Elf had run up the stairs to her suite of rooms, looking for her mother and the children. Dracula was ready to blow, and Elf wondered if her mother would be able to help him.
When she had stepped foot in the kitchen, his bloodshot eyes had met hers, and she froze. The only time Elf had seen someone that furious had been when Tormac...
Drake must have seen her tremble as she remembered the one man that scared the shit out of her the most. The one of a few hundred that Elf had found out that were helping the nut cases, telling them where to find their kind.
Taking a deep breath, Drake tried to smile for her, but it was worse, with his big long fangs hanging out. “Elf, would you find my wife; I’d like to speak with her, please,” he had asked, and all she could do was nod, running out of the room fast. Ignoring the other men in the room totally.
Elf stopped at her door, trying to catch her breath and stop the shaking. The thought of Tormac searching for her had never crossed her mind, but now...
“Elf, are you okay?” her mother asked.
She had been so out of it, Elf hadn’t heard the door open. “Your husband needs you downstairs. Sorry, ran up here. Guess I’m out of shape.” Elf smiled. “Here, I was looking forward to seeing you all painted up, but you’re clean already.” Elf pouted, and Darla laughed.
“One of the good things about being with Drake, he does have his gifts. The little guy is out cold, and Maranda is coloring in Nava’s suite with Ana and your sisters. But, Elf, there is nothing you can’t tell me. We’re all here to help.” Darla squeezed her arm, moving past her, going to find her mate.
“Soon,” Elf whispered, knowing she’d have to share this news if they were ever going to stop this. Closing the door to her room, Elf made her way into the bedroom, when off to the side, the closet door was wide open, and a light was on.
What she saw had her grinning from ear to ear. Nava had told her what her soon-to-be sister-in-law had done for her, and it looked like Elf had gotten the same gift. “Thank you, Storm,” she whispered, walking into the closet, staring in disbelief at the beautiful clothes before her.
Tears ran down her cheeks. “I’ve never had anything new,” Elf whispered, running her fingers over the clothes.
“My gift to you. I also have some clothes over here for your little girl.” Storm flew by her, pointing to the corner. “I even did a couple of daughter-and-mom outfits if you’re into to that.” Storm smiled.
“You don’t know how much this means to me. I’ve never had new clothes.” Elf smiled. “Maybe you can help me. We’re supposed to go out to the ice cream place with my brother and Kayden, who says he’s my mate...” Elf waved her hand. “But would love something casual but maybe a little teasing?” she said, looking at Storm, who smiled.
“When are you going? Do you want your daughter to match?” Storm asked, flying around her, and Elf swore she could see steam coming out of her head.
“I knew I’d catch you in here. Isn’t she great,” Nava said, coming to join her in the closet.
“She’s amazing. I’ve asked her to help me with my first outing. Kayden is taking all of us for ice cream later. I’d like to walk around town, and maybe, we can stop by Storm’s shop. I’d like to see the part we’d change into an office. I don’t mean to be ungrateful, but it might be wise to have the office somewhere else, because you know they’re going to come after us, and I don’t want Storm’s place ruined in the crossfire.”
Storm shifted to her full size, frowning at Elf. “One, our building is protected not only from me, but also from the local witches in town. They were lucky at the dinner, we weren’t expecting a full out attack like we got. So, Topper and her sisters all went through the town protecting it. If that isn’t enough, do you really think Drake is going to allow anything to happen to the three of us, not to mention our mates.”
Elf moaned. “Please, don’t say that; I’m certainly not ready yet for Kayden’s claim. Plus, some things need to be done before I’d feel safe to, well, you know,” Elf said, looking at her friend. “So, where are our little girls?”
Nava reached over and twined her fingers into Elf’s. “We’re safe here, Elf.”
“Not yet, there are others, Nava. Ones you didn’t see, traitors, who helped these men. Willow is daughter to one of them. I need to find out if he’s the one who took her.”
“Is he the one who hurt you?” Nava asked.
“They all hurt me, Nava, but yes, he was one of the ones who raped me. Guess I was his kept prize until he found out that the humans were going to double cross him. Six of their men died, and Tormac disappeared.”
The growl behind her had Elf jumping along with Nava and Storm. In the doorway, Drake and Kayden stood, behind them, her brothers and Saxon. “Tormac from the North?”
“I have no idea where he’s from.” She rubbed her arms, just thinking of the man.
“He was in my home, ate at my table, and he betrayed us? We need names, Elf.” Drake demanded.
“Knock it off!” Darla said, pushing through the men—two stepped in front of them—and pointing with her finger. “Get out of here now. You don’t come in here and demand a damn thing. I don’t know what bug crawled up your butt, but you will not act like a damn idiot,” Darla hissed.
“Mother, it’s okay. I was going to talk to them anyway,” Elf said.
“No, it’s not okay. You haven’t even had a day to rest. So back the hell out of here, now.” Darla growled, shocking her and even her husband, who stepped forward.
“Darla, calm down. No one is going to hurt Elf, I promise.” Drake inched closer to her, earning a growl, which had Elf inching up and looking at her mom.
Her eyes were red, fangs long and very close to losing it from what Elf could see. “Mom, did you know Storm was going to help me get ready for my very first date?” Elf said, trying to calm her mother. “I kind of had to ask her with clothes since, well, you know, I never had anything new. Want to help?” she asked, placing her hand on her arm, seeing Darla was trying very hard to pull the control back in.
Darla reached over and covered Elf’s hand with hers. “And who is the lucky man that is escorting you out? Don’t you think it’s a little too soon?” Darla asked, turning her focus to her, and Elf could have sworn everyone released the breath they had been holding, well except for one, Kayden.
She took a peek over her shoulder at him and smiled. “It seems I have a mate, or at least, this is what I’ve been told. He’d like to take the children and me out for ice cream,” Elf said, smiling, looking back at her mother, who was frowning, staring at Kayden.
“I know your kind does not make mistakes about mates, but you’ll give my daughter the time she needs,” Darla said, giving him the eye.
“He will, or I’ll put some buckshot in his ass,” Calamity Jane said, appearing next to Nava.
“Wait, I have an idea,” Darla said and pulled out her phone.
“Darla, what are you doing?” Drake asked.
“Last-minute party. Hello, Lanny, have a question for you. How would you like to rent out your store for an old fashion Ice Cream Social this afternoon? Drake and I would be glad to pay you.” Darla glanced at Drake. “Get your checkbook out, honey, we have money to spend for Ice Cream Social for our residents. We can have the sheriff block off Main Street, maybe even have your friend set up a band.”
Elf watched a play of emotions run across his face, but he nodded. “Kayden, Saxon, get your men on security and call the sheriff make sure the posse is out scouting. When you’re done with that call, you might want to contact Topper and see if she can get her family on decorating the streets. If you’ll excuse me, I have a man to start to track down.” Drake stepped up to her, and Darla stopped talking, watching her husband.
“I’m sorry if I scared you.” Drake grinned and reached out. pulling her into his arms. “I have a feeling you are bonding with our daughter. You had the same reaction with Ringo and the one nurse.” He placed a kiss on her cheek. “Let me know the damage.”
“Are we having a party?” Ana asked, pushing her way into the closet with Maranda. “Never been to a party.”
Darla knelt down in front of the two girls. “I’m planning one right now for this afternoon, an ice cream one. We can all get dressed up and have some fun.”
Maranda looked at Elf. “We going?”
Elf knelt down and brushed Maranda’s hair back. “Yep. We’re going with that man behind you. His name is Kayden, and he’s asked to escort us there.” Elf leaned over and whispered, “We even have new dresses, too.”
Maranda’s eyes got big. “Really?” she asked, all excited. “Do we have hats, too?”
Elf smiled and looked back at Storm. “This is going to be your aunt, Maranda. Her name is Storm, and she has designed all these pretty clothes for us. I’m sure we can get some hats, too?” Elf looked at Storm, who nodded.
“I can even make one for him,” Storm said as a big woman’s hat appeared on Kayden’s head, making everyone laugh and him groan.
“Really, I thought my color was purple?” Kayden said, winking at Maranda, making her giggle.
“Well, I was thinking a nice suit for the men, nothing fancy. I do believe Kayden would look handsome in a dark gray pinstripe suit. What do you think, Storm, Elf? Yes, I think all the men should be in pinstripe suits,” Darla said before following her husband out of the closet followed by Ana and Nava but not before Nava stopped in front of Kayden.
“You hurt her, you’ll be crispy bacon,” Nava said, just as casual as ever, but Elf and Kayden knew she was dead serious.
Elf took her daughter’s hand, hearing her son starting to stir in the other room. “Come, Malcom is waking. We’ll put you in the tub, while I feed the little guy. Storm, thanks for the clothes; I can’t wait to try them all on. I hope you and Matty will be coming to the ice cream party?”
Kayden stepped aside, allowing her and Storm to move into the main living quarters when Elf hear Storm snort. “I haven’t spoken with Matty in three days.” Storm frowned and looked toward the door. “I don’t know what’s wrong. One minute we were talking, and now, if he keeps this up, I’m done. I can’t keep the rollercoaster ride up much more.” Storm turned and smiled down at Maranda. “Even if he is my mate.”
“Do you want me to speak with him,” Kayden growled. “I can show him his errors.”
“No, no more help. I’ll be back in two hours to help with your outfits,” Storm said, disappearing.
“Okay, remind me to punch my brother,” Elf said, earning a laugh from her daughter.
“Not before I do. I better go help with security. Three okay?” he asked her, placing a kiss on her cheek and kneeling down, doing the same to her daughter. “I can’t wait to see you in your pretty dress,” he told Maranda, who smiled. “Be safe, you two lovely ladies,” Kayden said, giving her a heated look before spinning around and heading toward the door.
“Be careful, Kayden, Tormac does not fight fair if he’s around,” she said, heading to her son.