Read Fated Redemption [Kindred of Arkadia 8] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) Online
Authors: Alanea Alder
Tags: #Romance
Fated Redemption [Kindred of Arkadia 8] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (21 page)
anyone could think he lifted a small revolver and pointed it at Rhys. Within the confines of the small
basement the shots were deafening.
“Aidhan, no!”
“Rhys!”
Rhys turned his body blocking Aidhan from the gunfire. His body jerked as each bullet buried itself
deep in his flesh.
An inhuman roar filled the basement. Moe’s body seemed to expand and grow. At seven feet he was
scary, at eight feet he was terrifying but at nine feet he was the thing of nightmares. He had grown as broad
as he had tall with a fine coat of fur covering his body. His upper and lower canines had extended, his jaw
and forehead had become squared. Locking his demon-like black eyes on Salsiby, he roared again.
Screaming in terror, the smell of urine filled the air. Salsiby dropped the gun and darted up the stairs.
Moe was right behind him.
Rebecca, Abby and Rhys stared at the creature Moe had become as he pounded up the wooden steps
after the lawyer.
“Okay, that was totally fucking hot and owww!” Rhys exclaimed.
Rebecca took Aidhan and cuddled him close. Aleks wrapped himself around Rebecca and his son.
Abby held Rhys close, crying as she looked at the bullet holes in his shirt.
“Shush, I’ll heal and be good as new as soon as Doc removes the bullets. It’s one of the advantages of
being this old.” Rhys held her close. They both looked at each other when they heard another inhuman roar
as it vibrated the walls above them.
“We better go make sure he’s okay,” Rhys said.
“Salsiby?” Rebecca demanded.
“No, Moe.”
They made their way upstairs where under the light of the moon, most of the town had gathered and
stood in awe as their nine-foot mate beat Salsiby.
“I’m so glad he caught up with him outside, it would have been a bitch to get blood out of the wood
floors,” Abby commented. Rebecca nodded, nuzzling Aidhan.
“Maybe you girls should head to the diner,” Aleks said, looking a bit sick.
They turned to him.
“Why?” they asked, tilting their heads in unison.
Aleks shook his head.
“Never mind.”
“Is that…Is he using…?” Rhys’s eyes widened.
“Yes it is,” Gabriel said, looking on, amused.
“Papa,” Rhys whispered. Gabriel laid a hand on Rhys’s shoulder.
“The darkness is gone from your eyes,” Gabriel said, his voice filled with love.
“In the basement, I felt Fate come to me. She lifted the addiction. I’m free.” Rhys smiled at his prince.
“She heard my prayer,” Rebecca said.
“Is our mate beating Salsiby to death with his own arm?” Abby asked, looking at the bloody mess in the
front yard of their future home.
Rhys turned from his maker as Gabriel moved away to hold Ashby, who was watching everything with
a horrified yet fascinated expression.
“Yes he is,” Rhys said proudly.
“Do you know what kind of strength he would need to pull a shifter’s arm from its socket like that?”
Abby asked.
Rhys shivered in lust.
“Yup.”
Behind them a shadow darted away. Rhys turned sharply. Gabriel saw the movement as well and barked
an order. Two vampires peeled from the shadows and gave chase.
“I thought he was a spider monkey, aren’t they, well you know, little and cute?” Rebecca asked as Moe
continued to beat out his rage on Salsiby’s lifeless body.
“I heard a rumor a long time ago that since primate DNA was so close to humans, monkeys were the
only shifter to receive a third form.” Gabriel motioned to the creature in front of them.
“Umm how do we get him to stop? Not that I’m against the beat down, but I think Salsiby died like five
minutes ago,” Rebecca asked.
Abby looked at Rhys and smirked. His eyes narrowed.
“What are you up to?” he asked. Abby stood back and drew in a deep breath.
“Oh my god, we need to get him to the clinic!” she screamed. Moe instantly halted. He dropped the arm
and stalked closer to them. He sniffed Rhys’s back and howled his fury. With a gentleness, which contrasted
his size, he swept Rhys up in his arms and began to lope toward the clinic.
“I better race ahead of them and prepare Doc,” Abby said.
“Better hurry.” Rebecca laughed. She pointed to Moe’s disappearing figure.
“Shit!” Abby swore and ran behind them.
Chapter 13
“Did you ever find out who was in the woods?” Abby asked Rebecca the next day. Abby was seated
between her mates. Rhys looked tired but considering the life-threatening wounds from the previous day he
almost looked normal. Moe had shocked her and Rhys the next morning when he had woken up with a
head full of beautiful dark curls. He had kept his head shaved because he had been teased as a child. They
had convinced him to keep them for the time being.
“No, which concerns me,” Gabriel said.
“What did the council say?” Abby asked. She was scared that Moe would be in trouble for killing
Salsiby.
“Not much. They have his cell phone and will soon learn who he was he was communicating with. We
all knew that Salsiby was a little crooked, but for him to try and shoot Aidhan.” Liam shook his head.
“He didn’t. He was shooting at Rhys,” Rebecca interrupted. Liam looked at Aleks. Aleks moved closer
and held Rebecca tight.
“If Rhys hadn’t turned Becca, both shots would have hit Aidhan,” Aleks said softly. Trembling, Rebecca
held Aidhan close until he squeaked. She released him, but only a little bit.
“Someone else is pulling these strings and has been for a long time. I called Baptista, he should be here
soon with an update from Mikhail.” Gabriel growled.
“Look at you.” Abby bumped shoulders with Peyton who blushed.
“I figured I was attacked twice at the bar. Maybe getting out more wouldn’t be so bad,” he said quietly,
and everyone laughed.
“Stop staring.” Moe growled at Rian, Damian and Giddey.
“Can you blame us? You went from super, mega, bad-boy hot, to Chernobyl hot! I mean hair like that
begs to be used as a handle!” Giddey exclaimed. Moe turned scarlet and Abby and Rhys nudged each other.
“Oh my.” Ma smiled and turned to Peyton.
“Good to see you here, you’re welcome anytime.” Ma put a huge bowl of soup in front of him.
“Thank you ma’am,” he said, ducking his head.
“So adorable!” Kate grinned.
“We have dibs!” Duncan and Emmett said. Everyone looked at them, and Aleks raised an eyebrow. Rian
gasped.
“Both of you switched teams!”
“What?” they asked, looking confused.
“Dibs for what?” Rebecca asked gently.
“For him being our little brother,” Emmett explained.
Rian collapsed back against his chair.
“Y’all can’t do that to me, my heart can’t take it,” Rian exclaimed. Abby laughed.
“By the way Rhys, the council has removed your probationary status. You are a redeemed man, my
friend.” Liam grinned.
“Feels good.” Rhys’s smile lit up the diner. Abby felt her heart expand. Under the table Rhys and Moe
each took her hand.
“I’m looking forward to the future,” Rhys said, squeezing her hand.
“Me too.” Moe brought her hand up and kissed it.
The diner door opened and Baptista walked in holding a brown envelope. His eyes found Gabriel and
he took a step forward. He was about to walk to his prince when he took another deep breath. He stood
riveted to the spot. Abby watched in fascination as his eyes, looking confused, scanned everyone before
they locked on their table.
Abby looked at Moe and Rhys, seeing if either of them was responding to the large vampire enforcer.
He dropped the brown envelope and shoved tables out of his way, heading directly toward them. Seconds
later he had scooped up Peyton and was running a gentle hand against the back of his head where he still
sported a bloody bandage, his nostrils flared. Peyton had just enough time to squeak before Baptista
captured his lips.
Abby, Moe and Rhys stared, shocked.
When Baptista lifted his mouth from Peyton’s, the smaller man’s lips were swollen.
“I knew I should have stayed in the bar,” Peyton whispered.
“Mine!” Baptista growled.
Epilogue
“Sir, Fate responded to the Alpha Mother’s plea. The addiction was lifted from Rhys so that he would
not harm the Alpha Mother’s son. Salsiby’s efforts to shoot the next Arkadion were useless.” The small
man knelt before the gentleman. Smiling, the gentleman ran a hand over the man’s soft curls.
“Good work. See pups, this is what it looks like to do the job right.” The gentleman was pleased. His
newest recruit held such promise. When the man looked up at him there was nothing but adoration in his
eyes. Yes, this could prove to be useful.
“But sir, Salsiby is dead,” Devon said. The gentleman raised an eyebrow.
“I know, such a pity, he deprived me the pleasure of killing him myself. Luckily your beta wasn’t that
smart. I had so much fun with him.” The gentleman sighed and moved away from his new devotee.
He watched the wolf Alpha carefully. The shifter tried and failed to hide his anger at the death of his
wolf, but dared not say a word. The gentleman decided that the usefulness of the wolf Alpha had just
expired.
“Hyena, your clan still owes me blood, and a lot of it. It’s time for you to pay your debt.” The gentleman
sat at his desk.
“What about my pack?” Devon asked carefully. The gentleman looked up and smiled. The Alpha
flinched and the gentleman knew that the wolf hated himself for fearing him so.
“I am done with your pack,” he said.
“We’re free to go?” Devon asked. The gentleman couldn’t help it. He laughed and laughed.
“No, what I said was I was done with your pack. Unless you come up with a way to please me and
soon, I plan on killing every last man, woman, and child.” The gentleman waved his hand. The wolf looked
like he was about to be sick. If the Alpha threw up on his new rug he wouldn’t have to worry about his
pack, he would kill him right here and now.
“You’re free to go. Oh and boys? Don’t disappoint me.”
The small man curled up around his feet like a faithful hound.
“Payne, a bowl of kibble for my new pet.” The gentleman eyed his chessboard. Soon. Soon the real
game would begin.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alanea loves reading almost as much as she loves writing and can be found at any given moment either
in front of the computer lost in her own world or on the couch with her iPad reading some of her favorite
authors. She believes that love truly conquers all and that everyone no matter what, deserves a chance at
that love and a place they can call home.
For all titles by Alanea Alder, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/alanea-alder
Siren Publishing, Inc.
www.SirenPublishing.com