Laying Claim to the Soul (14 page)

“I should have known he wouldn’t stop. So be it. He’s stepped over the line. Erole found out long ago who I was. He wanted me to join him in his pursuit to run, well, whatever he could. He still thinks small when it comes to the universe out there, but his mind frame has him believing he’s above anyone including the 
Zeasters.
I told him he was more or less insane, forgetting what the man could do. So I left my family in hopes he’d leave them alone. He has until now it seems.”

“So let me get this straight. That asshole who threw up the protection thing around his house and sent me flying backwards is the one who started all this crap. He’s the one that destroyed my life all because he was mad at my father?” she screeched the last part furious beyond words.

“Tabatha!” Wol-itelm yelled making her aware that she had started to change into the dragon in the small space.

“I’m sorry Wol-itelm. You were right, she is the white dragon, forgive me. Not to worry Tabatha, this man will pay for hurting our family,” 
Therbelenth
disappeared from the room.

“NO! Wol-itelm yelled but it was too late, he was gone. “Where would he go?” Wol-itelm asked her father.

“To my brother, his father and true king of our planet. You might want to alert your friends and wake the 
Zeasters
because if I’m not mistaken, a war like you’ve never seen will ensue. Unless I can stop it.”

“Take Tabatha home. I’ll be there shortly after I see my brother. Maybe we can hold it off for now and plan, but keep her inside because once I step foot on my planet, Erole could do anything.” Trace leaned over and kissed the top of her head.

“I’ll see you as quickly as I can. Stay inside and take care of my grandbabies. I’ve sent a few of your mother’s things to your house to go through, but I would like to help you go through that trunk if you don’t mind? She wasn’t my mate, but I did love her. Your mother had an innocence about her that I hadn’t seen in years and it just made me want to protect and claim her as mine, but we see how that turned out.” He tapped her nose. “But I’m afraid you have a little bit of that innocence also in you.” His gaze went to Wol-itelm’s and he nodded.

“She does. It’s one of the reasons we didn’t wait any longer to claim her. Go, do what you have to. Our parents will be arriving tonight. Bing your brother, we can talk about what has to be done.” Wol-itelm said leaning down and scooping Tabitha up in his arms.

“Uggh, another trip,” she groaned, hiding her smile against Wol-itelm’s chest which just earned her a snort before they left the cave.

Chapter Seventeen

His woman looked up at him as he lowered her feet down in the living room of her house. “Why do I get the feeling this is way bigger than I’m capable of understanding? Do my father’s people have that much power?” she asked leaning into him as Chax and Hoyt appeared next to them.

“Yes. Together they could kill each of the Anasazi’s easily, and Erole knew this. To stir their planet up would cause panic among many worlds.” Wol-itelm glanced up to see Cywdyn-qua and Garyst appear in the room.

“Erole has left, but not before destroying everything in his home. You are the only one who has had experience with the 
Zeasters,”
Garyst said.

“We have a bigger problem,” Wol-itelm turned her around. “Meet my woman and a close family to Therbelenth. Her true father is the albino.” He told them earning an elbow to the lower stomach.

“Thanks for making me sound like a freak here,” she grumbled glaring at him.

Garyst and Cywdyn-qua stood there for a second before they both shouted. “When? Does her father know what’s been going on?”

“Yes on all of it. He’s going to try and bring his brother here to calm the waters for now. I suggest you two alert the others on what is going on. We need to find out who Erole has been seeing lately. We know he has involved the planet Tremzs in this along with some of Chax’s people and some of the shifters here on Earth. But I have this gut feeling he has more power backing him then we’ve seen. Timble is missing and was in on Tabatha’s abduction.”

“This keeps getting worse by the second,” he nodded to Wol-itelm. “I’ll go and keep an eye above and inform the others, but you’re going to have to wake the 
Zeasters
now before this gets out of hand. Cywdyn-qua, you stay here with his woman while he’s gone. We’ll meet back here later.”

Wol-itelm turned Tabitha around once more, she was starting to feel like a yo-yo. “I have to leave, but it shouldn’t take that long. I want you to stay inside. Why don’t you and Melody work on your wedding plans? Chax, I’m calling Apollyon and your father up her now. I want this house surrounded and protected. Hoyt, when your family gets here, keep them inside as well. It wouldn’t surprise me if they were attacked. Where are Nicor, Furfur and Derk?”

“Behind you,” Nicor said leaning against the wall, eyeing Tabatha.

“Enough! Get over this thing you have right now or leave. Our woman carries your brother’s child. Will you not be happy for him?” Wol-itelm demanded.

“Stop, please.” Tabatha placed her two hands on Wol-itelm’s face and he stared down at her. “We have enough to worry about. Let Nicor deal with this himself. I trust him. He’s just grumpy. Now go and come back soon.” She reached up, kissing his chin before going into the kitchen where Melody waited for her.

He turned, his eyes on Nicor one more time before leaving. Chax would have to deal with his brother. He just couldn’t figure out the family aspect of this considering he was an only child.

Now, he just hoped he wouldn’t end up as fish bait somewhere when he disturbed the 
Zeasters.

*****

Her stomach rolled and Tabby’s hands and legs were shaking so badly she plopped down on the kitchen table and stared up at Melody. “Oh My God, three sets of in-laws coming, plus part of a family I never knew!”

Melody sat down next to her. “So how did it go with your father? Was he there? Who is he?” she asked reaching over and squeezing her hands. “And stop worrying, they are going to love you and if not, who cares? They won’t be around all the time. Plus, you have me and Shane.” She winked and Tabby sighed.

“I don’t know what I would have done without you, Melody,” she reached over and hugged her tight. “Thank you for being there for me when no one else has been.”

“Hush, we have been there for each other. So tell me what your father was like?” Melody asked, sitting back and pushing a ginger ale to her.

She smiled and took a sip of her pop. “Actually, very tall, blonde almost albino. You could say and he’s not from this world.”

“What? You’re part alien?” Melody squeaked, her eyes perked up and she squirmed in her seat. “Oh girl, do tell! I have an alien sister, how cool is that?” she fisted the air and Tabby laughed so hard her pop went up her nose.

“Damn it,” she reached over and grabbed a Kleenex, blowing her nose. “Thank you, Melody.”

Her friend winked and leaned over. “So, tell me, what kind of alien are you? Is your skin blue? Do you have a dome shaped head or what? Ohhh, I know, you’re a man eater, right? I mean you do have three men.” Melody teased.

“Oh, you did not go there, you little hussy,” she said laughing and throwing a cracker at her. “But, I hate to say it, my father’s people are feared. They are the enforcers for the higher ups, from what I gather. Also, no one knows their true forms unless they share it with you.” She frowned. “I wonder what my true shape is?”

“I’m looking at it right now, dork,” Melody teased and threw the cracker back at her. “So, do we make anything for all this company coming? Because I hate to tell you this, but we need food. I’m afraid while you were gone, no one did the shopping and what was left Hoyt and Shane used up making breakfast.” Melody looked out the window. “I miss just going to the store and not having to worry about it, you know?”

Tabby did know all too well as she glanced towards the window when Hoyt, Shane and Chax came into the kitchen. “So I hear we need to go shopping. Who wants to go?” Hoyt asked, looking at both of them.

“Really, but I thought Wol-itelm said I shouldn’t leave?” Tabatha asked just as Nicor came into the kitchen carrying a laptop.

“You two can shop right where you are at. I found this place online where you click everything you want and we’ll go pick it up for you. They’ll even have it bagged and ready for us.” Nicor said, which was the most he’s ever spoken to her.

As he set the laptop down she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, this helps a lot.”

He actually looked embarrassed when he nodded. Behind him Chax growled and swatted Nicor on the head. “Quit trying to steal my woman, bro,” But then he smiled at him.

“Now get shopping and quit kissing my brothers or I’ll turn you over my knee,” Chax yanked on her hair, pulling her head back, placing a heated kiss on her cheeks. “Love you, little lady,” he whispered against her lips.

“And I love you, now get lost while we shop. Who’s forking over the credit card?” she asked holding out her hand.

“Since none of your other two mates have credit cards, I guess it’s me,” Hoyt grumbled, handing her his card, winking at her.

“I have a few that haven’t expired, but I’ll pay for the wedding stuff how’s that?” Chax asked and she grinned.

“Oh you are in trouble!” she teased. “You don’t know how much damage we can do to a card.” She giggled and so did Melody as she moved closer to the laptop.

“Okay, let’s go shopping. What do you feel like making today?” Melody asked.

“Well Wol-itelm said he would get the meat, but I don’t trust him, plus I want some steaks, ribeye. Also desserts. You should make that peanut butter pie, make three of them. I’ll make that banana spilt cake, potato salad, oh yea and deviled eggs…umm. Okay, now I’m getting hungry again.”

She reached over and took a cinnamon roll out of the pan. It was loaded with frosting. “Add more rolls too, ginger ale, crackers, milk, pop, beer, don’t forget coffee. Crap can I have coffee?” Tabby sat back, frowning. “I love my coffee. You might want to get me some decaf just in case, sucks but got to do the healthy thing for the babies until the doctor tells me.”

Melody frowned and glanced at her belly. “You sure it’s wise going to the pack’s doctor? I mean, your body is different even from them. Maybe you should ask your father when he comes back, if he does. If you are that much different, there might be something that needs to be taken care of?”

“Yea that’s true, but mom had me without problems. Maybe my genes take after my mother and not after my father? I don’t know, but I’ll ask him when we have time. I have a feeling when he comes back we’re not going to have much time for getting to know each other with everything else happening around us.” She leaned forward, taking control of the computer.

“I need shampoo, soap, and laundry detergent. You know we might want to buy more towels too. Oh crap, we need to open the other side of the house. There is no way with Hoyt’s family coming again and my dad...” She stood. “You finish the shopping. I’ll have one of the guys turn on the generator for that side.”

“There is no need. It’s already been done,” said Hoyt “And I don’t want you over doing it, Tabby. We just got you back and I want you to take it easy.” He wrapped his arms around her and yanked her against his body.

“I’m going to go stir crazy if I can’t do anything Hoyt. If I’m idle, then I’ll start worrying about everything. Plus, making a couple of beds isn’t going to hurt,” she pleaded, taking a big whiff of Hoyt’s scent. She didn’t know what it was, but Tabby couldn’t stop wanting to be held by them. She always craved their touch.

“It’s like it should be and it’s normal. We just bonded last night baby, things aren’t going to calm down for a while, but your father and part of your family is here waiting to see you in the living room.” He nipped her nose while squeezing her ass cheeks.

“Really?” she looked back at Melody. “You coming? You’re my sister. It’s time you met the family.” She held out her hand, seeing tears fill Melody’s eyes.

“You sure you don’t want to do this alone?” she asked moving to her side and took her hand. “The food is ordered. Anyone can pick it up in the next hour.”

“If it hadn’t been for you, I don’t know how I would have survived. Now come on, let’s go meet the family.”

“
Little Pet, would you please tell your father that I will be there soon. It will take a while for them to acknowledge me.”

“You worry about what you are doing. Don’t think I didn’t catch that last thought before you left. I will be highly pissed off if you get eaten, my gecko.”
She sent to him, moving into the living room and freezing.

“
When you said family, damn it ,you didn’t say my room was filled!”

Tabby couldn’t believe it, over 20 people, or whatever they were, were in her living room. The tension was thick as they all turned to stare at her.

“Hi!” she waved her hand and backed up a step right into Hoyt, very nervous all of the sudden.

Her father stepped in front of her. “Don’t ever be afraid of your family. They are all here to meet you.” Trace leaned in. “You see, I have nine brothers and six sisters. Each one of them wanted to meet you, not to mention they’re furious that someone is trying to hurt one of us.”

“But am I one of you? How come Therbelenth didn’t recognize me? Oh, and I want you to meet my sister, Melody.” She yanked Melody up by her, having never let go of her hand. “When mom was murdered, she and her mom took me in. I don’t think, no I know, I wouldn’t be standing here if it wasn’t for her.”

Her father looked at Melody. He seemed to be studying her before pulling her into his arms and hugging her. “It looks like I have another daughter,” Trace said. “As for why my nephew didn’t recognize you, or for that matter, why your man, Wol-itelm, did not, you won’t come into your own for some time.” He stepped back. “How old do you think I am?” he asked, teasing her.

“Hmm, two thousand years old,” she teased.

Behind her someone laughed. “She teases you, but in reality your daughter is very close to the truth,” a man a couple inches shorter than her father stepped up. He had dark hair and she swore his eyes were a purple color that changed to a green.