Burned Once, Twice Read online

  Alexander asked, “How? Isn’t that a lot of work for you?”

  “We didn’t do it. This might be a place we visit, but it’s not ours. It belongs to him.” The wall shimmered and a manlike creature appeared.

  “You are always welcome here, all of you.” The being’s gaze traveled up Faith’s body, which should have made Gordon furious, but it didn’t. It then eyed he and Jake in the same way. “As with your mother, I’m honored to protect your mate as I have your mother. Your mate is a strong female and will give you many fine sons. Later, I will share my knowledge of those who hurt her, but, for now, rest, all of you and heal.” The being disappeared back into the wall.

  “Like, wow,” Maria groaned as she and three other women slid into the water.

  Chapter Ten

  The warm water melted the tension from her body. They might be on some different planet, but, right now, Faith didn’t give a shit. Whatever this magic water was doing to her, she’d love to take it home with her.

  She shivered, seeing the visions of what Gordon had done to retrieve Chance. He was a dragon yet something different. Something more dangerous than even the powerful creature. But she saw no ugliness about him, just the circumstance he had been placed in. Gordon believed he was a monster, but he was her beast, a beautiful animal who held her heart. The pain he had inflected on the thing was justified in her eyes.

  But the thought of those little needle-like things wiggling into her skin, like what had been done to that creature, was just gross. Yep, she wasn’t about to get on her man’s bad side.

  Out of the corner of her eye, she studied Gordon and Jake with their mom. A slow grin had spread on her face when Jake had covered his mother’s mouth. It was cute to see someone so dangerous embarrassed.

  Gordon caught her staring and gave her a heated look which had her toes curling and her body heating. It had nothing to do with the warm water she was sitting it. “There is noway you could ever get on my bad side, Little Star,” Gordon told her.

  “I have to admit you have two very hot men.” Chance nudged her.

  Faith eyed her. “You going to tell me who the father of the child is?”

  Chance sighed and closed her eyes. “He was a mistake, someone I thought cared for. But I want the child, Mom. I can feel her, and, yes, it’s a girl. Grams told me she used to speak with Dad in her belly.” She placed her hand on her stomach. “I can speak with her now. I don’t know if it’s this healing water or what, but I feel her and she’s safe, Momma. Those things didn’t harm her.”

  “So have you decided what you are going to do?” Faith took in all of those around her. “It’s not easy raising a child alone. It takes many people, and I will be beside you every step of the way, little girl.

  “I’m going to go back with Gram and Vepar, when this is all over. You need time with your mates. They might be able to help us find our older sister. We could do it as a family.”

  Denver came over and squatted next to them. “It would be nice to meet our older sister, and we both know how much it hurt you to have to give her up. I bet if you told them they’d help you find her, Mom.”

  “What does she have to tell us?” Jake sat down behind her, putting his feet into the water on either side of her.

  “We have an older sister,” Denver informed him.

  “Denver this is something I’ll tell them when I’m ready.” She gave her son a kick, sending him backwards on his butt.

  “You ready now?” Jake pulled a strand of her hair as Gordon sat down next to his brother.

  “What’s going on?” He reached over and tweaked her nose.

  “Little Star was going to tell us about her other daughter, the one we didn’t know about, right?” Jake raised an eyebrow, and she sighed.

  The others’ attention focused on her. “What?”

  “What other daughter? You never told us?” Maria actually sounded hurt.

  “I was in high school, Maria. Seemed my bad luck with men started early.” She laid her head back on Jake’s legs. “He was a football player. All the girls were after him, but we had grown up together. I thought we were best friends, but I was wrong. The guy was another psychotic mess. Long story short, I ended up pregnant, threats were made against me and my family, since his was well-off. I was sent to live with my uncle till the baby was born and then she was taken away from me. I saw only the top of her head. She had bright-red hair. I call her Wynter, for I knew she’d be a winner at anything she did. It was also the middle of January when she was born. January thirteenth at seven o’clock in the morning. I wanted to keep her so badly, but they wouldn’t let me. I cried for weeks and promised I’d find her one day. Every January thirteenth on her birthday, the kids and I would spend the day doing something I thought she might like to do.”

  “Did you have any leads about where she ended up?” Maria asked.

  “No, I went back to my uncle’s, but they wouldn’t give me information, but then Denver went with his talents, which I didn’t know.” Faith gave him a glare.

  “Hey, if I can help you without hurting anyone I’m going to do it. Plus….” He looked up at Gordon. “What if Xack can’t get to Mom or Chance and he goes after Wynter. He could find out anything. What they did to everyone here.” Denver’s panic made her panic.

  “Wait! Let me think.” She turned around towards Gordon. “Do you think they’d go after her? I mean I didn’t mention her name or anything around them? Plus, my ex was way too out of it. He never mentioned Wynter or gave her a second thought. She has to be safe.”

  Gordon reached over and grasped her chin. “Calm, take a deep breath. You don’t even know if they heard about this daughter. Even we didn’t know about her till now. Maybe it’s good she has been hidden. It will give us time to get rid of this threat. But, afterward, we would love to help you find her and we are the best trackers around.”

  Alexander laughed sitting down by Maria at the water’s edge. “Best hunters is more like it.”

  “Both of them are very much like their fathers. They still hunt for the Guild?” Alexander’s father, who came to stand behind his son, shocked him at how much he knew.

  “Yes, we do, and we will also be helping my sons with this hunt since this is personal and the Guild has requested it.” Wrath and Hanz appeared behind him.

  Faith compared fathers and sons. Gordon and Jake carried many of their fathers’ traits, but they had their mother’s eyes. As if sensing her gaze, Wrath turned his attention on her and smiled. “My son is right. It would be better if we destroy this threat before you start your search. Food is over there in the corner whenever you are hungry.”

  “Thank you,” Faith said, but she was too tired to move.

  *****

  “Finally, she rests.Your woman fought the sleep, but now her mind will heal, too, as will the rest of the women,” Hanz told Gordon, helping one of their friends out of the water and carrying her to a room where the four unmated women would sleep for the next twelve hours.

  Gordon stood with Faith in his arms, while Jake carried her daughter.

  “I don’t understand. Why are they all out cold?” Denver followed Gordon.

  “The water not only heals the skin, but also soothes the mind and soul. The women will sleep at least twelve human hours, healing inside. After what they went through, especially your mother.” Gordon stopped and turned to stare at Denver. “What happened to you when this went down?”

  The boy looked down at the ground. My father actually saved me. He didn’t bother with my sister or my mom. I was furious and tried to help, he knocked me out somehow. When I came to, Mom and Maria were dragging me out of the house where it all happened. You’re going after him, aren’t you?” Shame shadowed his eyes.

  “Never feel ashamed of something that was way out of your control. You are very lucky to be alive. Yes, I want to see if I can eliminate this threat to you and your mom before she wakes up.” Gordon pushed open the door to their personal quarters and moved to the
bed. “Denver, go into the bathroom and grab the two shirts on the counter and two towels.” The boy needed something to do.

  Sitting down on the chair by the bed, Gordon slipped off her wet shirt, and covered her so her son wouldn’t see his mom undressed. He heard Denver come back into the room and held out his hand for the towel and shirt.

  “Maybe I should get my sister dried and dressed?” he offered.

  Jake shrugged. “If you would like to help, that is fine.” Within five minutes, both women were tucked in the middle of the bed. “Denver, we are committed to your mother. No other female, naked or not, will affect us. We see you as our children now, okay?”

  Denver nodded, but still took over the job of dressing his sister, protecting her, and Gordon approved. He would be a fine young man.

  “Denver, I’m going to ask you to stay in here with your sister and mom, while we hunt. We would feel better knowing you are here with them.”

  Denver sat down on the bed. “But I didn’t protect Chance last time.” He met his gaze. “Guess I need a lot more training than I thought.”

  Jake sat next to him. “You are young, and we will be glad to work with you, as will Vepar, if you would like. It’s safe here, but we want someone to explain what is going on if they should wake up. Actually, we’ll need you to keep checking on all the women, since we’ll be working with the others to get this done.”

  “Do you really think you can destroy Xack and those he’s with?” Denver didn’t sound too sure. “What if there is more than his group?”

  “I do believe there are more, but we are going to deal with the threat to your mom and her friends. The Guild is working with us to help, and they are furious these beings slipped by their radar. I’m lucky I caught the one who had your sister. It will help us find out why they are here and, hopefully, how many are on Earth,” Gordon stated.

  Gordon knew the minute his father stepped in the door waiting for them. “We must go, but we are counting on you to move through the rooms, making sure the women are okay.”

  “We’ll check back with you in a few hours to make sure everything is okay here.” Gordon squeezed the boy’s shoulder.

  “Do you think the Guild could help my father?”

  “I’m sorry, Denver, but your father is too far gone. The Guild did remove the worms, and the influence these things have on him, but the damage was done. He’ll never be the same.” Wrath informed him. “When this threat is gone, you need to spend what time you can with him. He still has some good times and will for a couple of years.” He started for the door. “If you need anything while we are away, my wife will be here to help and she’ll be able to contact us if anything should happen. Our quarters are on the other end of this complex, but she will sense if you need her and will come to you.”

  Gordon took one more glance at his woman. These things would pay for what they had done to her. Even with the water easing the pain, each of the women would have to deal with the rape from those things. Gordon shut off everything, going into full hunting mode. He thought of nothing but the job at hand. He would destroy those who threatened what belonged to them.

  “We’ll make sure she gets through this. Let’s go and destroy these things.” Jake headed out the door.

  Alexander, Vepar, Cain, and Radar greeted them in the common room.

  “I should warn you, Alexander, your home is no longer safe. It has been destroyed. Cain is lucky these things hadn’t caught wind of his people or their home,” Wrath told them.

  “That quick?” Alexander asked.

  “You’ve been here six human days. Time here is different than on Earth. I suggest we move to my son’s establishment and plan our attack from there. Cain, you informed your men about what we are dealing with? The Guild’s improved protection round the club should keep those things out of it.” Wrath took Cain and Alexander back to the club.

  Gordon grabbed onto Vepar and Radar while his brother took the two guards Vepar had brought. “Guess the Guild are still having trouble with the one you brought back. Maybe we should bring this Xack to them instead of killing it?” Jake suggested.

  “No, that thing hurt ours. It will be killed,” Gordon growled.

  “Something we should know?” Alexander questioned.

  “No.” He glared at his brother. “Jake suggested we bring this Xack back alive for the Guild, but, I for one, want it dead.”

  “I agree, dead. We can bring one of the others back if need be, but I don’t want to risk it getting away once we do find it.” Alexander agreed and the other men nodded.

  “Then let’s get busy because we would like to court our woman the right way,” Gordon announced.

  Chapter Eleven

  Faith stretched, feeling great for the first time in years. All she remembered was soaking in the water. She opened her eyes and scanned to see where she was. Her daughter lay next to her, and Denver stood at the end of the bed grinning like he had as a child. “Good morning or afternoon. Can’t tell in here.”

  “How long was I out?” She sat up, staring at Chance.

  “You’re the first to wake. It’s been about seven hours. Gordon told me you should be out for twelve, so, of course, you would have to be different,” Denver said.

  “We’ll let Chance sleep, but where are Gordon and Jake?” Faith scooted towards the end of massive bed.

  “Hunting.”

  The word sent a shiver through her. “Are all the men gone?” Faith stood and stretched again. “We definitely need to take some of that water back home.”

  “The first time I slipped into the water, I thought I’d found the fountain of youth. May I come in?” Gordon’s mom stood in the doorway. “Not to worry. She won’t wake until when her body and mind have healed. I’m surprised you have healed as fast as you have, even with my son’s blood in you.”

  “Is it true the men went hunting?” Faith waved Jenn inside.

  “Yes, they are hoping to have this threat over by the time everyone wakes. I’m afraid your friend Maria’s place has been destroyed, though. Why don’t you take a shower and meet me in the common room? I have coffee and breakfast all ready for everyone as they start to wake. We can talk and get to know each other while we wait.”

  The woman was gorgeous with long black hair and pretty purple eyes like her sons’. “I’d like that since I have no idea with it’s going to take being mated to your sons.”

  “Oh, hell. That’s easy, but go take your bath. I’ll see you in a few minutes.” She spun and left the room.

  “It’s hard to believe the woman is old enough to have two full-grown sons. She appears to be only twenty.” Denver moved to the door.

  “Are you saying I look old?” When he stopped mid-step, she laughed. “Where are you going?”

  “I’m keeping an eye on the others. So when they wake up, I can tell them where everyone is,” Denver called over his shoulder.

  “Denver.” Faith moved up to him. “I’m proud to have you as a son. I don’t know if I tell you enough, but I love you.” She wrapped her arms around him, feeling small near him.

  He hugged her and rested his head on top of hers. “I love you, too, Mom, even though you can be a pain. I wish we could have helped Dad.” His smile didn’t reach his eyes.

  “I know and I’m sorry. Know he loved you and he remembered love when he saved you that night. I really believe he thought you were in more danger than we were, and I’ll always be grateful he knocked you out. You couldn’t give those things what they wanted, while we could. At least he is in a safe place and Vepar and your grandmother are there to watch over him. Spend what days you can with him.”

  Her son stared down at her. “You are amazing. Even after all he has done to you?”

  “I really believe it’s Xack. Your father was fine until that thing came along. Now, go on and do your tour. I’m going to hop into the shower, at least I hope it’s a shower.”

  Denver laughed. “Have fun exploring.”

  She took a deep b
reath and moved into the other room where she found a dress and a note on the counter.

  Just step into the shower. You don’t need to turn anything on or soap up. The water will clean you.

  No name, so it could have been from anybody, but the dress was amazing. Material she had never seen before. It not only stretched, but was like silk, and the colors were her favorite, red and black. Stripping out of the shirt, Faith stepped into a boxlike enclosure and sighed as the water turned on, warm and perfect.

  She closed her eyes and replayed the last forty-eight hours. The emotional baggage Faith had felt before the soak in the magic water was ten times lighter. Faith still couldn’t believe she was mated to two of the hottest men she’d ever met, but the idea of having her monthly again had her cringing as she stepped out of the water. “At least there won’t be any more hot flashes from hell,” she muttered, putting on the amazing dress.

  Ten minutes later, Faith made her way out into the hallway and was trying to figure out which way to go, when the wall moved, scaring the living crap out of her. She jumped and grabbed her chest as a face stared at her. “Don’t do that.” She blew her breath out.

  “I apologize. If you follow me,” a voice said in her head.

  “Do you have a name? I don’t want to call you the wall?” Faith tilted her head to the side studying the other being. She did a quick scan around for any cameras because it sure felt as if she was in The Twilight Zone.

  You want to know my name? It actually sounded shocked.

  “Well, yeah. You are helping us, so I would show you respect. Hey you is rude, and talking to the wall is just wrong. I mean, you are a being, even though different from me.” Faith smiled.

  “I am called Xfra, and you honor me, Thank you.” The strange face moved down the hallway.

  Stepping around the corner, Faith spotted Jenn. “Thank you, Xfra, for helping us.”

  You are welcome. If you need anything, please call me. The wall once more stone, Faith moved up Jenn, who was frowning. “Is something wrong?”