Kenya felt her eyes widened as they drove through an impressive set of security gates so large, she doubted they could be opened by hand. Looking ahead, she was stunned to see a tree-lined driveway wider than most of the streets in Austin.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Not what you expected?” Bronx smiled at her as they made their way down the long drive.
She knew he’d been enormously pleased to find dozens of shopping bags filled with clothing sitting outside the bedroom door when they’d gotten up a couple of hours earlier. His family’s generosity was so over the top, she had trouble wrapping her head around it. Kenya had been so overcome with emotion, she’d been rendered speechless—not something that happened often. Pulling the garments from the bags, she’d become more overwhelmed with each new piece. Tugging nervously at the hem of her new dress, Kenya wanted to pinch herself to be absolutely certain she wasn’t dreaming.
“Stop fidgeting, Cheŕ. You look beautiful… the dress is nice, too.” He winked at her as he pulled the car to a stop in front of a set of stone steps leading to a massive pair of doors. She watched him pull a small remote from his pocket, her entire body responding before he had a chance to press the small button she knew would light her up from the inside out. “I do love the way your body responds, Cheŕ. That little bullet vibrator won’t be a secret for long if you flush at the sight of the remote. There isn’t a Dom in the world who wouldn’t recognize that look.”
“You already showed me how effective the small devil-blessed device can be. Perhaps you’d like to wait until we’re alone again before giving it another go?” She knew the answer before she asked, the gleam in his eyes telling her how much he enjoyed playing with her.
“The club might not be open, but I can assure you the people waiting for us inside are experienced sexual dominants, several with extensive special forces experience. Cheŕ these men don’t miss even the smallest nuance. They’ll be watching you closely, even if you don’t notice their scrutiny. I want to control what they see.” She suddenly understood what he was doing. If they were focused on her sexual responses, they might not push her to the point she wanted to fade.
The door opened as they started up the stairs. Two men who looked so much alike, she wondered if anyone could tell them apart, stepped out onto what had to be the largest porch she’d ever seen.
“Tobi and Gracie are out that door.” One of the men Bronx introduced as Kent and Kyle West waved his hand toward an open door at the back of the room. “They’re working on a new Christmas display. They’ve helped set up forum shops in clubs all over the country and often design displays to sell as part of their marketing services.”
“Damn, Kyle, maybe I’ll tell the ladies they should hire you as a spokesman.” At least now she knew the ornery one was Kent.
“Piss off. I didn’t want Kenya to walk outside and see… well, hell, who knows what?”
“I suppose your explanation did sound more professional than, they’re outside trying to figure out how to make a well-endowed blow-up man look like Santa.” The first man rolled his eyes before recentering his attention on Bronx.
“See what I have to deal with? I swear your parents were brilliant—having more than two children dilutes the time you are forced to spend with any one of your siblings.”
“You’re lucky we were twins, at least you had one friend in school.” She noted the amusement in the second man’s eyes and assumed this was a well-rehearsed way for them to put other people at ease, particularly those they were trying to figure out.
Kenya was beginning to see small differences between the two men. At first, she hadn’t been able to tell them apart, but now, their personalities helped distinguish one from the other.
Kent West winked, adding, “Never mind him, we told the ladies you were coming, so they’re working on the patio rather than their office in one of the back buildings.” Before she could respond, Bronx turned her away from the others.
“I won’t be long, Cheŕ. You’ll enjoy Tobi and Gracie’s company. I’m sure they’ve been briefed, so you won’t have to scrutinize everything you say. You can trust Tobi and Gracie. They are wild as the wind but loyal as any friend you’ll ever find.”
Kenya took a deep breath and nodded. She and her mother had never lived anywhere long enough for her to make real friends. She walked inside with the men, then followed their directions into the main room. Walking to the club’s back door seemed to take forever, but she finally took a tentative step outside and gasped.
Two women stood shoulder to shoulder, facing a large, very well-endowed, (mostly) inflated man.
“I told you this plastic wasn’t thick enough.”
“Yeah, yeah. What I don’t understand is why the rest of him is going soft, but his cock is still pumped up. What’s up with that?” The petite blonde leaned forward, giving the inflatable man’s cock a firm smack. They all three watched—intrigued and amused as it bounced up and down.
“No clue. It sure doesn’t work that way at my house.” The woman with long dark hair laughed as she tilted her head to the side. “Can’t see my men being thrilled about the idea of having their dicks smacked like that either.”
“Men… go figure. All Mr. Rough and Tough until it comes to their favorite appendage.”
Hearing the woman refer to a man’s cock as his favorite appendage made Kenya snicker, the noise alerting the women to her presence. Spinning around, both women gave her welcoming smiles, quickly introducing themselves. Turning back to the plastic man, they all watched in fascinated horror as he slowly melted away—within seconds, Mr. Naked Plastic was in a puddle, his impressive cock the last thing to deflate.
“I’m not sure what I find the most appalling, the fact I paid eighty dollars for it or that we all three watched its sad demise like it was the most interesting thing we’ve ever seen.” Tobi’s eyes never left the plastic man, shaking her head in disgust.
“Darling daughter, is there something you need to share? I could have their father talk to the boys. If things have gotten to this point, we might need to call in an expert or two.”
Kenya turned to find a stunning middle-aged woman standing nearby, her mischievous grin a sure sign her sense of humor made her as beautiful on the inside as she was on the outside. Quick introductions were made, and the four of them moved to a shaded area for lemonade.
“Lilly, I’m so glad you are home. I’m not sure who missed you the most, Kodi, Kameron, or me.”
“It was a fun trip. Blowing up stuff is invigorating.” Kenya stared at the other woman in disbelief. She’d read stories in the society news about Lilly West, never dreaming she’d have the opportunity to meet the pillar of Texas society in person. She turned her attention to Kenya and grinned. “Bronx’s brother, Kensington, invited me to visit the set of a movie he’s working on in Mexico. I stayed an extra day to visit a crystal mine with Denali. Did you know those mines generate their own heat? Crispy critters, it was like an oven in there.” Kenya knew her eyes must have reflected her interest when Lilly chuckled.
“You and Denali are two peas in a pod. She was so excited about visiting the mine, she was practically bouncing up and down during the entire drive out to the site. I didn’t think it was something I would enjoy, but she wanted to go so badly, and the men had something without explosives planned, so I figured what the hell.” Reaching forward, Lilly’s blue eyes lightened in curiosity as she lifted Kenya’s pendant, studying it closely before frowning. The woman’s dark hair and blue eyes were a striking contrast, but that wasn’t what made her beautiful—it was the vivacious energy Kenya could feel swirling around her. There was a light inside her Kenya recognized and felt drawn to.
“What an interesting… coincidence.” Lilly seemed genuinely confused as she studied the magical symbol.
“What are you talking about, Mom?”
Kenya looked up, surprised to find a semi-circle of men surrounding them. Holy hell, where did they all come from?
“Darlin’, what is it about Kenya’s pretty necklace that’s caught your attention?” The older men who looked like Kent and Kyle regarded Lilly with affection. Kenya had to look twice because the man and the one standing beside him looked exactly alike. Bronx had warned her poly relationships were common at Prairie Winds. Kenya found the idea interesting but knew it wasn’t something she’d be interested in. Okay, these must be Kent and Kyle’s fathers. Is that even possible? Geez, I really need to start reading up on this stuff.
“That’s a pretty piece; it reminds me of one I saw recently.” The second man was focused on Kenya’s pendant rather than his wife. “Hmmm, now let me think. Oh, yes, it was when we stopped by Austin and Charlotte’s to see the new baby, there was a framed piece hanging above Marshall’s crib. It wasn’t exactly the same, but it was damned close. I’m not an artisan, but even I know it must have been made by the same person.”
“Charlotte said it was a protection symbol her grandmother gave her shortly before she died. After Austin collared her, she decided to frame it for the nursery.” The two older men seemed lost in their own conversation, but Kyle’s attention never wavered from his mother.
Kenya was struggling to keep up with so many unfamiliar voices. Her hearing aids weren’t the most advanced on the market, and even though they amplified sound, it was still difficult to figure out where the sound was coming from.
“Stop.” The booming voice of a man towering over everyone else brought instant silence. “You all know Kenya is hearing impaired, yet you are talking over each other and muttering. You’re making it impossible for her to keep up.” Turning his attention to her, his stern expression cleared as a warm smile completely transformed his appearance. It was only then Kenya noticed his hand was resting on Gracie’s shoulder.
“We haven’t been introduced yet, Kenya. I’m Jax McDonald. My wife and I have both worked with the hearing impaired, and I want you to signal one of us if the conversation gets out of hand again. It’s too important to know what’s happening for you to be excluded from the discussion.”
A wave of gratitude threatened to swamp her, a lump forming in her throat. Feeling the warmth of Bronx’s hand when he settled it on top of her shoulder grounded her in a way she hadn’t expected. The quiet show of support was enough to pull her back from the emotional edge.
“Damn. We need to step up our game, people. We’re better than this. Speak clearly and make certain Kenya is able to see you when you’re talking to her.” Kent West put his words into practice, then gave her a thumbs up.
“Jax is right. This is too important for there to be any miscommunication. Mom, tell me why the pendant caught your attention.” Tobi stood up quickly, turning to give her husband a big hug and doing the same to Kent before returning to her seat. Leaning close to Kenya, Tobi did the worst stage whisper in history.
“They are so getting laid. I’m sending the kids to their grandparents tonight.” The entire group erupted in laughter, and Kenya was grateful for the break in the tension.
“Kitten, I swear you are going to be the death of me.” Kyle’s voice was thick with sarcasm.
“Maybe so, brother, but what a way to go.” Kent leaned down to waggle his eyebrows at his lovely wife. “You’re on, Sweetness. I’m looking forward to spending some time alone with you.”
“Could you two focus for a hot minute? Jesus, Joseph, and Mary.” Jax shook his head at what Kenya suspected was a common occurrence.
“Denali was wearing a similar symbol when we toured the mine. It wasn’t exactly the same as this one or Charlotte’s, but it was obviously made by the same person. A man at the mine seemed extremely interested in it—unusually so. We stopped at a local café for dinner before making the drive back to the hotel. As we walked back to the car, a man wearing a mask stepped from the shadows and demanded our purses and jewelry. I started to comply but realized he was solely focused on Denali. His gaze zeroed in on her necklace.”
“Knowing Denali, it didn’t end well for him.” It was the first time Israel had spoken, and Kenya noted the affection she heard in his voice.
“She laughed at him, but when we started to walk around him, the jerk pulled a knife on us.” When Lilly’s husbands both stepped forward, their postures shifting instantly from casual amusement to worried protectors, but she waved them off. “Honestly, that young woman moved so fast, I couldn’t begin to tell you what she did. All I know is by the time I blinked twice, Denali had the knife, and the masked man was a moaning heap on the sidewalk.”
“Did you get a good look at the knife, Mrs. West?” A man in a dark suit with narrow stripes stepped up to the table. His deep, rich voice seemed odd coming from a man Kenya thought must be pushing eighty. The thought had no sooner raced through her mind than she heard Israel cough in the worst cover-up of laughter in the history of phony. The man turned his attention to her, his dark eyes sparkling with mischief. Something about him put her at ease. She’d never known either of her grandfathers, but this man was what she’d always imagined hers would have looked like.
“Sweetheart, I cannot begin to tell you how flattered I am your imagination sees me as your grandfather. I’ll be happy to tell my granddaughter she has to share me with her new sister-in-law.” Kenya felt her face heat when he gave her a saucy wink. “You and I will be having a chat about family one day in the future, but right now, I’m trying to track down some very important artifacts.” When the older man returned his attention to Lilly, Bronx leaned down to explain.
“The man who just agreed to be your surrogate grandfather is the head of the Council of Magic. Audric Stafford is also Charlotte Adler’s grandfather.” Bronx’s warm breath moving against the shell of her ear made her pussy clench with need, and she prayed he didn’t decide this was a good time to activate the device she suddenly remembered was resting silently deep in her core.
My need for his touch is growing stronger. Shouldn’t it be satisfied—at least for a few days? She heard Israel chuckle beside her. Damn, I have to remember he can hear what I’m thinking. How does he do that? Fudge puppies, I wonder if Bronx can hear me? Shoot, I’ll bet Mr. Stafford can hear me, as well. Geez, this is beyond humbling.
When Audric Stafford turned to her and grinned, Kenya wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
Just shoot me now.
Audric listened as Lilly West gave a detailed description of the insignia and jewels decorating the knife Denali West took from her assailant. He hoped the young woman kept the damned thing, it would be irrefutable evidence against the group the council had been working years to dismantle. The knife would provide the proof they needed that the group’s leader was working actively against the Council and using dark magic for personal and political gain.
The Cardinal Rule in the world of magic was hard and unchanged since the dawn of time—magical gifts should only be used to make the world a better place. Audric knew as well as anyone, at times, working for the greater good looked self-serving to those who didn’t understand the larger picture, but those times were rare and acceptable only when there was no alternative.
There’d been times during Audric’s long life when his magical peers believed he was lining his pockets and leveraging his position to gain magical power. Looking back on his youth, he’d made decisions he regretted but tried to make up for those once he’d been in a position to make changes. Audric had never claimed to be perfect. Even now, he felt as though he’d let this problem snowball to this point when it should have been dealt with a hundred years ago.
“Bristol has a similar necklace. When I asked her about it, she told me after the people she knew as her parents died, she found it. Evidently, it was hidden in a small velvet pouch in a box of baby clothes. After everything she’s learned, she believes it was hidden by her real mother.”
“I’m sure it was.” Audric gave Israel a quick nod. “Bristol’s parents knew they had been targeted, and it’s doubtful they had enough time to make arrangements for their daughter’s care. The couple charged with her care were attendants hired by the Council. Unfortunately, it turned out they were more devoted to money than to the child they were hired to protect. When they hadn’t been able to find the medallion, they’d taken their frustration out on Bristol.”
“It doesn’t seem as though the piece was well hidden. If the couple had really been looking for it, wouldn’t they have gone through everything? They certainly had enough time.” Israel’s comment brought nods from many of those around the table, and Audric understood their confusion.
“Remember, you are not dealing with ordinary people. We are talking about highly trained magicals entrusted with a part of one of the most powerful magical tools ever created. The piece was spelled to reveal itself to one person.”
Now wasn’t the time to ask Bronx if he would be willing to time travel back to the sacred ceremony where the talisman was separated for safekeeping. No one on the Council was present at the ceremony, so there are still many unanswered questions. Audric had been present but hadn’t had a clear view. Since the ceremony took place many years before he’d joined the Magic Council, his presence hadn’t been noteworthy. One of the biggest challenges they’d faced was confirming how many pieces they were looking for and details of the spell that had been used?
Suddenly noting the awkward silence, Audric chuckled. “Mrs. West, please excuse my distraction. As I’m sure your sons will attest, one of the hazards of leading a team is maintaining your own focus while your mind spins in several directions.”
“It was always one of my biggest challenges, and I’ve seen this look,”—Kyle swept his hand around the circle of men—“more often than I want to admit.”
“We may not be able to read minds, but it was always easy to figure out what team members were thinking. Their expressions were always unmistakable. They wanted to know where the hell our minds had gone and an ETA for their return.” Kent West’s words made Audric smile.
His position as the head of the Magic Council demanded a certain amount of respect, so people were often afraid to speak their minds around him. Usually, the magicals he dealt with watered down their opinions and observations, their comments so bland, conversations were damned boring. Audric had been spending a lot of time in Texas since Charlotte married Austin Adler, and he’d been happy to discover Texans were funny, open-minded, and honest to a fault.
Good thing you enjoy Texas since it looks like you’re going to be spending even more time here until we get this mess unraveled.
Auric knew Israel had spoken telepathically in part, to remind him the younger man could hear his thoughts when they were unguarded. He nodded his understanding.
“Before any of you ask, we have people watching every magical we know who is in possession of a piece of the artifact, and I spoke with Catalina before she left—such a remarkable young woman. She was quite helpful and provided us with some missing bits of information pertaining to bringing it back together and the gems mounted on each piece.” He took in the looks of interest and knew he was going to have to make a leap of faith, sharing more information than was usually given to anyone outside the council.
“Like any centuries-old establishment, the Magical Council historically operated in secrecy, but this is a problem that has demanded a great deal of cooperation among the members.” Audric turned to Lilly, smiling warmly.
“You, my lovely young friend, have given us more information than you know. You’ve confirmed our suspicions about who we’re up against. That information is enormously helpful.” Turning to Bronx, Audric said, “I’d like a word with you, but first I’m going to chat with Tobi and her men. I’ll be back shortly.” Looping Tobi’s arm through his, he led the trio to a sheltered area away from the others. Turning to Tobi, he cut straight to the chase. “I understand you lost a baby recently.”
“Damn and double damn. I thought Kyle was blunt, but you just might give him some competition.”
“Darling, girl. I wanted to talk to you because it’s painful to watch people we care about struggle and even more so when they are trying to soldier through the pain in silence.” Tobi’s face flushed a deep red so quickly, Audric hoped she would forgive him for outing her. He knew his observation was news to her husbands—their expressions had already given them away before he heard their impressive mental run-through of curse words.
“Well, thanks so much for throwing me under the bus. Geez, Louise.”
“Kitten, you are already in trouble for keeping this to yourself. I suggest you listen closely to what Audric has to say.”
“Yes, sir, of course, you are right.” Insincerity practically dripped from Tobi’s tone, and Kyle’s expression showed he hadn’t missed it.
“Tobi, I know you weren’t trying to be disrespectful. As much as I’d like to blame my late wife for our youngest daughter’s attitude, I’m afraid I will have to shoulder the blame. Brigitte tends to say exactly what’s on her mind. It’s a trait we share, but I like to consider myself a bit more diplomatic.” He gave a negligent shrug, but when her eyes narrowed, he struggled to hold back his laughter. Smart girl—she wasn’t buying his nonchalance.
“Mr. Stafford, as much as I appreciate what I’m hoping is a genuine concern, I’m trying very hard to let the painful memory rest peacefully in my heart.”
“Young lady, that was one of the prettiest pieces of… what is it you Texans call it? Horse shit? I never did understand nonmagicals fascination with excrement in their slang, but as the youngsters say, it is what it is.” He chuckled when Tobi’s mouth dropped open so far, Kent reached over to lift her jaw back in place with his finger.
“Perhaps you could tell us where you were headed with this conversation since I had the impression you were anxious to speak with Bronx?”
Audric nodded, giving Kyle West a reassuring smile.
“I wanted to say I was sorry to hear about your loss. I’m sure you’ve heard all the platitudes, so I’ll save you suffering through any of them again. I wanted to bring you a message from the other side.” It was always fun to teach open-minded people how close the link was between magicals and the other side.
“Wait. When you say the other side, are you talking about where our souls go after death?”
“A more accurate description would be, it’s where our souls return after death. Magicals are in tune with the electrical energy. Every animate and inanimate object has an electrical signature.” Shrugging, he flashed them an apologetic smile. “Sorry, I didn’t intend for this to become a lecture about how the Universe operates.”
“The message?” He could see the hope in Tobi’s eyes and was grateful he didn’t have to disappoint her.
“Being chosen to host the soul of an angel—even for a short time, is a great honor. Angels need opportunities to learn and grow—I was asked to convey her thanks. She wanted you to know how grateful she is for your help. You see, Tobi, your sadness and feelings of guilt are misplaced because you helped a soul grow in a way no one else could. She wanted you to know she visits often and will never be more than a whispered prayer away.”
Watching the change in Tobi’s aura was one of the most gratifying things Audric had ever been granted the opportunity to witness. The rusty brown energy field surrounding her dissipated in a fine mist, replaced by a brilliant yellow he felt pulsing with vibrant energy he suspected was the norm before her miscarriage.
When Tobi’s eyes filled with tears, Kent and Kyle quickly closed the gap between the three of them, each wrapping an arm around her until she was surrounded. Audric was always in awe when he was given a chance to witness unconditional love because he knew what few others took time to learn—everything in this universe and all others is powered by love.
Satisfied he’d fulfilled his mission, Audric took a step back. Before he could turn away, he saw the grateful looks in Kyle and Kent’s eyes. Giving them time alone with Tobi was more important than saying goodbye, so he simply nodded and moved away. His position on the Magic Council usually involved authoritarian decisions in situations where no one was a clear winner. Being able to deliver news, he knew made a positive difference in someone’s life, was a blessing. He was thankful the Universe had given him a chance to recharge a bit before requesting a favor from a man he barely knew.