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

  A wizard sat down next to the woman and took her hand. “What my wife fails to explain to all of you is that she has been working nonstop for years to solve this. We didn’t involve Queen Frigga because we knew whoever was doing this would be watching her, since she objected so much, trying to protect Queen Shannon.”

  “All of you do realize it was our friend who saved this place, right? Because right now this whole universe would be dust. Hell, it still might. We have been given three years to find a good reason why it shouldn’t be destroyed and who here is making these other planets and such. And why did you call her queen, I thought she was just a princess?” Melody growled.

  “Wow, where did that come from girlfriend? You’re the quiet one,” Shannon asked, coming into the room and hugging her friends before turning to face the others. “My friend is right. We have three years to figure out what is going on and right now, all of you, except for you two and the two over in the back, I could care less what happens to you. Why are you addressing me as Queen?” Shannon said, pointing to the couple at the table and the couple in the back of the room.

  “Why the couple in the back,” Bull asked, Shannon.

  “Because they both opened themselves to me as soon as I stepped into the room. They wanted no part in what happened to me. The others are either blocking or someone’s blocking for them,” Shannon shrugged. “Unless I’m too new at this mind thing.” Shannon pointed to her head.

  Apollyon couldn’t help but smile, shifting back to his human form to ease Shannon, while reaching over and bringing her into his arms, needing to hold her. But he wasn’t the only one, Zeus, Fallon and Star both came over touching and hugging her, until someone entered the room once more and chaos resumed.

  Chapter Nineteen

  He had found her, but by the expression on her face and the shot of fire that came his way, Mako knew something was seriously wrong.

  Mako dove for the floor, but didn’t end up where he thought he would. Dark clouds were everywhere as he stood, scanning around that is when he saw them, Those That Are moved around him, as sharp pain, like a knife or something was tearing at the inside of his head. He knew by their invasion inside his skull that they were searching to see if he was an enemy. The pain was worse than anything he had experienced, fell to his knees. For over 200 years he had the same dream over and over and this day it was becoming a reality.

  But what Mako hadn’t been prepared for was the beauty of his woman, of their woman. He had been searching and searching for her, but he was still too late. She had been used, hurt, and their children were now scattered all throughout the worlds.

  The thought of sharing her with the others didn’t even bother him, but would she get used to his world? “Stop,” he yelled, grabbing his head. “She’s my mate, my woman.”

  “You are her man, but you have a tough road ahead of you, fish man. Your face and body were used over the last years to hurt the one you are to be with. What we are trying to figure out is how those that hurt her, knew you were one of the seven.”

  They finally released him, the pain gone as he sat down on the cold ground or whatever it was. “I don’t even know who we are speaking of. I know I started having visions, dreams of her over 200 years ago. I’ve been searching for her ever since. I witnessed some of the atrocities that would be done to her and our children. I needed to try and stop them. Maybe this is where whoever noticed me put it together that I was one of the seven?”

  “You’ve been on the Great Shield for a year, but I see nothing about who we should interrogate?” one said behind him.

  Mako slowly stood. “That’s because not one of them would speak with me. Some would just say wait and she would be there, but others would walk away from me as if I was a pest. I have to say I’m not fond of The Great Shield at all and my world will be dealing with them less that is for sure.”

  All movement and talk stopped for a few seconds. “She is here.” They informed him, those three simple words had his heart beating twice as hard than normal.

  * * *

  As soon as the man had left, Shannon knew they all had made a terrible mistake. The man in that room with them earlier hadn’t been the man she had married years before. He was the real man, the one that was her true mate.

  She leaned against Belen, while holding onto Apollyon’s hand. Kebar stood on Belen’s side, while Star, Fallon and Zeus circled behind her. Once more she was standing in the fog, waiting for Those That Are.

  “Are you sure, My Little Queen,” Belen whispered in her ear.

  “Yes, I’m sure.” Shannon said, wondering how the hell she and the children were going to get past his appearance. The blows, the abuse of the face of this man.

  “We could help if you would allow us,” A collective group of Those That are said inside her head.

  “How?” she asked.

  “It wouldn’t be hard to replace the memories with the right face. If we could take the memories totally from you, we would, but we believe these memories will eventually help all of you find your children. Also, warn each of you who to trust and not to.”

  “Will it be done to our children? I worry more about the little ones and how they will react to their father.” Shannon wouldn’t have it done if her babies had to live through this. She would also go through what her little ones would.

  “What you will see, they will see as those that are close to you. Your man has been searching for you for a very long time, wanting to prevent whatever he could, even though he didn’t know if his dreams or visions were true.”

  “Please help us,” Shannon asked and sure enough in a few minutes, no pain, just a gentle breeze washed over her, the night mares were adjusted. She would still know, but hopefully now there wouldn’t be hate in her heart when she saw him again.

  Shannon released Apollyon’s hand and stepped out of Belen’s arms. “I need to see him alone the first time.” All six of her men disagreed, but Shannon wouldn’t budge on this. “I must. I would do the same if it was for either of you. He deserves this, after all he was a victim in this mess too, even though he wasn’t aware of what happened, please.”

  It seemed it didn’t matter as Shannon was now standing about six feet from her mate, Mako. At first Shannon and he didn’t say or do anything as she took in everything about him.

  “I’m sorry my appearance might still bother you,” Mako said, and she sighed, his voice nothing like that of the ass who had pretended to be him.

  Shannon closed the distance between them, even his scent was different, she found after taking a deep breath. She reached up and brushed his blue hair back and that is when she realized he had orange black eyes, totally different from the other.

  “You are nothing of the man… I am sorry for our reaction earlier and that you were used this way. But I do say you are much more handsome in person.” Shannon smiled and glanced behind her as the rest of her men joined them.

  But what she wasn’t expecting was for all of them to be surrounded by what had to be all of Those That Are. “So going to find a name for them,” she mumbled, earning a couple of snickers from them.

  “We will not wait for your joining. It will be done, here and now.” Was said and Shannon was about to object, because she sure as hell was not going to screw seven men here in front of them if that is what they thought, but Mako laughed and took one hand, as Apollyon took the other, behind her Belen wrapped his arms around her, Fallon and Star knelt before her touching her legs as Kebar and Zeus behind them placed their hand on her shoulders.

  Each man touching her, forming some kind of circle where Shannon was the nucleus.

  “May the suns, Moons, Waters, Stars and all that we are created from see the joining of this family, bless this family and protect them with the circle of life. Giving them the knowledge and patience to guide them in what must be done.

  We take life, we give life, these eight souls are now one, a creation to guide and protect those that are.

  “Holly hell,”
Shannon gasped, as what felt like a thousand little tiny sparks of electricity zapped through her as her body tried to rise up, but her men kept her down, holding onto her. Knowledge of the worlds out there, people, species she hadn’t even dreamed about, new universes and what was most shocking was that with this bond a whole new Galaxy had been born, theirs, from what she understood.

  “Now you have another name to think of,” The one Shannon had spoken to early said, stepping forward with a smile on his face. “You have much to work on over the next three years. The first will be that of The Great Shield, since it is obvious, more and more individuals are pulling away from it. Find out what is happening and why.”

  With those ominous words, Shannon and her mates found themselves back in the same room they had just left. Everyone was where that had been, but now Wol-item stood blocking the door so the others could not leave.

  “Tabatha don’t,” Shannon said as soon as they appeared. “Wrong guy, that one is dead, remember?” she looked up at Mako who was still holding her hand. “I’d like you guys to meet Mako, my last mate.”

  Tabatha stepped forward staring at her. “What the hell happened? You’re different. Melody?” Tabatha asked, coming to stand in front of her as Melody joined them.

  “Wow, feel the power coming from her,” Melody reached out and touched her arm. “Your skin color is lighter, almost like that of your man, Star, but different and even your eyes have a reddish tint around them.”

  “Those That Are didn’t wait, even in their sleep they can do scary things,” Bull said, walking around their group.

  She frowned and looked behind her at Belen. “Did we really change?” she asked, and then looked at Apollyon who nodded.

  “There is a home here that I took over, thinking we might need it. I suggest we stay here for a few days and see what we can find out. I believe we will have better luck with the people then these here,” Mako snipped.

  Shannon stepped forward, the four she had been talking to still waited for her. “You four will lead the council. You will work with Frigga and her mate until we get this straightened out. I need people I can trust to keep everyday things going on here, since I don’t know how anything works. But, I also expect you to report anything you hear from anyone.” Shannon smiled. “If you can’t get hold of Frigga or me, you can report to Melody or Tabatha since both will be about too.” She looked at Mako. “Is this house safe? Because I don’t want to bring the children here if it isn’t and I’m not about to leave them while we are trying to figure out what is going on.”

  Belen wrapped his arms around her from behind. “Why don’t you allow Mako, Kebar and myself to check out the home, while the rest of you figure out what to do with them and how we find the others that are missing.”

  “I can call the others here,” Frigga appeared in the room with a man at her side, they both bowed their head at her, and Tabatha gave her a look.

  “Don’t worry, Tabby, you don’t have to bow and either do you, Frigga, but thank you.” She patted Belen’s arm. “Thank you. Why don’t you take Chax with you? I’d like Tabby and Melody to stay with us on this one too. I have a feeling Wol-item’s knowledge here will help all of us.” She glanced at Apollyon who nodded.

  “Agreed, but I suggest we take care of these here before we bring in the others by force,” Apollyon stated.

  Shannon frowned and stepped back, all of a sudden really confused. How could she do this? Rule, or find out what is going on when, hell, she was a human all her life. No matter what was placed in her head, how could she do it?”

  Apollyon, Fallon, Star, and Zeus, each touched her. “We are here to help and you are doing the right thing. Would you prefer me to step in here?” Apollyon asked.

  She nodded, needing some time, but one thing was for sure the six in the back right needed to be dealt with first if her gut was right.

  “I two have the same sense that they know more than they are saying, Always, trust your gut, Shannon, you are a very smart woman, otherwise you wouldn’t be here.” Fallon leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I had a partial fondness for your biker attitude myself.”

  Shannon couldn’t help but smile. “Maybe I’ll show you the other outfit I have,” she said and Tabatha laughed.

  “You won’t be able to leave the room in that one I bet. So, what are we going to do with the rest?” her friend said, smiling. “Because we really didn’t get to take care of anyone last time.”

  Apollyon glanced at her. “It’s up to you on this one, I’ll watch. But I do believe those four should be some place safe for now. We don’t need anyone taking aim at them, because of what has happened.”

  “I have to agree on that one,” Tabby said. “It these idiots are brave enough to take on all of you, then they won’t hesitate to attack them.”

  Mako leaned over and placed a kiss on her cheek. “I think I have a solution for this also. There are three small houses on this property. I don’t see why they can’t each take one. This way they will be close to us and they can report right to us, that is if the others agree to the property.”

  Belen leaned over and placed a kiss on her cheek. “Never doubt yourself, My Little Queen. I think they should come with us and take a look at this place.”

  The two couples rose and moved towards the door, where her three mates and Chax met them. Behind them the six that she had been worried about gasped and Shannon smiled, glancing over her shoulder at them. “I have learned a few things and one is to withdraw your gifts from you until we find out what is going on.”

  One man, bald with black eyes, snarled. “You have no right to take our gifts!”

  Shannon was about to say something when Fallon stepped in front of her. “She has no right? Do you forget so easily what you have taken from our woman or should I make each of you live like she did? Right now, you six are stripped of everything. You will be lucky to survive after we are done with you and I think I will start with you.”

  One moment, Fallon was in front of her, the next, he had hold of said man and was drinking from him, holding onto him as the jerk tried to get away from him.

  “Wow, he has some fangs on him. I thought, well you know that vampires, blood suckers would have smaller fangs,” Tabby said, earning a snort from Wol-item.

  For the next three hours, Shannon watched her men, all of them, even Star which surprised her. The man had a fierce temper and one such man sure was feeling the backlash from Star with three broken rib bones, a broken arm and if Shannon had to guess his jaw as well.

  She sighed, watching the children play in the backyard of their new house on this magical world. Cheyenne and Bethany played in the massive sandbox, making all sorts of cool things, while Rudy was learning some fencing techniques from his older brothers, Araqiel and Kruc. Even Zeus’s son Nek watched the interaction, giving his points to Rudy.

  Mako stepped up behind her wrapping his arms around her, hugging her tight. “I still can’t believe I finally have you and that our children don’t hate me.” He placed a kiss on the side of her neck.

  “How could they hate you when they don’t even know you?” Shannon turned around and looked up at her fish man. “I have to say I’m kind of excited to go to your world. I always loved to swim. Your two little ones down there also love the water.”

  “Will you follow me, my lady?” Mako stepped back bowing to her before offering his arm.

  She looked at him then scanned in the room behind them, but saw nothing. “What are you up to, my dear sir?” Shannon asked, wrapping her arm around his.

  “You will see.” He leaned down placing a kiss on the top of her head, guiding her through the house.

  Chapter Twenty

  Apollyon, Zeus, Therbelenth, Fallon, Star and Kebar all stood in the back of the room, waiting for Mako to bring their woman through the doors. The only others in the room were her close friends and their mates.

  Those That Are joined them, but it was time the rest of the galaxies were introduced to their
woman. They would stand together, against anyone who harmed what was theirs. Tonight, they would also formally pledge themselves to Shannon in front of everyone.

  Apollyon, in his natural form, stood in his best clothes, holding his gift to her, hoping she’d accept it. Each one of her men would give her a gift, one that would further announce to the world she accepted them also.

  The doors opened and right on cue, Frigga changed Shannon’s clothes to that of a gown that Tabatha knew she would like as Shannon stepped into the hall, almost tripping over the side of the soft pink gown. Her legs in the front bare from above her knees, the dress trailing on the floor behind her, and the bodice enhanced her figure to the point Apollyon wanted to go rip the dress from her body and make love to her right there, but knew it wasn’t going to happen.

  “Wow, what’s going on?” she ran her hand over the dress. “Stunning, but why?” She asked, looking up at Mako who now wore his best clothes, but couldn’t shift to his natural form, needing water if he did.

  Bull, stepped up and took Shannon’s hands. “Tonight, your men will give their pledge to you in front of all the galaxies out there. Each one holds something dear to them. Sort of like your human wedding, but different.”

  “What? But no one asked me about marrying them?” Shannon frowned.

  “That is what they are going to do Shannon, but once you say yes, you are married to them, when you accept their gifts,” Tabatha glanced over at her men. “Not to sure they should be doing this right away, but as you know it’s different from our world.”