Storm ached in spots she didn’t believe possible. Not only had Nolan retaliated, but they had also made sure Storm couldn’t even move to clean herself, which was embarrassing in itself. When she had finally come out of her sexual stoup, she had noticed the candles and flowers. Of course, Storm had cried, acting like a total fool.
Both of her men had held onto her as she let go of everything that had happened to her over the last two weeks. But Storm had a feeling both of her men were going to be impossible when it came to sneaking off to do the things she wanted.
Doc Lope had come by that morning and had demanded to check her out, giving both Matty and Nolan a look that had her laughing her ass off. Not only that, he made sure to give them a lecture that he’d be watching them to make sure they did right by her. Yes, Doc Lope was an amazing man, the father she never had. But to finally meet the man who was her father, alive then have him ripped away from her was too much.
She watched Alex play with his puppy, waiting for Nava and Elf. They were going to watch the children while Storm and Nolan went to her father’s house with Nolan’s brothers and the king. You would think she’d be impressed to be around a king, but right now, Storm didn’t know what to think of the royal family, especially after meeting their so-called physician, who also had a bedside manner of gremlin.
Early this morning, all three of them had met Elf and Nava in the family quarters to visit with Darla, who hadn’t wanted to leave her room. Matty had decided to stay with his mother. All of them had tried to spend some time with her. Even Elf had sat on her bed, holding Darla’s hand. The things Elf had shared with her mother had Darla crying, holding onto her, promising her they would build new memories that she just needed time to come to the fact that her son had betrayed them all.
By the time Storm had left, she wanted to find Ringo herself and turn the asshole into a pile of dog shit. Matty and his whole family were suffering, and there was nothing she could do about it.
Dog shit? I’d like to see that, but not to worry, my heart, Mom is doing a little better. Doc Lope was here and demanded she eat. I have to admit that man can be scary when he has to, Matty grumbled, and Storm knew he was thinking of earlier that morning, too.
This talking in her head had Storm frowning. It would take some time to get used to.
All the more reason not to piss him off. Believe me, Doc can be as stubborn as anyone I’ve seen. I think that’s why they call him the alpha, Storm said.
Okay, smartass. You will listen to Nolan and his brothers, right?
Hey, now, that’s not nice calling your heart a smartass, Storm laughed as the puppy attacked Alex and tripped him, sending him to the ground where Taz attacked again with puppy kisses. Such an innocent when so much had happened to him.
Nolan stepped up behind her, laughing at the two in front of them, his arms coming around her, holding her tight. We will give him the time he needs to be a child again, and we won’t stop searching for his sister. Nolan kissed the side of her neck at the same time Alastar and Cahir stepped into their suite followed by Nava and Elf. Their children and Matty’s twin sisters with them.
“So, what do you guys have planned today?” Storm asked, hugging Elf and Nava.
Elf glanced back at the door, laughing when Saxon and Kayden came in their arms filled with beach stuff. “We’ve decided to take everyone to the pond. We’re going to have a picnic. If you guys get back early, you should join us. Matty is trying to get Darla to join us this afternoon. It will do her some good to be around her grandchildren and her other children.”
Storm nodded and motioned Alex to her. “I’ve put a swimsuit on your bed. Why don’t you go change? There are some flip flops for you on the floor, too.” Storm said, ruffling his hair. “Remember, Matty is here if you need him. We shouldn’t be long.”
Alex threw his arms around her and hugged her tight. “Thank you so much.” Alex held onto her.
“For what, sweetie, for loving you? It’s easy, and we’ll all be here for you whenever you need us,” Storm told him, knowing he needed the reinforcement.
Alex stepped back and stared up at her. “You love me?”
“Of course, now off with you. You’re going to love the swimming hole, but until you have lessons, you will stay in the shallow end and wear a safety vest.”
He moved toward the door and glanced back over his shoulder at her but didn’t say anything, going to his room.
“I do believe you just shocked our cub,” Nolan teased, kissing the side of her neck before turning and stepping in front of her.
“Sir,” Nolan said and lowered his head a little to the king while Alastar and Cahir moved up beside her. “We will be going with my mate to her father’s house. With everything happening around us, I cannot allow Storm to leave without us.”
“I would expect no less. Come, there will be no one there since her father lived alone. If I may speak with Storm?” the king asked.
“Of course, you can speak with me. Nolan, get out of the way, jeez.” Nolan wrapped his arm around her and pulled her to his side, refusing to let go.
“What would you like to speak to me about?” Storm said, giving a quick glare to Nolan before turning her attention back to the king.
“I wanted to let you know you do have family. You have two uncles and an aunt. Plus, your grandparents are still alive, also. They are all asking to see you. They were wondering after seeing your father’s home and belongings if you would meet with them?”
“Right now is not a good time, but our wedding is in two days. Maybe they would like to come for that since my father won’t be there. It would be nice that family would attend, even though I do have my adopted father, Doc Lope.”
“I hadn’t realized that you had been adopted,” King Neverstream said, frowning.
“Why? Didn’t you think anyone would want me?” Storm glared at the king. “My father Doc Lope is an amazing man, and he will be giving me away. I missed getting to know my real father, but no one will replace Doc Lope.”
Storm was actually growling, she was so pissed, almost not wanting to go to this other world.
“Easy there, little pixy.” Nolan placed a kiss on the side of her head.
“Is there a reason for this?” Nolan asked.
“Please forgive me; we should go,” the king said as Alex came running in and hugged her.
“You’re going to come back for the picnic, right?” he asked.
“We’ll try; I see no reason why we wouldn’t be back. King Neverstream, met my son, well he’s going to be my son, Alex, as soon as the papers are drawn up.” Once more, the king frowned but bowed to Alex.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, young lad. Are we ready?” he asked, and once more, Storm glanced at the man.
“You know, I think I need to do this another time with Matty’s mom not feeling good. I’m sorry to be a pain, King Neverstream, but I’m going to stay here for now. Maybe after my wedding I’ll feel up to venturing there. If you will excuse me, I’m going to go change into my bathing suit so I can spend the time with Alex.” Storm spun, needing to get away from the man. Something was way off with him, and her skin was itching, and her ears were ringing, which was weird, to begin with.
“Wait; are you sure?” the king asked, everyone in the room looking stunned, but she didn’t care; something in her gut was telling her not to go with him, and she always listened to her gut.
* * * *
Storm, what’s wrong? Nolan asked as the king glanced at him then at her.
Something is wrong with him. I don’t know why, but my gut is saying we stay here, and I always listen to it, she told him, and Nolan could mentally see her shrug as if he didn’t believe her.
Later we will discuss this fear you have of us not believing in you, but for now, stay in the bedroom while I get rid of this man. Nolan turned his full attention on the man in front of him.
Is it possible for someone to be impersonating the king? Storm whispered to him again doubting herself.
Alastar, Storm believes this man to be an imposter, not the real king. Can you tell? Nolan asked his brother, sliding a little closer to the man in question.
At first, I assumed that all royalty scent was like this Keyys, but I have to agree with your woman, Alastar stated and turned to Saxon, nodding his head but slowly made his way around the man as Drake stepped into the room and behind him the real king.
“Keyys,” the king growled and waved his hand as he stepped into the room. “Why?”
Saxon and Kayden pushed the children and women out the door, including Storm, who had come out joining Alex. What she was wearing, he would deal with later, too, but right now, Nolan didn’t take his gaze off of Keyys as Matty and Doc Lope joined him in their suite.
“Why do you want Storm?” Nolan growled as Keyys shifted and laughed.
“That is for me to know. As for yo sir. You have been lax, ignoring what needed to be done,” Keyys said and was gone before anyone can do anything.
“What the hell? I thought you had him. Why did you release him?” Nolan snarled.
“I didn’t. It would seem my former physician has learned more than I believed, but it also shows me he isn’t the only one from my world who is working with these people, but why?”
“Well, now that you are the real king, would you mind if I go to my father’s home just for a few minutes? There is something I want to check out. It might give us the answers we need,” Storm said, coming back into the room with Kayden next to her.
“The others are on their way to the pond. Storm said she needed to come back,” Kayden looked down at her. “We weren’t going to allow her to come by herself.”
Nolan held out his hand, and Storm placed hers in his. “This is important, Nolan. I have to go to my father’s home.”
You sure as hell are not going anywhere dressed like that, Matty growled in both of their heads, but Nolan didn’t say a word, glancing down at Storm.
I don’t know what all the fuss is about. I thought you would like my suit? She looked up at both of them, grinning right before she changed her clothes. “Is this better?” she asked out loud.
“Storm, on this, I have to agree with your men,” her father said, coming over next to them. “I don’t know if it’s a great idea for you to go, young lady.”
“I have to go, Doc. Just like I had the feeling about Keyys earlier, I have this same feeling and need to go, almost stronger. Like my other father is asking for me to go.”
“Doc Lope is right, but if we make this trip quick, no one can penetrate your father’s home but me. We’re going to go right inside. You will do what you have to then we will leave,” the king said, and in the next minute, Nolan was with Storm, Matty, and Alastar.
I don’t like this one bit, Nolan snarled, scanning their surroundings, holding onto Storm as Matty also did. There are men outside waiting. Storm don’t say a word. Nolan connected Alastar to his mates.
“They can’t hear us for now. Go do what you have to do, young lady, and make it quick before they can sense you.” The king stepped in front of the big window. “They can’t see us either. At least, I have an idea who to deal with and not to trust.”
Storm pulled Nolan and Matty down the hall. “Do not leave me,” Storm said and knew she was scared.
“We’re not going anywhere, little pixy, but hurry,” Matty said as they raced into a room that was pink and frilly.
“My room,” she said, running to her dresser and opening it up. As she moved something, a small opening in the wall, opened.
“I’ve got it all. King Neverstream, now,” Alastar said, grabbing everything in the small compartment as they all once more disappeared, reappearing in their suite.
“They knew you were there. I don’t know how, but they knew,” the king said, frowning, studying Storm as they were once more standing in their rooms. “Storm, could you come here, please? Doc Lope, what exactly did my physician do to your daughter. I know you were in the room; I can see that, but Keyys could do anything and you wouldn’t have seen it.”
Both Matty and Nolan held onto Storm as she stepped forward close to the king. Too close to him, but so far, the man had proven himself.
“Would you turn for me so I can see the wound?” the king asked.
Storm turned around; at the same time, Doc Lope stepped up to him. “What do you think? Do you think he put something inside her?”
“I know he did. That is the reason why the last time he hurt you. He activated that little metal thing in your head,” the man said.
“What? Get it out?” Storm spun around grabbing onto him and Matty. “Make him get it out of me, Nolan, Matty.”
“Easy, little pixy,” Nolan said, placing a kiss on the side of her cheek. Matty rubbed her back but not taking his gaze off of the king.
“Can you take it out without hurting her?” Matty asked, and Doc glanced up at the king.
“I can, but I don’t know what or if he placed some kind of trap if it was found. If I move it, who’s to say the thing doesn’t explode as soon as it is detached from her tissue?”
“What?” Storm squeaked, her grip on his arms grew tighter as her legs gave way.
“I’ve got you, Storm.” Matty swung her up in his arms and moved to one of the couches, sitting down with her in his lap.
“May I ask how you called on Keyys to help you with Storm?” the king asked Doc Lope.
“One of the other doctors I work with recommended him. I’ve worked with this doctor before, and he’s one of the best,” Doc Lope said.
“We’ll have to check him out, too. As for getting that out of her head, I can remove it as fast as he put it in my way. But as I said, Keyys could have left something else in there to hurt Storm. What we need is... my brother. I’ll be right back.” The king disappeared.
“Drake, how well should we trust this king? Because right now, I don’t want to trust any of them,” Doc Lope said. “I let that monster touch my daughter.” Doc Lope snarled.
“You didn’t know, Doc. Alastar, anything in the box?” Storm asked.