The Protectors Christmas Box Set (sexy paranormal romances) (44 page)

He loved her. Hearing him admit his love and seeing the passion and fear in his midnight blues eyes made her believe in miracles.

He kissed her, sending her heart reeling. The world dissolved and there was only the two of them. Two lovers being naked and honest with each other.

* * * * *

Unfortunately, kisses never lasted forever. The unearthly blue light at the back of the cave continued to swirl, waiting. Horace drew a shuddering breath and with a wave of his hand, their clothes returned.

“This will be a new adventure,” Faith said, trying to sound braver than she felt. But her voice squeaked, betraying the terror beating in the back of her throat.

She heard Horace release a shuddering breath. “It’ll be a new start for the both of us. Are you sure you’re ready for this?”

Swallowing hard, Faith nodded. This wasn’t the path she’d expected to take with her life, but it was an adventure nonetheless. She was prepared. Her parents had taught her to listen to her heart. Right now, she heard her heart singing. Their love had the power to conquer the steepest obstacles. The unknown that waited for them on the other side of that portal couldn’t defeat them.

Horace closed his hand over Faith’s, and they walked toward the swirling abyss.

Together, they would face their destiny.

Five months later.

The door of The Oblique Café flew open and slammed against the outside brick wall, nearly shattering the glass.

“Not again!” Jake cried. He dropped the dishcloth he’d been using on the counter and looked ready to faint.

His patrons leapt to their feet. A few moved toward the back, fearful of an attack.

But Frank Stone, who’d been expecting this, sat back and smiled as a mystically charged gust of wind sent snow swirling into the café. The pair entered as if they hadn’t missed a day in the past five months.

Horace was dressed all in black. His snow-covered overcoat hung past his ankles. The melting ice crystals dripped on the floor as he helped his queen with her wrap, revealing her very pregnant belly.

Dallas squealed with delight and rushed to hug Faith while Brendan squared off with the man he loved like a brother. After a long silence he grumbled, “I was wondering when you’d remember to visit your friends.”

“I’ve been emailing,” Horace protested.

“It’s not the same.”

“Time moves at a different pace in the other realm, and I’d been an absent king for nearly seven years. Work had piled up in my absence.”

“That’s no excuse.”

Horace looked different, more confident with his place in the world. Instead of bristling at Brendan’s disapproval, Horace simply shrugged and gave a self-depreciating smile. “I was also on my honeymoon.”

Brendan laughed. “Well, that’s an excuse I can understand. Welcome back, Horace.”

While the two men embraced, Frank greeted Faith. “You’re glowing,” he said and gave her a kiss on the cheek.

“Am I?” She frowned and glanced down at her hands. “I haven’t done that in ages.”

“He means because of the baby,” Horace said softly. Her belly had swelled quite beautifully. And a diamond and ruby-studded wedding band adorned her finger.

“Does this mean Horace’s power is no longer unleashed?” Dallas asked.

Faith nodded. Her cheeks were rosy in color. “Once we accepted that we loved each other, his power stopped fighting us.”

“Took the two of you long enough to come to your senses.”

Faith shared a smile with Horace. Neither of them needed to say anything. Their relationship had finally evolved into what it had meant to be all along.

“But what’s with the ring?” Dallas asked, her brows furrowing. She didn’t sound upset, well not too seriously. “Here I was hoping I could be matron of honor or something.”

“The royal sages of the Otherworld are a pushy bunch. They insisted we get married right away with some ceremony they’d devised. But we’re planning a spring ceremony.” Faith patted her round belly and added, “After the baby is born.”

“Your parents must be thrilled,” Dallas said.

“They’re even more thrilled to know that we’re moving back to Chicago, and that I’m resuming my work at the university after the winter break.”

That seemed to surprise everyone. “You can do that?” Brendan asked.

“I’m king,” Horace said proudly. “I can do whatever I want.”

“Does that mean you’ll be—?”Derrick started to ask, his shoulders bunching. He’d been helping Brendan run Club West in Horace’s absence.

“No,” Horace answered without hesitation. “I won’t have the time to be a hands-on owner at the club anymore. And I hear that you’re doing a fine job acting as manager in my absence.”

Derrick’s shoulders relaxed, and the two men started talking business until Faith interrupted. “Don’t forget the other reason we needed to come to the café today.”

“Oh, right.” Horace reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a silver baby’s rattle. “Brendan, the present you gave me for my birthday this summer, I just got around to opening it.” He dropped the rattle into his friend’s hand. “How did you know?”

Brendan turned to Dallas, his mouth gaping. “Dallas had bought it and wrapped it. I never even looked in the gift bag.”

“You’re not the only one who can have a vision or two, husband of mine,” Dallas said with a laugh and patted her own belly. “Perhaps one day we’ll be shopping for a rattle of our own.”

Brendan nearly fell on the floor. Everyone laughed. Even Frank found pleasure in the moment, which had become rare lately. Holding his small group together seemed to be growing all the more difficult. All the more tiring. At least some of his friends had found happiness and love.

Seeing the pleasure in Horace’s expression when he’d touched Faith’s growing belly made the sacrifices he’d been making for them seem worth the effort.

“There’s something else that needs to be said,” Faith said, her tone growing dark.

“You found out what we are?” Dallas asked hopefully.

“I did,” Horace said, and then grabbed his head. His complexion turned pasty. Frank could feel some of the roiling pain that must have sliced through Horace’s temples.

“They won’t let him tell you,” Faith explained as she rubbed her husband’s shoulders. “They won’t even let him think about it without giving him a pounding migraine. Sorry.”

“We’re definitely part of the mystical realm, though,” Horace managed to grind out.

“I suppose that means we can cross aliens off our list of possibilities.” Derrick sounded disappointed.

“Nope, no aliens,” Horace said. Some of his color had returned. “And Faith is right. There is something I need to tell you.”

Frank had suspected as much. He’d felt a dark ripple in the air for a few years now. Lately, it had been growing. “It’s about the future,” he said.

Horace nodded gravely. “All of the turmoil in the mortal realm, the killing and the rampant hatred, is stirring up the mystical world. Long-dormant dark forces are awakening. The sages warn that a war is brewing. Many lives may be lost. Civilizations may fall. And the Protectors will be called on to balance the scales of justice. That is one reason why they picked one of us to be king.”

“I don’t like how that sounds,” Frank said.

“You shouldn’t. It’s going to be especially hard on you, Stone.” Horace sucked in a sharp breath. He must have said too much, been too specific. “It won’t be easy for any of us.”

“I suspected as much,” Frank said.

The café fell silent.

“I’ll be around, and I’ll do whatever I can to lend a helping hand,” Horace promised.

Faith hugged her husband’s arm. “We both will.” Her smile lit up the café. “So let’s not waste our time drowning ourselves in worry about what may or may not happen sometime in the foggy future. We have a wedding to plan!”

The Protectors Christmas Box Set

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A restless Regency lady. A mysterious gentleman with a deadly plan. A stolen kiss leads to a decision that might get them both killed when passions burn brighter than moonlight.

Lady Sophie’s Midnight Seduction
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In this
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For Regency and mystery author,
Dorothy McFalls
happily-ever-after is more than just a fictional ending, having enjoyed every day of marriage to her sexy sculptor husband.  Formerly an environmental urban planner, she now writes full time. For information about Dorothy's upcoming books, visit her website at
http://www.dorothymcfalls.com/

Dorothy also writes cozy mysteries as
Dorothy St. James
, including the White House Gardener Mystery series, which critics have called “spunky” and “fast-paced.” Learn more about her mystery releases at
http://www.dorothystjames.com/

Catch the White House Gardener Mysteries from Berkley Prime Crime written by Dorothy St. James:

Flowerbed of State
: Casey's passion for organic gardening and eye for detail have carried her into the most important patch of land in America--the President's Park, on which sits the most important home in America: the White House. But while she's readying the final touches on an innovative cultivation program for the First Lady to inspect, she's attacked from behind by an unknown assailant who then disappears. When she comes to, she notices some damaged foliage that leads her and the Secret Service to a dead woman in a trash can. With the biggest opportunity of her life ready to bloom, and all the President's men plowing up her perfect plans, Casey has to dig in and root out a killer before she ends up planted herself...

“Credible characters, a fast-paced plot, and a light look at political life in Washington, D.C., will delight cozy fans.” ~ Publishers Weekly

“This spunky new romantic suspense series is an obvious pick for readers who enjoy Julie Hyzy's "White House Chef" series (Buffalo West Wing), but also think of gardening mystery series such as Rosemary Harris's (Slugfest).”~Library Journal

The Scarlet Pepper
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“This cozy gets my highest recommendation, a perfect escape, and it should be in your in your hot little hands as you prepare your own gardens. Definitely a must "seed" story!!!" ~ Escape with Dollycas Blog