Fated Forgiveness [Kindred of Arkadia 4] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour ManLove) (15 page)

or simply enjoy the movie. It all depended on what was on. Every week, every single pride member would

stop whatever they were doing for family night.

“Grab a seat, Felix, someone should be bringing out popcorn soon,” Sebastian said. Just then, Talon

walked up with bowls of popcorn.

“Right here, squirt, grab it while it’s hot!” He grinned, handing out smaller bowls and dishing out

different flavors.

“Regular, extra butter extra salt, extra salt only, extra butter only, dry as hell with nothing on it and my

personal favorite, Tabasco-flavored.” Talon made sure everyone got some Tabasco popcorn.

Sebastian hurried over to the long sofa, sat in the middle patting both sides, and looked up at his mates.

Liam and Kent walked over and sat on either side of Sebastian. Kent accepted a large bowl of popcorn with

nothing on it and Liam grabbed a bowl of extra salt and extra butter. Sebastian looked down at his bowl of

regular popcorn and smiled to himself. He really was the middle ground in his mating. Liam and Kent also

looked down at their selections and smiled at each other. Talon walked along and dropped a handful of red

popcorn in each bowl.

“I have a seat for you, cutie. Felix, wasn’t it?” Rex asked.

“I’m good,” Felix retorted, sitting between Damian and Rian. Rex shrugged and dug into his popcorn.

“What do we have tonight, Rian?” Kyle asked, sitting cross-legged on the floor.

“
Pollyanna
.” Rian beamed and held up the movie case.

“I haven’t seen that since I was a kid.” Kent smiled. Rian popped the movie in and everyone sat back to

enjoy Disney at its finest.

By the time the movie was over, Sebastian was yawning and resting against Liam.

“I love that freaking movie,” Rex said, gruffly wiping his eyes.

“It’s so sad how fragile humans are. We have to watch out for Rebecca more. Does she climb trees?”

Talon asked.

“I don’t know, probably, though,” Sebastian said, yawning again.

“I think it’s my kitten’s bed time,” Liam said, rubbing his nose on the top of Sebastian’s head.

“I’ll take the guest room so you can get some sleep. It’s not fair that I keep forcing you out of your own

bed.” Sebastian frowned.

“Nope, I’m gonna sleep next to my kitten, even if it’s for a little while, it’s better than nothing.” Liam

kissed Sebastian’s nose.

“Oh. Hot and sweet. The perfect combination,” Felix said. Liam and Sebastian turned to see his red hair

popping up from the top of the sofa in front of them, his blue eyes dancing.

“Rian, can you get Felix settled?” Liam asked.

“Sure thing, boss.” Rian nodded.

“Good, come on, kitten, sweetheart. Time for bed. Good-night, guys.” Liam waved at his pride. They all

said good-night. As Liam lifted him up to carry him upstairs, Sebastian felt like he was finally home.

* * * *

“What was it this time?” Kent asked the next morning at the breakfast table. Liam kept turning his head

this way and that trying to crack it. Kent saw Lachlan approaching his mate from behind but kept his mouth

shut when Lachlan put a finger to his lips.

Liam sensed him at the last minute, turned his head quickly and there was a loud pop. Liam sighed

dramatically. He eyed his grandfather.

“I love you and hate you. Good morning,” Liam said, lifting his coffee mug.

“Love you too. Sorry I missed family night, I stayed at the diner to discuss some things with Margaret,”

Lachlan said, pouring himself his own cup of coffee.

It was the first caffeinated beverage Kent had seen the old man drink, so he knew that he and Ma must

have been talking late into the night.

“You must have been discussing the lawyer,” Kent surmised. Lachlan looked up and simply nodded.

“What for? He left. Tail between his legs, too.” Liam grinned. Kent shook his head.

“That was like a scout effort. A shot across the bow. I think he was gauging what kind of support we

had. We may have tipped our hand a bit,” Kent murmured. Lachlan raised a brow and smiled at him.

Kent felt a distinct kinship with the older man. Lachlan had pulled him aside and flat out told him that

politics was not Liam’s strength. Kent knew that Lachlan would be depending on him to help Liam lead in

the future. He was comfortable doing that. He liked running things behind the scenes, anyway.

“So he’s a threat, after all.” Liam nodded as he pulled a phone from his shirt. He turned it on, scrolled

through his list of contacts before tapping one, and put it to his ear.

“David, hey it’s me. Anything?” Liam asked. After a few minutes with Liam nodding, he thanked David

and ended the call.

“So he represented Alpha Devon to the council when he brought charges against Rebecca. Known to

follow the law to the letter, but uses his ‘powers’ for evil, by representing some of the worst our races have

to offer. But neither David nor Daniel can find out why he really is here, which means it’s really bad for the

cover-up to be this good,” Liam summarized. Kent was staring at him.

“Look, I know that I don’t get a lot of the council intricacies. Sometimes I agree with Rebecca and think

we should just shoot the ones who hurt the people we care about, but we can’t do that because it’s against

the law, both human and shifter. I may not be able to follow all the twists and turns of politics, but don’t

count me out for strategy. I aced all of my history and war studies classes. I knew I would be essentially

leading what is tantamount to a small army someday. I can plan a battle with the best of them.” Liam

drained his coffee mug.

“You are so fucking hot right now.” Kent blurted out. Lachlan ducked his head to hide his smile as Liam

pulled Kent across the table to kiss him senseless. Kent felt small hands in his hair and when he broke his

kiss with Liam he was immediately thrown backward in the chair as Sebastian filled his lap. The small man

kissed him thoroughly.

“You were both gone when I woke up,” Sebastian said, pulling away from Kent and breathing hard

when their kiss ended.

“Your last shift was into a tiny bunny. Neither one of us could bear to wake you so we let you sleep in,”

Kent said, twitching his nose at Sebastian, who laughed.

Kent was glad to see their little mate wasn’t getting upset about his nightly shifts anymore. It wasn’t like

he could help it, anyway.

“You stay the fuck outta here! Liam!” They heard Rian shout from the front of the house.

All four men immediately jumped to their feet, Kent and Sebastian just steps behind Liam and Lachlan.

When they reached the foyer they saw that Mr. Salsiby was standing there with five extremely large wolf

shifters. From their scent Kent guessed three were part of Devon’s pack. He couldn’t identify the other two.

“There is the other one, seize him,” Salsiby said, pointing to Sebastian. Kent pushed Sebastian behind

him as Liam and Lachlan moved in front of Kent, barring the way. Across the room Kent could see that Rex

and Talon were defending Felix in a similar fashion.

What in the hell was going on?

“You better start explaining the meaning of this real fast, because to me it looks like the attempted

kidnapping of an Alpha’s mate and an Elder’s grandson,” Lachlan said as his large canines descended

slowly. Kent was thoroughly impressed, those things looked deadly.

“It’s quite simple. Prior to Liam’s Law being passed, twelve men were reported missing by Alpha

Devon. They had gone rogue and left his pack. They are to be apprehended and handed back over to their

Alpha at once,” Salsiby explained, a smug look on his face.

“He’s mated now, he stays here.” Liam growled.

“And normally, had he not abandoned his pack, it would be a simple transfer. But unfortunately, he left

his pack and ran. The council takes rogues very seriously. He could be facing the death penalty. Pity.”

Salsiby grinned at Liam. Liam roared and Lachlan put a hand on his chest to hold him back.

“We were never part of his pack! We were sold to him!” Felix yelled.

“There is no evidence to prove those allegations. All the paperwork that Alpha Devon has presented to

the council is signed and notarized showing a proper and legal pack transfer.” Salsiby pointed to Felix and

Sebastian again, and the five wolves took a step forward.

Low grumbles, growls and hisses echoed through the entire pride house as long lean cats came forward,

stalking the wolves from every direction.

“I suggest you call off your kitty cats, Alpha. They could be shot on sight legally.”

Liam held up a hand and all of the lions crouched down, halting their forward progress, but continued

to stare down the intruders.

“We request a continuance. According to shifter law, we can request a twenty-four-hour continuance

before being taken into custody to help arrange our defense and contest the charges,” Kent said suddenly.

Salsiby frowned at him.

“The continuance will be denied due to flight risk. Both men have fled before.” Salsiby indicated that

the wolves were to continue with their apprehension of the two small men.

“Considering one of the men is mated and will not leave his mates and the other has no other place to

go, I give my word of honor that they won’t run,” Lachlan said, stepping forward. Kent drew in a breath.

To give his word was a power play. As a council member, if he went back on his word, all cats, not just the

Lewenharts, would lose their council seat. Lachlan would be killed if he broke his word.

“Agreed.” Salsiby grinned suddenly and waved off the wolves, who took a step back. Kent had a

sickening feeling they had just played right into the lawyer’s hands.

“I know that you weren’t about to leave without giving us a copy of your evidence and testimonies,”

Lachlan said in clipped tones, stepping forward, his arms crossed over his chest. Salsiby glared at the older

lion. He reached into the briefcase and thrust two folders at Lachlan before turning to walk away.

“We’ll see you again this time tomorrow. Good day, gentlemen.” He nodded his head and all six of them

walked out, shutting the door behind them.

There was silence for a second before Sebastian burst into tears and Felix began having a meltdown.

“I can’t go back! I can’t. I can’t go back to the cage, I’d rather die. Just fucking kill me now! I can’t go

back in the cage.” Felix dropped to the floor and began to rock back and forth. Rex and Talon immediately

tried to soothe the small, red-headed man. Kent held on to Sebastian tightly.

“I can’t live without you two, I can’t! I can’t go back into that cage and be alone. They’ll kill us, I’ll

never see you again.” Sebastian cried and couldn’t seem to catch his breath. His chest tightened, painfully

stopping his breath. Liam walked over and pulled Sebastian and Kent into his arms, shaking, tears running

down his face.

“He’s not taking you from me. I’ll kill them first!” he roared.

“We’ll fight and die for you, Alpha!” Rex yelled. Lions all around them roared out their agreement.

“You can’t fight them without destroying the pride,” Lachlan said, sighing heavily before sitting down

on one of the armchairs.

“I was afraid it would come to something like this. They knew they couldn’t fight us in the open, so

they resort to this.” Lachlan growled.

“What do we do, Alpha?” Kyle asked, sounding scared. Liam, with his back to his pride, looked at his

mates. Only they saw the fear in his eyes. Kent looked around the room at the lions and back to his mate.

“In a battle, if you find yourself outmaneuvered, what do you do?” He asked Liam softly.

“You fall back, reassess, call in cavalry…” his eyes widened and Kent nodded.

“Call in the rest of your family, Liam. You have been there for them, let them be there for you,” Kent

said softly. Liam grinned and leaned forward to kiss Kent over Sebastian’s head. He then pulled Sebastian

in his arms, turned the tear-streaked face up and kissed him deeply.

“No one is taking you from us, baby. Believe that.” Liam turned, and Kent could see that there was no

longer any fear in his eyes, only fire.

“Rian, call Rebecca and…” Rick James’s “Super Freak” floated out over the room.

Sebastian fumbled for his phone out of his pocket, wiping his eyes on the backs of his hands.

“Rian, you suck!” he said before answering the phone. Rian smiled.

“Sebastian, what is it? Why are you so upset?” Rebecca demanded. Seconds later another cell phone

went off. This time it was Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs “Li’l Red Riding Hood.”

Liam grabbed his phone.

“Hey Kate. No, everything is not all right. That fucking lawyer was back, they are trying to take

Sebastian and Felix…I wish I could gut the bastard, but they are operating within shifter law…yes please

come we need everyone we can get. Later.” Liam hung up the phone and Kent concentrated on Sebastian’s

conversation.

“
And then
he said we had to go with him,
and then
the lions almost died from attacking the wolves,
and

then
he smiled all smarmy like he had a secret. Oh Rebecca, I don’t think we can fight this one,” Sebastian

wailed.

“Oh fuck that! Aleks! Aleks! Call your ma and your brothers. We are going to Liam’s. That asshole