Chapter 41
Dakota sat at the table in Dakota and Slate’s suite which was bug-free.
Dylon read what Zane sent him about the third man—a human—mixed up with shifters.
He wasn’t sure how this guy had escaped the notice of the High Council for so long, but according to the info Zane had dug up, he was for hire by any shifter who could pay his price.
When the suite’s door opened, Dylon looked up and saw his mate, Cody, ushering in Colton, Dakota, Logan and Kieran before closing and locking the door.
“Please have a seat,” Dylon said to the group.
“We have a lot to discuss.” When everyone was settled, he began.
“The two men who attacked Fionn are mercenaries who, I believe, were hired by Artur MacDùghlas, Fionn’s father.
Their original job was to steal Fionn’s hoard, but it was moved out of Scotland and therefore… ”
“If I don’t give them the hoard, they’ll kill my mate!” interrupted Dakota.
Placing his hand on Dakota’s leg, Kieran murmured, “Let’s hear the rest of what Dylon has to tell us.”
“Please hear me out, Dakota,” said Dylon.
“As I was saying, since the hoard is no longer in Scotland, the mercenaries couldn’t abscond with it.
So MacDùghlas’ next plan was to kidnap Fionn and, most likely, torture him until he gave the location of his hoard and then kill him.
It was this attempt that led me to believe Logan’s suite was bugged since the two mercenaries went to The Meat Locker…
they had prior knowledge Fionn would be there. ”
“We talked about it at breakfast,” Kieran said.
“Uh-huh, that’s how they knew where you were going,” said Dylon.
“After that attempt failed, they learned Fionn was heavily guarded and was scheduled to leave Scotland. A new plan was needed, quickly, so when they learned Dakota and Slate were going out to dinner, they seized the opportunity and grabbed Slate.”
“But Slate didn’t say where we were going to go to dinner when we were in Logan’s suite,” Dakota said.
“I’m sorry, Dakota,” Logan said, “they heard me tell Kieran that your mate was taking you out to dinner.”
“How did you know?” asked Dakota.
“I came to your suite…I think you were taking a shower…anyway, Slate opened the door and when I asked him what his plans for the evening were, he told me he was taking you out to dinner.”
“Did you mention the name of the…” Dylon asked Logan.
“No, I didn’t know where they were going,” Logan said.
“Then they just followed Dakota and Slate,” Dylon said.
“Once I was able to confirm my suspicion about the bugs, the next question was who put them there and the only staff having access was room service and housekeeping. That led me to the conclusion the person who planted the bugs worked for the hotel. Going on a hunch, I searched the living and dining room first, where there were two bugs…the only bugs found in the suite.”
“Are they still there?” asked Dakota.
“Yes, because I don’t want to tip off anyone that we’re on to them.
When lunch was delivered, I was able to snap pictures of the wait staff.
Afterwards, I sent them to Zane and he confirmed the third person who helped the two mercenaries escape from the club, worked for this hotel as a waiter.
” Dylon then placed two photos on the table, one that he’d snapped of the waiter and the other from the Meat Locker’s security camera.
Grabbing the prints, Logan compared them side-by-side. “Fucking damn! That’s why he looked so familiar to me.”
“That’s all fine and dandy, but how is it going to help us find Slate?” asked Dakota.
“I’ll get to that shortly,” Dylon said. “Before we left, Oracle asked to see Cody and me. She was very upset but the only piece of advice she could give us was that we had to use every resource available to save Slate.”
“Cryptic,” Logan said.
“Did you expect anything else?” Dylon snorted.
“On the flight over here, I thought about what she meant and came to the conclusion she was referring to the gifts from the Fates that everyone in this room received. Each of us has kept our secrets but I believe it’s time they are shared among us so I can utilize them when I devise a plan to rescue Slate.
And before you object, each of our secrets will be kept by everyone in this room, right?
” Pausing after hearing them all assent, Dylon looked at Cody, then continued, “Given that, let’s begin.
Jackson has the gift of pregnancy same as you do, Dakota. Colton has Raphael’s Power…”
“What’s that?” asked Logan.
“Sorry,” answered Colton, “I thought you knew. It comes from Archangel Raphael and allows me to heal anyone near death as I did for Jackson and Dylon.”
“How?” asked Dakota.
“He touched Dylon’s chest with a finger and that was it,” Cody said.
“Don’t forget the green flash,” said Dylon.
“Right, there’s a bright green flash when it happens,” explained Cody.
“But Colton is also a natural healer, right?” asked Kieran.
“Yes,” said Cody, “that’s an ability he always had, but he received Raphael’s Power from the Fates when he claimed Ian.”
Dylon took a deep breath and then exhaled.
What he was going to say about Cody and himself was going to be hard for the others to accept.
“Cody is a seer, has been his whole life. Your mother always said Cody was meditating but that was to protect him from those who would seek to use his ability to unfairly profit.”
Dakota said, “It’s true, Mom let it slip one day so I knew he had visions.”
“The visions are from the Fates and usually show him shifters who are in danger…as Kieran was, when he was a prisoner at Arald’s. Cody’s gift lets him help rescue them.”
“So what is his gift?” asked Dakota.
“Invisibility…I can make myself invisible,” Cody announced.
“Wow! That’s cool,” Dakota said. “What did you get Logan?”
Seeing Logan’s hesitation, Dylon interjected, “In all my travels, I’ve never seen a pack like yours.
Jackson’s Alpha power is the strongest I’ve ever come across and that’s not only my opinion but my father’s, too.
I believe the Fates have a purpose for the Blackwood Pack and eventually we’ll find it out.
Colton’s gift is as rare as Cody’s but I was also given a gift when we claimed each other. ”
“What’s your gift?” asked Colton.
“According to Oracle, the Fates made sure I could always protect Cody so they gave me the power of Hercules,” replied Dylon.
“You’re super strong?” asked Dakota.
“More than that. According to Oracle, I have extraordinary strength to defeat anyone who threatens Cody, courage to face every foe and the ability to solve any problem I encounter,” answered Dylon.
Logan looked at Kieran, then using their mind link said, Babe, I can tell them my gift but I can’t mention you.
Dylon and Cody already know who I am. Colton has seen me with Fionn and while he doesn’t know exactly what I am, he knows I have powers.
Dylon’s right, you know, the Blackwood Pack is unique and my spirit told me the gods and the Fates wanted me to be part of it so I don’t have a problem telling Colton and Dakota about me.
Okay.
“The gift I received allows me to protect Kieran because he is unique,” Logan said.
“When he was an infant, the gods and Fates sent the angel Jophiel to give him the power to remove negative emotions, give shifters hope, let them know they are loved and help shifters focused on hatred to embrace love. Kieran is the first of his kind, but all our pups will have his abilities.”
“Is that what you were doing for me?” asked Dakota.
Kieran nodded.
“Thank you…right now I need all the help I can get,” Dakota said.
Cody turned to Logan. “So bro, what gift did you get from the Fates?”
“My mate is a shapeshifter,” Kieran said proudly.
“No shit!” exclaimed Cody. “Way to go, bro!”
“What does that mean exactly?” asked Dylon.
“I can shift into any species of shifters,” answered Logan.
“Go ahead, macushla, do it,” Kieran urged.
“Wait, what happens when you become, say, a tiger?” asked Dylon.
“Show him,” Kieran said, giggling.
“I want to see this,” Cody said.
“Me too,” Dakota and Colton chimed in.
Logan stood and, walking to a clear space in the room, said, “Siberian Tiger.” Four jaws dropped as Cody, Dylon, Colton, and Dakota stared at a tiger in their suite while Kieran giggled at the sight of his gorgeous mate.
“Holy fucking shit balls!” exclaimed Dylon. “If I hadn’t seen it, I’d never have believed it.”
Walking over to his mate, Kieran wrapped his arms around Logan’s neck.
“Oh wow, I love your fur, macushla,” he said, as he petted Logan.
“Oh my gods, you know what would be so fucking cool? If I got you a pink collar and leash…” Suddenly Kieran found himself bumped onto the floor as his mate shifted back.
“Babe, I love you more than life itself, but there’s no way I’m ever gonna wear a collar with a leash,” Logan said, his lips twitching.
“But macushla, when we go to Mykonos, think how cool it will be when we go to a theme party. We’ll beat everyone!”
“Why are we going to Mykonos?” asked Logan.
“Because!” exclaimed Kieran.
“Babe, I’m missing something here,” Logan said.
Rolling his eyes, Kieran said, “Because we are gay and Mykonos has absolutely the best gay festival with great parties, music, dancing, a shit load of hot sexy men, not that I would be looking at them…much…but…”
Reaching down, Logan grabbed his mate’s hand and hauled him to his feet. “Let’s rescue Slate first, okay?” he said.
“Of course, we have to do that first.”
Sitting back at the table with his mate, Logan asked, “Any questions?”
“Any type of shifter, right?” Dylon asked Logan, as he pondered the gift.
“Any, but so far, mostly as a dragon.”
“Okay,” Dylon said, “so that leaves you, Dakota. Was pregnancy the only gift you received from the Fates?”
Anxiety was setting in again. Dakota had spent his life hiding who he was and his gift was tied to his persona.
He hadn’t used Shadow Voice because it would require being an empath again.
But what if my gift would help save my mate?
All his confusion was causing another panic attack and Dakota’s instinct to flee was overpowering—until he felt Kieran’s hand on his leg and the infusion of love.
“Dakota,” Kieran said softly, “do you want me to explain? Would that be easier for you?”
“You know?” Dakota asked.
“I knew the moment I met you,” Kieran said.
“Do you know my gift?”
“Yes, my spirit told me,” answered Kieran. “Dakota, you have a role to play in saving Slate…don’t let your courage fail you now.”
“But I’m not brave, not without my mate. He made me brave,” Dakota whispered, tears filling his eyes.
“Shush, sweetie, that isn’t true. You are the bravest of all,” Kieran murmured, giving Dakota a hug.
Wiping his tears away, Dakota glanced down at the hand on his leg, feeling the love flowing from Kieran; he knew he’d never forgive himself if he could help save his mate but did nothing. “Please, Kieran, would you explain?” asked Dakota.
“Yes I will, but if you want me to stop, let me know, okay?” Kieran said, and after Dakota nodded, he began. “Dakota is an empath and his gift is Shadow Voice.”
“Shadow Voice?” Dylon asked, abruptly leaning forward in his seat. “Dakota, you can hear people’s thoughts?”
“Yes he can,” Kieran answered for him, “but because of how Dakota suffered growing up, the Fates tweaked the gift by linking his empath ability to it.”
“What exactly does that mean? Can he hear thoughts or can’t he?” asked Dylon.
“Down, babe, let Kieran finish,” said Cody.
“Yes he can, but only when he chooses to. The easiest way to explain it…it’s like a light switch. Flip it up and Dakota can feel a person’s emotions and hear their thoughts; flip it down and both emotions and thoughts are blocked out.”
“That’s fantastic!” exclaimed Dylon, “I’m going to need…”
“But there’s more you should know,” Kieran interrupted.
“Dakota is the only shifter to possess both empathy and Shadow Voice making him extremely rare. Just as you were given power to protect Cody and Logan was given power to protect me, the Fates did the same for Dakota, especially to protect him from those who would use him for illegal activities. That’s why the Fates joined Slate and Dakota’s life forces together, so they are now one. ”
“What does that mean?” Cody asked, already afraid of the answer.
“If Slate dies, so will Dakota,” answered Kieran.
The room was silent until Cody spoke. “I understand that, but what else happens when life forces are joined?”
“They each have part of the other inside them and they possess the certain qualities of the other, for instance, Dakota has Slate’s physical strength while Slate has Dakota’s tolerance to pain,” Kieran explained.
“Dakota, do you share a mind link with Slate?” asked Dylon.
“Yes, but he hasn’t answered me,” Dakota said.
Logan studied Dakota, remembering that scene long ago in their kitchen, his father’s rage when he discovered Logan was gay.
From that time on, Dakota had gotten the worst of it; his father’s overpowering hatred—every hour, every day, every year—would have flooded his kid brother’s mind until he could feel nothing else.
How the hell could Dakota survive all that and still remain gentle and loving?
He was sure Dakota never realized how important he was to his brothers, especially after the massacre, when he became the center—the heart—of the Blackwood Pack.
He was always there, taking care of them, making sure each was okay.
Logan had figured out a long time ago his brothers survived and began to thrive, simply because Dakota always knew when someone was troubled and rushed in to offer comfort.
Kieran was right, Dakota was the bravest of all of them.
“Dylon,” Logan said, his eyes still on Dakota.
“Call Oracle and ask her exactly what kinds of connections Dakota and Slate share. If my brother has what I think he has, he’ll be able to help Slate until we can rescue him. ”
“Will do,” Dylon said. “Let’s go back to the dude who works in the kitchen.
Groose has his schedule and when he leaves work today, he’ll be picked up and brought up here so I can question him.
However, I doubt he’ll say anything…which is where you, Dakota, come in.
I need you to read his mind as I question him so we can find out where Slate is. Is that all right with you?”