Soul Mates: Scent (The Soul Mates Series) (30 page)

I nodded at Daire and he opened the ante room door and allowed Rik and James to drag the cheetah into the room.

“State your name!” I demanded of the cheetah.

“Jake Guépard, sire,” the cheetah whispered.

“Jake explain to me how you came to be with Frederick on the football field last evening and what took place afterwards.”

Jake nodded without struggling to be let go by Rik and James. “Frederick kidnapped my daughter. He was holding her somewhere in Quebec, somewhere away from the council. He also holds Elsa, Edgar and Evan’s sister as well. She is… was Charles Lyon’s mate.”

“Charles Lyon?”

“Frederick’s youngest brother. Frederick thought him weak and unworthy of the Lyon name. Charles never wanted to be there. None of us wanted to be there. Frederick said he would torture the girls if we didn’t help him. So we did as we were told. We knocked out the human football players and locked them up so we could take their place. You know what happened there.

After the game Frederick was furious. He was out for more than blood after that. He wanted more than just your death and the seat on the council. He wanted death for your whole family. He wanted you to suffer before he took you out. He… I think he was more than a little unstable, sire.”

“Go on,” I said. I had half suspected this when I’d been fighting them at Tony’s house.

“Well, he was practicing with a bow while he planned his next move. Edgar pissed him off and he threw an arrow at him. It missed Edgar but it hit some kind of beast in the tree. He shot a bunch of arrows at it, I don’t think it killed the creature, but he sure wounded it pretty bad. He chased it until it disappeared.”

“So you never shot at the creature?”

“No, that was all Frederick. He wanted us to go after it, see what it was, but as I said, we lost it in the darkness.” Jake took a deep breath and looked around for the first time and noticed the council. His eyes got wide as he realized what kind of trouble he was in. “Then this morning we went to all those houses looking for people I guess, but when no one was there Frederick got really angry and destroyed everything. Going to that last house was kind of a last resort. Frederick was getting desperate at that point.”

“I see,” I said. I looked over at Thomas. “Thomas, are you satisfied with his story? Do you believe he was the arrow launcher?”

Thomas studied Jake’s face. “I am. And no I don’t believe he was. If Frederick blackmailed them all into helping him, then it would be wrong to punish him.”

“I agree. I am not sure how we will find your child and Elsa with Frederick dead, but we will do our best. Rik, James, let Jake go.”

Rik and James reluctantly let got of Jake’s arms. “If we have to,” James said sulkily.

Diana turned to me, a smile on her face. “Max, I am proud of how far you have come. You will be a wonderful leader for the Felidae. However I have one question for you, why are you sitting at Auberon’s side?”

I smiled. I knew Diana knew the answer to this question. I had prayed to her about it, she wanted everyone to know exactly who and what I was. How powerful I was, so they wouldn’t be tempted to try to over throw Anna and I. “I am of Auberon’s direct line and one of his heirs. I am next in line for his throne in Faerie. I have been blessed by Gaia. Ask any Fae here who I am.”

Diana turned to Daire. “Who is Max to you Fae warrior?”

Daire dropped to one knee, his fist to his heart, his head bowed. “He is my Prince. I will follow him into battle and obey his every order.”

“So he is not only a Fae Prince, he is a warrior? You have seen him fight?”

Daire looked up into Diana‘s eyes and then around the room at the visiting Felidae. “Oh yes goddess, my Prince is a superior warrior. I have learned much at his side.”

“Who exactly was he fighting?”

“I have fought both Unseelie and shifters at his side goddess.”

Diana turned to another warrior. “And you?”

The warrior dropped to one knee, bowing his head and put his fist to his heart. “Thane, goddess.”

“Thane, what have you to say about Max?”

“My Prince has a heart of compassion and loyalty, goddess. Those that are close to him have nothing to fear and everything to gain,” Thane glanced up into the goddess’ face and then into my eyes.

I smiled.

“And you Taliriktug?”

“I have seen Max stop at nothing to protect those he loves and cares for. I would fight with him at my side any time, my goddess,” Rik said strong and proud before the Felidae.

Diana smiled once again as she turned to me. “Anna, would you join Max?”

Anna slowly walked to the throne. Every move she made heated my skin and made me want her more. I could not wait to get her alone. For the first time we wouldn’t have to worry about Frederick and fighting and training or any of it.

Max, mon amour, pay attention!

I smiled at Anna,
I
can
’
t
help
it,
you
are
absolutely
beautiful.

Diana turned and addressed the Elders. “Do you all accept your fate? That Max and Anna are now your Rex and Regina? For I now give them the power to grant and or take away powers of those that are loyal to them. Perhaps they will find this useful in one particular case…” Diana’s eyes strayed to Thomas. “As well as for those they find are not as loyal as they claim to be.”

Diana then placed her hands upon our hearts and I felt a transfer of power from her to me as well as to Anna, connecting the three of us into a strange metaphysical bond. Through that bond I felt Gaia reaching out to Anna, touching her, blessing her as well.

“Well, if that is all taken care of, I believe a celebration is in order,” Auberon grinned.

I started to shake my head no, but Diana suddenly agreed with him. “I do think you are right in this case Auberon.”

Auberon clapped his hands and suddenly the room was filled with servants and food and music. I looked across the room at my parents who were trying hard to keep Abbey contained. I hadn’t spoken to them since the night before. They still had no idea the house was trashed.

“Auberon, do you have a cleaning crew?”

“Why do you ask?”

“Well…” I hesitated. “The shifters made a huge mess in all of the homes, I’m just not sure about how to go about repairing them.”

Auberon grinned. “It just so happens I do have a cleaning brigade I can send out, but you will owe me.”

“What will I owe you?” I asked leery of making this deal.

“That you will name your first male child Auberon.”

I glanced over at Anna who smiled. “I suppose we could do that.”

“I will send the crews within the hour.”

“Thank you,” I said watching my mom with my sister.

“You should go talk to them, mon amour. In a very short time we will not have a lot of time to spend with them.”

“I know. I just wonder if they realize how much I have changed, how much my life has changed and how much theirs is about to change.”

“Max, mon couer, their life doesn’t have to change. It can go on as it always has. Abbey may be different, but she has years to grow up normal before she has to know she is other.”

I started to agree, but then Abbey flashed herself across the room to me. “Somehow I don’t think that is going to be possible.”

“Non, perhaps not.”

“Max, you pretty! Pretty Faerie,” Abbey said with a big smile. “Anna pretty cat and Max pretty Faerie, both pretty!”

I stared at Abbey and I knew she knew what Anna and I were. “Abbey is one smart cookie,” I said picking her up in my arms.

Abbey gave me a Cheshire cat grin and flashed back to mom before I could say anything else. I wondered exactly what mom and dad were going to do about that for about ten seconds and then realized I had more to worry about than Abbey’s flashing about. Mom and dad would solve that problem.

My current problem was the former elder that had a knife digging into my side as he pushed me into an Ante room.

“What do you think you are doing?”

“What my sons should have done. Taken care of you!”

“Ah, let me guess. You are lion? Frederick and Charles’ father?”

The elder nodded, a roar rumbling in his throat. “You slayed my sons. Now it is your turn to die!”

“I don’t think so.” I shook my head, grabbed his arm and twisted until he let go of the knife. When he did, I pulled it out of my side and healed up with in seconds.

I turned back to him, a snarl on my lips. “You have just attempted to assassinate your king, lion. Do you know the punishment for that?”

The lion backed up until his back was to the door. He was shaking, nervous and looking for escape.

“Cat got your tongue? Well let me help you out with that,” I said pulling Veritas from it’s hilt. I watched the lion’s eyes get wide. “Talk. Now.”

“They made me!” The lion said before slapping his hand over his mouth.

I moved in closer with Veritas and placed it right up next to his neck. “More. Who made you? What do they want?”

“The council. They made me. I’m not even a part of it. They want all of the power. They don’t want to belong to Diana any more. They say she betrayed us by creating other shifters. Giving them even more power and strength. They have been experimenting, creating hybrids. Frederick was one of those hybrids. He was very volatile and unstable though they couldn’t see that. All they saw was the raw power he had. The amazing healing abilities. The powers their ancestors had when Diana first gave us power.”

“Do you want to live?”

“Yes sire!” the lion said desperately.

“Do I have your loyalty?”

“Yes sire!” the lion nodded.

Veritas vibrated in my hand, letting me know he was telling me the truth. “Then you will leave right now, through this side door. You will go home. You will tell no one what has occurred here.”

“What… what are you going to do to the council sire?” he whispered.

I turned back and raised a questioning brow. “Do you really want to know?”

He must have read something more on my face because he suddenly paled and shook his head no and was out the door.

Anna?

Oui mon amour? Where are you?

Someone just tried to assassinate me for the council.

Mon couer, are you all right?

Yes, my love, I’m fine. But the council has just lost it’s shifter privileges.

Max, mon couer, mon père is a council member, perhaps not all of the elders are guilty…

Perhaps not. It shall have to be trial by Veritas then. Are all of the council members still here?

Oui, but Diana has gone.

I am glad. I wouldn’t want her to hear what I have just heard. Have Cole, Thane and Daire seal the room please. I can’t leave this room until it is done. Of course you will have to clear it with Auberon first.

As you wish mon amour. No one has noticed you are missing yet.

I will see you in a few minutes.

I waited patiently in the ante room for Anna to let me know that I could return to the throne room. I calmly paced as I thought out my plan. With the doors sealed I would have each council member brought before me and confront them with their misdeeds. And with Veritas there to guide me, I should have all of the guilty weeded out.

Mon amour, we are ready.

I am on my way. Bring the first council member to my throne. We will speak with him there.

As you wish, mon amour.

And Anna…

Oui, Max?

I love you. Be careful.

I
love
you
too.
I could feel her sweet passion flow into me, heating me like the sun. It felt amazing. Our bond was getting stronger with every passing day. I couldn’t imagine remembering a day where she wasn’t the most important thing in my life.

I moved silently out of the ante room staying against the walls until I reached the step to the thrones. I climbed the step and moved behind the large gold gem laden thrones. It would block this process we were about to go through from the view of the other guests. I really didn’t want the other council members to know they were about to be judged and possibly have their powers taken away if I didn’t have to.

Anna brought the highest council member to me and I pulled out Veritas and laid it against his neck, making him talk, telling me the truth as Daire and Thane held him still.

“So in your own words you are telling me you ordered my execution.”

“I am,” the high council member said, tears running down his cheeks.

“And this was after Diana declared Anna and I your king and queen?”

“It was.”

“Very well,” I said taking Anna hand in mine we laid our joined hand over his heart and said in unison, “With your misdeeds comes never ending consequences. Your powers are here by revoked. You will forever more be banned from all Felidae celebrations, compounds, life. You will live out the rest of your life as an outcast and human.” I could feel the power leaving him and drawing into Anna and myself. Spreading through us, lighting us, making us glow as we preformed the ritual.

We went through this ritual four more times that night, casting out four other shifters and taking in their power. The other members hadn’t been aware of what the five highest members had been up to. The innocent members we kept behind the thrones so they wouldn’t tip off the others before their turn. It was an eye opening experience to all of them.

“Sire, goddess Diana has blessed you many times over,” Seth Tigris, a tiger if you hadn’t guessed by the last name, said.

“She has, Seth. And to those that are loyal to Anna and I, we will share some of these blessings, but loyalty must be proven over time.”

Seth nodded. “I understand, sire. And I will do whatever it takes to prove myself worthy.”

“For now Seth, why don’t you and the others return to the celebration. The Fae do know how to throw the best parties.”