The Heart’s Lost Souls: Part One: The Binding Read online

  Shannon groaned and Melody snorted as Tabatha explained her words to the man.

  “Shannon, what aren’t you telling us?” Star asked.

  “There is more?” Bull snapped.

  “I think the other part can be discussed later,” she glared at Star, who just smiled.

  “You will share now, please,” Bull stated.

  Shannon did not want to alarm Tabatha. “Oh, just tell him and quit beating around the bush. It’s about me isn’t?” Tabatha asked. “That creep is still out for me, isn’t he?”

  Shannon slumped back against Belen. “Yes, he wants you dead. I can’t figure out why, but he hates Wol-item even more. It is weird, though. I couldn’t use any of my gifts, powers, whatever you call them. It was like the spell that was removed from me was still there,” Shannon said. “Is it possible that Grandmother didn’t release me totally?”

  “Hmm, maybe it’s time to visit the witches and wizards,” Tabatha said. “There are a few of them I’d like to see.”

  Tabatha cracked her knuckles. “When do we go kick some butt?” she asked, smiling.

  Wol-item groaned. “Since when did you become such a bloodthirsty wench?” he mumbled as Hoyt and Chax laughed.

  “She’s always been like that,” Hoyt said. “That’s why we need to keep her chained to the bed, and out of trouble.”

  Tabatha put her hands on her hips and turned to face Hoyt. “You are on thin ice. My butt is still sore, thank you very much.” She frowned at him.

  “Then maybe you’ll learn to keep your mouth shut when you don’t know what you’re dealing with. They could have fried you,” Hoyt countered.

  Chax just leaned against the wall. “Where is Apollyon?” he asked quietly, but Shannon heard him.

  “He had to go back. I guess something was going on,” Shannon said. “I promised the kids we would do the tourist thing tomorrow, and I don’t break my promises, but maybe my mother and fathers would like to join us for lunch while I take a little trip,” Shannon said.

  “We would love to,” Jonia said. “We can get to know all of our grandchildren, but soon you and I will have to have a girls’ night, I do believe. I would like to show you a few places, and of course Melody and Tabatha would come too.”

  Mortin, one of Shannon’s fathers, moved away from the wall and walked over to her mother, where he leaned down and bit her. “You will not be going to the Melichi without us. Plus, I don’t think our daughter is ready for what goes on there.”

  Shannon smiled. “Really? How interesting. You will have to tell us more later.”

  “You do not need to go there. You have plenty of men to keep you busy.” Belen pulled a lock of her hair.

  “Relax, I wasn’t planning on going there right now. Anyway, I have too much to do. I need to find the rest of my children and figure out where we will have a home base. Not to mention I have a score to settle soon,” Shannon said.

  “You mean we have a score to settle,” Tabatha said. “You are not going after that asshole without us.”

  “We’ll see. I have to find him first. Kind of makes me wonder, though, if he was even human or just pretending to be like Harold was. He’s another one I’d like to get hold of personally.” Shannon tapped her fingers on Belen’s leg, thinking.

  “Oh no, that one is ours,” Belen said at the same time Apollyon appeared in the room.

  “We have trouble. Chaz, your mother is missing, along with a few others I was having watched. Needless to say, I’ve lost three men because of this. I also got the message that this was just the beginning.” Apollyon handed something to Bull, who started to yell and disappeared.

  “What was that you gave Bull?” Shannon asked. “And why do I have a feeling things are going to go to get rough for the next few years?”

  “It might be time for you and the children to be someplace other than here. Somewhere where we know you’ll be safe,” Apollyon said.

  “No, I won’t be run off, damn it,” Shannon said and then she cringed when Queen Carmen offered her planet.

  “Thank you, Carmen, but I will not put you and your family at risk, either. You have already lost too many children because of that asshole.” Shannon smiled. “But you could do me a favor. Are any of your children on Tremzs? Or here on this world, other than Tac?”

  “Of course, what do you need?” Queen Carmen asked, and giggled when she saw Shannon’s plans.

  “You, of course, will give me these sisters when you are done with them?” Carmen asked.

  “Of course,” Shannon said, and knew she had pleased the Queen of Spiders.

  “What did you just do?” Belen asked before placing a kiss on her cheek.

  “I just asked Queen Carmen to keep a look out for a few people and on planet Tremzs,” You know spiders can slip into anywhere really,” Shannon said. “She did offer to let us stay on her planet, but I won’t have her world messed up anymore. Plus, I’m afraid right now I can only handle Tac, and I think she knows this.”

  “You and your friends should come back with me to my world,” Star said. “No one knows where it is except the Supreme Ones, and you would be safe there. Plus, I believe our children would love it.”

  “You will show us where this place is?” Her father, Undit, stated.

  “Yes, you have the coordinates now,” Star informed him, Mortin laughed.

  “Impressive. You are a wise one,” Her father bowed his head to Star before turning his gaze on her. “Shannon you would be safe there and so would your children.”

  “There are two problems with that. One, they can track me, two I have a feeling this spell thing isn’t off of me and if that is the case, once more they could still hurt me. But tomorrow, I’ll make a visit to the Witches and Wizards Council and see just what is going on. After that we’ll see.” Shannon said.

  The room grew quiet and Shannon was waiting for the explosion that would come. Her men were not stupid and neither was her family. But Shannon should have known it would be Tabatha to come out of the fog swinging or yelling.

  “Are you out of your living mind?” She yelled, glaring at her. “Who are you waiting for and why here?” Tabatha asked, her sister of the heart was smart.

  Shannon laughed. “Do you remember when I got married to whatever his name was and where I wanted to go on our honeymoon?” Shannon asked.

  “Yea, but he… You think he’ll show up here?” Tabatha rubbed her hands together. “Do I get to hit him again?” she asked, looking like a little girl Shannon remembered from school.

  “No,” all three of her men growled out at the same time.

  “When were you going to inform us of this?” Apollyon asked, now in front of her glaring down at her.

  Shannon had to admit a pissed off Apollyon was hot, especially the little tick he seemed to have with his right cheek. She leaned over. “You know you really are cute when you angry,” she said, hearing a snicker from across the room.

  “Shannon… ” Belen nipped the back of her neck.

  “Well, it’s true and I always tell the truth. Okay, I wasn’t really going to tell you since I knew you were all going to be hovering around as we did the tourist thing. I kind of figured the little twerp would pop in early in the morning while we explored.” She peaked around Apollyon. “Oh, and don’t worry Wol-item, Hoyt, Chaz, Shane. Both of my sisters have been protected, nothing is going to happen to them, along with my children.”

  “What do you mean protected,” Melody said. “Shannon what did you do?”

  Shannon, smiled. “Well, it seems I have learned quite a few spells with this change. Now, don’t get me wrong I had to come up with a new one for you two, since your both are into that kink. Sure, didn’t want to have Wol-item go to spank you and having it come back onto him 10 times.”

  It didn’t take but seconds, before Tabatha and Melody burst out laughing. “Oh, I would have loved to see that. I could so see Dragon man jump and try to figure out what was going on.”

  “We are getting
off the subject here. Shannon, tell us what you know so we can plan around this,” her father, Mortin ordered.

  Shannon sighed. “I really don’t know if he’ll be there, or whoever will be there. But whenever I nagged Harold—and I nagged him, believe me—about how I wanted to come to Ireland, he would flip out.” Shannon frowned. “I should have seen the anger issues than, but the man was hot. Anyway, he finally talked me into going to Germany instead. We did have a good time.”

  “Shannon,” her father growled, and she frowned.

  “Sorry. Anyway, he didn’t want me near Ireland, and he freaked out when I asked if we could visit Stonehenge instead. I guess I was lucky we were on a plane when I told him about the side trip I had planned. That might have been the first time he hit me, but I think he knew I would have left him high and dry, hence why he got me pregnant right away with Cheyenne. I bet that is why they let me keep Cheyenne and Rudy.”

  * * *

  Apollyon turned and looked over at Mortin, who nodded.

  “We’ll give you a little time with my daughter. Come, Jonia,” Mortin said, disappearing before Shannon could say a word. The other men left with their women then too, and Apollyon heard Tabatha’s loud roar when he and his mates were back in their quarters… Yes, Wol-item had as screamer.

  “You cleared the room awfully fast and made Tabby mad. I supposed I’m going to get one of those lectures?” Shannon asked, a slow smile forming on her beautiful, full lips.

  He cupped her cheek. “Methinks you need the extra attention only your mates can give you, but yes we need to have another chat.”

  “She needs a good spanking,” Zeus said, joining Apollyon as he stood in front of her.

  “And if you ever, and I mean ever, touch me in anger, I’ll have you swimming in the Arctic Ocean. No man will ever do that to me again.” Shannon was shaking with anger, and before any of them could reassure her, she was gone.

  “Zeus…” Apollyon growled and glared at him. “You are going to have to watch you anger and words around our woman.”

  “I wouldn’t have hit her,” Zeus ran his hand through his hair. “I’ll go get her.”

  * * *

  Zeus watched Shannon as she stared out over the rolling hills.

  “I didn’t mean to yell, but I can’t do that kinky stuff Tabatha and Melody do,” she said. “Maybe one day we can delve into it when I’m healed more.” She looked over her shoulder at him.

  “I’m sorry if that’s what you need, Zeus. I’d understand if you needed someone else for now.” Shannon started to walk down the path that led into the gardens, and he easily caught up with her.

  He wrapped his arm around her, stopping her. “I would never take another woman when I could have mine in my arms. Yes, I do like a little spanking and such, but never Shannon, would I hit you in anger.” He pulled her closer, lowering his head and covered her mouth with his.

  Shannon slowly wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning into his body. Their tongues doing what he wanted to do to her, love her with all he had. Show her that he wanted no one else but her.

  He swept her up in his arms, breaking their kiss all too soon. “You, my lady, are beautiful, but our other family members are waiting for us,” he said, taking them back to their suite.

  Zeus knew she needed her Swoquix near her, but to sit next to Therbelenth. He glanced at her as she rested her head on his shoulder, waiting. The trust in her eyes had him moaning as he sat beside Therbelenth, then lifted her feet and placed them in Belen’s lap.

  Apollyon, Fallon, and Star all knelt around the seat they were sitting on. “Shannon, there will be times when we are furious with you, but never will any one of us lay a hand on you in anger.” Apollyon reached over and ran his finger down her cheek. “One day we’ll explore, but for now we’ll concentrate on becoming one, and finding these threats against you.”

  “We must find our children. I don’t know how many are out there, but I know there are many,” she said. “This is the most important thing, Apollyon. I need to know my children are okay and happy, which I hope each of them are.”

  “Shannon, of course we will be searching for our children. We also want our family to be together, not scattered all over. Plus, they should know who their real parents are. Now, please explain why you believe Harold or whatever this man’s name is will come here. How will he know you are here?”

  Shannon glanced at him, then at each man. “Have any of you had any experience with spells and such?” she asked. Zeus did not like the feeling he was getting.

  “I’ve had a little experience with their world, but as far as spells, no,” Therbelenth said.

  “I don’t have any,” Apollyon said, “because by the time they come to me most of their gifts are gone. Fallon, Star?”

  They both shook their heads…

  “Each spell that is cast over someone leaves a marking, and since this spell they placed on me has been with me for a long time, they’re able to tell where I am. I have a feeling that’s why I’m also tired after I do anything major—because they’re still feeding off me. That’s another reason I feel my grandmother didn’t release me fully from the spell.” Shannon frowned. “Or it was one that tied to it that I don’t know about. It’s another reason I need to visit there tomorrow.”

  “We will all go with you. I have a feeling one of these witches or wizards helped the ones who have done this to you. Because there is no way that Selina would have known this. She would have had someone do it for her,” Zeus said.

  “The same with Pysay. I have to agree with Zeus: if this is so complicated the source must come from someone with experience,” Therbelenth said.

  “Shannon, why do you want to wait to go to their world?” Zeus asked, a little confused.

  “Because if they still think they have some control over me or that I am too weak to do anything to them….”

  “Then they will seek to come after you now,” Zeus growled. “I don’t like it one bit.”

  “But each of you will be watching me. I will be safe now,” Shannon said. Zeus knew she was right, but he still didn’t like it, and judging by the snarls coming from the rest of his mates, neither did they.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Shannon smiled and waved at her three youngest children as they ran around the stone circle. Last night she had fallen asleep as her men discussed what they were going to do. The day had just been too long and overwhelming for her to stay awake.

  Shannon snorted. Finally, she had been able to sleep with no dreams and no pain for over 10 hours, till Belen and Zeus had awakened her. She smiled. The two were finally speaking, and now they were even sharing her. But Apollyon and Fallon had carried her to the shower, both of them claiming their time with her.

  But the fact that Star hadn’t been there had put a dampener on things. something about him returning home. It hurt a bit that he hadn’t informed her that he was leaving. If each of them kept leaving, how were they going to form that stupid family unit she saw in her head?

  “You know, if you would have been this pretty as a human, I wouldn’t have had such a hard time fucking you,” Harold said from behind her.

  “And you were always so predictable. So, how are the Queen’s babies growing inside of you?” she asked, smiling, egging the dickhead on as she slowly turned, even though she knew she would not see him. A rush of air hit her face, but nothing else happened.

  * * *

  Gentle hands lifted her up and moved her away from her ten-year nightmare.

  “You didn’t tell me you were leaving,” Shannon said, looking up at Star. She had to smile at his human appearance. He was handsome, but in his natural form he was hot.

  “I needed to speak with my father and mother. They’re going to take over my responsibilities so I can spend my time here with you. Did you really need to get him so angry? He almost touched you,” Star said, lowering her feet down as Tabatha and Melody came up to her.

  “Let me guess, once more they took him
away?” Tabatha frowned. “And here I was looking forward to turning him a little crisp.”

  Shannon laughed as Star kissed her cheek.

  “Stay with your friends. We will be back,” he said, and once more her mates were gone.

  “Mother, Grandmother, would you two like to watch the children for a bit? My friends and I would like to have a little fun,” Shannon asked.

  Two minutes later they showed up, but she hadn’t counted on one of fathers and her grandfather to come too.

  “Crap,” she mumbled.

  “And your mates know you are leaving?” her father, Kimek asked.

  “Just a little trip to have some fun. Tabatha needs to burn off some steam and I promise we’ll be staying on this planet,” Shannon said.

  “You will wait for me?” Apollyon said, and she smiled.

  “You told me to make sure one of you were with me if I left the planet. I am not leaving the planet. We will be back,” Shannon said, taking Tabatha and Melody with her. All three of them appeared in the back alley, with three motorcycles in front of them.

  “Hot damn, you found them?” Tabatha said, clapping her hands. “I think I’m going to keep this outfit if you don’t mind. It’s hot as hell.”

  “Oh my God, do you know how long it’s been since we’ve gone riding?” Melody asked, walking over to the new Harley and running her hand over it. “You would pick the best. I take it you’ve found Garett?”

  Shannon had to admit she loved the outfits, too, and would be keeping hers. “Of course. I did promise you guys would help. You’ll like this. They are all together at their clubhouse. Can you believe they still have the clubhouse, even after all these years?” Shannon started her bike and pulled out onto the street.

  “You do know our men will follow,” Melody said.

  “I’m hoping not. I really need to do this one myself. It’s unfinished,” Shannon said.

  “Did he really kill the baby or is it out there like the others? You know, one good thing about all this is that your children all have the same father. No matter what or who touched you, they can’t take that away from you,” Tabatha said, pulling her bike up next to hers.