Dianthe Rising Read online

  I need to go and take a shower before the guys all come home and ask me again about Callanish. I’m going to have to agree to it. There is no way to get out of it. I’ve just have a bad feeling, and I’ve learned to listen to those feelings.

  *****

  I had just finished my shower when the boys started to come back. Daniel came in first. He had been out doing his thing and looking for work. I walked up to him and quickly kissed him on the lips.

  “Hey, how’d it go, Goliath?”

  “Hey yourself, hot lips. Is that anyway to greet a poor man after a hard day’s work?”

  “Nope, but who said anything about you doing a hard day’s work?” I grinned saucily and turned to dash across the room before he could grab me.

  Damn fairies are quiet though and I found myself wrapped in Robin’s arms before I had completely turned around.

  “Tut-tut, Dianthe. Did no one ever teach you to show more respect for your mates? Do you need to be taught a lesson?”

  I couldn't help myself. I blushed furiously at the reminder of several such lessons. There had been a few occasions over the past weeks where the guys would “discipline” me. They would spank me until I begged forgiveness over some perceived wrong. Then they’d rub and kiss it away before loving me unconscious.

  “No,” I gasped. “I mean no, I was only joking.” I didn’t want to pull them into an all-night sex session before we had a chance to talk. I had made my decision and as the solstice was less than a week away, we had a lot of planning to do.

  Before I had a chance to say anything more, the door opened and Kale walked in. I shook my head and wondered absently, when had they all had keys made? We were going to have a conversation about boundaries.

  Unfortunately, for me, in their eyes we were married already so where I stayed ergo did they.

  I stopped for a moment and took the time to really look at Kale. He looked haggard and I was really starting to worry for him.

  “Hey you," I slipped out of Robin’s arms and went to him. “What’s wrong? You look shattered.”

  Kale massaged the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. “It’s nothing for you to worry about, baby, just pack stuff.” His eyes shifted away from me and I knew something was up.

  “Hey, I’m your mate, right?” I ducked under his arm trying to make eye contact. “Shouldn’t you share pack stuff with me?”

  A flash of anger crossed his face before he quickly hid it, but I had already seen the emotion. “Tell me, Kale, what’s wrong? I can’t help if you don’t tell me what I need to do.”

  He snarled and turned away from me, fury radiating off him. “You want to know what you can do. You can be my fucking mate and come home with me. The pack is threatening to rebel because I cannot control one little female. They are on the verge of challenge because I don't even stay with them. I killed my own father to protect the pack and in essence, I’ve thrown it all away for a piece of ass.”

  Aghast, I drew back, the harshness of his words overwhelmed me. I so hadn’t seen this coming. I thought we were doing great. Robin and Daniel had both pushed in front of me when Kale had let loose, protecting me from his anger. I knew he wouldn't hurt me but that’s testosterone for you.

  Kale looked at me haggardly and sat heavily on the sofa. “I’m sorry, baby, it’s just not been going well the past couple weeks.”

  I had to push past the two overprotective morons so I could sit on the edge of the couch with Kale. “I’m sorry that I’ve put you in this position. I don’t understand how a pack works. The lines of communication need to be open or we are never going to work things out. Will moving to Bean to fix this mess?”

  He looked at me with hope. “It’d be a huge step in the right direction.”

  “And would the pack accept Robin and Daniel?” I questioned.

  “Yeah, it’s already been discussed. As long as I get an heir for the pack eventually, they don’t care. It’s unusual for wolves to take multiple partners once mated but in the paranormal community it’s not uncommon.”

  I took a deep breath before making a snap decision. “As long as Robin and Daniel are okay with the move, I’ll come to Bean.” I looked to the other two who nodded silently and turned my attention back to my wolf. “It was only because I wanted to keep some me space that I stayed here.” Smiling wistfully, I looked at the three of them. “I should have guessed that would never happen anyway, right?”

  "No," was the three very verbal responses to that one.

  “You’ll just pack up and come back to the house with me?” Kale questioned.

  “Yeah, I will. It’s not a hard choice.”

  “Why?” He still looked sceptical.

  “You idiot, it’s because I love you. I love all three of you and will do whatever needs to be done to support our family.”

  Wow, I hadn’t expected what happened next. Three very large males jumped me and pulled me to the floor. I found myself passed from one to the next for X-rated kisses and caresses. When I was finally given enough air to do more than breathe, I pulled back.

  “Not that I’m complaining but what was that for?”

  Robin lifted my chin for one last kiss. “You told us you loved us.”

  “Yeah, but that’s kind of obvious. You people have been telling me for weeks. Surely you knew?”

  Kale pulled me down shaking his head, before kissing me lazily. “You’ve never said the words, sweetheart. Sometime we need the reassurance, we were getting worried.”

  Aww man, I sucked. “I’m so sorry guys. I just never thought. I do love you. I love each of you so much sometimes that my heart hurts.” I decided to go back to the subject we were on before I started to bawl like a baby. “Is that what you want, for us to move to pack lands?”

  “Yes, more than anything at the moment. I have wanted you in my home and bed since the first night I saw you. My pack will rest easier knowing you are there and my mother will get off my back, not to mention my second. He has been worse than any nagging bitch in the pack. No offence, Dia.”

  Laughing, I pushed him playfully, “All you had to do was ask, oh mighty Alpha. I am but your humble obedient mate.”

  Choking snorts met my announcement and Daniel muttered an, “I wish.”

  “No, seriously, I’ve even decided to go to Scotland and meet dear old dad. I can compromise.” In the issuing silence, I rushed in. “We need to make arrangements. Places to stay, transportation, etc. The BBC is doing some weird live stream for the nation on the stones. So, Robin, you can use your magic powers to make us invisible right? I mean we’ve only got a week and I should have been on board ages ago.” I trailed off as I looked to my guys as they quietly passed looks between them. “Okay, what am I missing again?”

  “Dianthe dearest,” Robin smiled fondly at me. “Sometimes I forget how young you really are. We were always going to Callanish for the Solstice. Everything is in order. We were just waiting for you to come to your senses.”

  “Oh,” I said dumbly. I started to get angry that they had ignored my feelings and gone ahead and made plans without me. I opened my mouth to let fly when Robin stopped me. He held up his hand to halt my tirade.

  “My love, how has your control been recently?”

  Crap, I thought. Not good, I had blown up half the electrical devices in the flat alone. I couldn’t even go out in public without Robin anymore because I could not trust myself. I’d managed to turn milk into Diet coke at the supermarket and I almost floated away at the mall. One day, Daniel took me to the museum and while I was admiring a painting, it started to come to life. We had to rush out before the glamour could take over and turn the whole room into a fishing village.

  Yeah, I should have given in ages ago. No one ever accused me of not being stubborn. At least I had finally seen the light. I just nodded my head and said, “You’re right. There’s no use in arguing about it. I can’t control it and if meeting the old man will help, then it has to be done.”

  I wanted to b
e done with this conversation so I tried to bring it back to moving to Bean. Then a thought hit me. “Kale, did you say you killed your father?”

  I really thought I had misheard him but he soon abased me of that notion.

  *****

  Kale…

  How was I supposed to tell my mate about the hardest thing I had ever done? She was so innocent and pure. I would never have told her at all if I could’ve helped it but the stress of the last few weeks had finally reached their breaking point. While she had accepted me into her bed and home, I still felt as if she hadn’t accepted me, not fully. Not to mention, the pack was growing more than restless. An Alpha could not live away from his pack.

  Mother understood but even she was growing worried at our continued absence. If I could get through this conversation without her turning away from me, so many worries would be lifted.

  The Faery and I had made our peace weeks ago. I never thought I would submit to another male physically, much less sexually, but those weeks on the Fae side changed my outlook on life. I had learned I could still be Alpha and submit to my mate at times. Robin and Daniel were my mates as much as Dia was. I pulled myself from my thoughts and looked into my beautiful mate’s golden eyes. She could’ve easily been born a wolf.

  Like a coward, I had to gather my courage before I told her the truth plainly and painfully.

  “I did kill my father, Dia, in cold blood.”

  “But why,” she whimpered.

  Gods, I hope I can make her understand. “Because he was a cruel bastard, baby. He was destroying the pack. There was not much of a pack left when I challenged him. A challenge is to the death. Once the challenge is made and accepted, it cannot be stopped". The weariness in my voice must have brought out their protective needs. Dia pressed against me on the couch. While Robin and Daniel slid onto the ends squeezing us all close together. The wolf in me loved the closeness and comfort, but I needed to finish this before I could accept it.

  "I finally stood up to him the night he was going to kill my mother, his mate. He was mad and had been for years. He beat me for as long as I can remember. Mum could not even hug me without it leading to a lashing."

  Closing my eyes, I could see it all playing out again in my head, the horrible sights and sounds of his rages. The shudder that passed through me before I forced myself to continue shook my whole body, "She was pregnant when I finally found the courage to challenge him. He accused her of cheating on him and whelping a bastard. He said he would beat the baby out of her. By the time I was there, the baby was gone. I was able to save my mum but not my brother.”

  “Oh, Kale, I’m so sorry,” she cried as she threw herself into my arms.

  “Shhhh...” I soothed her. “It’s okay, baby, it was a long time ago. I killed him, but I did it coldly. I had long ago stopped wanting a father’s love. I did what I had to do to protect my pack and family.”

  I had to ask her the question I knew would break us if she answered negatively. “Knowing that I have the blood of my father on my hands, can you forgive me?”

  “Kale,” she exclaimed. “There’s nothing to forgive. I’m so proud of you. It must have been so hard to make that decision. You saved your mother’s life and secured your pack's future. I love you and nothing will ever change that.”

  I looked down into my mate’s eyes and fell irrevocably in love with her. Yes, as Robin had said she was so very young. Damn, but what a woman she was already, and I couldn’t wait to see how she matured. We were all so lucky to have the years ahead of us to explore and help her grow.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Dia…

  My plans changed after our decision to move to Bean and the pack house. Seriously, there is a place called Bean. I shook my head and carried on packing.

  “Dia, pack what you need and we will get movers to collect the rest,” Robin teased.

  “I am,” I grumbled. It was too bad I couldn't make what I wanted appear at a moment’s notice. On the other hand, could I? Hmmmm, I put my hands on my hips and stared at my open wardrobe. Why could Mary Poppins do it and not me?

  “What are you doing, dearest?” Robin asked puzzled.

  I slumped down on the bed and crossed my arms. “What good is it to have supernatural powers if you can’t make your clothes pack them self?” I grumped.

  Robin looked at me blankly for a moment before a slow grin spread across his lips. “You were trying to use your un-awakened gifts to pack your luggage?”

  “Yeah, so,” I huffed.

  Robin’s smile turned into a chuckle and he doubled over in laughter. I had never seen him, well, guffawing before. He slid down the wall and sat on the ground at my feet. When he got his breath back, he looked up at me. Those liquid silver eyes of his were shining with laughter. I had never seen him so animated.

  “Oh, my love, you are a true joy. Did you believe you could pull magic tricks out of a hat?”

  “Well why not?” I asked. “You do stuff like that all the time.”

  “Dianthe,” he said suddenly serious. “I am millennia old. It takes years of study and hard work to wield glamour and any magic. Do not assume to take it lightly. Children are watched closely when they start to develop in case of mishap.”

  I was still in a strop and hunched deeper into my slouch. “I don’t get what the big deal is. Packing clothes is hardly dangerous.”

  Robin took my hand and kissed it lovingly. “Would you give a child a loaded weapon?”

  I pulled back and glared. “Of course I wouldn’t.”

  “It is the same, my dear. While your gift can be benign in nature, so is a gun. However, put a bullet in it and hand it to a child and certain devastation is assured.”

  “Oh,” I sighed. “I never thought of it that way. God, Robin, you must believe I’m a total idiot.”

  “No, Dianthe, I see you are young. While you are physically an adult in the human world, in our world you are a babe. It’s positively wicked that I want to do the things I do with you.”

  “Is sex all you think about, Robin?” I grinned.

  “No,” he said cheekily. “But it does take a large percentage of my time.”

  He could always raise my spirits and other emotions, my Robin.

  Once I packed after Robin’s attempt to “help me”, we made our way to the door. I took a moment to gaze back over my tiny flat one last time. Kale met us at the door and waited patiently for me to lock up.

  "I have to let the proprietor know I will not be renewing my lease. I guess I could sub-let it until it is up," I fretted.

  Kale lifted my bag from my hand and pulled me against him. “It’s okay, baby. We will work it out with your landlord. I will pay the rest of the lease and I’m sure he will be fine with that. It means he will make all his money from you and get a quick turnaround in re-renting it.”

  Sighing, I agreed. “I know your right but it was my first home on my own, you know?”

  “I understand, baby,” Kale kissed my head. “Consider it as starting a new adventure in a new home with your mates. You have your own family now and it’s time to move on.” Chucking me under my chin, he added, “I don’t know how much longer we would all have been able to fit in.”

  Laughing, I poked him in the ribs. “It was getting a little crowded.”

  We shut the door to my little flat and he led me downstairs to the start of my new life.

  *****

  We arrived in Bean, pulling up in one of Kale's cars to the pack house. How many cars did one man need?

  “What happened to the VW?” I enquired.

  He nodded to a huge building that I assumed was a house on its own. “It’s in the garage attached to the house. The Scirocco is my run about. Remind me to show you my baby one day.”

  I was afraid to ask but I did any way, “What’s your baby?”

  A boyish grin filled his face. “She’s a Bugatti Veyron. You will love her, Dia. That girl has moves like nothing else on this planet. I special ordered her and it to
ok me six months before she was ready. She’s worth more than the house.”

  I looked at the house and swallowed hard. “Should I be jealous of the car?” I half joked.

  Before he could answer, the front door opened and Helen stood there waiting for us with open arms. Beside her stood a man about Kale’s age, with shaggy brown hair and laughing hazel eyes. Cockiness radiated from him.

  Helen grabbed me up in a hug and began to splay kisses across my cheeks.

  “Oh, Dia darling, I’m so glad you were finally able to come home. It’s been horrible without you two. I can’t wait to show you around and get you settled in. It has been too long since we’ve had a proper Alpha couple in residence.”

  “Mum,” Kale gently eased me from his mother. “Give Dia a chance to breathe,” he laughed.

  “Of Course, forgive me, Dia. I’m so excited to have a new daughter. I never imagined Kale would settle down.”

  “Not for lack of trying,” snorted the man beside us.

  “Matt,” Helen admonished. “Dia does not want to hear about that.”

  “Umm, about what?” I asked. I glanced curiously at the man called Matt.

  “Baby, this is my second in command, Matthew. Matt, greet your Alpha female, Dia,” he practically growled.

  “An absolute pleasure, Dia, it’s wonderful to have you here. Finally,” he murmured under his breath.

  Kale glowered as he said stonily, “Matt, we talked about this.”

  “What is going on?” I asked again a smile in my voice.

  Matthew was definitely a stirrer and I was beginning to like him cocky attitude and all.

  Matt’s grin was pure mischief. “Well,” he drawled, “as you’re my Alpha female, I must answer any request you make of me.” I heard Kale groan and saw Helen blanch before Matt continued, “You see, Dia, since you have been MIA these past few weeks, the pack bitches have taken it on themselves to entertain our Alpha.”

  The laughter suddenly disappeared from my voice and I grew still. “What did you say,” I asked quietly. Waves of restless energy started to pour from me.

  He must have realized that it was not as funny as he supposed because he tried to sugar coat it. “I mean, it’s just that… Awww, hell.” He looked helplessly to Kale. “You didn’t tell me she was a real fucking Alpha.”