Chapter Twenty-Two
Sage
“That can’t be them can it?” Levi asks as we hear the sound of horses approach their hooves pounding the Earth.
“I highly doubt it. It’s only been a couple of hours and when we plotted the route on the map it was at least five.” Kysen replies.
As the sound of the horses gets closer we all draw our weapons and prepare to fight.
“Chances are that they are hostile in this part of the forest, there didn’t look like there were any villages out this way on the map.” Jax says in warning.
“Why are you grinning like a looney?” Kai suddenly asks Kysen.
“It’s my brothers.” He replies lowering his weapon.
“That sounds like more than three horses.” Levi comments just as Knot and Ghost swoop into the clearing, the horses quick on their heels.
“What’s up bitch tits.” A familiar voice yells and I stare at her momentarily confused for long enough that she has time to dismount her horse and wrap me in a giant hug.
“No fucking way!” I exclaim suddenly coming back online and realising that Erin and the guys are actually fucking here. “Dude I was so fucking worried about you guys! How the hell!?”
“It’s a long story, we’ve known you were with Sen for a while but Ty said that we couldn’t tell you where we were.
He’s got precog and said it was something to with the Fates.
I don’t really understand but I do know not go against him.
” Erin explains as the guys start to greet each other a bit sedately than we have.
“Ah I get it.” I reply completely understanding after all that’s why I couldn’t tell Kysen about Cole. Speaking of which, “Ty as in Kysen’s brother?”
“Yep,” Erin grins, mischievous light dancing in her eyes. “Shall we make introductions?”
“Oh yeah this is going to be fun.” I grin.
Cole’s meeting all of his Bonded mates for the first time. I know he’s obviously met the three that were at the academy with him but not all of them together.
As the rest of them are all catching up I walk over to Cole.
“Why am I nervous?” He whispers in my ear as he squeezes me.
“Don’t worry. It’s all going to work out. Trust me.” I try to reassure him, he pulls back and studies me.
“Do you know something?” He asks and I just nod. “I swear you and Ty are going to drive me nuts with that. By the way I missed you.” He adds, grinning.
“Ty huh?” I smirk and he adorable blushes.
“Harry and Asher too.” He adds with a devilish smirk.
“Damn.” I’m grinning as I see Harry approach. “Just be you ok?”
He nods and looks like he wants to ask a million questions but he doesn’t and I smile before going up to Hunt and wrapping my arm around his waist he automatically wraps his arm around my shoulders and drops a kiss onto the top of my head.
My attention switches to Kysen as I watch him curiously, he in turn watches Cole almost cautiously, I can almost see a guard drop down and it makes me wonder if some of the shadows that we’ve seen swimming in front of his eyes sometimes is due to being hurt by someone he once loved.
“Ok so this is Asher, Ty and Harry,” Erin says grinning clearly enjoying this. She points them out to the guys since Cole has already pointed them out to me.
I smile as the guys all greet them and then Harry steps towards Kysen tugging a slightly nervous looking Cole behind him.
“Sen, this is Cole.” Harry says raising an eyebrow in warning.
Almost as if he’s saying you better damn behave yourself.
Cole holds out his hand out to Kysen.
“Hey, nice to meet you. The guys have told me a lot about you.” Cole says, awkwardly holding out his hand.
Kysen looks between Cole’s hand, his brothers and Cole himself suspiciously for a moment. It’s more than obvious that there’s something going on between Cole, Harry, Ty and Asher. You can tell just by the way that they’re looking at each other. It’s pretty fucking cute actually.
“I’m not going to bite,” Cole smirks, “Well not unless you want me to.”
Kysen chuckles, almost reluctantly, as his eyes unmistakeably heat with desire.
“Well fuck me, you got the suspicious fucker to laugh.” Harry exclaims, animatedly.
“Fuck you.” Kysen growls, his eyes amused as he finally holds his hand out to Cole.
Bright, blinding light encompasses them all as soon as Kysen and Cole’s hands meet.
The light immediately obscures them from view and I shield my eyes from it, hiding my face in Hunter’s chest. Following my instinct I quickly whisper the words flowing through my mind and infuse the words with my magic.
If I’ve understood correctly, I’ve just put a barrier of some kind around them that stops the bright light being seen by anyone but us.
It may be the middle of the day but there’s no way that anyone could miss that.
The light show seems to go on forever until suddenly everything dims back to normal. I blink my eyes rapidly trying to clear them as Hunt raises his hand to rub at his own eyes. As soon as I can see clearly again I search the small clearing for Cole and his men.
I have no doubt that they just became his.
Sure enough they all stand shocked momentarily their eyes quickly switching between each other before Cole quickly rips his shirt off over his head and stares down at his chest. I snort highly amused when all four of Cole’s guy’s just stand and stare at him appreciatively, as I catch Erin’s eye and send her a grin.
This is damn fun and just the levity that we needed right now.
“Holy fuck, it’s a Soulmate Bond mark.” Cole says shocked, and completely oblivious to the fact that his mates were staring at him like starving men.
As soon as his words register with them though they all have their shirts off within seconds.
Kysen’s gaze snaps up from his Bonded mark on his chest to Cole who is grinning widely pure joy on his features.
His smile starts to fade as he catches Kysen staring at him though and when Kysen starts to move towards him he begins to look a bit nervous, that is until Kysen backs him up against a tree, the slight height difference between them allowing him to put his arm above Cole’s head.
Cole’s eyes blaze with heat, Kysen smirks slightly before his lips descended on Cole’s.
Well now I turn to Erin in the guise of giving them some privacy. My eyes catch on the other guys who all move in the direction of Cole and Kysen.
“I think it’s safe to say that Sen’s on board.” Jett chuckles coming over to stand with us.
“Looks like it.” Erin chuckles.
“Hey, share the love!” Harry grins.
“I think it’s definitely my turn.” Kysen smirks as he pulls back slightly.
Cole grins at them all.
They all kiss him and you can feel the joy radiating from them all and it makes me so happy.
Cole’s had it rough for so long, none of the other Centre’s have made it easy for him and he really deserves this.
Not only that but I’ve gotten to know Kysen pretty damn well over the last few days and i am incredibly happy for him too.
I get the feeling that he hasn’t had much love in his life and he deserves to be happy.
“Erm before one of you notices and it becomes a whole big thing,” I start, as soon as they finally stop kissing. “But you’ve also got a warrior mark on your left shoulder.”
They look confused for a second before they all check they’re shoulders.
“Well damn. Why do I get the feeling that you knew they’d be there before we took off our shirts.” Ty says.
“Because I did, goddess vision.” I explain simply knowing that they’ll all understand since they’re used to dealing with Ty and his visions. “I’m sorry, I know you guys didn’t get a choice and I couldn’t even warn you.”
“Sage I would’ve been absolutely honoured to have even been considered to be one of your Warriors but you saved my damn life. Warrior mark or not I would’ve had your back and been one of your trusted few.” Kysen says firmly and emotion clogs my throat.
I spent so long completely on my own that having people who are willingly there for me is a new and overwhelming concept.
“As for us,” Harry starts, “we’ve heard enough about you from Erin, Nate, Dash and the others to know that we would rather be with you than against you.”
“We wouldn’t be here otherwise.” Ty says serenely.
“And if you saved Sen’s life then that’s all the more reason for us to trust you.” Asher adds.
“Thank you guys, that means the absolute world to me.” I say.
“I’m sorry guys,” Levi interrupts, “I know a lot just happened and it’s a lot for you guys to process but we need to get you all updated on the plan if we’re going to get them out tonight.”
“Of course, we get that. Besides I think I just need a moment to let it settle anyway.” Cole admits.
“I spent so long torturing myself thinking about how much I liked you all and that I didn’t want to meet my Bonded mates because they obviously weren’t you.
It’s a bit of an adjustment to mesh those two together. ”
“I get it.” Erin says as Ty squeezes Cole’s hand in support.
“Right so what’s the plan?” Damon asks.
“Hang on before we get started why don’t we take a seat around the fire the rabbits are just about done and that way we can eat and talk.” Hunt explains, as he stokes the fire, his gaze on the rabbits roasting above.
“Good idea Hunt. I’m starving.” Kyle grins.
Once everyone is settled Hunt starts to hand out the rabbits and Levi gets started explaining the plan.
“We’ve found a weak spot in their defences along the left hand wall about half a mile from where we will start from.
There’s not a big gap but it’s the best we’ve got.
Once we’re over I’m hoping Ghost and Knot can guide us through the streets and to Nyx’s castle where they’re being held. ” Levi starts explaining.
“That’s fucking cheeky of them!” Erin curses, “Centre’s are one of Nyx’s creations the fact that the Order are not only stealing them but keeping them in her own castle must be pissing her the fuck off. It would if I was her.”
“At least we know that the Blood Moon Academy actually teaches you shit.” Kai chuckles.