Chapter 3 #3
"What the frig does it look like I'm doing?
And who the fuck did you think I was talking about when I said it was a matter of life and death?
Petunia and Petal, my Siamese Cats? Yes, I love them like they were my kids, but get with the program, Martha.
I have only ever gotten this upset when one of you was in trouble. Come on! Use your brain!"
She had a point. I had been kind of distracted.
Rightfully so, but still. Opening my mouth to apologize, I instead gasped and spun back around towards the back of the car as a large, warm hand touched my shoulder and a current of electricity strong enough to light up DFW Airport during a zombie attack shot through my chest, down my ribs, and straight into my Quad-Shot Macchiato.
(If you’ve forgotten what part of my anatomy to which I am referring, then you'd better start over.)
Instantly more turned on than I’d ever been in my whole life, unable to control the scent of warm cinnamon, black pepper, and geraniums emanating from every cell of my body, my eyes flew to Kai’s.
Swirling like the waves of the ocean, what had been a light crystal blue turned dark as the Black Sea as the answering aroma of lightning, musky patchouli, and the finest leather with sweet undertones of balsamic incense washed over me.
Kai Rí, the only man who'd ever made me think of forever, had depth.
He had layers - lots and lots of sexy, irresistible layers.
Dadgummit, I wanted an up-close and personal look at each and every one of them over and over and over again.
Up on my knees, the only thing keeping me from jumping over the headrest was the damned seatbelt wrapped so tightly around my back and waist that I was losing feeling in my lower extremities.
It was frustrating, to say the least, and just another example of Fate always having a plan that saved me from myself.
Aideen's talons pushed through the tips of my fingers as she growled, "Rip that shit off and hop over that seat. Hell, I'll buy Maeve a whole new car. Just get back there and get that man, Martha. Go. Get. That. Fae. King."
But I couldn't do that to Maeve. I wanted to - really, really, really wanted to. But I couldn’t.
She loved her car as much as I loved my boys and coffee.
It was a bond I understood. Besides, Maeve had put up with a lot over the years.
Like I said, she was sandwiched between the cuckoo for cocoa puffs older sister and the batshit crazy baby sister, and there was nothing in this world– even a chance to kiss the stuffin’ out of my Mate for the first time– that could make me do anything to hurt her or Quick Silver Suzie.
That didn’t mean I didn’t think about it, and for longer than I should have. However, in the end, reason and love for my sister won out as I forced Aideen’s claws back where they came from with a stern, “Stop that shit. We’ve got bigger fish to fry.”
“Yeah, I’m gonna fry your ass, Martha Mary Margaret Dellencourt. Just you mark my words, the first chance I get, you’re gonna be black as burnt toast, and I'm gonna call you Catfish for the foreseeable future. Ya’ get me, Sweetpea? Ya’ hear me, Girl?”
Ignoring my sassy and seriously pissed off alter-ego, I fell deeper into Kai’s gaze.
I was floating on a cloud of lust and what was quickly becoming that unexplainable and instant love that can only happen between true Fated Mates when my Fae King snapped the fingers of his free hand as he gently squeezed my shoulder with the other.
"You okay, Martha? You still in there? Don't leave me now. I know you've had a rough day, but I'm talking to the guys…" He tapped his temple. "…and need to tell them where we're headed and who the hell we need to save."
(How cute was my man? I mean, really. He’d known me for less than an hour and was already tryin' to take care of me and my sisters. He was a keeper. No doubt about it.)
Shaking my head, trying to snap out of my wonderful but naughty thoughts, I was a half-second too late.
Hadn’t even taken a breath when Maeve rambled off, “We’re headed to the old Hampshire Homestead in Crone’s Corner.
It sits off the penis-shaped pool of light blue-green water known as Crocodile’s Cock, on the farthest side of Wikiwatchee Watering Hole.
They’ll know it by the overgrown Mesquite trees and the huge murder of overgrown Crow Shifters that think they own the place. ”
Hitting Dead Man’s Hump, a two-foot bump in the road that no one – Magical or human – could get rid of and most thought really did have the bodies of several old men buried somewhere in it, going nearly a hundred and twenty miles an hour, Maeve kept right on talking like we weren’t airborne.
“But your guys, Fae, Fairy Bros, whatever y’all call each other, aren’t gonna be in time.
Not even if they flap those gorgeous wings double time and head straight as the Crow flies– pun intended. ”
Gripping the headrest and holding my breath, I refused to throw up as my stomach stayed in the air while the rest of me– along with the car and everyone else– came down with a bone-jarring, stomach-turning thud.
Not the slightest bit fazed that her beloved convertible just bottomed out on the roughest road in the southern part of the northern hemisphere, Maeve shouted, "Those fuckin' Wyvern assholes will have Maisie and our sweet nieces chopped into little pieces and spread all over Wikiwatchee Watering Hole before your boys even get their Shimmer on. The last thing she said before her phone went dead was that they could kill her if they wanted, but there was no way in Hell she was luring her sister to be burned at the stake." Eyes sliding to the side, she speared me with an all-too-knowing glance before looking right back at the road. "Or maybe she said, ‘burned like a steak’. I’m not sure. But that’s not important. You know how stubborn she can be. You know as well as I do that she’d die before getting either one of us hurt.” There was the slightest pause before the pupils of her dark brown eyes flashed the elliptical shape of her Dragon Queen, and she asked, “So, anything you want to tell me about a Wyvern who has amassed a gang of asshole worshippers who think he’s gonna give them the power to be scaly and stupid and thinks he needs you to do it? ”
Completely confused, still trying to catch up with the words Maeve had spat faster than an auctioneer at a cattle sale, I screeched, "The who will do what to our Maisie because she wouldn't what?
" Twirling towards the front of the car, throwing my legs out in front of me– careful not to disturb my sweet Chewy where he had decided to take a nap, I accidentally ripped the seatbelt– brace, bolt, and all– out of the car door while screaming the same questions all over again, "Why the hell didn't you tell me? What the frig were you waitin’ on? Hurry up! Can’t this damned thing go any faster?”
Rolling her eyes before looking into the rearview mirror, Maeve completely ignored me in favor of sighing, “Goddess bless you, Kai Rí. You’ve got your hands full with this one.
Sure, you wanna go through with the whole ‘Mate for Life’ thing?
I love Martha more than I love most anything in this world, but she’s a lot to handle.
Well worth it, but just a lot, if you get my drift.
Maybe you want to ease into happily ever after with a trial run of giggles for now. ”
“No, ma’am, I’m ready, willing, and more than able,” came Kai’s immediate and confident response at the same time that I growled through gritted teeth, “Paybacks are a bitch, Maeve Marie Madison Dellencourt.
One day, your Mate will come knockin', and I have a long memory, sister dear.
Like, longer than an Elephant with the power to light your ass on fire with a single thought. "
“Yeah, well, hold that thought,” she snapped, making a quick right then an immediate left before flying over Buckaroo Bridge.
Thankfully, the rattle and creak of Quick Silver Suzie's tires over the bridge's old and rotting boards drowned out whatever smart ass comment my sister made.
However, although I missed whatever snappy retort Maeve shot my way, it made Kai laugh out loud and had Aideen giggling like a schoolgirl.
I didn't even try to find out. It just wasn't worth the hassle, and besides that, I could see the third-floor balcony of the old Hampshire Homestead just ahead.
Just that once, I let something go. After all, I had a sister to save.
No sooner had the crunch of gravel under the wheels sounded in my ears than did Maeve hit the brakes so hard that the back of Quick Silver Suzie fishtailed in such a furious fashion that the car turned a complete circle better than any stunt car driver could ever do.
Sliding right alongside the rock wall separating the Hampshire Family’s property from the beautifully landscaped shores of Wikiwatchee Watering Hole, she had the car in park, the engine off, and her ass out of the seat before my fingers even touched the handle of my door.
(I had to make sure my boys knew what to do. They were my furbabies, and as such, knew I would never ever never put them in danger.)
“Arthur, you’re in charge," I instructed, not even looking down and to the left when Chewy tried to interrupt.
“Make sure y’all stay here. You can eat all that turkey jerky, and there are peanut butter treats at the bottom of the bag.
I'll be back with Auntie Maisie as quick as a bunny hops through a briar. "
Feet on the grass, my hand in my Mate’s…
(Yes, my man reached down and tangled his fingers with mine. Hell, he even held the door open for me. I was falling hard and didn't give a damn who knew.)
Anyhow, holding Kai’s hand, I got as far as, “Why the hell did you park all the way back he…?” Before we had company.