The Forgotten One (12 page)

“Let’s get these two settled and check ourselves over.” Alton opened the door to the penthouse and watched as Maxim carried Willow inside, but he frowned when she whimpered and jerked.

“She should be out cold,” Alton said, following Maxim into the bedroom as he laid his mate on the bed. Her arm fell out of the blanket and he growled, seeing the bruise, which looked like fingerprints on her. “What the hell?” Alton lifted her arm and it was cold.

“Move aside, Tamara has Dylan in the tub,” Laurann crawled onto the bed, checking her daughter’s body. “She’s not here in her body. Her spirit has gone someplace else.” Her mom looked up and Alto could see the fear in her eyes. “She’s fighting something.”

Her father appeared at the end of the bed. “That shop you went to; it wasn’t Marsha that waited on you. The store was empty when I got there, but it was loaded with Benitta’s babies, which are now dead. I also went to that first store, only a few were there watching. Needless to say the
Chillaid’s
are furious and will be here shortly.

“Benitta is the one that waited on you at the shop. Maxim, lay on the bed next to my granddaughter. You have fae in you and you’ll be able to travel where Willow is and bring her back.” Queen Aibell ordered, standing next to Baal. “Your father is still tracking Benitta, seems she knew to take off once one of her children bit Willow. But he did capture the man who fathered the latest bunch of these things. I believe you know him, Maxim?”

Maxim nodded and got onto the bed next to Willow, pulling her into his arms. “Let’s do this, she has a new bruise forming on her face,” he snarled, right before taking a deep breath and closing his eyes.

It would be up to him to protect his mate’s bodies while they fought those that have trapped Willow even though it was hard. All he wanted to do was join them in their battle, but someone had to stay here and take care of things.

Baal’s mother whispered some words and at once he could tell Maxim had joined Willow, as his body was lax and his breathing shallow.

“Now it is up to Maxim to bring her back. I don’t know how she slipped into that world...” Aibell gasped. “If Benitta went there?” Her eyes got big. “Agares!” she yelled and he appeared at her side.

“What is it?” He asked looking for the threat.

“She’s not in this realm. someone has shown her how to move back and forth.” Aibell said. “And if that is the case, she could be anywhere.”

Alton stepped forward. “Then I should join Maxim!”

Agares shook his head. “No, if she is there, Benitta hasn’t had time to organize. Trust Maxim to bring her back, but it seems I’ll be going on a trip.” He looked towards his son. “I know I told you you wouldn’t have to go back, but you are the only one I trust to make sure no one gets out. We don’t need any others coming here right now. Take Laurann if you want. Stay at the house at least till I get back.”

Baal frowned and looked down at his daughter, shaking his head. “No, I’m sorry I don’t trust you that far to take Laurann down. If you need someone to track Benitta in the other realm, I’ll do it, but I won’t leave my family.”

“You know how time is when walking between worlds, you could come back years from now.” Agares stated and looked towards the north. “We might not need…” Agares turned toward the door and moved out of the bedroom.

“Stay with them, I’ll take care of this and let you know what is happening,” Baal told him and squeezed his shoulder before leaving the room. “I’m trusting you to take care of my daughter and grandson.” Baal held out his hand. “Come Laurann, I refuse to let you out of my sight.” He said.

Her mother snorted. “You’re just afraid I’ll give you a run around again.” Laurann took his hand, but looked back at Willow. “Will she be okay?”

“Trust her men to protect her as I do.” Baal said his eyes, now a dark red, were focused on him.

“With my life,” Alton nodded his head and watched the two move out of the room.

Alone in the room, Alton sat down on the bed not seeing any new marks on Willow’s body, but there were a few on Maxim’s arm, that had him hoping he had found her. “Come back to me you two,” he whispered and bent placing a kiss on Willow’s head, squeezing Maxim’s arm.

***

One minute Willow was screaming in pain and the next she was in a world she had no idea even existed. All she knew was she was not alone. Many of her so-called brothers were there waiting for her, it would seem. They seemed to know that she was coming which really sucked. But there was one good thing about that, it seemed her gifts were here in this place as she clothed herself, her two metal swords in her hands as she eyed her so-called brothers.

Not one, but two, deformed men leaped forward. One had three eyes and seemed to still have the brittle hair of a spider up his hands, while the other had skinny arms, thin where one hand was like a claw. Yea, Willow battled the two things, her brothers, while three others watched, but she had a sense others were close by watching.

“Sure would be nice if you’d come to my rescue now,” she muttered, trying to get hold of Maxim or Alton, but nothing. There was no connection to anyone, even her mom, which was like a gaping hole in her heart.

“Son of a bitch,” she growled as one of the deformed ones sliced her arm.

“So the princess does bleed. Tell me, how did you get the protection of dear old Grandfather? We’ll see how good he is at finding people, or do you think he’ll allow them to die as gator bait?” the one man spit out, asking his partner as he lunged with his sword like weapon, but she twirled around, hitting him across the chest with one swipe.

“Call me lucky, asshole,” she raised her sword and cut through the skin and muscles of his neck. His scream was like that of someone scratching a chalkboard as he fell to the ground, screaming.

“Shut up already,” she growled and swung her sword, cutting the other side of his neck, while dancing away from the other one. Two more who decided to jump in.

“Need some help?” came a deep growl, as Maxim swung his sword in front of her. As he moved up next to her, making mincemeat of the reminder of the men that were there, but not before one of them managed to tackle him.

Willow went to help him, when she felt it. Someone was watching them. “You live now, but I will be back,” said the woman’s voice a shrill, but Willow knew who it was. She stepped towards the voice, but Maxim wrapped his arm around her stopping her.

“No, you are going back,” Maxim growled, right before Willow felt the world slip away from her again.

“What the hell,” Willow growled, and sat up, looking around. She was back in her body. “Damn it, Maxim, we should have gone after her.” She growled, looking down at her mate, as his wolf eyes meet hers.

“No, there will be no more dangerous missions,” he growled, and she would have said something, but Alton lifted her up into his arms, holding her tight.

“Maxim is right. You need to be here at our side, not running around in a different world.” Alton kissed the top of her head and leaned back. “How the hell did you get there?” he asked as someone knocked on their door.

Maxim lifted the blanket and wrapped her up, before going to the door.

“I knew you could do it,” her father said, coming into the room. “Now, tell us what you know?” he asked, coming over and placing a kiss on her head, squeezing her shoulder.

“How about I get dressed first and meet you out in the living room. It’s uncomfortable sitting here in a blanket.” She grabbed onto her father’s arm. “Is someone missing?” she frowned, climbing out of the bed with the blanket tucked neatly around her.

Her father looked confused. “What are you talking about?” he asked.

“Before Maxim showed up, one of the others said something about grandfather finding someone.” Willow stared down and realized she didn’t need the blanket, once more her men had taken care of her. “Thank you.” She put the blanket down and went to step forward, but swayed a little bit.

“Easy, Little Kitty.” Alton lifted her up into his arms and moved out into the living area of the room where about 40 people, men and women, had gathered.

“Wow, we’re having a party and no one invited me? Now that is just rude,” she said and smiled.

Laughter broke out as her grandfather came over and looked her over. “I’m sorry I didn’t capture her like I planned.”

Willow glanced up at Alton, who shrugged. “Just as father can’t predict what the spider lady will do, you are not to blame for this. Put me down over there, Alton,” Willow pointed to the couch near where Tamara and Dylan sat. She needed to hug her baby.

Alton sat down on the couch with her in his lap and she shook her head at him as she held out her arms. Dylan climbed onto her lap, hugging her tight. “I was so scared,” he whispered, burying his face in her neck.

“I know, sweetie, and I’m sorry.” She closed her eyes, inhaling the fresh scent of his favorite bubble bath. “Grandfather, while I was out one of my...” she waved her hand and leaned back against Alton. “He said he wondered if you were a good tracker, if you’d find someone before they became gator bait. Do you know who it is?”she asked, rubbing her cheek on Dylan’s little head.

Her grandfather moved to kneel in front of her, frowning. “I don’t know anyone...” He stood and faced his son. “What happened at the store that they visited?”

“Marsha? Since it’s obvious it wasn’t her, did you find her? Is her family okay?” Willow sat up, not liking where this was going. She had grown up with Marsha, went to school with her, knew her family personally.

Her father shook his head. “She wasn’t around the shop. The back showed signs of a struggle, which is different from Benitta’s character, so her sons had to have done this. As for her family, her grandmother is fine, but she’s really worried about her daughter.”

Willow put Dylan down next to Tamara. “Will you watch Dylan for me? I should be back by tonight.” She went to stand up, but Alton had wrapped his arms around her and held on.

“What do you think you’re doing?” he asked, leaning over and nipping her shoulder.

“I’m going to get my friend. It’s obvious they hid Marsha somewhere in the swamp,” Willow smiled, glancing over her shoulder. “Little do my brothers know, but Marsha and I used to play in the swamp. It was my playground. Ask mom. She had a hell of a time keeping track of us when we went playing.”

Laurann laughed. “That is true and it would have been worse, if I didn’t have a connection with her. If anyone can find Marsha, it’s my daughter. Not only does she know the area, she knows Marsha’s scent so she can track her,” Laurann told everyone in the room.

“No!” Maxim and Alton said at the same time.

She took a deep breath and tried to pry Alton’s arms away from her, but he held on, which didn’t mean shit as far as she was concerned. She concentrated and started to shift, but something went wrong and Willow was thrown back into her human body.

“No,” Alton growled and stood, placing her over his shoulder. “Excuse me while we deal with our woman,” he growled and slapped her ass hard when she tried to get up. “Hold still,” he ordered, as Maxim slammed the bedroom doors behind them.

Alton sat down on the bed and turned her so she was facing him. He was furious.

Chapter Eight

To say he was angry would be an understatement, and he made sure his Little Kitty saw the displeasure in his expression. He was not playing anymore games with her and it seemed either was their other partner, Maxim, as he sat down next to them.

He felt her flinch and try to scoot back away from him, but he held onto her hips. “What do you think you are doing? You were just poisoned, fought your brothers in another world or wherever, and now you want to take off for another dangerous venture?” his voice held a little whip to it. “Not to mention you have a son out there that needs his mother, not a warrior running off every time something comes up!”

“Excuse me?” Willow straightened her back and her eyes seemed to come alive. “Let me go, now!” she snapped.

Alton shook his head. “You might be pissed at me, but we are furious at you. We will work this out now,” he told her.

Claws replaced her nails, the eyes of her cat stared back at him, but he wouldn’t back down. “You are used to taking off, with your mother taking care of Dylan. It stops now. You have a little boy out there that needs you, us and we need you,” he paused. “Safe, in our arms, not out there in danger.”

He could see the weariness flash across her face just as she turned and looked towards the door. “I always put Dylan first and for you to accuse me of not doing so is wrong. I had a job and needed to do it. Dylan was always there with me,” she looked back at him with tears in his eyes. “Where do you think I was when I disappeared, down time. I always came back, even while protecting Tamara at your home, I came back here to be with my family, my son. So don’t even tell me I didn’t put him first. As is the case with millions of mom’s out there, we have to work, and don’t say I didn’t, because you would be wrong.” She looked down at her hands.

“Not only did I need to work; it was driven into me. After I had Dylan, I needed to bury myself in my job, away from men in general. But this is different. I’m not doing this because I want danger. I’m doing this because she’d do it for me. I was going to see if my grandfather or you would come with me. I wasn’t going to go alone.”

Maxim snorted. “I don’t know if I like the idea of you going off with him either, even though he seems to be trying.” Maxim reached over and grabbed a handful of her hair and pulled her head to the side, exposing her neck to him. He leaned over and bit down on the tendon, growling, marking her.

“Maxim,” she whispered at the same time surrendering her body to him. Maxim pulled her over to him, and hugged her tight. “We just found you; it’s only been two days. We will not be separated,” Maxim told her, his gaze meeting Alton’s.

“Hmmm, I have an idea,” Willow said, edging back, looking at Alton and then at Maxim. “Since we know she’s not here, why don’t we all go into the bayou? We can stay at one of the inns along there. Dylan hasn’t been there in a while and I’d love to show you the beauty of it,” She asked. “Plus, it would take some of the danger away from the city.”