Jedidiah: Dragon’s Savior – Ménage Erotic Fantasy (Dragon's Savior Book 2) (9 page)

“I think that you’re right. But don’t tell her that. She gets a might pissy when I say things like that to her.” Zak believed him. She didn’t take compliments well. “Tomorrow we’ll have to talk to Asher. She told me that she’s talked to your mom. She said that she has given her magic. I think she might have.”

Zak didn’t doubt that either. There was something more about Lindsey than there had been before. And if he really thought about it, which he’d not done very much of lately, he thought that perhaps he and Jed both had changed as well. And they were most assuredly stronger than they had been. Then he thought of the conversation they’d had with the attorney that they’d had looking into some of the things that they’d found out about Lindsey.

“Her parents aren’t dead as she’d told you. They’re not even aware that their daughter is alive. I found them about three days ago, and according to their attorney, they have never given up hope of finding her, even after all this time.” Zak asked him what he’d told them about her. “Nothing. Not until I heard from you. And their attorney has promised to get me all he can. I would like to do a DNA test if you don’t mind.”

“I’ll ask her. Why was she put in an orphanage if she wasn’t an orphan? Do you know that?” Jed said that he had no idea, but she’d been kidnapped as a child and they’d been looking for her since. “This makes no sense whatsoever. Why kidnap a child only to give it up?”

“I have a guess, but it’s only that, a guess. What if whoever took her decided that it was too much work for them to have a child, and instead of going to jail for the kidnapping in the first place, they dumped her there?” Zak nodded, but that just didn’t ring true either. He wondered if his parents had anything to do with this, but knew that they’d been dead long before Lindsey had been born. Even before her great-grandparents had been born. “Oh, and there’s a grandmother too. She’s pretty up there now, but she’s been looking for her as well. There is a hefty reward out for her return. No questions asked.”

“I have plenty enough for all of us.” Zak had been sitting in the attorney’s office, going over some of the paperwork that he’d been able to find on Lindsey, when Jed had called to him to tell him that not only was Lindsey talking, but she was telling him about the magic she now had. He was given a file, which still lay on his desk. Getting up and dressing himself quietly, he moved out of the room and to the dining room, a place where most of them worked on one project or another.

He wasn’t surprised when, about an hour later, Lindsey came down to join him. She sat across from him after giving him a cup of tea, and then shared her plate of cookies with him. He was trying to decide how to start the conversation about her parents when she started talking about them. He sat up straighter in his chair and listened to her while she asked him about them.

“They’re not dead, are they?” He shook his head. “I don’t know how I know that, but when you came in the room tonight, I had a feeling that was what you were going to tell me.”

“We’ll have to run some tests to be sure. They still don’t know yet, and until we confirm it, I think we should just keep it that way.” She nodded, playing with her crumbs on the plate. “Lindsey, we never have to contact them if you don’t want to.”

“Yes, I do. I can’t…they need to know that I’m here. And that I’m not…for a long time I thought of them coming for me. I knew that it was a dream of most kids in the place with me, but I really did have a lot of hope. Then as the months turned into years and then that seemed to stretch out too, I knew that they had no need of me. I had such high hopes that they’d have a change of heart and come back for me.”

“How old were you when you were taken in at the home?” She told him she had no idea, but she’d been about eight, she thought. “The records that we’ve been able to find say that you were there longer than anyone. But there is no date of your being brought to them. He’s digging deeper, but it looks like, other than your name listed as Lindsey Decker, there is nothing else.”

“You mean my name might not even be Decker.” He told her that as far as they could see it wasn’t. “Do you know what it is then? I mean, you know who my parents might be. So what is my name?”

“Gabriella Cartwright. But that might not be it either. But you….” He got up and went to get the other file he’d been given. This one had a picture of her supposed family, including her parents as well as her grandmother. “You look like your mother, but it’s the grandmother that you favor most.”

Zak watched her as she looked at each picture. There were notes on the back of each one…the year that they’d been taken, and the name of the people who were in the photograph. The one of her grandmother looked to be about forty years old, with the woman standing beside a younger man. Zak knew it was the one that she held now.

“I met her only a few times. My grandmother, I think. She wasn’t really thrilled about me. I don’t remember the why of it now, but I remember her turning her nose up at me.” Lindsey handed him the picture as she got up to refill the plate of cookies. And when she brought in a third cup and a pot this time, he smiled and shook his head when Jed joined them too. As he caught him up on what they’d been talking about, Lindsey looked at all the pictures again. She handed him one of the pictures that seemed out of place with the rest of them.

“Who is this man? I mean, I’ve seen him, but…I think he’s the man that came to see me at the home a couple of times. And he made sure that I was always given more than the rest. Whatever that meant. There was never enough anyway.” Zak took the picture and noticed that the name on the back was blurred, like it had been handled with damp fingers. “I think his name is Dean Landon. I mean, it might not be, but that’s the name that sticks out in my head.”

“I’ll have someone look into it. Maybe he worked for the home you were at and was making sure things were right.” He no more believed that than she appeared to. “Lindsey, this doesn’t change how I feel about you. Not one bit.”

“I know that, silly.” She stood up and stretched, and Zak felt his cock fill. When she looked at him with a smile, he wanted to take her right there on the table. “Wanna take a long shower with me?”

He nearly fell getting up to go with her. And as soon as he got to the bedroom, it was all he could do not to simply take her against the wall. Would he ever get enough of her? He hoped not. Zak was in love with her.

Chapter 9

“And then what?” Asher looked around the big table, waiting on someone to answer his question. He didn’t like this idea, and less so since there were no clear answers about it. “For all we know it could be the demon himself asking us to all be there when he’s brought up from the earth, and then he’ll kill us all.”

“I don’t think so.” He wanted to glare at Lindsey, but she was a little on the scary side today. Twice now he’d heard the large dragon in the yard huff at the ground, and he didn’t want to be hurt when he came in the house for him. “Look, I’ll tell you what she looked like and you tell me if it was her or not.”

“Won’t work. None of us have seen her.” Everyone looked at Simeon when he spoke. “I’m guessing Dad and Elbert have, but none of us have…you know what? I think Asher might be onto something here. I hate to admit it, but this just doesn’t sound right.”

“Why?” Asher flushed when they all turned to him. “I mean, why are you thinking I’m right all of a sudden?”

“If it is a demon, and I’m not saying that it is or not, then what’s to say that he doesn’t want us fucking with his lair? What better way to make us stop then to have us all lined up around a deep hole in the middle of the night? I mean, how many times did she tell you that we all had to be there? Did she give you a reason why we had to be?” Lindsey said that she hadn’t. But Asher wasn’t any more comfortable with this line of thought from Simeon than he’d been with going out there in the first place. “Then there is the whole thing about all twelve of us. Twelve men, she said. Twelve is not how many we are now, not with all of us. We’re sixteen with Dad, Grandpa, you, and Essie. And I’m betting right now that Essie won’t stay behind just because she was told to.”

“You’re right about that.” Essie handed Asher a large plate of cookies, and he started to set them in front of him when she smacked him and told him to share. “I swear, Asher, you’re like a small kid when it comes to sweets. But back to the demon. I’ve called the earth and there is something down there, as Lindsey has said, but they’re not so sure that he’s always been there.”

“So, what do I do?” No one had an answer for Lindsey, and she huffed at them. “Look, this person came to me to do something for her. I’m not saying I want to do it either, but I’m thinking that if we don’t do something, then whatever it is will do something more. Don’t you think?”

“I do think you might be right on that.” Grandda came in with a large platter of cookies, as well as some kind of pastry that Asher reached for. When he had his hand smacked, he looked at his grandda as he continued. “We are having a guest, and it would reflect badly on this household should I have to explain to her that you ate her favorite sweet.”

“Caroline is coming?”

Asher sat up straighter in his chair. He wasn’t afraid of her, not really. But she had a way about her that made him want to never piss her off. He looked around the table at the rest of them and noticed that they, too, were sitting a little straighter, as well as fixing their hair. She was a witch, after all.

“I am here.” She sat down beside him and grinned at him. “You are no different now than when you were a small boy. Always trying to con someone out of their treats. Asher, your mother would have a fit to know that you still do that.”

“I’m the oldest.” Everyone laughed at him, and he felt his face heat up. He knew it was lame, but he’d been saying the same thing for centuries. Usually it never worked, but it didn’t stop him from trying. “We’re discussing this demon and the person who might have come to see Lindsey. Do you have any advice?”

“I do. I would do as was asked, but do it on your own terms. If it is the beast calling to her, then it will be simple enough to vanquish him. If it happens to be the queen, then she will think it funny that we have altered things a little to be sure.” Caroline looked at Lindsey and smiled. “You are lovely, my dear. Can you let me touch your arm? I should like to know what you have been up to.”

“I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” Caroline only nodded but didn’t push Lindsey into doing anything she didn’t want to. Asher also wasn’t too sure it was the right idea right now. Too much information about someone was just that, too much. He much preferred getting to know someone the old fashion way. By conversation.

As the night wore on, it was decided that they’d go to the large opening during the day and see what they could find. But they were going to take Silco as well. His mate was close to birthing their young soon, and laying eggs was just as much work as a human birthing, or so he’d been told. So Silco was going but couldn’t stay long. Asher thought it wonderful that he would be there during the first few hours.

As per custom, as king and queen, he and Essie would be there to bless the newborn. Lindsey would be as well. She told them that she, too, had a gift for the child, and that was when he’d thought of one as well. Grandda had told him that he was only to give the child a coin, one from the treasure house, and that would be enough. For some reason he’d thought there should be more, but Grandda had said it would be enough.

Asher moved into the yard after the rest went up to bed. Caroline was staying again, which he liked. Having her so close usually meant that things were going to go well. And he would really like for this to go well. When Jed joined him a little later, he sat on the porch and watched the stars dance across the sky.

“I’m supposed to tell you that Lindsey’s parents are found.” Asher knew this already, but was concerned by the tone that Jed had in telling him. “As you might have guessed, she’s scared to meet them, and we know her grandmother.”

“We do?” Jed nodded and told him her name. “That’s her grandmother? Holy shit, how did she have such a wonderful granddaughter? That old biddy is not one I’d care to be working with, much less be related to. She is not a nice person.”

“Yeah, I know. I never told her, of course, but I’d really like it if you and Essie were around when things get together. I guess the tests aren’t back yet that we had done, so it might be for nothing.” Asher nodded, knowing that she was going to be related to the bitch. “Her parents don’t know that she’s been found either. I don’t know why, but I have a feeling that things are not going to be all teary and exciting. Just a feeling.”

“You think that something else is going on?” Jed nodded, but said he didn’t know what it might be. “Your instinct is usually right on. If you think things are going to be bad, then I’m with you. What do you think about this demon thing with Lindsey? I meant to ask you earlier but got sidetracked.”

“Now that Caroline is here, I have no idea why, but I feel much better about it. And the fact that none of us are willing to just think this is right. Zak is under the impression that this demon knows what’s in our heads and that is why he’s able to play us. I hope you don’t mind, but I had Caroline tighten the magic around here. That way he has no idea what our plan is.” Asher told him it was a good idea. “I’ve also wanted to talk to you about building us a home. Not that I don’t love living here, but I think that we need our own space. Especially since Lindsey wants to have a baby.”

Asher had known this day was coming. They were already starting to get cramped up in the house with them there. And if the others had mates coming soon, it would be even worse. But he wanted his family here, close, where they’d always been. He looked out over the field where the big dragon had been lying until tonight.

“You know what I feel about us being together. We’re better as a family than separated.” Jed told him he agreed. “I know that it’s going to be necessary for us to be on our own, and I think you’re right about how much harder it would be once children start to come. I don’t have to like it, but I know that it’s going to happen.”

“We don’t want to move to another place. Here on the land would be perfect if you don’t mind.” Asher reminded him it was his land as well. “I know that, but you’re in charge of us. And as much as you’d like to deny it, you always have been. I like knowing that you’re in charge, if it matters to you.”

“It does. Thank you.” He tried to think how to tell him that it would hurt him to have him move out when Jed spoke again.

“I think that we’d like to build right across from here. There in the open field where we used to play as children.” Asher looked out over the darkened field and thought of the trees they’d climbed, as well as the trouble they’d gotten into with their dad. “There’s a nice plot behind where I’d like to build where Lindsey could garden. She’s been helping Essie with her herbs and has mentioned that she’d like to grow some things as well. I think it would do her a world of good.”

“She’s doing well then?” Jed grinned and nodded. “Yeah, I thought so too. You guys look good together. And she seems to be fitting in well with all of us. This family thing, it will be over soon and it will be just a memory that we can sweep off the steps, as Mom used to say.”

“Yeah. Oh, before I forget to tell you, there are some inspectors going out to the Cox place over the next few days. They got an anonymous tip saying there was a smell coming from the house. Not that they’re going to find anything in the house but the boxes, but it was a good call to make.” Asher asked him who they had called. “The postmaster. She was more than willing to do something about him. She said that he gives her workers a hard time when his mother’s check is late, like it’s their fault.”

They’d already been to the house. Jed, his dad, and him had walked over there just this morning. And the boxes that Lindsey had told them about were just sitting there, all lined up. There were other things in the house as well, mementoes of the women that had their dad a little creeped out. The one that had him shiver was the lock of hair of the woman who had been killed first. It was hanging over the kitchen window like a flower in a vase, her name written on it in a crude hand.

“When they go out there, do they know that we don’t know a thing?” Jed nodded and told him that he had already warned their attorney of the fact. “I guess having him served was a good thing too. I hate to toss anyone out on their asses, but this guy was not going to get away with killing anyone.”

“He won’t. And I let Lindsey know too. In the event that someone comes around while she’s here alone. I don’t want to shield her overly much, but this thing with Cox rattled her pretty good.” It had rattled them all. The big dragon Silco had saved them all, he was sure of it. “There’s one more thing I need to talk to you about. I want to go into business with Zak and open a place in town. I have a hankering to open an antique shop. We have enough stuff in storage that we can unload and make a little on the side too. I’m thinking of donating most of the money to a homeless shelter in town. People like Lindsey could have used something like that at one time or another.”

“We have so much in storage, I bet you could open two shops and never run out of inventory.” Jed laughed with him. “Go for it. I might have a few of the locals come in and see if they want to buy some of it too. There is this large armoire that Kenny, the guy who runs the hardware store, has been bugging me about for years.”

After deciding on a name, Castle Antiques, they headed into the house. Asher decided that with his power and magic he could have the house built for his brother in a few hours, and started on it. He knew that any changes that Jed would want would be easy to fix, but for the most part, the house would be complete by morning. He was smiling when he entered their bedroom. He stood in the doorway watching the couple on the bed.

Kiaran was eating Essie, and she was sobbing out her releases. When they spied him standing there, he nearly fell onto her when she begged him to come and let her suck his cock. As soon as he was inside of her mouth and fucking her, Kiaran went back to what he was doing.

Christ, this was the best. Having a woman between them was more than he could ever have hoped for. His cock ached to fill her pussy, but watching Kiaran enjoy her too made him fuck her all the harder. And when he came, filling her with his cum, he heard her scream again as Kiaran went back on his heels and fisted his own release over the two of them. Asher knew he was going to be getting little sleep again tonight. And was thrilled about it.

~~~

The house was beautiful. As Lindsey walked around it, all she could think about was that it belonged to her, and the men in her life, but it was her very first home. Even the bedrooms, all four of them, were lovely, with the wallpaper looking old fashioned and the four poster beds perfectly matched to each room. She ran her hand over the oak dresser that was in their room, and turned to look at Jed when he cleared his throat.

“Asher said that he could change each room to how we wanted it. I think you like it just the way it is, but I might be wrong.” Tears filled her eyes at how happy she was, and he came toward her. “Don’t cry, honey. If you don’t like it, we can build on our own. He just thought he was being helpful.”

“I love everything about it and don’t want a thing changed. And the kitchen. Did you see it? I could get lost in how big it is.” He held her, and she smiled at the way the pantry had been filled to nearly overflowing. “Now all I have to do is learn how to use most of that stuff. I have no idea what a couple of those things are.”

“Zak loves to cook, and I’m sure he knows what they are.” Jed kissed her head. “As for the rest of the house, we’ll need to get things too to fill it out. He can only work with a few things with his magic, and to be honest with you, I had no idea he could make a fridge and stove. But I think that Essie’s magic helps there as well.”