penn has it ready, Mystia will bring him here for the signing.
So, let’s get going. Reif, you and Brian will be in one car, Dakota, Slate, Zane, David, Kieran and myself will be in car two. ”
“What do we do once we get to Inverness?” asked Reif.
“You’ll drop Brian off at his boat and continue on to your cottage,” Logan said. “The rest of us will meet Brian at his boat and go out on the loch with him. That way, if anyone’s watching, it’ll look like Captain Crannach is doing another sightseeing tour.”
“Maybe Nessie should go with you,” Reif said. “That way, no one will see him with me.”
“Brian, what do you think?” asked Kieran.
Opposed to that idea, Brian was about to reject it until he saw his mate’s eyes pleading with him to agree. Unable to refuse, he reluctantly agreed. “Ay, I will go with the Shaman.”
Checking a text, Logan announced, “The cars are waiting for us downstairs. Reif, you’ll be escorted to yours by Groose and we’ll follow in a few minutes.”
“C’mon, Nessie, walk me out,” Reif said, as he grasped his mate’s hand and tugged.
After they left, Logan looked at Dakota. “As soon as Reif leaves, find his thoughts just so we know he’s made it safely to his cottage.”
“What should we do?” asked Theo, glancing at Norm.
“For now, nothing. It’s just a waiting game to see what Reif’s contact does,” Logan answered.
“You still think he’s in on the scam, don’t you?” Colton asked Logan.
“Better to assume that, than be surprised, but I hope for Brian and Reif’s sake, everything works out,” replied Logan.
“I have an idea, Theo,” Kieran grinned, bouncing slightly in his seat.
“Why don’t you, Norm and Fi plan the baby shower for Brian and Reif?
We only have a few more days before we leave and it’d be really great if we could do it before then, otherwise we’d have to come back and I’m not sure the Alpha will let that happen anytime soon so the other choice would be for Brian and Reif to come to California which wouldn’t be bad because then they could meet the Alpha but I don’t think Brian will want Reif traveling all that way.
So the best thing is to have it before we leave and since we know they’re all going to be boys, we can do a pink and blue theme. ”
“If you know the babies are all boys, why the pink?” asked Fionn.
“Sea dragon shifters are only male so…”
“There aren’t any female sea dragons?” asked Theo.
“Nope, only male so they mate with males…”
“They’re all gay?” asked Norm.
“Yes!” exclaimed Kieran. “That’s why the baby shower should have both a pink and blue theme!”
“Perfecto!” exclaimed Theo. “Pink and blue it’ll be. Maybe we should figure out who is going to get what so there aren’t any duplicate gifts.”
“Good idea, pooh bear,” said Norm. “I’ll make a list of all the baby stuff they need and everyone can sign up for what they want to give.”
“That’s a great idea,” agreed Kieran. “Just a reminder there’ll be five little sea dragons to buy for. Logan and I are designing the nursery…”
“You didn’t tell me that!” cried Theo.
“Well I’m telling you now so put us down for all the furniture needed…
you know, cribs, changing tables, chests, rocking chairs…
did I forget anything? Macushla, can you think of anything else they’ll need.
Oh, and we’ll do the bedding too since I want it to match the colors in the room which I don’t know yet because we haven’t done the design yet,” Kieran bubbled.
“Hey bro, that is mighty generous of you,” sniggered Colton.
“Fuck off, bro,” Logan shot back. Then, turning to his mate, said, “Babe, hate to interrupt but it’s time for us to leave.
” Rising, he held out a hand for Kieran.
“Theo, Norm and Fionn, I’d prefer you don’t leave the hotel, but if you do, tell Groose where you’re going and have him detail some enforcers to go with you. ”
“How long will you be gone?” asked Fionn.
“Three, maybe, four hours. Call if there’s a problem,” Logan said, and was gone.
~/~/~/~/~
Climbing out of the car, Reif glanced quickly around and, seeing nothing amiss, unlocked the cottage door and stepped inside, throwing his hat on a hook.
Grabbing a bottle of water from the refrigerator, he flopped down on the couch and waited.
Smiling grimly, he knew the man would show up soon since Reif had been gone for the last couple of days.
Even though he told Nessie the man wasn’t dangerous, he’d only said it to keep his mate out of harm’s way.
Glancing around the living room, he saw the empty tabletop where his documents had been piled and wondered if the man had been back in his absence and also noticed it.
He hoped not, because what would he think?
Nothing good, that’s for sure. Getting up, Reif threw away the empty bottle, then scrounged around for something to eat.
Ever since his sea dragon became pregnant, his appetite had increased tenfold.
Just this morning his smirking mate watched as he consumed enough food to feed an army of shifters.
Now he was hungry again. Sighing, Reif dug around in the cupboards finding a bag of chips, a half-eaten box of crackers and a package of chocolate chip cookies.
Gathering them up, along with several bottles of water, he headed back to the couch, satisfied he could at least silence the growling in his stomach for a little while.
~/~/~/~/~
It was the second time Logan had been out on Brian’s boat and he was much more relaxed than he’d been before.
Sitting in the stern with Kieran snuggled in his arms, Logan was enjoying the natural beauty of the loch and its environs.
While he was happy about going home, it surprised him how much he’d become attached to Scotland, and to Brian, Angus, Reif, and even Morgan.
“We will be back, macushla,” Kieran murmured, leaning his head against his mate’s chest.
“Yeah, we will. I’m just surprised how much it’s grown on me…just as Ireland did. Maybe when we come back, we can stop there for a few days.”
“Oh, macushla, that would be super, especially if squirt has been born. I want to take him to see my mother’s grave,” Kieran said softly, a tear running down his cheek.
Using his thumb to wipe it away and hugging his mate, Logan whispered, “Let’s plan on doing that.” Looking up, Logan realized Brian had slowed down and then put the engine in neutral. “Hey, are we here?”
Handing the wheel to Slate, Brian answered.
“Ay. I’m going into the water to shift. Taking the metal box that contained the diamond, he put it into a small duffle bag.
Tying the bag closed with some rope, he left a big loop hanging free from the end.
“Reif will need this to bring it up,” he explained.
Slipping the loop over his head, Brian nodded at Logan, then slid over the side of the boat disappearing under the water.
~/~/~/~/~
Rarely was Oracle summoned to meet with the Fates, but it appeared that they were anxious to speak with her in person after learning that none of the sea dragons, except Reif, had claimed their Fated Mates in over a thousand years.
Standing silently, head bowed, Oracle waited, unsure why she was there, since her report to them included everything she knew.
“Oracle, dear, come sit next to me.” Clotho patted the space beside her.
“Thank you,” Oracle murmured, and sat down.
“We read your report,” said Lachesis, “and we thank you for it, but are very confused by this line here.” She pointed to the one she was referring to.
“Ahh, yes,” Oracle said. “According to Reif, none of the sea dragons found any of the Fated Mates you had given them during the last thousand years. It was surprising, but after learning about the visiting witches and vampires, I am almost certain a spell was cast to prevent it from happening. I have asked my friend Mystia for help in confirming this.”
Atropos then spoke. “No witch is powerful enough to block the power of the Fates, dear.”
“Yes, that is what my friend says; however, she thinks a black magic spell might be able to do it, so she is investigating that possibility,” Oracle replied.
“Hmmm…black magic,” mused Lachesis. “When will Mystia know anything?”
“I am not sure, but, hopefully soon.”
Nodding, the three Fates smiled and, with a wave of their hands, sent Oracle back to the living room of her suite at the hotel.
Clotho then stood. Placing her hands on her hips, she proclaimed, “Ladies, it’s time we discover who’s behind this so we can stop them from forcing the sea dragons to do their dirty work! ”